Extrapolation of post-harvest soil test values in barnyard millet-based cropping sequence through multivariate analysis

The soil test value is based on the soil test-based fertilizer prescription/ recommendation equation. Each crop harvesting after the next crop is necessary to analyze the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an alternative technique to predict postharvest soil tests after the harvest of every crop. For that a study was conducted in mixed black calcareous soils at Tamil Nadu agricultural University, Coimbatore to develop the post-harvest prediction equations for available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in barnyard millet cropping sequence based on a multiple regression model by considering post-harvest soil test value as the dependent variable and initial available nutrients, fertilizer doses and crop yield or crop nutrient uptake as an independent variables. The developed model was validated by computing R2 value, RMSE (root means square error), RE (relative error), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) and the developed model was found to be valid. Using the validated model, post-harvest soil test values were predicted. A fertilizer recommendation was made for blackgram based on predicted post-harvest soil test values in the barnyard millet-blackgram cropping sequence. The predicted soil test values were compared with actual soil test values and it revealed that the developed model is fairly accurate and best-fitted with more precision. The predicted post-harvest soil test values of barnyard millet could be used in order to prescribe fertilizer for desired yield targets for subsequent crops.

Site Specific Nutrient Management Options for Achieving Higher Yields in Cotton and Chickpea under Rainfed Condition

A study was undertaken to delineation of spatial variability of soil fertility status in order to prepare soil available nutrient maps for improved productivity in different crops grown in the study area of Kurnool revenue division in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The Knowledge of spatial-variability is critical for site specific nutrient management in soil fertility to obtain higher yields. Soil sample (350) were collected from surface from 350 selected sites for preparing precise digital maps using point, line and polygon tools of the Geographic Information System (GIS) with ArcGIS software 10.3 was used for database creation and for creating the union of various thematic maps. The spatial variability maps were generated and delineated into different zones for N, P and K. Soil available Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium spatial variability values generated from the thematic maps of Kurnool division were used to establish fertilizer recommendations for cotton in kharif and Chickpea in rabi during 2018-19 seasons. The recommended doses of Nitrogen (RDN) that worked for cotton were 401 to 450, 351 to 400, > 450 and < 350 kg ha-1 for the areas with Nitrogen availability of 140 to 210, 210 to 280, <140 and > 280 kg/ha, respectively. The Phosphorous fertilizer recommendation for soils with available P of < 30 kg/ha and > 30 kg/ha was figured out as > 250 kg ha-1 and < 250 kg ha-1, respectively. For soil available Potassium recorded 230 to 560, < 230 and > 560 kg/ha, the K recommendation was figured out as 301 to 400, > 401 and < 300 kg/ha, respectively. Recommended doses of Nitrogen (RDN) was worked out for chickpea were 51 to 75, > 76 and < 50 kg/ha for the areas with available N ranges of 184 to 280, < 184 and > 280 kg/ha, respectively. The Phosphatic fertilizer recommendation for soils of available P of < 23.5 and 23.5 to 40 kg/ha was figured out as > 200 kg/ha and 171 to 200 kg/ha, respectively. For the soil available potassium recorded 253 to 412, 413 to 570, < 253 and > 570 kg/ha, the K recommendation was figured out as 66 to 100, 31 to 65, > 100 and < 30 kg/ha, respectively.

Nutrient Expert for High Yield and Use Efficiency in Rainfed Bt Cotton Hybrids

Low cotton productivity in the rainfed cotton grown in central India is attributed to abiotic (water and nutrients) and biotic (insect pests and diseases) stress. Nutrient stress can be overcome by providing nutrients in right amounts and at the right time when the plant needs the most. Field studies in cereal crops have demonstrated fertilizer recommendations by using the Nutrient Expert® (NE) decision support system to improve crop yields. However, such information in the case of the commercial crop, cotton, is scarce. Therefore, on-farm trials were conducted in three districts of Maharashtra, India during 2018–2020 with the hypothesis that the NE-based fertilizer recommendation would lead to higher cotton productivity and savings in fertilizer. Averaged over two seasons and locations, lint yield was significantly greater in the NE based than the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), soil test crop response (STCR), and farmers' practice (FP). Internal utilization efficiency (IE) did not differ among treatments for N (4.8 to 5.9 kg lint kg−1 nutrient uptake) and K (6.7 to 7.2 kg lint kg−1 nutrient uptake). With regard to the fertilizer P applied, the FP treatment had the least IE (17.0 kg lint kg−1 nutrient uptake) and was significantly lower than the other treatments. Partial nutrient balance (PNB) did not vary among treatments for applied fertilizer N. The FP treatment had PNB &lt; 1 in case of fertilizer P and ~20 in the case of fertilizer K. This indicates farmers applied excess of P fertilizers. On the other hand, farmers in the region applied very small amount of K. Although the NE treatment had the highest cost of cultivation, net returns were the greatest followed by the STCR and RDF treatments. Our studies demonstrate that the NE-based fertilizer recommendation is not only productive, but also profitable.

