Plots under conservation tillage may require higher amount of potassium(K) application for augmenting productivity due to its stratification in upper soil layers, thereby reducing K supplying capacity in a medium or l...Plots under conservation tillage may require higher amount of potassium(K) application for augmenting productivity due to its stratification in upper soil layers, thereby reducing K supplying capacity in a medium or long-term period. To test this hypothesis, a field experiment was performed in 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 to study the effect of K and several crop rotations on yield, water productivity, carbon sequestration, grain quality, soil K status and economic benefits derived in maize(Zea mays L)/cowpea(Vigna sinensis L.) based cropping system under minimum tillage(MT). All crops recorded higher grain yield with a higher dose of K(120 kg K2 O ha-1) than recommended K(40 kg K2 O ha-1). The five years' average yield data showed that higher K application(120 kg K2 O ha-1) produced 16.4%(P<0.05)more maize equivalent yield. Cowpea based rotation yielded 14.2%(P<0.05) higher production than maize based rotation. The maximum enhancement was found in cowpea-mustard rotation. Relationship between yield and sustainable indices revealed that only agronomic efficiency of fertilizer input was significantly correlated with yield. Similarly, higherdoses of K application not only increased the water use efficiency(WUE) of all crops, but also reduced runoff and soil loss by 16.5% and 15.8% under maize and 23.3% and 19.7% under cowpea cover, respectively. This study also revealed that on an average 16.5% of left over carbon input contributed to soil organic carbon(SOC). Here, cowpea based rotation with the higher K application increased carbon sequestration in soil. Potassium fertilization also significantly improved the nutritional value of harvested grain by increasing the protein content for maize(by 9.5%) and cowpea(by 10.6%). The oil content in mustard increased by 5.0% and 6.0% after maize and cowpea, respectively. Net return also increased with the application of the higher K than recommended K and the trend was similar to yield. Hence, the present study demonstrated the potential yield and profit gains along with resource conservation in the Indian Himalayas due to annual additions of higher amount of K than the recommended dose. The impact of high K application was maximum in the cowpea-mustard rotation.展开更多
Common bean （Phaseolus vulgaris L.） is a staple food and income crop in eastern Africa, especially within the Uganda-Rwanda boarder region where it constitutes a major component of food security. Unfortunately, bush...Common bean （Phaseolus vulgaris L.） is a staple food and income crop in eastern Africa, especially within the Uganda-Rwanda boarder region where it constitutes a major component of food security. Unfortunately, bush beans are severely affected by frequent water-logging which persists over a considerable period of the year. In spite of this, farmers have continued to cultivate bush bean though with miserable yields. The study aimed to identify farmers＇ indigenous coping mechanisms to the climatic predicament, as a foundation for nurturing and subsequently designing appropriate management strategies for improved bean production in the region. A household survey was conducted in Kisoro district, in a location representative of the ecological conditions of Uganda-Rwanda region. 96 respondents were selected randomly at village level from a list of 500 households provided by the extension workers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that farmers possess vital coping mechanisms including construction of ridges, fertiliser application and chemical control of pests and diseases to expedite plant growth, and construction of drainage channels. It is clear that farmers＇ indigenous coping mechanisms need further nurturing and refining to improve their performance in dealing with water-logging crisis in the region.展开更多
Biochar effects on legume growth and biological nitrogen fixation have been studied extensively, mostly in acidic soils with laboratory produced biochar. In the present study, a pot experiment in a full factorial expe...Biochar effects on legume growth and biological nitrogen fixation have been studied extensively, mostly in acidic soils with laboratory produced biochar. In the present study, a pot experiment in a full factorial experimental design was performed to examine soybean yield and nodulation of three genotypes grown with or without biochar and NPK fertilizers in an alkaline soil. We observed synergistic effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer applications on biomass and seed yields for all three soybean genotypes. Total biomass production and seed yield increased on average by 67% and 54%, respectively, with biochar and by 201% and 182% with NPK fertilizer application compared to the control. When applications of biochar and NPK fertilizer were combined, the increases were 391% and367%, respectively. However, the biomass production in the control was very low(692 kg ha-1) due to a high soil p H(8.80). The nodulation increased with biochar and NPK fertilizer applications, and was largest with the combined application. A correlation was found between leaf chlorophyll content(single photon avalanche diode value) and nodule number. We suggested that the synergistic increase in yield was due to a decrease in soil p H caused by biochar and NPK fertilizer applications thereby increasing P availability in this alkaline soil.展开更多
