The Effect of Humic Acid, Vermicompost and Nano-Phosphorous on Growth and Yield Characteristics of Maize (Zea mays L.)

In order to study the effect of adding humic acid, vermicompost and nano-phosphorous on the growth characteristics and yield of maize. An experiment was carried out in one of the fields located in Afak sub-district - Diwaniyah Governorate - Iraq in the autumn season 2020. The experiment was carried out according to a Complete Randomized Blocks Design with three replications. The treatments included adding humic acid at three levels (0, 10 and 20) kg H−1 and coded (H0, H1 and H2) sequentially, while vermicompost was added at two levels (0 and 4) tons H−1 and coded (V0 and V1) sequentially. While nano-phosphorous was added at three levels (0, 5 and 10) kg H−1 that coded by (nP0, nP1 and nP2) sequentially. The results of the experiment showed outperform the fertilizer combination (VnP1), which consisted of vermicompost (4) H− 1ton and nano-phosphorous (5) kgH−1, as it recorded the highest content of chlorophyll in leaves, the highest plant height, the highest weight of the vegetative and root system, the percentage of protein and the total grain yield (66.53). SPAD and 269.93 cm, 53.53 g and 11.853 g) compared to the control treatment that recorded the lowest values, followed by treatment (V) with a single effect of vermicompost (4) tonH−1, which outperformed in the content of leaves from chlorophyll, plant height, dry weight of the vegetative and root system and the percentage of the protein and total yield which recorded (SPAD 65.77, 263.50 cm, 53.04 g, 11.520 g, 12.25% and 12,393 mcg H−1) compared to the control treatment that recorded the lowest values, as the second level of single nano-phosphorous fertilizer (nP2) was significantly superior compared to the levels addition of nP and comparison treatment.

​Effect of Irrigation Regimes and Phosphorus Fertilization on Water-use Efficiency, Phosphorus-agronomic Efficiency and Yield of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Ecotypes

Background: Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a crop of immense economic significance. It is one of the most resilient to climate changes and to be survival food during drought-triggered famines. Methods: In a field study split factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with 3 replications were used, effects of irrigation regimes (50, 75 and 100% evaporation of Pan class A) and different rates of phosphorous fertilizer (triple superphosphate 0, 60 and 120 kg/ha) on growth and yield of two grass pea ecotypes (Lalehzar and Sharekord) in Lalezar area (Kerman province, Iran) was carried out during 2018 and 2019. Result: The results showed that drought stress reduced grass pea seed yield (401 kg/ha-1) and biological yield (863 kg/ha-1) and this reduction was depended on the severity of stress. In the other side, application of phosphorous fertilizer (60 kg/ha-1) increased grass pea yield (2401 kg/ha-1). This means that phosphorus fertilizer could partiaiiy offset the effect of drought stress and had a significant effect on the water use efficiency and phosphorus agronomic efficiency. Finally, drought stress, either no-application phosphorus fertilizer, could decrease yield. Overally, Shahrekord ecotype showed the higher and most desirable grain yield (2401 kg/ha-1), biological yield (5612 kg/ha-1), grain water use efficiency and biological water use efficiency, respectively, with (0.74 and 1.72 m3 water/ha-1) and phosphorus agronomic efficiency (18.76 kg yield/kg P) to the applied treatments (75% irrigation+ triple superphosphate fertilizer 60 kg/ha).

