Sulphur-coated urea as a source of sulphur and an enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer for spring wheat

Use of high analysis fertilizers such as diammonium phosphate in place of ordinary superphosphate and urea in place of ammonium sulphate over years, sulphur application to crop fields has considerably decreased, which has led to widespread sulphur deficiency in Indian soils. Hence, considering this into account a field study for two years was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to evaluate sulphur-coated urea (SCU) as a source of sulphur (S) and an enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer. Prilled urea (PU) coated with 4 to 5% S significantly increased wheat grain yield to the tune of 9.58 to 11.21% and nitrogen 19.06 to 23.94% and sulphur uptake 21.76 to 29.29% over prilled urea alone by wheat. However, net return and benefit: cost ratio was the highest and significant at 5% S coating onto PU. Five % SCU supplied 50% of the sulphur needs of the wheat crop and enhanced nitrogen recovery efficiency by 60% and is therefore recommended as sulphur as well as enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer for wheat in Indo-Gangetic plains of India. This is an important finding considering the environmental safety by increased nitrogen recovery and also productivity in present scenario

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Not AvailableField experiments were conducted to study the effects of summer green-manuring crops and zinc (Zn) fertilization on the productivity and economics of Basmati rice. Sesbania aculeata summer green-manuring crop residue incorporation (SGMI) gave highest values of all the growth and yield attributes, grain and straw yield, viz. 3.58, 3.69 t ha−1 and 16.14, 16.25 t per ha of Basmati rice in 2008 and 2009. Among the Zn fertilization treatments, application of 2.0% Zn-enriched urea (ZEU) as ZnSO4 • H2O significantly influenced yield attributes and yield of Basmati rice during both years, and the increase in grain yield was 38.5 and 40.0% over absolute control (no N and no Zn) and 11.9 and 13.6% over control (only N) in both years of study. However, 2.0% ZEU (ZnO) was very close in terms of yield attributes and grain, straw yields of Basmati rice. As regards to the economics of Basmati rice, SGMI and 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4 • H2O) Zn fertilization treatments gave the highest gross (SGMI, 85,985 and 91,582 INR per ha; 2.0% ZEU, 89,837 and 59,851 INR per ha) and net (SGMI, 56,997 and 61,445 INR per ha; 2.0% ZEU, 59,851 and 64,442 INR per ha) returns, respectively, compared with incorporation of the remaining summer green manuring residue and Zn fertilization treatments in 2008 and 2009. A significantly higher benefit:cost ratio was recorded with SGMI and 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4 H2O). Overall, Sesbania aculeata green manuring and 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4 H2O) are excellent sources of N and Zn for improved productivity of Basmati rice.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableField experiments were conducted to study the effects of summer green-manuring crops and zinc (Zn) fertilization on the productivity and economics of Basmati rice. Sesbania aculeata summer green-manuring crop residue incorporation (SGMI) gave highest values of all the growth and yield attributes, grain and straw yield, viz. 3.58, 3.69 t ha71 and 16.14, 16.25 t ha71 of Basmati rice in 2008 and 2009. Among the Zn fertilization treatments, application of 2.0% Zn-enriched urea (ZEU) as ZnSO4 H2O significantly influenced yield attributes and yield of Basmati rice during both years, and the increase in grain yield was 38.5 and 40.0% over absolute control (no N and no Zn) and 11.9 and 13.6% over control (only N) in both years of study. However, 2.0% ZEU (ZnO) was very close in terms of yield attributes and grain, straw yields of Basmati rice. As regards to the economics of Basmati rice, SGMI and 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4 H2O) Zn fertilization treatments gave the highest gross (SGMI, 85,985 and 91,582 INR ha71; 2.0% ZEU, 89,837 and 59,851 INR ha71) and net (SGMI, 56,997 and 61,445 INR ha71; 2.0% ZEU, 59,851 and 64,442 INR ha71) returns, respectively, compared with incorporation of the remaining summer green manuring residue and Zn fertilization treatments in 2008 and 2009. A significantly higher benefit:cost ratio was recorded with SGMI and 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4 H2O). Overall, Sesbania aculeata green manuring and 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4 H2O) are excellent sources of N and Zn for improved productivity of Basmati rice.