Combined Application Of Organic Manure Research Articles

EFFECT OF ORGANIC MANURES AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF FISH AMINO ACID ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND DRY MATTER PRODUCTION OF AFRICAN MARIGOLD (TAGETES ERECTA L.)

African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is one of the important commercial flower crop grown exclusively for their vibrant blooms. An experiment entitled “Effect of organic manures with foliar application of fish amino acid on growth and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) was carried out in the department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar during (2018–2020). The twelve treatments includes organic inputs such as farmyard manure (25 t ha-1), vermicompost (5t ha-1), oilcake (2 t ha-1) along with foliar application of two levels of fish amino acid @ 2% and 4 % . The treatments were studied under randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Among the twelve treatments, the performance of plants treated with (FYM @ 25t ha-1+ Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + FAA @ 4%) resulted in superior plant height (63.42 cm), plant spread (54.31cm), number of primary branches (13.68), secondary branches (24.17) , number of leaves (154.86 ), dry matter production (118.23 g plant-1). Hence it is concluded that combined application of organic manures and fish amino acid had a good synergetic effect on vegetative growth of African marigold.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Flower Quality of French Marigold (Tagetes patula L.) cv. Pusa Arpita

The present investigation was carried out with the aim to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management on flower quality of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) cv. Pusa Arpita at the Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, U. P., India, during the year 2019-2020. The study consisted of organic manures (FYM and Vermicompost), Bio-fertilizers (PSB and Azotobacter), and the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer (RDF) (150:60:60 kg NPK/ha). The combined application of ½ RDF + ½ PSB+ ½ Vermicompost showed significant influence on quality parameters that include; maximum flowering duration (60.66 days), circumference of flower (22.51 cm), number of florets per flower (136.55), length of flower stalk (6.44 cm), and the vase life of flowers were enhanced by up to 7.47 days over the control that was recorded in the same treatment. The study concluded that there was a significant influence of the combined application of organic manure, bio-fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer on French marigold to enhance the flowering quality and their characters.

Effects of short-term manure nitrogen input on soil microbial community structure and diversity in a double-cropping paddy field of southern China

The soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities were affected by different fertilizer management. Fertilizer regime were closely relative to the soil texture and nutrient status in a double-cropping paddy field of southern China. However, there was limited information about the influence of different manure nitrogen (N) input on soil microbial communities in a double-cropping rice (Oryza sativa L.) field. Therefore, the short-term different manure N input rate management on soil bacterial and fungal diversity in a double-cropping paddy field of southern China were studied by using Illumina sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology in the present paper. The filed experiment were including 100% N of chemical fertilizer (M0), 30% N of organic manure and 70% N of chemical fertilizer (M30), 50% N of organic manure and 50% N of chemical fertilizer (M50), 100% N of organic manure (M100), and without N fertilizer input as control (CK). The results showed that diversity indices of soil microbial communities with application of organic manure and chemical N fertilizer treatments were higher than that of CK treatment. Application of organic manure and chemical N fertilizer management increase soil bacterial abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, and soil fungi abundance of the phylum Basidiomycota and Zygomycota were also increased. Compared with CK treatment, the value of Richness, Shannon and McIntosh indices, and taxonomic diversity were increased with M30, M50 and M100 treatments. This finding demonstrated that M30, M50 and M100 treatments modify soil bacterial and fungal diversity. Therefore, the combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer N management could significantly increase the abundance of profitable functional bacteria and fungi species in a double-cropping rice field of southern China.

Influence of Different Organic Manures and Their Combinations on Productivity and Quality of Bread Wheat

