Showkat Hussain EytooId. No 38066

Department: Agronomy

INTERVENTIONS FOR INCREASING NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY IN FIELD CROPS

2

3

Why NUE?????? • Import of fertilizers of value Rs 34600 crores(2012-13).

• Loss of Rs.2900cr. in India due to losses of N fertilizer .

• 1% increase in NUE in N & P will save Rs.10056 million

• Human health issue- in Punjab & Haryana ground water samples had Nitrate-N of > 22mg/L.

4

Challenges Facing Indian Agriculture

Degrading soil healthImbalanced fertilizer useEmerging multi-nutrient deficiencies particularly

of secondary and micronutrientsDeclining factor productivity Slow growth in food grain productivity

Fertilizer consumption during 1967-68 to 2011-12

increased 24 times, the increase in food grain

production was only 3.5 times.

Food Grain (Mt) Fertilizer(Mt)

1967-68 2012-13 1967-68 2012-13

74.5 257.5 1.1 25.5

Deteriorating balance in NPKThe N-P-K ratio worsened acutely in certain states

NPK Ratios across states in India for 2013

EAST SOUTH

Bihar 12.3 : 3.6 : 1 Andhra Pradesh 7.1 : 2.8 : 1

Orissa 6.2 : 2.4 : 1 Karnataka 3.6 : 1.6 : 1

West Bengal 2.9 : 1.6 : 1 Tamil Nadu 3.9 : 1.5 : 1

NORTH WEST

Haryana 61.4 : 18.7 : 1 Gujarat 13.2 : 3.4 : 1

Punjab 61.7 : 19.2 : 1 Maharashtra 3.5 : 1.8 : 1

Uttar Pradesh 25.2 : 8.8 : 1 Rajasthan 44.9 : 16.5 : 1

Uttarakhand 16.3:3.9:1 Chhattisgarh 8.06:3.87:1

Low nutrient use efficiency Causes

Nutrient Efficiency Cause of low efficiency

Nitrogen 30-50 % Immobilization, volatilization, denitrification, leaching

Phosphorus 15-20% Fixation in soils Al – P, Fe – P, Ca – P

Potassium 70-80% Fixation in clay - lattices

Sulphur 8-10% Immobilization, Leaching with water

Micro nutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B) 1-2% Fixation in soils

The loss of N through leaching and volatilization creates pollution and has environmental implications.

P & K fertilizers are imported. Skewed distribution of resources in world. Limited supply.

The cause for low NUE and declining response to N fertilizers can be grouped as follows (NAAS)2005

Low status of soil organic carbon and soil degradation.

Susceptibility of N fertilizers to losses by various mechanisms.

Imbalanced use of fertilizers.

Poor management for secondary and micronutrients, especially S, Zn, Mn, Fe and B.

Use of high analysis fertilizers like urea and Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and inadequate addition of organic manures.

Inappropriate Rate, Time and Method of application.

Indices of Nutrient Use Efficiency

10

1. PFP = yield (kg/ha) / Nutrient applied (kg/ha) x 100

2. Agronomic use efficiency = yield (kg/ha) in fertilized treatment - yield (kg/ha) in unfertilized treatment / Nutrient applied (kg/ha)

3. Physiological use efficiency = yield fertilized treatment (kg/ha) - yield unfertilized treatment (kg/ha) / Nutrient uptake in fertilized treatment (kg/ha) - Nutrient uptake unfertilized treatment (kg/ha)

4. Apparent recovery efficiency = Nutrient uptake in fertilized treatment (kg/ha) - Nutrient uptake unfertilized treatment (kg/ha) / Nutrient applied (kg/ha)

Mosier et al. (2004)

11

Interventions for increasing nutrient use efficiency in field crops

1. SOIL BASED INTERVENTIONS

• Rhizosphere management • Soil chemistry modification.

• Use of controlled release fertilizers and NH3/NH4 inhibitors

• Source, Method, Rate, and Timing of Application of Fertilizers.

• Use of Manures.

• Water Management.

2 .PLANT BASED INTERVENTIONS:• Crop management practices.

