Soil Test Based Research Articles

Yield Maximization of Rice (Oryza sativa) through Integrated Nutrient Management

This experiment was conducted on a permanent layout at the west byde of BRRI farm, Gazipur during T. Aman 2019 to Boro 2021-22 to find out the suitable management practices for yield maximization of rice and soil health. Seven treatments in Randomized Complete Block (RCB) Design with three replications were imposed and each treatment was assigned in 5m × 4m sized plot. The treatments combinations were T1= Absolute Control (No nutrient supply), T2 = BRRI dose N-P-K-S@83-17-53-12 kg ha-1 in T. Aman and 138-21-75-21 kg ha-1 in Boro season, T3= Soil Test Based (STB) Fertilizer Dose N-P-K-S @ 67-10-40-10 kg ha-1 in T. Aman and 134-16-75-10 kg ha-1 in Boro, T4 = STB dose + 1 t ha-1 Cowdung, T5 = STB dose + 1 t ha-1 Poultry manure, T6 = STB dose + 1 t ha-1 Vermicompost and T7 = STB dose + 0.33 t ha-1 CD + 0.33 t ha-1 PM + 0.33 t ha-1 VC. Thirty-days old seedling of BRRI dhan87 in T. Aman and fourty-two days old seedling of BRRI dhan89 in Boro season were transplanted at 20 cm × 20 cm spacing in both seasons. All manures, soil and plant samples analysis were done by the help of soil Science Division BRRI, Gazipur. Initial soil (0-15 cm depth) properties were: soil texture, clay loam; pH, 6.94; organic Carbon, 1.59%; Nitrogen, 0.18%; Phosphorus, 21.88 ppm and Potassium, 0.19meq/100g soil. Thirty days old seedling of BRRI dhan87 in T. Aman and 42 days old seedling of BRRI dhan89 in Boro season were transplanted at 20cm x 20cm spacing. Grain yield, tiller number, panicle number, plant height and grain number were significantly affected by the different integrated nutrient management during both T. Aman and Boro season. Grain yield, tiller number, panicle number, plant height and grain number were significantly affected by the different nutrient management in both T. Aman and Boro season. Poultry manure related treatments and BRRI recommended dose performed better than the others in all the parameter except 1000-grain weight. On the other hand, Absolute Control (No nutrient supply) produced the lowest result. Every parameter, Poultry manure treatments have been performed the best. STB dose with one t ha-1 poultry manure is better for maximization of rice yield.

Comparative Performance of Different Fertilizer Recommendation Methods on Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Old Brahmaputra Floodplain Soils

Improving rice productivity is the challenge for the farmer due to rapid soil health deterioration in intensive agricultural system. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate comparative performance of different nutrient management practices in rice production in Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. There were six treatments namely, T1 (Control-no fertilizer), T2 (Farmer’s Practice), T3 (Fertilizer Recommendation Guide-2018), T4 (BAU Soil Testing Kit), T5 (Soil Test Basis) and T6 (Rice Crop Manager). The results revealed that all the treatments showed better performances over control (T1). Treatment T4 (BAU Soil Testing Kit) produced the highest value of plant height (90.18 cm), panicle length (24.90), filled grains panicle-1 (122.60) and 1000-grain weight (26.67g) while T5 (Soil Test Basis) produced maximum effective tillers hill-1 (12.80). The highest grain yield (6.29 t ha-1) and straw yield (7.73 t ha-1) were recorded in treatment T4 (BAU Soil Testing Kit). Treatment T4 (BAU Soil Testing Kit) also showed the highest grain yield increase (61.49%) and straw yield increase (90.49%) over control. The highest total N, P and K uptake (108.84 kg ha-1, 24.54 kg ha-1 and 128.17 kg ha-1) were obtained in the treatment T4 (BAU Soil Testing Kit). Control treatment T1 (No fertilizers) showed minimum performances in all the cases compared to other treatments. The overall result demonstrated that the application of fertilizers following BAU Soil Testing Kit method of fertilizer application system is a better option for rice production.