Organic manures are a vital source of plant nutrients and act as the main pillar of sustainable agriculture. This 2-year field study was done to evaluate the influence of different organic manures and their combinations on productivity and grain quality of bread wheat. In a 2-year field experiment, there were eight organic manure application treatments: (1) control (no manure), (2) press mud (PM) 10 t ha−1, (3) vermicompost (VC) 10 t ha−1, (4) farmyard manure (FYM) 10 t ha−1, (5) press mud 5 t ha−1 + vermicompost 5 t ha−1, (6) press mud 5 t ha−1 + farmyard manure 5 t ha−1, (7) vermicompost 5 t ha−1 + farmyard manure 5 t ha−1, and (8) press mud 3.3 t ha−1 + vermicompost 3.3 t ha−1 + farmyard manure 3.3 t ha−1. Overall, the increase in grain yield from organic manures application (press mud, vermicompost and farmyard manure), alone and in combinations, was VC > VC + FYM > FYM > PM + VC > PM > PM + VC + FYM > PM + FYM with 68, 66, 55, 53, 38, 36, and 30% increase as compared to control during both years. The highest improvement (14.1%) in grain protein contents was recorded from vermicompost as compared to control during both years. Application of different organic manures, alone and in combinations, were cost effective. However, the highest benefit-cost ratio (1.56) was recorded from the farmyard manure application. Sole and combined application of organic manures improved the productivity and quality of bread wheat. However, the highest productivity and profitability were recorded from the application of vermicompost and farmyard manure, respectively.

Effects of long-term fertiliser regime on soil organic carbon and its labile fractions under double cropping rice system of southern China

ABSTRACT This study was designed to explore changes in soil bulk density, soil organic carbon content, soil organic carbon stock and soil labile organic carbon fractions under 34 years fertilizer regime in the double-cropping rice system of southern China. The experiment including five fertilizer treatments: chemical fertilizer alone (MF), rice straw residue and chemical fertilizer (RF), 30% organic manure and 70% chemical fertilizer (LOM), 60% organic manure and 40% chemical fertilizer (HOM), and without fertilizer input as control (CK). The results showed that soil bulk density in the 0-20 cm soil layer with long-term fertilizer treatments were significantly decreased compared to CK treatment. The soil organic carbon content and stock with RF, LOM and HOM treatments were significantly higher than that of MF and CK treatments. These results confirmed by the soil carbon management index which were significantly increased with RF, LOM and HOM treatments. As a result, combined application of organic manure with chemical fertilizer is a benefit nutrient management for improving soil organic carbon content and stock, soil carbon management index in paddy field of southern China.

Soil fertility status of cassava fields treated by integrated application of manure and NPK fertilizer in Zambia

BackgroundCassava is a heavy feeder crop that can cause serious depletion to soil nutrient stocks. This research aimed to explore soil fertility status and nutrient supply capacity at different growth stages of cassava fields under combined application of organic manure and NPK fertilizers in two agroecologies of Zambia. Topsoil (0–20 cm) samples were collected from cassava fields treated with factorial combination of four levels of chicken manure (0, 1.4, 2.8, and 4.2 ton ha−1) and four levels of NPK (control, 50N-11P-41.5K, 100N-22P-83K, and 150N-33P-124.5P). The soils were sampled under the cassava canopy to determine soil pH, available phosphorus (AP), total nitrogen (TN), organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable bases and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn). The samples were collected before planting andafter establishment at 4, 8, and 12 months after planting (MAP).ResultsManure application significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil pH, while the application of mineral fertilizer reduced soil pH at all the plant growth stages. Similarly, manure application and their interaction with mineral fertilizer increased OC and TN levels, especially at harvest. By contrast, OC and TN decreased with the application of mineral fertilizer. AP levels increased following the application of both fertilizers. In addition, manure application significantly increased soil Zn content from 0.69 mg kg−1 in the control to 3.54 mg kg−1 for the highest level of manure at harvest. The interaction between manure and NPK significantly affected Fe and Mn content in the soil.ConclusionThe results revealed that sole chicken manure application or its combination with mineral fertilizer improves soil nutrient status of cassava fields in Zambian condition.

Maize Yield Response under Various Phosphorus Sources and their Ratios

Improper use of fertilizers and its ratio is one of the main reasons for low productivity; therefore balance fertilization is required to maintain crop production and improved soil fertility. Therefore the experiment was carried out at Cereal Crop Research Institute (CCRI) Pirsabak, Distract Nowshera KP, Pakistan during Kharif 2016. To study the effect of different phosphorus (P) sources and their ratios on maize yield and yield components, an experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replication. The treatments consisted of sole application of Farmyard Manure (FYM), Poultry Manure (PM) and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), 75% FYM+25% DAP, 50% FYM+50% DAP, 75% PM+25% DAP, 50% PM+50% DAP and a control treatment with no P fertilizer. Phosphorus was applied at the rate of 100 kg ha-1 from different sources in different ratios. The results indicated a significant effect of different phosphorus sources on days to tasselling, days to silking, days to maturity, plant height, grains ear-1, grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index, whereas the emergence m-2 was found non-significant with different P sources. The combined use of organic and inorganic P sources delayed tasselling, silking and maturity. Plant height, grains ear-1, biological yield, grain yield, and harvest index was also higher with the addition of P from both sources as compared with the sole application of organic or inorga nic fertilizer. The combined application of organic manures 50:50 (FYM or PM) and inorganic fertilizer (DAP) performed better as compared to the rest of the ratios and produced higher yield and yield components.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Green Pod Yield of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cv MIPC-01

