NPK Fertilizer Research Articles

Long‐term biochar application promoted soil aggregate‐associated potassium availability and maize potassium uptake

AbstractBiochar is an effective ameliorator for soil quality improvement and nutrient reuse from biomass; however, the effect of biochar application on soil potassium (K) availability, plant K uptake, and the underlying mechanisms have not been well‐elucidated. To address this, the variation in the soil K forms, soil aggregate stability, and aggregate‐associated K concentration, as well as maize K uptake, were investigated in a field experiment after 9 years of biochar amendment. The treatments included no biochar and NPK fertilizer (CK); NPK fertilizer treatment (F); biochar applied annually at the rate of 2.625 t ha−1 (C1), and biochar applied annually at rate of 2.625 t ha−1 with NPK fertilizers (C1F); one‐time biochar applied with NPK fertilizers, with biochar rate of 31.5 (C2F) and 47.25 t ha−1 (C3F). The results showed that after 9 years of field application, biochar inhibited the downward K migration to the deeper layer, thus increasing water‐soluble potassium (WSK), exchangeable potassium (EK), non‐exchangeable potassium (NEK), and total potassium (TK) in 0–20 cm soil, with C1F exhibiting better performance than C2F and C3F. Biochar also increased aggregate‐associated EK, NEK, and TK pools, mainly due to an increase in the macroaggregate proportion (>0.25 mm). Biochar amendment promoted maize K uptake by an average of 35.69%, the path analysis indicated that the positive effect was an outcome of the synergetic effect of the increase in surface soil WSK content and promoted macroaggregate EK pools, which was primarily attributed to biochar improved soil properties, including soil organic carbon, pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity. These factors explained 76% of the variance in maize K uptake. In conclusion, biochar is an effective ameliorator for improving soil K content and availability.

Ceratobasidium sp isolates from native orchid species of Western Ghats, India support enhanced growth of Phalaenopsis hybrid seedlings

Mycorrhiza-assisted cultivation of orchid seedlings has immense potential for enhanced growth and adaptability of orchids to facilitate conservation and cultivation with minimum application of nutrients and plant protection chemicals. Phalaenopsis hybrids are highly attractive and cultivated mostly as potted orchid plants and are prone to several fungal pathogens. The present study evaluates the effect of 4 orchid symbionts in combination with NPK fertilizer on the seedling growth of symbiotic seedlings of Phalaenopsis white and day-star hybrids under ex-vitro conditions. Four fungal isolates viz., Ceratobasidium_Wyd2 (MW595786; MTCC13384), Ceratobasidium_Idk (MW595787: MTCC13383), Ceratobasidium_Vs1 (OL374050; MTCC13377) and Ceratobasidium _Vs2 (OL374052: MTCC13378) grown on sterilized coir pith medium for 10 days and were transferred onto earthen pots for planting of seedlings. One-year-old seedlings used for the study possessed an average 2.70 g fresh weight. On conclusion of the experiment, after 6 months, the seedlings of day-star hybrid grown in the presence of both fungus and NPK fertilizer exhibited enhanced growth compared to either of them applied individually. The highest weight gain was supported by VS1 (12.4±1.8 g) followed by VS2 (10.7± 4.6 g) and Wyd2 (9.8±1.7 g). Those fungi also supported appreciable growth individually, giving 6.5±3.1, 6.9±2.2, and 6.5±0.8 g weight gain respectively. If the nutrient alone was applied, the weight gain was very low (2.8±0.9 g) nearly equal to control (1.8±1.8 g) without having fungi or nutrients. The mycorrhizae re-isolated from the roots of seedlings exhibiting enhanced growth were confirmed as Vs1 and Vs2 through sequencing of the ITS region. Formulation of a potting medium including Ceratobasidium species isolates VS1 and VS2 is thus possible to grow Phalaenopsis seedlings to get enhanced growth.

