scholarly journals Nutrient Budget and Economic Assessment of Blended Fertilizer Use in Kenya Tea Industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kibet Sitienei ◽  
Hellen W. Kamiri ◽  
Gilbert M. Nduru ◽  
David M. Kamau
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Nutrient Budget ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Npk Fertilizers ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Tea Industry ◽  
Economic Trends

Kenya’s tea industry depends predominantly on imported compound NPK fertilizers to replenish nutrients removed through plucking. These fertilizers cannot be easily manipulated for specific soils and tea clones. They also frequently become hazardous within tea-growing environments. In this respect, two fertilizer blends containing NPKS 25 : 5 : 5 : 4 + 9Ca + 2.62Mg and NPKS 23 : 5 : 5 : 4 + 10Ca + 3Mg with trace elements have been produced commercially in the country. However, the extent to which the blended fertilizers may contribute to optimal economic gains without degrading the environment has not been determined. This was the knowledge gap that this study seeks to address. The goal of this study was to evaluate the economic efficacy of fertilizer blends with the aim of identifying optimal levels of application which would maximize tea productivity with minimal negative impacts on the environment. The study hypothesized that blended fertilizers maximize productivity of tea clones with minimal environmental damage. The fertilizer blends were evaluated in two study sites, i.e., Timbilil Estate in Kericho and Kagochi farm in Nyeri. The sites were selected purposefully, one in the eastern and the other in the western tea-growing areas. The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design with two fertilizer blends and the standard NPK 26 : 5 : 5 as control. The treatments were applied at four fertilizer rates (0 (control), 75, 150, and 225 kg·N·ha−1·yr−1), replicated thrice. Leaf samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient uptake as well as associated yields and economic trends. The economic optimum nitrogen rate (EONR) was achieved at 75 kg·N·ha−1·yr−1 at Kagochi with all fertilizers, while at Timbilil, EONR was variable, between 75 and 225 kg·N·ha−1·yr−1 with fertilizer types. This study has shown that, based on the economic point of view, Blend “A” was the most efficient and consistent fertilizer in production and economic returns across the two sites.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF BLENDED FERTILIZERS ON YIELDS OF MATURE TEA CLONES TRFK 6/8 AND BBK 35 GROWN IN KENYAN HIGHLANDS

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Kibet Sitienei ◽  
Hellen W. Kamiri ◽  
Gilbert M. Nduru ◽  
David M. Kamau ◽  
Wilson K. Nyabundi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Standard Type ◽  
Npk Fertilizers ◽  
Tea Industry ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

<p>Kenya’s tea industry depends predominantly on imported NPK fertilizers to replenish nutrients removed through plucking. In this respect, two blended fertilizers containing NPKS 25:5:5:4+9Ca+2.6Mg and NPKS 23:5:5:4+10Ca+3Mg with trace elements have been produced in the country. However, contribution of the blended fertilizers to optimal tea yields had not been determined. The study aimed to evaluate the optimal levels of the two blended fertilizers on tea grown in the highlands of Kenya. The blended fertilizers were evaluated in two sites, i.e. Timbilil estate in Kericho and Kagochi farm in Nyeri. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with two blended fertilizers and the standard NPK 26:5:5 as a control. The treatments were applied at four fertilizer rates (0-control, 75, 150 and 225 kg N ha-1 yr-1),  with three replications. The results showed that application of 225 kg N ha-1 yr-1 blended fertilizer NPKS 25:5:5:4+9Ca+2.6Mg in Timbilil produced mean yield of 2,995 kg Mt ha-1 compared with 3,099 kg Mt ha-1 from the standard NPK. In Kagochi, the highest yield was 1,975 kg Mt ha-1 obtained from the application of the same blended fertilizer NPKS 25:5:5:4+9Ca+2.6Mg at 75 kg N ha-1 yr-1. The highest yields in both sites were obtained during a warm-dry season except in 2015-2016. This study concluded that based on the annual and seasonal yields, the two blended fertilizers and the standard type had the same effectiveness, irrespective of clones and sites. However, the fertilizer rates affected the tea yield.</p>

scholarly journals Effect of different staking methods and stem pruning on yield and quality of summer tomato

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-432
Author(s):  
MS Alam ◽  
N Islam ◽  
S Ahmad ◽  
MI Hossen ◽  
MR Islam
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Fruit Firmness ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Agriculture Research Institute

The study was carried out during summer of 2012 with BARI hybrid tomato 4, planted in the Olericulture farm of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh to find out the response of plants to some staking and pruning treatments on yield, fruit quality and cost of production. A two factor experiment consisting of three staking methods and four level of pruning, laid out in complete block design with three repetitions. Plants were staked on inverted „V? shaped staking, high platform and string. The plants were pruned to two stem, three stem, four stem and no pruning as control. Results showed that significantly the highest total number of fruits per plant (37.1), marketable fruits per plant (33.7), yield per plant (1.68 kg) and total yield (44.6 t/ha) were produced by the plants having the treatment string staking with four stem. The highest fruit set (43.50%) was found in the plants staking with string having three stems. Plants grown on string staking allowing two stem gave the maximum length (4.71 cm), diameter (4.83 cm) and weight (53.4g) of single fruit as well as maximum fruit firmness (3.43 kg-f cm-2). From the economic point of view, it was apparent that summer tomato produced by string staking with four stem pruning exhibited better performance compared to other treatment combinations in relation to net return and BCR (2.10).Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 41(3): 419-432, September 2016

scholarly journals Productivity and quality of Mombasa grass under fertilization with pig deep-litter and NPK

