NPK Soil Research Articles

Enhancing Agricultural Practices Through IoT-Based Smart Farming Technologies: A Case Study on Banana Crop Yield Optimization

Aims: Smart farming and precision agriculture have emerged as transformative paradigms in modern agricultural practices, leveraging technological innovations to enhance productivity, sustainability, and efficiency in food production. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the concepts and technologies related to smart farming. The work proposed implements a sensor assisted IoT based model to enhance the overall yield of banana crop, by monitoring the current conditions existing at the site and predicting the alterations to achieve optimal conditions for conducive and healthy growth, further early identification and prediction of infection causing pathogens to have also been embedded in the model. Model designed has been tested on the farm field of banana crop located in the premises of Amity University Lucknow Campus equipped with moisture and humidity sensors (DHT11), NPK soil nutrient sensor, PIR motion sensor (HC-SR501), pH Sensor (pH -450), rain drop sensor along with camera installed drone for infection identification. Data from sensors and drone camera were monitored at regular intervals for future predictions about health and productivity estimate of the crop.

Impact of Different Nutrient Management Strategies for Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium Uptake and Availability in Chilli (Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.)

A field investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, CSKHPKV, Bajaura (Kullu), Himachal Pradesh during kharif, 2022. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications comprising 12 treatment combinations of NPK fertilizers, biofertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB), organic and natural farming on chilli variety ‘Him Palam Mirch-2’. Different nutrient management practices significantly influenced NPK uptake and soil available N, P and K. The results revealed that treatment combination of 100% NPK + 10t vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB recorded significantly the N (1.260%), P (0.156%) and K (1.387%) content in chilli stalk, N (1.870%), P (0.447%) and K (0.865%) content in chilli fruit, total uptake of N (132.34 kg ha-1), P (26.32 kg ha-1) and K (90.60 kg ha-1) by chilli crop. At the end of the experiment, treatment combination of 100% NPK + 10t vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB recorded maximum available N in the soil while maximum P and K was recorded in treatment combination of 100% NPK + 10t vermicompost + PSB. Natural farming practice recorded lowest soil available N, P, nutrient content and uptake while organic farming practice recorded lowest value of soil available. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combined application of NPK fertilizers and organic inputs coupled with biofertilizers proved the best for NPK uptake and soil available N, P and K.

Effect of NPK fertilizer and soil amendments of soybean productivity in saline soil

Salinity on agricultural land due to global warming occurs almost all over the world. Salinity stress was harmful to cultivated plants, including soybeans. Saline soils require the management of nutrients and water to reduce salt from the soil so that plants can grow optimally. This study aims to obtain effective doses of NPK fertilizers and soil amendments for soybean cultivation in saline soils. The research was conducted during the 2019 rainy and dry seasons in Lamongan and Tuban Regencies, East Java Province, Indonesia. The electrical conductivity (EC) of soil during the growing season was 5-12 dSm-1, with irrigation water was 6-7 dSm-1. The treatment consisted of NPK fertilizers, ameliorants: gypsum, manure, and straw mulch, which were arranged in a randomized block design and replicated 15 times. The results showed that the Anjasmoro variety of soybean productivity on saline in the Lamongan Regency during the rainy season was higher (90%) than in the Tuban Regency in the dry season. Application of NPK Fertilizer (46 kg N + 108 kg P2O5+ 60 kg K2O ha-1 + or 400 NPKS kg ha-1 with ameliorants (gypsum 1.5 t ha-1; manure 2.5-5.0 t ha-1 and straw mulch 3.5 t ha-1) have the potential to increase soybean yield up to 2 t ha-1 on saline soil.

