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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 15271

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin

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Guest Editor

Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
Interests: soil fertilty management; soil nutrient status; organic and inorganic fertilizers

Prof. Dr. Shamim Mia

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Guest Editor

Department of Agronomy, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh
Interests: soil fertility; sustainable agriculture; plant nutrition; crop production; plant physiology; fertilizers; soil analysis; climate change; environment; agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mahesh K Gathala

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Guest Editor

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)- Bangladesh House-10/B, Road-53, Gulshan-2, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Interests: soil science; conservation agriculture based sustainable intensification; small scale mechanization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With increase of population growth, the demand for food is escalating and famers are compelled to grow several crops on a single piece of land—a farming practice commonly knowns as intensive agriculture. Nutrient management is often challenging under intensive agriculture, since the rate of nutrient harvesting is higher than that of nutrient supplementation. Although a portion of the nutrients are supplemented, these nutrients are not applied in balance with the soil nutrient demand. A few nutrient elements in particular (e.g., N and P) are applied in large quantities, while other limiting nutrient elements are not applied, resulting in a low use efficiency of the applied nutrient elements. Therefore, yield is reduced while excess nutrients have a large environmental footprint. Considering these facts, researchers are investigating how nutrients can be managed to sustain agricultural productivity and soil health. We aim to combine the findings of these researchers under one Special Issue. Therefore, we encourage submission regarding

Nutrient application methods and their relative performance under intensive agriculture;
Nutrient supplementation approaches and means with focus on balanced fertilizer application;
Soil nutrient management through altering cropping pattern, and by crop rotation;
Special application of nutrients including fertigation, deep urea placement, etc.;
Use of bio/inoculant fertilizers singly or in combination with chemical fertilizers.

Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin
Prof. Dr. Shamim Mia
Dr. Mahesh K Gathala
Guest Editors

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Keywords

soil amendments
fertilizer application methods
composite fertilizer
balanced fertilization
nutrient stoichiometry
nutreint use efficiecy
cropping patterns
intensive Agriculutre

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unravelling the Release Kinetics of Exchangeable Magnesium in Acid Soil of Nilgiris

by Munmun Dash, Subramanium Thiyageshwari, Duraisamy Selvi, Rangasamy Anandham, Karuppusamy Rajan, Djanaguiraman Maduraimuthu, Santosh Kumar Singh, Jagadesh Muthumani, Shivvendra Singh and Biswajit Pramanick

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9848; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129848 - 20 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1334

Abstract

Magnesium deficiency is a pervasive and recurrent factor that significantly restricts crop production, primarily attributable to the low levels of exchangeable magnesium (ex-Mg) present in acidic soil conditions. This deficiency exerts a pronounced negative influence on the sustainability and progress of agricultural development. Hence the current study aspired at modeling the kinetics of Exchangeable Magnesium release from 3 fertilizer sources i.e., Epsom salt (MgSO₄·7H₂O), Magnesite (MgCO₃) and Dolomite [CaMg(CO₃)₂] in the acidic soil of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, India. Four mathematical models were verified—Power function, parabolic diffusion, Simple-Elovich, and first-order to explain cumulative Mg²⁺ release. Power function was noticed to be an outstanding empirical equation finely fitted to the experimental data. The intensity, as well as the modality of the release pattern, was predicted by the numerical parameters. The power function as well as Parabolic Diffusion portrayed the Mg²⁺ release kinetics best as verified by the maximum correlation coefficients (r²). The parabolic diffusion model also designated the data as suitable, signifying diffusion-controlled exchange. From the derived dissolution rates, it was conceivable to agree Epsom salt (MgSO₄·7H₂O) from which the release was faster than the other two magnesium sources. In conclusion, these outcomes provided an insight into the temporal dynamics of magnesium availability in acidic soil, highlighting the importance of understanding its release kinetics for sustainable agriculture development. The findings contribute to the broader knowledge of magnesium management strategies, aiding in the development of targeted interventions to alleviate magnesium deficiency and optimize crop productivity in acidic soil environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

