Agronomic Effectiveness Research Articles

Biochar-boron composites: synthesis, properties and agronomic effectiveness for eucalyptus seedlings

IntroductionBoron (B) is critical for plant growth, yet its movement in soil is often hindered by leaching and adsorption, leading to deficiencies. Tackling these issues is essential for boosting agricultural productivity, especially in plants like Eucalyptus with high B needs. This paper aims to address these challenges by evaluating B-doped biochar composites (biochar-B) that enhance B distribution and stability in the soil, focusing on Eucalyptus grandis cultivation in two distinct oxisol types.Materials and methodsBiochar-B composites were created using shrimp carcass (FSC), chicken manure (FCM) and sewage sludge (FSS), combined with boric acid (BA) and borax (BX), and pyrolyzed at 300 °C and 550 °C. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates.ResultsFourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed successful B integration and interaction with organic matrices, highlighting functional groups responsible for composite properties. This facilitated the development of highly predictive partial least squares (PLS) regression models (R2pred ~ 0.8). The FSC-BA composite at 300 °C showed notable thermal stability, B retention and availability, enhancing B release kinetics.DiscussionThese findings emphasize the importance of considering the soluble B rate in composite applications for Eucalyptus cultivation. The use of these composites provides a sustainable method for gradual B release, potentially outperforming conventional fertilization techniques. This approach may lead to improved plant growth and productivity. Further field investigations are recommended in order to validate these findings and refine sustainable fertilization strategies; thus, benefiting a range of crops.Graphical abstract

Field evaluation and characterization of a novel biostimulant for broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) cultivation under drought and salt stress which increases antioxidant, glucosinolate and phytohormone content

Anthropogenic global warming is affecting crop yield and thus compromising food security. Drought and salinization of the irrigation water or soil are increasingly frequent in most arable land, specifically in arid and semiarid areas such as the Mediterranean basin. Many crops have been displaced or their yield has plummeted in recent years, causing food shortages and price increases. In a context of global population growth and reduction in the availability of natural resources used in agriculture, finding novel tools that help farmers to maintain yield in an increasingly arid and saline scenario is of pivotal importance. This is particularly important in organic agriculture, where the number of available tools is very limited. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms of natural origin whose function is to stimulate plant processes related to nutrient absorption, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress or the quality of the agricultural products obtained. In the present work, we have evaluated, in field, the agronomic effectiveness of a novel biostimulant formulation in a cruciferous crop of great interest in the Mediterranean basin (broccoli) under control conditions, water and salt stress. Our research has shown that our product had a positive effect on broccoli production and in delaying flowering time. We have also found that the application of our biostimulant increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense under drought conditions. Similarly, when exposed to salinity, the biostimulant increased the concentration of different phytohormones and glucosinolates. Taken together, our biostimulant increases the tolerance of broccoli to salt stress and water limitation by increasing the antioxidant response, the level of glucosinolates and eliciting the hormonal response.

Agronomic Effectiveness of Zinc Sources as Micronutrient Fertilizers: A Comprehensive Review’

Zinc naturally occurs in the earth's crust as part of rocks and ore minerals. The average concentration of zinc in the lithosphere is 80 mg kg-1. While zinc is relatively immobile in soil, it is moderately mobile in plants. As a vital micronutrient for both humans and animals, zinc plays an essential role in plants as a catalytic, structural and regulatory cofactor for many enzyme reactions. It is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein synthesis, the biosynthesis of growth hormones (particularly indoleacetic acid) and the maintenance of cell membrane integrity. Zinc deficiency is a widespread problem affecting both plants and humans in many regions of the world. To address this issue and improve plant zinc nutrition and yields, both soil and foliar zinc fertilizers have been applied. The agronomic effectiveness of Zn fertilizers has been related to the management factors such as placement, source type, seed treatment, foliar spray and biofortification that can affect the effectiveness of Zn fertilizers.