Cropping system-based fertilizer strategies for crop productivity and soil health under minimum tillage in grey terrace soil

A cropping system that is based on three or four crops is currently a widely favored option for augmenting crop productivity to address the escalating global food demand. However, the improper fertilizer management and undue tillage adversely impacts both the productivity of crops and the fertility of the soil. A research investigation was conducted on tillage and nutrient management within the mustard-mungbean-Transplanting aus (T.aus)-Transplanting aman (T.aman) cropping system to examine the impact of fertilizer packages and tillage techniques on the overall productivity of cropping systems, as well as the condition of the soil in grey terrace soil. The research included tillage techniques viz; minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT) and deep tillage (DT); while nutrient management; NM1: 100 % STB (Soil test based) following FRG (Fertilizer Recommendation Guide-2018), all from chemical fertilizer, NM2: 125 % of STB following FRG- 2018, all from chemical fertilizer, NM3: 100 % STB (80 % from chemical fertilizers and 20 % from cowdung), and NM4: Native fertility (no fertilization). A total of twelve treatments replicated three times following the factorial completely randomized design for three consecutive seasonal years (2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21). MT outperformed DT and CT in terms of crop yield, rice equivalent yield (REY), system productivity (SP), and production efficiency (PE). Moreover, NM3 exhibited enhanced performance in terms of agricultural productivity measures. Field capacity (FC), soil organic matter (OM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and soil nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn and B) observed an enhancement as a result of the implementation of tillage MT and nutrition package NM3. The investigation indicates that implementing minimum tillage (MT) coupled with an integrated plant nutrition system package (NM3) can assist in the improvement of soil and the enhancement of crop productivity.

Fertilizer doses and mulching effect to mitigate soil salinity and maximize yield of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) in coastal region of Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted in the rabi season at Patuakhali, Bangladesh to verify the effect of different mulching materials for watermelon production under farmers field condition. The aim of this research was to test the possibility of salinity damage can be reduced by elevating potassium (K) fertilization rate on watermelon yield and nutrient uptake under salt stress condition. Four different fertilizer doses T1 = Soil Test Based (STB), T2 = STB + 50% K, T3 = Integrated Plant Nutrients System (IPNS) approach with 5 tonha-1 cowdung (CD) + 50% K and T4 = Farmers practices with many materials usedP1 = Silver color polythene mulch, P2 = Straw mulch, P3 = No mulch combination. Twenty days old seedling were used in farmers’ field. Other nutrients were also applied following STB method. Fertilizer used as the rates of N117P30K30S25 (T1), N117P30K37S25 (T2), N92P22.5K45S25 with 5 tonha-1cowdung (T3) and N100P40K35S30 (T4). All the plant growth, yield and quality characters were superior in T3 with silver polythene (31.96 tonha-1) while plants without mulch and STB method resulted poor growth and yield of 24.31 tonha-1. The higher rates of K contributed to 7- 27% increased yield over only STB dose for Patuakhali which implies the necessity of higher dose of K in salt affected soil in strengthening yield. With economic point of view, T3 (IPNS with 5 ton/ha cowdung + 50% K and silver polythene mulch) seedling reported the highest net return of 375780 Bd TK and found more economical with highest cost benefit ratio.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Dynamics of Nutrient Availability at Various Intervals in Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted at College Farm, Agricultural College, Polasa, Jagtial, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University. The study was aimed at identifying the effect of integrated nutrient management on nutrient availability in soil. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with nine treatments replicated thrice. The treatments includes T1: 100% Recommended dose of Fertilizer (RDF), T2: 100% RDF + FYM (Farm Yard Manure), T3: 100% RDF + FYM + Biofertilizer consortium, T4: 75% RDF, T5: 75% RDF + FYM, T6: 75% RDF + FYM + Biofertilizer consortium, T7: Soil Test Based (STB) NPK, T8: 75% STB NPK + FYM and T9: 75% STB NPK + FYM + Biofertilizer consortium. The results of the experiment revealed that integrated nutrient management significantly influenced the availability of various nutrients at different stages of the crop. Significantly higher nitrogen and its inorganic fractions, phosphorous, potassium and sulphur availability was recorded with the integrated application of 75% STB + FYM + Biofertilizer consortium which was comparable with an application of Soil Test Based NPK, 100 % RDF + FYM + Biofertilizer consortium, and 75% STB NPK + FYM. The lower available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, ammonical and nitrate nitrogen were recorded under the treatment of 75 % RDF.

