scholarly journals Farmer participatory research in agricultural extension programs: A case study of fertilizer management in tropical rice

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 710-721
Author(s):  
Niño P. M. C. Banayo ◽  
Yoichiro Kato

AbstractAgricultural extension requires close communication with farmers, and researchers must consider farmers’ perspectives on crop management. Farmers tend to take into account the canopy appearance when they decide on fertilizer application, and this is often neglected in crop management recommendations by researchers. Our objectives were to dissect the growth characteristics that farmers implicitly account for in nutrient management of tropical rice. Farmer participatory trials were conducted in irrigated and rainfed lowlands in the Philippines during the wet seasons of 2014, 2015, and 2016. Each year, 30 participating farmers made decisions on fertilizer management for plots with different seedling ages and planting densities. These treatments greatly changed the canopy appearance, and affected farmer decisions on nitrogen (N) management, particularly in the first year. We found that plant height and leaf greenness were the major determinants of their decisions in irrigated lowlands. Under rainfed conditions, the risk of drought made farmers focus on tillering rather than plant elongation and leaf color during early growth stages, and on canopy cover and plant elongation during later stages. Across years and water regimes, farmers applied 78% more N than researchers without generally increasing grain yield. Since crop diagnosis is a key for successful management by farmers, guidelines for efficient nutrient management should include numerical targets for the traits emphasized by farmers. That will help farmers better understand their crops, and the guidelines will be more user-friendly than providing only a fertilizer application prescription.

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J. Hochmuth

Fertilizer application by drip irrigation is becoming a common practice for many vegetable crops, especially in Florida. Vegetable producers view drip irrigation as a tool to reduce water use, increase fertilizer efficiency, and improve profits, while simultaneously reducing the potential risk to the environment due to nutrient enrichment of surface and groundwater. This paper presents the current Univ. of Florida recommendations for fertilizer management with drip irrigation for vegetables in Florida. These recommendations are based on more than 15 years of research on water and nutrient management with drip irrigation. Although these recommendations were developed for largely sandy soils from mostly Florida research, they should be easily adaptable for other U.S. vegetable regions on sandy soils.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Andarias Makka Murni ◽  
Julie Mae Pasuquin ◽  
Christian Witt

Site Specific Nutrient Management  for Maize on Ultisols Lampung (A M Murni, JM Pasuquin, and C Witt): Lampung is the third major maize producing province in Indonesia after East Java and Central Java. In Lampung maize is cultivated mainly in upland areas with ultisols and only some cultivated on paddy field as a secondary crop in the dry season. The average maize yield in Lampung is still 3.4 Mg ha-1 bellow yield potential of 7-10 Mg ha-1. To increase the productivity of maize through site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), on-farm trials were conducted in five locations in Lampung i.e. four locations in Central Lampung District (Sidowaras, Binjai Ngagung, Watu Agung and Balai Rejo) and one location in South Lampung District (Trimulyo, Tegineneng Sub District) during the 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 rainy seasons. The experimental setup followed a standard protocol at all sites and included nutrient omission plots (PK, NK, NP) to estimate indigenous nutrient supplies, an NPK plot to measure yield response to fertilizer application, and a farmers’ fertilizer practice (FFP) plot in each farmer’s field. An SSNM treatment plot was included in the second and third seasons. Each of the above treatments was paralleled by a plot with improved crop management practice (ICM), i.e. higher planting density, addition of lime, and addition of magnesium. Results showed that yield response to fertilizer N, P and K application in these sites were: N = 2.3-4.1 Mg ha-1; P = 0.6-2.0 Mg ha-1; K = 0.3-2.4 Mg ha-1. Attainable yield in the three seasons on average ranged from 7.6 Mg ha-1 to 10.6 Mg ha-1. Yield in the SSNM treatment (with or without ICM) was significantly higher than the FFP indicating great opportunities for farmers to increase productivity and profitability with improved nutrient and crop management. 


