Kinds Of Fertilizers Research Articles

Effect of electric fertilizer on soil properties

Electric fertilizer, i. e. exerting electric field on plants during growing season instead of chemical fertilizer, is a kind of physical fertilizer, and the third kind of fertilizer with developmental prospect after inorganic fertilizer and organic fertilizer. For the purpose of studying the changes of physical and chemical properties of soil after exerting electric field, five treatments with different applications of chemical fertilizer were arranged on the black soil in Yushu City of Jilin Province by randomized block method, and electric field was exerted on plants every ten days during the growing season. Through sample analysis the paper arrives at following conclusions: 1) Exerting electric field can make soil’s granular structure increase, bulk density decrease, moisture capacity increase, thus improving the perviousness of soil. 2) Exerting electric field can make microorganism’s number increase and activity strengthen, thus activating nutrient and increasing organic matter content. 3) Exerting electric field with 0.1A medium has the best effect. So the chemical fertilizer can be saved. Therefore, we can say that the application of electric fertilizer is favorable for decreasing chemical poison, improving soil, relaxing the contradiction between the supply and demand of chemical fertilizer, and decreasing production cost of agriculture and forestry.

Effect of green manure on the incidence of cyanogenic Pseudomonas strains in hop garden soils.

Incidence of cyanogenic Pseudomonas strains in hop garden soils in relation to the kind of fertilization was studied. Incidence differed with respect to the fertilization treatment and the age of the plantation. Amendment of soil with rye and with white mustard as green manures limited the number of cyanogenic Pseudomonas strains relative to farmyard manures and NPK fertilization. Among all fertilization treatments, cyanogenic Pseudomonas spp. strains had lowest populations in soils amended with white mustard.

Fertilizantes e espaçamento entre plantas na produtividade da couve-da-Malásia

As brássicas têm sido objeto constante de pesquisa devido à sua importância na alimentação humana, seja pela quantidade consumida, pelo alto valor nutricional ou por sua elevada produtividade. Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis foi introduzida no Brasil, Uberlândia, em 1992, destacando-se em relação a outras brássicas por seu alto teor de vitaminas A e C, cálcio e ferro, estando pronta para consumo em aproximadamente 30 dias. A produtividade biológica e agronômica dessa variedade foi analisada utilizando-se três tipos de fertilizantes e três espaçamentos entre plantas, visando subsidiar sua produção em escala comercial. A área foliar, massa da matéria seca e taxa de crescimento absoluto foram significativamente maiores com adubação mineral em relação à adubação orgânica. Os maiores valores referentes à taxa de crescimento relativo e taxa assimilatória líquida foram registrados em plantas mantidas nos maiores espaçamentos (30x20 e 30x30 cm). A maior produtividade agronômica foi alcançada no menor espaçamento (30x10 cm), com adubação mineral, sendo registrados 21,5 t ha-1, valor muito próximo ao registrado na Malásia e China onde essa hortaliça é cultivada em larga escala.

Seasonal variations of phospholipid fatty acid composition in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field under a long-term fertilizer trial

The concentration and composition of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field under a long-term fertilizer trial for more than 70 y [no fertilizers (NoF) plot, chemical fertilizers (CF) plot, chemical fertilizers and composts (CM) plot] were determined. The amount of PLFAs ranged from 2.8 to 14.1 μg L-1 for the NoF plot, from 3.2 to 8.6 μg L-1 for the CF plot, from 4.4 to 13.0 μg L-1 for the CM plot, respectively. Dominant PLFAs in the floodwater were 16: lω7, 16: 0, 18: 1ω7 in all the plots. Straight, mono-unsaturated PLFAs accounted for about 40% of the total, suggesting the predominance of Gram-negative bacteria in the floodwater. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of PLFA composition clearly revealed the variations of microbiota in the floodwater with the kinds of fertilizer and the growth stages of rice plants. An indicator of the environmental stress imposed upon microbiota expressed by the trans vs. cis ratio of 16: 1ω7 was consistently low, indicating that the floodwater environment was a low-stress environment upon the microbiota.

