Fertilizer Response Research Articles

Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Function Prediction of Millet/Peanut Intercropping Farmland in the Lower Yellow River

The objective of this study was to explore the microecological variability in farmland soil fertility in response to millet-peanut intercropping patterns by clarifying the effects of millet-peanut 4:4 intercropping on soil bacterial community structure and its diversity, as well as to provide a reference basis for promoting ecological restoration and arable land quality improvement in the lower Yellow River farmland. The Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology and QIIME 2 platform were used to analyze the differences in bacterial community composition and their influencing factors in five soils[sole millet (SM), sole peanut (SP), intercropping millet (IM), intercropping peanut (IP), and millet-peanut intercropping (MP)] and to predict their ecological functions. The results showed that the α-diversity of intercropping soil bacterial communities differed from that of monocropping, though not significantly, whereas the β-diversity was significantly different (P<0.05). A total of 7081 ASVs were obtained from all soil samples, classified into 34 phyla, 109 orders, 256 class, 396 families, 710 genera, and 1409 species, of which 727 ASVs were shared, accounting for 24.5% to 27.8% in five soil species. The bacterial communities of millet-peanut intercropping and its monocropping soils were similar in phylum composition but varied in relative abundance. All five soils were dominated by the Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi, with a relative abundance of 79.40%-81.33%. Soil organic carbon and alkaline nitrogen were the most important factors causing differences in the structures of the five soil bacterial communities at the phylum and genus levels, respectively. The PICRUSt functional prediction revealed that the relative abundance of primary functional metabolism was the largest (78.9%-79.3%), and the relative abundance of secondary functional exogenous biodegradation and metabolism fluctuated the most (CV=3.782%). In terms of the BugBase phenotype, the relative abundance of oxidative stress-tolerant bacteria increased in intercropping millet or peanut soils compared to that in the corresponding monocultures and significantly increased in intercropping millet soils compared to that in sole millet (P<0.05). Oxidative stress-tolerant, Gram-positive, and aerobic phenotypes were highly significantly positively correlated with each other (P<0.01), and all three showed highly significant negative correlations with potential pathogenicity and Gram-negative and anaerobic phenotypes (P<0.01). This showed that millet-peanut intercropping resulted in differences in soil bacterial community diversity, abundance, and metabolic functions and the possibility of reducing the occurrence of potential soil diseases. It can be used to regulate the soil microbiological environment to promote ecological restoration and sustainable development of farmland in the lower Yellow River.

Novel Curve Fitting Analysis of NDVI Data to Describe Turf Fertilizer Response

Evaluating the effectiveness of fertilizers on crops without traditional yield is difficult, as clipping collection is time-consuming and not indicative of the desired response to the fertilizer. Remote sensing techniques, like the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), have emerged as an effective tool to combat these issues. Canopy reflectance, measured by NDVI, is commonly used to differentiate turfgrass response to nitrogen (N) fertilization treatments; however, advancements in data processing are needed for greater differentiation between treatments and better testing of the effects of fertilizer responses. Presented here is an advancement in the processing of NDVI data by applying a compound exponential (pulse peak) function to changes in NDVI over time, relative to a control. This method’s effectiveness in differentiating between fertilizers was evaluated by applying polymer-coated urea (PCU), an enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF), and urea on turfgrass to show the usefulness of the novel curve fitting in highlighting differences in fertilizer response. The field study was carried out on an established Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) blend on a sandy loam soil rootzone maintained with a typical home lawn maintenance regime. Ratios of PCU to urea ranging from 100% urea to 100% PCU with increments of 20% of PCU were used to observe a continuum of response between the two fertilizer types. The N rate for all blends was 73 kg ha−1, with unfertilized plots used as a control to set baseline measurements for the curve fitting. Turfgrass response to N fertilization treatments was assessed through visual turfgrass quality ratings, dry matter yield, and canopy reflectance, where higher urea content resulted in the shortest time to maximum ∆NDVI (24 days), while 100% EEF reached maximum ∆NDVI at 56 days. The novel curve fitting analysis of the NDVI data allowed for differentiation between treatments, provided a measure of fertilizer effects, and differentiated between urea and enhanced efficiency fertilizers.

