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Nitrogen (N) is the prime nutrient for crop production and carbon-based functions associated with soil quality. The objective of our study (2012 to 2019) was to evaluate the impact of variable rates of N fertilization on soil organic carbon (C) pools and their stocks, stratification, and lability in subtropical wheat (Triticum aestivum)—mungbean (Vigna radiata)—rice (Oryza sativa L) agroecosystems. The field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCB) with N fertilization at 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140% of the recommended rates of wheat (100 kg/ha), mungbean (20 kg/ha), and rice (80 kg/ha), respectively. Composite soils were collected at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths from each replicated plot and analyzed for microbial biomass (MBC), basal respiration (BR), total organic C (TOC), particulate organic C (POC), permanganate oxidizable C (POXC), carbon lability indices, and stratification. N fertilization (120 and 140%) significantly increased the POC at both depths; however, the effect was more pronounced in the surface layer. Moreover, N fertilization (at 120% and 140%) significantly increased the TOC and labile C pools when compared to the control (100%) and the lower rates (60 and 80%). N fertilization significantly increased MBC, C pool (CPI), lability (CLI), and management indices (CMI), indicating improved and efficient soil biological activities in such systems. The MBC and POC stocks were significantly higher with higher rates of N fertilization (120% and 140%) than the control. Likewise, higher rates of N fertilization significantly increased the stocks of labile C pools. Equally, the stratification values for POC, MBC, and POXC show evidence of improved soil quality because of optimum N fertilization (120–140%) to maintain and/or improve soil quality under rice-based systems in subtropical climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Our study had considered some organic amendments to enhance nutrient level of marketed municipal solid waste (MSW) compost for its potential use as fertilizer for growing crops in alluvial soils. Method We prepared three types of amended compost by mixing 20% mustard oil cake (MOC), and 30% poultry manure (PM) or cowdung (CD) or sugarcane press mud (SPM) with 50% MSW compost. The nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) mineralization study was done in soil treated with three amended and one unamended composts with three replications through an incubation experiment at a temperature of 25 ± 1°C for 82 days under aerobic (field capacity) and anaerobic (submerged) conditions. The mineralization data were fitted to the first-order kinetic model. Results The soil NO3 --N content was 2-3 times higher in aerobic condition than in anaerobic condition, while the NH4 +-N was higher in anaerobic soils. The kinetic model reveals that poultry manure and sugarcane press mud had higher capability to supply N for use by the crops. The P release was the highest at day 15 with three-time higher availability in anaerobic condition. The S mineralization in soil was higher in field capacity than in submerged condition. Conclusion The compost mixture comprising MSW, MOC and SPM in a ratio of 5:2:3 demonstrated the highest cumulative N, P and S mineralization in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The N and S availability decreased while the P availability increased in submerged soils which result has fertilizer management implications for wet land rice crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted at farmers' fields in Chandina, Cumilla of Bangladesh covering soils of Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain to find the effect of micronutrient application to tomato in floodplain soils. Randomized complete block design with 3 replications was used in the experiment where seven treatments including a control were tested. The treatments were formulated taking six micronutrients, i. e., Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Fe and Mo at the rate of 3, 2, 2, 3, 5 and 1 kg ha-1, respectively. The treatments were designed following the additive element trial technique and N, P, K and S were applied at recommended rate equally to all plots. Fruit yield of tomato was affected significantly by the application of Zn alone but combine application of both Zn and B showed the highest responses. It was evident that the application of only Zn and B was sufficient to achieve a tomato fruit yield of 66.4 t ha-1 that was similar to the highest yielding (67.5 t ha-1) treatment (T7). The lowest yield (56.8 t ha-1) was in the control treatment. Stover yield and plant height did not respond significantly while only Zn was found responsive for fruit yield, fruit clusters and number of fruits per plant. Similar to fruit yield, protein content and in all cases, nutrient uptake were affected by the application of both Zn and B. It was noted that the application of Zn and B influenced different growth and yield parameters while the other four micronutrients tested did not have any effect. However, the combine application of Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Fe and Mo was beneficial for plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of integrated use of manure and fertilizers on crop yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility was studied in the Boro-fallow-T. Aman cropping pattern over two years. The experiment was set up at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm, Mymensingh under the AEZ 9 (Old Brahmaputra Floodplain). The field trial consisted of eight treatments and control (no fertilizer or manure), 100% chemical fertilizers (CF), and IPNS based six treatments with six types of manure. Cowdung (CD), CD slurry, Trichocompost (TC) and vermicompost (VC) were added to soil at 5 t ha-1 and poultry manure (PM) and PM slurry applied at 3 t ha-1. For all IPNS treatments, nutrient supply from manure was adjusted with that from chemical fertilizers. In each crop cycle, manure was applied to the first crop (Boro rice) and the residual effect was evaluated on the succeeding crop (T.Aman rice). The IPNS based treatments significantly increased the grain and straw