Morpho-Quantitative Traits and Interrelationships between Environmental Factors and Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary Attack in Tomato

The growing imperative for sustainable development generates research in the field and explores innovative approaches to manage vegetable crops to reduce the usage of synthetic inputs commonly associated with conventional practices as well as to promote the undertaking of organic solutions. Tomatoes are universally recognized as a highly significant and popular fruit vegetable due to their large use palette. Trials were carried out in the Gâlgău area, Transylvania, Romania. Bifactorial experiments were organized to quantify the influence of fertilization and treatments on the morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the Ruxandra tomato cultivar and on Phytophthora infestans levels of infection. The use of mixed fertilization resulted in the best performances of morphological traits (highest leaf area, highest number of leaves and fruits, highest chlorophyll content) and part of the productive traits (highest content of dry matter), and the lowest levels of infection in cv. Ruxandra, while the use of NPK soil fertilization led to the best performances in fruit weight and NUE, whatever the administered treatment. The treatment with herbal extracts showed a similar efficacy in increasing the averages of morpho-productive traits and diminishing the P. infestans level of infection compared with the conventional treatment. The treatment efficacy was mainly influenced by temperature and relative air humidity, regardless of the fertilization strategies applied.

Application of microalgae in wastewater: opportunity for sustainable development

Industrial sustainability is a process that has been gaining space in recent years. The use of microalgae for wastewater treatment could solve some environmental challenges, optimize resources, and generate value-added products in agriculture, biofuel, food, and feed. The use of High Rate Algal Pond (HRAP) presents economic benefits, by treating contaminated effluents and taking advantage of the microalgae biomass generated. The microalgae growth in wastewater can be limited by lighting energy or the easily assimilable carbon source, due to the high load of nutrients and organic matter present in these effluents. In the same way, other physical, chemical, and biological parameters must be controlled to guarantee that the process reaches its maximum performance. The technology applied with microalgae for the waste industrial treatment seeks to generate sustainable, economical, and efficient processes that guarantee the discharge of water under standard parameters that allow for preserving the environment, the quality of life of citizens and generating inputs such as biofertilizers that allow avoiding crucial problems such as NPK ratio imbalance, soil hardening, salinization, nutrient depletion, groundwater contamination and food for animal consumption that allows generating nutritional alternatives. In this way, the treatment of wastewater with microalgae is an opportunity to solve sanitary and environmental problems under a sustainable approach to obtain inputs, although some challenges must be solved for scale production. This document intends to show outstanding aspects related to effluent treatment, water reuse, and sustainable production of agricultural inputs through the use of microalgae.

Enhanced bioremediation of pesticides contaminated soil using organic (compost) and inorganic (NPK) fertilizers

This research examined the bioremediation of pesticides (Carbofuran and Paraquat) contaminated farmyard soil using compost and Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) fertilizer. Microcosms representing each treatment were set-up in triplicates. Biostimulation was done using two concentrations (0.5 % and 1.0 % w/w) of NPK fertilizer and compost, following pesticides application at recommended rates [Carbofuran (1 g/kg) and Paraquat (5 ml/kg)] and four times the recommended rates. Two control soils were set-up; Abiotic control (sterile farmyard soil + pesticide) and Control (farmyard soil without treatment). Monitoring of the dynamics in microbial community abundance, and pesticide residues during the biostimulation period was done weekly for 28 days, using standard enumeration method, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), respectively. At the end of the monitoring period, considerable reduction in pesticide residues across the treatment set-ups was recorded. In Carbofuran-treated soils, there were no complete, but considerable losses in residual pesticide, however, in most of the Paraquat-treated soils, there were complete losses within 21 days. Lower pesticide residues were recorded in set-ups amended with compost than NPK, across both Carbofuran and Paraquat-treated soils. After pesticides application, decreases in microbial counts were recorded at Day 7 across all the treatments, followed by increases from Day 14–21, then decreases at Day 28. Microbial counts were lower in Carbofuran than in Paraquat-treated soils irrespective of nutrient (compost and NPK) amendments. Bacterial and fungal counts were in the magnitude of 106 and 105 CFU/g soil, respectively. Also, increased counts were recorded for Actinomycetes, Nitrifiers, Phosphate solubilizers across all treatments, and were in magnitude of 103–104 CFU/g soil. Soil microorganisms could breakdown and eliminate large concentrations of Carbofuran and Paraquat in compost-amended soils than in NPK-amended soils. This study suggests that bioremediation of pesticides contaminated soils can be achieved and enhanced by stimulating the indigenous microbial community with requisite nutrients (compost).

