Fertilizer Supply Research Articles

Banana Cultivators Marketing Pattern – A Study

An attempt has been made in the study to examine the production and marketing aspects of banana in Tiruchirappalli district. The present study was conducted in the Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu. 50 Banana growing villages selected randomly and categorized them into small, medium and large farmers based on their holding size. The present study is empirical and hence field survey method and personal interview technique were adopted. The study indicated that the all factors favour to cultivation of banana production. Hence the adequate steps may be laid to reduce the cost of production. The study also concluded that to improve the production efficiency, marketing of banana through creation of awareness programmes, provision for training facilities, organization of cooperative marketing facilities, supply of fertilizers and pesticides through co-operatives will be beneficial to the banana producers as well as the customer as a whole.

Secondary metabolites profile and physiological leaf traits in wild and cultivated Corylus avellana under different nutritional status

Leaf secondary metabolites production and physiological leaf traits were analyzed in Corylus avellana wild type (WT) and cultivar (cv. ‘Tonda Gentile Trilobata’, TGT) under different nutrient supplies. Three treatments were applied: control treatment with no fertilizer supply (WT C and TGT C ), low nutrient treatment (WT LN and TGT LN ) and high nutrient treatment (WT HN and TGT HN ). The analysis of leaf extracts showed a higher concentration of Quercitrin and Myricitrin, with the highest concentrations of both the compounds in WT than TGT. This result can be related to the ecological role of flavonoids, including also antimicrobial properties, which resulted more useful in the understory forest form which hazelnut wild type originates. Therefore, their lower concentration in TGT can be relate to the genetic background of TGT cultivar with a lesser intrinsic need to produce such compounds and justified by a usual growth under more controlled environmental conditions, including also pest and disease control.

Intricacies of Organic and Chemical Fertilizer Application on Arable Land Crop Production in Cameroon

This study emphasizes on the contribution of organic and chemical fertilizer application to arable land on Crop production in Cameroon”. The objective of this research is to determine the correlates of fertilizer application on arable land and determine their effects on arable land production as well as decompose the arable land effected by the application of organic and chemical fertilizer. The analysis method used was the instrumental-cum-control function model in Cameroon household consumption survey. The result shows that fertilizer is strongly correlating with arable land production. The magnitude of this effect is stronger in organic fertilizer than in chemical fertilizer. Besides, land size, professional training, average annual precipitation, the use of modern technology, male household head, urban residence and the cost of fertilizer are factors positively and significantly influencing the application of fertilizer on arable land in Cameroon. In terms of policy, this study recommends that the government of Cameroon should increase and subsidize the supply of Fertilizer to farmers given the right conditions. This is an essential booster of agricultural production in this era of food security.JEL Classification: Q12, Q18, Q20

Three-Tiered Fertilizer Application with a Spreading Funnel of a Subsoil Tiller

The authors have shown that current methods of soil fertilizing for growing cotton crops in Uzbekistan do not ensure the full supply of nutrients to the root system of plants. Providing the required amount of fertilizers is distributed in tiers in the zone of root development, the ratio of their use and cotton yield will increase. (Research purpose) To determine the design parameters of a spreading funnel of a subsoil tiller for three-tiered fertilizer application. (Materials and methods) The paper provides a design of the developed spreading funnel for three-tier fertilizer application. A subsoil tiller is equipped with a spreading funnel, which consists of a cylindrical and inclined funnel-shaped part, a conductive channel and a lower distributor. Installed in the conductive channel are two branch pipes with reflective plates that cut through the supplied fertilizers and direct them to the corresponding soil horizon. (Results and discussion) The authors have studied the movement of mineral fertilizer granules along the conductive channel; experimentally analyzed the effect of the length of the protruding part of reflective plates of the nozzle and the inclination angle of the funnel spreading pipeline on the distribution of fertilizers and the unevenness of fertilizer supply to the upper, middle and lower tiers. They have also determined the parameters of an intake funnel of the vertical pipeline, branch pipes and movable plates of the upper and middle tiers, and a fertilizer spreader of the lower tier. (Conclusions) The authors have proved that the qualitative distribution of mineral fertilizers at predetermined application depths of the upper and middle tiers is ensured at a length of their nozzles of 260 and 240 millimeters and the protruding part of the reflective plates of the fertilizer channel of 26-30 millimeters and 33-37 millimeters, respectively. At the same time, 40-45 percent of fertilizers is distributed in the lower, i.e. the third tier. The authors have chosen optimal parameters of the lower spreading funnel: a groove inclination angle in the longitudinal-vertical plane of 17-19 degrees; a groove inclination angle in the transverse vertical plane of 29 degrees; a rear edge height of the groove in the middle part of 2.5 millimeters, and at the end – 0.5 millimeters.

