Assessment of Chemical and Manual Weed Control Approaches for Effective Weed Suppression and Maize Productivity Enhancement Under Maize-Wheat Cropping System

ABSTRACT Phosphorus is one of the key nutrients needed for root initiation, root elongation, root dispersion, roots nodulation and N2 fixation in soybean. Lack of phosphorus limiting soybean growth, productivity and seed setting. Low P availability to plants is a global problem limiting crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Several agronomic practices have been proposed to enhance P availability and use by crops for higher yield under diverse climatic conditions. Application of organic and inorganic fertilizer with beneficial microbes increases availability of phosphorus in soil and increases its uptake. It is assumed that integration of organic, inorganic and beneficial microbes replenish nutrients in soil, prevent soil declining and degradation, maintain soil functions and increase nutrients availability. These findings confirmed the significant effect of organic sources (biochar, compost and residues) on the reactivity of phosphate. It has been perceived that the release of different organic acids by microflora enhances availability of the indigenous rock phosphate. Extensive usage of organic matter for crop production with chemical and biological fertilizer improves grain yield, plant and soil chemical quality, with the benefit of optimizing economic return.

Phosphorus Availability Enhanced with Combine Application of Organic Amendments and Beneficial Microbes under Soybean-Wheat Cropping System

Abstract Nano-black carbon is a high carbonate modification created by the absence of oxygen or limited supply of a wide variety of feedstocks. Nano-black carbon typically has a high level of area, capacity for cation exchange, reactive functional groups, and highly reactive carbon. Due to these characteristics, Nano-black carbon has been widely associated with multiple abiotic stress reductions to enhance crop growth, development, production, soil fertility, and soil quality. Nano-black carbon application in agriculture possesses the potential to tolerate abiotic stress. Organic biomass thermal degradation in limited oxygen forms a solid coproduce known as Nano-black carbon (biochar). There is a growing interest worldwide in Nano-black carbon application in agriculture and farm produce. The main reasons for Nano-black carbon application in agriculture and cultural practices might be due to (a) a source of renewable biofuels and carbon sequestration (ii) Many biomass waste materials can be treated by pyrolysis and thus converted into fuel sources. (iii) The long-term sequence of carbon dioxide that can be introduced into the atmosphere by adding Nano-black carbon to the soil. Nano-black carbon amendment into the soil improving soil fertility and crop productivity. To meet global food security, crop production faces several real challenges, including declining trend of soil fertility and organic matter, climatic extremes, unmanaged rainfall patterns, and pathogens. Abiotic pressures such as heat and cold, drought, salinity, water storage, and heavy metal pressure are emerging as important factors in reducing crop production globally.

Management of abiotic stresses with nano-black carbon is a tool for crop production

Abstract Tomato is an important vegetable crop which provides approximately 40% of the daily recommended vitamin C and vitamin A, which supports human health. The experiments were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) having four treatments and four time repetition under high tunnel. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers were applied at the rate of 60:60:60 kg/ha or 1:1:1 to T1, T2 and T3 after each 10, 20 and 30 day’s interval while Zn (5 kg/ha) was applied as a basal dose. The highest marketable yield was observed for T2 after each 20 days of NPK application. Maximum Grad-A fruit among the treatments was recorded for T1, Grade-B for T2 & T3 and Grade-C for T0. Highest density was recorded for T2, % moisture for T0, maximum chlorophyll content in leaves was recorded for T2 while highest shelf life was noted for T1, T2 and T3 except T0. The fruit and straw of tomato was analyzed to determine N, P and K (%) by using standard protocol. Among all the treatments highest N, P and K in fruit was observed for T1. In case of straw maximum N was observed for T1 whereas high level of P and K was recorded for T2. Similarly the total NPK uptake were in the order as: T1 > T2 > T3 >T0, respectively. Experiential findings revealed that application of NPK after each 20 days are the suitable interval to get high marketable yield and highly bio-fortified and quality tomato crop.

