Unveiling the combined effect of nano fertilizers and conventional fertilizers on crop productivity, profitability, and soil well-being

It is widely accepted that deficiency of macro (nitrogen) and micronutrients (zinc, copper etc.) affects the plant growth and development which cause a significant threat to crop production and food security. The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) developed nano-urea (nano-N), nano-zinc (nano-Zn), and nano-copper (nano-Cu) liquid fertilizer formulations to enhance the crop yields, simultaneously addressing the nutrient deficiency, without causing toxicity. Therefore, this study was formulated to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-N (nano-urea), nano-Zn, and nano-Cu at varying N levels [0, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended rates of nitrogen (RRN)] on maize-wheat and pearl millet-mustard systems during 2019–20 and 2020–21. The results exhibited that the application of nano-N + nano-Zn with 100% RRN exhibited significantly higher grain yields in maize (66.2–68.8%), wheat (62.6–61.9%), pearl millet (57.1–65.4%), and mustard (47.2–69.0%), respectively, over absolute control plots and combinations of three nano-fertilizers like nano-N + nano-Zn + nano-Cu applied plots. This was mainly attributed to the higher N and Zn uptake by the crops. However, 75% RRN with nano-N + nano-Zn also produced comparable yields. Thus, applying nano-N and nano-Zn via foliar applications, in conjunction with conventional urea, has the potential to reduce the required nitrogen fertilizer amount by up to 25%, while simultaneously maintaining equivalent yield levels. Similarly, 100% RRN and 75% RRN + nano-N + nano-Zn registered comparable profitability, soil mineral N, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), during both the study years. However, further research and field trials on nano fertilizers alone or in combination with conventional fertilizers are essential to fully unlock its benefits and ascertain its long-term effects which may offer a pathway to more efficient and eco-friendly crop nourishment

Study of Phosphate Solubilizing Fluorescent <i>Pseudomonas</i> Recovered from Rhizosphere and Endorhizosphere of <i>Aloe barbadensis</i> (L.)

Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient required by plants for their growth and development. A large part of applied phosphatic fertilizer becomes unavailable due to its fixation in soil. In rhizosphere, fluorescent Pseudomonads are instrumental in phosphate solubilization. We isolated Pseudomonads from the rhizosphere of Aloe barbadensis (L.), and screened them for their plant growth promoting ability such as - solubilization of phosphate, auxin production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. A total of 307 fluorescent Pseudomonas were isolated and screened, of which, 24 isolates showed a strong phosphate solubilizing ability, ranging from 69.71 to 236.73 µg ml−1 . The Indole acetic acid (IAA) production by all 24 isolates varied from 28.44 to 151.99 µg ml−1. However, 17 isolates produced ACC-deaminase ranging from 8.19 to 10.27 µmol mg−1 h−1. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene and Pseudomonas-specific genes grouped the isolates in seven different species of fluorescent Pseudomonas. Genotypic analysis based on 16S rDNA-RFLP using restriction enzymes (HaeIII, AluI and MspI) and BOX-PCR generated unique genotype specific pattern. The results suggested that Pseudomonas diversity has no association with microenvironments and the sampling site of the plants. 16S rRNA gene-based diversity indices revealed great diversity among the fluorescent Pseudomonas recovered from the rhizospheric regions of the Aloe. Due to the above plant growth-promoting traits, fluorescent Pseudomonas can be exploited as bio-inoculants for crops, with minimal damage to the environment. </p

Long-Term Nutrient Supply Options: Strategies to Improve Soil Phosphorus Availability in the Rice-Wheat System