Crop load, fruit russeting, vegetative growth traits and leaf nutrient effects as a function of customized foliar nutritive fluids in Gale Gala apple (Malus × domestica) in dry temperate environment

The study exploited the clonal rootstocks for bio-efficacy testing of water soluble customized nutrient (WSCN), viz. K2O:S:Mg:Ca:Zn:B (6:11:5:0.3:0.3:0.4, w/w) on agronomic performance, fruit yield and quality characteristics on Gale Gala apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) grafted onto EMLA.111 and EMLA.7 clonal rootstocks in dry temperate climatic conditions of north-west Himalaya. The trial procedure included tree fertilization of four levels of NPK soil fertilizers (100, 80, 60 and 40% of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF-NPK, 70:35:70, one-year-old tree basis) were supplemented along with WSCN foliar formulation. Application of 60% RDF+75g WSCN+25g urea at 15 DAPF followed by 75g WSCN at 30 and 45 DAPF improved growth traits, fruit coloration, fruit yield and quality attributes. All applied concentrations of WSCN reduced russeting in Gale Gala apple significantly. The effects of the integrated fertilizers schedules with WSCN on russet control were also evaluated. EMLA.111 was the most suitable clonal rootstock, where, the rate of russeting on fruits was less compared to EMLA.7 irrespective of the WSCN treatments tested. The phenological observations in relation to the initiation of the flowering lasting for 19 days were also recorded. The pest management programme was adopted to manage the apple pest complex. Between the different schedules with foliar WSCN, the differences were also recorded in amount of russeting on EMLA.111/ EMLA.7 rootstocks compared to control. The schedules with foliar WSCN on a wet canopy noticed less russetted fruits. The study also identified the relationship between yield and productivity traits using path coefficient analysis to know the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on managerial ability of the crop. Principle component analysis (PCA) of fruit quality traits was also worked out for differences among WSCN formulations tested which accounted 100% of the cumulative variance.

IoT-Enabled Soil Nutrient Analysis and Crop Recommendation Model for Precision Agriculture

Healthy and sufficient crop and food production are very much essential for everyone as the population is increasing globally. The production of crops affects the economy of a country to a great extent. In agriculture, observing the soil, weather, and water availability and, based on these factors, selecting an appropriate crop, finding the availability of seeds, analysing crop demand in the market, and having knowledge of crop cultivation are important. At present, many advancements have been made in recent times, starting from crop selection to crop cutting. Mainly, the roles of the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and machine learning tools help a farmer to analyse and make better decisions in each stage of cultivation. Once suitable crop seeds are chosen, the farmer shall proceed with seeding, monitoring crop growth, disease detection, finding the ripening stage of the crop, and then crop cutting. The main objective is to provide a continuous support system to a farmer so that he can obtain regular inputs about his field and crop. Additionally, he should be able to make proper decisions at each stage of farming. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, the cloud, sensors, and other automated devices shall be included in the decision support system so that it will provide the right information within a short time span. By using the support system, a farmer will be able to take decisive measures without fully depending on the local agriculture offices. We have proposed an IoT-enabled soil nutrient classification and crop recommendation (IoTSNA-CR) model to recommend crops. The model helps to minimise the use of fertilisers in soil so as to maximise productivity. The proposed model consists of phases, such as data collection using IoT sensors from cultivation lands, storing this real-time data into cloud memory services, accessing this cloud data using an Android application, and then pre-processing and periodic analysis of it using different learning techniques. A sensory system was prepared with optimised cost that contains different sensors, such as a soil temperature sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a water level indicator, a pH sensor, a GPS sensor, and a colour sensor, along with an Arduino UNO board. This sensory system allowed us to collect moisture, temperature, water level, soil NPK colour values, date, time, longitude, and latitude. The studies have revealed that the Agrinex NPK soil testing tablets should be applied to a soil sample, and then the soil colour can be sensed using an LDR colour sensor to predict the phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and potassium (K) values. These collected data together were stored in Firebase cloud storage media. Then, an Android application was developed to fetch and analyse the data from the Firebase cloud service from time to time by a farmer. In this study, a novel approach was identified via the hybridisation of algorithms. We have developed an algorithm using a multi-class support vector machine with a directed acyclic graph and optimised it using the fruit fly optimisation method (MSVM-DAG-FFO). The highest accuracy rate of this algorithm is 0.973, compared to 0.932 for SVM, 0.922 for SVM kernel, and 0.914 for decision tree. It has been observed that the overall performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of accuracy, recall, precision, and F-Score is high compared to other methods. The IoTSNA-CR device allows the farmer to maintain his field soil information easily in the cloud service using his own mobile with minimum knowledge. Additionally, it reduces the expenditure to balance the soil minerals and increases productivity.