Role of Humic Acid and Chemical Fertilizer in NPK Concentration, Growth and Yield of Broccoli Under Salinity Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the winter agricultural season 2020. To study the effect of humic acid and fertilizer recommendation, humic acid was supplied with irrigation water at two levels i.e., 0 and 0.25 gm L-1. Nine levels of the fertilizer recommendation were applied according to the fertilizer recommendation of 92kg N.h-1, 200 kg P. h-1 and 150 kg K. h-1 taking the symbols of F1to F9. The results showed the superiority of the treatments of humic acid application( 0.25 gm l-1) in the traits of plant height, Weight of broccoli head, total yield, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium concentrations, by giving 32.64 cm, 246.5 gm plant-1, 8.215 tons ha-1, 5.541%, 0.3816%, and 3. 641% respectively, the treatment of adding chemical fertilizer at a level of 125% N + 125% P + % K 125 of the fertilizer recommendation(F2) gave the highest plant height of 36.60 cm, Weight of broccoli head of 269.2 g plant-1, total yield of 8.972 tons H-1, nitrogen concentration 5.817% and concentration Phosphorous 0.3141% compared to treatment F9, while treatment F5 gave the highest potassium concentration 3.893% compared to treatment F9 (1.914%).

Evaluating the implementation of fertilizer-based decision support systems to increase yield productivity and efficiency of irrigated rice farming in West Java

Nutrient management and fertilizer application are paramount elements for increasing rice productivity. However, most of farmers are still applying fertilizer in an improper way and hence economic benefit of the yield remain low. The objective of this study was to examine various fertilizer recommendations and hence the best and efficient dose of fertilizer can be obtain to increase growth and yield of rice. This experiment was conducted in farmers irrigated lowland Sukabumi, West Java in dry season 2019. The material used was high yielding IR-64 rice variety subjected to six fertilizer recommendation, namely urea only (A), LKP (B), factory’s recommendation (C), PUTS, (D), KATAM (E) and farmer’s practice (F). This experiment was arranged in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. The quantitative morphological and physiological traits and financial analysis were observed. The result showed that fertilizer significantly affected morphological, physiological parameters and grain yield of rice. PUTS and KATAM (9,7t/ha) treatments had higher grain yield compared to other treatments. Fertilizer by farmer’s practice tended lower in morphological, physiological and grain yield responses compared to other fertilizer recommendation. Similar pattern showed for yield components such as panicle number, grains number and % empty grain were also affected by fertilizer recommendation. Based on the financial analysis that treatment with LKP fertilizer recommendation had higher profit (75.61%) compared with farmer’s practice. That treatment can reduce fertilizer costs by 61.57%, can increase revenue by 14.04% and give a profit of Rp. 5,580,969,-.

The Effect of The Dates of Application of Biohealth Fertilizer and Levels of Mineral Fertilization on The Yield and Components of The Legume Crop (Vicia Faba L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter semester 2020-2021 in Wasit Governorate - University of Wasit - College of Agriculture, Iraq. In loamy sandy soils to study the effect of dates application for Biohealth biological fertilizer in (growth stage, elongation stage and growth and elongation stage) + with (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) from the mineral fertilizer recommendation for some plant traits in Broad bean (Vicia Faba L.). The experiment was Indicated according to a split-plots system using a randomized complete block design by three replications. A results of the study showed significant superiority in adding biological fertilizer in growth and elongation stage with highest mean of the yield and its components, Amount to (plant pods number 15.45 pod plant-1 and the number of seeds per pods 5.02 seed pod-1 and 100 seed weights 119.17 g and green pods yield 14.29 t ha-1 and seed yield 4.45 t ha-1 and biological yield 11.00 t ha-1). It also significantly outpered the addition of biological fertilizer + with 75% of the recommendation for mineral fertilizer with highest mean of yield and its components, Amount to (plant pods number17.75 pod plant-1 and number of seeds per pods 5.71 seed pod-1 and 100 seed weights 122.72 g and green pods yield 16.21 t ha-1 and seed yield 4.72 t ha-1 and biological yield 11.57 t ha-1). The interactions showed a significant effect on yield characteristics and its studied components, as the interaction treatment exceeded date of adding biological fertilizer + with 75% of fertilizer recommendation at growth and elongation stage highest mean of studied characteristics.