Influence of humic extracts on germination and growth of ryegrass

The object of this work was to study the influence of humic extracts prepared from peat, sheep manure, and compost from municipal solid waste on germination and growth of ryegrass. Germination tests, using different concentrations of humic extracts, showed that doses higher than 20% (v/v) inhibited seed germination. Therefore, doses of 20 and 10% were used in a first growth experiment, using a control consisting of a complete nutrient solution. A 20% dose caused adverse effects on plant growth. Hence, doses of 10 and 5% were used in the next growth experiments. Also, plants were watered with the extracts or with the nutrient solution (control) and with distilled water alternately in the next experiments. After the first cut of the ryegrass, sixteen days after the sowing, the watering was implemented only with distilled water in order to assess the residual effects of the different fertilizers. A second cut was performed thirty six days after the sowing. The harvested ryegrass was analyzed for: a) fresh weight; b) dry matter; c) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents; d) chlorophylls; and e) carotenoids. The data show that the best effects were achieved with sheep manure extracts, followed by compost and peat. Differences among the three kinds of fertilizers were more remarkable than those between the two doses of the same fertilizer.

Nitrogen transformations in tropical soils under conventional and sustainable farming systems

Samples of alluvial soil from mixed sandstone shale and slate and of Taiwan clay were collected from two sites, both managed under a similar crop rotation scheme. The fields were further divided into sections which were managed under either conventional farming or sustainable farming practices. When the soil samples were collected in April 1989, after 1 year of operation under conventional or sustainable practices, the nitrification activities of both soils managed under sustainable practices practices. The nitrifying activities in Taiwan clay samples collected in April 1993 which had been managed with chemical or with organic fertilizer were not significantly different. However, nitrifying activity in the alluvial soil was higher under sustainable than under conventional practices. Numbers of NH4+-oxidizing bacteria were not significantly different in any of the soil samples irrespective of the different management practices. In contrast, higher numbers of NO2--oxidizing bacteria were detected in both soils managed sustainably. The results also indicated that the composition of NH4+-oxidizing bacteria differed in the alluvial soil when managed with different kinds of fertilizer.

The Effect of ≪Acid Rains≫ and Mineral Fertilization on the Development of Biometrical Features of Fagus sylvatica L. Seedlings

The purpose of the present experiment was to describe the influence of various methods of mineral fertilization: NK into leaves (Florovit), NPK onto soil (Fruktus 2) and liming (dolomite magnesium) on the development of Fagus sylvatica L. seedlings subject to the influence of simulated acid rains of pH 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5. As a result of the carried out analysis of the correlation coefficient a reciprocal high correlation was found between particular parameters of growth of Fagus sylvatica L. seedlings i.e. of the diameter of root nect, root mass, total mass of: seedlings, leaves, main shoots, lateral shoots, ligneous parts, overground parts, as well as of total length of lateral shoots. Whereas no high correlation was observed between the above mentioned parameters and a total heigth of the seedling. The obtained results of the analysis of changes in biometric characteristics of Fagus sylvatica L. seedlings showed, that the best development was achieved at pH 4.5, whereas their weakest development was observed at 2.5. The analysis showed the decrease in values of analysed characteristic together with the increase in acidity of aqueous solutions. The first and second and third year of the experiment for Fagus sylvatica L. showed that kind of fertilization did not effect positively the increase in values of the analyzed biometrical feature-total height of seedling comparing with those of control plots. The significant improvement of total height of seedling was noticed on control plot with pH 3.5 in relation to pH 2.5 on control plot in first year. The best increment of total height of seedling was noticed for pH 3.5 for each year. The third year of the experiment showed that using fertilization: CaMg onto soil, NK into leaves and NPK onto soil it is possible to restrict the unfavourable influence of ≪acid rains≫ on total mass of Fagus sylvatica L. seedling. The best significant increment of this biometrical feature was observed on pH 4.0. When one wants to restrict the unfavourable influence of ≪acid rains≫ on analyzed total mass of seedlings within pH 2.5-4.5 it is possible to choose optimaly one from three applied fertilizing variants.

