INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF NP FERTILIZERS CAN BOOST THE GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUS L.)

Nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) are two most important essential nutrients promoting plant growth and yield traits of all crops. NP fertilizers are easy to use and quick in releasing nutrients. A field experiment was conducted at Oilseed section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam to determine the effects of different doses of NP fertilizers on the time of maturity, vegetative growth and yield and yield related traits of sunflower variety HO-1. The six NP fertilizer levels viz. T1 = 0-0 (control), T2 = 80-40, T3 = 100-50, T4 = 150-50, T5 = 120-50 and T6 = 120-75 NP kg ha-1 were set in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results revealed that all the parameters of sunflower were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by different NP fertilizer doses. It was observed that maximum 184.25 (cm) plant height, 6.66 (cm) stem girth, 28.19 (cm) head diameter, 1161.92 seeds head-1, 90.33 (g) seed index and 2172.00 (kg ha-1) seed yield was achieved by applying 150-50 NP fertilizer kg ha-1. It was also noted that 150-50 NP kg ha-1 promoted the sunflower crop to mature early by enhancing vegetate growth. The poor performance for all growth, yield and maturity parameters were observed in the treatment where no NP fertilizer was applied (control). It was concluded that growth and seed yield was increased by increasing the application of NP fertilizers up to 150-50 NP kg ha-1 and thus recommended to get better growth and yield performance of sunflower crop in locality

Effects of NP Fertilizer Placement Depth by Year Interaction on the Number of Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants after Emergence Using the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction Model

Field experiments were carried out at the Department of Agronomy of the Poznań University of Life Sciences to determine the effect of the depth of NP fertilization placement in maize cultivation on the number of plants after emergence. The adopted assumptions were verified based on a six-year field experiment involving four depths of NP fertilizer application (A1—0 cm (broadcast), A2—5 cm (in rows), A3—10 cm (in rows), A4—15 cm (in rows)). The objective of this study was to assess NP fertilizer placement depth, in conjunction with the year, on the number of maize (Zea mays L.) plants after emergence using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. The number of plants after emergence decreased with the depth of NP fertilization in the soil profile, confirming the high dependence of maize on phosphorus and nitrogen availability, as well as greater subsoil loosening during placement. The number of plants after emergence for the experimental NP fertilizer placement depths varied from 7.237 to 8.201 plant m−2 during six years, with an average of 7.687 plant m−2. The 61.51% of variation in the total number of plants after emergence was explained by years differences, 23.21% by differences between NP fertilizer placement depths and 4.68% by NP fertilizer placement depths by years interaction. NP fertilizer placement depth 10 cm (A3) was the most stable (ASV = 1.361) in terms of the number of plants after emergence among the studied NP fertilizer placement depths. Assuming that the maize kernels are placed in the soil at a depth of approx. 5 cm, the fertilizer during starter fertilization should be placed 5 cm to the side and below the kernel. Deeper NP fertilizer application in maize cultivation is not recommended. The condition for the use of agriculture progress, represented by localized fertilization, is the simultaneous recognition of the aspects of yielding physiology of new maize varieties and the assessment of their reaction to deeper seed placement during sowing.

Nitrogen enrichment of animal bone-derived biochars as an agricultural NP-fertilizer

&lt;p&gt;Food processing creates many by-products, and not all of them are used efficiently. Especially animal-based side products are frequently considered as waste with costly disposal requirements. For recycling of the nutrients contained in these residues, also under consideration of the hygienic specifications, pyrolysis can be used to create animal bone-based biochars. A lab-scale pyrolysis reactor (Pyreka 3.0) was used to produce biochars from different bone fractions of cattle and pigs after these bones had originated as waste from abbatoir operations. This study had the objective to investigate the potential of the bone chars to serve as a phosphorus (P) supply for agricultural purposes and to study the ammonium sorption potential of these chars.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The total phosphorus content of bones reached up to 140 mg/g. The water-soluble phosphorus content was in the range of 0.16 &amp;#8211; 0.93 mg/g, an increase in pyrolysis temperature from 350 &amp;#176;C to 500 &amp;#176;C or 650 &amp;#176;C increased the water-soluble content by 13.3 or 12.2 % respectively. The citric acid soluble phosphorus content was between 1.75 &amp;#8211; 2.19 mg/g. After pyrolysis temperatures of 350 &amp;#176;C, slightly more phosphorus dissolved in the coal products than at 500 &amp;#176;C (+2.7 %) and at 650 &amp;#176;C (+5.5 %).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The ammonium sorption capacity of biochars produced by varying pyrolytic processes was investigated by a series of sorption experiments. The removal of ammonium by the biochars from an aqueous ammonium solution was measured by using colorimetric determination of the ammonium content. The maximum ammonium sorption results were achieved by biochars produced from bovine heads and feet respectively at a temperature of 900&amp;#176;C and activated with H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When exposed to a solution containing 50 mg/L of ammonium, these biochars adsorbed 1.23 and 1.14 mg ammonium/g biochar, respectively. The possibility to enrich abattoir waste biochars, which are depleted in nitrogen because of the pyrolysis process, with ammonium gained from a nitrogen-enriched biogas slurry produced from animal residues of the meat production process was tested using a substitute slurry made with ammonium sulfate. The highest absorbance rate using the substitute slurry containing 10 g/L ammonium was achieved by biochar made from bovine heads and resulted in 43.1 mg ammonium/g biochar.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study shows that bone-based biochars enriched with nitrogen from e.g. biogas digestates have significant potential as an NP-fertilizer that supports the strategies of circular economy.&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of soil amendments on selected soil chemical properties and productivity of tef (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) in the highlands of northwest Ethiopia