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21 pages, 2561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical, Anatomical, and Productivity Responses of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) to Integrated Biofertilizer Applications with PGPR, Cyanobacteria, and Yeast

by Rihab M. Omer, Heba M. Hewait, Emad Mady, Sawsan K. M. Yousif, Ebtesam A. Gashash, Reena Randhir, Ashmawi E. Ashmawi, Ahmed M. El-Taher, Nadi A. Al-Harbi and Timothy O. Randhir

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097599 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

Integrated biofertilizers such as Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs), cyanobacteria, and yeast can considerably improve the growth, integrity, and overall health of crops, including cowpea. In this study, we assess the benefits of applying microbial fertilizers as an eco-friendly approach to partially substitute chemical fertilizers while maintaining growth and yield characteristics in cowpea plants. We investigated the role of the three microorganisms, Bacillus amyloliquefacien (B), Nostoc mucorum (C), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Y), individually and in four possible combinations (B + C, B + Y, C + Y, and B + C + Y) as integrated bio-fertilizers on the microbial enzyme activities, plant growth parameters, and yield characteristics of cowpea. Plants inoculated with B + C + Y mixture resulted in significant improvement in dehydrogenase enzyme activity by 390%, chlorophyll by 180%, plant dry weight by 130%, and in the pod length and dry weight by 68% and 190%, respectively, compared to non-inoculated plants. The grain total carbohydrates increased by 170% over the control due to treatment with B + C + Y. The B + C + Y treatment also positively influenced the anatomy of the terminal leaflet with a 16.6% higher thickness of the midrib zone, 22.6% increase in vascular bundle length, and 42.4% and 33.5% increases in upper and lower epidermal leaf layers, respectively. Additionally, palisade and spongy tissues increased by 36.9% and 26.5%, respectively, compared to the control. An integrated nutrient management program using biofertilizers is recommended for achieving higher yields and environmentally safe cowpea production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

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9 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Charcoal and Sago Bark Ash Regulates Ammonium Adsorption and Desorption in an Acid Soil

by Nur Hidayah Hamidi, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed, Latifah Omar, Huck Ywih Ch’ng, Prisca Divra Johan, Puvan Paramisparam, Adiza Alhassan Musah and Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021368 - 11 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1259

Abstract

Excessive N fertilizer use in agriculture results in the release of inorganic N contaminants into surface and groundwater bodies, and other negative environmental effects. The combined application of N fertilizers with charcoal and sago bark ash could help reduce these negative impacts. The objective of this sorption study was to examine the effects of the co-application of charcoal and sago bark ash with ammonium chloride in regulating the adsorption and release of NH₄⁺ in an acid soil. This soil used in the laboratory study was Bekenu series (Typic Paleudults). The treatments evaluated were: (i) 300 g soil only, (ii) 300 g charcoal only, (iii) 300 g sago bark ash only, (iv) 300 g soil + 15.42 g charcoal, (v) 300 g soil + 7.71 g sago bark ash, and (vi) 300 g soil + 15.42 g charcoal + 7.71 g sago bark ash. Regardless of the concentration of the isonormal solution, sago bark ash (T3) showed the highest NH₄⁺ adsorption at equilibrium (Q_e) and NH₄⁺ desorbed (Q_de). The results for T3 for Q_e and Q_de were 3.88 mg L⁻¹ and 3.80 mg g⁻¹, respectively, for the 400 mg N L⁻¹ isonormal solution followed by T2 with values of 3.46 mg L⁻¹ and 3.30 mg g⁻¹, respectively. For treatments T2 and T3 that resulted in higher Q_e and Q_de for NH₄⁺, soil was not included. However, in practical terms, any of the treatments T4, T5 and T6 that included mixing the amendments with soil are better since the results of these treatments were not significantly different in terms of Q_e and Q_de for NH₄⁺. This is despite the fact that T4, T5 and T6 resulted in lower Q_e and Q_de for NH₄⁺ compared to T2 and T3. The results also showed a positive linear relationship between NH₄⁺ adsorption and the addition of N. This indicates that NH₄⁺ can be retained temporarily by the amendments. The insignificant R² (ranging from 0.10 to 0.38) of the Langmuir regression equations suggest that the NH₄⁺ adsorption data did not fit the Langmuir isotherms well. Future studies could explore fitting the NH₄⁺ sorption data into other sorption models. The higher adsorption of NH₄⁺ by the treatment with charcoal is related to its high number of adsorption sites or negative charges of these materials. Incorporating charcoal and sago bark ash as soil amendments in agriculture has the potential to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers. The reliance on commercial lime could also be reduced due to the alkaline characteristics of these materials. Therefore, the co-application of charcoal and sago bark ash could contribute to improve the utilization of N fertilizer by effectively controlling NH₄⁺ availability for timely crop use, reducing losses, and preventing soil and water pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

