Fertilizer Efficiency Research Articles

Research on the Efficiency of Complex Fertilizer Produced from the New Serpentine-Based Ingredient

Using serpentine, which is widespread in Armenia, we developed two new fertilizers. First fertilizer, is composed of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, as well as amorphous silicon dioxide, and fertilizer 2, which contains a small amount of phosphorus (in the form of a mixture in the mineral), calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and amorphous silicon dioxide. Fertilizers were soluble in water and a 1 % ammonium carbonate solution. Laboratory studies have shown that fertilizers positively affect spring barley seed germination percentage, germination rate, growth, yield, and grain NPK content. The yield of spring barley increased by 28.4-33.1 % under the influence of fertilizers, which is equivalent to the efficiency of double superphosphate. However, serpentine, the most common in Armenia, can be used to obtain recommended fertilizers in a much cheaper and safer manner.

Agroecological assessment and efficiency of potential fertility

The paper raises the issues of biosphere development, which is carried out against the background of complex processes of substance and energy exchange. Under the influence of V.I. Based on Vernadsky's ideas, major progress was made in studying the movement of chemical elements and redistribution of matter within different parts of the biosphere. The energy of soil formation is a new scientific direction, studying on the basis of system analysis the regularities of transformation of solar energy spent on soil formation (physical and chemical destruction of soil-forming rocks, hyper gene transformation of minerals, etc.), revealing objective ecological conditions of formation and distribution of soils and biogeocenosis in the biosphere. An important task of soil formation energy is the development of effective technological systems to increase the full utilization of solar energy, to create highly productive natural and agricultural biocenoses. Before outlining the main directions of soil formation energetics, it is necessary to define a set of issues that are relevant to this problem. They should include sources and expenditures of energy in soil formation, the amount of energy accumulated in the soil, and others. Much less attention is paid to the energy assessment of these processes. Meanwhile, cognition of the regularities of energy exchange and transformation in the biosphere is a very important problem of modern natural science. From the energy point of view, the emergence and development of the biosphere on Earth should be considered as a grandiose process of gradual accumulation of the stock of convertible solar energy in the surface layer of the planet.

Diversity, Variance, and Stability of Root Phenes of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Root phenes are associated with the absorptive efficiency of water and fertilizers. However, there are few reports on the genetic variation and stability of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) root architecture under different environments. In this study, the diversity, variance and stability of root phenes of 89 peanut varieties were investigated with shovelomics (high throughput phenotyping of root system architecture) for two years in both field and laboratory experiments. The root phenes of these peanut genotypes presented rich diversity; for example, the value of total root length (TRL) ranged from 347.84 cm to 1013.80 cm in the field in 2018, and from 55.14 cm to 206.22 cm in the laboratory tests. The root phenes of different genotypes varied differently; for example, the coefficient of variation (CV) of TRL ranged from 24.0 to 83.5 across the two-year field test. Field and laboratory evaluations were highly correlated, especially on lateral root density (LRD) and root angle (RA), and the quadrant graph analysis of LRD and RA implied that 69.7% of the roots belong to the same type. These not only further reflect root phenes stability through different environment but also demonstrate that some root phenes identified at early stage can indicate their status at later growth stage. In addition, root phenes showed a strong correlation with shoot growth, especially root dry weight (RDW), TRL and（nodule number）NN. Thus, laboratory tests in combination with field shovelomics can efficiently screen and select genotypes with contrasting root phenes to optimize water and nutrient management.

