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This study was conducted to evaluate effects of organic fertilizers on micronutrients status of soil and yield of sesame. Research was performed in split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments included animal manure as main factor at three levels (0, 10, and 20 t ha−1) and application of green manures as sub factor at four levels (no green manure, Berseem clover, Fenugreek, and Vicia villosa). The results showed by application of animal manure, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and ferrous (Fe) contents in the treatment of 20 t ha−1 of animal manure were about 27, 22, 7.5, and 6% higher than the control treatment, respectively. The soil analysis showed in the post-harvesting stage of sesame 2.7% Cu and 29% Zn were stored in the soil. While the amounts of Fe 11% and Mn 71% in the soil were less than pre-planting of sesame. In general, fenugreek green manure application increased the amounts of micronutrients of soil more than the other green manures and animal manure individually. The highest total dry weight (10720.0 kg ha−1), grain yield (1929.4 kg ha−1) and oil yield (946.8 kg ha−1) were observed in the 20 t ha−1 of animal manure and Fenugreek of green manure treatments, which were about 44, 52 and 50% higher than the non-application of animal and green manures treatments, respectively. In general, the application of organic manures increased sesame yield by improving the physico-chemical properties and the amount of soil micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize, being a nutrient exhaustive crop and also grown as a monocrop season after season, is leading to drastic deterioration of the soil fertility status. Hence green manure legumes initially grown in situ and later incorporated before flowering stage into the soil will help to rejuvenate the soil health. An experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram for three consecutive years during kharif 2015, 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the effect of green manures on soil health, nutrient bioavailability and yield attributes of the succeeding maize crop. Three green manure legumes viz., sunhemp, dhaincha and green gram were grown in situ and incorporated into the soil before sowing of the maize crop in the respective treatments and different doses of fertilizer levels were applied to study the cumulative effect of green manures and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield attributes, economics and nutrient uptake of succeeding maize. Pooled data of all three years proved that the grain and straw yield was found to be the highest in the treatment of in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF (65.2 q/ha and 74.0 q/ha). Moreover, the soil available nitrogen was also found highest in the same treatment (230 kg/ha), whereas the available P2O5 (73 kg/ha) and K2O (318 kg/ha) was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of sunhemp with 100% RDF, but these treatments are at par with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 75% RDF. The soil available Fe was found high in the treatment with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF (12.98 ppm), whereas soil available Mn was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of sunhemp with 100% RDF (12.43 ppm) but at par with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF and in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 75% RDF. The N and K uptake by maize plant was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF (110.0 kg/ha and 87.5 kg/ha) whereas the uptake of P was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of sunhemp with 100% RDF (39.1 kg/ha), but both the treatments are at par with each other in the uptake of N, P and K nutrients and significantly higher than sole crop of maize with 100% RDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient nutrient and water use are two important considerations to obtain good harvests of wheat. This necessitates the development of an effective nutrient management technique that not only increases yield, but simultaneously can save nutrient and water use. In this context, a field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India to evaluate the residual effect of sesbania and rice bean (in-situ), subabul (ex-situ) green manuring and Zinc (Zn) fertilization, using chelated Zn-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Zn-EDTA) on nutrient use, yields and water productivity of wheat under rice–wheat cropping system. Among residual effects of green manure crops and Zn fertilization, sesbania and foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at 20, 40, 60 and 80 days after sowing (DAS) recorded significantly higher nutrient content and uptake and yields than other green manure crops and Zn treatments. Residual effect of sesbania saved about 46.5 × 103 and 30.5 × 103 L irrigation water per tonne of wheat over subabul and rice bean, respectively. Foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at 20, 40, 60 and 80 DAS saved about 55.5 × 103, 47 × 103 and 13 × 103 L irrigation water per tonne wheat over residual effect of 5 kg Zn ha−1 through chelated Zn-EDTA as soil application, 2.5 kg Zn ha−1 through chelated Zn-EDTA as soil application + 1 foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at flowering and foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at active tillering + flowering + grain filling, respectively. Correlation analysis showed positive correlation between Zn uptake and grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate the nitrogen transfer, the yield and the nutrient contents of organic cherry tomatoes intercropped with legumes in two successive years. The randomized block experimental design was used with eight treatments and five replicates, as follows: two controls with single cherry tomato crop (with and without corn straw cover); cherry tomato intercropped with jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis DC); white lupine (Lupinus albus L.); sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.); velvet bean-dwarf [(Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merrill)]; mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). The number of total fruits, the weight of total fruit and an average weight of the total