Organic Matter Depletion Research Articles

Effects of Compost and Inorganic NP Rates on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Teff (Eragrotis teff (Zucc.) Trotter) in Girar Jarso District, Central Highland of Ethiopia

Teff is the major crop produced in study area whose productivity is being affected by low soil fertility and organic matter depletion. Hence, an experiment, having factorial combination of 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 t ha-1 of compost and 0/0, 16/11.5, 32/23 and 64/46 kg ha-1 of N/P2O5, was conducted in 2014/15 main cropping season to assess the effect of rates of compost and NP fertilizers on growth, yield and yield components of teff and to determine their economical rates. Treatments were laid out in RCBD in three replications. The results indicated that the main effect of compost rate significantly increased dry biomass and straw yield and decreased harvest index. Except on number of productive tillers, the main effect of NP fertilizer was significant on all the parameters measured. The shortest days to heading, highest; lodging percentage, plant height, panicle length and dry biomass were recorded at 64/46 kg ha-1 of N/P2O5, all showing increasing trend with increasing NP. The highest grain and straw yield and net farm benefit were recorded at interaction of 64/46 N/P2O5 kg ha-1 and 7.5 tons ha-1 of compost. Generally, the study suggested that, the use full dose of nationally blanket recommended NP rate (64/48 kg of N/ P2O5) with 7.5 tons ha-1 of compost is likely combination to attain the optimum grain yield and profit and can be alternative approach for integrated soil fertility management measure instead of the sole application of inorganic fertilizers.

Mineralization of organic matter in gray forest soil and typical chernozem with degraded structure due to physical impacts

The dynamics of the organic matter mineralization in the gray forest soil and typical chernozem with structure disturbed by physical impacts (grinding and extraction of water-soluble substances) were studied in two long-term experiments at the constant temperature and moisture. The grinding of soil to particles of 0.1, day–1) and difficultly mineralizable (0.01 > k3 > 0.001, day–1) fractions in the active pool of soil organic matter. The results of the studies show that the destruction of the structural–aggregate status is one of the reasons for the active soil organic matter depletion and, as a consequence, for the degradation of the properties inherent to the undisturbed soils.

Annual effects of different organic fertilisers in a baby leaf crops system under tunnel in Southern Italy

In a farm devoted to the production of fresh-cut leafy vegetables located in Eboli (Salerno), it was carried out a trial to compare the effects on crops and soil organic carbon (SOC) of biowaste compost, olive pomace compost, buffalo manure applied to soil in two doses (15 and 30 t ha−1 fresh weight). The amendments were tested in order to start in defining a feasible strategy for the recovery/maintenance of soils in degradation due to the organic matter depletion triggered by the intensive soil tillage and the lack of organic matter returned to soil. In the year following the soil amendment, it was studied the crop sequence: rocket-basil-rocket. Analysis of nitrates concentration in leaves of rocket was carried out on samples of all the treatments picked up in the two cycles of rocket. Along the year, we observed that the higher yields promoted in the first six months (May-September) from the dose 15 t ha−1, were obtained with the dose 30 t ha−1 in the successive six months (November-May). This was due, probably, to the larger stock of total N supplied with dose 30 and its release in time. Buffalo manure amendment showed a higher quickness than composts in the supplying mineral nitrogen to the first crops. On the other hand, nitrates in leaves of rocket exceeded, more frequently, the limits fixed in EU Regulation n. 1258/2011 in the plots amended with buffalo manure. Instead, the treatments with olive pomace compost showed to exceed rarely the EU limits. Under tunnel, the intensive management based on 4-5 crop cycles per year and as much soil tillage, appeared the first cause to explain the lack of significant variation in SOC of plots treated with organic improvers after one year from their distribution. This result let us to suppose the need to study some modifications of the standard farm management in order to reduce the number of soil tillage in a year and, as a consequence, the main stress causing the high carbon mineralisation rate in soil under tunnel.

Soil Degradation: Will Humankind Ever Learn?

