Inorganic Chemical Fertilizers Research Articles

Nitrogen Budget of South Korea from 2015 to 2019 Including Gaseous Nitrogen Oxides

Objectives : The study was aimed to systematically understand the nitrogen budget from 2015 to 2019, and to determine the annual nitrogen balance in South Korea.Methods : The nitrogen budget was calculated by classifying into agricultural and livestock, city, and forest areas. The nitrogen input was estimated from deposition, biological fixation, agricultural water, inorganic chemical fertilizer, compost, feedstuff, produced crops, imported grocery, and fuel consumption. The nitrogen output was estimated by considering denitrification, volatilization, ground water runoff, land and crop absorption, sewage disposal, drainage, forest uptake, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.Results and Discussion : The annual nitrogen budget from 2015 to 2019 showed the input as 6,107,449 ton/yr, 6,144,666 ton/yr, 6,245,240 ton/yr, 6,281,552 ton/yr, 5,993,347 ton/yr and the output as 1,346,587 ton/yr, 1,369,119 ton/yr, 1,365,327 ton/yr, 1,378,940 ton/yr, 1,365,994 ton/yr, respectively. The NOx, highly contributing to change in the nitrogen budget, was caused by human activities such as vehicles, business places, and power plants. More than 32% of the total nitrogen budget was caused by NOx in every year.Conclusion : The nitrogen budget continued to increase in the 2010s because of the increase in food and fuel consumption by urbanization. However, the nitrogen budget declined in 2019 due to the effort such as emission regulations and the use of alternatives as the awareness of environmental pollution gradually increased. Therefore, the appropriate institution should be established and actively implemented to reduce the nitrogen effectively.

Inorganic Comparison of Inorganic Element Detection Technology in Soil

Soil pollutants include inorganic substances (heavy metals, acid, salt, etc.), organic matter, chemical fertilizers, pesticides (pesticides, sterilizers and herbicides), radioactive substances, parasites, pathogenic bacteria, and viruses. New pollutants (such as veterinary drugs, antibiotics, bromide flame retardants, all -fluoride compounds, etc.) have also become research hotspots in the soil.

PENGARUH PUPUK ORGANIK GEBAGRO 77 TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN KAPULAGA (AMOMUM COMPACTUM) DI DESA BOTOHILI SILAMBO

Lack of understanding of farmers in Botohili Silambo Village in utilizing gebagro 77 organic fertilizer as fertilizer, especially on cardamom plants. People still use inorganic (chemical) fertilizers, thereby reducing soil quality. This study aims to determine the effect of organic fertilizer gebagro 77 on the growth of cardamom (Amomum compatum). This type of research is quantitative with a pure experimental method (True Experiment) with a completely randomized design (CRD). The population of this study was 20 polybags of cardamom and the sample of this study was cardamom with five treatments and four replications. The treatments applied were P0 (without giving gebagro 77 organic fertilizer) P1 (5 grams), P2 (10 grams), P3 (15 grams), and P4 (20 grams). The data of this study were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality test, homogeneity test, hypothesis testing using the SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solution) application version 20. It is known that Fcount 3.141 and asymp 0.046, with Ftable 2.90 then Fcount 3.141 > Ftable 2.90 and Asymp value 0.046 < 0.05. It shows that the height of cardamom stems is better than those that do not use gebagro 77 fertilizer. While it is known that Fcount 3.352 and Asymp 0.038, with Ftable 2.90 then Fcount 3.352 > Ftable 0.038 and Asymp value 0.038 < 0.05. It shows that the number of cardamom plant leaves is more than those that do not use gebagro 77 fertilizer. From the results of the analysis, the average use of gebagro 77 organic fertilizers has a better stem height and number of leaves compared to those who do not use gebagro 77 organic fertilizers. The suggestion offered by researchers is that the use of gebagro 77 organic fertilizers should be increased to reduce use of inorganic fertilizers and utilize existing natural resources.