NDVI‐based estimates of evapotranspiration of winter wheat indicate positive effects of N fertilizer application on agronomic water‐use efficiency

AbstractYield increases by fertilizer application impose higher crop water use, as biomass production is positively correlated with transpiration. To quantify effects of N fertilizer supply on evapotranspiration (ET) of winter wheat, a field experiment with three nitrogen rates (N0, N120 and N230) under non‐water‐limited conditions was performed during 2014 and 2015. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to derive crop coefficients which were used to calculate N effects on bare soil evaporation (E), transpiration, evapotranspiration (ET), grain yield and harvest index (HI). E during the early post‐winter growth period was measured with micro‐lysimeters and compared with model estimates. N fertilizer supply resulted in lower cumulative E, and increases in grain yield were higher than increases in ET, resulting in a higher agronomic water‐use efficiency (WUEY). HI of treatment N120 was higher than that of treatment N230 indicating that HI was not the main reason of higher WUEY of treatment N230. It is concluded that estimates of ET under variable N supply require consideration of N‐induced effects on canopy development which could be successfully monitored by NDVI measurements. N supply increases ET and WUEY potentially imposing a trade‐off between water conservation and efficiency of water use for crop production.

농업부문 비료사용 농경지의 암모니아 배출량 산정방법 개선

Ammonia is main precursor gas of secondary particulate matter and contributes almost 78% of total ammonia emission from the agricultural sector in Korea. The current method of estimating ammonia emission from fertilizer application, which contributes 7% of the total emission, has high uncertainty and needs to be improved to better predict PM2.5 concentration. In this study, we suggest an improvement method for ammonia emission quantification from fertilizer application. The first improvement was in the emission factor of NPK fertilizer by conducting a field study to verify the currently used factor. The improved NPK emission factor of 52.2 kg NH ton‐1N was confirmed by comparing with the value from the EEA (European Environment Agency) and adjusting the value for the Korean climate and soil conditions. We also improved the amount of fertilizer usage by including the sales amount to the fertilizer supply amount of the Korean Farmers Association, increasing total fertilizer usage by 39.8%. As the statistical data on fertilizer supply and sales are compiled yearly, we estimated monthly emission of ammonia by considering cultivated areas and timing of fertilization for each crop.BR In summary, we suggest a novel and practical method to improve estimation methodology of ammonia emission from the field of fertilizer application: 1) emission factor of NPK fertilizer was reconfirmed; 2) total amount of fertilizer use was revised considering fertilizer sales; and 3) monthly emission of ammonia was realized by considering different crop practices. A bottom‐up approach to compile activity data is needed to increase the estimation accuracy of monthly emission of ammonia, which is very helpful for predicting PM2.5 concentration.