Microbial Responses of Soil Fertility to Depth of Tillage and Incorporation of Straw in a Haplic Chernozem in Northeast China

Microbial Responses of Soil Fertility to Depth of Tillage and Incorporation of Straw in a Haplic Chernozem in Northeast China

Probability of crop response to phosphorus and potassium fertilizer: Lessons from 45 years of Ohio trials

AbstractSoil test phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and the associated soil test critical values (CSTVs) are widely used as the primary diagnostic tool to determine if a crop needs P and K fertilizer. However, identifying robust and predictive CSTVs requires a large number of field trials in representative soils and environments to assess crop fertilizer responses. From 1976 to 2021, a total of 457 P trials and 458 K trials were conducted in corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) across 40 counties in Ohio. The trials consisted of both multi‐rate, multi‐year trials and single‐year, single‐rate and large strip trials. Across all crops, grain yield responded to P and K fertilizer in 23.4% and 25.3% of trials, with average yield increases of 8.8% and 11.0%, respectively. Corn yield was more responsive to P and K fertilizer (∼30% of P and K trials) than soybean yield (14% of P trials, 20% of K trials). Several models were run to identify CSTVs, but models imparted systematic bias in CSTVs, and a superior model was not identified due to poor model fit and indiscernible criteria to guide model selection. Instead of a single CSTV, data were classified into five discrete categories based on relative yields and Mehlich‐3 soil test values. These classifications provided a useful and consistent framework for assessing the probability of crop response to P and K fertilizer. Ohio soils with Mehlich‐3 values greater than 20 mg P kg−1 and 130 mg K kg−1 have a low probability of responding to P or K fertilizer application.

Response of Rice Grain Yield and Soil Fertility to Fertilization Management under Three Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Reclaimed Soil

Reasonable cropping systems and fertilizer management are vital for improving the quality of barren soil. The effectiveness of different crop rotation methods and fertilizers in soil improvement depends on various factors, including soil type, climate conditions, and crop type. In the present study, based on three rice-based cropping systems, the effects of organic fertilizers combined with slow-release fertilizers on rice yield and soil fertility in reclaimed soil were analyzed. The results showed that the rice grain yield was highest under the rice-fallow rotation system (RF) with the application of rapeseed meal fertilizer. Available nutrients such as AN, N_NH4+, TP, and AK showed a significant positive correlation with rice grain yield (p &lt; 0.05). PCA and PERMANOVA analysis supported significant variation in CAZyme abundance among cropping systems (R2 = 0.60, p = 0.001) and significant differences between slow-release fertilizer treatments and organic fertilizer treatments (p &lt; 0.05), but not among the three organic fertilizer treatments. Network analysis indicated positive stronger correlations among all functional enzymes in organic fertilizer treatments compared to chemical fertilizer treatments. RDA and correlation heat map results showed that C/N ratios and N_NH4+ were strongly related to CAZyme composition. PLS-PM analysis revealed that soil available nitrogen positively influenced several variables, while rice grain yield was negatively influenced by soil enzymes and TOC. These findings suggested that under appropriate cropping systems, partially substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers can effectively enhance the availability of nutrients in the soil, alter the activity of carbon-cycling microorganisms, and increase rice grain yield.

Response of Inorganic Fertilizers, Wheat Residue and Rhizobium on Soil Health and Yield Attributes of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) var. Samrat

Response of Inorganic Fertilizers, Wheat Residue and Rhizobium on Soil Health and Yield Attributes of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) var. Samrat

Reflectance Measurements from Aerial and Proximal Sensors Provide Similar Precision in Predicting the Rice Yield Response to Mid-Season N Applications.

Accurately detecting nitrogen (N) deficiency and determining the need for additional N fertilizer is a key challenge to achieving precise N management in many crops, including rice (Oryza sativa L.). Many remotely sensed vegetation indices (VIs) have shown promise in this regard; however, it is not well-known if VIs measured from different sensors can be used interchangeably. The objective of this study was to quantitatively test and compare the ability of VIs measured from an aerial and proximal sensor to predict the crop yield response to top-dress N fertilizer in rice. Nitrogen fertilizer response trials were established across two years (six site-years) throughout the Sacramento Valley rice-growing region of California. At panicle initiation (PI), unmanned aircraft system (UAS) Normalized Difference Red-Edge Index (NDREUAS) and GreenSeeker (GS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVIGS) were measured and expressed as a sufficiency index (SI) (VI of N treatment divided by VI of adjacent N-enriched area). Following reflectance measurements, each plot was split into subplots with and without top-dress N fertilizer. All metrics evaluated in this study indicated that both NDREUAS and NDVIGS performed similarly with respect to predicting the rice yield response to top-dress N at PI. Utilizing SI measurements prior to top-dress N fertilizer application resulted in a 113% and 69% increase (for NDREUAS and NDVIGS, respectively) in the precision of the rice yield response differentiation compared to the effect of applying top-dress N without SI information considered. When the SI measured via NDREUAS and NDVIGS at PI was ≤0.97 and 0.96, top-dress N applications resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in crop yield of 0.19 and 0.21 Mg ha-1, respectively. These results indicate that both aerial NDREUAS and proximal NDVIGS have the potential to accurately predict the rice yield response to PI top-dress N fertilizer in this system and could serve as the basis for developing a decision support tool for farmers that could potentially inform better N management and improve N use efficiency.

