Soil Fertility Research Articles

Short-term effects of irrigation and nitrogen management on paddy soil carbon pools under deep placement of basal fertilizer nitrogen.

Active soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions are major driving factors of soil fertility. Understanding the effects of water and fertilizer management on changes in active SOC fractions helps improve soil quality and maintain high agricultural productivity. We conducted a 3-year field experiment in Northeast China. In this experiment, natural soil (CKT) was used as a blank, and two irrigation regimes were established: conventional flooded irrigation (FI) and controlled irrigation (CI). Four nitrogen application levels were set for both irrigation regimes under deep placement of basal fertilizer N: Nd0 (0 kg ha-1), Nd (110 kg ha-1), Nd1 (99 kg ha-1), and Nd2 (88 kg ha-1). After 3 years, at similar N fertilizer application rate, the rice yield, total organic carbon (TOC), and active SOC fraction content of CI were higher under CI than FI. The growth rate of rice yield was 3.8% -8.63% under CI than FI. Under CI, the rice yield, active SOC fractions contents and carbon pool management index (CPMI) did not decrease with decreasing N application rate but instead reached the highest level in the CNd1 treatment. Overall, CI with Nd1 treatment appears to be the best practice for improving soil fertility and crop productivity in Northeast China.

Effect of Different Sources and Levels of Sulphur in Sesame on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility in Acid Alfisols of Odisha, India

Effect of Different Sources and Levels of Sulphur in Sesame on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility in Acid Alfisols of Odisha, India

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER PLUS INDIGENOUS MICROORGANISM (IMO) ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF LOWLAND RICENSIC RC 160 VARIETY

The use of organic fertilizers has become increasingly popular due to their potential to improve soil fertility, reduce environmental pollution, and enhance crop yields. This study was carried out at Purok 2, Kipalili San Isidro Davao del Norte, Philippines, from December 2021 to April 2022. This experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of different organic fertilizers plus Indigenous microorganism (IMO) in the lowland with 160 rice variety, specifically, the study aimed: (1.) to determine the effect of different organic fertilizers plus Indigenous Microorganism (IMO) on the characteristics of rice NSIC RC 160 variety and yield components. (2.) to identify which treatment will give the optimum yield of rice NSIC RC 160 variety as affected by different organic fertilizer plus Indigenous Microorganism (IMO). (3.) to evaluate the economic profitability of rice NSIC RC 160 variety as affected by different organic fertilizer plus Indigenous Microorganism (IMO). Additionally, the study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments and three replications, Treatments were as follows. T1 (RR of NPK) T2 (Vermicast + IMO), T3 (Pig manure + IMO), T4 (Chicken Manure + IMO), T5 (Vermicast + Pig Manure + Chicken Manure + IMO). The different data gathered were statistically analyzed using the Analysis of Variance for comparison of means. However, results revealed that Organic Fertilizer plus Indigenous Microorganism (IMO), showed highly significant result in 2 of the data weight of 1000 grains and grain yield. The plant height, number of Panicle length and number of tillers, number of productive tillers showed no significant difference. In terms of economic analysis result revealed that treatment 4 with an RPC Value of 105. 64 % obtained the highest percentage of return on Production while T3 obtained the lowest RPC value. These findings suggest that organic fertilizer can be a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers in promoting sustainable rice production. Further studies on the long-term effects of organic fertilizer on soil quality and plant health are recommended. KEYWORDS: rice, organic fertilizer, Indigenous Microorganism (IMO), NSIC RC 160 variety

Modeling of phosphate speciation on goethite surface: Effects of humic acid.

