Impacts of Porous Silica-Nanoencapsulated Pesticide Applied to Soil on Plant Growth and Soil Microbial Community

Porous silica nanocarriers have the potential to improve agricultural crop productivity. However, the impacts of nanoencapsulated pesticides on soil health and plant growth, and how they compare with conventional pesticide have not been systematically elucidated. In this study, we investigated how applying azoxystrobin encapsulated in porous hollow SiO2 nanocarriers to agricultural soil impacted the soil microbial community and plant development, using Solanum lycopersicum grown in the laboratory in soil microcosms. The data show that plant growth was heavily inhibited by the non-encapsulated pesticide treatment compared to that with encapsulated pesticide yielding 3.85-fold less plant biomass, while the soil microbial community experienced few to no changes regardless of the treatment. There was a 2.7-fold higher azoxystrobin uptake per unit dry plant biomass after 10 days of exposure for the non-encapsulated pesticide treatment when compared to that of nanoencapsulated pesticide, but only 1.5-fold increase in total uptake. After 20 days of exposure, however, the total uptake and uptake per unit of dry biomass were 3-fold and 10-fold higher, respectively, for the nanopesticide treatment. The differences in uptake can be attributed to phytotoxicity caused by the high the bioavailability of the non-encapsulated pesticide. The nanocarrier promoted slow release of the pesticide over days, which prevented phytotoxicity, and allowed healthy plant growth.

Influence of nano nitrogen on growth, quality and nutrient uptake of Kharif sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata)

A field experiment was conducted for boosting the productivity of kharif sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata) at Agronomy Farm,RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur (M.S.), India during kharif, 2020 in black Vertisolsoil using split plot design with four replications and two factors, where main plot factors consist of time of application viz T1:15 days after sowing (DAS), T2: 30 DAS and T3: 45 DAS and sub plot factors consist of levels of nano nitrogen (N) fertilizers vizN1: 1.00 L ha-1, N2: 1.25 L ha-1 and N3:1.50 L ha-1. The results showed that at harvest, maximum plant height (183.41 cm), number of leaves (8.86 plant-1), leaf area (58.40 dm2plant-1), dry matter accumulation (117.18 gplant-1), length of cob (18.55 cm), diameter of cob (16.83 cm), weight of cob per plant (208.65 g), number of grains (371.25 cob-1), green cob yield (125.96 q ha-1), green fodder yield (344.39 q ha-1), total uptake plant in total ((264, 98 and 230 kg ha-1),yield of protein by grain (92.89 g kg-1) and stover (50.96 g kg-1) were obtained from treatment N3 (1.5 L ha-1) which was on par with treatment N2 (1.25 L ha-1) and significantly superior over N1 (1 L ha-1). While main plot showed that at harvest plant height (191.90 cm), number of leaves(10.09plant-1), leaf area (62.63 dm2plant-1), dry matter accumulation (123.51 gplant-1), length of cob (20.56 cm), diameter of cob (19.71 cm), weight of cob (222.29 g plant-1), number of grains (402.07 cob-1), green cob yield (138.32q ha-1),stover yield (359.75q ha-1), total uptake(287, 113 and 262 kg ha-1), yield of protein by grain (97.36 g kg-1) and stover (51.77 g kg-1)were significantly maximum when foliar spray of NN was done at 15 (DAS). The foliar application at 15 DAS had taken minimum number of days to reach 50 per cent of tasselling (51.62 days) and silking (55.97 days).

Studies on germination and seedling development of winter maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by various seed priming methods

A field experiment was conducted for boosting the productivity of kharif sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata) at Agronomy Farm,RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur (M.S.), India during kharif, 2020 in black Vertisolsoil using split plot design with four replications and two factors, where main plot factors consist of time of application viz T1:15 days after sowing (DAS), T2: 30 DAS and T3: 45 DAS and sub plot factors consist of levels of nano nitrogen (N) fertilizers vizN1: 1.00 L ha-1, N2: 1.25 L ha-1 and N3:1.50 L ha-1. The results showed that at harvest, maximum plant height (183.41 cm), number of leaves (8.86 plant-1), leaf area (58.40 dm2plant-1), dry matter accumulation (117.18 gplant-1), length of cob (18.55 cm), diameter of cob (16.83 cm), weight of cob per plant (208.65 g), number of grains (371.25 cob-1), green cob yield (125.96 q ha-1), green fodder yield (344.39 q ha-1), total uptake plant in total ((264, 98 and 230 kg ha-1),yield of protein by grain (92.89 g kg-1) and stover (50.96 g kg-1) were obtained from treatment N3 (1.5 L ha-1) which was on par with treatment N2 (1.25 L ha-1) and significantly superior over N1 (1 L ha-1). While main plot showed that at harvest plant height (191.90 cm), number of leaves(10.09plant-1), leaf area (62.63 dm2plant-1), dry matter accumulation (123.51 gplant-1), length of cob (20.56 cm), diameter of cob (19.71 cm), weight of cob (222.29 g plant-1), number of grains (402.07 cob-1), green cob yield (138.32q ha-1),stover yield (359.75q ha-1), total uptake(287, 113 and 262 kg ha-1), yield of protein by grain (97.36 g kg-1) and stover (51.77 g kg-1)were significantly maximum when foliar spray of NN was done at 15 (DAS). The foliar application at 15 DAS had taken minimum number of days to reach 50 per cent of tasselling (51.62 days) and silking (55.97 days).

