A field experiment to study the influence of fertigation of N, P and K fertilizers on biometric characters of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) was conducted at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during January 2010 to December 2011. The experiment was laid out with thirteen treatments replicated three times in a randomized block design. A phenomenal increase in growth parameters such as trunk girth, canopy spread and weight of the pruned branches removed, leaf fresh weight and leaf dry weight was observed with increasing levels of NPK as well as methods of fertilizer application in this study. Among the various treatments, fertigation with 125% 'Recommended Dose of Fertilizers' (125:50:175 g NPK plant year(-1)) as Water Soluble Fertilizers (WSF) through drip irrigation increased all vegetative growth parameters like trunk girth increment (1.62 cm), canopy spread increment (66.79 cm), leaf fresh weight (3.949 g), leaf dry weight (2.039 g), weight of the pruned branches removed (fresh weight 7.628 kg plant(-1)) and dry weight (4.650 kg plant(-1)).
Soil fertility evaluation of an area is an important aspect in the context of sustainable agriculture production. In the present investigation KVK, Palem farm was selected in the district Nagarkurnool of Telangana and studied physico-chemical, available macro and micronutrient status using Nutrient Index approach made with the study of 60 surface soil samples and were analyzed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn). Study results indicated that a major proportion of area soils are neutral (62.08%) and non-saline (100%). The whole study area was low in organic carbon content, ranging from 0.40 to 0.45 with a mean of 0.42%, and available nitrogen also low in the entire study area varied from 150.53 to 188.16 kg ha-1 with a mean value of 165.67 kg ha-1. The percent distribution of available P varied from medium to high status (34.48 and 72.41%), where available K was categorized under high (100%) status. With regard to micronutrients, the soils were predominantly deficient in Zn (24.13%) followed by Fe (20.68%) and Mn (6.89%).
Excessive N application may limit the crop yields, and it could be minimized by the use of Silicon in rice ecosystem. Initially, a survey was conducted and revealed that rice grown soils were low in available Si (73.62 to 96.41 kg SiO2 ha-1). As well as Si concentration of rice genotypes ranged from 1.54 to 3.15% and grain yield ranged from 2653 to 6860 kg ha-1 and exerted a significant positive correlation (r = 0.55**). Based on initial phase of results, a field experiment was conducted with each four levels of N (0, 80, 120 & 160 kg ha-1) and Si (0, 200, 400 & 600 kg ha-1). Among the N and Si doses, application of T16(N160 + Si600) recorded highest grain yield (7180 kg ha-1) and was on par with the treatments received N@120 and 160 kg ha-1 along with Si@200, 400 and 600 kg ha-1. The status of available nutrients viz., N, P2O5, K2O, SiO2, Zn, Cu, and N-fractions were obtained high with T16 (N160 + Si600), which was at par with the treatments of T15 (N160 + Si400) > T14 (N160 + Si200) > T12 (N120 + Si600) > T11 (N120 + Si400) > T10 (N120 + Si200).
The advances and development in agriculture depend not only on mechanization and new hybrid seeds but also on the improvement of soil physical and chemical properties which in turn help to increase crop productivity in dry land soils. A field study was carried out to study the influence of superabsorbent polymer at 2.5 and 4.5 kg ha-1and humic acid at 15 and 30 kg ha-1 alone and their combinations with recommended 100% fertilizers on yield, uptake, and photosynthetic pigments of maize grown on rainfed alfisols at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem, Telangana. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications, consisting of nine treatments. Further, results showed that conjoint application of hydrogel@4.5 kg ha-1 + humic acid@30 kg ha-1 along with 100% RDF package significantly increased the pooled grain and stover yield (7136 and 8457 kg ha-1) of maize. Irrespective level of hydrogel and humic acid combinations with 100% RDF increased the macronutrient uptake by grain and stover, which further build up the total uptake. A similar pattern was also observed in corresponding to grain and stover yield.The chlorophyll “a”, “b” and total chlorophyll content (1.81, 1.69 1.54; 0.69, 0.62, 0.55 and 2.65, 2.46 and 2.24 mg g-1 in fresh plant weight at 30, 60 and 90 DAS) significantly influenced by application of hydrogel@4.5 kg ha-1+ humic acid@30 kg ha-1. In conclusion, the present investigation indicates the positive interaction between humic acid and super absorbent polymer which improved nutrient uptake and maize yield.
The demonstrations on on-farm fertility management through desired yield target were conducted with castor and maize crops at 15 farmers’ fields during rabi 2016-17 at Peddatanda and Sainapally tanda of Nagarkurnool District, Telangana to improve sustenance of tribal farmers and to verify the fertilizer prescription models & to analyze the economics of these models to enhance the productivity and profitability. The results revealed that the targeted yield prescription models ensured higher seed yield, response yard-stick and nutrient ratio to the applied fertilizers, and additional benefits from higher produce, a good benefit-cost ratio obtained over the farmers’ practice. The seed yield from the pre-fixed targets of 25 and 60 q ha-1 of castor and maize were achieved within ± 10 % yield deviation at almost all the locations, which ensure for further nourishment of tribal farmers. The targeted yield prescription models for fertilizer recommendations were more precise to achieve the targeted yield, additionally led to higher profits and soil health.
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