• Crop Rotation/ Intercropping.

• Crop Residue Management.

• Green Manuring.

• Use of Nitrogen Efficient Species/Genotypes.

• Improving biological and Non-biological N fixation.

• Various tools and techniques. Foliar application and speciality fertilizers.

• Customized Fertilizers.

Adverse impacts of poor SHM

Loss of soil fertility

and productivi

ty

Economic loss to

farmers thereby to

nation

Mortality of active

beneficial Soil

Bacteria

Soil hardening & erosion

Threat to food

security

13

Rhizosphere Mangement

Shen et al 2012 chinaRhizosphere management not only increases maize yield by 5–15% with high yields of 12–15 t ha–1, but also saves considerable chemical inputs by reducing

fertilizer application (40–50% for fertilizer N and by 33% for P)

Rhizosphere Enrichment through Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Zhang, et . al., 2013 (A) Mechanisms of nutrient mobilization from soil by Abuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their contribution to P nutrition and plant growth; (B) pre inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sweet potato seedlings; and (C) effects of AMF on sweet potato growth.

14

Lavakush, et. al., 2014 BHU Varanasi

Effect of rhizosphere enrichment on growth & yield of rice

Treatments P content (%) in grain

No. of grain panicle−1 Grain Yield (g pot−1)

Control (Uninoculated) 0.226 ±0.001a 114.00 ±1.732a 22.38 ± 1.329a

30 kg P2O5 ha−1 0.238 ±0.003abcd 122.00 ±1.732bc 25.93±17.381bcd

60 kg P2O5 ha−1 0.242 ±0.002bcd 126.00 ±1.732cde 26.46 ± 0.614abcde

CPC + 0 kg P2O5 ha−1 0.232 ±0.003ab 117.00 ±1.452ab 23.95 ± 0.603ab

CPC + 30 kg P2O5 ha−1  0.245 ±0.003cde 125.00 ±1.732cd27.26±0.629cdef

CPC + 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 0.249 ±0.003def 129.00 ±2.081def 28.53 ± 0.717def

CPC=Combined Pseudomonas Culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa BHUJY16, P. aeruginosa BHUJY20, Pseudomonas putida BHUJY13, Pseudomonas putida BHUJY23 and Pseudomonas fluorescence BHUJY29. Data are presented as mean ±standard error (n = 3), Mean values in each column with the same superscript(s) do not differ significantly by Duncan post hoc multiple comparison tests (P≤0.05).Strain culture 1 ml.Pot size 28cm,with 7kg soil/pot,3 seedling/pot.

15

SOIL CHEMISRTY MODIFCATIONtreatment Rice

yield(t/ha)Apparent N+P+K recovery in (Rice)

Wheat yield (t /ha)

Apparent N+P+K recovery(wheat)

T1- Control 1.78 - 1.71 -

T2- Farmerspractice (N100,P40,K0)

3.56 - 2.70 -

T3- 100% NPKZn (STR-Soiltest recommendation

4.62 69.1 3.01 60.0

T4- T3 + Farm yard manure(FYM) @ 5 t/ ha

5.00 84.6 3.21 67.2

T5- T3 + pressmud @ 5 t/ ha 5.29 91.1 3.31 69.1T6- T3+ NADEP compost @ 5 t/ ha

5.21 91.0 3.26 72.4

T3+FYM@5t/ ha+ PSB+BGA /Azotobacter

5.36 95.4 3.35 76.4

LSD(P=0.05) 0.23 - 0.16 -

Mishra et al , Kanpur(2013)

pH 9.3, (EC) 0.68 dS /m, (OC) 3.8 g kg, (ESP) 33.2, gypsum requirement(GR) 10.75 t/ ha, available N 128 kg/ ha, available P 18.7 kg/ha, available K 270 kg/ ha

Nitrification inhibitors in agriculture.

Name(chemical, trademark)

Solubility in water(g/l)

Relativevolatility

Mode of application

2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine (Nitrapyrin;N-serve)

0.04(at 20°C)

High Suitable with anhydrous ammoniafor soil injection

2-amino-4-chloro methylpyrimidine

1.25(at 20°C)

High Coatings on solid nitrogenfertilizers

Dicyandiamide (DCD),cyanoguanidine

23.0(at 13°C)

Low Blend with urea or other solidnitrogen fertilizers

DMPP Low Blend with urea or other solidnitrogen fertilizers

Subbarao et al., 2006

18

Influence of Natural and Synthetic Nitrification Inhibitors on Grain and StrawYield of Wheat, total nitrogen uptake and total apparent recovery

Treatment. Straw yield

Grain yield(t/ha)

Available N(kg/ha) after wheat harvesting

Total Nitrogen Uptake(kg/ha)

Total Apparent N recovery(%)

B: C Ratio

Control 7.51 3.3 133.07 114.17 - -

Urea(200 kg/ha)* 9.11 3.8 137.87 159.73 22.78 -

Urea +DMO* (1.00%) 10.00 5.12 148.99 208.19 47.02 20.79

Urea +M. spicata oil (1.00%)

9.91 4.34 153.85 191.54 38.68 2.69

Urea +Terpenes (1.00%)

9.15 3.89 147.29 160.6 23.34 0.94

Urea+ DCD (1.00%) 9.2 3.95 158.21 180.88 33.13 0.29

CD(5%) 0.08 0.57 13.10 11.16 - -

*DMO- Dementholized oilSoil pH 8.5, N(168),K(107),P(12.80) kg/ha . Var- HD 2329*Applied at 0,24 &92 DAS. P& K@60 kg/ha by SSP & MOP as basal.

Kiran et al,1998 CIMAP , Lucknow

19

Method of Application

(Patakh et al., 2003)

Underuse

20

Deep Placement of Urea Supergranules

• Reduces expenditures for urea by 20%-25%.

• Increases paddy yields by 15%-25%.

• Encourages algal biological nitrogen fixation because of low flood water nitrogen concentration.

• Reduces phosphorus runoff when urea-diammonium phosphate is deep placed.

• Ensures nitrogen availability beyond the flowering stage when applied at an appropriate rate

IFDC—International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development

21

Production of Urea Super granules(USG)

Prilled Urea(1-2 mm)

Briquetting Machine for USG

USG( 1-3 grams/particle)

22

Effect of different methods of urea fertilizer application on the yield of Rice.

T-1 T-2 T-3 T-40

10

20

30

40

50

60

NUE(%)Yield(q/ha)

Soil pH6.1, OM(1.1%),N(0.145%),P(3.8ppm),K(0.12%)T1-controlT 2-58kgN/ha by UreaT 3-58kg N/ha by USGT4-58 kg/ha by NPK briquettesAll the treatments received 16 kg P and 42 kg K ha-1 from TSP and MOP, respectively Boro rice cv. BRRI dhan 27

Hossain et al 2009 Dhaka.

23

Effect of different methods of phosphorus application in wheat

P levels (kg/ha) Grain yield(t/ha) PUE(%)

0 2.10d -

61 3.27c 10.78a

104 4.06a 10.22b

140 3.80b 9.90b

LSD(P=0.05) 0.16 0.37

P application method

Band placement 3.74 8.48a

broadcast 3.64 6.67b

LSD(P=0.05) 0.11 0.26

pH 7.8, organic matter 0.8%, Olsen P 7.7 mg/ g and Extractable K 140 mg/ g. Computed levels of P along with 130 kg N and 65 kg K /ha were applied using triple super phosphate (TSP), urea and sulphate of potash (SOP), respectively as sources. Hussain et al Pakistan(2012)

24

Effect of Different Sources Of Nutrient on Nitrogen use efficiency of Rice

Treatments Grain yield(t/ha) Nitrogen Use efficiency

2009 2010 mean 2009 2010

T1: 50 % RDFN + cane trash vermi compost @ 2.5 t ha/1

4.4 5.2 4.80 33.5 40.0

T2: 75 % RDFN + paddy straw vermicompost@ 2.5 t ha/1

4.8 5.5 5.15 38.4 42.9

T3: 50 % RDFN + paddy straw vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha/1

4.3 5.0 4.65 30.7 35.9

T4: 100 % chemical fertilizers 4.6 4.8 4.70 33.1 34.0

T5 : Absolute control 2.8 2.4 2.60 - -

CD 0.38 0.44 0.42

Rao et al, 2012 ANGRAU Hyderabad

pH 7.22),OC(0.51%),Available N(241kg/ha),Available P(27 kg/ha),Available K(309kg/ha)

25

Effect of Nano Fertilizers on Wheat Nutrient Use efficiency

Treatment Recovery Efficiency(%) Agronomic Efficiency(kg grain/kg nutrient applied)

Grain yield(Q/ha)

Control N P K N P K 12

50% RDF 88.3 32.3 340.5 33 83 125 37

100%RDF 61.6 32.8 218.0 22 55 83 45

125%RDF 45.7 27.3 184.7 19 48 72 48

50%RDF+NM 104.8 43.3 380.5 39 97 145 41

100%RDF+NM

42.5 22.7 153.0 19 47 70 40

CD(P=0.05) 14.4 3.4 13.4 5

Nanomaterials of gypsum and rock phosphate@ 3kg/ha)soil application

Kumar et al (2014) Pantnagar

Increase in Growth, Productivity and Nutritional status of wheat and enrichment in Soil fertility applied with organic matrix Entrapped urea

(OMUE)Treatment Grain

yield(q/ha)

Protein (DM) %

Organic carbon(%) after harvesting

pH after harvesting

Net input cost(Rs)

Net profit(Rs) Soil enrichment

control 10 8.4 0.33 8.9 8500 6500 Very low

Urea(160 kg/ha) at basal and 30DAT

38 9.6 0.31 8.6 10427 46573 low

OMEU(80 kg/ha)

40 9.9 0.35 8.2 10963 49037 high

Kumar et al,2012 Haryana

OC(0.33%),Total N(330 kg/ha),Available N(110),Available P(20kg/ha),Available K(220Kg/ha).Var-WH-711OMEU-cow dung: Rice bran: Dried Neem powder : clay soil (1:1:1:1) Urea: OMEU(1:2) immobilized with 25% saresh (20g/kg) used as binder.

27

Efficiency Of Different fertilizers Applied To Rice.

Treatment Grain yield(t/ha) AUE(%) Relative Efficiency

T1-Control(No fertilizer)

3.0 -

T2-PU 3.9 12.23 100T3-NH4Cl 3.6 9.08 74T4-(NH4)2SO4 4.0 13.82 113T5-CAN 4.1 14.60 119T6-USG 4.4 18.02 151CD(P=0.05) 0.46 -

Soil pH 6.8, OC(0.31%), N(240 Kg/ha),P(12kg/ha),K(200kg/ha).N,P,K applied@76,22,41.5Kg/ha.PU, NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4, CAN applied at TP(25%), Tillering(50%) and PI(25%).USG(100%)@ 7DAT Jena,1995 Phulbani (Odisha)

RECOVERY OF NITROGEN IN SORGHUM FROM DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS

Treatment Dry matter(t/ha) N yield (kg/ha)

N from soil (kg/ha)

NUE(%)

Urea* 9.95 83 13 45

Ammonium sulfate*

10.69 100 19 64

Potassium nitrate*

11.0 96 23 76

CV 7 13 11 11

*Applied 60 kg N/ha.OM(0.39%),total P(68 mg/kg),Total N(123mg/kg).

Seyni et al ,1992 Niger

29

Effect of Nutrient Rate on NUE in Wheattreatment Grain

yield(kg/ha)Recovery Efficiency (RE= kg nutrienttaken up per kg nutrient applied.)N

Recovery Efficiency P

Recovery Efficiency K

T1-NPK@100:50:50 1100 0.47 0.13 0.89

T2-NPK@120:60:60 1220 0.58 0.21 1.22

T3-NPK@150:75:75 1380 0.58 0.16 1.20

CD(P=0.05) 238 4.08 0.46 5.32

The available N, P and K are 122.3, 14.8 and 131.5 kg /ha respectively by Urea, SSP, MOP respectively.Var- PBW-363

BATTACHARYA et al BCKV, WB(2014)

30

Effect of time of potassium application in sugarcanetreatments AE(%) Average crop

growth(g/m2/day)T1-No potassium - 7.91b

T2-112kg at planting 215ab 9.61ab

T3- 112 kg at 90DAP 201b 9.31ab

T4-56kg at planting+56kg at 90DAP 227a 9.82ab

T5-168 at sowing 193c 10.61a

T6- 84 kg at sowing+ 84 kg at 90DAP

218ab 10.31a

Soil loam, OM(0.87%), Available N(0.005%),Available P(7.5mg/kg), Available K(108mg/kg)Seed rate@ 50000 ( 3 budded) N and P2O5 @168 and 112 kg/ ha by Urea & SSP.Full P+ 1/3 N as basal.Remaining N @45& 95DAP.

Mudasir et al Pakistan (2013)

31

Effect of application time of fertilizer on maize

Treatment application YIELD(t/ha) Nutrient Recovery (%)

N P K

T1-Cotrol(No fertilizer) 0.44d - -- -

T2-Basal+ N @86.5 Kg/ha at 32DAE 4.63c 29.6 71.0 149

T4-Split 3 times at basal(20%), 30DAE(40%),50DAE(40%).

7.70a 42.3 82.2 204

T5-Split 4 times equal splits @basal(20%),30(40%),40(40%),& 60(20%)DAE.

7.31a 42.1 83.9 214

Soil loamy sand , N(130mg/kg),P(5.2mg/kg),K(43.8mg/kg)T2-basal application @28 kg N,12.2 kg P and 23.3 kg K /ha.

Bell et al Thailand 2009

32

Plant Based Interventions

Effect of seedlings age and plant spacing on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and economics of rice under system of rice intensification.

Treatment Grain yield(t/ha)

N uptake(kg/ha) P uptake(kg/ha)

K uptake(kg/ha)

B:C Ratio

Spacing

25* 25 cm 7.32 122.3 35.7 155.1 1.59

30*30 cm 6.52 112.7 32.5 142.6 1.37

CD(P=0.05) 4 4.1 1.3 4.7 0.1

Transplanting Time(days)

8 6.64 112.1 32.9 145.5 1.36

10 7.49 126.3 35.9 156.3 1.67

12 7.17 122.9 35.4 152.6 1.56

14 6.37 108.7 32.1 140.9 1.31

CD(P=0.05) 0.19 4.1 1.2 4.1 0.07

Singh et al 2014, BHUsandy clay loam, OM(0.42%), N(197 kg/ha), Phosphorus(23kg/ha),potassium(207 kg/ha)1.0: 0.5: 0.5: kg/100 m2 NPK

34

Efficiency of Applied Nutrients in Hybrid Maize Under Drip FertigationTreatments AE(kg grain/kg nutrient) Nutrient uptake at harvest (Kg/ha)

N P K N P K

T1-100% RDF once in 6 days 20.7 40.7 40.7 220.8 25.2 232.9

T2-100% RDF once in 12 days 18.8 37.7 37.7 212.7 25.1 226.6

T3-100% RDF Once in 15 days 18.5 37.1 37.1 209.5 25.2 226.4

T4-150% once in 6 days 18.2 36.4 36.4 243.7 28.9 263.0

T5-150% once in 12 days 17.3 34.6 34.5 241 28.8 260.5

T6-150% RDF once in 15 day 17.0 33.9 33.9 236.4 28.7 252.5

T7- 100% RDF with surface irrigation

11.6 23.1 23.1 171.2 20.2 178.5

T8- CONTROL(NO FERTILZER) 0 0 0 126.9 11.6 132.4

CD(P=0.05) NOT ANALYSED

14.1 2.8 16.1

sandy clay loam, NPK(232,18.6 & 445 kg/ha)Paired row 120+30*20 cm. seed rate 20kg/ha,RDF@150:75:75 with urea and potash with Fertigation @ 25:50:25% NK at 6-30,30-60 ,60-90DAS respectively

Sampath kumar,TNAU ,2010

Nitrogen and irrigation effects on water use efficiency andnitrogen use efficiency in wheat under sandy loam soil

Irrigation (mm) NUEN Rate (kg/ha)

WUE N Rate(kg/ha)

40 80 120 0 40 80 120

0 8.5 5.5 1.5 5.3 7.6 8.1 6.0

50 20.2 18.4 17.8 6.3 9.5 11.3 13.3

150 33.2 25.4 18.0 5.7 10.3 11.9 11.8

300 30.2 30.3 23.7 4.6 7.4 9.5 10.2

Bhale et al. (2009)

36

Effects pre- sowing seed treatment on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of Indian Mustard under Rained conditions.

treatment Field emergence(%)

Plant height(cm)

Seed yield(kg/ha) Nutrient(Kg/ha) uptake

N P K

T1- Control 72.1 119.86 616 20 6.25 40.68

T2-water soaking 75.9 120.2 703 23 7.09 43.57

T3-1% K2SO4 77.1 119.84 726 25 7.89 44.96

T4-1% KCl 79.4 120.32 720 25 7.87 44.76

T5-1% KH2PO4 82.7 121.23 768 27 8.05 47.06

T6-0.25%Na2HPO4

84.0 123.34 805 29 8.78 48.86

T7-Dithanae M-45

86.2 125.54 825 31 8.94 50.02

CD(P=0.05) 4.1 NS 86 3.36 0.94 2.69

• Var- B 85,• Soil –alluvial under sub-humid sub tropics• Soil fertility- 0.05%, 6.68kg, 43 kg/ha.• NPK@40,4.5,8.5 kg/ha

Acharaya et al , Kalyani (WB)2 004

37

Method of sowing under saline conditions treatment Yield(t/ha)

Maize(Ganga-5) Wheat (Sarbati Sonora)

Flat sowing 0.93 2.19

Sowing on side of ridges 1.85 2.51

Sowing in furrow 1.19 2.52

In a saline/alkali soil (EC 4.8 dS/m, ESP 55) S K Gupta Kanpur(2015)

38

Inter cropping for improving nutrient use efficiencyIntercropping Remarks

Maize+ Peanut Maize improved iron nutrition of peanut phytosiderphore released from maize roots may mobilize Fe(III) and benefit the iron nutrition of peanut plant.

Chick pea+ Wheat Chickpea-facilitated P nutrition in associated wheat chickpea can mobilize and absorb some organic P by releasing phosphatase into soil.

Faba bean/maize intercropping.

Intercropping reduced nitrate accumulation in soil Profile .The decrease was about 0–41% for wheat and 0–31% for Faba bean.

Legume based

Interactions between inter-cropped legumes and cereals

P-deficient intercropping system

39

Decrease in the soil pH from 6.5 to 4.1 can result in10-fold increase in

the P released into soil solution -Li et al., 2007

Maize Faber bean

Zhang et al., 2010

40

Crop residue management

41

(1) N doses are in kg/ha. The succeeding wheat crop received 30 kg N/ ha. Both rice and wheat received 20 kg P/ ha as single super phosphate and 30 kg K / ha as

murate of potash

Treatments Amount applied(Mg/ha)

Amount of NPK added/recycled(kg/ha/yr)

Grain yield (Mg/ha) under different doses of Nitrogen applied to rice(1)

N P K 0 40 60 120

Sesbania green manure 5.5 143 22 121 8.1 8.9 9.3 9..3

Cowpea green manure 3.5 59.5 15.7 25.2 7.9 8.9 9.2 9.4

Mungbean residues (after picking pods)

1.9 28.9 4.0 14.1 8.2 8.5 8.8 9.1

Control 0 0 0 0 6.3 7.7 7.7 8.1

FYM 10 42 25 52 7.8 8.6 8.6 9.3

CD(0.05) - - - - 0.3

Integrated effects of crop residues/organic manures and levels of N on the total grain production of a Rice-wheat cropping system.