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDeficiencies of micro (Zn, B) and secondary (S) nutrients are well-documented in soil as well as in cereal crops, leading to decreased crop yields and low nutritional quality of food. We evaluated the effects of coated urea on maize yield, N and Zn uptake, and input cost relationships. Field experiments were conducted on maize to test boron-coated (BCU), sulphur-coated (SCU) and zinc-coated urea (ZnCU) during 2013 and 2014. On the basis of 2 years’ average data, the highest grain yield was achieved with 0.5% BCU, 5% SCU and 2.5% ZnCU as zinc sulphate hepta hydrate. These treatments increased yields by 5.4, 12.8 and 9.9% over prilled urea (PU), respectively. Application of 0.5% BCU (supplying 1.4 kg B ha–1), 5% SCU (supplying 14.1 kg S ha–1) and 2.5% ZnCU (supplying 7.05 kg Zn ha–1) registered the highest N concentrations and uptake in grain and stover. Total N uptake (grain + stover) was increased by 7.6, 16.7 and 17.1% with BCU, SCU and ZnCU treatments over PU. As compared to PU, Zn concentration in maize grain was significantly higher and total Zn uptake (grain + stover) increased by 32.4% with 2.5% ZnCU. Coated urea materials also enhanced the partial factor productivity (PFPN), agronomic efficiency (AEN), recovery efficiency (REN) and harvest index (HIN) over those of PU. From the economic viewpoint this study suggests that coating of urea with 0.3% boron, 5% sulphur or 2% zinc gives maximum net returns and benefit-cost ratio. Our data indicate that coating of B, Zn and S onto urea increases maize yield, profitability and nitrogen use efficiency in the western Indo-Gangetic plains of India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was carried out during the summer season of 2015 at research farm of Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU), Kandahar, Afghanistan in randomized complete block design to find out the effect of different combinations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on growth, yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) ‘CS-200’. The treatments consisted of 8 combinations of N: P2O5 in 2: 1 ratio, viz. control, 20: 10, 40: 20, 60: 30, 80: 40, 100: 50, 120: 60 and 140: 70 kg/ha and replicated thrice. Significantly higher growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height (194 cm), number of green leaves (13.3/plant), leaf-area index (4.81), dry-matter accumulation (289 g/plant), cob length (20.7 cm), cob girth (12.9 cm), cob diameter (3.97 cm), cobs/plant (1.57), grain rows/cob (14.8.), grains/row (37.7), gains/cob (514), 1, 000-grain weight (276 g), grain yield (6.3 t/ha) and stover yield (15.6 t/ha) were recorded with 140: 70 N: P2O5 kg/ha. The findings of the study concluded that to realize the higher yield of hybrid maize in Kandahar province of Afghanistan, the crop should be fertilized with 140: 70 N: P2O5 kg/ha.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableField experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of summer green manuring crops (SGMCs) and zinc (Zn) fertilization on soil biological properties, nutrient dynamics and productivity of Basmati rice, during summer–rainy (kharif, April–November) seasons of 2008 and 2009 at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Among the SGMCs, Sesbania aculeata added the highest crop residue, i.e. 38.56 t ha−1 leading to recycling of 180.5, 22.6 and 267.8 kg N, P, K ha−1 (mean of 2 years). Incorporation of S. aculeata also led to a significant increase in the succeeding Basmati rice grain yield which was 2.38%, 4.14%, and 10.82% higher over cowpea, mungbean and summer fallow, respectively. Among the different sources, levels and methods of Zn application, application of 2.0% Znenriched urea (ZEU) as ZnSO4·H2O was found to be best with respect to total uptake of N, P, K and Zn by rice and also soil biological properties, especially enhanced alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate activities and microbial biomass C. Application of 2.0% ZEU as ZnSO4·H2O recorded the highest Basmati rice grain yield, i.e. 3.79 t ha−1 and the increase was registered to the tune of 12.78%, 2.43%, 3.26%, 5.71%, 7.05% and 5.27% over control (only N), 2.0% ZEU as ZnO, 5 kg Zn ha−1 as ZnSO4·H2O, 5 kg Zn ha−1 as ZnO, 0.5 kg Zn as ZnO slurry and 1.0 kg Zn through 0.2% foliar spray, respectively. Our results clearly indicated that incorporation of S. aculeata SGMC residue in conjunction with 2% ZEU as ZnSO4·H2O significantly enhanced soil microbial activities, which are vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of soil, leading to enhanced productivity of Basmati rice.