Nitrogen Fertilization

Many studies have shown effects of plants species on fungal communities, but these are often confounded with soil effects. Thus, the specific role of plant species in structuring rhizospheric and soil fungal communities is poorly described. Our study used microcosms in which plants were grown under artificial conditions to bridge this gap. Two perennial grasses dominating subalpine grasslands, Festuca paniculata and Dactylis glomerata, were grown at two levels of fertilization on standard soil. Fungal communities were determined by 454 pyrosequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region. Among the fungal communities characterized by the primers used, original communities were associated to each plant species and also diverged between rhizosphere and bulk soils within each plant species, though there were no significant fertilization effects. Differences regarded global composition of the fungal communities and abundant molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). Both plant species and location effects were reflected more in the abundance than in the composition of MOTUs. The observed differences in fungal communities coincide with differing strategies of plant root growth, with D. glomerata having greater root mass, length, and area than F. paniculata. Our study, by dissociating soil effects from plant effects, demonstrated that plant species exert a key control on soil fungi. We suggest that such effects may be linked to inter-specific differences in root traits and their consequences on nitrogen uptake.

and in what time will occur on the field. In such a manner, it is possible to make more efficient end economical plan of measures for their control. During vegetation period 2008-2009, in the locality Ratkovo (Vojvodina), studies of the weed seed bank were performed under wheat, sugar beet and clover crops. Plots were nearby, and therefore, the influence of climatic and edaphyic factors was identical. In average, samples were heavy 1.5 kg, they were taken from each plot in four repetitions, diagonally, and separately from depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. After sieving of the samples through copper sieves that differed in diameter followed their drying and determination. The obtained data were statistically processed in the program Statistica 9. Under wheat crop seeds of 15 weed species were separated, of which in the greatest measure dominated seeds of weed species Amaranthus retroflexus, Datura stramonium and Solanum nigrum, in all of the studied layers. Seeds of A. retroflexus were the most numerous in the top soil layer (314 seeds/m 2 ), as well as seeds of D. stramonium (134 seeds/m 2 ), while seeds of Solanum nigrum proved to be dominant in the deepest studied layer (234 seeds/m 2 ). The greatest total seed quantity of all weed species was extracted from the top layer of 0-10 cm (854 seeds/m 2 ), and the lowest from the deepest layer of 20-30 cm (715 seeds/m 2 ). In sugar beet were found seeds of 12 different weed species, and dominant were seeds of Amaranthus retroflexus in all studied depths of the soil layer. The highest seed quantity of A. retroflexus was established in soil layer of 10-20 cm (221 seeds/m2), and somewhat lower in the layer of 20-30 cm (209 seeds/m2), and the lowest in the top arable soil layer (187 seeds/m2). Seeds of Chenopodium album were also dominant in the top soil layer (89 seeds/m2), while seeds of other weed species occurred in significantly lower number. Total number of all separated seeds was the highest in the studied top soil layer (502 seeds/m 2 ). Under clover crop seeds of 12 weed species were also separated, and dominant were seeds of Amaranthus retroflexus in the top layer (144 seeds/m 2 ) and Chenopodium album in the deepest soil layer (95 seeds/m 2 ). The highest number of all seeds was found in the soil layer of 0-10 cm (288 seeds/m 2 ). In all three studied plots, the highest quantity of weed was established in the top layer of 0-10 cm, which is the consequence of inadequate application of cultural practices, above all, lack of deep soil cultivation. Based upon the obtained results it is possible to predict occurrence and volume of weed species in the studied plots in the following vegetation season. This enables creation of the most efficient plan of cultivation and chemical weed control.

Mapping and monitoring of weed seeds on agricultural and non-agricultural areas is long lasting praxis in many countries. A study of weed seed bank under various cultures provides opportunities of prediction, which weed species, in what volume and in what time will occur on the field. In such a manner, it is possible to make more efficient end economical plan of measures for their control. During vegetation period 2008-2009, in the locality Ratkovo (Vojvodina), studies of the weed seed bank were performed under wheat, sugar beet and clover crops. Plots were nearby, and therefore, the influence of climatic and edaphyic factors was identical. In average, samples were heavy 1.5 kg, they were taken from each plot in four repetitions, diagonally, and separately from depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. After sieving of the samples through copper sieves that differed in diameter followed their drying and determination. The obtained data were statistically processed in the program Sta...

The physicochemical properties of plasma-activated water (PAW) and the mechanism of PAW on the inactivation of Pseudomonas fluorescens were investigated. The results demonstrated that as activation time and output voltage increased, the electrical conductivity (EC) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of PAW increased, while its pH decreased. When the activation condition was 20 kV for 30 min (PAW30), the content of active substances of the PAW was the highest (P < 0.05). The concentrations of NO 2-, NO 3-, and H 2 O 2 were high as 0.43 μg/mL, 2.46 μg/mL, and 0.837 μg/mL, respectively. After the PAW30 treatment for 30 min, the population of P. fluorescens was decreased by 2.27 log 10 CFU/mL when the initial inoculation volume was 4.38 log 10 CFU/mL. PAW oxidative stress disrupted the balance of the intracellular redox, ion concentration, and pH, leading to the breakdown of cell wall and membrane integrity, ultimately causing bacterial inactivation. These are important mechanisms by which PAW exerts its bactericidal effect. Industrial relevance: The aim of this study was to clarify the optimal preparation conditions for PAW, and its mechanism of killing P. fluorescens. These results contribute to our understanding of the control of spoilage organisms in aquatic products by PAW. In the raw material treatment stage of aquatic product processing, PAW can be used to clean and soak raw materials to kill microorganisms on their surfaces of raw materials. Therefore, PAW can be applied as a green cleaning technology to improve the hygienic quality of aquatic products.

Among many causes of weed growth and rice's low yield, improper nitrogen management are thought to be an important issue. To find out the efficient nitrogen management for reducing weed population and improving productivity of boro rice an experiment was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Five different nitrogen management and six different weed control techniques were applied to BRRI dhan29. Four of the thirteen weed species were grasses, three were broadleaf, four were sedges and two were aquatic. Application of 100% N from urea and un-weeded control had the greatest weed density and dry weight (78.67 m-2 and 4.80 g m-2) at 20 DAT, whereas 100% N from USG and weed free over the time treatment had the lowest weed density and dry weight (0.00 m-2 and 0.00 g m-2). When 100% N from USG was applied coupled with weed-free conditions the maximum numbers of effective tillers hill-1 , grains panicle-1 , straw yield, and biological yield were 10.11, 122, 6.23 t ha-1 , and 11.07 t ha-1 , respectively. The minimum effective tillers hill-1 , grains panicle-1 , straw yield and, biological yield was 6, 70.84, 3.13 t ha-1 and, 4.95 t ha-1 , respectively found at 0 kg N ha-1 followed by un-weeded control. The maximum grain yield was 5.84 t ha-1 for 100% N from USG and weed-free conditions, while the lowest grain yield was 2.15 t ha-1 for 0 kg N ha-1 and un-weeded control. However, because of the labor problem and the weeds' tremendous capacity for regeneration, it is impossible to keep the field weed-free over the whole growing season. This study showed that farmers may choose to apply 100% N from USG in combination with either preemergence herbicide (Commit 500 EC @ 1 L ha-1) and hand weeding at 30 DAT or early postemergence herbicide (Acetochlor 14% + Bensulfuron-methyl 4% @ 750g ha-1) and hand weeding at 30 DAT to effectively manage weeds and maximize grain yield in boro rice.

