Addition Of Mineral Fertilizer Research Articles

Nutrient addition alters plant community productivity but not the species diversity of a mountain meadow in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan is a typical mountainous country covered by different mountain grasslands that are important pasture resources. Recently, grassland degradation has become widespread due to climate change and human activities and fertilization has been used to improve grassland production. However, fertilizer inputs can substantially alter species diversity, but it is uncl\ear how productivity and species diversity respond to nutrient enrichment in the mountain meadows of Tajikistan. Therefore, a 5-year (2018-2022) continuous in-situ mineral fertilizer experiment was conducted to examine the effects of three nitrogen (N) levels (0, 30, and 90kg N ha-1 year-1), two phosphorus (P) levels (0 and 30kg P ha-1 year-1), and their combinations on above-ground biomass (AGB) and species diversity in a mountain meadow grassland in Ziddi, Varzob region, Tajikistan. Five species diversity metrics-Margalef's species richness (Dma), the Shannon-Wiener index (H), the Simpson index (C), Pielou's equitability index (Epi), and the Evar Species Evenness index (Evar)-were used to measure species diversity. The results indicated that the addition of different N and P amounts and their various combinations considerably increased both total and dominant species AGB, with the highest increase occurring in the N90P30 (90kg N ha-1 year-1 combined with 30kg P ha-1 year-1) treatment in 2022; during the experiment, the importance value of Prangos pabularia (dominant species) first decreased and then increased, but its dominant status did not change or fluctuate among the years. Furthermore, N, P, and their different combinations had no significant effect on species diversity (Dma, H, C, Epi, and Evar). All the species diversity indexes fluctuated among years, but there was no interaction with mineral fertilizer addition. Total AGB had a negative relationship with species diversity and low concentration N fertilizer addition (N30; P30) strengthened this negative trend. However, this trend decreased under the high N fertilizer condition (N90P30). Overall, nutrient addition to the natural mountain grassland of the Varzob region improved AGB, which meant that there was more forage for local animals. Mineral fertilizers had no significant effect on species diversity, but may enhance P. pabularia dominance in the future, which will help maintain the stability of the plant community and improve the quality of the forage because P. pabularia is an excellent and important winter fodder. Our study suggests that scientific nutrient management could effectively promote grassland production, conserve plant variety, and regenerate degraded grassland, which will counteract the desertification process in northwest Tajikistan mountain meadows.

Effect of Zeolite, Poultry Manure and Mineral Fertilizers in Availability of NPK in Calcareous Soil

This experiment was conducted in one of fields belong to College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences / University of Baghdad–Station Research (F) in Jadriya. To find out effect of natural zeolite, organic fertilizer (poultry manure) and mineral fertilizers and their interactions on some soil characteristics in “Dounia” cabbage, a field experiment was carried out in fall season 2021. Treatments were replicated three times at factorial design in a RCBD. Factors of study experiment included addition of three levels of natural zeolite (without addition (Z0), 5 μg.ha-1 (Z5), and 10 μg.ha-1 (Z10), while poultry manure was added with three levels; without addition (O0), 5 μg.ha-1 (O5), and 10 μg.ha-1 (O10), As for mineral fertilizer treatments, they were added in three levels (50%, 75%, and 100% of complete fertilizer recommendation), which were 100 kg H-1 N, 150 kg H-1 P, and 150 kg H-1 K, which are denoted by symbols M50, M75, and M100, respectively. The experimental results showed that natural zeolite at 10 μg.ha-1 (Z10) significantly increased in in N, P, and K in soil after plant harvesting crop, which amounted to 42.72 mg N kg-1 soil, 20.23 mg P kg-1 soil, and 201.05 mg K kg-1 soil, respectively. Results also shows that poultry manure at 10 μg.ha-1 (O10) superiority of control treatment and gave highest N, P, and K in soil after plant harvesting, which amounted to 44.77 mg N kg-1 soil, 21.66 mg P kg-1 soil, and 207.38 mg K kg-1 soil, respectively. As for addition of mineral fertilizers, addition at 100% of complete fertilizer recommendation (M100) superiority of M50 and gave highest N, P, and K in soil after plant harvesting, which amounted to 38.96 mg N kg-1 soil, 18.88 mg P kg-1 soil, and 191.57 mg K kg-1 soil, respectively. Twice and triple interactions between the study factors significantly affected in availability of nitrogen, phosphor and potassium.