The effect of adding compound fertilizer of NPK and Humic acid on the availability of NPK soil and cabbage yield

A field experiment was conducted in Jdeidet Al-Shatt in Diyala Governorate during the fall season of 2021. According to modern American classification, silt loam soil is classified at a level lower than Typic Torrifluvent. To study the effect of NPK and humic acid addition on soil NPK availability and total cabbage yield according to RCBD randomized complete block design with three replications. The balanced 20:20:20 NPK compound fertilizer was added at three levels, 0,150,300 kg ha-1 and humic acid at three levels, 0, 15 and 30 kg ha-1. The fertilizers were added to the soil in two batches, the first during the planting process and the second 43 days after the date of the first batch. The concentrations of elements were measured in two stages, and the total yield of cabbage. The results of the study showed the superiority of the compound fertilizer NPK at the level of 300 kg ha-1 of NPK elements and in the first stage 46days (before the emergence of the head), where the concentration of NPK elements reached 36.59 mg kg-1, 35.55 mg kg-1, 224.90 mg kg-1, respectively. While the superiority of the humic acid at the level of 30 kg ha-1 to 30.44 mg kg-1, 25.13 mg kg-1, and 209.39 mg kg-1, respectively. As for the compound fertilizer at the second stage106 days (when the head is fully mature), the concentration of NPK elements and cabbage yield reached 27.17 mg kg-1, 36.92 mg kg-1, 208.69 mg kg-1, 68.23kg Mg ha-1, while the humic acid was 22.86 mg kg-1, 27.91 mg kg-1, 197.11 mg kg-1, 57.53 Mg ha-1, respectively. Keywords: NPK compound fertilizer, Humic acid, NPK readiness, cabbage

Effect of integration of poultry manure and vinasse on the abundance and diversity of soil fauna, soil fertility index, and barley (Hordeum aestivum L.) growth in calcareous soils

Background:In Egypt, calcareous soils represent a large part of desert soils suffering from a shortage of nutrients and organic matter, affecting production and biological diversity in agroecosystems. Organic wastes, negatively affect the environment, recycling it as a promising technology in different farming systems, and its impact on crop productivity and soil fauna is largely unknown. In this study, the effects of integrating poultry manure (PM) alone or combined with vinasse (V) at rates of 4.2 g kg− 1 and 6.3 g kg− 1 in pots, on improving soil fauna diversity, soil fertility, soil consistency and yield of barley (Hordeum aestivum L.) grown in a calcareous soil were investigated.Results:The results showed that the addition of PM alone or combined with V at different rates led to a significant increase in the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), organic matter (OM), NPK soil availability and yield of barley. The addition of 6.3 g PM and 4.2 g V kg− 1 soil have the best results in OM with 65.0% compared to control, and V contributes more than 16% of them. Prostigmata and Collembola were the dominant groups and accounted for 43.3% and 50.0% in the PM1 and 50.0% and 20.0% in the PM2 of the total individuals, respectively. Shannon and Evenness indices increased significantly with the soil amended by PM alone or combined with V. Soil fauna plays a key role in soil consistency because of a significant relationship between soil fauna and soil OM, MBC and soil fertility index. The addition of 6.3 g PM and 4.2 g V kg− 1 soil gave the best results in grain yield by 76.90% compared to the control.Conclusion:In conclusion, the interaction between PM and V can be used as a promising organic amendments to increase barley yield and improve efficiency of a recycled PM and V on soil fauna and soil fertility of calcareous soil.

