Addition Of Fertilizer Research Articles

Impact of Contrasting Rates of Phosphate Fertiliser Addition in Two Vertisols: Effects of Fresh Application and Residual Fertiliser on Sorption and Plant Uptake

Cropping systems in many sub-tropical and tropical regions rely on phosphorus (P) fertilisers to maintain crop yields. However, crop responses are often spatially and temporally inconsistent. This study evaluated P availability from dispersed applications of fresh phosphate fertiliser and their residual effect in two contrasting Vertisols - a major soil type for crop production. We collected soils that had received mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) fertiliser four years prior to sampling (residual), as well as unfertilised soils to which we applied MAP at equivalent rates (‘fresh’). Soil P tests quantified the potential P availability arising from the residual and fresh P applications, and P sorption curves were generated to describe the P sorption/desorption dynamics. A 45-day pot trial evaluated wheat growth and P uptake from fresh and residual P applications in both soils. Soil tests and sorption curves reflected differences in P addition in the two soils, although the sorption characteristics did not differ appreciably in response to residual P. Crop growth and P uptake strongly increased with increasing P availability, with greater responses for the freshly applied P. Low P recovery from aged fertiliser applications demonstrated that the availability of residual P for crop uptake after dispersed applications is limited in Vertisols. P-tests and sorption measurements could collectively capture potential soil P reactions and plant P availability in two contrasting Vertisols. Residual P benefits from dispersed applications remained low. Enrichment in a defined soil volume (i.e., banding) merits further investigation in this soil type.

Enhancing Tomato Production by Using Non-Conventional Water Resources within Integrated Sprinkler Irrigation Systems in Arid Regions

This research evaluated the importance of establishing an integrated sprinkler irrigation design connected to fish farm ponds in order to achieve environmental and financial benefits. To achieve the aim of the study, two field experiments were conducted at a private farm in the Nubaria area of Beheira Governorate during the 2022 and 2023 seasons to quantify all the benefits from using fish water effluent (FWE) in irrigation. The obtained results indicated that the effluent could represent a good source of irrigation and bio-fertilization. The yield of tomato was higher when using FWE for irrigation compared with using groundwater for irrigation (IW). This was due to the additional amounts of dissolved bio-nitrogen along with other nutrients present in the FWE. The proportion of dissolved nitrogen added by using FWE was 22.3 kg nitrogen per hectare in 2022 and 24.6 kg nitrogen per hectare in 2023, in addition to some other major elements such as phosphorus and potassium, which are also among the main nutrients needed by crops. It has also been noticed that the fertility of the sandy soil increased with the use of FWE for irrigation. One of the most important results was the possibility of reducing the addition of nitrogen mineral fertilizers by 25%, thus saving on N fertilizers when growing tomato. In addition to the vitality of the FWE and its macro- and microelements, algae, microorganisms, and other organic materials, the use of this type of water as an alternative source for irrigation, along with the reduction in the amount of added mineral fertilizers, will reduce the degree of groundwater contamination with mineral fertilizers and increase the income of farmers. It was also observed that the air temperature decreased during the growing season when compared with the temperature of uncultivated surrounding areas.

Mineralized nitrogen uptake by plants of the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilization in agriculture

The underground transfer of nitrogen from non-food crop residues to cash crops is an important tool to ensure decent crop yields and balance N use in agroecosystems. Laboratory experiments were performed to determine nitrogen migration in spring wheat at different growth stages using labelled nitrogen. In the first stage of the experiment, Artemisia dubia was grown in climate chambers (Climacell CLC-707-TV), with air temperature cycles of 8 h at 15 °C and 16 h at 20 °C, and fertiliz using 15N isotope enriched ammonia nitrate. In the second stage of the experiment, spring wheat was sown and grown to full maturity in two soils of differing soil acidity (pH 3.93 ± 0,04 and pH 7.07 ± 0,08) and mixed with the chopped pieces (3–5 cm mean length) of Artemisia dubia above-ground biomass obtained in the first stage of the experiment. Each soil had four experimental treatments: non-enriched biomass; non-enriched biomass and fertilizer (170 N kg h−1); biomass enriched by 15N and no fertilizer, and 15N enriched biomass and fertilizer (170 N kg h−1). Spring wheat and soil were sampled every two weeks for dry matter (DM), total N and 15N content measurements during the experiment (13 weeks). The results showed that improved crop nitrogen utilization from Artemisia dubia residues were achieved when additional crop fertilizers was not used. It implies that adding additional nitrogen might increase the degradation of plant biomass, but at the same time cause environmental pollution by leaching as plants use it slightly for their growth.