Effect of Adding Levels of Palm Fronds Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Fertile Soil Characteristics, Quality, and Productivity of Maize Yield (Zea Mays L.)

An experiment was carried out in one of the fields of the Soil Research Department - Agricultural Research Department/Ministry of Agriculture in the Abu Ghraib district at latitude 33° 17" 31 N and longitude 44° 03" 56 E and 35 m above sea level. This field study was conducted in the autumn season 2021-2022 for the cultivation of yellow maize ( Maha cultivar) in sedimentary soil with silty clay loam texture, with a Split Plot Design. The treatments were distributed using the RCBD for three replicates with two factors. The first factor represents the main plots that include the addition of mineral fertilizer 120, 80, and 320 kg.ha-1 for each of (N, P, and K), respectively, at three levels (0, 50, and 100%) of the fertilizer recommendation. On the other hand, the second factor was a subplot of organic fertilizer (palm frond compost) at three levels (0, 5, and 10) μg.ha-1 . Soil samples were taken to estimate the availability of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, where the total yield and percentage of protein for yellow maize were estimated. The results showed that adding organic fertilizers (palm fronds) with the levels of mineral fertilizers increased the availability of nutrients and the yield of maize. Accordingly, the treatment O2M2 achieved the highest values of nutrient availability, quantity, and quality of yield, reaching (59.167, 33.407, and 257.967) mg.kg-1 soil and (10,096) μg.ha-1 and (9.435%) for each of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, yield, and protein percentage, respectively. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the treatments of O1M2 and O2M1 in the amount of yield and the percentage of protein, which gave the values of 8.403 and 8.134 μg.ha-1, respectively, and the protein percentage of 8.630 and 8.915% respectively. It can be concluded that organic fertilizers can be added to compensate for mineral fertilizers, reduce environmental pollution, and reduce the economic cost and soil preservation because organic fertilizers are considered safe and environmentally friendly. Keywords: yellow maize, mineral fertilizer, palm fronds compost.

Pre-activated biochar by fertilizers mitigates nutrient leaching and stimulates soil microbial activity

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that the targeted application of biochars in agricultural soils may benefit soil health and crop production. Physico-chemical properties of soils after biochar addition have been explored, but less is known about how microbial parameters respond. Therefore, impact of biochar (NB), mineral fertilizer-activated biochar (AB), or mineral fertilizer (MF) application on selected chemical and microbial parameters of lettuce-planted soil was evaluated in a pot experiment.ResultsIn comparison to the control, soil enzymes activities, related to carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycling, and their content in plant biomass, were significantly increased by the addition of mineral fertilizer with or without biochar (MF, NB + MF). Conversely, microbial respiration (basal and substrate induced) was highly responsive to the activated biochar amendment (AB) as compared to other treatments. N, P, and potassium (K) concentrations in soil pore water were stabilized by the mineral fertilizer-activated biochar, indicating reduced leaching and the likelihood of increased longevity of these nutrients in soils. Enhanced carbon acquisition and mitigated nitrogen acquisition in soil of the most experimental treatments were coupled with higher crop (lettuce) biomass.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that the application of biochar both with and without mineral fertilizer has the potential to enhance microbial activity and fertility in the tested agricultural soil, but that leaching of fertilizer-borne nutrients may be mitigated by the activation process.Graphical

Immobilization of Cr3+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ added to calcareous soil amended with composted agro-industrial residues

