Biochar and Compost-Based Integrated Nutrient Management: Potential for Carbon and Microbial Enrichment in Degraded Acidic and Charland Soils

Soil acidification and charland formation through alluvial sand deposition are emerging threats to food security in Bangladesh in that they endanger crop production in about 35% of its territory. The integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) is a globally accepted nutrient management approach designed to revive the damaged soils’ fertility level. Total organic carbon (TOC) in soil is a composite index of soil quality that has consequences for agricultural productivity and natural soil ecosystems. This study assesses the impacts of using biochar, compost, poultry litter, and vermicompost-based IPNS approaches on labile and TOC pools, TOC stocks, lability and management indices, and microbial populations under different cropping patterns after 2 years in acidic and charland soils. The application of IPNS treatments increased microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 9.1–50.0% in acidic soil and 8.8–41.2% in charland soil compared to the untreated soil, with the largest increase in poultry manure biochar (PMB). Microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) rose from 20 to 180% in charland soil compared to the control, although no effect was observed in acidic soil. Basal respiration (BR) rose by 43–429% in acidic soil and 16–189% in charland soil compared to the control, exhibiting the highest value in PMB. IPNS treatments significantly improved SOC and POC but did not affect POXc and bulk density in both soils. The PMB and organic fertilizer (OF, compost)-based IPNS wielded the greatest influence on the lability index of MBC in acidic soils and the management index of MBC in both soils. This is despite the fact that IPNS did not affect the lability and management indices of active carbon (AC). IPNS treatments increased the stocks of SOC and MBC in both the soils and POC stock in acidic soil. IPNS treatments significantly boosted the bacterial and fungal populations in both soils, despite having no effect on phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Thus, PMB and OF (compost)-based IPNS may be a better nutrient management practice in degraded acidic and charland soils. This is especially the case in terms of soil quality improvement, soil carbon sequestration, and microbial enrichment.

​Nodulation, Yield Attributes and Yield of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.)] Influenced by Different Level of Potassium Humate and Fertility Levels

Background: Optimum crop growth and yield is result of interlinking of several factors. In semi- tropical soil in central plateau and hills zone are deficit in organic carbon and NPK content; therefore inadequate fertilization may leads to pure quality and also lower crop productive capacity of soil. For the maintenance of sustainable and productive production, maintaining soil health is a critical factor. Under low fertility levels, mungbean gives low seed yield. Potassium humate, nitrogen and phosphorus (RDF) application may be increase yield of mungbean in this zone. Method: A field experiment was conducted to study, “Nodulation, yield attributes and yield of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.)] influenced by different level of potassium humate and fertility. The experiment was carried out in factorial randomized block design with three replications and sixteen treatment combination. Result: Result showed that total number of root nodules, effective nodules, fresh and dry weight of root nodules, leghaemoglobin, nodule index, no. of pods/plant, no. of seeds/pod, test weight, seed and straw yield were observed significantly higher with application of potassium humate @ 4.5 kg/ha. Among different fertility level, the application of 100% RDF significantly increased the total number of root nodules and effective nodules, fresh and dry weight of root nodules, leghaemoglobin, nodule index, no. of pods/plant, no. of seeds/pod and test weight, seed and straw yield. With combined application of potassium humate @ 3.0 kg/ha + 75% RDF significantly higher no. effective nodules, dry weight of root nodules and seed yield were observed, as well as saving of 25% RDF and 1.5 kg potassium humate were also observed.

Comparative Study of Soil Samples and its Physico Chemical Parameter from Wadwani Tehsil

India is one of the populated countries and Indian economy is highly depending on agriculture field. Indian farming is the main source of income for most of the population. So farmers are always curious about yield prediction. To increase yield production many factors are responsible like soil, weather, rain, fertilizers and pesticides. In the present study we are investigate the soil samples for its physico-chemical analysis in Wadwani Tehsil. The main purpose of present study is analyse the fertility level of the soil with the help of pH, EC, Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorous, Sulpher, Zinc etc. and recommend essential nutrients necessary in Wadwani Tehsil Marathwada region Maharashtra. Six representative samples were obtained and analysed for its pH, EC, Phosphorus, Potassium, and other important nutrient useful for agricultural. Keywords: Soil Properties, Nutrient Parameter, pH, EC, P, K, S, Zn, Mn, Beed.

