Availability Of Major Nutrients Research Articles

Effect of Organic Manure and Biofertilizers on the Growth, Yield and Productivity of Guava under Meadow Orcharding

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic manure and biofertilizers on the growth, yield and productivity of guava under meadow orcharding at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. In this experiment, various organic sources (Farm yard manure (30 kg/plant/y), vermicompost (30 kg/plant/y) and neem cake (3 kg/plant/y) along with various biofertilizer combinations (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSB) were tested on five-year-old guava cultivar 'Allahabad Safeda' to study its effect on growth, fruiting and yield. The results obtained showed higher fruit weight (218.00 g), fruit length (7.60 cm), fruit diameter (7.42 cm), maximum number of fruits produced per plant (26.64 fruits/plant), maximum yield per plant of 5.81 kg/plant and maximum yield per ha (23.12 t/ha) with the application of T9. The highest total soluble solids (12°Brix) and total sugar content of fruit (8.26%) with the application of T9. Application of nutrients through organic along with biofertilizers improve soil health in terms of mean microbial population in the rhizosphere of root zone soil as compared to control. From the present study, the application of biofertilizers with the combination of organic manures has a beneficial effect on the availability of major nutrients in the soil to help in maintaining of the soil fertility and plant growth of the fruits at a desired level. It can be concluded that, for better growth, yield and quality guava fruits, the guava trees should be fertilized with (FYM (30kg/plant) +Azospirillum @250g/tree +PSB @250g/tree +Neem cake @3kg/tree) per year with treatment T9.

Scheduling of nutrient doses for rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) rootstock under containerized primary and secondary nursery

The study was carried out to investigate and standardize the nutritional requirement of commonly used roughlemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush) citrus rootstock for raising commercial primary and secondary containerized nursery.The aim of the study was also to reduce fairly high (2 years) time required traditionally for seedling production incitrus nurseries and to provide healthy seedlings. Two separate experiments, comprising different nutrient doseswere conducted under primary and secondary containerized nursery. The results revealed that dry weight of all theplant parts and number of leaves was maximum with the application of 40+25+25 g NPK. Uptake of all the macronutrients,viz. N (31.2 mg), P (1.33 mg) and K (27.7 mg) by the plants was also highest under this treatment. Whileplant height and leaf chlorophyll contents were better in 20+10+10g NPK as compared to control. In secondarynursery, application of 4+2+2 g NPK recorded maximum plant height, stem girth, budding success rate (95.8%) andsignificantly reduced the time required for budding. Although availability of major nutrients was significantly highestin 60+25+25 g NPK treatment, it could not encourage the growth of the plants and induced plant mortality. In primarynursery, application of 40+25+25 g NPK and in secondary nursery, application 4+2+2 g NPK potting mixture wereproved to be the superior nutrient dosage for rough lemon rootstock.

The effect of soil fertility on antioxidant enzymes activity in a subarctic woody species

The influence of major nutrients’ reserves (available to plants) – nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) – in the top 25-cm layer of soil on the Karelian birch (Betula pendula Roth var. carelica (Mercl.) Hämet-Ahti) with non-figured and figured wood via the antioxidant enzymes’ activity was investigated. The analysis of sites in area where Karelian birch trees with varying degree of figured wood intensity were growing was carried out. The cambial zone of the sample trees during active cambial growth period was studied for the activity of AOS enzyme complex (superoxide dismutase (SOD); catalase (CAT); peroxidase (POD); polyphenol oxidase (PPO)). Cellulose content and lignin content were studied. It was noticed that the availability of major nutrients in the investigated sites had influence on the degree of figured wood intensity in Karelian birch plants. Thus, non-figured and figured Karelian birch plants that grew on sites with various levels of major nutrients’ reserves differed in the AOS enzymes’ activity, which was a consequence of different xylogenesis scenarios in the studied birch forms. It was supposed, that the certain site conditions (N, P, K levels) formation could affect the degree of figured wood intensity, cellulose and lignin content. The N level and P/N ratio had the most effects under the adequate K level. So AOS enzymes’ complex activity could indicate differences in Karelian birch wood quality in sites that differ in soil fertility (N, P, K levels).