Performance of tall wheat under different sowing times and methods using various nutrient sources in western Haryana

To study the effect of different sowing times, methods and nutrient sources on the growth and productivity of tall wheat, a field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications. The analysis of data revealed that tall wheat crop sown in the last week of October on FIRBS recorded significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (at different growth stages), yield attributes, grain yield (2599 kg ha-1) and biological yield (7212 kg ha-1) as compared to conventionally sown wheat crop in 1st and 2nd week of November. Among the different nutrient sources, the recommended doses of chemical fertilizers provided significantly higher values of growth parameters, yield attributes, grain yield (2658 kg ha-1) and biological yield (7426 kg ha-1) compared to organic fertilizers/ biofertilizers. Maximum temperature showed a significant and positive correlation with yield and yield attributes. In light of the results to maximize the productivity of tall wheat, it may be sown in the last week of October on FIRBS supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers on the basis of soil test.

Soil test-based fertilizer prescription for targeted yield of sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.)

ABSTRACT To develop targeted yield-based integrated nutrient recommendation of sesame, soil test-based crop response field studies on major nutrients were undertaken during two consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017) in an Inceptisol. For this, quantitative estimations of basic parameters viz. nutrient requirement (NR), percentage contribution of nutrients from soil (CS); from fertilizer (CF); from farm yard manure (CFYM) were done. The essential informations obtained from soil and crop testing were used for development of fertilizer prescription equations for different nutrient management practices using organic (FYM) and inorganic chemical fertilizer alone or in combinations. The mean nutrient requirement for the production of 100 kg of sesame grain was 6.98, 1.61 and 3.92 kg of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), respectively. The CS, CF and CFYM values were 21.84, 49.35 and 6.95 for N; 40.23, 26.25 and 4.57 for P; 12.80, 53.13 and 4.07 for K, respectively. Those parameters were used for preparation of ready reckoners of fertilizer prescription for range of soil test values of N, P and K to get targeted yield (±5 to ±10% of potential yield of variety) of 9 q/ha for sesame grain using FYM and inorganic chemical fertilizer alone or in combinations. Amount of N, P and K fertilizer could be reduced by a significant amount if fertilizers were applied on soil test basis in integration with FYM.

Effects of biochar and biofertilizer on groundnut production: a perspective for environmental sustainability in Bangladesh

Regular large-scale application of fertilizers, pesticides, and mulching can lead to soil health degradation and increase negative environmental impacts, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Considering these factors by applying biochar and biofertilizer (rhizobium inoculants) in groundnut production, a novel experiment was conducted for increasing soil fertility, groundnut productivity, and soil carbon stock in Bangladesh's Charland agroecosystems. The two-year experiment involved seven treatments consisting of T1 (control), T2 (soil test based (STB) fertilizer dose following fertilizer recommendation guide (FRG) 2018), T3 ((T2 minus nitrogen fertilizer) + biofertilizer), T4 (T3 + biochar), T5 (T2 + biochar), T6 (only biofertilizer), and T7 (only biochar). The result showed that the T4 treatment had the highest nodule counts (78.17 plant−1), nodule weights (122.97 mg plant−1), root weight (1.47 g plant−1) and nut yields (2.30 t ha−1), all of which were statistically identical compared to the other treatments. In addition, the T3 treatment had the highest recorded shoot weight (35.47 g plant−1), whereas the control T1 treatment had the lowest (16.50 g plant−1) shoot weight. Results showed that biochar-based rhizobium inoculants increased nodulation, root weight, shoot weight, nut yield and soil nutrient uptake in plant growth at all four stages (seedling, flowering, pod formation and harvesting). The result revealed that biochar-based rhizobium inoculants modulated the abundance of functional microbes through increased soil nitrification and reduced denitrification compared to the N-use treatments. Moreover, this interactive system significantly improved soil NO3−, leading to an increase in N uptake, thereby promoting plant growth and increasing nut yield. Considering all parameters, the soil amended biochar as a carrier of rhizobium inoculants had the highest soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (1.76 t ha−1), about 26% higher than other treatments, which saved a considerable amount of 6.6 kg CO2eq ha−1 GHG emissions and aided in promoting environmental sustainability towards climate-smart agriculture.Graphical

Development of Fertilizer Recommendation of Four Crops Grown Under the Cropping Pattern: Mustardboro- T. Aus- T. Aman in Aez - 8

