Mineral NPK Fertilizer Research Articles

Effects of Paddy Husk Biochar on Selected Physical and Chemical Properties of the Low Humic Gley Soil in the Low Country Wet Zone

Biochar made by pyrolysis of various types of biomass has been recognized in recent years as a potential soil amendment. Studies from different parts of the world using a variety of feedstock materials, process conditions and applications in different soil types have reported a diverse range of effects that are sometimes conflicting. Though paddy husk biochar (Kara dahayya) has been used in Sri Lankan paddy fields since ancient times, the actual outcome of this is uncertain owing to the limited number of research that have been carried out. This study focused on studying the effects of paddy husk biochar made by traditional methods, with and without other soil amendments such as compost, mineral fertilizers and their combinations on selected physical and chemical properties of Low Humic Gley soil used for paddy cultivation in the Low Country Wet Zone. A pot experiment was carried out from May to August 2015 with six treatments, namely; T1-Soil only (Control), T2-Soil+Paddy husk biochar, T3-Soil+Compost, T4-Soil+NPK(mineral fertilizer), T5- Soil+Compost+Paddy husk biochar and T6-Soil+NPK+Paddy husk biochar with four replicates for each treatment. The physical properties of soil were analyzed initially as well as at the end of the experiment, while soil chemical properties were analyzed once every 3 weeks during the study period. The results revealed that paddy husk biochar used in this experiment serve as both a soil fertilizer and as a soil conditioner in the test soil. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the application of paddy husk biochar along with mineral fertilizer (T6) is the most effective treatment for this soil. This treatment recorded the highest porosity of 60.26% and the second lowest bulk density of 1.10 g/cm3. Also increasing trends in soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity were observed in this treatment. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the application of paddy husk biochar along with recommended levels of mineral fertilizer is effective in improving certain properties of Low Humic Gley soil of the Low Country Wet Zone. Keywords: Paddy husk biochar, Low humic gley soil, Paddy cultivation, Soil physical and chemical properties, Soil amendments

Biochar‐Based Fertilization with Liquid Nutrient Enrichment: 21 Field Trials Covering 13 Crop Species in Nepal

AbstractBiochar produced in cost‐efficient flame curtain kilns (Kon‐Tiki) was nutrient enriched either with cow urine or with dissolved mineral (NPK) fertilizer to produce biochar‐based fertilizers containing between 60–100 kg N, 5–60 kg P2O5 and 60–100 kg K2O, respectively, per ton of biochar. In 21 field trials, nutrient‐enriched biochars were applied at rates of 0·5–2 t ha−1 into the root zone of 13 different crops. Treatments combining biochar, compost and organic or chemical fertilizer were evaluated; control treatments contained same amounts of nutrients but without biochar. All nutrient‐enriched biochar substrates improved yields compared with their respective no‐biochar controls. Biochar enriched with dissolved NPK produced on average 20% ± 5·1% (N = 4 trials) higher yields than standard NPK fertilization without biochar. Cow urine‐enriched biochar blended with compost resulted on average in 123% ± 76·7% (N = 13 trials) higher yields compared with the organic farmer practice with cow urine‐blended compost and outcompeted NPK‐enriched biochar (same nutrient dose) by 103% ± 12·4% (N = 4 trials) respectively. Thus, the results of 21 field trials robustly revealed that low‐dosage root zone application of organic biochar‐based fertilizers caused substantial yield increases in rather fertile silt loam soils compared with traditional organic fertilization and to mineral NPK or NPK‐biochar fertilization. This can be explained by the nutrient carrier effect of biochar, causing a slow nutrient release behaviour, more balanced nutrient fluxes and reduced nutrient losses, especially when liquid organic nutrients are used for the biochar enrichment. The results open up new pathways for optimizing organic farming and improving on‐farm nutrient cycling. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fertilization decreases compositional variation of paddy bacterial community across geographical gradient

