Combined Effects of Nutrient Management on Nutrient Content and Uptake of Transplant Aus Rice (BRRI Dhan48)

A field experiment was conducted at Sutiakhali, Mymensingh for crop production and chemical analysis was performed at Department of soil science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to see the combined effect of nutrient management on nutrient content and uptake of Transplant  Aus  rice (BRRI dhan48) during march to july 2015 following Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The treatments were T1: RD (N75 P12 K45 S9), T2: STB (N74 P11 K36 S7), T3: INM (N54 P5 K27 S5+ CD @ 5.0 t ha−1), T4: Farmer’s practice (N69 P30 K37), and T5: Control (no fertilizer). The NPKS content and uptake by BRRI dhan48 were also influenced significantly due to combined use of manure and fertilizers. The maximum N, P, K and S uptake by grain (35.55, 6.99, 15.20 and 3.38 kg/ha respectively) were obtained from the application of Integrated Nutrient Management. The minimum N, P, K and S uptake by grain (20.08, 3.64, 8.35 and 1.74 kg/ha respectively) were found from T5: Control. Similarly, The maximum N, P, K and S uptake by straw (3.38, 5.43, 99.25 and 7.37 kg/ha respectively) were found from T3: INM. The minimum N, P, K and S uptake by straw (1.74, 2.67, 49.70 and 3.87 kg/ha respectively) were obtained from T5 (Control). The performance of the treatment T3 was better than T1, T2, T4 and T5 in nutrient content and uptake of BRRI dhan48. Considering nutrient content and uptake, the application of chemical fertilizers in combination with manure based on INM could be recommended for BRRI dhan48 production in aus season

Traditional manual tillage significantly affects soil redistribution and CO2 emission in agricultural plots on the Loess Plateau

Traditional manual tillage using hand tools is widely used by local farmers in hilly and mountainous regions in China and many South-east Asian countries. Manual tillage could result in severe soil erosion, redistributing slopes from upslope areas (erosion) to lower slopes (deposition). This soil redistribution process may potentially affect the soil carbon cycle, but few studies have quantified soil CO2 emission under different manual tillage practices. In the present study we evaluated the soil redistribution and its effects on in situ CO2 emission as affected by manual tillage of different intensities on three short slopes representing typical cultivated landscapes on the Loess Plateau. Soils were removed at 2, 6 and 10 cm depths by three types of hand tools, namely a hoe, mattock and spade respectively, from the upslope and subsequently accumulated at the downslope to simulate soil erosion and deposition processes by traditional manual tillage. Across the tilled hillslopes, soil CO2 emission was reduced at sites of erosion but enhanced at sites of deposition. Tillage with greater intensity (i.e. hoeing < mattocking < spading) resulted in greater change in CO2 emission. This change in soil CO2 emission was largely associated with the depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at erosion sites and the increments of SOC available for decomposition at deposition sites. Moreover, with increasing tillage intensity, soil redistribution by manual tillage shifted the hillslope from a C sink to C neutral or even a C source. Furthermore, manual tillage resulted in substantial changes in soil CO2 emission and redistributed soil in amounts that dwarf animal-powered tillage. The results of the present study imply that manual tillage-induced soil redistribution could have a large effect on the C balance across the local landscape and therefore may have considerable implications for estimates of regional and global C budgets

Loading of zinc and iron in grains of different wheat genotypes in the calcareous and floodplain soils of Bangladesh

Major malnutrition in Bangladesh is zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiency as most people commonly depend on cereals, chiefly rice and wheat. The main objectives are to enhance Zn and Fe concentrations through the use of selected varieties and the application of respective fertilizers. Field experiments were conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm, Mymensingh (AEZ 9, non-calcareous soil) and at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) substation, Ishwardi (AEZ 11, calcareous soil) for two consecutive wheat seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16) with 10 varieties and 15 advanced lines. Varieties BARI Gom 25, 27, 28 &amp; 29 and breeding lines Vijay, HPYT-5, 15 &amp; 21 and BL-1883 have been recognized as Zn-enriched wheat varieties (24–30 μg g−1). Among the genotypes, Zn further increased by 4–8 μg g−1 due to Zn fertilization. Concerning Fe-enriched wheat genotypes (24–30 μg g−1), five varieties viz. Shatabdi, Prodip, BARI Gom 25 &amp; 28 and Sufi, and four lines such as HPYT-12, BL-1883, BL-1040 and Fery-60 have been identified. The grain Fe concentration of wheat genotypes increased when Fe was added, the increment being 6–12 μg g−1. A positive relationship between Zn and N is observed with increased protein content. The grain yield of wheat was increased by 3.8–25.7% due to Zn application over the varieties and locations but Fe addition had no effect. The result of the current study showed that a potential breeding line with appropriate fertilization can improve Zn and Fe levels in wheat grain, without incurring loss to wheat yield