Growing of off-season tomato in high tunnel and its nutritional value augmentation with integrated nutrients management

Mollisols include an abundance of soil organic carbon (SOC) which is easily influenced by fertilization management. Manure addition could enhance soil aggregate stability; however, the dominating factor affecting its stabilization remains controversial. The fertilization practices were initiated in 2012 to investigate the influences of different fertilization managements on the contents and molecular characterization of organic carbon (OC) fractions, and to clarify the underlying mechanism of soil aggregate stability change. NoF (non-fertilizer), CF (only chemical fertilizer), CF + DM (chemical fertilizer plus single dairy manure at 15 t ha−1), and CF + 2DM (chemical fertilizer plus double dairy manure at 30 t ha−1) treatments were established. This research was aimed at exploring the potential mechanism that affects aggregate stability in Mollisols through the variation of contents and chemical composition of OC fractions, and screening out the appropriate fertilization practice on promoting SOC stabilization and crop yield under 7-year manure addition. Compared to CF, 7-year manure addition significantly enhanced SOC content by 17.4–35.9% at 0–10 cm depth, which was evidenced from the contribution of increased aromatic compounds with 4.3-19.9%. Simultaneously, compared with CF, CF + DM and CF + 2DM both significantly enhanced dissolved organic carbon and easily oxidizable organic carbon contents by 12.5–37.7% at a 0–30 cm soil layer. In regard to soil aggregates, the increased OC content and mass percentage of macroaggregates, and the decreased mass percentage of free microaggregates both improved aggregate stability under manure addition at 0-30 cm soil layer, which was proven to be the increment in mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) values by 17.6–22.1%. Moreover, CF + DM and CF + 2DM raised aromatic compound amounts of POM fractions within macroaggregates [M(c)POM] by 5.6–11.6% and within free microaggregates (Fm-POM) by 4.3–10%. Furthermore, CF + DM and CF + 2DM both significantly increased maize yield by 5.7% and 4.2% compared to CF, but no significant difference was observed between CF + DM and CF + 2DM treatments. Collectively, physical protection through the occlusion within aggregates of POM might be the central mechanism for soil aggregate stability of manure addition in Mollisols. The manure addition of 15 t ha−1 was the effective management method to enhance SOC stabilization and crop yield in Mollisols.

/pdf/increased-soil-aggregate-stability-by-altering-contents-and-8v7kq452.pdf

Increased Soil Aggregate Stability by Altering Contents and Chemical Composition of Organic Carbon Fractions via Seven Years of Manure Addition in Mollisols

Abstract The immobility of phosphorus (P) and its precipitation in the soil is a major fact and remains in place where P fertilizer applied. Without organic amendments and beneficial microbes, P availability is limited in the current season crop. To increase crop productivity and P availability, field experiments were conducted at Agriculture Research Institute Mingora Swat (ARI) for two consecutive years in the summer season (2016 and 2017). The main objective of this research work was to evaluate the impact of peach based residues (partially decomposed, compost, and Nano-black carbon), three P levels (50, 75, 100 kg P ha−1), and two beneficial microbes, [phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and fungi (Trichoderma)] on soybean. Experimental outcomes revealed dry matter partitioning and dry weight in soybean stem, leaves, and pods amplified with peach organic amendments and carbon sequestration in soil. Dry weight and partitioning in leaf, stem, pods, and total plant considerably improved with combined application of peach Nano-black carbon, soil application of Trichoderma, and 100 kg P ha−1 in both stages combine over the two years. It is suggested to enhance P availability in soil, Nano-black carbon and soil application of Trichoderma might be effective with 100 kg P ha−1 for optimum plant growth, yield, and yield contributing traits.

Carbon assimilation and dry matter partitioning in soybean ameliorates with the integration of nano-black carbon, along with beneficial microbes and phosphorus fertilization

Abdel Rehman Altawaha

Papers

Carbon assimilation and dry matter partitioning in soybean ameliorates with the integration of nano-black carbon, along with beneficial microbes and phosphorus fertilization