Effects Of Fertilizer Treatments Research Articles

Plant roots affect free-living diazotroph communities in temperate grassland soils despite decades of fertilization

Fixation of atmospheric N2 by free-living diazotrophs accounts for an important proportion of nitrogen naturally introduced to temperate grasslands. The effect of plants or fertilization on the general microbial community has been extensively studied, yet an understanding of the potential combinatorial effects on the community structure and activity of free-living diazotrophs is lacking. In this study we provide a multilevel assessment of the single and interactive effects of different long-term fertilization treatments, plant species and vicinity to roots on the free-living diazotroph community in relation to the general microbial community in grassland soils. We sequenced the dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) and the 16S rRNA genes of bulk soil and root-associated compartments (rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane and root) of two grass species (Arrhenatherum elatius and Anthoxanthum odoratum) and two herb species (Galium album and Plantago lanceolata) growing in Austrian grassland soils treated with different fertilizers (N, P, NPK) since 1960. Overall, fertilization has the strongest effect on the diazotroph and general microbial community structure, however with vicinity to the root, the plant effect increases. Despite the long-term fertilization, plants strongly influence the diazotroph communities emphasizing the complexity of soil microbial communities’ responses to changing nutrient conditions in temperate grasslands.

Endometriosis, Severe Maternal Morbidity, and the Effect of Infertility: Population-Based Cohort Study

This population-based cohort evaluated the association between endometriosis and severe maternal morbidity (SMM), and the mediating effect of infertility and fertility treatment. Included were all singleton deliveries in Ontario between 2006 and 2014. Modified Poisson regression generated adjusted relative risks. Mediation analysis estimated the direct effect of endometriosis and indirect effect through infertility and mode of conception. 787 449 deliveries were included (19 099, 2.4% with endometriosis). SMM occurred in 29.0 per 1000 deliveries among women with endometriosis, in contrast to 18.2 per 1000 deliveries among those without endometriosis—corresponding to an adjusted relative risk of SMM of 1.43 (95% CI 1.31–1.56). Mediation analysis demonstrated that the effect of endometriosis on SMM was independent of infertility or fertility treatment. We conclude that SMM in women with endometriosis appears to be due to the disease itself and not to infertility or related treatments.

Effects of Organic Fertilizer Addition to Vegetation and Soil Bacterial Communities in Saline-Alkali-Degraded Grassland with Photovoltaic Panels.

The Songnen grassland is an important resource for livestock production in China. Due to the intensification of anthropogenic activities in recent years, vegetation degradation has worsened, and the salinization of grassland has become increasingly serious, which severely affects the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry. In this study, organic fertilizer addition was carried out at saline-and-alkaline-degraded Songnen grassland sites with photovoltaic panels, and we investigated the effects of organic fertilizer treatments on the vegetation and soil bacteria in these areas. The results showed that both organic fertilizer treatments increased the community composition and diversity indices of plants (p < 0.05); they also had significant effects on soil electrical conductivity and rapidly available potassium (p < 0.05). In the dominant phylum of bacteria, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased without adding organic fertilizer under the photovoltaic panel; the addition of organic fertilizer had a significant effect on the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota (p < 0.05), reducing their relative abundance, respectively. There were differences in the number of bacteria at the genus level under different treatments compared to the control, with the highest enrichment of bacteria occurring at the OFE position, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) being found between the control and the other four groups at the genus level of g_norank_f_norank_o_Actinomarinales. Organic fertilizer had a significant effect on the bacterial Simpson diversity index, with the most significant increasing trend found in OFE (the front eaves of the photovoltaic panel in fertilization area). The results of a correlation analysis showed that pH, electrical conductivity, and total nitrogen were the main factors affecting the soil bacterial community.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Adverse Neonatal Outcomes Persist With Use of Fertility Treatment [ID 2683455