Effect of Moisture Conservation Practices and Zinc Fertilization on Nutrient Status and Quality of Pearlmillet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) under Rainfed Condition

Background: Pearlmillet growing areas in country are mostly confined to coarse texture soil suffering from the problem of poor moisture retention capacity, low soil fertility and zinc deficiency. The main problem of rainfed area is uncertainty and uneven distribution of rainfall and loss of water through runoff which lead to low and unstable productivity due to moisture stress at critical stage of crop growth. At present, widespread and acute deficiency of zinc is another serious problem in arid and semi-arid region. Hence, the current study aim to find out suitable moisture conservation practices and zinc fertilization to mitigate the water stress and zinc deficiency under rainfed condition.Methods: A study on “Effect of moisture conservation practices and zinc fertilization on nutrient status and quality of pearlmillet” was conducted at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) during kharif, 2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 20 treatments and replicated thrice. The experiment consisted of five moisture conservation practices i.e. control, dust mulch, pusa hydrogel, stover mulch and pusa hydrogel + stover mulch and four zinc fertilization practices i.e. control, 2 kg Zn/ha, 4 kg Zn/ha and 6 kg Zn/ha. Result: The perusal of data clearly indicated that among moisture conservation practices, stover mulch proved significantly superior to control, dust mulch, pusa hydrogel with respect to higher in N, P, K and Zn content, their total uptake and protein content in pearlmillet but it was at par with pusa hydrogel + stover mulch. Under zinc fertilization treatments direct application of 6.0 and 4.0 kg Zn/ha being at par with each other and recorded significantly higher in nutrient content, protein content and total uptake of N, Zn and K over control.

Effect of Biochar, Compost, Chicken Manure and Mineral Fertilization on Total Uptake of NPK of Wheat and Barley in Sandy Soil

Wheat and barley are the most important agricultural crops in many countries around the world, just behind rice and maize in importance. Hence, two field experiments with design of spit plot were carried out in winter season of 2014-2015 at the Faculty of Agriculture Research Farm, Mansoura University, Egypt to investigate total uptake of N, P and K by wheat (Sakha 68) and barley (Gemeza123) under different application rates of mineral and organic fertilizers, as well as grain Protein yield of Kg fed-1. Treatments of organic were chicken manure, compost and biochar, while the studied mineral fertilizer treatments took with rates of 50,75,100 and 125 % .The results revealed that total removed (uptake) of NPK by wheat plant were 80.88, 15.79, and 123.54, respectively; while with barley plant they amounted by 61.60, 11.21, and 56.83 were assigned with the treatment of chicken manure + 125% of recommended NPK treatments. Also, the best interaction was found between chicken manure + 125% mineral treatments which gave the highest value of protein uptake which were 310.60 and 278.76 kg fed-1 compared with other interactions of wheat and barley crops. It can conclude that Chicken manure + 125% mineral treatments were the superior in most amendments and gave the highest values of total NPK uptake and protein yield which in turn lead to improve crop productivity as well as sustain soil health and fertility.

Fertilizer Use Efficiency of nano fertilizers of micronutrients foliar application on Jerusalem artichoke

field experiment was carried out in one of the fields of plot 158 district 41 Husseiniya, township of Taliaa, Babylon Governorate, to study fertilizer use efficiency of nano fertilizers micronutrients foliar application on Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.).The experiment included 17 treatments of spraying the nano-fertilizes micronutrients of nano iron 13% Fe ,nano zinc 20% Zn, nano copper 15% Cu and nano manganese 18% Mn, single spray, dual, triple and quadruple combinations, as well as a quadratic combination of a traditional source as well as the treatment of water-only control. In nutrients content in arial parts and tubers, nutrients uptake, total uptake ,FUE,MNUE. RCBD design with three replicates, and the solutions were sprayed early in the morning after 60 days of planting and at 25, 50, 75 and 100 g fertilizer 100 L-1 Water for to spray the first, second, third and fourth respectively, and according to the recommendation by 1 kg Naon fertilizers h-1, and another 400 liters of spray solution h-1.The results of the duncan test showed a probability level of 0.05 The superiority of the single spray treatments followed by the treatment of nano (Zn+Cu+Fe+Mn) in micronutrients content of arial parts and tubers of zinc, copper, iron, manganese and total uptake, While achieved the nutrient use efficiency of nano-zinc, nano-copper, nano-iron and nano-manganese (93.10, 85.00, 99.00 and 85.50%) sequentially. For individual spray treatments and (91.60, 81.30, 91.85, and 83.40%) sequentially for the treatment of nano spray common quartet (Zn + Cu + Fe + Mn).

The use of an invitational letter to increase the vaccine uptake of patients with coeliac disease

Aim: We sought to establish the impact on vaccine uptake of sending out a single appointment letter inviting patients to attend a vaccine clinic. Background: Coeliac disease is associated with splenic dysfunction and so patients with coeliac disease are at a higher risk of overwhelming infection. Additional vaccinations are recommended for these individuals to provide additional protection against infection. Methods: We retrospectively identified 54 patients with diagnosed coeliac disease, and all vaccines previously received by these patients. By comparing this to the Green Book [Department of Health (2013) Immunisation of individuals with underlying medical conditions: the green book, chapter 7, London: Department of Health. Retrieved 26 February 2019 from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/566853/Green_Book_Chapter7.pdf], we determined the patients who were due vaccinations and the specific vaccines they were due. An invitation letter was then sent out to patients requiring further vaccinations and vaccine uptake for these patients was re-audited six months later. Findings: Our results show a mild increase in the total uptake of vaccines six months after the letter was sent out, from 38.6% to 49.2%.