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers can deteriorate soil, grain, and environmental quality; still, these can be restored if integrated nutrient management options with inclusion of legumes in the cropping system are adopted. A long-term (19 year) rice-wheat system experiment was examined to find out the best nutrient management practices (BNMP) through recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), soil test crop response (STCR), farmyard manure (FYM), along with the inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea). Seven nutrient management practices were applied in combination of organic and chemical fertilizer in the rice-wheat system. Results showed that a significant variation was seen in phosphorus (P) fractions among the treatments and soil depths. The results showed a significantly (p 3-Po > NaOH-Pi > NaOH-Po > HCl-P > NaHCO3-Pi > available P and lowest in WSP under different long-term management options in rice-wheat system after completing 19 crop cycles. Variations in soil P-fractions with depth were compared to different treatment combination, and a considerable increase in all the major P-fractions was noticed. The continuous application of various IPNS options as organic farming (OF), RDF, STCR, and the inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea) significantly improved all P fractions in the soil system and offered an added benefit in terms of sustainability of production and soil health compared to the solo application of chemical fertilizers. Overall, results showed that IPNS options (berseem and cowpea) showed its superiority over the rest of the treatment. This study suggests that the inclusion of pulses would increase P-availability in soil system

Long-Term Nutrient Supply Options: Strategies to Improve Soil Phosphorus Availability in the Rice-Wheat System

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers can deteriorate soil, grain, and environmental quality; still, these can be restored if integrated nutrient management options with inclusion of legumes in the cropping system are adopted. A long-term (19 year) rice-wheat system experiment was examined to find out the best nutrient management practices (BNMP) through recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), soil test crop response (STCR), farmyard manure (FYM), along with the inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea). Seven nutrient management practices were applied in combination of organic and chemical fertilizer in the rice-wheat system. Results showed that a significant variation was seen in phosphorus (P) fractions among the treatments and soil depths. The results showed a significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher contribution to phosphorus availability by Residual-P followed by NaHCO3-Po &gt; NaOH-Pi &gt; NaOH-Po &gt; HCl-P &gt; NaHCO3-Pi &gt; available P and lowest in WSP under different long-term management options in rice-wheat system after completing 19 crop cycles. Variations in soil P-fractions with depth were compared to different treatment combination, and a considerable increase in all the major P-fractions was noticed. The continuous application of various IPNS options as organic farming (OF), RDF, STCR, and the inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea) significantly improved all P fractions in the soil system and offered an added benefit in terms of sustainability of production and soil health compared to the solo application of chemical fertilizers. Overall, results showed that IPNS options (berseem and cowpea) showed its superiority over the rest of the treatment. This study suggests that the inclusion of pulses would increase P-availability in soil system

Impact of Long-Term Nutrient Supply Options on Soil Aggregate Stability after Nineteen Years of Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Continuing soil degradation remains a serious threat to future food security. Soil aggregation can help protect soil organic matter from biodegradation; it affects soil physical (aeration), chemical (water infiltration), and biological (microbial) activities. The integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS) and organic farming (OF) options have been contemplated as a sustainable strategy to sustain soil aggregate stability under adverse climatic conditions and a possible tool to restore degraded soil systems. Results suggested that the application of plant nutrients based on IPNS and soil test crop response (STCR) including mineral fertilizers and organic manure (farmyard manure: FYM) improved soil aggregate stability and mean weight diameter (MWD) under rice–wheat cropping systems. A long-term (19 year) cropping system (rice–wheat) experiment was examined to identify best nutrient management practices. Seven nutrient supply options were applied: organic, mineral fertilizer in combination with IPNS, IPNS + B/IPNS + C to improve soil aggregate stability and MWD after completing 19 cropping cycles of rice–wheat cropping systems. Results showed that significantly higher (+31%) macroaggregates were dominant in the surface soil layer than in the subsurface soil. The significantly highest macroaggregates were observed under OF (60.12 g 100 g−1 dry soil) management practices followed by IPNS options. The MWD was significantly increased (+17%) between surface and subsurface soil. Maximum MWD was reported with OF (0.93 mm) management practices followed by the IPNS + C (0.78 mm), IPNS + B (0.77 mm), IPNS (0.70 mm), STCR (0.69 mm), NPK (0.67 mm), and unfertilized control (0.66 mm) plots. Overall, results suggest that the adoption of IPNS options, such as organic farming (OF), RDF, STCR, and inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea), significantly improved all soil aggregation fractions in the soil system and also offered an additional benefit in terms of soil sustainability

Depth dynamics of soil N contents and natural abundances of N-15 after 43 years of long-term fertilization and liming in sub-tropical Alfisol