A field experiment on mustard- boro- T. aus- T. aman cropping pattern was conducted in the soil of Jamalpur (AEZ - 8) during two consecutive years 2014- 2015 and 2015-2016 with the objectives of finding out suitable fertilizer requirements for a four crops pattern mustard- boro- T. aus- T. aman. The experiment was conducted in RARS (AEZ-8), Jamalpur. There were eight treatments in the study viz. T1: 100% soil test based (STB) NPKSZnB, T2: T1 + 25% N, T3: T1 + 25% NP, T4: T1 + 25% NK, T5: T1 + 25% PK, T6: T1 + 25% NPK, T7: 75% of T1, T8: Native fertility. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data revealed that the seed yield of mustard, grain yield boro, T. aus and T. aman were significantly influenced by application of 25% extra NPK consistently. The highest seed yield of mustard and grain yield of boro, T. aus and T. aman was obtained from the T6 treatment where 25% additional NPK was added over the 100% STB. The lowest yield was recorded for the native fertility treatment in both years.
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 45(2): 113-123, June 2020

Precision Nitrogen Management in Bt Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Improves Seed Cotton Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Reduces Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Field experiments were conducted to establish precision N management technology for nitrogen (N) topdressings in Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) along with the quantification of nitrous oxide emissions from the soil. The treatments consisted of five fixed N rates (0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha−1 applied in two split doses) and eight site-specific N management (SSNM) treatments of applying different N rates at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and the application of leaf colour chart (LCC)-guided 30, 45 or 60 kg N ha−1 at 55 DAS only in four treatments and at both 55 and 85 DAS (first flowering and boll formation stages) in the remaining four treatments. A higher R2 value between the total N uptake and the leaf N concentration at 85 DAS than at 55 DAS strongly suggested that fertilizer N management based on leaf N concentration measured in terms of LCC scores led to an adequate total N uptake resulting in a respectable yield. Topdressings of 45 to 60 kg N ha−1 at 40 DAS and an LCC-based application at 55 DAS produced seed cotton yields on a par with the addition of 150 kg N ha−1 based on a soil test basis along with an improved recovery and agronomic efficiency use, and remarkably lowered the nitrous oxide emissions as estimated using the CCAFS (Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security)-Mitigation Option Tool.

Increasing Cropping Intensity and Crop Productivity of Four Crops Based Mustard-Boro-T. Aus-T. Aman Cropping Pattern

A field trial on soil test based (STB) fertilizer doses was conducted during the year of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 in Jashore region (AEZ-11) to find out the most suitable fertilizer doses for four crop based cropping pattern considering the agronomic feasibility and economic return of the system. The experiment consisted of eight different treatments viz. T1: 100% NPKSZnB (STB), T2: T1 + 25% N, T3: T1 + 25% NP, T4: T1 + 25% NK, T5:T1 + 25% PK, T6:T1 + 25% NPK, T7: 75% of T1, T8: Native fertility. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was followed. Data revealed that seed yield of mustard was remarkably influenced by fertilizer treatments while grain yield of other components of the cropping system was not affected significantly by the treatments except control or native fertility. It was observed that 25% more NPK over 100% STB dose provided the highest yield of all the component crops. The highest rice equivalent yield (3.34 t ha-1) was recorded from T6 and the lowest (1.88 t ha-1) from T8 treatment. Maximum gross return (Tk. 420000/ha) and marginal benefit cost ratio (4.08) were also obtained from T6 treatment. So, 25% NPK+ 100% STB dose of fertilizer could be followed for productive and remunerative rice based cropping system Mustard-Boro-T. Aus-T.Aman in AEZ-11. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 109-117

Site-specific nutrient management under conservation agriculture-based spring wheat in Trans-Gangetic Plains of India

The experiment was conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 at ICAR-IARI research farm, to see the effect of crop establishment and nutrient management options on growth and yield of wheat under maize-wheat system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 03 replications, comprising conventional tillage without residue (CT-R), conventional tillage with 3 t/ha residue (CT+R), permanent raised bed without residue (PRB-R) and permanent raised bed with 3 t/ha residue (PRB+R) in main plot and nutrient management, viz. soil test-based(STB), Nutrient Expert® based (NE) and NE+ GreenSeekerTM based recommendations (NE+GS) in sub-plot. A significantly (P≤0.05) higher crop growth, viz. plant height, dry matter accumulation and leaf area index under PRB+R compared to other crop establishment technique. Differentyield parameters (yield, grain straw ratio and harvest index) and yield attributes of wheat grown under PRB+R were significantly higher (P≤0.05) over other crop establishment technique. A significantly (P≤0.05) higher crop growth, yield attributes, grain yield (5.01 and 5.05 t/ha), grain: straw ratio (0.65 and 0.65) and harvest index (39.31 and 39.36) of wheat were recorded with NE+GS based fertilization during 2018-19 and 2019- 20, respectively. Pearson correlation matrix analyzed for different growth and yield parameters showed a significant positive correlation (r) among themselves. Study infer that growing of wheat on the permanent raised bed along with 03 t/ha residue retention on surface and precision nutrient prescription using NE and GreenSeekerTM optical sensor showed promise for sustainable high productivity in intensively cultivated Trans-Gangetic Plains.

