Increase Soil Fertility Research Articles

Anthropogenic changes of the agricultural production features of river valley-еscarpment soils in Martuni region, Sevan basin, RA

The article discusses the agro-production features of the river valley-escarpment soils of the Republic of Armenia, the negative changes occurring in the soils due to the impact of climate change and the anthropogenic factor, as well as a number of issues related to the ways of increasing soil fertility. According to the Research results, river valley-escarpment soils are in general, characterized by high natural fertility and are widely used in agricultural production as high-quality arable land. Meantime, significant changes in the agro-productive features of soils are observed as well. In order to efficiently use the land, increase and maintain the fertility, it is recommended that scientifically based complex agrotechnical measures in compliance with local conditions are applied.

Role of Bio-Fertilizers in Improving Soil Fertility and Crop Production

Bio-fertilizer are an important component of integrated nutrients management. Microorganisms that are used as bio-fertilizer components include; nitrogen fixers (N-fixer), potassium and phosphorus solubilizers, growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), endo and ecto mycorrhizal fungi, cyanobacteria and other useful microscopic organisms. The use of bio-fertilizers leads to improved nutrients, water uptake, plant growth and plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic factors. This biological fertilizers would play a key role in productivity and sustainability of soil and also in protecting the environment as eco-friendly and cost effective inputs for the small holder farmers. Adding of the nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of growth-promoting substances are a good way to sustain our agricultural systems. Soil management strategies today are mainly dependent on inorganic chemical-based fertilizers, which cause a serious threat to human health and the environment. Bio-fertilizer has been identified as an alternative for increasing soil fertility and crop production in sustainable farming. The exploitation of beneficial microbes as bio-fertilizers has become of paramount importance in agricultural sector due to their potential role in food safety and sustainable crop production.

The effect of using of organic and mineral origin raw materials in agriculture on soil fertility

The presented work relates to ecology, chemical technology, in particular, methods for the production of fertilizers from sewage sludge and agriculture.The scale of production activity increases with population growth, so the problem of optimizing the interaction between man and nature is relevant and its solution is of great importance in improving the environment. Wastewater is one of the by-products of anthropogenic activities. When it is cleaned, a precipitate (sludge) is formed. The volume and the toxicity of sludge are, of course, increasing due to urban growth and the intensification of industrial production. About 25-30 kg of dry sediment is formed per person per year in European countries.There is no single rational and environmentally safe, currently tested technology for sludge disposal in our republic, and its appearance is unlikely to be created shortly since the sediments of different treatment facilities have different physicochemical and biological properties, as well as entirely different qualitative and quantitative compositions of elements.Purifying and disposing of such waste (sludge) is a serious environmental problem. The main principles of its solution are a set of environmental and economic interests of society, environmentally safe disposal and use of sludge, and their involvement in the economic cycle. The problem of using waste for fertilizer has various aspects and it is inseparable from the problem of soil fertility and ecology.The exceptional importance of organic matter in increasing soil fertility has long been known. In this regard, application of organic-mineral complexes that affect the productivity and quality of plants, determination of effective fertilizer norms and application of new technologies are an urgent issue and are of great theoretical and practical importance.The fertility of the soil is very dependent on the intensity of the biological processes taking place in it. Sufficient moisture, organic matter and a favorable reaction of the soil solution are required for the activity of microorganisms in the soil.He worked on the technology of organic-mineral complex preparation and applied it under agricultural plants (cotton) in order to achieve the set goal in the direction of solving this issue.

Training on Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Inoculant Production Techniques for Agricultural Land at Campus IV, Khairun University

Khairun University Campus IV is currently being developed as an educational tourism location. One form of activity is developing agricultural land. The problem there is that the land is still not very fertile. Efforts that can be made are by developing ectomycorrhizal inoculants to increase soil fertility. Community service activities are directed at providing training to the community around Campus IV Unkhair in producing ectomycorrhizal inoculants. Ectomycorrhiza has several benefits for plants, namely being able to increase the uptake of P and N nutrients. The series of service activities carried out are providing training and practice in exploring ectomycorrhiza in the forest around the Unkhair campus IV area, training in the production of ectomycorrhizal inoculants, and training in applying ectomycorrhizal inoculants on agricultural land.

