Effect of Balanced Application of Potash Fertilizer on the Yield of Rice Yongyou 15 and Soil Nutrient Content

By the field experiment,we set up the treatments of non-application of potash fertilizer,conventional fertilization,balanced fertilization and halved application of potash fertilizer,and studied the effect of different treatments on rice yield and soil nutrient content. The results showed that compared with non-application of potash fertilizer,conventional fertilization and balanced fertilization significantly increased the spike length,thousand kernel weight,yield and total potassium content of the stalk,as well as soil organic matter,total nitrogen and available phosphorus content; compared with conventional fertilization,the balanced fertilization did not significantly increase the rice growth and yield,but effectively increased rice grain total nitrogen,stalk total nitrogen and total phosphorus content,as well as soil available phosphorus and available potassium content. It could be found that potash fertilizer played a certain role in increasing rice yield and soil nutrient content,and the balanced fertilization had the most significant effect.

Effects of Grape Balanced Nutrition Fertilizer on Yield and Quality of Wine Grapes

In this study,the wine grapes balanced nutrient fertilizer(BNF)was designed according to the wine grape nutritional requirements in different growth stages,and objected to reduce fertilizer application rate of wine grape cultivation,improve fertilizer utilization rate,achieve stable yield and improve the quality of wine grapes.The experiment was carried out at the Great Wall Sanggan Winery,and the Aristocratic Winery.The experiment was designed with two treatments:Namely BNF treatment,and the traditional fertilization(CK).We investigated the effects of BNF on the quality of wine grapes by examining the plant traits of wine grapes in different experimental areas during the growing season,the fruit traits at maturity,and determined the contents of VC,organic acids,amino acids,flavonoids,soluble total sugars,soluble solids,tannins,total phenols and catechins.The results show that:①The application of grape BNF greatly reduced the application amount of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium,while the vine had no fertilizer deficiency phenomenon;②It increased the single fruit weight,the ear weight and yield to varying degrees,and the yield increase range was between 12% and 41%;③The wine grapes with BNF had the following characteristics:tight infructescence,even color,small fruit less,no fruit dropped,strong fruit colloid feeling,better aroma and taste;④It greatly improved the quality of wine grapes,and increased the content of soluble solids,soluble total sugar,organic acids,VC,total phenols,flavonoids,amino acids and tannins in fruits;⑤It greatly increased the total catechin content of"Riesling"and"Syrah",and had no significant effects on the catechin content of"Merlot"and"Cabernet Sauvignon".In summary,the application of grape BNF has certain practical significance for guiding the production of local wine grapes,ensuring the yield while improving the quality,increasing the income and reducing the environmental pollution caused by excessive fertilization.

Response of Tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i>(Zucc.) Trotter) to Balanced Fertilizer in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Tef is grown as an important domestic cereal in Ethiopia. Currently, global attention is given for it particularly as a “health food” due to the absence of gluten and gluten like proteins in its grains. Regardless of its wider adaptation, productivity of tef is low in the country with the national average grain yield of 1.379 tons·ha-1. This is mainly because of low soil fertility and severe organic matter depletion intensified by low rate of chemical fertilizer application. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of balanced fertilizers on the yield, yield components of tef and to determine economic feasibility for tef production in Wolaita. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with sixteen treatments replicated three times. The treatments consist of factorial combinations of four rates of K (Potassium) (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg/ha) and four rates of NPSB (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Boron) (0, 50, 100, 200 kg/ha) fertilizers. Fertilizer types such as urea (46-0-0), NPSB (18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1) and K (0-0-60) were used as a source of nutrients. The soil analysis result indicated that, most of the nutrients are below optimum level to support the potential crop production. This may be related with reduced farm management practices and continuous cropping with little or no fertilizers input. In this study, it was found that, the combined application of NPSB and K fertilizers had a significant effect on growth, yield and yield components of tef. Among the treatments studied, NPSB (100 Kg/ha) and K (50 Kg/ha) gave greater grain yield. Furthermore, this treatment enhanced growth and yield related parameters compared to the control treatment. Thus, it is conceivable to recommend each to attain greater grain yield of tef in the study area. However, it is desirable to undertake further research across soil type, years and locations to appeal comprehensive recommendation on a wider scale.

Economically Optimal Rates and Nutrients Use Efficiency Indices of Maize to the Application of Different Rates of Nutrients in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The use of balanced fertilizers in adequate amount is very important to increase crop productivity and production in Ethiopia. The study was executed to quantify maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield response to different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) under balanced fertilization of other nutrients. On farm trials were conducted at seven sites on 8 farmers’ fields in Negele Arsi districts, west Arsi zone of Oromia region for three consecutive cropping seasons (2014-2016). Six rates of N, P, S and eight rates of K treatments established separately for each nutrient were laid out in randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replicates per farm. Nutrient response function modelling showed that 184, 20 and 80 kg•ha−1 were the agronomic optimum rate for N, P, and K, respectively. Mean agronomic efficiency (AE) of N, P and K were recorded at the lower rates of these nutrients, application of 46, 10 and 20 kg•ha−1 N, P and K resulted in 19.1, 61.0, and 24 kg additional grain yield•kg−1 N, P and K, respectively. Also, the mean partial factor productivity (PFP) of N, P and K were 77.6, 370 and 158 kg additional grain•kg−1 applied N, P and K respectively. Economically optimal rate (EOR) of N, P and K were 48 - 114 kg•ha−1 N with CP 8 - 3.5, 12 - 20 kg•ha−1 P with CP 18 - 4.5 and 32 - 53 kg•ha−1 K with CP 8-4, from these rates net returns of US$487.23 - 143.30, US$698.16 - 498.3 and US$359.31 - 193.63 could be obtained respectively. To conclude, application of 84, 12 and 40 kg•ha−1 N, P and K could be recommended for the production of maize.

Long-term fertilization and residue return affect soil stoichiometry characteristics and labile soil organic matter fractions

Ecological stoichiometry provides the possibility for linking microbial dynamics with soil carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)metabolisms in response to agricultural nutrient management.To determine the roles of fertilization and residue return with respect to ecological stoichiometry,we collected soil samples from a 30-year field experiment on residue return(maize straw)at rates of 0,2.5,and 5.0 Mg ha^-1 in combination with 8 fertilization treatments:no fertilizer(F0),N fertilizer,P fertilizer,potassium(K)fertilizer,N and P(NP)fertilizers,N and K(NK)fertilizers,P and K(PK)fertilizers,and N,P,and K(NPK)fertilizers.We measured soil organic C(SOC),total N and P,microbial biomass C,N,and P,water-soluble organic C and N,KMnO4-oxidizabIe C(KMnO4-C),and carbon management index(CMI).Compared with the control(F0 treatment without residue return),fertilization and residue return significantly increased the KMn〇4-C content and CMI.Furthermore,compared with the control,residue return significantly increased the SOC content.Moreover,the NPK treatment with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 significantly enhanced the C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios in the soil,whereas it significantly decreased the C:N and C:P ratios in soil microbial biomass.Therefore,NPK fertilizer application combined with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 could enhance the SOC content through the stoichiometric plasticity of microorganisms.Residue return and fertilization increased the soil C pools by directly modifying the microbial stoichiometry of the biomass that was C limited.