Integrating bio-organic fertilization increases twice-yearly cabbage crop production by modulating soil microbial community and biochemical properties in Northwest Plateau

Decreasing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and integrating bio-organic fertilizers are effective strategies for enhancing soil quality, promoting sustainable agricultural development, and protecting the environment. However, their impact on cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) cultivation in the Northwest Plateau remains unclear. The study investigated the impact of reducing chemical fertilizer by 30 %, combined with different amounts of bio-organic fertilizer (3000 kg·ha−1 for T1, 6000 kg·ha−1 for T2, and 12000 kg·ha−1 for T3), were examined in comparison to a conventional local fertilizer treatment (CK2), which served as the control. Our findings demonstrated significant improvements in soil properties and enzyme activities for T1, T2, and T3 treatments compared to CK2. Specifically, the contents of soil organic matter (SOM), available potassium (AK) and available phosphorus (AP) increased significantly by 10.06 %, 10.63 % and 18.33 %, respectively. Meanwhile, accompanied by a decrease in electrical conductivity (EC) values. Soil sucrase and urease activities can be enhanced by 10.43 % and 19.61 %, respectively. Redundancy analysis confirmed that SOM, AP, AK, and EC were the primary factors driving fluctuations in the microbial community structure. The addition of bio-organic fertilizer led to an increase in beneficial soil microorganisms. The abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria increased most strongly by 4.24 % and 8.75 %. The microbial community suggested that these beneficial microorganisms played essential roles in the cycling of nutrients, suppression of pest and disease, and the promotion of robust plant growth. Moreover, the addition of bio-organic fertilizer (T3) significantly improved plant growth, root/shoot ratio, and nutrient content, and increased the yield by 6.78 t·ha−1. Therefore, we suggest that a reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers along with the incorporation of bio-organic fertilizer, is an important measure for improving soil fertility, enriching soil microbial communities, and ensuring the safety of crops and the environment in the Northwest Plateau.

Phosphorus fertilizer input threshold shifts bacterial community structure and soil multifunctionality to maintain dryland wheat production

As an important factor affecting crop yield in agroecosystems, phosphorus (P) fertilizer addition can significantly alter the soil microbial community, functional gene composition, and multifunctionality. However, the major factors that determine wheat grain yield and the changes in wheat yield caused by the P fertilizer input threshold in dryland wheat production have not been adequately characterized. Based on a long-term field experiment (18 years) with five P addition gradients (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg P2O5 ha−1 yr−1) in the Loess Plateau of China, amplicon (16 S rRNA) and metagenomic sequencing were used to investigate the effects of long-term P fertilization on soil bacterial communities, rhizosphere microbial functions, soil multifunctionality, and wheat grain yield. Long-term P input significantly affected the compositions and functions of the soil bacterial communities. Conversely, long-term high-P treatment (P200) inhibited soil bacterial diversity and soil P cycling genes but increased carbon (C) cycling genes and soil multifunctionality. Meanwhile, there is a threshold of P fertilizer (71.6−78.1 kg ha−1 yr−1) input for wheat grain yield, beyond which the grain yield of wheat did not significantly increase. In addition, the rhizosphere selection effect significantly increased the complexity of the rhizosphere network and microbial interactions and directed the recruitment of microorganisms and genes with special functions to maintain wheat grain yield. Therefore, this study revealed that the threshold of P fertilizer input can provide a basis for reducing P fertilizer and regulating microorganisms to maintain soil multifunctionality and network complexity in the dryland agriculture system of the Loess Plateau to maintain wheat grain yield.

