Effect of organic manures, crop residues and green manure (Sesbania aculeata) on nitrogen and phosphorus transformations in a sandy loam at field capacity and under waterlogged conditions

SUMMARYThe effect of cowpea green manure (CGM) and farmyard manure (FYM) on phenological events in maize grown with different rates of nitrogen (N) was evaluated at Ludhiana, India in 1988–89 as part of a long-term experiment on sandy loam. Tasselling (T), anthesis (A), silking (S), maturity (M) and appearance of leaves were recorded in 1988 and 1989 from plots of maize manured with cowpea and FYM and grown at 0, 75 and 125 kg N/ha. Time to phenological events was calculated in terms of calendar days and growing degree units (GDU).Phenological events in maize were significantly advanced by CGM, FYM and N. The occurrence of T, A and S with CGM was earlier by 60·5, 84·5 and 114·5 GDU, respectively, than without it and the end of each of the growth stages T, A and S was advanced by 81·0, 99·0 and 78·5 GDU, respectively. Maturity was earlier than in the control by 65·0 GDU. Leaf emergence occurred earlier after organic manuring. Farmyard manure advanced development less than CGM. Changes in phenological events due to N followed the same pattern of changes as those found with organic manures. Time from sowing to onset of T, A, S and M, and the interval between T, A, S and M were significantly correlated with yield and yield-related characters. Desirable changes in the timing of phenological events are thus one of the factors contributing to the improvement in productivity caused by organic manures. Calendar day was found to be as accurate an index as GDU for evaluation of the effect of cultural practices on phenological events.

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Effect of organics on nitrogen transformations in soil under different moisture regimes

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.56.2008.3.4 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 285-293

Author(s):

M. Mavi ◽

B. Singh ◽

R. Setia

Keyword(s):

Wheat Straw ◽

Rice Straw ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Poultry Manure ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Urea Hydrolysis ◽

Green Manures ◽

Untreated Soil ◽

Organic Manures

Awareness of the environmental aspects of the quality of crop production has increased in recent decades, leading to renewed interest in organics such as crop residues, green manures and organic manures. The effect of organics on urea transformation was investigated by conducting a laboratory incubation experiment in alluvial clay loam soil (Typic Ustifluvents) at 33±1°C with two moisture levels (1:1 soil:water ratio and field capacity). The rate of urea hydrolysis decreased as the time of incubation increased and the disappearance of urea N was associated with a corresponding increase in the (NH 4+ + NO 3− )-N content in soils treated with crop residues (rice straw and wheat straw), organic manures (poultry manure and farmyard manure) and green manures (cowpea and sesbania). In untreated soil, the time taken for the complete hydrolysis of the applied urea (200 μg urea N g −1 soil) was more than 96 h at both the moisture levels, whereas in amended soils it was completed in 48 h. The rate of urea hydrolysis was more rapid at field capacity than at the 1:1 soil:water ratio. Urea hydrolysis was higher in sesbaniatreated soils, followed by cowpea, poultry manure, farmyard manure, rice straw and wheat straw at both the moisture levels. At field capacity, 85.5% urea was hydrolysed in sesbania-treated soil as compared to 32% in untreated soil after 24 hours of incubation, while at the 1:1 soil:water ratio the corresponding values were 81.5 and 27.5%. Urea hydrolysis followed first order reaction kinetics at both the moisture levels.

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Emissions of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide associated with the decomposition of arable crop residues on a sandy loam soil in Eastern England

Agronomie ◽

10.1051/agro:2002057 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 22 (7-8) ◽

pp. 731-738 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Roland Harrison ◽

Sharon Ellis ◽

Roy Cross ◽

James Harrison Hodgson

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Sandy Loam Soil ◽

Arable Crop ◽

Loam Soil

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EFFECT OF ROTATIONS, TILLAGE TREATMENTS AND FERTILIZERS ON THE AGGREGATION OF A CLAY SOIL

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss71-030 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 235-241 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. S. EMMOND

Keyword(s):

Green Manure ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Soil Aggregation ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

Green Manure Crop

Soil aggregation was lowest in a fallow-wheat rotation and increased in other fallow-grain rotations with the second, third, and fourth crops after the fallow year. The best aggregation was under continuous wheat. Rotations containing hay crops, particularly those with grass, increased soil aggregation significantly. The influence of tillage treatments on soil aggregation declined with increased depth. Various tillage treatments affected surface soil aggregation, in the following order: green manure crop plowed under > cultivated with trash cover > crop residues plowed under > cultivated with residues burned off = crop residues disced in. Fertilizer (11–48–0) applied to the wheat crop of the various tillage treatments increased soil aggregation except where the crop residues had been removed. The application of barn manure increased soil aggregation.