Uptake and use patterns of nitrogen from urea, oxamide, and isobutylidene diurea by rice plants

Two15N-labelled slow-release nitrogen (N) sources, oxamide and isobutylidene diurea (IBDU), each at two particle sizes, and15N-labelled urea were compared at two rates as sources of N for rice (Oryza sativa) under two watering regimes which simulated a transplant (continuous flood, CF) and a direct-seeded (A/F) system of paddy rice culture. Highest grain yields were obtained from −8+10-mesh oxamide particles applied at the rate of 2,000 mg of N/5 kg of soil, CF series; this yield was slightly higher than that obtained from −3+4-mesh oxamide, A/F series. Incubating the N fertilizers in moist (22% water) soil for 21 days immediately before flooding and transplanting rice greatly reduced N supply because of nitrification during the preflood period, followed by denitrification after flooding. This resulted in less plant uptake of N and less grain yield from urea, fine oxamide and IBDU, A/F series. For coarse oxamide, N release during the preflood period resulted in higher N uptake and grain yield in the A/F rather than in the corresponding CF series. The pattern of fertilizer N uptake by rice plants was affected by kind of fertilizer, particle size of oxamide and IBDU, and watering regime. Uptake of fertilizer N generally paralleled uptake of soil N throughout the growth period. Plant tops continued to accumulate some N during the period of grain filling, but much of the N in plant tops was translocated to the grain after heading. There was a large decrease in dry weight, N content, and15N content of tops after heading. Root weight and N content increased rapidly at first, and then at a diminishing rate until maturity. Unexplained N deficits occurred in the CF series (14–23% of the N applied, depending on N rate and source), and in the A/F series for IBDU (37–43% of the N applied).

Direct Inference and Randomization

R.A. Fisher began defending the use of randomized assignments of treatments to plots in agricultural field experiments in 1926 (Fisher 1926). His claims on behalf of randomization were challenged by many other statisticians including his friend and colleague W.S. Gosset, the celebrated “Student” (Gosset 1937). After Gosset's death, Fisher's insistence upon the critical importance of randomization to good experimental design became a cornerstone of methodological orthodoxy, a status it has continued to enjoy until recent years. Even so, an undercurrent of resistance to some of the more excessive claims on behalf of randomization has continued to influence thoughtful statisticians and methodologists.Fisher's rationale for. randomization was grounded on the need to control or eliminate systematic error or bias. For example, the average yield of wheat on plots treated with one kind of fertilizer may be compared with the average yield of wheat of the same variety on plots treated with another kind of fertilizer.

Economics of hybrid maize production in some selected areas of Bangladesh

The present study is an attempt to assess the existing agronomic practices of hybrid maize cultivation, its profitability, constraints, and factors affecting hybrid maize production. The majority of the total farmers sowed seeds during the first week of December. The average seed rate was found to be 20.94 kg per hectare. About 16 varieties were found to cultivate by farmers, of which majority farmers used NK-40 followed by Pacific-II. All kinds of fertilizer used by the farmers were below the optimum level of recommendation. About 33 and 28 percent of the total variable cost was for human labour and chemical fertilizer, respectively. The average yield of hybrid maize was found higher than the national average. The average gross margin was observed to be Tk. 28456 on total variable cost basis. The cost per kilogram of maize cultivation was Tk. 4.12 and return from one kilogram of maize production was Tk. 7.80. It is found that the coefficient of human labour, land preparation, irrigation, urea and borax have significantly impact on gross return. Timely non-availability of seeds, high price of fertilizer, and low price of yield were the major problems for hybrid maize production. Farmers cultivated hybrid maize because of higher yield, higher income, and easy growing. Keywords: Gross return; gross margin; profitability. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i1.5869Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(1) : 83-93, March 2010

The effects of planting media and leaf fertilizers on the growth of jamrud orchid (Dendrobium macrophyllum A. Rich.)