Germination and Initial Development of Calendula Officinallis as a Function of Seed Treatment with Promoter Bacteria

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of different dosages and modes of application of inoculants based on Bacillus subtilis, Azospirillum brasilense, and Pseudomonas fluorescens in marigold plants, focusing on seed germination aspects and initial plant development. Method: The research was conducted in two stages, including seed germination tests in the laboratory and evaluation of plant development in the field. Treatments were applied at different dosages and modes of application, with appropriate experimental design and statistical analysis of the data. Research results and discussions: The results demonstrate that inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms positively influenced the shoot length, root length, number of flowers, and fresh flower mass of marigold plants. Application of Bacillus subtilis yielded the best results in various variables, while the combination of seed treatment and foliar application provided the best results in fresh and dry root mass. The interaction between growth promoters and application modes also influenced the chlorophyll content of the plant leaves. Research implications: The results indicate that inoculation with the studied microorganisms may be a viable alternative to enhance the agronomic performance of marigold, providing benefits such as increased fresh flower mass, flower quantity, and root length. This suggests the potential of these microorganisms as biological agents for plant growth promotion. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the understanding of the agronomic effectiveness of different growth-promoting microorganisms in marigold plants, highlighting the importance of bacterial inoculation in plant development and providing insights for more sustainable agricultural practices.

Effect of Mineral Fertilization and Microbial Inoculation on Cabbage Yield and Nutrition: A Field Experiment

Cabbage serves as an important food and nutrition source for numerous communities in the world, yet its production requires substantial quantities of chemical fertilizers. In this study, we assessed the impact of both increasing nitrogen and phosphorus mineral (NP) fertilization, along with the application of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) on the N and P uptake, quality, and yield of cabbage. To this end, we conducted two consecutive field experiments following a randomized block design with four replicates and two factors: NP doses and PGPB inoculation. PGPB inoculation used a bacterial consortium comprising Azospirillum brasilense D7, Herbaspirillum sp. AP21, and Rhizobium leguminosarum T88. Our results showed a significant influence of both biofertilization and NP fertilization across both crop cycles; however, no interaction between these factors was observed. In the first crop cycle, 75% of NP mineral fertilization (equivalent to 93.6 kg ha−1 of N and 82.1 kg ha−1 of P) positively impacted yield and N uptake. Also, microbial inoculation significantly influenced crop yield, resulting in a 9-ton increase in crop yield per hectare due to biofertilization. In the second crop cycle, we observed a significant positive effect of mineral fertilization on cabbage yield and nutritional quality. The relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) index showed that combining biological fertilization with 50% and 75% of the NP fertilization, respectively, increased yield by 66% and 48% compared to the commercial NP dosage without PGPB. Collectively, our results demonstrated that within our experimental setup, NP fertilization dosage can be reduced without any detrimental impact on yield. Moreover, biofertilization could enhance cabbage quality and yield in field conditions.

An assessment of the agronomic effectiveness of N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT) - treated urea on the production of clover-based pastures, pastures, grasses and crops.

Approximately 50% of the world’s population depends on nitrogen (N) fertiliser to secure a sustainable food supply. Improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser – the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) - is a major goal both nationally and internationally, driven by the need to reduce the environmental footprint of farming. One of the technologies developed for this purpose is the addition of the urease inhibitor, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT), to urea, to reduce the volatilisation of ammonia from the soil. In this paper we report the results from field trials, recorded in the national and international literature, comparing the effects of nBTPT treated urea, relative to untreated urea, on plant dry matter (DM) yields (cloverbased pasture, grasses and arable crops) from 45 studies summarizing the results on a site × year × crop basis. For the aggregated data (n = 348) the marginal yield results were normally distributed around a mean of about 3% (95% confidence interval 0.9), with a range from -23% to +32%. The results for the various subsets (based on different crop types) of data were very similar. The size of the effect of nBTPT was related to the rate of N application.

