Search

Azolla pinnata is a small floating fern which widely occurs in certain regions such as Southeast Asia. Azolla is utilized in the new plant research on the currently existing products for soilless growth media. Soilless growth media are an alternative component to replace soil for cultivation uses. In urbanization scenario nowadays, most of the flatten open-area soil is used for development, affecting the soil supply for plants. To introduce a new component such as the soilless growth media, it must have the same or more nutrients than soil or other existing soilless growth media. A study found that Azolla is used as a soilless growth media in the nursery for olive trees cultivation. According to the study, the nutrients obtained from Azolla are sufficient to replace soil as a growth media. In this experiment, the Single Dry Ashing, and Kjeldahl and Dummas methods were used to evaluate and compare both macro and micronutrients of Azolla to Midorie Pafcal and Jiffy-7 pallets. Based on the results, the values were 0.94 % (N), 4352.00 ppm (P), and 563.13 ppm (K); compared to 1.35% (N), 377.13 ppm (P), 1512.33 ppm (K); and 0% (N), 563.13 ppm (P), 1343.67 ppm (K), respectively. The results also showed the values of Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) for Azolla, Midorie Pafcal and Jiffy-7 samples were 15.33 ppm (Cu), 2579.67 ppm (Fe), 93.63 ppm (Zn); 7.53 ppm (Cu), 9988.33 ppm (Fe), 26.77 ppm (Zn); and 13.01 ppm (Cu), 1150.30 (Fe), 12.40 ppm (Zn), respectively. In conclusion, Azolla pinnata is capable of providing the nutrients required for a plant, making it suitable as a soilless growth media for all plants.

The conversion of chicken feathers, generated annually worldwide on a large scale as a by-product of the poultry industry into value-added products, has economic and environmental benefits. Protein hydrolysate produced from feathers has attracted significant attention in agriculture as a potential plant growth stimulant. Therefore, a study was established with the aim to produce and characterize chicken feather protein hydrolysate (CFPH) and investigate the effects of this product on the early growth of nursery tea plants. Alkaline hydrolysis was used to produce CFPH with the yield of 165 mg amino acids per gram of feathers. Then, the produced CFPH was applied on nursery tea plants as a soil drench at different doses (0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 g L−1) in 2-week intervals until the 10th application. Commercially available fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was included as a treatment to compare the effects with CFPH. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design with three replications. CFPH and FPH significantly improved the shoot and root growth parameters. Plant height (+98%), leaf number (+61%), shoot dry biomass (+128%), root length (+94%), root surface area (+15%), and root dry biomass (+152%) were significantly increased by the application of CFPH (2 g L−1 dose) compared to control. Although the highest CFPH dosage (4 g L−1) showed a reduction in growth parameters, the values obtained were similar or higher than the untreated control plants. The chlorophyll content (a, b, and total) was enhanced by the CFPH dosage of 1 g L−1, whereas the highest photosynthetic rate was recorded in the CFPH 3 g L−1 treatment. The application of protein hydrolysates (PH) did not positively influence stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration. Leaf nitrogen, phosphorous, manganese, and copper were positively affected by the CFPH application. The effect of CFPH on growth parameters was more pronounced than FPH. Our findings reveal that CFPH produced by alkaline hydrolysis could be used as a growth booster in raising vigorous tea nursery plants, which are most suitable for field planting and subsequently higher yields.

Acid soil is an obstacle to agricultural development and a concern regarding food and environmental security. Therefore, a study was carried out for two consecutive years to see how lime and organic manure (OM) amendments affect yield and nutrient absorption in the Transplanted (T.) Aman–Mustard–Boro cropping pattern in an acidic terrace soil. With nine treatments and three replications, the experiment was set in a randomized complete block design. The treatments were applied to the first crop, T. Aman, with different dosages of lime (dololime at the rate of 1 and 2 t ha−1), OM (cow dung at 5 t ha−1, poultry manure at 3 t ha−1) and lime–OM combination, and their residual effects were studied in the following mustard and boro rice crops. Results demonstrate that the effect of lime and manure was more pronounced in the case of the second and third crops in the first year and of all crops in the pattern in the second year. In the first year, grain and straw yield of T. Aman as well as the overall system productivity were not influenced significantly by the application of lime and manure, but significant increases were obtained in the second year. As an average of both years, the highest grain yield of 5.2 t ha−1 (12% over control) was recorded for T. Aman, 1.7 t ha−1 (41% over control) for mustard and 5.9 t ha−1 (47% over control, 3.9 t ha−1) for boro rice when dololime was applied in combination with poultry manure. In both years, N, P, K and S uptake were significantly increased compared to the control in all the crops due to the combined application of lime and cow dung or poultry manure. Combined application of lime and manure amendment significantly improved nutrient availability and soil quality. Therefore, applying lime in combination with manure can be practiced to uplift crop productivity in acidic terrace soils.