INTRODUCTION: Racial/ethnic health disparities are well documented, yet little is known about the effect of fertility treatment on disparities. This study assesses the relationship between fertility treatment and adverse neonatal outcomes by race/ethnicity. METHODS: A secondary data analysis was performed using National Vital Statistics (2012–2020) including singleton, non-anomalous births from 23 to 42 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was an adverse neonatal composite outcome (ANCO) encompassing neonatal intensive care unit admission, assisted ventilation, seizures, and Apgar scores less than 7 at 5 minutes. Multivariable logistic regression assessed whether fertility treatment was associated with ANCO by race/ethnicity after adjusting for maternal age, gestational age at delivery, maternal body mass index, education status, insurance, and delivery year. RESULTS: Of 31,975,746 births meeting inclusion criteria, 414,716 (1.3%) were conceived with fertility treatment. Across the entire cohort, fertility treatment was associated with significantly increased odds of ANCO (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.44; 95% CI, 1.43–1.46). Prevalence of ANCO was highest for the non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) populations in both nonfertility and fertility treatment groups. Without fertility treatment, the Asian/Pacific Islander (API) and Hispanic groups had the lowest rates of ANCO at 8.3% and 8.9%, respectively. With fertility treatment, ANCO odds increased the most in API (aOR 1.61; 1.56–1.66) and Hispanic populations (aOR 1.60; 1.54–1.65). CONCLUSION: Fertility treatment is associated with approximately 1.5 times the odds of adverse neonatal outcomes across all racial/ethnic groups, with the greatest increase among the API and Hispanic populations. The NHB and AIAN groups experienced the highest overall rates of ANCO, supporting the need for targeted interventions for historically marginalized populations.

Analysis of Microbial Diversity in Rhizosphere Soil of Panax notoginseng under Different Water and Microbial Fertilizer Conditions

Panax notoginseng is a highly regarded medicinal plant that has obstacles associated with continuous cropping. Understanding soil microorganisms is crucial, as they play a major role in this regard. However, soil microorganisms are affected by multiple factors; therefore, we need to conduct more in-depth research. This study investigated the combined effects of irrigation and microbial fertilizer treatments (J1F1, J1F2, J2F1, J2F2, J3F1, J3F2, and CK) on the diversity of bacterial and fungal microbial communities in the rhizosphere of Panax notoginseng. The bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The results showed that, without microbial fertilizer (CK), the microbial community abundance and diversity were significantly lower than in the other treatments; moreover, among the microbial fertilizer treatments, the microbial abundance in F1 was higher than that in F2. Under the same microbial fertilizer application, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was J2 &gt; J1 &gt; J3, and the yield of Panax notoginseng was J3 &gt; J2 &gt; J1. Under the same irrigation conditions, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was F1 &gt; F2, and the yield of Panax notoginseng was F2 &gt; F1. This study provides important guidance for Panax notoginseng plant microbiota and sustainable agriculture.

Influence of crop rotation, irrigation, fertilization, and tillage on the aggregate property and soil wind erosion potential in the floodplain of the Yellow River

The floodplain of the Yellow River (FPYR) is threatened by severe soil erosion. Soils are often susceptible to wind erosion owing to their coarse-textures and weak aggregation, yet studies are yet to describe the ability of soils to resist wind erosion in this region. Accordingly, this study aimed to quantify how soil wind erosion potential is affected by soil aggregate properties, such as dry aggregate geometric mean diameter (GMD), aggregate geometric standard deviation (GSD), aggregate stability, and soil bulk density, and to assess the effects of soil type, crop rotation, irrigation, fertilization, and tillage treatments on these aggregate properties in the main wind erosion area across the FPYR. Significant differences in GMD and aggregate stability were found between crop rotation treatments, whereas crop rotation marginally affected the soil bulk density. Further, the impact of management practices on aggregate properties differed for each soil type. The soil aggregate erodible fraction (EF) in the FPYR ranged from 1.14 to 82.73% across sites, with a mean of 26.14% across soil types and management practices, which was lower than that previously reported in other wind erosion regions. We incorporated these measured EFs into the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) to evaluate the wind erosion risk of the FPYR. The results indicated that the central FPYR was more susceptible to wind erosion than the other regions, although the total wind erosion potential in the FPYR was small. Adoption of soil conservation practices could help minimize wind erosion and improve atmospheric quality in the region.