Phytotechnical and zootechnical effects of a nitrogen fertilizer reduction or suppression on pasture grazed by dairy cows. Three levels of intensification were compared for a permanent pasture grazed over 6 consecutive years in a rotational grazing system. The three levels of intensification were as follow: a high nitrogen fertilizer input system with 136 kg N . ha -1 and with 3.35 cows . ha -1 -H-N group -, a system with a moderate fertilizer input in which nitrogen fertilization was reduced by 33% but with the same stocking rate -M-N group -with 91 kg N . ha -1 along with 3.35 cows . ha -1 and a system with no fertilization associated with a reduced stocking rate -0-N group -with 2.51 cows . ha -1 . There were no effects of the treatments on grass characteristics -e.g. post grazing height, percentage of refusals, total nitrogen content, fiber content. The absence of nitrogen fertilization reduced the pre-grazing height and DM yield of the pasture. The clover content was reduced in the first and sixth years in nitrogen fertilized groups. The individual milk yield was not affected by the treatments (15.4 kg . d -1 ) but the milk yield per hectare was largely affected by the stocking rate. The protein content and cell count were unaffected by the treatments but butter fat content was higher in the 0-N group than in the other two groups (4.10 vs. 3.90%; P < 0.05). The average daily liveweight gain was not affected by the treatments (0.23 kg . d -1 ). The plasma and milk urea contents were significantly higher in fertilized groups than in 0-N group (164 vs. 151 mg N . l -1 in plasma and 194 vs. 175 mg N . l -1 in milk respectively; P < 0.05). Daily nitrogen excretion per animal was similar for both treatments but when expressed per ha and year, the excretion was higher in the fertilized groups. Thus, it has appeared that a 33% reduction of nitrogen fertilization with a similar stocking rate allowed to maintain performances either on an individual animal or a per hectare basis. Grazing management with no nitrogen fertilization but with an adjusted stocking rate induced a reduction in performances expressed per hectare but maintained similar individual performances as with high input systems. Furthermore, there were both a higher nitrogen efficiency and a reduction in nitrogen excretion per hectare. dairy cows / nitrogen fertilization / grazing / milk yield / nitrogen balance

The study reports our evaluation of high resolution, hyperspectral leaf reflectance and pigment measurement as a potential tool to aid in identifying and delineating the effect of crop residue management and macronutrients on chlorophyll content and crop health of wheat crop (T. aestivum). The split-plot design was employed for the experiment with rice straw management practice as the main plots, while 4 sub treatments include an increase in N % from 23 % to 50 % compared to the control. Hyperspectral reflectance data (350-1000 nm) at 5 nm resolution were collected after 2nd irrigation and N % dose application at about 85 days of crop maturity using a SPECIM camera under natural light conditions from ~1200-1500 hrs. The reflectance was measured at ~60 cm from the plant tip and the variance and multivariate mean separation among the various treatments. There was a significant increase (~1.5 fold) in reflectance for the T4 treatment compared to the control (T1), and a corresponding increase in chlorophyll content was observed with the T4 treatment compared to the control. The increase in chlorophyll was also correlated with the content of mineral N soil (mg/kg). With the addition of additional N % along with residuemanaged plots, there is a linear increase in chlorophyll content, which is also compared with SPAD and green seeker (NDVI) data taken simultaneously at the time of HSI imaging. This is the first observation where the HSI technique is successfully employed to study the impact of crop residue management on crop health.

Bu calisma farkli cinko ve demir dozlarinin NC-7 yer fistigi (Arachis hypogaea L.) cesidinin verim ve bazi verim kriterlerine etkilerini belirlemek icin Cukurova sartlarinda 2017 yilinda yurutulmustur. Deneme iki faktorlu faktoriyel deneme desenine gore uc tekerrurlu olarak kurulmus ve yurutulmustur. Calismada topraktan uygulanan farkli cinko ve demir dozlari yerfistiginda meyve verimi (kg/da), ic orani (%), 100 tohum agirligi (g), I. kalite meyve sayisi orani (%) ve II. kalite meyve sayisi oranini(%) istatistiki (p&lt;0,05 ve p&lt;0,01duzeyinde) bakimdan onemli seviyede etkilemistir. Farkli dozlarda cinko ve demirin topraga uygulanmasinda meyve verimi 252,4 kg/da ile 634,1 kg/da arasinda degismistir. Calismada; meyve verimi (kg/da), ic orani (%), 100 tohum agirligi (g), bakimindan en uygun dozun Zn3xFe1 (4 kg/da Zn x 1 kg/da Fe) interaksiyonu oldugu tespit edilmistir.

Este estudo objetiva avaliar, em sistema integrado de produção agropecuária, o desempenho e a produção animal em pastagem de aveia preta e azevém. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial (2x2), com três repetições. Os fatores foram duas alturas do pasto (10 e 25cm) mantidas sob pastejo com lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável, além de passarem por duas épocas de adubação nitrogenada no sistema (NP – adubação nitrogenada feita na pastagem, no outono e NG – adubação nitrogenada feita na lavoura - cultura de grãos). A quantidade total de nutrientes aplicados por ano foi a mesma para todos os tratamentos. A aplicação do nitrogênio (ureia – 45% N) na pastagem indicou aumento no valor nutritivo, oferta e massa de forragem, assim como na capacidade de suporte, sem alterar o desempenho animal, resultando em maior produção animal por unidade de área. A menor altura de dossel condicionou menor massa de forragem, maior tempo diurno de pastejo e...

This five-year study (2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020)(2021) in Morocco's Mediterranean climate investigated the effect of nitrogen fertilization and genotypic selection on wheat yield and associated components. Utilizing a split-plot design, the study assessed five wheat genotypes-'Faraj', 'Luiza', 'Itri', 'Karim' and 'Nassira'-under three nitrogen application rates (120, 60 and 0 kg/ha) across thirty plots with two replicates. Interactions between nitrogen and year showed marked significance in yield (p = 0.001), biomass (p = 0.002), TKW (p = 0.003) and Spk/m 2 (p = 0.001), underscoring the variability in optimal nitrogen application rates across different years. Additionally, significant interactions between variety and year were observed for biomass (p = 0.001) and G/m 2 (p = 0.001), indicating variability in the performance of different varieties across years. The 'Itri' genotype showed the highest yield in 2017, while 'Luiza' was pre-eminent in 2018, with 'Itri' producing the most biomass. 'Faraj' demonstrated consistent superiority in yield and biomass during 2019 and 2020. Our integrated principal component analysis and quadratic models elucidated that an intermediate nitrogen rate of 60 kg/ha (N2) was particularly advantageous for the 'Faraj' and 'Karim' genotypes. These findings highlight the substantial impact of informed nitrogen level adjustment and genotypic selection on yield optimization.

