Amount Of Fertilizer Research Articles

Effect of NPK fertilizer on the biochemical response of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Increasing nutrient inputs affect plants and soil. Long-term, repeated mineral fertilizer applications may alter the agro-ecosystem. The application of the right amount of fertilizer is primordial to maintaining and improving sustainable plant productivity. The physiological response of the plant provides meaningful information on yield and makes it possible to better choose the doses of fertilization amendments. In order to determine the adequate dose of NPK fertilizer under economically profitable and more environmentally sustainable conditions, we investigated the impact of the chemical fertilizer amended at different NPK fertilizer doses (15, 20, and 25 kg ha-1) on the growth parameters, oxidative metabolism, and yield of Solanum lycopersicum. A complete random block experimental set-up with three doses and four replicates was performed for a greenhouse tomato crop. The results showed that NPK fertilizer influences morphological parameters, and phenolic compounds with the best data correlated to the medium treatment. Likewise, the content of flavonoids, lycopene, and β-carotene in tomato fruits displays a similar trend of variation with all treatment doses. The biochemical responses of plants to mineral fertilizer indicate that a medium dose is suitable, without overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, to reduce the negative impact on the agro-ecosystem.

Pengaruh Faktor Sosial Ekonomi terhadap Pendapatan Usahatani Kopi Arabika di Desa Kendenan Kecamatan Baraka Kabupaten Enrekang

The aim of this study was to determine the production and income of Arabica coffee farming, to analyze the factors that influence the production of Arabica coffee farming, to determine the effect of socio-economic factors on Arabica coffee farming income in Kendenan Village, Baraka District, Enrekang Regency. The population in this study were 120 people and 25% were taken. The sample was determined using simple random sampling technique. The samples obtained were 30 people. The data analysis used is income analysis and multiple linear regression. The results showed that the production of arabica coffee farming was 498.5 kg per hectare and the income of arabica coffee farming was IDR 9,122,887.50 per hectare. Factors that influence the production of Arabica coffee farming simultaneously are the area of land, the amount of fertilizer, labor, farming experience and the length of time they have attended formal education. Factors that significantly influence the production of Arabica coffee farming are land area and number of workers. Socio-economic factors that significantly influence the income of Arabica coffee farming are land area, labor wages and farming experience. 1. if the land area is increased by 1% (one percent), the income of Arabica coffee farming will increase by 1.6989 percent. Labor wages have a negative and significant effect on Arabica coffee farming income, meaning that if labor wages increase by 1 percent, Arabica coffee farming income will decrease by -0.87908. Farming experience has a positive and significant effect on Arabica coffee farming income, meaning that if farming experience increases by 1% (one percent), then Arabica coffee farming income will increase by 0.1974 percent.

Contribution of Cattle Dung as an Alternative to Mineral Fertilization of Soils in Tomato (Lycopersicom esculenta) Production

The use of chemical fertilizers, which in the long term constitutes a source of environmental degradation, has led farmers to use organic sources as alternative soil amendments. However, use of organic fertilizers alone may not restore the fertility of highly degraded soils, hence the need for the integration of organic and mineral fertilizers. The objective of the study was to improve soil fertility and tomato productivity. The study was carried out using a Fisher block design, with three replicates established on sandy soils. Treatments T0 (control treatment), Tpp (500 kg ha-1of NPK), T1 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 167 kg ha-1of NPK), T2 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 250 kg ha-1of NPK), T3 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 375 kg ha-1of NPK), T4 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 500 kg ha-1of NPK) and T5 (40 kg ha-1of NPK of cattle dung) were applied to elementary plots of 20 m2 (5 m x 4 m). Cattle dung was applied one week before transplanting was done. On the other hand, split application of mineral fertilizer was done at transplanting and at the start of flowering. The height of the plants, the circumference at the collar, the diameter of the fruits, the average number of fruits and weights of harvested fruits were evaluated on 4 plants of the effective plot. The results obtained revealed that the addition of cattle dung to the soil made it possible to reduce the quantities of chemical fertilizer commonly used by tomato producers. Thus, T3 treatment (40 kg/ha of cattle dung as a single contribution of basal fertilizer + 375 kg/ha of NPK), or ¾ of the dose of chemical fertilizer commonly applied by producers, made it possible to improve the agronomic parameters of the tomato and obtained the highest tomato yields (16292.25 kg/ha). The cattle dung combination at a dose of 40 kg/ha + 375 kg/ha of NPK 15 15 15 is therefore, the optimum dose to provide for better tomato production.