Enhancing Upland Rice Growth and Yield with Indigenous Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Isolate at N-Fertilizers Dosage

Upland rice farming plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates on the growth of upland rice. The bioassay and pot experiments were conducted to select the capable isolates of PGPR and to investigate the effect of the PGPR inoculant on the N fertilizer efficiency and agronomic traits of upland rice. The bacterial isolates were identified through a biochemical analysis and tested under controlled greenhouse conditions. The selected PGPR inoculant was formulated as a liquid biofertilizer (LB). The three capable isolates were obtained to fix nitrogen, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), organic acid, and nitrogenase activity and were identified through a biomolecular analysis as Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp. The application of the LB into the soil at a dose of 10 L ha−1 and 50 kg ha−1 N resulted in a grain yield of 29.81 g pot−1 and a relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value of 235.08%, signifying a significant improvement over the conventional method. Several variables, including the number of grains, number of panicles, root length, 1000-grain weight, population of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and nitrogen uptake exhibited a strong correlation with the grain yield, accounting for 97.80% of the observed variation. These findings show the enormous potential of PGPR isolates, specifically of Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp., in significantly enhancing the upland rice output in Indonesia. Furthermore, the use of an LB as a biofertilizer in conjunction with nitrogen fertilization provides a viable and sustainable way to increase yields and enhance the overall sustainability of the region’s upland rice farming systems.

Responses of Soybean with a Biofertilizer contains Ochrobactrum sp., Alcaligenes sp., and Bacillus sp. and the various doses of NPK fertilizer in Inceptisols, West Java

In the development of biofertilizers, it is necessary to carry out field tests to determine their effectiveness. This objective research is to know the ability of Ochrobactrum sp., Alcaligenes sp., and Bacillus sp. consortium on responses of soybean, carried out on Inceptisols Bogor, West Java. The research consists of seven treatments they control, a recommended dose of NPK, and five combinations of the microbial consortium with various dosages of NPK. The Urea, SP36, and KCl recommended dose measured by the upland soil test kit is 50, 100, and 100 kg ha−1. The research showed that NPK50% and NPK75% combined with microbial consortium as biofertilizer give soybean yield of 2.89 t ha−1 and 2.93 t ha−1, while the recommended NPK (NPK100%) yielded a soybean of 2.82 t ha−1. Biofertilizers can reduce the dose of NPK used by as much as 50%, equivalent to Urea 25 kg ha−1, 50 kg ha−1 SP36, and 50 kg ha−1 KCl, increase soybean yield by 13-21%, and improve relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value by 143-173%. Biofertilizer utilization is a promising strategy for inorganic fertilizers efficiency, increasing soybean yield in Inceptisols soil, and being environmentally friendly.

Agronomic Comparison of Mechanochemically Synthesized Zinc Borate and Other Boron Sources Granulated with Macronutrient Fertilizers

PurposeBoron (B) is an essential micronutrient required throughout the growth cycle of plants so effectively supplying crops with B using fertilizers is challenging. The purpose of this study was to assess the agronomic effectiveness of mechanochemically synthesized zinc borate as a slow release B source and compare it to commonly used B sources after incorporation with different macronutrient carriers.MethodsZinc borate synthesized using a green mechanochemical method as well as commercial B sources (borax, colemanite, and commercial zinc borate) were incorporated with various macronutrient fertilizers (monoammonium phosphate – MAP, muriate of potash – MOP and urea). The fertilizers were evaluated by a) assessing the solubility behaviour of these products; and b) comparing potential leaching losses, plant growth, and plant uptake through a greenhouse study.ResultsThe mechanochemically synthesized zinc borate, commercial zinc borate, and colemanite had similar dissolution rates when MAP was the carrier, but both zinc borates dissolved more B than colemanite when MOP and urea were the carriers. In the pot trial, high losses of B in leachates resulted in low B uptake by plants fertilized with soluble sodium tetraborate. All the slow-release B sources showed less B leaching and greater B uptake compared to the soluble B treatment, but more B was leached for the mechanochemically synthesized than for the commercial zinc borate.ConclusionsOur study indicates that mechanochemically synthesized zinc borate could be effective in matching plant demand for B and reducing leaching losses in high rainfall environments, particularly with urea as the carrier, while providing the benefit of lower waste stream production compared to commercial zinc borate sources.