This study was conducted to (i) Determine dry matter production, nutrients concentration, nutrients uptake and use efficiency of Zea mays by including clinoptilolite zeolite in the fertilization program of Zea mays planted on an acid soil and (ii) Determine the effect of including Clinoptilolite zeolite in the fertilization program of Zea mays on selected chemical properties of an acid soil. The effect of Clinoptilolite zeolite application with 75% of fertilizers (C2) and 100% fertilizers (C1) on soil chemical properties were statistically similar. Similar observation was made for dry matter production, nutrients concentration, nutrients uptake and nutrients use efficiency. These suggest that substituting 25% of N, P and K fertilizers with Clinoptilolite zeolite is more beneficial compared to 100% application of these fertilizers. Clinoptilolite zeolite strong affinity for monovalent cations ensured timely availability of P by exerting more soil exchange sites to occupy Al3+ and Fe2+.

In acid soils of the humid tropics, Phosphorus (P) deficiency due to its fixation by Al and Fe is common. It is therefore important to ensure adequate supply of P for optimum crop production. The use of zeolite on acid soils could fix Al and Fe and thus, rendering P readily available for crop use. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of including clinoptilolite zeolite in Zea mays cultivation on an acid soil on selected soil chemical properties, dry matter production, nutrient uptake and use efficiency of Zea mays. Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), urea and Muriate of Potash (MOP) were used in this study. Twenty five percent of the recommended N, P and K fertilizers for Zea mays were replaced with Clinoptilolite zeolite. Standard procedures were used to determine soil pH, exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate, available phosphorus, exchangeable aluminium, iron, cations and organic matter before and after planting. The plants were harvested at tasselling stage and measured for dry matter production, nutrients uptake and use efficiency. The effect of zeolite application with 75% of fertilization (T2) and 100% fertilization (T1) on soil chemical properties were statistically similar. Similar observation was made on dry matter production, nutrients concentration, nutrients uptake and nutrients use efficiency. The findings reported in this paper indicate that Clinoptilolite zeolite could be used to reduce the use of N, P and K fertilizers use of Zea mays on acid soils. At least three cropping cycles are recommended to confirm the findings of this study. It is also essential to estimate the economic benefits of including zeolite in Zea mays cultivation. These aspects are being investigated in on-going field trial.

Ammonia volatilization from urea and ammonium containing compound fertilizers cause higher cost of fertilization in agriculture. In this study, an incubation experiment was carried out to compare the effect of different ratios of compound fertilizer amended with clinoptilolite zeolite on NH3 volatilization, soil exchangeable NH4 and available NO3 contents on Bekenu Series (Tipik Tualemkuts) with surface-applied urea without additives. Treatments with zeolite significantly reduced NH3 loss when compared with urea without addictives. They also improved retention of exchangeable NH4 and NO3 and this was possible because zeolite favoured formation of ammonium and nitrate over ammonia. There is a potential for compound fertilizer with zeolite to improve nitrogen efficiency by lowering ammonia volatilization and increasing accumulation of exchangeable NH4 and NO3. Key words: Ammonia volatilization, compound fertilizers, clinoptilolite zeolite, soil exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate.

Ammonia volatilization is a direct loss of available nitrogen in agriculture. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of amending NPK fertilizer with different rates of clinoptilolite zeolite on ammonia volatilization, soil exchangeable ammonium, and available nitrate. Seven treatments evaluated were: 250 g soil alone (T1), 3.28 g ammonium nitrate (AN) without additive (T2), 44.6 g 5:3:2 formulated fertilizer + 31.77 g zeolite (T3), 44.6 g 5:5:5 formulated fertilizer + 26.36 g zeolite (T4), 37.17 g 6:6:6 formulated fertilizer + 18.92 g zeolite (T5), 22.30 g 10:10:10 formulated fertilizer + 4.06 g zeolite (T6), and 14.87 g 15:15:15 commercial fertilizer (T7). The ammonia loss was measured using close-dynamic air flow system method. Soil pH, exchangeable ammonium and available nitrate at the end of this study were determined using standard procedures. The mixture of formulated fertilizer and zeolite significantly reduced ammonia volatilization. Zeolite in the formulated compound fertilizers did not significantly affect soil exchangeable ammonium and available nitrate. Amending N, P, and K compound fertilizer could minimize ammonia loss. Keywords: Ammonium nitrate, zeolite, ammonia volatilization, soil exchangeable ammonium, soil available nitrate