Evaluation of vermicompost on development and yield of beetroot (Beta vulgaris)

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources for 10 weeks (19 March – 28 May 2019) under irrigated conditions. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of vermicompost on the growth and yield of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) under (i) four doses of vermicompost, (ii) three doses of mineral fertilizer, and (iii) ordinary soil (as control). A randomized complete design had polyethylene pots with 8 treatments, namely 4 doses (5, 10, 20 and 30 tonne/ha) of vermicompost, 3 doses (50, 100 and 200% of 50 kg bag/ha) of NPK (2:3:2) and ordinary soil (as control), of three replicates. Data on growth and yield parameters were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis Software computer package (SAS version 9.3). Analysis of variance and means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test at 5% confidence level. The results of this study showed that 30 tonne/ha vermicompost treatment gave great potential to increase the performance, growth and yield of beetroot plant and improvement of soil quality. The four doses of vermicompost gave higher significant growth and yield of beetroot than the three doses of NPK [2:3:2] fertilizer and ordinary soil. The minimum quantity of 5 tonne/ha of vermicompost is, therefore, recommended as a natural fertilizer for root crops, vegetable crops and other crops for increased and sustainable agricultural systems.

Rendimiento, rentabilidad y eficiencia agronómica de nitrógeno en maíz de secano con fertilización foliar complementaria de Zn y Mo

The research aimed to evaluate the effect of complementary foliar applications of Zn and Mo on the yield, profitability, and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in rainfed maize. The work was carried out during the rainy seasons of 2020 and 2021 in the Carrizal river valley, Manabí, Ecuador. The treatments evaluated were: NPK soil fertilization supplemented with foliar application of Zn and Mo (T1) and NPK soil fertilization without foliar application of Zn and Mo (T2). Grain yield (RG), agronomic efficiency of N (EAN), and the net economic benefit of fertilization (BEN) were recorded. Data were analyzed with Student's t-test for paired observations. Treatment T1 increased the RG by 15.58% and 14.03% during 2020 and 2021, respectively, concerning treatment T2. Similarly, the T1 treatment increased the EAN by 28.30% and 24.60% in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, respectively, concerning the T2 treatment. Finally, treatment T1 produced the highest BEN, with an increase of 23.05% and 16.37%, during 2020 and 2021, respectively, about treatment T2. Complementary foliar fertilization with Zn and Mo enhanced the effect of NPK soil fertilization and increased yield, profitability, and EAN in rainfed maize.

Climate nutrient management for various sources and levels of fertilizers on soil nutrients, growth and yield of maize (Zea mays l.) in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India

Global climate change is expected to soil processes and properties, which are important for restoring soil fertility and low productivity. The field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Agricultural College, and Research Institute, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, during Kharif season 2021 to study of various sources and fertilizers' levels to influence under deficit and excess water conditions on soil fertility, growth, and yield of maize (Zea mays). The study revealed that excess and deficit water condition in moisture regime irrigations at Irrigation water / Cumulative Pan Evaporation (IW/CPE) ratio of 1.0 along with nutrient management practices (N8) 125 % Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) - NPK soil application by 1 % foliar spray of micronutrient mixture. Significantly higher of mean values available nitrogen (225 kg ha-1), available phosphorous (20.81 kg ha-1), available potassium (351 kg ha-1), dry matter production (DMP) (16,404 kg ha-1), plant height (250 cm) and yield (9,030 kg ha-1) and was comparable with IW/CPE ratio of 0.8, 0.6 along with others nutrient management practices at 100 % and 75 % STCR - NPK followed by foliar sprays 2 % NPK (19:19:19) and Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) 1 %. Hence, under a normal water availability situation, irrigation at an IW/CPE ratio of 0.8 was good enough to produce a higher yield, while under deficit and excess water conditions IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 along with125 % STCR-NPK by foliar spray of micronutrient mixture of 1 % was suitable for obtaining optimum nutrient management for enhancing soil fertility, growth and yield of maize.

