Evaluation of Urea and NPKS Fertilizer and Seed Rates for Wheat Crop at Selected FTC Sites of East Gojam Zone, Ethiopia

To meet the food demand and the need of emerging agro-industries in the country, increasing the production and productivity of wheat with appropriate soil management practice is important. Therefore, field study was conducted with the objectives of evaluating application of Urea and NPKS fertilizer and seed rates for wheat crop at selected FTC sites of East Gojam Zone during the 2015/2016 cropping season. Kekeba wheat variety was used in the research. The research consisted  of six treatments, i.e. combined application of three rates (Package, Innovation and Framers’ practice) of urea and NPKS fertilizer and two seed rates (recommended and farmers practice) were arranged in RCBD  with three replications. The data were subjected to two-way ANOVA using SAS program [version 9] and comparisons of means were performed using the LSD. The results of ANOVA showed that except the number of spike and number of grains per spike, all other yield and yield attributes were significant affected by Urea and NPKS fertilizers and seed rates application. the longest plant height and spike length,  and the maximum total above ground biomass  and straw yield were recorded from the application of 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha. Even though it was non-significant, much number of spikes was counted from the application of 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha at Enereta site. A lot of fertile tillers were counted from the applications of 300 kg Urea + 100kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha at the two sites. The less number of fertile tillers were counted from the use of 100 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha and 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +100kg seed/ha at Campus and Enereta FTC respectively. The highest grain yields were measured by the application of 300 kg Urea + 100kg NPKS +100kg and of 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg at Campus and at Enereta FTC respectively. Generally at Enereta FTC, the optimum amount of urea, NPKS and seed rate can be estimated as 300/322 kg Urea, 100kg /200kg NPKS and 200/200 kg seed respectively. At campus site the optimum amount of urea, NPKS and seed rate can be estimated as 300 /300 kg Urea, 100/100kg NPKS and 100/200 kg seed respectively. However, their economic rates of fertilizer and seed applications would have to be assessed to achieve sustainable crop yields. Unlike to soil of the campus, soils of Enereta FTC was highly depleted  so that optimum plant growth and better production can be obtained from higher dose of urea, and NPKS, but adequate soil analysis must be made for both sites. In general, management activities for the crop and these soils; should be practiced, and the strategies for which should be applied according to either the package or Innovative fertilizer use practice. Keywords: Innovative fertilizer, blended fertilizer, Urea, Kekeba variety

Studies on French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties under Different N, P, K and S Levels for Growth, Yield and Economics

Fifteen combinations of three French bean varieties viz., Arka Komal (V1), Swaran Priya (V2) and Contender (V3) and five fertilizer levels (F1- 20:40:40:20kg/ha NPKS; F2- 40:40:40:20kg/ha NPKS; F3 - 60:60:60:40kg/ha NPKS; F4 - 80:60:60:40kg/ha NPKS, and F5 -100:80:80:50kg/ha NPKS) were tested in factorial Randomized Block Design, with three replications. Among the varieties, Swaran Priya was superior for growth attributes, yield attributes and yield. Among fertilizer levels, F5 (100:80:80:50kg/ha NPKS) resulted in highest growth parameters, yield parameters and yield of pods. Economic evaluation showed that variety Swaran Priya under F5 (100:80:80:50kg/ha NPKS) resulted in maximum gross returns, net returns and cost:benefit ratio for green pod production

Pengaruh Pupuk Majemuk NPKS Dan NPK Terhadap Pertumbuhan Dan Hasil Padi Sawah Pada Inceptisol

