Site-specific Nutrient Management Research Articles

Studies on Nutrient Use Efficiency in Short Duration Red Gram (Cajanus cajan (l.) Millsp.) Varieties under Site-Specific Nutrient Management Techniques

Aim: To evaluate the nutrient use efficiency of short duration red gram varieties under site-specific nutrient management. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out in the rabi season of 2023 at an experimental farm in Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. Experimental field was silty clay loam in texture with medium in available N (295 kg/ha), high in available P2O5 (kg /ha) and high in available K2O (285 kg/ha). Study Design: Split plot design. Methodology: The treatments consisted of three varieties in main plot namely V1- APK 1, V2- VBN 3, V3- VBN 1 and eight treatment in sub plots T1- (+NPK), T2 - N (-PK), T3 - P (-NK), T4 - K (-NP), T5 - PK (-N), T6 - NK (-P), T7 - NP (-K), and T8 - Control (-NPK). Result: Applying fertilizer as per recommended dose of nutrients without nutrient omission, resulted in increased nutrient use efficiency, agronomic efficiency, partial factor productivity and partial nutrient budget.

Correlation Studies on Growth, Yield Parameters and Yield of Maize as Influenced by Conservation Tillage Practices and Site-Specific Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea mays L.)

To meet the ever increasing needs of the growing human population ensuring sustainable use of natural resources, maintaining the standards essential for competing in the global market especially in case of major cereals like rice, wheat and maize is a never ending challenge. Keeping this in mind, to increase the productivity of maize by resource conservation techniques with different nutrient management practices, an experiment was laid out at a farmer’s field of Chella, Kamarapara, West Bengal, during pre-kharif season of 2022. The treatments consisted of 2 levels of tillage practices and 7 levels of SSNM treatments. The experimental finding revealed no significant difference between grain and stover yield with different tillage treatments. Whereas significantly higher grain and stover yield `was seen with SSNM through NE, lower grain and stover yield was recorded with control. Correlation studies revealed that plant height, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, cob girth, cob length, number of grain rows per cob, and number of cobs were highly significant and positively correlated with grain yield.

Physical Consequences of Climate Change on Agriculture: Causes and Effects

Climate is the most important predictor of agricultural productivity. Concerns about the potential impact of climate change on agriculture have motivated considerable research developments in the last few decades. The research on the physical consequences of climate change on agriculture, such as changes in crop and livestock yields, as well as the economic ramifications of these potential yield going on quite aggressively. The current review examines the information and data associated with impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and sustainability for solving this complex problem. The global food and nutrition security are at risk due to consequences of climate change. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, emissions from human activity, primarily from changes in land use, have resulted in a huge increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This rise is altering the climate, and it will only get worse throughout the course of the 21st century. Since agricultural systems are especially susceptible to climate change (CC), efforts to increase crop productivity while also maximizing resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact may not be successful. Not only productivity, the population of microbes and their enzymatic activities in soil are also impacted by climate change. Different strategies and technologies like zero tillage, site specific nutrient management, application of efficient irrigation system (drip) etc. are helpful to avoid the effect of climate change on agriculture and ultimately increase productivity.

Optimizing Nutrient Recommendations for Bottle Gourd Crop by Formulation of Targeted Yield Equations in an Inceptisol of Odisha, India

A field experiment was conducted to formulate targeted yield equations for bottle gourd under a rice-vegetable cropping system in an Inceptisol of Odisha. The experiment started with the creation of three soil fertility gradient stripes by applying no fertilizer, recommended dose and double the recommended dose of fertilizer in rice (cv. Lalat) during the kharif season. Each fertility gradient strip was divided into 24 sub-plots and superimposed with 21 different combinations of nutrients containing N, P, and K; FYM in two plots at 5t and 10t ha-1 and one plot was kept as absolute control following which, bottle gourd was grown during the rabi season. The highest yield (116.3q ha-1) of bottle gourd was achieved in S-III with an application of 70, 100, and 100 kg N, P2O5, and K2O per hectare, respectively. The nutrient requirement (NR) for producing one quintal of bottle gourd yield was 0.30, 0.20, and 0.30 kg N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The effect of graded doses of fertilizers on nutrient requirement, yield and nutrient uptake of bottle gourd were studied and subsequently, fertilizer prescription equations were derived for targeted yield of bottle gourd. A ready reckoner chart has also been prepared for facilitating farmers to achieve the desired yield target of bottle gourd by applying the required quantity of plant nutrients in the existing soil fertility level. The equations provide a basis for site-specific nutrient management based on desired yield targets under varying soil fertility conditions.