A Comprehensive Review On Earthworms’ Vermicompost: A Strategy For Sustainable Waste Management

‘Vermicompost’, an organic fertilizer rich in NPK, micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes (nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacteria and actinomycetes), is a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, which is an excellent growth promoter and protector for crop plants. Today ‘vermicompost’ is an important component of organic farming systems, because it is easy to prepare, has excellent properties, and is harmless to plants. Researches show that vermicompost further stimulates plant growth even when plants are already receiving ‘optimal nutrition.’ Vermicompost is rich in NKP (nitrogen 2-3%, potassium 1.85-2.25%, and phosphorus 1.55-2.25%), micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes and also composed of ‘plant growth hormones & enzymes.’ It is scientifically proving as ‘miracle growth promoter and also plant protector’ from pests and diseases. Vermicompost retains nutrients for a long time, while the conventional compost fails to deliver the required amount of macro and micronutrients, including the vital NKP to plants in shorter time. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the current status of Vermicomposting as a pathway of sustainable waste management in India as well as worldwide.

Fungal key players of cellulose utilization: Microbial networks in aggregates of long-term fertilized soils disentangled using 13C-DNA-stable isotope probing

Long-term compost application accelerates organic carbon (C) accumulation and macroaggregate formation in soil. Stable aggregates and high soil organic C (SOC) content are supposed to increase microbiota activity and promote transformation of litter compounds (i.e., cellulose) into SOC. Here, we used 13C-DNA-stable isotope probing with subsequent high-throughput sequencing to characterize fungal succession and co-occurrence trends during 13C-cellulose decomposition in aggregate size classes in soils subjected to no fertilizer (control), nitrogen‐phosphorus‑potassium (NPK) fertilizers, and compost (Compost) application for 27 years. Ascomycota (mostly saprotrophic fungi) were always highly competitive for cellulose in all aggregate size classes at the early stages of cellulose decomposition (20 days). Compost-treated soil was enriched with Ascomycota compared to the control soil, wherein Sordariomycetes, the majority, strongly dominated the cellulose utilization (13C incorporation in DNA). 13C-labeled fungal communities converged in the Compost soil, with lower abundance and diversity compared with the NPK and control soils. Such convergence led to greater cellulose decomposition, indicating that compost amendment increased the capacity of a few dominant fungal taxa to decompose litter. Compost soil had more 13C-labeled fungal decomposers in microaggregates and lower fungal decomposers in macroaggregates when compared with the levels in the NPK and control soils. This implies that compost application facilitates fungal colonization towards smaller aggregates. Fungal interactions were reinforced in microaggregates (<250 μm), with more positive associations than those in macroaggregates (>250 μm), indicating greater fungal synergism for recalcitrant resource utilization in microaggregates. The keystone taxa in the co-occurrence networks were not related to cellulose decomposition in microaggregates, but did in macroaggregates. The findings advance a process-based understanding of cellulose utilization by fungal key players based on C and energy availability and the regulation of microbial activity at the aggregate level.

Integrative NPK soil and foliar application improves growth, yield, antioxidant, and nutritional status of Capsicum annuum L. in sandy soils under semi-arid condition

Soils of arid and semi-arid environments are characterized by scant moisture conditions, low clay and organic matter contents, low water holding capacity and low inherent fertility, and hence various management practices including foliar fertilization is essential. The present study aims at assessing the effect of integrated soil and foliar application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers on growth, yield, and contents of some osmoprotectants, antioxidant, and nutritional status of Capsicum annuum (L.) in sandy soil under semi-arid condition. A pot experiment was conducted with five NPK application treatments: 100% added to the soil + 0% foliar spray, 75% soil + 25% foliar spray, 50% soil + 50% foliar spray, 25% soil + 75% foliar spray, and 0% soil + 100% foliar spray. The results of the study indicate that the integrated treatment of 50% soil + 50% foliar spray proved to be the best treatment compared with other treatments. This treatment significantly increased growth components (leaf area plant‒1, shoot fresh and dry weights) and yield (number of fruits plant‒1, average fruit weight, and fruits weight plant‒1), and the contents of soluble sugars, free proline, and nutrients (NPK); while significantly reduced the contents of ascorbate and glutathione compared to other treatments, including the control. The combined treatment of 75% soil + 25% foliar spray was the second-best treatment with respect to all tested parameters. The study concludes that the recommend integrated treatment of 50% soil + 50% foliar spray minimizes nutrient loss and achieves higher growth and yield of hot pepper plants under semi-arid condition.

