Impact Of Chemical Fertilizers Research Articles

Impact of chemical fertilizer on soil fertility of oil palm plantations in relation to productivity and environment

Indonesia produces around 45 MT of CPO in 2020. It is predicted that the demand of world palm oil will remain. Most of the oil palm plantations are grown on acidic soils with low fertility levels, such as Peat soils, Podzolic soils, and Acid sulfate soils. The domestic demand of phosphate and Kalium fertilizer still fulfilled by importation. Production of oil palm had depend on this fertilizer. Various research results have found that fertilizing oil palm using chemical anorganic fertilizers, especially Urea, TSP, KCl and Kieserit, has produced fresh fruit bunches which are quite high and profitable. Fertilizing oil palm crops requires a very large cost of around 30% of production costs. Currently, non-subsidized chemical fertilizers are rocketing, which is very burdensome for oil palm farmers. Some research results indicate that the continuous use of chemical fertilizers in oil palm plants causes to the land degradation. The use of organic fertilizers can improve sour and less fertile land, can increase the weight and number of oil palm fruit bunches. This paper aims to examine the impact of the use of chemical fertilizers on oil palm fruit production, as well as provide alternative organic fertilizers which sources are mostly around plantations.

Impact of Fertilizer and Pesticide use on the Productivity of Seven Major Crop in the Kaliyaganj C D Block of Uttar Dinajpur District, West Bengal, India

The crops were cultivated in three distinct seasons of the Kaliyaganj C.D. Block in West Bengal. Present study was conducted on seven major crops (aman rice, boro rice, jute, maize, wheat, mustard and lentil) of the study area. The study was conducted during 2019 to 2020 cropping seasons. The objectives were to find out the impact of chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer and pesticide use on yield and productivity of these crops. The correlation and regression analysis were used to access the impact of three intermediate inputs (chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer and pesticide) on the crop productivity. Student ‘t’ test was used for testing the significance of the correlation. The study was also undertaken to work out the relative economics of the crops by analyzing the input and output costs. For this above purpose, the input and output data were collected from 120 sample plots (within 18 villages) of the study area. After all, the results suggested a clear role of fertilizer and pesticide use on the crop productivity and showed the impact of pest attack on the crops.

Impact of chemical fertilizers on diversity and abundance of soil-litter arthropod communities in coffee and banana plantations in southern Rwanda

Few studies explored effects of chemical fertilizers on diversity and abundance of soillitter arthropods in the tropics. To fill this gap, a study focussed on the abundance of soil-litter arthropods and selected soil physicochemical properties in coffee plantations treated with chemical fertilizers and in plantations of coffee and banana treated with organic fertilizers and organic mulches in southern Rwanda. Each land use was replicated three times. Soil-litter arthropods were collected using pitfall traps and hand collection. They were identified to the family level using dichotomous keys. Soil have been collected using auger and taken to the laboratory for the analysis of soil pH, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity. Findings indicated a total of 12,945 individuals distributed into 3 classes, 16 orders, 50 families and 92 morphospecies, with higher abundance and diversity in coffee plantations treated with organic fertilizers and organic mulches. Collected soil-litter arthropods were mainly classified in the class Insecta, dominated in numbers by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), while Coleoptera and Hemiptera had more families. However, soil under coffee plantations treated with organic fertilizers and organic mulches was acidic compared with the soil under coffee plantations treated with inorganic fertilizers and banana plantations treated with organic fertilizers and organic mulches. The relationships between soil-litter arthropods and soil physicochemical properties suggest that soil-litter arthropods respond to the land use independently from soil physicochemical properties. We recommend further studies in coffee and other crop plantations in other regions of Rwanda to verify the findings of this study.