Soil degradation is a global problem caused by many factors including excessive tillage, inappropriate crop rotations, excessive grazing or crop residue removal, deforestation, mining, construction and urban sprawl. To meet the needs of an expanding global population, it is essential for humankind to recognize and understand that improving soil health by adopting sustainable agricultural and land management practices is the best solution for mitigating and reversing current soil degradation trends. This research editorial is intended to provide an overview for this Special Issue of Sustainability that examines the global problem of soil degradation through reviews and recent research studies addressing soil health in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, India, North and South America, and Russia. Two common factors—soil erosion and depletion of soil organic matter (SOM)—emerge as consistent indicators of how “the thin layer covering the planet that stands between us and starvation” is being degraded. Soil degradation is not a new problem but failing to acknowledge, mitigate, and remediate the multiple factors leading to it is no longer a viable option for humankind. We optimistically conclude that the most promising strategies to mitigate soil degradation are to select appropriate land uses and improve soil management practices so that SOM is increased, soil biology is enhanced, and all forms of erosion are reduced. Collectively, these actions will enable humankind to “take care of the soil so it can take care of us”.

English

The topsoil gets seriously damaged during mineral extraction. The consequences of physical disturbance to the topsoil during stripping, stockpiling and reinstatement results in soil degradation through loss of soil structure, accelerated soil erosion, excessive leaching, compaction, reduced soil pH, accumulation of heavy metals in soils, depletion of organic matter, decreased plant available nutrients, reduced cation exchange capacity, decreased microbial activity and consequent reduction in soil fertility. Management of topsoil is important for reclamation plan to reduce nutrient losses and eventually restore the fertility. Revegetation constitutes the most widely accepted and useful way to improve the fertility of degraded mined lands. A review was conducted to assess the contribution of revegetation to improvement of soil fertility of mined lands. The results obtained in this study indicate that revegetation through forest vegetation is one of the efficient means of restoring soil fertility through improvement in soil organic matter content, available nutrients, cation exchange capacity, increased biological activities as well as improvement in physical conditions of the soil. However, it will require longer periods to restore the fertility as closely as possible to the original level. The efforts to rehabilitate mined lands have focused on N-fixing species of legumes, grasses, herbs and trees. Some of the promising tree species that can be used for revegetation are Acacia, Leucaena and other legume trees that are acid-tolerant and can add substantial amount of organic matter to the soil. Long term revegetation using legume species of high metal accumulation and are acid tolerant should therefore be considered in mining areas. Key words: Mining, soil physical properties, soil chemical properties, soil degradation, land rehabilitation, revegetation.

Soil Quality Impacts of Current South American Agricultural Practices

Increasing global demand for oil seeds and cereals during the past 50 years has caused an expansion in the cultivated areas and resulted in major soil management and crop production changes throughout Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and southern Brazil. Unprecedented adoption of no-tillage as well as improved soil fertility and plant genetics have increased yields, but the use of purchased inputs, monocropping i.e., continuous soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), and marginal land cultivation have also increased. These changes have significantly altered the global food and feed supply role of these countries, but they have also resulted in various levels of soil degradation through wind and water erosion, soil compaction, soil organic matter (SOM) depletion, and nutrient losses. Sustainability is dependent upon local interactions between soil, climate, landscape characteristics, and production systems. This review examines the region’s current soil and crop conditions and summarizes several research studies designed to reduce or prevent soil degradation. Although the region has both environmental and soil resources that can sustain current agricultural production levels, increasing population, greater urbanization, and more available income will continue to increase the pressure on South American croplands. A better understanding of regional soil differences and quantifying potential consequences of current production practices on various soil resources is needed to ensure that scientific, educational, and regulatory programs result in land management recommendations that support intensification of agriculture without additional soil degradation or other unintended environmental consequences.

Threats to Sustainability of Soil Functions in Central and Southeast Europe

A diverse topography along with deforestation, changing climatic conditions, long-term human settlement, overuse of agricultural lands without sustainable planning, cultural difficulties in accepting conservative land management practices, and wrong political decisions have increased the vulnerability of many soils to degradation and resulted in a serious decline in their functional capacity. A progressive reduction in the capacity of soils to support plant productivity is not only a threat in the African continent and its large desert zone, but also in several parts of Central and Southeastern Europe (CASEE). The loss of soil functions throughout CASEE is mainly related to the human activities that have profound influence on soil dynamic characteristics. Improper management of soils has made them more vulnerable to degradation through water and wind erosion, organic matter depletion, salinity, acidification, crusting and sealing, and compaction. Unmitigated degradation has substantial implications for long term sustainability of the soils’ capability to support human communities and resist desertification. If sustainable agricultural and land management practices are not identified, well understood and implemented, the decline in soil quality will continue and probably accelerate. The lack of uniform criteria for the assessment and evaluation of soil quality in CASEE countries prevents scientific assessments to determine if existing management practices are leading to soil quality improvement, or if not, what management practices should be recommended to mitigate and reverse the loss of soil health.