Pemanfaatan Kotoran Ternak Sebagai Pupuk Kompos Ramah Lingkungan Di Kelurahan Batu Bersurat

The purpose of this activity is so that the environment of Batu Bersurat Village, XIII Koto Kampar District, Kampar Regency can become a clean and uncontaminated environment from cow dung. Cow dung can be processed into compost. Compost is an organic fertilizer made from animal waste that has undergone a fermentation process. The advantage of this compost is that it is environmentally friendly, can increase the income of farmers, and can increase soil fertility by repairing physical damage to the soil due to excessive use of inorganic (chemical) fertilizers. Batu Bersurat Village is an area with potential in agriculture, plantation and animal husbandry. The existence of cattle owned by the community has the potential to be used as compost which can be used for agriculture as well as for the fertility of plantation crops. However, the lack of knowledge of residents about the methods and benefits of making compost from cow manure causes cow manure to be thrown away, therefore people still use chemical fertilizers as a medium for the fertility of their plants. Therefore, a practice was held to make use of compost from cow manure in Batu Bersurat Village, District XIII Koto Kampar, Kampar Regency.

ORGANIC FERTILIZER AN ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMICAL (INORGANIC) FERTILIZER FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL PRODUCTIVITY IN THE ERA OF ECONOMIC CHALLENGES (A REVIEW)

The major constraint limiting crop yield in developing countries globally and especially in the tropical Africa is soil infertility. In order to improve the fertility of the soils for maximum food production and supplies, the use of inorganic (chemical) fertilizers was adopted and used extensively. However, the scarcity and high cost of the inorganic fertilizers in recent times due to economic and global challenges like covid 19 pandemic and wars is worrisome. Also, research has shown that the continuous use of inorganic fertilizer and total dependence on it for agricultural production have led to a decline in soil fertility, land degradation and rottening of certain crops especially tubers, hence the need for an alternative. This review work studies the need of producing organic fertilizers from various organic wastes (such as agricultural waste, sewage sludge, animal waste, municipal solid waste, food waste, etc) as alternative soil amendment using the technology advancement for solid organic waste management as obtained in the developed countries. This when adopted will not only enhance and sustain soil productivity but will help to free the environment of pollution and encourage economic growth. The work also provides insight to the production line of the organic fertilizer, sources or raw materials and advantages of substituting chemical (inorganic) fertilizer with organic fertilizer. It is obvious that organic fertilizer when produced will be affordable, available, cheaper and will improve and sustain the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soils.

Nanofertilizers as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers: A review

The population of the world is steadily increasing, in contrast to the natural resources which are limited and subjected to further depletion. This induces pressures to develop effective agricultural production systems to meet the growing demands on food and, thus, to mitigate hunger and poverty worldwide. Generally, inorganic fertilizers play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and improving crop yield and quality. Inorganic chemical fertilizers are regarded as the main source to supply crops with their needs of nutrients. Proper nutrient management of crops is a major challenge worldwide as it relies predominantly on chemical fertilizers. However, inorganic fertilizers are not only costly but may be harmful and pose risks to human health and have negative impacts on the environment. About half of the amount of applied fertilizers is used by the crop, whereas the remaining fertilizers are lost through leaching and gaseous emissions. The lost nutrients contribute to environmental pollution, global warming and climate change. Moreover, high application rates of chemical fertilizers can deteriorate soil fertility and raise soil salinity and thus lower crop production and quality will occur. This creates a need to invent smart fertilizers that are friendly to the environment, particularly those of high nutrient use efficiency and low leaching potential. Nanotechnology has a vital role in the construction of such fertilizers (nanofertlizers). In these fertilizers, nutrients are bound to nano-dimensional adsorbents (nanomaterials), which release nutrients very slowly as compared to conventional chemical fertilizers. Nanofertilizers are nutrients coated or encapsulated with different types of nanomaterials. They have unique properties like large surface area, slow-release profile, and controlled delivery of nutrients to the targeted sites to meet the nutrient requirements of crops. Nanofertilizers are emerging as a promising alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers, as they offer great opportunities to improve plant nutrition under harsh environments. The benefits associated with the use of nanofertlizers are opening new approaches toward the development of sustainable agriculture. However, further studies are needed for a sound and safe application of nanofertlizers. In this review, researchers’ attempts to produce and use nanofertlizers for sustainable crop production have been presented. The advantages and limitations of the application of these smart fertilizers have also been discussed. Key words: Nanoparticles, Sustainable agriculture, Phytotoxicity, Slow and controlled release, Metal oxides

Soil test-based fertilizer prescription for targeted yield of sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.)