The Effect of Coffee Canopy Pruning and Fertilization on Coffee Growth and Soil Physical Properties

Arabica coffee is primarily cultivated in agroforestry systems in Indonesia, but limited local knowledge and technology adoption hinder its productivity due to insufficient practices in coffee pruning management. This study aims to analyze variations in coffee canopy pruning (Pruning+Bending) management and the impact on plant growth and soil physical characteristics.. The experiment employed a split-plot experimental design and utilized the Fisher test (5%) to assess the treatment effects. The primary plot focused on coffee canopy pruning using two management options: (1) Pruning (PR) and (2) Bending (BN). The subplots included various types and doses of fertilizer treatments: (1) Control (F0), (2) Chicken manure (F1), (3) Chicken manure+NPK fertilizer (F2), and (4) NPK fertilizer (F3). Each experimental plot covered an area of 20x20 m and contained 50 coffee plants. Bending techniques represent alternative pruning methods, and, in general, they have a significant impact on improving several coffee parameters compared to total pruning. Regarding the soil’s physical properties, the bending technique exhibited a higher infiltration rate than pruning. The management approach of Bending+Chicken manure: NPK fertilizer (BNF2) enhanced various coffee parameters, resulting in an increased stem diameter of 4.79 cm, new shoot length of 471.20 cm, and chlorophyll content of 6.83 mg/g. Furthermore, this treatment increased soil organic carbon content by 7.51% and reduced bulk density to 0.58 g/cm. In conclusion, the bending technique wasproven to be more advantageous than pruning, especially when combined with chicken manure and NPK fertilizer for enhancing coffee management among farmers.

Integrated use of organic and synthetic fertilizers improves soil functioning, growth, yield and quality attributes of maize

The combined use of organic and chemical fertilizers may prove to be an excellent option for maintaining soil health, increasing fertilizer use efficiency, and improving crop quality and yield of maize. So, with this objective in mind a pot experiment was conducted to find out the effectiveness of organic and synthetic fertilizers on the yield and quality of maize crop. Two organic fertilizer levels (FYM and Press-mud @ 2% and 4% of each) were tested separately and in combination with recommended NPK fertilizers (160: 80: 60 kg ha-1). The experimental units were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications. The results showed that the combined use of NPK + press mud @ 4% caused a significant increase in grain numbers per cob (8.6%), weight of grains per cob (11.5%), grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, stalk yield, and oil and protein contents up to 11.5%, 6.3%, 19.7%, 12.6% and 12.0%, respectively as compared to the control treatment. The oil and protein contents were also improved significantly over the sole application of NPK fertilizer. Soil health was also improved due to the combined use of synthetic fertilizer with 4% press mud and 2% FYM. It is concluded that integrated use of NPK fertilizers and press mud @ 4% not only increased the quality and yield of maize, but it also improved soil health.

Effect of pineapple waste biochar and compost application on the growth and yield of pineapple varieties in Ghana

IntroductionBiochar is one of the commonly used soil amendments for sustainable agriculture. The effect of biochar on crop yields depends on the quality of the biochar, which is influenced by feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions. Sole application of pineapple waste biochar and compost, and their combination has not been rigorously investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of pineapple waste biochar and compost applied solely or in combination on growth and yield of pineapple on a coastal savanna Acrisol in Ghana.MethodsThe split-plot design with three replications was used, with pineapple varieties as the main plot and fertilizer application rates as the sub-plots.Results and discussionThe results showed that sole application of biochar and compost or their combination as a soil amendment increased pineapple growth and yield as compared to the unamended soil. Biochar applied in combination with compost/or inorganic NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) fertilizer significantly increased plant height and the number of leaves of pineapple plant, which resulted in improved fruits yield of the three (sugar loaf, MD2 and smooth cayenne) pineapple varieties at maturity over control, sole application of biochar, compost and inorganic NPK fertilizer. The Smooth cayenne variety outperformed MD2 and Sugar loaf variety.ConclusionIn conclusion, the results revealed that biochar applied solely or in addition to compost or inorganic NPK fertilizer has the capability to enhance soil quality and improve pineapple yield. Application of biochar in combination with compost/or inorganic NPK improves pineapple growth and yield.