Integrated effects of vermicompost with chemical fertilizers on the yield of mustard

Field experiments were conducted in three Agroecological zones (AEZ) at Farmer’s field, Rangpur (AEZ-3), Farmer’s field, Ishurdi (AEZ-11) and BINA farm, Mymensingh (AEZ-9) to investigate the integrated effect of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers (CF) on Mustard (Brassica napus L.) during 2017-18 cropping season to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer for mustard cultivation. The experiments were carried out with eight treatments and three replications in Randomized Complete Block Design. The treatments for the crops used in the experiments were T1: Native soil fertility, T2:100% chemical fertilizer (CF),T3: 75% CF, T4: 75% CF + Vermicompost (VC) @ 4 t ha-1, T5:85% CF ,T6: 85% CF + VC @ 4 t ha-1 T7: 75% CF +VC @ 2 t ha-1­­­­ and T8: 85% CF+VC @ 2 tha-1. Fertilizers applied on the basis of soil test (STB). Application of vermicompost with chemical fertilizer increased the yield attributes and yields of mustard. The treatment T6 (85% CF + VC @ 4 tha-1) gave the tallest plant height, greatest number of pods plant-1 and siliqua pod-1 and maximum seed (1.82, 1.26 and 1.49 t ha-1 at Rangpur, Ishurdi and Mymensingh, respectively) and straw yields of mustard at all the location with the few exception. But the treatment T6 gave the identical results with the treatments T8, T4 and T2. Application of vermicompost also increased the N, P and K uptakes of mustard at all the location. The treatments T6 T8 and T4 gave statistically identical nutrients uptakes to the treatment T2 (100%CF). The results revealed that 75% CF with 4 t ha-1 vermicompost or 85% CF with 2 t ha-1 vermicompost almost equally effective to produce seed yield of mustard which was also comparable with the full dose (100%) of chemical fertilizers (NPKS) in all the location. Therefore 15-25% chemical fertilizer (NPKS) could be reduced either with the application of 75% CF with 4 t ha-1 vermicompost or 85% CF with 2 t ha-1 vermicompost for mustard cultivation.
 Progressive Agriculture 31 (2): 81-88, 2020

DIFFERENT SOURCES NITROGEN BASED FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL.)

Integration of inorganic and organic fertilizer is a very important tool for sustainable production of tomatoes contributing to human health. There were six treatments followed the design of RCBD with three replications to observe the growth, yield and the nutritional quality like lycopene and β-carotene of tomato. Treatments were; F1: Control, F2: Pond sediments-100%, F3:50%F2+50%F6, F4:50% F2+50%F5, F5: soil test based (STB) nitrogen as urea, and F6: vermicompost-100%. Statistically significant variations were found for the plant growth and yield. The highest growth and yield performances were found from the treatment F4. Fruit clusters, fruit numbers and fruit weight per plant were found highest in the treatment F4, whereas the lowest was found in the control. The highest marketable yield of tomato (96.17 t/ha) was obtained from the treatment F4 which was 20%, 29%, 13%, and 41% higher compared to F5, F2, F6, and F1 treatments, respectively. The highest amount of lycopene (67.31 ppm) and β-carotene (53.52 ppm) were found from F4 and F6, respectively, whereas the lowest amount was 42.59 ppm lycopene and 13.85 ppm β-carotene from F5 and F1, respectively. Inorganic and organic fertilizer like pond sediments can be applied for the sustainable production of tomato with friendly environment.