ABSTRACT To develop targeted yield-based integrated nutrient recommendation of sesame, soil test-based crop response field studies on major nutrients were undertaken during two consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017) in an Inceptisol. For this, quantitative estimations of basic parameters viz. nutrient requirement (NR), percentage contribution of nutrients from soil (CS); from fertilizer (CF); from farm yard manure (CFYM) were done. The essential informations obtained from soil and crop testing were used for development of fertilizer prescription equations for different nutrient management practices using organic (FYM) and inorganic chemical fertilizer alone or in combinations. The mean nutrient requirement for the production of 100 kg of sesame grain was 6.98, 1.61 and 3.92 kg of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), respectively. The CS, CF and CFYM values were 21.84, 49.35 and 6.95 for N; 40.23, 26.25 and 4.57 for P; 12.80, 53.13 and 4.07 for K, respectively. Those parameters were used for preparation of ready reckoners of fertilizer prescription for range of soil test values of N, P and K to get targeted yield (±5 to ±10% of potential yield of variety) of 9 q/ha for sesame grain using FYM and inorganic chemical fertilizer alone or in combinations. Amount of N, P and K fertilizer could be reduced by a significant amount if fertilizers were applied on soil test basis in integration with FYM.

Divergent soil health responses to long-term inorganic and organic fertilization management on subtropical upland red soil in China

To optimize soil health, land use, and soil management decisions need to be guided by an understanding of the underlying soil health. Although widely used fertilizers guarantee crop production, they ultimately damage agricultural soil environmental quality and threaten the overall food chain safety. Thus, an integrative assessment considering both environmental safety and soil fertility is required for the sustainable development of long-term fertilization systems. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of soil health using 20 soil physical, chemical, and biological indicators and assessed them according to four heavy metals—copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead. This experiment was conducted in an area where there is an ongoing, 23-year-long fertilization experiment in a typical red soil region of southern China, including four treatments of common inorganic chemical fertilizer (CF), CF mixed with micronutrients (CF + T), CF mixed with pig manure (PM), and PM mixed with micronutrients (PM + T). To assess the soil fertility quality, we selected a minimum data set consisting of soil water-stable aggregates mean weight diameter, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, and dehydrogenase activity. The results revealed that soil fertility quality followed the order of PM + T ≈ PM > CF + T > CF. We also used a modified potential ecological risk index to assess the soil environmental quality. This approach considered the acid-soluble and exchangeable fraction of heavy metals as the bioavailability component. Both PM and PM + T treated soils were significantly contaminated by heavy metals, with particularly large amounts of Cd contamination. The soil health index escalated from CF, CF + T, PM to PM + T, which indicated that the use of pig manure allowed for more fertile soil relative to standard chemical fertilization. Moreover, applying additional micronutrients also had a significant influence on soil fertility. Therefore, our study revealed that long-term fertilization using organic pig manure was beneficial to overall soil fertility; however, these benefits were coupled with significant limitations regarding heavy metal contamination. Collectively, this study provides a better supporting method for soil health management and long-term fertilization strategies.

PENGARUH CAMPURAN AMPAS TEH DAN AMPAS TEBU TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN CABAI MERAH KERITING (Capsicum annum L.)