Fertilization is one of the most common agricultural practices to meet an increasing global demand for food products. Few investigations have been reported on spatial variation of microbial community composition in response to fertilizations in agroecosystems at a large scale. To improve the related understandings, we have evaluated the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities of bacterial taxa in response to three fertilization strategies in six paddy experiment sites spanning across subtropical China. We found the large-scale compositional variation of paddy bacterial community is shaped by both geographic location and environmental selection, and the former is the dominant factor. The slopes of distance-decay relationships (DDR) are flattened by fertilizations, NPK (mineral NPK fertilizers) and OM (mineral NPK fertilizers plus organic amendments) when compared to Control. A flattened DDR implies that bacterial community composition is greatly homogenized by fertilizations in paddies. It is also inferred that fertilization decreases sensitivity of bacterial community to geographic and environmental factors, which is speculated to be beneficial for agroecosystem stability and yield sustainability. Results from this investigation correlate microscopic agroecosystem with macroscopic agricultural practices.

Effect of different Organic Manures and Mineral NPK Fertilizer on Maize Yield on Volcanic Soils of the Mt Cameroon area under Minimum Tillage

Effect of different Organic Manures and Mineral NPK Fertilizer on Maize Yield on Volcanic Soils of the Mt Cameroon area under Minimum Tillage

Soil chemical properties and nutrients in maize fertilized with urban waste compost1

ABSTRACT Urban waste compost has a potential to be used as an organic fertilizer in agriculture, but field studies are required to define the recommendable rates for crops. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of fertilization with urban waste compost on the soil chemical properties, yield, nutrient and heavy metal contents, in maize leaves and grains. The field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of six urban waste compost doses (0 Mg ha-1, 5 Mg ha-1, 10 Mg ha-1, 20 Mg ha-1, 30 Mg ha-1 and 40 Mg ha-1), applied in the planting furrow, plus an additional control treatment, with NPK mineral fertilization and no waste compost application. Fertilization with up to 40 Mg ha-1 of urban waste compost improves soil fertility. Fertilization with urban waste compost increases grain yield and the N, P and K contents in leaf tissue and maize grains, without inducing plant contamination with heavy metals. The application of 30 Mg ha-1 of urban waste compost can replace mineral fertilization in maize cultivation.

Altered humin compositions under organic and inorganic fertilization on an intensively cultivated sandy loam soil

Humin is the most recalcitrant fraction of soil organic matter (SOM). However, little is known about quantitative structural information on humin and the roles of soil mircoorganisms involved in the humin formation. We applied advanced solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to provide deep insights into humin structural changes in response to long-term balanced fertilization on a Calcaric Fluvisol in the North China plain. The relationships between humin structure and microbiological properties such as microbial biomass, microbial quotient (qmic) and metabolic quotient (qCO2) were also studied. The humins had a considerable (35–44%) proportion of aromatic C being nonprotonated and the vast majority of O-alkyl and anomeric C being protonated. Alkyl (24–27% of all C), aromatic C (17–28%) and O-alkyl (13–20%) predominated in humins. Long-term fertilization promoted the aliphatic nature of humins, causing increases in O-alkyl, anomeric and NCH functional groups and decreases in aromatic C and aromatic CO groups. All these changes were more prominent for treatments of organic fertilizer (OF) and combined mineral NPK fertilizer with OF (NPKOF) relative to the Control and NPK treatments. Fertilization also decreased the alkyl/O-alkyl ratio, aromaticity and hydrophobic characteristics of humins, suggesting a more decomposed and humified state of humin in the Control soil. Moreover, the soil microbiological properties had strong correlations with functional groups of humins. Particularly, microbial biomass C was a relatively sensitive indicator, having positive correlations with oxygen-containing functional groups, i.e., COO/NCO and protonated O-alkyl C, and negative correlations with nonprotonated aromatic C. The qmic and qCO2 were also significantly positively correlated with NCH and aromatic CO, respectively. Our results deepen our understanding of how long-term fertilization impacts the structure of humin, and highlight a linkage between microbiological properties and recalcitrant fraction of SOM besides labile fraction.

Wpływ herbicydów na biomasę chwastów, plon ziarna i wybrane elementy plonowania prosa zwyczajnego (Panicum miliaceum L.)