Iron (hydr)oxides and humic acid (HA) are important active components in soils and usually coexist in the environment. The effects of HA on the adsorption and subsequent immobilization of phosphate on iron (hydr)oxide surface are of great importance in studies of soil fertility and eutrophication. In this study, two types of goethite with different particle sizes were prepared to investigate the phosphate adsorption behaviors and complexation mechanisms in the absence or presence of HA by combining multiple characterization and modeling studies. The adsorption capacity of micro- (M-Goe) and nano-sized goethite (N-Goe) for phosphate was 2.02 and 2.04 μmol/m2, which decreased by ∼25% and ∼45% in the presence of 100 and 200 mg/L HA, respectively. Moreover, an increase in equilibrium phosphate concentration significantly decreased the adsorption amount of goethite for HA. Charge distribution-multisite surface complexation (CD-MUSIC) and natural organic matter-charge distribution (NOM-CD) modeling identified five phosphate complexes and their corresponding affinity constants (logKP). Among these phosphate complexes, FeOPO2OH, (FeO)2PO2, and (FeO)2POOH species were predominant complexes on the surface of both M-Goe and N-Goe across a wide range of pH and initial phosphate concentrations. The presence of HA had little effect on the coordination mode and logKP of phosphate on goethite surface. These results and the obtained model parameters shed new lights on the interfacial reactivity of phosphate at the goethite-water interface in the presence of HA, and may facilitate further prediction of the environmental fate of phosphate in soils and sediments.

Crop Monitoring System Using IOT

Currently, the low agricultural output is causing farmers to suffer. Low crop growth is primarily caused by knowledge of soil fertility and crop selection, even though proper crop selection is the primary booster key for enhancing agricultural yield by doing soil analysis and taking metrological elements into consideration. Farmers with limited experience in conventional farming are finding it difficult to make wise crop selection choices in the current environment. The low soil fertility is caused by the same crop being chosen for each seasonal cycle. The goal of this research is to use IoT devices to create an accurate and efficient system. Compared to the outdated manual laboratory testing procedures, which are subject to human errors, such a system is predictable. A crop's proper selection is mostly important in the agricultural field. As a contribution, we offer Smart Crop Selection (SCS), an IOT-based approach that is based on soil and metrological factor data. These variables include soil moisture content, temperature, and precipitation. Because these issues are not given as much care as they should, existing IoT-based systems are less efficient than our proposed model. Real-time sensory data is transmitted to Firebase cloud for analysis in the suggested model

Rock Phosphate and Biochar Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Fertility in Southern Alberta Potato Field

The application of biochar soil amendment and rock phosphate fertilizer to the soil could lead to achieving net zero emissions and food security; however, the effectiveness of using biochar and rock phosphate in southern Alberta brown chernozemic soil is not yet assessed. In the first trial of this study, varying levels of urea (N), with varying levels of biochar (B) were applied. The same level of rock phosphate (RP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) were applied to compare efficiency of the two fertilizers. The second trial involved applying the same nutrients, but with higher levels than the first trial. The results indicated that the fertilizer application rates did not affect the growth and yield of potatoes because of the application rates of the fertilizer and fertility status of the soil, whereas in the second trial, TSP and RP treatments had the same growth and yield. Furthermore, the high application rate of nitrogen fertilizer and RP with or without biochar in the potato plot emitted high nitrous oxide gas emissions while the low application rate of nitrogen fertilizer and RP kept the carbon dioxide in the soil. Nevertheless, in the second experiment, the application of biochar and rock phosphate reduced nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions. We observed high residual nitrogen and manganese nutrients after harvest in the plot treated to rock phosphate and biochar. Therefore, rock phosphate and biochar have the potential to increase food production and mitigate climate change.