The bioavailability of trace metals in soils poses a major threat to the environment, especially with massive mineral fertilizers added to increase plant yield. A plot experiment was conducted for the effectiveness evaluation of compost and vermicompost, recycled from agro-industrial wastes, in immobilizing chromium, cadmium, and lead added to calcareous soil (artificially contaminated). Moreover, immobilization efficiency was compared to the natural occurrence of these metals in the soil without metal addition (uncontaminated soil). In both soils, amendments and mineral fertilizers were applied at three different levels alone and combined to each other. The experimental design was arranged in factorial complete randomized blocks using contamination, organic and mineral fertilizer levels, and their combination as categorical factors. The distribution of metal fractions and their bioavailability in soils and bioaccumulation in wheat grains were evaluated. Soil alkalinity, the contents of soil organic carbon and nitrogen, available phosphorus, and soil micronutrients were significantly improved under vermicompost and compost compared to mineral fertilizer and control. Vermicompost was more effective than compost in reducing metals bioavailability in contaminated soils by increasing the immobilized organic fractions, but it regressed when combined with mineral fertilizers. The bioavailability of the naturally occurring metal levels in uncontaminated soil did not change significantly compared to contaminated soil. Likewise, wheat yield, plant biomass, and nutrient enrichment in wheat grains improved due to enhanced soil nutrient availability. These composted agro-industrial residues, by-products from food industries, can be classified as environmentally-friendly soil amendments for their great potential to enrich soil nutrients, reduce mineral fertilizer addition, enhance plant growth, and stabilize Cr, Cd, and Pb in contaminated calcareous soils under wheat plants.

Grass sward cover improves soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a vineyard

ABSTRACT Historical depletion of agricultural soils must be remedied to maintain their long-term food production function, including soils in intensive vineyards traditionally kept without plant cover to limit resource competition. This paper reports on the impact of five contrasting soil management regimes on indicators of soil quality such as soil organic carbon, nitrogen and their indices. We exposed sandy loam Rendzic Leptosol under a vineyard in Nitra-Dražovce (Slovakia, central Europe) to the following five treatments for 14 years: no-till sward, no-till sward+NPK100, no-till sward+NPK125, plowed tillage and (5) plowed tillage+manure. We found that grass swards continuously increased the total soil organic carbon in the topsoil, but plowed tillage resulted in no change. The availability of potentially mineralizable nitrogen was also increased by grass cover; but was not modified by manure but by mineral fertilizer addition. We tested the usefulness of carbon and management indices as indicators of changing soil C and N status and found them no better than tracking total and labile forms of both elements. In conclusion, the recovery of degraded vineyard soils under no-till grass sward cover is detectable within 14 years and is not affected by fertilization or manure addition.

Response of rice yield to organic amendments was regulated by soil chemical properties, microbial functional genes and bacterial community rather than fungal community

Integrated fertilization using mineral fertilizer and organic amendments is common practices for sustainable crop production. However, the impacts of different organic amendments on soil chemical properties, function genes, and microbial community, as well as their contribution to rice yield have not been well illustrated. In this study, soil chemical properties, microbial diversity, community structure and stability, and functional genes were evaluated after 10 years of fertilization. Compared with the mineral fertilizer regime, the integrated addition of mineral fertilizer and organic amendments improved soil fertility and increased the grain yield by 0.32 %–11.45 %, in terms of five-year average yield. Bacterial diversity and microbial community stability were significantly improved by organic amendments (p < 0.05). Additionally, organic amendments significantly reshaped the microbial community and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and fungi, as well as suppressed the growth of plant pathogenic fungi (p < 0.05). Besides, multiple functional genes were upregulated by organic amendments, and had significant relationships with grain yield. Soil chemical properties explained most of the variation in grain yield. PLS-PM result further revealed that functional genes and bacterial community (diversity, composition, and stability), rather than fungal community, which were positively affected by fertilization and soil chemical properties, had a strong influence on grain yield. Overall, organic amendments strongly improved soil chemical properties and function and regulated bacterial community, thus enhancing rice yield.