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Progress towards no-till organic weed control in western Canada

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170511000500 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 60-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Steven J. Shirtliffe ◽

Eric N. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Faba Bean ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Green Manure ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Organic Production ◽

Field Pea ◽

Western Canada ◽

No Till ◽

Green Manure Crops

AbstractOrganic farmers in western Canada rely on tillage to control weeds and incorporate crop residues that could plug mechanical weed-control implements. However, tillage significantly increases the risk of soil erosion. For farmers seeking to reduce or eliminate tillage, potential alternatives include mowing or using a roller crimper for terminating green manure crops (cover crops) or using a minimum tillage (min-till) rotary hoe for mechanically controlling weeds. Although many researchers have studied organic crop production in western Canada, few have studied no-till organic production practices. Two studies were recently conducted in Saskatchewan to determine the efficacy of the following alternatives to tillage: mowing and roller crimping for weed control, and min-till rotary hoeing weed control in field pea (Pisum sativum L.). The first study compared mowing and roller crimping with tillage when terminating faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and field pea green manure crops. Early termination of annual green manure crops with roller crimping or mowing resulted in less weed regrowth compared with tillage. When compared with faba bean, field pea produced greater crop biomass, suppressed weeds better and had less regrowth. Wheat yields following pea were not affected by the method of termination. Thus, this first study indicated that roller crimping and mowing are viable alternatives to tillage to terminate field pea green manure crops. The second study evaluated the tolerance and efficacy of a min-till rotary harrow in no-till field pea production. The min-till rotary hoe was able to operate in no-till cereal residues and multiple passes did not affect the level of residue cover. Field pea exhibited excellent tolerance to the min-till rotary hoe. Good weed control occurred with multiple rotary hoe passes, and pea seed yield was 87% of the yield obtained in the herbicide-treated check. Therefore, this second study demonstrated that min-till rotary hoeing effectively controls many small seeded annual weeds in the presence of crop residue and thus can reduce the need for tillage in organic-cropping systems.

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Water-Fertilizer Coupling Effects and Efficient Utilization under Peanut-Millet Interplanting Conditions

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.742.272 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 742 ◽

pp. 272-277

Author(s):

Liang Shan Feng ◽

Zhan Xiang Sun ◽

Jia Ming Zheng

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Coupling Effect ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Application Rates ◽

Optimal Value ◽

Factor Interactions ◽

Nitrogen Phosphorus

In this study, the results showed that water is the most important factor to affect crop yields and optimum soil moisture is lower under the conditions of peanut-and-millet interplanting. Thus, peanut-and-millet interplanting is generally able to fit most of the semi-arid region. In the interaction of various factors, the coupling effect of water and phosphorus was stronger than the coupling effect of fertilizers, following by the coupling effect of water and nitrogen. Among peanuts factors of water, nitrogen, and multi-factorial interaction of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, water and nitrogen showed a negative effect, whereas the two-factor interactions had a positive effect. There were some differences between peanut and millet in the need for water and fertilizer, in which peanut required more nitrogen and millet needed slightly higher soil moisture and phosphorus. When other factors were in rich level, both of the optimal value for single factors of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus and the optimal value for two-factor interactions of water-nitrogen, water-phosphorus, and nitrogen-phosphorus, were higher than the optimal value for the interaction of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The tiny demand difference on moisture in peanut-millet interplanting could be compromised by configuring a reasonable interplanting population structure and the corresponding demand difference on fertilizer could be resolved by uneven crop planting strips. Under the condition of water-nitrogen-phosphorus interaction, the soil moisture content optimal for peanut accounted for 57.3% of the field capacity, and the related appropriate application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus were 0.98 g/pot (81.18 kg/hm2) and 0.39g/pot (32.18 kg/hm2), respectively. Likewise, the soil moisture content optimal for millet was 59.1% of the field capacity, and the counterpart appropriate application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus were 0.57 g/pot (47.03 kg/hm2) and 0.45g / pot (37.13 kg/hm2), respectively.