Organic Agriculture in Turkey and the World

Organic agriculture is an alternative production system that supports soil structure, fertility and conservation by protecting the ecological balance, using biological control methods against diseases and pests; based on the sustainability of living life, aiming for the highest yield with the maximum use of natural energy resources. In this context, it covers a different production process from conventional agriculture. While intensive input applications in conventional agriculture aim for the highest yield, organic agriculture prioritizes sustainability. Sustainable agriculture is defined as an agricultural practice that protects soil, water and biodiversity while meeting food, energy and natural resource needs. To ensure that organic agriculture contributes to sustainability goals, organic regulations need to focus more on environmental and best practices. Increasing demands day by day have positively affected the sustainability of organic agriculture. The common feature of most of the definitions of organic agriculture is that the products should be produced in accordance with the basic standards and that every stage from the land to the table is regularly controlled. The fact that every stage of organic agriculture is audited and documented, and that the practices operate in accordance with legal procedures are other noteworthy elements. These legal procedures provide protection at many points. Organic agriculture is not only limited to safe food production to protect human health; it is also an agricultural and ecosystem management that is environmentally friendly, effective in reducing ecological pollution, protection of water resources, prevention of erosion, protection of biodiversity, agricultural sustainability and agricultural development.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Effect of Multi-Cropping on Agroecosystems

Multi-cropping is becoming an increasingly popular technique in agriculture to tackle major and complex agroecosystem problems such as biodiversity and soil fertility loss, erosion and degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Comprehensively assessing the impact of multi-cropping intensity on agroecosystems is a new and still under-researched approach that can provide a better understanding of the impact of individual indicators on the overall functioning of biodiverse agroecosystems. Data from a stationary field experiment using multi-cropping at the Vytautas Magnus University Experimental Station between 2020 and 2022 were used to carry out this study. The study included maize, hemp, and faba bean as single, binary, and ternary crops. A complex assessment approach (CEI value) was used to determine the impact of these crops on the agroecosystem, the interrelationships between the main indicators, and the strength of their effects. It was found that the ternary maize–hemp–faba bean crop had the most positive effect on the agroecosystem. The effectiveness of other crops was 2 to 35% less. The lowest value was calculated for the maize–faba bean crop.

PROBLEMS OF RATIONING THE CONTENT OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS IN SOILS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE

Ratuioning of the content of hazardous substances in soil as an object of environmental protection in the Russian Federation is provided by a set of normative acts establishing the principles of assessment, approaches to the use of soils of varying degrees of anthropogenic transformation, the level of their pollution, at which the responsibility of the land user for violation of legislation on soil protection occurs. The analysis of normative acts shows that the most stringent pollution regulation system has been established in Russia, which is based on determining the compliance of the content of chemical elements and compounds in soils with sanitary and hygienic standards in the territories of settlements and agricultural lands. On other lands, as a standard, the excess of which leads to the onset of economic responsibility for pollution, the value of the concentration of the pollutant in the adjacent territory of a similar purpose and type of use, which is not adversely affected by a specific type of violation, is applied. At the same time, chemical elements and compounds are considered as pollutants, regardless of their origin, degree of danger and biological significance. The application of this approach within the framework of law enforcement practice creates significant problems in establishing the fact of negative impact, calculating the amount of damage from pollution, and developing measures for soil remediation. Thus, the current regulations consider as pollutants substances of natural origin, including those that ensure soil fertility and are applied with mineral and organic fertilizers. The use of the background level of substances as the maximum permissible value does not take into account the natural variability of elements and compounds in soils, as well as the errors of their chemical analysis. The excessive rigidity of the applicable standards is the reason for the increased costs of soil remediation measures. The way out of this situation is to revise the rationing system, taking into account the biological significance of elements and compounds, and the need to introduce a multi-level system of soil quality indicators. There is a need to improve the conceptual framework as part of regulatory documents on soil protection.

