Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Impact of Nitrogenous Fertilizers on Root Porosity and Nitrogen Mineralization Rates in Rice Soil
No full textAims: Our understanding of how different fertilizer sources affect root air space formation and subsequent nitrogen transformation rates in rice soil remains limited. An experiment was conducted in rice fields using the VL Dhan158 cultivar to examine how different nitrogen-based fertilizers affect rice root porosity, nitrogen mineralization rates, nitrification, and nitrifier population size.
Study Design: The study employed a completely randomized block design in triplicate. Experimental plots received either urea, ammonium nitrate, or ammonium chloride at 100-kg N ha-1 in three split doses, of 40 kg N ha-1 soon after planting, followed by 30 kg N ha-1 during both the active tillering and flowering phases. VL Dhan 158 seeds were dibbled (4-6 seeds per hill) into each plot, maintaining 20 cm between rows and 15 cm between hills, with an untreated control for comparison.
Place and Duration of Study: The experimental plots were established in the Jeoli village cluster of the Hawalbag block, lying between the coordinates of 29° 36\u27 and 29° 38\u27 N latitude and 79° 34\u27 and 79° 36\u27 E longitude. This region has a dry tropical climate with pronounced monsoon features.
Results: The control group exhibited the lowest rates of N-mineralization, nitrification, and nitrifier population, followed by urea, NH4NO3, and NH4Cl in ascending order. Conversely, plant growth vigor, grain yield, and root porosity were highest for NH4Cl, followed by NH4NO3, urea, and the control. A significant relationship was found between the population of nitrifying bacteria and the rate of N-mineralization, as well as root biomass and root air space. The various fertilizer sources led to significant differences in aerenchyma tissue development, resulting in varying degrees of rhizosphere aeration. This variation explains the differences in nitrifier populations supported by VL Dhan 158 under different fertilizer treatments and the subsequent variations in soil processes.
Conclusion: The study concludes that fertilizer selection impacts both nitrifier population and their functions. The effectiveness in ranking of fertilizers with respect to present study is ammonium chloride>ammonium nitrate>urea>control. Efficient management and synchronization of soil nitrogen transformation involves selection and application of ecofriendly sustainable fertilizer type that support nitrifying bacteria in rice rhizosphere and soil so that nitrogen is accessible to rice plants during growth and consequently improve the grain yield.
Evaluating Extension Training on Agronomic Technologies for Soil Health and Scaling Impact
No full textSoil health is a fundamental pillar of sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and global food security. In recent decades, agronomic-engineered technologies such as conservation agriculture, precision nutrient management, organic amendments, biochar, microbial inoculants, cover cropping, digital diagnostics, and integrated soil–water management have been developed to restore fertility, enhance nutrient cycling, and improve climate resilience. Yet, successful adoption of these technologies depends not only on their availability but also on farmers’ knowledge, skills, and confidence, which are primarily fostered through educational and training programs. This review evaluates extension-based interventions, including farmer field schools, on-farm demonstrations, ICT platforms, workshops, and blended learning approaches, that serve as the interface between scientific innovations and on-farm practices. The synthesis highlights that program effectiveness hinges on contextualization, intensity, follow-up support, and inclusivity of women, youth, and marginalized groups. Outcomes extend from immediate learning gains to medium-term adoption, measurable improvements in soil organic carbon, nutrient balance, and microbial activity, and longer-term productivity, livelihood, and environmental benefits. Barriers such as institutional limitations, financial constraints, and knowledge dilution hinder scaling, while enablers include public–private partnerships, farmer cooperatives, digital platforms, and incentive schemes. Scaling strategies like hub-and-spoke models and participatory approaches are shown to enhance outreach and sustainability. The review concludes that context-sensitive, participatory, and systematically evaluated training programs are essential to transform technological potential into tangible soil health and socio-economic gains