Soil organic matter influences the agronomic efficiency of boron fertilizers in sandy Oxisol cultivated with soybean

Soil organic matter influences the agronomic efficiency of boron fertilizers in sandy Oxisol cultivated with soybean

The application of biochar improves the nutrient supply efficiency of organic fertilizer, sustains soil quality and promotes sustainable crop production

AbstractRapeseed meal, a nutritious organic fertilizer (OF), contributes to improving soil environment and crop productivity. However, there are also problems, namely slow fertilizer efficiency and low nutrient utilization during the growing season. This 2‐year field trial was conducted to explore the effect of biochar addition on improving the nutrient availability of OF through a comparative study of various biochar application rates under rice‐rapeseed rotation conditions. The findings revealed that, compared to the individual application of chemical fertilizers (CF), OF alone decreased rice yield (2%/2%) and rapeseed yield (6%/10%) in 2019/2020. Compared with OF, combining biochar (15 t ha−1) with OF (OF + B15) significantly increased rice yield (17%/10%) and rapeseed yield (25%/20%) in the first/second year. Additionally, OF + B15 still increased rice yield (14%/7%) and rapeseed yield (12%/13%) for two consecutive years compared to CF. The co‐application of biochar and OF had positive impacts on soil physicochemical properties and enzymes. Compared to OF, OF + B15 elevated soil organic carbon (SOC) by 57%–81%, soil catalase 19%, invertase 14%–20%, urease 17%–19%, and phosphatase 13%–17% during rice season, and similarly increased SOC by 77%–90%, soil catalase 14%–16%, invertase 14%–20%, urease 18%–24%, and phosphatase 16%–17% in rapeseed season. Biochar addition improved soil conditions and enzymatic activities, and the available nutrient supply of OF. Also, the co‐application of biochar and rapeseed meal surpassed the effect of chemical fertilizer alone on the growth and yield of crops. Therefore, biochar coupling with organic fertilizer is an effective fertilization strategy based on resource recycling, which promotes both crop yield and sustainable agriculture.

Produção de ramos comerciais de vinagreira com adubação orgânica e mineral e poda da arquitetura da planta

ABSTRACT Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions is carried out by family farmers without the use of technology and with low yields. This study aimed to evaluate the use of organic and mineral fertilizers in roselle growth and nutrition in São Luís, State of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a factorial scheme [(7x2)+1]. The treatments consisted of seven doses of poultry litter (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 L), six percentages of NPK (100.0, 83.3, 66.3, 49.9, 33.2, and 16.5%), and an additional treatment (poultry litter plus PK at maximum doses), with three replications. Split harvests were conducted at 75, 105, 135, and 165 days after transplanting. Fresh phytomass and the number of primary, secondary, and commercial branches were evaluated in each harvest. Fertilization with poultry litter increased fresh biomass production and the number of commercial branches per plant. Phytomass and the number of commercial branches decreased with an increase in the cutting interval in the split harvests. The poultry litter enhanced the efficiency of mineral fertilization in crop management, standing out the combination of 1.0 L poultry litter plant-1 plus 66.3% of the recommended NPK dose.

Optimizing wheat prosperity: innovative drip irrigation and nitrogen management strategies for enhanced yield and quality of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai region.

To examine the impacts of varied water and nitroge combinations on wheat yield and quality under drip irrigation in the Huang-Huai-Hai area, a field experiment was conducted over two growing seasons of winter wheat from 2019 to 2021. Traditional irrigation and fertilization methods served as the control (CK), with two nitrogen application rates set: N1 (180 kg/ha) and N2 (210 kg/ha). The irrigation schedules were differentiated by growth stages: jointing, anthesis (S2); jointing, anthesis, and filling (S3); and jointing, booting, anthesis, and filling (S4), at soil depths of 0-10 cm (M1) and 0-20 cm (M2). Results indicated that compared to CK, the 3 and 4 times irrigation treatments comprehensively improved grain yield (GY) by 8.0% and 13.6% respectively, increased the average plant partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (PFPN) and irrigation use efficiency (IUE) by 57.5% and 38.2%, and 62.2% and 35.8%, respectively. The gluten content (GC) of 3 irrigations was 1.6% higher than CK, and other metrics such as dough tenacity (DT), softness (ST), water absorption (WAS), and gluten hardness (GH) also showed improvements. Furthermore, the contents of amylose, amylopectin, and total starch under 3 irrigations significantly increased by 9.4%, 11.4%, and 9.8%, respectively, with higher than 4 irrigations. The crude protein content and soluble sugar content in 3 irrigations rose by 6.5% and 9.8% respectively over two years. These irrigation treatments also optimized gelatinization characteristics of grains, such as breakdown viscosity (BDV), consistency peak viscosity (CPV), consistency setback viscosity (CSV), pasting temperature (PeT), and pasting time (PaT). The study demonstrated that appropriate drip irrigation can effectively synchronize water and nitrogen supply during critical growth stages in winter wheat, ensuring robust late-stage development and efficient transfer of photosynthetic products into the grains, thus enhancing grain mass and yield. This also led to improved utilization of water and fertilizer and enhanced the nutritional and processing quality of the grain. However, excessive irrigation did not further improve grain quality. In conclusion, given the goals of saving water and fertilizer, achieving excellent yield, and ensuring high quality, the N1S3M1 treatment is recommended as an effective production management strategy in the Huang-Huai Hai area; N1S3M2 could be considered in years of water scarcity.