Application of crude humin with urea and Egyptian rock phosphate (ERP) may reduce ammonia loss from urea. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mixing crude humin with urea and ERP on ammonia volatilization and selected soil chemical properties. Crude humin from four different composts was mixed with urea and ERP and ammonia loss from these treatments were evaluated using the closed-dynamic air flow system. Standard procedures were used to determine ammonia loss, soil pH, total nitrogen, exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate, exchangeable phosphorus, cations, organic matter, total organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. Amending urea with crude humin had no effect on total amount of ammonia loss. However, addition of the crude humin significantly increased pH, organic matter, total organic carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable cations of Bekenu series (Tipik Tualemkuts). Crude humin from selected waste compost can be used to improve soil chemical properties.

Excessive uses of fertilizer can create environmental problems such as soil pollution. This problem could be reduced by amending clinoptilolite zeolite with compound fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of clinoptilolite zeolite rates in compound fertilizers (N: P: K) on maize nutrients uptake and use efficiency. The following treatments were considered and evaluated: soil alone (T1), 44.6 g 5:3:2 formulated fertilizer (12.83 g compound fertilizer + 31.77 g zeolite) (T2), 44.6 g 5:5:5 formulated fertilizer(18.24 g compound fertilizer + 26.36 g zeolite) (T3), 37.17 g 6:6:6 formulated fertilizer (18.25 g compound fertilizer + 18.92 g zeolite) (T4), 22.30 g 10:10:10 formulated fertilizer (18.24 g compound fertilizer + 4.06 g zeolite) (T5), and 14.87 g 15:15:15 commercial fertilizer (T6). Selected soil chemical properties, as well as, dry weight, nutrients concentrations, uptake and use efficiency were measured. Compound fertilizers with zeolite increased soil pH compared to soil alone (T1) and commercial fertilizer (T6). Application of compound fertilizer did no significantly affect total N and available nitrate in the soil. T6 gave better plant height and dry matter production among treatments. Nitrogen concentrations for all plant parts were similar for all treatments. T6 showed better P concentrations, uptake, and use efficiency. K concentrations in maize plant parts were significantly increased for treatments with zeolite except for roots. T5 and T6 significantly increased K uptake. T6 significantly increased N and P uptake and use efficiency, while T2 significantly increased K use efficiency. Amending N, P, and K fertilizers with higher dosage of clinoptilolite zeolite improved soil chemical properties, nutrient uptake of Masmadu variety. Compound fertilizers amended with clinoptilolite zeolite enhanced K use efficiency of Masmadu maize variety.

Adoption of new management techniques, such as clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) utilization has attracted muchattention in the fertilizer industry. Accordingly, the aims of this study is to evaluate: if CZ, acting as an inertmaterial, when applied to the soil, might improve the selected soil properties, height, dry matter, nutrientconcentration, nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency on maize cultivation; the potential for (N:P:K) compoundfertilizer when incorporated with CZ to serve same standard as the commercial fertilizer in fertilizer industry.The effect of T1, T3 and T6 on soil total N was found to be significant, when compared with T7. Treatments withCZ on soil total P, K and available P, K differed significantly relatively to T1 and T7. The treatments T5 and T6had the highest accumulation of exchangeable NH4+ and available NO3- relatively to T1 and T7. The significanteffect of the treatments having CZ on N concentration, in uptake and use efficiency, suggests that CZincorporated with fertilizer can reduce NH3 loss, triggering the formation of NH4+ and NO3- over ammonia andincrease maize uptake. Relatively to P concentration, uptake and use efficiency, it was found that in mosttreatments having CZ, lower values were obtained, relatively to the commercial fertilizer, although T3 clearlyimproved P uptake in roots. Most of the treatments with CZ remained statistically similar in K concentration,uptake and use efficiency compared to commercial fertilizer. It may be concluded that treatments with higheramounts clinoptilolite zeolite ensured good retention of soil exchangeable cations, available P, and NO3- withinthe soil. Treatments with CZ improved N uptake and use efficiency in the maize crop tested.