This study presents sulfur isotope compositions (δ 34 S) for plants grown in a series of growth chamber and field experiments under controlled conditions. Maize, beans, and squash fertilized with a marine fertilizer (seabird guano) were significantly enriched in 34 S relative to the unfertilized control plants (by +4.0 to +7.2‰) in the growth chamber experiments. No 34 S enrichment was detected in the plants from the field experiment, which likely relates to the recent use of ammonium sulfate fertilizer in these fields and the retention of residual sulfate with a comparatively low δ 34 S. The field experiment provided a basis to estimate the apparent fractionation between soil and plant S associated with uptake and assimilation (Δ 34 S), which ranged between -4 and -6‰ depending on the taxon and tissue. The use of marine fertilizers has the capacity to increase plant δ 34 S values and complicate quantitative reconstructions of ancient diet based on bulk stable isotope data.

Bu deneme; Muğla Dalaman Tarım İşletmesi Müdürlüğü (TİGEM) deneme sahasında yürütülmüştür. Deneme tamamıyla şansa bağlı deneme deseni prensibiyle üç tekrarlamalı olarak kurulmuştur. Gübre uygulamaları; 1-Topraktan 400 kg da -1 ayçiçeği verimine göre gübre uygulaması, 2-Gübre uygulamasının (1) %20 azaltılması, 3-Gübre uygulamasının (1) %40 azaltılması, 4-Gübre uygulamasının (1) %20 arttırılması, 5-Gübre uygulamasının (1) %40 arttırılması ve 6-Üretici uygulaması olmak üzere altı değişik gübre uygulamaları yapılmıştır. Araştırma, farklı gübre uygulamalarının yağlık ayçiçeği bitkisinin verimine ve yapraktaki bitki besin elementlerinin (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, B ve Mo) içeriklerine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre toprağa altı farklı oranda gübre uygulamanın ayçiçeğinin verim ve yapraklarındaki bitki besin elementleri içeriklerine etkisi istatistiki olarak önemli bulunmuştur (p<0.01). Ayçiçeğinde en yüksek verim (419.6 kg.da -1 ) 5. uygulamadan, en düşük verim (321.4 kg.da -1 ) ise 3.

Nitrogen fertilization and planting density are two key factors that can interactively affect the grain yield of rice. Three different types of rice cultivars—inbred Shendao 47, inbred Shendao 505, and hybrid Jingyou 586—were applied to investigate the effects of the nitrogen (N) rate and planting density (D) on the aboveground biomass, harvest index, leaf photosynthetic features, grain yield, and yield components using a split-split-plot design at two sites over two continuous years. The main plots were assigned to four nitrogen fertilizer rates: 0 (N0), 140 (N1), 180 (N2), and220 (N3) kg ha−1 N; the subplots were assigned to three planting densities: 25 × 104 (D1), 16.7 × 104 (D2), and 12.5 × 104 (D3) hills ha-1, and the sub-subplots were assigned to three rice cultivars. The results showed that the grain yield had a significantly positive correlation with the stomatal conductance (Gs), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), chlorophyll content (SPAD value), leaf area index (LAI), panicles per unit area, and spikelets per panicle. The N rate and planting density had significant interaction effects on grain yield, and the maximum values of Shendao 47, Shendao 505, and Jingyou 586 appeared in N3D2, N2D1, and N3D3, respectively. The higher grain yield of midsized panicle Shendao 47 was mostly ascribed to both panicles per unit area and spikelets per panicle. More panicles per unit area and spikelets per panicle primarily contributed to a larger sink capacity of small-sized panicle rice Shendao 505 and large-sized panicle rice Jingyou 586. We found that the treatments N3D2, N2D1, and N3D3 could optimize the contradiction between yield formation factors for Shendao 47, Shendao 505, and Jingyou 586, respectively. Across years and sites, the regression analysis indicated that the combinations of nitrogen fertilization of 195.6 kg ha−1 with a planting density of 22 × 104 hills ha−1, 182.5 kg ha−1 with 25 × 104 hills ha−1, and 220 kg ha−1 with 13.1 × 104 hills ha−1 are recommended for medium-, small-, and large-sized panicle rice cultivars, respectively.

The aim of this study was to investigate some physiological traits and yield of different maize hybrids in growth conditions of Kosovo. The field experiment was conducted in 2006 and 2007 in Kosovo, near Prishtina. The experiment was based on a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. For calculating and statistical analysis 10 plants per each plot were randomly chosen. In the study, seven commercial maize hybrids belonging to different FAO groups (FAO 300, 400 and 600), originating from two breeding institutions: Maize Dept. of Bc Institute Rugvica – Croatia (Jumbo 48 [H-1], BC418 [H-2], BC408 [H-3], BC288 [H-4], BC394 [H-5]) and from Pioneer Hi-Bred Int. (Austria) (Pregia [H-6] and Colombo [H-7]), were included. For traits ear leaf area (LA), absolute growth rate (AGR), crop growth rate (CGR) and biological dry matter (BDM) higher values were obtained in the 2 nd year in comparison to the 1 st year, however the harvest index (HI) of the 1 st year was of a higher value...

Nitrogen (N) plays an important role in agriculture crop production but the increasing application of nitrogen increases the possibilities of groundwater contamination through nitrate leaching. Nitrate leaching is the inevitable part of agriculture production which occurs during nitrogen fertilization. Hence, the quantification of nitrogen fertilizer is required to reduce nitrate leaching. In this study, nitrogen transformation and transport such as ammonium (NH 4 þ ) and nitrate (NO À 3 ) at different soil depths and maize crop growth stages were measured during field experiments for two sowing dates (timely and delay) and four N fertilization levels under irrigated (year 2013 and 2014) and rainfed (year 2012 and 2014) conditions for maize crop. NH 4 þ , NO À 3 and total nitrogen concentrations were measured using spectrophotometer at 410 nm and Kjeldahl method at varying soil depths and maize crop growth stages. Thereafter, nitrogen balance approach was used to estimate the NO À 3 leaching. Results indicated that NO À 3 leaching in irrigated condition was higher 109% in N 75 , 179% in N 100 , and 292% in N 125 level respectively in comparison to the N 0 level in timely sowing date, while in delayed sowing date, leaching was higher 54% in N 75 , 123% in N 100 , and 184% in N 125 level respectively in comparison to N 0 level. In rainfed, the NO À 3 leaching was higher 30% in N 60 , 59% in N 80 , and 99% in N 100 level respectively in comparison to N 0 level for the timely sowing date, while in delayed sowing, leaching was higher 23% in N 60 , 44% in N 80 , and 78% in N 100 level respectively in comparison to N 0 level. The results indicate that leaching losses were less in timely sowing dates for both rainfed and irrigated maize. The study further reveals that sowing dates combination with N levels could be an effective management strategy to reduce NO À 3 leaching by minimizing the N fertilization.