Assessing nutrient requirement of wheat under maize-wheat cropping sequence

In order to assess the nutrient requirement of wheat after grain maize was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Niphad, Dist. Nashik, Maharashtra during 2014-15 to 2016-17. During kharif season, maize (cv. Rajeshree) for grain purpose was sown by applying of recommended dose of fertilizers (120:60:40 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1). In rabi season wheat crop was sown with five treatments viz. absolute control, recommended dose of fertilizers (120:60:40 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1+ FYM 10 t ha-1), fertilizer application as per soil test basis, 125 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers and 150 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers. The pooled results of three years experiment revealed that application of 150 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers to wheat crop produced significantly higher grain (40.28 q ha-1) and straw (55.50 q ha-1) yields over absolute control. It was at par with the treatment application of 125 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers (38.27 q ha-1) and fertilizer application as per soil test basis (37.44 q ha-1). The soil available major nutrients viz. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, after harvest of wheat, were observed higher in the treatment of 150 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers compared to initial status of the soil.

Yield and Yield Attributes of Short Duration Mustard as Influenced by Nutrient Rates

Mustard (Brassica napus)is the important principal edible oil-producing crop in Bangladesh. However, the nutrient requirement of mustard especially for the short duration variety is very much important to obtain higher yield. A field experiment was conducted to assess the requirement of major nutrients (N, P, K, and S), and to recommend fertilizers for short-duration mustard variety BARI Sarisha-14. There were 8 treatments T1=100% soil test based (STB) nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn & B @ 90, 25, 60, 15, 2 & 1 kg ha-1, respectively) as per Fertilizer Recommendation Guide (FRG,2012), T2=T1+ 25% N of FRG, T3=T1+ 25% NP of FRG, T4=T1+ 25% NK of FRG, T5=T1+ 25% PK of FRG, T6=T1+ 25% NPK of FRG, T7=75% of T1 and T8= native nutrient (control). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications. The results revealed that yield and yield parameters of mustard weresignificantly influenced by the nutrient levels. The highest value of almost all the yield components and yield were obtained in T6 among the treatments. The highest seed yield (1.68 t ha-1) and the maximum stover yield (2.96 t ha-1) were obtained from the treatment (T6) containing 100% STB nutrients with additional 25% NPK among the fertilizer treatments. The seed yield value was statistically higher than all other treatments except the treatment where100% STB nutrients with additional 25% NP were used (T3). The highest seed yield and stover production were attributed tothe yield contributing parameters. The highest amount of all the nutrients content was found in the treatment T6 that was followed by T3 and T4 and the lowest in T8. The highest amount of N, P, K, and S content in seed of the treatment T6 was 3.75, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.78%, respectively. The highest yield was accredited to the highest amount of nutrient content in seed. It could be concluded that the treatment T6 (STB fertilizer dose + 25% NPK of FRG) would suitable for short duration Mustard (BARI Sarisha-14) for getting higher yield and better performance.
 Bangladesh Agron. J. 2019, 22(2): 129-138

Knowledge level of farmers about soil health card scheme

Major part of Indian economy is contributed by agriculture and its allied sector. Around 56 per cent of population directly or indirectly depends upon agriculture. The GDP contribution of the agriculture and allied sector is about17.8 per cent but this sector is facing many challenges to flourish. Out of these challenges, lesser crop productivity and inefficient use of fertilizers are the main challenges faced by Indian farmers. Till now, fertilizer recommendations for different crops are made on the basis of agronomical practices and not on the soil test basis. This has led to nutritional deficiencies and decrease in soil fertility in some parts of the country. Hence, to improve the soil health and boost productivity it has become necessary to nurture the soil. In the wake of this, Government has launched the soil health card scheme in February, 2015. Under this scheme farmers are issued a soil health card which carries crop-wise recommendation of nutrients and fertilizer required for individual farm. Soil health card makes the farmers aware about soil health of their farm and help them to improve productivity by maintaining soil health. Thus, to measure the knowledge level of respondents about SHCs the present study was conducted in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan state which was selected purposely. The Sri Ganganagar district consists of nine tehsils, Out of these, three tehsils namely Padampur, Sadulshahar and Karanpur were purposely selected for the present investigation on the basis of highest number of registered farmers under SHCs. The proportionate random sampling method was used to select the registered farmers and they were called as beneficiary of Soil Health Card scheme because they have benefited under Soil Health Card scheme. Further, equal number of non-beneficiary respondents from same tehsils were also selected randomly who have not benefited under Soil Health Card scheme and they were called as non-beneficiary respondents. Thus, total 120 respondents i.e. 60 beneficiary and 60 non-beneficiary respondents were selected from selected tehsils for the present investigation. The results of the study revealed that majority of respondents in the study area had medium level of knowledge about SHCs. They had highest knowledge about the aspect of “information regarding soil sampling” and least knowledge about “general information regarding key features”. There was significant association found between education, occupation, annual income, mass media exposure and extension agency contact with knowledge level of the farmers.