Exploring the Potential of Methanotrophs for Plant Growth Promotion in Rice Agriculture

Rice fields are one of the important anthropogenic sources of methane emissions. Methanotrophs dwelling near the rice roots and at the oxic–anoxic interface of paddy fields can oxidize a large fraction of the generated methane and are therefore considered to be important. Nitrogen fixation in rice root-associated methanotrophs is well known. Our aim in this study was to explore the potential of methanotrophs as bio-inoculants for rice and the studies were performed in pot experiments in monsoon. Ten indigenously isolated methanotrophs were used belonging to eight diverse genera of Type Ia, Type Ib, and Type II methanotrophs, including the newly described genera and/or species, Methylocucumis oryzae and Methylolobus aquaticus, as well as Ca. Methylobacter oryzae and Ca. Methylobacter coli. Additionally, two consortia (Methylomonas strains and Methylocystis-Methylosinus strains) were used. Nitrogen fixation pathways or nifH genes were detected in all of the used methanotrophs. Plant growth promotion (PGPR) was seen in terms of increased plant height and grain yield. Nine out of twelve (seven single strains and two consortia) showed positive effects on grain yield (6–38%). The highest increase in grain yield was seen after inoculation with Ca. Methylobacter coli (38%) followed by Methylomonas consortium (35%) and Methylocucumis oryzae (31%). Methylomagnum ishizawai inoculated plants showed the highest plant height. Methylocucumis oryzae inoculated plants showed early flowering, grain formation, and grain maturation (~17–18 days earlier). In all the pot experiments, minimal quantities of nitrogen fertilizer were used with no additional organic fertilizer inputs. The present study demonstrated the possibility of developing methanotrophs as bio-inoculants for rice agriculture, which would promote plant growth under low inputs of nitrogenous fertilizers. Although the effect of methanotrophs on methane mitigation is still under investigation, their application to reduce methane emissions from rice fields could be an added advantage.

Electrical signal of pepper during cropping period affected by different amount of fertilizer

Precision agriculture requires supply of adequate amount of fertilizer application to increase crop yield and prevent environmental contamination. Objective of the study was to evaluate response of pepper under different fertigation method and amount using plant induced electrical signal (PIES) for precision agriculture. Pepper was fertigated 10 times with recommended additional nitrogen fertilizer and set as a control. Low fertilizer treatment did not receive additional urea and high fertilizer received three times higher amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Conventional treatment was fertigated as basal fertilizer and once with additional fertilizer. The PIES decreased during vegetative stage and remained constant at reproductive stage because of reduced nutrient and water uptake. The PIES showed positive relationship with soil NH4+, NO3−, stem NO3− and leaf N, which resulted in highest PIES value during reproductive stage in high fertilizer treated pepper. Plant growth parameters were also related with the PIES although yield was not affected by different fertilizer treatment.

Massive Fish Kill After the Discharge of Artificial Fertilizer into a Species Rich River in Southwestern Germany: a Conservation Case Study

In the summer of 2015, large amounts of artificial fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate were accidentally discharged into the Jagst River along with water used to extinguish a serious fire. The incident caused a massive fish kill the first 25 km downstream of the spill and impacted fish density along a 50 km stretch of this sensitive and important river. In this study, the long-term effects of the accident on the local fish fauna were investigated, and the implemented restoration measures were evaluated. A majority of fish surviving the immediate effects of the incident exhibited massive gill damage and weakness to infections shortly after the accident, but survival over the following winter appeared unimpaired. Two years after the accident, most survived fish appeared healthy. In 2016, about 9500 individuals (500 kg fish of 11 autochthonous species) were caught in unaffected sections of the river and distributed systematically into severely affected sections. Two control sections were left unstocked. Species diversity and fish density remained low over the first winter 2015/16, but increased in autumn 2016, most likely as a result of systematic stocking measures taken in response to the disaster. Stocking and natural migration were able to restore species diversity back to pre-accident levels in due time, i.e., 36 months, but density remains lower and shows no sign of further recovery. A positive consequence of the catastrophe has been the enactment in the ensuing years of various measures to improve the resilience of the Jagst River. However, connectivity is still lacking in relevant sections of the river and this, in combination with high predation from an increasing population of cormorants, has hampered the recovery of fish stocks. Generalizable conservation measures to mitigate the impact of similar catastrophes are developed and discussed.