Resumo: Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o efeito da irrigação com água de diferentes salinidades e a adubação com diferentes doses de nitrogênio no cultivo do feijão caupi cv. BRS Pajeú. O experimento foi conduzido em lisímetros de drenagem, no período de junho a setembro de 2013 em casa de vegetação do CTRN/UFCG. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial (5 x 5), sendo cinco níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação-CEa (0,9; 1,8; 2,7; 3,6 e 4,5 dS m-1) e cinco doses de adubação nitrogenada (70; 100; 130; 160 e 190% da recomendação indicada para o experimento em vaso). Analisou-se ao final do ciclo (85 DAS): a área foliar (AF), razão de área foliar (RAF), área foliar específica (AFE) e a alocação de biomassa nas folhas (ABF) e no caule (ABC). A área foliar e a alocação de biomassa do caule do feijão caupi cv. BRS Pajeú reduz acentuadamente, quando submetida a níveis de CEa maior que 0,9 dS m-1 , enquanto que a alocação de biomassa da folha aumenta. A adubação nitrogenada não afetou as variáveis de crescimento analisadas no feijão caupi cv. BRS Pajeú. Não ocorreu interação entre os níveis de salinidade e as doses de nitrogênio para as variáveis analisadas.

Based on Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) and Ministry of Agriculture soil fertility status and fertilizer recommendation atlas, one of a new blended fertilizer NPSB containing 18.7% nitrogen (N), 37.4% P2O5 phosphorous (P) 6.9% sulfur (S) and 0.25% boron (B) is in recent times introduced aiming at substituting di ammonium phosphate (DAP) (18% N and 46% P2O5) for crop production. There is a need to optimize blended fertilizer for Teff production under farmers’ conditions. Therefore field experiment was carried out for 2019 and 2020 main cropping seasons at Tsegedie Wereda in Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia. This study was carried out to investigate the optimum level of NPSB blended fertilizer for Teff production. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications on farmers’ field. The treatments were seven levels of NPSB (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250,300 kg ha-1) adjusted with N to the recommended level. Recommended N and P fertilizers (64 kg N ha-1, 46 kg P2O5 ha-1) were also included as a positive control. Soil samples were collected before planting and analyzed for selected physicochemical properties. Application of different rates of NPSB blended fertilizer significantly influenced yield and yield components of teff. The highest grain and straw yields were obtained from plots that received 250 kg NPSB ha-1. The economic analysis showed that applications of 150kg NPSB ha-1 were optimum for teff production and this rate could be recommended for area where this experiment conducted. Further study should be done on effects of NPSB in grain quality and single nutrient based experiment should also be carried out to evaluate the blended fertilizer for crop production.

domates çeşidinin meyve ve salça verimi ile bazı kalite özelliklerindeki değişimin belirlenmesi amacıyla yürütülmüştür. 2001-2003 yılları arasında 3 yıl geçiş, 2004-2009 yılları arasında da organik sertifikalı süreçteki parseller ile konvansiyonel alanda paralel yürütülen çalışmada bakım işlemleri yönetmeliklere göre uygulanmıştır. Meyve ve salça verimi ile briks gibi kalite özellikleri açısından organik ve konvansiyonel parseller arasında istatistiki anlamda önemli fark bulunmamıştır. Her iki uygulamada da ortalama 145 kg/parsel ve 8400 kg/da meyve verimi elde edilmiştir. Organik ve konvansiyonel parsellerden elde edilen % 5.0 briks değeri ile 1500 kg/da salça verimine ulaşıldığı belirlenmiştir. Buna karşılık verim değerleri bakımından deneme yılları arasında ise istatistiki olarak önemli farklılık tespit edilmiş, organik parselde geçiş yıllarında 9.0-9.8 ton/da olan meyve verim değeri organik sertifika sürecinin ilk yıllarında 7.6-8.0 ton/da, son organik yılında da 9.00 ton/da bulunmuştur.

Healthy and safe organic food plays a crucial role in environmental protection and
biodiversity conservation. Organic agriculture is an approach to cultivating healthy
and safe food and other agricultural products that rely on natural methods and
processes, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified
organisms (GMOs), and other synthetic substances. The primary goal of organic
agriculture is to preserve the health of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the
environment by promoting sustainable practices that support biological diversity.
Organic farming methods, such as crop rotation and composting, provide a
sustainable approach to agriculture by improving soil structure, increasing fertility,
and reducing ecological risks. Organic agriculture is continuously evolving,
introducing new technologies and approaches that enhance sustainability and
productivity. Research indicates that organic farming supports greater plant and
animal species diversity compared to conventional agriculture, reduces greenhouse
gas emissions—critical for combating climate change—and offers significant health
benefits to consumers, including food richer in nutrients. By promoting and
supporting organic agriculture, we can achieve a sustainable balance between food
production and the conservation of natural resources, ensuring long-term
sustainability, environmental health, and biodiversity conservation on our planet.

Metals in soils occur in different forms, which are more or less mobile, which means bioavailable. The aim of this study was to assess the content of zinc in cultivated plants, depending on soil properties but also its content in soil and fractions in typical and unpolluted region, which is the Podlasie Province. The research material consisted of samples taken from arable soil in 81 points of Podlasie Province. Basic physicochemical properties and content of soil fraction < 0.02 mm in samples were determined. Pseudo-total content of zinc and its fractional composition in soil as well as zinc content in plants was evaluated. Correlation coefficients between the content of zinc in plants and physicochemical properties of soil were calculated. It was found that examined soil contained natural amount of zinc, characteristic for uncontaminated soils. The most of zinc was associated with the organic matter fraction and the least with residual fraction. Among the analysed plants from light soils, the most of zinc was found in rye. Plants from medium-heavy soils contained similar amount of zinc, with the exception of maize. Correlation coefficients do not confirm the significant relationship between soil properties and zinc in plants. Significant relationship was stated between bioaccumulation factors and the content of zinc in plants.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the comparative roles of nitrogen (50 kg ha-1) and inoculums Bradyrhizobium (1.5 kg ha-1) in improving the yield of two mungbean varieties (BARI mung-5 and BARI mung-6). The experiment was carried out during the period from April 2011 to July 2011 at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) Farm, Dhaka. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and plot size was 8 m 2 with 30 cm line spacing. The Bradyrhizobium strain BARI RVr-403 was used for the experiment. The recommended dose of TSP, MOP and Gypsum were applied in each plot. BARI Mung-6 performed higher stover and seed yield than BARI Mung-5. Bradyrhizobium inoculation significantly increased 1000-seed weight, pods plant-1 , seeds pod-1 , stover and seed yield. BARI Mung-6 with Bradyrhizobium inoculation recorded the highest seed and stover yield compared to other treatment combinations. Non-inoculated BARI Mung-5 gave the lowest yield.

