Rates Of Farmyard Manure Research Articles

INFLUENCE OF PHOSPHORUS SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA, FARMYARD MANURE AND IRON FERTILIZER SOURCSES ON PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY AND ITS REFLECTION ON WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY

A field experiment was carried out for two winter seasons 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 in sandy soil under the inoculation with solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus.megatherium). Spilt-split plot design was used where two phosphorus sources (rock phosphate, RP, and super phosphorus, SP), two P fertilizer rates (75 kg P20S fed-1 and 150 kg P20S fed) and two rates of farmyard manure, FYM, (10m3 fed- 1 and 15m3 fed). All plot of experiments were foliar treated with either FeS04 or Fe- EDTA . . At flowering stage, results showed that photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll a (Chi a), chlorophyll b (Chi b) and carotene ,Car) contents of wheat leaves were superior when 15m3 fed-1 FYM was applied as compared to 10m3 FYM . Also inoculation with B.megatherium positively affected Chi a,Chl b and Car as compared to non inoculation. The highest values of chlorophyll content were recorded when applied 15 m3 fed-1 FYM , inoculation by B.megatherium in combination with SP and sprayed Fe-EDTA. Moreover, dry weight of both shoots and roots, at flowering stage, increased due to 15m3 fed-1 FYM combined with hi~h rate of SP application as well as RP was superior when combined with 10m3 fed - FYM and inoculation with B.megatherium. In addition, data indicated that FYM applied at a rate 15m3 fed-1 increased N,P & K uptake by both shoots and roots, at flowering stage, of wheat plant as compared to low rate 10m3 fed-1 FYM. Similar trend was obtained when soil inoculated with B.megatherium as compared to no inoculation. Results also revealed that low rate of rock phosphate (RPA) was more effective for N,P&K uptake as compared to the other RB rate (RBP) , opposite trend was recorded for high rate of super phosphate (SPP), which, increased N,P&K uptake by both shoots and roots. Generally, foliar application of FeS04 was superior for both N,P&K uptake by shoots and roots. At harvest stage, wheat took the same direction for N,P&K uptake by yield components( straw and grains), in spite of Fe-EDTA was superior as compared to FeS04. On the other hand, mean values of wheat yield components increased significantly due to the application of high rate of FYM ; these increases were 14.0%,11.4% and 3.47% for straw, grains and weight of 1000 grains, respectively. High rates of both RP and SP were more affective as compared to lower rate under spraying with Fe-EDT A. The interaction between tested treatments showed that the highest grain yield of wheat was accompanied with 15 m3 fed-1 FYM application, inoculation with B.megatherium combined with SPB and foliar application with Fe- EDTA.

Effect of farmyard manure application on boron adsorption–desorption characteristics of some soils

Boron (B) availability to crop plants depends on soil properties as well as management practices like liming, fertilization and use of organic manures. To assess the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) application on availability of added B, adsorption–desorption of B was investigated in five different soils receiving varying doses of FYM (0, 5 and 10 g FYM kg −1 soil). Two surfaces Freundlich model was found best to account for B adsorption–desorption data of all soils. Application of FYM increased B adsorption capacities pertaining to low ( K 1) and high ( K 2) concentration ranges in all soils, except Soil C (Alfisol) having a pH of 9.8, in which the higher rate of FYM decreased the value of K 2. Application of FYM did not change B desorption capacities of soils corresponding to low B concentration range ( K 1 1 ) significantly, however, it increased B desorption capacity pertaining to high B concentration ( K 2 1 ) in all soils, except Soils C (Alfisol) and E (Entisol) having pH of 9.8 and 5.1, respectively. Application of FYM increased the desorption slope factor applicable to low concentration range ( 1 / n 1 1 ) in Soil A (Inceptisol), but decreased it in Soil E (Entisol). The 1 / n 2 1 (desorption slope factor applicable to high concentration range) decreased with FYM application in all soils except Soil E (Entisol), where it was increased. Boron desorption index (slope ads/slope des) decreased with FYM application in low B concentration range, but increased in high concentration range for all soils except soil E (Entisol, pH 5.1), in which a reverse trend was observed. Application of FYM increased the retention of added B in soils and may help reducing the leaching losses.

Changes in an Alfisol under long-term application of manure and inorganic fertilizer

. Changes in surface soil properties of a savanna Alfisol under cultivation with applications of manure and inorganic NPK fertilizer were evaluated after 45 years of annual cropping. Soils from treatments with fertilizer only, fertilizer in combination with farmyard manure (FYM) at both high and low rates were compared to soil from a control receiving neither fertilizer nor manure. The high rate of FYM and fertilizer significantly improved soil aggregation, increased C, N and P status, while reducing soil penetration resistance. The results showed that there is a need to use both manure and inorganic fertilizer to maintain soil fertility in savanna soils under continuous cultivation.