Studies on the production of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus L.) in Southeastern Nigeria, II: Biochemical quality of tigernut in response to seven complementary fertilizer treatments

Part I of this series showed significant influence of fertilizer on the growth and yield of tigernut. This paper documents the effects of these complementary fertilizers on the nutritional quality of the crop. Thus, the effects of seven fertilizer treatments on the nutritional quality of tigernut were studied. Proximate, mineral, vitamins and phytochemical contents of tigernut were evaluated across the fertilizer treatments. Most of the mineral contents were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) influenced by the fertilizer combination except for magnesium (suggesting non-responsiveness of this mineral to fertilizer treatment). On the proximate contents, ash and moisture were statistically similar while other components varied significantly. The effect of fertilizer treatment on the vitamin content was only significant on vitamins B6 and C while for the phytochemical content, only phytates and tannin were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) influenced by fertilizer. It was conclusive that combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer increased the carbohydrate, fibre, vitamin C, tannin and most of the mineral contents of tigernut tubers. Findings reported herewith therefore validate the application of complementary fertilizer treatment for growing tigernut in this region because of enhanced nutritional quality of the tigernut seeds.

Bottom-up population regulation of Orthotomicus erosus on irrigated and fertilized Pinus eldarica: A comprehensive field study

The Mediterranean pine engraver, Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston), is a destructive pest that has caused a significant threat to planted pine forests worldwide through feeding on phloem, disrupting sap flow and transmitting phytopathogens. This study investigated the bottom-up effects of different irrigation and fertilization treatments on the mean numbers of O. erosus immature stages (egg, larva and pupa) and adults in the pine forest of western Tehran, Iran. A total of 72 Pinus eldarica Medw. trees were selected in Chitgar Forest Park. The experiment was arranged as a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The irrigation treatments included non-irrigation, low-irrigation (30 liters of water per month) and high-irrigation (30 liters of water per two weeks) were assigned to main plots. Moreover, fertilizers of nitrogen 100 kg/ha, superphosphate 100 kg/ha and potassium sulfate 65 kg/ha were applied in subplots. Then, the total number of O. erosus life stages was counted under the bark samples (two 10 × 10 cm bark samples) separated from the pine trees. Results showed that irrigation and fertilization significantly affected the mean number of O. erosus from egg to adult stages. Irrigation had a more pronounced effect on the pest population than fertilization. The highest number of different life stages occurred in non-irrigated pines regardless of fertilization. Moreover, fertilizer effects were influenced by irrigation, where high irrigation negatively affected superphosphate + potassium sulfate fertilized pines and significantly increased the mean numbers of different O. erosus life stages compared to low-irrigation treatment. The lowest mean number of egg (11.95 ± 0.17), larva (8.62 ± 0.21), pupa (10.38 ± 0.13) and adult (9.04 ± 0.23) per bark samples occurred in superphosphate + potassium sulfate at low-irrigation plots. Interestingly, nitrogen fertilization increased pest density compared to unfertilized trees. Furthermore, despite the low mean number of different O. erosus life stages in superphosphate + potassium sulfate treatments, the nitrogen combination increased the pest density in both low and high-irrigation plots. These findings highlighted the importance of considering the interaction between irrigation and fertilizer types in the integrated pest management program for O. erosus.

Combined Application of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers: Effects on Yield and Soil Nutrients in Spring Wheat under Drip Irrigation

In this study, we established a feasible fertilization programming method for wheat production by exploring the effects of the combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers on wheat yield, nutrient uptake, soil nutrient content, and fertilizer utilization. Six treatments, no fertilizer (CK), conventional fertilizer (CF), optimized fertilizer (with reduced fertilizer amount) (RF), chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer extract (RPAE), partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with raw amino acid powder (RAF), and partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with raw humic acid powder (RHF), were set up for a field experiment. The fertilizer application rates for the RF treatment were calculated based on fertilization-monitoring techniques (30.3% nitrogen and 24.8% phosphorus reductions in 2022 and 23.0% nitrogen and 1.5% phosphorus reductions in 2023). The effects of different fertilizer treatments on yield, dry matter accumulation, plant nutrient accumulation, soil nutrients, and nutrient utilization in wheat were investigated. The results showed that, on the basis of 23% nitrogen and 1.5% phosphorus reductions, there was no significant difference in wheat yield between the RF and CF treatments and that the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer was improved. The application of organic fertilizer promoted dry matter accumulation in different organs of wheat; increased plant nutrient accumulation; improved soil nutrient content, nutrient utilization rate, nutrient partial productivity, and nutrient agronomic use efficiency; and ensured stable and increased crop yield. Specifically, compared with CF, the RPAE, RAF, and RHF organic fertilizer treatments increased wheat yield by 3.85%, 1.97%, and 0.67%, respectively, and the utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers induced by these treatments significantly increased by 40.46%, 39.28%, and 37.46% (nitrogen) and by 9.83%, 8.91%, and 7.46% (phosphorus), respectively. As a result of our experiment, we concluded that RPAE exerted the best effects among the three organic fertilizer treatments (RPAE, RAF, and RHF) and that its use can result in a higher wheat yield and fertilizer utilization rate in drip-irrigated wheat fields. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers, which is conducive to sustainable agriculture development.

