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The growing popularity of cold-brewed coffee has resulted in large amounts of localized spent coffee grounds (SCG) generated from production plants. Spent coffee grounds offer many favorable agronomic properties, but also contain caffeine, tannins and phenolic compounds that may be deleterious to plant growth. There is a growing body of research examining the effects of SCG on plants, but little of which pertains to use in turfgrass systems. The objective of this two-year field study was to evaluate the feasibility of using SCG as an agronomic source of nutrients for turfgrass. Field studies were conducted over two years to characterize performance of 'Riley's Super Sport' (Celebration®) bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) receiving multiple nutrient source treatments including fresh and composted SCG, as well as synthetic, natural organic, and bridge fertilizers, some which included SCG. Soils were analyzed at the conclusion of the study to determine whether SGC provided long-term effects of on soil pH and/or nutrient concentrations. Our results demonstrated that although SCG possesses between 2.3-2.9% N and a favorable C:N ratio, direct SCG applications over two seasons did not produce responses typical of a fertilizer when applied as a topdressing. However, when combined with poultry litter, the SCG-containing organic fertilizer GeoJava produced improved turf quality relative to other organic and synthetic commercial fertilizers in our study, including Milorganite, ammonium sulfate, and URI-PEL S.R. Further, despite the acidic nature of SCG, their repeated application over multiple years did not result in any long-term changes to soil pH. Although early on, SCG treatments caused mild and transient phytotoxicity, these effects were not observed when it was applied in combination with the manure used in GeoJava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most conventional phosphorous (P) fertilizers are highly soluble, which favors P retention in the solid phase of the soil, and this condition hinders P availability to plants. Alternative P fertilizers, such as organominerals and struvite, have a slow release of nutrients into the soil, which in turn favors P uptake by plants; nevertheless, soil acidification caused by nitrogen (N) fertilizers can reduce P availability in the soil. In his study, we assessed the effect of N fertilizers on P availability for maize (Zea mays) grown in tropical soils with alternative P fertilizers. An experiment was set up in columns under greenhouse conditions with maize in two cultivation cycles in two soils with contrasting textures (medium and clayey textures), two N fertilizers (calcium nitrate - CN - and ammonium sulfate - AS), three P fertilizers (triple superphosphate - TSP -, organomineral - OM - and struvite - ST), and a control treatment (without addition of P and N fertilizers). At 45 days after emergence, we measured the biomass production and the N and P contents in plants to calculate fertilization efficiency as well as the soil P content. AS promoted the highest aboveground N accumulation, whereas the highest efficiency was obtained with CN. The alternative P sources did not differ in terms of P availability when combined with both N sources. Soil textures were sensitive to fertilizer combination. Further studies are needed to assess struvite interaction with other elements in the soil and the P release kinetics to plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, to study the effect of different approaches of nutrient application on soil fertility and soil quality under maize-wheat cropping system. Nine treatment combinations were compared namely, Recommended Doses of Fertilizers (RDF), Soil Test Crop Response (STCR), and various combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers. This paper aims to develop Soil Quality Index (SQI) based on Minimum Data Set (MDS) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Different indicators were employed to formulate the SQI, derived from surface soil layer measurements (0–15 cm). Each MDS indicator was then converted into a dimensionless score using linear scoring function and then integrated into SQI. Results showed that the key soil quality indicators identified as MDS using PCA under maize-wheat cropping system were Water Holding Capacity, organic carbon, available N and dehydrogenase activity. These soil quality indicators were found to be best for monitoring soil health status. After rabi wheat 2019–2020, SQI varied from 1.22 to 2.21 across the treatments whereas, after rabi wheat 2020–2021, SQI varied from 1.13 to 2.23 across the treatments. Among different approaches of nutrient application, STCR-based use of fertilizers along with FYM (T4) helped in maintaining better soil physical, chemical and biological properties and ultimately sustaining soil quality, which was followed by the treatment receiving 75% STCR dose of N (inorganic mode) + full P and K (T5). Integration of organics with inorganic fertilizers maintained soil quality, environmental health and reduced greater dependency on chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined application of chemical fertilizers and organic material is a transitional approach toward more sustainable and productive farming. This study aimed to investigate the response of low chemical fertilizer rates and supplementing with organic materials on soil health and fruit quality. In plum orchard, combination of reduced chemical fertilizer rates (R80; R70; R60) with organic manures (F; V) at varying levels based the loss in nitrogen requirement and microbial inoculants (Bf; J) were studied over the conventional approach (R100) on soil health and fruit quality in a 2-year experiment. Soil analysis showed soil physico-chemical properties and enzymes activity with application of R70+V10+Bf. Compared to integrated treatments R100 saw highest availability of soil potassium and calcium. Application of R70+V10+J resulted in maximum improvement in fruit weight, TSS and soluble sugar content. Fruit set percentage was higher in treatment R70+V10+Bf. Fruit yield showed significant changes with treatments R70+V10+Bf and R70+V10+J having similar yield to R100. Our results suggest that by reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer by 30% and partially replacing it with organic materials had a positive effect on soil health without affecting the fruit production and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of combining different nitrogen fertilizers with organic amendments and Azospirillum brasilense on wheat growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in saline calcareous soil, with a goal of enhancing crop productivity while reducing environmental impacts. The objective was to evaluate treatments involving ammonium sulfate (AS), urea, and sulfur-coated urea (SCU), mixed with organic amendments such as Moringa seed residues (MSR), biogas manure (BM), and vermicompost (Ver), along with Azospirillum brasilense (ASB). Among these treatments, SCU emerged as the most effective nitrogen source, especially when combined with Vermicompost and ASB. Key results include the following: the highest Chlorophyll a content of 1.96 mg/g f wt was observed in the SCU treatment with Ver and ASB; Likewise, the same treatment exhibited the highest values of Chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and proline; the tallest plant height (117.50 cm) was also achieved with this combination; and the highest straw and grain weights (2.63 g/plant and 2.22 g/plant, respectively) came from the same treatment. Additionally, this treatment yielded the highest protein content at 19.29%. In terms of nutrient uptake, SCU-based treatments consistently demonstrated the highest values. The SCU with Ver + ASB treatment recorded the highest nitrogen uptake in straw at 78.64 mg plant−1, phosphorus uptake at 12.86 mg plant−1, and potassium uptake at 61.66 mg plant−1. Similarly, this combination yielded the highest N, P, and K uptake in grains, with 68.05, 10.88, and 53.15 mg plant-1, respectively. e [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach production in China uses large inputs of mineral fertilizers but lower inputs of organic fertilizers, resulting in decreased peach quality and increased environmental risks. This study investigated the effects of formula fertilizers (combined organic and inorganic fertilizers) on peach yield, quality, and carbon and nitrogen footprints using three peach cultivars in two consecutive years. Two types of formula fertilizers had positive effects on improving the peach yield (5.6–13.6%), single fruit weight (9.0–32.5%), transverse diameter (3.6–13%) and longitudinal diameter (5.4–21.6%). Also, these fertilizers increased soluble solids (7.2–36.6%) and vitamin C (7.1–78%). In addition, the carbon footprint of peach decreased by 37–49%. This study demonstrates the potential of formula fertilizers to achieve balance between peach quality and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractStone fruits, including peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and almonds, are economically significant crops that require careful nitrogen management to optimize growth, yield, and fruit quality. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial macronutrient for stone fruits, playing a vital role in leaf development, photosynthetic capacity, and in the formation of sugars and carbohydrates essential for fruit development. However, nitrogen application needs careful management, as both deficiency and excess of this nutrient element can adversely affect fruit size, quality, and yield. Excessive nitrogen can lead to decreased flesh firmness, reduced sweetness, and increased susceptibility to diseases. Additionally, nitrogen remobilization from senescing leaves to storage tissues is a key process that supports nutrient use efficiency and reduces reliance on external nitrogen inputs in deciduous fruit crops. The timing of nitrogen application is critical, with peak demand occurring during bud break, flowering, and fruit set. Among its method of application, fertigation has proven to be an effective method for delivering nitrogen, improving leaf nutrient status, vegetative growth, and fruit quality. The interaction between nitrogen fertilization and soil organic matter (SOM) is also significant, as nitrogen influences SOM dynamics and potentially enhance the soil fertility and structure. This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on nitrogen fertilization in stone fruits, emphasizing the importance of balanced nitrogen management to achieve optimal growth, yield, and fruit quality. Despite extensive research globally, there is need to tailor nitrogen management practices to local conditions and improve sustainable stone fruit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic additions help improve soil biophysical qualities, but they are insufficient to supply nutrient demand and could result in unintentional nutrient immobilization in soils, particularly soils with low fertility status. A 16-week laboratory incubation study was conducted to determine how the method of application of compost and inorganic fertilizers influence microbial respiration, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) mineralization. Topsoil (500 g, 0–15 cm) was amended with compost (0, 5, and 10 g kg−1) and either inorganic N (50 kg N ha−1) or P (30 kg P ha−1). Two soil amendment strategies, applying compost and inorganic fertilizer separately to opposite sides of the soil using a divider and mixing them evenly throughout the soil, were compared for their effects on microbial activity and nutrient mineralization. The cumulative amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) evolved were measured fortnightly using the static CO2 absorption method and inorganic N and P mineralization. N mineralization was unaffected by the method of compost and inorganic fertilizer application (p >.05), while at the end of day 42, available P in separate applications of compost and mineral N fertilizers was 33% greater than combined applications. Compost and inorganic P fertilizer had favorable N priming effects, but compost and inorganic N had negative effects. The different N priming effects of compost and inorganic N and P fertilizers may be attributable to microbial nutrient demand. The data suggest that composting with conventional fertilizers may change microbial nutrient demand and crop nutrient availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of okra's importance to food security in developing countries, its production is limited by low soil nutrient and health status. A screenhouse study examined soil chemical properties, okra growth and yield under complementary application of biochar, organic and inorganic fertilizer in an Ultisol. The treatments comprised 5 kg soil each amended with 5 t biochar ha−1, 5 t poultry manure compost (SPM) ha−1, urea at 56 kg N ha−1, urea (28 kg N ha−1) + 5 t biochar ha−1, 5 t ha−1 (2:1, PM: biochar) (SPMB), urea (28 kg N ha−1) + 5 t ha−1 (2:1, PM: biochar) (SPMBF2). The treatments, replicated thrice, were arranged in a completely randomized design. There were two sets of plants terminated at 50% flowering (dry matter yield (DMY) and nutrient uptake) and at 10 wk post-planting for growth and yield determination. Results revealed that soil chemical properties, okra growth and yield increased responsively to the organic amendments. The SPM, followed by SPMB and SPMBF, enhanced soil pH (0.18–0.19 unit), total N (79–100%), organic carbon (75–100%), available P (55–58%) and exchangeable cations over the control and others (p < 0.05). These treatments also increased the plant's agronomic parameters: plant height (10–19%), number of leaves, leave area (21–31%), stem girth (33–51%), DMY (59–67%), and tissue Ca, Mg and K. The SPMBF2 – treated soil had the highest fruit yield (45 g pot−1). Conclusively, sole and complementary applications of biochar and compost improved soil chemical properties, and okra growth and yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of organic fertilizer "cow manure" applications on quantitative and qualitative traits of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) evaluated under field conditions. Treatments consisted of four levels of cow manure (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha−1) for both the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. The results indicated that cow manure applied at 15 t ha−1 resulted in the highest number of fruits per plant, antioxidant activities, and carbohydrate contents. At the same time, the lowest values were recorded in the control treatment in 2017 and 2018 (respectively). In both years, the highest plant height, number of lateral branches, number of nodes, fruit yield per plant, fruit fresh weight, and total flavonoids were obtained in 10 t ha−1 of cow manure treatment. The lycopene contents were 47 and 60% higher in 5 t ha−1 of cow dung fertilizer than control treatments in both seasons. The minimum β –Carotene was recorded in control, and the maximum was observed in 5 t ha−1 of cow manure fertilizer in both years. The results confirm that cow manure positively affects hot peppers' vegetative and reproductive traits and antioxidant activity under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term application of organic and inorganic fertilizers increases the possibility of contamination of greenhouse soils with heavy metals. This study investigated heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn) adsorption-desorption under mono and competitive systems in 10 soils from agricultural and greenhouse soils in western Iran. In most of the studied soils, the values of the Freundlich distribution coefficient (Kf) of Cu were higher than other heavy metals, indicating that Cu is maintained by the soils stronger than Cd, Co, and Zn. Based on the average Kf, the selectivity sequence of heavy metals in agricultural and greenhouse soils was ordered as Cu > Zn > Cd > Co in both mono and competitive systems. In general, greenhouse soils had lower Kf for heavy metals compared with agricultural soils, indicating the vulnerability of greenhouse soils to heavy metals leaching. In desorption experiments, the percentage of heavy metal desorption increased as the concentration of added heavy metals increased in both systems (except Cu in the mono-heavy metal system). The findings revealed that continuous vegetable production and the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers in these greenhouse soils may cause changes in soil properties and heavy metal mobility, posing hazards to human health and groundwater quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide organic amendments have received much attention to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. Partial substitution of inorganic fertilizer through organic manure is a promising approach to decrease chemical fertilizer input while stabilizing or increasing crop yield. Field experiments were conducted in Hubei and Hunan provinces to assess the impact of partial substitution of chemical fertilizer through organic manure on cotton yield and soil properties during 2016 and 2017. The experimental plots (50 m2) were arranged in a randomized block design, with six treatments, and three replicates for each treatment. Our results revealed that the yield of 100% chemical fertilizer treatments was significantly higher than no fertilizer treatment in 2016, and the yield of organic fertilizer substitution treatments was higher than 100% chemical fertilizer and no fertilizer in 2017 in Hubei province. In Hunan province, the yield of replacing part of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer and 100% chemical fertilizer treatment was higher than those of 100% organic fertilizer and no fertilizer treatment over 2 years. Application of 100% organic fertilizer was found to be more beneficial in terms of improving soil fertility in Hubei provinces during both years. The substitution of chemical fertilizer by 50% organic fertilizer was effective to improve soil fertility and exerted a significant effect on soil available phosphorus, potassium in Hunan provinces during both years. Collectively, these results indicate that replace 100% chemical fertilizer through organic fertilizer in Hubei province and substitution of 50% chemical fertilizer in Hunan province could increase the cotton yield, improve soil fertility and reduce inorganic fertilizers, which have a potential impact on sustainable production of cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe study aims to determine the nutrient chemical forms, storage effects, and phytotoxicity of fertilizers made from nutrient-rich materials and municipal organic waste in order to control the impact of farming practices on the ecology. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted at 3-month intervals over a period of 15 months to determine the binding forms of phosphate and nitrogen, and other quality parameters of fertilizers. The germination index (GI) method was used to assess the phytotoxicity of the fertilizers at three different rates of applications- 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 tonnes ha−1 on maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max). It was found that animal-based and organic mixture fertilizers had the highest levels of ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate: NH4+-N (0.3 ± 0.0%) and NO3-N (0.7 ± 0.0%), respectively. Rock-based fertilizer had the highest levels of water-soluble (7.0 ± 0.0%) and neutral ammonium citrate soluble (4.1 ± 0.0%) forms of nitrogen and potassium, which are readily available to crops. The GI values of the fertilizers were generally above the safety standard of ≥80, except for synthetic fertilizer when applied on soybeans at 3.0 tonnes ha−1 (74.2). While organic fertilizers were deemed safe for application on the test crops, it is advised to avoid storing the fertilizers for an extended period of time due to potential chemical and biological changes that might affect the biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteases are the main enzymes traded worldwide—comprising 60% of the total enzyme market—and are fundamental to the degradation and processing of proteins and peptides. Due to their high commercial demand and biological importance, there is a search for alternative sources of these enzymes. Crotalaria stipularia is highlighted for its agroecological applications, including organic fertilizers, nematode combat, and revegetation of areas contaminated with toxic substances. Considering the pronounced biotechnological functionality of the studied species and the necessity to discover alternative sources of proteases, we investigated the extraction, purification, and characterization of a protease from seeds of the C. stipularia plant. Protease isolation was achieved by three-phase partitioning and single-step molecular exclusion chromatography in Sephacryl S-100, with a final recovery of 47% of tryptic activity. The molecular mass of the isolated enzyme was 40 kDa, demonstrating optimal activities at pH 8.0 and 50 °C. Enzymatic characterization demonstrated that the protease can hydrolyze the specific trypsin substrate, BApNA. This trypsin-like protease had a Km, Vmax, Kcat, and catalytic efficiency constant of 0.01775 mg/mL, 0.1082 mM/min, 3.86 s−1, and 217.46, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify what affects mineral nitrogen (N) levels in lettuce by testing how different chemicals extract nitrate and ammonium, using continuous flow analysis for measurement. The study's rationale is to explore how agricultural methods and environmental factors impact the nutrition and safety of leafy greens. In this research, we utilized a collection of lettuce leaf samples obtained from our earlier investigation. The study involved examining different cultivars cultivated in diverse fields or greenhouse settings, using organic or conventional fertilizers, to observe the outcomes. To measure the amount of ammonium in leaf tissue, we assessed extraction solutions of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 M potassium chloride (KCl), along with distilled water. These evaluations were conducted using leaves from 16 different lettuce plants cultivated under various production conditions. To quantify nitrate, extracting solutions of 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl2), 2% acetic acid, and distilled water with two contact times (15 and 45 min) were evaluated. Increasing contact time increased the recovery of nitrate. Distilled water and calcium chloride were significantly more effective in extracting nitrate than acetic acid. No significant difference occurred between water and the salt solution to extract nitrate from leaf tissue. Moreover, the result revealed that 0.01 M KCl extractant satisfies the recovery of ammonium from the leaves regardless of cultivar, fertilizer source, or amount of N application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIt is possible to boost nutrient accumulation in grain, enhance grain production, and enhance the soil’s physical characteristics through the use of bio-fertilizers, zinc delivery methods, and organic and inorganic fertilizers integrated in a balanced manner. Often, zinc (Zn) is insufficient in soil due to a lack of organic matter additions to the soil. The world’s food supply is secured by Zn, a crucial micro nutrient. The effect of different zinc application methods and integrated nutrient management methods were tested on wheat crops based on crop production, nutrient uptake, and soil physico-chemical characteristics. Three distinct bio fertilizers, namely Azotobacter, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and Zn solubilizing bacteria were used in the experiment. There was a significantly greater number of effective tillers m−2 to the tune of 385 and 388 tillers m−2 and DTPA exchangeable Zn in the final soil of about 0.70 mg/kg with the soil and foliar application of zinc compared with the other treatments. A variety of integrated nutrient management treatments increased crop productivity and soil physico-chemical parameters by increasing soil nutrient availability. The current study indicates that adding organic manure is essential to sustainably preserving soil quality and crop productivity. It should therefore be included in nutrient management plans for crops that require a lot of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn strawberry cultivation, a variety of factors influence production and fruit quality. Yield is the most crucial component in fruit production. Chemical fertilizers are typically used to boost yields, however because of their high production costs, negative effects on the environment and human health, organic fertilizers or natural amendments are being utilized instead of chemical fertilizers. The primary goals of substituting chemical fertilizers with bioorganic formulations made from natural sources for fruit production are to lower costs of production and maintain fruit production sustainability. Therefore, to study the impact of these bioorganic formulations the current investigations were conducted in open field conditions under sub humid mid hills conditions of Himachal Pradesh with 12 treatment combinations and three replicate plots. The tested plants were given various combinations of bioorganic formulations [Jeevamrit (JE) and Ghanjeevamrit (GHA)] as a source of nutrients. When compared to conventional practices, statistically significant improvements were discovered in the parameters of yield and nutrient content in the soil and plant. Significant higher yield (21.13 tonnes/ha), soil nutrients and total microbial content was recorded in T4. The results of this study provide support to the recommendation that bioorganic formulations, such as the tested ones, be used on their own or in combination as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in plant nutrition for the production of strawberries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematode abundance and diversity could indicate soil health since they play roles in the soil nutrient cycle. In a shallot field, nematode abundance and diversity from different types of organic manure treatment were examined to determine the effect of organic fertilizer on nematode abundance. This study aimed to determine the best option of organic amendment for managing the nematode population in crop soil. The research took place in the center of a shallot plantation in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and consisted of four treatments: cow manure+green manure; sludge+green manure; cow manure, and chicken manure as farmer control. The nematode community was processed and analised with the PCA, which indicated a cumulative value of 94.5%. The treatment of cow and green manure contributed in nematode abundance, in which nematodes clustered were predators, bacterial feeders, and omnivores. The treatment of cow and green manure could be the best option that environmentally friendly control plant-parasitic nematodes and improve beneficial nematodes abundance that could improve the soil health by their regulation in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) caused by heavy metals has attracted extensive attention of human beings. Zn, a widely used feed additive, has a very high residue in swine manure, but the distribution characteristics of ARGs imposed by Zn in anaerobic digestion (AD) products are not clear. In this study, the behaviour of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), bacterial community, and their association with ARGs were determined in the presence of 125 and 1250 mg L–1 Zn in AD system of swine manure. Zn-treated enriched the abundance of ARGs, and produced some new genotypes that were not detected in CK treatment. In addition, low concentration of Zn significantly increased the relative abundance of ARGs, as compared to higher Zn and CK group. Correspondingly, the abundances of most top30 genus were highest in ZnL (125 mg L–1 Zn), followed by CK and ZnH (1250 mg L–1 Zn). Notably, network analysis showed that the relationship between ARGs and MGEs is closer than that ARGs and bacteria, suggesting that ARGs increased in Zn-treated, especially low level Zn, may be due to the amplification transfer of ARGs among varied microorganisms by horizontal transfer with MGEs. Therefore, strengthen the management of in livestock manure is crucial to control the spread of ARGs in organic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses and explains food imports from Peru: 1980-2021. The econometric method uses Autoregressive Distributed Lagged (ARDL) models. The result of the stationarity property of I (0) and I(1) of the variables suggests the use of the ARDL model. The Granger causality result shows that variables explain food imports. The bound test cointegration showed a long-run cointegration to exist between foot imports and income, the real exchange rate, relative prices, price of fertilizers, and institution. The short-run analysis shows positive effects of relative prices and the real exchange rate towards food imports. And in the long-run analysis, we have found a positive relationship between food imports and economic growth. Also, there is a negative relationship