Assessment of Fe-Based Organic Framework (Fe-MOF) as Nutrient-Slow-Releasing Material

There has been serious focus about improving the efficiency of fertilizers so as to substantially ease the problem of food security, deficit of trace elements, soil degradation, groundwater, and air pollution. Hence, assessment of Fe-Based Organic Framework (Fe-MOF) as Nutrient-Slow-Releasing Material (slow-releasing fertilizer); synthesized hydrothermally from ferric chloride, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, diammonium hydrogen phosphate, urea, and oxalic acid (OXA) is herein studied. From the FTIR results, -OH & C=O (OXA) and NH2 (urea) participated in the structural formation of the MOFs. Crystals of the Fe-MOFs at different magnifications with pores sizes of ~1.10 μm were observed from the SEM results. The major peaks are (110) and (111) corresponding to 2𝜃 at 28° and 31°, respectively, as given in MOF1. For MOF2 the peaks of (110), (111), and (121) correspond to 2𝜃 at 22.12°, 27.15°, and 33°, respectively. These indicate that the metal-carbonyl linkage for the MOF. These results agreed with the face and body centered crystals. In the results of nutrient-slow-releasing capability of the iron-MOF, the trend of the release at the end of the 3-week is: PO43- (2.75 mg/L) < Fe3+ (3.30 mg/L) < NH4+ (3.36 mg/L) < K+ (406 mg/L) for MOF1 and PO43- (2.75 mg/L) < Fe3+ (3.30 mg/L) < NH4+ (3.36 mg/L) for MOF2. Therefore, the synthesized MOF is recommended for real-life tests as slow-releasing fertilizer. The use of such products would also ensure food security, soil sustainability, and lessen pollution against the fast-releasing fertilizers. More so, the synthesis is handy and utilizes inexpensive reagents.