The aim of this study was to understand impacts of long-term (43years) fertilization on soil aggregation, N accumulation rates and N-15 in surface and deep layers in an Alfisol. Soil samples from seven treatments were analysed for N stocks, aggregate-associated N in 0-30 cm and the changes in N-15 in 0-90 cm depths. The treatments were: unfertilized control (control); recommended N dose (N); recommended N and phosphorus doses (NP); recommended N, P and potassium doses (NPK); 150% of recommended N, P and K doses (150% NPK); NPK + 10Mg FYM ha(-1) (NPK + FYM) and NPK + 0.4Mg lime ha(-1) (NPK + L). Results revealed that plots under NPK + FYM had similar to 39% higher total N concentrations than NPK + L in 0-30 cm soil layers. In NPK + L, macro-aggregates had 35 and 11% and microaggregates had 20 and 9% lower N-15 values than NPK + FYM in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil layers, respectively. However, plots receiving NPK + FYM had similar to 39% greater deep soil (30-90 cm) N accumulation than NPK + L. These results would help understanding N supplying capacity by long-term fertilization and assist devising N management strategies in sub-tropical acidic Alfisols

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Not AvailableIt is widely accepted that deficiency of macro (nitrogen) and micronutrients (zinc, copper etc.) affects the plant growth and development which cause a significant threat to crop production and food security. The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) developed nano-urea (nano-N), nano-zinc (nano-Zn), and nano-copper (nano-Cu) liquid fertilizer formulations to enhance the crop yields, simultaneously addressing the nutrient deficiency, without causing toxicity. Therefore, this study was formulated to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-N (nano-urea), nano-Zn, and nano-Cu at varying N levels [0, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended rates of nitrogen (RRN)] on maize-wheat and pearl millet-mustard systems during 2019–20 and 2020–21. The results exhibited that the application of nano-N + nano-Zn with 100% RRN exhibited significantly higher grain yields in maize (66.2–68.8%), wheat (62.6–61.9%), pearl millet (57.1–65.4%), and mustard (47.2–69.0%), respectively, over absolute control plots and combinations of three nano-fertilizers like nano-N + nano-Zn + nano-Cu applied plots. This was mainly attributed to the higher N and Zn uptake by the crops. However, 75% RRN with nano-N + nano-Zn also produced comparable yields. Thus, applying nano-N and nano-Zn via foliar applications, in conjunction with conventional urea, has the potential to reduce the required nitrogen fertilizer amount by up to 25%, while simultaneously maintaining equivalent yield levels. Similarly, 100% RRN and 75% RRN + nano-N + nano-Zn registered comparable profitability, soil mineral N, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), during both the study years. However, further research and field trials on nano fertilizers alone or in combination with conventional fertilizers are essential to fully unlock its benefits and ascertain its long-term effects which may offer a pathway to more efficient and eco-friendly crop nourishment.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableEmerging micronutrient deficiencies in different soils of the world is a threat for sustainability of agriculture. As distribution of micronutrients in soil varies spatially, site‐specific management of micronutrients by delineating regional zones (RZs) is an effective strategy for precision agriculture. The current investigation was performed to delineate RZs in a Deccan Plateau Region (DPR) of India by considering spatial variability of some soil properties and available micronutrients for efficient management of micronutrients. Altogether, 4,939 representative soil samples (with geographical coordinates) from surface (0–0.15 m depth) layers were obtained from Telangana state lying in DPR of India. After processing, soil samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon and available zinc, copper, iron, and manganese. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, and soil organic carbon content had mean values of 7.48 ± 0.95, 0.42 ± 0.22 dS/m and 0.48 ± 0.17%, respectively. Whereas, the mean values of available zinc, iron, copper, and manganese concentrations were 0.83 ± 0.36, 8.79 ± 4.15, 0.99 ± 0.43, and 8.79 ± 4.06 mg/kg, respectively. Geostatistical analysis divulged different distribution pattern of soil properties and available micronutrients with strong to moderate spatial dependency. The four principal components (with >1 eigenvalue) responsible for 73% of total variance were considered for analysis. Six RZs from the study area were created through geostatistical, principal component, and clustering analysis. The measured soil properties and available micronutrients in the RZs varied significantly highlighting the usefulness of RZ delineation technique for precise micronutrients management in DPR of India.Not Availabl