Digital technology in maize nutrient management research in northern Nigeria amid COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life threatening and spreads wildly with physical human contact. Physical distancing is recommended by health experts to prevent the spread; thus, agronomic research has to be designed in conformity to this preventive standard during the pandemic. Consequently, this study was designed to evaluate the reliability of using digital tools in nutrient management research amid the COVID-19 pandemic in northern Nigeria. Fifty extension agents (EAs) were selected across 15 LGAs of Kaduna and Kano states. The EAs were trained on how to generate fertilizer recommendation using an android mobile phone-based nutrient expert (NE), to measure farmers’ field sizes using UTM Area measure mobile phone app, and open data kit to record, submit and aggregate data during the exercise. Each EA covered 50 farms, where two nutrient management practices—one determined by the farmers: farmer fertilizer practice (FFP), and the other generated using the NE were evaluated. Results show that around 90% of the farmers have an average field size of 1.13 ha. All selected farmers used improved maize varieties for planting, among which 21% been able to use the exact recommended or lower seed rate. Use of inorganic fertilizer was 33% higher than the average recommended NE rate, while average yield of the NE fields was 48% higher than for the FFP. The results of this study indicate that yield can be improved with site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) extension approach. The SSNM using digital tools as the NE seem promising and befits to agronomic research in northern Nigeria amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

STCR Based site specific nutrient management in soybean-safflower cropping system

STCR Based site specific nutrient management in soybean-safflower cropping system

Site specific nutrient management for enhancing crop productivity

Site specific nutrient management for enhancing crop productivity

Assessing Growth, Productivity, Profitability and Yield Gaps of Spring Maize Using Site Specific Nutrient Management Approaches in Kailali

A field experiment was conducted during spring season of 2023 at the sub-tropical climate of Tikapur, Kailali to evaluate the impact of site-specific nutrient management on growth, productivity, profitability and yield gaps of spring maize. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatment combinations and four replications. Maize seeds were sown in four different farms on 27 February, 2023 with different site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) approaches viz. with Nutrient Expert®-Maize recommended dose (T1), three omission plots i.e., Omission of Nitrogen (T2), Omission of Phosphorus (T3), Omission of Potassium (T4), Government Recommended Dose (T5), and Farmer’s Fertilizer Practices (T6). Using the Nutrient Expert® Maize model Computer Software, the SSNM+NE dose was recommended via a household survey in the respective farmer's field before the start-up of the experimentation. Various growth parameters, yield, yield attributing traits, and total cost of production of spring maize were recorded and subjected to analysis using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) in R-studio. The results revealed that the highest grain yield (3.71 t ha-1) was achieved with SSNM+NE, which was statistically at par with the Government Recommendation Dose (3.12 t ha-1). Moreover, SSNM+NE showed significantly higher thousand grains weight (442.75 g) and straw yield (6.81 t ha-1), respectively. Notably, the straw yield, grain yield, and thousand grain weight of SSNM+NE were statistically comparable to those obtained with the government recommendation. Economic analysis showed higher benefit-cost ratio as well as increased net and gross returns in SSNM+NE as compared to the other nutrient management practices. The SSNM+NE and Governmental Recommended Fertilizer based treatments were about 231% and 178% advantageous over the Farmer’s Fertilizer Practices. It could be suggested that SSNM+NE would the best approach for increasing the growth, productivity and profitability of spring maize in the sub-tropical terai of Far Western Nepal.