Rate of NPK fertilization on rice using NPK compound fertilizer needs to consider soil nutrient status and plant nutrient requirement. The research was aimed to determine the optimum rate of compound fertilizer and the effect of enriched S nutrient of NPKS compound (15-15-15-5S) and NPK compound fertilizer (15-15-15) on the growth and yield of rice. The experiments were conducted at two sites in Galuga, Ciampea Bogor, West Java from April to September 2013, using randomised complete block design with 3 replications. Experiment at site I consisted of 9 treatments: six levels of fertilizers NPKS i.e. 0; 150; 300; 450; 600; and 750 kg/ha, standard fertilizer, NPK compound fertilizer equivalent to standard, and standard fertilizer plus S. Rate of urea, SP-36, and KCl for standard fertilizer treatment was respectively 250, 75, and 50 kg/ha. At site II the treatments consisted of 6 levels of NPK compound fertilizer i.e. 0; 150; 300; 450; 600; and 750 kg/ha and the standard fertilizer with rate of 250 kg/ha of urea, 50 kg/ha SP-36, and 75 kg/ha KCl. Plot size was 4 m x 5 m planted with Ciherang variety. Data collection included chemical properties of soil before and after the experiment, plant height, number of tillers, straw weight, and dry grain weight and the nutrient uptake. The effectiveness of fertilizer was calculated by RAE (Relative Agronomic Effectiveness). Results showed that fertilizer NPKS (15-15-15-5S) at 600 kg/ha effectively increased dry grain weight from 3.63 t/ha to 4.67 t/ha, but was not significantly different from a standard fertilizer treatment. It increased dry grain weight by 29% compared to control. NPK fertilizer (15-15-15) effectively promoted growth and dry grain weight equivalent to standard fertilizer at rate of 300-750 kgha. The optimum rate of NPK compound fertilizer (15-15-15) was 440 kg/ha as was shown with the production performance of 4.12 t/ha with RAE by 58%. NPKS compound fertilizer with rate of 750 kg/ha showed the highest uptake of N, P, and K nutrients and significantly increased the available P in the soil. Whereas NPK compound fertilizer with a rate of 600 kg/ha indicated the highest P nutrient uptake. Fertilizer enrichment with sulfur on NPKS fertilizer (15-15-15-5S) did not significant affect on grain dry weight

Hubungan Status Hara Npks dalam Tanah dan Tanaman terhadap Hasil Biji Kedelai di Lahan Sawah Entisol

Di Indonesia, sebagian besar (65%) kedelai di tanam di lahan sawah dengan jenis tanah Entisol, Vertisol dan Inceptisol dengan produktivitas beragam antara 0,50–2,00 t/ha. Keragaman tingkat kesuburan tanah menjadi salah satu faktor penentu keragaman produktivitas tersebut. Hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan di lahan sawah Entisol di Jawa Timur, Jawa Tengah, Bali, dan Nusa Tenggara Barat memperlihatkan bahwa tidak terjadi banyak Perubahan status hara NPKS tanah pada masing-masing lokasi selama lima tahun dengan kategori berturut-turut kahat, cukup, rendah dan sangat rendah. Hubungan antara kadar hara NPKS di dalam tanah maupun tanaman dengan hasil biji kedelai, tidak secara konsisten menunjukkan korelasi yang linier. Hal ini memberi indikasi yang cukup kuat bahwa ada faktor lain yang mempengaruhi hubungan tersebut, antara lain cara-cara budidaya, dan kadar unsur hara lain yang tidak dievaluasi (kadar C-organik). Status kadar hara NPKS di dalam tanah maupun tanaman menunjukkan tingkat keragaman yang kecil sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa suatu anjuran pemupukan dapat diterapkan dibeberapa daerah sentra produksi kedelai selama daerah tersebut termasuk jenis tanah Entisol

Effects of Blended Fertilizers on Yields of Mature Tea Clones Trfk 6/8 and Bbk 35 Grown in Kenyan Highlands

Kenya's tea industry depends predominantly on imported NPK fertilizers to replenish nutrients removed through plucking. In this respect, two blended fertilizers containing NPKS 25:5:5:4+9Ca+2.6Mg and NPKS 23:5:5:4+10Ca+3Mg with trace elements have been produced in the country. However, contribution of the blended fertilizers to optimal tea yields had not been determined. The study aimed to evaluate the optimal levels of the two blended fertilizers on tea grown in the highlands of Kenya. The blended fertilizers were evaluated in two sites, i.e. Timbilil estate in Kericho and Kagochi farm in Nyeri. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with two blended fertilizers and the standard NPK 26:5:5 as a control. The treatments were applied at four fertilizer rates (0-control, 75, 150 and 225 kg N ha-1 yr-1), with three replications. The results showed that application of 225 kg N ha-1 yr-1 blended fertilizer NPKS 25:5:5:4+9Ca+2.6Mg in Timbilil produced mean yield of 2,995 kg Mt ha-1 compared with 3,099 kg Mt ha-1 from the standard NPK. In Kagochi, the highest yield was 1,975 kg Mt ha-1 obtained from the application of the same blended fertilizer NPKS 25:5:5:4+9Ca+2.6Mg at 75 kg N ha-1 yr-1. The highest yields in both sites were obtained during a warm-dry season except in 2015-2016. This study concluded that based on the annual and seasonal yields, the two blended fertilizers and the standard type had the same effectiveness, irrespective of clones and sites. However, the fertilizer rates affected the tea yield