DTPA-extractable micronutrients in Inceptisols of Chunar, Mirzapur and its correlation with physicochemical properties of soil

Micronutrients are considered as inevitable elements in the production of quality food produce because of their involvement in various enzymatic as well as metabolic processes. The deficiency of micronutrients in plants is reflected as significant reduction in yield and quality. During last few years imbalanced nutrient fertilization and decrease in nutrient use efficiency leads to soil mining and its sickness which ultimately result to decline in crop yield and production potential in Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) an intensively cultivated area of India. Ignorance of micronutrients in long run may cause malnutrition too later on. Considering this fact micronutrients viz. Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B were analyzed using standard methods along with the factors affecting its availability (pH, soil organic matter and soil texture and availability of major nutrients). The range (mean) values of DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were 16.20 to 43.60 (24.16), 1.02 to 6.46 (2.95), 0.44 to 3.17 (1.56), and 0.50 to 1.80 (0.75) in Gangpur; 13.20 to 35.60 (22.79), 0.70-7.00 (3.45), 0.38 to 1.72 (1.23) and 0.52 to 1.14 (0.73) mg kg-1 soil in Bhawanipur village. Results revealed the sufficiency of all the micronutrients in the selected region but giving an indication to maintain such levels in future also.

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Association of Soil Parameters with Various Age Classes of Forests of Mukundpur, Satna, Forest Division, Madhya Pradesh, India

Aims: This forest area was susceptible to illicit felling, encroachment and illicit mining. From this problem the forests are changing from stocked - under stocked - blank forests. The majority of the area are blank and under stocked category. To re-vegetate the blank and under stocked area into stocked forests, the soil parameters in the study area were needed to be studied in detail. In the present study the associations of soil parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, availability of major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) and micro nutrients like (copper, manganese, iron and zinc) with various age classes of forests were analyzed.
 Study Design: Stratified systematic random sampling.
 Place and Duration of Study: Study area was the forest area of 111.55 km2 of Mukundpur range of Satna Forest division, Madhya Pradesh, India. Field work was carried out during October 2015 to January 2016.
 Methodology: The vegetation sampling had been done to assess the forest resource survey. Stratified systematic random sampling method was used for sampling the vegetation. The minimum numbers of sample points were calculated using statistical formula. The 151 sample points at 30”x 30” were selected on safer side with the help of GPS. Half kg of soil sample was collected from central quadrat from the depth of 30 cm from the sample point and air-dried under shade. These samples were sent to soil testing lab Rewa to assess the soil parameters pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, available P2O5, available K2O and micronutrient analysis for availability of zinc, iron, manganese and copper. The Microsoft access program was developed to evaluate the above soil parameters in various age classes of forests. Age classes of forest are defined as, Mature: where average girth of forest trees is more than 120 cm, Middle age: where the average girth of trees of a particular forest stands between 61-120 cm, Young age: where average girth of trees of particular stand is below 60 cm.
 Results: Results of individual soil parameters on various age classes of forests were summarized below:
 The average value of pH in different age classes did not change significantly with average value of pH of the study area. The electrical conductivity within encroachment and blank category significantly changed but in medium and young age classes it did not differ significantly with average electrical conductivity of the study area. In encroachment and blank organic carbon content and available nitrogen were significantly higher but in medium and young age classes these parameters did not change significantly with the average value of organic carbon content and available nitrogen of the study area. The average value of available phosphorous in blank and young age classes did not change significantly but in encroachment and medium young age class it was significantly higher than the average value of available phosphorous of the whole study area. The average value of available K2O in encroachment, blank and young age class did not change significantly but it changed significantly in medium age class with average K2O value of study area. Except the encroachment category, the average zinc and iron value in blank, medium and young age classes did not change significantly with average value of the study area. The average value of Mn in encroachment and blank varied significantly but in medium and young category it did not change significantly with the average value of the study area. The average values of Cu with in Blank and young age classes did not change significantly but it had changed significantly in encroachment in medium age class with average value of the study area.
 The results of combined effects of pH, EC, Organic Carbon and combined impact of nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O (macro nutrients) did not have significant association within various age classes of study area. The results of combined effects of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu did not have significant association within various age classes of study area.
 Conclusion: The effects of pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon were not significant in age classes of study area either individually or jointly. The available nitrogen did not play significant role in age class formation of forest but P2O5 and K2O did make significant impact on medium age classes individually, but the combined effects of nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O (macro nutrients) did not have significant association within various age classes of study area. Individually the Zn, Fe and Mn did not play significant impact on age class formation of the forest, though Cu is significant in medium age classes. The overall impacts of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu did not have significant association within various age classes of study area.