Jamrud orchid (Dendrobium macrophyllum A. Rich.) have attractive flowers which make the orchid become one of high economic ornamental plants. The orchid is one of endangered species. Its growth is slow, however appropriate planting media and leaf fertilizers can improve the growth of the orchid. The experiment was conducted from February to June 2003, at “Eka Karya” Bali Botanic Garden. The design used in the experiment was completely randomized block with two treatments and four replicates. The first factor were six kinds of planting medias (roots of C. contaminans, roots of Asplenium nidus, charcoal, roots of C. contaminans+roots of A. nidus, roots of C. contaminans+charcoal and roots of A. nidus+charcoal). The second factor were four kinds of fertilizers (plant catalyst, super bionik, inabio and subur inti persada) and one treatment without fertilizer. The results of experiment showed that the interaction between planting medias and leaf fertilizers significantly affected increment of plant height at 12, 14, 16 and 18 weeks after planting, of leaf number at 14, 16 and 18 weeks after planting, of root length, of plant fresh weight and oven dry weight. Treatment of C. contaminans roots and of A. nidus roots combined with inabio fertilizer produced the highest vegetative growth. This treatment increased the total oven dry weight of plant (54.81%), increased the weight of plant (67.48%), of root length (41.63%), of total leaf number (70.73%), of plant height (59.01%) and bud number (72.22%) compared with treatment without fertilizer in the same media. © 2006 Jurusan Biologi FMIPA UNS SurakartaKey words: planting media, leaf fertilizers, growth, Dendrobium macrophyllum A.Rich.

Studies on the Relation between the Tolerance of Crops to Soil Acidity and That to Low pH : (14) The effects of fertilization on acidic soils with different pH values

Soils with different degrees of acidity were prepared by adding varying amounts of lime to "Kuroboku" (volcanic ash soil rich in humus). The effects of different kinds of fertilizers on the growth of Italian ryegrass and milk vetch on these acidic soils were compared. Test plots established for this experiment were: standard, calcium cyanamide, phosphate deficient, potassium deficient and magnesium deficient ones. The test results are summarized as follows: (1) As the rate of germination of milk vetch showed a close correlation with the early-or late-start in germination of seeds and the plant growth in the early stage, such factors as soil acidity and kinds of fertilizers which have bearings on the plant growth are thought to have acted from the start in germination of seeds. However, th toxic effect of calcium cyanamide on milk vetch was greater in times of germination of seeds than in the early plant growth stage. In cace of Italian ryegrass, it showed little correlation between the rate of germination of seeds and the plant growth in the early stage. (2) In both cases of milk vetch and Italian ryegrass, the plant growth in the early stage showed a high correlation with the yields, but it showed poorer plant growth in the later stage of milk vetch in the cases of strongly and weakly acidic plots. (3) Marked decreases in Y1 and activated aluminum were caused by the changes in soil pH. Namely, within the range of the pH (KCl) from 4.2 to 4.5, it showed great increases in the crop yields by the additional application of lime. Within the range of pH from 4.5 to 6.5, however, the yields of Italian ryegrass showed increases little by little by the liming, while the yield of milk vetch resulted is decreases. (4) Within the range of soil pH hi gher than 4.5, in the case of Italian ryegrass, the fertilizer effects of applications of phosphate, potassium and magnesium were greater than the raise in soil pH, and the applications of these fertilizers of optimum concentration gave particularly marked effects on the yield of milk vetch. (5) When calcium superphosphate was applied according to the conventional method to the layer at 5 cm under soil surface of strongly acidic soil (calcium- and phosphate- deficient soil), it showed greater effect by the deficiency in calcium than in phosphate.