Impact of Chemical Fertilizers on Diversity and Abundance of Soil-Litter Arthropod Communities in Coffee and Banana Plantations in Southern Rwanda

Impact of Chemical Fertilizers on Diversity and Abundance of Soil-Litter Arthropod Communities in Coffee and Banana Plantations in Southern Rwanda

Sustainability of Agriculture Systems: A Case Study of Punjab

Punjab agriculture is a fitting example of intensive cultivation with the dominance of rice-wheat monoculture. The state of Punjab has one of the highest cropping intensity, irrigated area and exhaustive input use. The monoculture of wheat and paddy led to widening the gap of sustainable growth of agriculture over the time. It would lead to groundwater depletion, declining of water table level and over-exploitation of tube wells and submersible pump. The present study was conducted to examine the sustainability of agriculture system in Punjab. It was found that there is need of proper utilization of available scares water resources or use of organic sources that is, farmyard manure, compost, and green manure in order to reduce the problem of groundwater depletion or impact of chemical fertilizers on soil fertility. The results revealed that there is a need to practice crop management measures, that is, crop rotation which should help in controlling field from pest and disease. The farm management approach like appropriate cropping pattern, packages of advanced farm technology etc. and agronomic management approach like bi-directional sowing, intercropping, minimum tillage, etc. should be encouraged. It will not only help in sustaining and stabilizing the production but also increases the profitability of crops.

Variations in soil bacterial communities and putative functions in a sugarcane soil following five years of chemical fertilization

ABSTRACT Chemical fertilizers are often applied to increase soil nutrient contents and improve crop yields. However, the impact of chemical fertilizers on abiotic and biotic characteristics of soil is unclear. Here, we investigated the variations in soil chemical properties and bacterial communities of sugarcane soil after a five-year chemical fertilization period with five different regimes, namely, Control (no fertilizer), PK (phosphorus plus potassium fertilizer), NK (nitrogen plus potassium fertilizer), NP (nitrogen plus potassium fertilizer), and NPK (combined nitrogen, phosphorus plus potassium fertilizer). We found that N-addition fertilizer treatments resulted in lower bacterial biodiversity as estimated by Chao1 and Shannon’s indexes. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteria were the predominant phyla in all of the fertilizer treatments. The concentrations of different N forms (TN, NH4 +-N, and NO3 –N) were the most important factors in shaping bacterial community structure. Functional groups involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling significantly increased or decreased with chemical N-related fertilizer treatments (NK, NP, and NPK). The community composition and functions related to element cycling of soil bacteria were strongly affected by N-containing fertilizer treatments. The results suggest that bacterial communities in sugarcane soil may have been phylogenetically and functionally altered in response to chemical fertilization.

Investigating the effect of biochar and fertilizer on the composition and function of bacteria in red soil

Chemical fertilizer is a commonly used practice in farms to increase crop quality and yield. Biochar improves nutritional status and quality of the soil. Whereas, there are few relative reports on the effectiveness of soil bacterial community structure and functional diversity by biochar and chemical fertilizer in the red soil. We utilized 16S rRNA sequencing to explore specific changes in structure and functions of bacterial community. The results indicated that amendment of biochar and fertilizer to red soil exhibited a significant effect on Proteobacteria. The combination of biochar and chemical fertilizer (FC) was the most beneficial to the bacterial community changes in red soil. The change of bacterial composition during FC treatment promoted the circulation of soil nutrients, improved the poor nutrient environment, and disease resistance and stress resistance of plants. Through the functional prediction of 16S, we confirmed that FC treatment significantly improved the functional abundance of red soil bacteria. In addition, biochar led to a slight change in the bacterial structure of red soil due to the low abundance of new species. The impact of chemical fertilizer on bacterial community structure was more significant under red soil conditions, but it significantly reduced the functional abundance. It could be suggested that the impact of biochar and chemical fertilizer on the bacteria community and bacterial functional diversity in red soil was different. The most effective treatment in red soil could be the combined application of biochar and fertilizer.

