Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Enhancing Maize Productivity and Nitrogen Uptake through Integrated Application of Biogas Slurry and Chemical Fertilizers
No full textWith growing population exponentially, food demand also grows rapidly, leading to excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers to ensure food and nutritional security. But presently, serious issues related to long-term soil health, environmental sustainability, and fertilizer-use efficiency arise due to such a non-sustainable strategy. Combination of inorganic fertilizers with organic waste amendment, such as biogas slurry (BS), may present an economically viable strategy to reduce chemical inputs at the cost of no loss of yield. A field experiment was conducted on maize (Zea mays L., var. Pusa Jawahar) to ascertain the impact of biogas slurry (BS), which is a partial substitute for Urea-N, on growth and physiological parameters. T0 Absolute Control, T1: 100% Bio slurry (replacement of Urea-N) + P & K, T2: 75% BS + 25% RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers), T3: 50% BS + 50% RDF, T4: 25% BS + 75% RDF, T5: 100% RDF, T6-25% BS + 75% RDF + microbial consortium, and T7: 25% BS + 75% RDF + chelating agents were the eight treatments used. It was concluded in the study that the treatment T3 which incorporated 50% BS + 50% RDF mix, improved plant height, biomass growth and grain yield in comparison to the other treatments. Further, it is also being found that the T3 treatment not only improves physiological and yield parameters but also increases nutrient utilization efficiency and soil health
Bio stimulants in Ornamental Horticulture: A Review on Growth Promotion, Quality Enhancement, and Eco-friendly Practices
No full textThe significant rise in demand for flowers in recent years due to population growth, improved living standards, and tourism, stimulate the demand for fresh floral arrangements. Conversely, to increase the yield and quality of flowers, the application of synthetic chemicals results in harmful effects on humans and on the environment. Hence, sustainable agricultural practices such as the application of biostimulants are gaining momentum and being adopted. Biostimulants are materials which comprises any substances or microorganisms that, when applied to plants or the rhizosphere, enhance natural processes to improve nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality. Biostimulants are highly beneficial for plants due to their application in various fields of horticulture, which are regarded as eco-friendly and cost-effective commodities. It provides benefits such as increased crop yield, quality and fostering growth and development, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, enhancement of the storage life of flowers and foliage and phytoremediation of various elements. Biostimulants are environmentally safe inputs that lower cultivation costs, particularly in horticultural crops. Their use supports sustainable agriculture in relation with global initiatives promoting eco-friendly and resource-efficient farming practices
Nutrient Use Efficiency in Maize (Zea mays): Response to Organic-Inorganic Phosphorus Substitutions in Western Kenya
No full textAims: The degrading soil fertility and inefficient application of fertilizers limit the production of sustainable maize in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of substituting organic and inorganic phosphorus sources (P) on nutrient uptake and the effectiveness of their use in maize production in western Kenya under varying Agro-ecological conditions.
Study Design: The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with 14 treatments involving the substitution of triple super phosphate (TSP) fertilizer by pressmud (PM) and cattle manure (CM) at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the 30 kg P ha-1 rate, replicated three times.
Place and Duration of Study: Field experiments were conducted at Kibos and Bumula in western Kenya, during the long rain season of 2021.
Methodology: Soils were sampled to determine pH, C, N, P, and K contents. Composted pressmud and cattle manure was also analysed to establish nutrient. Agronomic data, including plant growth, grain and stover yield, were recorded and data analyzed using ANOVA.
Results: Findings showed that the 50% substitution of TSP by both PM and CM, i.e., TSP15 + PM15 and TSP15 + CM15, was superior in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, agronomic efficiency indices (AEN, REN, AEP, REP), and grain yield compared to either organic or inorganic application alone.
