Soil contamination with heavy metals has resulted in a reduction of crop productivity and soil quality. We studied the effects of rice straw biochar (RB), rice straw compost (RC), and their mixtures at rates 0.5% and 1.0% on soil biochemistry and dry weight of the canola plant (Brassica napus) grown in contaminated soil with heavy metals. The results showed that the addition of the RB or RC alone or

ABSTRACT To track changes in organic matter (OM) in peat soils, analytical techniques are needed that effectively characterize their chemical components. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is a useful method for obtaining a chemical “fingerprint” of OM. To obtain representative fingerprints, the pyrolysis process should be highly reproducible and representative of the original sample; however

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in the developing countries takes place on marginal landscapes using indigenous planting methods that conflict with appropriate row spacing (RS) and plant to plant spacing (PPS). A study was conducted to determine the effect of different RS, variable plant densities and different planting methods on maize grain yield. This study was conducted for two years at three locations

Predicting soil infiltration at the field scale with high contents in calcareous materials is important for a better understanding of land management. The objectives of this study were to develop a GIS-based digital modeling of soil infiltration in calcareous soils using environmental data in Iran. The soil infiltration data with three replications were measured at 92 points at the regional scale.

There is now a consensus that global warming causes climate change and is a worldwide threat, which presents a great challenge for the 21st century. Arid, semiarid, and tropical regions of the world including Pakistan, where climate change is enhancing salinization and is restricting plant growth and production by reducing nutrient uptake and increasing osmotic stresses. Keeping in view all these interlinked

A two-year experiment (2014 and 2015) was conducted to investigate the conjoint effect of organic manures, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and inorganic fertilizers on soil fertility, nutrient uptake, plant biomass, and fruit yield of bell pepper. The experiment was conducted during kharif season on sandy loam soils of mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. Treatment T6 [application of 75% N +

Long-term sustainability is the concern of today’s agriculture. A long-term field experiment (since 1983) comprising of 14 treatments with different combinations of inorganic (NPK) and organic fertilizers (such as farmyard manure, wheat cut straw and Sesbania aculeate as green manure) was conducted to evaluate their effect on soil physico-chemical properties under a rice–wheat system. There was significant

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of biochar (BC) and humic acid (HA) application on the improvement of plant growth and the acquisition of nutrients by plant roots of calendula (Calendula officinalis L.). A factorial experiment with a completely randomized design was conducted to investigate the HA and BC effects on the growth, physiological characteristics, and nutrients

Acidic soils are susceptible to nutrient insufficiencies and imbalances. Combined application of biochar and other organic amendments is a renowned strategy for ameliorating acid soils and enhancing soil fertility. The incubation experiment investigated the effect of biochar and poultry litter on chemical properties and nutrients availability of acidic soil. 400 g of soil was thoroughly mixed with

Iron is indispensable for the growth and metabolism of all living organisms but its availability in soil is limited due to very low solubility of dominant ferric iron (Fe3+). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have the ability to synthesize low molecular weight siderophores having high affinity for iron. Considering the siderophore-producing ability of PGPRs, a study was designed to isolate

Sap quick tests are well established in vegetable crops. However, there is less equivalent investigation for perennial crops, such as apple trees. Accessing the nutrient content, as opposed to the foliar analysis, would increase the opportunity of adjusting the fertilization, along the growing cycle. This work evaluates the relation between the NO3 −, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, PO4 3- and NH4 + contents in apple

The soils of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) are mainly organic soils (Histosols), and their artificial drainage promoted aeration and resulted in soil subsidence. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) nitrogen (N) requirement has been fulfilled historically by organic matter mineralization, so very shallow soils could be limiting N availability for the crop. The objectives of this study were to measure

Modern agriculture has become more productive, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Therefore, the use of rhizobacterial in agriculture for sustainable crop production is becoming more and more important. The present study was aimed to determine the effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterium on the growth of plant, yield and seed nutrient content in lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik.). The field