Effects of Tillage, Mulching and Site-Specific Nutrient Management on Soil Temperature, Flowering, Bulk Density and Soil Organic Carbon in Wheat

The effects of tillage, mulching and site-specific nutrient management on soil temperature, flowering, bulk density, and soil organic carbon in wheat” studied during rabi,2021-22, at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The experiment with 24 treatment combinations was laid out in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. The main plot treatments included six different crop establishment methods (conventional tillage without residue, conventional tillage with residue incorporation, zero tillage without residue, zero tillage with residue, permanent raised bed without residue and permanent raised bed with residue retention and sub plot treatments consist of four nutrient management options (STBR, STBR+GS, NE and NE+GS based recommendation). PRB with residue retention has 1-2ºC soil temperature higher up to 70-75 DAS and started to decline after 75 DAS till harvest. Mulching protects the crop from winter and summer stress. Maximum soil organic carbon (SOC) values (0.39%) were noted under ZT+R, which was Higher compared to CT-R after harvest the crop. Soil bulk density (BD) under ZT+R (1.28 g/cm3) was lower as compared to rest of the treatments. Number of days required to 50% flowering was (83.6 DAS) and to 75% flowering was (88.2 DAS) in PRB+R which was on par with other treatments. it was concluded that the combination of maize straw mulch, zero tillage and permanent raised beds were proved fruitful in improving soil thermal properties and soil carbon sequestration.

Yield gap reduction of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) by site-specific nutrient management

Acid-sulfate soils and overuse of chemical fertilizers have been obstacles to sustainable agriculture. The variation of fertilization due to poor soil fertility has remarkably affected the yield gap and the quality of the environment, so an optimal fertilizing rate should be formulated. Therefore, this study aimed at (i) detecting obstacles in soil characteristics reducing pineapple yield between farms and (ii) assessing the effects of NPKCaMg fertilizers on soil fertility, uptakes, and pineapple yield. The on-farm experiment was carried out according to site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) arranging in acid-sulfate soil for pineapple, including (i) no fertilizers used; (ii) NPKCaMg: fully fertilizing with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg); (ii) PKCaMg: fertilizing without N; (iii) NKCaMg: fertilizing without P; (iv) NPCaMg: fertilizing without K; (v) NPKMg: fertilizing without Ca; (vi) NPKCa: fertilizing without Mg; and (vii) FFP: farmers’ fertilizing practice. The result of the principal component analysis revealed that the soil had low availability of N, P, and K nutrients. Available P concentration was negatively correlated with concentrations of Al3+, Fe2+, and total Mn, whose correlation coefficients were −0.34 to −0.59, −0.52 to −0.74, and −0.63 to −0.70, respectively. Fertilizing NPKCaMg obtained the highest result in the uptakes of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, which were 289.1–327.4, 25.4–29.3, 137.4–166.0, 41.9–48.9, and 39.8–43.1 kg ha−1, respectively. Fertilizing by SSNM has increased pineapple yield by 22.9 %–44.9 % compared to the FFP. This fertilizer formula should be transferred to the local farmers in order not only to enhance productivity, but also to limit the damage of chemical fertilizers on the environment. Moreover, this formula should be tested globally in other places that share similar soil characteristics.

Do rainfed production systems have lower environmental impact over irrigated production systems?: On -farm mitigation strategies

The intensive agriculture practices improved the crop productivity but escalated energy inputs (EI) and carbon foot print (CF) which contributes to global warming. Hence designing productive, profitable crop management practices under different production systems with low environmental impact (EI and CF) is the need of the hour. To identify the practices, quantification of baseline emissions and the major sources of emissions are required. Indian agriculture has diversified crops and production systems but there is dearth of information on both EI and CF of these production systems and crops. Hence the present study was an attempt to find hot spots and identify suitable strategies with high productivity, energy use efficiency (EUE) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Energy and carbon balance of castor, cotton, chickpea, groundnut, maize, rice (both rainfed and irrigated), wheat, sugarcane (only irrigated), pigeon pea, soybean, sorghum, pearl millet (only rainfed) in different production systems was assessed. Field specific data on different crop management practices as well as grain and biomass yields were considered. Rainfed production systems had lower EI and CF than irrigated system. The nonrenewable sources of energy like fertilizer (64 %), irrigation (78 %), diesel fuel (75 %) and electricity (67 %) are the major source of energy input. Rainfed crops recorded higher CUE over irrigated condition. Adoption of technologies like efficient irrigation strategies (micro irrigation), enhancing fertilizer use efficiency (site specific nutrient management or slow release fertilizer), conservation agriculture (conservation or reduced tillage) rice cultivation methods (SRI or Direct seeded rice) were the mitigation strategies. These results will help policy makers and stake holders in adoption of suitable strategies for sustainable intensification.

