M. Kaleem Abbasi

Mineralization of Three Organic Manures Used as Nitrogen Source in a Soil Incubated under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract The rate and timing of manure application when used as nitrogen (N) fertilizer depend on N‐releasing capacity (mineralization) of manures. A soil incubation study was undertaken to establish relative potential rates of mineralization of three organic manures to estimate the value of manure as N fertilizer. Surface soil samples of 0–15 cm were collected and amended with cattle manure (CM), sheep manure (SM), and poultry manure (PM) at a rate equivalent to 200 mg N kg−1 soil. Soil without any amendment was used as a check (control). Nitrogen‐release potential of organic manures was determined by measuring changes in total mineral N [ammonium‐N+nitrate‐N (NH4 +–N+NO3 −–N)], NH4 +–N, and accumulation of NO3 −–N periodically over 120 days. Results indicated that the control soil (without any amendment) released a maximum of 33 mg N kg−1soil at day 90, a fourfold increase (significant) over initial concentration, indicating that soil had substantial potential for mineralization. Soil with CM, SM, and PM released a maximum of 50, 40, and 52 mg N kg−1 soil, respectively. Addition of organic manures (i.e., CM, SM, and PM) increased net N released by 42, 25, and 43% over the control (average). No significant differences were observed among manures. Net mineralization of organic N was observed for all manures, and the net rates varied between 0.01 and 0.74 mg N kg−1 soil day−1. Net N released, as percent of organic N added, was 9, 10, and 8% for CM, SM, and PM. Four phases of mineralization were observed; initial rapid release phase in 10–20 days followed by slow phase in 30–40 days, a maximum mineralization in 55–90 days, and finally a declined phase in 120 days. Accumulation of NO3 −–N was 13.2, 10.6, and 14.6 mg kg−1 soil relative to 7.4 mg NO3 −–N kg−1 in the control soil, indicating that manures accumulated NO3 −–N almost double than the control. The proportion of total mineral N to NO3 −–N revealed that a total of 44–61% of mineral N is converted into NO3 −–N, indicating that nitrifiers were unable to completely oxidize the available NH4 +. The net rates of mineralization were highest during the initial 10–20 days, showing that application of manures 1–2 months before sowing generally practiced in the field may cause a substantial loss of mineralized N. The rates of mineralization and nitrification in the present study indicated that release of inorganic N from the organic pool of manures was very low; therefore, manures have a low N fertilizer effect in our conditions.

Application of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Phosphorus Fertilization Improved Growth, Yield and Nodulation of Soybean in the Sub-humid Hilly Region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Two separate experiments (pot and field) were conducted to examine the response of soybean to Bradyrhizobium japonicum and phosphorus (P) fertilization. Different treatments were i) Rhizobium strains (0, S377, S379, and the mixture of S377 + S379 i.e. S0, S1, S2, S3); ii) phosphorus (field only, 0, 50, 100 kg ha-1i.e. T0, T1, T2) and iii) two soils (pot only) i.e. autoclaved (A1) and non-autoclaved (A0). A soybean cultivar NARC-1 was tested for estimating growth traits, nodule number and mass, root development and yield traits. In the pot experiment, total number of nodules both in the A0 and A1 were negligible but increased significantly following the application of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the field experiment, number of nodules increased from 6 in the control treatment without strains to a maximum of 86 in S3T1. Shoot dry weight increased significantly from 11.8 g plant-1 in the control soil to 15.6 g plant-1 in S3T1. Root length was increased but root mass was unaffected. Soybean seed yields ranged between 615 and 1003 kg ha-1 against 543 kg ha-1 in the control soil indicating a maximum of 85% increase over control. Shoot dry weight and seed yield had significant correlation with nodulation (R2 = 0.91). The results of experiments revealed significant positive effects of rhizobium inoculation and P fertilization on growth, nodulation and yield of soybean and, generally, mixture of strains (S3) was more effective than the strains S1 and S2. Results also indicated that high application of P (100 kg P2O5 ha-1) reduced the efficiency of inoculants for nodule mass and seed yield.