Although cherry-tomato is becoming more popular in the last years, there are no specific recommendations for P and K fertilization or liming strategies for this specific variety. Our aim was to assess rates of P and K and liming strategies in order to improve the yield of cherry-tomato grown on an Oxisol with a limited P-availability. Two pot experiments were developed. In the first-one, a two-factor

Glauconite is a potassium (K) bearing mineral, which generally contains 6–10% K2O and mostly available in various natural deposits in India. Glauconite mineral was converted to nano-particle form by grinding in a high-energy ball mill. The release of K from glauconite nano-particle in soil was studied in a pot culture experiment. Five different treatments viz., 0 mg K2O kg−1, 100 mg K2O kg−1, 150 mg

Evaluation of the relationship between soil properties and saffron yield estimation may contribute to agricultural planning in finding suitable lands for the growth of this valuable product. This study aimed to investigate the performance of artificial neural network (ANN), multiple linear regression (MLR), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in terms of saffron yield estimation in some

Root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) cause enormous yield reductions in vegetable crops. While nematicides are the most effective method for controlling RKN in carrot (Dacatus carota), the efficacy of non-fumigant nematicides, compared to fumigants, is still not fully understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1,3-dichloropropene, a fumigant nematicide, and fluensulfone

Amelioration of saline soil is a requisite in order to increase crop productivity. A soil incubation study was performed for 60 days using digestate, humic acid, calcium humate and their combinations to investigate the influence on physical, chemical, microbial and enzyme activities of saline soil. Overall, digestate combined with calcium humate followed by humic acid treatments have shown their potency

A field evaluation of the stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and their relationship among physicochemical and enzyme activities was conducted in Indian semi-arid agricultural soils. Composite soil samples were collected based on organic management (ORG), inorganic management (IM), integrated crop management (ICM) and precision farming (PF) experimental plots from the fall of September 2017 to October

Addition of more resistant organic materials, such as biochars, to soils not only enhances soil C sequestration but also can also benefit soil fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two organic materials (sheep manure and vermicompost) and their biochars produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (300 and 500°C) applied at 5% (w/w) on the chemical fractions of Zn and Cu and some

Peat is considered the conventional growing medium in most soilless culture systems. The high cost of peat and the urgent need of agricultural wastes recycling encouraged the scientists and soilless culture users to search for an alternative growth medium where optimal growth conditions are achieved and help in the safe disposal of wastes. In the current study, peanut shell (PS) and corn wastes (CW)

Effect of slag-based gypsum (SBG) and commercial gypsum (CG) on maize was investigated in acidic and neutral soils. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven treatments consisting of three levels (150, 450, and 750 kg ha−1) of SBG and CG with recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and one control was maintained. Application of SBG @750 kg ha−1 recorded significantly higher (8.61 and 8.69 t

This study investigated the relationship between a recently proposed alkaline hydrolysis method for estimating the chemical index of nitrogen (N) mineralization potential of soils and the activities of arylamidase and four amidohydrolases involved in hydrolysis of organic N (ON) in soils. Nitrogen mineralization was studied in 13 soils from uncultivated fields in Iowa, USA, by direct steam distillation

Sulfur (S) availability is a characteristic of conservation tillage. We studied the effects of S on sunflower yield and fatty acid profile under conventional and conservation tillage in silty clay soil of D.I. Khan, Pakistan. Conventional tillage consisted of disk plowing followed by tiller and rotavator, while conservation tillage comprises tiller and disc harrowing. Treatments comprise six sulfur

Cotton yield is affected by several factors some of which are related to soil characteristics, and some are related to farmers’ input. The effect of these factors on cotton yield is studied in the current research. A total of 296 samples of soil characteristics and other factors were collected from agriculture department (GIS system) and farmers. Soil characteristics include soil pH, electrical conductivity

