Estimating Nutrient Uptake Requirements for Melon Based on the QUEFTS Model

Imbalanced and excessive fertilizer application has resulted in low yields and reduced nutrient use efficiency for melon production in China. Estimating nutrient requirements is crucial for effectively developing site-specific fertilizer recommendations for increasing yield and profit while reducing negative environmental impacts. Relationships between the yield and nutrient uptake requirements of above-ground dry matter were assessed using 1127 on-farm observations (2000–2020) from melon production regions of China. The quantitative evaluation of fertility of tropical soils (QUEFTS) model was used to estimate nutrient requirements. It predicted a linear increase in yield at balanced nutrient uptake levels until the yield reached approximately 60–80% of the potential yield. In order to produce 1000 kg of fruit, 2.9, 0.4 and 3.2 kg/ha of N, P and K (7.2:1.0:7.8), respectively, were required for above-ground parts, while the corresponding nutrient internal efficiencies were 345.3, 2612.6 and 310.0 kg per kg N, P and K, respectively, whereas 1.4, 0.2 and 1.9 kg of N, P and K were required to replace nutrients removed after harvest. The corresponding fruit absorption rates were 47.0%, 59.5% and 58.2%, respectively. Field validation experiments confirmed the consistency between observed and simulated uptake rates, indicating that this model could estimate nutrient requirements. These findings will help develop fertilizer recommendations for improving melon yield and nutrient use efficiency.

Evaluation of blended fertilizer rates for improving production of food barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Semen Ari District, Southwestern Ethiopia

Depletion of soil fertility, depletion of macro- and micro-nutrients and soil organic matter and inappropriate and imbalanced fertilizer application are among the most important factors that reduces the food barley production in Ethiopia. Therefore, the experiment was conducted to evaluate NPSB blended fertilizer rate effect on improving production of food barley in Semen Ari District, Southwestern Ethiopia during main cropping season. Control, (142 NPS + 159 Urea) kg ha-1, (150 NPSB + 41 Urea) kg ha-1, (200 NPSB + 72 Urea) kg ha-1, (250 NPSB + 102 Urea) kg ha-1 and (100 NPSB + 161 Urea) kg ha-1 treatments were used for the experiment which laid out in RCBD following three replication with spacing of 20 cm between rows; and HB 1307 improved food barley seeds were drilled on prepared rows. Full dose of blended and potassium fertilizers were applied at planting time and urea was applied in two split. The result revealed that food barley responded well to application of N, P, S and B than the unfertilized one. Application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea resulted in highest grain yield of 3806.3 kg ha-1, while the lowest grain yield of 1939.2 kg ha-1 was recorded from the nil. Moreover, the highest net benefit of 32124.56 ETB ha-1 and economic returns of 942.2% was recorded in response to application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea. Application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea gave 49.05% yield increment and 40.24% increment in economic return over the control. Therefore, we recommend application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea for farmers and investor’s in study area and similar agro-ecologies as it was optimum for improving food barley production. Further studies and investigation should be done on plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency and over location. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 10-17, Dec 2021

Optimizing Textile Dyeing Wastewater Irrigation through Physiochemical Attributes of Tomato, Plant Nutrient Use Efficiency and Pollution Load Index of Irrigated Soil

This experiment considers the seven different stages of textile dyeing effluents on tomato crop production in order to diminish the excess effluent treatment plant (ETP) cost and farmers net input cost. Seven different stages waste water (WW) with ground water (control) were collected and analyzed for physiochemical as well as heavy metals properties. T8 (mixed effluent) crossed the limit of agricultural standard for almost all physiological parameters such as TDS, TSS, EC, BOD, COD affording the highest value. T8 also delivered the highest cl- and heavy metals like Cd, Ni, Cr followed by T4 (2nd wash after bath drain) < T7 (Fixing treatment water). As a consequence, these provided comparatively higher enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI) and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) to transform fresh soil into “severe” and “slightly to moderate” saline. Correlation matrix demonstrated that EF and PLI of heavy metals (except Cd, Ni) were negatively related to yield, while positively related to SAR and fruit abortion. Although T6 (2nd wash after soaping) performed better in respect to growth, yield, yield attributes and nutrient use efficiency, principal component analysis (PCA) expressed that T2 (2nd wash after scouring and bleaching) and T3 (enzyme treated water) also belong to T6 and T1 group (ground water). Therefore, T2, T3 and T6 could be used to vegetable crop production up to some extent and to reduce ETP and agricultural input cost.