Combined Effect of Potassium Fertiliser, Saline Irrigation Water and Humic Acids On Soil Acidity and Yield Components of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L)

A field experiment was conducted to adapt seedlings of sweet pepper, also called “California Wonder”, to salinity and the role of humic acid and potassium fertiliser in reducing the effect of salinity on the plant. A three-factorial field experiment was conducted according to the Complete Random Block Design, with three replications during the spring season of 2018 to study the humic acid and potassium fertiliser role in enhancing the salt tolerance of pepper plants. The first factor included four levels of saline water irrigation, namely 2, 4, 6 and 8 dS.m-1. The second factor included a foliar application of three levels of humic acids i.e., 0, 25 and 50 kg.h-1. The third factor represents the addition of three levels of potassium fertiliser (potassium sulphate of 50% K2O according to the fertiliser recommendation of 0, 75 and 150 kg. h-1. The considered plant and soil traits were branch per plant, stem diameter (mm), percentage of protein in the fruits and soil pH. The results obtained from the experiment can be summed up above the treatment of air conditioning at saline level 6 ds m-1 in branch per plant with 12.3 and the most significant results obtained from the experiment can be summed up above the treatment of air conditioning at saline level 4 ds m-1 in stem diameter 2.03 mm. The results showed a decrease in branch per plant and stem diameter (mm) by increasing the salinity of irrigation water by 8 ds m-1 and the increase in the addition of humic acid and potassium fertiliser. The results showed a decrease in soil acidity (pH) increasing the salinity of irrigation and increasing fruit protein content by increasing the salinity.

Aplikasi Berbagai Komposisi Bahan Baku Organik Terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Cabai Rawit (Capsicum frutescens L.)

Fertilizer is a nutrient that is the main need for plants. One of the organic materials that is widely used as organic fertilizer is chicken manure which can have an influence on the availability of nutrients and improve the structure of soil which is very deficient in organic nutrients and can also fertilize plants. One of the dry leaves that has the potential to be used as organic fertilizer is ketapang leaves, which have a C-Organic nutrient content of 60.32%; N-Total 0.55 % ; P-Total 0.14 % ; K-Total 0.20%. In addition, the nutrient content of chicken feces is N 1%; P 0.80% ; K 0.40% and water content 55%. The wood powder content consists of chemical components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractive substances. This research method uses a completely randomized design, consisting of 5 treatments of various raw material compositions of chicken manure, dry ketapang leaves and wood dust. The ratio of the use of organic fertilizer and soil is 50: 50. This research aims to determine the height growth and number of leaves for cayenne pepper based on from various raw material compositions of chicken manure, ketapang leaves and wood dust. This research consisted of 5 treatments of various raw material compositions of chicken manure, dry ketapang leaves and sawdust. The ratio of organic fertilizer and soil was 50: 50. The results from observing plant height were that P1 was 6 cm high and the highest number of leaves on P2 was 7 pieces. However, the addition of organic fertilizer with various compositions does not have much effect on the growth of cayenne pepper seeds.

Phytoremediation Potential of Flax Grown on Multimetal Contaminated Soils: A Field Experiment.

The aim of this study was to assess the phytoremediation potential of fiber flax (Linum usitatissimatum L., var. Calista) cultivated in a soil contaminated with multiple metals, under real field conditions. A two-year (2022 and 2023) field experiment was conducted in a site contaminated with elevated concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn due to mining and metallurgical activities. Three different nitrogen fertilization levels were tested (N0: 0 kg N ha-1, N1: 30 kg N ha-1, N2: 60 kg N ha-1), and both spring and winter sowings were conducted. At full maturity, growth parameters and yields were measured. The phytoremediation potential of flax was assessed in terms of the metal concentrations in the above-ground biomass and of the metal uptake (i.e., the potential removal of the soil metals in g ha-1 and per year). Flax demonstrated a shorter growth cycle, with shorter and thicker plants and higher yields when sown in spring compared to winter sowing. Plant growth and productivity were not evidently influenced by additional nitrogen fertilization during plant growth. The cadmium bioaccumulation factor was 1.06, indicating that flax accumulates this metal. For Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn, the corresponding values were 0.0, 0.04, 0.004, and 0.02, suggesting that this crop excludes these metals. The order of the higher uptake in plant tissues was as follows: Zn > Pb > Cd > Cu > Ni. In conclusion, flax demonstrated tolerance to heavy metals in the soil, effectively supporting soil restoration through cultivation. Additionally, flax showed potential as a cadmium accumulator while excluding nickel, copper, lead, and zinc.