Based on the background of the research problem, there is a lack of understanding, especially by the Desa Sukamaju Mohili community, in utilizing a mixture of tea dregs and bagasse in curly red chili plants, where the community still uses inorganic (chemical) fertilizers thereby degrading soil quality. This study aims to determine the effect of a mixture of tea dregs and bagasse on the growth of curly red chili (capsicum Anmum L). This type of research is quantitative with a pure experimental method (true experiment) with a completely randomized design (CRD). The population of this study was curly red chili as much as 20 polybags and the research sample was curly red chili with five treatments and four replications. The treatments applied were P0 (without adding a mixture of tea bagasse and bagasse) P1 (100 grams), P2 (200 grams), P3 (300 grams), and P4 (400 grams). The research data were analyzed using the Kolmogrov-Smirnov test for normality test, homogeneity test and hypothesis testing using the SPSS application (produc and service solution statistics) version 22. The asymp embodiment of 0.035 <0.05 indicates that the stem height of curly red chilies is better than those without using a mixture of tea bagasse and bagasse while it is known that the asymp value is 0.048 <0.05 indicating that the number of leaves of curly red chili plants is greater than those who do not use a mixture of tea bagasse and bagasse. The suggestions offered by researchers, for farmers are expected to be information that bagasse and tea bagasse can have an effect on the growth of curly chilies for students of teaching and education faculties, especially biology education, I hope this research can add insight and knowledge about the effect of bagasse and tea bagasse as on the growth of curly red chili (capsium Anmum L), for future researchers, as a basis for the development of further research on the effect of bagasse and dregs as a plant medium on the growth of curly red chili (capsium annmum L).

Utilization of Eco-Enzyme from Household Organic Waste to Maintain Soil Fertility and Plant Pest Control

The use of inorganic chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides in the cultivation of crops carried out by farmers has caused negative effects on the environment. Likewise, the disposal of household organic garbage by the community has caused pollution in the surrounding environment. To reduce environmental disturbances due to garbage deposits, household organic garbage can be utilized for making eco-enzyme. Eco-enzyme is a complex organic compounds solution resulting from the fermentation of organic garbage, water, and sugar. Eco-enzyme solution can be used by the community as a versatile cleaning liquid, for environmentally friendly plant fertilizer and plant pest control. Community service activity has been carried out in Gelebak Dalam Village, Rambutan District, Banyuasin Regency, in the form of counseling and demonstrations of making eco-enzyme solutions from fruit peels and vegetable residues. Knowledge of eco-enzyme is very beneficial for the community, because, in addition to reducing the negative effects of organic garbage deposits on the environment, eco-enzyme is also useful in reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides in plant cultivation activities.

Effect of Phosphorus in Conjoint with Organics and Bioinoculant on Growth, Yield and Quality Parameters of Blackgram in Typic Chromustert

Aims: Use of phosphorus fertilizer along with farmyard manure, vermicompost and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) in black calcareous soil was conducted to assess the impact on the growth, yield and quality parameters of blackgram variety VBN 8 during the year 2022.
 Study Design: Randomized Block Design (RBD) with twelve treatments and three replications.
 Place and Duration of Study: Kalligudi block of Madurai district, representing the Southern part of Tamil Nadu during the summer season of 2022.
 Methodology: Twelve treatments were followed with various combinations of organics viz, vermicompost and farmyard manure, bioinoculant, and inorganic chemical fertilizer at different ratios. The combinations are 100 per cent and 75 per cent of P2O5 on STCR (Soil Test Crop Response) basis mixed with farmyard manure (1:10 ratio) and vermicompost (1:5 ratio). The impact of different treatments were recorded on shoot length, root volume, SPAD value, Leaf Area Index, grain yield, protein, cystine, and methionine content.
 Results: Among the treatments, application of 100% of P2O5 on Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) basis incubated for 30 days with vermicompost at 1:5 ratio + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria @ 2 kg ha-1 T11 has improved the black gram shoot length (27.6 cm), root volume (2.43 cm3), SPAD value (45.91), Leaf Area Index at 20 DAS (1.09) and 40 DAS (3.7), grain yield (936.1 kg ha-1) protein content (23.21%), cystine content (1.97%) and methionine content (2.29%).
 Conclusion: The integration of vermicompost and bioinoculant along with phosphorus fertilizer in black calcareous soil has improved the blackgram yield by 35.8% over the use of recommended dose of fertilizer alone. This result highlights the need of integrated application of phosphorus fertilizer along with organics and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria in black calcareous soil for sustainable production of blackgram.