A 10-year monitoring of soil properties dynamics and soil fertility evaluation in Chinese hickory plantation regions of southeastern China

Monitoring the temporal and spatial variation of soil properties is helpful to understand the evolution of soil properties and adjust the management method in time. Soil fertility evaluation is an urgent need to understand soil fertility level and prevent soil degradation. Here, we conducted an intensive field investigation in Chinese hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) plantation to clarify the spatial and temporal variation of soil properties and its influencing factors, and to evaluate the change of soil fertility. The results showed that the soil pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) significantly increased from 2008 to 2018, while available nitrogen (AN) significantly decreased from 2008 to 2018. The semi-variance revealed that except available phosphorus (AP), the spatial dependencies of soil properties increased from 2008 to 2018. An increasing south-north gradient was found for soil AN, AP, available potassium (AK) and SOC and a decreasing south-north gradient was found for soil pH. The average soil fertility in the whole area was increased from 2008 to 2018. Our findings demonstrated that the changes of the management measures were the reason for the change of soil properties from 2008 to 2018. Therefore, rational fertilization strategies and sod cultivation are recommended to maintain the long-term development of the producing forest.

Determination of the Level and Trend of Fertility in Four Provinces in South Africa

Relevance of the research: Th e study of fertility and mortality is of great importance because it shows the dynamics of the population and the need for eff ective planning measures required to be put in place to avert catastrophe. It is therefore important for South Africa also to check whether its fertility is heading toward the same trajectory seen in these developed countries. Purpose of the article: This study seeks to determine the level and trend of the fertility in South Africa using four provinces, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo, for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, as case studies. Th us, the study aims to determine: (a) Whether the fertility rate was changing in the provinces during the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. (b) What is the trend? And; (c) Whether the fertility is falling below replacement level or not. Scientifi c novelty of the article: Th e study shows that fertility in South Africa has indeed declined with some provinces having the level of fertility below replacement level. Th e decline seen in this study is mainly due to the fertility of the black majority population. Th e high population growth rate was mainly due to the fertility of the blacks, therefore, when recent fertility levels in the country are low, the implication is that the fertility of the blacks has gone down, and in fact this is what this study is showing, and advises that unless measures are put in place, the fertility of the blacks or fertility in South Africa will go down below replacement level. Fertility levels have declined worldwide, including South Africa. But the extent to which South Africa’s fertility has declined is not very clear because data from two previous censuses on fertility and mortality were very poor. South Africa (SA) had reliable data on the White popula-tion of the country, but with the new dispensation since 1994, data collection, especially from the black population that forms majority, has not been easy. Th e quality of data from the black population that accounts for over 80 percent of the population has not been good and reliable, probably because of the low level of education of this segment. Fertility and mortality data from the two previous censuses, 2001 and 2011, were not reliable when compared with data from vital statistics and national population register. Th us, estimates made from these censuses’ data on these events are questionable. South Africa, however, has data from the General Household Surveys (GHS), and this study uses data from these surveys to attempt to fi nd the level and trend of fertility. Th e GHS is an annual household survey which measures the living circumstances of South African households. Demographic and statistical methods are used to calculate measures, like the UN age ratio scores, to assess the quality of the data from four provinces, namely, North West, Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, for the period 2011 to 2014. Th e four provinces are selected as a case study to compare rural and urban fertility characters. Th e results show that the quality of the survey data is fairly good and reliable with KwazuluNatal province having the most reliable data. Th e fertility levels were lowest in the more urbanized and educated provinces of Kwazulu-Natal and North West, and highest in the less educated and rural provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Th e study further shows that fertility in all the provinces has been declining since 2012, with the gross reproduction rate falling below replacement level; with implication that the fertility of the black population is declining fast. Th e decline in the fertility level could be attributed to quite a number of factors including education, urbanization, and improvement in primary health care. Because of the sharp decline in the fertility level in the recent years, the study calls for proper policy intervention to avoid population “extinction”.

The economic characteristics of fertility in Hail region and its impact on population growth: الخصائص الاقتصادية للخصوبة في منطقة حائل وأثرها على النمو السكاني

The economic characteristics of the residents of Hail affect the population growth, on the one hand we find that home ownership in terms of rent or ownership affects the level of fertility of wives, and on the other hand the majority of families in the city of Hail own their own dwelling, equivalent to (45.5%) of the population They live in private villas, and (23.6%) live in private apartments, and we find that the residents of popular houses are the highest in the average number of children for residents of villas, and (68.7%) of Hail residents reside in houses consisting of two floors, while (31, 3%) reside in houses consisting of one floor in which the fertility level of husbands and wives is high, the number of rooms in the house also affects fertility levels in terms of the degree of crowding in the house, and the impact of the economic aspect is prominent in the profession of the husband and wife and their monthly income on the fertility level in a way. The higher the income, the fewer the family’s children will be born, and vice versa. In this context, we address the importance of entertainment and their impact on fertility levels, so we find that car ownership and domestic labor affect the fertility level and trends of the husband and wife.