Although intermittent irrigation is widely regarded as a saving irrigation water technology in paddy fields, it can cause water and air pollution by changing the nitrogen cycle. A two-year lysimeter experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of intermittent irrigation on the nitrogen cycle. For applying intermittent irrigation, soil drying began about 30 days after transplanting and the alternate wetting and drying was considered weekly. To investigate the nitrogen cycle in the lysimeter, nitrate and ammonium concentrations and acidity were measured periodically at depths of 18, 30, and 70 cm. Results showed that water saving was 23-24%, which varied over two years depending on the weather conditions. The most nitrate and ammonium concentration changes occurred at a depth of 30 cm in 2018 and a depth of 70 cm in 2019. Nitrate concentration after two dried periods at a depth of 30 cm indicated the producing and leaching of nitrate in the soil, which upraised the risk of groundwater contamination. Nitrate concentration in the dried period increased compared to the previously flooded period, although the rate of increase was variable in each alternation. The reduction of ammonium concentration was about 13% in the first alternation at a depth of 30 cm, which was much lower in the following periods. Nitrogen balance in the surface layer showed that 39 and 51% ammonium volatilization and rice uptake occurred, respectively. Denitrification was obtained 0.5 kg N ha-1 which could be as an index for the emission of N2O. Total nitrogen loss based on applied nitrogen fertilizer was 52%, of which 47% is caused by ammonium volatilization. Results showed the importance of the number of alternations in nitrogen changes in paddy fields.

Wheat is a vital crop for global food security, but its productivity is increasingly threatened by water and salinity stress, exacerbated by climate change. These environmental challenges affect wheat growth at multiple stages, leading to reduced germination, stunted development, and lower yields. Given that over 20% of cultivated land worldwide is affected by salinity, there is an urgent need to develop saline stress-tolerant wheat cultivars. This study presents a dataset of 11 commercial wheat cultivars, with a focus on their responses to water and salinity stress. The dataset includes comprehensive measurements such as germination rate, shoot and root length, and biomass under control, water, and saline conditions. By analyzing these data, researchers can better understand the genetic and phenotypic traits associated with drought and salinity tolerance. This research offers valuable insights into breeding strategies aimed at enhancing stress resistance, contributing to the development of wheat varieties capable of withstand harsh environmental conditions and ensuring global food security. This dataset provides a foundation for further exploration into the mechanisms of stress tolerance in wheat and opens new avenues for improving agricultural sustainability.

In a 28-day incubation study, ball milling technologies were applied to enhance the sorptive and functional properties of pristine biochar. The effect of ball-milled (BM) biochar, neem seed cake, and their co-amendment was evaluated on nitrification, ammonia (NH 3) volatilization, and the abundance of nitrifying microbial communities in three contrasting tropical soils of different pH (acidic, neutral, and alkaline). The amendments were applied at 2% dry w/w to soils fertilized with ammonium chloride (NH 4 Cl). Results showed that in neutral and alkaline soils, the co-amendment led to a 40% and 64% increase in NH 3 volatilization, respectively, compared to control due to significant ammonium (NH 4 +) retention and temporary nitrification inhibition. Conversely, in acidic soil, BM biochar and neem seed cake amplified nitrification by 23% and 62%, respectively, compared to sole amendments, while neem seed cake increased NH 3 volatilization by 56% compared to BM biochar + neem seed cake due to NH 4 + retention, altered soil pH, and changes in nitrifying microbial community. The abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and complete ammonia oxidizers (Comammox) was altered by changes in soil pH and N availability modulated by BM biochar and neem seed cake. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between soil organic matter (SOM), NH 4 + , and NO 3 − on the abundance of nitrifying microorganisms. The study affirms the efficacy of BM biochar-neem seed cake co-amendment on nitrification inhibition but indicates potential N losses by NH 3 volatilization depending on soil type, highlighting the need for soil type-specific management strategies to optimize N retention while minimizing environmental impacts.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) without compromising yield remains a crucial agroecological challenge in theory and practice. Some meta-analyses conducted in recent years investigated the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on crop yield and gaseous emissions, but most are region-specific and focused on N sources and application methods. However, various factors affecting yield and N fertilizer efficiency in wheat crops on a global scale are not extensively studied, thus highlighting the need for a comprehensive meta-analysis. Using 109 peer-reviewed research studies (published between 2000 and 2022) from 156
experimental sites (covering 36.8, 38.6 and 24.6% of coarse, medium, and fine texture soils, respectively), we conducted a global meta-analysis to elucidate suitable N management practices and the key factors influencing N fertilization efficiency in wheat as a function of yield and recovery efficiency and also explained future perspectives for efficient N management in wheat crop. Overall, N fertilization had a significant impact on wheat yield. A curvilinear relationship was found between N rates and grain yield, whereas maximum yield improvement was illustrated at 150-300 kg N ha-1. In addition, N increased yield by 92.18% under direct soil incorporation, 87.55% under combined chemical and organic fertilizers application, and 72.86% under split application. Site-specific
covariates (climatic conditions and soil properties) had a pronounced impact on N fertilization efficiency. A significantly higher yield response was observed in regions with MAP > 800 mm, and where MAT remained < 15 °C. Additionally, the highest yield response was observed with initial AN, AP, and AK concentrations at < 20, < 10, and 100-150 mg kg-1, respectively, and yield response considerably declined with increasing these threshold values. Nevertheless, regression analysis revealed a declining trend in N recovery efficiency (REN), and the addition of N in already fertile soils may affect plant uptake and RE. Global REN in wheat remained at 49.78% and followed a negative trend with the further increase of N supply and improvement in soil properties. Finally, an advanced N management approach such as “root zone targeted fertilization” is suggested to
reduce fertilizer application rate and save time and labor costs while achieving high yield and NUE.