Effect of different fertilizer treatments on the chemical content of tubers of three spring potato cultivars

The field experiment was carried out in the Musayyib project area, which is located 35 km north of Babylon Governorate, during the fall growing season of 2023 according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD), to determine the effect of biofertilization four levels (0 without adding + full fertilizer recommendation, addition 10g of a mixture of four types of bacterial fertilizer + half the fertilizer recommendation, addition 10g of fungal biofertilizer (mycorrhizal) + half the fertilizer recommendation and addition 10g of a mixture of bacterial and fungal biofertilizers + half the fertilizer recommendation) which is symbolized by (B0, B1, B2 and B3 respectively) and nanofertilizer at two levels (0 + full fertilizer recommendation and 2g L-1+ half the fertilizer recommendation) and denoted by the symbol (N0 and N1, respectively) in the growth and yield of three potato varieties (Rashida, Sifra and Arizona), denoted by the symbol (V1, V2 and V3 respectively). The results showed Arizona variety excellence the rest of the other varieties in the tubers’ content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, protein, and starch. The biofertilization treatment (adding 10g of a mixture of bacterial and fungal biofertilizers) also had a positive effect on the tubers’ content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, protein, and starch compared to the control treatment. The nano-fertilizer addition treatments also had a clear effect on the tubers’ content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, protein, and starch compared to the control treatment. As for the interaction between the study factors, there were significant differences in most of the study traits.&#x0D;

Soil Ecoenzymatic Stoichiometry Reveals Microbial Metabolic Limitations in Apple Orchards with Cover Crop and Organic Fertilizer Incorporation

Understanding the stoichiometry of extracellular enzymes in soil, particularly in relation to nutrient acquisition (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus), provides valuable insights into microorganisms’ resource requirements. This study investigates the metabolic constraints of soil microorganisms in response to different growth stages of apple trees under various soil management practices. A 14-year long-term experiment with a split-plot design was conducted, where the main plots received different cover crop treatments (bare vs. cover crop), and subplots were subjected to four fertilizer treatments (CK, M, NPK, MNPK). The significant main and interactive effects of cover crops, fertilizer treatment, and growth period on soil nutrients were observed (p &lt; 0.001). Both cover crop and fertilizer treatments significantly increased the soil organic matter content, with implications for orchard resilience to drought. However, the cover factor alone did not notably influence soil carbon–nitrogen ratios or microbial communities. Microbial carbon limitations were driven by soil water dynamics and microbial biomass, while microbial phosphorus limitations were closely linked to total nitrogen levels. The results underscore the combination of cover crops and MNPK fertilizer-enhanced soil nutrient levels and enzyme activities, mitigating microbial carbon and phosphorus limitations. These findings suggest practical strategies for optimizing fertilization practices to improve soil fertility and address nutrient constraints in orchard ecosystems.

Influencia de la fertilización inorgánica sobre parametros productivos de dos variedades de camote

