A Facile Synthesis and Characterization of new Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (N-P-K) Fertilizer Fortified with Tri-micronutrient Matrix and its application for Optimal Plant Augmentation

At present in agricultural techniques engaged the optimal nutrient supply is very imperative factor for elevated crop yield and all essential plant macro and micronutrients. Micronutrients play vital role in photosynthesis. For balanced crop nutrition micronutrient support is essential. Micronutrient fertilizer required in small quantities by plants and occupy vital role in physiology of plant kingdom. Proven fact is decisive plant functions are over involved if enough micronutrients are engaged. In this paper the author developed a new N-P-K fertilizer fortified with tri -micronutrient matrix and its application for optimal Plant growth. The author developed and analyzed hundred percent water soluble active fertilizer(15-15-15) with three important micronutrients (-3.4 0.5%Zn, 0.5%Fe, 0.5% Mg). Pot experiments were conducted with and without proposed fertilizer on Solanum lycopersicum(tomato) seeds. The proposed enhanced efficiency fertilizer with tri micronutrient matrix showed better plant growth as compared to normal untreated fertilizer in low nutrient soil field.

Efficiency of Zinc in Plants, its Deficiency and Sensitivity for Different Crops

Optimal crop nutrition is a significant factor in increasing agricultural vintage and quality of products. Zinc (Zn) is an immobile important micronutrient, which is taken up by plants in Zn2+ form to complete their life cycle efficiently. It plays a critical metabolic role in plants and is an important constituent of proteins and other large-molecules, and serves as structural and functional unit, or controlling cofactor for a wide range of enzymes. The Zn is needed in small and in appropriate amounts for plants main physiological processes to work normally. These processes play critical roles in photosynthetic activity of plants and forming carbohydrates, synthesis of protein, reproduction and seed development, growth, and disease protection. After Zn deficiency in plants, these physical functions are decreased, and plant health and productivity suffer greatly, subsequent in reduced production or even failure of crops and often bad quality of crop products. Plant Zn deficiencies occur on variety of soils and are severe due to a combination of symptoms like chlorosis, resetting, dieback and suppressed or irregular vegetative development. In addition, various crops require varying amount of Zn. So the knowledge regarding this is not up to date. The present review discusses the Zn importance in plants, its deficiency in soil and required level of Zn for crops.

Biostimulant Effects of Micro Carbon Technology (MCT®)-Based Fertilizers on Soil and Capsicum annuum Culture in Growth Chamber and Field

Due to the environmental issues that conventional fertilization is causing, biostimulants are proposed as environmentally friendly alternative for crop nutrition in agriculture. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of new Micro Carbon Technology (MCT®) fertilizers with biostimulant activity based on humic acids biologically digested from leonardite on pepper plant growth in three different soils with different textures. The assays were performed under controlled conditions in a growth chamber and in commercial greenhouses in Spain. The effects on soil were analyzed after the addition of the fertilizers by microbial respiration and enzymatic activities (hydrolase, dehydrogenase and urease). For the plant assays, biometric parameters (fresh weight and fruit hardness) and foliar analysis (chlorophyll indices and nutrients) were evaluated. Under controlled conditions, the use of these biostimulants resulted in a greater soil microbial activity in a 24 h interval with increased soil enzymatic activity. In plants, a positive correlation was found between fertilizers with biostimulant activity and Dualex indices of leaves and content of macronutrients Ca and Mg. In commercial greenhouses, the fertilizers with biostimulant activity strongly depended on the soil texture. In conclusion, these products have real potential to replace conventional fertilizers in commercial production fields.

Soil Health and Its Improvement Through Novel Agronomic and Innovative Approaches