Attaining Sustainable Farm Management Systems in Semi-Arid Areas in Kenya: Few Technical Options, Many Policy Challenges

Soils in arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) are fragile, low in fertility and susceptible to erosion and leaching. To address these problems, activities were implemented in 1998–2003 to identify current problems, and design, test, implement, demonstrate and disseminate improved, integrated soil fertility management techniques. Current soil fertility management results in slightly negative nutrient balances, especially for phosphorus and potassium. Recycling of nutrients through crop residues and animal manure is inefficient, with evidently high losses. Due to the relatively high price of fertilisers and the high risks of crop failure, use of mineral fertilisers is restricted to market-oriented farms with access to irrigation facilities. Of the total farm household population, 35–85% lives below the poverty line. Applying higher rates of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and/or fertilisers is unattractive and risky. Combinations of FYM and fertilisers give better financial returns than either of the two alone. Where irrigation is available, farmers adopt innovative farming systems that include higher application of mineral and organic fertilisers, and result in higher and more stable yields and higher financial returns. A set of specific policy measures for the semi-arid areas were identified to arrive at necessary changes in the economic environment, leading to a wider range of financially attractive technology options for smallholders.

Quantification of N2 fixation and annual N benefit from N2 fixation in soybean accrued to the soil under soybean‐wheat continuous rotation

AbstractA computational exercise was undertaken to quantify the percent N derived from atmosphere %Ndfa) in soybean and consequent N benefit from biological N2‐fixation process annually accrued to the soil by the soybean crop using average annual N‐input/‐output balance sheet from a 7 yr old soybean‐wheat continuous rotational experiment on a Typic Haplustert. The experiment was conducted with 16 treatments comprised of combinations of four annual rates of farmyard manure (FYM ≅ 0, 4, 8, and 16 t ha–1) and four annual rates of fertilizer N (≅ 0, 72.5, 145, and 230 kg N ha–1) applications. The estimated N contributed through residual biomass of soybean (RBNS) consisting of leaf fall, root, nodules, and rhizodeposition varied in the ranges of 7.02–16.94, 11.65–28.83, 3.31–8.91, and 11.3–23.8 kg N ha–1 yr–1, respectively. A linear relationship was observed between RBNS and harvested biomass N (HBNS) of soybean in the form of RBNS = 0.461 × HBNS – 20.67 (r = 0.989, P < 0.01), indicating that for each 100 kg N assimilated by the harvested biomass of soybean, 25.4 kg N was added to the soil through residual biomass. The Ndfa values ranged between 13% and 81% depending upon the annual rates of application of fertilizer N and FYM. As per the main effects, the %Ndfa declined from 76.4 to 26.0 with the increase in annual fertilizer‐N application from 0 to 230 kg N ha–1, whereas %Ndfa increased from 40.8 to 65.8 with the increase in FYM rates from 0 to 16 t ha–1, respectively. The N benefit from biological N2 fixation accrued to the soil through residual biomass of soybean ranged from 7.6 to 53.7 kg N ha–1 yr–1. The treatments having %Ndfa values higher than 78 showed considerable annual contribution of N from N2 fixation to the soil which were sufficient enough to offset the quantity of N removed from the soil (i.e., native soil N / FYM‐N / fertilizer‐N) with harvested biomass of soybean.

Performance of rice ( Oryza Sativa L.) cultivars to integrated application of fertilizer n and farmyard manure in acid laterite soil

Varietal adaptability in exploiting the natural resources is important. Field experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 1998 and 1999 at the Regional Research Substation, Sekhampur. The aim was to evaluate the performance of locally popular IR-36 (high yielding, photo-insensitive) and Khejurthari (local land race, photosensitive) rice cultivars with variable proportions of N management through inorganic and organic supplements separately or combined. The cv. IR-36 produced the highest number of panicles/m 2 but the cv. Khejurthari had significantly higher number of grains/panicle and test weight. Fertilizer N and farmyard manure rates influenced the yield attributing characters. The cv. IR-36 produced 10% more grain yield than Khejurthari. Combined application of inorganic (urea) and organic (farmyard manure) sources increased the grain yield by 72% over no input (control). Nitrogen uptake by cv. IR-36 and Khejurthari was statistically similar. Application of 60 kg N/ha with 4 t farmyard manure/ha increased the N uptake by 1.88 times compared to control. Apparent N recovery was higher in cv. IR-36 at higher doses of N and in cv. Kejurthari at lower doses.