Characteristic Morphology and Biomass Production of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Cultivar Gama Umami Under Teak Tree (Tectona grandis) Shade in Blora, Central Java

This study aims to determine the characteristic morphology and biomass production of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) cultivar Gama Umami under teak tree (Tectona grandis) shade in teak tree forest area of Blora, Central Java. The grass was planted using stem cuttings and maintained for four months using the randomized block design (RBD) method with six repetitions in each treatment. This study consisted of two treatments, namely shade under teak tree stands and non-shade or open area as a control. Maintenance was carried out for 14 weeks with the addition of fertilizers, such as NPK (nitrogen, phosphor, and potassium) and urea. Parameters measured included plant height, leaf length, leaf width, first collar length, number of tiller, and stem diameter. After 14 weeks the plants were harvested, and biomass production data were obtained. The results showed that there were no differences in leaf length, leaf width, first collar length, number shoots, and stem diameter between under the shade and non-shade of teak trees. However, the plant height and biomass production of Napier grass cultivated in non-shade teak trees were higher than under the shade of teak trees. The finding showed that Napier grass cultivar Gama Umami could be cultivated under the shade of teak tree forest and introduce for silvopasture system in teak trees forest area.

Degradation of Complex Carbon Sources in Organic Fertilizers Facilitates Nitrogen Fixation.

Biological nitrogen fixation is crucial for agriculture and improving fertilizer efficiency, but organic fertilizers in enhancing this process remain debated. Here, we investigate the impact of organic fertilizers on biological nitrogen fixation through experiments and propose a new model where bacterial interactions with complex carbon sources enhance nitrogen fixation. Field experiments showed that adding organic fertilizers increased the nitrogenase activity by 57.85%. Subculture experiments revealed that organic fertilizer addition enriched genes corresponding to complex carbon and energy metabolism, as well as nifJ involved in electron transfer for nitrogenase. It also enhanced bacterial interactions and enhanced connectors associated with complex carbon degradation. Validation experiments demonstrated that combinations increased nitrogenase activity by 2.98 times compared to the single. Our findings suggest that organic fertilizers promoted nitrogen fixation by enhancing microbial cooperation, improved the degradation of complex carbon sources, and thereby provided utilizable carbon sources, energy, and electrons to N-fixers, thus increasing nitrogenase activity and nitrogen fixation.

Competition or facilitation for stored soil water by cover crops in rotation and additional effect of fertilization in a juvenile tung-based intercropping system

Intercropping or agroforestry systems are among the strategies used to prevent soil erosion or crusting and water loss by evaporation in the bare soil during early growth stage of tree crop plantations. However, the pattern of water use in intercropped, juveline orchard crop plantations is still poorly known. This study aimed to evaluate competition or facilitation for soil water stored by cover crops in rotation and the impact of additional fertilization in a juvenile tung-based intercropping system in southern Brazil during the winter and summer periods of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 growing seasons. A split plot in randomized complete block design arrangement, with four replications, was used comprising crambe winter cover crop plus poultry manure or NPK; a mixture of oats and vetch, sunflower, and soybean in rotation; and sole tung as control. Cover crop intercropping significantly increased water content of the surface layer of the juvenile tung soil only at the beginning of the second growing season. The cover crops showed interspecific facilitation for water use by tung during the summer period, but no clear-cut trend for the winter cover crops. The additional organic manure did not enhance profile soil water storage. Any of the summer cover crops (soybean, sunflower, or peanut) could be used for soil and water conservation in juvenile tree crop plantations. Further studies are required during the winter season to establish whether the winter cover crops are competitors or facilitators for stored soil water in agroforestry systems.

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.

The potential use of brewers' spent grain-based substrates as horticultural bio-fertilizers