In order to determine the effect of inorganic fertilization treatments on the productive behavior of the sweetpotato varieties "INIAP-Toquecita" and "INIAP-Buena Vista", this research was carried out during the dry season (June–December 2022) at the Estación Experimental Portoviejo del Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias-INIAP, in the Colón parish, canton Portoviejo, province of Manabí, Ecuador. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications, and the following variables were analyzed: percent yield, total number of guides per plant, length of guides, mass of 100 guides, foliage yield, and number and yield of commercial roots. The inorganic fertilization treatments under study were: 1. N+P2O5+K2O+S+Mg+B; 2. N+P2O5+K2O+S+Mg+B+Zn+Mn+Fe; 3. 50 % more N+P2O5+K2O+S+Mg+B with respect to treatment 1; 4. N+P2O5+K2O; and 5. no fertilizers (control). It was evidenced that the inorganic fertilization treatments implemented on the variety "INIAP-Buena Vista" outperformed the results of the control, while treatments 1 and 2 of inorganic fertilization implemented on the variety "INIAP-Toquecita" outperformed the control. It was observed that the most favorable scenario for maximizing the yield of commercial tuberous roots in the variety "INIAP-Buena Vista" was treatment 3, which had 50 % more macro and micronutrients per hectare added to the soil with respect to treatment 1. The varieties evaluated did not show nutritional deficiencies during the production cycle (120 days).

Effects of Soluble Organic Fertilizer Combined with Inorganic Fertilizer on Greenhouse Tomatoes with Different Irrigation Techniques

A reasonable fertilization rate and appropriate irrigation technology can lead to the green development of greenhouse tomatoes. The purpose of this study was to explore suitable irrigation technology for greenhouse tomatoes and the appropriate application rate of the soluble organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer combination. In 2021 and 2022, the effects of different irrigation techniques and fertilization treatments on tomato plant growth, fruit quality, yield, and efficiency were studied. The irrigation techniques in this study were drip and Moistube irrigation, and there were seven types of fertilization treatment, namely, no fertilization treatment (CK); low-volume (T1, 330 kg/hm2), medium-volume (T2, 660 kg/hm2), and high-volume inorganic fertilizer treatments (T3, 990 kg/hm2); and three inorganic fertilizer treatments of low-volume inorganic fertilizer (T1, 330 kg/hm2) combined with low-volume (F1, T1 + 75 kg/hm2), medium-volume (F2, T1 + 225 kg/hm2), and high-volume (F3, T1 + 375 kg/hm2) organic fertilizer. A total of 14 experimental treatments were implemented for irrigation and fertilization. The results of the two-year experiment show that the growth effect on the height, stem diameter, and leaf area index of tomato plants was the best using the treatment of low-concentration inorganic fertilizer combined with medium-concentration organic fertilizer with Moistube irrigation and drip irrigation. Using the two irrigation methods, the application of soluble organic fertilizer increased the yield and improved the fruit quality of the tomato. The maximum yield increased by 28.52%, the soluble sugar content increased by 14.49%, the vitamin C content increased by 45.04%, and the lycopene increased by 18.79%. The entropy-weight TOPSIS model was used to comprehensively evaluate 14 evaluation objects with different irrigation methods and fertilization treatments. The results of the two-year experiment show that the best fertilization treatment under Moistube irrigation and drip irrigation conditions was low-concentration inorganic fertilizer combined with medium-concentration soluble organic fertilizer, which was combined with the best fertilization treatment, and the most suitable irrigation method for greenhouse tomato cultivation in the Loess Plateau was Moistube irrigation. The results of this study also provide practical experience and theoretical support for adaptive irrigation and the integrated management of water and fertilizer.

Effect of varietal selection and nutrient management on productivity, soil fertility and economics of summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, during 3 consecutive summer seasons of 2017, 2018 and 2019, to find out the influence of varietal differences and nutrient-management practices on crop productivity, soil fertility and economics in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. Higher crop growth and yield were recorded under variety ‘TAG 24’; and 125% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with Rhizobium inoculation resulted higher growth, yield attributes and yield of groundnut followed by 100% RDF + Rhizobium inoculation. The nutrient (N, P and K) availability in soil after harvesting was also higher under ‘TAG 24’ variety with 125% RDF + Rhizobium. However, interaction effect of crop variety and fertilizer treatment was found insignificant. The pooled analysis of economics revealed that, higher benefit: cost ratio (2.73) was obtained under ‘TAG 24’ in combination with 100% RDF+ Rhizobium.