EFFICIENCY OF PRE-SOWING APPLICATION OF COMPLEX FERTILIZERS IN TECHNOLOGY OF GROWS OF WINTER WHEAT SOFT

The article presents the results of research on theoretical substantiation and formation of yield and grain quality of winter wheat in the conditions of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine, depending on the pre–sowing application of a new type of fertilizers with prolonged action in the technology of pre–sowing application of winter wheat. The purpose of the study was to establish the effectiveness of the use of new fertilizers in different formulations, which were applied during the sowing of winter wheat, compared to the absolute control and the option, which was chosen as a production control – with the introduction of nitroamophoska. The research was conducted during 2019/2020–2021/2022 in the scientific laboratories and stationary crop rotation of the department of plant breeding at the VP NUBiP of Ukraine "Agronomic Research Station", which is located in the Fastiv district, of the Kyiv region. In the experiments, a high–yielding, medium–early ripening winter wheat variety of MIP Valencia was sown. Sowing was carried out in the second decade of September, the sowing rate was 5 million similar seeds per 1 ha. The predecessor was soybean. The experiment was carried out in quadruplicate. The registered area of the site is 50 m2. To establish the effectiveness of the new types of DoraSOP fertilizers, a two–factor field experiment was conducted: factor A – the type of fertilizers (Actibion, Phos, Elite), factor B – the rate of fertilizer application (80; 100; 120 kg/ha physical weight). As a result of the conducted research, the parameters and regularity of the formation of elements of the crop structure were established. With the introduction of Actibion, Phos, Elite fertilizers in all the years of our research, a greater differentiation of grains in the ear was established compared to absolute control and zonal control. The number of grains in an ear when fertilizers were applied increased by 17–50% compared to the control variant. The mass of grain from an ear in the control version was 0.74 g. In the zonal control version, it was 0.97 g in Actibion 125 versions – 1.29 g; Phos – 1.05–1.11 g; Elite – 1.20 –1.22 g. The weight of 1,000 grains is influenced by the weather conditions of the year and the provision of moisture during the period of formation and pouring of grains. The highest indicators of the mass of 1000 grains were noted in the versions using Dorasop – Actibion fertilizers – 42.4–44.1 g.; Phos – 39.0 – 41.5 g; Elite – 42.5–43.0 g. The highest yield among the studied options was obtained in the options with Actibion application, and was 6.51–6.79; Elite – 6.24–6.58; Phos – 5.11–5.56 t/ha, yield in control – 3.17, production control – 4.88 t/ha. The use of fertilizers had a positive effect on the formation of quality indicators of wheat grain. The protein content in grain when Actibion fertilizers were used increased to 13.6–13.8%, in the control variant – 11.1%, and in the production control – 13.5%. The application of Elite provided a protein content of 13.5 to 13.7%. The maximum indicators of crude gluten content were noted in variants with the use of Actibion fertilizers of 23.6 – 24.6%, slightly lower indicators were formed when using Elite – 23.6 – 24%, production control formed indicators of crude gluten at the level of 24.3%, which corresponds to the 2nd quality class. Variants using Phos post–sowing fertilizer – 19.4 – 20.0%, respectively, 3rd quality class. Even lower indicators of the amount of gluten were in the control version without application of post–sowing fertilizer – 17.5%. Conducted complex studies of DoraSOP fertilizers on winter wheat crops, made it possible to draw conclusions about the high efficiency of fertilizers. Fertilizers have a prolonged effect, are characterized by a low rate of application, surpass the production control, which was significantly higher in terms of the total application of the active substance of macroelements. The effectiveness of all types of fertilizers depends significantly on weather conditions, in particular the amount of precipitation.

Effects of different ages on frozen semen quality and in vitro fertilization efficiency in Wannan black pigs.

According to previous studies, the quality and fertilization rate of fresh sperm from boars of different ages were significantly different. However, the difference of freeze-thaw sperm quality and fertility in boars of different ages is unclear. In this study, boars of a Chinese native breed were assigned into two groups. Each group consisted of five boars aged aged either 2-3 years (young boars = YB) or 5-6 years (aging boars = AB) A total of 60 ejaculates for each group were collected and cryopreserved. Semen quality and in vitro fertility of post-thaw sperm was evaluated. The results showed that the concentration and motility of fresh sperm collected from AB were similar to YB, but their semen volume was higher than that in YB (p < 0.05). Frozen-thawed sperm of AB had lower viability than YB, and higher abnormal rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of YB (p < 0.05). There was no effect of the age on post-thaw sperm motility and time survival. Functional assessments indicated that increasing age markedly compromises the integrity of the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome, as well as mitochondrial functionality post-thaw, albeit without affecting DNA integrity. Furthermore, increasing age of boars reduces the ability of sperm to bind to the oocyte zona pellucida after thawing, delaying the time of the first embryo cleavage after fertilization. Finally, the early developmental efficiency of in vitro fertilized embryos progressing from 4-cell to blastocyst derived from post-thaw sperm in AB significantly decreased compared to those from YB (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that increasing age in boars impairs the quality and in vitro fertility of frozen thawed sperm.