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 605
Author(s):  
Peder K. Schmitz ◽  
Hans J. Kandel

Planting date (PD), seeding rate (SR), relative maturity (RM) of cultivars, and row spacing (RS) are primary management factors affecting soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) yield. The individual and synergistic effects of PD, SR, RM, and RS on seed yield and agronomic characteristics in North Dakota were herein investigated. Early and late PD, early and late RM cultivars, two SR (408,000 and 457,000 seed ha−1), and two RS (30.5 and 61 cm) were evaluated in four total environments in 2019 and 2020. Maximizing green canopy cover prior to the beginning of flowering improved seed yield. Individual factors of early PD and narrow RS resulted in yield increase of 311 and 266 kg ha−1, respectively. The combined factors of early PD, late RM, high SR, and narrow RS improved yield by 26% and provided a $350 ha−1 partial profit over conventional practices. Canopy cover and yield had relatively weak relationships with r2 of 0.36, 0.23, 0.14, and 0.21 at the two trifoliolate, four trifoliolate, beginning of flowering, and beginning of pod formation soybean growth stages, respectively. Producers in the most northern soybean region of the USA should combine early planting, optimum RM cultivars, 457,000 seed ha−1 SR, and 31 cm RS to improve yield and profit compared to current management practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 824-829
Author(s):  
CAMILA SENO NASCIMENTO ◽  
CAROLINA SENO NASCIMENTO ◽  
ARTHUR BERNARDES CECÍLIO FILHO

ABSTRACT Splitting nitrogen (N) fertilizer application can be an efficient nutrient management technique to improve productivity and plant quality, as well as to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by N losses. In this context, the present study investigated how the management of N affects the agronomic characteristics of field-grown arugula plants. Nine treatments were assessed in a randomized complete block design, in a 4 x 2 + 1 factorial scheme, with three replicates. The evaluated factors were doses of N (60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1), split N fertilizer applications at side-dress (two and three times) and an additional treatment without a N supply. Maximum height was obtained with the application of 198 kg N ha-1. Nitrate content, fresh mass and productivity increased with increasing N doses. There was no effect of split N fertilizer applications on the characteristics evaluated. Therefore, the supply of 240 kg N ha-1 divided into two portions was considered as the best management strategy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay K. Bhardwaj ◽  
Deepika Rajwar ◽  
Rajender K. Yadav ◽  
Suresh K. Chaudhari ◽  
Dinesh K. Sharma

PurposeOne of the serious constraints for the integration of organics in soil fertility plans is the release and availability of nitrogen (N) to match the critical growth stages of a crop. The interplay between organic amendment characteristics and soil moisture conditions can significantly affect the nutrient release and availability, especially for dryland crops like wheat. In this study, the effects of integrated nutrient management strategies using diverse qualities of organic amendments on daily N mineralization and its availability to plants during the full growing season of the wheat crop were analyzed in a 10-year experiment.MethodsThe management included (1) F, inorganic fertilizers at 100% rate, compared to a reduced rate of inorganic fertilizers (55% N) supplemented with organic inputs via (2) GM, green manuring, (3) LE, legume cropping and its biomass recycling, (4) WS, wheat stubble retention, (5) RS, rice stubble retention, and (6) FYM, farmyard manure application, during the preceding rice season. Ion exchange resin (IER) membrane strips were used as plant root simulators to determine daily NH4+-N and NO3–-N availability in soil solution during the full wheat growing period.ResultsTotal available N for the full season was in the following order: GM (962 μg cm–2) > F (878 μg cm–2) > LE (872 μg cm–2) > FYM (865 μg cm–2) > RS (687 μg cm–2) > WS (649 μg cm–2). No significant differences were observed in NH4+-N availability throughout the cropping period as compared to NO3–-N which showed significant differences among management at critical crop growth stages.ConclusionLegume biomass incorporation (GM, LE) and farmyard manure (FYM) based management provided the most consistent supply equivalent to or even exceeding 100% inorganic fertilizers at several critical stages of growth, especially at tillering and stem elongation. Integration of organics in management increased nitrogen use efficiency 1.3–2.0 times, with cereal crop residue-based management having the highest efficiency followed by legume biomass incorporation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1781-1787
Author(s):  
R.S. Yadav ◽  
◽  
H.N. Meena ◽  
N.K. Jain ◽  
D. Bhaduri ◽  
...  