Effects of on-farm composted tomato residues on soil biological activity and yields in a tomato cropping system

Abstract Background The use of compost may relieve the factors that limit productivity in intensive agricultural systems, such as soil organic matter depletion and soil sickness. Concomitantly, the practice of on-farm composting allows the recycle of cropping green residues into new productive processes. Results We produced four vegetable composts by using tomato biomass residues in an on-farm composting plant. The tomato-based composts were assessed for their chemical, microbiological properties, and their effects on soils and plants were evaluated after their application within a tomato cropping system. Compost characteristics affected plant development and productivity through increased nutrient uptake and biostimulation functions. Soil biological activities, including basal respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulphatase, and Biolog community levels of physiological profiles, were differently affected by the on-farm tomato-based composts. Conclusions Changes in soil activity and community structure due to compost amendments were related to classes of biomolecules such as polysaccharides and lignin-derived compounds, as revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of compost materials. The nutrient content and fertility potential of composts were positively related to the amount of tomato residues present in the feedstock.

The Soil Degradation Paradox: Compromising Our Resources When We Need Them the Most

Soil degradation can take many forms, from erosion to salinization to the overall depletion of organic matter. The expression of soil degradation is broad, and so too are the causes. As the world population nears eight billion, and the environmental uncertainty of climate change becomes more manifest, the importance of our soil resources will only increase. The goal of this paper is to synthesize the catalysts of soil degradation and to highlight the interconnected nature of the social and economic causes of soil degradation. An expected three billion people will enter the middle class in the next 20 years; this will lead to an increased demand for meat, dairy products, and consequently grain. As populations rise so do the economic incentives to convert farmland to other purposes. With the intensity and frequency of droughts and flooding increasing, consumer confidence and the ability of crops to reach yield goals are also threatened. In a time of uncertainty, conservation measures are often the first to be sacrificed. In short, we are compromising our soil resources when we need them the most.

Loss of soil organic matter following cultivation of long-term pasture: effects on major exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity

Cultivation of grassland is known to lead to the depletion of soil organic matter (SOM), but the effect on the size and composition of the exchangeable cation suite has not been documented. We measured cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable cations (calcium, Ca; magnesium, Mg; potassium, K; sodium, Na), as well as soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) (0–7.5, 7.5–15, and 15–25 cm), 8 years after conversion of long-term ryegrass–white clover pasture (grazed by sheep) to annual crop production. The trial was near Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand. The trial included three tillage treatments: crops established using intensive cultivation (mouldboard ploughing), minimum tillage (shallow cultivation, ~10 cm), or no-tillage. The 8-year rotation was barley, wheat, pea, barley, pea, barley, barley, barley. A sheep-grazed pasture was maintained as an experimental control. The experiment also included a permanent fallow treatment (maintained plant-free using herbicides; not cultivated). After 8 years under arable cropping, soil C stocks (0–25 cm) were 10 t ha–1 less, on average, than under pasture. The vertical distribution of soil organic matter (SOM) was affected by tillage type, but the total amount of organic matter in the top 25 cm did not differ (P > 0.05) among the tillage treatments. Under permanent fallow (C loss of 13 t ha–1 relative to pasture), total exchangeable cation (Ca + Mg + K +Na) equivalents declined by 47 kmolc ha–1, a 20% decrease compared with pasture. Loss of exchange capacity resulted in the selective release of cations with lower affinity for SOM (K, Na, Mg). Smaller losses of exchangeable cations were recorded under the arable cropping rotation (average 31 kmolc ha–1), with no differences among tillage treatments. Effective CEC (at field pH) decreased under permanent fallow and cultivated treatments because of: (1) depletion of SOM (direct effect); and (2) soil acidification, which eliminated some of the remaining exchange sites (indirect effect). Acidification in the permanent fallow can be attributed to the N mineralisation process, whereas in the cropped systems, excess cation removal in harvested straw and grain accounted for about half of the measured acidification. There was evidence that the organic matter lost under arable cropping and fallow had lower CEC than SOM as a whole.