Design and Implementation of Smart Hydroponics Farming Using IoT‐Based AI Controller with Mobile Application System

Hydroponics is the soil less agriculture farming, which consumes less water and other resources as compared to the traditional soil‐based agriculture systems. However, monitoring of hydroponics farming is a challenging task due to the simultaneous supervising of numerous parameters, nutrition suggestion, and plant diagnosis system. But the recent technological developments are quite useful to solve these problems by adopting the artificial intelligence‐based controlling algorithms in agriculture sector. Therefore, this article focuses on implementation of mobile application integrated artificial intelligence based smart hydroponics expert system, hereafter referred as AI‐SHES with Internet of Things (IoT) environment. The proposed AI‐SHES with IoT consists of three phases, where the first phase implements hardware environment equipped with real‐time sensors such as NPK soil, sunlight, turbidity, pH, temperature, water level, and camera module which are controlled by Raspberry Pi processor. The second phase implements deep learning convolutional neural network (DLCNN) model for best nutrient level prediction and plant disease detection and classification. In third phase, farmers can monitor the sensor data and plant leaf disease status using an Android‐based mobile application, which is connected over IoT environment. In this manner, the farmer can continuously track the status of his field using the mobile app. In addition, the proposed AI‐SHES also develops the automated mode, which makes the complete environment in automatic control manner and takes the necessary actions in hydroponics field to increase the productivity. The obtained simulation results on disease detection and classification using proposed AI‐SHES with IoT disclose superior performance in terms of accuracy, F‐measure with 99.29%, and 99.23%, respectively.

Efficacy of different green manuring crops to soil fertility, yield and seed quality of T. aman rice

A series of experiments were conducted on the Agronomy farm and laboratory of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to demonstrated a promising way of increasing soil organic matter, total N in pre sown and postharvest land by green manure cultivation and reducing the inorganic fertilizer inputs in rice production and finally observed the quality of grown T. aman seed in laboratory condition. Several green manures were found more potential in two years regarding their plant height, dry biomass production and better performance concerning organic matter, nitrogen and potassium contribution to soil and increased rice yield. Morphological characteristics of eight green manure crops were studied and incorporated at 45DAS for decomposition. One month after decomposition of green manure, rice (BRRI dhan66) plant was transplanted with 100% NPK (F1) and 50% NPK (F2) and pre sown rice soil, post-harvest soil nutrient statuses were studied. Result showed that Pre shown rice soil increased 0.5 to 0.6% SOM (2nd year), 0.04% soil N (both year) and 0.04% soil K (1st year) which ultimately increase rice yield 62% to 68% (with F1) and 10% to 42% in 1st and 2nd year. Post-harvest soil nutrient status shown the positive balance of (0.1% to 1%) organic matter and total N (0.04% to 0.7%) in the 1st years and 2nd years and P was found drastically increased in 2nd year, respectively. Germination%, germination energy%, seedling length, fresh and dry weight of six month stored rice seedling also found highest from S. rostataand S. aculeataunder laboratory condition. Incorporation of Sesbaniaaculeata, S. rostrata, V. unguiculataand Crotalaria junceaas GM with N significantly influenced the grain yield of rice and pre and post-harvest soil. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2021, 7 (4), 298-311

Varying microbial utilization of straw-derived carbon with different long-term fertilization regimes explored by DNA stable-isotope probing

The decomposition processes of crop residues, which represent the largest organic carbon input in agricultural ecosystems, are determined by soil microbes. However, the impact of different long-term fertilization practices on residue decomposition has not been clearly established. In this study, a microcosm experiment using 13C-labeled maize residues and high-throughput sequencing was performed to investigate bacterial and fungal microbes utilizing straw-derived carbon in soils under separate regimes of long-term fertilization (CK: no fertilizer; NPK: mineral fertilizers; NPKS: mineral fertilizers plus straw). During the 60-day incubation period, a total of 524 bacterial OTUs and 72 fungal OTUs, which utilized straw-derived carbon, were identified and were found to be primarily distributed in the bacterial phyla of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and the fungal class of Sordariomycetes within Ascomycota. The three fertilized soils exhibited distinct straw-utilizing microbial communities along the decomposition process, in which key bacterial taxa (Flavobacterium, Nocardioides, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, Agromyces and Herpetosiphon) and key fungal taxa (Pleosporaceae, Lasiosphaeriaceae and Chaetomiaceae) exhibited significantly positive relationships with extracellular enzymes activities, thereby accelerating the straw decomposition process. Furthermore, due to higher nutrient availability, microbes can rapidly respond to straw addition, therefore, more bacteria and fungi, which are referred to as rapid responders, were identified in NPK and NPKS soils, relative to CK soils. Hierarchical and variation Partitioning (HP) analysis revealed a strong potential impact of multiple edaphic factors in shaping the microbial community to utilize the straw-derived carbon. N resources (NO3−-N and TN) and β-glucosidase were found to be significantly positively correlated with microbial utilizers’ community. In conclusion, our findings elucidate the processes of establishment of microbial community and straw decomposition, as well as the association between microbial communities and edaphic factors under different long-term fertilization regimes.

CORN CULTIVATION (BRS 2022) SUBMITTED TO NPK MINERAL FERTILIZATION AND SOIL CONDITIONING BACTERIA

The corn crop is of great importance for Brazilian agriculture and can be influenced by several factors that interfere in the final productivity, among which the correct management of soil fertility stands out, carrying out a correct fertilization to achieve a high yield. The objective of this work was to evaluate the development and productivity of maize subjected to different doses of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, constant, and to evaluate the effect of inoculating seeds with phosphorus and potassium solubilizing and N-fixing bacteria. conducted in the experimental area of the Center for Agricultural Sciences at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) (CCTA), in – PB. The experiment was in randomized blocks, with 10 treatments and 6 replications, the treatments corresponded to the combinations of NPK mineral fertilizer with doses of 0%, 50% and 100% of the crop need and soil conditioning bacteria AzotoBarvar-1® fixing bacteria nitrogen, PhosphoBarvar-2® bacteria with phosphorus solubilizing action and PotaBarvar-2® bacteria with potassium solubilizing action. T1 = Control (without mineral fertilizer and soil conditioning bacteria); T2 = with 100% of the mineral fertilizer recommended for the crop; T3 AzotoBarvar-1® with addition of 100% PK; T4 = AzotoBarvar-1® with addition of 50% nitrogen plus 100% PK; T5 = PotaBarvar-2® with addition of 100% NP; T6 = PotaBarvar-2® with addition of 50% potassium plus 100% NP; T7 = PhosphoBarvar-2® with addition of 100% NK; T8 = PhosphoBarvar-2® with addition of 50% phosphorus plus 100% NK; T9= Nitrogen Barvar-2®; PotaBarvar-2®; PhosphoBarvar-2®; T10= Nitrogen Barvar-1®; PotaBarvar-2®; PhosphoBarvar-2® with addition of 50% NPK. Plants were grown in pots with a capacity of 45 dm3 for 59 days, mean plant height (ALP) and leaf length (CF) 28 days after plant emergence and Leaf number (NF) 5 days after emergence of plants submitted to NPK fertilization and soil conditioning bacteria, 49 days after germination. Where there was interaction between treatment and cultivar. During this period, the plants were evaluated for growth, dry matter accumulation and production. The association of soil conditioning bacteria, with a dose of 50% fertilization with NPK, which promoted greater ear size, production and height of maize plants when compared to the treatment without bacterial inoculation. It is concluded that the highest values obtained for the growth and physiological parameters were observed in the treatments in which the soil conditioning bacteria via seeds and fertigation were used.&#x0D;