Improving agronomic effectiveness of elemental sulfur to increase productivity in sulfur‐deficient soils

AbstractElemental sulfur (ES), a byproduct of oil and gas processing, could be an alternate sulfur (S) fertilizer source for crop production if its bioavailability is improved. Increasing the specific surface of ES by reducing its particle size can accelerate ES oxidation to enhance its bioavailability. In field trials at six locations across three countries: two each in the United States, Ghana, and Mali, we determined the agronomic effectiveness of micronized ES (MES). Specific objectives were to quantify (i) corn (Zea mays L.) productivity, (ii) S recovery, and (iii) residual soil S concentration; following MES application, compared to ammonium sulfate (AS), a commercially available sulfate fertilizer, at four application rates—(i) locally recommended sulfur application rate (SR), (ii) 50%_SR, (iii) 75%_SR, and (iv) 125%_SR—and a control where no S was applied. Averaged across all sites and in the three growing seasons, AS at 50%_SR increased corn yield by ≤8% relative to control. Increasing to 75%_SR, SR, and 125%_SR resulted in 12%, 26%, and 28% yield increases, respectively. Applying MES at 50%_SR increased yield by ≤6%, and at 75%_SR, yield increased by ≤26%. Increasing the S application rate to SR and 125%_SR resulted in marginal yield increases. The combined data suggest that MES can be applied at a reduced rate of 75_SR to achieve similar yields as AS applied at SR. We conclude that MES could be an efficient S fertilizer alternative. However, economic analysis is needed to determine the potential profitability of using MES fertilizer products for crop production.

Effectiveness of modified nitrogen fertilizer on soil chemical properties and rice plant growth in the textile industrial area

The imbalance of nutrients and heavy metal contamination is a challenge in increasing plant growth surround the textile industry area. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the dosage of Biologically Agent N Organo Mineral Fertilizer (Biomix-N) as a fertilizer and an ameliorant in paddy soil contaminated with textile liquid waste. This study used a randomized block design of eight treatments with four replications. Parameters observed were soil chemical properties after application of Biomix-N (Na-ex, total N, EC, Cd, and pH), rice plant growth (plant height and tiller number), Cd concentration in the plant, and relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE). Data analysis used analysis of variance, Duncan's test at a 5% level, regression, and correlation analysis. The results showed that Biomix-N 500 kg ha-1 affected the value of EC and total N, while it did not affect Na-ex, Cd, pH and Cd uptake by the paddy plant. Biomix-N fertilization affects the height and number of tillers of rice plants at the age of 70 DAP. Biomix-N fertilization 500 kg ha-1 gave an RAE value of 126-176% compared to the control treatment. The total N content of the soil has a high value of coefficient determinant and correlation (R2= 0.76; R = 0.9) on the growth of rice plants. Applying Biomix-N 500 kg ha-1 equal to 300 kg ha-1 of urea was an effective dose for paddy soil surround the textile industrial area.Keywords: Cadmium, nutrient balance, soil amendment

Evaluation of Kitchen Waste Recycling as Organic N-Fertiliser for Sustainable Agriculture under Cool and Warm Seasons

Kitchen waste could be processed and recycled into safe fertilizers/soil improvers for sustainable agriculture through different methods: (1) Dried pellets from model kitchen waste treated with anaerobic effective microorganisms; and (2) Anaerobically digested kitchen waste. For comparison, a commercial mineral fertilizer was used. These methods were applied in two separate glasshouse experiments: one under cool (mainly winter) conditions (X–IV) and one under warm (mainly summer) conditions (VI–X) consisting of 3–4 subsequent harvests in northern Poland. Comparing the food waste agronomic performance after anaerobic digestion and effective microorganism treatments, especially under different climatic conditions, is a novel approach. Kitchen waste served as a much better fertilizer than mineral fertilizer, but only during the cool season. In addition, it provided 20–40% more plant yields for dosages >120 kg N/ha and a similar N uptake. In the warm season, in comparison to effective microorganism-incubated kitchen waste, its anaerobic digestion improved the relative agronomic effectiveness twice after 30 days of growth (82% versus 43%). However, the total effectiveness for anaerobically digested kitchen waste versus pelleted and effective microorganism-incubated kitchen waste was 32% versus 27% (N utilization-wise) and 36% versus 21% (plant biomass yield-wise). The Monod kinetic model was applied for the internal efficiency of N utilization; for the best fitting procedure, R2 > 0.96 for the cool season and R2 > 0.92 for the warm season. Kitchen waste introduced to the soil provided better soil properties than mineral fertilizer. The study contributes to the biological systems for waste recycling in agriculture, bioproduction processes, and the global food chain.

Application of Leather Waste Fractions and Their Biochars as Organic Fertilisers for Ryegrass Growth: Agri-Environmental Aspects and Plants Response Modelling

The automotive upholstery industry, which processes bovine leathers, has struggled with vast amounts of solid waste, of which the majority are fractions, such as shavings and splits and offcuts, both containing chromium (Cr) and free of Cr. In this work, a novel leather waste-to-fertiliser approach has been tested: four lightly processed (incubation with effective microorganisms) and three aggressively processed (using pyrolysis or hydrolysis processes) tanned leather waste fractions were used. They were applied as organic nitrogen-based fertilisers in two separate glasshouse experiments, consisting of four subsequent harvests, under spring–autumn conditions in northern Poland. The Cr stressing effect caused by bovine shavings containing Cr and splits and offcuts containing Cr stimulated an increase in ryegrass growth after 30 days, providing twice the dry matter yield than bovine shavings free of Cr and splits and offcuts free of Cr, then (after 90 and 120 days) it inhibited growth. The Monod kinetics model was developed using the best fitting procedure (R2 > 0.94) for the efficiency of internal N use in ryegrass for the lightly processed fractions of tanned leather-waste fractions and each harvest. In the case of the processed leather waste-fractions, the relation was quasi linear, evidencing less growth inhibition and no over-fertilisation effects. The acid hydrolysate of bovine shavings containing Cr showed the best performance, reaching a relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE, N utilization-based) equal to 89%, 95%, 19%, and 38% for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days, respectively, and 71% in total. For the lightly processed fractions, it was lower than 12%. The future perspective should focus on steps including scaling up the tests to field conditions; transportation, storage, and application methods; effectiveness for other crops; usage in crop rotation systems; environmental impact assessment; production carbon footprint; commercial potential; and optimizing the production processes.

Potato growth, yield and quality affected by calcium and nitrogen (CaN) compound fertilizers on andisol soil type in Lembang

The use of artificial chemical fertilizers that are very intensive and not in accordance with the availability of soil nutrients, has a negative impact on decreasing agricultural soil fertility and vegetable productivity. The aim of this experiment was to obtain an effective and efficient dose of compound fertilizer (Ca and N) for potato plants in Andisol soil type, Lembang. The experiment was carried out at Margahayu Experimental Field of Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI) (1250 m asl), from June to November 2021. A randomized block design was used with 8 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments consisted of without N fertilizer, standard N single fertilizer, and 6 doses of compound fertilizer (33% Ca and 17% N). The results showed that, in general, CaN compound fertilizers increase the growth of potato plants. The application of compound fertilizer at 75% of N standard (300 kg/ha of CaN fertilizer) was the most effective dose for fertilizing potato plants on Andisol soil type in Lembang. This dose can save the use of N by 25% with a Relative Agronomic Effectiveness (RAE) value of 140%. This study showed that the use of CaN compound fertilizers at a dose of 300 kg/ha can not only reduce fertilizer input into the soil, but also increase potato yields.