Effects of straw mulching, liming, and soil texture on ammonia volatilisation: a study of conventional and enhanced efficiency fertilisers

Context In no-tillage agriculture, maintenance of soil cover combined with liming without incorporation increases nitrogen (N) loss via ammonia (NH3) volatilisation, decreasing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilisers. Aims To quantify N losses by NH3 volatilisation from conventional and enhanced efficiency fertilisers applied to a clayey and a sandy loam soil subjected or not to lime (CaCO3) application and straw mulching. Methods Two laboratory experiments were carried out; one using a clayey soil, and the other using a sandy loam soil. Both experiments followed a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial design with four N sources (urea, urea-NBPT, urea-formaldehyde, and ammonium sulfate), absence and presence of liming, and absence and presence of Brachiaria ruziziensis straw mulching. NH3 volatilisation was measured using closed flasks containing filter paper soaked with sulfuric acid and quantified by titration with sodium hydroxide. Key results NH3 volatilisation was up to 62% of the N applied. Losses due to NH3 volatilisation from both soil types decreased in the following order of treatment: liming + straw mulching &gt; straw mulching only &gt; liming only. Urea-formaldehyde and ammonium sulfate were the most efficient in reducing NH3 emissions. However, when ammonium sulfate was applied to a clayey soil after liming, it resulted in higher NH3 emissions than conventional urea. Conclusions Urea-formaldehyde showed better performance in reducing NH3 losses due to greater stability in the presence of straw or liming. Implications Soils with straw and limestone can lead to large NH3 volatilisation losses if urea conventional is broadcast.

Modifying soluble NPK release with hydrophobized nanocellulose-based hydrogels for sustainable enhanced efficiency fertilizers

Introduction of a hydrophobic shell to a regenerated cellulose-based bead through gas-phase esterification results in slowing of plant nutrient release by an order of magnitude.

Characteristics and Agronomic Efficiency of Fertilizer Urea Granules- Acidic Coated Bamboo Biochar Acrylate on Plant Onion Red (Allium ascaloniucm L.)

The use of urea-biochar granular fertilizer is intended to overcome the problem of inefficiency in the excessive use of urea fertilizer. The efficiency of urea is relatively low because 40-70% of N is lost from the soil. The purpose of this study was to determine the agronomic efficiency of acrylic acid-coated bamboo urea-biochar fertilizer on shallot plants. The research was conducted in the greenhouse of UPT Plant Pest and Disease Control Center in Celuk Sukawati Gianyar Village, and in the Laboratory of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University, arranged in a Completely Randomized Design with a single factor consisting of 9 treatments and repeated 3 times. Parameters observed were plant growth yields (height, weight of tubers and fresh litter, weight of tubers and oven-dried litter, number of tillers), fertilizer agronomic efficiency. The results showed that the S30 treatment significantly increased the shallot plant height by 43.67 cm, the weight of the oven-dried bulbs by19.68 g and the RAE value by 362%, so that fertilization with the S30 treatment was the most efficient compared to other treatments and could be used by farmers in increasing the growth and yield of shallot plants.

Research on Underground Drip Irrigation and Soil Redistribution - Take Heshan District of Yiyang City as an Example