This paper shows results of studies conducted at the same time in Belarus and in Poland (over the period of 2014–2016) on the tolerance of millet towards some foliar herbicides (2,4-D + fluroxypyr; tribenuron-methyl + fluroxypyr; dicamba + triasulfuron) applied at rates reduced by 1/3 relative to the recommended rates for oats crops. Plots without herbicide application (mechanical weed control) were the control treatment.  The experiment was set up with the same design (one-factional) under the soil and climatic conditions of central-eastern Belarus (Priluki near Minsk) and the central Lublin region (Czesławice, Poland), respectively. The Belarussian soil was characterized by medium nutrient availability (soil class III), whereas the soil in Poland had higher nutrient availability (soil class II). In both places, the same agricultural practices were used (tillage system, previous crop, seeding rate, and row spacing), while mineral NPK fertilization was adjusted to the initial soil nutrient availability in both study areas. It was proved that the foliar herbicides applied in the experiment (at the tillering stage of millet) had high weed control efficacy and that the low level of weed infestation contributed to the high productivity of millet compared to the mechanical weed control treatment (without herbicides). The action of the herbicides 2,4-D + fluroxypyr and tribenuron-methyl + fluroxypyr was evaluated particularly positively, since they did not induce a phytotoxic response in millet plants, but eliminated weeds biomass from the crop almost completely. In turn, the herbicide dicamba + triasulfuron exhibited a slightly lower weed-killing ability and, moreover, caused damage to millet plants in a small percentage. Some differences (though statistically insignificant) in weeds biomass and millet yield which were found between the experiments in Belarus and Poland should be attributed to the difference in the soils and more favorable weather conditions for the growth of millet in Belarus.

Yield, phosphorus use efficiency and balance response to substituting long-term chemical fertilizer use with organic manure in a wheat-maize system

The over-application of mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizer has become common in the North China Plain, meanwhile, most of organic manure cannot be recycled into the soil. To make full use of organic manure and decrease the applied rate of mineral P fertilizer, a 20-year fertilization experiment in a continuous wheat-maize rotation was carried out to assess the long-term effects of substituting mineral fertilizer with organic manure on the yield, P use efficiency, and P balance. Treatments included organic compost (OM), half compost in combination with half mineral fertilizer NPK (1/2 OM), mineral fertilizer NPK (NPK), mineral fertilizer NK (NK), and an unfertilized control (CK). The results showed that the grain yield in the NK plots was less than 1.0t ha-1 for both wheat and maize. The highest grain yield was obtained for the NPK treatment, which was slightly higher than the yields of the 1/2 OM treatment over all the years. The effects of the compost application were greater on the maize yield than on the wheat yield. Compost addition can significantly increase the P content and P uptake. The mean P fertilization use efficiencies were 53.7, 59.9 and 61.7% in the NPK, 1/2 OM and OM treatments for the wheat-maize system, respectively. In considering the P from the fertilizer, seed and irrigation as inputs and P uptake from crops and P storage in the 0–20cm soil layer as outputs, no significant P loss was observed in all the treatments. The results indicated that an application of mineral fertilizer alone at a reasonable level could result in a high crop yield and a relatively high P use efficiency. Considering the improvements in the P use efficiency and the benefits of soil fertility, replacing less than half the chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer might be a promising alternative in the North China Plain.

Influência da adubação com dejeto suíno e adubo mineral adicionada de inibidor de nitrificação sobre a produtividade e a nutrição do milho

Swine production in Santa Catarina is remarkable because of both the large number of animals as well as the high volume of swine slurry (DLS) generated. The DLS has fertilizer value, but its excessive or improper use can pollute surface and groundwater as well as contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. An experiment was carried out in the Santa Catarina plateau to evaluate the incorporation into the soil and the addition of nitrification inhibitor as ways to increase the efficiency of DLS and mineral fertilizer (NPK) as sources of nitrogen (N) and other nutrients for corn. The treatments were the DLS and NPK fertilizers, the presence and absence of dicyandiamide (DCD), a control and the surface (Sup) or incorporated (Inc) applications and were arranged in a randomized block design with split plots and four replicates. The incorporation of fertilizer increased the N content in leaves, shoot dry matter and grain yields and the accumulation of N and K in the dry matter and P in corn grain. The DCD in general did not affect grain yield, except in superficial application of the DLS where their presence increased the yield compared to its absence. The DLS and mineral NPK fertilizers have similar efficiency that increases with incorporation into the soil compared to the surface application.