This work aims to study the status of silicon (Si) as a plant nutrient in the soil of Bahtim long-term field experiment in Egypt under the effect of crop rotations system and continuous fertilization. The experiment has been set up since 1912 based on two main factors: (1) crop rotations: mono-cropping (MC), two-year rotation (2Y-R), and three-year rotation (3Y-R), and (2) Fertilization: mineral nitrogen

The main goal of this research was to estimate heavy metals (HMs) (molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd)) contents in crop leaves through multispectral satellite imagery. During the acquisition of a SPOT 7 satellite image (28 July 2017) in situ sampling (38 samples) was done from the leaves of potatoes and beans growing close to the mining town of Kajaran (Armenia). To estimate HMs

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization from fertilizer applications reduces efficiency and poses environmental hazards. This study used semi-open static chambers to measure NH3 volatilization from organic fertilizers (feather meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, cyano-fertilizer) to evaluate the impacts of fertilizer source, application method, and rate on NH3 volatilization. In 2014, two application rates (28 and

The present studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of different nutrient management practices under two tillage options in wheat. The experiments were laid out in split-plot design with a combination of two varieties (WH 1105 and HD 2967) and two tillage options (Conventional and No tillage) in the main plot and six precision nutrient management practices [absolute control, site-specific nutrient

In humid climates, the risk of nitrate leaching and topsoil loss due to erosion is high on bare soil in the fall after potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) harvest and in the spring with snowmelt. This 2-year study (2016–2017) compared three winter cover crops. Two of these are used as cash crops (winter rye [Secale cereale L.], winter wheat [Triticum aestivum L.]), and one is a winter-killed cover crop (spring

Biotic interaction of cover crops (CCs) can have a legacy effect on succeeding crops mediated by changes in nutrient dynamics. Depending on species, CCs influence nitrogen (N) dynamics by sequestering N and subsequent N release. Interactions of three CC species, Austrian Pea (Pisum sativum L.), winter rye (Secale cereal L.), and winter camelina (Camelina sativa L.), and three different soils were studied

The use of applied phosphorus (P) and the uptake of nutrients from the soil by plants can be improved when the fertilizer is combined with the application of humic substances (HS). However, these beneficial effects are inconsistent and can depend on the type of soil. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of the application of HS (0, 1.25, and 7.50 mL pot–1), as Humic HF®, and fertilizer-P

Salinity is one of the major threats to an agriculture production system and limits crop growth and productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutualistic association with majority of land plants and play important role in stress tolerance. In the present study, effect of three mycorrhizal treatments, i.e., single-species AMF (Rhizoglomus intraradices), formulated AMF (Funneliformis mosseae

The volatilization of ammonia is the main reaction that decreases the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization and in order to reduce losses. new technologies such as addition of N-n-butyltriamide thiophosphate (NBPT) to the conventional urea granule (UNBPT) or the covering with polymer and sulfur (UPS) have been developed with the aim to optimize nitrogen fertilization. This work aimed to evaluate the

Rice-Wheat rotation is the dominant land use in the state of Punjab, resulting in over exploitation of ground water resources. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate other land uses that requires less water and are sustainable. The present investigation was planned with four land uses viz., fallow (FLU), rice-wheat (ALU), grasses (GLU) and pear (PLU) with respect to their effect on soil organic carbon and

A two-year consecutive experiment was conducted at agriculture Research Institute Mingora Swat, Pakistan during Rabi 2016–17 and 2017–18 to study the residual effect of carbon sources on water use efficiency and subsequent wheat productivity. Carbon sources (peach leaf and rotten fruits on dry basis, compost of peach residues and biochar of these residues), Three P rates (P1 = 50, P2 = 75, and P3 =

The housefly larvae (Musca domestica) vermireactor is capable of highly efficient waste reduction for swine manure management; however, effectiveness of larvae-vermicompost land utilization and the associated impact on soil environment are poorly understood. This study, which integrated incubation pot experiments and field plot tests on a chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) farm, was designed