yields of Boro rice and it had also positive residual effect on T.Aman rice. Trichocompost and vermicompost, among the six IPNS treatments, demonstrated higher crop yield and that was followed by poultry manure slurry and cowdung slurry. Integrated use of manure with fertilizers gave on an average 8.3-33.8% and 2.9-18.3% higher grain yield in Boro and T. Aman rice, respectively over sole fertilizers treatment. Higher nutrient uptake by crops (N, P, K & S) was also observed in IPNS treated plots. The IPNS treatments improved soil fertility in terms of increasing organic matter, N, P and S contents of soil after two crop cycles. The study suggests that manure and fertilizers should be used in an integrated manner to achieve sustainable crop yield, without incurring loss to soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was done at Bangladesh Agricultural University farm to evaluate the field performances of different types of manures viz. cowdung (CD), cowdung slurry (CD slurry), trichocompost (TC), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM) and poultry manure slurry (PM slurry) with chemical fertilizers in the potato-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping pattern during 2011-12 and 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and eight treatments including T1 (Control), T2 [HYG based 100% chemical fertilizer (CF)], T3 [CD + CF (IPNS basis)], T4 [CD slurry + CF (IPNS basis)], T5 [PM + CF (IPNS basis)], T6 [PM slurry + CF (IPNS basis)], T7 [TC + CF (IPNS basis)] and T8 [VC + CF (IPNS basis)]. Trichocompost + CF and vermicompost + CF containing treatments produced higher crop yield followed by poultry manure slurry and cowdung slurry. Integrated use of manures and fertilizers gave on an average 6.7-33.7%, 8.3-33.8% and 2.9-18.3% yield increase in potato, mungbean and T. aman rice, respectively over sole application of chemical fertilizers (data not shown). Use of IPNS improved nutrient content and uptake of mungbean. The present study thus indicates that use of manure, especially trichocompost, vermicompost, PM slurry and CD slurry integrated with chemical fertilizers would help increase crop yield and improve soil fertility. However, Trichocompost + CF was the best option in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different crops have variations in their responses to applied micronutrients in soil. A study was conducted on floodplain soil of Bangladesh to explore the response of potato to application of micronutrients in soil. The experimental site was located at farmers' field in Chandina upazila under Cumilla district of Bangladesh covering the soils of Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain (AEZ 19) during 2011-12. Randomized complete block design with 3 replications of each treatment was used in the experiment, where seven treatments including a control were tested. Additive element trial technique was followed while designing the treatments taking six micronutrients i. e. Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Fe and Mo at the rate of 3, 2, 2, 3, 5 and 1 kg ha-1, respectively. Macronutrients, such as N, P, K and S were applied at recommended rates to all plots. The highest tuber yield (28.7 t ha-1) was produced by the combined application of Zn and B. Only Zn application was sufficient to obtain the highest content of protein as well as content of almost all the nutrients in potato tuber. Antagonistic relation between Zn and P in soil-plant system was recorded in the study. Zinc and boron application influenced different growth and yield parameters of potato while the other four added micronutrients did not have any significant effect but combined application of Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Fe and Mo had beneficial role for better plant growth and production. Proper management of zinc and boron fertilizers including optimization of application rates of those nutrients can help to uphold the yield and quality of potato in floodplain soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic manure and chemical fertilizers on soil properties and vegetable crops in the cabbage-brinjal-red amaranth cropping pattern at the homestead in a Grey Terrace Soil (Aric Albaquept) of Bangladesh. There were eight treatments: poultry manure (PM) at 5 t ha−1, cowdung (CD) at 10 t ha−1, household waste (HW) at 10 t ha−1, PM at 2.5 t ha−1+ chemical fertilizers (CF), CD at 5 t ha−1+ CF, HW at 5 t ha−1+ CF, CF, and Control. The lone CF treatment indicates 100% chemical fertilizers and any manure + CF indicates supplementary or reduced rate of fertilizers. The PM at 2.5 t ha−1+ CF treatment performed the best yield for cabbage and brinjal, and HW at 5 t ha−1+ CF yielded the highest for red amaranth. The highest uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur was also found in the treatment that produced the highest yield. Bulk density, organic carbon, and nutrient availability in soil as determined after two-crop cycles were improved due to the applications of manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse for examining the effect of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) additions to soils on the nutrient concentration in plants as well as in rhizosphere of soybean (Glycine max L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). The plants were grown for 8 weeks on two soils, one amended with farmyard manure and the other with chemical fertilizers, both for a period of 12 years. Before planting, the two soils were further treated with B, Zn, B + Zn, and control (no B or Zn), all with a basal application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The dry matter yield of the crops did not respond to B or Zn addition to soil, however, the concentration of B and Zn in plant tissues greatly increased, which is desirable for dairy cattle feed. The extractable B, Zn, N and manganese (Mn) concentrations in the rhizosphere increased, the copper (Cu) concentration decreased, and the iron (Fe) concentration was unchanged. The increased concentration of B and Zn in the rhizosphere was related to decrease in soil pH. The concentration of a nutrient was generally higher in the manure treated soil than in the fertilized soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]