The Effect of Urea Dosage Levels on Vegetative Growth of Some Clones Robusta Coffee (Coffea Canephora)

Coffee plants are one of the important commodities that have a fairly high selling value. Indonesia is one of the largest coffee producing countries in the world with a production of approximately 600,000 tons per year. The application of inorganic (chemical) fertilizers is very important if coffee plants are cultivated on soils that naturally have low fertility. In addition to the level of soil fertility as well, the purity of the planting material must be known from its origin. Because to get optimal results, a superior type or clone of coffee is also needed. This research was conducted at the Lampung State Polytechnic Plantation Plant Entres Garden which is located in Hajimena Village, Natar District, South Lampung Regency with a garden height of 118 m above sea level. This research was carried out in June-October 2021. This study was compiled using a Split Plot Design. Coffee clones were assigned to the main plot and the urea fertilizer dose factor was assigned to subplots. Observational data that has been obtained will be analyzed using analysis of variance (F test) at the 5% level. If there is a significant difference (F count > F table 5%), it will be continued with the Least Significant Difference (LSD) follow-up test with a level of 5%. Based on the results and discussions that have been obtained, it shows that the administration of urea to several Robusta coffee clones gave a significant interaction with the parameters of plant height and stem diameter and clones BP 358 with urea doses of 15 and 20 g gave the best growth compared to other clones.

Linking Soil Microbial Diversity to Modern Agriculture Practices: A Review.

Agriculture is a multifarious interface between plants and associated microorganisms. In contemporary agriculture, emphasis is being given to environmentally friendly approaches, particularly in developing countries, to enhance sustainability of the system with the least negative effects on produce quality and quantity. Modern agricultural practices such as extensive tillage, the use of harmful agrochemicals, mono-cropping, etc. have been found to influence soil microbial community structure and soil sustainability. On the other hand, the question of feeding the ever-growing global population while ensuring system sustainability largely remains unanswered. Agriculturally important microorganisms are envisaged to play important roles in various measures to raise a healthy and remunerative crop, including integrated nutrient management, as well as disease and pest management to cut down agrochemicals without compromising the agricultural production. These beneficial microorganisms seem to have every potential to provide an alternative opportunity to overcome the ill effects of various components of traditional agriculture being practiced by and large. Despite an increased awareness of the importance of organically produced food, farmers in developing countries still tend to apply inorganic chemical fertilizers and toxic chemical pesticides beyond the recommended doses. Nutrient uptake enhancement, biocontrol of pests and diseases using microbial inoculants may replace/reduce agrochemicals in agricultural production system. The present review aims to examine and discuss the shift in microbial population structure due to current agricultural practices and focuses on the development of a sustainable agricultural system employing the tremendous untapped potential of the microbial world.

Bacillus cereus Improves Performance of Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconut Palms Seedlings With Reduced Chemical Fertilization.

Coconut production in the Amazon requires the knowledge and development of sustainable technologies to alleviate the detrimental effects of inorganic chemical fertilizers and intensive farming practices. In this study, we investigated the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from coconut seedlings on nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and physiological mechanisms related to biomass accumulation of seedlings grown with reduced inorganic fertilizer levels. Of the 96 PGPR isolates tested on rice plants, the isolate Bacillus cereus (UFRABC40) was selected, as it resulted in the most significant gain in growth variables. In a commercial coconut tree nursery, we subjected seedlings to two treatments, both with seven replications: control 100% NPK chemical fertilizer (CF) and B. cereus + 50% NPK CF. The results indicated that the inoculation increased phytohormone levels [190% indole acetic acid (IAA), 31% gibberellic acid GA3, and 17% gibberellic acid GA4] and leaf gas exchange [48% by assimilation of CO2 (A), 35% stomatal conductance to water vapor (gs), 33% transpiration, and 57% instantaneous carboxylation efficiency] in leaves. Furthermore, growth parameters (shoot, root, and total dry weight, height, and diameter) and macro- and micronutrient levels (95% N, 44% P, 92% K, 103 Ca, 46% Fe, 84% B) were improved. Our results show the potential ability of strain Bacillus cereus UFRABC40 to promote the growth performance of coconut seedlings under decreased application of inorganic fertilizers. The application of microbial-based products in coconut seedling production systems improves plants’ physiological performance and the efficiency of nutrient use.