Changes in Soil Organic Carbon After Five Years of Biowaste Compost Application in a Mediterranean Vegetable Cropping System

Biowaste compost can influence soil organic matter accumulation directly or indirectly. A 5-year experiment was conducted to assess the influence of biowaste compost on the process of soil aggregation and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation in a Mediterranean vegetable cropping system. The study involved four treatments: biowaste compost (COM), mineral NPK fertilizers (MIN), biowaste compost with half-dose N fertilizer (COMN), and unfertilized control (CK). The SOC stocks were increased in COM, COMN, and MIN by 20.2, 14.9, and 2.4 Mg ha−1 over CK, respectively. The SOC concentration was significantly related to mean weight diameter of aggregates (MWD) (P < 0.05, R2 = 0.798 4) when CK was excluded from regression analysis. Compared to CK, COM and COMN increased the SOC amount in macroaggregates (> 250 μm) by 2.7 and 0.6 g kg−1 soil, respectively, while MIN showed a loss of 0.4 g kg−1 soil. The SOC amount in free microaggregates (53–250 μm) increased by 0.9, 1.6, and 1.0 g kg−1 soil for COM, COMN, and MIN, respectively, while those in the free silt plus clay aggregates (< 53 μm) did not vary significantly. However, when separating SOC in particle-size fractions, we found that more stable organic carbon associated with mineral fraction < 53 μm (MOM-C) increased significantly by 3.4, 2.2, and 0.7 g kg−1 soil for COM, COMN, and MIN, respectively, over CK, while SOC amount in fine particulate organic matter (POM) fraction (53–250 μm) increased only by 0.3 g kg−1 soil for both COM and COMN, with no difference in coarse POM > 250 μm. Therefore, we consider that biowaste compost could be effective in improving soil structure and long-term C sequestration as more stable MOM-C.

Effects of maize stover and its biochar on soil CO2 emissions and labile organic carbon fractions in Northeast China

Soil labile organic carbon pools are sensitive indicators of soil quality, early changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and effects of different soil tillage practices. Impacts of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the global climate have encouraged the search for effective alternative methods to promote sustainable agriculture and mitigate climate change. We measured soil CO2 emissions and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), easily oxidizable carbon (EOC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in maize (Zea mays L.) fields treated with maize stover and a maize stover-derived biochar amendment during three consecutive maize growing seasons in a brown earth in Shenyang, China. We considered the following three treatments: CK (application of mineral NPK fertilizer; 120kgNha−1, 60kgP2O5ha−1, and 60kgK2Oha−1), ST (maize stover application; 7.5tha−1), and BC (7.5tha−1 of maize stover was charred, with a yield of 35% of the original biomass; 2.63tha−1). Both ST and BC treatments received the same fertilization as CK. Mean data of the three-year experiment indicated that the CO2 emissions of ST and BC were significantly higher than CK by 129.7% and 24.4%, respectively. In both ST and BC treatments, SOC and labile organic C fractions were increased. The sensitivities of each labile organic C fraction varied with different treatments. Soil CO2 emissions under biochar addition were significantly lower than that of stover incorporation. Overall, biochar application was a more effective practice based on the comprehensive consideration of improving soil quality and with regard to CO2 mitigation in the experiment.

Effects of maize stover and its derived biochar on greenhouse gases emissions and C-budget of brown earth in Northeast China.

Concerns regarding rising population levels and the impacts of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on world climate have encouraged effective alternative methods to increase agricultural production while mitigating climate change. Soil GHG emissions from maize (Zea mays L.) fields treated with stover and a stover-derived biochar amendment during two consecutive maize growing seasons were studied in a brown earth soil type in Liaoning, China. We considered three treatments: CK (basal application of mineral NPK fertilizer; 120kgNha-1, 60kgP2O5ha-1, and 60kgK2Oha-1, respectively), ST (maize stover application; 7.5tha-1), and BC (7.5tha-1 of maize stover was charred, with a yield of 35% of the original biomass; 2.63tha-1). Both ST and BC treatments received the same fertilization as CK. Soil GHG emissions were monitored using the static chamber-gas chromatography method. The mean CO2 emissions of the two-year experiment indicated that ST and BC were significantly higher than CK by 131.0 and by 21.3%, respectively, and there was a striking difference between ST and BC treatments. The N2O-N emissions decreased in the following order, BC < ST < CK, and cumulative reduced CH4 emissions in BC and ST were 1.58 and 2.21 times higher than observations in CK, respectively. The total global warming potential (GWP) in 2013 and 2014 decreased in the following order: BC < ST < CK. For the yield average data of two-year experiment, compared to CK and BC treatments, ST treatment showed 7.9 and 4.5% reduction, respectively. The C gains in BC treatment were significantly higher than that observed in ST treatment by 7.3%. Compared with the stover incorporating, biochar application significantly decreased the total CO2 emissions and GHG intensity (GHGI), and it enhanced C-sequestration.