OPTIMIZING PLANT HEALTH THROUGH IoT

Design and implement a smart plant watering system that uses IoT technology to monitor and regulate moisture levels in flower pots. The system should be able to automatically adjust watering frequency and amount based on real-time moisture measurements to ensure plant health and minimize water loss. In addition to our commitment to holistic plant care, an additional feature, NPK fertilizer, has been seamlessly integrated into the system. Containing essential nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, this feature optimizes plant growth and health. This system automatically applies fertilizer according to a pre-set schedule or on-the-fly adjustments, creating the perfect solution for efficient and sustainable plant growth. The main goal is to create convenient and sustainable solutions. Meets the needs of both experienced and novice plant enthusiasts. Keywords: Internet of Things, NPK fertilizer, humidity sensor, WiFi module, buzzer, motor.

Intensitas Aplikasi PSB (Photosynthetic Bacteria) dan Pemberian Pupuk Daun pada Tanaman Buncis (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Beans are a type of legume that has important nutritional value for healt and has the potential to be developed, both in the lowlands and highlands. Beans contain 2.4 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 7.7 g carbohydrates, as a source of calories and 6.5 g calcium, 4.4 g phosphorus, 1.1 g iron, 630 mg vitamin A, vitamins B1 0.08 mg, vitamin B2 0.01, vitamin B3 0.7 mg, vitamin C 1.90 mg, calories 35 cal and water content 89 grams which greatly affect the quality of public health (Waluyo and Djuriah, 2013). This research was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022, in Pancakarya Village, Ajung District, Jember Regency, East Java. This study used a factorial pattern consisting of two factors with three replications in a randomized block design (RAK). The first factor is type of fertilizer (P) which consists of no fertilizer (P0), NPK fertilizer (P1), and complete fertilizer (P2). The second factor is intensity (I), which consists of PSB once a week (I1) and PSB twice a week (I2). The combination of fertilization consists of PSB Bacterial Culture + NPK Fertilizer and a combination of PSB Bacterial Culture + Complete Fertilizer. The collected data were analyzed by means of variance (Anova), if significantly different, then followed by BNT’s test of 5%. The result showed that the type of fertilizer (P) dan Intensity (I) treatments on the appearance of flowers, number of branches, and fruit weight.

An active-optical reflectance sensor in-field testing for the prediction of winter wheat harvest metrics

The ambition of this study was to justify the possibility of wheat trait prediction using NDVI from a newly developed Plant-O-Meter sensor. Acquired data from Plant-O-Meter was matched with GreenSeeker's, which was designated as a reference. The experiment was carried out in the field during the 2022 growing season at the long-term experimental field. The experimental design included five different winter wheat genotypes and 20 different NPK fertilizer treatments. The GreenSeeker sensor always gave out NDVI values that were higher than those of the Plant-O-Meter by, on average, 0.029 (6.36%). The Plant-O-Meter sensor recorded similar NDVI values (94% of the variation is explained, p<0.01). The Plant-O-Meter's NDVIs had a higher CV for different wheat varieties and different sensing dates. For almost all varieties, GreenSeeker exceeded Plant-O-Meter in predicting yields for the early (March 21st) and late (June 6th) growing seasons. NDVIGreenSeeker data improved yield modeling performance by an average of 5.1% when compared to NDVIPlant-O-Meter; in terms of plant height prediction, NDVIGreenSeeker was 3% more accurate than NDVIPlant-O-Meter and no changes in spike length prediction were found. A compact, economical and user-friendly solution, the Plant-O-Meter, is straightforward to use in wheat breeding programs as well as mercantile wheat production.

Effect of nitrogen reduction by chemical fertilization with green manure (Vicia sativa L.) on soil microbial community, nitrogen metabolism and and yield of Uncaria rhynchophylla by metagenomics.

Uncaria rhynchophylla is an important herbal medicine, and the predominant issues affecting its cultivation include a single method of fertilizer application and inappropriate chemical fertilizer application. To reduce the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilization and increase the yield of Uncaria rhynchophylla, field experiments in 2020-2021 were conducted. The experimental treatments included the following categories: S1, no fertilization; S2, application of chemical NPK fertilizer; and S3-S6, application of chemical fertilizers and green manures, featuring nitrogen fertilizers reductions of 0%, 15%, 30%, and 45%, respectively. The results showed that a moderate application of nitrogen fertilizer when combined with green manure, can help alleviate soil acidification and increase urease activity. Specifically, the treatment with green manure provided in a 14.71-66.67% increase in urease activity compared to S2. Metagenomics sequencing results showed a decrease in diversity in S3, S4, S5, and S6 compared to S2, but the application of chemical fertilizer with green manure promoted an increase in the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi. In addition, the nitrification pathway displayed a progressive augmentation in tandem with the reduction in nitrogen fertilizer and application of green manure, reaching its zenith at S5. Conversely, other nitrogen metabolism pathways showed a decline in correlation with diminishing nitrogen fertilizer dosages. The rest of the treatments showed an increase in yield in comparison to S1, S5 showing significant differences (p < 0.05). In summary, although S2 demonstrate the ability to enhance soil microbial diversity, it is important to consider the long-term ecological impacts, and S5 may be a better choice.