Abstract: The drip flow and the buried depth of drip irrigation zone are not only important parameters of subsurface irrigation design and operation management, but also important factors affecting the migration and redistribution of soil water and fertilizer. Crop growth is closely related to soil water and nitrogen leaching, water and fertilizer transport patterns and redistribution characteristics. It is of great significance to study the migration and redistribution of soil water and fertilizer under subsurface drip irrigation for improving the utilization efficiency of water and fertilizer and improving the system of subsurface drip irrigation. In this paper, the migration mode and redistribution characteristics of water and nitrogen in subsurface drip irrigation were studied and analyzed by means of laboratory soil box experiment, considering the two factors of drip flow and the buried depth of drip irrigation belt. The main research conclusions are as follows: Ⅰ. Different drip flows had effects on soil moisture front, soil moisture content and soil water redistribution. If other conditions remain unchanged, increasing the drip flow can increase the moist body area of soil and increase the moisture content of soil. The distance between vertical and horizontal directions increased with the large drip flow, and the soil water content decreased with the increase of distance. Large drip flow can promote the redistribution of soil water after drip irrigation. Ⅱ. Different drip depth had effects on soil moisture content and soil water redistribution. When the drip depth was 0cm, the surface shape of the wet body was a "horizontal" semi-ellipse after drip irrigation. When the drip depth was 10cm and 20cm, the surface of the wet body was an "upright" semi-ellipse after drip irrigation. The larger the buried depth of the drip can make the distribution of soil moisture more uniform, and the larger the buried depth of the drip can promote the migration of water in the soil. Ⅲ. Different drip discharge had an effect on soil nitrogen redistribution, and large drip discharge promoted soil nitrogen redistribution after drip irrigation. The Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3--N) content in the moist body is lower than that near the edge of the wetting front. The content of Ammonium Nitrogen (NH4+-N) near the edge of the wetting peak is higher than that inside the wetting body. Ⅳ. The redistribution of soil nitrogen was affected by different buried depth of drip head, and the greater buried depth of drip head could promote the redistribution of soil nitrogen. In terms of vertical and horizontal migration of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, on the day after drip irrigation, the cumulative effect of Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3--N) buried at a depth of 20cm was more significant near the wetting front edge at a larger vertical downward distance, and the cumulative effect of Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3--N) buried at a depth of 20cm was more significant inside the wetting body at a larger vertical downward distance. At the same time, the drip buried depth of 20cm can spread the cumulative effect inside the wet body and near the edge of the wet front to a longer horizontal distance.

Agronomic efficiency of fertilizers with aggregate technology in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon

Agronomic efficiency of fertilizers with aggregate technology in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon

MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS OF THE VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ACCORDING TO THE CRITERION OF THE INDEX OF THE USE AND REPRODUCTION OF SOIL FERTILITY

The article presents the results of the search for the optimal balance between the profitability of agriculture and the preservation of natural resources. An attempt is presented to balance the productivity of natural resources and the preservation of the natural environment, which ensures the high efficiency of resource use without reducing soil fertility and environmental degradation. However, when using intensive, knowledge-based, high-tech farming methods, it is important to ensure optimal use of soil fertility to achieve economic efficiency and production stability in the long term. Preservation of soil fertility is an important area of ensuring sustainable development of agriculture and environmental protection. The need to solve the economic and ecological problems of rational use, protection, preservation and reproduction of soil fertility is determined, because in the context of the post-industrial stage of the development of the society, attention to the preservation of natural resources and sustainable development becomes necessary to ensure economic prosperity and long-term environmental sustainability. The ecological criterion in the assessment of the market for vegetable products becomes a key indicator, as it reflects the degree of consideration of environmental aspects and the sustainability of ecosystems. Taking into account the methods of using soil fertility and its restoration determines how much agriculture conserves natural resources. A forecast model of reproduction of soil fertility in vegetable production of Ukraine under different scenarios for the period until 2030 is proposed, reflecting different approaches to managing soil fertility and ecological efficiency of agricultural activity. The choice of the optimal scenario depends on many factors (economic possibilities, ecological views and social requirements) and can contribute to the sustainable use of soil fertility and the maintenance of ecosystems. A study was conducted to assess the intensity of losses and restoration of soil fertility in the activities of modern enterprises of the Vinnitsa region, which were specialized in vegetable growing. The necessity of observing soil-saving technologies at the expense of external regulatory impulses, which in the economic and sanction direction will force to change the behavior of the agents of the market of vegetable products in Ukraine in the direction of greening, has been established.

