Quantities Of Chemical Fertilizers Research Articles

Native Liquid Biofertilizer Consortia of Staphylococcus equorum, Bacillus velezensis and Staphylococcus epidermidis Enhanced the Growth of Nutmeg Seedlings

Aims: The aim was to evaluate the three most distinct native liquid biofertilizer consortia on the growth of nutmeg seedlings under pot culture studies. Study Design: Completely Randomized Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala and Block 10, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, Kerala. The pot culture experiment was conducted from February 2023 to August 2023. Methodology: The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with three replications along with control. Each treatment was applied with a combination of NPK fertilizers (50% and 75% of recommended dose of fertilizer, based on soil test data). One treatment was composed of only organic fertilizers. Results: The biofertilizer inoculation had a positive impact on the population of soil microbes, which indicates good soil health. Application of Staphylococcus equorum + Bacillus velezensis + Staphylococcus epidermidis (consortium – 2) along with 50% of the recommended dose of NPK fertilizers, recorded the highest plant growth parameters viz., plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, stem diameter, leaf area, shoot dry weight, and maximum number of secondary roots. In most of the treatments, nutmeg shoot growth was higher when compared to root growth. Conclusion: The present study indicated that inoculation of native liquid biofertilizer consortia enhanced the growth of nutmeg seedlings under pot culture studies in Wayanad. Hence liquid biofertilizer consortia can be utilized for earlier establishment of nutmeg seedlings and thereby reduce the dependency on the quantity of chemical fertilizers.

Effect of the combined application of fungal residue and chemical fertilizers on the mineralization of soil organic carbon in paddy fields.

Improving soil quality, reducing waste, and mitigating climate change require an understanding of the balance between soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and depletion after the application of different quantities of fungal residue and chemical fertilizers. We evaluated the mineralized carbon (MC) content and mineralization rate (MR) after nine applications of chemical fertilizers (C) and fungal residue (F) in paddy fields, at rates of 0, 50, and 100%. A double exponential model was used to calculate the potential rates of MC and SOC turnover. The combined application of fungal residue and chemical fertilizers led to significantly higher MC and MR, by 24.97-100.05 and 24.36-98.07%, respectively, during 57days of incubation than that of the control. The MC and MR values were highest with the C50F100 treatment. Simulations with the double exponential model showed that both the active SOC pools (C1) and potential SOC mineralization flux C1 + C2 were highest with C50F100, and the MR constants, k1 and k2, were highest with C100F100. The potential SOC MR [(C1 + C2) / SOC] was highest with C50F100. The application of fungal residue and chemical fertilizers to paddy fields effectively alleviated soil acidification caused by chemical fertilizers and increased the nutrient content, MC, MR, C1, and C1 + C2 of soils. However, the over-use of fungal residue or chemical fertilizers produces the reverse effects. Therefore, appropriate quantities of chemical fertilizers and fungal residue need to be applied to enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of soils while improving the MC and MR.

MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF BITTER ALMONDS (PRUNUS AMYGDALUS) TO NITROGEN NANO-FERTILIZER IN EARLY STAGES OF GROWTH

The use of large quantities of chemical fertilizers caused in many harmful to humans, animals and the environment. Adding to that, the difficulty of using nitrogen fertilizers especially urea and loss a large amount of it in sandy soil (70%) by leaching. In the other side, using of nano-particles and nano-powders, can produce controlled or delayed releasing fertilizers. This strategy could be reduced leaching of fertilizers as the release occurs gradually and continuously. Hence, this experiment was conducted to study the effect of nano-fertilizer on morphological response of bitter almond rootstock at germination period and the first stages of growth compared to other chemicals fertilizers. The nuts were soaked in dis-tilled water for 48 hours. Subsequently, the seeds were sown in perlite and treated with different concen-trations of nano-fertilizer, urea and ammonium sulfate at 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% for each, then stratified at 6 C for 8 weeks. After cold stratification, non-germinated seeds were exposed to 22 C for three weeks to promote germination. Germinated seeds were sown in pots with a mixture of peat and perlite. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design in factorial experiment with 3 repli-cates and 25 seeds for each replicate. The results revealed that, nano-fertilizer affected significantly on seed germination and first stages of bitter almond growth. Whereas, pre-treating seeds of bitter almond rootstock with 50% of nano-fertilizer positively increased germination measurements; germination per-centage, germination rate and index due to enhancing the amount of water that penetrates inside the seeds during the germination period which in turn improved the biological activity of stored food thus in-duced embryo to germinated early. Added to that, nano-fertilizer markedly increased stem length and diameter with producing stronger seedlings which had the tallest and deepest underground parts as well as length of primary and secondary roots/plant and number of secondary roots/plant. It can be attributed to that; nano-fertilizers are available for absorption and can provide all nutrients that required for plant growth throughout its slow release of fertilizer therefore reduce nitrogen fertilizer lost by leaching and elevate nitrogen utilization efficiency by plant comparing to other nitrogen fertilizers that are lost about 70% of its nitrogen content by leaching.