Effects of farmyard manure and tillage systems on soil physical properties and corn yield in central Iran

Tillage management and manure application are among the important factors affecting soil physical properties and crop yield. A 2-year field experiment was conducted on a silty clay loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haplargids). Effects of two tillage systems (moldboard plowing as conventional tillage ( T 1) and disk harrowing as reduced tillage ( T 2)) at three farmyard manure rates (zero ( M 1), 30 ( M 2), 60 ( M 3) Mg ha −1) were studied on the soil physical properties and corn ( Zea mays L.) yield. The experiment was carried out in split block design with three replications. Organic matter (OM) content, bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity ( K S), aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and dry biomass yield (DBY) were measured after harvesting in the second year. Manure application increased OM on both the row and inter-row tracks significantly. Manure application rate of 60 Mg ha −1 increased MWD (0.33, 0.40 and 0.75 mm for M 1, M 2 and M 3, respectively) at the 0–5 cm soil layer, but the effect was not significant below 5 cm depth. Adding manure significantly decreased soil BD on the row tracks (1.39, 1.22 and 1.17 Mg m −3 for M 1, M 2 and M 3 treatments, respectively), but did not have any significant effect on the inter-row tracks. Hydraulic conductivity was improved by manure applications both on the row and inter-row positions. Manure treatments M 2 and M 3 increased DBY compared to the M 1 treatment. Although moldboard plowing increased the depth of root penetration significantly (43 cm for T 1 and 30 cm for T 2), the effect of tillage systems on yield and soil physical properties was not significant.

Relationship between C addition and storage in a Vertisol under soybean-wheat cropping system in sub-tropical central India

Kinetic relationship between addition of organic carbon (through unharvested crop biomass and externally applied farmyard manure) and storage in a Vertisol (Typic Haplustert) was studied in a seven-year soybean-wheat rotation experiment. We investigated 16 treatments comprised of combinations of four annual rates of farmyard manure (0, 4, 8 and 16 t ha—1 on dry weight basis) and four annual rates of fertilizer N (0, 72.5, 145, and 230 kg N ha—1). Average annual contribution of C input from soybean was 21.65% and from wheat was 32.32% of the harvestable above ground biomass. Net increases in the contents of soil organic C (Corg) at 0—15 and 15—30 cm depth were observed in all treatments. The annual rate of Corg enrichments ranged from 85 to 739 kg C ha—1 at 0—15 cm and 54 to 149 kg C ha—1 at 15—30 cm soil depth. The observed annual rate of change in Corg (δCs/δt, kg C ha—1 yr—1) at 0-30 cm was positively correlated with the gross annual C input (A, kg C ha—1 yr—1) to the 0—30 cm soil horizon, as described by a linear equation (δCs/δt = 0.1806 × A — 160.34; r = 0.978, P < 0.01). This indicates that 18.06% of the annual gross C input was incorporated in soil organic matter.

Linear relation between the amount of respiratory quinones and the microbial biomass in soil

A linear relationship was observed between the amount of total respiratory quinones and the microbial biomass measured by a fumigation-extraction method in 15 soil samples regardless of the significant differences in the composition of the quinone profiles, with one exception in a soil amended with a very high application rate of farmyard manure. It is suggested that the amount of total respiratory quinones can be used as an indicator of the microbial biomass in soil.

Impact of sulfate‐rich water and organic manures on wheat grown in arid soils

A pot experiment with four replicates was conducted to study the effect of sulfate‐rich water and organic manures on wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yecora rojo) grown in highly calcareous (CaCO3 = 26.5%) loamy sand soil. Two sources of organic manures, farmyard manure (FYM) and sewage sludge, were applied at three rates (0, 25, and 50 Mg ha‐1). All pots received the recommended amounts of inorganic fertilizers. Three concentrations of sulfate waters were utilized: 30, 60, and 90 mM SO4 2‐. Each concentration had the same EC (5 dS m‐1), and the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) was 6.0. Irrigation was practiced with a 30% leaching fraction. Irrigation with sulfate water affected the values of pH and EC and improved the availability of nutrients in soil. Application of either FYM or sewage sludge enriched the soil with nutrients, especially at the higher application rate. The usage of sulfate water at 60 mM SO4 2‐significantly (P < 0.05) increased wheat yield and yield components. Application of FYM gave a higher yield response compared with the sludge treatment. No response was obtained with increasing the rate of FYM or sewage sludge application up to 50 Mg ha‐1. Sulfate‐rich water may be safely used for irrigation at high concentrations (90 mM SO4 2‐) whenever organic manuring is practiced.

