Evaluating the Efficacy of Different Manures in the Cultivation of Aubergine and Green Pepper – A Case study of the Maltese Islands

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-75
Author(s):  
Kimberly Terribile ◽  
Malcolm Borg ◽  
Daniel Grech ◽  
Liberato Camilleri ◽  
Ruben Sakrabani

The Maltese agricultural sector faces many challenges including lack of organic matter in its soils. The use of organic fertilizers such as cattle or rabbit manure partly addresses this problem. Different doses of manure of rabbit and cattle manure at specific irrigation regimes were used to assess the growth of crops and production of fruit on aubergine and green pepper plants. The overall mean number of green peppers recorded was significantly different than the mean number of aubergine for all four doses of manure applied, using both rabbit and cattle manure, up to an optimum mean number of fruit produced, the optimum being reached at dose 3 for green peppers and dose 4 for aubergines. Additionally, the mean number of fruit was significantly higher when grown in rabbit than in cattle manure. The mean weight of fruit recorded varied significantly between green peppers and aubergines at the highest dose of rabbit manure. When Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) was investigated, the highest nutrient efficiencies were achieved at the higher fertilizer application rates of rabbit manure while for aubergines, the weight increase was not as significant and it may therefore be possible to compromise yield for a better efficiency.

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 422-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
GRZEBISZ Witold ◽  
ČERMÁK Pavel ◽  
RROCO Evan ◽  
SZCZEPANIAK Witold ◽  
POTARZYCKI Jarosław ◽  
...  

Potato yield is affected by an interaction between nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) supply. This hypothesis was verified in a series of field experiments conducted during 2010–2013 in Albania (AL), Czech Republic (CZ) and Poland (PL). The two-factorial experiment was founded on relative scales of K (0, 50, 100, and 150%), and N application rates (75% and 100%) of the recommended doses, which were country-specific. The average tuber yield was doubled for AL, increased by 50% for PL, and by 15% for the CZ in response to K and N interaction. These differences are caused by an increase in the apparent nitrogen efficiency (ANE), which rose significantly by the progressive Krates. Maximum average ANE of 90 kg tubers/kg N was recorded in AL; it was 2-fold lower in CZ. Top average apparent potassium efficiency (AKE) of 65 kg tubers/kg K was recorded in PL; it was 4-times lower in CZ. The relationships between AKE and ANE clearly demonstrate the tight interaction between the N and K, and its effects on potato yield. However, a sound K application management should be adjusted to the local edaphic and climatic conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 2192-2197
Author(s):  
Elena Goldan ◽  
Valentin Nedeff ◽  
Ion Sandu ◽  
Nasrcis Barsan ◽  
Emilian Mosnegutu ◽  
...  

Organic wastes have been used in agriculture many years ago, due to its capacity to improve soil quality. The manure was used before the occurrence of chemical fertilizers and treated / untreated sewage sludge, started to be used as a fertilizer a few years ago. The aim of the study is to evaluate the organic matter, organic carbon, organic content and soil composition, after application in greenhouse conditions, of mixtures made from sewage sludge biochar and cattle manure compost. The biochar and compost used in different concentrations, at 5 t/ha and 30 t/ha, application rates, in greenhouse conditions, for a period of 90 days, improved organic matter, organic carbon and organic content from the soil used in experiment. The sewage sludge biochar and the cattle manure compost had similar effects on the parameters determined in the study. Organic and inorganic soil components, identified by the ATR-FTIR method, have not been modified by application of sewage sludge biochar and cattle manure compost.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Mooleki ◽  
J. J. Schoenau ◽  
J. L. Charles ◽  
G. Wen

A study was initiated in 1996 in the Black Soil zone in east-central Saskatchewan to examine soil and crop response to application of feedlot cattle manure at different application rates, frequencies and incorporation timing in a sandy loam and loam soil. Three rates of feedlot cattle manure (approx. 100, 200 and 400 kg total N ha-1) were applied annually and under reduced frequency application regimes. Canola (Brassica napus, L.), spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.), hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) and canola were seeded in spring of 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively. Pre-seeding available N (0–60 cm) increased with application rates. Annual application resulted in a linear increase in grain yield with application rates but had no effect on grain N concentration. Cumulative N use efficiency was low (7–10%) with no significant difference among treatments. Single application showed significant residual fertility benefit in the second year but not in the third year except at the high rate. Incorporation timing of feedlot cattle manure had no impact on soil or crop performance. Low availability of N in feedlot cattle manure over the short-term suggests the need for high application rates or addition of supplemental N fertilizer in order to meet crop N requirements. Key words: Feedlot cattle manure, N availability, manure management, N use efficiency