IntroductionBrewers' spent grain (BSG) is the most important by-product of breweries. Currently, the primary method of recycling BSG is through its use in livestock feed production, due to its high fiber content, non-degradable protein, and water-soluble vitamins. Nonetheless, composting, vermicomposting, and biochar production pathways offer promising alternatives for managing this organic byproduct.MethodsBSG-based substrates were evaluated as bio-fertilizers for use during the transplantation of Lactuca sativa L. and without additional fertilization at the end of the crop cycle. Biochar (B), vermicompost (V), compost (CP), and compost enriched with a microbial consortium (CPE), each mixed at 2 and 4% with peat, were compared with two control treatments: 100% peat (C1) and peat with ternary chemical fertilizer (C2). The experiment was designed with six replicates, half of which were inoculated with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum mycelium during transplantation to assess the contribution of different substrates to pathogen resistance.ResultsOverall, it was found that the control treatment C2 was the most effective, yielding the greatest plant height at the seedbed stage and the best results across all parameters at harvest. The V 4%, CP 4%, and CPE 4% treatments showed similar results without significant differences compared to the control. At the end of the seedbed phase, plants treated with CP 4% and CPE 4% exhibited the most substantial root development, with statistically significant differences from all other treatments. Moreover, the CPE 4% treatment demonstrated superior performance, resulting in statistically significant differences (p &amp;lt; 0.05) in the chlorophyll content (α and β) and carotenoid parameters when compared to the control treatment C2. The interaction between the treatment and the pathogen was statistically significant only for the carotenoid content in the CPE 4% treatment and for the flavonoid content in most of the treatments.DiscussionThe most promising results were obtained at the nursery phase, highlighting the potential use of processed BSG-based substrates as bio-fertilizers. These products provided plants with both a growth substrate and nutrients, effectively contributing to waste recycling and aligning with the principles of a circular economy. Additional studies are required to investigate the potential use of brewer's spent grain as bio-fertilizers in other vegetable crop species.

Serial cascaded deep feature extraction-based adaptive attention dilated model for crop recommendation framework

Effective crop farming depends on wise selection of crops. It is an essential factor that has to be fulfilled before beginning an agricultural endeavor. Conventionally, the crop that has to be grown is selected without considering the location and cultivated site’s characteristics by only considering its profit and demand on the market. Choosing the best crop for the circumstances can minimize the need for additional fertilizer and water for irrigation and help in attaining enhanced crop yield. Therefore, choosing the right crop is crucial for a successful agricultural situation. Thus, a novel crop recommendation model by considering the soil and geographical conditions is developed to aid the farmers in choosing the appropriate crop for the right condition so that the overall production can be enhanced to increase the overall profit and decrease the losses faced by the farmers. At first, a certain geographical area is selected, and the ideal parameters for growing a particular plant are gathered from the standard database. Next, the deep optimal features are extracted using a Serial Cascaded network in which an autoencoder is cascaded with a “Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1DCNN)” from the gathered data. The obtained deep features are optimally selected using the developed Modified Movement Territory of Fire Hawk Optimizer (MMTFHO). These optimally selected features are given to the Adaptive and Attention-based Hybrid Network (AAHNet) in which “Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM)” are utilized for choosing the right crop for the provided geographical condition. The parameters in the AAHNet are optimized using the same enhanced MMTFHO algorithm for improving the precision of the appropriate crop selection process. The final prediction of crops for the given geographical condition is obtained from the AAHNet. The final or overall rating of the recommended approach regarding accuracy metrics is 96.73%.

Response of Soil Chemical Properties under Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) Field to Integrated Application of Lantana camara L. Weed Vermicompost and NPS Mineral Fertilizer

Recently, the beauty of the environment, native forest plants, and crops were encroached with invasive weeds, and thus scientific community was concerned with searching for optional management of these horrible weeds. Accordingly, vermicomposting of invasive weeds with the purpose of utilization management was evaluated as an alternative option and cost-effective management. Utilization management included keeping the environment safe from expanding invasive weeds by using these weeds as vermicomposting materials. Consequently, vermicompost was produced from L. camara invasive weed and this produced vermicompost was interactively used with chemical fertilizer to appraise its effect on soil chemical properties after the tef crop was harvested. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a factorial combination with three replications. Four levels of L. camara vermicompost amendment (0, 2, 4, and 6 t·ha−1) and four levels of NPS fertilizer (0, 100, 150, and 200 kg·ha−1) were used in the combination of the treatments. Disturbed composite soil sampling at a depth of 20 cm was carried out, one sample before planting and 48 samples after harvesting of the tef crop. The results showed that the combined addition of vermicompost and NPS fertilizers at the rate of 6 t·ha−1 and 200 kg·ha−1, respectively, significantly increased plant-available phosphorus (Av. P). Reversely, the pH of the soil remained unchanged when the soil was treated with the integration of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer or at their separate individual application. Most of the soil chemical properties, i.e. soil organic carbon (SOC), electrical conductivity (EC), Av. P, total nitrogen (TN), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C : N), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were found to be improved when the soil was amended with the highest dose of sole L. camara vermicompost fertilizer. The two-year consecutive organic fertilizer fertilization rate increased SOC from 63.64% to 107.56%, EC from 8.70% to 22.22%, Av. P from 40.87% to 143.13%, TN from 50% to 100%, C : N ratio from 8.14% to 11.58%, and CEC from 42.11% to 63.67% versus untreated plot. Single-application NPS chemical fertilizer has only an encouraging effect on Av. P and CEC of soil. The principal driving factor for any change in soil chemical properties was the L. camara vermicompost amendment. Therefore, using L. camara weed as a vermicompost can enhance soil fertility. This study offers the opportunity to convert the large biomass of L. camara weed into vermicompost through vermicomposting.