MODERN ASPECTS OF FERTILIZER USING IN CROP PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH OF THEIR IRRATIONAL USE CONSEQUENCES

The article discusses key aspects of current trends in fertilizer application. A key feature is the inconsistency of the existing fertilizer system with scientifically sound standards. The consequences of the irrationality of nutrient input in the field of crop production are analyzed. It is determined that these trends have caused a number of problems, among which there is a chronic shortage of basic nutrients, soil erosion, growth of areas of land with high acidity, mineralization of humus reserves. Organic and mineral fertilizers and livestock rates have been systematized, which has made it possible to identify trends in farmland fertilization and to identify causal relationships between these indicators. It was found that the negative rate of increase in the livestock population directly affects the volume of fertilizer application and humus content in the upper fertile soil layer. It is estimated that the dominant situation in the field of production, supply and use of mineral fertilizers in Ukraine does not meet either the needs of the market or the conditions of agriculture in the country, which is due, first of all, to the shortage of potassium and phosphorus components, high cost and a significant share of imports. The consequences of this situation are the inferiority of providing the necessary nutrients for plants, the criticality of this dilemma is proved by the author's alculations of ecological damage, which was carried out on the example of prevailing agricultural plants in the croprotation: corn and winter wheat. The directions of solving the identified range of problems are consolidated in the form of the concept of economic and ecological balance of modern land use.

Effects of cultivation management on the winter wheat grain yield and water utilization efficiency

The growth of winter wheat consumes a substantial amounts of water, and precipitation in most years cannot meet the water demand for the normal growth of winter wheat. The unsuitable irrigation strategies waste a large number of water resource, and the low water use efficiency has become the main factor limiting wheat yields. This research explored the effects of different cultivation managements on water consumption characteristics, water utilization efficiency, and grain yields of winter wheat. A field experiment, in which 4 cultivation managements including traditional cultivation management (T1), optimized cultivation management compared with T1 (T2), super high-yield cultivation management (T3) and optimized cultivation management compared with T3 (T4), was conducted during 2008–2010 to measure the above parameters. The results showed that different cultivation managements had significant effects on the total water consumption amounts and water source compositions. Total water consumption amounts in T1 and T3 managements were significantly higher than that in T2 and T4 managements, possibly from irrigation water. T2 and T4 managements remarkably increased the uptake and utilization of soil storage water and precipitation amounts. T3 and T1 managements increased and decreased water consumption in upper (0–40 cm) and lower (60–100 cm) soil layers, respectively, while effectively increased the consumption of storage water in middle and lower soil layers (60–100 cm) and yield water use efficiency (WUEY), precipitation water use efficiency (WUEP), soil water use efficiency (WUES), irrigation water use efficiency (WUEI), and irrigation efficiency (IE) in T4 and T2 managements were higher than those in T3 and T1, respectively. Total water consumption amounts markedly raised in T1 and T3 managements, whereas their soil storage water amounts utilization declined. T2 and T4 managements reduced irrigation water amounts and optimized the water and fertilizer supplies, resulting in significant increase in WUES and WUEI. Collectively, our results suggest that synergetic improving the water uptake and utilization of irrigation water and soil storage water can be the primary means to increase the grain yields and WUE.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomics Analysis of Different Endosperm Region under Nitrogen Treatments.

Storage protein distribution in wheat-grain endosperm is heterogeneous, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Two parts of the endosperm region, the innermost endosperm (IE) region and the remaining endosperm (RE) region, grown under low nitrogen (LN) and high nitrogen (HN) treatments were used to perform metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis. We identified 533 and 503 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with at least a two-fold expression change (p < 0.05) between IE and RE, among which 81 and 78 transcripts under LN and HN, respectively, related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and encoded transcription factors or proteins involved in post-translational modification (PTM). The significantly differentially abundant metabolites between IE and RE were mainly amino acids, N-compounds, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. More upregulated transcripts and metabolites were identified in RE than IE under HN conditions, indicating that HN activates metabolism in the endosperm periphery. In addition to carbon and nitrogen metabolism, transcription factors and protein PTMs, such as phosphorylation and acetylation, might determine the protein heterogeneous distribution between IE and RE and its response to nitrogen fertilizer supply.

INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS FORMS IN AN OXISOL UNDER NO-TILL AFTER INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL RESIDUES APPLICATION

Industrial and municipal residues applied to agricultural crops under no-till (NT) can promote benefits to many soil properties. The reuse of such materials reduces the supply of mineral fertilizers and provides greater economic and environmental sustainability. Besides being attenuators of soil acidity, some of these residues are excellent sources of plant nutrients such as phosphorus (P). Understanding the dynamics of P arising from residues applied in tropical soils is important to assist in crops fertilization management. In this context, the objective was to quantify the inorganic P forms (Pi) through the P fractionation in an Oxisol that received application of municipal and industrial residues. Four residues composed treatments: LC - centrifuged sewage sludge with addition of lime (CaO); LB - sewage sludge from the biodigester with the addition of polyelectrolytes; E - steel slag; and Lcal - lime mud applied at doses of 0, 2, 4 and 8 Mg ha-1. The P fractionation was performed in soil samples collected at 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm layers. The LC treatment provided the highest values of anion exchange resin (AER) Pi. The residual P has presented stability thus does not show significant differences regarding its distribution along with the soil profile.

Options for Improved Phosphorus Cycling and Use in Agriculture at the Field and Regional Scales.

Soil phosphorus (P) cycling in agroecosystems is highly complex, with many chemical, physical, and biological processes affecting the availability of P to plants. Traditionally, P fertilizer recommendations have been made using an insurance-based approach, which has resulted in the accumulation of P in many intensively managed agricultural soils worldwide and contributed to the widespread water quality issue of eutrophication. To mitigate further environmental degradation and because future P fertilizer supplies are threatened due to finite phosphate rock resources and associated geopolitical and quality issues, there is an immediate need to increase P use efficiency (PUE) in agroecosystems. Through cultivar selection and improved cropping system design, contemporary research suggests that sufficient crop yields could be maintained at reduced soil test P (STP) concentrations. In addition, more efficient P cycling at the field scale can be achieved through agroecosystem management that increases soil organic matter and organic P mineralization and optimizes arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbioses. This review paper provides a perspective on how agriculture has the potential to utilize plant and microbial traits to improve PUE at the field scale and accordingly, maintain crop yields at lower STP concentrations. It also links with the need to tighten the P cycle at the regional scale, including a discussion of P recovery and recycling technologies, with a particular focus on the use of struvite as a recycled P fertilizer. Guidance on directions for future research is provided.

Unravelling the anthropogenic pathways of phosphorus in the food production and consumption system of Bangladesh through the lens of substance flow analysis

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is central to food production. Current understanding about the global phosphorus system is dominated by studies in wealthier nations where soil fertility, fertilizer supply chains, and agronomic tracking have long been established. In contrast, developing nations are experiencing major agricultural transitions and the associated phosphorus flows remain a significant knowledge gap. We compiled and analyzed several years of recent agricultural datasets for Bangladesh, currently the eighth most populous nation, using substance flow analysis for phosphorus. From 2000 to 2016, rice production increased by &gt;50% and remained the dominant crop with remarkably higher phosphorus flow (49.96 kt in 2016) than all other crops. Phosphorus content of livestock products in 2016 exceeded 6.00 kt, more than double in the year 2000, driven primarily by phosphorus in milk and secondarily in meat/eggs. These agricultural changes coincided with a doubling of national phosphorus fertilizer consumption since 2000, a fourfold increase since the global food crisis (2009), and a pronounced rise in the phosphorus import dependency ratio, which was the highest among all countries compared. In turn, during 2010s fertilizer phosphorus use exceeded phosphorus as food + feed production leading to soil phosphorus accumulation, and loss as burned manure became one of the largest phosphorus flows in the entire system, equivalent to half of fertilizer use. This dramatic reconfiguration of the Bangladesh phosphorus system illustrates an important case of agricultural expansion and intensification that is still playing out, with similar situations occurring in developing nations where population growth rates are high, and access to commercial fertilizers has risen.

