Effect of slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers on dry matter accumulation, grain nutritional quality, water productivity and wheat yield under an arid environment.

Slow release nitrogenous fertilizers can improve crops production and reduce the environmental challenges in agro-ecosystem. There is a need to test the efficiency and performance under arid climatic conditions. The study investigates the effect of slow-release fertilizers (urea, neem coated urea (NCU), sulfur coated urea (SCU) and bioactive sulfur coated urea (BSCU)) on the growth, productivity and grain nutritional qualities of wheat crop. Slow-release fertilizers (SRF) with nitrogen levels (130,117,104 and 94 kg ha-1) were applied with equal splits at sowing, 20 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). Research showed that the BSCU with 130 kg ha-1 increased dry matter accumulation (1989 kg ha-1) after anthesis and grain yield 4463 kg ha-1. The higher plant height (102 cm) was attained by 130 kg N ha-1 SCU while the minimum (77.67 cm) recorded for 94 kg N ha-1 as urea source. Maximum grain NPK concentrations (3.54, 0.66 and 1.07%) were recorded by BSCU 130 kg N ha-1 application. While, the minimum NPK (0.77, 0.19 and 0.35%) were observed by Urea 94 kg N ha-1. The high irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) recorded (20.92 kg ha-1 mm-1) and a crop index of 25.52% by BSCU 130 kg N ha-1 application. Research findings show that generally all SRF but particularly BSCU proved effective and can be recommended for wheat crop under arid environment.

Biochar and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers improved growth, nitrogen use, yield, and fiber quality of cotton under arid climatic conditions.

The efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizers in South Asia is on a declining trajectory due to increased losses. Biochar (BC) and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) have been found to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in certain cases. However, field-scale studies to explore the potential of BC and SRNF in south Asian arid climate are lacking. Here we conducted a field experiment in the arid environment to demonstrate the response of BC and SRNF on cotton growth and yield quality. The treatments were comprised of two factors, (A) nitrogen sources, (i) simple urea, (ii)neem-coated urea, (iii)sulfur-coated urea, (iv) bacterial coated urea, and cotton stalks biochar impregnated with simple urea, and (B) nitrogen application rates, N1=160 kg ha-1, N2 = 120 kg ha-1, and N3 = 80 kg ha-1. Different SRNF differentially affected cotton growth, morphological and physiological attributes, and seed cotton yield (SCY). The bacterial coated urea at the highest rate of N application (160 kg ha-1) resulted in a higher net leaf photosynthetic rate (32.8 µmol m-2 s-1), leaf transpiration rate (8.10 mmol s-1), and stomatal conductance (0.502 mol m-2 s-1), while leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and seed cotton yield (4513 kg ha-1) were increased by bacterial coated urea at 120 kg ha-1 than simple urea. However, low rate N application (80 kg ha-1) of bacterial coated urea showed higher nitrogen use efficiency (39.6 kg SCY kg-1 N). The fiber quality (fiber length, fiber strength, ginning outturn, fiber index, and seed index) was also increased with the high N application rates than N2 and N3 application. To summarize, the bacterial coated urea with recommended N (160 kg ha-1) and 75% of recommended N application (120 kg ha-1) may be recommended for farmers in the arid climatic conditions of Punjab to enhance the seed cotton yield, thereby reducing nitrogen losses.

Climate change impact uncertainty assessment and adaptations for sustainable maize production using multi-crop and climate models.