A review of grass species yields and growth rates in Northland, New Zealand

ABSTRACT Pastoral farming is a major land use in New Zealand's Northland region, with 3,171 farm holdings and a total area of 637,500 hectares in 2022. The region's pasture grasses include temperate (C3) and subtropical and tropical (C4) grasses which support dairy, and sheep and beef production from grazing. In lowland areas, C3 and some annual C4 grasses are prevalent where cultivation occurs, while perennial C4 grasses dominate areas with low soil fertility and summer dry conditions. Grass-based pasture growth rates (kg dry matter/ha/day) from published and unpublished sources were assembled into the AgYields database. Among the resident and sown grasses tested in Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Whangarei and Dargaville, perennial ryegrass represented ∼60% of the total data points. Dominant kikuyu pastures represented 23% and the remaining species represented 17%. Rates of growth ranged from 5 to 120 kg DM/ha/day, being lowest in late autumn-winter and highest in early summer. Data were compared and agronomic traits (i.e. drought tolerance, biomass production and tillering) are discussed to assess species suitability for the Northland environment. The medium-term prospect suggests an urgent need to improve research into management of cocksfoot and tall fescue-based pastures to provide viable alternatives to overcome the decreasing persistence of perennial ryegrass.

Resource endowment and sustainable soil fertility management strategies in maize farming systems in northern Benin

IntroductionManaging soil fertility remains one of the major concerns of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In order to understand the adoption potential of recommended practices to smallholders, this study aimed to characterize the resource availability, allocation and use patterns, and the soil fertility management practices in the maize farming system in northern Benin.MethodsA survey was conducted with 262 households randomly selected across three municipalities from three agro-ecological zones. Focus groups discussions and individual interviews were conducted with the household heads using an interview guide and a structured questionnaire respectively. The main data collected included (a) the socio-economic characteristics of households, (b) the main farm type and their characteristics and (c) the current soil fertility management strategies and the rationale behind.Results and discussionThe main soil fertility practices included the use of mineral fertilizer, manure, and crop residues application to plots. As a general trend, the rates of fertilizers applied by farmers [on average 132 ± 8.5 and 59 ± 5.8 kg ha−1 of Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) and urea] were below those recommended or required to ensure optimal maize yields. Five farm types corresponding to different resource endowments or wealth classes were identified. The scarce resource farms owned by the majority of poorer farmers use only small amounts of manure and fertilizer in their fields. Qualitative analysis indicated that farms have different constraints and opportunities to adopt newly proposed soil fertility management recommendations.ConclusionExtension services and decision makers must target specific interventions for appropriation and sustainability of technologies to resource mostly the smallholder farmers.

Exploring the Synergy between Humic Acid Substances, Dehydrogenase Activity and Soil Fertility

The European Commission’s “Farm to Folk” (F2F) strategy recommends reducing fertilizers by at least 20% by 2030. In this aspect, the main goal of our study was to verify whether a 20 and even 40% reduction in nitrogen (N) fertilization rate would be sufficient to maintain soil fertility (expressed as dehydrogenase activity—DHA, humic acid substances—HA substances, E4/E6 ratio), and yields of wheat and rapeseed cultivated in strip-till technology. Two fields (10 ha each) were established for wheat and rapeseed cultivation, and soils (0–20 cm) were sampled before sowing and after harvesting. It was found that a 20% fertilization reduction does not adversely affect the biological activity expressed by DHA. Nevertheless, the reduction in nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates led to a slight decrease in the E4/E6 ratio, which could serve as a potential indicator of fertilization reduction. DHA, E4/E6 ratio and content of HA substances were also dependent on the crop. Following harvesting, both rapeseed and wheat exhibited a positive correlation between the E4/E6 ratio and the degree of fertilization rate (FR), as well as yield.

Восстановление плодородия малопродуктивных дерново-подзолистых почв, вновь вводимых в сельскохозяйственный оборот