Studies on the effect of PGPR on the growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) var. PKM-1

Tomato is one of the most popular and widely grown vegetables in the world, ranking second importance next to potato in many countries. Due to the high usage of N and P inorganic chemical fertilizers in agriculture leads to pollution, acidification of soils and emission of greenhouse gases cause economic and environmental losses. In the present study, isolation and characterization of rhizobacteria such as Pseudomonas sp., Azospirillum sp. and Azotobacter sp. were exanimated from different soils of Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The effect of eight combination treatments of biofertilizers were tested on tomato plant growth and development in pot culture. The results, Pseudomonas sp. was found as highest colony forming unit (6.5×106/g) in Sivapuri village followed by Azotobacter (5.1×106/g) and Azospirillum sp. (4.3×105/g). The highest plant height at different days (25, 50, 75 and 100th) was found (22.34 cm, 41.71 cm, 65.27 cm and 85.36 cm) with the combination of treatment T8 (Ps+Azo+Azs) and the highest number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and yield were found in the treatment T8 (Ps+Azo+Azs) such as 26 (fruits/plant), fruit weight 40.95 (g/fruit) and yield 1040 (g/plant). All the results were found highest compared with control.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture

The world vision of no hunger target, food security, and zero poverty followed by raising standards of living of rural people through agricultural transformation is the greatest challenges faced by the agricultural planners worldwide. Due to the alarming state of population growth and cultivable land scarcity, change in agronomic practices which could bring a significant effect on crop production and productivity is urgently needed. The concept of using different sources of plant nutrients combined to check nutrient depletion, maintain soil health, and crop productivity, called INM, has a bright solution in this area. Recently several researchers introduced that integrated use of inorganic fertilizers, organic fertilizers, green manure, and bio-fertilizers is becoming an effective practice not only for increasing crop production and productivity but also for the better crop and soil health. In addition, INM helps to increase the activity of soil microorganisms and improves the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. So, INM create an economic eco-friendly environment by reducing the dependence on inorganic chemical fertilizers and improving the soil fertility, optimizing crop yield, maximizing profitability and ultimately making the agriculture sustainable. Lastly, INM is one of the good agricultural practices which needs to be followed by every conscious individual in order to maintain soil health, nutrient balance and to make the agriculture and environment more sustainable. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 9(3): 160-165

Effect of fertilization on nitrogen losses through surface runoffs in Chinese farmlands: A meta-analysis

Surface runoff is the main cause of farmland nitrogen (N) losses in plain areas, which adversely affect water quality. The impact of fertilization on N runoff loss often varies. A meta-analysis was performed using 245 observations from 31 studies in China, to estimate the response of N loss in both paddy and upland fields subjected to different fertilization strategies, and investigate the link between N runoffs, soil properties, as well as precipitation in the planting season. The results showed that compared to the control (without fertilization), N losses subjected to fertilization increased from 3.31 kg/ha to 10.03 kg/ha and from 3.00 kg/ha to 11.24 kg/ha in paddy and upland fields respectively. Importantly, paddy N loss was significantly correlated with fertilizer type and N application rate (predictors); in upland fields N application rate and seasonal precipitation were the main driving factors. For the N application rate, N loss increased with increase in rates for both paddies and upland fields. Moreover, the N loss from upland fields increased with the precipitation during planting season. Between the three fertilizers used in paddies, the increase in loss of CRF (controlled release fertilizer) or OF (organic fertilizer) was lower than that of CF (inorganic chemical fertilizer) with the lowest value in CRF. Subset analysis showed that the effect of CRF and OF in paddies was not affected by the predictors, revealing the steadily controlling property of CRF and OF in paddies. Also, all the predictors had an insignificant impact to N loss risk in paddies during the high application rate. Overall, the results confirm the importance of N dosage in N runoff loss from farmland. Fertilizer type is a key consideration for N loss control in paddies, while the seasonal precipitation should not be ignored in upland fields.