Aim: To investigate efficient utilization of soil phosphorus for peanut nutrition through integration of management practices in medium black clay soils of Saurashtra region in Gujarat. Methodology: Soil phosphorus availability and uptake by peanut plants were assessed at five plant growth stages under six different management practices in Kharif season. The availability of soil P was estimated by Olsen P and Resin P extraction methods. The biomass production and phosphorus uptake at each growth stages were observed in order to draw the relationship between these parameters.? Results: The management practices like raised bed with polythene mulch, integrated and organic nutrient management was consistently found promising for enhanced availability and uptake of soil phosphorus under peanut cultivation. The Olsen P decreased with plant growth under all the management options, except organic and integrated nutrient management practices.? In contrary, the resin P generally increased with plant growth, especially under inorganic and organic nutrient management and raised bed with polythene mulch practices. Irrespective of growth stages, the phosphorus uptake by peanut plants was significantly and strongly correlated with biomass production (r=0.85, p<0.01) and Olsen P (r=0.41, P<0.05).? Interpretation: The results indicate that phosphorus requirement of peanut plants can be efficiently met by integrating land and nutrient management practices in these medium black clay soils.


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 354
Author(s):  
Sebastian Munz ◽  
David Reiser

Intercropping systems of cereals and legumes have the potential to produce high yields in a more sustainable way compared to sole cropping systems. Their agronomic optimization remains a challenging task given the numerous management options and the complexity of interactions between the crops. Efficient methods for analyzing the influence of different management options are needed. The canopy cover of each crop in the intercropping system is a good determinant for light competition, thus influencing crop growth and weed suppression. Therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility to estimate canopy cover within an intercropping system of pea and oat based on semantic segmentation using a convolutional neural network. The network was trained with images from three datasets during early growth stages comprising canopy covers between 4% and 52%. Only images of sole crops were used for training and then applied to images of the intercropping system. The results showed that the networks trained on a single growth stage performed best for their corresponding dataset. Combining the data from all three growth stages increased the robustness of the overall detection, but decreased the accuracy of some of the single dataset result. The accuracy of the estimated canopy cover of intercropped species was similar to sole crops and satisfying to analyze light competition. Further research is needed to address different growth stages of plants to decrease the effort for retraining the networks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 807-813
Author(s):  
Benjamin H. Lawrence ◽  
Jason A. Bond ◽  
Bobby R. Golden ◽  
Thomas W. Allen ◽  
Daniel B. Reynolds ◽  
...  

AbstractOff-target paraquat movement to rice has become a major problem in recent years for rice producers in the midsouthern United States. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is applied to rice in greater quantity and frequency than all other nutrients to optimize rice yield. Two separate field studies were conducted from 2015 to 2018 in Stoneville, MS, to assess whether starter N fertilizer can aid rice recovery from exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of paraquat and to evaluate rice response to different N fertilizer management strategies following exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of paraquat. In both studies, paraquat treatments consisted of paraquat at 0 and 84 g ai ha–1 applied to rice in the two- to three-leaf (EPOST) growth stage. In the starter fertilizer study, N fertilizer at 24 kg ha–1 as ammonium sulfate (AMS) was applied to rice at spiking- to one-leaf (VEPOST), two- to three-leaf (EPOST), or three- to four-leaf (MPOST) growth stages before and after paraquat treatment. In the N fertilizer timing study, N fertilizer at 168 kg N ha–1 was applied in a single four-leaf to one-tiller (LPOST) application or two-, three-, and two four-way split applications. Despite starter N fertilizer applications, paraquat injured rice ≥41%, reduced height 57%, reduced dry weight prior to flooding 77%, delayed maturity 10 d, reduced dry weight at maturity 33%, and reduced rough rice yield 35% in the starter fertilizer study. Similarly, in the N fertilizer timing study, paraquat injured rice ≥45%, reduced height 14%, delayed maturity 10 d, reduced dry weight at maturity 44%, and reduced rough rice yield 50% for all N fertilizer management strategies. Both studies indicate that severe complications in growth and development can occur from rice exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of paraquat. In both studies, manipulation of N fertilizer management did not facilitate rice recovery from early-season exposure to paraquat.