Bu arastirma Ankara Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi, Tarla Bitkileri Bolumu deneme tarlasinda 1996 yilinda yurutulmustur. Denemede materyal olarak kullanilan tohumlar, 30 farkli anason uretim bolgesinden toplanmistir. Deneme tesaduf bloklari deneme desenine gore, 3 tekrarlamali olarak kurulmustur. Denemede ekim normu 2 kg/da, sira araligi 30 cm olarak ayarlanmistir. Arastirma sonuclarina gore tohum verimi 56.5-88.9 kg/da, biyolojik verim 165.8-237.5 kg/da, bitki basina tohum verimi 1.04-2.31 g, bin tohum agirligi 4.00-5.39 g, bitki boyu 44.2-58.9 cm, dal sayisi 5.13-8.33 adet, meyveli dal sayisi 3.00-5.23 adet ve semsiyecik sayisi 15.3-22.2 adet arasinda degisim gostermistir.

VIS-NIR spectroscopy for estimation of Nitrogen (N) content in olive leaves was studied as a tool for efficient fertilisation in olive (Olea europaea) orchards. Olive leaf samples (cv. Barnea) were taken from orchards which had been fertilised with a wide range of N levels. Dried ground leaves, fresh ground leaves and intact leaves were tested. Reflectance measurements were taken using three spectrometers: USB-2000 for VIS-NIR (450 e1000 nm) and a LIGA, and a Luminar-5030 for SWIR (1100e1700 nm). Nitrogen concentrations of the same samples were measured analytically as a reference for the spectral analyses, which were conducted by means of partial least square regression (PLSR). The best predictive model for comprehensive in-season and between-season samples (160 samples from three seasons, taken on 18 separate days) was obtained using the Luminar spectrometer using thoroughly ground dried leaves (R 2 ¼ 0.91). Classification into three N levels was evaluated and gave an overall accuracy of 0.83 with a kappa of 0.75 (substantial). Intact leaves yielded non-sufficient correlations. The results showed that leaf dehydration improves the model performance significantly and that VIS-NIR spectroscopy might be used for decision-making in fertilisation procedures. Finally, a protocol is suggested for laboratory spectral measurements.

Resumo: Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o efeito da irrigação com água de diferentes salinidades e a adubação com diferentes doses de nitrogênio no cultivo do feijão caupi cv. BRS Pajeú. O experimento foi conduzido em lisímetros de drenagem, no período de junho a setembro de 2013 em casa de vegetação do CTRN/UFCG. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial (5 x 5), sendo cinco níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação-CEa (0,9; 1,8; 2,7; 3,6 e 4,5 dS m-1) e cinco doses de adubação nitrogenada (70; 100; 130; 160 e 190% da recomendação indicada para o experimento em vaso). Analisou-se ao final do ciclo (85 DAS): a área foliar (AF), razão de área foliar (RAF), área foliar específica (AFE) e a alocação de biomassa nas folhas (ABF) e no caule (ABC). A área foliar e a alocação de biomassa do caule do feijão caupi cv. BRS Pajeú reduz acentuadamente, quando submetida a níveis de CEa maior que 0,9 dS m-1 , enquanto que a alocação de biomassa da folha aumenta. A adubação nitrogenada não afetou as variáveis de crescimento analisadas no feijão caupi cv. BRS Pajeú. Não ocorreu interação entre os níveis de salinidade e as doses de nitrogênio para as variáveis analisadas.

In the present study, three red-colored (Dark Opal, Basilico Rosso, and Red Basil) and one green-colored landrace (Mitikas) of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were grown under four nitrogen regimes, namely Control (no fertilizer added), 200 ppm, 400 ppm, and 600 ppm of nitrogen (N). Fresh yield varied depending on N input following a quadratic function in all four genotypes, and green basil performed better compared to the red cultivars. A significant interaction of genotype × N input was recorded for most of the chemical parameters measured. Tocopherols contents of leaves were consistently higher in plants that received 200 ppm of N and lower in those receiving 600 ppm of N, especially in Dark Opal and Red Basil cultivars. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were the major category of fatty acids and Red Basil had the lowest ratio of omega-6/omega 3 (0.29) and thus the best fatty acid profile. Polyphenols content was the highest in Red Basil and Dark Opal (25 mg/g of extract on average)...

In this study, we evaluated the effect of various fertilization regimes on processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Heinz 3402) yield and quality by applying the following treatments: (i) control (C), (ii) conventional fertilizer (21-0-0, N-P-K) (CF), (iii) slow release nitrogen fertilizer 46-0-0 (SR), (iv) conventional fertilizer (21-0-0, N-P-K) + Zeolite (CFZ), and v) composted sheep manure (M). The results of the study showed that the SR and CFZ treatments resulted in the highest fruit yield per hectare compared to the rest of the fertilizer and the control treatments. Fruit firmness was higher for the treatments C, M and SR, while color parameters (chroma and hue angle) were higher for the C and M treatments, respectively. Moreover, the total soluble solids content (TSS; °Brix) was higher when manure (M) was applied. In terms of chemical composition, the total and individual tocopherols and sugars were the highest for the M and C treatments, respectively, whereas the oxali...

Chronic N additions to forest ecosystems can enhance soil N availability, potentially leading to reduced C allocation to root systems. This in turn could decrease soil CO2 efflux. We measured soil respiration during the first, fifth, sixth and eighth years of simulated atmospheric NO3− deposition (3 g N m−2 yr−1) to four sugar maple‐dominated northern hardwood forests in Michigan to assess these possibilities. During the first year, soil respiration rates were slightly, but not significantly, higher in the NO3−‐amended plots. In all subsequent measurement years, soil respiration rates from NO3−‐amended soils were significantly depressed. Soil temperature and soil matric potential were measured concurrently with soil respiration and used to develop regression relationships for predicting soil respiration rates. Estimates of growing season and annual soil CO2 efflux made using these relationships indicate that these C fluxes were depressed by 15% in the eighth year of chronic NO3− add...

projeto de pesquisa avaliando a economicidade da irrigação do Tifton-85 em sistema de produção de leite em pastagens. Lecionou as disciplinas de Solos e Fertilizantes e Educação Ambiental na Escola Técnica de Sete Lagoas-MG. É autor de capítulo de livro e vários artigos científicos. Doutor em Zootecnia

Crop productivity in developing countries is hindered by micronutrient deficiency,
particularly in the third world, leading to challenges in achieving higher yields. The
unbalanced use of fertilizers for higher agricultural production has resulted in soil
fertility exhaustion and imbalances in major, secondary, and micronutrients. The
intensified cultivation, erosion, and loss of micronutrients through various processes
have led to an escalation in crop micronutrient insufficiencies, impacting both crop productivity and human nutrition. African soils, including those in Ethiopia, suffer from multiple nutrient deficiencies, affecting staple crops and leading to poor
nutritional quality in diets. In Ethiopian soils, there is a widespread occurrence of
micronutrient deficiencies, specifically in zinc, boron, and copper, which adversely
impact the productivity of crops. The introduction of mineral fertilizers in Ethiopia in the 1970s has not addressed micronutrient deficiencies adequately. The review emphasizes the importance of micronutrients in global crop production and their role in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The limited use of micronutrients in developing countries contrasts with their significance in improving crop yield and quality. Micronutrient deficiencies can have severe consequences on plant growth,
yield, and human health. The review concludes by stressing the significance of
addressing micronutrient deficiencies for optimal crop production and human
nutrition. The goal of the review is to present a comprehensive understanding of the significance of micronutrients for crop production.