Synchrony of nitrogen supply and crop demand are driven via high maize density in maize/pea strip intercropping

Cereal density may influence the balance between nitrogen (N) supply and crop N demand in cereal/legume intercrop systems. The effect of maize (Zea mays L.) plant density on N utilization and N fertilizer supply in maize/pea (Pisum sativum L.) strip intercropping was evaluated in a field study with sole maize, sole pea, and intercropped maize/pea with three maize densities (D1, 45,000 plants ha−1; D2, 52,500 plants ha−1; D3, 60,000 plants ha−1) and two N treatments (N0, 0 kg N ha−1; N1, 450 kg N ha−1 for maize and 225 kg N ha−1 for pea). Soil mineral N in intercropped strips decreased with increased maize density. Increased maize density decreased N accumulation for intercropped pea but increased it for maize and the sum of both intercrops. The land equivalent ratio for grain yield (LER grain) showed a 24–30% advantage for intercrops than corresponding sole crops, and was greater with D3 than D1 and D2. Maize/pea intercropping had 4–113% greater nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) than sole maize, which was enhanced with increased maize density. Increasing maize density improved the synchrony of N supply and crop demand in maize/pea strip intercropping.

Phosphorus supply alters the root metabolism of Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsenet Lee) and the mobilization of Cd bound to lepidocrocite in soil

Soil P status affects plant root exudates, thereby influencing heavy metal mobilization. We analyzed the effect of soil P forms and levels on lepidocrocite-bound Cd mobilization by Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee). Sand pot culture experiments were performed. Sufficient and low level water-soluble P simulated sufficient and deficient P fertilizer supply, respectively. Using FePO4 and AlPO4, we simulated sparingly soluble P species in subtropical red soil. P deficiency and sparingly soluble P reduced the volume of Chinese flowering cabbage root exudates. Organic acids were the major metabolites under all treatments. Amino acid metabolism diminished under low P and Al-P. Organic acid secretion occurred in the following order: sufficient P > Fe-P > low P > Al-P. These organic acids could release lepiodcrocite-bound Cd. However, excess PO43− could precipitate Cd under sufficient P. The total mobilized Cd in rhizosphere was Fe-P > low P > Al-P = sufficient P. P promoted root metabolite secretion in Chinese flowering cabbage, especially organic acids. P deficiency facilitated the mobilization of lepidocrocite-bound Cd by organic acids. When phosphorus was sufficient, the precipitation of phosphate on Cd was greater than the mobilization of organic acids.

Strengthening role and the mechanism of optimum nitrogen addition in relation to Solanum nigrum L. Cd hyperaccumulation in soil

Solanum nigrum L. has a high potential for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil, and nitrogen fertilizer supply is an effective method to further improve its phytoremediation potential. The soil pot culture experiment was used to explore 4 kinds of nitrogen fertilizers the best fertilizer addition concentrations and their strengthening mechanisms. The results showed that S. nigrum biomass increased with increasing N doses until 800 mg kg−1, where the biomass reached maximum and no longer improved (p < 0.05). However, Cd concentration accumulated by S. nigrum and the extractable Cd concentration in soil did not show a significant decrease (p < 0.05). In this experiment, when N fertilizer was added at 800 mg kg−1 (NH4HCO3, NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4 and CH4N2O fertilizers), the biomass of the aboveground S. nigrum parts improved to the maximum under (NH4)2SO4 and CH4N2O treatments, i.e. 5.86 g pot−1 and 5.83 g pot−1, increased by 5.92- and 5.89-fold, respectively (p < 0.05), compared to the controls without N fertilizers addition. At the same time, Cd phytoaccumulation in plants was elevated to 128.40 μg pot−1 and 129.14 μg pot−1, increased by 6.20- and 6.24-fold, respectively (p < 0.05), compared to control with no fertilizer added. The results of this experiment demonstrated that Cd phytoextraction capacity (μg pot−1) was the strongest under (NH4)2SO4 and CH4N2O treatments at N content of 800 mg kg−1, when plant nutrient recovery reached the maximum, and these 2 types of nitrogen fertilizers could be utilized to remediate Cd-contaminated soil in field experiments or even in practice.