The lack of sustainable soil fertility management is a critical challenge for crop production in the world. The problem is more serious in the East Gojjam Zone highlands. Integrated use of lime, manure, and chemical fertilizers is considered as a good approach for sustainable crop production on acidic soils. In 2016 and 2017, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of soil amendments on soil fertility and tef productivity in the Gozamin district. Factorial combinations of two rates of lime (0 and 2 t ha−1), two rates of NP fertilizers (0/0 and 46/20 kg N/P ha−1), and three rates of cattle manure (0, 10, and 15 t ha−1) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that applying lime in combination with NP fertilizer and manure significantly improved soil chemical properties. Panicle length, effective tillers, and thousand seeds weight of tef increased from 25.1 to 44.4 cm, 2.8 to 11.3, and 0.23 to 0.37 g, respectively, when 10 t ha−1 manure and recommended NP fertilizer were applied together. The highest tef grain yield of 2.31 t ha−1 and net benefit of 2,252.91 USD ha−1 were obtained from the interaction of 10 t ha−1 cattle manure, 46/20 kg ha−1 N/P fertilizer, and 2 t ha−1 lime. This study recommends the combined application of 2 t ha−1 lime, 10 t ha−1 cattle manure, and 46/20 kg ha−1 N/P fertilizer as an effective amendment to improve soil chemical properties and yield of tef in acidic soils of northwest Ethiopian highlands.

Effects of Potassium Application and Straw Returning on Potassium Management and Benefit of Banana

HighlightsThe effects of potash fertilizer and straw returning on a banana orchard were studied by field experiment.Fertilizer with straw was more conductive to potassium nutrient balance and improved banana yield and quality.The economic benefits of straw replacing different amounts of potassium fertilizer were compared.Abstract. To explore the effects of potash fertilizer and straw returning in banana production, a field experiment was carried out, and four treatments were set up: NP fertilizer (NP), NP fertilizer and banana straw (NP+St), NPK fertilizer (NPK), and NPK fertilizer and banana straw (NPK+St). Through the soil potassium balance, the effects of potash fertilizer and straw returning on the yield, quality, and economic benefits of bananas were studied. The results showed that the application of potash fertilizer and straw could improve banana yields. Compared with the NP treatment, the banana yields of the NP+St, NPK, and NPK+St treatments increased by 17.5%, 50.5%, and 71.6%, respectively. The order of banana yield, potassium balance coefficient, and nutrient accumulation was NPK+St &gt; NP+St &gt; NPK &gt; NP. The NPK+St treatment also improved the recovery rate and agronomic utilization rate of potash fertilizer, which were higher than that of potassium application without straw (NPK) and straw application without potassium (NP+St). Potassium application with straw improved the banana yield, increased the total accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and improved the efficiency of potash fertilizer uptake by the crop. Therefore, this study demonstrates the importance of straw for maintaining the soil potassium balance in banana production. The input cost of potassium fertilizer was reduced, and the resource utilization of banana straw was realized by straw returning, which can be promoted in local agricultural production. Keywords: Banana, Potassium application, Potassium balance, Straw returning, Yield.

Assessment of the impact of NP fertilizer application depth on the rate of initial dry matter accumulation of maize (Zea mays L.)

SummaryA field study was conducted at the Department of Agronomy of Poznań University of Life Sciences to determine the effect of the depth of NP fertilizer application in maize cultivation on the dynamics of initial maize growth, expressed in dry matter of a single plant at two juvenile maize stages. The adopted assumptions were verified on the basis of a four-year field experiment using four depths of NP fertilizer application, two nitrogen fertilizers and two nitrogen dose application dates. Thermal conditions in the early maize growing season had a significant effect on maize response to the depth of application of a phosphorus starting dose. Row fertilization (regardless of the depth of fertilizer application) was more effective than broadcast fertilization at both studied developmental stages.

Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Maize (Zea Mays L.) Yield and Soil Fertility in Andisols of Sidama, Ethiopia

The study was carried out to determine the influence of organic and inorganic fertilizers on maize yield and soil fertility; to determine economically optimum organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations for maize production. The study was performed in a randomized complete block design consisting of 10 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were: Control, 100% of R-NP (138 N and 92 P), 100% of vermicompost,100% of conventional compost, 25% R-NP +75% of vermicompost, 50% of R-NP + 50% of vermicompost, 75% of R-NP+25% of from vermicompost, 25% of R-NP +75% of conventional compost, 50% of R-NP+50% of conventional-compost, 75% of R-NP +25% of conventional-compost. All rates of vermicompost and conventional compost were applied based on N equivalence. Results indicate that applications of inorganic fertilizers with a combination of organic source fertilizers were increases maize yield and yield components and improves the nutrient status of the soil. The highest maize grain yield (7494.3 kg ha-1) and above-ground biomass yield (18718.0 kg ha-1) were obtained from the applications of 50% recommended NP fertilizer plus 50% vermicompost which is based on the recommended N equivalent respectively. Similarly, we found that a combination of both inorganic and organic fertilizers application also is the best strategy to improve major soil nutrients, maintain soil fertility. The economic analysis revealed that the highest net benefit of (108,872.0 ETB ha-1) was obtained from the application of 50% recommended NP fertilizer plus 50% vermicompost based on the recommended N equivalence. Yet, the lowest yield and net benefit value were attained from the control or unfertilized plot. Therefore, this study suggests that an appropriate proportion of organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer not only for higher yield maize production with an assurance of potential economic returns to the small hold farmers but also improve and maintain the soil fertility and should be adopted with similar soil type and agro-ecologies.