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Organic Vegetable Cultivation

10.5772/intechopen.99744 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Usha Nandhini Devi Harinarayanan ◽

Pugalendhi Lakshmanan

Keyword(s):

Green Manure ◽

Human Population ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

International Markets ◽

Chemical Fertilizers ◽

Pests And Diseases ◽

Organic Cultivation ◽

Premium Price ◽

Green Manure Crops

Present day agricultural practices are posing a serious threat to the human population due to unscrupulous use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Conventional agricultural practices wherein large quantities and unscrupulous use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are no longer safer as it directly enter the food chain. Hence, organic cultivation of vegetables is gaining momentum among the growing population. Organic practices rely on crop rotations, crop residues, plant and animal manures, growing of legume and green manure crops and biological control of pests and diseases. It aims to combine tradition, innovation and science in a balanced proportion to utilize the environment in safer manner and maintain ecological balance. Organic cultivation assures protection of the environment and plays a major role on the economy of a nation. Sustainable production of organic vegetables needs to be ensured to fetch premium price in the domestic as well as international markets. Organic farming has shown expansion in the recent years in the European countries offering scope for a better price in the international market.

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Evaluation of cotton stalks destroyers

Engenharia Agrícola ◽

10.1590/s0100-69162013000500008 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 965-975 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aloisio Bianchini ◽

Pedro H. de M. Borges

Keyword(s):

Soil Type ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Soil Types ◽

Mechanical Destruction ◽

Cotton Crop ◽

Cotton Stalks ◽

Medium Texture

The destruction of the cotton crop residues (cotton stalks) is a mandatory procedure in Brazil for prophylactic issues, but is a subject unexplored by the research and there are few studies that deal with this issue. However, this is not encouraged in recent decades, studies aimed at developing and evaluating equipment for this purpose. The present study had the objective to evaluate six methods for mechanical destruction of cotton crop residues. Each method was defined based on the principle of operation of the active parts of the equipment, which were tested in medium texture soil and in a clayey one. The variables used to evaluate the efficiency of the equipment were the regrowth rate, the theoretical field capacity and energy demand. The equipment with convergent concave disks (DCC) and flat cutters discs from manufacturer A (CPS-a) showed the best results in cotton stalks destruction in both soil types. The harrow disc (GPD) was efficient only in clay soil. It was concluded that the equipment with convergent concave disks, among those tested, was the most efficient to destroy cotton stalks, regardless of soil type, and that the harrow disc was not included among the best performers.

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Design, Construct and Evaluation of a Single Row Hand-Pushed Mechanical Weed Control Machine

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management ◽

10.4314/jasem.v25i3.14 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 401-406

Author(s):

A. Saleh ◽

M.L. Suleiman

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Labour Force ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Loam Soil ◽

Human Effort ◽

Field Efficiency ◽

Peasant Farmers ◽

Control Machine

Weed control is one of the major problems in crop and vegetable production in Nigeria. Most of the peasant farmers use manual weeders in their cultivation, a process that is costly, labour intensive and time consuming. The process does not also give the farmer adequate returns to enable him breakeven. It is, therefore, necessary to design a weeding equipment which minimize the human effort and provide efficient work output for the peasant farmer. This study focus on designing, construction and evaluation of a hand-pushed weed control machine that would eliminate the challenges being faced by the farmer in weeding. Materials selected to suit the construction of the weeder are durable and locally available, easily replaced if damaged and at affordable cost. They include mild steel (3mm, 5mm), 30 mm circular (hollow) pipes, 10 mm diameter steel rod, and 40 cm pneumatic tyre. The developed weeding machine was evaluated in the experimental farm of IAR with impressive results. It works well in sandy loam soil of about 25.65% moisture content and requires less labour force compared to the manual hoe. It has about 84.7% weeding efficiency, 0.0129ha/hr effectivefield capacity, 0.019ha/hr theoretical field capacity and 68% field efficiency. The average cost of the weeding is N21, 000:00. Keywords: Manual weeding, hand-pushed weeder, weeding efficiency, field efficiency

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Integrated fish farming: An international effort

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0889189300001077 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 127-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gerald Schroeder

Keyword(s):

Green Manure ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Fish Farming ◽

Microbial Flora ◽

Fish Pond ◽

Livestock Manure ◽

International Effort ◽

The World ◽

Home Consumption

AbstractIn much of the developing world, the high cost of purchased feeds makes meat and milk too expensive to be consumed by the producers' own families. A fish pond integrated with livestock or crop production provides an important source of animal protein for home consumption or sale. This protein involves almost no cash costs, since the needed nutrients and energy are supplied by crop residues, green manure, livestock manure and sunlight. Conversion of manure into animal flesh is possible because the anoxic sediments support a microbial flora similar to that of the rumen. Although integrated fish farming has been practiced for thousands of years in China, it has not yet been successfully adapted to all regions for which it potentially is applicable. A program in Wuxi, China brings together students and scientists from all over the world who are working towards that goal.

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