A field experiment was conducted to study the eect of combined application of organic manures with recommended inorganic fertilizers (RIF) and to nd out the best combination of applications on green pod yield of chilli cv. MIPC-01 (Mahailluppallama Kaludawali Selection). The following five treatment combinations viz. T1- No fertilizer (control plot), T2- 100% RIF, T3- 50% RIF + 15 t ha-1 cattle manure, T4- 50% RIF + 15 t ha-1 cattle manure + 250 kg ha-1 partially burnt paddy husk, T5- 50% RIF + 15 t ha-1 cattle manure + 500 kg ha-1 partially burnt paddy husk were laid out in a Randomised Completely Block Design and replicated four times. The measurements related to growth and yield parameters were taken using destructive random sampling method. The results revealed that among the tested fertilizer combinations, there were signicant dierences (p&lt;0.05) in plant height, root length, number of owers, average numbers of pod per plant and pod length compared to the control treatment. The application of 50% RIF, 15 t ha-1 cattle manure along with 500 kg ha-1 partially burnt paddy husk produced higher number of pods per plant (10.50 and 24.50) and average pod weight per plant (40.42g cm and 90.16 g) over the control treatment at 120 and 150 DAT (days after transplanting) respectively. It is concluded that application of 50% RIF with 15 t ha-1 cattle manure and 500 kg ha-1 partially burnt paddy husk is the best combination to obtain higher green pod yield of chilli.

Effects of combined application of chemical fertilizer and organic manure on wheat yield and leaching of residual nitrate-N in dryland soil

The effects of optimum nitrogen (N) fertilization rate with and without adding manure on wheat yield and leaching of residual nitrate-N in soil profile were examined in Weibei dryland, Shaanxi with a field experiment combined different N fertilization rates (0, 75, 150, 225, 300 kg N·hm-2) and organic manure (0 and 30 t·hm-2). The results showed that, compared to chemical N fertilizer, combined application of inorganic fertilizer and organic manure increased winter wheat yield by 14.7% when N fertilization rate was reduced by 27.1%. The highest yield was obtained when 150 kg·hm-2 of N rate was combined with the manure (N150+M). The combination of N fertilizer and manure promoted N uptake of wheat grain and increased N use efficiency by 20.2%. The highest N use efficiency was recorded in the N150+M treatment. In addition, the lea-ching of residual nitrate-N during the wheat growing season and the leaching of nitrate-N during summer fallow were decreased. When N application rate was lower than 115 kg·hm-2, N fertilizer combined with organic manure reduced the amount of nitrate-N leaching in summer fallow. We recommend the combined application of organic manure with about 150 kg·hm-2 of N fertilizers in Weibei dryland to guarantee high winter wheat yield, N use efficiency, and reduce excessive residue of fertilizer N in the soil.

Effect of inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments on soil chemical properties and rice yield in a low-productivity paddy soil