Effect of straw return on soil respiration in dryland agroecosystem of China: A meta-analysis

In agroecosystems, straw return is considered an important agricultural management practice influencing soil respiration. However, the impact of straw return on soil respiration is equivocal and the underlying mechanisms underpinning any responses remain unclear. To address this, we synthesized 86 recently published papers on dryland agroecosystems in China, which comprise approximately 74% of the agricultural land area, using a meta-analysis approach and explored the influence of straw return on soil respiration and the underlying mechanisms involved. Straw return resulted in a 13.5% increase in soil respiration, a 9.4% increase in soil moisture, a 10.4% increase in crop yield, a 18.9% increase in SOC (soil organic carbon), and a 2.6% decrease in soil temperature. Compared to conventional tillage without straw return treatment, the increase in soil respiration in response to straw return was closely related to modifications in soil temperature, soil moisture, SOC, and crop yield (P < 0.05). The contribution of the different drivers to increases in soil respiration in response to straw return showed a trend of crop yield > soil temperature > SOC > soil moisture. In addition, straw mulching, crop planting system, tillage method, and fertilization modified the effect of straw return on soil respiration. The increase in soil respiration was less when straw was used as a mulch (12.9%), compared to when it was incorporated into the soil (18.8%). The cropping system also influenced the effect of straw return on soil respiration and was increased by 21.1% in inter-crops, and by 17.3% and 11.0% in monocultures and rotations treatments, respectively. Our results also showed that the effect of straw return on soil respiration was larger in deep tillage treatments than in shallow tillage treatments (26.9% vs.18.7%). In addition, the effect of straw return on soil respiration was also larger in fertilized treatment compared to unfertilized one (12.7% vs. 0.5%). However, this depended on the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied rates and was higher (14.8%) with low (<300 kg ha−1) application rates compared to high (≧300 kg ha−1) ones (2.5%). Therefore, in dryland agroecosystems in China, biological factors, especially those related to crop yield, may be a more important factor regulating the effect of straw return on soil respiration. However, straw mulching, crop planting system, tillage method, and fertilization can modify the effect of straw return on soil respiration.

Multi-stage fertilizer recommendation for spring maize at the field scale based on narrowband vegetation indices

Crop fertilizer recommendations that are site-specific and can be adjusted in multiple growth stages can result in improved nutrient management, fertilizer use efficiency, and grain yield. There are considerable challenges to collecting a large number of soil and crop samples using the traditional methods, so a modern approach to developing fertilizer recommendations is urgently needed. In this study, we used the topdressing recommendation method based on unmanned aerial vehicle-based hyperspectral images and conducted a long-term nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) combined fertilizer experiment in a spring maize cropping system. The hyperspectral imagery was acquired at multiple critical stages (jointing, silking, and maturity) in the experimental field containing 120 microplots during 2019–2020. The leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and yield measurement data for each microplot were also collected in multiple stages. Ten narrowband vegetation indices (VIs) were derived from the hyperspectral imagery as effective indicators for the estimation of the crop N status and grain yield. To develop topdressing recommendations for multiple stages, first, the optimal NPK fertilizer amounts, which were applied as the total fertilizer requirement to achieve the highest yield, were obtained. Second, the thresholds of the narrowband VIs, which justify if topdressing N fertilizer is needed, were calculated using the regression model established based on the relative yield and VIs. Finally, the N fertilizer amounts already applied in the jointing and silking stages were obtained based on the response of the narrowband VIs to the N fertilizer amounts. The results reveal that the optimal amount of N fertilizer is 180 kg ha−1, and the grain yield can be improved by using a combination of P and K fertilizers. Five VIs were significantly correlated with both the LNC and yield in the jointing and silking stages, and the thresholds of these VIs, below which topdressing fertilizer is needed, were identified at 95% of relative yield. The five VIs all presented high fitting accuracies with the amount of N fertilizer applied. However, there were noticeable differences in the sensitivities of the VIs in the jointing and silking stages. Therefore, we developed a cost-effective approach and provide multi-stage fertilizer recommendations at the field scale for the spring maize cropping system. This method can also benefit other precision agriculture applications if incorporated with remote sensing techniques.