Impact of farm-made liquid organic nutrients jevamirtham and fish amino acid on growth and nutritional status in different season of Abelmoschus esculentus—a self-sustainable field trial

In organic agriculture, jeevamirtham (J) and fish amino acids (FAA) (Liquid organic nutrient bioformulations—LONBFs) were used to improve the plant growth and soil fertility. The effect of J and FAA in combination on the growth, nutritional status, and yield of plant has not been scientifically evaluated. In this study, liquid organic preparations of J and FAA were prepared and applied to okra plants individually and in combination (J + FAA). The experimental fields were designed as T1—untreated control field, T2—chemical fertilizer treated field, T3—jeevamirtham-treated field, T4—fish amino acid-treated field, and T5—mixture of jeevamirtham and fish amino acid-treated field. Microbial population and growth parameters were significantly increased in the T3, T4, and T5 fields. Higher chlorophyll, carbohydrate, and protein contents and more fruits were observed in plants from the T3, T4, and T5 fields than in plants from T2 and T1. The most favorable results were recorded in the J+FAA-treated field (T5). Results showed that LONBFs enhanced the beneficial microbial flora and fauna, higher yields, and nutritional products compared with chemical fertilizer and untreated fields. Hence, this eco-friendly LONBF could be added as an integral component to reduce the impact of chemical fertilizer in modern agriculture practice.

Impact of Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticides on Aquatic Microcosms

ABSTRACT Four commonly used greenhouse chemicals: 10:10:10 Peters fertilizer, two fungicides and an insecticide/nematicide, were analyzed to determine their effects on water quality and productivity. Each of these chemicals in varying concentrations were added to three microcosms and assessed for their impact on pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonia, phosphorous, algae and chlorophyll a. In general, the addition these of chemicals did not affect pH, TDS, specific conductance or the dissolved oxygen. In all microcosms, the addition of fertilizer increased phosphorus, nitrate-N, and ammonia-N concentrations which in turn increased the size of algae communities and chlorophyll-a concentrations. There was a significant correlation between the size of the algae communities and chlorophyll a concentrations in all microcosms. The effect of fungicides and insecticides/nematicides varied among the different chemical concentrations, but in general, there was a reduction in nutrient concentrations with increasing concentrations of the chemicals. But when these chemicals were combined with fertilizer, nutrient concentrations, algae communities and chlorophyll-a exhibited similar increases as the microcosms receiving fertilizer alone. Based on the results of this study, a hydroponic system was designed to reduce the influx of nutrients into receiving fresh water systems.

Effect of solarization on nutrient availability, enzyme activity and growth of pomegranate (Punica granatum) air-layered on various potting mixtures

Pomegranate air layers are generally raised on potting mixture consisting of soil, sand and FYM/vermicompost in the nursery. Increasing concern over the impact of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the environment for raising disease- free vigorous planting materials necessitate the exploitation of renewable solar energy for disinfecting growth medium and at the same time its enrichment with respect to plant nutrients. Solarization of components in the potting mixture (soil: sand: farmyard manure, 1:1:1, soil: sand: vermicompost, 1:1:1 and soil: sand, 1:1) and their use in various combinations [soil (nonsolarized, NS):sand (nonsolarized, NS):FYM (nonsolarized, NS); soil (solarized, S):sand (solarized, S):FYM (solarized, S); soil (S):sand (S):FYM (NS); soil (NS):sand (NS):vermicompost (NS); soil (S):sand (S):vermicompost (S); soil (S):sand (S):vermicompost (NS); soil (NS):sand (NS); soil (S):sand (S)] was evaluated for production of vigorous air- layer planting materials of pomegranate. Mixing of farmyard manure to solarized soil-sand media significantly increased available nutrient status (particularly P and K), alkaline and acid phosphatase activity and plant growth and vigour as indicated by chlorophyll content (SPAD value), photosynthetic and transpiration rate. Weed population also got reduced significantly. On the contrary, mixing of vermicompost to solarized soil-sand media did not result in any positive impact on plant growth over non-solarized and solarized soil-sand-vermicompost mixtures. With only soil-sand as potting media, non-solarized media recorded higher plant growth, nutrient availability (P and K) and enzyme activity (alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase) over solarized one but reduction in dehydrogenase activity and weed population were noted upon solarization of the said medium.