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15 at New Delhi, to find out the effect of zinc (Zn) fertilization on concentration and uptake of macro and micro-nutrients in high-yielding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. Treatments comprised 6 high-yielding varieties of wheat in the main plots and 5 Zn management treatments as sub-plots. Results indicated that nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content in different parts of wheat varieties was found in the order of grain > straw > spike straw, grain > spike straw > straw and straw > spike straw > grain, respectively. However the concentration of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) was found in order of straw > spike straw > grain and straw > grain > spike straw respectively. With respect to nutrients, the highest N (2.28%), P (3,711.6 mg/kg), K (0.48%), Zn (40.6 mg/kg), Fe (124.8 mg/kg) and Mn (33.7 mg/kg) contents were registered in grain of ‘HD 2967’, ‘HD 2967’, ‘HD 2687’, ‘HD 2851’, ‘HD 2687’ and ‘HD 2894’, respectively. The concentration of macro and micro-nutrients were recorded statistically identical in different treatments of Zn fertilization. However, significant increase in macro and micro-nutrients uptake was registered due to Zn fertilization and the highest uptake of nutrients was recorded with application of 1.25 kg Zn/ha through Zn-EDTA + 0.5% foliar spray of Zn-EDTA at maximum tillering and booting stages. Thus, soil (1.25 kg Zn/ ha) + foliar (0.5%) application of Zn-EDTA was found superior with respect to macro and micro-nutrients uptakeNot Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2010–11 and 2011–12 at New Delhi, to study the direct and residual effect of sulphur (S) application on growth, productivity and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat cropping sequence. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design for first aerobic rice and split-plot design for succeeding wheat and second cycle of aerobic rice–wheat system. Five treatments comprising combinations of 2 S sources i.e. gypsum and phosphogypsum and 3 S levels, i.e. 0, 30 and 60 kg S/ha, were taken in aerobic rice. And in succeeding wheat, each main plot was split into 3 sub plots for application of elemental sulphur at 3 levels, i.e. 0, 15, and 30 kg S/ha and replicated thrice. Application of sulphur resulted in increase of growth parameters i.e. plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf-area index (LAI), chlorophyll content and crop growth rate (CGR) over the control. The yield attributes, viz. effective tillers/m2, spike weight (g) and filled grains/spike were observed highest with 30 kg S/ha, followed by 15 kg S/ha. Averaged across two years, application of 15 and 30 kg S/ha increased the grain yield of wheat by 8.4 and 11.6%, respectively, over no sulphur treatment. Corresponding values for straw yields were 8.9 and 11.4%, respectively. Though highest yields (grain, straw and biological) were obtained with 30 kg S/ha, but significant response was observed only up to 15 kg S/ha. The highest net return was fetched with 30 kg S/ha, but significant response was found only up to 15 kg S/ha. Application of 60 kg S/ha through either of the sources to preceding rice had a significant residual effect on yields and economics of succeeding wheat. Highest status of available N, P and K after wheat harvest was recorded in no sulphur treatment and, in contrast availability of sulphur in soil increased with increasing level of sulphur up to 30 kg/ha.Not Availabl

SOYBEAN REPSPONSE TO CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

A field experiment with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] under soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2014 and 2015 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to assess the effect of conservation agricultural practices and nitrogen management on growth, physiological indices, yield and nutrient uptake of soybean. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 4 conservation agricultural practices, viz. zero tillage without residue (ZT–R), zero tillage with soybean residue (ZT + SR), zero tillage with soybean and wheat residue (ZT + SWR) and conventional tillage without residue (CT–R), in main plots and 4 nitrogen-management practices, viz. 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) as basal (N1), 125% RDN as basal (N2), 100% basal + 25% top-dressing at flowering stage (N3) and 75 % basal + 25% topdressing at flowering stage (N4), in subplots. The results showed that growth parameters, physiological indices as well as nitrogen (209.2 kg/ha), phosphorus (20.2 kg/ha) and potassium (89.4 kg/ha) uptake were significantly higher in ZT + SWR than the other treatments. The ZT + SWR resulted in 14% and 11% higher grain yield and 22% and 21% higher profitability than ZT–R and CT – R, respectively. And among the nitrogen-management practices, N2, being at par with N3, showed significantly higher growth and better physiological indices at all the growth stages. However, significantly the highest nitrogen (201.8 kg/ha), phosphorus (19.6 kg/ha) and potassium uptake (88.2 kg/ha) were obtained with basal application of 125% recommended dose of nitrogen (N2). Significantly higher seed (1.96 t/ha) and stover yields (4.06 t/ha) were recorded with N2 than the other nitrogen-management practices