Abstract
Nutrient management and fertilizer application are influential elements for high yield and preferred grain quality. Negligible information is available regarding fertilizer application in the paddy fields in Afghanistan. This research elucidates the efficacy of different fertilizers’ application on growth attributes, yield potential, and grain quality of rice. The treatments included the traditional application rate of nitrogen and phosphorus (RD), animal manure (AM), animal manure with 50% nitrogen and phosphorus of the traditional application rate (AMRD), sawdust (SD), and sawdust with 50% nitrogen and phosphorus of the traditional application rate (SDRD). Growth parameters, grain yield and its components, physicochemical properties, and morphological observation using scanning electron microscopy were recorded. The results revealed that the greatest panicle number, spikelet number, and grain yield were recorded in AMRD and SDRD treatments. Both AMRD and SDRD treatments increased the percentage of protein, amylose, and lipid contents, as well as the percentage of perfect grain compared to the RD treatment. Rice grain in RD treatment had very few protein bodies and their traces (pits), as well as the formation of amyloplasts and starch granules, were normal. However, AMRD and SDRD increased the number of protein bodies and their pits in the rice endosperm. The shapes of the amyloplasts were round and polyhedral with diverse sizes. Starch granules were polygonal with sharply defined edges. This research encourages farmers to adopt the combined application of manures and fertilizers to decrease the dependence on inorganic fertilizers.
Highlights
Rice is considered to be the major source of calories and staple food worldwide [1]
Tiller number per hill and panicle length, which were 19.0 and 26.1 cm, respectively, were higher in the AMRD treatment compared to others, followed by SDRD, animal manure (AM), SD, and RD
All of these parameters were greater in AMRD and were lower in RD treatments
Summary
Paddy fields and rice production have been increased over recent decades in Afghanistan [2,3]. The average paddy rice yield in the country is estimated at 2.8 tons per ha with a total production of 532,000 metric tons during 2010–2011 [1]. Afghan farmers mostly rely upon conventional farming systems and apply a vast amount of fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers such as urea (containing 46% N) and diammonium phosphate (DAP; containing 46% P and 18% N) to enhance paddy rice yield [1,3]. The application of inorganic fertilizers is criticized as it poses multiple threats to human health and the environment [4]. Inorganic fertilizers contaminate groundwater and are not eco-friendly [5,6,7]
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