Exploring through the use of physiological and isotopic techniques the potential of a PGPR-based biofertilizer to improve nitrogen fertilization practices efficiency in strawberry cultivation.

The use of microorganisms as a biofertilizer in strawberry has focused mainly on pathogen biocontrol, which has led to the underestimation of the potential of microorganisms for the improvement of nutritional efficiency in this crop. A study was established to investigate the impact of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) based biofertilizer integrated by self-compatible stress tolerant strains with multiple PGP properties, including atmospheric nitrogen fixation, on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Rociera) tolerance to N deficiency in terms of growth and physiological performance. After 40 days of nitrogen fertilization shortage, inoculated plants were able to maintain root development and fertility structures (i.e. fruits and flowers) at a level similar to plants properly fertilized. In addition, inoculation lessened the negative impact of nitrogen deficiency on leaves' dry weight and relative water content. This effect was mediated by a higher root/shoot ratio, which would have allowed them to explore larger volumes of soil for the acquisition of water. Moreover, inoculation was able to buffer up to 50% of the reduction in carbon assimilation capacity, due to its positive effect on the diffusion efficiency of CO2 and the biochemical capacity of photosynthesis, as well as on the activity of photosystem II light harvesting. Furthermore, the higher leaf C/N ratio and the maintained δ15N values close to control plants were related to positive bacterial effects at the level of the plant nutritional balance. Despite these positive effects, the application of the bacterial inoculum was unable to completely counteract the restriction of fertilization, being necessary to apply a certain amount of synthetic fertilizer for the strawberry nutrition. However, according to our results, the complementary effect of this PGPR-based biofertilizer could provide a higher efficiency in environmental and economic yields on this crop.

Research on the Influence of the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns in Agriculture

Agriculture is the primary industry in China and plays a vital role in the country's economic construction. In the process of developing agriculture, there are many scientific methods and laws that need to be followed in order to increase crop yield, reduce costs, and thus obtain more profits. The law of diminishing marginal returns is a widely used theory in the agricultural field. This paper studies the embodiment and influence of the law of diminishing marginal returns on some important factors in agricultural production. The research method adopted is empirical research. The study concluded that the planting density, the number of labor and the amount of fertilizer applied in agriculture largely follow the law of diminishing marginal returnsblindly increasing the above factors will not maximize the benefit, but will make the total profit negative growth. Therefore, it must be combined with the actual production situation, control its use in agricultural production, so as to maximize the profit, that is, the marginal revenue brought by the input is equal to its marginal cost.

CNN deep learning performance in estimating nitrate uptake by maize and root zone losses under surface drip irrigation

Optimal fertigation regimes will minimize the leaching of agrochemicals while providing crops with sufficient nutrition for growth. A comprehensive objective function of optimization involves minimizing (i) difference between weekly plant nitrogen uptake and requirement and (ii) nitrate losses (nitrate leaching and accumulated nitrate in the root zone). Coupling a simulation model to an optimization algorithm for obtaining the objective function variables (N plant uptake and nitrate losses) typically requires long runtimes as the simulation model is repeatedly applied over iterations of the optimization algorithm. One attractive way to reduce the programming and computational demands associated with optimization is to construct a simpler, faster, but sufficiently accurate emulator of the simulation model based on machine-learning model. This study assessed the performance of convolutional neural networks (CNN) in modelling nitrate uptake by maize and estimation of nitrate losses in surface drip irrigation in three texturally different soils. To do this, the CNN was trained on output of the simulation model HYDRUS-2D. Various combinations of parameters influencing daily nitrate uptake (daily potential crop evapotranspiration, irrigation water and injected fertilizer amount) were evaluated as model inputs. Results indicated that daily nitrate uptake at any time t was predicted best with inputs of daily potential evapotranspiration at time t, irrigation and fertilizer amounts of the previous 1–7 days and the previous day’s nitrate uptake amount. Estimated nitrate losses for constant weekly fertigation (CWF) were about 32% in sandy loam and 38.5% in sandy clay loam soil. Variable weekly fertigation (VWF) reduced the nitrate losses to 24.5% in sandy loam and 31.5% in sandy clay loam soil, while losses in loam soil were intermediate to these. The study demonstrates that CNN estimation of nitrate uptake and root zone losses can be widely used in optimization of fertigation management.