Impacts of Vermicompost and Farmyard Manure as Organic Fertilizer with Biochar Amendment on Soil Quality, Growth and Yield of Sunflower

Background: Sunflower is an economically important and the fourth most valuable oil seed crop. The study aimed to investigate organic fertilizers as an alternative method of enhancing soil quality and to determine the optimal combination of organic fertilizer treatments for sunflower growth performance and yield. Methods: The sunflower variety BARI Surjamukhi-2 was used in this study. The treatments were applied as T1= Control; T2= Farmyard Manure @ 2 t ha-1; T3= Vermicompost @2 t ha-1; T4= Biochar @2 t ha-1; T5= Farmyard Manure @1 t ha-1+Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1; T6= Farmyard Manure @1 t ha-1+Biochar @1 t ha-1 and T7= Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1+Biochar @1 t ha-1. Result: The data showed that application of different organic fertilizer treatments improves soil quality. Organic fertilizer addition had a positive effect on the growth traits like plant height, leaves number plant-1, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, head diameter, fresh and dry seed number head-1, 1,000-seed weight and seed yield. The correlation results strongly agreed that chlorophyll content, fresh seed number, head diameter plant-1 and 1,000-seed weight could be considered as selection indices for high yield of sunflower. This demonstrates the organic fertilizer’s capacity to improve sunflower growth and yield, as well as its significant potential to replace chemical fertilizers in the perspective of crop sustainability.

Impact of Fertilizers Application on Leaf Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling in White Poplar (Populus alba L.) Forest Ecosystem

Fertilizer application plays a crucial role in the decomposition of white poplar leaf litter and cycling of nutrients within forest ecosystems. The impact of various fertilizer additions on white poplar leaf litter and nutrient cycling is poorly understood. In this study, seven treatments were conducted at the following levels: Control (CK), no adding mineral fertilizers, N fertilization (+N), N and P fertilization (+NP), N, P, K fertilization (+NPK), P, K (+PK), manure fertilizer (+MF), and bird fertilizers (+BF) in a white poplar plantation in Qadis district, and used the litterbag techniques to measure litter mass remaining. The main objectives of our study were: (1) to explore the response of white poplar leaf litter decomposition to various fertilizers and accelerate the decomposition process; (2) to examine the relationship between C, N, and P concentration and their stoichiometric characteristic in leaf litter and soil. In this investigation, our results showed that white poplar leaf litter was significantly affected by fertilizers, and the decomposition process was greatly accelerated with + MF, +NPK, and + BF. The decay rate constant k (year −1) shows the decomposition rate of white poplar leaf litter as follows: +MF > +NPK > +BF > +PK > +NP > +N > CK (0.56, 0.53, 0.52, 0.51,0.51,0.5, and 0.46). Soil nutrients N, P and K increased significantly during the decomposition time with + MF, +NPK, and + BF, respectively, while C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios were highest in the white poplar leaf litter, and lowest in soil, we observed significant association between nutrients concentrations in soil and white poplar leaf and their stoichiometric. This current study concluded that adding + MF, +NPK and + BF fertilizers might be the preferred management option as they provided potentially beneficial changes in leaf litter decomposition and increased nutrient concentration. The data obtained will be a valuable reference for fertilization management strategies in forest ecosystems.