RICE EXPORT FROM INDIA: TRENDS, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

In India, agriculture is the main occupation. About 58 per cent of the population depends upon agriculture. It is the backbone of the Indian economy. In agriculture, rice is one of the most important food crops of India. It feeds more than 50 per cent of the world’s population. Rice is continues to play vital role in the national exports. India is one of the important countries in the world in export of rice. Indian rice exports are reached first place in the world markets. This study has analysed the trends and variability of rice export, assess the prospects of rice export and the various problems/constraints of rice export from India to various countries in the world. The study based on secondary data. The time series data on export of rice from India for the period 2001-02 to 2013-14.This paper indicates that there is good market for some Indian rice varieties, especially basmati rice in the world market. Pakistani basmati, as a sole competitor of India, does not have the unique aroma and taste as the Indian varieties. During 2012-13 the foreign earning from basmati rice has increased considerably. Despite considerable area being under rice cultivation in the country, the share of India in world rice export is very low which can be attributed to the fact that the average productivity of rice in the country is low and even in some rice producing states, the productivity is 40 to 50 per cent lower than the national average, in spite of having good potential capacity. The reasons of low productivity of rice in the country may be due to use of less quantity of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, more area under traditional varieties and more dependence on rain. If we want to increase our exports share in the world rice market, the production growth rate should be adequate surplus in the country. This requires careful analysis of low productivity of rice in the country. Besides, more important, the critical analysis is necessary to enquire into the constraints involved in rice export from India.

RICE EXPORT FROM INDIA: TRENDS, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

In India, agriculture is the main occupation. About 58 per cent of the population depends upon agriculture. It is the backbone of the Indian economy. In agriculture, rice is one of the most important food crops of India. It feeds more than 50 per cent of the world’s population. Rice is continues to play vital role in the national exports. India is one of the important countries in the world in export of rice. Indian rice exports are reached first place in the world markets. This study has analysed the trends and variability of rice export, assess the prospects of rice export and the various problems/constraints of rice export from India to various countries in the world. The study based on secondary data. The time series data on export of rice from India for the period 2001-02 to 2013-14.This paper indicates that there is good market for some Indian rice varieties, especially basmati rice in the world market. Pakistani basmati, as a sole competitor of India, does not have the unique aroma and taste as the Indian varieties. During 2012-13 the foreign earning from basmati rice has increased considerably. Despite considerable area being under rice cultivation in the country, the share of India in world rice export is very low which can be attributed to the fact that the average productivity of rice in the country is low and even in some rice producing states, the productivity is 40 to 50 per cent lower than the national average, in spite of having good potential capacity. The reasons of low productivity of rice in the country may be due to use of less quantity of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, more area under traditional varieties and more dependence on rain. If we want to increase our exports share in the world rice market, the production growth rate should be adequate surplus in the country. This requires careful analysis of low productivity of rice in the country. Besides, more important, the critical analysis is necessary to enquire into the constraints involved in rice export from India.

Increasing Seriousness of Plant Invasions in Croplands of Eastern China in Relation to Changing Farming Practices: A Case Study

Arable areas are commonly susceptible to alien plant invasion because they experience dramatic environmental influences and intense anthropogenic activity. However, the limited reports on relevant factors in plant invasion of croplands have addressed single or a few invasive species and environmental factors. To elucidate key factors affecting plant invasions in croplands, we analyzed the relationship between 11 effective factors and changes in composition of alien plants, using field surveys of crop fields in Anhui Province conducted during 1987–1990 (historical dataset) and 2005–2010 (recent dataset), when rapid urbanization was occurring in China. We found that in the past few decades, the dominance and richness of alien plant populations approximately doubled, despite differences among the 4 regions of Anhui Province. Among the 38 alien invasive plant species observed in the sites, the dominance values of 11 species increased significantly, while the dominance of 4 species decreased significantly. The quantity of chemical fertilizer and herbicide applied, population density, agricultural machinery use, traffic frequency, and annual mean temperature were significantly related to increased richness and annual dominance values of alien plant species. Our findings suggest that the increase in alien plant invasions during the past few decades is primarily a result of increased application of chemical fertilizer and herbicides.

The Effect of Mineral Fertilization upon the Floristical Composition of the Mountain

The administration of large quantities of chemical fertilizers may strongly diminish the plant diversity of semi-natural grasslands. In the Apuseni Mountains (Romania), the chemical fertilization is rarely used, but, considering the population’s decrease and the livestock diminish, this might have a greater importance in the future. The maintenance of semi-natural grasslands within the mountainous landscape depends greatly on fertilization. Our paper’s goal is to assess the influence of mineral fertilizers upon semi- natural grassland’s plant diversity. Mineral fertilizers complex NPK 20:10:10 ratio was applied in three quantities: 50N 25P 25 K, 100N 50P 50K, and 150N 75P 75 K. The large quantities of mineral fertilizers generated a considerable decrease of the plant diversity.

Curtailing Fertilizer Scarcity and Climate Change; An Appraisal of Factors Affecting Organic Materials Use Option in Nigeria’s Agriculture

Global trends nowadays towards long term sustainable crop production is hinged on either supplementing the use of chemical fertilizers with organic materials or a complete use of organic materials. This is more so since substituting chemical fertilizers with organic materials reduces the risks of exposure to ailments that arise on account of synthetic compounds and increases farmers’ gains via reduced soil erosion and carbon emissions and increased bio-diversity. The current study investigated organic materials use in Nigeria’s agriculture. Specifically, the study examined availability and use of chemical fertilizers and organic materials substitutes and investigated factors affecting the use of organic materials in the Nigerian food sector. The study data were drawn from a survey of sixty-one farm households that used organic materials as major nutrients inputs or as supplement with chemical fertilizers for their cropping activities. The study area is Shira in Nigeria. Farmers in this area usually incorporate the use of organic materials in their agriculture. The descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to analyse the study data. Results indicate that farmers in the study area source their chemical fertilizer inputs from the open market at an exorbitant price of N2000 (US dollar $13.8) per bag on average thereby using very low rates of chemical fertilizers. Organic materials used by farmers were sourced from cattle, goats, sheep and poultry droppings. The quantity of organic material used was 12,513.0 kg per hectare at a cost of N15,015.6 (US dollar $103.5). Major constraints in the use of organic materials by farmers include poor transport facilities and cutworm infestations of the organic materials. Factors revealed to influence the quantity of organic materials used by farmers were the cost of organic materials and the quantity of chemical fertilizers used by the farmers. The study therefore calls for stake-holders involvement in the establishment of blending plants for the production of organic materials, burning of organic materials before usage, and the need to enhance researches aimed at establishing optimal material mixtures and application rates for organic materials used in the Nigerian farming systems.Keywords: farming systems, bio-diversity, carbon emissions, cut-worm infestation, sheep, goat, poultry

Seed Varieties And Quantities Of Chemical Fertilizers Used In Agricultural Production In Northern Nigeria

Two separate researches were conducted in northern Nigeria. The first study (1996/97) covered Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States and the second (2002/03) covered Kano and Katsina States. These States have high agricultural production potentials and are significant in both biophysical characteristics and population density for the larger part of northern Nigeria. These two researches compared the seed types and quantities of chemical fertilizers used in the two separate agricultural seasons. The results showed that traditional crop varieties for sorghum (such as Farafara, Kaura and Mori), millet (such as Zango and Dan Akaranja) and cowpea (such as Dan wuri and Dan Illa) dominated the cropping system compared to improved varieties for these crops such as Yarshawa, Gaya early and Samsorg 15 for sorghum, Ex-Bornu and Lawur for millet and Kananado and ITA 60 for cowpea. However, for groundnut, improved varieties such as RMP 12, RRB, Ex-Dakar and Yarkabara were more prevalent than local ones such as Yar Tsugune and Jar Jigilla. The average rates of application of chemical fertilizer were 74.28 kg nutrient ha 1 in 1996/97 and 54.37 kg nutrient ha-1 for 2002/03. These application rates fell short of the recommended rates for some staples such as 220 -240 kg nutrient of N P K ha-1 for open-pollinated maize, 300 kg nutrient of N P K ha-1 for hybrid maize, 200 – 300 kg nutrient ha-1 for sorghum, 100 – 200 kg nutrient ha-1 for millet and 200 – 350 kg nutrient ha-1 for rice. The recommendations made included the need for more emphasis on the development of improved crop varieties that are adaptable to existing ecological and economic conditions; encouraging public and private sector partnerships in seed production and distribution, and the adoption of integrated soil fertility management approaches. Keywords: Seed variety, Fertilizer rates, Northern Nigeria.Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 71-83