Soil is an important natural resource providing water, nutrient, and mechanical support for plant growth. In agroecosystem, continuous manipulation of soil is going on due to addition of input, removal of nutrients, changing water balance, and microbial life. These processes affect soil properties (physical, chemical, and biological), and the deviation of these properties from the normal status is controlled by soil buffering capacity and soil resilience. If these changes are beyond the reach of soil resilience, then soil loses its original state, leading to soil degradation. At present, the extent of the degraded area in the world is 1,036 to 1,470 million ha. This urges the need for maintaining soil health rather than the mere addition of input for crop production. Soil health is an integrative property that reflects the capacity of soil to respond to agricultural intervention, so that it continues to support both agricultural production and the provision of other ecosystem services. Maintaining the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil is needed to keep it healthy, and this is possible through the adoption of different agronomic approaches. The diversification of nutrient sources with emphasis on organic sources, adoption of principles of conservation agriculture, enhancement of soil microbial diversity, efficient resource recycling through the integrated farming system, and amendment addition for correcting soil reactions are potential options for improving soil health, and are discussed in this review. This article reviewed the concept of soil health and its development, issues related to soil health, and indicators of healthy soil. At the same time, the impact of the ill health of the soil on crop productivity and resource use efficiency reported in different parts of the world in recent years are also reviewed. The agro-techniques such as green and brown manuring in arable land and agroforestry on degraded and marginal land were followed on piece meal basis and for economic gain. The potential of these and several other options for maintaining soil need to be recognized, evaluated, and quantified for their wider application on the front of soil health management avenues. The use of crop residue, agro-industrial waste, and untreated mineral or industrial waste (basic slag, phosphogypsum, etc.) as soil amendments has a huge potential in maintaining healthy soil along with serving as sources of crop nutrition. The review emphasizes the evaluation and quantification of present-day followed agro-techniques for their contribution to soil health improvement across agro-climatic regions and for wider implications. Furthermore, emphasis is given to innovative approaches for soil health management rather than mere application of manures and fertilizers for crop nutrition.

DRIS Norms and Sufficiency Ranges for Pepper Grown under Greenhouses Conditions in the Southeast of Spain

The aim of this study was to compile DRIS (Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System) norms and sufficiency ranges for pepper grown in greenhouses and the determination of the variation in DRIS norms and sufficiency ranges during the different phenological stages of the crop. The DRIS norms and sufficiency ranges were constituted by 367 leaf samples of Capsicum annuum L. which were collected in different phenological stages of the crop (flowering (FL), fruiting (FT), fruit development (FD), and harvesting (HV)). Two sufficiency ranges were developed; one including all leaf samples and the other considering the leaf samples by phenological stages ((FL) (44), (FT) (96), (FD) (100), and (HV) (127)). Furthermore, 10 DRIS norms and CV were calculated from N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Two ratios of them were calculated in FL (N/P and N/K), two in FD (N/P and Ca/N) and one in HV (N/P) showing low CV, meaning, according to DRIS norms, the essential role of these nutrients in the crop nutrition. Moreover, the sufficiency ranges computed by all database were: N (34–56), P (1.9–4.3), K (30–51), Ca (12–33), and Mg (4.0–15) (mg g−1 DW), respectively. The data obtained in this experiment highlighted the importance of the sensitivity (low CV) of nutrient in the phenological stages such as happened with N.

Rethinking Crop Nutrition in Times of Modern Microbiology: Innovative Biofertilizer Technologies

Global population growth poses a threat to food security in an era of increased ecosystem degradation, climate change, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss. In this context, harnessing naturally-occurring processes such as those provided by soil and plant-associated microorganisms presents a promising strategy to reduce dependency on agrochemicals. Biofertilizers are living microbes that enhance plant nutrition by either by mobilizing or increasing nutrient availability in soils. Various microbial taxa including beneficial bacteria and fungi are currently used as biofertilizers, as they successfully colonize the rhizosphere, rhizoplane or root interior. Despite their great potential to improve soil fertility, biofertilizers have yet to replace conventional chemical fertilizers in commercial agriculture. In the last 10 years, multi-omics studies have made a significant step forward in understanding the drivers, roles, processes, and mechanisms in the plant microbiome. However, translating this knowledge on microbiome functions in order to capitalize on plant nutrition in agroecosystems still remains a challenge. Here, we address the key factors limiting successful field applications of biofertilizers and suggest potential solutions based on emerging strategies for product development. Finally, we discuss the importance of biosafety guidelines and propose new avenues of research for biofertilizer development.

Plant factories - closed plant production systems.

This chapter focuses on plant factories, which is an indoor, enclosed, crop cultivation system where the growing environment is precisely controlled to maximize production. Topics covered are the history and background of plant factories,advantages of plant factories, criticisms of plant factories, costs and returns of plant factories, domestic and other small-scale plant factories, crops produced including pharmaceuticals, vertical or multilevel systems, including moveable systems, crop nutrition in plant factories, plant factory environments, lighting, environmental control and plant quality in plant factories, and automation and robotization.