The Role of Cryptogams in Soil Property Regulation and Vascular Plant Regeneration: A Review

Despite their small size, cryptogams (lichen, liverwort, and moss) are important for ecosystem stability. Due to their strong stress resistance, cryptogams often cover extreme environments uninhabitable for vascular plants, which has an important impact on the material cycle and energy flow of various terrestrial ecosystems. In this article, we review and discuss the effects of cryptogams on soil properties (moisture and fertility) and vascular plant regeneration over the past two decades. Cryptogams strongly affect soil water content by influencing precipitation infiltration, non-rainfall water input, soil evaporation, soil water holding capacity, and soil permeability, ultimately helping to reduce soil water content in areas with low annual precipitation (<500 mm). However, in areas with high annual precipitation (>600 mm) or where the soil has other water sources, the presence of cryptograms is conducive to soil water accumulation. Cryptogam plants can increase soil fertility and the availability of soil nutrients (TOC, TN, TP, TK, and micronutrients) in harsh environments, but their effects in mild environments have not been sufficiently investigated. Cryptogam plants exert complex effects on vascular plant regeneration in different environments. The primary influence pathways include the physical barrier of seed distribution, shading, allelopathy, competition, influences on ectomycorrhizal development and individual reproduction, and the regulation of soil water content, temperature, and nutrients.

Polymers usage in new plant nutrition system organization

The agricultural sector is constantly looking for new technologies (methods) to increase the efficiency of inputs (agrochemicals) and minimize possible anthropogenic impact on the environment. Accordingly, producers are proposing the use of controlled or slow-release fertilizers (technologies) to optimize the delivery of nutrients (using a polymer) to plants or chemicals to more effectively control weeds, pests and diseases (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides). This article considers the possibility of introducing innovative farming systems, where, in addition, agrarian producers, in addition to the goal of increasing yields, must maintain and increase soil fertility, including replenishment of nutrient reserves in the soil.

Range and behavior of the Russian grain subcomplex center in 2000-2020

In the 2000s, a new model of the agrarian economy was formed in the country, in which large agricultural holdings, collective and private peasant farms were organically integrated, united by powerful state support and state regulation. This model has manifested itself to the greatest extent in the functioning of the grain subcomplex: the growth of acreage and yield of grain crops, increasing soil fertility, the formation of new logistics and communication corridors, value chains, ultimately providing the country with a leading position among grain-producing countries, making this subcomplex import-independent. Like any agricultural object, the grain subcomplex has a spatial character. At the same time, its space is heterogeneous and not static; the zones of high and low activity are constantly changing, their areas are shifting, affecting the overall dynamics of the entire subcomplex. The goal - determine the location of the center of the grain subcomplex of Russia and calculate the impact of its changes on the dynamics of gross grain harvest. Methods - centrographic, correlation, graphical, as well as descriptive. Scientific novelty - clarification has been made to the existing methodology of the influence of the geographical factor on the dynamics of agriculture, in which the concept of geographical center has been introduced. The methodological innovation is tested on the example of the grain subcomplex of Russia. Results - the area of the grain wedge of the country was determined, its geographical center was calculated, its time shifts in the north-south and east-west directions were revealed, the changes in the center of the sown areas of grain crops on the gross grain harvest were quantified, it was revealed that the shift of the center of the sown areas in the south-west direction gives a greater increase in the gross grain harvest, than in the north-east, the causes and nature (cyclicity) of these increases (shocks) have been clarified, which together will allow for the regulation of the directions of development of the complex in the direction of the greatest efficiency.