Unlocking employee’s green behavior in fertilizer industry: the role of green HRM practices and psychological ownership

The engineering of agrochemicals and inorganic fertilizers indirectly facilitates the emissions of NO2 and CO2. The extensive use of pesticides and inorganic chemical fertilizers has drawn the world’s attention to green practices. Grounded on the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, we investigated the effect of green human resource management (GHRM) practices on employees’ green behavior with the mediating role of psychological ownership. We applied the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to 279 responses acquired from the fertilizer manufacturing firm employees. The results show that GHRM practices (green competence building, green motivation enhancing, and green employee involvement practices) significantly improve employee green behavior. Additionally, GHRM practices enhance the sense of ownership of nature among employees due to which they involve themselves proactively in eco-friendly activities and behavior.

Inorganic Chemical Fertilizer Application to Wheat Reduces the Abundance of Putative Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria.

The profound negative effect of inorganic chemical fertilizer application on rhizobacterial diversity has been well documented using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and predictive metagenomics. We aimed to measure the function and relative abundance of readily culturable putative plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) isolates from wheat root soil samples under contrasting inorganic fertilization regimes. We hypothesized that putative PGPR abundance will be reduced in fertilized relative to unfertilized samples. Triticum aestivum cv. Cadenza seeds were sown in a nutrient depleted agricultural soil in pots treated with and without Osmocote® fertilizer containing nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium (NPK). Rhizosphere and rhizoplane samples were collected at flowering stage (10 weeks) and analyzed by culture-independent (CI) amplicon sequence variant (ASV) analysis of rhizobacterial DNA as well as culture-dependent (CD) techniques. Rhizosphere and rhizoplane derived microbiota culture collections were tested for plant growth-promoting traits using functional bioassays. In general, fertilizer addition decreased the proportion of nutrient-solubilizing bacteria (nitrate, phosphate, potassium, iron, and zinc) isolated from rhizocompartments in wheat whereas salt tolerant bacteria were not affected. A “PGPR” database was created from isolate 16S rRNA gene sequences against which total amplified 16S rRNA soil DNA was searched, identifying 1.52% of total community ASVs as culturable PGPR isolates. Bioassays identified a higher proportion of PGPR in non-fertilized samples [rhizosphere (49%) and rhizoplane (91%)] compared to fertilized samples [rhizosphere (21%) and rhizoplane (19%)] which constituted approximately 1.95 and 1.25% in non-fertilized and fertilized total community DNA, respectively. The analyses of 16S rRNA genes and deduced functional profiles provide an in-depth understanding of the responses of bacterial communities to fertilizer; our study suggests that rhizobacteria that potentially benefit plants by mobilizing insoluble nutrients in soil are reduced by chemical fertilizer addition. This knowledge will benefit the development of more targeted biofertilization strategies.

Physical deterioration of soil and rice productivity in rural Java

Soil degradation is one of the world’s most serious ecological and environmental problems affected agricultural productions. The agricultural sector defines land degradation as a process of decreasing land productivity that is temporary or permanent, characterized by a decrease in physical, chemical, and biological properties. This study aims to investigate the impact physical deterioration of which occurs in the form of structure fertilizer application on rice productivity. This study applied Autoregressive model to analyse the primary data collected from 4 main rice producer areas in Central Java and East Java, namely Cilacap, Grobogan, Lamongan and Jember. The results show that previous chemical fertilizer use has negative impacts on rice productivity. Inorganic chemical fertilizers have an important role in increasing productivity, but at the same time the uncontrolled use of it is one of the causes of the decline in the quality of biological, physical, and chemical fertility of the soil.