Interactions between microbial plant growth promoters and their effects on maize growth performance in different mineral and organic fertilization scenarios

We examined interactions between microbial plant growth promoters and their single and combined effects on maize plant growth with and without mineral NPK fertilization and with and without organic fertilization in terms of maize stover. Two similar greenhouse pot experiments were performed one with disinfected soil and another with non-disinfected soil as growth substrate. Three commercial microbial biofertilizers were examined including the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, the saprotrophic fungus Trichoderma harzianum and the rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense. In general microbial inoculations had limited effects on maize growth compared to mineral and organic fertilization. Among the microbial plant growth promoters examined only T. harzianum caused plant growth promotion, and only in combination with mineral fertilization and with disinfected soil as growth substrate. Despite of the limited effects of microbial inoculations on plant growth strong microbial interactions were observed. Population density of diazotrophic bacteria in soil was markedly higher with mineral fertilizers. Combination of A. brasilense with one or both of the two other microbial biofertilizers reduced the population density of diazoptrophic bacteria in disinfected soil. Both mineral and organic fertilization reduced AM fungus root colonization in non-disinfected soil, which on the other hand was counteracted from inoculation with microbial biofertilizers. In conclusion, despite limited effects on plant growth performance inoculation with commercial microbial biofertilizers can have strong effects on native populations of AM fungi and diazotrophic bacteria, which should be considered when integrating microbial biofertilizers in agroecosystems.

Impact of organic amendments on soil carbon sequestration, water use efficiency and yield of irrigated wheat

Description of the subject. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays critical role in terrestrial carbon (C) cycling and is central to preserving soil quality, food security and environmental protection in agroecosystem. The prevailing soil and climatic conditions of cultivated and irrigated soils in warm semi-arid areas favor the rapid decomposition, mineralization and loss of SOC to the atmosphere which contribute to global warming. One potential strategy to address this C loss is the addition of organic amendments. Objectives. To investigate the effect of four contrasting organic wastes with and without NPK mineral fertilizer on SOC retention, water use efficiency (WUE) and wheat yield in irrigated wheat-maize cropping system. Method. A 2-year field experiment was conducted using four organic wastes included municipal solid waste (MSW), farm yard manure (FYM), sugar industry waste (filter cake) and maize cropping residues. All wastes were applied at 3 t C·ha-1 alone and with a full or half dose of NPK mineral fertilizer. Results. On average, among organic wastes as sole treatment, highest SOC content in the 0-15 cm layer was recorded in filter cake (6.5 t·ha-1) and MSW (5.9 t·ha-1). Addition of NPK fertilizer along with organic wastes, improved the SOC contents with the highest SOC (7.7 t·ha-1) by filter cake + full NPK treatment followed by the MSW + NPK (6.9 t·ha-1). On average, maximum wheat grain WUE (18 kg·ha-1·mm-1) and grain yield (4.8 t·ha-1) were obtained by MSW + full NPK treatment followed by filter cake + NPK. Conclusions. These results indicate that the targeted addition of organic wastes (filter cake or MSW) have the best potential for improving SOC retention, WUE and wheat yield in irrigated maize-wheat cropping system.