Switching to nanonutrients for sustaining agroecosystems and environment: the challenges and benefits in moving up from ionic to particle feeding

The worldwide agricultural enterprise is facing immense pressure to intensify to feed the world’s increasing population while the resources are dwindling. Fertilizers which are deemed as indispensable inputs for food, fodder, and fuel production now also represent the dark side of the intensive food production system. With most crop production systems focused on increasing the quantity of produce, indiscriminate use of fertilizers has created havoc for the environment and damaged the fiber of the biogeosphere. Deteriorated nutritional quality of food and contribution to impaired ecosystem services are the major limiting factors in the further growth of the fertilizer sector. Nanotechnology in agriculture has come up as a better and seemingly sustainable solution to meet production targets as well as maintaining the environmental quality by use of less quantity of raw materials and active ingredients, increased nutrient use-efficiency by plants, and decreased environmental losses of nutrients. However, the use of nanofertilizers has so far been limited largely to controlled environments of laboratories, greenhouses, and institutional research experiments; production and availability on large scale are still lagging yet catching up fast. Despite perceivable advantages, the use of nanofertilizers is many times debated for adoption at a large scale. The scenario is gradually changing, worldwide, towards the use of nanofertilizers, especially macronutrients like nitrogen (e.g. market release of nano-urea to replace conventional urea in South Asia), to arrest environmental degradation and uphold vital ecosystem services which are in critical condition. This review offers a discussion on the purpose with which the nanofertilizers took shape, the benefits which can be achieved, and the challenges which nanofertilizers face for further development and real-world use, substantiated with the significant pieces of scientific evidence available so far. Graphical Abstract

Productive Performance of Mexican Creole Pullets and Immature Males Fed Different Levels of Metabolizable Energy and Crude Protein

Mexican Creole birds are a poorly researched genetic resource whose nutritional requirements are unknown. The objective was to evaluate the productive performance and nutrient use efficiency of Mexican Creole birds, using four diets with different concentrations of metabolizable energy (EM, MJ/kg) and crude protein (PC, g/kg). The experimental diets with constant ME/CP ratios equal to 0.06, were: 12.55/200, 11.92/190, 11.30/180 and 10.67/170. One hundred and ninety-two 12-week-old creole birds (96 males and 96 females) were randomly distributed amongst the diets (24 males and 24 females each). Due to the diet × sex interaction, males fed the 10.67/170 diet had higher feed intake, and males under 10.67/170, 11.92/190 and 11.30/180 had higher final body weight and weight gain than the other birds. Feed conversion ratio was lower in birds with diets 12.55/200 and 11.92/190. Total body fat retention was higher in females with the diet 12.55/200, 11.92/190 and 11.30/180. In conclusion, males with the 10.67/170 (lowest ME and CP) diet showed a high productive performance, without compromising carcase yield and body composition, while females with all diets did not show differences in productive performance, carcass yield and body composition.

Evaluation of nutrients removed and recycled in a commercial peach orchard over a 14-years-production cycle

Understanding nutrient dynamics within a peach orchard is fundamental to the development of accurate nutrient management practices. The present study investigated the nutrient uptake and redistribution in a 14-years-old commercial orchard in the Po valley. At the end of the experiment, trees were harvested, biomass and organ nutrient concentration were determined. Skeleton and roots accounted for the highest plant biomass, followed by fruits at harvest, pruned wood and abscised leaves; thinned fruits were less than 1 kg tree-1. The difference between the amounts of nutrients in leaves sampled in summer and in autumn (at abscission) was used to estimate the fraction of nutrients remobilized during the vegetative season inside the tree. The decrease of N, P, S, Cu, Mn and Zn concentration in abscised, compared to summer-sampled leaves was the result of the translocation of nutrients into fruits and storage organs. Nutrient circulation in a commercial nectarine orchard was calculated by determination of the fractions of each nutrient recycled (sum of nutrients in abscised leaves, thinned fruits and pruned wood) and remobilized (sum of nutrients in fruits at harvest, roots and skeleton). In our experimental conditions, on average, nectarine Stark RedGold showed an annual request of (in kg ha-1) 100, 17, 73, 129, 16, and 6 of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, respectively. More than half of these quantities were recycled in the orchard and returned back to the soil; consequently, if the nutrient use efficiency is maximized, the fertilization of nectarine requires only small amount of external inputs.