Utilization of bio-organo mineral as a soil ameliorant for hard crops

The research objective was to make a formula for economical complex soil conditioner of bio-organo mineral for tea, coffee and cacao plantations. The soil conditioner (SC) formula for such plantations was made by mixing the urea, phosphate, leucite and kieserite with the ratio of 25:7:12:3. The experiments at Block B5 showed the amount of harvested dormant leaves was 3.37 kg/100 m2 while the control yielded 2.29 kg/100 m2. There is a difference around 1.08 kg/100 m2 or 47%. The amount of Peko shoots was 19.82 g/100 m2 when using the soil conditioner while the control had 14.89 g/100 m2 performing the difference 33% while at Block A10, the amount of harvested dormant shoot was 3.53 kg/100 m2. There is a difference around 3.29 kg/100m2 or 7%. The amount of Peko shoot was 18.25 g/100 m2 while the control acquiesced 15,05 g/100m2 – the difference of both was 21%. The Robusta grew from 25.4 cm to 28.5 cm when using the BIOM-SC. but the plant height is only from 24.4 cm to 26.8 when using NPK fertilizer.

Coupling effects of phosphorus fertilization source and rate on growth and ion accumulation of common bean under salinity stress

Many agricultural regions in arid and semiarid climate zone need to deal with increased soil salinity. Legumes are classified as salt-sensitive crops. A field experiment was performed to examine the application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer source and rate on growth, chlorophylls and carotenoid content, DNA and RNA content and ion accumulation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivated under salinity stress. An experimental design was split-plot with three replicates. The main plots included two P sources, namely single superphosphate (SP) and urea phosphate (UP). The sub-plots covered four P rates, i.e., 0.0, 17.5, 35.0, and 52.5 kg P ha–1. All applied P fertilization rates, in both forms, increased plant height, leaf area, dry weight of shoots and roots per plant, and total dry weight (TDW) in t ha−1. The highest accumulation of N, P, K+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ was determined in the shoot and root of common bean, while 35 kg of P per ha−1 was used compared to the other levels of P fertilizer. The highest P rate (52.5 kg ha−1) resulted in a significant reduction in Na+ in shoot and root of common bean. The response curve of TDW (t ha–1) to different rates of P (kg ha–1) proved that the quadratic model fit better than the linear model for both P sources. Under SP, the expected TDW was 1.675 t ha–1 if P was applied at 51.5 kg ha–1, while under UP, the maximum expected TDW was 1.875 t ha–1 if P was supplied at 42.5 kg ha–1. In conclusion, the 35.0 kg P ha–1 could be considered the best effective P level imposed. The application of P fertilizer as urea phosphate is generally more effective than single superphosphate in enhancing plant growth and alleviating common bean plants against salinity stress.

Chemical and Enzymatic Changes of Different Soils during Their Acidification to Adapt Them to the Cultivation of Highbush Blueberry

Although there has been an increase in the cultivation of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) worldwide for several years now, the availability of suitable soils for this species remains a problem. Highbush blueberry is a plant that requires acidic soils (pH 3.8–5.5), which are well aerated and have a stable level of groundwater and high humus content. In the present study, substances such as urea phosphate fertilizer, sulfur, sulfuric acid, and phosphogypsum were used to acidify three soils: peat, loamy sand, and loamy silt. The study aimed to lower the pH of the tested soils and optimize this parameter to cultivate highbush blueberry. The resulting changes in pH, content of macro- and micro-elements, and enzymatic activity were evaluated. Acidifying substances mitigated peat and loamy sand’s reaction to highbush blueberry requirements, while the reaction of loamy silt was changed only slightly, which made this soil unsuitable for plant cultivation. Sulfur dust acidified the examined soils rapidly and to the highest degree, followed by urea phosphate and phosphogypsum, while the weakest acidification was achieved with sulfuric acid solutions. The salt concentration of the soil was increased the most by the highest dose of phosphogypsum, which indicated that it could not be used to acidify soil for the cultivation of highbush blueberry. Among the acidifying substances, only urea phosphate showed a stimulating effect on the soils’ enzymatic activity, whereas others did not significantly affect or decrease this parameter.