A field trial was conducted of Abu-Ghraib Research Station, Agriculture Research Office Research during the spring and fall times of 2016, to study the effect of new herbicides (60gm.h-1 Arrow, 600 cm3.h-1 Crew, 2000 cm3.h-1 Guradian and 2000 cm3.h-1 Proponit) on the performance of seven maize cultivars (Fajer1, Baghdad3, 5018, Al-Maha, Talar, Sara and Buhuth 106). The experiment was accomplished using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split plot arrangement. The Guradian treatment gave the highest value of Leaf Area Index (LAI) 2.18 and 2.35 at both seasons respectively, while the weedy treatment gave the lowest values (1.49 and 1.58) respectively. Crew treatment gave superior value of Net Assimilation Rate (NAR) 6.96 gm.m-2.day-1 at spring season, while Proponit treatment gave superior value at fall season 6.88 gm. m-2.day-1. The weed -free treatment gave superior value of grain yield and biological yield at both seasons 3.840, 4.866 and 17.99, 20.57 ton. ha-1, while Arrow treatment gave high value of harvesting index at both seasons 22.28% and 22.24 % respectively. The treatment weed-free with Buhuth106 gave superior value of grain 4.179 and 5.817 ton. ha-1 at both seasons respectively. While weedy treatment with Talar gave lowest value of grain yield in spring season was 1.449 and with Al-Maha in fall season 1.921 tons. ha-1. It can be concluded from this study that using good cultivars of highly competitive with the absence or reduction of weeds competition by using herbicides, it could lead to improve some growth index for maize and thus increase yield.

Many nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations for grazing livestock enterprises are based on cutting experiments, excluding the influence of recycled N in excreta. Grazing experiments are expensive to conduct, and so compromise on variables such as number of N fertilizer rates, replication and number of years of investigation. Biophysical modelling provides an efficient and effective approach to address many of the complexities of field studies. Our study, using the biophysical whole-farm systems model DairyMod, examined the effect of a range of N fertilizer rates on pasture production for five dairy sites through southeastern Australia over 18 years under both cutting and grazing regimes. The study aims were to highlight the variation in pasture N responses between cutting and grazing experiments and compare results to current best management practice (BMP) guidelines for N fertilizer management. Annual and seasonal maximum and optimum pasture production, defined as 90% of maximum production, N fertilizer rate to achieve optimum pasture production and the slope of the response rate curve between two fertilizer application rates were estimated. For all five sites, at the lower N rates, there was a divergence in annual pasture production between the grazing and cutting management regimes. However, once N was no longer limiting pasture production for the cutting regime, annual pasture production under cutting and grazing converged. For most sites and seasons, current BMPs of applying between 20 and 50 kg N ha −1 post grazing will ensure efficient use of N applied, assuming soil moisture is not first limiting growth. However, this study has refined these recommendations across all sites and seasons. For some seasons and sites, there was high variability in pasture N response rate between years that need to be taken into consideration. At Elliott in Tasmania, an irrigated site, there was merit in increasing N fertilizer rates above the current recommendation above 50 kg N ha −1 post grazing during spring and summer. In contrast, at the rainfed sites of Ellinbank and Terang in Victoria, the recommendation would be to not apply N fertilizer during autumn and only in selected wetter summers.

Özet Araştırma, Van ekolojik koşullarında farklı dozlarda humik asit (kontrol, 30, 60 ve 90 kg/da) uygulaması ve Rhizobium bakteri aşılamasının (aşılı ve aşısız), mercimekte verim ve verim ile ilgili karakterlere etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla 2008 ve 2009 yıllarında yürütülmüştür. Denemeler, tesadüf bloklarında bölünmüş parseller deneme desenine göre üç tekrarlamalı olarak yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada, humik asit ve Rhizobium bakteri aşılamasının etkisini belirlemek üzere bitki boyu, kök ve gövde kuru ağırlığı, bitkide nodül sayısı, bitkide bakla sayısı, tane verimi, biyolojik verim, hasat indeksi, bin tane ağırlığı ile protein oranı incelenmiştir. Çalışmadan sonucunda incelenen özellikler bakımından aşılama uygulaması ve artan humik asit dozlarına paralel olarak kontrole göre önemli artışlar sağlanmıştır. En yüksek tane verimi 130.5 kg/da ile aşılama + 90 kg/da humik asit uygulamasından elde edilmiştir.

the Rabi season of 2022-23 to study the performance of different varieties under various nitrogen levels in terms of yield and quality of fodder maize. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with fifteen treatments in three replications. The treatments included three nitrogen levels (150, 180 and 210 kg ha-1) in mainplots and five varieties of maize (NK-7550, NK-7328, NK-7660, J-1006 and Shaktiman-5) in sub-plots. The observations from the experiment revealed that application of 210 kg N ha-1 resulted in the highest green fodder yield (85.0 t/ha), dry fodder yield (20.7 t/ha), which were comparable to those obtained with 180 kg N ha-1. J-1006 surpassed other varieties, producing the highest green fodder yield (89.8 t/ha) and dry fodder yield (21.1 t/ha). The use of 210 kg N ha-1 led to increased levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents and their uptake. Furthermore, the crude protein content (8.61%) and crude protein yield (1.79 t/ha) were also at their peak when 210 kg N ha-1 was applied, showing a significant improvement over the application of 150 and 180 kg N ha-1. J-1006 showed higher nitrogen content (1.35%), crude protein content (8.46%) and crude protein yield (1.80 t/ha), which was comparable with NK-7660 and Shaktiman-5. Therefore, J-1006 variety with application of 210 kg N ha-1 can be applied for getting maximum green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yield of Rabi forage maize.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a commercially important food and energy crop in tropical and subtropical climates. Sugarcane productivity is largely dependent on nutrient management. Sugarcane responds well to split nitrogen and potassium applications. A field experiment carried out at Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur in spring season of 2020-21 revealed that application of N and K in 7 splits produced the maximum millable stalks (144.90 × 10 3 ha-1), length of internodes (9.31 cm) and cane : top ratio (3.86), accounting 23.9, 10.7 and 82.9% respectively while recommended practice of fertilizer application caused significant increase in stalk weight and cane diameter and it was to the tune of 4.72 and 4.01% respectively. However, number of tillers and dry matter accumulation was decreased by 24.7 and 15.1% in broadcasting method. Significantly higher cane yield and sugar yield was registered when the crop fertilized with nitrogen and potassium in 7 splits, accounting 18.99 and 21.64% more than the recommended practices respectively. While, cane and sugar yield increased by 1.46 and 17.5 % in band placement method of application respectively. Quality parameters did not significantly influenced by both method and split application except juice recovery.