Effect of Agricultural Polymer and Levels of NPK on some Chemical Traits and Availability of some Nutrients, Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at the field of Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture College, Al-Muthanna University, to study the effect of agricultural polymer and levels of NPK on some chemical traits, the availability of some nutrients, growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), during the agricultural season 2022-2021, by two-factor RCBD experiment with a split-cut design and with three replicates. The experiment included four levels of agricultural polymer (P), occupied sub-plot, mixed with soil at levels 0, 37.5, 75.0 and 112.5) kg polymer ha-1 and its symbols P0, P1, P2 and P3, respectively, with five levels of NPK at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the fertilizer recommendation, their symbols F0, F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively, which occupied the main plot. The results of the statistical analysis summarized that adding different levels of agricultural polymer led to an increase in the characteristics of the plant, the level P3 (112.5) kg polymer ha-1 was superior in plant height, biological yield and grain yield of the wheat plant. The addition of mineral fertilizer at 75% of the recommendation F3 and 100% of the recommendation F4, without significant difference, affected some other growth characteristics of the wheat plant. The binary interaction between the levels of agricultural polymer and the levels of NPK significantly affected all the studied traits.

Differences in cover crop contributions to phosphorus uptake by ryegrass in two soils with low and moderate P status

Growing evidence has emerged that cover crops may be able to improve phosphorus (P) cycling and contribute to the P nutrition of the subsequent crop. This could be particularly important in farming systems, with limited access to inputs and where low soil P availability has been identified. In a pot experiment using soils labelled with radioactive 33P, we examined how a range of cover crop residues directly contribute to P uptake of ryegrass, as well as how they affect P uptake of ryegrass from the soil P pool. Two soils with a low and a moderate P status (6.3 and 15.3 mg Olsen-P kg−1 soil) were chosen for the pot experiment as models for soils that are gradually becoming depleted in available P.Residues from five cover crop species (buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.), garden sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.), white lupine (Lupinus albus L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)) showed a wide species-dependent variability in P concentration (3.4–8.8 mg P g-1 DM) and other quality traits. Cover crop residues contributed less to ryegrass growth and P uptake than the water-soluble P fertilizer. At the same P application dose, cover crops contributed 0.4–2.3 mg P kg−1 soil (18–42 %) to the total P uptake of ryegrass depending on species and soil P status, whereas mineral P fertilizer contributed up to 5.2 mg P kg−1 soil (46 %). In the low P soil, application of sorrel and radish significantly increased the P uptake of ryegrass compared to the control without P (by 93 and 75 %, respectively), whereas in the moderate P soil, sorrel and vetch increased the uptake (by 61 and 43 %, respectively). The cover crop effects on P uptake of ryegrass correlated significantly but only moderately well with their P concentration, content of water-extractable P and C:P ratio (R2 = 0.4, R2 = 0.4 and R2 = 0.5, respectively). As expected, the contribution of mineral fertilizer to P uptake of ryegrass was lower in the low P soil with a higher P sorption capacity compared to the moderate P soil, whereas the contribution of cover crops residues in these two soils was species-dependent. Addition of mineral fertilizer resulted in a greater uptake of soil P compared to the control whereas buckwheat and lupin with highest C:P ratios gave rise to a substantially smaller uptake of soil P, which is an indication of microbial P immobilization. Our study demonstrated that cover crop residues may contribute to the P nutrition of the subsequent crop, in some cases substantially, depending on the quality of the residues and the soil P status.