Application of Multispectral Drone for Quantitative Assessment of the Fertilizer Requirement for the Up-country Tea Plantation in Sri Lanka

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The amount of chlorophyll content and structure would differ between diseased and healthy plants, affecting the NDVI values, which strongly correlated with fertilizer applications. The primary goal of this research is to use a multispectral drone to quantify the fertilizer requirements for the sample tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. In contrast, a drone with multispectral imaging camera sensors was used to gather images covering blue, green, red, red-edge, and near-infrared bands. The collected images were analyzed, and geographic outputs were generated. The processed geospatial data were used to determine the NDVI values for each tea field, and the general health of the tea was estimated. Finally, NDVI readings and geospatial products from each tea field related to soil analytical data. Based on the NDVI values, 25 selected soil samples were collected using sampling plots. The concentrations of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were then determined using standard soil testing procedures. Finally, soil analysis results were combined with the geospatial data. In addition, the amount of Dolomite for each tea field was calculated based on the pH values, and the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium was calculated as yield and area and based on the number of tea bushes. The tea plantations show an NDVI range of 0.76-0.81 for low healthy tea, 0.81-0.86 for medium healthy tea and 0.86-0.97 for healthy tea. The healthiness percentages of one of the tea plantation show 18% healthy tea, 54% medium healthy tea, and 22% low healthy tea. Conversely, the healthiness percentages of the other tea plantation show 44% healthy tea, 39% medium healthy tea and 17% low healthy tea based on the NDVI value. The average value of pH, EC, N, P, and K are 4.84, 41.58, 0.29, 0.11, 0.04 in tea plantations, respectively, and in other planation, average values of pH, EC, N%, P%, and K% are 4.83, 40.96, 0.36, 0.25, 0.04 respectively. The amounts of Dolomite for each tea field are 2685.32 Kg/ha and 977.34 Kg/ha. In one tea field, an average annual NPK fertilizer need is 685 kg per hectare, 94 kg per hectare, and 269 kg per hectare, respectively. Additionally, calculations based on tea bushes indicate that the average annual NPK fertilizer requirements are 685 kg, 89 kg, and 254 kg, respectively. Other tea filed average annual NPK fertilizer need is 88 kg per hectare, 24 kg per hectare, and 68 kg per hectare, respectively. Additionally, calculations based on tea bushes indicate that the average annual NPK fertilizer requirements are 90 kg, 25 kg, and 70 kg, respectively. However, these values have several limitations, such as climate, soil, plant, and cultural practices. This study mainly focuses on and creates Insights into Plant Health by assessing precise plant-level data using a multispectral imaging system. It had not been correlated with other factors except soil conditions.&#x0D; Keywords: Unmanned aerial vehicles, Multispectral, NDVI, Tea, Fertilizer&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Performance of sesame varieties (&lt;i&gt;Sesemum indicum&lt;/i&gt; L.) as influenced by period of stress and NPK fertilizer rates in the Sudan Savannah

Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa to evaluate the response of sesame varieties to stress period and NPK fertilization in Sudan savannah. The treatments were two sesame varieties (NCRIBEN 01 and NCRIBEN 03) three water stress period (at seedling, flowering and podding stages), three NPK application rates (200, 270 and 340 kg NPKha-1). The experimental design used was randomized complete block design (RCBD) laid out in a split plot arrangement where the factorial combination of fertilizer rates and water stress periods were assigned to the main plot and varieties allocated to the sub plot and replicated three times. Results showed that variety NCRIBEN 03 recorded more capsules and higher capsule weight per plant and a grain yield of 1111.4 kg ha-1 and 1168.8kgha-1, in 2012/13 and 2013/14 dry seasons respectively. Stressing sesame at podding lead to 17 and 29% decline in number of pods and pod weight per plant, respectively and31% drop in grain yield. Application of 340 kg NPK fertilizer ha1 had highest yield of 1018 and 1078 kg ha-1 in 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons, respectively. The use of variety NCRIBEN 03 + 340 kg NPK fertilizer ha1+ stressing sesame at seedling stage will give best grain yield of sesame.