Soil microbial activity improved while intensifying vegetable production by use of plant-based fertilisers, cover crops and reduced tillage

Frequent soil cultivation in intensive vegetable production is detrimental to soil quality. Combining several sustainable management techniques, such as increasing organic matter input and plant diversity, and reducing soil cultivation, could benefit biological soil quality. We designed a crop rotation with a system approach, combining plant-based fertilisers, cover crops and reduced tillage, while growing more crops (sustainable intensification, SI). We compared this approach to common practice (CP), where animal manure fertilisers, no cover crops and ploughing were employed in a standard organic crop rotation on sandy loam in Denmark. Treatments were initiated in 2017, and two sets of contrasts, each comparing across cropping systems and specific crop rotations, were investigated in the second and third year of implementation: lettuce-leek double-cropping (SI) vs. leek sole-cropping (CP), and onion-lettuce intercropping (SI) vs. lettuce-lettuce double-cropping (CP). Soil microbial activity was assessed by β-glucosidase and dehydrogenase activity and potential N mineralisation over 28-days incubation. Root growth was investigated using minirhizotrons. The risk of N leaching was estimated from soil mineral N content at 0–2.5 m depth in autumn. β-glucosidase and dehydrogenase activity increased by 27–107% under SI compared to CP in the third year after implementation. SI improved potential N mineralisation by 12–52 kg N ha−1 before and after spring fertilisation both years. Increased soil fertility under SI contributed to 1.3 to 2.3 times higher plant N uptake (except for lettuce/onion first year), and 1 to 2.7 times higher marketable yields, but only minimally affected root depth. Despite higher N fertilisation, risk of N leaching did not rise under SI. The beneficial effects of SI were attributed to the combination of higher N fertilisation (53–144 kg N ha−1 more) as organic matter addition (2–3 Mg carbon ha−1 more), growing cover crops, and reducing soil tillage. Combining these techniques is promising for improving soil microbial activity in a sustainable way for highly intensive organic vegetable production.

The Effectiveness of Taro Compost Fertilizer on Soil pH, Growth and Yield of Pak Choy (Brassica rapa L.) in Tasikmalaya

Lack of awereness about the use of agriculture waste in increasing soil fertility leading to high use of inorganic fertilizer. Continuous use of inorganic fertilizer can reduce soil fertility in the future. This research aims to determine the impact of providing taro compost fertilizer on soil pH, growth and yield of pak choy In Tasikmalaya. This research was carried out in experimental field of Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Perjuangan Tasikmalaya from October until November 2023. Experimental design used a randomized block design of one factor with six treatments and three replications. The treatments consist of without taro compost fertilizer, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 g/polybag taro compost fertilizer. Reseach results show taro compost fertilizer can increase plant height, fresh weight of the plant, plant root length, fresh weight of roots and plant canopy weight. The best treatment was 300 g/polybag with plant height 16,8 cm, fresh weight of plant 55,63 g, plant root length 15,83 cm, fresh weight of roots 8,63 g, and plant canopy weight 47 g compared to control treatment without taro compost fertilizer. However, addition various doses taro compost fertilizer hasn’t effect for soil pH. The conclution of this research is that giving various doses of compost fertilizer can increase the growth and yield of pak choy in Tasikmalaya.

Conservation agriculture and cover crop adoption by smallholder farmers in Cambodia: Understanding perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for soil improvement

Practical solutions for soil conservation are needed to ensure sustainable food production. Conservation agriculture and the use of cover crops are promising strategies for soil improvement in agricultural systems. These strategies are being promoted in Cambodia to address rapidly declining soil fertility; however, there is a lack of insight into the perceptions of Cambodian smallholders towards cover cropping within a conservation agriculture approach. A greater understanding of the utilization and perceptions of cover crops is needed to increase adoption and prevent further soil degradation. This study utilized a mixed methods approach with quantitative data from a farmer survey and qualitative data gathered from follow-up interviews with farmers. Analysis shows that farmers understand what conservation agriculture is and reported benefits, including increased yields, after practicing conservation agriculture. Conservation agriculture was viewed as a way to protect the environment and increase soil fertility, particularly by using cover crops. However, farmers reported that the use of cover crops as part of a conservation agriculture approach faces challenges, preventing further adoption. Understanding the benefits and challenges for farmers can help improve adoption, leading to improved soil and more resilient agricultural systems. Further research on how to address the challenges presented by farmers is needed.

Plant Growth-Promoting Soil Bacteria: Nitrogen Fixation, Phosphate Solubilization, Siderophore Production, and Other Biological Activities.