Studies on the Effect of Fertilizer Placement upon the Growth of Some Upland Crops (Part 5) : The Effects of levels and Placements of Six Kinds of Fertilizer on the Root Development

Studies on the Effect of Fertilizer Placement upon the Growth of Some Upland Crops (Part 5) : The Effects of levels and Placements of Six Kinds of Fertilizer on the Root Development

Studies on the nitrification in soil, with special reference to the population of nitrifier

Abstract It is very important for the management of soil to Control the rate of nitrification of applied nitrogenous fertilizers. Although there have been a few papers1)2)3) on the nitrification of various nitrogenous fertilizers, it seems that since the Practical use of new kinds of fertilizer such as urea, anhydrous ammonia, or ammonium chloride, the relationship between the rate of nitrification and the kinds of nitrogenous fertilizer has especially been noticed. Not a few comparative studies have recently been made among soils as well as among nitrogenous fertilizer in Japan. But as stated in part 1, very few studies4)5)6) have been conducted concerning the population of nitrifiers.

Studies on the Utilization of Bentonite on Crop Cultivation : (1) On the Growth of Crops supplied with Bentonite : (2) On the Swelling of Bentonito affected by Solutions of Different Commercial Fertilizers.

From the results of experiment, it may be concluded that the effect of Bentonite on the growth and yield of crop varies with the menthods of applying to the soil. Also it may be presumed that the action of Bentonite depends on both its base exchange capacity and the density and kind of fertilizers used.

Fertilizer Supplies in 1946-1947

THE slogan Food Will Win the War first stirred the patriotism of the American farmer to raise all the food crops his acres could grow. Increasing prices for his crops, not only food crops but feed and fiber crops as well, gave him added incentive to make every acre produce high yields. Farmers accustomed to the use of fertilizers knew full well that highest yields could be obtained only if the maximum amount of the right kind of fertilizer was used. They also knew that they had received in additional crop returns several dollars for each dollar spent for fertilizer. Under such a setup, of course, the use of fertilizer increased in the older consuming areas. Those responsible for obtaining the maximum amount of food production turned their eyes also toward those areas of food production where the use of commercial fertilizers was not the common practice—those areas, for instance, ...

Damages to Rice Crops Caused by a Wind Storm, with Special Reference to a Typhoon that Visited Kansai District, Japan. Part I.Damages to Rice Crops Caused by a Wind Storm, with Special Reference to a Typhoon that Visited Kansai District, Japan. Part III. Effect of Silica on the Damage Caused by a Violent Wind on Rice Grains during their Development

It is interesting to note that investigations conducted at the Agricultural Experiment Station of Aichi Prefecture in connection with the problem of the Effects of continuous manuring on soil fertility, the rice grains on plants supplied with compost suffered less damage from violent wind than plants fed with other kinds of fertilizers (Table 1, Fig. 1). This report deals with the factors that led to the reduction in damage in fields where compost fertilizing was in vogue, the results being briefly summarized as follows:- (1) It was observed that fungi were playng a more important role in the mechanism of such damage than frictional injuries to the grains. Sixteen species of saprophytes and parasites were isolated from the damaged grains. It is believed that wind damage is caused by friction of the wind and impact, associated with accelerated evaporation and dehydration. These are the primary mechanical injuries to the plant and grain, followed by invasions of various kinds of fungi, thus increasing the damage. (2) It was further observed that continuous application of compost helped tissue development and the mechanical building up of the rice plant body. In the epidermal tissue, compost fertilizing promoted the development of silicated cells (Fig. 3), thus almost doubling the analytical quantity of the silica content in the plant compared with those from fields in which compost fertilizing was not used (Table 2). Moreover, it was found that silica generally excites the various physiological activities of the rice plant. (3) Since many of the pathogenetic fungi on rice plant are of the cuticular infecting type, silicification of the epidermal tissues is especially advantageous as protection against fungal invasion. (4) It is thus concluded that rice plants supplied with silica (i. e. compost) suffer less from wind damage, owing not only to its physiologically healthy conditions of growth, but also because of its mechanically resistant construction against penetration and multiplication of infections fungi.