Initial water repellency affected organic matter depletion rates of manure amended soils in Sri Lanka

Abstract The wetting rate of soil is a measure of water repellency, which is a property of soils that prevents water from wetting or penetrating into dry soil. The objective of the present research was to examine the initial water repellency of organic manure amended soil, and its relation to the soil organic matter (SOM) depletion rates in the laboratory. Soil collected from the Wilpita natural forest, Sri Lanka, was mixed with organic manure to prepare soil samples with 0, 5, 10, 25, and 50% organic manure contents. Locally available cattle manure (CM), goat manure (GM), and Casuarina equisetifolia leaves (CE) were used as the organic manure amendments. Organic matter content of soils was measured in 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days intervals under the laboratory conditions with 74±5% relative humidity at 28±1°C. Initial water repellency of soil samples was measured as the wetting rates using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) test. Initial water repellency increased with increasing SOM content showing higher increasing rate for hydrophobic CE amended samples compared with those amended with CM and GM. The relation between water repellency and SOM content was considered to be governed by the original hydrophobicities of added manures. The SOM contents of all the soil samples decreased with the time to reach almost steady level at about 30 d. The initial SOM depletion rates were negatively related with the initial water repellency. However, all the CE amended samples initially showed prominent low SOM depletion rates, which were not significantly differed with the amended manure content or the difference in initial water repellency. It is explicable that the original hydrophobicity of the manure as well has a potentially important effect on initiation of SOM decomposition. In contrast, the overall SOM depletion rate can be attributed to the initial water repellency of the manure amended sample, however, not to the original hydrophobicity of the amended manure. Hydrophobic protection may prevent rapid microbial decomposition of SOM and it is conceivable that hydrophobic substances in appropriate composition may reduce organic matter mineralization in soil. These results suggest the contribution of hydrophobic organic substances in bioresistance of SOM and their long-term accumulation in soils

Cross-contamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 is inhibited by electrolyzed water combined with salt under dynamic conditions of increasing organic matter

Water can be a vector for foodborne pathogen cross-contamination during washing of vegetables if an efficient method of water disinfection is not used. Chlorination is the disinfection method most widely used, but it generates disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs). Therefore, alternative disinfection methods are sought. In this study, a dynamic system was used to simulate the commercial conditions of a washing tank. Organic matter and the inoculum of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were progressively added to the wash water in the washing tank. We evaluated the effectiveness of the electrolyzed water (EW) when combining with the addition of salt (1, 0.5 and 0.15 g/L NaCl) on the pathogenic inactivation, organic matter depletion and THM generation. Results indicated that electrolysis of vegetable wash water with addition of salt (0.5 g/L NaCl) was able to eliminate E. coli O157:H7 population build-up and decrease COD accumulation while low levels of THMs were produced.

An approach to mechanistic event recognition applied on monitoring organic matter depletion in SBRs

A fundamental practice in process engineering is monitoring the state dynamics of a system. Unfortunately, observability of some states is related to high costs, time, and efforts. The mechanistic event recognition (MER) aims to detect an event (defined as a change of the system with specific significance to the operation of the process) that cannot be directly observed but has some predictable effect on the dynamics of the systems. MER attempts to apply fault diagnosis techniques using mechanistic “recognition” models to describe the process. A systematic method for building recognition models using optimal experimental design tools is presented. As proof of concept, the MER approach to detect organic matter depletion in sequencing batch reactors, measuring only ammonia, dissolved oxygen, and nitroxides is applied. The event, that is, consumption of organic matter to a level below 50 gCOD/m3, was successfully detected even though microbial activity is known to continue after organic matter depletion. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3460–3472, 2014