Author(s):  
A.I. Ivanov ◽  
Zh.A. Ivanova ◽  
O.I. Yakusheva ◽  
P.A. Filippov

Целью комплексного исследования, выполненного в Меньковском филиале АФИ в 20122017 годах была оценка вредоносности возбудителя фитофтороза в зависимости от почвенноагрохимических и погодноклиматических условий. Методической основой исследования служил длительный полевой опыт агрофизический стационар в системе полевого и овощекормового севооборотов, в которых картофель возделывали по обороту пласта многолетних трав после озимой ржи и после ячменя. Объектами исследования служили: картофель раннеспелого сорта Ломоносовский среднеустойчивого к возбудителю фитофтороза по клубням и слабоустойчивого по ботве дерновоподзолистая почва средней, хорошей и высокой степени окультуренности и системы удобрения культуры. Супесчаная почва опыта характеризовалась рНКСl 5,26,3, содержанием гумуса 2,13,7, подвижных соединений P2О5 195676 мг/кг и К2О 97298 мг/кг. На хорошо окультуренной и высокоокультуренной почвах их поддерживали применением под картофель 35 и 70 т/га органических удобрений соответственно. Факторы исследования: степень окультуренности почвы (варианты: средняя, хорошая и высокая) и уровень применения минеральных удобрений в расчете на заданный КПД (коэффициент полезного действия фотосинтетически активной радиации) (варианты: КПД ФАР, 13 без удобрений КПД ФАР, 24 N80P20K100 КПД ФАР, 35 N120P30K150). В ходе комплексного исследования установлены параметры поражения возбудителем фитофтороза и уровень потерь урожая картофеля в зависимости от агроклиматических и почвенноагрохимических условий. Агрономическая эффективность изученных вариантов системы удобрения на культуре картофеля высокая. Уровень прибавок урожайности клубней и окупаемость 1 кг д.в. удобрений достигли 3358 и 8,311,6 з.ед. (зерновых единиц) на минеральной, 2545 и 3,98,0 з.ед. на органической и 3379 и 3,86,7 з.ед. на органоминеральной системе удобрения. В неэпифитотийных условиях (2 из 3 лет наблюдений) на фоне низких и умеренных показателей поражения общие потери урожая составляют 5, а окультуривание почвы и применение органических и минеральных удобрений снижают их на 3080. На эпифитотийном фоне, повторяющемся 1 раз в 3 года, пораженность ботвы и клубней картофеля возрастает в 4,3 и 6,1, интенсивность поражения в 2,8 и 3 и развитие в 12 и 17,5 раза соответственно. В эпифитотийные годы потери урожая возрастают в 5,2 раза (до 26), а минеральная система удобрения сокращает их только на среднеокультуренной почве. На этом фоне повышение степени окультуренности почвы и доз органических удобрений до высокого уровня неэффективно.Late blight is one of the most harmful potato diseases in the NorthWest of Russia. Today, its negative effects are aggravated by weather and climate changes. The goal of a comprehensive study carried out in the Menkovsky branch of the Agrophysical Institute in 2012 2017 was an assessment of the harmfulness of the late blight pathogen depending on soilagrochemical, weather and climate conditions. The methodical basis of the research was a prolonged field agrophysical stationary experiment in the system of field and vegetablefeed crop rotations, where potato was cultivated after winter rye and after barley, which, in turn, were grown after perennial grasses. The objects of the study were potato Lomonosovsky, sodpodzolic soil with different degree of cultivation and fertilizer systems for the culture. Potato Lomonosovsky is early ripening variety, its tubers are medium resistant to the late blight agent, and its tops are weakly resistant to it. The sodpodzolic soil had average, good and high cultivation degree. Sandy loam soil in the experiment had the value of pHKCl of 5.2 6.3, the humus content of 2.1 3.7, the content of mobile P2O5 and K2O compounds of 195 676, 97 298 mg/kg, respectively. In well and highly cultivated soils, these parameters were maintained by the application of 35 and 70 t/ha of organic fertilizers for potato, respectively. The experimental factors were the degree of soil cultivation (average, good and high) and the level of mineral fertilizer application for a given efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR efficiency of 1 3, without fertilizers PAR efficiency of 2 4, N80P20K100 PAR efficiency of 3 5, N120P30K150). In the course of the comprehensive study, the parameters of potato damage by late blight and the level of crop losses were established depending on the agroclimatic soilagrochemical conditions. Agronomic efficiency of the studied variants of the fertilizer system for potato was high. The level of tuber yield increase and payback of 1 kg of fertilizers active substances reached 33 58 and 8.3 11.6 cereal units (CU) for the mineral system, 25 45 and 3.9 8.0 CU for the organic one, and 33 79 and 3.8 6.7 CU for the organic and mineral fertilizer system. Under nonepiphytotic conditions (2 of 3 years of the observation), against the background of low and moderate damage rates, the total yield loss was 5, and the soil improvement and organic and mineral fertilizer application reduced them by 30 80. Against an epiphytotic background, repeated 1 time in 3 years, the damage of tops and potato tubers increases by a factor of 4.3 and 6.1, the intensity of the damage grew 2.8 and 3 times, and the development increases by a factor of 12 and 17.5 times, respectively. In the epiphytotic years, yield losses increased 5.2 times (up to 26), and the mineral fertilizer system reduced them only in medium cultured soil. Against this background, increasing the soil cultivation degree and organic fertilizer doses to a high level is ineffective.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orphanopoulos Damaris ◽  
Verbist Koen ◽  
Chavez Alvaro ◽  
Soto Guido