Morphophysiological characteristics of upland rice plants with organic approach through reduced NPK fertilizer and wood vinegar application

Unefficient use of synthetic fertilizer in upland rice production leads to the low productivity and tends to harm the environtment. An organic approach by using wood vinegar is promising to improve the fertilizer efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the response of upland rice with the application of different wood vinegar and synthetic fertilizer N-P-K rates on morpho-physiological characters. A split plot design with the main plot of N-P-K fertilizer and a subplot of wood vinegar was applied with three replications. Growth and physiological character were observed. The data were analyzed by the F test, then proceed with the Duncan Multiple Range Test at p≤0.05. The results showed that a half and full recommended synthetic fertilizer rate of N-P-K had a similar result to gaining optimum morpho-physiological character of upland rice. Wood vinegar with a rate of 75 L ha-1 obtained the highest performance on morpho-physiological character of upland rice. An increasing application rate of wood vinegar improved the morpho-physiological character of upland rice at different rates of N-P-K synthetic fertilizers.

Biofortification for Enhancement of Micronutrient Contents in Cereals

Micronutrient deficiencies present a global public health threat, particularly in regions reliant on staple crops like maize, rice, and wheat. This review delves into the intricate relationship between boron, zinc, and iron deficiencies and these essential crops. Boron, vital for both plant growth and human health, influences physiological processes beyond agriculture. Similarly, zinc and iron play crucial roles in enzymatic activities and overall well-being. Deficiencies in these micronutrients can lead to severe health consequences, affecting millions worldwide. The review addresses challenges in implementing fertilizer-based solutions, tackling economic constraints, technological limitations, and environmental concerns. Economic barriers, especially for smallholder farmers, stem from the high costs of micronutrient-enriched fertilizers. Governments, international organizations, and public-private partnerships are crucial for subsidizing and incentivizing fertilizers. Technological limitations involve formulating efficient fertilizers, with ongoing research in nanotechnology and precision agriculture holding promise. Environmental concerns necessitate promoting sustainable farming practices, with precision agriculture and organic alternatives emerging. The article concludes by discussing potential avenues for future research and innovation in fertilizer technologies, emphasizing sustainability and scalability for ongoing progress in agricultural practices.

Preparation of slow-release fertilizers by electrolytic manganese residue and alkali-activated laterite-based geopolymers: Mn release effects on Guizhou white tea seedlings growth

Electrolytic manganese residues (EMR) and alkali-activated laterite-based geopolymers were used to prepare slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) and the physicochemical properties and Mn release behavior of EMR-laterite-based SRFs (SRFs-LA) were studied. MnSO4·H2O in EMR transforms into CaMnSi2O6, MnO2 and (NH4)2Mn(SO4)2·6H2O after SRFs-LA synthesis. Geopolymers can slow Mn release through ion exchange and can physically encapsulate Mn-containing minerals. Mn release from the SRFs-LA system was primarily influenced by a combination of non-Fick diffusion and skeleton erosion. A comparative pot experiment was also conducted between SRFs-LA and SRFs prepared using alkali/acid-activated geopolymers with EMR (SRFs-alGo/SRFs-acGo) to examine the fertilization efficiency of Guizhou white tea seedlings. Compared with Mg(II), Mn(II) not only played a dominant role in the competitive root absorption process from the soil to the interior of seedlings, but also impeded Fe transportation by regulating the expression of citrate transporters. The slow release of Mn from SRFs-alGo and SRFs-LA could benefit tea seedling growth and protein and photosynthetic pigment synthesis, whereas EMR treatments with Mn burst release damaged the antioxidant system owing to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species in leaves. The Mn released from SRFs-acGo may approach the tolerance limit of tea seedlings growth. The order of fertilizer efficiency for young Guizhou white tea seedlings was as follows: SRFs-LA > SRFs-alGo > SRFs-acGo. Moreover, the cost of SRFs-LA prepared using laterite instead of metakaolin as an active silicon–aluminum source could be reduced by approximately $18.7/t.

Efficiency of microbiological fertilizers when cultivating open ground tomato crops in the Volgograd region

It has been established that the use of microbiological fertilizers Azotovit and Phosphatovit during flat-cut tillage to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m on light chestnut soil ensures an increase in the content of Azotobacter up to 96.6% and an increase in the yield of tomato crops by 5.6 t/ha.