The purpose of research is to develop agro-reclamation measures to restore the fertility of low-productive sod-podzolic sandy loam soils for the conditions of the southern part of the Non-Chernozem Zone of Russia. Objectives: to conduct a comparative assessment of the impact of granular fertilizer based on turkey droppings and a liquid-phase biological product (LPBP) on increasing soil fertility, phenological characteristics of plants, crop yields and their quality. Six variants of the field experiment were developed: control variant (without fertilizers); granular fertilizer based on turkey droppings at a dose of 15 t/ha; granular fertilizer based on turkey manure at a dose of 15 t/ha together with pre-sowing seed treatment with 1 % LPBP; pre-sowing seed treatment with 1 % LPBP; granular fertilizer based on turkey droppings at a dose of 30 t/ha. The application of organic ameliorant and pre-sowing treatment of seeds with a biological pre¬paration help to improve the agrochemical parameters of the soil, and, as a result, a higher yield of perennial grasses. The best option is option G30, where the yield was 48.3 t/ha of green mass of grass in total for 2 cuttings, which is 33.8 % more than the control option. In the G15 and G15 LPBP options, the harvest was practically not inferior and exceeded the control option by 30.5 and 24.4 %, respectively, soil fertility indicators improved: soil acidity decreased to 4.8–5.0 (pHsol) and 5.4–5.6 (pHwod), an increase in organic matter by 33.9 %, the content of mobile phosphorus and mobile potassium, and the concentration of total nitrogen increased significantly.

Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization and their corresponding monetary values under long‐term integrated soil fertility management practices

Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization and their corresponding monetary values under long‐term integrated soil fertility management practices

Drought stress tolerance and metabolomics of Medicago sativa induced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DGL1

IntroductionThis study used Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DGL1 isolated from the arid sandy land of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau as the research strain and investigated the effects of DGL1 on the biomass, physiology, and metabolites of Medicago sativa under different intensities of drought stress to provide a high-quality bacterial source and a theoretical basis for the research and development of biological fertilizer suitable for arid areas.MethodsThe exopolysaccharides (EPS), 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC), and phosphorus solubilizing capacity of DGL1 were determined. The effects of a DGL1 suspension on alfalfa biomass, physiological indexes, degree of peroxidation of cell membranes, and activity of antioxidant enzymes were determined after irrigating roots under drought stress. The effects on soil physicochemical properties were also evaluated, and metabolomics analysis was performed to explore the effect of DGL1 on the metabolites of alfalfa under drought stress.ResultsStrain DGL1 produced extracellular polysaccharide EPS and ACC deaminase and was capable of phosphorus solubilization. Treatment with DGL1 increased the biomass of alfalfa under different degrees of drought stress, significantly increased the activities of alfalfa antioxidant enzymes Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), reduced the content of MDA and H2O2, and increased the content of quick-acting phosphorus, quick-acting potassium, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen in the soil, thus improving soil fertility. Through metabolomics analysis, DGL1 was shown to affect amino acid metabolic pathways, such as arginine, leucine, glutamate, and tyrosine, as well as the levels of energy-providing polysaccharides and lipids, in alfalfa under 15% PEG-6000 drought stress, enhancing alfalfa’s capacity to resist drought stress.DiscussionStrain DGL1 enhances the drought suitability of alfalfa and has the potential for dryland development as a biological agent.

Utilization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris in Crop Rotation Practice Boosts Rice Productivity and Soil Nutrient Dynamics

Utilization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris in Crop Rotation Practice Boosts Rice Productivity and Soil Nutrient Dynamics

Effect of rice hull biochar treatment on net ecosystem carbon budget and greenhouse gas emissions in Chinese cabbage cultivation on infertile soil