between food imports and the growth of the real exchange rate, the price of fertilizers, and the opening of the Free Trade Agreement. Policies for self-sufficiency are recommended through investment policies in human capital for research in fertilizers and alternative organic manures; in financial capital for access to credit for small producers; in social capital, with support for sectors with lower productivity in rural areas to reduce dependence on the international market and the growing demand for food imports that puts food security at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotope source tracing enables to accurately determine the fate of nutrients that are applied with fertilizers to soils. While this approach is well established for major nutrients such as nitrogen, it is not yet established for trace metals. Here, we aimed to determine the fate of the micronutrient zinc (Zn) and the contaminant cadmium (Cd) that were applied with an organic fertilizer to a soil–wheat system. A pot study was conducted in which wheat was grown on an alkaline soil. The soils received green manure and/or soluble Zn fertilizer and were compared with non-fertilized control treatments (n = 4 experimental replicates). The green manure was labelled with the stable isotopes 67Zn and 111Cd. For an efficient sample throughput, a method was provided and validated to determine enriched stable isotope ratios (67Zn:66Zn and 111Cd:110Cd) and the Zn and Cd concentrations in one analytical run. To this end, single collector ICP-MS analyses and stable isotope mass balances calculations were combined. Applying this method revealed that the addition of green manure increased neither Zn nor Cd concentrations in wheat grains due to biomass dilution effects. Isotope source tracing showed that the largest fraction of these metals in the wheat shoots derived from the soil in all treatments (Zn 87–99 %, Cd 94–98 %). Moreover, the addition of green manure increased the transfer of Zn and Cd from soil to wheat by a factor 1.9 for both elements. This increased transfer was likely related to a nitrogen fertilization effect that increased root and shoot biomass and thereby the soil exploration of the wheat. This study demonstrated how the fate and dynamics of multiple trace metals can be efficiently determined in soil–fertilizer–crop systems using isotope source tracing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To predict the mineralization of nitrogen(N) in organic amendments in paddy fields, we applied data obtained from incubation experiments under waterlogged conditions by a hierarchical Bayesian model using acid-detergent-soluble organic N (ADSON) as a model input. Each of 20 organic amendments (6 cattle manure composts, 3 swine manure composts, 3 poultry manure composts, 2 oil cakes, 2 rice brans, 1 fish meal, 1 sludge fertilizer, and 2 mixed commercial organic fertilizers) was mixed with paddy soil, and the N mineralization curves obtained after 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of waterlogging were incorporated into the model to obtain values of the model parameters ki, α1, and Q10. All model parameters converged with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.044 g N kg−1, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.060 g N kg−1, and a model efficiency (EF) of 0.96. These values were comparable to or slightly better than those of a previous model for upland soil conditions. Most of the observed values were within the 95% Bayesian prediction interval, indicating that the model performed well with the observed data. Although it is generally believed that livestock manure composts decompose more slowly than organic fertilizers such as oil cake, the livestock manure composts had a large value of the rate constant ki, presumably because of the initial rapid decomposition of the small amounts of organic N present in them. In paddy fields, the soil conditions are aerobic between the application of organic amendments and water entry. In such a case, we propose the use of the upland field model to predict the mineralization of organic N during the period of aerobic soil conditions and of this study's model during the period of waterlogging, subtracting the amount of already mineralized N from the parameters Nin and ADSON. The model devised here is expected to be useful for fertilization design in organic agriculture and in the reduction of the use of inorganic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate how the long-term application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments affects the turnover rates of organic matter in physico-chemically fractionated components in paddy soils and how their rates are related to their amounts, we studied the effect of variable management of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments for > 50 years on the ∆14C values of accumulated soil organic carbon (SOC) in fractionated components of 5 soil samples from three paddy fields. SOC was fractionated into four components based on their physico-chemical properties: (1) light fraction (LF) derived from plant residues, (2) heavy fraction (HF) containing stable aggregates, (3) oxidizable fraction (OxF) and (4) non-oxidizable fraction (NOxF) forming organo-mineral complexes with fine-textured minerals. The ∆14C values were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry using graphitized samples. The ∆14C values of SOC in NOxF (from −305‰ to − 90.5‰) were much lower than those of HF (from −123‰ to − 3.7‰) and OxF (from −215‰ to 21.0‰). Lowest values for NOxF suggested slowest turnover rates as expected, and higher and comparable values for OxF and HF implied much faster turnover rates of SOC in OxF compared with upland soils. This could be one of the characteristics of SOC dynamics in paddy soils, probably reflecting repeated puddling of plow layer soils. ∆14C values in all the fractions increased in response to the application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments, suggesting faster turnover rate. Soils with clayey and weathered characteristics had the lowest ∆14C values, or slowest turnover rates among the study fields. The relationship between the ∆14C value and the amount of accumulated C for HF, OxF and NOxF indicated that the more the SOC accumulated, the faster the turnover rate of the SOC was, regardless of the fractions, and the relationship of the HF was considerably different from those of OxF and NOxF. In conclusion, these results can be the basis for understanding the C dynamics and for improving soil fertility status and soil C sequestration in paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate how the long-term application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments affects the accumulation of organic matter in physico-chemically fractionated components in paddy soils and how the accumulation is determined by soil properties and anthropogenic carbon input, we studied the effect of variable management of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments for > 50 years on the amounts of accumulated soil organic carbon (SOC) in fractionated components in three paddy fields. SOC was fractionated into four components based on their physical and chemical properties: (1) light fraction (LF) derived from plant residues, (2) heavy fraction (HF) containing stable aggregates, (3) oxidizable fraction (OxF) and (4) non-oxidizable fraction (NOxF) forming organo-mineral complexes with fine-textured minerals. On average, the amount and percentage of accumulated C in the four fractions were as follows: OxF (6.63 gC kg−1soil, 46%) > NOxF (5.32, 35) > LF (1.68, 12) > HF (1.12, 7.2), suggesting about 80% of SOC was in fine, stable fractions. The amount of accumulated C in all fractions increased slightly with the application of inorganic fertilizer, while it increased considerably with the use of organic amendments. In addition, the application of fertilizers and amendments raised the proportion of C content in LF and HF, which are labile and related to soil fertility. Stepwise multiple regression analysis using two principal component analysis scores of soil properties and anthropogenic C input further revealed that the labile fractions (LF and HF) were more strongly determined by the management of fertilizers and amendments, while the stable fractions (OxF and NOxF) were more strongly determined by soil-specific properties, mainly the amorphous nature of the soil. These results indicate that the use of certain amounts of organic amendments would be recommended to carry out rational management to improve soil fertility and C sequestration in paddy fields, with the application of amorphous minerals as an additional option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leonardite is an important source of organic fertilizers and soil amendment. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of increased doses of leonardite (control (L0), 20 (L20), 40 (L40), 60 (L60), and 80 (L80) t ha−1) on soil properties at different incubation times (control (T0), 15 (T15), 30 (T30), 45 (T45), 60 (T60), and 90 (T90) days). Analysis results of soil samples taken during six different incubation periods. Results showed that application of leonardite significantly improved soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (N), exchangeable calcium (Ca) and, available iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), especially with L40 and L60. Prolonged incubation time was significantly increased N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Zn concentrations especially T60 and T90. The nutrient concentration of the tomato plants was not affected by increased doses of leonardite, except for total N, Fe and Cu. By the way, prolongation of the incubation period resulted in fluctuating nutrient concentrations of the plant. As a result, it was determined that leonardite improved the chemical properties of the soils but it was not sufficient in the feeding of the tomato plant. Therefore, leonardite must be used with chemical fertilizers for plant growing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of organic and chemical fertilizer sources on some essential nutrient elements content, nitrate (NO3−-N) accumulation, and the growth of spinach plant (Spinacia oleracea L.) were investigated. The experiment was carried out in a randomized plot design under greenhouse conditions, with two levels. 