Future climate scenarios are predicting considerable threats to sustainable maize production in arid and semi-arid regions. These adverse impacts can be minimized by adopting modern agricultural tools to assess and develop successful adaptation practices. A multi-model approach (climate and crop) was used to assess the impacts and uncertainties of climate change on maize crop. An extensive field study was conducted to explore the temporal thermal variations on maize hybrids grown at farmer's fields for ten sowing dates during two consecutive growing years. Data about phenology, morphology, biomass development, and yield were recorded by adopting standard procedures and protocols. The CSM-CERES, APSIM, and CSM-IXIM-Maize models were calibrated and evaluated. Five GCMs among 29 were selected based on classification into different groups and uncertainty to predict climatic changes in the future. The results predicted that there would be a rise in temperature (1.57-3.29 °C) during the maize growing season in five General Circulation Models (GCMs) by using RCP 8.5 scenarios for the mid-century (2040-2069) as compared with the baseline (1980-2015). The CERES-Maize and APSIM-Maize model showed lower root mean square error values (2.78 and 5.41), higher d-index (0.85 and 0.87) along reliable R2 (0.89 and 0.89), respectively for days to anthesis and maturity, while the CSM-IXIM-Maize model performed well for growth parameters (leaf area index, total dry matter) and yield with reasonably good statistical indices. The CSM-IXIM-Maize model performed well for all hybrids during both years whereas climate models, NorESM1-M and IPSL-CM5A-MR, showed less uncertain results for climate change impacts. Maize models along GCMs predicted a reduction in yield (8-55%) than baseline. Maize crop may face a high yield decline that could be overcome by modifying the sowing dates and fertilizer (fertigation) and heat and drought-tolerant hybrids.

Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers enhance growth, yield, NUE in wheat crop and reduce nitrogen losses under an arid environment.

Higher demands of food led to higher nitrogen application to promote cropping intensification and produce more which may have negative effects on the environment and lead to pollution. While sustainable wheat production is under threat due to low soil fertility and organic matter due to nutrient degradation at high temperatures in the region. The current research explores the effects of different types of coated urea fertilizers and their rates on wheat crop under arid climatic conditions of Pakistan. Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency by using eco-friendly coated urea products could benefit growers and reduce environmental negative effects. A trial treatment included N rates (130, 117, 104, and 94 kg ha-1) and coated urea sources (neem coated, sulfur coated, bioactive sulfur coated) applied with equal quantity following split application method at sowing, 20 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The research was arranged in a split-plot design with randomized complete block design had three replicates. Data revealed that bioactive sulfur coated urea with the application of 130 kg N ha-1 increased chlorophyll contents 55.0 (unit value), net leaf photosynthetic rate (12.51 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1), and leaf area index (5.67) significantly. Furthermore, research elucidates that bioactive sulfur urea with the same N increased partial factor productivity (43.85 Kg grain Kg-1 N supplied), nitrogen harvest index (NHI) 64.70%, and partial nutrient balance (1.41 Kg grain N content Kg-1 N supplied). The neem-coated and sulfur-coated fertilizers also showed better results than monotypic urea. The wheat growth and phenology significantly improved by using coated fertilizers. The crop reached maturity earlier with the application of bioactive sulfur-coated urea than others. Maximum total dry matter 14402 (kg ha-1) recorded with 130 kg N ha-1application. Higher 1000-grain weight (33.66 g), more number of grains per spike (53.67), grain yield (4457 kg ha-1), and harvest index (34.29%) were obtained with optimum N application 130 kg ha-1 (recommended). There is a significant correlation observed for growth, yield, and physiological parameters with N in the soil while nitrogen-related indices are also positively correlated. The major problem of groundwater contamination with nitrate leaching is also reduced by using coated fertilizers. Minimum nitrate concentration (7.37 and 8.77 kg ha-1) was observed with the application of bioactive sulfur-coated and sulfur-coated urea with lower N (94 kg ha-1), respectively. The bioactive sulfur-coated urea with the application of 130 kg N ha-1 showed maximum phosphorus 5.45 mg kg-1 and potassium 100.67 mg kg-1 in the soil. Maximum nitrogen uptake (88.20 kg ha-1) is showed by bioactive sulfur coated urea with 130 kg N ha-1 application. The total available NPK concentrations in soil showed a significant correlation with physiological attributes; grain yield; harvest index; and nitrogen use efficiency components, i.e., partial factor productivity, partial nutrient balance, and nitrogen harvest index. This research reveals that coating urea with secondary nutrients, neem oil, and microbes are highly effective techniques for enhancing fertilizer use efficiency and wheat production in calcareous soils and reduced N losses under arid environments.