Availability of major nutrients in an Ultisol in Southern Sri Lanka treated with selected organic amendments intermixed with hydrophobic organic manure

The addition of a small amount of hydrophobic organic manure blended with commonly used organic amendments is found to induce slight water repellency, improve aggregate stability, and reduce organic matter decomposition without detrimentally affecting hydrophysical properties of tropical Ultisols. The present study was conducted to explore any negative impacts of this strategy on the availability of soil nutrients. A field experiment was conducted using Cattle (CM) and Goat manure (GM), and Gliricidia sepium (GL) leaves amended with soils in 5% rate. Separate plots were prepared by mixing 2% of Casuarina equisetifolia (CE) leaves which shows hydrophobic characteristics, with 5% of each manure (CM, GM, GL) separately to induce slight water repellency. Bush bean was established in the field and the major nutrients (N, P, and K) were tested at initial, vegetative, flowering, and harvesting stages. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS 9.1 statistical software. The results revealed that the highest and the least N contents were at the initial (40-130 mg/kg) and vegetative stages (8-20 mg/kg), respectively. The P contents were high at initial and vegetative stages (1-55 mg/kg) compared with other stages (<6 mg/kg). The highest and the least K contents were at flowering (370-600 mg/kg) and vegetative (40-210 mg/kg) stages, respectively. The nutrient contents of the samples with intermixed 2% CE were statistically the same or higher than those without 2% CE in most of the growth stages. The yields of the plots with GL and GM with 2% CE were significantly higher than those with only 5% GL and GM. The harvest index was significantly high in the treatment with 5% GM intermixed 2% CE. It can be concluded that the addition of extra 2% CE would not be unfavorable on nutrient availability and it would result in higher yields and harvest indices.

Effect of Rock Phosphate along with Organic Manures on Soil Properties, Yield and Nutrient Uptake by Wheat and Chickpea

Two separate field experiments were conducted at Post Graduate Institute, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, Maharashtra on wheat and chickpea crops to test the effect of rock phosphate (RP) along with organic manures on an Inceptisols (Vertic Haplustepts) with ten treatments viz. absolute control, P control (recommended dose of N and K excluding P), recommended dose of N and K along with RP, RP+ phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB), RP+pressmud cake+PSB, RP+FYM+PSB, RP+vermicompost + PSB, RP+fresh cow dung+PSB, RP+post biomethanated spentwash+PSB and single superphosphate (SSP). The incubation of RP in organic manures and PSB proved better for increasing the availability of major nutrients for both crops. Availability of P at 90 days after sowing and at harvest was significantly increased by incorporation of RP incubated with fresh cow dung and PSB. The nutrient uptake by both crops was also increased due to the application of RP with organic manures and PSB. This improvement in availability of nutrients ultimately resulted in significant increase in yield of both the crops over absolute control, P control and RP treatments. Among the organic manure treatments the availability of N and P and yield of both crops was highest in RP+fresh cow dung+PSB treatment.

Extent of availability of major nutrients from selected Cereal Crop Residues to dairy ruminants as an alternative Dry Season Forage in Northern Uganda.

This work aimed at determining the availability of major nutrients from cereal crop residues (CRs) of maize, rice and sorghum to dairy ruminants in Northern Uganda. The major nutrient composition of the CRs was determined to establish their potential as alternative dry season forage resources for dairy animals. The CRs were selected based on crop economic importance and availability at the on-set of the dry season in randomly selected sub-counties of Lira, Otuke and Kole districts. Five samples of each CR were obtained from 20 farmer’s fields immediately after harvesting of each crop. Chemical analyses measured included Dry matter (DM), Crude protein (CP), Acid detergent fiber (ADF), Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), Digestible energy (DE), Organic matter digestibility (OM dig), Calcium (Ca), and Phosphorous (P). Fresh maize stover (MSF) had the highest CP (70.5g/kg DM), DE (11.3 MJ/kg DM), and lowest lignifications (49g/kg DM). Rice straw (RS) had a CP (42.1g/kg DM), lowest DE (6.9MJ/kg DM) and OM dig (506 g/kg DM). Dry maize stover (MSD) had the highest lignifications (76.0 g/kg DM) and low OM dig (543 g/kg DM) and sorghum stover (SS) had the lowest CP (40.0 g/kg DM) and a very low DE (7.1MJ/kg DM). The low CP levels and high levels of lignification limit the digestibility of the CR. However, their CF digestibility can be improved using an energy rich by-product, molasses (12.7MJ/kg DM) while the CP limitation due to ligfications can be improved through urea treatment.

Studies on effect of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers on plant nutrient status and availability of major nutrients in tomato

The present study was aimed to assess the influence of integrated use of organic manures (FYM and vermicompost), inorganic fertilizers and azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria containing biofertilizers (Azophos) on plant nutrient uptake and post harvest soil fertility status of tomato cultivation. The field experiment was carried out by combining 14 different treatment combinations during winter season of 2005–06 and 2006–07 at UBKV, Pundibari, CoochBehar, West Bengal, India. The pooled results revealed that uptake of major nutrients were significantly influenced by the combination of different sources of nutrients. The finding showed that application of 4 tonnes vermicompost per hectare supplemented with 75% of recommended inorganic fertilizer inoculated with Azophos resulted in maximum uptake of macro nutrients by the tomato plants. Similarly the soil status of N, P, and K was also increased by the same treatment combination. Integrated application of diverse source of nutrients not only increased the uptake of plant nutrients but also improved the post harvest soil fertility and subsequently helped for achieving the much desired crop production with sustainable soil health.