Phosphate in Aqueous Solution Adsorbs on Limestone Surfaces and Promotes Dissolution

The use of large quantities of phosphorus-containing fertilizers has resulted in an increase in phosphorus content in the groundwater system, and phosphorus can be adsorbed on the surface of carbonate rocks, affecting their dissolution process and thus carbon sequestration and sink enhancement in carbonate rocks. Therefore, in this study, limestone was exposed to 2 mg/L and 100 mg/L phosphate solutions for 12 d through static batch adsorption experiments. The hydrochemical results showed that in 100 mg/L phosphate solution, a substitution reaction occurred to produce CaHPO4 precipitate, while the concentration of each ion in 2 mg/L phosphate solution was relatively stable and in dynamic equilibrium; combined with XRD and XPS analyses, the main mechanism of phosphate adsorption may be chemical precipitation, which is preferentially adsorbed to Ca sites on carbonate rocks, and the surface deposits are mainly CaHPO4 and a small amount of Mg2PO4(OH). The FTIR spectra were obtained in the range of 1040 cm−1–1103 cm−1 for observed phosphate vibrations, and the υ3 (asymmetric stretching) mode was more significant in the experimental group with a higher phosphate concentration. Raman spectra located near 149 cm−1 and 275 cm−1 involved Ca2+ or Mg2+ relative translations and vibrations, corroborating the FTIR spectroscopic results; a combination of XRD, XPS, FTIR, and Raman spectra confirmed that phosphate adsorption on limestone may be due to the interaction of electrostatic, chemical precipitation, and ligand exchange mechanisms. In addition, the SEM-EDS results showed that, with the combined effect of the water–rock chemical reaction and physical adsorption, metal–phosphorus phase precipitation was formed on the limestone surface, which promoted the dissolution of limestone and may have an unfavorable effect on the carbon sequestration and sinking of carbonate rocks.

Internet of Things and smart sensors in agriculture: Scopes and challenges

Agriculture is an essential sector needed for survival of the human community. Several measures have been taken to enhance the crop production. However harsh environmental conditions and frequent pest infestation lead to the agricultural loss. In such scenario, integration of advanced technologies such as advanced sensors coupled with Internet of Things (IoT) could escalate the agricultural production and minimize the economic loss. Studies have been conducted across the world that satisfactorily demonstrated the implication of integrated IoT-smart sensors in monitoring environmental factors such as moisture, humidity, temperature, and soil composition that are critical for crop growth. Green house gases such as Carbon dioxide, Methane, etc., are also measured through automated sensors. Smart farming also enables measurement of nitrogen contents in soil that helps farmers to determine the amount of fertilizers to be used in farm lands. Some IoT-enabled equipments and unmanned aerial vehicles are useful in accurate surveillance of pest attack and associated diseases in farm vegetation. Though the smart farming has great scopes in future, it faces certain limitations related to high implementation cost, data security, and lack of sufficient digital knowledge in farmers. Special economic policies, data encryption, and digital literacy could ease IoT-enabled smart farming in future.