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 437-443
Author(s):  
Marina da C. Guerrero ◽  
Tiago R. de Sousa ◽  
Saulo A. de Oliveira ◽  
Rômulo R. Caldeira ◽  
Adilson Pelá
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Randomized Block Design

ABSTRACT The use of pig deep-litter (PDL) in pasture fertilization can be an important alternative from an environmental and economic point of view. This study was conducted to evaluate the fertilization with PDL exclusively or in association with mineral fertilizers on the quality and productivity of Panicum maximum cv. Mombasa. The experiment was carried out in Ipameri, GO, Brazil. The design was a randomized block design in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme with four repetitions, in plots of 24 m². The doses of PDL (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20 Mg ha-1) were tested, with or without fertilization with NPK (50 kg ha-1 of P2O5, 10 kg ha-1 of K2O and 10 kg ha-1 of N). The organic fertilizer was applied broadcast at the planting of the pasture, and the mineral fertilizers were split and applied at planting and as topdressing. Dry mass, crude protein, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber were evaluated. PDL doses associated with mineral fertilization led to linear increases from 52 to 282% in the analyzed variables and better bromatological composition. PDL application is beneficial to the production of pastures, and increasing applications up to the PDL dose of 20 Mg ha-1 associated with mineral fertilization promoted better quantitative and qualitative results. With exclusive fertilization with PDL, the gains in quality and productivity were more modest.

scholarly journals Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Varieties on Growth, Grain Yield and Yield Components of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayelom Berhe ◽  
Ashagrie Zewdu ◽  
Kebebew Assefa
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Kernel Weight ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Eragrostis Tef ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Yield And Yield Components ◽  
N Rates ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

A field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of N fertilizer rates on growth, grain yield and yield components of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter], in 2017 main cropping season. Three tef varieties (Kora, Boset and Asgori) and five Nitrogen rates (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120kg N ha-1) were used in Randomize Completed Block Design with three replications with the same dose of Triple Super Phosphate. The total and productive tiller number were highly (P<0.01) significantly affected by varieties. The control plot had maximum days to heading and this may be due to nitrogen fixation may exist and its availability may be deficient in the soil. The less response to the N rate may be due to variability of fertility or soil N content, and genetically difference between varieties. From means of varieties, the early flowerings of Boset and Asgori varieties were 101.4 and 103.79 days to maturity, respectively, but Kora (108.9 days) was late matured. Kora had maximum plant height (135.9cm) and panicle length (56.07cm) followed by Boset (115.1cm) and (42.49cm) respectively. The lodging index was affected by N rates and Kernel weight was highly significantly (P<0.01) affected only by varieties. The highest mean of thousand kernel weight (0.3387) was noted from Asgori variety. The grain yield was decreased with N rates and a better grain yield was obtained at 60-90kg N ha-1. Overall N rates indicated that, both Kora (1800) and Boset (1883) had a better grain yield in kg ha-1, but Asgori had lowest grain yield (1560kg ha-1). Based on the economic point of view, it would be more profitable to use 60kg N ha-1 N rates.

scholarly journals An Economic Model to Assess Profitable Scenarios of EAF-Based Steelmaking Plants under Uncertain Conditions

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 7395
Author(s):  
Francesco Facchini ◽  
Giorgio Mossa ◽  
Giovanni Mummolo ◽  
Micaela Vitti
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Steel Production ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Basic Oxygen Furnace ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Steel Scrap ◽  
Environmental Costs ◽  
Market Uncertainty ◽  
Economic Point

The steelmaking processes are considered extremely energy-intensive and carbon-dependent processes. In 2018, it was estimated that the emissions from global steel production represented 7–9% of direct emissions generated by fossil fuels. It was estimated that a specific emissions value of 1.8 tCO2 per ton of steel was produced due to the carbon-dependent nature of the traditional blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route. Therefore, it is necessary to find an alternative solution to the BF-BOF route for steel production to counteract this negative trend, resulting in being sustainable from an environmental and economic point of view. To this concern, the objective of this work consists of developing a total cost function to assess the economic convenience of steelmaking processes considering the variability of specific market conditions (i.e., iron ore price, scraps price, energy cost, etc.). To this purpose, a direct reduction (DR) process fueled with natural gas (NG) to feed an electric arc furnace (EAF) using recycled steel scrap was considered. The approach introduced is totally new; it enables practitioners, managers, and experts to conduct a preliminary economic assessment of innovative steelmaking solutions under market uncertainty. A numerical simulation has been conducted to evaluate the profitability of the investment considering the economic and environmental costs. It emerged that the investment is profitable in any case from an economic perspective. On the contrary, considering the environmental costs, the profitability of the investment is not guaranteed under certain circumstances.