Response of Mustard to Soil Test Based Fertilizer Management

A field experiment was carried out at Sonapur of Muradnagar upazilla in Cumilla district under the Debidwar MLT (Multi-Location Testing) site during the rabi season of 2013-15. The experiment was conducted in the Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain (AEZ-19) soil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications.The treatments were: T1= Soil Test Based (STB) Fertilizer dose (FRG 2012), T2= T1+ 15% STB, T3= T1+ 30% STB, T4= 80% STB from inorganic fertilizer + 20% STB from CD/PM, T5= Farmers’ Practice andT6= Control. Among the treatments, T4 gave the maximum seed yield (1385.56 kg ha-1) which was at par with T1, T3 and T2 treatments. The lowest seed yield (450.20 kg ha-1) was obtained from T6 (Control).
 Bangladesh Agron. J. 2018, 21(2): 67-71

Integrated Effects of Poultry Manure and Chemical Fertilizer on Yield, Nutrient Balance and Economics of Wetland Rice Culture

Field trials were conducted for two years to evaluate the integrated effect of poultry manure (PM) and chemical fertilizers on yield, nutrient balance and economics of rice at BRRI, Gazipur (AEZ-28 and land type- High Land) during Boro 2009 to T. Aman 2010. Eight treatment combinations, where PM @ 1, 2, 3 t ha-1 with IPNS (Integrated plant nutrient system) based dose and PM @ 1, 2, 3 t ha-1 with 50% STB (soil test based) dose along with a control and 100% STB chemical fertilizer were tested. Immediate effects of manure and fertilizer were evaluated in Boro season and residual effects were observed in the following T. Aman season. Application of PM @ 2 t ha-1 with IPNS based chemical fertilizer or PM @ 3 t ha-1 with 50% STB dose gave higher grain yield in Boro season. Some residual effects in the succeeding T. Aman rice were observed where PM was used @ 3 t ha-1. The highest net return was obtained with 3 t PM ha-1 with 50% STB dose. A positive nutrient balance of phosphorus and sulfur were observed in PM and chemical fertilizer treated plots.
 Bangladesh Rice j. 2018, 22(2): 71-77

Effects of tillage practices and nutrient management on crop productivity and profitability in Jute-T. aman rice- onion cropping system

Conservation agriculture (CA) with appropriate nutrient management can help increase crop production, improve soil health and bring economic return. An experiment was conducted at farmer’s field of Rajbari district under Low Ganges River Floodplain (AEZ-12) during 2017-2018 to evaluate the effects of tillage and nutrient management on the system productivity and profitability in the jute - T. Aman rice- onion cropping system. Strip tillage (ST) for jute, non-puddling for T. Aman rice and one pass minimum tillage (MT) for onion was contrasted with conventional crop establishment practice (CT). Four different nutrient management practices were NM1: farmer’s practice (FP), NM2: soil test based (STB) fertilizer, NM3:25% extra of STB and NM4: organic amendments (20 % nutrients from cowdung). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications by assigning tillage practices in main plots and nutrient management in sub-plots. The yield attributes of jute, T. Aman rice and onion responded similarly to tillage practices. On the other hand, the system productivity and yield of component crops varied due to different nutrient management practices (p<0.05). The highest fibre yield of jute (3.64 t ha-1) was obtained in 25% extra of STB fertilizer dose; the highest T. Aman yield (6.02 t ha-1) and the highest onion bulb yield (16.0 t ha-1) in 20 % organic nutrient management, followed by25 % extra of STB fertilizer dose. The highest system productivity was also produced by 20 % organic amendments (33.6 t ha-1), followed by 25 % extra of STB fertilizer dose (32.3 t ha-1). The lowest yield of crops and system productivity was recorded in FP (28.6 t ha-1).The increased yield of T. Aman rice and onion in 20 % organic amendment by cowdung and ST resulted in the highest net return (NR) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR), while 25% extra of STB and FP under CT gave the lowest NR and BCR. Residual nutrient from successive use of cowdung combined with chemical fertilizers outperformed other management practices in terms of crop yield and economic return.
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(3): 387-399, September 2019