This review covers the literature data on plant growth-promoting bacteria in soil, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, produce and secrete siderophores, and may exhibit several different behaviors simultaneously. We discuss perspectives for creating bacterial consortia and introducing them into the soil to increase crop productivity in agrosystems. The application of rhizosphere bacteria-which are capable of fixing nitrogen, solubilizing organic and inorganic phosphates, and secreting siderophores, as well as their consortia-has been demonstrated to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture, such as increasing soil fertility and crop yields. The combining of plant growth-promoting bacteria with mineral fertilizers is a crucial trend that allows for a reduction in fertilizer use and is beneficial for crop production.

PERANAN TRICHODERMA DALAM MENDUKUNG PERTANIAN ORGANIK DI DESA TANAK KAKEN KECAMATAN SAKRA BARAT KABUPATEN LOMBOK TIMUR

Organic plants are plants produced without adding synthetic materials or genetic engineering but only using natural ingredients. Where currently the need for organic vegetables and fruit is increasing along with the improvement in people's quality of life. However, the increase in demand is not commensurate with its availability on the market. This activity is carried out in order to increase the supply of quality organic food that the community needs by utilizing unused organic materials such as livestock waste that is thrown away in vain. This activity uses a material presentation method and is followed by a direct demonstration of making bioactivator powder organic fertilizer fermented by Trichoderma spp. The result of this activity is an organic fertilizer with Trichoderma spp.coffee leaf bioactivator powder which can increase soil fertility and plant growth and reduce the proliferation of pests and diseases so that organic farming in Tanak Kaken village can be achieved

Potential Use of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria to Enhance Growth and Soil Fertility in Marginal Areas: Focus on the Apulia Region, Italy

Soil degradation is a global problem and refers to the reduction or loss of the biological and economic productive capacity of the soil resource. In Europe, the countries most affected by soil degradation are undoubtedly those of the Mediterranean basin. Among these, Italy shows clear signs of degradation, with different characteristics, especially in the southern regions, where climatic and meteorological conditions strongly contribute to it. Apulia, the Tavoliere plain in particular, is a fragile and very sensitive ecosystem due to its intrinsic characteristics and the level of anthropic exploitation. Agricultural production pays the highest price, as increasing desertification due to climate change and the loss of agricultural land severely limit the extent of land available to produce food for an ever-growing population. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could be a low-cost and long-term solution to restore soil fertility, as they provide a wide range of benefits in agriculture, including increasing crop productivity, improving soil nutrient levels and inhibiting the growth of pathogens. This review shows how PGPB can be used to improve the quality of soils, their impact on agriculture, their tolerance to abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, heavy metals and organic pollutants) and their feasibility. The use of PGPB could be promoted as a green technology to be applied in marginal areas of Apulia to increase soil fertility, reduce pollution and mitigate the impacts of abiotic stresses and climate change. This is supported by a series of studies showing that the growth of plants inoculated with PGPB is superior to that of non-inoculated plants.

The Effect of Organic Amendments and Minerals on Increasing Soil Fertility (A review )

Sustainable agriculture emphasizes the maintenance and improvement of soil, water, and biodiversity reserves. Cover cropping, conservation tillage, and agroforestry are all examples of soil conservation practices that serve to reduce soil erosion, preserve soil fertility, and enhance soil health. Organic additions and minerals can help the soil produce grapes. Organic fertilizers and minerals can boost grape soil productivity. Organic additions improve physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. These chemicals include a lot of natural nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients. Organic additions include compost, manure, and cover crops. Organic grape additions have many benefits. They improve soil structure and porosity, improving root growth and water penetration. Organic additives promote soil fertility through improving water, nutrient, and other element retention. Minerals may improve soil fertility as much as organics. Minerals are essential to plant growth. Minerals include calcium, magnesium, and sulphur. Magnesium creates chlorophyll for photosynthesis, whereas calcium builds strong cells. Proteins and amino acids, necessary to plant growth, require sulphur. Organic additions and minerals boost grape soil fertility. These compounds improve soil structure, nutrient absorption, and root growth, increasing grape yields and vine health. Remember that minerals and organic additions differ. It’s important to use high-quality materials that meet your soil and crop needs because these resources differ in quality and nutrition. Organic additions and minerals boost grape soil fertility. These compounds improve soil structure, nutrient absorption, and root growth, increasing grape yields and vine health. High-quality merchandise and expert agriculture assistance usually provide the best yields.