Integrating inorganic fertilizers (NPK) with organic materials have been common practices for sustainable agriculture production in low-productivity paddy soil. A 4-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the annual application of inorganic fertilizer in contrast with the combined application of organic manures and NPK on rice grain yield and the soil chemical properties. Six treatments, including control (no fertilizer), NPK alone, NPK plus spent mushroom compost at 1.5 Mg ha−1 (NPK + MC), NPK plus green manure at 3.6 Mg ha−1 (NPK + GM), NPK plus cattle manure at 4.7 Mg ha−1 (NPK + CM), and NPK plus rice straw at 3.0 Mg ha−1 (NPK + RS)—were applied in this study. The results indicated that the rice grain yields for 2014 under the NPK + CM and NPK + RS treatments were 11.4% and 9.3% higher, respectively, compared with the NPK alone treatment. No significant differences in rice yield were observed between the plots using NPK and NPK + MC or NPK + GM treatments. The application of CM to the soil surface led to significantly higher soil pH (0.16–0.29 units), cation exchange capacity (CEC) (17.4%–21.9%), and lower exchangeable acidity and Al3+ concentrations at soil depths of 0–20 cm, compared with the NPK alone treatment. However, no significant differences in pH or concentrations of base cations in the soil were observed in the 0–10 cm soil layer after the application of NPK alone or NPK plus the other three organic amendments. Additionally, the application of NPK + CM at 4.7 Mg ha−1 y−1 showed the highest available P concentration at 0–10 cm depth. Overall, the rice grain yield, soil pH, and available P were effectively improved by NPK in combination with CM at 4.7 Mg ha−1.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Crop productivity and Soil Fertility Status under Maize (Zea mays)-Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cropping Sequence

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management in maize (Var. RCM-76) and wheat (Var. DBW-14) during the Kharif and Rabi season of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at three villages i.e. Louding, Shakti and Changprong in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Continuous application of farmyard manure (FYM) and cut paddy straw along with chemical fertilizers improved grain yield and fertility status. Substitution of 50 percent N through FYM and 50 percent recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in maize and 100% RDF through inorganic fertilizer in wheat recorded the highest grain yield of maize (3.5 t/ha) and wheat (4.0 t/ha), net return of maize (Rs. 26, 250/ha) and wheat (Rs. 36, 000/ha) and nutrient uptake (209.2, 30.4 and 196.0 kg N, P and K/ha) in maize-wheat cropping system, respectively. Soil fertility status in terms of pH organic carbon, available N, P and K after two cycles of cropping, fertilizer and manure application were also affected by nutrient management practices. Continuous cropping with combined application of organic manure along with chemical fertilizers was found to be effective not only, for increasing grain yield of crops in maize-wheat cropping system, but also, for higher benefit: cost ratio, nutrient uptake and maintenance of soil fertility status.

Optimization of organic nutrient sources for green gram (Vigna radiata L. Welczek) under rainfed conditions.

A field investigation was conducted during the kharif season of 2012 at the experimental farm of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland. Sole and combined applications of different organic nutrient sources viz., FYM, vermicompost, pig manure, rhizobium and PSB (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria) were evaluated in order to optimize organic nutrient management for green gram under rainfed conditions. Results showed that the combined application of rhizobium + PSB + vermicompost @ 0.7 t/ha was found to be the most responsive nutrient management practice recording significantly higher crop growth and yield attributes and ultimately recording the highest seed and stover yields of 369 and 989 kg/ha respectively. Soil available N and K status after harvest as well as seed and stover NPK uptake was found to be significantly higher with combined application of organic manures viz., vermicompost and FYM along with biofertilizers rhizobium and PSB.

Productivity, Seed Quality and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)under Organic, Inorganic and Integrated Nutrient Management Practices after Twenty Years of Fertilization

A long-term field experiment started in 1995 on Research Farm of Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar (India) was selected to study the effects of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on productivity, seed quality and nutrient use efficiency of wheat under pearl millet-wheat cropping system. The organic manures (15 Mg FYM, 5 Mg poultry manure and 7.5 Mg pressmud) were applied alone and in combination with fertilizers (150 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha−1) and compared with chemical fertilizers applied alone (150 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 75 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha−1). The results showed that the application of organic manures in combination with N and P fertilizers significantly increased all yield attributes, i.e. plant height, number of tillers/m row length, spike length, number of grains/spike. Higher grain yield of wheat (61.4, 57.4 and 62.7 q ha−1) was observed when recommended dose of N and half of P was applied in conjunction with FYM, poultry manure and pressmud, respectively. Grain yield of wheat increased by 13.5, 6.1 and 15.9%, respectively, under same treatments when compared with recommended dose of N and P fertilizers. Among the organic manures, highest yield (32.9 q ha−1) was obtained with pressmud application. However, application of organic manures alone resulted in poor yield and even lower than 50% recommended dose of N and P fertilizer. All the seed quality parameters (standard germination, shoot length, root length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index-I and -II) improved with the combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers as compared to their individual application. The partial factor productivity of N and P increased with combined application organic manures and chemical fertilizer as compared to chemical fertilizers applied alone, however, nutrient harvest index and their utilization efficiency decreased with combined application of organic manures and fertilizers as compared to their individual application.

ANALISIS RAGAM GABUNGAN LINTAS LOKASI PEMUPUKAN PADI SAWAH DI KABUPATEN GOWA SULAWESI SELATAN

The combined analysis of variance is a method to analyze the interaction between treatments and the environments, conducted in farmers' fields. The combined analysis of variance across locations based on the assessment data of organic and inorganic fertilizer is with the model Yijk = u + Li + δik + Tj + ( LT ) ij + εijk conducted in Gowa from April to August 2012. The combined analysis can be applied as a test method of fertilization on farmers land that have different characteristics as to accommodate the influence of the land, treatments, and their interactions. The use of combined analysis of variance reveals the real effect of a single factor of fertilization, land factors, and their interaction, to several yield components, but to the component of growth there was no interaction between the two. It can be seen that the combined application of organic manures with inorganic fertilizers can increase rice production. Interaction between land 1 ( L1 ) with organic fertilizer of 5 t / ha + 200 kg Urea/ha + 300 kg NPK / ha ( T4 ) gave the highest paddy production (8,23 t / ha).

Crop productivity, aroma profile and antioxidant activity in Pelargoniumgraveolens L’Hér. under integrated supply of various organic and chemical fertilizers

Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. is an important commercial crop and source of industrially acclaimed geranium oil. Field experiments were conducted to study the response of integrated nutrient management on crop productivity, plant biochemical parameters, essential oil yield, oil quality, nutrient content and antioxidant property in P. graveolens during the years 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 in Lucknow, India. Different organic manures and chemical fertilizers in various combinations were applied to the crop. Plant height increased by 44%, leaf area by 40%, and essential oil yield increased to 106% in poultry manure (PM)+chemical fertilizer (CF) treatment. The N content was highest in CF followed by PM+CF, which were about 37% and 34% greater than the control, respectively. Antioxidant activity increased from 1.53% (control) to 5.94% in PM+CF treatment. Percentage of major aroma compounds increased in the combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer. Geraniol (26.08%–28.98%) was the major constituent of essential oil, followed by citronellol (22.86%–28.82%), 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (5.15%–5.31%), isomenthone (5.44%–6.83%) and linalool (3.01%–4.21%).Study concludes that the combined application of fifty percent each of CF (75:30:30 N:P:Kkgha−1) and PM (2.5kgha−1) gave significantly higher herb and oil yield with improved aroma profile, enhanced antioxidant properties and improvement in soil characteristics.

Effect of integrated nutrient management on physico-chemical parameters of soil in rice-wheat system

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of combined application of organic manure through biogas slurry in the form of bio gas slurry (BGS) and inorganic NPK fertilizers on soil physico-chemical properties of soil in rice, wheat or stevia. Laboratory analysis on the soil samples collected (October 2013) from an on-going long-term field experiment (in progress since Kharif 2009–10) was made. The organic manure through BGS @ 6 t ha−1 was incorporated along with nitrogen fertilizer (N @ 80 and 120 kg ha−1), phosphorus fertilizer (P @ 30 kg ha−1) and potassium fertilizer (K @ 30 kg ha−1) to the rice crop. In the wheat crop, nitrogen fertilizer (N @ 120 kg ha−1), phosphorus fertilizer (P @ 0, 30 and 60 kg ha−1) and potassium fertilizer (K @ 30 kg ha−1) were applied without addition of organic manure. Results showed that the application of organic manure through BGS along with inorganic fertilizers decreased the soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), whereas, the increased content of soil organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) was found in these treatments. On the other hand, among the physical properties, the bulk density (Db) and particle density (Dp) were found to decrease, whereas the water holding capacity (WHC) and porosity increased with the addition of organic manure along with chemical fertilizers under rice-wheat system.