Unveiling the combined effect of nano fertilizers and conventional fertilizers on crop productivity, profitability, and soil well-being

It is widely accepted that deficiency of macro (nitrogen) and micronutrients (zinc, copper etc.) affects the plant growth and development which cause a significant threat to crop production and food security. The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) developed nano-urea (nano-N), nano-zinc (nano-Zn), and nano-copper (nano-Cu) liquid fertilizer formulations to enhance the crop yields, simultaneously addressing the nutrient deficiency, without causing toxicity. Therefore, this study was formulated to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-N (nano-urea), nano-Zn, and nano-Cu at varying N levels [0, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended rates of nitrogen (RRN)] on maize-wheat and pearl millet-mustard systems during 2019–20 and 2020–21. The results exhibited that the application of nano-N + nano-Zn with 100% RRN exhibited significantly higher grain yields in maize (66.2–68.8%), wheat (62.6–61.9%), pearl millet (57.1–65.4%), and mustard (47.2–69.0%), respectively, over absolute control plots and combinations of three nano-fertilizers like nano-N + nano-Zn + nano-Cu applied plots. This was mainly attributed to the higher N and Zn uptake by the crops. However, 75% RRN with nano-N + nano-Zn also produced comparable yields. Thus, applying nano-N and nano-Zn via foliar applications, in conjunction with conventional urea, has the potential to reduce the required nitrogen fertilizer amount by up to 25%, while simultaneously maintaining equivalent yield levels. Similarly, 100% RRN and 75% RRN + nano-N + nano-Zn registered comparable profitability, soil mineral N, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), during both the study years. However, further research and field trials on nano fertilizers alone or in combination with conventional fertilizers are essential to fully unlock its benefits and ascertain its long-term effects which may offer a pathway to more efficient and eco-friendly crop nourishment.

Fertilization and cultivation management promotes soil phosphorus availability by enhancing soil P-cycling enzymes and the phosphatase encoding genes in bulk and rhizosphere soil of a maize crop in sloping cropland

Fertilization and cultivation managements exert significant effects on crop growth and soil-associated nutrients in croplands. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how these practices affect soil phosphorus-cycling enzymes and functional genes involved in regulating global P-cycling, especially under intense agricultural management practices in sloping croplands. A long-term field (15-year) trial was conducted in a 15° sloping field based on five treatments: no fertilizer amendments + downslope cultivation (CK); mixed treatment of mineral fertilizer and organic manure + downslope cultivation (T1); mineral fertilizer alone + downslope cultivation (T2); 1.5-fold mineral fertilizer + downslope cultivation (T3); and mineral fertilizer + contour cultivation (T4). Bulk and rhizosphere soil samples were collected after the maize crop was harvested to determine the P fraction, P-cycling enzymes, and phosphatase-encoding genes. Results indicated that fertilization management significantly increased the inorganic (Pi) and organic soil (Po) P fractions compared to CK, except for NaOH-extractable Po in T1 and T3 in bulk and rhizosphere soils, respectively. For the cultivation treatments, the content of Pi pools in the downslope cultivation of T1 and T3 was significantly larger than that in the contour cultivation of T4 in bulk and rhizosphere soils. However, the content of NaOH-extractable Po in T1 and T3 was lower compared to T4 in bulk soil and vice versa for the NaHCO3-P and HCl-Po fractions in the rhizosphere. We also found that fertilization and cultivation managements significantly increased the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), phytase, phosphodiesterases (PDE), and phoC and phoD gene abundance in bulk and rhizosphere soils, with a larger effect on the activity of ALP and the phosphatase encoding phoD gene, especially in T1 and T3 in the rhizosphere. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass C and P (MBC and MBP) were the main predictors for regulating P-cycling enzymes and phoC- and phoD gene abundance. A strong association of P-cycling enzymes, especially ALP and phytase, and the abundance of phoD genes with the P fraction indicated that the soil P cycle was mainly mediated by microbial-related processes. Together, our results demonstrated that an adequate amount of mineral fertilizer alone or combined with organic fertilizer plus downslope cultivation is more effective in promoting soil P availability by enhancing the activity of ALP, phytase, and phoD genes. This provides valuable information for sustaining soil microbial-regulated P management practices in similar agricultural lands worldwide.