Effects of Straw Returning and New Fertilizer Substitution on Rice Growth, Yield, and Soil Properties in the Chaohu Lake Region of China

Recently, replacing chemical fertilizers with straw returning and new fertilizers has received considerable attention in the agricultural sector, as it is believed to increase rice yield and improve soil properties. However, less is known about rice growth and soil properties in paddy fields with the addition of different fertilizers. Thus, in this paper, we investigated the effects of different fertilizer treatments, including no fertilization (CK), optimized fertilization based on the medium yield recommended fertilizer amount (OF), 4.50 Mg ha−1 straw returning with chemical fertilizers (SF), 0.59 Mg ha−1 slow-release fertilizer with chemical fertilizers (SRF), and 0.60 Mg ha−1 water-soluble fertilizer with chemical fertilizers (WSF), on rice growth, yield, and soil properties through a field experiment. The results show that compared with the OF treatment, the new SF, SRF, and WSF treatments increased plant height, main root length, tiller number, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, and aboveground dry weight. The SF, SRF, and WSF treatments improved rice grain yield by 30.65–32.51% and 0.24–1.66% compared to the CK and OF treatments, respectively. The SRF treatment increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake by 18.78% and 28.68%, the harvest indexes of N and P by 1.75% and 0.59%, and the partial productivity of N and P by 2.64% and 2.63%, respectively, compared with the OF treatment. However, fertilization did not significantly affect the average yield, harvest indexes of N and P, and partial productivity of N and P. The contents of TN, AN, SOM, TP, AP, and AK across all the treatments decreased significantly with increasing soil depth, while soil pH increased with soil depth. The SF treatment could more effectively increase soil pH and NH4+-N content compared to the SRF and WSF treatments, while the SRF treatment could greatly enhance other soil nutrients and enzyme activities compared to the SF and WSF treatments. A correlation analysis showed that rice yield was significantly positively associated with tiller number, leaf area index, chlorophyll, soil NO3−-N, NH4+-N, SOM, TP, AK, and soil enzyme activity. The experimental results indicate that SRF was the best fertilization method to improve rice growth and yield and enhance soil properties, followed by the SF, WSF, and OF treatments. Hence, the results provide useful information for better fertilization management in the Chaohu Lake region of China.

The effect of fertility treatment and socioeconomic status on neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in the United States

ObjectiveTo determine the association between fertility treatment, socioeconomic status (SES), and neonatal and post-neonatal mortality.Study designRetrospective cohort study of all births (19,350,344) and infant deaths from 2014–2018 in the United States. The exposure was mode of conception—spontaneous vs fertility treatment. The outcome was neonatal (<28d), and post-neonatal (28d–1y) mortality. Multivariable logistic models were stratified by SES.ResultThe fertility treatment group had statistically significantly higher odds of neonatal mortality (high SES OR 1.59; CI [1.5, 1.68], low SES OR 2.11; CI [1.79, 2.48]) and lower odds of post-neonatal mortality (high SES OR 0.87, CI [0.76, 0.996], low SES OR 0.6, CI [0.38, 0.95]). SES significantly modified the effect of ART/NIFT on neonatal and post-neonatal mortality.ConclusionsFertility treatment is associated with higher neonatal and lower post-neonatal mortality and SES modifies this effect. Socioeconomic policies and support for vulnerable families may help reduce rates of infant mortality.

Effects of Different Foliar Fertilizer Treatments on Fruit Quality of the Korla Fragrant Pear

Persistent calyx affects the fruit quality of the Korla fragrant pear including increasing fruit hardness. In order to reduce fruit hardness and improve fruit quality, in this study, we used the Korla fragrant pear which has persistent calyx. Korla fragrant pear fruit at different development stages were treated with foliar fertilizers of 101 and calcium–magnesium (Ca–Mg) solutions, and the hardness and pectase, cellulose, lipoxygenase, and amylase activities of persistent calyx fruit were determined and analyzed. We found that the fruit hardness of two foliar fertilizers increased compared with the control after treatment. The fruit hardness of calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer and 101 foliar fertilizer treatments were increased by 11.7% and 6.8% compared with the control, respectively. Furthermore, the activities of cellulase, pectinase, and lipoxygenase were increased by 30%, 12.7%, and 42% after treatment with calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer, respectively. The 101 foliar fertilizer inhibited the contents of cellulose and starch. In summary, the internal quality of Korla fragrant pear fruit treated with calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer was better than 101 foliar fertilizer. It was confirmed that calcium and magnesium foliar fertilizer had a good control effect on the hardness of Korla fragrant pear persistent calyx fruit, and its fruit quality was also improved. This study has great application value in production practice.