Aplikasi Formulasi Kapur, Bahan Organik dan Pupuk NPK terhadap Kadar Aluminium dan Besi serta Pertumbuhan Jagung di Lahan Pasca-Tambang Batubara

The level of solubility of aluminum and iron metals in the soil is one of the post-coal mining land problems. The high solubility of Al and Fe can be toxic to plants, so that plants are difficult to grow. This study aims to reduce the solubility of Al and Fe using formulations of liming, organic matter, and NPK fertilizer and to examine their effects on the growth and height of corn in post-coal mining land. The study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a single factor of ameliorant formulation. The treatment consisted of 10 treatments and was repeated three times, so there were 30 experimental units. The results showed that the application of ameliorant formulation of liming, organic matter, and NPK fertilizer had an effect on decreasing the solubility of Al and Fe in the soil and increasing the growth of corn in post-coal mining land. Soil that has been applied with K1 treatment (lime 3 t ha-1) can give the best results in reducing the solubility of Al and Fe metals in the soil. Application K2 treatment (giving organic matter 10 t ha-1), gave the best results for increasing the growth of corn in post-coal mining land. The best treatment for reducing Al and Fe soluble and increasing plant height growth was found in the treatment of lime 3 t ha-1 + organic matter 10 t ha-1 + NPK fertilizer 50 kg t ha-1, which was 0.42 (me 100g soil-1), 4.48 (ppm) and 108 (cm). The conclusion of this research is that the application of lime formulations, organic materials and NPK fertilizer is able to reduce levels of Al-dd, soluble Fe in the soil and increase the height growth of corn plants. Dolomite is able to reduce Al-dd and Fe-soluble levels. The application of organic and inorganic fertilizers affects the growth of corn height.

PLANTING FERTILIZATION AND Metarhizium anisopliae INOCULATION IN THE INITIAL GROWTH OF SUGARCANE

The study aimed to evaluate the interaction between fertilizer doses (N:P:K) at planting the inoculation of the Metahizium anisopliae fungus in sugarcane billets during the initial development of the plant. The experiment was conducted in pots, under full sun, in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, specified as follows: with and without inoculation of the fungus in the billets and five doses of NPK fertilizer (0%, 50%, 75%; 100%, and 125% of recommended fertilization). Plant height was measured at 53, 77, and 91 days after planting (DAP), and the root and shoot dry matter (DM) was quantified at 91 DAP. There was no significant influence of the interaction between fungus and NPK fertilizer doses (P&gt;0.05) on all variables analyzed. However, a significant difference was observed for inoculation (P&lt;0.05) and doses of NPK fertilizer &lt;0.05). Inoculation of M. anisopliae resulted in greater plant height and root and shoot DM than non-inoculated plants, regardless of fertilizer doses. In this sense, new studies must be conducted to find a way to reduce the use of NPK fertilizer in sugarcane by M. anisopliae inoculation.

Prediction of post-harvest soil nutrient status through multiple linear regression for targeted yield of hybrid maize