Conclusion: The gains in efficiency were site-specific, which depended on soil fertility and climatic variation. Results highlight the potential benefits of using Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) to improve nutrient use efficiency, minimize input inefficiencies, and enhance climate-resilient maize systems. The research paper gives new evidence on the P source integration approaches to sustainable intensification
Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Productivity and Profitability of Betel Vine (Piper betle L.) in the Coastal Region of Odisha
No full textIntegrated Nutrient Management not only ensures efficient nutrient utilisation but also enhances soil organic matter, microbial activity, and long-term ecological stability. Betel vine (Piper betle L.) is a perennial, dioecious, evergreen climber of the family Piperaceae, cultivated primarily for its leaves, which are valued for mastication, medicinal use, and cultural significance across South and Southeast Asia. An on-farm multi-location trial was conducted in three districts of Odisha, namely Ganjam, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur, during Kharif 2021-22 and 2022-23 to evaluate the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the growth and yield of betel vine (Piper betle L.) in the coastal region of Odisha.. The study aimed to identify the most suitable combination of organic and inorganic nutrient sources for optimising vine length, leaf yield, and overall economic benefits. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three treatments and seven replications. Results revealed that the application of 50% NPK (STD), mustard oil cake (MoC) @ 1.5 t/ha, vermicompost (VC) @ 10 t/ha, and a consortia biofertilizer @ 12 kg/ha significantly improved vine length (4.86 m), leaf yield per vine (73.57 leaves), hundred fresh leaf weight (276.52 g), and total leaf yield per hectare per year (1,623,980 leaves). The findings suggest that integrating organic and inorganic fertilisers enhances betel vine productivity while maintaining soil health and sustainability. Based on the findings, it was concluded that betel vine recorded the highest vine length, number of leaves per vine, hundred fresh leaf weight, and leaf yield per hectare per year when treated with an integrated dose of fertiliser based on soil test values, along with mustard oil cake, vermicompost, and consortia biofertilizer
Efficiency of Some Pesticides and Botanicals in Controlling the Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Lemon Trees
No full textThis study was conducted for examine pesticides Oxymatrin and Fenpyroximate, and hot aqueous extracts of Tephrosiasp and Populuseuphratica on the adult and egg stages of the two-spotted red mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), on lemon plant Citrus limonL..As for the findings, chemical pesticide Fenpyroximatewas obviousin reduction T. urticae eggs hatching to 24.72 compared to the pesticide Oxymatrin which recorded a hatching rate of 28.06%. In general, the hatching rate decreased clearly with the effect of increasing the concentration of the pesticide. As for the case of adults, Fenpyroximate also recorded the highest mortality rate of 73.06 compared to the pesticide Oxymatrin which recorded 70.56%. The 3-day period after treatment was the best in the mortality rate of adults compared to the other time periods. The plant extracts also had a clear effect on the eggs and adults of the used mites, as the Tephrosiaweed recorded a higher effect than the P. euphratica extract on the hatching percentage with values of 73.06% and 76.39% respectively. Increasing the concentration of the plant extract to 1.5% led to the highest reduction in the hatching percentage. The mortality rate of adults recorded a clear increase due to the effect of the Hawira extract 47.71% compared to the Gharb grass which recorded 15.00% mortality which increased over the period of time after treatment with significant differences
The Periodic Variation in Iron Availability in Soils Affected by Saline Water Conditions
No full textAn incubation study was carried out at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, AAU, Vaso for 60 days to find out the effect of Fe nanoparticles on periodical availability of iron in soil under saline water condition with different levels of Fe nanoparticle with two types of irrigation water in loamy sand soil. The treatments were repeated thrice adopting CRD factorial (2 factors) design. Irrigation water samples was drawn as per standard protocol and important chemical parameters were analyzed. The 100 g soils were treated in plastic beaker with seven levels of Fe nanoparticle (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 5.0 mg Fe/kg soil) and three level of FeSO4 (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) under saline water condition i.e (i) High saline water (EC > 4dSm-1) and Low saline water (EC < 1dSm-1). The four sampling was done at an interval of time i.e 10, 20, 40 and 60 days after treatment. Each set was completely withdrawn after 10, 20, 40 and 60 days and was analyzed for DTPA-Fe. The DTPA extractable Fe content after 10, 20, 40, 60 days of incubation in soil was significantly decreased due to high saline irrigation water (EC > 4dS m-1) over low saline irrigation water (EC < 1dS m-1). The significantly highest DTPA-Fe content (6.83, 7.58, 8.32 and 8.48 mg kg-1) was recorded at 10, 20, 40 and 60, respectively days after incubation due to 10.0 mg kg-1 soil through FeSO4 application, which was found at par with treatment 5.0 mg Fe kg-1 soil through FeSO4 or Fe nanoparticles. The DTPA-Fe availability adversely affected over the time under high saline irrigation water condition
Comparative Study on Growth, Yield and Economics of Potato Production Propagated through Apical Rooted Cuttings
No full textThis study investigates the comparative growth, yield and economic performance of potato production propagated through apical rooted cuttings (ARCs) in the Northern Transitional Zone of Karnataka. Eight genotypes, including Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Lima and Kufri Sangam, were analyzed for key growth parameters such as plant height, number of primary shoots, number of compound leaves, stem diameter and tuber yield. Results showed that tuber propagation consistently outperformed ARCs, with Kufri Jyoti (tuber) recording the highest plant height (46.82 cm), number of tubers per plant (6.80) and total yield per hectare (16.45 t/ha). Among ARC-propagated genotypes, Kufri Lima performed best, with a yield of 9.56 t/ha. Economic analysis revealed that Kufri Jyoti (tuber) also achieved the highest net returns (₹256,146.72/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.65). While ARCs offer cost savings on seed material, they showed limitations in overall yield and profitability, particularly in genotypes like Kufri Karan. These findings provide crucial insights into optimizing potato production practices
Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield Attributing Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
No full textThe present investigation was carried out to estimate the nature and magnitude of variability parameters and characters associations among 19 genotypes of wheat for 12 characters. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design with 3 replications during rabi, 2022-23 at Research Farm of Genetics and plant breeding AKS University, Stana, (M.P). The Analysis of variance indicated that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes were highly significant for all the traits. Seed Yield per Plant also demonstrated considerable genetic variability (GCV: 17.37%, PCV: 18.60%) with high heritability (87.20%) and a genetic advancement of 14.95, confirming its potential for genetic enhancement. Seed yield per plant is strongly correlated with the number of productive tillers (0.808**), biological yield (0.354**), number of seeds per spike (0.357**), and harvest index (0.327*), making these traits vital for breeding programs focused on yield improvement. Days to 50% flowering positively correlates with plant height (0.590**), number of seeds per spike (0.471**), test weight (0.319**), and harvest index (0.330**), but negatively with days to maturity (-0.428**) and biological yield (-0.378**)
Assessment of Soil Fertility and Crop Suitability of Profiles in Ambach Village, Navsari District, Gujarat
No full textA study assessed the major nutrients, chemical and physical properties of soils in Ambach village, Chikhli taluka, Navsari district, Gujarat, using five profiles from which 26 soil samples were collected up to 100 cm deep. Ambach village lies between 20°73’50” to 20°70’88” North latitude and 73°20’66” to 73°23’71” East longitude, covering a geographical area of 606.06 ha. Soil colors ranged from dark brown (10YR 3/3) to yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) to light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4). Drainage varied from moderately to excessively drained, with textures from silty loam to heavy clay. Most pedons had medium sub-angular blocky structures, with bulk density between 1.25 g cc⁻¹ and 1.72 g cc⁻¹ (mean 1.46 g cc⁻¹) and particle density ranging from 2.09 g cc⁻¹ (PN 1) to 2.58 g cc⁻¹ (PN 4, mean 2.37 g cc⁻¹). Available moisture content was 3.23% to 16.57% (mean 10.57%), while hydraulic conductivity varied from 0.06 cm hr⁻¹ (PN 2) to 8.04 cm hr⁻¹ (PN 4). Soil pH ranged from 6.56 (PN 5) to 8.34 (PN 4), and electrical conductivity (EC1:2.5) was 0.08 dS m⁻¹ (PN 2) to 0.50 dS m⁻¹ (PN 5). The exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) varied from 0.61 to 1.32 (mean 1.01), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranged from 39.86 to 52.49 cmol(p+) kg⁻¹, with base saturation between 82.95% and 97.95% (mean 92.31%). Organic carbon levels ranged from 0.1% (PN 4) to 0.5% (PN 1, PN 2, PN 3). Nitrogen levels varied from 40.1 kg ha⁻¹ (PN 4) to 225.2 kg ha⁻¹ (PN 3, mean 141.0 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus from 6.6 kg ha⁻¹ (PN 4) to 105.4 kg ha⁻¹ (PN 3), and potassium from 227.6 kg ha⁻¹ (PN 4) to 527.2 kg ha⁻¹ (PN 3). Available iron was high except in PN 4, zinc was medium in PN 1 and PN 2, high in PN 3 and PN 5, and low in PN 4, while all pedons showed high levels of available copper. The crop suitability evaluation in the study area indicates that kharif rice is moderately to marginally suitable across different profiles, with profiles 1, 2, 3, and 5 being moderately suitable (S2) and profile 4 being marginally suitable (S3). Sugarcane shows high suitability in profiles 1, 3, and 4 (S1), and moderate suitability in profiles 2 and 5 (S2). Sorghum is highly suitable (S1) across all profiles, while pearl millet is moderately suitable (S2) in profiles 1, 2, 3, and 5, and highly suitable (S1) in profile 4. For mango cultivation, profiles 1, 2, and 4 are moderately suitable (S2), whereas profiles 3 and 5 are highly suitable (S1)
Assessment and Mapping of Soil Nutrient Status Using GPS and GIS Techniques for Sustainable Agriculture in Barpeta District, Assam, India
No full textIn Barpeta District of Assam, agricultural is a major livelihood activity. The region faces annual challenges from floods and erosion, depleting soil nutrients. Additionally, the mono-cropping system of rice further degrades the land. Assessing macro and micro nutrients and mapping the soil nutrient status help develop targeted strategies to replenish nutrient levels, improve farming techniques, and enhance the productivity and resilience of agriculture in Barpeta District. To address these issues and highlight the importance of soil nutrients for sustainable agriculture, soil fertility status maps were prepared using GPS and GIS techniques. For this study, 1,293 georeferenced soil samples were collected at 1 km intervals from 718 villages, covering 11 community development blocks and 9 revenue circles. These samples were analyzed for 9 (pH, OC, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) chemical parameters, and the data, along with GPS readings, were used to create soil fertility maps using GIS. The results revealed that a significant portion of the district was acidic (53.0% of TGA), with 13.0% of the area being slightly to moderately alkaline. Organic carbon (OC) levels were recorded as low, medium, and high in 7.6%, 24.1%, and 42.9% of the area, respectively. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were found to be medium in most areas, while potassium (K) was largely low. Zinc (Zn) was predominantly deficient (47.2% of TGA), while iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were sufficient. Overall, the major nutrient constraints in Barpeta District are soil acidity, available potassium (K), and zinc (Zn). The assessed soil nutrient status can be a valuable tool for local farmers to plan their crops and for agricultural planners to develop large-scale crop improvement strategies and recommend site-specific nutrient management practices. In the future, GIS and GPS-based nutrient management will help monitor soil nutrient status, maintain soil health, and ensure sustainable agricultural production. Also, it will assist in providing soil test crop response-based nutrient recommendations and applying corresponding micronutrients to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity