Integration of Composts with NPK Improved Soil Fertility, Growth and Yield of Sorghum in Sandy Desert Soils of Sudan

Abstract

Sandy desert soil in Sudan are characterised by low content of organic matter, small water holding capacity and low crop productivity. Methods to enhance crop productivity on these environments, such as land application of composts, are of great importance. Field experiments were conducted on a sandy soil to determine the effects of two types of composted manures on growth and yield of two sorghum varieties grown under rainfed conditions. Two sorghum cultivars (Butana and Arfa Gadmak were sown under chicken manure (CM) compost (5 t ha-1), CM compost with NPK (36 kg ha-1), farm manure (FM) compost (20 t ha-1), FM compost with NPK (36 kg ha-1), CM compost with FM compost (1:1, wt/wt, 12.5 t ha-1), CM and FM composts with NPK (36 kg ha-1), only NPK (36 kg ha-1) and control (no composts or NPK). Application of composts increased organic soil carbon by 50% and available phosphorous (P) between 43 to 105%, whereas, pH and bulk density were decreased by 2 and 6%, respectively. Soil moisture contents in compost treated plots were 56–98% higher than control plots. Mixing compost with NPK increased leaf area index over NPK alone by 28% but the highest values were found in plots treated with chicken compost or integrated with NPK compared to NPK application alone. Incorporation of compost increased dry matter yield compared to control by 17–53% and increased grain yield by 1.8 to 3.1 fold in both sorghum varieties. Grain yield from plots treated with NPK, sole chicken compost or combined with NPK were similar for both varieties in both seasons. In general, the trend of grain yield of sorghum was in the order of NPK = chicken compost with NPK = chicken compost = farm manure compost with NPK  mixed compost with NPK = farm manure  control. In conclusion, integrating composts with NPK improved fertility of sandy soils, sorghum growth and yield. © 2020 Friends Science Publishers

Land Efficiency of Functional Food Sweet Corn Intercropped with Vegetable Soybean in Application of Integrated Fertilizers

“…Whereas, Ahmed et al 14 reported that, the application of NPK similar chicken manure similar with chicken manure NPK toward yield grain sorghum.…”

“…Ahmed et al 14 reported combining compost increased dry matter yield compared to control by 17-53% and increased grain yield by 1.8-3.1 times in both varieties of sorghum. Grain yield from plots treated with NPK, single similar for both varieties in both seasons.…”

“…Nitrogen (N) is an essential element that is required both in terms of influencing plant productivity and negative environmental effects. The main source of N in organic systems can come from growing N-fixing legumes alternately with sweet corn>research on land application of combined manure with NPK and its effects on crop production is even rarer 14 . Nitrogen fertilizers have been widely used to increase crop yields, but inadequate N inputs result in low yields and food shortages.…”

Evaluation System of Intercropping Functional Food Sweet Corn and Vegetable Soybean in Different Planting Density and Compound Fertilizers Dosages

“…Plant density had no effet on increasing the sweetness of corn seed, likewise the application NPK fertilizer 200-400 kg ha -1 dosages does not affect the level of sweetness of sweetcorn seeds., the level of sweetcorn reached 8.0 -8.8) o Brix. According to Birjely and Al-Atrushi [25], an increase in the sugar content in grapes only occurs when given a combination of organic fertilizers and humic compounds. Unlike the report of Pangaribuan et al [29], the sugar content of sweetcorn increase when given organic and inorganic fertilizers.…”

“…Nitrogen (N) is an essential element that is required for either influencing the production of plants or having a negative impact on the environment. In an organic system, nitrogen is derived mostly from Nfixing legumes grown alternately with sweet corn>there are few studies on land application in the combination of manure with NPK and its effect on generating crops [25]. Nitrogen fertilizers have been widely utilized to boost crop productivity, however insufficient N inputs might result in low yields and food shortages.…”