Chemical fertilizer and organic manure inputs in soil exhibit a vice versa pattern of microbial community structure

Type and amount of nutrient inputs to cultivated soils may alter microbial community structure and activities, which could greatly influence their environmental fate. This study compared no fertilizer (NF), chemical fertilizer (CF), CF+pig manure (CFM) and CF+straw manure (CFS) for microbial dynamics in alluvial paddy soil (Typic Eduoagulpt). Microbial communities were characterized by dilution plate technique, Biolog tests and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles. Biolog plates data indicated that soil microbial metabolism quotient, Shannon index and McIntonsh index increased significantly in CFS- and CFM-treated soils relative to that in NF soil. Soil PLFA analysis demonstrated that molar ratios of bacterial monounsaturated fatty acids (15:1ω6c, 16:1ω7c, 16:1ω9c, 18:1ω7c, 18:1ω9c) and fungal polyunsaturated fatty acid (18:2ω6,9c) were greater in CFM- and CFS-treated soils. Saturated straight chain lipids 14:0, 17:0, 18:0, 19:0 and 20:0 (representing actinomycetes) were higher in NF- and CF-treated soils. These results indicated that organic matter inputs increased the PLFA biomarkers for bacteria and fungi, but reduced that for actinomycetes. Ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria was significantly higher in NF- and CF-treated soils (P≤0.05). It concludes that organic manures enhance the bacterial and fungal communities rather than actinomycetes; whereas, impact of chemical fertilizers was vice versa indicating deficiency of organic carbon and nutrients in the soil. Further, actinomycetes and G +ve bacteria seem to be the indigenous microbiota of paddy soil, which was dominated by G −ve bacteria and fungi after the addition of organic manures.

Impact of chemical fertilizers on water quality in selected agricultural areas of Mysore district, Karnataka, India

Chemical fertilizers are used extensively in modem agriculture, in order to improve crop yield. However, nutrient leaching from agricultural soil into ground water and surface water cause a major environmental and public health concern. During present investigation, 24 water samples were collected from selected agricultural lands of Mysore District. The water samples were analyzed for fertilizer residues and physico-chemical characteristics. From the study it is concluded that, application of chemical fertilizers has severe impact on water quality. The pH of the ground water was found to be alkaline in some of the water samples. Nitrate and phosphate concentrations were found to be higher than the permissible limits of WHO standards, due to leaching and surface run off of chemical fertilizers from agricultural lands. In order to overcome water pollution problems, effective management of chemical fertilizers has to be implemented.

Influence of agricultural intensification on the earthworm community in arable farmland in the North China Plain

Two field experiments had been conducted in Huantai County, Shandong Province, east of China, with an effort to understand the impact of agricultural intensification on earthworm diversity and population density. Seven species of earthworms were identified in the two experiments. Average earthworm populations in the higher fertility soil (experiment B, 1.83% organic matter) were relatively abundant, with a population density of 105 indiv./m 2 and biomass of 57 g/m 2. Aporrectae trapezoids was the most dominant species. In the lower fertility soils (experiment A, 1.43% organic matter) the population density was only 51 indiv./m 2 and the average biomass was 30 g/m 2. Drawida gisti was the most dominant species. For both the experiments A and B, organic fertilizer (OF) and crop straw return increased earthworm abundance. The impact of chemical fertilizer (CF) on the earthworm population was found to depend on the amount of organic input. In experiment B, the earthworm biomass decreased when only winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum) straw was input at three CF application levels. However, while both winter wheat straw (WS) and corn ( Zea mays) stalk returned, there was no negative correlation between CF and earthworm density and biomass.

The determinants of cereal crop productivity of the peasant farm sector in Ethiopia, 1981–87

This paper employs a Cobb-Douglas type production function to estimate the impacts of various farm inputs on cereal crop production of the peasant farm sector in Ethiopia. The production function is estimated for the major food crops, teff, wheat, maize, barley and sorghum, using seemingly unrelated regression estimation (SURE). On average, about 90 per cent of crop output is explained by the two major traditional inputs, land and labour. Less than 10 per cent of output is explained by chemical fertilizers. The impact of chemical fertilizers is small but statistically significant. Rainfall has an important impact on cereal production. Stagnant and declining food production is due to poor factor productivity, which is mainly explained by population pressure, poor farming practice and vulnerability to droughts.