13 pages, 1172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Selected Chemical Properties of a Paddy Soil in Sabah Amended with Calcium Silicate: A Laboratory Incubation Study

by Ivy Quirinus Chong, Elisa Azura Azman, Ji Feng Ng, Roslan Ismail, Azwan Awang, Nur Aainaa Hasbullah, Rosmah Murdad, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed, Adiza Alhassan Musah, Md. Amirul Alam, Normah Awang Besar, Nor Elliza Tajidin and Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13214; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013214 - 14 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1671

Abstract

In Malaysia, the main constraints of rice yield and productivity are infertile soils and poor management practices because these soils are characterized by low pH, low nutrient availability, low organic matter, and high exchangeable Al and Fe ions, due to high rainfall and hot temperatures. Thus, an incubation study was conducted to determine the optimum amount of calcium silicate (HmbG brand) to improve the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable Al, available P, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of a paddy soil in Sabah, Malaysia. The Kelawat series (Typic Dystrudept) soil was incubated with calcium silicate at the application rates of 0 (T1), 1 (T2), 2 (T3), and 3 t ha⁻¹ (T4) using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in triplicates for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. The calcium silicate used significantly improved soil pH because of the release of SiO₄⁴⁻ and Ca²⁺ ions, which neutralized and immobilized H⁺ ions. Furthermore, the neutralizing effects of the amendment impeded Al hydrolysis by up to 57.4% and this resulted in an increase in the available P in the soil by 31.26% to 50.64%. The increased availability of P in the soil was also due to the high affinity of SiO₄⁴⁻ to desorb P from soil minerals and it is believed that SiO₄⁴⁻ can temporarily adsorb exchangeable base cations such as K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Na⁺. Moreover, applying calcium silicate at 3 t ha⁻¹ improved soil CEC by up to 54.84% compared to that of untreated soils (T1) because of increased pH and the number of negatively charged sites. The most suitable application rate of the calcium silicate was found to be 3 t ha⁻¹ (T4). These findings suggest that calcium silicate can improve soil productivity and agronomic efficiency in rice farming. Greenhouse and field trials are necessary to ascertain the effects of the recommended treatments of this incubation study on soil productivity, rice growth, and yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

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19 pages, 713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rice Growth Performance, Nutrient Use Efficiency and Changes in Soil Properties Influenced by Biochar under Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation

by Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul Haque, Md. Kamal Uddin, Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman, Adibah Mohd Amin, Mahmud Hossain, Zakaria M. Solaiman and Mehnaz Mosharrof

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7977; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137977 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1899