1st level; applications with chemical fertilizer. 2nd level; applications without chemical fertilizer. One compost material (kitchen waste compost = KWC), five different doses (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6%), and three replications. For chemical fertilization, nitrogen (N) dose of 150 kg ha−1 was applied by using 15-15-15 NPK (N:P2O5:K2O) fertilizer. Overall, KWC applications increased plant growth and nutrient content. However, the most significant increases occurred in the trial subjects where chemical fertilizer and KWC were applied together. The use of KWC together with chemical fertilization increased the leaf width, leaf and stem length, fresh weight, and dry weight, as well as nitrate accumulation, N, potassium (K), and iron (Fe) content of the plant. The highest values of these parameters were obtained at 0.8% dose of KWC + NPK medium. As a result, compost applications were effectively uptake of nutrients and nitrate accumulation remained at acceptable values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand for organic vegetable products. Increasing the marketable yield and quality of tomatoes through the use of optimal organic and inorganic fertilizers is a critical agronomic measure for crop productivity and soil health. However, little is known about the effects of Azolla on tomato productivity, fruit quality and soil organic changes. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on marketable yield and quality characteristics of tomato fruits. A pot experiment was conducted with four concentrations of Azolla and nitrogen in a completely randomized design. The results showed that Azolla has the potential to replace nitrogen and has a significant impact on fruit quality. The interactions of Azolla and nitrogen on the number of clusters per plant, the number of flowers per cluster, the proportion of fruit set, the number of fruits per cluster and the marketable fruit yield were significant. It can be concluded that the combination of Azolla and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer linearly increased the marketable yield and quality of tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infertility of sandy soil hampers the growth of many crops. Typically, chemical fertilizers are used to handle this issue, but they are expensive and have deleterious implications on the ecosystem. A two-year field investigation was carried out on cowpea cultivated in sandy soil to assess the effects of different watering levels (70, 80, 90, and 100% of the actual irrigation requirements), chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and biofertilizer (Bradyrhizobium sp.), and their combinations on the morpho-physiological traits and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, cv. Giza 18). Overall, the findings showed that cowpea osmoregulatory molecules (sugars, proteins, and proline) demonstrated greater accumulation, with the content depending on the watering level. The applied fertilizers demonstrated improved cowpea performance at the regular watering level, with chopped potato tops outperforming other fertilizer formulations. Furthermore, the combination of water stress treatments and fertilizer formulations was impactful in relieving the detrimental consequences of water stress as it enhanced plant growth performance, production efficiency, metabolic homeostasis, nutritional value, and mineral ions composition. Subsequently, our results demonstrated agro-wastes, particularly chopped potato tops, could be an effective substitute for chemical fertilizers in sandy soils to sustainably increase soil fertility as well as cowpea yield performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the sustainability of rice-rice cropping systems has been threatened by a yield plateau, high input cost, declining water and labor availability, and increasing food demand. Hence, the rice-based cropping systems seek more attention in relation to nutrient management. This study evaluated the impact of 16-year long-term fertilizer application on crop and water productivity, yield trend, nutrient use-efficiency, and profitability of a rice-rice system (eight treatments and four replications; randomized block design). The study showed that the integrated application NPK and FYM (BInOF) significantly increased grain yield up to (~3949 kg ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.01 and 1.62) in monsoon and winter rice. Furthermore, organic manure along with inorganic fertilizers significantly increased the nutrient uptake up to (80-89 kg ha-1 N; ~16-19 kg ha-1 P; ~85-106 kg ha-1 K; 0.22-0.25 kg ha-1 Zn) in monsoon and winter rice. The largest N recovery was observed under BInOF plots (54.9 to 59.8%). The highest carbon sequestration (2.06 t ha-1 after 16 years of cultivation) and water productivity (3.5-4.5 kg grain ha-mm-1) was observed under BInOF system (NPKþFYM). The sustainable yield index (SYI, 0.7), an indicator of rice sustainability was highest in BInOF. This study offers valuable insights into the impacts of chemical fertilizers and organic manures on the sustainability of the rice-rice cropping system. Such findings can guide policymakers in formulating strategies for crop diversification and underscore the importance of incorporating organic matter for optimal crop performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilization regimes have been widely practiced to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) in Chinese farmland, but the findings of various studies are often widely divergent. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the impacts of fertilization regimes on SOC is needed. In this study, a meta-analysis based on 57 peer-reviewed articles was conducted to examine the effects of fertilization regimes on SOC in China. On average, the inorganic fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer regime (NPKOF) represented the most effective approach, increasing SOC by 42.6%; this was followed by the organic fertilizer regime (OF, 41.6%) and the inorganic fertilizer regime (NPK, 15.8%). Further analysis suggested that the effects of fertilization regimes were more pronounced in areas with relatively lower clay content, higher aridity index, longer experimental duration or higher soil pH. We also highlight the importance of considering local environmental factors (e.g., climate and soil conditions) in identifying appropriate fertilization regimes for maintaining soil health, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity. In conclusion, although NPK addition can significantly enhance SOC content, the combined application of inorganic with organic fertilizer is very important in maintaining and improving the current SOC content across China, especially in arid regions (e.g., Northwest, lower MAP regions and higher aridity index). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Un-integrated fertilization and decreasing soil fertility are some of the challenges to achieving an increase in crop productivity and food security in a sustainable way. Keeping balanced fertilization and soil fertile is vital. To overcome these problems, a field experiment was conducted at Dar-Ramad experimental farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Egypt, during the two winter seasons of 2016/17 and 2017/18 to evaluate the complementary effect of compost (without, 2 and 3 ton feddan−1, feddan = 4200 m2) and mineral nitrogen fertilizer (N) rates (30, 45 and 60 kg feddan−1) on yield, its components and nitrogen, phosphorus as well as potassium (NPK) uptake in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Miser-1). Generally, in most cases, the highest significant values of wheat yield and its components along with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) uptake in grain, straw and biological yields were recorded by applying compost compared to without addition. Highest significant values of the former above traits were achieved by individual application of compost at a rate of 2 or 3 ton feddan−1 and also mineral nitrogen fertilizer (N) rate of 45 or 60 kg feddan−1. Exogenous application of compost with a rate of 2 or 3 ton feddan−1 along with mineral nitrogen (N) rate of 45 and 60 kg feddan−1 improved almost all the studied traits. Findings suggested that application of 3 ton compost feddan−1 with 45 or 60 kg N feddan−1 was more effective combination in maximizing wheat productivity, grain protein and NPK uptake under Mediterranean climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fertilizer (MF) provides nutrition to the soil while also improving its structure. Moreover, plants are grown healthy with the help of MF, including beneficial microorganisms and fertilizer. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of MFs applied in different growth stages on yield and yield components of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The study was conducted in Osmaniye, Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye, in 2019 and 2020 according to a split-plot design with three replications. Growth stages of peanut (beginning bloom, full bloom, beginning bloom + full bloom) were placed in main plots and MF doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 cc ha−1) were placed in sub-plots. Consequently, the highest pod yield was observed in 100 and 150 cc ha−1 with the values of 603.67 kg da−1 in 2019 and 590.09 kg da−1 in 2020. For growth stages, full bloom treatments (605.34 kg da−1 in 2019 and 610.81 kg da−1 in 2020) came to the forefront in both years. The treatments of the beginning bloom (23.56% in 2019 and 23.77% in 2020) and 100 cc ha−1 (23.64% in 2019 and 23.88% in 2020) reached the maximum protein content in the studied years. Finally, the present study indicated that MFs had positive effects on yield components of peanut, especially with treatment150 cc ha−1 which increased pod yield and protein content at full bloom stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millicomposting (MIL, with millipedes), vermicomposting (VER, with earthworms) and composting without invertebrates (CNT, control) were compared for the first time in a replicated controlled experiment to evaluate their efficiency and the quality of their products. Vegetal waste was degraded in small closed digesters to emulate household-scale composting. Temperature profiles were similar in the three composting types. Ninety-two days were enough to complete composting and obtain well-stabilized products (humus with C/N< 20; pH from 7 to 7.8). The mean final volume loss was about 8% higher in VER than MIL and CNT (P < 0.01) and it stabilized between the 32nd and 67th days (51.4% in VER, 43% MIL and 44% in CNT). Both invertebrates promoted gains in humus Ca content (about 34.5% higher compared to CNT), whereas the highest K and Mg contents were observed in VER humus. pH, P2O5, and S contents were also higher in VER humus than in CNT (all P < 0.05). The leachate volumes, electrical conductivity and Na+ and PO43– contents were similar (P > 0.05), while pH and contents of K+ and NH4+ were higher and NO3– was lower in VER than in MIL (all P < 0.01). This resulted in higher maturity degrees in MIL than VER (NH4+/NO3– = 0.01 and 0.93, respectively). Although all three composting types were efficient in producing mature high-quality organic fertilizers, this study showed that the addition of invertebrates improved the composting efficiency and the quality of the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of water crises, the cultivation of forage plants is greatly important in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. In order to study the effect of different organic fertilizers and irrigation regimes on the growth and biochemical responses of different Atriplex species, this experiment was performed as a factorial split with three replications in the city of Bandar Abbas in 2017-2018. The main factor included three irrigation regimes (irrigation at 80, 60, and 40% of field capacity) and the sub-factor were different sources of fertilizer (poultry manure and sheep manure about 5 tons per hectare, and chemical fertilizer) and different species of Atriplex (A. canascens, A. leucoclada, and A. lelentiformis). Based on the results, increasing drought stress increased sodium (Na) and proline of the leaf and decreased the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and soluble carbohydrates. In irrigation of 40% of field capacity, the highest amount of leaf nitrogen was observed in sheep manure (1.47%), representing a significant increase compared to the chemical fertilizer. In irrigation of 80% of field capacity, the highest amount of leaf phosphorus (0.222%) was observed in chemical fertilizer. The highest levels of catalase and peroxides were obtained in poultry and sheep manure. Also, in the irrigation of 40% of field capacity, poultry manure and then sheep manure could show higher levels of soluble protein in the leaf, respectively. In general, this study showed the successful effects of organic fertilizers on increasing nutrient uptake and physiological traits and improving the biological yield of Atriplex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 90% of the total biomass of hemp plants grown for cannabidiol (CBD) is left to rot in piles, burned, or hauled to landfills post-harvest even though these residues are nutrient-rich. Composting is an option for waste management and nutrient recovery for hemp producers. However, materials, labor costs, time, and space needed to properly construct compost piles pose significant logistic challenges to smallholder farmers who want to manage their waste on-farm. Additionally, the high lignin content of cannabis hurd is often poorly degraded if the compost fails to meet national organic standards for thermophilic conditions. A potentially more efficient and cost-effective alternative is to convert leftover cannabis waste into bio-fertilizers through a semi-anaerobic process by adding microbial inoculants that specialize in lignin degradation. Imio Technologies, Inc. (Imio) developed cannabis-specific microbial inoculants designed to optimize the conversion of hemp waste into a bio-available form. Applied as a liquid culture, Imio microbes colonize wasted stalks and produce organic acids and oxidative enzymes that decompose lignin and release plant nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the ability of Imio microbial inoculants to degrade lignin-rich material into a fertilizer substitute. At the conclusion of a 3-week digestion period, biomass was transformed into a more bioavailable form with a nutrient profile similar to finished composts. Two-week cured fertilizer generated through this process promoted greater root:shoot ratios, which suggests plant growth promotion, compared to a synthetically fertilized control group. The digested hemp fertilizer also showed a value-added property of disease suppression against the soilborne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated use of inorganic fertilizer and organic manure restores soil quality and increases crop productivity. Potassium (K) pools are also affected in soil due to the rate and sources of nutrients applied. However, the integration of vermicompost and mineral fertilizers effects strongly depends on soil type, and still, no precise information is available for Inceptisols in Eastern India. Keeping this fact in view, a field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour, Bihar to understand the effect of soil test crop response (STCR) based balanced fertilization with or without organic manure on soil K pools and rice performance under rice-wheat and rice-maize cropping systems. This experiment included nine treatments viz., general fertilizer recommendation, farmers' fertilizer practice, STCR with and without Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS)/vermicompost for low (3 t ha−1), medium (4 t ha−1), and high target yield (5 t ha−1) and absolute control (without fertilizer application) which were replicated thrice in a randomized block design (RBD). The highest rice yield was obtained under STCR with IPNS for high target yield (2% more) than the corresponding treatment without IPNS followed by STCR with IPNS for medium target yield however treatments were statistically at par with one another. Benefit cost ratio was significantly highest under STCR with IPNS for medium target yield overall the treatments for both cropping systems. Different forms of K (water-soluble K, exchangeable K, non-exchangeable K, and mineral K) declined under farmers' practice and absolute control whereas these forms were greater under STCR with IPNS-based treatments than the STCR without IPNS-based treatments in the corresponding target yields. The correlation study suggested that exchangeable K was the most important form, positively and highly significantly related to soil available K (R2 = 98). Overall, this study recommended that the integrated use of vermicompost and mineral fertilizers (STCR with IPNS) for medium target yield (4 t ha−1) was more responsive toward rice yield as well as K availability for soil sustainability from Inceptisols in eastern India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of use of mineral fertilizers (MF) have brought about environmental pollution and soil problems, like soil degradation and acidification. The partial substitution of MF with organic fertilizer is considered eco-friendly and more efficient in improving soil fertility. In our study, the effects of MF alone and the combination of MF and organic fertilizers (MOF) on soil phosphorus (P) availability in infertile soil with P deficiency were studied with the initial soil without any addition as the control. The addition of MF and MOF increased the soil labile P (resin-P and NaHCO3-Pi) by 101.8% and 320.1%, respectively, compared to the control after 180 days of treatment. Resin-P was the predominant P fraction in MOF, accounting for 28.0% of the total P. The proportions of residual-P in MOF were 5.6% and 8.3% lower than those in MF and control, respectively. The P activation coefficient in MOF was the highest (15.0%), and was the main contributor to soil P fractions based on redundancy analysis. Our results suggest that the combined application of organic and mineral fertilizers is more efficient in improving soil P availability than mineral fertilizer alone. We highlight the joint application was beneficial to improve soil P activation coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nitrogen is the nutrient most required by maize, doses of N lower than those recommended are applied to maize grown in semiarid environments, which limits the achievement of profitable yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soil fertility, nutritional status and dry matter production of maize plants fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers in a semiarid region. A factorial experiment was carried out in Sobral, Ceará state, Brazil, in a randomized block design. The factors were