scholarly journals An Economic Assessment of the Contributions of 5G into the Railways and Energy Sectors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Nunes Corujo ◽  
José Quevedo ◽  
Rui Aguiar ◽  
Paulo Paixão ◽  
Hugo Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Use Cases ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Railroad Transportation ◽  
5G Technologies

Abstract This paper presents an economical assessment of the benefits of introducing 5G technologies into pilot use cases pertaining to the railroad transportation and energy sectors. For each of the pilots, undergone by EFACEC Engenharia e Sistemas and EFACEC Energia, respectively, under the scope of the H2020 5Growth project, evaluates the expenditure and benefits expected from introducing 5G capabilities over their on-going operations. This evaluation is expressed regarding the Portugal case, and are also scaled to assess the European-wide case. The main objective of the study summarized in this paper is to understand if solutions proposed by the H2020 5Growth project, and 5G as a whole, are also advantageous from an economic point of view. The results of the techno-economic analysis reported in this paper show, on a European scale, millions of euros saved by the different stakeholders involved in the deployment of 5G solutions.

scholarly journals Production costs and fruit yield profitability in the initial harvest of custard apple trees

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 931-939
Author(s):  
Frederico Silva Thé Pontes ◽  
Júlio César do Vale Silva ◽  
Paulo Sérgio Lima e Silva ◽  
Ana Katarina Oliveira Aragão
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Custard Apple ◽  
Random Block ◽  
Random Block Design

The aim of this study was to estimate the production cost and economic indicators associated with the production and sales of fruits from 20 custard apple progenies during the initial five harvests, in order to identify the harvest season from which custard apple exploitation becomes profitable, as well as the most promising progenies from an economic point of view. The fruit yield data upon which the present work was based were obtained during the period from 2001 to 2005, in an experiment that evaluated 20 custard apple half-sibling progenies, under sprinkler irrigation. The progenies were evaluated in a random block design with five replicates and plots consisting of four plants each. The exploitation of custard apple progenies only showed to be a profitable agribusiness after the fourth year. Before that, only A3 and A4 progenies in the second year, and P3 and P11 in the third year provided profitable incomes. Considering the methodological assumptions imposed concerning the time period analysis and the prices as of July 2007, the most important profitability indicators (operating profit, return index and equilibrium price) evidenced that the A4 progeny is the most recommended, although other progenies are also highlighted, such as FJ1 and FJ2. As already discussed, the progenies showing the highest average yields of five harvests are not always the most economically recommendable ones.

Economic assessment of producing and selling biomethane into a regional market

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia De Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Fuel Prices

Biogas is a promising renewable energy resource produced by using anaerobic digestion of organic substrates and it is mainly used to generate electricity by means of biogas engines. Other potential utilisations are growing, e.g. grid injection and biofuels production but, generally, a treatment aimed to increase its quality is mandatory and greater investments are generally required to produce upgraded biogas (biomethane). Despite the increasing of interest on these applications, a lack of information is still present from an economic point of view. The present paper performs an extended economic assessment of upgrading and selling biogas starting from a typical farm-based anaerobic digestion plant in Northern Ireland assumed as reference. Several economic indexes have been considered to assess the economic performance of the upgraded anaerobic digestion plant, namely net present value, pay-back period, profitability index and internal rate of return. Moreover, different scenarios in terms of fossil fuel prices have been analysed. The results show that producing and selling biomethane can be economically feasible if an adequate market is fostered. Optimum anaerobic digestion sizes between 26.9 and 64.4 tonne/y have been found, with correspondent net present value and pay-back period values in the range of £6.7–64.4M and 2.8–7.5 years, respectively, depending on the price scenarios analysed and the economic index chosen. Generally, adopting the net present value as objective function of the optimisation leads to greater anaerobic digestion size than the other indexes for any price scenarios considered. Finally, tougher market conditions (i.e. higher fossil fuel prices) lead to better economic performances of the upgraded anaerobic digestion configuration.

scholarly journals Potential Application of Biochar Depends Mainly on Its Profits for Farmers: Case Study in Slovakia

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 171-176
Author(s):  
Vladimír Šimanský ◽  
Elena Aydın ◽  
Dušan Igaz ◽  
Ján Horák
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Potential Application ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
High Input ◽  
Economic Point

Abstract Current biochar application in the global agronomic practice focuses firstly on economic profits. In this paper, we would like to draw attention to our results and experience from the economic assessment of the agronomic effect of applied biochar through the generated crop yields. The results come from a field experiment (locality Dolná Malanta, Slovakia, silt loam Haplic Luvisol – the most intensively used soil in the Slovak Republic for agricultural purposes), where a biochar experiment was established in 2014. Based on our data, it is evident that both the application of biochar and its application in combination with N-fertilisation in field conditions at current realization prices of commodities in individual years and high input costs are still unprofitable. However, we emphasize that from an economic point of view of the stand ard agronomic practice.

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