A field experiment was conducted during 2017–18 at Crop Research Centre (CRC), Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, to develop post-harvest soil test values (PHSTVs) and response type of fertilizers with the help of fertilizer prescription equations for achieving targeted yield of hybrid maize following STCR principle. In the present study, the response of hybrid maize to selected four levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and three levels of farm yard manure (FYM) at graded fertility levels was studied. Nutrient requirements (NR) of maize were recorded as 22, 5 and 27 kg/tonnes for N, P, and K, respectively. The contribution of NPK nutrients was observed; from fertilizer (%CF) at 58.2, 62.7, and 420.4%, from soil (%CS) at 33.1, 26.8, and 22.7%, from FYM (% C FYM) at 45.2, 14.4 and 39.4% and from fertilizer with FYM (% IPNM) as 62.4, 63.5 and 427.6%, respectively. Integration of N, P, and K fertilizers with FYM (10 t/ha) resulted in fertilizer savings of 31.2%, 18%, and 16% over NPK alone for a target yield of 4500 kg/ha on soil test values of 150, 35 and 200 kg/ha of KMnO4 -N, Olsen-P and NH4 OAc-K, respectively. The fertilizer response type for phosphorus was “+ - - “. The response of hybrid maize to NPK fertilizers was higher when integrated with FYM as compared to NPK alone. The prediction equations for PHSTVs help in predicting soil test values (STVs) which may save the cost of testing.

The Effect of Planting Media and NPK Fertilizer Doses on the Growth of Oil Mangrove Seeds (Rhizophora apiculata)

This study aims to determine the effect of planting media on the growth of Oil Mangrove (Rhizophora apicutala) seedlings, to determine the effect of NPK fertilizer doses on Oil Mangrove (Rhizophora apicutala) seedling growth, to determine the interaction effect of planting media and NPK fertilizer doses on Oil Mangrove seedling growth. (Rhizophora apicutala). This study used a factorial randomized block design, with the first factor being the planting medium (M) consisting of M1: Topsoil, M2: Sandy Mud Soil, and the second factor being the dose of NPK fertilizer (B) consisting of B1: 0 g/polybag, B2: 9 g/polybag, B3: 12 g/polybag, B4: 15 g/polybag. The treatment was repeated 3 times to obtain 24 experimental units. The research showed that the treatment of planting media had no significant effect on the growth of oil mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora apiculata) except for the seedling height of 4 WAP, the NPK dose treatment had a significant effect on the growth of oil mangrove seedlings except for the variable number of leaves 4 WAP, 8 WAP, and dry weight, treatment interactions. the planting medium and doses of NPK fertilizer had no significant effect on the growth of oil mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora apiculata) except for plant height of 4 WAP, the dose of NPK 15 g/polybag gave the best growth of oil mangrove seedlings.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN PUPUK KANDANG AYAM DAN PUPUK NPK 17:17:17 TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT TANAMAN PORANG (Amorphophallus oncophyllus)

This study aims to determine the effect of giving chicken manure and NPK 17:17:17 fertilizer to the growth of Porang seedlings, as well as the interaction between the two. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RAK) with 2 factorials, namely, treatment of chicken manure (K) doses with 3 levels, namely: K1 = 20 gr/polybag, K2 = 40 gr/polybag and K3 = 60 gr/polybag, and treatment dose of NPK 17:17:17 (N) fertilizer with 3 levels, namely: N1 = 5 gr/polybag, N2 = 6 gr/polybag and N3 = 7 gr/polybag. The parameters observed in this study were: plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), leaf width (cm) and number of leaves (strands). The results showed that the application of chicken manure had a significant effect on the leaf width parameter (cm). The best results were obtained in the K2 treatment (40 g/polybag). The application of NPK 17:17:17 fertilizer had a very significant effect on plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm) and number of leaves (strands). The best results were obtained in the N1 treatment (5 g/polybag). There is no interaction between chicken manure and NPK fertilizer 17:17:17.

Reduction of the mangosteen tree (Garcinia mangostana L.) production cycle: effect of soil type and fertilisers