Maize growth responses to deep tillage, straw mulching and farmyard manure in coarse textured soils of N.W. India

Abstract. The effects of deep tillage, straw mulching and farmyard manure on maize growth in loamy sand and sandy loam soils were studied in experiments lasting three years. Treatments included all combinations of conventional tillage (10 cm deep) and deep tillage (35–40 cm deep), two farmyard manure rates (0 and 15 t/ha) and two mulch rates (0 and 6 t/ha), replicated three times in a randomixed block design.Deep tillage decreased soil strength and caused deeper and denser rooting. Mulching decreased maximum soil temperature and kept the surface layers wetter resulting in better root growth. Farmyard manure also improved root growth, and the crop then extracted soil water more efficiently. All three treatments increased grain yield in the loamy sand, but in the sandy loam only tillage and farmyard manure increased yields significantly. Deep tillage and straw mulch effects varied with soil type and amount of rainfall in the growing season. In the loamy sand the mean responses to deep tillage and mulching were largest in a dry year. A tillage‐mulch interaction was significant in the loamy sand.

Effect of different rates of application of organic and nitrogen fertilizers in a rice-based cropping system

SUMMARYThe effect on soil fertility and crop performance of different organic fertilizers; paddy straw (PS), farmyard manure (FYM), water hyacinth compost (WHC) and tank silt (TS), at different rates of application and in combination with N fertilizer, was studied in a rice-based cropping system on an acid lateritic soil at Kharagpur, India, during 1985/86. Organic manuring of wet-season rice (first crop) with 5 t PS/ha 10 days before transplanting and 10 t FYM or 10 t WHC/ha at transplanting increased grain yield as much as the application of 30 kg N/ha. Increasing the rates of FYM and WHC application up to 15 t/ha increased yield but increasing the rate of PS beyond 5 t/ha did not. Response to increasing amounts of N was not linear; there was a significant increase up to 90 kg N/ha and a decrease when N was applied in conjunction with organic fertilizers. There was a significant increase in the N uptake of the rice but a decrease in the recovery of applied fertilizer N with the application of increasing rates of organic and N fertilizer.The organic C content of the soil after the rice harvest increased significantly after PS application, whereas there was more available N after WHC and FYM. Increasing the rate of application of PS up to 15 t/ha increased organic C but not available N. Mineral N fertilizer had little effect on fertility build-up. Grain yields of wheat and gram (Cicer arietinum), grown after rice without any additional fertilizer, increased significantly. The residual N effect of the previous crop on wheat or gram yield was small and adding fertilizer directly is considered essential for higher productivity in these crops in a rice-based cropping system.

Response of rice to rate and time of application of organic materials

SUMMARYWheat straw (WS), paddy straw (PS), farmyard manure (FYM) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) compost (WHC) were applied at four rates and on four dates before transplanting to the rice cultivar Ratna, in a pot experiment at Kharagpur, India in the wet (first crop) and dry (second crop) seasons of 1985/86. Grain yield of the first crop increased significantly with increasing rates of FYM and WHC up to the equivalent of 15 t/ha but, with the application of WS and PS, the yield was greatest at 10 t/ha and decreased at 15 t/ha. On the other hand, yield increased appreciably when WS and PS were applied up to 30 days before transplanting (DBT) but, with FYM and WHC, such increases were less pronounced. The effect of higher rates (10 and 15 t/ha) was more pronounced with early application of organic materials (20 and 30 DBT). Residual soil fertility estimated by organic carbon and available N, P and K increased under all the organic materials, which favourably influenced growth and yield of the second crop grown without supplementary fertilization. The residual effect of increasing rates of WS and PS in increasing grain yield was significantly higher than with FYM and WHC.

The Long-term Soil Fertility Experiments in Southern Sweden

Abstract The dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) in the long-term soil fertility experiments in Skåne, southern Sweden, was analysed statistically and by means of a simulation model. In the simulation model, SOM is treated as two pools, a labile pool and a stable one. The input of organic matter to the labile pool is assumed to depend on crop yield and the application rate of farmyard manure. First-order rate kinetics is used to describe the decomposition process. A method for fitting differential equations to data was used to estimate the parameters in the model and the initial size of the labile pool for the various fields. The results were compared with results from laboratory incubation experiments and with data on crop removal of soil N. The statistical analysis showed that the changes with time (trends) in N content in soil were significantly affected by rotation and N fertilization, and there were significantly different trends between fields. The simulation model best described the dynamics of soil N in situ when turnover times between 30 and 70 years were used for the labile pool. The effects of treatments on C and N mineralization in the incubation experiments were best described using turnover times between 30 and 40 years.

