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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted at Hyderabad on Vertisols for 3 years (2005-08) to develop sustainable nutrient management practices for safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) based cropping systems involving greengram, soybean and maize. Different organic sources viz., glyricidia, farm yard manure (FYM) and safflower crop residues were used to substitute a part of recommended level of fertilizers. During the first year of experimentation, significantly lowest dry matter production, SP AD chlorophyll meter readings (SCMR), biological yield and seed yield at harvest were recorded in soybean and maize with part substitution of recommended NPK with safflower residues and glyricidia. During the second and third year of experimentation, integrated nutrient management practices did not differ significantly with respect to dry matter production, SCMR readings, biological and seed yield of all the three crops. Thus, it can be concluded that part of the NPK nutrients can be substituted with the application of safflower crop residues along with glyricidia loppings. The optimum time of application of safflower crop residues would be immediately after harvesting of safflower to ensure timely availability of nutrients for the succeeding crops in rotation.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableField experiment was conducted at Hyderabad for three consecutive years from 2005-06 to 2007-08 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on the productivity and profitability of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) based cropping systems (greengram-safflower, soybean-safflower, maize-safflower) under rainfed conditions in deep Vertisols of Semi Arid Tropics. The response of rainy and post-rainy season crops to nutrient management practices differed between the years. Seed yield of green gram with combination of organic and inorganic sources of fertilizer (640 kg/ha) was comparable with that of application of fertilizer through inorganic source alone (570 kg/ha) across the three years of study. The seed yield of soybean (880 kglha) and maize (950 kglha) were significantly lower with the combination of glyricidia loppings (2 tlha) and safflower residues (3 tlha to soybean; 6 tlha to maize) and inorganic fertilizer than that of other organic and inorganic combinations (1100; 1250 kglha) or inorganic source alone (1180; 1350 kg/ha) in the first year. In second and third year of study, seed yield of soybean and maize with the combination of glyricidia, safflower residues and inorganic fertilizer (2170; 4500 kglha) was comparable with all other treatments (2170; 4590 kg/ha). Effect of preceding crops on safflower productivity was different between the years. Effect of greengram (1700; 875 kglha), soybean (1725; 730 kglha) and maize (1820; 910 \<g/ha) on safflower was comparable in first and second year. While in the third year, safflower productivity was significantly lower when safflower preceded with maize (1250 kglha) than that of green gram (1~15 kg/ha) and soybean (2020 kglha). The reasons attributed for this varied response were; low productivity of maize (1200 kglha) in the first year might not affected the safflower productivity; high productivity of maize (4660 kg/ha) in the second year was not observed on safflower becaus~ of low productivity of safflower (840 kg/ha) due to wilt . incidence, high productivity of maize (4500 kglha) in the third year might have affected the productivity of safflower (1250 kglha). Nutrient management practices of preceding crops were comparable in influencing the productivity of safflower in all the three years.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted at Hyderabad from 2005-06 to 2007-08 during rainy and post-rainy seasons on Vertisols to develop sustainable nutrient management practice/s for increased productivity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) based cropping systems (greengram-safflower, soybean-safflower, maize-safflower) under rain fed conditions. The highest values of soil respiration were observed at flowering stage of rainy season crops. During the rainy season, maize-safflower cropping system recorded the highest level of soil respiration (335 Ilg C/g soil/IO d). No significant differences were observed between soybean-safflower (304 Ilg C/g soillJ 0 d) and greengram-safflower (294 Ilg C/g soilll 0 d). The highest values of soil respiration were observed at vegetative stage Glyricidia and FYM were applied in first week of June and incorporated in to the soil. Inorganic fertilizer was applied just before sowing of the crops. Crops were sown with the onset of monsoon on broad bed and furrows (BBF) of 1.2 m broadbeds with a furrow of 0.3 m with animal drawn implement. Four rows of greengram and soybean (30 cm x 10 cm) and two rows of maize (75 cm x 30 cm) were sown on each BBF. Three rows of safflower (45 cm x 20 cm) were sown on each BBF. Rainy season crops were sown with the onset of monsoon. The recommended fertilizer of greengram, soybean, maize and safflower was 20-40-20, 20-60-20, 120-50-40 and 40-25-25 N-P20s-K20, respectively. The inorganic fertilizer was supplied in the form of urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash. Crops were protected through the recommended pesticides as and when required. Soil samples (0-20 cm depth) were collected at different stages of crop growth with core sampler. The samples were stored under refrigerated condition. Microbial biomass-C (MBC) and -N (MBN) were estimated by using chloroform fumigation incubation method as described in Horwath and Paul (1994). Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using standard analysis of the variance.Not Availabl

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Fulvic Acid (FA) for Enhanced Nutrient Uptake and Growth: Insights from Biochemical and Genomic Studies

<div><p>Potassium (K), one of the essential elements required for plant growth and development, determines leaf quality in tobacco (<i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> L.). Potassium (K) levels are relatively high in black soils (vertisols), but K uptake is severely hindered by the presence of remarkably high levels of calcium and magnesium. Our major objective was to enhance potassium uptake in black soils, which cover the major tobacco growing regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. Among several agronomic inputs such as soil amendments, fertilizer application, and plant growth regulators, we found that foliar application of fulvic acid (FA), one of the most bioactive humate molecules, enhanced K levels in leaves. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we identified changes in expression levels of a number of genes related to metabolic pathways implicated in plant growth and nutrient uptake upon FA application. Interestingly, starch levels in leaves were reduced concomitant with an increase in K attributable to FA application. We attempt to provide plausible reasons for these observed FA-induced changes. Our results suggested that FA acts in a manner similar to the plant hormone auxin in tobacco, influencing expression of key genes encoding transporters and enzymes involved in K uptake and starch metabolism. While fulvic acid has beneficial effects on plant growth, its mechanism of action is still unclear.</p></div