Effect of rice hull biochar treatment on net ecosystem carbon budget and greenhouse gas emissions in Chinese cabbage cultivation on infertile soil

Biochar, with its potential to enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, boost crop yields and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, offers a solution. Addressing the challenges posed by climate change is crucial for food security and agriculture. However, its widespread adoption in agriculture remains in its infancy. This study assessed the effects of rice hull biochar on cabbage production and greenhouse gas emissions, especially nitrous oxide (N2O). A trial, employing a randomized block design in triplicate was conducted from September 13 to November 23, 2022, where "Cheongomabi" cabbage was cultivated with N-P2O5-K2O fertilization at 32-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document}7.8-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document}19.8 kg 10a−1. Additional fertilizer was applied twice post-sowing. The Biochar application rates were control = 0 ton ha−1, B1 = 1 ton ha−1, B3 = 3 ton ha−1, and B5 = 5 ton ha−1. The aboveground biomass of autumn cabbage harvested 82 days after sowing was 2.40–2.70 kg plant−1 in the control and biochar treatments (B1, B3, and B5), with no significant differences (p > 0.05). Cumulative CO2 emissions during cultivation varied across treatment groups, with initial and cumulative emissions of 10.40–17.94 g m−2 day−1 and 3.63–4.43 ton ha−1, respectively. N2O emissions decreased with higher biochar application: reductions of 2.9%, 25.4%, and 41.1% in the B1, B3, and B5 treatments, respectively, compared to the control. The biochar application had no significant impact on yield but curbed soil emissions, Net ecosystem carbon balance during cabbage cultivation ranged from 0.42 to 3.41 ton ha−1 for the B1, B3, and B5 treatments, respectively, compared to control. Overall, the study underscores biochar’s role in mitigating emissions and boosting soil carbon during cabbage cultivation in fall.

Methods for Measuring Nutrient Uptake in Maize Using Nitrogen Stable Isotopes.

Nitrogen is a key nutrient for plant growth and development, and understanding nutrient uptake is central to improving nitrogen use efficiency in crops, including maize. Reducing the need for fertilizer without reducing yield is extremely important, as nitrogen fertilizers come with a high environmental cost, in terms of both emissions from manufacturing and losses to waterways or volatilization off fields. Maize develops multiple different root types, including primary, seminal, crown, and brace roots. Part of improving efficiency in maize involves understanding the differences in nutrient uptake via each distinct root type, but these differences have been largely ignored to date. Here, we describe a protocol that uses stable isotopes for determining nitrogen uptake rates by maize root types. We describe the steps both for intact roots, for which we use rhizoboxes with openable front windows that allow access to the roots without disturbing the rest of the plant, and for field-grown plants, for which intact analysis is not feasible and requires excising the roots. The methods described here can also be modified to measure uptake kinetics and for monitoring nutrient translocation between roots and shoots. Advancing our understanding of root physiology and nutrient dynamics will improve breeding opportunities for efficient nutrient uptake varieties, reducing the need for fertilizer additions.

Proportions of mineral and organomineral fertilizers in onion cultivation

Organomineral fertilizers is an innovation in agriculture, since it uses organic matter enriched with minerals. The combination of mineral phosphate and organomineral fertilization can contribute to the development of a more sustainable and economical fertilization program for the crop. So, organomineral fertilization can be an alternative or complement to mineral fertilization. However, the careful selection of fertilizer sources and doses is essential to increase productivity in the onion crop and finding proportions between different fertilizers can be a promising choice for sustainable agriculture. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of different proportions of mineral and organomineral fertilizers on the development, production and post-harvest quality of onion bulbs, cv. Sublime F1, under Cerrado conditions. The experiment was carried out in the field, in Cristalina, GO, Brazil, in a randomized block design, with four replications. Six treatments were used: five proportions of mineral fertilizer (M) with organomineral (OM) and the control (without additional fertilization). It was evaluated: length, width and number of leaves; productivity; soluble solids content; titratable acidity; and loss of fresh mass. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA), at 1% (p≤0.01) and 5% (p≤0.05) of significance, and means compared by Tukey and Dunnett tests (p≤0.01 and p≤0.05). The fertilization proportions were submitted to regression (p≤0.05). The proportion of 50%M50%OM promotes higher bulb average mass and class 4 onion productivity. The proportions of fertilizers did not alter the postharvest characteristics (total soluble solids and total acidity) of the onion, which were affected only by the time of storage. Cultivar Sublime F1 showed good development for the region, conditions and fertilizers used.