RESUMEN
Conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizers particularly urea mineralized quickly in soil. Without sufficient plant uptake, this rapid mineralization favors the heavy N losses. Lignite is a naturally abundant and cost-effective adsorbent capable of extending multiple benefits as a soil amendment. Therefore, it was hypothesized that lignite as an N carrier for the synthesis of lignite-based slow-release N fertilizer (LSRNF) could offer an eco-friendly and affordable option to resolve the limitations of existing N fertilizer formulations. The LSRNF was developed by impregnating urea on deashed lignite and pelletized by a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and starch as a binder. The results indicated that LSRNF significantly delayed the N mineralization and extended its release to >70 days. The surface morphology and physicochemical properties of LSRNF confirmed the sorption of urea on lignite. The study demonstrated that LSRNF also significantly decreased the NH3-volatilization up to 44.55%, NO3-leaching up to 57.01%, and N2O-emission up to 52.18% compared to conventional urea. So, this study proved that lignite is a suitable material to formulate new slow-release fertilizers, suiting to alkaline calcareous soils favorably where N losses are further higher compared to non-calcareous soils.
RESUMEN
Direct drum seeding has emerged as a viable and alternate substitute to the current transplanted rice to address constraints of labor and water scarcity as well as rising cultivation costs. However, heavy weed infestation is the main biological factor leading to immense yield loss, which requires immediate attention. Therefore, adoption of efficient weed management practice is critical for the success and widespread adoption of direct seeded rice. In this regard, an experiment was laid out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, SKUAST of Kashmir, India, in Kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019 to assess the efficiency of direct seeded rice (DSR) under two sowing dates (D1: 10th May and D2: 3rd June) and six weed management strategies (W1: weedy check (untreated check), W2: four mechanized conoweedings at 15, 30, 45, and 60 DAS (days after sowing), equivalent to weed free (four conoweedings, equivalent to weed free), W3: bensulfuron-methyl + pretilachlor @ 60 and 600 g a.i. ha-1 as pre-emergence (BSM + pretilachlor, PE), W4: oxyfluorfen @ 750 g a.i. ha-1 as pre-emergence (oxyfluorfen, PE), W5: bensulfuron-methyl + pretilachlor @ 60 and 600 g a.i. ha-1 as pre-emergence followed by 2,4-D @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 as post-emergence (30-35 DAS) (BSM + pretilachlor PE fb 2,4-D PoE), and W6: oxyfluorfen @ 750 g a.i. ha-1 as pre-emergence followed by 2,4-D @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 as post-emergence (30-35 DAS) (oxyfluorfen PE fb 2,4-D PoE) on growth characteristics, productivity, weed infestation, and nutrient dynamics. The pooled results showed that 10th May sowing recorded significantly higher values of growth characteristics viz. plant height, dry matter production, tiller count, and yield characteristics, including panicle weight, panicle length, filled grains per panicle, and test weight, as compared to delayed sowing (3rd June). Earlier sowing (10th May) produced significantly higher grain yield (7.33 t ha-1) and straw yield (8.99 t ha-1) when compared to the delayed sowing (3rd June) which produced a grain yield of 6.08 t ha-1 and straw yield of 7.93 t ha-1. Among weed management strategies, four mechanized conoweeding at 15, 30, 45, and 60 DAS resulted in enhanced growth, yield characteristics, and yield but was statistically similar to bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) + pretilachlor PE fb 2,4-D post-emergence (PoE). Delayed sowing (3rd June; D2) recorded significantly higher weed density and dry-weed biomass as compared to earlier sowing (10th May; D1). Among the herbicides tested, sequential application of BSM + pretilachlor PE fb 2,4-D PoE proved an efficient weed management practice with a significantly reduced population and dry weight of weeds. Therefore, it was concluded that 10th May sowing with four mechanized conoweedings or sequential application of BSM + pretilachlor PE fb 2,4-D PoE is promising for improving productivity and efficient weed control in direct drum seeded rice under temperate Kashmir conditions.
RESUMEN
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the age of a seedling and sources of nutrients on the growth and yield of sweet corn at SKUAST-K during Kharif-2020. The experiment was performed under a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A was the age of the seedling with three levels, viz., 12-day-old seedlings, 22-day-old seedlings, and 32-day-old seedlings. Factor B was the source of nutrients with five levels, viz., control, recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 1/2 RDF + 12 t ha-1 farmyard manure, 1/2 RDF + 4 t ha-1 vermicompost, and 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha-1 poultry manure. The experiment was tested using variety Sugar-75 with a spacing of 75 × 20 cm2. The findings of this study indicated that the age of the seedling and sources of nutrients extended a significant influence on growth parameters, yield attributes, and yield of sweet corn. Significantly highest values for various growth parameters of sweet corn, viz., plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter accumulation from 30 days after transplanting up to the harvest, were noted by transplanting A2 seedlings (22 day old). A similar trend was observed for yield attributes and yield with higher values with transplanting A2 seedlings (22 day old). Plots fertilized with 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha-1 poultry manure registered a significantly higher plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation, and number of functional leaves, which eventually resulted in a higher green cob yield and green fodder yield under the same treatment. Overall, this study indicated that among different ages of seedlings, transplanting A2 seedlings (22 day old) outperformed other seedling ages, and plots treated with 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha-1 poultry manure outperformed other treatments; a combination of both proved superior in realizing a higher yield and profitability with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 6.57 under temperate climatic conditions.
RESUMEN
The field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2020 at Agronomy farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, SKUAST-K to study the influence of age of seedling and sources of nutrients on phenology, yield and agrometeorological indices for sweet corn. The experiment included two factors viz. age of seedlings (12, 22 and 32 days old seedling) and sources of nutrients (control, RDF, 50 percent RDF + FYM @ 12 t ha-1, 50 percent RDF + vermi-compost @ 4 t ha-1 and 50 percent RDF + poultry manure @ 2 t ha-1) tested in RCBD with three replications. Transplanting 12 days old seedlings required maximum number of days to attain different phenological stages, thereby accumulated maximum heat units followed by 22 days old seedlings. While as transplanting 22 days old seedling recorded significantly highest HUE, HTUE, PTUE and HyTUE and consequently resulted in the highest green cob and biological yield compared to other ages of seedlings. Among various sources of nutrients, application of 50 per cent RDF + poultry manure @ 2 t ha-1 took maximum number of days to attain various phenophases thereby accumulated maximum heat units and registered highest HUE, HTUE, PTUE and HyTUE followed by application of 100 per cent RDF.