Abstract

Water-saving irrigation occasionally causes an inconsequential yield loss in rice; thereby, biochar incorporation in this context has great scope due to its properties, including the release of nutrients and improving soil physicochemical properties. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of biochar combined with fertilizer on physiological response, water and nutrient efficiency of rice and changes in biochemical properties of soil under AWD (alternate wetting and drying) irrigation system. Two types of irrigation practice, such as AWD and CF (continuous flooding), and four types of fertilizer combination, namely T1: 25% Rice husk biochar (RHB) + 75% of recommended fertilizer dose (RFD); T2: 25% oil palm empty fruit bunch biochar (EFBB) + 75% of RFD; T3: 100% RFD; and T0: 0% biochar and fertilizer, were assigned to assess their impacts. The AWD irrigation produced a sharply reduced grain yield (210.58 g pot⁻¹) compared to CF irrigation (218.04 g pot⁻¹), whereas the biochar combination treatments T1 and T2 produced greater yields (260.27 and 252.12 g pot⁻¹, respectively), which were up to 12.5% higher than RFD. Within AWD, irrigation water usage by T1 and T2 (98.50 and 102.37 g L⁻¹, respectively) was profoundly reduced by up to 28.8%, with improved water use efficiency (WUE). The main effect of biochar treatment T1 and T2 also increased photosynthesis rate during vegetative and maturing stage (up to 17.6 and 24.4%, respectively), in addition to boosting agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) compared to RFD (T3). Nevertheless, T1 and T2 significantly enhanced the total carbon and nitrogen; dehydrogenase and urease enzyme activities also increased in both irrigation regimes. The results reveal that the integrated application of RHB and EFBB with fertilizer in the AWD regime significantly reduces irrigation water usage and improves nutrient use efficiency, WUE and soil biochemical properties with a minimum yield penalty for rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

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16 pages, 2481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Rice Husk Biochar and Lime in Reducing Phosphorus Application Rate in Acid Soil: A Field Trial with Maize

by Mehnaz Mosharrof, Md. Kamal Uddin, Shamim Mia, Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman, Shordar M. Shamsuzzaman and Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul Haque

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7418; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127418 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1881

Abstract

Biochar has been suggested for application in acidic soils for increasing agricultural productivity, as it may result in the benefits of sustainable carbon offset into soils and of increasing soil fertility improvement. However, the role of biochar in enhancing nutrient bioavailability and plant performance is manifested through the complex interactions of biochar-soil-plant. Moreover, it is not yet known how a crop-residue-derived biochar would perform in acidic soil when applied with a reduced rate of lime and phosphorus. Here, we examined the performance of maize with different combinations of biochar, lime, and phosphorus (P) application rates under field conditions. Specifically, rice husk biochar (10 t ha⁻¹) was applied with 75% of the required lime and three rates of phosphorus fertilizer (100%, 75%, and 50%). The results showed that incorporation of biochar and lime, irrespective of the rates of P application, significantly increased soil nutrient (nitrogen and P) availability, while aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) concentrations in soil were reduced. Furthermore, when biochar was combined with a lower amount of lime (75% of the recommended amount) and half of the required P, maize production increased by 62.38% compared to the control. Similarly, nutrient uptake in plants increased significantly in the same treatment (e.g., P uptake increased by 231.88%). However, soil respiration (CO₂ emission) increased with lime only and the combined application of lime with biochar compared to the control; these treatments resulted in a higher carbon loss, as CO₂ from the soil (84.94% and 67.50% from only lime treatment (T₂), and rice husk biochar (RHB) and lime with 50% triple superphosphate (TSP) (T₅), respectively). Overall, our findings imply that biochar application may sustain productivity in acid soils even when lime and P fertilizer applications are made at a reduced rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

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19 pages, 305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Nutrient Content, Growth, Yield, and Yield Attribute Traits of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes as Influenced by Organic Fertilizer in Malaysia

by Mohammad Anisuzzaman, Mohd Y. Rafii, Shairul Izan Ramlee, Noraini Md Jaafar, Mohammad Ferdous Ikbal and Md Azadul Haque

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5692; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095692 - 8 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2024