Long-term fertilization impacts on soil phosphorus forms using XANES and NMR spectroscopy

ABSTRACT A 32-year fertilizer experiment was conducted to investigate mineral and organic fertilization impacts on soil P forms by P K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure and solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The experiment included six treatments: control without fertilization, mineral fertilizers (NPK), pig manure at 30,000 (M1) and 60,000 kg ha–1 (M2), M1 plus NPK, and M2 plus NPK. The predominant P compounds were hydroxyapatite (up to 51.3% of soil total P) and orthophosphate and orthophosphate monoesters (up to 85.7% and 57.0% of soil NaOH-EDTA extractable total P, respectively). Compared with the control, the concentrations and proportions of monocalcium phosphate and orthophosphate increased following mineral fertilizers alone. Manure application, especially high rate manure combined with mineral fertilizers, further increased the concentrations and proportions of monocalcium phosphate and orthophosphate relative to mineral fertilizers alone. Moreover, manure amendment also generally increased the concentrations of other inorganic and organic P compounds. Manure application improve soil P availability by adding high concentrations of bioavailable inorganic P compounds to soil, similar to the addition of mineral fertilizers. This study contributes to the understanding of applied fertilizers and residual soil P dynamics and provides insights for sustainable P management in agricultural ecosystems.

The Interaction Effect between Mycorrhiza (Glomus Mosseae), Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Growth, Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica Oleracea) and Some Desert Soil Characteristics

The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding Mycorrhiza, local organic fertilizer, and biochar (seek) singly or in combination on some properties of desert soils from the Karbala governorate. Coupled with the growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica Oleracea) under different levels of mineral fertilization. A Biological experiment was carried out to achieve the objectives of the study by placing 20 kg of desert soil that was transported from the Holy Karbala Governorate from the site of Imam Hussein Agricultural City. This soil was placed in environmentally friendly bags made of linen cloth 50 cm in diameter and 35 cm in height. The biological experiment included three factors: organic fertilizer (local organic fertilizer, biochar (Seek) and without adding organic fertilizer) and biofertilizer (inoculation with mycorrhiza and without mycorrhiza). On the other hand, the third factor represents mineral fertilizer addition at three levels (100%, 50%, and 0 %) of the fertilizer recommendation for cauliflower. Generally, 16 g of biochar (Seek) for every 20 kg of soil was added by mixing to 15 cm of depth from the soil surface, while 500 g of local organic fertilizer was added in the same way. The results showed the superiority of adding Mycorrhiza in the availability of nitrogen and phosphorous in the soil after planting. It gives values of 92.00 mg N kg-1 soil and 9.18 mg p kg-1 soil in the inoculated soil compared to their concentration in the uninoculated soil, which amounted to 87.69 mg N kg-1 and 8.65 mg p kg-1 soil nitrogen and phosphorous, respectively. The results analysis showed also the superiority of adding a mixture of local organic fertilizer with biochar (Seek) in increasing the nitrogen availability in the soil. It gave 91.72 mg N kg-1 of soil compared to the treatment of adding seek alone and the control treatment, which gave values of 88.94 and 87.28 mg N kg -1soil, respectively.The study showed the positive and significant resultsof the triple interaction between the addition of mycorrhiza and the combination of organic fertilizer with the addition of 100% of the mineral fertilizer recommendation for cauliflower in increasing the concentration of available nitrogen in the soil, as it gave 101.00 mg N kg-1 soil compared to the control treatment, which gave 67.67 mg N kg-1soil. The addition of mycorrhiza contributed to an increase in the weights and curd diameters, the leaves dry weight and gave values of 711.1 g, 15.44 cm, 36.33 g compared to the control treatment for the same traits, which amounted to 562.4 g, 14.69 cm, and 27.08 g, respectively. Besides, the 100% addition of the recommendation resulted in higher values for leaves, curd diameters, and leaf dry weight to reach 697.9 g and 15.71 g respectively compared to not adding mineral fertilizer which gave values of 581.2 g, 14.08 cm, and 28.96 g respectively. Finally, the study findings showed the significant effect of adding combined bio-organic fertilizer in increasing the concentration of organic matter in the soil after planting, which amounted to 7.14 and 7.63 g.kg-1, compared to the control treatment, which gave 6.91 and 6.31 g. kg-1, respectively.