Knowledge and Practice of Sustainable Land Management of Coffee Agroforestry in Community Forest Areas, West Lampung Regency

This study aims to identify knowledge and practices of sustainable land management in coffee agroforestry in community forest areas. The research was conducted from November to December 2021 in a community forest area in Air Hitam District, West Lampung Regency. The respondents are 40 coffee farmers who cultivate coffee in the community forest area. The study used the Knowledge, Attitude, and practice framework to identify knowledge and practices of sustainable land management in coffee agroforestry and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The study results show that coffee farmers’ knowledge of sustainable land management is in the fairly high category. Farmers understand that sustainable land management supports forest sustainability and increases coffee productivity. Sustainable land management practices that coffee farmers have implemented include the use of organic fertilizers from livestock, the use of coffee shells as natural compost, planting shade trees to prevent erosion and increase soil fertility, and soil conservation techniques using the Rorak method (making holes for water absorption, accommodate soil sediments and sources of organic matter). The practice of sustainable land management by coffee farmers is in line with the objectives of social forestry, namely the use of forests to improve welfare without neglecting forest sustainability.

Prospects for phytorecultivation of degraded lands by composite biohumus briquette

Purpose. The study of the processing of organic waste by California worms of the Eisenia fetida species is presented, and the optimal content of the composite mix of biohumus briquettes for the needs of phytoremediation of degraded and contaminated lands is substantiated. The methods are based on a theoretical analysis of vermiculture technologies, laboratory studies on the influence of temperature and humidity on the growth of the worm population and biohumus production; vegetation experiments using multicomponent biohumus mixtures with yellow-brown loams and seeds of wild cereals for phytorecultivation of degraded and contaminated lands. Findings. The growth process of the biomass of the Eisenia fetida worms and the accumulation of biohumus over the time depending on the environment temperature were studied. The results of the laboratory bioindication experiments with composite briquettes consisting of biohumus, loam and seeds of wild cereals are presented. Vegetation experiments were carried out on complex multi-component mixtures to analyze the germination efficiency of seeds of wild cereals like Avena fatua and Brōmus inērmis for the purpose of technogenic lands reclamation. It was established that the optimal moisture of the biohumus substrate, at which the highest yield of vermiculture biomass was observed, is 60–70%, and the temperature range varies within 20–30°С. The originality. It was established that the most optimal ratio of biohumus and loam in the content of composite briquettes for plant growth is 20:30 and 30:20 by mass, which makes it possible to substantiate the working mixtures of phytomeliorants for degraded lands biological reclamation technologies. Practical implementation. The use of vermiculture products helps increase soil fertility, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The performed laboratory studies show the prospects of using biohumus with plant seeds in the form of composite briquettes for phytoremediation of degraded and contaminated lands.

PENGARUH PUPUK LIMBAH CINCAU TERHADAP PENYAKIT DAN KEANEKARAGAMAN SERANGGA TANAMAN JAGUNG

Utilization of organic fertilizer aims to increase soil fertility and efforts to improve the balance of the corn plant ecosystem. One source of organic fertilizer is black grass jelly waste, both solid and liquid. Black grasss jelly waste is available in excess because factories that produce black grass jelly have not utilized the waste as an alternative to organic fertilizer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of organic fertilizer from black grass jelly waste both solid and liquid on the abundance of insects and their natural enemies. This research started from September to December 2021. It took place at the Integrated Field Laboratory, Kadiri Islamic University, in Rejomulyo Village, Kediri City, with a pH of 7, daily temperature and humidity (±28.3°C and 72.2%) with rainfall 45 mm/month. Variable observations of downy mildew disease sentitivity index and insect diversity. The results showed that the effect of grass jelly fertilizer had an effect on the level of resistance to downy mildew attacks. In all the insects found were 47 families consisting of 6 orders. On diversity has a moderate value. In terms of evenness and species richness, it was found that all the results had high scores. So that the treatment of solid and liquid fertilizers against insect diversity is very good.