Abstract

One of the most important challenges to continuously maximizing crop production on limited areas of agricultural land is maintaining or enhancing soil fertility. Organic fertilizer application is needed to replace nutrients recovered by crops from the fields in order to restore the crop production potential of the soil. The utilization of chicken manure as an organic fertilizer is essential in improving soil productivity and cop production. In Malaysia, demand for rice as a food source is rising in tandem with population growth, while paddy rice production capacity is becoming increasingly constrained. Field experiments were carried out in Sungai besar, Kuala Selangor, Malaysia during the two planting seasons in 2020 to evaluate the effects of different levels of organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of rice genotypes. A split plot layout in a randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. The twelve rice genotypes were in the main plots. The sub-plots were treatments. The experiment comprised 4 treatments, viz., T₁ = 100% NPK (N₁₅₀P₆₀K₆₀), T₂ = Chicken manure @ 5 t ha⁻¹, T₃ = Chicken manure @ 7 t ha⁻¹, and T₄ = Chicken manure @ 10 t ha⁻¹. The study indicated that different levels of chicken manure and NPK fertilizer showed significant effects on growth, yield, and yield contributing characters of all the rice genotypes. Results showed that application of chicken manure 10 t ha-¹ was the best in producing growth and yield contributing characters, grain and straw yields, and also nutrient (N, P, and K) contents in grain and straw. The maximum number of panicles (422.56 panicles m⁻¹), the maximum number of filled grains (224.49 grains panicle⁻¹), and the maximum grain yield (8.02 t ha⁻¹) and straw yield (9.88 t ha⁻¹) were recorded from T₄ treatment at the rice genotype BRRI dhan75. Although the highest biological yield was recorded from T₄ treatment, a statistically similar result was found for T₃ treatment. The highest harvest index was also recorded for T₄ treatment. Therefore, rice genotype BRRI dhan75 can be recommended under chicken manure @ 10 t ha⁻¹ for rice production in Malaysia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

12 pages, 1093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars to Variable Rate of Nitrogen under Wet Direct Seeding in Temperate Ecology

by Intikhab Aalum Jehangir, Ashaq Hussain, Shabir H. Wani, Syed Sheraz Mahdi, Mohammad Anwar Bhat, Manzoor A. Ganai, Najeeb R. Sofi, Nazir Ahmad Teeli, Waseem Raja, Walid Soufan, Akihiro Ueda, Milan Skalicky, Marian Brestic and Ayman EL Sabagh

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020638 - 7 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

Transplanting rice appears to pose many problems, including depletion of freshwater reservoirs and competition for labor. Conversely, direct seeding allows us to overcome shortcomings associated with conventional transplanting. Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient needed for plant growth and yield. Therefore, this study was executed to analyze the influence of nitrogen on the performance of rice genotypes grown by direct seeding in wet soil. The experiment comprised various rice cultivars, i.e., Shalimar Rice-1, Shalimar Rice-3, Shalimar Rice-4, and Jhelum, and nitrogen (N) levels, i.e., 0, 90, 120, and 150 kg/ha. Shalimar Rice-4 produced a maximum grain yield (6.39 t/ha), followed by Shalimar Rice-3 and Jhelum). The application of 150 kg N/ha showed maximum values for growth parameters, yield attributing traits, and grain yield (6.68 t/ha); however, it remained at par with 120 kg N/ha. Crop water productivity was highest in Shalimar Rice-4 (0.49 kg/m³), and the same showed a consistent increase with increasing N levels from 0–150 kg/ha, with a comparable value of 0.49 to 0.51 recorded at 120 and 150 kg N/ha. Moreover, the Shalimar Rice-1 variety required the maximum in growing degree days (GDD) and helio-thermal units (HTU) to attain different phenological stages till physiological maturity (131 days). However, the cultivar Shalimar rice-4 (SR-4) performed better by registering significantly higher heat use efficiency (HUE) (4.44 kg/ha °C/day). Additionally, the highest net return and the benefit-cost ratio were registered by Shalimar Rice-4. B:C ratio of 1.75 was realized from application of 150 kg N/ha, which remained very close to that achieved with 120 kg N/ha. In conclusion, the rice cultivar Shalimar Rice-4 with the application of 120 kg N/ha could boost rice production under DSR in water-scarce regions of temperate northern India. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainability)

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