Evaluating the Effects of Sustainable Chemical and Organic Fertilizers with Water Saving Practice on Corn Production and Soil Characteristics

The rapidly growing world population,water shortage,and food security are promising problems for sustainable agriculture.Farmers adopt higher irrigation and fertilizer applications to increase crop production resulting in environmental pollution.This study aimed to identify the long-term effects of intelligent water and fertilizers used in corn yield and soil nutrient status.A series of field experiments were conducted for six years with treatments as:farmer accustomed to fertilization used as control(CON),fertilizer decrement(KF),fertilizer decrement+watersaving irrigation(BMP1);combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer+water-saving irrigation(BMP2),and combined application of controlled-release fertilizer(BMP3).A significant improvement was observed in soil organic matter(14.9%),nitrate nitrogen(106.7%),total phosphorus(23.9%),available phosphorus(26.2%),straw yield(44.8%),and grain yield(54.7%)with BMP2 treatment as compared to CON.The study concludes that integrating chemical and organic fertilizers with water-saving irrigation(BMP2)is a good approach to increasing corn productivity,ensuring water safety and improving soil health.The limitations of the current study include the identification of fertilizer type and its optimum dose,irrigation water type,and geographical position.

Assessment of Nutrient Leaching Losses and Crop Uptake with Organic Fertilization,Water Saving Practices and Reduced Inorganic Fertilizer

The increasing world population has forced excessive chemical fertilizer and irrigation to complete the global food demand,deteriorating the water quality and nutrient losses.Short-term studies do not compile the evidences;therefore,the study aimed to identify the effectiveness of reduced doses of inorganic fertilizer and water-saving practices,hence,a six-year experiment(2015-2020)was conducted in China to address the knowledge gap.The experimental treatments were:farmer accustomed fertilization used as control(525:180:30 kg NPK ha^(-1)),fertilizer decrement(450:150:15 kg NPK ha^(-1)),fertilizer decrement+water-saving irrigation(450:150:15 kg NPK ha^(-1)),application of organic and inorganic fertilizer+water-saving irrigation(375:120:0 kg NPK ha^(-1)+4.5 tones organic fertilizer ha^(-1)),and application of controlled-release fertilizer(80:120:15 kg NPK ha^(-1)).Each treatment was replicated thrice following a randomized complete block design.The results achieved herein showed that control has the highest losses in the six-year study for total nitrogen(225.97 mg L^(-1)),total soluble nitrogen(121.58 mg L^(-1)),nitrate nitrogen(0.93 mg L^(-1)),total phosphorus(0.57 mg L^(-1)),and total soluble phosphorus(0.57 mg L^(-1))respectively.Reduced fertilizer and water application improved crop nutrient uptake,nitrogen concentration was significantly enhanced with organic and inorganic fertilizer+water-saving irrigation,P concentration was increased with fertilizer decrement+water-saving irrigation,and K concentration was improved with fertilizer decrement+water-saving irrigation.Hence,this study concludes that reduced inorganic fertilizer dose combined with water-saving practices is significantly helpful in reducing nutrient leaching losses and improving nutrient uptake and water pollution.Further studies are needed to explore the impacts of reduced fertilization and water-saving irrigation on leaching losses.The benefits at different climatic conditions,soil types,and fertilizer types with application methods are also a research gap.

Apparent variations in nitrogen runoff and its uptake in paddy rice under straw incorporation

Straw incorporation is a widespread practice to promote agricultural sustainability.However,the potential effects of straw incorporation with the prolonged time on nitrogen(N)runoff loss from paddy fields are not well studied.The current study addresses the knowledge gap by assessing the effects of straw incorporation on the processes influencing N runoff patterns and its impacts on crop yield,N uptake,total N(TN),and soil organic matter(SOM).We conducted field experiments with rice(Oryza sativa L.)–wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)rotation,rice–tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum L.)rotation,and double-rice cropping in subtropical China from 2008 to 2012.Each rotation had three N treatments:zero N fertilization(CK),chemical N fertilization(CF),and chemical N fertilization combined with straw incorporation(CFS).The treatment effects were assessed on TN runoff loss,crop yield,N uptake,soil TN stock,and SOM.Results showed that TN runoff was reduced by substituting part of the chemical N fertilizer with straw N in the double rice rotation,while crop N uptake was significantly(P<0.05)decreased due to the lower bioavailability of straw N.In contrast,in both rice–wheat and rice–tobacco rotations,TN runoff in CFS was increased by 0.9–20.2%in the short term when straw N was applied in addition to chemical N,compared to CF.However,TN runoff was reduced by 2.3–19.3%after three years of straw incorporation,suggesting the long-term benefits of straw incorporation on TN loss reduction.Meanwhile,crop N uptake was increased by 0.8–37.3%in the CFS of both rotations.This study demonstrates the challenges in reducing N runoff loss while improving soil fertility by straw incorporation over the short term but highlights the potential of long-term straw incorporation to reduce N loss and improve soil productivity.

Multi-strain Inoculation with PGPR Producing ACC Deaminase is More Effective Than Single-strain Inoculation to Improve Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Growth and Yield

Rhizosphere bacteria that colonize plant roots and confer beneficial effects are referred as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR).Among all PGPR,some rhizobacteria have an ability to produce ACC deaminase enzyme.This enzyme catalyzes stress ACC into a-ketobutyrate and ammonia instead of letting it to be converted to ethylene.Ethylene level rises in plants under stress conditions i.e.,drought,salinity,poor soil fertility etc.As poor soil fertility is a big hurdle to achieve the optimum yield of crops,inoculation of ACC deaminase PGPR can overcome this problem to some extent.The aim of the current study was to examine the influence of multi-strain and single-strain inoculation of different ACC deaminase producing PGPR on wheat growth and yield.There were three PGPR strains,Enterobacter cloacae,Serratia ficaria and Burkholderia phytofirmans which were used as consortia and single-strain inoculations.The results showed that inoculation of E.cloacae+S.ficaria+B.phytofirmans significantly increased plant height(63%),spike length(61%),number of spikelets spike-1(61%),number of grains spike-1(131%),1000 grains weight(33%),grains yield(71%),straw yield(71%)and biological yield(68%)of wheat as compared to control.A significant improvement in N(37 and 200%),P(46 and 166%)and K(39 and 61%)of seeds and shoot respectively,validated the efficacious and more effective role of multi-strain(E.cloacae+S.ficaria+B.phytofirmans)inoculation over control.It is obviously concluded that multi-strain ACC deaminase producing PGPR inoculation is a better approach as compared to single-strain inoculation for the improvement in growth and yield of wheat.

Discrete element method simulation of disc type furrow openers in paddy soil

For granular materials,discrete element modeling is one of the best computer tools to simulate their behavior and interactions.A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of disc furrow openers in paddy soil.Discrete element simulation was done to develop a 3D DEM model for notched,toothed and double disc furrow openers using EDEM software.Hertz Mindlin contact model with bonding was applied for simulation to fulfill the obligations of the soil moisture and bonding between the cohesive particles.Simulated and field experimental data were compared to determine the applicability in the different working conditions.The results of the simulation validated the applicability of the Hertz-Mindlin contact model with bonding to simulate the no till paddy soil using an extremely narrow tillage tool.The calibrated value of normal and shear stiffness was 5×10^(7)N/m,and the calibrated value of bond normal and shear strength was 3×10^(7)Pa.The relative error(-1.7%to 20.6%)for the double disc furrow opener was lower as compared with that notch typed(29.2%to 44.4%)and toothed type(31.5%to 45.9%)furrow openers.