Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Evaluating the Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on Land Productivity, Crop Residue Decomposition and Abundance of Soil Organisms in a Banana Plantation in Sri Lanka
No full textThe fertilization practices heavily influence the decomposition rate of organic materials added to soil. Hence, the nutrient management strategies that aim to improve crop yields may not necessarily support organic carbon accumulation in soil and overall soil fertility. This study investigated how land productivity, crop residue decomposition and diversity of soil organisms were affected by the combined use of chemical fertilizers (CF) and poultry manure (PM) in a banana plantation in Buttala, Sri Lanka. Banana yield, soil properties and decomposition of crop residues were studied in six treatments as, CF1+PM1, CF1+PM2, CF1+PM3, CF2 +PM1, CF2+PM2, and CF2+PM3. CF1 and CF2 correspond with 75% and 100% of recommended CF application rate. PM1, PM2 and PM3 correspond with PM application rates of 0, 2.5 and 5 kg/plant. Crop residue decomposition was assessed using litter bags containing two litter materials as banana pseudo-stem pieces and banana leaves and placed at two depths (surface and at 7.5 cm depth). Litter bags were recovered at 17, 31 and 45 days after placement (DAP) and weight loss of crop residues was determined. The application of poultry manure significantly increased (P<0.01) banana yield at first harvest and decreased (P<0.1) bulk density. Type of material and time of exposure to decomposition had significant effects (P<0.05) on litter decomposition but depth of placement and nutrient management strategy had no significant effect (P>0.05) on decomposition. By 45 DAP pseudo-stems were degraded more than leaves (67.47±13.99 % and 46.90±5.76 %, respectively). The abundance of culturable bacteria and cellulose decomposers in soil and the abundance of soil fauna in decomposing litter were significantly (P<0.1) increased with the PM application to soil. In conclusion, in the studied banana plantation, incorporation of PM in nutrient management increased land productivity and had positive impact on some soil properties, which are important determinants of soil fertility but did not register any effects on crop residue decomposition during the study period
Effect of Level of Sulphur and Phosphorus on Yield and Quality of Soybean Grown in Inceptisol
No full textThe field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2017 at Post Graduate Research Farm, Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, College of Agriculture Kolhapur, with the view to study the effect of levels of sulphur and phosphorus on yield and quality of soybean grown in inceptisol. The soil of the experimental site was slightly alkaline in reaction, very low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium and deficient in available sulphur. The field experiment was carried out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications and sixteen treatments comprising four levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg ha-1) through elemental sulphur and four levels of phosphorus (0, 75, 100, and 125 kg ha-1) through DAP. The result indicated that the significantly highest grain yield (27.20 q ha-1, 25.04 q ha-1 respectively) was recorded by application of sulphur and phosphorus at 60 kg ha-1 (S4) and 100 kg ha-1 (P3) than rest of the sulphur and the phosphorus levels. The application of (S4, P3) at 60 kg ha-1 and 100 kg P ha-1 showed significantly highest straw yield (38.85 q ha-1, 35.50 q ha-1 respectively) than rest of the combination of sulphur and Phosphorus levels. The quality parameter records highest percent of 1000 grain weight, oil content and oil yield were found in 60 kg S along with 100 kg P ha-1 while the lowest seed yield, 1000 grain weight and oil content were found in control. Therefore, application of 60 kg S with 100 kg P appeared as the promising practice for obtaining higher seed yield and better quality of Soybean
Nutrient Uptake Patterns and Soil Fertility Assessment in Diverse Crop Rotations under Irrigated Dry Conditions in Telangana, India
No full textAn experiment was conducted during the 2023-24 kharif and rabi seasons at the College Farm, AICRP on the IFS unit, PJTSAU, Hyderabad. To develop efficient cropping systems for the Telangana region, it is essential to evaluate them based on productivity, nutrient uptake and economic viability. This study assessed various cropping sequences with regard to nutrient absorption and soil fertility status specific to Telangana and the findings were presented here. The rice-maize cropping system demonstrated higher nutrient uptake, resulting in a higher rice grain equivalent yield compared to Bt cotton under region-specific system. The Bt cotton + greengram (1:2) - sesame cropping system exhibited significantly higher nutrient uptake compared to the pigeonpea + foxtail millet (2:5) - sweet corn, making it more effective for sustaining long-term soil health. Among the crops cultivated for family nutritional security, the fingermillet – groundnut demonstrated significantly higher nutrient uptake compared to the pigeonpea + sorghum (2:3) - sesame. The nutrient uptake in the fodder bajra - lucerne system was higher than that in the fodder sorghum - fodder oats system when comparing the two fodder cropping systems. It has been observed that fodder systems required a greater amount of nutrients for their growth and development compared to other cropping systems
Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Erosion using USLE and Sustainable Management Strategies
No full textContinuous soil erosion from all parts of world through water and winds have become a severe concerns for soil scientists and geologists due to its adverse effect on soil productivity, water bodies siltation and deterioration of water quality. Therefore, it becomes most important to locate erosion-prone regions of any landscape and take the best measures to solve the issues of erosion. USLE and its modified models i.e. RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) versions and MUSLE (Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation) are most commonly used for estimation of soil erosion. In India, soil erosion is a major serious concern which varies in its intensity depending on the country\u27s different agro-climatic zones. USLE as well known model for evaluating soil deterioration is used in this review to provide an understanding of its parameters and how this approach is useful in soil erosion assessment. In addition, an overview of the current situation of erosion status in India which is being altered by regional variations like climate and land uses. Literature also dictates and discusses the potential advantages of better erosion control approaches, such as increased agricultural output and long-term land sustainability and looks at what might be possible in the future if the things get managed. The study also looks at crop selection and land use systems, emphasizing how crucial it is to choose crops that are suitable for the land vulnerability to erosion in order to prevent the further deterioration. Lastly, it emphasize on a thorough explanation of the USLE\u27s parameters which are essential for precise erosion prediction including slope factors, soil erodibility, rainfall erosivity and conservation techniques. The study summarizes the knowledge on soil erosion in India and the necessity of customized, area-specific soil conservation plans to guarantee long-term agricultural outputs and sustainable agricultural goals
Effect of Nutrient Management and Mulching on Growth Parameters, Yield Attributes and Yield of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Emend Stuntz] in Western Region of India
No full textAim: To assessed the effect of nutrient management and mulching on growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of pearl millet. Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive year 2021 and 2022 at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan).
Study Design and Methodology: The 16 treatment combinations consist different nutrients and mulching sources with replicated four times and laid out in split plot design. Various plant growth parameters, yield attributes and yield were recorded with standard procedures.
Results: Results showed that Mustard straw mulch @ 2.5 t/ha gave significantly higher growth parameters (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant and chlorophyll content), yield attributes (number of effective tillers per metre row length, ear head length, ear head diameter, weight of grains per ear and number of grains per ear) leading to increased grain yield (1930 kg/ha), stover yield (3748 kg/ha) and biological yield (5678 kg/ha) over control on pooled data basis. Results showed that Liquid Azospirillium gave significantly higher growth parameters (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant and chlorophyll content), yield attributes (number of effective tillers per metre row length, ear head length, ear head diameter, weight of grains per ear and number of grains per ear) leading to increased grain yield (1954 kg/ha), stover yield (3742 kg/ha) and biological yield (5697 kg/ha) over control on pooled data basis. Results further indicated that among nitrogen management practices 50% RDN through urea + 0.2% foliar spray of nano urea at 30 DAS proved significantly superior for growth parameters (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant and chlorophyll content), yield attributes (number of effective tillers per metre row length, ear head length, ear head diameter, weight of grains per ear, number of grains per ear and test weight) and grain yield (1919 kg/ha), stover yield (3742 kg/ha), biological yield (5661 kg/ha) over control and remained at par with treatment RDN through urea and 0.2% foliar spray of nano urea on mean pooled data basis. Among all the treatments, 50% RDN through urea + 0.2% foliar spray of nano urea at 30 DAS, Mustard straw mulch @ 2.5 t/ha and Liquid Azospirillium are fond best with respect to growth parameters, yield attributes and yield
Quantifying Response of Sesame (Sesame indicum L.) to Dose and Time of Nitrogen Application Under Irrigated Condition
No full textAim: To determine the optimum dose and time of nitrogen application in sesame in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
Study Design: Split plot design.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agronomy, Agricultural Research Station, Utukur, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India and duration of study was three years (2020-21 to 2022-23).
Methodology: The treatments included four levels of nitrogen as main plot viz., N1: 40, N2: 60, N3: 80 and N4: 100 kg/ha and time of nitrogen application viz., T1: 50 kg as basal and 50 kg at 30 DAS, T2: 25 kg as basal and 75 kg at 30 DAS, T3: 25 kg as basal, 37.5 kg at 20 and 37.5 kg at 40 DAS and T4: No basal, 50 kg at 20 and 50 kg at 40 DAS as sub plot, which were laid out in split plot design with three replications.
Results: The results revealed that significantly the higher plant height at maturity, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and seed yield were recorded with application of 100 kg N/ha which was at par with 80 kg N/ha. However, the application of 100 kg N/ha nitrogen as 25 kg in basal, 37.5 kg at 20 and 37.5 kg at 40 DAS (T3) recorded higher plant height at maturity, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and seed yield and was at par with 50 kg as basal and 50 kg at 30 DAS (T1) in all three years of study. Whereas, test weight of sesame was not significantly influenced by levels of nitrogen and time of nitrogen application.
Conclusion: Application of 80 kg N/ha could be considered as an optimum dose of nitrogen in contrast to the present recommended dose of 40 kg N/ha which has a yield advantage of 11.5 % over 100 % RDF
Comparison of Crop Area Estimation for the Winter Season Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) Platform and Traditional Method of Supervisor Classification
No full textThere is a significant development in the methods and techniques for classifying satellite images during these years. One of the most recently launched methods is using the Google Earth Engine platform for its contribution in providing a huge amount of satellite data with different dates and multiple satellite images sources, with a method of work that is easy to deal with, but it needed to learn the computer language such as Java and Python, which is the method of work depends on writing a script that gives application commands to classify the different satellite image. Therefore, this research aims to apply classification of satellite images using the Google Earth Engine platform for three models Classification and Regression Trees (CART), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF), then compare the results calculated from using images classification (Supervised classification: Maximum likelihood) in terms of the degree of accuracy of the classification and matching the results of the classified satellite images in addition. to boundary clarify of the classification methods. This study showed that, using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform is considered one of the important methods that facilitated researchers interested in using remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems, due to the availability of this platform of free satellite sources with multiple spatial resolutions, in addition to the presence of a powerful system that collects, processes, and classifies satellite images using different classification models and indexes. But we need to apply these modern techniques at a number of levels, such as at Markas, Governorates, International, and regional levels, to judge their accuracy and suitability for large areas
Influence of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Bulb Yield and Yield-Related Attributes of Onion (Allium cepa L.) in Fogera Area, Northwest Ethiopia
No full textAim: Onion is one of the most important vegetable crops grown under irrigation in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. However, its productivity is affected by sub-optimal fertilization. The present research was conducted to investigate the response and economic returns of onion to N and P fertilizers application under irrigation.
Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design in Factorial Arrangement with three replications.
Place and Duration of the Study: The research was conducted in 2020 and 2021 in the Fogera area of Northwest Ethiopia.
Methodology: Four levels of N (0, 46, 92, and 138 kg N ha-1) and three levels of P (0, 46, and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1) were factorially combined and laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications.
Results: The results showed that the yield and yield components of onion were significantly affected by the main effects of N. However, the main effects of P and its interaction with N did not significantly influence the growth and yield of onion. The highest plant height, number of leaves per plant, bulb girth and marketable bulb yield were recorded from the application of N138 statistically at par with N92. The maximum net economic return was obtained from the application of N138.
Conclusion: Application of 138 kg N ha-1 was the economic optimum rate for maximum bulb yield of onion in the study area. Further investigation on the response of onion to P is recommended
Phenotyping in Rye Landrace and Regeneration Frequency Study in Wheat × Rye F1 Hybrid Seeds
No full textThe present research aimed to study the phenotyping characterization of a high-altitude Himalayan rye landrace and its crossability with wheat genotypes and investigate the regeneration frequency of wheat × rye F1 hybrid seeds. The study was conducted during the rabi season of 2022-2023 at the Agriculture Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. The phenotypic characterization of the Himalayan rye landrace revealed several adaptive traits that were found suitable for cultivation in the northwest Indo-Gangetic plains. Furthermore, the study investigated the crossability of the Himalayan rye landrace with various wheat genotypes, including 4 genotypes of bread wheat HD2967, UNNAT 343, WH1105, and PBW502 and 4 genotypes of durum wheat PDW291, PDW274, PBW34, and WHD943. Among the germination percentage of all 8 genotypes, 4 in Bread wheat and 4 in Durum wheat was observed. Due to its self-incompatibility, Rye cannot be used to develop inbred lines directly. However, the doubled haploid approach can produce inbred lines in the rye, facilitating the extension of genetic bases and introducing alien chromatin to identify stress tolerances
Drivers of Gully Erosion and its Socio-economic and Environmental Effects in a Tropical Semi-arid Environment
No full textGully erosion is a form of severe land degradation, which is more pronounced in semi-arid and arid environments due to their vulnerable ecosystems. Establishing the causes and effects of gully erosion is therefore fundamental in policy formulation and resource allocation for up-scaling context-specific gully mitigation and rehabilitation measures. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the causes and effects of gully erosion in semi-arid region, in the North-West part of Kenya. A cross-sectional survey, field measurements, laboratory analysis, focus group discussions and key informants’ interviews were used to collect data on drivers and effects of gully erosion. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the data. From the findings, 60 % of the respondents reported deforestation as the main driver of gully erosion. Further, 37 and 34 % of the respondents reported surface runoff and steep slopes, respectively, as major drivers of gully erosion. Soils in the region had a high dispersion ratio, with values of between 0.3 and 0.9, making them highly erodible. About 66 and 55 % of the respondents reported that the major effects of gully erosion were reduction in arable land size and death of livestock due to fatal falls, respectively. Approximately 14 ha of arable land and 1,483,600 Mg of sediment have been lost to gully erosion at the rate of about 2,410 Mg ha-1 over a period of 45 years. The average growth rate and density of gullies in the study site stood at 154 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and 0.7 km km-2, respectively. Four people and about 100 cattle had died due to fatal falls into the deep gullies. Thus, there is an urgent need to rehabilitate existing gullies while mitigating occurrence of new gullies in the study area. This would convert existing badlands into hotspots of biodiversity