two N sources (organic compost and urea), and four N rates: 27.5, 55, 110 and 165 kg ha−1, with three replications. We assessed variables associated with soil fertility, plant nutritional status, chlorophyll content, grain yield and total dry matter production. The highest rates of organic compost resulted in the highest levels of P (17.7 mg dm−3) and K (102.2 mg dm−3) in soil when compared to the control (7.7 and 69.0 mg dm−3, respectively). However, organic compost rates below 110 kg ha−1 of N-equivalent fertilizer were not enough to supply the plants' demand for P and K. Low N rates promoted a decrease in soil inorganic N in the second year of application. Applying urea to maize plants led to greater dry matter production than organic compost in the second consecutive crop season. The use of organic compost at rates lower than 110 kg ha−1 of N-equivalent fertilizer decreases soil fertility and has no impact on maize dry matter production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overproduction of chicken feathers is responsible for serious environmental problems worldwide. The composition of feathers is keratin protein, which is resistant and difficult to monomerize. Utilization of feather waste for biogas and organic fertilizer production can help combat environmental threat and address energy and food shortage crisis. In this study, chicken feathers were hydrolyzed using the native isolated keratinolytic bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa-C1M. Reactor digestate, a by-product of the production of biogas from hydrolyzate and grocery waste, has been shown to be used as organic fertilizer. A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the comparative effectiveness of reactor digestate and feather hydrolyzate on the growth of spinach plants. A remarkable increase in agronomic parameters was observed when applying keratin hydrolyzate based fertilizers. Plants treated with dry hydrolyzate showed a 50% increase in leaf width. The plant height, the number of leaves per plant, the root length, the chlorophyll content, the protein content, the biomass and the nutrient content of the spinach plant were also significantly improved by using fertilizers based on keratin hydrolyzate. However, the results using the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-C1M-derived hydrolyzate were more promising and therefore suggest its application as a potential biostimulant in the agricultural industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of substituting organic fertilizer for mineral fertilizer to increase calcareous fluvisol soil organic carbon. Four years of soil culture experiments were conducted, wheat yield, soil nutrients, soil organic carbon (SOC) and SOC fractions were measured and the compositional changes of SOC was analyzed by attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Treatments included applying no fertilizer (CK), mineral N and P fertilizers (CF) and organic fertilizers to replace 6% (OF6), 12% (OF12), 18% (OF18) and 24% (OF24) of N and P under the same nutrient conditions. The results showed that the OF24 treatment was the best among the treatments employed. Compared with CF, wheat yield, SOC, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), labile fraction 1 (LOC1) and recalcitrant fraction (ROC) of OF24 increased by 10.4%, 24.4%, 66.3%, 43.2% and 30.7%, however, the labile fraction 2 (LOC2) decreased by 16.8%. ATR-FTIR results showed that the relative absorption intensity of OF24 treatment at 1,000 cm−1 band is lower than CK and CF treatment, other bands are higher than CK and CF treatment. Overall, OF24 treatment not only significantly increased wheat yield, but also increased the content of LOC1 and MBC. The increase of MBC can improve the soil microbial environment and promote the decomposition of LOC2, while also accelerate the turnover rate of soil carbon and then show the increase of ROC content and improve the proportion of the recalcitrant carbon pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate use of poultry manure under tropical conditions can contribute to the recovery of degraded soils. The objective was to evaluate the effect of poultry manure on structure and some indicators of fertility in tropical soils such as Inceptisol Mollic Eutrudept Ustept, Inceptisol Ustept, Rhodic Eutrustox, Pellic Vertisol Typic Hapluster and Aquic Plinthic Kandiustalf. Five experiments were established under controlled conditions, one in each soil, using samples of 0–20 cm soil depth. The treatments were: control without the application of poultry manure, 2 t ha−1 of poultry manure, 4 t ha−1 of poultry manure, 6 t ha−1 of poultry manure, 8 t ha−1 of poultry manure, 10 t ha−1 of poultry manure. The results showed increases in pH and organic matter that contributed to greater availability of phosphorus and potassium, as well as improvements in soil structure and stability. The best results of the application of poultry manure were obtained using 6 t ha−1. The R2 values of 0.93 (pH versus assimilable potassium), 0.77 (organic matter versus structure factor) and 0.67 (pH versus assimilable phosphorus) indicated that poultry manure can achieve effects on the recovery of degraded soils regardless of the type and content of clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is India's greatest wealth, which also contributes to the country's economic development and defines the standard of living for more than 50 percent of the Indian population. In addition to this conventional crop, more are grown and have high dependency, such as wheat and rice. Farmers face many problems where sustainability is of primary importance in agriculture. To solve the issue, we propose to develop a "RANC (Recommendation Analysis by Soil Nutrients of Crops) Crop Recommendation Tool" web application that will help farmers generate their high income with effective crop cultivation along with the suggestion of organic fertilizer by providing up-to - date stock information, Soil Test Report, crop yield time and nutritional value of each crop. The RANC algorithm is used to pick crops and the Deep Neural Network is used for price prediction to improve the farmer's choice of crops for cultivation with a high benefit. In the case of crop selection, an existing model uses the Soil Test Report to generate the quantity of fertilizers needed to expand. We use SVM for linear data regressions and ANN, RNN, RBM for non-linear data in the case of price estimation in stock analysis. From the experimental results, the prediction accuracy over 90% has been achieved for the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers needs a specific formulation to enhance plant performance and reduce fertilization costs. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the cost and effects of inorganic or organic fertilizers and their integrated forms, while containing the same levels of major nutrients, on Aloe barbadensis performance under the agro-climatic conditions of Afghanistan. The treatments were: control; 200 kg ha−1 N, P2O5, and K2O each, in the form of inorganic fertilizer (IF-200); 200 kg ha−1 N, P2O5, and K2O each, in the form of nutrient-rich organic fertilizer (NrOF-200); 200 kg ha−1 N, P2O5, and K2O each, in the form of 50% IF and 50% NrOF (IF + NrOF-200); 400 kg ha−1 N, P2O5 and K2O each, in the form of 50% IF and 50% NrOF (IF + NrOF-400); and 400 kg ha−1 N, P2O5 and K2O each, in the form of IF (IF-400). The results revealed that the IF + NrOF-200 treatment led to significantly increased fresh and dry biomass yields compared to the control. The yield was also greater when the same levels of major nutrients were applied in the combined organic and inorganic forms (IF + NrOF-200) than when applied in the inorganic (IF-200) or organic (NrOF-200) forms alone. This study also reveals that, despite doubling the major nutrient levels in the IF + NrOF-400 and IF-400 treatments, the IF + NrOF-200 treatment with half the nutrient amount showed a similar result, indicating its cost effectiveness in Aloe vera production in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fertilizers are beneficial and less expensive if applied in adequate doses. This is how the present investigation aims to determine the optimal quantity of manure from laying hens to apply to oil palm trees in the prenursery and in the nursery. To do this, different proportions of manure from laying hens combined with those of potting soil constituted the treatments applied to oil palms. Growth parameters such as collar diameter, length of longest leaf, number of leaves emitted, and height of seedlings and plants were assessed. The results obtained showed that, regardless of the growth parameter, the maximum values ​​were recorded at a dose of 6.67% of laying hen manure, i.e. one volume of laying hen manure for 14 volumes of potting soil and at the dose of 16.67% of laying hen manure, i.e. one volume of laying hen manure for 5 volumes of potting soil for the prenursery and nursery stages, respectively. On the other hand, the growth parameters suffered from the effects of overdoses of manure from laying hens which ended up becoming toxic and even lethal to the plants. In this study, one volume of laying hen manure for 14 volumes of potting soil and one volume of laying hen manure for 5 volumes of potting soil were respectively retained as optimal quantities for the prenursery and nursery stages, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nitrogen (N) fertilization is the essential nutrient element that limits crop yields before any other element. However, excessive use of N fertilization often leads to economic loss and quality deterioration of the yield. Materials: In the present study, superior grapevines were fertilized with chemical N fertilizer, chicken manure, or biofertilizer (Nitrobeine) over three seasons (2018, 2019, and 2020) to quantify N usage from different sources. Results: The current study's findings show that N in the mineral form at 60% to 80%, organic and biofertilizers at 20% to 40% was very effective in improving all growth characteristics and yield when compared to using nitrogen completely in mineral form or reducing the percentages of mineral to 40%. Reducing the ratios of mineral nitrogen from 100% to 40% and at the same time increasing the proportions of organic and biofertilizers from 0.0 to 60% caused a gradual increase in the improved berry quality, raising in TSS, % reducing sugars, TSS/acid ratio and decreasing in total % acidity in berries. Conclusions: To improve the yield of Superior grapevines quantitatively and qualitatively with minimum chemical N, it is advisable to supply the vines with the suitable nitrogen (72.0 g N/vine/season) as mineral N (ammonium nitrate) at 60%, organic (chicken manure) at 20% and bio-fertilizers (nitrobeine) at 20%. Thus, replacing 40% of mineral fertilizers with organic and bio-fertilizers can be recommended for producing organic berries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major issue in modern agriculture is long-term sustainability. Nutrient management by integrating organic manures and inorganic fertilizers may play a vital role in improving and sustaining crop productivity. A long-term field experiment (since 1984) comprising 11 treatments with different combinations of inorganic and organic fertilizers such as farm yard manure (FYM), wheat cut straw (WCS) and Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata L.) as green manure (GM) was conducted to evaluate their effects on crop yield, nutrient accumulation and soil fertility status under a rice – wheat cropping system. The maximum grain yield of wheat was recorded in T6, i.e. 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) + 50% nitrogen through FYM in rice and 100% RDF in wheat (4291 kg ha−1) as compared to chemically fertilized plots T5, i.e. 100% RDF in both rice and wheat (3441 kg ha−1). The application of organic manures in combination with chemical fertilizers reduced soil pH and bulk density from 7.40 to 7.23 and 1.49 to 1.37 g cm−3, respectively. Soil organic carbon (SOC), available soil nutrients and nutrient accumulation by crop were higher in integrated nutrient management-treated plots as compared to control. A positive and significant correlation was observed between SOC and available soil nitrogen (r = 0.987), phosphorus (r = 0.913) and potassium (r = 0.921). The results clearly suggest that integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures on a long-term basis improves soil fertility and crop productivity with the potential to enhance soil sustainability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hermetia illucens L. known as Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is gaining worldwide interest as the most prevalent species in insect farming. In the current study, we evaluated under greenhouse conditions, the comparative performance of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) frass as an organic fertilizer and a traditional organic amendment: cow manure (CM), on soil rhizosphere properties and durum wheat agro-morphological, physiological, and yield parameters. Both organic fertilizers were applied at doses of 7.5 t/ha (BSFL7.5 and CM7.5), 15 t/ha (BSFL15 and CM15) and 30 t/ha (BSFL30 and CM30). The results showed that applying BSFL frass with 7.5 and 15 t/ha had an acidifying as well as a desalination effect on soil compared to CM. The highest mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents were recorded in soils receiving 30 t/ha of BSFL frass. Microbial biomass was found to be improved by applying the lowest doses of BSFL frass. Durum wheat plants grown in pots treated with BSFL frass had the highest height, dry root weight, and chlorophyll indicators. The PCA analysis identified grain yield, yield component, and soil nutrients as major drivers for the variability among samples. Our results highlight the potential of BSFL frass to improve soil health and wheat yields in an environmentelly-friendly way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To integrate the harmless treatment and resource utilization of piled distillers' grains waste (DGW) is a great challenge. Thus, the DGW was industrially composted, and a three-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the agronomic and environmental performances of the compost in maize cultivation. It was well composted to organic fertilizer (OF) within 42 days by the addition of lime, microbial starter, and adjuvant with ventilation and pile-turning. Compared with synthesized fertilizer application (SF), SF+OF increased maize yield, N uptake, utilization efficiency, and economic benefits. OF slowly released N in the early growing stage, which synchronized less N uptake by the young maize seedlings and thus significantly reduced inorganic N (NH4+-N and NO3–-N) levels in the soil. SF behaved oppositely, increasing NH3 and N2O emissions. Total CO2 emissions from the soils varied little between SF and SF+OF, and CH4 emission was very low in all treatments. These results suggested more organic matter depletion in the soil fertilized with only SF than that with SF+OF, and CH4 emission could be overlooked in the maize field. Moreover, SF+OF greatly decreased the emissions of NH3 and greenhouse gases for producing each unit of maize grains, showing better agronomic and environmental performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the destruction of the soil environment caused by excessive application of chemical fertilizers has attracted attention to using organic fertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers. Previous studies have shown that chicken manure fermentation extract (CMFE) as an organic fertilizer may also directly influence soil nutrient availability from the soil native pool and fertilizer application. However, it is unclear whether application CMFE can partially replacing chemical fertilizer to reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer without reducing cucumber yield. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in Yantai Agricultural Science Academy of Shandong Province in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, five fertilization combinations were set up, namely CK (900 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer), T1 (750 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer +150 L·ha−1 CMFE), T2 (675 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer +225 L·ha−1 CMFE), T3 (600 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer +300 L·ha−1 CMFE) and T4 (525 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer +375 L·ha−1 CMFE). Selected the optimal combination T3 for testing in 2019. The yield, quality, photosynthesis and growth indicators of cucumber, as well as soil nutrients and microbial content were determined. The results showed that the fertilization combination of 600 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer +300 L·ha−1 CMFE (T3) can minimize the amount of chemical fertilizer used without reducing yield. Compared with conventional fertilizer application, CMFE partially replacing chemical fertilizer did not reduce cucumber yield, but significantly increased cucumber vitamin C and protein content. CMFE partially replacing chemical fertilizer increased the root to shoot ratio as well as the fresh and dry weight of vegetative organs in cucumber, optimizing the growth and development of cucumber. Compared with conventional fertilizer application, CMFE partially replacing chemical fertilizer increased the content of soil organic matter, improved the composition structure of soil microbial community, increased the relative abundance of Actinomycete and Acinetobacter, and reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycetes. Overall, CMFE partially replacing chemical fertilizer optimized the growth and development of cucumbers, increased the root to shoot ratio, increased soil organic matter content, increased microbial abundance and diversity, and improved the composition structure of soil microbial communities. Therefore, in order to reduce the use of fertilizers, it is recommended to partially replacing chemical fertilizers with CMFE, with the optimal combination of 600 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer +300 L·ha−1 CMFE (T3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fertilization, a critical agronomic practice for improving nutrient availability and crop growth, may increase the risk of phosphorus (P) loss. To investigate the effect of organic fertilization on P availability, crop growth and P loss, a paddy field experiment was conducted in the saline-alkaline paddy soil. We designed four treatments: CK (no fertilizer), NPK (mineral fertilizer), and NPKC1 and NPKC2 (mineral fertilizer with low and high levels of organic fertilizer, respectively); the amounts of N, P2O5, and K2O were equal in the NPK, NPKC1, and NPKC2 treatments. Compared with the NPK treatment, organic fertilization enhanced the content of total, organic, and available P in the topsoil. Moreover, organic fertilization significantly improved both the growth and P removal of crops. The content of oxalate Fe, Al, and dissolved organic carbon, the main carriers of P loss, in the soil was the highest in the NPKC2 treatment. The soil P saturation ratio (PSR) in the NPKC2 treatment was 0.25, exceeding the threshold PSR for P loss of 0.16. Therefore, organic fertilizer application could improve P availability and crop growth; however, high-level organic fertilization increases the risk of P loss in coastal saline-alkaline paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]