Performance of Kharif Maize (Zea mays L.) with Integrated Nutrient Application

An experiment was conducted on “Performance of Kharif maize (Zea mays L.) with integrated nutrient application” during Kharif 2017, on Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm, CSA University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur on hybrid Maize with three level of inorganic fertilizers (kg/ha) i.e.100% R.D.F. (100 N + 60 P + 40 K+ 20 Z), 75% RDF (75+45+30+15), & 50% RDF (50+30+20+10) along with three Levels of organic manure viz; 15, 20 & 25 ton FYM/ha. On the basis of overall results it can be concluded that the fertility level 75% RDF + 25 t FYM/ha (F2+O3) was found superior over all other treatment combinations of fertility management maximum yield of grain (26.47 q/ha), stover (89.01 q/ha) and water use efficiency is 9.76 kg ha-1 mm-1. The treatment combination F2+O3 (75% RDF + 25 t FYM/ha) is very suitable among over all treatments.

A Link between Atmospheric Pressure and Fertility of Drosophila Laboratory Strains

Standardization of conditions under which insects are kept is of great importance when studying their physiology and researchers do their best to maintain it. Nevertheless, sometimes an obvious side effect of some unaccounted factor affecting insects’ reproduction can be revealed even under thoroughly controlled laboratory conditions. We faced such a phenomenon when studying the fertility level in two wild type Drosophila melanogaster strains. For fertility analysis, 50 newly emerged females and 50 males of each strain under study were transferred to fresh medium daily within 10 days. We found out that fertility of both strains was stable on days 2–10 after the oviposition onset in one experiment, while in another one it was significantly decreased during days 5–10. When compared to publicly available meteorological data, these changes in the fertility level demonstrated a strong association with one weather factor: barometric pressure. Thus, we conclude that changes in atmospheric pressure can be considered a factor affecting insects reproduction and discuss a possible mechanism of their influence on fertility.

Pronatalist Policies and Fertility in Russia: Estimating Tempo and Quantum Effects

This paper examines the family policy reforms of 2007 in Russia that were aimed explicitly at encouraging second and higher-order births, and analyses their impact on fertility. The existing empirical findings about population policy interventions in transition economies are inconclusive, while the most common argument states that policies based on material incentives are insufficient to significantly raise the real fertility in a population. The study aims to offer a better insight to the following research question: was Russian demographic policy effective in terms of raising the fertility level in the country or did it merely change the timing of births? The objective of the paper is to measure two effects of the pronatalist policy in Russia: tempo effect and quantum effect. Using data from the Human Fertility Database, I employ the decomposition method to separate tempo and quantum effects in the observed total fertility rate, and I estimate their relative weight in observed fertility changes. The analysis of period fertility indicators confirmed the prevalence of a tempo effect in observed total fertility rate change, but also revealed a quantum effect of the policy measures, although this was much smaller. Policy impact varied by birth order. For second parity, the tempo effect played a more critical role, while for third parity the quantum effect was more important. Another decomposition approach employed to measure the contributions of various factors in the increase of the number of births during the post-reform period showed the quantum effect which was driven by second and third order births. The study provides empirical evidence of the impact of policies on fertility behaviour, expands the existing analysis of pronatalist measures taken in Russia, and contributes to our understanding of the role of tempo and quantum effects in the recent fertility change in Russia.

The Power of Fertility and Its Importance for the Concept of Sustainable Development

Demographic changes are one of the indicators of sustainable development, expressed by the value of the natural increase in the human population, resulting directly from the fertility level, which is the subject of this article. Human fertility is a complex potential conditioned by the environmental, social, and economic factors. The multi-dimensional relations of fertility that may affect its level, constitute an unlimited field of research, study, and analysis. The inter-disciplinary scope of fertility research conducted by the authors has shown that fertility is an issue that, in its historical, social, political, and medical aspects, has the potential of contributing to societal development and raising the standard of living. The aim of this article is to answer the question: whether and how the fertility of an individual has an impact on the idea of sustainable development. To achieve this, the available literature was analysed and synthesised, as well as supplemented with information provided by experts in the field. The article incorporates presentations of selected fertility determining factors, methods of measuring fertility potential, and diverse contexts, such as the impact of fertility on history and its relationship with the freedom of the human individual. Moreover, the authors present the relationship between the fertility of an individual, and the assumptions and postulates of the idea of sustainable development.