Assessment of spatial nutrient variability at farm level for castor crop (Ricinus communis l.) in semiarid region of Telangana state in India

Site Specific Nutrient Management is a system for maximum yields in field crops. Nutrient Management Zones were developed for castor crop (Ricinus communis L.) in Inceptisols. Grids of 15 x 15 m were made in one hectare and soil samples were collected from each grid and were analyzed for soil characteristics and all available nutrients. Based on analytical data the geo-statistical analysis, varoni maps and different models were developed. The castor yield data was compared in nutrient management zones with farmers practice (FP) and recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). The variable rates of fertilizers used in SSNM was 92, 53, 15, 40 & 25 kg of N, P, K, S and Zn/ ha and 100, 40, 30 and 80, 40, 30 kg of N, P, K in farmers practice and RDF plots and the yields realized were 28 q/ha and 15 and 13 q/ha in SSNM, RDF and farmer’s practice treatments respectively.

Mapping soil property variability in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq.) plantationsof Krishna basin of Andhra Pradesh through geospatial technologies

Sixty seven soil samples were collected from oil palm growing regions of NTR District of Andhra Pradesh and were analysed for different soil properties. The data was subjected to descriptive analysis to find out the variability and then to geostatistical analysis to design best fit models having minimal error for developing prediction maps. Highest variation was observed in exch. Mg and the lowest in pH. The mean values of soil pH, EC (dS/m), OC (g/kg), Olsen-P (mg/kg), NH4OAc-K (mg/kg), Exch. Ca (mg/kg), Exch. Mg (mg/kg), CaCl2-S (mg/kg) and HWB (mg/kg) were 7.32 ± 0.08, 0.25 ± 0.02, 0.87 ± 0.03, 101.47 ± 6.95, 566.14 ± 42.97, 4.72 ± 0.24, 2.46 ± 0.27, 60.86 ± 2.6 and 5.98 ± 0.25 respectively in the surface layer (0-20 cm) of the soil. Geostatistical analysis revealed wider spatial variability in surface soil properties and they had circular, spherical, stable and exponential best fit semi variogram models for evaluating dependency. The wide spatial variability of soil properties warrants site specific nutrient management for higher oil palm production. Nutrient distribution maps could be developed through kriging interpolation to interpolate the nutrient levels in unsampled areas.

Planting Methods Enhanced the Cane Yield and Input Use Efficiency in Sugarcane- An Overview

Planting method is the one of the important agronomic interventions for enhancing productivity and quality of sugarcane. Right technique could enhance not only the cane yield but also input use efficiency. Increased use of better technologies, such as planting techniques, is essential to maintaining the production and productivity of the sugar industry in an ethical way. Additionally, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of the inputs used in sugarcane farming, particularly the prudent utilization of water and site-specific nutrient management. Planting techniques in sugarcane play a significant role in determining the overall productivity and sustainability of sugarcane cultivation. Proper planting techniques ensure that the sugarcane crop establishes well and produces higher yields. New planting techniques must be made widely known to producers to make sugarcane cultivation a sustainable and lucrative sector that contributes to national food security. Therefore, the development and adoption of enhanced planting methods and its impact on cane productivity and input usage efficiency for sustainable sugarcane farming system are described in this review in order to maintain cane production and its sustainability towards national food security. This review aims to enlist the impact of different planting methods on sugarcane productivity and input use efficiency.