Growth, Yielding and Healthiness of Grapevine Cultivars ‘Solaris’ and ‘Regent’ in Response to Fertilizers and Biostimulants

AbstractIn the years 2008–2015, field experiments were conducted on the vines of cultivars ‘Solaris’ and ‘Regent’ grafted on SO4 rootstock. The following treatments: 1. control (untreated), 2. NPK (mineral fertilization 70 kg N·ha−1; 40 kg P·ha−1; 120 kg K·ha−1), 3. mycorrhizal substrate (AMF – Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi), 4. NPK + AMF, 5. manure (before planting), 6. NPK + manure (before planting), 7. Bioilsa, 8. NPK + Bioilsa, 9. BF-Ecomix, 10. NPK + BF-Ecomix, 11. Ausma and 12. NPK + Ausma were applied to evaluate the usefulness of biostimulants and mineral and organic fertilizers in organic grapevine production in “cool climate” conditions of Poland. The tests did not show a definite positive effect of the biostimulants and organic fertilizers on growth, yielding and healthiness of the cultivars ‘Solaris’ and ‘Regent’. There were no substantial differences in total marketable yield in the years 2009 to 2015 between control and other treatments. Grapevines planted in soil rich in minerals grew and yielded well despite no mineral fertilization for a number of years. In 2014, when the air humidity was high during vegetation, intensive rotting of the berries of cultivar ‘Solaris’, caused byBotrytis cinerea, was observed on plants fertilized with NPK.

Comparative Study on the Npk Fertilization Sources of Young Manfalouty Pomegranate Trees

This work was conducted during 2014&2015 seasons on young Manfalouty pomegranate trees grown in reclaimed sandy soil under drip irrigation (National Research Center orchard) at Nobaria region, Behara Governorate to investigate the possibility of replacing the expensive mineral NPK fertilizers commonly adopted in the region with other cheaper and environment friendly alternative sources. In this regard organic N and some natural raw PK materials mixtures used at 3 doses (500,1000,1500 and 2000 g/tree) either solely or combined with bio NPK fertilizers mixture were evaluated through the response of vegetative growth and nutritional status measurements. Data obtained displayed that the investigated growth measurements (plant height, stem thickness, shoot length, No. of both shoots per tree & leaves /shoot, average leaf area and total assimilation area), as well as nutritional status (leaf chlorophyll, N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn contents) responded obviously to investigated fertilization treatments and followed to great extent the same trend. Herein, control, organo NPK rocky materials only at 500 g/tree and bio NPK fertilizers mixture solely at 300 ml/tree seemed to be equally the same, ascendly followed by (T3- 1000g of alter. organo. Rocky mix. Only, T6 - (T2 + 300 ml bio NPK mix.), (T4- 1500g of alter. organo. Rocky mix. Only &T7-(T3 + 300 ml bio NPK mix.), (T5- 2000g of alter. organo. Rocky mix. Only) and T8 - (T4 + 300 ml bio NPK mix.)/ T9 - (T5 + 300 ml bio NPK mix.). Consequently, mixture of organic N and rocky PK materials at either 1000 or 1500 g/tree combined with bio-NPK mixture at 300ml/ tree could be safely recommended, as their beneficial effects on both growth & nutritional status measurements were concerned.

The Role of Sulphur Application and Dicyandiamide Comparing with Mineral Fertilization Npk on Chemical Constituent of Lettuce Plant (Lactuca Sativa L.)

The Role of Sulphur Application and Dicyandiamide Comparing with Mineral Fertilization Npk on Chemical Constituent of Lettuce Plant (Lactuca Sativa L.)

Organic Husk Tomato (Physalis peruviana,L.)Production for Exportation.