Part B: Global Assessment for Organic Resources and Waste Management ORBIT2012

During the last century, population growth and global economic and technological developments have led to increased use of resources, both in terms of materials and energy. Meanwhile the amount of waste produced has increased steadily. This rapid evolution contributed to a critical environmental situation for the planet: global warming strongly related to emissions generated by human activities, water and soil pollution associated with uncontrolled releases of pollutants and nutrients, as well as soil organic matter depletion. Natural resources are being consumed at a rapid pace, but are not infinite and we are confronted with such questions as: ‘‘What energy resources for tomorrow? What resources in terms of organic matter and nutrients to the soil?’’. As a consequence, during the last years, emphasis has been on organic resources recovery in order to achieve our aspiration towards a ‘‘Recycling Society’’ and climate stabilisation. Energy, nutrients and organic matter needs have driven sustainable management of resources and waste and promoted new technological developments. In this context, biological processing of organic waste to recover valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to produce soil amendments and to supply energy is of great interest. However rules on the management of organic waste are fragmented and might not be sufficient to achieve the stated objectives of an effective management. Moreover, unsolved questions still exist concerning the management options for organic waste and resources among which: • Which types of management systems should be promoted, from an environmental and economic point of view? • How can we optimize the recovery of organic waste streams at all territory scales? • What synergy can exist between management of urban and agricultural waste? • Are the energy recovery and the organic matter and nutrients recovery really compatible and how can we obtain products that comply with agronomic needs?

Tracking C and N dynamics and stabilization in soil amended with wheat residue and its corresponding bioethanol by‐product: a 13C/15N study

AbstractRemoving agricultural cellulosic residues from fields for the production of ‘second generation biofuels'has the potential to profoundly alter C and N cycling in soil, increasing the risk of soil organic matter depletion and favoring soil–atmosphere gaseous exchanges. However, these negative impacts could potentially be offset by amending the soil with the solid by‐product which is generated during bioethanol production. In a 100 days laboratory study, we investigated the fate of C and N after soil amendment with doubly labeled (13C, 15N) wheat residue (WR) and the corresponding bioethanol by‐product (i.e. nonfermentable wheat residue NFWR) with and without extra N addition. Substituting WR with the corresponding amount of recovered bioethanol by‐product partially compensated the C losses of full crop residue removal. When the equivalent amount of C was added as WR and NFWR, NFWR‐derived C was found in significantly higher proportion in macroaggregates in soil (17.0 vs. 8.9%) after 100 days. Addition of both WR and NFWR reduced soil organic C (SOC) mineralization, i.e. it caused a negative priming effect in soil. However, this pattern was reversed when extra N was added. Both WR and NFWR increased the proportion of soil water‐stable macroaggregates from 16% (in control) to 20–24% (in the different treatments). The results suggest that the more recalcitrant compounds derived from bioethanol production may stabilize more strongly and persist within the protected fractions of SOM pools. Our study demonstrates that NFWR, compared with WR application, neither increased N2O emissions nor had a negative impact on aggregate formation in the midterm. This demonstrates that NFWR has potential for replenishing SOC stocks.

The impact of oscillating redox conditions: Arsenic immobilisation in contaminated calcareous floodplain soils

Arsenic contamination of floodplain soils is extensive and additional fresh arsenic inputs to the pedosphere from human activities are ongoing.We investigate the cumulative effects of repetitive soil redox cycles, which occur naturally during flooding and draining, on a calcareous fluvisol, the native microbial community and arsenic mobility following a simulated contamination event.We show through bioreactor experiments, spectroscopic techniques and modelling that repetitive redox cycling can decrease arsenic mobility during reducing conditions by up to 45%. Phylogenetic and functional analyses of the microbial community indicate that iron cycling is a key driver of observed changes to solution chemistry. We discuss probable mechanisms responsible for the arsenic immobilisation observed in-situ. The proposed mechanisms include, decreased heterotrophic iron reduction due to the depletion of labile particulate organic matter (POM), increases to the proportion of co-precipitated vs. aqueous or sorbed arsenic with α-FeOOH/Fe(OH)3 and potential precipitation of amorphous ferric arsenate.