Analisis Produksi Padi Sawah (oryza sativa) di Nagari Batu Hampar Selatan Kecamatan Koto XI Tarusan Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of lowland rice farmers in Nagari Batu Hampar Selatan and to determine the effect of land area, labor costs, number of seeds, amount of pesticides, and amount of fertilizer. This research was conducted in Nagari Batu Hampar Selatan, Koto XI Tarusan District, Pesisir Selatan Regency from October to November 2021. The population in this study was 52 who met the criteria (land area, farming experience and planting season January – March 2021). Determination of the location is done intentionally (purposive). The data used are primary and secondary data. The data analysis used is multiple linear regression analysis using the SPSS version 2020 program with the Cobb – Doughlass function. The results showed that the characteristics of lowland rice farmers in Nagari Batu Hampar Selatan were (a) The majority of farmers are aged 38-50 years with a total of 32 samples (61.54%), (b) farmers' education which is more dominant is junior high school as many as 29 samples (55.76%). (c) the most dominant land area is 0.5 Ha as many as 41 samples (78.84%), (d) the number of family members is more dominant is 4-9 family members as many as 51 samples (98.08%), (e) land ownership status is entirely self-owned as many as 52 samples (100%). The production factor that has a significant effect on the amount of lowland rice production partially is the number of seeds (X3). Meanwhile, simultaneously (together) all production factors such as land area (X1), labor (X2), number of seeds (X3), amount of pesticides (X4), and amount of fertilizer (X5), have a significant effect on the amount of lowland rice production. . The coefficient of determination (R2) in this study was 79.5%, (variables of land area, labor costs, number of seeds, amount of pesticides and amount of fertilizer contributed 79.5% to production)

Design and Analysis of Proximal Soil Sensing System Based on Electrochemical ISE Sensor for Total Nitrogen and Potassium Fertility Assessment

Traditional agriculture is the most practiced form of agriculture around the world. Conventional agriculture depends on applying harmful chemicals to the soil and plants, which are mostly synthetically formulated in a laboratory. A modern approach is known as Precision Agriculture (PA) has been introduced in the last two decades produce healthier crops and higher yields compared to conventional agriculture. By using precision agriculture, the farmers can improve their farming techniques and solve decades-old problems. From the study, plants suffering from a lack of N and K show decreasing photosynthetic activity and plants’ abilities to resist disease, leading to reduced crop yield quality and overall quantity. To solved this, the assessment and data analysis for N and K is required. This study aims to get the accurate value of N and K fertilizer used in the field to help restore the ecosystem and optimize yield while remaining environmentally sustainable. The fertilizer A and B will fill and mix into the aqueous solution, then proximal soil sensing ISE sensor will measure the concentration of Nitrate and Potassium ions in aqueous samples. The feedback signal from the ISE sensor will enter the Raspberry Pi controller and analysed through the Internet of Things (IOT) platform using the Node Red and Phyton simulation. Lastly, the data will be processed and monitored through the LCD. The evaluation performance and the result of the ISE Sensor will be validated using a correlation method. The correlation of the soil sensor and the lab analysis has shown that the right amount of NK fertilizer can help the farmer to manage the plant in the field.

Effects of chemical fertilizer reduction and organic fertilizer substitution on yield and quality of Saposhnikovia divaricata

To explore the suitable fertilizing pattern for Saposhnikovia divaricata in the genuine producing area, a field trial was carried out to investigate the changes in the yield and quality of medicinal materials and soil in different fertilization patterns, such as organic fertilizer substitution(organic fertilizer+NPK fertilizer) and chemical fertilizer reduction(organic fertilizer+NPK fertilizer decrement and organic fertilizer+NPK fertilizer decrement+soil conditioner). The comprehensive analysis of all treatments was based on the medicine quality evaluation data set and soil quality evaluation data set, respectively, by CRITIC weight method. The results showed that(1) the yield of S. divaricate increased by 4.93%-12.67% under the organic fertilizer substitution mode, and the yield increased by 44.43% under the treatment of chemical fertilizer reduction YHT15, which was higher than that of the organic fertilizer substitution mode.(2) The quality of S. divaricate under the two fertilization modes was superior to the standard in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the application of biochar was helpful to improve the quality of S. divaricate quality, with an increase of 82.83%-181.54%. CRITIC method analysis showed that fertilization treatments with high comprehensive scores were YHT15, YH30, and YH15.(3) Soil quality under the two fertilization modes was higher than that under the control. The fertilization treatments with higher comprehensive scores of soil quality were YHT15, YHT30, and YHT. The fertilization mode of adding biochar as soil conditioner, applying an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer, and reducing part of chemical fertilizer is the appropriate way to develop ecological plantation of S. divaricata in the Baicheng area in the western Jilin province. The specific fertilization mode is as follows. The basic fertilizer was 361 kg·hm~(-2) superphosphate+110 kg·hm~(-2) potassium sulfate+82 kg·hm~(-2) organic fertilizer+10 000 kg·hm~(-2) rice husk biochar, and urea was applied as top fertilizer three times, 29, 29, and 20 kg·hm~(-2), respectively.