The influence of acid-forming and non-acid-forming fertilizer on the development of potato scab

These data demonstrate that it was necessary to study the reaction of the soil in the vicinity of the potato sample in order to determine the relation of the pH to the development of scab. The soil reaction data for the small areas corresponding to the potato samples indicate that scab did not develop at pH 4.8 or lower with either acid-forming or non-acid-forming fertilizer, but that it increased progressively in amount and severity as the reaction became less acid. There was no correlation between scab infection and the kind of fertilizer used. The scab index was slightly higher in the non-acid-forming fertilizer than in the acid-forming fertilizer plats between pH 5.05 and 5.35, but it was much higher in the acid-forming fertilizer plats at 4.85–5.05 and at 5.4–5.65. In view of these results it may be concluded that the occurrence and severity of scab are correlated with the soil reaction and that they are influenced by the type of fertilizer only to the extent that the fertilizer changes the soil reaction. Since scab is able to develop between pH 4.85 and 5.0 but not at more acid reactions it will be advisable in the future for this Station to recommend soil treatment to adjust the reaction to approximately 4.8 instead of 5.0 and then use non-acid-forming fertilizers to avoid making the soil more acid. Data obtained in the liming experiment at Onley, Virginia (I) indicate that there is very little difference in yield at soil reactions between pH 4.8 and 5.0. The use of acid-forming fertilizers may be advisable on soils where scab has been prevalent in sufficient amount to materially injure the quality of the crop, but their use will not prevent scab until they have lowered the reaction of the soil to at least pH 4.8.

THE ADAPTATION OF CERTAIN COLORIMETRIC METHODS TO THE ESTIMATION OF NITRATES, PHOSPHATES AND POTASSIUM IN PLANT SOLUTIONS

The determination of the fertilizer requirements of individual crops has furnished a fertile field of investigation, and although many contributions have been made, much still remains to be accomplished before rational methods of fertilizer applications may be relied upon to produce normal crops. In the past the physiological chemist has attacked this problem chiefly from two angles. He has investigated the content and availability of the nutrient elements in the soil, and he has determined the total content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium occurring within the plant. Both of these methods have failed to furnish a satisfactory basis for determining the mineral nutrient needs of plants. We cannot satisfactorily determine the quantity and kind of amendments needed on any given plot of land by making a soil analysis ; neither can we tell by an analysis of the plants grown on the soil the amount and kind of fertilizer that should be added. This is no doubt due to the very large number of factors involved in crop production, especially with reference to the relationship between the plant and the soil in which it grows. In this paper, work carried on during 1925-1926 is summarized, and a different mode of attack is suggested, which may prove helpful. Quite aside from the practical applications of this work, it is believed that other workers may find the methods here developed useful in studies of mineral nutrient metabolism.

Scientific Nutrition and the Farm Output

Improvements in agriculture began with the improvement through selection of the wild ancestors of our cultivated plants. This process is still going on. Agriculture was greatly advanced through the invention of effective farm implements. Chemistry has contributed a knowledge of the nature of the soil and the composition of the plant sufficiently complete to give us an understanding of the nature and kinds of fertilization which promote plant growth and prevent soil exhaustion. The efficiency of the farmer has been advanced through the development of special varieties of crops suitable for particular types of soil and climate. Improved transportation has extended the range of profitable agriculture. Up to the present time, however, the farmer has been essentially ignorant of the principles underlying the effective use of the products which he has produced, either in the feeding of his children or his animals. The science of nutrition is not yet mature, and so it is not possible to predict with any degree.of certainty how effective an aid it may become for the advancement of human health and happiness, or for promoting the economic welfare of the nation. It is certain, however, that we are now in a position to avoid some of the more important mistakes which have been made in the past by no small proportion of even fairly successful farmers. The writer well remembers several occasions in his boyhood on a farm in eastern Kansas, when a hundred or more pigs were converted into unprofitable runts by being kept in a dry lot and fed for a time solely upon corn. No better example of the denseness of ignorance of even the simplest principles of feeding can be given than to point out that fifteen years ago no one seems to have been aware that a hog could not grow if fed all it wanted of one of our common cereal grains.