Residual Effect of Biochar and Legumes on Soil Fertility, Yield and Yield Components of Wheat

Biochar and the use of legumes in cropping systems are considered sustainable approaches to boost crop yield and preserve soil fertility. In the current study, the effects of leftover biochar and previously planted legumes on wheat yield and soil N status were examined at various nitrogen (N) levels. The experiment included testing two levels of previously applied biochar (0 and 50 tons ha-1), three legumes under four levels of N (0, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) for fodder, Sesbenia (Sesbenia grandaflora) for green manuring, and mung bean (Vigna radiata) for grain. Results showed that biochar application enhanced wheat tiller m-2, spikes m-2, grains per spike, thousand grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, and soil total N status by 3%, 6.5%, 3.7%, 1.8%, 7.8%, 9.5%, and 11%, respectively. Moreover, applying nitrogen at a rate of 90 kg ha-1 increased the amount of wheat spike m-2 by 20%, grain spike-1 by 10%, grain yield by 70%, biological yield by 48%, harvest index by 27%, and the N content of the grain, straw, and soil by 13%, 14%, and 36% respectively. Meanwhile, 1000 grain weight resulted higher by 6.17%. Legumes that had been previously seeded outperformed fallow and increased spikes m-2, grain yield, biological yield, grain N content, and soil total N content by 8.2%, 11%, 6.78%, 25%, and 42%, respectively. It is determined that applying biochar to the summer gap left by legumes can increase soil fertility and wheat output.

Bacterial Density in Soil Samples Collected from Hospital Wastes Dumping Site at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Medical Centre, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.

The soil quality is characterized by adequate nutrients as a result of abundant nutrients cycling bacteria. Most soil in Nigeria has been subjected to different kinds of pollutants resulting from anthropogenic activities which have become a major threatening factor to the quality of soil. This study was carried out to evaluate bacterial density in soil samples collected from hospital wastes dumping site at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Medical Centre, Uli, Anambra State. A total of 30 composite soil samples were aseptically collected from the site using a sterile soil auger. The samples were analyzed for total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) and phosphate solubilizing bacterial count (PSBC) using standard plate technique. The predominant bacterial isolates that aided nutrients cycling were appropriately characterized, and their densities in both impacted and non-impacted soil samples were enumerated. Also, the bacterial isolates were characterized based on morphology, microscopy, and biochemical characteristics. There was an increase in the THBC and PSBC in the impacted soil, and Gram negative rods such as Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and Micrococcus species (Gram positive) were the bacterial isolates. The study has revealed that wastes generated from hospital enhances microbial proliferation in the soil, which invariably increases soil fertility. Keywords: Bacterial Density, Soil Samples, Hospital Wastes and Dumping Site

Long-term effects of olive mill waste waters spreading on the soil rhizospheric properties of olive trees grown under Mediterranean arid climate

Context The spreading of olive mill waste waters (OMWW) could offer an appropriate management option to add value to this agricultural by-product, such as to increase soil fertility and plant productivity. Aims The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the application of OMWW (at a fixed dose of 50 m3 ha−1), in the long term (20 years) on the soil rhizospheric properties and on old olive trees (80 years old) growth and productivity. Methods The experimental site consists of four plots treated with OMWW (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and four ‘control’ plots (C1, C2, C3 and C4), without any treatment. The treated plots have received each a fixed dose of 50 m3 ha−1 of OMWW in February of each year since 2004. Key results The results obtained showed that the addition of OMWW increased the soil water retention capacity (SWRC) and its organic matter content (OMC), as well as the augment of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels. The activity of the soil rhizospheric microflora was significantly enhanced. Conclusions OMWW application to the soil surface in an olive orchard at 50 m3 ha−1, since 2004, had no negative effects on the tree’s vegetative growth and satisfied plant P, K and N requirement. Implications Our study showed that OMWW can enhance the soil properties and enrich the soil with necessary minerals.