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Y. Yuan ◽  
Han Y. H. Chen ◽  
Ling H. Li

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can be divided into two components, i.e. N productivity (A) and the mean residence time (MRT). Controlled experiments indicate that there is not a trade-off between A and MRT within species, but this theory has not been well tested in field conditions. Here, we studied the A, MRT and NUE of Stipa krylovii Roshev. in a grassland over 4 years of N fertilisation experimentation. The three parameters (A, MRT and NUE) were significantly related to soil N supply and there was a negative relationship between A and MRT within this species (r = –0.775, P < 0.05), i.e. plants with higher A had lower MRT. Our results showed a trade-off between A and MRT within this Stipa species and this observed trade-off was attributed to different responses of A and MRT to soil fertility.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1368
Author(s):  
Wenzheng Tang ◽  
Wene Wang ◽  
Dianyu Chen ◽  
Ningbo Cui ◽  
Haosheng Yang ◽  
...  

In order to meet the growing food demand of the global population and maintain sustainable soil fertility, there is an urgent need to optimize fertilizer application amount in agricultural production practices. Most of the existing studies on the optimal K rates for apple orchards were based on case studies and lack information on optimizing K-fertilizer management on a regional scale. Here, we used the method of combining meta-analysis with the K application rate-yield relationship model to quantify and summarize the optimal K rates of the Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay regions in China. We built a dataset based on 159 observations obtained from 18 peer-reviewed literature studies distributed in 15 different research sites and evaluated the regional-scale optimal K rates for apple production. The results showed that the linear plus platform model was more suitable for estimating the regional-scale optimal K rates, which were 208.33 and 176.61 kg K ha−1 for the Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay regions of China, respectively. Compared with high K application rates, the optimal K rates increased K use efficiency by 45.88–68.57%, with almost no yield losses. The optimal K rates also enhanced the yield by 6.30% compared with the low K application rates.


2021 ◽  
pp. 232102222110243
Author(s):  
Mohuya Deb Purkayastha ◽  
Joyeeta Deb ◽  
Ram Pratap Sinha

The present study estimated labour-use efficiency of 48 branches of Assam Gramin Vikash Bank at its branch level, covering three districts of Barak Valley, which falls under Silchar region of the bank for the time period from 2010–2011 to 2017–2018. The study applied data envelopment analysis for estimating labour-use efficiency. In the second stage, the study applied censored Tobit regression for determining the impact of several contextual variables on efficiency. The study reveals that the mean labour-use efficiency score of the selected branches is 76% when averaged for the in-sample branches over the observation period. Results of the Tobit regression identified cluster 2 and total business of the branches as the significant factors for determining efficiency and the number of employees as a significant variable influencing inefficiency. JEL Classifications: G2, G20, G21, J3


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