Stable water and fertilizer supply by negative pressure irrigation improve tomato production and soil bacterial communities

The objective of this study is intended to explore the effect of maintain high efficiency water and fertilizer supply for improving the tomato production and soil bacterial communities by negative pressure irrigation (NPI) in greenhouse. The pot culture experiments consisted of three irrigation treatments: conventional irrigation (CI), drip irrigation (DI) and NPI, which have been conducted in greenhouse for two consecutive years. The study found that NPI reduced water consumption remained stable with slight variations on dynamic soil water content, as well as increased the water use efficiencies compared with CI and DI, respectively. The NPI reduced water consumption by 20% and 18% compared to CI in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Under NPI treatment, the variations in soil water content were stabilized, within the range of 12.3–14.7% in the two years, which was smaller than that of CI and DI treatments of 8.6–15.6%. Moreover, the tomato yields, fruit quality, uptake quantitates of nutrition and soil rhizosphere microbial diversity were increased in the NPI treatment comparison with the CI and DI treatments. With NPI, the yield of tomato was significantly increased by 26% and 8, 41 and 17% compared to that under CI and DI treatments in 2016 and 2017, respectively. NPI was also considered to benefit plant growth by increasing the abundances of Bacillus, Streptomyces and Pseudolabrys at the genus level. Therefore, NPI should be utilized as an advanced technique for saving water and producing high yields in future sustainable agriculture.

Applicability of Methods and Technologies Drip Irrıgatıon in The Azerbaijan

With the proper conduct of the process low-intensity irrigation can not only dramatically reduce the consumption of water for irrigation agricultural crops, but also to provide the necessary climate for the plants and the supply of water and fertilizer in the required amount directly into korneobitaniya zone, which contributes to an earlier entry of plants in fruiting and increase productivity while reducing water per unit of yield and reduce production costs.

APPLİCABİLİTY OF METHODS AND TECHNOLOGİES DRIP IRRIGATION IN THE AZERBAIJAN

With the proper conduct of the process low-intensity irrigation can not only dramatically reduce the consumption of water for irrigation agricultural crops, but also to provide the necessary climate for the plants and the supply of water and fertilizer in the required amount directly into korneobitaniya zone, which contributes to an earlier entry of plants in fruiting and increase productivity while reducing water per unit of yield and reduce production costs.

Effect of localised phosphorus application on root growth and soil nutrient dynamics in situ – comparison of maize (Zea mays) and faba bean (Vicia faba) at the seedling stage

Root morphological response to localised phosphorus (P) application plays a crucial role in P acquisition. However, detailed knowledge of when and where roots respond to P patch (localised P supply) in situ is still lacking. X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) was used to quantify the root response to localised and uniform triple superphosphate supply in maize (Zea mays) and faba bean (Vicia faba). Soil solution was extracted by micro suction cups. On the spatial scale, X-ray CT results showed that maize roots proliferated in the P patch, resulting in higher root length density compared to the uniform P supply. On the temporal scale, the proliferation of maize roots into the patch occurred as early as 11 days after sowing. Faba bean showed no response to the P patch during the experimental period. In soil solution, localised P fertiliser supply not only increased the concentration of P and calcium, elements present in the fertiliser, but also potassium and magnesium. Our results indicate a fine-scale time pattern for P concentration in the local site to enhance root proliferation of maize but not faba bean, which suggests an evident difference in root response to local P supply between maize and faba bean at the seedling stage.

Relationship between photosynthesis, bleeding-sap mass, and bleeding components in maize hybrids and corresponding parents in northern China

Currently, the main maize production areas in northeastern China are facing soil fertility loss, which severely affects root growth and limits photosynthesis. It is widely acknowledged that physiological conditions of the root system are closely related to the photosynthetic capacity; therefore, we evaluated whether there are certain differences in root bleeding sap characteristics and photosynthetic capacity between the hybrids and their parents. The results showed that heterosis of the photosynthetic capacity occurred at the milk-ripe stage; however, heterosis of bleeding-sap mass (BSM) and organic biomass occurred during the whole growth period. Photosynthetic rate correlated positively with BSM and the bleeding components; a similar trend was also observed between BSM and bleeding components. These data suggested that appropriate water and fertilizer supply can improve the photosynthesis-related parameters and yield of maize.