Enhancing Soil Fertility and Elevating Pecan Fruit Quality through Combined Chemical and Organic Fertilization Practices

This study focused on 6-year-old ‘Pawnee’ pecan trees to elucidate the differential responses of physicochemical properties of orchard soil and pecan fruit quality when combining chemical and organic fertilizers. The aim was to unveil the mechanisms that underlie the effects of different fertilization treatments on soil fertility, soil enzyme activities, and pecan fruit quality. Four treatments were established: sole chemical fertilizer (CF; N:P2O5:K2O is 15:15:15), chemical fertilizer combined with cake fertilizer (CF+CC), chemical fertilizer combined with manure fertilizer (CF+M), and chemical fertilizer combined with cake and manure fertilizer (CF+CC+M). Measurements were taken to assess the soil nutrient content, soil enzyme activities, and fruit growth quality in some orchards under different fertilization treatments. The results revealed that the combined application could increase yield and enhance pecan quality. Among these, the CF+M+CC treatment demonstrated the most favorable outcomes, with the pecan kernel oil and unsaturated fatty acid contents reaching 72.33% and 97.54%, respectively. The combined fertilization treatments had no significant impacts on soil trace elements such as Mg, Cu, and Mn; however, it significantly increased the Available Phosphorus (AP), Total Nitrogen (TN), Soil Organic Matter (SOM) and S-ACP (soil acid phosphatase) activities. In summary, the combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers can significantly increase the soil nutrient content and enzyme activities in pecan orchards, to promote the enhancement of fruit quality and economic aspects.

PENGARUH PUPUK NPK TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL PRODUKSI JAGUNG MANIS (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) DI LAMPUNG UTARA

Sweet corn (Zea mays saccsharata Sturt.) is one of the plants that is widely produced and a source of food staples in Indonesia, such as processed food, drinks, and so on. The low productivity of sweet corn in North Lampung is caused by the use of excessive doses and the wrong fertilization method. This problem can be overcome by implementing a good cultivation system, including applying fertilization with the right dosage so that plants can produce according to their potential results.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of NPK fertilizer treatment on the growth and yield of sweet corn at the best dose of NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of sweet corn. This research was conducted experimentally using RAL (Completely Randomized Design). It consists of one factor with 3 levels, namely K0: Control, K1: Giving NPK 150 kg/ha (1.8 kg/plant plot) K2: Giving NPK 300 kg/ha (3.6 kg/plant plot).The results showed that the NPK treatment had a significant effect on plant height at 30 HST. The stem diameter showed a significant effect when the sweet corn was 30 and 45 HST. The number of leaves shows that NPK fertilizer has no real effect. The length of the cobs with husks, the length of the cobs without husks, the weight of the husked cobs, the weight of the cobs without husks and the weight of the stover showed real results. &#x0D;

Effects of Post-Anthesis Irrigation on the Activity of Starch Synthesis-Related Enzymes and Wheat Grain Quality under Different Nitrogen Conditions.

To develop optimal management strategies for water and nitrogen fertilizer application in winter wheat cultivation, we conducted a potted experiment to investigate the effects of different irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilizer treatments on the activity of starch synthesis-related enzymes and the grain quality of winter wheat. The potted experiment consisted of three irrigation levels, with the lower limits set at 50-55% (I0), 60-65% (I1), and 70-75% (I2) of the field capacity. In addition, four levels of nitrogen fertilizer were applied, denoted as N0 (0 kg N hm-2), N1 (120 kg N hm-2), N2 (240 kg N hm-2), and N3 (300 kg N hm-2), respectively. The results revealed the significant impacts of irrigation and nitrogen treatments on the activities of key starch-related enzymes, including adenosine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphrylase (ADPG-PPase), soluble starch synthase (SSS), granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), and starch branching enzymes (SBE) in wheat grains. These treatments also influenced the starch content, amylopectin content, and, ultimately, wheat yield. In summary, our findings suggest that maintaining irrigation at a lower limit of 60% to 65% of the field capacity and applying nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 240 kg hm-2 is beneficial for achieving both high yield and high quality in winter wheat cultivation.