Soil Application Of Nutrients Research Articles

Stress Management Practices in Rainfed Sorghum (K12) on Yield, Economics and Plant Nutrient Uptake Through Foliar Plant Nutrition Under Typical Vertisols (Typic chromusterts) of Semiarid Region

ABSTRACT Foliar fertilization has great potential to give higher yields under intensive cropping system and in enhancing the crop tolerance to drought conditions. Different responses of yield to foliar fertilization are probably associated with incorrect timing of application, use of inappropriate fertilizer and lack of concern of soil available nutrients and environmental conditions. Though soil application of nutrients cannot be replaced totally with foliar fertilization, but under various situations like rainfed condition, foliar nutrition can play very important role in enhancing crop yield and nutrient use efficiency. Focusing on this, a field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti, under rainfed situation from 2017 to ‘20 to evaluate the response of foliar application of plant nutrients sprayed during moisture stress condition and to improve the growth and yield of sorghum under rainfed condition. This experiment was laid out in split plot design with replicated thrice and the treatments consisted of main plots: M1 – foliar spray during dry spell, M2 – foliar spray after relieving of stress/dry spell (with favorable soil moisture) and subplots: S1 – urea@1%, S2 – urea@2%, S3 – water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5%, S4 – water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5% + recommended dose of micronutrient for foliar spray (to be decided based on soil test: zinc, boron, iron, manganese, etc.), S5 – ZnSO4@0.5%, S6 – water spray, S7 – control (no spray of any material/water) under rainfed vertisols of semiarid region. The obtained results showed that the application of water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5% sprayed during the dry spell significantly increased the plant height, earhead length and grain test weight. This attributes resulted in higher grain yield (1448 kg ha−1), stover yield (2288 kg ha−1), net returns (Rs. 8748 ha−1), B:C (1.16) and rainwater use efficiency (3.85 kg ha−1-mm) when compared to other practices in rainfed sorghum. There is a gradual increase in total major plant nutrient uptake, viz. nitrogen (22.3 kg ha−1), phosphorus (4.56 kg ha−1) and potassium uptake (26.0 kg ha−1) with the foliar application of water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5% applied during the dry spell condition (S3) during drought stress condition (M1). Foliar application of nutrients along with soil application has several advantages in supplementing the nutritional requirements of crops such as rapid and efficient response by the plants, less product needed and independence of soil conditions. Foliar nutrition designed to eliminate the problems like fixation and immobilization of nutrients. Hence, foliar nutrition is recognized as an important method of fertilization during the dry spell under rainfed condition in modern agriculture.

Growth, Productivity, Economics, and Water Use Efficiency of Rabi Castor (Ricinus communis) as Influenced by Drip Fertigation

A field experiment was conducted in shallow Alfisols at Hyderabad for three consecutive years to evaluate the performance of castor on yield, water use efficiency, and economics for rabi castor cultivation under different irrigation schedules. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. The experiment comprised 100, 80, 60 percent of N and K applied through urea and K2SO4 through a drip in two schedules (0.6 and 0.8 Epan) compared with soil application of nutrients and flood irrigation. Significantly higher rabi castor seed yield (3,302 kg ha-1), oil yield (1479 kg ha-1), highest gross returns (1,25,489 ha-1), net returns (86,754 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.65) were realized when irrigations were scheduled by drip at 0.8 Epan along with the supply of the full amount of N & K through fertigation. However, the highest water-use efficiency (4.85 kg ha-1 mm-1) and water productivity (0.485 kg m-3) were registered when irrigations were scheduled by drip at 0.6 Epan +100% N & K through fertigation.

Strategies for crop nutraceutical content enhancement, a review

AbstractThe increase in cardiovascular and degenerative diseases around the world, in addition to other metabolic alterations derived from an inadequate diet, have highlighted the need to consume more nutritious and healthy foods, that can also provide added value in the prevention of diseases. In this sense, nutraceutical‐rich functional foods have become a sustained growing market derived from consumer demands. Different strategies have been developed to enhance the content of nutraceuticals compounds in crops and end products, as well as to increase the bioavailability of them. These strategies have been grouped in biofortification techniques (e.g., foliar, and soil application of nutrients, germination, and soaking of seeds, genetic modification of plants and crops) and techniques for nutraceutical enrichment (e.g., fermentation of food byproducts, nanoparticles, and induced post‐harvest stress). The utilization of these techniques thrives a new approach for novel biofortified, and nutraceutical enriched foods that meet the needs of the most demanding and health‐conscious consumers.

Influence of N inhibitors on nitrate nitrogen & yield of tomato under intensive cultivation

Agricultural soils are responsible for formation of N2O through nitrification and denitrification processes. Nitrification inhibitors reduces the rate at which ammonium is converted to nitrate either by killing or interfering with the metabolism of nitrifying bacteria. Synthetic nitrification inhibitors can efficiently inhibit nitrification. The present study was undertaken to observe the effect of Potassium thiosulfate (PTS) and neem coated urea on N2O efflux under irrigated tomato cultivation to assess its suitability for decreasing N2O emission to the atmosphere. The results depicted the reduction of nitrate nitrogen on third day after fertilizer application compared to zeroth day. The decreased NO3-N was mainly due to the uptake by tomato for its growth and converted into N2O as intermediate product during nitrification process. The yield of tomato (fruit yield) was significantly increased due to the application of various doses and types of N fertilizer application along with N inhibitors. The highest yield (63.2 t ha-1) was recorded with the soil application of nutrients in STCR based recommendation of NPK with Neem coated urea which was on par with the STCR based recommendation of NPK with Normal urea (183:160:125kg ha-1) along with Potassium thiosulfates @ 1% of applied N whereas blanket recommendation of NPK application recorded lower yield. The 38% lowest N2O emission was found in the STCR based recommendation of NPK with Normal urea with Potassium thiosulfates @ 1% of applied N compared to Blanket recommendation of NPK with Normal urea, which was on par with the treatment of STCR based recommendation of NPK with Neem coated urea.