fruit in the first year was 25%, 33% and 13% higher than the second-year, respectively. The lower N-content of cherry tomato leaves in the treatment with mung bean can be reflected of lower %N transfer of cherry tomato leaves in the same treatment compared to treatment with cowpea bean. The N-content and %N transfer of cherry tomato leaves was 50 and 42% higher in year 1 than in year 2, successively. Nevertheless, in general, the legumes used in this study contributed equally in the N transfer to the cherry tomato plants. The P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn content in the leaf and shoot were no difference between the treatments. However, the Mg, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn content of the leaf were higher in year 2 than year 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern rice cultivation relies on chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer that ultimately degrades soil health and creates environmental pollution. The increasing concerns about environmental pollution, restoring soil health, and conservation of energy, public attention is now towards green manures as supplement for N fertilizer. Sesbania rostrata is a popular leguminous green manuring crop that fixes atmospheric N2, improves soil health, and rice productivity through incorporation of its biomass in to soil. About 40–60 days plants provide 5–6 tons dry biomass that can supplement 50–100% N requirement. In world, it is adapted as pre-rice or post-rice green manuring crop. Long-term use of S. rostrata improves soil health and increased rice yield by 9–11% over chemical fertilizer. Use of S. rostrata in large scale for rice production can reduce environmental pollution problems as it can cut down chemical N requirement and thus reduction dispersal of Nr to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed data from a long-term rice-wheat cropping sequence to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) on yield trends and sustainability, nutrient balance and soil fertility of the system. After 30th cycle, grain yield of both the crops significantly declined under control and highest rice and wheat grain yields were obtained when 50% N supplied through green manure and farm yard manure, respectively. The magnitude of yield slope under INM was found considerably higher than 100% recommended fertilizer (RDF). Sustainable yield index (SYI) for both the crops were found lower in control but considerably higher with the 100% RDF and under INM. The soils under all the treatments suffered an apparent loss of K and N (except where organics replacing 50% N). Correlation study also reveals K is the sole factor for the yield sustainability as apparent K balance was negatively correlated with SYI and yield slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted for two consecutive years on basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) during summer and rainy seasons (April–November) of 2009 and 2010 in a sandy clay-loam soil (typic Ustochrept) at the research farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of zinc fertilizer sources [ethylenediamenetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-chelated zinc (Zn; 12% Zn), zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4.7H2O; 21% Zn), zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZnSO4.H2O; 33% Zn), zinc oxide (ZnO; 82% Zn), and ZnSO4.7H2O + ZnO (50% + 50%)] and summer green manuring crops [Sesbania aculeata, Crotalaria juncea and Vigna unguiculata] on productivity, Zn-uptake and economics of basmati rice. Among the summer green manuring crops, Sesbania aculeata accumulated highest amount of total dry matter, 5.46 and 5.77 t ha−1 during 2009 and 2010, respectively. Incorporation of Sesbania aculeata also led to a significant increase in grain, straw and biological yields, Zn content and uptake and economics of succeeding basmati rice. With the incorporation of Sesbania aculeata, grain and straw yields of basmati rice was 4.89, 5.56 and 9.04, 10.21 t−1 ha during 2009 and 2010, respectively. Among the Zn fertilizer sources, EDTA-chelated Zn (12% Zn) was found to be the best with respect to grain, straw, and biological yields, Zn content and uptake and economics. Application of EDTA-chelated Zn (12% Zn) recorded the highest basmati rice grain (5.15 and 5.76 t ha−1) and straw yields (9.30 and 10.48 t ha−1) compared to control (no Zn application), which produced 4.09 and 4.75 t ha−1 of grain and 8.13 and 9.39 t ha−1 of straw yields, respectively, during 2009 and 2010. Highest Zn concentration in grain and straw and its uptake was recorded with Sesbania aculeata incorporation compared with Crotalaria juncea, Vigna unguiculata and summer fallow. Highest total Zn uptake in basmati rice was recorded with EDTA-chelated Zn (12% Zn) application, followed by ZnSO4.7H2O (21% Zn), ZnSO4.H2O (33% Zn), ZnSO4.7H2O + ZnO (50% + 50%), ZnO (82% Zn), and control (no Zn application). Sesbania aculeata incorporation and EDTA-chelated Zn (12% Zn) treatments were found a better combination with respect to basmati rice productivity. The best economical returns were obtained with Sesbania aculeata incorporation and ZnSO4.7H2O (21% Zn) combination. Thus, adequate Zn fertilization along with green manure crop incorporation can lead to higher productivity of basmati rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-year field experiment was carried out to study the effects of green manure application on the soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and soil enzyme activities in order to provide a theoretical basis on low-carbon agriculture, environment-friendly agriculture and promote the sustainable development of tobacco production. Six treatments were set and were: check (CK) (contrast, no application of green manure), T1 (application of ryegrass only 1 year), T2 (application of ryegrass 2 years), T3 (application of oats 2 years), T4 (application of ryegrass 3 years), and T5 (application of oats 3 years), which was based on continuous planting oats and ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum L.)in our experiment. The results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and the activity of soil urease, acid phosphatase (ACP), sucrase, and catalase increased with each year and with the application of green manure. Compared with the control, after