EFFECTS OF APPLYING INORGANIC FERTILIZER AND FARMYARD MANURE ON FORAGE PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC RETURNS IN EAST-CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN

Over a 4-yr period, annual application of inorganic fertilizer (IF) at 55 kg/(ha∙yr) nitrogen (N) plus 12 kg/(ha∙yr) phosphorus (P) and two times this rate or farmyard manure (FYM) at 11 or 22 tonne/(ha∙yr) significantly increased dry matter (DM) yields, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake and P content of alfalfa, bromegrass, crested wheatgrass and the grass-alfalfa combinations. Inorganic fertilizer produced larger yield increases of bromegrass, crested wheatgrass and their mixtures with alfalfa than FYM containing slightly more N and P. Each fertilizer form was as effective at increasing forage P, but IF increased the N content of crested wheatgrass or bromegrass by 0.1–0.5% more than a comparable rate of FYM. Utilization of P was 14–20% of that applied as IF and 6–13% of P applied as FYM. Utilization of N by the grasses was 44–52% for IF and 7–29% for FYM. At the relatively low levels applied, each fertilizer form increased bicarbonate-extractable soil P, but had no significant effect on total soil N, P or carbon. Based on forage market values that were related to the nutritional requirements of beef cattle, the net returns for the fertility treatments ranged from $121 to $261/ha for alfalfa, from $53 to $237/ha for grass-alfalfa mixtures and from a $48/ha loss to a $135/ha gain for grass only treatments. Application of IF was equally or more profitable than no fertilizer for all forage types. When FYM was priced on the basis of its total N and P contents, net returns for the 11 and 22 tonne/ha rates of FYM averaged $54/ha or 33% and $112/ha or 62% lower than those for the comparable IF treatments, respectively, and $25/ha or 19% and $65 or 39% lower than for the check treatments. When considering the alfalfa and alfalfa-grass treatments, the break-even value of FYM as a substitute for IF varied from $0 to $6/t of DM.Key words: Inorganic fertilizer, farmyard manure, forage yield, forage protein, economic worth of forage

Changes in soil fertility status as influenced by continuous cropping and fertilizer application

SummaryChanges in soil fertility status brought about by the application of P and K fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) to a fixed wheat-maize rotation for 10 years in a calcic ustochrept are reported. The treatments comprised three rates of P (0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5/ha), two rates of K (0 and 30 kg K2O/ha) and two rates of FYM (0 and 15 t/ha) applied to maize or wheat alone or to both the crops. Organic carbon and available P and K contents of the soil increased significantly with the addition of FYM. P application at 60 kg P2O5/ha nearly maintained the original level of available P even after 10 years of continuous cropping. However, a considerable and highly significant increase in available P was obtained with the combined application of P and FYM. Available K status of the soil remained more or less unaffected by K application. Organic carbon content, and available P and K contents were significantly higher in the plots that received fertilizers and manure for both the crops than in those where the application was to maize or wheat alone.

The maintenance of soil organic matter under continuous cultivation at Samaru, Nigeria

SUMMARYTreatment effects on levels of soil carbon and nitrogen in four long-term experiments at Samaru are reviewed in relation to an expected change in the future away from a bush-fallowing agricultural system towards an intensive mechanized system of permanent agriculture.Where different rates of farmyard manure were applied to the soil annually for nearly 20 years marked differences in soil organic matter contents developed. The mean soil carbon (0·82 per cent) of plots that received 12·5 tonnes ha-1 annum-1 is now almost four times as great as the mean content (0·22 per cent) of control-plot soils. Phosphate applications tended to encourage higher levels of soil organic matter, but where mineral fertilizers (N, P and K) were applied with farmyard manure lower soil organic matter levels and C:N ratios than those of manure-only plots resulted. Apparent retention in the soil of carbon and nitrogen applied as farmyard manure was of the order of 12–15 and 30% respectively. A groundnut shell mulch, applied for 9 years, produced significantly higher levels of soil organic matter than control plots.In a rotation experiment in which three years of cropping alternated with either 2, 3 or 6 years of planted Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) fallow, large differences in soil organic-matter status and rate of turnover existed between the three rotations. In particular the 3-year fallow showed an annual rate of soil organic-matter increase over twice that of the 2-year fallow. Soil nitrogen build-up exceeded 50 kg ha-1annum-1 in the 3-year fallow.Shortage of farmyard manure and the relatively poor return from systems that include unproductive fallows suggest that in future soil organic matter must be maintained by the return to the soil of all crop residues.