Substrate-Dependent Effect of Vermicompost on Yield and Physiological Indices of Container-Grown Dracocephalum moldavica Plants

The development of sustainable plant production systems involves a search for different alternatives to chemical fertilizers. The aim of the present study is to compare growth and physiological effects of vermicompost on Dracocephalum moldavica plants in controlled conditions, using two types of commercially available substrates. The intention is to determine whether nondestructively measured photosynthesis-related parameters are useful for monitoring the physiological status of plants. The plants were cultivated in two base substrates without or with the addition of mineral fertilizer, as well as an amendment with vermicompost at a 20% or 30% rate in the conditions of an automated greenhouse. The biomass accumulation for control plants of D. moldavica was identical in peat substrate and commercial garden soil. The average growth increase by mineral fertilizer was 25% for D. moldavica plants grown in peat and 15% for plants grown in soil. Substrate amendment with 20% vermicompost resulted in an 114% average increase in biomass for plants grown in peat and a 98% average increase for plants grown in soil, but for plants at 30% the amendment rate increase was 148% and 68%, for peat and soil, respectively. Consequently, the addition of an identical amount of vermicompost resulted in a poorer growth response of plants in commercial garden soil as a substrate in comparison to peat, but an increase in the amendment rate from 20% to 30% resulted in some growth inhibition for these plants. Chlorophyll concentration was positively affected by the vermicompost amendment in a concentration-dependent manner, but this effect during a cultivation period appeared relatively late. Large differences were found between the three groups of fluorescence-derived parameters, with variable levels of predictability with respect to the differences in plant yield due to the pronounced variation in correlation through time. It is concluded that the incorporation of vermicompost for the cultivation of D. moldavica, even in substrate mixes with relatively high and balanced composition of plant-available nutrients, benefits plant growth, physiological status and biomass yield, but it is necessary to explore interactions between vermicompost and other substrates leading to possible changes in quality-related characteristics of vermicompost in substrate mixes.

Steering microbiomes by organic amendments towards climate-smart agricultural soils

We steered the soil microbiome via applications of organic residues (mix of cover crop residues, sewage sludge + compost, and digestate + compost) to enhance multiple ecosystem services in line with climate-smart agriculture. Our result highlights the potential to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from agricultural soils by the application of specific organic amendments (especially digestate + compost). Unexpectedly, also the addition of mineral fertilizer in our mesocosms led to similar combined GHG emissions than one of the specific organic amendments. However, the application of organic amendments has the potential to increase soil C, which is not the case when using mineral fertilizer. While GHG emissions from cover crop residues were significantly higher compared to mineral fertilizer and the other organic amendments, crop growth was promoted. Furthermore, all organic amendments induced a shift in the diversity and abundances of key microbial groups. We show that organic amendments have the potential to not only lower GHG emissions by modifying the microbial community abundance and composition, but also favour crop growth-promoting microorganisms. This modulation of the microbial community by organic amendments bears the potential to turn soils into more climate-smart soils in comparison to the more conventional use of mineral fertilizers.

Uticaj meliorativnih mera na produktivnost lucerke na kiselom zemljištu tipa vertisol

Alfalfa is the most important forage legume in our agroecological conditions for feeding cattle. In the area of Jablanica district, alfalfa occupies a considerable place in the total plant production. The restrictive factor in the establishment and short durability of alfalfa stand is the low pH of arable agricultural soil. Within the three-year field trial on Vertisol soil type (pH in KCl 4.9), from 2016 to 2018, alfalfa plot yield has been analyzed with different fertilization variants. The research results indicate that alfalfa provides a significantly higher yield on the plot where amelioration measures were applied, through the application of limestone and manure, with the addition of mineral fertilizer. A barely lower yield was achieved on the calcified and manured plot, while the lowest yield was on the control plot, where a generous amount of mineral fertilizer was added, which is a common practice of agricultural producers in the area of Jablanica district.