A field experiment was conducted during spring season of 2015-16 at Pusa, Bihar to study the effect of genotypes and nitrogen levels on growth and yield of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) and nitrogen balance in soil. The treatment, consisted of 9 treatment combinations of 3 genotypes, viz.

Development of appropriate management strategy for enhancing nutrient use efficiency, and ensuring environmental sustainability of rice production system is a priority area of research. Considerable progress has been made so far from broad based blanket nutrient recommendation to supply and demand based site specific nutrient recommendation. The nutrient management researches in rice till dates mostly focus on “4 R” stewardship i.e. right dose, right time, right source and right place of nutrient application. Numerous technologies, tools and products such as soil test crop response (STCR) based N, P, K recommendation, optical sensor based real time N management, enhanced efficiency fertilizer materials have been developed and evaluated in rice and rice based systems to ensure 4 “R” principles of nutrient application and enhance yield and nutrient use efficiency. Further research is needed to fine tune these technologies for its wider adaptability and also to redefine nutrient manage...

The apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cultivar 'Golden Reinders' was used to study the effects of mixture of 6-BA and GA (4+7) (Promalin) and nitrogen fertigation to improve branching of nine-month-old nursery trees grafted on 'M9' rootstock. Promalin was applied three times in June in weekly intervals, in concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg L -1 to the upper third of trees. Nitrogen (N) was injected weekly at total amount of 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha -1 for season. Obtained results indicated that nursery trees without Promalin treatment were characterized by significantly lower trunk than with Promalin treatments. Application of N through the system in increasing rates significantly contributed to higher values of trunk diameter. Tree leaders were significantly longer in Promalin treatments only when amounts of applied N were above 100 kg ha -1 . However, N influence on height of nursery trees was not confirmed if they were not subjected to Promalin treatment. Total number of feathers and the number of feathers >30 cm were simultaneously increasing with the increase of Promalin rates. The same trend was observed with applying higher amounts of N. Significant interaction effect between Promalin and N confirmed in this study indicates that Promalin treatment has no effect on number of lateral branches without N application. Increasing of Promalin concentrations above 1500 mg L -1 had no significant influence on the number of lateral branches and number of feathers >30 cm, regardless of N amounts.

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] is an annual versatile oilseed crop of the Brassicaceae family, with an increasingly cultivated area. Predicting camelina seed yield response to fertilization and planting density is of great importance in understanding production potential and management planning. Therefore, the current study aimed to estimate the seed yield of camelina by response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) as affected by different levels of planting row spacing and nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and cow manure (CM) fertilization. The experiment was conducted in two growing years of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, based on a central composite design with four factors including row spacing (15-35 cm), N (0-200 kg ha -1 ), S (0-100 kg ha -1 ), and CM (0-40 t ha -1 ). The RSM models for seed yield versus fertilization and row spacing factors in both years were statistically significant and had an acceptable predictive ability. Camelina seed yield decreased with increasing row spacing but showed a positive response to increasing the amount of N, S, and CM fertilizers. Comparing the performance of the models showed that, although the RSM models were significant and had the necessary efficiency in predicting camelina seed yield, the ANN models were more accurate. The performance criteria of coefficient of determination (R 2 ), root mean square error (RMSE), standard error of prediction (SEP), mean absolute error (MAE), and Akaike information criterion (AICc) averaged over the two years for the RSM model were 0.

Background and Aims. The effects of tillage and N fertilization on CO 2 and CH 4 emissions are a cause for concern worldwide. This paper quantifies these effects in a Mediterranean dryland area. Methods. CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes were measured in two field experiments. A long-term experiment compared two types of tillage (NT, no-tillage, and CT, conventional intensive tillage) and three N fertilization rates (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha -1 ). A short-term experiment compared NT and CT, three N fertilization doses (0, 75 and 150 kg N ha -1 ) and two types of fertilizer (mineral N and organic N with pig slurry). Aboveground and root biomass C inputs, soil organic carbon stocks and grain yield were also quantified. Results. The NT treatment showed a greater mean CO 2 flux than the CT treatment in both experiments. In the long-term experiment CH 4 oxidation was greater under NT, whereas in the short-term experiment it was greater under CT. The fertilization treatments also affected CO 2 emissions in the short-term experiment, with the greatest fluxes when 75 and 150 kg organic N ha -1 was applied. Overall, the amount of CO 2 emitted ranged between 0.47 and 6.0 kg CO 2 -equivalent kg grain -1 . NT lowered yieldscaled emissions in both experiments, but these treatment effects were largely driven by an increase in grain yield. Conclusions. In dryland Mediterranean agroecosystems the combination of NT and medium rates of either mineral or organic N fertilization can be an appropriate strategy for optimizing CO2 and CH4 emissions and grain yield.

There is a strong need to identify the combination of tillage and N fertilization practices that reduce the amount of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions while maintaining crop productivity in dryland Mediterranean areas. We measured the fluxes of N 2 O in two field experiments with 3 and 15 years since their establishment. In the long-term experiment, two types of tillage (NT, notillage, and CT, conventional intensive tillage) and three mineral N fertilization rates (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha -1 ) were compared. In the short-term experiment, the same tillage systems (CT and NT) and three N fertilization doses (0, 75 and 150 kg N ha -1 ) and two types of fertilizers (mineral N and organic N with pig slurry) were compared. N 2 O emissions, water-filled pore space, soil mineral N content, grain yields, N-biomass inputs and soil total nitrogen (STN) stocks were quantified and the N 2 O yield-scaled ratio as kg of CO 2 equivalents per kg of grain produced was calculated. In both experiments tillage treatments significantly affected the dynamics of N 2 O fluxes. Cumulative losses of N as N 2 O were similar between tillage treatments in the long-term field experiment. Contrarily, although not significant, cumulative N losses were about 35% greater under NT than CT in the short-term experiment. NT significantly increased the production of grain and the inputs of N to the soil as above-ground biomass in both experiments. Averaged across fertilizer treatments, CT emitted 0.362 and 0.104 kg CO 2 eq. kg grain -1 in the long-term and the short-term experiment, respectively, significantly more than NT that emitted 0.033 and 0.056 kg CO 2 eq. kg grain -1 , respectively. Nitrogen fertilization rates did not affect the average N 2 O fluxes or the total N losses during the period of gas measurement in the long-term experiment. Contrarily, in the short-term experiment, N 2 O emissions increased with application rate for both mineral and organic fertilizers. The use of pig slurry increased grain production when compared with the mineral N treatment, thus reducing the yield-scaled emissions of N 2 O by 44%. Our results showed that in rainfed Mediterranean agroecosystems, the use of NT and pig slurry are effective means of yield-scaled N 2 O emissions reduction.