Spinosad Application Prevents Damage by Agriotes spp. Larvae (Wireworms) and Protects Maize (Zea mays) Yield in Northeast Italy

Agriotes spp. larvae, commonly known as wireworms, are major pests that cause great economic damage to many European crops. To combat them, most farmers prophylactically apply soil insecticides, including high-impact ones such as neonicotinoids. However, due to their hidden life cycle below ground, wireworms are difficult to control, especially in organic farming where persistent, non-specific soil insecticides cannot be used. As legislation tightens regulation on chemical insecticides that have harmful effects on humans and the environment (such as the withdrawal of many chemicals and the general limitation of all of them), biological control agents are gaining attention as an alternative strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the agronomic effectiveness of Spinosad, a bioinsecticide, in row application during planting to manage wireworms in maize (Zea mays) in Northern Italy. Based on the performance of Spinosad, even in harsh conditions as observed throughout this study, and its ability to mitigate yield losses compared to the non-treated control, we conclude that this product can be used as part of an Integrated Pest Management to mitigate the damages caused by this pest in organic agriculture. However, further studies are required to better understand how this bioinsecticide can be integrated into Agriotes spp management to reduce economic losses and have a positive impact on the environment and public health

Activated ZnCl2 biochar and humic acid as additives in monoammonium phosphate fertilizer: Physicochemical characterization and agronomic effectiveness

Activated zinc biochar (ZnBC) and humic acid (HA) were used as coating agents in a soluble monoammonium phosphate (MAP) to modify phosphorus (P) use efficiency by altering adsorption/desorption kinetics between the granule region and the soil. The coated treatments MAPZnBC and MAPHA were compared with MAP through P diffusivity, kinetics, and agronomic evaluation. Eucalyptus sawdust was used as biomass for biochar synthesis, and a pre-pyrolysis treatment with zinc chloride (ZnCl2) was applied. The P diffusivity was evaluated in the fertosphere zone. Adsorption and desorption potential of the ZnBC compared with control biochar (BC) was evaluated separately. Desorption kinetics of P from soil was assessed after incubation with MAPZnBC and MAPHA. The shoot dry matter yield (SDM), P uptake, and P use efficiency (PUE) were evaluated with a pot experiment in a clay Oxisol sown with maize and soybeans as successive plant trials, under glasshouse conditions. Surface area values of 940 and 305 m2 g−1 combined with adsorption capacities of 106 and 53 mg P g−1 for ZnBC and BC, respectively, confirm the increased capacity of activated biochar to adsorb P. Both MAPZnBC and MAPHA decreased P diffusivity compared to MAP after 20 days of incubation. Moreover, MAPZnBC and MAPHA presented 20% and 34% more water-soluble phosphorus recovery. MAPZnBC expressed an increase in SDM while MAPHA highlighted P uptake and PUE compared with MAP. Both kinetic studies and agronomic evaluations showed that ZnBC and HA are suitable as coatings for phosphate fertilizers in terms of increasing P efficiency in the fertosphere on high P-fixing soils.

Agronomic effectiveness, dry-matter, grain yield, nutrient uptake, and fertilizer use-efficiency of liquid organic fertilizer combined with NPK to sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt)

The decline in agricultural land productivity due to climate change and excessive use of inorganic fertilizers requires us to implement an environmentally friendly cultivation system, by reducing the application rate of inorganic fertilizers and combining them with organic fertilizers. Liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) is one type of fertilizer that is expected to increase plant growth and yield and reduce the dose of inorganic fertilizers. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of LOF on growth, the yield of sweet corn, nutrient uptake, and the fertilizer use-efficiency of inorganic fertilizers. This Research has conducted at Inceptisol Galuga Bogor, with a randomized block design as an experimental design. The treatments consisted of a control, five doses of LOF and 2 doses of NPK fertilizer. The results showed LOF fertilizer at a dose of 0.75 - 3.0 l ha−1 combined with 100% NPK and 75% NPK increased the yield of fresh cobs by 15% - 19% compared to NPK without LOF. The weight of fresh cobs fertilized with LOF with 100% NPK was (14.63 - 16.68 t ha−1) with RAE= 130 - 205%, which is higher than without LOF (13.73 t ha−1). The combination of LOF with 75% NPK gave the weight of fresh cobs (11.88-15.12 t ha−1) with RAE = 115-507 %, which is higher than without LOF (11.75 t ha−1). LOF can contribute to NPK fertilizer efficiency by 25% of the dose. Nutrient use-efficiency for N is well-managed but lower for P and K.

