Soil Chemical Analysis

Soil tests aid vegetable growers with their soil fertility and fertilizer application programs. Soil tests are most useful when growers keep accurate records for each field that include the amount of fertilizers and other soil amendments they applied, crop yields, and rotations. These records allow growers to determine trends in soil fertility and crop response to applied fertilizers over several years.

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management

Biochar for soil applications-sustainability aspects, challenges and future prospects

To evaluate the response to lime on cultivars of ricebean ( Vigna umbellata ), a field experiment was conducted during the two consecutive rabi seasons of 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 in the Nagaland foothills, India. The experiment used a split-plot design with four levels of lime (control, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 t ha − 1 ) in main plots and four ricebean cultivars (RBS-16, RBS-53, PRR-2, and RCRB-4) in sub-plots with three replicates. The results revealed that increasing levels of lime (in the furrow) from 0 to 0.6 t ha − 1 significantly increased growth, yield attributes and yield. The quality parameters of ricebean were also influenced significantly by the application of lime. Maximum gross return (INR 39,098 ha − 1 ), net return (INR 27,281 ha − 1 ), benefit:cost (B:C) ratio (2.29), production efficiency, and economic efficiency were also realized with the application of lime at 0.6 t ha − 1 . Among the ricebean cultivars, RBS-53 produced significantly higher growth, yield attributes, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index. Similarly, yield and protein content were higher in RBS-53. Maximum gross return, net return, B:C ratio, production efficiency, and economic efficiency were observed for RBS-53.

Productivity, quality and soil health as influenced by lime in ricebean cultivars in foothills of northeastern India

K. M. Nair, K. S. Anil Kumar, M. Lalitha*, Shivanand, S. C. Ramesh Kumar, S. Srinivas, Arti Koyal, S. Parvathy, K. Sujatha, C. Thamban, Jeena Mathew, K. P. Chandran, Abdul Haris, V. Krishnakumar, V. Srinivasan, Jessy, James Jacob, J. S. Nagaraj, Maria Violet D’Souza, Y. Raghuramulu, R. Hegde and S. K. Singh Regional Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, India ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod 671 124, India ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode 673 012, India Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam 686 009, India Coffee Research Institute, Chikmagalur 577 117, India

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Surface soil and subsoil acidity in natural and managed land-use systems in the humid tropics of peninsular India.

To evaluate the effect of sulphur (S) and boron (B) on the productivity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in an Entisol of Kerala, a field experiment was laid out in a factorial RBD with 4 levels each of sulphur (0, 7.5, 15.0 and 30 kg S ha−1) and boron (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 kg B ha−1). Results showed that S and B acted synergistically in enhancing the biometric characters, root characters, yield and yield attributes of sesame, and nutrient uptake by grain and straw. The available nutrient status was also significantly improved by the application of these nutrients.

Synergistic-Influence of Sulphur and Boron on Enhancing the Productivity of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Grown in an Entisol of Kerala

An experiment was conducted to standardize the critical boron level in soil and leaf samples of coconut palms grown in a typical Entisol of the Onattukara region of Kerala, India. Graded levels of boron as borax were applied at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 g per palm per year in four split doses. The critical boron level in soil and leaves was standardized using the following methods: the Cate and Nelson graphical (CN) method, the Mistcherlich equation (ME), and the quadratic plateau response (QP) method. In the CN method, the critical level of boron in soil and leaves was 0.48 mg kg-1 and 11.5 mg kg-1, respectively. In the ME model, the critical boron level in soil and leaves was 0.46 mg kg-1 and 7.55 mg kg-1, respectively. In the QP response curve, the critical level of boron in soil was estimated to be 0.87 mg kg-1, and in the leaf, the critical level was found to be 13.27 mg kg-1. Because the level estimated via the graphical method and by the Mistcherlich equation is similar with regard to the soil boron, 0.48 mg kg-1 can be considered as the critical boron level in soil. Regarding the critical boron level in the leaf, values estimated via the CN method and the QP response curve are in proximity, and, hence, the critical boron level in leaf is 13.27 mg kg-1. These results suggest the application of 160 g of borax in four split doses when the levels of boron in soil and leaves fall below the estimated critical values for better use efficiency.

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Standardization of critical boron level in soil and leaves of coconut palms grown in a tropical Entisol

Response of cowpea to Phosphogypsum, a by-product of phosphatic fertilizer industry was studied during of rabi season 2002 in Laterite soil (Typic Kandiudult). The field experiment was carried out with 8 treatments including absolute control, recommended package of practices (250 kg ha−1), lime/phosphogypsum @ full lime requirement (full LR) and half LR respectively and combination of both lime and phosphogypsum each at 1/2 and 1/4 LR respectively. Application of amendments either as lime or phosphogypsum has significant effect on yield and yield attributes of cowpea. Phosphogypsum @ full LR gave the highest grain yield (2311 kg ha−1) followed by the combination of lime and phosphogypsum each @ 1/4 LR which was on par with the former.

Response of cowpea (vigna unguiculata) to phosphogypsum application

To know the impact of S and B in the production phenology of sesame, the present study has been carried out in Onattukara sandy soil of Kerala. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with four levels each of sulphur and boron. The sulphur levels were 0, 7.5, 15 and 30 kg ha−1 where as in the case of boron, the levels were 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kg ha−1. It has been observed that sulphur and boron play a synergistic role in improving the grain yield and yield attributes of sesame. Application of sulphur @ 30 kg ha−1 and B @ 2.5 kg ha−1 along with the recommended dose of N, P and K resulted in better grain yield (1460 kg ha−1) and other yield attributes such as number of capsules per plant, dry weight of capsules, shelling per cent and thousand seed weight and finally the highest net returns estimated in terms of B:C ratio. As the level of applied sulphur and boron is increased the availability of soil nutrients including S and B were also increased.

Jeena Mathew

Papers

Surface soil and subsoil acidity in natural and managed land-use systems in the humid tropics of peninsular India.

Synergistic-Influence of Sulphur and Boron on Enhancing the Productivity of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Grown in an Entisol of Kerala

Standardization of critical boron level in soil and leaves of coconut palms grown in a tropical Entisol

Response of cowpea (vigna unguiculata) to phosphogypsum application

Effect of sulphur and boron on the performance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Onattukara sandy soil of Kerala, India.