BackgroundShortening the vegetative cycle of slow-growing crops is a significant challenge for breeders, agronomists, and growers. This reduction is particularly crucial for the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) as it would make it easier for farmers to adopt this crop. The mangosteen tree is notoriously slow-growing, taking between 8 and 15 years to produce its first fruits. The plant's slow growth and late fruiting pose a significant obstacle to its adoption and spread in rural areas. In Côte d'Ivoire, these constraints have limited its cultivation to small farms owned by a few producers. However, it could be an alternative for diversifying agricultural income and contributing to poverty reduction in rural areas. This study aims to evaluate the effects of soil type and fertiliser on the agronomic parameters of mangosteen tree growth. The goal is to contribute to shortening its vegetative phase.ResultsThe study results indicate that soil type and fertiliser have a significant effect on mangosteen growth parameters. Evaluating the agronomic performance of mangosteen, it was found that lowland soil promotes better plant growth. Growth rate and height growth were found to be significantly influenced (p = 0.03). After 36 months of monitoring, the growth rates for mangosteen trees grown on lowland soil were 53.08 ± 7.30%, while those grown on forest soil were 41.51 ± 13.43%. Additionally, the use of foliar and granular N-P-K fertilisers resulted in earlier fruiting, starting from the 5th year of cultivation.ConclusionsThe results showed that fertilisers play a crucial role in managing and shortening the juvenile phase of the mangosteen tree. Foliar and NPK fertilisers performed exceptionally well, resulting in earlier fruiting of mangosteen trees, starting from the 5th year of cultivation.

Effectiveness of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer on the growth and yield of shallot

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer on the growth and yield of shallot. This research was carried out in Malang Regency on DS 2019, using of plot 3.5 m x 5 m with 9 treatments, using RBD, repeated 3 times. The treatment includes: A. Control, B. Half of Fertilization Recommended/HFR, C. HFR + NPK 2 g.l-1 water, D. HFR + NPK 4 g.l-1 water, E. HFR + NPK 6 g.l-1 water, F. Full of Fertilization Recommended/FFR, G. FFR + NPK 2 g.l-1 water, H. FFR + NPK 4 g.l-1 water, I. FFR + NPK 6 g.l-1 water. The results showed the application of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer as much as 6 g.l-1 water combined with 150 kg Urea.ha-1 +250 kg ZA.ha-1 +100 kg SP36.ha-1 +100 kg KCl.ha-1 (treatment E) obtained of dry tuber weight of 14.28 t.ha-1 with an R/C ratio of 4.10. Applying liquid of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer on shallot plants can reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers of full recommendation and is economically feasible.

The effect of NPK fertiliser on oil palm coefficient as a baseline water management during the nursery phase

The Indonesian government views the oil palm industry as a promising sector for poverty alleviation. The germination process of seeds is influenced by water, requiring careful management. This study investigated the impact of NPK application and NPK fertiliser on the crop coefficient value of Tenera variety oil palm seedlings. The entisol soil used had a sandy clay texture, with sand comprising 81.00% of the soil composition. The soil texture, organic matter, bulk density, particle density, porosity, evapotranspiration, potential evaporation, percolation, moisture content at field capacity, and oven-dried root weight were measured with and without fertiliser to 50 oil palm trees at 3 to 6 months of age. The results show that NPK application has affected oil palm’s crop coefficient and growth. The highest dry root weight and plant coefficient obtained without fertiliser and with fertilisers at six months were 24.76 gr and 33.89 gr, 0.626 and 0.65, respectively. Root biomass, a sign of plant health and nutrient uptake, shows fertilization’s long-term effects. Six-month-old plants, especially fertiliser ones, have more extensive root dry weights, indicating persistent nutrition uptake and long-term resistance. Nutrient management is crucial to agricultural productivity, affecting the current crop and future growth phases.

Sustainable cultivation of red chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.) through a composition of NPK and biological organics fertilizers

One form of sustainable agricultural activity that can be carried out is by implementing environmentally friendly agriculture, such as applying inorganic and biological organic fertilizers. The research aims to obtain a composition of NPK doses and biological organic fertilizer on red chili plants in reducing use of NPK fertilizer to support sustainable chili farming. The fertilizer provided is in the form of palm oil processing waste (sludge) and biofertilizer based on a bacterial consortium. The experimental design used in this research was a completely randomized design (CRD) with six treatments and four replications. The treatment given consisted of a composition of 100% NPK added petroganics (P1), added sludge compost (P2), a composition of 75% NPK added sludge compost (P3), added sludge compost + biofertilizer (P4), a composition of 50% NPK added sludge compost and biofertilizer (P5), and a composition of 25% NPK added sludge compost and biofertilizer (P6). Based on the results, the composition of 75% NPK added sludge compost + biofertilizer gave results relatively the same as the composition of 100% NPK + petroganic fertilizer in several parameters. This shows that sludge compost + biofertilizer can reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer by as much as 25%.