Effects of different land-use types on soil quality in the hilly area of Rawalakot Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract Vegetative cover plays an important role for the quality of soil especially in hilly and mountainous areas such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir where erosion is a major threat to the ecosystem and productivity. The study focuses on the impact of land-use types on soil quality by measuring the differences in chemical and physical properties at three sites in adjacently located natural forest land (forest), fallow grassland (grass) and arable land (arable). Soil samples from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth were collected and examined for particle distribution, dry bulk density, organic matter (OM), pH, macro- and micro-nutrients. Land-use types had a significant effect on primary soil particle distribution. Highest clay content was found in forest and highest sand content in arable. Forest had relatively the highest levels of OM, macro- and micro-nutrients and arable the lowest. Most of the properties of the 0-15 cm surface level of grass were similar to those observed in the 15-30 cm level in forest. Arable exhibited lowest nutrient status and poorest physical conditions, indicating a degrading effect of arable cultivation practices on soil. Grass and arable showed, compared to forest, a 30–60% average increase in bulk density and 26–66% average decrease in OM. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation of OM with available phosphorus and potassium while it had negative correlation with dry bulk density and pH. Natural vegetation appeared to be a main contributor of soil quality as it maintained the organic carbon stock, and increased the nutrient status of soil and is therefore important for sustainable development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other similar areas. Furthermore, OM was shown to be an important indicator of soil quality.

Effect of Azadirachta indica (neem), sodium thiosulphate and calcium chloride on changes in nitrogen transformations and inhibition of nitrification in soil incubated under laboratory conditions.

A laboratory experiment was conducted to examine the effects of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) neem seed-cake (Azadirachta indica) (NSC), sodium thiosulphate (Na₂S₂O₃) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) on changes in NH₄(+)⁻N, inhibition of nitrification and recovery of applied nitrogen (N) in soil. Surface soil samples of 0-15 cm were collected from an arable field, amended with urea N (UN) at the rate 200 mg N kg⁻¹, UN+NSC, UN+Na₂S₂O₃ and UN+CaCl₂ and incubated at 22°C periodically over 50 d. Soil without any amendment was used as check (control). Results indicated that more than 58% of N applied as NH₄⁻ disappeared over a period of 50 d from the soil mineral-N pool. Some of this N (21%) was accumulated as NO₃⁻-N while the remaining N was unaccounted for. Addition of nitrification inhibitors NSC, Na₂S₂O₃, and CaCl₂ resulted in a decrease in the extent of NH₄(+) disappearance by 35%, 44% and 30%, respectively. In the treatment receiving UN alone, 56 mg NO₃⁻-N kg⁻¹ was accumulated over 50 d (maximum 93 mg kg⁻¹) indicated an active nitrification. Application of nitrification inhibitors NSC, Na₂S₂O₃, and CaCl₂ with UN inhibited nitrification by 54%, 64%, and 59%, respectively. Apparent N recovery (ANR) in the treatment receiving UN alone was 63% that substantially increased to 83%, 89% and 76% in the treatments receiving UN+NSC, UN+Na₂S₂O₃, and UN+CaCl₂, respectively indicating 32%, 41% and 20% increase in N recovery. Among three NIs tested, Na₂S₂O₃ proved superior in inhibiting nitrification and increasing ANR. The study demonstrated that application of NSC, Na₂S₂O₃, and CaCl₂ which are cheap and easily available NIs inhibited nitrification and improved N recovery efficiency of applied N in an arable soil very effectively. It is suggested that these inhibitors should be tested under field conditions for increasing NUE and improving crop productivity.

EFFICIENCY OF RHIZOBIUM INOCULATION AND P FERTILIZATION IN ENHANCING NODULATION, SEED YIELD, AND PHOSPHORUS USE EFFICIENCY BY FIELD GROWN SOYBEAN UNDER HILLY REGION OF RAWALAKOT AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

A field experiment was conducted in continuity of our previous study to assess the effect of Rhizobium inoculation (RI) and phosphorus fertilization (P) on growth, yield, nodulation, and P use efficiency of soybean. Different treatments were i) Rhizobium strains (0, S377, S379, and the mixture of S377+S379 i.e. S0, S1, S2, S3); ii) phosphorus fertilizer (0, 50, 100 kg ha−1 i.e. P0, P1, P2). Soybean variety NARC-1 was as used as a testing crop. Results indicated that root and shoot growth increased by RI treatments whether used alone or in combination with P. Rhizobium inoculation increased plant height up to 12% while P did not show significant effect. Increases in soot dry weight, root length and root dry weight due to RI and P was 57 and 22%, 42 and 7%, 55 and 25%, respectively, over the control treatment. Number of nodules increased from 73 in the control to a maximum of 151 in S2 while the number increased from 90 in the control to 147 in P2. Combine application of strains and P increased nodules number from 65 at S0P0 to a maximum of 183 at S2P2. Similar response was also observed for nodules mass. Soybean seed yields ranged between 1710 and 2335 kg ha−1 against 1635 kg ha−1 in the control indicating a maximum of 43% increase over control. Concentration of N and P in plants and their uptake was significantly increased by RI and P. RI also increased the N and protein content of soybean seed. Apparent recovery efficiency (ARE) of applied P was 10−12% and the agronomic, agrophysiological, recovery, utilization efficiencies, and harvest index of P decreased with increasing P rates. Nodule number significantly correlated with the DM yield (r2 = 0.78) and seed yield (r2 = 0.63) while P uptake significantly correlated with root length (r2 = 0.48) and root mass i.e. dry weight (r2 = 0.65). Also a significant correlation existed between N uptake and DM yield (r2 = 0.98) and N uptake and seed yield (r2 = 0.65), P uptake and DM yield (r2 = 0.73), and P uptake and seed yield (r2 = 0.83). The results of present study indicated a substantial growth and yield potential of soybean under the hilly region and increase in yield and N2 fixing potential (nodulation) can be achieved by applying Rhizobium inoculation with P fertilization.

COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF UREA N, POULTRY MANURE AND THEIR COMBINATION IN CHANGING SOIL PROPERTIES AND MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS IN NORTHEAST PAKISTAN

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of poultry manure, urea N and the integrated use of both in changing soil properties, nutrient uptake, yield and yield attributes of maize grown at Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Treatments include control without any amendment (N(0)); urea N (UN) = 120 kg N ha−1 (N120U); UN = 150 kg N ha−1(N150U); poultry manure (PM) = 120 kg N ha−1(N120PM); PM = 150 kg N ha−1(N150PM); UN = 90 kg N ha−1+ PM = 30 kg N ha−1(N90U+30PM); UN = 60 kg N ha−1+ PM = 60 kg N ha−1(N60U+60PM); UN = 30 kg N ha−1+ PM = 90 kg N ha−1(N30U+90PM). N fertilization from different sources and combinations increased dry matter yield from 5206 kg ha−1 in the control to 5605–5783 kg ha−1 and grain yield increased from 1911 kg ha−1 to 2065–3763 kg ha−1. Application of the highest rate of urea N recorded the highest grain yields of 3763 kg ha−1, double the control. The proportional increase for N90U+30PM and N60U+60PM was 85 and 83% while PM alone gave lower yields (41 and 44%) than the respective urea N treatments. Integrated use of urea + PM proved superior to other treatments in enhancing the uptake of N, P and K in plants. Averaged across two years, uptake of N, P and K in N90U+30PM and N60U+60PM was 88 and 85, 16.5 and 17.5, and 48.5 and 53.5 kg ha−1, respectively compared to 52.5, 11.5 and 33.5 kg ha−1 in the control. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) varied from 29% in PM treatments to 30–39% in combined treatments while NUE of 40% was recorded for urea N treatments. Application of PM lowered soil bulk density from 1.19 t m−3 in the control to 1.10 and 1.05 t m−3 in N120PM and N150U, enhanced pH from 7.39 to 7.65 and 7.78 and increased soil organic matter (22 and 32%), total N (21 and 26%), available P (44 and 55%) and available K (10 and 15%) compared with the control. Economic analysis suggested the use of 50% recommended mineral N (60 kg N ha−1) with PM saves the mineral N fertilizer by almost 50% compared to a system with only mineral N application. In addition, increase in N efficiency, plant nutrition and soil fertility associated with combined treatment would help to minimize the use of high cost synthetic mineral fertilizers and represents an environmentally and agronomically sound management strategy.

Effect of Induced Soil Compaction on Changes in Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity under Sandy Loam and Sandy Clay Loam Soils: A Greenhouse Experiment

The continuous use of heavy machinery and vehicular traffic on agricultural land led to an increase in soil compaction, which reduces crop yield and deteriorates the physical conditions of the soil. A pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions to study the effects of induced soil compaction on growth and yield of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties grown under two different soil textures, sandy loam and sandy clay loam. Three compaction levels [C0, C1, and C2 (0, 10 and 20 beatings)], two textural classes (sandy loam and sandy clay loam), and two genotypes of wheat were selected for the experiment. Results indicated that induced soil compaction adversely affected the bulk density (BD) and total porosity of soil in both sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils. Compaction progressively increased soil BD from 1.19 Mg m−3 in the control to 1.27 Mg m−3 in C1 and 1.40 Mg m−3 in C2 in sandy loam soil while the corresponding increase in BD in sandy clay loam was 1.56 Mg m−3 in C1 and 1.73 Mg m−3 in C2 compared to 1.24 Mg m−3 in the control. On the other hand, compaction tended to decrease total porosity of soil. In case of sandy loam, porosity declined by 5% and 17% in C1 and C2, respectively, and declined in sandy clay loam by 29% and 54%, respectively. Averaged over genotypes and textures, shoot length decreased by 15% and 26% at C1 and C2, respectively, and straw yield decreased by 21% and 61%, respectively. The compaction levels C1 and C2 significantly decreased grain yield by 12% and 41%, respectively, over the control. The deleterious effect of compaction was more pronounced on root elongation and root mass, and compaction levels C1 and C2 decreased root length by 47% and 95% and root mass by 41% and 114%, respectively, over the control. Response of soil texture to compaction was significant for almost all the parameters, and the detrimental effects of soil compaction were greater in sandy clay loam compared to sandy loam soil. The results from the experiment revealed that soil compaction adversely affected soil physical conditions, thereby restricting the root growth, which in turn may affect the whole plant growth and grain yield. Therefore, appropriate measures to avoid damaging effects of compaction on soil physical conditions should be practiced. These measures may include soil management by periodic chiseling, controlled traffic, conservation tillage, addition of organic manures, and incorporating crops with deep tap root systems in a rotation cycle.