Digital soil characteristics mapping for aiding site-specific management practices in the West Nile Delta, Egypt

Soil survey system is the key word for sustainable soil use and management. This study aimed to generate a digital soil mapping (DSM) using various spatial resolutions of freely available digital elevation models (DEMs) i.e., (30 m ALOS “Advanced Land Observing Satellite”, 12.5 m ALOS, 30 m SRTM “Shuttle Radar Topography Mission”, and 90 m SRTM) to assess the spatial variability of soil physio-chemical characteristics in El-Beheira Province, Western Nile Delta. A total of 196 geo-referenced soil profiles were collected from agricultural fields, and the soil's contents of total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), available phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and boron (B) were analyzed. The study revealed that the soil's contents of TN, P, S, B, and Cu were low, and Mg was suspected to be higher than K, leading to an Mg-induced K shortage. The study also found wide-ranging spatial variability structures of inverse distance weight (IDW) interpolated maps for several soil physio-chemical characteristics. The DSM further revealed that poor status was present in 85.4% of TN, 91.7% of P, 76.9% of S, and 87% of both B and Cu. The conclusion is that soil variability, as demonstrated in DSM, outweighs uniform treatment, and this discovery will assist extension workers, scientists, and decision-makers in implementing site-specific nutrient management strategies. Validation of the DSM is recommended for crop and variety-specific nutrient treatment rates. Understanding the geographical variance in the soil is critical for long-term nutrient management and higher output.

Climate-smart agriculture strategies for South Asia to address the challenges of climate change: Identification of climate-resilient agriculture practices for India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan

In South Asia, agriculture is pivotal for food and nutritional security and the livelihood of more than 50% of the population. Food production and nutritional security pressures intensify as urbanisation decreases the agricultural land area amid population growth. Climate change complicates this scenario by introducing elevated temperatures, extreme climatic events, surging sea levels, and increased soil salinity. Identifying climate-resilient innovative technologies for farmer adoption becomes imperative to counter these adversities. An integrated approach to climate-smart agriculture, encompassing capacity building through practical training on innovative mitigation strategies, is needed. This study unites experts from Australia, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan in an Asia-Pacific Network project, fostering mutual learning and farmer training in climate-smart practices. Insights from workshops conducted at Amity University in February 2020 and June 2022, combined with country-specific technological advances in the past 15 years gleaned from the literature, revealed key technologies to combat climate change (e.g., zero tillage, raised bed planting, direct-seeded rice, crop residue management, crop diversification, site-specific nutrient management, laser levelling, micro-irrigation, seed/fodder banks, and ICT-based weather advisories). Widespread implementation of these technologies and practices will empower farmers to navigate climate change challenges, fostering resilience and sustainability.

Status Hara Nitrogen, Fosfor, dan Kalium pada Lahan Sawah di Desa Savana Jaya Kecamatan Waeapo Kabupaten Buru

is research aims to study nutrients status of N, P, and K in Savana Jaya Village, District of Waeapo, Buru Regency. This research was descriptive and using survey method in the field. Soil samples were composited taken from 5 subsites with 25 m distance from sampling center point. Respondents were selected by using a purposive sampling method, and production data was collected by interviewing farmers. The results showed that the total N status in the Savana Jaya village was low (0,10-0,12%) to very low (0,09%), total P status was moderate (23-38 mg/100 g) to very high (68 mg/100 g), and total K status was low (10-13 mg/100 g) to moderate (30 mg/100 g). The proposed balanced-fertilizer management to support rice fields in the study area is site-specific nutrient management (PHSP) using NPK compound fertilizers combined with urea, Ponsta and Pelangi fertilizers based on nutrients and soil fertility status in the study area, including adding lime to increase soil pH, adding petrorganic organic matter to increase soil C-Organic and soil CEC.