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-217
Author(s):  
Kea Kong ◽  
Sarith Hin ◽  
Vang Seng ◽  
Abdelbagi M. Ismail ◽  
Georgina Vergara ◽  
...  

AbstractRice is widely grown in rainfed lowlands during the wet season in the Mekong region. Limited nutrient availability is a common constraint on crop yield, and the optimal rate of fertilizer application depends on the soil type. The objective of our study was to evaluate rice productivity and the economic feasibility of various nutrient management regimes in Cambodia. We conducted field experiments on three soil types (Prey Khmer, Prateah Lang, and Toul Samroung, equivalent to Psamments, Plinthustalfs, and Endoaqualfs, respectively) in four provinces (Battambang, Kampong Thom, Pursat, and Siem Reap) during the 2016 and 2017 wet seasons to compare nine (2016) and seven (2017) N–P–K combinations. Grain yield ranged from 0.9 to 4.8 t ha−1 in 2016 and from 1.0 to 5.2 t ha−1 in 2017, depending on soil type and nutrient management. The Prey Khmer soil contained around 80% sand, and rice yield responded most weakly to nutrient management. The moderate fertilizer input in the current soil-specific recommendation was effective on this soil type. However, on more fertile soils with a higher clay content and a higher cation-exchange capacity (Toul Samroung and Prateah Lang), an additional 20 kg N ha−1 combined with adding 15 kg ha−1 of P2O5 or 20 kg ha−1 of K2O significantly increased yield and economic return. Although P and K use during Cambodia’s wet season is uncommon, our results demonstrate the importance of these nutrients in improving the country’s rice production.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 258
Author(s):  
Peng Ma ◽  
Yan Lan ◽  
Tengfei Lyu ◽  
Feijie Li ◽  
Zhiyuan Yang ◽  
...  

To evaluate the efficient use of nitrogen (N) for rice in a rapeseed–wheat–rice rotation system, a pot experiment was conducted. The results indicated that in the conventional 15N-labeled (Nc) and reduced 15N-labeled (Nr) urea applications, absorbed N and soil residual N was higher in rapeseed than in wheat. In the rice season, the higher accumulation of 15N was achieved with an Nr application rate during the rapeseed season and an N fertilizer management model (40% as basal fertilizer, 40% as tillering fertilizer, and 20% as panicle fertilizer) during the rice season (PrNrM3). A high 15N accumulation was also achieved under the Nc application rate during the wheat season and the N fertilizer management model during the rice season (PwNcM3). The accumulation of 15N in PrNrM3 and PwNcM3 accounted for 21.35% and 36.72% of the residual N under the Nr application rate in the rapeseed season and the Nc application rate in the wheat season, respectively. Compared with the Nc application rate in the rapeseed season and M3 N management in the rice season (PrNcM3), the N agronomy efficiency (NAE) and the N partial factor efficiency (NPFP) of rice were increased by 23.85% and 1.59%, respectively, in PrNrM3. The annual crop yield was 3.95% lower in PrNrM3, which was not significant. PrNrM3 was a stable yield, N-saving application rate for rapeseed-rice rotation systems in southern China.


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