the application of green manure the content of soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen increased 1.94%–93.07% and 2.30%–145.07%, respectively, and the activity of soil urease, ACP, sucrase, and catalase increased 1.45%–56.52%, 2.34%–33.17%, 0.96%–172.66%, and 3.33%–85.71%, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that soil microbial biomass carbon and soil enzymes activity had certain relevance that showed the dynamic process of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity were coordinate with the decomposition process of green manure and the absorption of mine nutritional to tobacco plant. The results demonstrate that continuous application of green manure could increase soil biological fertility level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zinc (Zn) requirements of subterranean clover (Trifolium subteraneaum L.) are well known for the predominantly marginally acidic to neutral sandy soils of southwestern Australia, but the Zn requirements of French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.) and biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.), now also grown on these soils, is not known and were investigated in a glasshouse pot experiment. Soil was collected from field plots never treated with Zn or treated once only with 0.5 and 1.0 kg Zn/ha as Zn oxide either in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, or 2000. In the pot experiment, six levels of Zn were freshly-applied to samples of soil collected from each Zn treatment of the field experiment, and pots were sown either with subterranean clover cv. 'Dalkeith', French serradella cv. 'Margurita', or biserrula cv. 'Casbah'. The pasture species were defoliated by cutting pasture herbage 3 cm above the soil surface for up to 4 consecutive defoliations. The approximate linear relationship between the level of freshly-applied Zn in the pot experiment required to produce 90% of the maximum yield of dried defoliated herbage (y-axis) and the number of years since Zn was applied in the field (x-axis) was used to project the number of years it took for the 0.5 or 1.0 kg Zn/ha treatments applied in the field to require the same level of freshly-applied Zn to produce 90% of the maximum yield of the nil-Zn treatment in the field. This was 18-19 years for the 0.5 kg Zn/ha treatment and 32-35 years for the 1.0 kg Zn/ha treatment. The range in values was due to differences between legume species and the defoliation treatments, which were not significant. When yields were measured, samples of young growth (YG) were separated from the rest of the defoliated herbage (ROH) and the concentration of Zn in YG and ROH was measured. The concentration of Zn in YG that was related to 90% of the maximum yield of defoliated dried herbage (critical tissue test value) was (mg/kg) 13 for subterranean clover, 17 for French serradella, and 19 for biserrula; respective critical tissue test values for ROH were 19, 24, and 21 mg/kg. The approximate linear relationship between critical Zn concentration in YG (y-axis) and the number of years since Zn was applied in the field (x-axis) was used to project the number of years it took for the 0.5 and 1.0 kg Zn/ha levels applied in the field to reach the same critical tissue test value as the nil-Zn treatment of the field experiment. This was 17-20 years for the 0.5 kg Zn/ha treatment and 31-37 years for the 1.0 kg/ha treatment, which was similar to the 18-19 and 32-35 years projected using yield data. Before sowing the legumes in the pot study soil samples were collected to measure soil test Zn using the DTPA procedure. The critical DTPA soil test Zn, the soil test value that was related to 90% of the maximum yield of defoliated dried herbage, was about 0.20 mg Zn/kg for the 3 pasture legume species and all Zn treatments in the field and pot studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on biofumigant-green manure vegetative biomass, nutrient, and glucosinolate content sensitivity to phosphorus (P) is lacking for species used in potato and sugarbeet production. Therefore, available P effects on field-grown condiment yellow mustard (Sinapis alba, cv. IdaGold) and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativa, cv. Colonel) were evaluated (2001-03). Low soil P was generally more limiting to radish foliage P concentrations or uptake than to the mustard, suggesting inherent differences in their ability to access and accumulate P. While radish P and S concentrations increased with higher P, concentrations in mustard were either unaffected or reduced. Foliage P concentrations were more closely related to biomass of radish (r2 = 0.46) than mustard (r2 = 0.11). Mustard exceeded radish in biomass and S accumulation. Phosphorus effects on glucosinolates producing ionic or isothiocyanates were relatively insignificant. These biofumigants differ appreciably in their ability to access and accumulate P, but P effects on nutrient content or glucosinolates were minor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted on a salt-affected soil to determine the effect of application of three types of Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata Pers.) residues (R, roots; L, shoots; L+R, shoots plus roots) on the performance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) using the indirect 15N isotopic dilution technique. Results indicated that sesbania residues (L and L+R), used as green manures, significantly increased grain yield, dry matter production, N uptake, and water use efficiency of sorghum. Percentages of nitrogen (N) derived from residues (%Ndfr) in sorghum ranged from 6.4% to 28%. The N recoveries in sorghum were 52%, 19.6% and 19.7% of the total amount contained in sesbania roots, shoots and roots plus shoots, respectively. The beneficial effects of sesbania residues are attributed not only to the additional N availability to the plants, but also to effects on the enhancement of soil N uptake, particularly in the L+R treatment. The findings suggest that the use of Sesbania aculeata residues, as a green manure, can provide a substantial portion of total N in sorghum. In addition, the use of sesbania green manure in salt-affected soils, as a bio-reclaiming material, can be a promising approach for enhancing plant growth on a sustainable basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]