Effects of organic manures and biofertilisers on herbage yield and bacoside content of Bacopa monnieri

A field experiment was conducted for two years to find out optimum doses of organic manures and biofertilizers for higher yield and enhanced quality of Bacopa monnieri under an All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants at Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Kerala. Nine treatment combinations of organic manures [farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost and coirpith compost] along with biofertilisers (Azospirillum and phosphorus solubilising bacteria [PSB]) with appropriate control were employed. Pooled results over two years indicated that performance of the crop was significantly higher under combined application of organic manures with biofertilisers compared to their individual application. Application of coirpith compost produced higher herbage yield and bacoside content among the individual application of organic manures tried. Application of coirpith compost along with Azospirillumand phosphorus solubilising bacteria registered higher yield and bacoside content. The combination of coirpith compost @ 5t/ha with Azospirillum and PSB each @1 kg/ha was found to be the best in terms of higher herbage yield and bacosdie content for this medicinal herb.

Short-term effects of sustainable agricultural practices for spring maize (Zea mays L.) production on soil organic carbon characteristics

The effects of the integrated adoption of several recommended sustainable agricultural practices (SAP) on maize grain yield and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of soil organic carbon (SOC) were studied in 2 years, spring maize monoculture field plot experiment. The recommended agricultural practices included conservation tillage, combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizers, and crop residue return. Compared with the conventional agricultural practices (CAP), the maize grain yield increased in the SAP treatment, and the difference between the two treatments was statistically significant (P<0.05) in the second season of the experiment (2010). The content of soil total organic carbon (TOC) and organic C fractions (that is, water soluble organic C, easily oxidizable organic C, particulate organic C, humus C and black C) were higher in the SAP than in the CAP treatment, although the differences between the two treatments were not significant. The relative intensities of O-alkyl C and carbonyl C and the aliphatic C / aromatic C ratio were higher, while the relative intensities of alkyl C and aromatic C and the ratios of alkyl C / O-alkyl C and hydrophobic C / hydrophilic C were lower in solid-state 13C CPMAS NMR spectra of HF-treated soils in the SAP than in the CAP treatment. The recommended sustainable agricultural practices were beneficial for the increase of maize grain yield and the improvement of the quantity and quality of SOC during a short-term period. Key words: Soil organic carbon, organic carbon fraction, agricultural practice, spring maize, 13C CPMAS NMR.

Fate of 15 N-labeled fertilizer in soils under dryland agriculture after 19 years of different fertilizations

This study addressed if long-term combined application of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers could improve the synchrony between nitrogen (N) supply and crop demand. 15 N-labeled urea was applied to micro-plots within three different fertilized treatments (no fertilizer, No-F soil; inorganic NPK fertilizers, NPK soil; and manure plus inorganic NPK fertilizers, MNPK soil) of a long-term field trial (1990–2009) in a dryland wheat field in the south Loess Plateau, China. After one season of wheat harvest, 15 N use efficiency was 20, 58, and 65 % in the No-F, NPK, and MNPK soil, respectively. During the early wheat growth stage, microbial immobilization of applied 15 N was significantly (P < 0.05) highest in the MNPK soil (15.3 %), higher in the NPK soil (12.6 %), and lowest in the No-F soil (7.4 %). Of the 15 N immobilized by the soil microbial biomass, 69 % (NPK soil) to 83 % (MNPK soil) was released between the stem elongation and flowering of wheat. Compared with the NPK soil, the MNPK soil had significantly (P < 0.05) higher grain yield. Our findings highlight that long-term application of organic manure with inorganic fertilizers cannot only improve the synchrony of N supply for crop demand but also increase N use efficiency and grain yield.

Phosphorus Fertilization Modes Affect Crop Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Soil Biological Properties in the Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Long‐term application of P fertilizer has resulted in P overabundance in farmland and environmental pollution in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Field experiments were performed to investigate the effects of different P fertilizer application modes on crop yield, nutrient uptake, soil enzyme activity, number of microbes (bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi), and diversity of microbes in rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation system. The results showed that a 20% reduction of the traditional application amount of P fertilizer did not cause decreases in crop yield, amount of nutrient uptake, soil enzyme activity, or the number of soil microbes. In addition, both the 20% reduction in applied P and the mixed application of organic manure and chemical P fertilizer increased not only the activity of neutral phosphatase, sucrase, protease and urease, but also the number of soil microbes, as well as the Shannon's microbial diversity index (H), although they had no impact on crop yield and nutrient uptake. A 20% reduction of P fertilizer could be a possible agricultural measure for reducing farmland pollution, and the combined application of organic manure and chemical P fertilizer could be recommended for improving soil fertility in the study areas.