Changes in Soil Properties and Microbial Indices across Various Management Sites in the Mountain Environments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

The mountainous region of the Himalayas is covered with forest, grassland, and arable land, but the variation in ecosystem functions has not been fully explored because of the lack of available data. This study appraises the changes in soil properties over the course of a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) for forest, grassland, and arable soils in a typical hilly and mountainous region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Soil samples were collected from major land-cover types in the mountain region: natural forest, grassland, and cultivated land (arable). The natural forest served as a control against which changes in soil properties resulting from removal of natural vegetation and cultivation of soil were assessed. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm six times during the year and examined for changes in temperature, moisture, electrical conductivity (EC), micronutrients [iron, manganese, copper, and zinc (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, respectively)], and microbial population. Significant differences were found in soil temperature, soil moisture, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and number of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi among the three land-cover types. Soil under cultivation had 4–5 °C higher temperature and 3–6% lower moisture than the adjacent soils under grassland and forest. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of forest, grassland, and arable soil were 0.36, 0.30, and 0.31 dS m−1, indicating that soil collected from the forest had 18–20% more EC than the adjacent arable and grassland soils. On average, amounts of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the soil collected from the arable site were 6.6, 5.7, 1.7, and 0.8 mg kg−1, compared with 24.0, 12.1, 3.5, and 1.2 mg kg−1 soil in the forest soil, showing that arable had two to four times less micronutrients than grassland and forest. Populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in the forest were 22.3 (105), 8.2 (105), and 2.5 (103), respectively, while arable land exhibited 8.2 (105), 3.2 (105), and 0.87 (103). Season (temperature) and depth showed significant effects on microbial activity and nutrient concentration, and both decreased significantly in winter and in the subsurface layer of 15−30 cm. Different contents of the parameters among arable, grassland, and forest soils indicated an extractive effect of cultivation and agricultural practices on soil. Natural vegetation appeared to be a main contributor to soil quality as it maintained the moisture content and increased the nutrient status and microbial growth of soil. Therefore, it is important to sustain high-altitude ecosystems and reinstate the degraded lands in the mountain region.

Mineralization and nitrification potentials of grassland soils at shallow depth during laboratory incubation

Abbasi, M. K., Shah, Z., Adams, W. A. (2001). Mineralization and nitrification potentials of grassland soils at shallow depth during laboratory incubation. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science-Zeitschrift Fur Pflanzenernahrung Und Bodenkunde, 164, (5), 497-502. Sponsorship: Ministry of Education Government of Pakistan

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PHOSPHORUS SOURCES ON THE GROWTH, YIELD, ENERGY CONTENT AND PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY IN MAIZE AT RAWALAKOT AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

Effect of poultry manure (PM) and four inorganic phosphorus (P) fertilizers sources, i.e., diammonium phosphate (DAP), single super phosphate (SSP), nitrophos (NP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) on crop production and P utilization efficiency (PUE) of maize was studied. Both inorganic P fertilizers and PM applied alone or combined in 50:50 proportions at equivalent rate of 90 kg P2O5 ha−1. Results indicated that inorganic P sources with PM significantly increased plant height, leaf area and chlorophyll content. Average values showed that combined application of inorganic P with PM increased grain yield by 19 and 41% over inorganic P and PM alone, respectively. Similarly, increase in P-uptake due to the combined application of inorganic P + PM was 17% compared to sole inorganic P. Phosphorus utilization efficiency of inorganic P was increased with PM and the highest PUE was recorded in DAP + PM. Generally, combination of DAP + PM proved superior over the remaining P fertilizers.