Aims: Under the intensive agriculture system, it is crucial to maintain the soil fertility for the sustainability of crop production. Therefore, the study was conducted in the experimental field of the Department of Soil Science of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur to investigate the effect of different manures in combination with synthetic inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and yield contributing characters of BARI Mistimorich 1 (Capsicum annuum L.), a variety of sweet pepper. Nutrient content of capsicum and soil fertility status were also assessed. Materials and Methods: The field trial was established following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having four replicates. Treatments of the field trial included T1= 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (RDCF), T2= 10t/ha cowdung (CD) + IPNS based chemical fertilizers (CF), T3=10t/ha poultry manure (PM) + IPNS based chemical fertilizers (CF) and T4= 10t/ha vermicompost (VC) + IPNS based chemical fertilizers (CF). Results: Experimental results reveal that application of organic manures in combination with chemical fertilizers produced significantly higher plant height, plant weight, number of branches per plant, number of flowers per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, total yield and nutrient content and uptake in sweet pepper. Organic manures (CD, PM and VC) in combination with chemical fertilizers ensured higher nutrient uptake when compared with the sole application of inorganic fertilizers. Among the treatments, vermicompost treated plots gave the higher yield of sweet pepper and improved the post-harvest soil nutrient status. Conclusion: Vermicompost was found to be suitable as substitute of other organic manures for the production of capsicum.
Soil carbon (C) mineralization was studied in an incubation experiment comprised of two factors having six organic materials and three nitrogen (N) rates. Cow dung (CD), rice straw (RS), wood ash (WA), cow dung biochar (CB), rice straw biochar (RB) and wood biochar (WB) considering 2.5 g C kg−1 soil along with three levels of N, i.e., 0, 0.05 and 0.10 g N kg−1 soil were mixed with 400 g of soil used in each pot. The pots were placed for 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days of incubation, and soils were collected after each incubation and analyzed for C and N. Irrespective of treatment factors, C decreased in an irregular fashion until 180 days of incubation. From the initial level of 1.91%, C contents decreased to 1.08, 1.10, 1.06, 1.23, 1.17 and 1.12% in soil mixed with CD, RS, WA, CB, RB and WB, respectively, and to 1.28, 1.11 and 0.99% in 0, 0.05 and 0.10 g N kg−1 soil, respectively, at 180 days of incubation. The mineralization followed the order of WA > CD > RS > WB > RB > CB. Biochars could supply stable C in soil, while N enhances mineralization; optimization of N is therefore essential to ensure soil C accretion.
Soil acidity is considered as one of the limiting factors in agricultural production because it affects plant growth and development by reducing the availability of essential nutrients. Therefore, a field trial was carried out at the experimental field of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh from September 2021 to January 2022 to evaluate the effect of various organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, yield, and nutritional quality of cauliflower. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with seven treatments viz. Control, Recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (RDF), Poultry Manure (PM) (3 t ha-1) + RDF, Vermicompost (VC) (3 t ha-1) + RDF, Cowdung (CD) (5 t ha-1) + RDF, Rice Husk Biochar (1 t ha-1) + RDF and Household waste compost (3t ha-1) + RDF with three replications. Among different treatments, the highest value for plant height (49.25 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (21.50), curd circumference (39.87cm), curd diameter (18.07 cm), marketable curd weight (777.57g plant-1), marketable curd yield (32.41 t ha-1), N, K, S content (1.92%, 1.87% and 0.33 % respectively) and K and S uptake ( 79.57 kg ha-1 and 13.92 kg ha-1) were recorded from the Household waste compost (3t ha-1) + RDF whose effect was statistically similar to the treatment Poultry Manure (PM) (3 t ha-1) + RDF. The maximum value for curd height (11.10 cm), N uptake (81.81 kg ha-1) and P content and uptake (0.32% and 13.97 kg ha-1 respectively) were recorded from poultry manure along with RDF. Whereas, the minimum value for all growth parameters, yield attributes, nutrient content and uptake were observed from unfertilized control. Therefore, integrated application of organic manures with synthetic chemical fertilizers can be practiced for attaining higher yield and better-quality curds compare to the sole application of inorganic fertilizers in acid soils of Bangladesh.
A large amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is required for paddy cultivation, but nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in paddy farming is low (20–40%). Much of the unutilized N potentially degrades the quality of soil, water, and air and disintegrates the functions of different ecosystems. It is a great challenge to increase NUE and sustain rice production to meet the food demand of the growing population. This review attempted to find out promising N management practices that might increase NUE while reducing the trade-off between rice production and environmental pollution. We collected and collated information on N management practices and associated barriers. A set of existing soil, crop, and fertilizer management strategies can be suggested for increasing NUE, which, however, might not be capable to halve N waste by 2030 as stated in the “Colombo Declaration” by the United Nations Environment Program. Therefore, more efficient N management tools are yet to be developed through research and extension. Awareness-raising campaign among farmers is a must against their misunderstanding that higher N fertilizer provides higher yields. The findings might help policymakers to formulate suitable policies regarding eco-friendly N management strategies for wetland paddy cultivation and ensure better utilization of costly N fertilizer.
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