The formation of phosphorus (P) compounds including iron-P, aluminum-P and calcium-P in highly weathered tropical soils can be altered upon biochar addition. We investigated the effect of corn cob biochar (CC) and rice husk biochar (RH) pyrolyzed at three temperatures (300°C, 450°C and 650°C) on phosphorus (P) fractions of three contrasting soils. A 90d incubation study was conducted by mixing biochar

The entry of Cd, Pb and Ni into the environment is a cause of concern due to potential toxicity of these metals to plants, animals, and humans. The present study evaluated the availability of Cd, Pb, and Ni to plants through soils. We examined three soil types (Typic Quartzipsamment (TQ), Xantic Hapludox (XH) and Rhodic Hapludox (RH)) with addition four rates of heavy metals: Cd (0, 2, 4 and 12 mg)

Potato is one of the most economically important crops in Brazil. In this crop, potassium (K) is the most accumulated nutrient and has significant and positive effect on potato plant growth and tuber yield. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine the effects of K doses on nutrients accumulation, biometric, chlorophyll, and K indexes in potato plants grown. Two experiments were installed simultaneously

In this work the effect of the addition of different amounts of cattle slurry (CS) to a Cd contaminated soil, was studied regarding its effect in spinach plants. Two levels of Cd contamination (2 and 10 mg/kg) and three levels of CS addition were evaluated (2.5, 5 and 10 g CS/100 g soil). Spinach was shown to be a tolerant species, able to accumulate relatively high amounts of Cd (up to 367.7 mg/kg

The application of alternative and sustainable soil correctives to increase soil pH in sowing furrows can promote yield increases in soybean crops. The aim of this study was to characterize two different soil corrective sources in granular and powder forms and to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of their complementary application in a sowing furrow of a soybean crop. Two experiments were conducted

Application of alkaline biochar has been proposed as an alternative to lime for remediation of acidic soils. However, questions remain as to how the reactions and fate of metals in acidic soils can be affected by biochar amendment. To find out how biochar addition might affect sorption-desorption behavior of zinc (Zn) in acidic soils, a soil with an initial pH value of 4.67 was treated with different

Organic amendments in the soil perform better than synthetic fertilizers in regards to soil fertility and sustainable crop productivity. Experiments were conducted to compare the effects of organic and synthetic fertilizers on soil fertility and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity. Soil fertility and protein contents of wheat grains (13.2% and 13.3% during 2005–06 and 2006–07, respectively) were

Application of alkaline biochar has been proposed as an alternative to lime for remediation of acidic soils. However, questions remain as to how the reactions and fate of metals in acidic soils can be affected by biochar amendment. To find out how biochar addition might affect sorption-desorption behavior of zinc (Zn) in acidic soils, a soil with an initial pH value of 4.67 was treated with different

To improve the use efficiency of fertilizer in agricultural production, effects of stoichiometric traits of soil available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on photosynthetic gas exchange parameters and fluorescence parameters of wheat were revealed in a full factorial pot experiment with our N and P fertilizer rates each. Results showed that at the same level of soil available N, the net photosynthetic

Batch adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the effect of different biochars (corn straw biochar (S-CSB), wheat straw biochar (S-WSB), rice husk biochar (S-RHB) and licorice root pulp biochar (S-LRB) each at 3% w/w) application on the kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic parameters of nickel (Ni) adsorption onto a calcareous soil. The kinetics of Ni adsorption as a function of time

Batch adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the effect of different biochars (corn straw biochar (S-CSB), wheat straw biochar (S-WSB), rice husk biochar (S-RHB) and licorice root pulp biochar (S-LRB) each at 3% w/w) application on the kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic parameters of nickel (Ni) adsorption onto a calcareous soil. The kinetics of Ni adsorption as a function of time