Effect of Seed Stimulation With Gibberellin and Use of Mineral and Nano Fertilization on Growth and Yield of Wheat Triticum aestivum L.

A field experiment was carried out in Al-Fadhiliya city, Dhi Qar province during the winter agricultural season 2019-2020 to find out the effect of stimulation (soaking) wheat seeds with gibberellin and use of mineral and nano fertilization on some growth and yield characteristics of the Ibaa variety 99. Using RCBD Design with split plot arrangement with three replications. The first factor (main plot) included fertilization levels (F) mineral fertilizer recommendation for N, P ( F1 ), Nano fertilizer recommendation for N, P ( F2 ) and 0.5 mineral fertilizer recommendation + 0.5 Nano fertilizer recommendation ( F3 ).The second factor (sub plot) included the seed stimulation levels (drenching) with gibberellin (G) for 12 hour: 0.0 mg.G.L-1 (water only) ( G1 ), 50 mg G.L-1 (G2), 100 mg G.L-1(G3). The results showed superior the level of fertilization (F3) in traits (plant height 110.33 cm, flag leaf area 54.45 cm 2, number of tillers 389.00 tiller.m-2, number of grains per spike 67.11 grain.spike-1, grain yield 7.589 t.ha-1). While, the level of fertilization (F2) exceeding in adjective (weight 1000 grain 49.18 g). However, the level of stimulation (G2) superior in traits (plant height 106.00 cm, flag leaf area 54.267 cm - 2, number of tillers 381.44 tillers.m-2 and the total grain yield 7.344 t.ha-1). Whereas, the level of stimulation (G3) exceeding in adjectives( number of grain per spike 71.22 grain.spike-1 and weight 1000 grain g). Interaction treatment (F3G2) gave the highest average of total grain yield by 8.133 t.ha-1.

Effect of Adding Sulfur and Organic Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Onions (Allium Cepa L.) Under Different Plant Densities

A field experiment was conducted in the Amiriyat al-Fallujah district of the Anbar governorate to know the effect of the combination of sulfur and organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of onion, (a local red type), under different plant densities. The experiment included two factors, first: a combination of fertilizing with decomposing Cow’s manure (20 tons.ha-1) and sulfur (50 kg.ha-1), and this factor was distributed as follows (T0: fertilizer recommendation (NPK 100-100-120 kg.ha-1 It is considered a control). T1: cow waste + half of the chemical fertilizer recommendation and T2: fertilizer recommendation + sulfur addition and T3: Cow’s manure + half of the fertilizer recommendation + sulfur addition and T4: double the recommendation of cow manure (40 t.ha-1 + half of the fertilizer recommendation + adding sulfur). The second factor: planting distances (S1:10×10, S2:10×15, and S3:10×20) cm. The distance between plants was fixed 10 cm and the dimensions changed between one line and another. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment with the randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results showed clear significant differences for the two study factors in characteristics of vegetative growth, yield, and the content of total soluble solids, as the T4S3 treatment exceeded by giving it the highest number of tubular blades, leaf area and the highest percentage of sulfur in the leaves, which was positively reflected on the plant yield and percentage the total soluble solids amounted to (16.57 blades.plant-1, 15.97 dm2, 1.70%, 0.64%, 104.50 g, 15.83%), respectively, The treatment of planting distances S1 achieved significant differences in the total yield (90.39 tons.ha-1 and 8.91 kg) respectively compared to plants of treatment S3, which achieved(74.29 tons.ha-1and 5.39 kg).