Response of Quality and Yield of Foxtail Millet to Nitrogen and Zinc Application

The effect of nitrogen and zinc treatment on quality and yield was studied to provide a theoretical basis for generating high-quality and high-yielding foxtail millet. In the years 2021–2022, ‘Jingu 21’ was utilized as the test material in a split-plot design. The main plot was subjected to nitrogen treatment, while the sub-plot was treated with zinc. An arrangement of random blocks was employed. Four levels of nitrogen application (0 kg/hm2, 120 kg/hm2, 180 kg/hm2, 240 kg/hm2) and three levels of zinc application (20 mg/L, 40 mg/L, 80 mg/L foliar spraying) were set, resulting in a total of twelve treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times, with each plot covering an area of 15 m2. (1) The findings indicated that the contents of crude fat and crude protein in foxtail millet increased initially and then decreased with the increase in nitrogen application concentration. Additionally, the protein components were found to be in the following order: gliadin &gt; albumin &gt; glutenin &gt; globulin. (2) Adding an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer under the same zinc level promoted the contents of amylose, total carotenoids, and flavonoids in millet to some extent. Over the course of two years, the content of flavonoids in millet was highest when treated with N180Zn40 (nitrogen 180 kg/hm2, zinc 40 mg/L), showing an increase of 50.14% and 58.67%, respectively, compared to the treatment of applying zinc fertilizer alone at the same zinc level. (3) The phytic acid content and phytic acid/zinc molar ratio exhibited a pattern of initially decreasing and then increasing with the rise in nitrogen and zinc concentrations. (4) The application of zinc fertilizer and increased nitrogen fertilizer for two consecutive years had a significant impact on the yield of millet. Additionally, the application of zinc fertilizer had a highly significant effect on both the ear weights and thousand-kernel weights of millet (p &lt; 0.001). The results demonstrated a positive synergistic effect when nitrogen fertilizer and zinc fertilizer were applied together. This combination significantly improved millet yield and thousand-kernel weights, enhanced the nutritional quality, and increased the content of functional components. Additionally, it also improved the availability of zinc.

Selenium-Containing Organic Fertilizer Application Affects Yield, Quality, and Distribution of Selenium in Wheat.

This study was designed to investigate the effect on wheat yield of applying organic fertilizers (OF) with five different selenium (Se) concentrations. The mineral nutrients, cadmium (Cd) content, and the distribution of Se in wheat plants were also measured. The results showed that wheat yields reached a maximum of 9979.78 kg ha-1 in Mengcheng (MC) County and 8868.97 kg ha-1 in Dingyuan (DY) County, Anhui Province, China when the application amount of selenium-containing organic fertilizer (SOF) was up to 600 kg ha-1. Among the six mineral nutrients measured, only the calcium (Ca) content of the grains significantly increased with an increase in the application amount of SOF in the two regions under study. Cd content showed antagonistic effects with the Se content of wheat grains, and when the SOF was applied at 1200 kg ha-1, the Cd content of the grains was significantly reduced by 30.1% in MC and 67.3% in DY, compared with under the Se0 treatment. After application of SOF, the Se content of different parts of the wheat plant ranked root > grain > spike-stalk > glume > leaf > stem. In summary, SOF application at a suitable concentration could increase wheat yields and significantly promote the Ca content of the grains. Meanwhile, the addition of Se effectively inhibited the level of toxic Cd in the wheat grains.