Response of Potato to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer at Wag-Lasta Areas of Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Background: Production and productivity of potato in Ethiopia is far below the world average due to soil fertility problem, pest, disease, and agronomic factors. Nutrient depletion due to soil erosion is a serious problem in Ethiopian highlands. Annually, nitrogen 122 kg ha-1 P 13 kg ha-1 and K 82 kg ha-1 were estimated to deplete from Ethiopia (Haileslassie et al., 2005). The essential nutrients like, nitrogen and phosphorus are the most important influential nutrient for the production of potato but they are deficient in most Ethiopian soils and thus an application of these nutrients could increase significantly the crop yields. In this context, an experiment was conducted at Sekota and Lasta Lalibela districts (Woleh and Kechin Abeba irrigation command areas) of eastern Amhara to investigate the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers for yield and yield component of potato under irrigation condition. Methods: Four rates of nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 138 kg N kg ha-1) and four rates of phosphorus (0, 23, 46, and 69 Kg P2O5 kg ha-1) were combined in the factorial arrangement and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results: The result of the study revealed that nitrogen and phosphorus had a significant effect on plant height, marketable, and total yield of potato at Kechin Abeba. But phosphorus did not show a significant effect on plant height and unmarketable yield at Sekota district of Woleh irrigation command area. The highest yield 45.55 t ha-1 was obtained from in combined application of 138 N and 23 P2O5 in Lalibela and 17.12 t ha-1 was obtained from in combined application of 138 N kg ha-1 and 46 P2O5 kg ha-1 from Sekota districts of Woleh irrigation command area. Conclusion: The application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer in the study area were more efficient in terms of tuber yield in Lalibela (Kechin Abeba) than Woleh. The application of 138 kg ha-1 N combined with 23 kg ha-1 P2O5 is found to be the appropriate rates for optimum productivity of Potato at Lalibela (Kechin Abeba) and Sekota (Woleh) under irrigation conditions and the same agro-ecology.

Purification of Water and Air is Promoting Global Warming and Country Decline

Burning of fossil is increasing. Production of CO2 and NOx is increasing. Increased CO2 and NOx promoted the CO2 assimilation. Most produced CO2 is fixed by CO2 assimilation. But developed countries started purification of water and air by elimination of NOx and NP at around 1980. 6 billion tone NOx and 2 billion tone NP are eliminated. NOx is main nitrogen fertilizer and NP is main nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer. Therefore plant growth is retarded. CO2 fix is retarded. CO2 is increasing. Food like grain, fish, and meat production is retarded. DGP increase rate decreased. Global warming and country decline are progressing. If developed countries stop NOx elimination by ammonia and close waste water purification station, global warming will stop and country decline will stop.

Growth and Yield Components of Groundnut (Arachis hypogeal L.) as Affected by Phosphorous Fertilizer Application on the Jos Plateau

The experiment was conducted in Federal College of Forestry demonstration farm Jos, Plateau State to determine the growth and yield components groundnut as affected by phosphorous fertilizer application on the Jos plateau. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising of four treatments (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P ha-1) that were replicated four times on groundnut (SAMNUT 25). Data was collected on germination percentage, plant height, leaf count, number of branches, days to 50% flowering, number of pods/plant, 100 seeds weight, total yield and biomass weight which were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability with Minitab 23. Where significance was declared, Fisher LSD method was used to separate the means. The result reveals that no significant effect was recorded for germination percentage. Highly significant effect of phosphorous was observed on the growth and yield components of groundnut. The highest (34.63 cm) plant height, leaf (100.78) count, number (27.13) of branches, days (27.75 days) to 50% flowering, number (34.50) of pods/plant, 100 seeds (52.08 g) weight, total (2.26tha-1) yield and biomass (5.42 tha-1) weight at the application of 60 kg P ha-1. Thus, groundnut farmers are encouraged to engage in the application of 60kg P ha-1 for optimum growth and yield. Further research on other varieties should be conducted to ascertain the best variety and phosphorous rate for optimum groundnut production in the study area.

Increase of CO2 and NOx Promote CO2 Assimilation, CO2 Fix and Food Production

Since the industrial revolution, burning of fossil increased. Production of CO2 and NOx increased greatly. Increased CO2 and NOx promoted the CO2 assimilation. Production of grain and fish increased. About 360 billion tone CO2 is produced by burning of much fossil. About 14.4 billion tone NOx is produced in 2015. Most of emitted CO2 is fixed by CO2 assimilation. Developed country like USA, Japan, Germany, UK, France and Italy started NOx elimination and NP elimination at around 1980, 6 billion tone NOx is eliminated. NOx is main nitrogen fertilizer. NP in waste water is main nitrogen, phosphorous fertilizer. Therefore CO2 assimilation, CO2 fix plant growth is retarded and emitted 360 billion tone CO2 is not fixed completely. Concentration of CO2 increased about 2 ppm. In 2016, 142 billion tone CO2 is remaining to give global warming. We must promote CO2 assimilation by complete use of NOx and NP in waste water. Fossil fuel is burning out soon. We should not spend precious fossil fuel for the elimination of NOx and NP. We must increase CO2 assimilation as much as possible.