Slow release fertilizers based on polyphosphate/montmorillonite nanocomposites for improving crop yield

Nanocomposites are promising materials for the development of novel and environmentally friendly fertilizers that can delay the release of nutrients. In this study, a novel high-strength spherical nanocomposite fertilizer was prepared via agglomeration and granulation using montmorillonite, urea phosphate, urea, and potassium chloride as raw materials. The properties and morphology of the prepared fertilizer were characterized by Fourier Transform Tnfrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) techniques. FT-IR analysis identified the formation of polyphosphate in fertilizer and hydrogen bonds between polyphosphate and montmorillonite. XRD analysis showed increased montmorillonite interlayer spacing and confirmed the formation of polyphosphate-montmorillonite nanocomposites. The effects of raw material mass ratio, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the strength and fluidity of nanocomposite fertilizer granules and the optimum preparation process was obtained by the response surface method (RSM-CCD). The optimum preparation process was obtained as follows: reaction temperature, 103 °C; reaction time, 237 min; and mass ratio, 1:1:0.93:1 (urea phosphate: urea: potassium chloride: montmorillonite). Under these optimum conditions, the particle hardness and angle of repose of the prepared fertilizer were 64.75 ± 0.48 N and 30.84 ± 0.95°. Nutrient release and agronomic effectiveness of the fertilizer was evaluated using column leaching and pot experiments, respectively. The column leaching experiment and XCT analysis demonstrated that the nanocomposite structure was responsible for the slow nutrient release. The pot experiment showed that compared with the traditional fertilizer, the soil nitrate and available phosphorus was increased by 28.02% and 43.45%, respectively, and the maize yield was increased by 24.27% with the application of prepared fertilizer. This work provides support for the preparation of high-strength spherical nanocomposite fertilizers and their large-scale applications in modern mechanical agriculture.

Agronomic assessment of the herbicides application on winter wheat crops

In modern conditions of agricultural production, it is important to obtain a high yield of good quality, which may be limited by a high degree of contamination of crops. At the same time, it is necessary to search for new approaches to the weed control problem, which involves solving a number of issues: determining and analyzing the floral composition of weeds with constant monitoring of contamination to make forecasts and make operational decisions. This work is devoted to the study of these issues. It reveals the features of winter wheat agrophytocenosis formation with the analysis of weed species composition, and shows the effectiveness of the use of herbicides recommended on the basis of mapping. The biological efficiency of the spray mixture of herbicides Verdict + Dinat was 84.1% (by the number of weeds) and 94.9% (by air-dry weight). The agronomic effectiveness of herbicides was expressed in obtaining an increase in yield of 2.67 t/ha, and the profitability level was above the threshold of economic feasibility of the weed management and amounted to 141.8%.

Sweet Corn Growth and Productivity on Several Levels Dosage of Liquid NPK Fertilizer

The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of liquid NPK fertilizer with a composition of 12:9:7 on sweet corn plant. The research was conducted at the Mojosari Research Station, Mojokerto district, East Java, Indonesia, in September to December 2020, using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and repeated four times. The treatments consisted of one treatment without fertilization (control), one treatment dose of 300 kg phonska + 300 kg urea per ha (recommendation), six treatments of liquid NPK fertilizer. Application of liquid NPK fertilizer is done by dissolving in water as much as 200 mL per plant. The results showed that the application of liquid NPK fertilizer had an effect on plant height, stem diameter, stover weight, cob length, ear diameter, and cob weight. The application of liquid NPK fertilizer at a dose of 12.5 cc L-1 gave the same or comparable response to the standard fertilization treatment with an agronomic effectiveness level > 95 %.