Direct and residual fertilizer values of maize (Zea maysL.) stover co-compostedwith Tithonia diversifolia(Hemsl.) A. Graygreen manure

The present investigation highlights and compares the direct and residual fertilizer values of maize (Zea mays L.) stover composted with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray-green manure on maize (Zea mays L.) and successive potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Two field studies were installed with maize and successive potato crops in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates. Statistical analyses were performed using R commander, version 4.0.2. Grain yields, root biomass, above ground biomass and calculated parameters (Root/Shoot ratio, Harvest Index and GinningRate) were evaluated for maize. Total potato yields were evaluated and categorized into small size tubers (SST 65 mm). Treatments under evaluation were: T1=Control, T2=Farm (cow) manure alone, T3=Maize stover co-composted with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure; T4= Maize stover co-composted with Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray green manure; T5= Farm (cow) manure+45-60-30; T6= Maize stover co-composted with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure+45-60-30; T7=Maize stover co-composted with Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray green manure+45-60-30; and T8=Farm (cow) manure+FOMI Imbura+FOMI Totahaza. Obtained results indicated highest maize yields with FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers (2.7 T/ha) seconded by the recommended fertilizer practice T5 (2 T/ha). In the same line, highest R/S value (=0.38) was registered with the same FOMI treatment (T8), while the highest HI value (0.21) was observed with the maize stover co-composted with Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray (T4). Highest potato total yields were observed with the maize stover compost enriched with Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray and supplemented with mineral fertilizer (7.61 T/ha), followed by the same compost without mineral fertilizer addition (6.35 T/ha). We conclude our study with the following statements: i) the highest direct fertilizer value was observed with the FOMI treatment; ii) the residual fertilizer effects were more expressed with the maize stover co-composted with Tithonia diversifolia A. Gray green manure with or without mineral additive, followed by farm manure and maize stover enriched with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure. Consequently, we restate that the effects of compost-based organo-mineral fertilizers on crop yields should be definitely evaluated on a multiseasonal basis so as to fully capture their residual fertilizer potentials.

Integrated application of organic, bio and mineral fertilizers on nutrients uptake and productivity of Zea mays L. under semi-arid condition

Recycling of organic residue is an eco-friendly approach for sustainable agriculture on personal and governmental level. Two field experiments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 seasons to evaluate the effect of inoculated of rice straw (+RS) by rate of 3 t fed−1 (one feddan = 4200 m2) or without addition (−RS) as interacted with sole application of compost, mineral and bio-fertilizer or combinations among them on maize yield, and it's some macro and micro-nutrients. A split-plot arrangement with three replicates was adopted. Most of the studied maize parameters, 100-grain weight, grain, stover, ear and biological yields, as well as N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu were significantly affected due to + RS compared − RS in both seasons. Likely, addition of mineral fertilizer alone or along with compost or compost + bio-fertilizer + mineral of 75 or 50% of recommended dose gave significantly the highest values of above-mentioned characters in both seasons. The interaction of + RS and supplying with mineral fertilizer alone or along with compost or compost + bio-fertilizer + mineral resulted in the highest values of the growth traits, 100-grain weight, grain, stover, ear and biological yields, as well as N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu contents in both studied seasons. The integrated nutrient combinations of inoculated RS and compost or biofertilizer or both with mineral fertilizer may be used as an eco-friendly agronomical practice to obtain an agreeable maize yield and its contents of phyto-nutrients with reducing eco-pollution under semi-arid conditions.

