Organic Manure Coupled with Inorganic Fertilizer: An Approach for the Sustainable Production of Rice by Improving Soil Properties and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Abstract

The current farming system is heavily reliant on chemical fertilizers, which negatively affect soil health, the environment, and crop productivity. Improving crop production on a sustainable basis is a challenging issue in the present agricultural system. To address this issue, we assumed that the combined use of organic manure and inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers can improve rice grain yield and soil properties without the expense of the environment. This study explores the combined effects of cattle manure (CM), poultry manure (PM), and chemical fertilizer (CF) on soil properties, rice growth, physiology, and grain yield and quality. Six treatments in the following combinations were included: T1—no N fertilizer; T2—100% CF; T3—60% CM + 40% CF; T4—30% CM + 70% CF; T5—60% PM + 40% CF; and T6—30% PM + 70% CF. Results showed that across the seasons, treatment T6 increased the net photosynthesis rate, total biomass, grain yield, and amylose content by 23%, 90%, 95%, and 10%, respectively, compared with control. This increment in net photosynthetic rate and growth was the result of 24%, 14%, 19%, and 20% higher total root length, root surface area, root volume, and root diameter, respectively. Improvements in these attributes further enhanced the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice. No significant difference between T4 and T6 was observed. The correlation analysis also confirmed that root morphological traits were positively correlated with grain yield, N uptake, and biomass accumulation. Similarly, improvement in grain yield and NUE was also associated with improved soil properties, i.e., bulk density, soil porosity, soil organic carbon, and total N under combined organic and inorganic N fertilizers treatment. Conclusively, the integration of 30% N from PM or CM with 70% N from CF (urea) is a promising option not only for higher grain yield and quality of rice but also for improved soil health. This study provides a sustainable nutrient management strategy to improve crop yield with high nutrient use efficiency.

Incorporation of Manure into Ridge and Furrow Planting System Boosts Yields of Maize by Optimizing Soil Moisture and Improving Photosynthesis

“…With regard to yields, the greatest maize yields were attained with sheep manure applied at 6 t ha −1 combined with N fertilizers at the rates of 112 kg ha −1 , which was in line with some studies conducted in India [14], Spain [35], and Ethiopia [16]. The yields boosting effects of the combination treatments were probably attributed to enhanced microbial activity, and soil aggregation, supplying more ammonium in soils than pure manure or mineral NPK fertilizer applied fields [36,37]. Furthermore, a reciprocal relationship was observed between the bacterial counts (r 2 = 0.71, p < 0.01) and SOC contents [38].…”

Combined application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer improves rice yield, microbial activity and N-metabolism in a pot experiment

“…Rice quality is essential for the health of people for whom rice is a vital staple food. The AC and PC in rice seed affect rice quality (Yuan et al, 2014;Iqbal et al, 2019). In this study, the biochar treatment of 40 t ha −1 with both N levels (N 1 B 3 and N 2 B 3 ) in the S1 and S2 resulted in the highest AC, whereas the PC was highest in the 60 t ha −1 biochar application with 270 kg N ha −1 as compared to N 1 C. Similarly, the BRP and MRP were highest in the 60 t ha −1 B treatment with 270 kg N ha −1 in both seasons.…”

Biochar Integration with Legume Crops in Summer Gape Synergizes Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Enhance Maize Yield

“…Higher straw N was recorded in plots applied with fertilizer at the rate of 150 kg N ha −1 . While N recovery in biomass was significantly higher when the soil contained additional fertilizers [31,32]. Nitrogen fertilizer provides a nutrient source as well as power for microbial activities in order to mineralize the organic nitrogen and make it available to crop [22,33].…”