Two field experiments were conducted at El-Baramoun Farm, Mansoura Horticulture Research Station,Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during two successive fall seasons of 2013 and 2014 to study the influence of soil amendmentwith sulfur and three levels of combinations between compost manure and mineral NPK fertilizers as well as their interaction on growth, chemical composition,yield and fruit quality of husk tomato plant cv. Balady. The experimental design was split plot design with three replicates. The vegetative growth traits of husk tomato, chemical composition, total chlorophyll content, yield and its component and fruit quality had high significant values by soil amendment with sulfur, except for numberof branches and carotenoid content in both seasons and number of leaves in first season, since the increase was not significant at 5%. Supplementation of organic manure (compost)at 6.5 ton/fed with 50% from mineralNPK fertilizers improved plant growth and induced significant increases in yield and fruit quality. The application of sulfur with a mixture of 50% mineral NPK,50% compostand 200kg mineral sulfur had synergetic effect on increasing yield by18.51 and 19.00%in both seasons, respectively and enhancing fruit quality compared with conventional agricultural practice.It can be concluded that the treatment of the mixture of 50% mineral NPK and 50% compost with sulfur amendment was the best treatment for plant growth, yield and fruit quality as well as for reducing 50% of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The economic performance of husk tomato under this study showed that although organic treatment with 200kg sulfur gave the lowest yield, it gains the highest net return and benefit cost ratio(16745 and 2.190, respectively) comparing with conventional practice, thus this treatment i. e., 100%compost, that equal the same content of 100% mineral NPK recommendation, with sulfur amendmentproved to be the economical for organic husk tomato production under the conditions of Nile Delta lands.

Plants Rather than Mineral Fertilization Shape Microbial Community Structure and Functional Potential in Legacy Contaminated Soil.

Plant-microbe interactions are of particular importance in polluted soils. This study sought to determine how selected plants (horseradish, black nightshade and tobacco) and NPK mineral fertilization shape the structure of soil microbial communities in legacy contaminated soil and the resultant impact of treatment on the soil microbial community functional potential. To explore these objectives, we combined shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA gene amplicon high throughput sequencing with data analysis approaches developed for RNA-seq. We observed that the presence of any of the selected plants rather than fertilization shaped the microbial community structure, and the microbial populations of the root zone of each plant significantly differed from one another and/or from the bulk soil, whereas the effect of the fertilizer proved to be insignificant. When we compared microbial diversity in root zones versus bulk soil, we observed an increase in the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria or Bacteroidetes, taxa which are commonly considered copiotrophic. Our results thus align with the theory that fast-growing, copiotrophic, microorganisms which are adapted to ephemeral carbon inputs are enriched in the vegetated soil. Microbial functional potential indicated that some genetic determinants associated with signal transduction mechanisms, defense mechanisms or amino acid transport and metabolism differed significantly among treatments. Genetic determinants of these categories tend to be overrepresented in copiotrophic organisms. The results of our study further elucidate plant-microbe relationships in a contaminated environment with possible implications for the phyto/rhizoremediation of contaminated areas.

Effect of foliar application of Cu, Zn, and Mn on yield and quality indicators of winter wheat grain

Micronutrients are part of many crucial physiological plant processes. The combined application of N and micronutrients helps in obtaining grain yield with beneficial technological and consumer properties. The main micronutrients needed by cereals include Cu, Mn, and Zn. The subject of this study was to determine yield, quality indicators (protein content and composition, gluten content, grain bulk density, Zeleny sedimentation index, and grain hardness), as well as mineral content (Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe) in winter wheat grain (Triticum aestivum L.) fertilized by foliar micronutrient application. A field experiment was carried out at the Educational and Experimental Station in Tomaszkowo, Poland. The application of mineral fertilizers (NPK) supplemented with Cu increased Cu content (13.0%) and ω, α/β, and γ (18.7%, 4.9%, and 3.4%, respectively) gliadins in wheat grain. Foliar Zn fertilization combined with NPK increased Cu content (14.9%) as well as high (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenins (38.8% and 6.7%, respectively). Zinc fertilization significantly reduced monomeric gliadin content and increased polymeric glutenin content in grain, which contributed in reducing the gliadin:glutenin ratio (0.77). Mineral fertilizers supplemented with Mn increased Fe content in wheat grain (14.3%). It also significantly increased protein (3.8%) and gluten (4.4%) content, Zeleny sedimentation index (12.4%), and grain hardness (18.5%). Foliar Mn fertilization increased the content of ω, α/β, and γ gliadin fractions (19.9%, 9.5%, and 2.1%, respectively), as well as HMW and LMW glutenins (18.9% and 4.5%, respectively). Mineral NPK fertilization, combined with micronutrients (Cu + Zn + Mn), increased Cu and Zn content in grain (22.6% and 17.7%, respectively). The content of ω, α/β, and γ gliadins increased (20.3%, 10.5%, and 12.1%, respectively) as well as HMW glutenins (7.9%).