Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:33:36.561Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Economizing the use of nitrogen fertilizer in wheat production through enriched compost

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2008

Rizwan Ahmad ,
Muhammad Naveed ,
Muhammad Aslam ,
Zahir A. Zahir ,
Muhammad Arshad  and
Ghulam Jilani
Rizwan Ahmad*
Affiliation:
Land Resources Research Program, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad 45500, Pakistan.
Muhammad Naveed
Affiliation:
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
Muhammad Aslam
Affiliation:
Land Resources Research Program, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad 45500, Pakistan.
Zahir A. Zahir
Affiliation:
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
Muhammad Arshad
Affiliation:
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
Ghulam Jilani
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
*
*Corresponding author: Rizwan_narc@yahoo.co.in
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Manipulation of organic wastes and their composts as a source of organic matter (OM) and nutrients is imperative for sustainable agriculture. Further, the fortification of composts with chemical fertilizer enhances agronomic effectiveness of both by reducing the amount of fertilizer and improving the quality of compost. The present study aimed to explore the potential of organic and chemical nutrient sources with their optimal application and integration for sustainable wheat production. Accordingly, waste fruits and vegetables were collected, dried, ground and processed in a composting vessel. During the enriched composting, waste material (300 kg) was fortified with 30 kg N, i.e. 25% of the standard rate (120 kg N ha−1) of N fertilizer. Treatments for both greenhouse and field experiments using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) included: control (without any compost or N fertilizer), compost (non-enriched), fertilizer N 120 (120 kg N ha−1), nitrogen-enriched compost (NEC), NEC+N 30 (30 kg N ha−1) and NEC+N 60 (60 kg N ha−1). Application rate of composts (non-enriched or enriched) was 300 kg ha−1 in the respective treatments. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied at 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 60 kg K2O ha−1, respectively in all treatments. The crop was grown to maturity, and data on wheat growth and yield attributes were recorded. Application of NEC significantly improved the growth, yield and N, P and K contents of wheat compared with compost and control treatments. The performance of NEC+N 60 was statistically similar to that of fertilizer N 120. Economic analysis also revealed the superiority of NEC+N 60 over other treatments in terms of net return and relative increase in income; however, the value/cost ratio was highest with NEC alone. For effective and economical use of N fertilizer, it is suggested to integrate N fertilizer at reduced rates with NEC. Through enriched compost, application rates can be decreased from tonnes to kilograms per hectare, and dependence on chemical fertilizer can be reduced to a certain extent. So the approach is farmer friendly as it lowers compost application rates, and is economically acceptable as it saves N fertilizer. It is also environmentally sustainable due the recycling of organic waste and possible reduction of N losses to the environment. Thus, the study has wide application in the global environment and fertilizer market.