基金funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR),New Delhi
文摘Plots under conservation tillage may require higher amount of potassium(K) application for augmenting productivity due to its stratification in upper soil layers, thereby reducing K supplying capacity in a medium or long-term period. To test this hypothesis, a field experiment was performed in 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 to study the effect of K and several crop rotations on yield, water productivity, carbon sequestration, grain quality, soil K status and economic benefits derived in maize(Zea mays L)/cowpea(Vigna sinensis L.) based cropping system under minimum tillage(MT). All crops recorded higher grain yield with a higher dose of K(120 kg K2 O ha-1) than recommended K(40 kg K2 O ha-1). The five years' average yield data showed that higher K application(120 kg K2 O ha-1) produced 16.4%(P<0.05)more maize equivalent yield. Cowpea based rotation yielded 14.2%(P<0.05) higher production than maize based rotation. The maximum enhancement was found in cowpea-mustard rotation. Relationship between yield and sustainable indices revealed that only agronomic efficiency of fertilizer input was significantly correlated with yield. Similarly, higherdoses of K application not only increased the water use efficiency(WUE) of all crops, but also reduced runoff and soil loss by 16.5% and 15.8% under maize and 23.3% and 19.7% under cowpea cover, respectively. This study also revealed that on an average 16.5% of left over carbon input contributed to soil organic carbon(SOC). Here, cowpea based rotation with the higher K application increased carbon sequestration in soil. Potassium fertilization also significantly improved the nutritional value of harvested grain by increasing the protein content for maize(by 9.5%) and cowpea(by 10.6%). The oil content in mustard increased by 5.0% and 6.0% after maize and cowpea, respectively. Net return also increased with the application of the higher K than recommended K and the trend was similar to yield. Hence, the present study demonstrated the potential yield and profit gains along with resource conservation in the Indian Himalayas due to annual additions of higher amount of K than the recommended dose. The impact of high K application was maximum in the cowpea-mustard rotation.
文摘Common bean （Phaseolus vulgaris L.） is a staple food and income crop in eastern Africa, especially within the Uganda-Rwanda boarder region where it constitutes a major component of food security. Unfortunately, bush beans are severely affected by frequent water-logging which persists over a considerable period of the year. In spite of this, farmers have continued to cultivate bush bean though with miserable yields. The study aimed to identify farmers＇ indigenous coping mechanisms to the climatic predicament, as a foundation for nurturing and subsequently designing appropriate management strategies for improved bean production in the region. A household survey was conducted in Kisoro district, in a location representative of the ecological conditions of Uganda-Rwanda region. 96 respondents were selected randomly at village level from a list of 500 households provided by the extension workers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that farmers possess vital coping mechanisms including construction of ridges, fertiliser application and chemical control of pests and diseases to expedite plant growth, and construction of drainage channels. It is clear that farmers＇ indigenous coping mechanisms need further nurturing and refining to improve their performance in dealing with water-logging crisis in the region.
基金Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU),Bangladesh for funding of project
文摘Biochar effects on legume growth and biological nitrogen fixation have been studied extensively, mostly in acidic soils with laboratory produced biochar. In the present study, a pot experiment in a full factorial experimental design was performed to examine soybean yield and nodulation of three genotypes grown with or without biochar and NPK fertilizers in an alkaline soil. We observed synergistic effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer applications on biomass and seed yields for all three soybean genotypes. Total biomass production and seed yield increased on average by 67% and 54%, respectively, with biochar and by 201% and 182% with NPK fertilizer application compared to the control. When applications of biochar and NPK fertilizer were combined, the increases were 391% and367%, respectively. However, the biomass production in the control was very low(692 kg ha-1) due to a high soil p H(8.80). The nodulation increased with biochar and NPK fertilizer applications, and was largest with the combined application. A correlation was found between leaf chlorophyll content(single photon avalanche diode value) and nodule number. We suggested that the synergistic increase in yield was due to a decrease in soil p H caused by biochar and NPK fertilizer applications thereby increasing P availability in this alkaline soil.