Parental Leave and Fertility: Individual-Level Responses in the Tempo and Quantum of Second and Third Births

Previous studies have documented varying fertility responses to changes in parental leave provisions. We contribute to this literature by investigating the effects on the transition to second and third births of a policy reform that introduced generous earnings-dependent parental leave benefit in Estonia in 2004. Our study employs a mixture cure model, a model with some useful properties that has been seldom applied in fertility research. The advantage of the cure model over conventional event history models is the ability to distinguish the effect of the covariates on the propensity to have a next child from their effect on the tempo of childbearing. The results show that the transition to next birth accelerated as parents responded to so-called speed premium, a feature that allowed them to avoid a reduction in benefits caused by a reduction of earned income between births, through the closer spacing of births. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the introduction of generous earning-related parental leave was associated with a substantial increase in the progression to both second and third births.

The Impact of the WWI Agricultural Boom and Bust on Female Opportunity Cost and Fertility

Abstract Using variation in crop prices induced by large swings in demand surrounding World War I, we examine the fertility response to crop revenue increases from 1910 to 1930. Our estimates indicate that agricultural price increases reduced fertility, explaining about 9% of the overall decline in fertility over the period. The effect persists years after the collapse of the war boom. Importantly, we show that fertility declines were concentrated in farm women and fertility declined along intensive and extensive margins. Combined, the pattern of estimates is consistent with agricultural women experiencing an increase in the opportunity cost of their time.

Influence of Vermicompost and Bio-fertilizers on Growth and Flowering of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Prajwal

The experiment was planned to sustainably improve the growth and yield of tuberose using bio-fertilizers and organic manures. performed in pots in completely randomized design (CRD) with 11 treatments having four replications to study the response of organic manures, chemical fertilizers and bio fertilizers on growth and flower yield of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Prajwal. The treatment containing sand + vermicompost (4:1) + Bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter&amp;Pseudomonas sp.) was significantly superior in terms of plant height (70.50 cm), length of leaf (36.98 cm), Number of leaf (25.67), spike length (66.58 cm), rachis length (27.23 cm), diameter of stem (1.096 cm), florets number per spike (35), number of opened florets per spike (33.67), spikes number per clump, spike weight (75.33 g), bulb number per clump (21), bulb diameter (1.20 cm), bulb weight (3.98 g). While lowest values of these parameters were observed in the control (sand). Minimum days taken to bulb sprouting (21.75 days), days taken to complete bulb sprouting (24.50 days), days taken to spike emergence (93 days) and days taken to opening of first floret (106.75 days) were observed in sand + inorganic manures. Treatment having Sand + vermicompost (4:1) + Bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter&amp;Pseudomonas sp. was observed best to promote growth and flowering of tuberose.

Long-Term Chemical Fertilization Drove Beneficial Bacteria for Rice Soil to Move from Bulk Soil to the Rhizosphere

Overuse of chemical fertilizer (CF) causes damage to soil and the environment. To reveal the process of the response of crop rhizospheric and bulk soil fertility and the bacterial community to long-term CF conditions, CF application and nonfertilization (CK, control) treatments were used in a long-term (12-year) fertilization experiment. Long-term CF application significantly increased the soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus contents (p &lt; 0.05), increased the available nitrogen (AN) and potassium (AK) contents to varying degrees, and decreased the soil pH in both rice rhizospheric soil and bulk soil. In addition, the bacterial Shannon and Ace indices in rice rhizospheric soil under the CF treatment were all higher than those under the control (CK) treatment, and the bulk soil bacteria showed the opposite trend. The LEfSe results showed that unidentified_Gammaproteobacteria and Geobacter (genera) were significantly enriched in the rhizospheric and bulk soil of rice under the CK treatment, respectively. Gemmatimonadetes (phylum) and Nitrospirae (phylum) + Thiobacillus (genus) were significantly enriched in the rice rhizospheric and bulk soil under the CF treatment. Only AK and AN had strong positive correlations with soil bacteria. Long-term CF application accelerated the migration of soil bacteria from the bulk soil to the rhizosphere, thus improving soil fertility and nutrient cycling.

Response of Inorganic Fertilizers and Vermicompost on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Inoculated with Azotobacter, var. DHM-1

The field experiment was carried out at central research farm of Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during Kharif season year 2022-2023. The experiment was comprised of 9 treatments with 3 level of NPK and Vermicompost in randomized block design. The treatment T9 has shown the significant results when applied 100% of NPK with Vermicompost among the different levels of treatment combination. Growth parameters viz., plant height (171.10 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (14.65) at 90 DAS (day after sowing), and yield parameters viz., length of cob (24.73 cm), number of grains cob-1 (308), test weight (218.46 g), grain yield (46 q ha-1) has shown best in treatment T9 (NPK @ 100% + Vermicompost @ 100%) of maize (Zea Mays L.) in comparison to other treatment combination.

Response of Fertilization of Nitrogen on Agronomical Attributes of Soybean

Soybean also known golden bean is a dual purpose crop grown to meet the requirement of both high protein and oil content. Fertilizers are one of the important components of farming system due to their requirement to provide essential nutrients to crop. The current research work was done to study the effect of the different rates of nitrogen fertilization on the growth and yield of soybean were studied. Field experiments were conducted at Instructional Research Farm, Krishi Nagar, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India during kharif season in the month of July to October in the year 2019‒2020. This research has been conducted in order to examine the beneficial effects of additional application of nitrogen at grain development stage on yield attributes and yield of soybean. The experimental material was early maturing variety of soybean JS 20-34. Treatments were given in 12 combinations in the split plot design. Plant samples were collected at R1 and R3 for dry matter yield and nitrogen determination. Grain yields were determined and grain samples were collected at harvest. A positive grain yield in response to nitrogen fertilizer was observed in different treatments. These imply that additional nitrogen applications are important for getting higher yields. In the current research we came to the conclusion that additional nitrogen fertilizer application to soybean crop has positive impact on several agronomical attributes of the crop.

Sex and population differences underlie variation in reproductive success in a warming environment.

Current rising temperatures are threatening biodiversity. It is therefore crucial to understand how climate change impacts male and female fertility and whether evolutionary responses can help in coping with heat stress. We use experimental evolution to study male and female fertility during the real-time evolution of two historically differentiated populations of Drosophila subobscura under different thermal selection regimes for 23 generations. We aim to (a) tease apart sex-specific differences in fertility after exposure to warming conditions during development, (b) test whether thermal selection can enhance fertility under thermal stress, and (c) address the role of historically distinct genetic backgrounds. Contrary to expectations, heat stress during development had a higher negative impact on female fertility than on male fertility. We did not find clear evidence for enhanced fertility in males or females evolving under warming conditions. Population history had a clear impact on fertility response under thermal stress, particularly in males with those from lower latitude presenting better performance than their higher latitude counterparts. We show that the impact of thermal stress on fertility varies between traits, sexes, and genetic backgrounds. Incorporating these several levels of variation is crucial for a deeper understanding of how fertility evolves under climate change.

Improving fertilizer response of crop yield through liming and targeting to landscape positions in tropical agricultural soils

Nutrient management research was conducted across locations to investigate the influence of landscape position (hill, mid-, and foot slope) in teff (Eragrostis tef) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield response to fertilizer application and liming in the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The treatments included 1) NPS fertilizer as a control treatment (42 N + 10P + 4.2S kg ha−1 for teff and 65 N + 20P + 8.5S kg ha−1 for wheat); 2) NPS and potassium (73 N + 17P + 7.2S + 24 K kg ha−1 for teff and 103 N + 30P + 12.7S + 24 K kg ha−1 for wheat) and 3) NPSK and zinc (73 N + 17P + 7.2S + 24K + 5.3Zn kg ha−1 for teff and 103 N + 30P + 12.7S + 24K + 5,3Zn kg ha−1 for wheat) in acid soils with and without liming. Results showed that the highest teff and wheat grain yields of 1512 and 4252 kg ha−1 were obtained at the foot slope position, with the respective yield increments of 71% and 57% over the hillslope position. Yield response to fertilizer application significantly decreased with increasing slope owing to the decrease in soil organic carbon and soil water content and the increase in soil acidity. The application of lime with NPSK and NPSKZn fertilizer increased teff and wheat yields by 43–54% and 32–35%, respectively compared to the application of NPS fertilizer without liming where yield increments were associated with the application of N and P nutrients. Orthogonal contrasts revealed that landscape position, fertilizer application, and their interaction effects were significant on teff and wheat yields. Soil properties including soil pH, organic carbon, total N, and soil water content were increased down the slope, which might be attributed to sedimentation down the slope. However, available P is yet very low both in acidic and non-acidic soils. We conclude that crop response to applied nutrients could be enhanced by targeting nutrient management practices to agricultural landscape features and addressing other yield-limiting factors such as soil acidity and nutrient availability by conducting further research.

Pengaruh Pemberian Vermikompos dan Pupuk KNO3 terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Bawang Merah (Allium Ascalonicum L.) pada Lahan Kering

The use of dry land for shallot cultivation in Indonesia is still not optimal because it is considered as land that has no good potential for crop cultivation. Dry land problems include limited availability of water, low organic matter and soil nutrients, especially potassium. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the response of vermicompost and KNO3 fertilizer to the growth and yield of shallots on dry land. The experimental design used a factorial randomized block design, doses of vermicompost (5 tons/ha, 10 to/ha, and 15 tons/ha) and KNO3 fertilizer doses (0 kg/ha, 114 kg/ha, and 228 kg/ha). Parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves per hill, number of tubers per hill, tuber diameter, weight of fresh tubers per hill, weight of stored dry tubers per hill, and tuber moisture content. The results showed that the interaction between the application of 10 tons/ha of vermicompost and 114 kg/ha of KNO3 fertilizer had a significant effect on the parameters of fresh tuber weight per clump and dry tuber weight stored per clump. The single treatment of vermicompost at a dose of 15 tons/ha had a significant effect on plant height, number of leaves per hill, fresh tuber weight per hill, and dry tuber weight stored per hill. Single treatment with KNO3 fertilizer dose of 228 kg/ha had a significant effect on the weight of fresh tubers per clump and the weight of stored dry tubers per clump.

Response of sulphur fertilization and weed management to performance of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from November 2021 to April 2022 to assess the effect of sulphur fertilization and weed management on yield performance of faba bean. The experiment consisted of three levels of sulphur viz. 0, 20 and 40 kg S ha-1 and four levels of weed management practices viz. control (weedy check), weed-free up to 30 days after sowing (DAS), weed-free up to 60 DAS, weed-free throughout the growth period. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest number of branches plant-1 (11.63), pods plant-1 (70.68), seeds pod-1 (5.50), 1000-seed weight (267.9 g), seed yield (2.72 t ha-1), and stover yield (2.93 t ha-1) were recorded with 40 kg ha-1. In the case of weed management, the highest number of branches plant-1 (10.16), pods plant-1 (66.03), seeds pod-1 (6.0), 1000-seed weight (266.7 g), seed yield (2.43 t ha-1), stover yield (2.85 t ha-1) and harvest index (45.80%) was found at weed free throughout the growth period. Whereas the lowest values of all parameters were found minimum in weedy check. In interaction, the highest number of branches plant-1 (13.0), pods plant-1 (78.69), seeds pod-1 (7.0), 1000-seed weight (269.5 g), seed yield (2.87 t ha-1), stover yield (2.98 t ha-1) and harvest index (49.37%) were found in 40 kg ha-1 S with weed-free throughout the growth period. Whereas the lowest parameters were found minimum in control. Therefore, application 40 kg ha-1 S along with weed-free conditions throughout the growth period appears as the suitable combination for faba bean cultivation. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. 10(1): 33-42.

Bounding fertility elasticities

I propose a technique for bounding the magnitude of fertility responses to changes in the cost of children, i.e., fertility elasticity, for any country and year. The range is consistent with empirical estimates and is more precise than current meta-analyses.

Pensions and Fertility: Microeconomic Evidence

This study identifies the causal effect of pension generosity on women’s fertility behavior. It capitalizes on Brazil’s expansion of the pension system to rural workers, whose pension wealth subsequently more than tripled. Difference-in-difference, instrumental variable, and event study methods show that the pension reform reduces the propensity of childbearing of women of fertile age by 8 percent in the short run. Completed fertility declines by 1.3 children within 20 years after the reform, reducing the contribution base of the pay-as-you-go long run. The fertility response is strongest at higher birth parities, among older women, and among mothers with sons. (JEL H55, I38, J13, J16, O15)

Spillovers in Childbearing Decisions and Fertility Transitions: Evidence from China

Abstract This article uses China’s family planning policies to quantify and explain spillovers in fertility decisions. We test whether ethnic minorities decreased their fertility in response to the policies, although only the majority ethnic group, the Han Chinese, were subject to birth quotas. We exploit the policy rollout and variation in pre-policy age-specific fertility levels to construct a measure of the negative shock to Han fertility. Combining this measure with variation in the local share of Han, we estimate that a woman gives birth to 0.63 fewer children if the average completed fertility among her peers is exogenously reduced by one child. The fertility response of minorities is driven by cultural proximity with the Han and by higher educational investments, suggesting that spillovers operate through both social and economic channels. These results provide evidence that social multipliers can accelerate fertility transitions.