Biochar, with its potential to enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, boost crop yields and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, offers a solution. Addressing the challenges posed by climate change is crucial for food security and agriculture. However, its widespread adoption in agriculture remains in its infancy. This study assessed the effects of rice hull biochar on cabbage production and greenhouse gas emissions, especially nitrous oxide (N2O). A trial, employing a randomized block design in triplicate was conducted from September 13 to November 23, 2022, where "Cheongomabi" cabbage was cultivated with N-P2O5-K2O fertilization at 32-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document}7.8-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document}19.8 kg 10a−1. Additional fertilizer was applied twice post-sowing. The Biochar application rates were control = 0 ton ha−1, B1 = 1 ton ha−1, B3 = 3 ton ha−1, and B5 = 5 ton ha−1. The aboveground biomass of autumn cabbage harvested 82 days after sowing was 2.40–2.70 kg plant−1 in the control and biochar treatments (B1, B3, and B5), with no significant differences (p > 0.05). Cumulative CO2 emissions during cultivation varied across treatment groups, with initial and cumulative emissions of 10.40–17.94 g m−2 day−1 and 3.63–4.43 ton ha−1, respectively. N2O emissions decreased with higher biochar application: reductions of 2.9%, 25.4%, and 41.1% in the B1, B3, and B5 treatments, respectively, compared to the control. The biochar application had no significant impact on yield but curbed soil emissions, Net ecosystem carbon balance during cabbage cultivation ranged from 0.42 to 3.41 ton ha−1 for the B1, B3, and B5 treatments, respectively, compared to control. Overall, the study underscores biochar’s role in mitigating emissions and boosting soil carbon during cabbage cultivation in fall.

Decomposing Unit for Agricultural Waste

The decomposer unit is an essential part of the process that turns organic waste and raw materials into fertilizers, which makes a big difference in waste management and sustainable farming methods. This unit takes raw materials, mostly organic waste, and starts a sequence of actions to turn them into fertilizer that can be used. Organic matter breaks down chemically during decomposition, producing simpler chemicals that are high in potassium, phosphate, and nitrogen—three important nutrients. For the purpose of increasing soil fertility and fostering plant growth, these nutrients are essential. This process is optimized by the decomposer unit, which guarantees effective raw material usage and reduces waste

Contemporary Financial Nationalism in Theory and Practice

Abstract The 2008 global financial crisis and its aftermath provided fertile soil for criticism of and alternatives to the international liberal order, including the rise of financial nationalism. Contemporary financial nationalism is a view of the world that is nationalist in its motivation for political action, financial in its policy focus, and illiberal in its conception of political economy. At the same time, it is fundamentally shaped by its emergence from within the international liberal order, which both constrains the policy options of financial nationalists and provides opportunities for them to draw on transnational financial resources and institutions to advance nationalist causes. This article offers a conceptual analysis of contemporary financial nationalism that explores its fundamental characteristics, explains what is distinctive about it, delineates its four major policy subtypes, identifies the resources and capabilities required to successfully engage in it, and discusses the implications of doing so. It aids researchers in thinking about financial nationalism’s internal workings across different contexts, in understanding why it has lasted as long and spread as far as it has, in considering how it may evolve, and in contemplating how it can affect domestic and international political economies.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ПЛОДОРОДНОГО СЛОЯ ПОЧВЫ ДЛЯ РЕКУЛЬТИВАЦИИ

The purpose of research is to study ways to use fertile soil layer for reclamation. Objectives: to study the requirements for the reclamation of lands disturbed during underground mining; to study ways to store fertile soil layer; to study methods of applying topsoil and potentially fertile rocks. The objects of this study were scientific publications and patents of Russian and foreign authors concerning the negative impact of the coal mining industry and ways to minimize this impact. Land reclamation includes preparatory, technical and biological stages. The preparatory stage includes surveying the territories and determining directions for reclamation. The technical stage includes the process of removing the fertile layer and forming a reclamation layer. The biological stage includes sowing herbs and planting trees and shrubs. The fertile layer of soil can be stored in piles for 20 years. Areas unsuitable for agriculture or unproductive land should be allocated for the piles, where flooding, salinization and pollution by industrial waste, solid objects, stone, crushed stone, pebbles, and construction waste are excluded. The application of a fertile or potentially fertile soil layer involves the use of hydraulic transport or other transportation methods with attachments that ensure the application of a soil layer of a given thickness without leveling work. The thickness of the applied fertile layer is differentiated depending on the degree of soil erosion. In order to return disturbed lands for use in various sectors of the national economy and eliminate their impact on the environment, it is necessary to carry out reclamation work by developing projects for reclamation work as part of land dumps for mining enterprises.