Influence of tillage practices on soil biologically active organic matter content over a growing season under semiarid Mediterranean climate

In semiarid areas, traditional, intensive tillage has led to the depletion of soil organic matter, which has resulted in reduced soil fertility. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of different soil management systems, practised over 12 years, on soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (SN) and biologically active organic matter (particulate organic matter [POM]; potentially mineralisable nitrogen [PMN]; microbial biomass [MB]). A Mediterranean Alfisol, located in central Spain, was managed using combinations of conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) or no-tillage (NT), plus a cropping background of either continuous wheat (WW) or a fallow/wheat/pea/barley rotation (FW). Soil was sampled at two depths on four occasions during 2006-2007. The results showed the sampling date and the cropping background to significantly affect the SOC (p<0.0057 and p<0.0001 respectively). Tillage practice, however, had no effect on SOC or SN. The C-and N-POM contents were significantly influenced by the date, tillage and rotation. These variables were significantly higher under NT than CT and under WW than FW. The PMN was influenced by date, tillage and rotation, while C-MB was significantly affected by tillage (p< 0.0063), but not by rotation. The NT plots accumulated 66% C-POM, 60% N-POM, 39% PMN and 84% C-MB more than the CT plots. After more than 12 years, the benefits of conservation practices were found in the considered soil properties, mainly under no tillage. In order to obtain a consistent data set to predict soil biological status, it is necessary further study over time.

Weeds Management In Organic Farming Through Conservation Agriculture Practices

Despite weeds are a serious threat to promotion of organic farming, relatively less attention is given to research on weed management. This article explores a scope of integration of conservation agriculture for weed control and soil protection under organic farming. Limitation in the use of agro-chemicals under OF promotes intensive tillage for weed control. Mostly, tillage leads to depletion of organic matter and proneness to erosion in inclined geography. Adoption of conservation agriculture reduces the intensity of soil manipulation thereby creates an unfavourable condition for weed seed germination, reduces the organic matter depletions and soil erosions. Residues on the surface invite weed and pest predators thereby reduced the weed and pest infestations in organic field. Appropriate crop rotations and cover crops management suppress weeds populations with smothering and allopathic effects. Thus, CA integration under OF could be an option for weed, pest and soil management which leads to sustainable organic plant production. The Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol:13, Jun.2012, Page 60-66 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/aej.v13i0.7589

Effects of Sustainable Soil Management Practices on Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon in Upland Agricultural Soils of Mid-hills of Nepal

An abundance of soil organic carbon (SOC) generally enhances the quality of lands for agriculture or forestry. Concentration of SOC varies in accordance to the type of land use, the inputs to the soil, and natural factors including climate and vegetation. SOC is vital for sustaining agricultural productivity which chiefly depends on both the inherent soil type and crop management practices affecting depletion or replenishment of organic matter over the years. Assessment of SOC concentration is a characteristic measurement of evaluating soil quality and the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural land. This study aims to assess SOC distribution on selected farmlands of Nepal’s mid-hills, where farmers have adopted sustainable soil management practices in non-irrigable hill terraces (“Bari” land) in comparison with those of surrounding Bari and forests where no such interventions are made. Thus the present study estimated SOC content of three types of land use – farmland with sustainable soil management practices (SSMP), farmland without sustainable management practices (Non-SSMP) and the community managed forest in four mountain districts of Nepal, namely Baglung, Dhading, Kavre and Okhaldhunga. This study found the average SOC stocks in the SSMP land in the range of 20 - 44 Mgha-1,those in non-SSMP agricultural areas 15 to 48 Mgha-1, and in the forested land 16 to 23 Mgha-1. In general, the abundance of SOC stocks are in the order of SSM>Non-SSM>Forests. The analysis indicates the high potential for carbon sequestration in hill agriculture lands through sustainable soil management. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012) 133-141 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i1.7452

A decision support system to assist the rural poor in Bangladesh [Commentary

Agriculture is Bangladesh's most important sector for sustaining growth and reducing poverty. However, a lack of adequate nutrient supply, the depletion of organic matter in soils, and soil erosion are major obstacles to sustainable improvements in agricultural production. Katalyst initiated and supported a process where SRDI would collaborate with a Bangladeshi software developer to design a computerized decision support system able to undertake the calculation for providing localized fertilizer recommendations for individual farmers. Katalyst funded the development of this software (although SRDI would own the application). Katalyst also paid for the digitization of the supporting information tables initially for 30 upazilas, selected as pilots for the program, although this has now been extended to effectively all of upazilas in Bangladesh. SRDI, with funding from Katalyst, contracted out the development of the Fertilizer Recommendation Software (FRS) database.