Keywords

organic wastesfortified compostgrowth and yieldnutrient uptakeeconomicsenvironmental pollution
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , September 2008 , pp. 243 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Ahmad, R. 2007. Use of recycled organic waste for sustainable maize (Zea mays L.) production. PhD thesis, Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Google Scholar
2 Lal, R. 2005. World crop residues production and implications of its use as a biofuel. Environment International 31:575–584.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Economic Survey. 2006. Economic Survey of Pakistan 2006. Government of Pakistan, Finance Division, Economic Advisory Wing, Islamabad, Pakistan.Google Scholar
4 Khalil, A. I., Beheary, M. S., and Salem, E. M. 2001. Monitoring of microbial populations and their cellulolytic activities during the composting of municipal solid wastes. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 17:155–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5 Roger, S. W., Jokela, E. J., and Smith, W. H. 1991. Recycling composted organic wastes on Florida forest lands. Department of Forest Resources and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.Google Scholar
6 Lasaridi, K. E. and Stentiford, E. I. 1999. Composting of source separated MSW: an approach to respirometric techniques and biodegradation kinetics. International Symposium on ‘Composting of Organic Matter’, 31 September 1999, Kassandra-Chalkidiki, Greece.Google Scholar
7 Tuomela, M., Vikman, M., Hatakka, A., and Itävaara, M. 2000. Biodegradation of lignin in a compost environment: a review. Bioresource Technology 72:169–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 Eghball, B., Ginting, D., and Gilly, J. E. 2004. Residual effects of manures and compost application on corn production and soil properties. Agronomy Journal 96:442–447.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9 Paredesa, C., Cegarrab, J., Bernalb, M. P., and Roigb, A. 2005. Influence of olive mill wastewater in composting and impact of the compost on a Swiss orchard crop and soil properties. Environment International 31:305–312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10 Harmsen, J., Velthorst, H. J., and Bennehey, I. P. A. M. 1994. Cleaning of residual concentrations with an extensive form of land farming. In Hinchee, R. E., Anderson, D. B., Metting, F. B. Jr and Sayles, G. D. (eds). Applied Biotechnology for Site Remediation. Lewis Publisher, Boca Raton, FL. p. 84–91.Google Scholar
11 Alvarenga, P., Palma, P., Gonçalves, A. P., Fernandes, R. M., Cunha-Queda, A. C., Duarte, E., and Vallini, G. 2007. Evaluation of chemical and ecotoxicological characteristics of biodegradable organic residues for application to agricultural land. Environment International 33:505–513.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Ahmad, R., Khalid, A., Arshad, M., and Zahir, Z. A. 2008. Effectiveness of organic/biofertilizer supplemented with chemical fertilizers for improving soil water retention, aggregate stability, growth and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 31(4):57–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13 Zia, M. S., Khalil, S., Aslam, M., and Hussain, F. 2003. Preparation of compost and its use for crop-production. Science, Technology and Development 22:32–44.Google Scholar
14 Ahmad, R., Khalid, A., Arshad, M., Zahir, Z. A., and Naveed, M. 2006. Effect of raw (un-composted) and composted organic waste material on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Soil and Environment 25(2):135–142.Google Scholar
15 Ahmad, R., Shehzad, S. M., Khalid, A., Arshad, M., and Mahmood, M. H. 2007. Growth and yield response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) to nitrogen and l-tryptophan enriched compost. Pakistan Journal of Botany 39(2):541–549.Google Scholar
16 Nevens, F. and Reheul, D. 2003. The application of vegetable, fruit and garden waste (VFG) compost in addition to cattle slurry in a silage maize monoculture: nitrogen availability and use. European Journal of Agronomy 19:189–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17 Wolkowski, R. P. 2003. Nitrogen management considerations for land spreading municipal solid waste compost. Journal of Environmental Quality 32:1844–1850.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18 Loecke, T. D., Liebman, M., Cambardella, C. A., and Richard, T. L. 2004. Corn response to composting and time of application of solid swine manure. Agronomy Journal 96:214–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19 del Amor, F. M. 2007. Yield and fruit quality response of sweet pepper to organic and mineral fertilization. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22(3):233–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20 Jimenez, M., Van der Veken, L., Neirynck, H., Rodriguez, H., Ruiz, O., and Swennen, R. 2007. Organic banana production in Ecuador: its implications on black Sigatoka development and plant–soil nutritional status. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22(4):297–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21 Nelson, D. W. and Sommers, L. E. 1996. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In Bigham, J. M. (ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 3, Chemical Methods. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI. p. 961–1010.Google Scholar
22 Ryan, J., Estefan, G., and Rashid, A.(eds). 2001. Soil and Plant Analysis: Laboratory Manual. International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria.Google Scholar
23 Ayers, R. S. and Westcott, D. W. 1985. Water Quality for Agriculture. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Papers 29 (Rev. 1). FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
24 Steel, R. G. D. and Torrie, J. H. (eds) 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistical Analysis. McGraw Hill Book Co., New York, NY.Google Scholar
25 Duncan, D. B. 1995. multiple range and multiple F-test. Biometrics 11:1–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24 CIMMYT. 1988. An Economic Training Manual: From Agronomic Data to Farmer Recommendations. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Mexico City, Mexico. p. 1–25.Google Scholar
27 Bajpai, R. K., Upadhyay, K., and Joshi, B. S. 2002. Productivity and economics of rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system under integrated nutrient supply systems. Indian Journal of Agronomy 47:20–25.Google Scholar
28 Pooran, C., Singh, P. K., Govardhan, M., and Chand, P. 2002. Integrated nutrient management in rainfed castor (Ricinus communis). Indian Progressive Agriculture 2:122–124.Google Scholar
29 Chang, C. and Janzen, H. H. 1996. Long-term fate of nitrogen from annual feedlot manure application. Journal of Environmental Quality 25:785–790.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30 Paul, E. A. and Clark, F. E. (eds) 1996. Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
31 Muneshwar, S., Singh, V. P., Reddy, K. S., and Singh, M. 2001. Effect of integrated use of fertilizer nitrogen and farmyard manure or green manure on transformation of N, K and S and productivity of rice–wheat system on a Vertisol. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 49:430–435.Google Scholar
32 Ahmad, R., Arshad, M., Naveed, A., Zahir, Z. A., Sultan, T., and Khalid, M. 2007. Carbon mineralization rate of composted and raw organic wastes and its implications on environment. Soil and Environment 26(1):92–96.Google Scholar
33 Kolay, A. K. (ed.). 2000. Basic Concepts of Soil Science, 2nd ed.New Age International Publisher, New Delhi, India. 256 p.Google Scholar
34 Ros, M., García, C., and Hernandez, M. T. 2007. Evaluation of different pig slurry composts as fertilizer of horticultural crops: Effects on selected chemical and microbial properties. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22(4):307–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35 Okalebo, J. R., Simpson, J. R., Okwach, G. E., Probert, M. E., and McCown, R. L. 1997. Conservation of soil fertility under intensive maize cropping in semi-arid eastern Kenya. Proceedings of the African Crop Science Conference 3:429–437.Google Scholar
36 Eremina, R. F., Mashchenko, S. S., Chuyan, O. G., and Yashchenko, N. A. 2003. Use of winter wheat straw as an organic fertilizer. Sakharnaya-Svekla 6:22–23.Google Scholar
37 Badgley, C., Moghtader, J., Quintero, E., Zakem, E., Chappell, M. J., Avilés-Vázquez, K., Samulon, A., and Perfecto, I. 2007. Organic agriculture and the global food supply. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22(2):86–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38 Parra-López, C., Calatrava-Requena, J., and de-Haro-Giménez, T. 2007. A multi-criteria evaluation of the environmental performances of conventional, organic and integrated olive-growing systems in the south of Spain based on experts' knowledge. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22(3):189–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
39 NFDC. 2006. Fertilizer Review 2005–06. National Fertilizer Development Centre (NFDC), Planning and Development Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan. p.7–20.Google Scholar