SOLUBILITIES OF COMPONENTS IN WATER SYSTEMS INCLUDING ETHANOL WITH CARBAMIDE AND UREA PHOSPHATE

This article presents the results of a study of the solubility of components in an aqueous system, including carbamide, ethanol and urea phosphate, which is a physicochemical basis for further development of the technology for the process of obtaining new complex-acting defoliants. It was found that the formation of studied new compounds does not occur in these systems. The components retain their individuality when present together.

Effect of urea phosphate foliar supplementation on yield, nutrient uptake and grain quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in acid Inceptisols

Essential plant nutrient elements are generally applied to crops through soil to achieve more economic yields. Of the methods followed soil application is common and efficient for nutrients required in large quantities. However, under some situations crop responds better to foliar application along with blanket doses of fertilizers. Foliar application of urea phosphate (UP), an acidic nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) nutrient fertilizers, along with blanket fertilizer doses can influence the yield as well as nutrient uptake and grain quality characteristics of the crop rice. A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of urea phosphate on yield, nutrient uptake and grain quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in acid Inceptisols of Odisha, India. Different treatments were thus framed to test the hypothesis as T1-control (no nutrient); T2- 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF); T3 -75% RDF; T4 -100% RDF; T5 -50% RDF + twice foliar spray (FS) of 1% UP; T6 -50% RDF + twice FS of 2% UP; T7 -75% RDF + twice FS of 1% UP; T8 -75% RDF + twice FS of 2% UP; T9 -100% RDF + twice FS of 1% UP and T10 -100% RDF + twice FS of 2% UP. Growth parameters like plant height (107.60 cm), panicle length (25.72 cm) and number of effective tillers per hill (13.58) were found to be highest in the plots where twice FS of 2% UP along with 100% RDF was applied. The grain (4579.33 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5121.90 kg ha-1) of rice were also observed highest with T10 over T9, where 100% RDF + twice FS of 1% UP was applied. Uptake of nutrients like N (63.45 kg ha-1), P (18.36 kg ha-1 ) and K (96.85 kg ha-1) were found to be numerically higher in T10 where 100% RDF + twice FS of 2% UP was applied. The grain quality parameters of rice like protein content (R² = 0.624), alkali value (R² = 0.622) and amylose content (R² = 0.618) were significantly varied among the treatments.

Degradable Controlled Release Fertilizer Composite Prepared via Extrusion: Fabrication, Characterization, and Release Mechanisms

In this work, biodegradable polymers were melt compounded with urea phosphate to fabricate “smart fertilizers” for sustainable agriculture. Urea phosphate (UP) is typically applied as a water-soluble fertilizer to treat phosphorus deficiency in high pH soils. Due to the low diffusion rate of phosphate through slow-release fertilizer coatings, phosphate supply has been considered the “bottleneck” for nitrogen–phosphorous–potassium (NPK) nutrients supply. We study the influence of polymer matrix structure on release kinetics in deionized water using novel polyesters including poly (hexamethylene succinate) (PHS), poly (30% butylene succinate-co-70% hexamethylene succinate) (PBHS 30/70), and PBHS 70/30. Melt processed composites of UP and polyester were analyzed to determine UP loading efficiency and dispersion and distribution of the salt in the polymer matrix. A combined empirical model involving diffusion and erosion mechanisms was found have a good agreement with the experimental release curve. This work provides a solution for environmentally friendly controlled release phosphate fertilizer with good release performance using bio-based and biodegradable polymers.

In situ monitoring of mechanochemical synthesis of calcium urea phosphate fertilizer cocrystal reveals highly effective water-based autocatalysis

Using the mechanosynthesis of the fertilizer cocrystal calcium urea phosphate as a model, we provide a quantitative investigation of chemical autocatalysis in a mechanochemical reaction.