Effects of Slurry Applied with Soil Conditioners and Mineral Fertilizers on Fiber Fraction Content in Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus

This paper deals with the effects of slurry, soil conditioners, and mineral fertilizers on Festulolium braunii fiber content. The field studies with three replications and a completely randomized design lasted two years (2016–2017). The effects of slurry applied on its own or in combination with mineral fertilizers and with two products improving soil properties was tested on the Sulino cultivar of F. braunii, a forage grass species. The results of the studies demonstrated that crude fiber content of F. braunii significantly varied across harvests. The treatment also significantly affected neutral detergent fiber (NDF) fraction content in the biomass. Due to an interaction effect, its amounts in grass treated with the combination of slurry and UGmax, a product improving soil properties, increased by 10% when compared to plants treated with slurry only, and the addition of Humus Active, another product improving soil properties, increased it by 7%, while the addition of mineral fertilizers did so by only 4%. The amounts of acid detergent fiber (ADF) in F. braunii significantly varied across growing seasons. However, none of the research factors significantly affected the amounts of acid detergent lignin (ADL).

Prokaryotic Community Structure in the Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Rhizosphere Depending on Addition of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate-Utilizing Bacteria

The taxonomic structure of the microbiomes colonizing the rapeseed rhizosphere soil was investigated using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries. Effect of introduction of bacteria with ACC deaminase activity into the rapeseed rhizosphere community on rapeseed yeild was studied. In the prokaryotic complex, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Acidobacteria predominated. An inverse correlation was found between abundance of the taxa Crenarchaeota and Proteobacteria (r = ‒0.71, P < 0.01). All detected archaeal sequences belonged to the family Nitrososphaeraceae, which is directly involved in intensification of plant nitrogen nutrition. Independent of the mineral nutrition, addition of ACC-utilizing strain resulted in a significant decrease in the shares of Crenarchaeota (63‒72%), Verrucomicrobia (42‒53%), and Bacteroidetes (50‒56%) and an increase in the share of the Proteobacteria (38%). Introduced bacteria were shown to have a positive effect on the relative abundance of the metabolically significant Proteobacteria classes in the rapeseed rhizosphere due to improved condition of the plants. A reliable correlation was found between relative abundance of the Proteobacteria and production of the plant‒microbial system (r = 0.85, P < 0.01) on addition of the strains Pseudomonas oryzihabitans Ep4 and Variovorax paradoxus 3-P4, which possess an ACC deaminase complex. Observed differences in the composition of microbial populations were primarily associated with the effect of introduced strains, rather than with addition of mineral fertilizers.

Inter-seasonal Nitrogen Loss with Drought Depends on Fertilizer Management in a Seminatural Australian Grassland

Drought can increase nitrogen (N) loss due to enhanced asynchronicity between N release through mineralization and plant N uptake. Organic amendments of N could potentially mitigate this loss where the N is more slowly released and made available at times when plants need it. Drought (ambient vs. reduced precipitation implemented with rainout shelters) and fertilizer addition (compost vs. mineral fertilizer) were used to examine the changes in mineralization, plant uptake, and loss of N during dry and wet periods in a grassland of Australia. Both gross N mineralization (GNM) and plant N uptake were high in wet summers and low in dry summers, while in the winter the relatively high GNM was not matched with similarly high plant N uptake. Drought conditions combined with mineral fertilizer addition resulted in the highest plant δ15N values, reflecting a more open N cycle (high N loss). In contrast, under drought conditions, compost released N more slowly and showed greater synchronicity with plant N demand. Because drought has become increasingly more intense and frequent, compost addition to grasslands could be a beneficial management strategy to improve soil health and increase plant productivity, and most importantly to reduce N loss compared to mineral fertilizers.

Mathematical calculations of water saving during furrow irrigation of cotton using a screen from an interpolymer complex

This article discusses the mathematical model of furrow irrigation to establish irrigation rates when watering cotton through a screen from an interpolyme complex (IPC) with the addition of mineral fertilizers. By the change in “I” when watering cotton through a surface screen from IPC with the addition of mineral equations, we can say that physically the effect of the screen will affect the amount and rate of infiltration «I» and “ϑI”, other relations do not change. In the case of placing the screen in the form of a thin film (as experiments show), soil infiltration decreases by approximately 3-3.5 times.