Soil test crop response based site specific integrated nutrient management in mungbean

Imbalanced and excessive use of chemical fertilizers has brought many soil fertility problems. Soil test crop response (STCR) approach aims to estimate precise fertilizer requirement for target yield under varying soil test values and gaining prominence for site-specific nutrient management. A field experiment to estimate STCR based fertilizer requirement for targeted yield of mungbean was conducted during 2019–2020 at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. Three fertility gradient plots of varying soil fertility levels were created by applying graded dose of N, P2O5 and K2O and growing wheat as an exhaust crop. Each of three soil fertility gradient plot was divided into 24 subplots (21 plots with different combinations of varying levels of N, P2O5, K2O and FYM, remaining 3 plots as controls) and mungbean was grown as main crop. Results revealed the requirement of 6.72, 0.883, and 3.52 kg of N, P and K, respectively for producing one quintal of mungbean grain. Soil, FYM, fertilizer and fertilizer along with FYM contributed 28.06%, 5.94%, 113.22%, and 135.01% for N; 24.73%, 3.18%, 15.1%, and 18.85% for P; 13.19%, 7.21%, 39.52%, and 55.84% for K, respectively. This information is used to develop STCR based fertilizer prescription equations along with ready reckoners of fertilizer doses at different soil fertility levels and yield targets of mungbean for providing balanced fertilization. The maximum response of mungbean in terms of grain and protein yield was obtained with the application of 20:50:30 kg ha−1 N: P2O5: K2O, respectively.

Sustainable maize intensification through site-specific nutrient management advice: Experimental evidence from Nigeria

There is growing evidence on the impacts of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) from Asia. The evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where SSNM developments are more recent and where conditions concerning soil fertility and fertilizer use differ importantly from those in Asia, is extremely scarce. We evaluate a SSNM advisory tool that allows extension agents to generate fertilizer recommendations tailored to the specific situation of an individual farmer’s field, using a three-year randomized controlled trial with 792 smallholder farmers in the maize belt of northern Nigeria. Two treatment arms were implemented: T1 and T2 both provide SSNM information on nutrient use and management, but T2 provides additional information on maize price distributions and the associated variability of expected returns to fertilizer use. We estimate average and heterogenous intent-to-treat effects on agronomic, economic and environmental plot-level outcomes. We find that T1 and T2 lead to substantial increases (up to 116%) in the adoption of good fertilizer management practices and T2 leads to incremental increases (up to 18%) in nutrient application rates, yields and revenues. Both treatments improve low levels of nutrient use efficiency and reduce high levels of greenhouse gas emission intensity, after two years of treatment. Our findings underscore the possibility of a more gradual and sustainable intensification of smallholder agriculture in SSA, as compared with the Asian Green Revolution, through increased fertilizer use accompanied by improved fertilizer management.

Innovative Soil, Water and Plant Management Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Environments :A Review

There is a lot of pressure on today’s agricultural producers to fulfill the increasing food needs brought on by a growing population and a shrinking supply of land and other resources. In order to meet this challenge, many people are using excessive amounts of fertilizers and other chemicals. The soil health, land quality, and environmental impacts have all suffered as a result of this intense agricultural production that disregards ecological sustainability. So, future attempts to feed the expanding population should strive for higher agricultural productivity within sustainable ecosystems. In this context, creative initiatives are required, since business-as-usual approaches lack the capacity to deal with these issues. Agricultural sustainability is defined, and various soil and crop management strategies that aim to maximize crop yield under environmentally sustainable conditions are discussed. These include, but are not limited to, nutrient management, site-specific nutrient management, fertility management, integrated soil-crop system management, sustainable water management, and water conservation. In addition, nutrient management, fertility management, and integrated soil-crop system management have been shown to improve crop yields. According to this analysis, a sustainable production system may be created by integrating the many initiatives found in SCMS practices with both immediate and long-term preventative actions. Reducing chemicals’ consumption, such as that of fertilizers and pesticides, with improvements in the agricultural input use efficiency might cut greenhouse gases emissions while safeguarding the environment. The future of humanity and Earth depends on the success of sustainable agriculture, which has promise if both rich and developing countries work together to pursue ‘our shared destiny’ in order to increase food production with little impact on the environment.