Effect of Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Salinity Tolerance in Rice
No full textSalinity is a serious problem for soil and water in Bangladesh. It limits normal year round crop production. To reduce this problem, this experiment was conducted in farmers’ field of two sites at south coastal region of Bangladesh for two consecutive years. Six treatments viz., T1: Control (no organic material and chemical fertilizer), T2: 100% recommended chemical fertilizers (NPKS), T3: 2 t ha-1 rice husk biochar + 100% recommended chemical fertilizers (NPKS), T4: 3 t ha-1 poultry manure + chemical fertilizers (NPKS) with IPNS basis, T5: 3 t ha-1 vermicompost + chemical fertilizers (NPKS) with IPNS basis, T6: 3 t ha-1 Mazim organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizers (NPKS) with IPNS basis were used in this experiment. The design of the experiment was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The T. Aman rice (var. BRRI dhan52) was used as test crop. The results revealed that the maximum yield and yield contributing parameters were found in T3 treatment. Results also revealed that all the organic amendments integrated with chemical fertilizers were capable to increase soil fertility level by reducing salinity. Among them, T3 treatment was best because highest organic carbon, total nitrogen, available sulphur, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and lowest electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium of post-harvest soils were found in this treatment. Therefore, integrated use of rice husk biochar and chemical fertilizers could be the better approach for enhancing food security through increasing crop production in southern saline region as well as whole Bangladesh
Impact of Seed Rhizome Size on Growth and Yield of Turmeric
No full textIn India, spices occupy an important place among the agro products exported. Spices are the low volume and high value crop. Spices can improve the palatability and appeal of dull diets and they have anti-bacterial and preservative action. Spices are not only used for culinary purpose, most of the spice crops are used as a medicine as they posses high medicinal value. Curcuma longa known as yellow turmeric (Manjal in Tamil) is an important, sacred and ancient spice of India. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous plant belonging to the family Zingeberaceae. Curcumin is the pigment that lends the bright stunning yellow colour to turmeric which can be used as a dye. Because of its brilliant yellow colour, it is also known as “Indian saffron”. It is a sterile triploid and it is vegetatively propagated by dibbling the seed rhizomes [1]. Rhizome is of two types’ viz., mother rhizomes and finger rhizomes also known as daughter rhizomes. The traditional method of propagation using 15g mother or seed rhizomes. Traditional method requires the seed rate of 2000-2500 kg ha-1 of rhizomes if it is sown as a sole crop. It makes the cultivation expensive for large scale production. The cost of planting material amounts to 50% of crop production in turmeric. Since rhizome multiplication is slow and maintenance of planting material is expensive, there is a need to review the effect of size of seed rhizomes on growth and yield of turmeric to reduce the cost of cultivation
Optimization of Chemical Fertilizer through Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Approach and its Effect on Growth and Yield of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
No full textA field experiment to test the optimization of chemical fertilizer use through Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) approach and its effect on growth and yield of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) was carried out at Rampur agricultural field of Doon (P.G) College of Agriculture Science and Technology, Selaqui, Dehradun, Uttarakhand during the rabi season 2021-2022. The experiment comprised of nine treatments of organic and inorganic nutrient combination, viz T1- Control (No Fertilizer), T2- Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) (80:60:40 kg/ha), T3- 100 % vermicompost (6.0 t/ha), T4- 75% Farm Yard Manure (FYM) (15.0 t/ha) + 25% RDF (20:15:10 kg/ha), T5- 50% RDF (40:30:20 kg/ha) + FYM (5.0 t/ha) + green manure (2.5 t/ha) + gypsum (10.0 kg/ha), T6-50% RDF (40:30:20 kg/ha) + vermicompost (3.0 t/ha)+ gypsum (5.0 kg/ha), T7- 75% RDF (60:45:30 kg/ha) + vermicompost (2.5 t/ha), T8- 75% RDF (60:45:30 kg/ha) + vermicompost (1.5 t/ha) + green manure (1.5 t/ha), T9- 75% RDF (60:45:30 kg/ha) + FYM (1.5 t/ha) + vermicompost (1.0 t/ha) + green manure (1 t/ha) + gypsum (10.0 kg/ha), laid out in randomized block design with three replication. The results of experiment revealed that there was increase in plant growth parameters in the treatment T9, followed by treatment T8 and T5, respectively. Moreover, the maximum seed yield (2240.39 kg/ha) was observed under T9 over control, where no fertilizer application was applied. The present investigation established the fact that integrated use both organic and inorganic fertilizer can be recommended to the farmers as one of the key strategies for enhancing crop response in terms of growth and yield of mustard
Effects of Tillage, Mulching and Site-Specific Nutrient Management on Soil Temperature, Flowering, Bulk Density and Soil Organic Carbon in Wheat
No full textThe effects of tillage, mulching and site-specific nutrient management on soil temperature, flowering, bulk density, and soil organic carbon in wheat” studied during rabi,2021-22, at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The experiment with 24 treatment combinations was laid out in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. The main plot treatments included six different crop establishment methods (conventional tillage without residue, conventional tillage with residue incorporation, zero tillage without residue, zero tillage with residue, permanent raised bed without residue and permanent raised bed with residue retention and sub plot treatments consist of four nutrient management options (STBR, STBR+GS, NE and NE+GS based recommendation). PRB with residue retention has 1-2ºC soil temperature higher up to 70-75 DAS and started to decline after 75 DAS till harvest. Mulching protects the crop from winter and summer stress. Maximum soil organic carbon (SOC) values (0.39%) were noted under ZT+R, which was Higher compared to CT-R after harvest the crop. Soil bulk density (BD) under ZT+R (1.28 g/cm3) was lower as compared to rest of the treatments. Number of days required to 50% flowering was (83.6 DAS) and to 75% flowering was (88.2 DAS) in PRB+R which was on par with other treatments. it was concluded that the combination of maize straw mulch, zero tillage and permanent raised beds were proved fruitful in improving soil thermal properties and soil carbon sequestration
Effect of Organic Manures and Inorganic Fertilizer on Growth and Yield Characters of Lentil
No full textA field experiment was conducted at experimental farm, during Rabi season of 2022-23 to Effect of organic manures and inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield characters of lentil. Seed rate 40-45 kg/ha of Lentil variety „ RLG-5‟ was used in this study. The required quantities of fertilizers as per treatments were applied. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications consisting of nine treatments combinations i.e. T1-Control, 100% RDF (20:40:20:20 N P K S kg/ha), 50% RDF + 5t FYM, 75% RDF + FYM (2.5 t/ha), 50% RDF + Vermicompost (1 t/ha), 75% RDF + Vermicompost (0.5 t/ha), 50% RDF + Poultry manure (1 t/ha), 75% RDF + Poultry manure (0.5 t/ha), 75% RDF + FYM 2.5t + Rhizobium. The increased growth parameter such as plant height (cm), number of branches per plant and dry matter production and yield traits viz., number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight Seed yield (q/ha), straw yield (q/ha) harvest index of 75% RDF + Poultry manure (1 t/ha)
Genetic Assessment of Germplasms for Anaerobic Germination in Rice
No full textThe present study was planned using portray method to screen rice germplasm lines for anaerobic germination (AG) by assessing seedling parameters. Among 266 lines studies, 121 exhibited variable germination % of 100‒17 under AG condition. Germplasm lines viz., RDR 7555, WGL 915, CSR 27, RGP 103, IRTON 103, IET 23993, RGP 60 and MTU NS1 were with highest germination capability (100%). Longest seedling length was recorded in WGL 915 (33.1 cm), RGP 57 (31.8 cm) and CSR 27 (31.2 cm). Seedling vigour index was maximum in lines WGL 915 (3310), RGP 57 (3180) and CSR 27 (3120). Genotypes CSR 27 (22.5 cm), WGL 915 (23.3 cm), RGP 57 (23.1 cm), RGP 103 (21.5 cm) and IRTON 103 (20.7 cm) are possessing highest tolerance to AG conditions with elongated shoot length. Highest root length was recorded in WGL 915 (9.8 cm), CSR 27 (8.7 cm), RGP 57 (8.7 cm), Indursamba (8.5 cm) and RGP 103 (8.1 cm). Highest heritability, genetic advance, PCV and GCV were recorded for seedling vigour index clearly highlights the importance of trait for simple selection. Highest significant positive correlation was observed between the seedling length and seedling vigour index (0.93**) followed by germination % and seedling vigour index (0.88**). Seedling length and germination % are important traits for seedling establishment in direct seeded rice under AG conditions. The 121 Germplasm lines were grouped into four clusters, cluster 3 and 4 has genotypes with above standard germination % (80%), highest seedling length (33.1‒20.3 cm) and high vigour index (3310‒2030). Present day task for plant breeders is to identify rice germplasm lines tolerant for anaerobic germination and to introgress the trait into the superior variety for development of rice pre-breeding lines with tolerance to anaerobic conditions and high yield [1]
Impact of Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators on Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Growth, Yield and Quality
No full textThe present research work conducted to find out the effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on growth, yield, and quality of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under open field condition. The experiment was designed in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The experiment was conducted on Horticulture farm at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University; Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2022 to June 2023. The experimental treatments included three levels of PGR i.e. No PGR, 200 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) and 100 ppm Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and three levels of micronutrients i.e.no micronutrients, 200 ppm Boron and 200 ppm Zn. The treatments had a substantial effect on growth, yield, and quality of Brinjal. GA3 treated plants performed better than NAA and no PGR treated plants and Zn produced higher yields and quality than Boron and no micronutrients treated plants in most of the parameters. Considering treatment combination of PGR and micronutrients, plant height, leaf area (471.33 cm2), SPAD value (52.95), number of flowers plant-1 (65.33), number of fruits plant-1 (58.38), yield plant-1 (3312.8g), lipid (0.35%) were observed highest from the treatment combination of 200 ppm GA3 with 200 ppm Zinc whereas dry weight of whole plant (158.80 g), individual fruit weight (67.33g) and fiber (12.28%) were observed from the treatment combination of 100 ppm NAA with 200 ppm zinc but in case of number of branch (14.00) and Ash (8.44%) were observed from the treatment of 100 ppm NAA application . Maximum parameter showed lowest value under no treatment combination. This study suggests that foliar application of GA3 with micronutrients such as Zinc during flowering stage of eggplant is the most effective strategy for improving the nutritional quality of Brinjal fruits and increasing crop yields, both of which will help to reduce micronutrient malnutrition and hunger worldwide
Precision Fertilization Strategies for Maximizing Jute Yield in Alluvial Soils of Seemanchal Region of Bihar
No full textThis research explores precision fertilization techniques to enhance jute production in Katihar district, Bihar, crucial for small farming households in the Seemanchal region, aiming to replace indiscriminate nitrogen application with the Soil Test Targeted Yield (ST-TY) method, crucial for the economic and environmental value of jute, known as the "golden fiber." Over two years (2019-2020) in the Seemanchal region\u27s Katihar district, an experiment compared Soil Test Targeted Yield (ST-TY) method with traditional practices, revealing minimal impact on soil properties but significant decreases in available nitrogen and phosphorus levels raising concern over nutrient management. Notably, achieving a targeted fiber yield of 32.52 qha-1 through specific fertilizer applications (83:35:19 N:P:K kg/ha) with organic matter consistently outperformed other methods. The method resulted in superior plant growth (385 cm) and fiber production (32.52 q ha-1), yielding the highest net income (96884 Rs ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (3.44), showcasing its economic viability. This underscores the importance of tailored fertilizer strategies and organic materials for enhancing jute cultivation, suggesting broader adoption potential in Seemanchal and beyond