Responses of Irish Vegetation to Future Climate Change

It is widely accepted that anthropogenically driven climate change is having a significant impact on the natural environment of Ireland and this will accelerate in the future. The changes have been attributed to increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, of which carbon dioxide (C02) is the main contributor. There is now increasing evidence that elevated C02 will directly alter the structure of plant communities although this will depend on the availability of major nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Changes in plant phenology will also occur as a result of warming, resulting in changed patterns of development of vegetation and in particular longer growing seasons for plants. Climate plays a pivotal role in determining the geographic distribution of plant species and climate 'envelopes' describe the potential range of climatic conditions over which species and ecosystems occur. As the climate changes these climate envelopes will move and, based on available evidence, the predicted change in climate is expected to have significant effects on the distribution of species and ecosystems. Modelling of climate envelope movements show that some of the key Irish habitats, particularly peatlands, are likely to be vulnerable and may be eliminated by climatic change predicted during the rest of this century.

Nutrient availability and grain yield of winter sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) as influenced by tillage practices and integrated nutrient management in Vertisols of semi-arid tropics of India

A field experiment was conducted in Vertisols at Bijapur during 1994-96 to study the effect of tillage practices and integrated nutrient management on winter sorghum yield and soil nutrient availability. The increase in winter sorghum yield with deep tillage over medium and shallow tillage was 27 and 57% in 1994-95 as compared to 18 and 34% in 1995-96. Deep tillage resulted in 22 and 45% higher yield as compared to medium and shallow tillage in the pooled data. This was mainly due to conservation and increased availability of moisture and nutrients, i.e. N, P and K. The higher availability of nutrients in the topsoil (0-0.15 m) as compared to the subsoil (0.15-0.30 m) was due to the application of nutrients in the topsoil layer and the higher rate of mineralization. Among the organic materials applied, Leucaena loppings at 2.5 t ha-1 led to a significantly (9%) higher yield (1636 kg ha-1) over vermicompost (1500 kg ha-1) and was on par with farmyard manure (1572 kg ha-1) in the pooled data and during both years of the study. The higher percentage increase in grain yield with Leucaena application was due to the better moisture conservation and availability of major nutrients, i.e. N, P and K. Winter sorghum responded significantly to N application at 25 kg ha-1 in 1994-95, whereas in 1995-96 and in the pooled data the response varied up to 50 kg N ha-1. In the pooled data, the grain yield increased by 17 and 24% with the application of 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 compared with the control. The higher yields obtained with the application of nitrogen were due to the better availability of nutrients, especially N, as these soils are low in available N.

248 BLOOD SUBSTRATE LEVELS IN OVO: RELATIONSHIP TO FETAL SIZE

The availability of major nutrients and oxygen in fetal blood was compared to the size achieved by the chicken fetus. 28 White Leghorn eggs, 44–67g, were incubated at 37°c. At 18 days, blood was drawn from an umbilical (chorioallantoic) vein and analyzed for whole blood glucose, amino acids(as α amino N), O2 sat. and Hgb and plasma total protein and cholesterol. After sacrifice, the fetus and organs were weighed. Chemistry results are given as the meant SEM (range), and no. of fetuses studied. Values were: glucose, 121.6±4.3(57.9–157.5)mg/dl, n=24; amino N, 11.1±0.8 (3.8–18.8)mg/dl, n=23; total protein, 1.2+0.1 (0.6–1.5)g/dl, n=ll; cholesterol, 459±51 (295–710) mg/dl, n=10;O2 sat., 59.2±3.1 (14.5–77.8)%, n=21; and Hgb, 8.2±0.4 (5.6–14.2) gm/dl, n=21. Fetal weight averaged 13.9±0.6g (range 8.0 to 20.3). When substrate concentrations and size were compared,significant correlations were found between the calculated O2 content and fetal weight(r=0.463, n=21, p<0.05) and between Hgb and weight (r=0.564, n=21, p<0.01). However, the most significant correlation was between amino N and fetal weight(r=0.686, n=23, p<0.001). Amino N levels also correlated inversely with fetal brain/liver ratios (r=-0.473, n=22, p<0.05) and brain/body ratios (r=-0.473, n=22, p<0.05) Both ratios were higher in smaller fetuses. No relationships were found between fetal size and levels of glucose, protein or cholesterol. This study indicates that amino acid availability and maintenance of oxygen delivery are major determinants of growth in the fetal chicken. Studies in the chicken may provide insight into mammalian fetal development, since decreased amino N concentrations, reduced oxygen levels and high brain/liver and brain/body ratios are also found in the growth retarded, fetal mammal.