Effect of Foliar Application of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.)

Background: Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) is one of the most important pulse crops in India. It is a protein rich staple food which contains about 25 percent protein; It belongs to family leguminaceae so it has the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Soil application of nutrients is often not enough to meet the growing crop demand particularly in short duration crop like greengram. Therefore, it is hypothesized that foliar nutrition in addition to soil application in commensuration with prevailing weather particularly rainfall will go a long way in meeting crop nutrient need and thereby may help in enhancing poductivity. Foliar application of nutrients using water soluble fertilizer is on the possible ways to enhance the productivity of pulses like greengram. The importance of foliar application of micronutrients i.e., Zinc is essential for enzymes that are involved in many metabolic reactions, necessary for chlorophyll production and for starch formation aids in seed formation. Iron is essential for maintainance of chlorophyll and also an essential component of haemoglobin molecule. Manganese has a role of formation of plants naturally occurring antifungal compounds helping to fight disease infection. It is involved in the enzyme the growth may have biological reactions in plant tissue. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Zaid season 2019-2020 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, (U.P.) India. To study the “Effect of foliar applied micronutrient on growth and yield of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.)”. The present investigation was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) consisted of 9 treatments replicated thrice.Result: The results revealed that the maximum growth attributes such as plant height (42.42 cm), dry matter accumulation (113.39 g/m2) and crop growth rate (1.69 g/m2/day) was recorded with RDF + Fe 0.5% + Zn 0.5% + Mn 0.5% at 30 DAS, whereas maximum number of nodules/plant (11) was recorded with RDF+ Fe 0.5% at 30 DAS. However, higher yield and yield attributes i.e. Number of pods/plant (58.40), Number of grains/pod (9.73), 1000 grain weight (38.38 g), seed yield (1384.33) kg/ha, stover yield (2253.33) kg/ha and harvest index (42.44 %) was recorded with RDF + Fe 0.5% + Zn 0.5% + Mn 0.5% at 30 DAS. Similarly, higher Net returns (Rs 59912/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.51) was also recorded with RDF + Fe 0.5% + Zn 0.5% + Mn 0.5% at 30 DAS as compared to control (RDF + water spray).

Spatial Variability and Precision Nutrient Management in Sugarcane

Investigations were carried out to develop precision nutrient management techniques for sugarcane. The study area (800 ha) comprised of Bijapur, Bilgi and Jamakhandi talukas that lie between 16° 34′–28° 10′ N latitudes and 75° 33′–75° 37′ E longitudes and located around Nandi Sahakari Sakkare Karkhane (NSSK) Niyamit, Galagali. The soils are medium to deep black with pH and EC ranging from 7.32 to 8.36 and 0.17 to 1.13 dS/m, respectively. The soils are low to medium in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium content. Crop condition assessment was made through analysis of LISS-III satellite images using Erdas Imagine software. Fertigation with 300 kg N and 195 kg K per ha at fortnightly interval and soil application of 32 kg P per ha as basal, recorded higher sugarcane yield (167 Mg ha−1) as compared to 124 Mg ha−1 obtained with soil application of 250 kg N, 32 kg P and 156 kg K per ha and flood irrigation as per the package recommended by the University(POP). Fertigation of N and K at weekly interval recorded highest NDVI value (0.354) and soil application of nutrients as per POP resulted in the lowest NDVI of 0.219.

Integrated management of Eriophyid mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer on coconut in Tamil Nadu, India

A field experiment was conducted at Vellalore from January 2002 to December 2004 to evaluate the influence of organic and inorganic nutrients and the effect of botanicals and insecticide against coconut eriophyid mite. Soil application of nutrients along with spraying of Triazophos 40 EC (5 ml/lit.), azadirachtin 1% (5 ml/lit.) and neem oil (30 ml/lit.) as first, second and third round of sprayings, respectively were evaluated. The results revealed that there was a significant reduction in mite population (65%) after two years in the Integrated Management (IM) treated trees (application of organic and inorganic nutrients, basin cultivation of sunnhemp and three rounds of spraying) followed by trees treated with Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potash (1.3:2.0:3.5 kg/palm/year) + Farm Yard Manure 50 kg/palm/year + neem cake 5 kg /palm/year + micronutrients + three rounds of sprayings (52.8%). Similarly, there was also a significant reduction in the per cent damaged green nuts after two years. After second year, the per cent damaged nut was lowest (41.9) in the IM treated trees which was statistically on par with treatment 6 (42.9) as against control (71.8). A similar trend was also recorded after third year. IM package treated trees recorded the lowest nut damage grade of 2.8, 2.4 and 2.1 at harvest followed by IM package without sunnhemp as basin crop 3.0, 2.6 and 2.2 as against 4.3, 4.3 and 4.5 in the check after first, second and third year, respectively.