Strategies for reducing the fertilizer application rate in the ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system in semiarid regions

Abstract

The ridge and furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) system is a promising water-saving planting technique for dryland farming, but we lack a full understanding of the effects of different fertilizer rates (N:P) on plant nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency (NuUE) in foxtail millet using this planting method, as well as the available nutrient residues in the soil. We conducted field studies (Loess Plateau, China) comparing RFRH planting (R) and traditional flat planting (T) at four different fertilizer rates to determine suitable fertilizer application rates for R during 2013–2015. Compared with T, R improved the soil moisture and the utilization of rainwater and fertilizer, thereby enhancing the grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), grain nutrient uptake, and NUE in a dry year, but with no improvements in a rainy year. The grain yield and WUE exhibited parabolic increasing trends as the fertilizer application rate increased over three years, but no significant increase was found when the fertilizer rate exceeded 189:96 kg N:P ha−1 under R, which significantly reduced the NuUE and might waste nutrients. Therefore, we recommend R combined with 189:96 kg N:P ha−1 as a promising planting strategy for foxtail millet in semiarid areas.

Effects of drip and alternate furrow method of irrigation on cotton yield and physical water productivity: A case study from farmers’ field of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, India

“…Past researchers reported that there is positive and significant relationship between irrigation water use and intensity of fertilizer application (Yan et al, 2019;Zafar et. al., 2020;Feng et al, 2020;Lian et al, 2017). Similar results were also observed in the study area.…”

Exploring membrane vesicles in citrus fruits: a comparative analysis of conventional and organic farming approaches

“…suggests that low N absorption, which reduces gs and inhibits carbon assimilation, could affect leaf expansion and photosynthesis because water and N are the main factors controlling plant growth. WUEi was significantly higher in organic farming, as stated in previous studies 59,60 . The results of chlorophyll content and protein concentration did not show differences, despite the fact that a low N supply to the soil has been associated with the degradation of chlorophyll molecules, 61 and an increase in N fertilizers has been linked to an increase in protein concentration 62 …”

Field edge rainwater harvesting and inorganic fertilizers for improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) yields in semi-arid farming regions of Marange, Zimbabwe

“…Results corroborate with findings by Mupangwa et al (2012) and (Nyakudya et al (2014) who found moisture benefits at access tubes placed closer to the rainwater harvesting technique while those further away had little moisture benefits which result in differential plant growth. Moisture gradients created as distance increase results in differential moisture interception and uptake for plant development and hence yield (Lian et al, 2017;Mhizha and Ndiritu, 2013;Mupangwa et al, 2012).…”

“…Higher sorghum grain yield in nitrogen applied treatment compared with no nitrogen applied treatments in the RWH methods (Figure 7) explains the importance of nitrogen in crop growth. Water and nitrogen availability are important in the production of photoassimilates and partitioning at the economic sink for the production of grain (Lian et al, 2017).…”

“…If the entire spectrum of advantages from soil nutrient additions is to be achieved, cultural adaptive sustainable crop intensification strategies that preserve and increase the time of moisture availability to the plants are required to enhance sorghum productivity in low rainfall environments (Mundia et al, 2019). The primary constraint is the lack of suitable adaptive low-cost water and nutrient management technologies for sorghum production under relatively low and erratic rainfall (Lian et al, 2017;Mupangwa et al, 2012).…”