Many factors could influence simultaneously soil spectra. We aimed to study the single effect of organic carbon and total iron in soil visible and short-wave near-infrared spectra and to quantify their contents. Two datasets of soil mixture samples were prepared by mixing, in various fractions, an organic carbon-rich material with a total iron-rich material and then with a total iron-poor material

Soil available nutrients and soil salt ions are considered to play a significant role in soil fertility. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different agricultural organic wastes on soil available nutrients and soil ions in a primary saline soil, located in the west of Jilin Province, China. The treatments were granular corn straw (GS), coarse corn straw (CS), sheep

How to restore the soil fertility and productivity in a damaged and then reclaimed area with extremely low fertility is a big concern worldwide. To explore the method of soil restoration in the coal mining subsidence area, the effects of biochar application coupled with organic fertilizer (animal manures) on the process of organic nitrogen (N) mineralization were studied in a 149 days leaching experiment

The reduction of the plant performance was observed in plant growth and yield with reduction in the plant’s production of at least 20% of irrigated land worldwide due to the salinity, so it is the major abiotic stresses. For promoting growth and increasing crop yield natural extracts were used in agriculture and horticulture as bio-stimulants. At the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture

Soil acidity is one of the main limitations for optimal use of land resources for better crop production. And, long-term fertilization experiments found to be helpful in increasing the nutrient supply in these acidic soils. Keeping this in view, a field experiment on rice was carried out by applying biofertilizers and enriched compost in an acidic Inceptisol of Assam over 10 successive years (2006–15)

Evaluation of the relationships between nutritional patterns and farms’ age with the behavior of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) daughter corms based on farmers’ management (on-farm) can be crucial in improving saffron sustainable yield. Furthermore, in commercial saffron production, especially in small farms, the purchased water and fertilizers are the basis of sustainable saffron profitability, hence

Nitrogen (N) is the “prime” among the three major nutrients required for plant growth. The large potential demand of nitrogen for plant growth is mainly achieved through biological nitrogen fixation. We have attempted to study the growth enhancement of rice crop under greenhouse conditions using the endophytic diazotrophic bacteria Lysinibacillus sphaericus. The effect of inoculation of L. sphaericus

The performance of DNDC (DeNitrification-DeComposition) and RothC (Rothamsted Carbon model) in simulating soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in soils under rice (Oryza sativa L.) – wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays L.) – wheat and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) – wheat cropping systems was evaluated on field and regional scale. Field experiments consisted of N, NP, NK, PK, NPK, FYM, N + FYM

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of soil amendments to sandy loam and soil physical indices, mainly soil aggregates, soil retention curve, and pore size distribution. Date palm waste biochar at rates 2% (B1), 4% (B2), 6% (B3), and 8% (B4) and sorbent adsorption polymer (SAP) at rates 0.2% (P1), 0.4% (P2), 0.6% (P3), and 0.8% (P4) (w/w). In addition, the combination of both as B1:P1

Partial replacement of synthetic chemical fertilizers by naturally occurring alternatives is environmentally recommended. Feldspars (F), quartz silica (S), and zeolites (Z) are silicon (Si)-rich minerals that may be utilized as Si fertilizers. This study aims to assess the agronomic efficiency (AE) of the mentioned minerals as Si fertilizers and to estimate Si-use efficiency (Si-UE) in sandy soil.

Integrated management of soil organic matter and nutritional status of crop plants is essential to sustain the production of organic farming systems. Thus, a 2–year field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of soil additions (192 kg N ha–1, humic+192 kg N ha–1, humic+144 kg N ha–1 and humic+96 kg N ha–1) and foliar applications (amino acids, Azotobacter+yeast, and amino acids plus Azotobacter+yeast)

The objective of this study was to study the influence of three organic manures, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PLM), and pigeon manure (PGM), on soil physical and chemical properties on tuber yield of Jerusalem artichoke in a newly reclaimed saline calcareous soil. A field experiment was conducted applying the three manures, alone and/or in different combinations. Soils were investigated