Analysis of the root system architecture of Arabidopsis provides a quantitative readout of crosstalk between nutritional signals

As plant roots forage the soil for food and water, they translate a multifactorial input of environmental stimuli into a multifactorial developmental output that manifests itself as root system architecture (RSA). Our current understanding of the underlying regulatory network is limited because root responses have traditionally been studied separately for individual nutrient deficiencies. In this study, we quantified 13 RSA parameters of Arabidopsis thaliana in 32 binary combinations of N, P, K, S, and light. Analysis of variance showed that each RSA parameter was determined by a typical pattern of environmental signals and their interactions. P caused the most important single-nutrient effects, while N-effects were strongly light dependent. Effects of K and S occurred mostly through nutrient interactions in paired or multiple combinations. Several RSA parameters were selected for further analysis through mutant phenotyping, which revealed combinations of transporters, receptors, and kinases acting as signaling modules in K–N interactions. Furthermore, nutrient response profiles of individual RSA features across NPK combinations could be assigned to transcriptionally coregulated clusters of nutrient-responsive genes in the roots and to ionome patterns in the shoots. The obtained data set provides a quantitative basis for understanding how plants integrate multiple nutritional stimuli into complex developmental programs

Takaran Optimal Pupuk NPKS, Dolomit, Dan Pupuk Kandang Pada Hasil Kedelai Di Lahan Pasang Surut

Tidal swamp land has a good potential for soybean production. The main obstacle found on this land are low soil fertility, acidic reaction and high alluminium. The study was aimed to determine the optimal rate of fertilizer, and the effect of dolomite and manure on soybean yield on tidal swamp land. The experiment was conducted on a tidal land type C in Rantau Rasau, East Tanjung Jabung, Jambi Province, in 2009. The experiment used a completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatment consisted of a combination of fertilizers N, P, K, S, dolomite, and manure. The results showed that a high soybean yield on the tidal land type C can be obtained by applying NPKS fertilizers, dolomite, and manure with a rate of 30-30-30-20 (N-P2O5-K2O-SO4) kg/ha or equivalent to 200 kg compound fertilizer/ha. The NPKS fertilizer can be reduced by 50%, if it is combined with 750 kg/ha of dolomite and 1000 kg/ha organic manure. Addition of dolomite and manure increased the efficiency of the NPKS fertilizer

Liming alkaline clay soils: effects on soil structure, nutrients, barley growth and yield

Liming before cultivation of sugar beets is favourable even on alkaline soils but knowledge of response in other crops is lacking. Therefore, effects of ground limestone (GL) and structure lime (SL1 slaked lime or SL2 mix of ground limestone and slaked lime) were evaluated in southern Sweden on soil structure, growth and nutrient concentration in barley under four fertilisation strategies 1.5–2 years after application. All lime products increased aggregate stability, but with variations between locations. A lower proportion of large aggregates was found in both limed treatments, and a higher proportion of small aggregates in SL. In barley, grain yield was unaffected while shoot numbers and biomass in first node stage increased for GL and biomass increased further for SL. Structure lime increased potassium concentration in plants in first node stage, due to more potassium in the product. Both lime types increased molybdenum concentration. Ground limestone reduced zinc concentration compared with no liming. Finer seedbed tilth and increased aggregate stability may explain increased biomass for GL. Higher potassium content in SL might be a further explanation. No interactions between liming and fertilisation were found. In conclusion, on the soil types studied, no change of fertilisation strategy is needed due to liming