(Misra and Prasad ,2000)

42

Effects of sources of phosphorus and bio fertilizers on productivity and profitability of soybean -wheat system

Treatment Soybean grain(S) yield(t/ha)

Wheat grain (W) yield(t/ha)

Agronomic efficiency for

Recovery Efficiency(%) S W

T1- 1SP 2 4.5 24 42 26(soybean 31

T2-1RP 1.68 3.66 15 17 15 9.5

T3-PSB 1.57 3.73 - - - -

T4-VAM 1.51 3.57 - - - -

T5-0.5SP 1.78 3.94 37.5 58 36.5 39

T4- 0.5SP+PSB- 1.87 4.11 37.5 67.5 42.5 49.5

T6-0.5 SP+VAM 1.95 4.36 45 88 48.5 72

T7-0.5 SP+PSB+VAM 2.09 4.58 48 99.5 53 81

T8-0.5 RP 1.57 3.53 23 23 21.5 11.5

T9-0.5 RP+PSB 1.87 4.05 41.5 62 43 43

T11- 0.5 RP+PSB+VAM 2.07 4.31 51.5 78 55.5 57.5

Control 1.17 3.17 - - -

CD 0.15 0.39

Mahanta et al IARI, 2008

Sandy loam, 0.58% organic C ,pH8.36,Available N (149.4 kg/ha), Available P (13.8 kg/ha) available K (140.2 kg/haPSB@500g, VAM@5kg , N (30 kg N/ha for soybean and 120 kg N/ha for wheat)and K (33.2 kg/ha for both soybean and wheat) as urea and murate of potash. Var-HD 2643 & PK 1042

1.To establish yield target – the crop’s total needs

2. Effective use of existing nutrients

3. Fill deficit between total needs and indigenous supply

Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM)

FeedingCrop atneeds!

“ Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) is the dynamic, field-specific management of nutrients in a particular cropping season to optimize the supply and demand of nutrients according to their differences in cycling through soil-plant systems.”

(Dobermann and White, 1999)

43

44

LCC and SPAD Meter

Simple leaf colour chart (LCC) is a simple tool which is a proxy for leaf N is used as an indicator of leaf colour. Leaf color intensity and leaf N status

Right time of N applicationGenerally critical value for semi dwarf high yielding varieties is 4.0. If the average value fall below 4.0, top dress N fertilizer (20-30 kg/ha) to correct N deficiency

Benefits

Reduce pest/disease pressure

Reduce leakage into environment

LCC saves nearly 26% fertilizer N

Helps to synchronize N supply, crop demand

and enhance N use efficiency

45

Leaf colour chart (LCC) based N management in direct -seeded rice

TreatmentTotal N applied(kg/ha)

Grain yield(t/ha)

N uptake(kg/ha)

RE(%)

AE (kg grain/kg N applied)

Control 0 3.05 68 - -

80 kg N/ha at 0, 20, 40 and 60 DAS 80 4.63 111 53.8 19.8

120 kg N/ha at 0, 20, 40 and 60 DAS 120 4.72 124 46.7 13.9

30 kg N/ha at LCC < 3(at 25 and 50 DAS) with 20 kgN/ha at 0 DAS

80 5.36 127 73.8 28.9

30 kg N/ha at LCC < 4(at 25 and 41 DAS) with 20 kgN/ha at 0 DAS

80 5.23 121 66.2 27.3

CD at 5% - 0.39 12.1 2.7 5.2

(Singh et al., 2008)

PAU, Ludhiana

46

It uses active light source to measure and determine N rate by comparing it with a N rich strip within the field Benefits-• Fast and precise optical sensing

• Reduce crop fertilizer costs

• Only apply nitrogen to plants that need it 

• Real time variable rate fertilizer application

• Collect data during existing farming operation

Green seeker

Treatment

Fertilizer N application (kg N /ha) Grain yield (t/ha)

Total N uptake(kg/ha)

AE (kg grain kg−1 N

applied)

RE(%)

Basal at sowing

CRI,1ST irrigati

on

2nd irrigatio

n

3rd irrigatio

n

Total

1 0 0 0 1.89 39.2

2 75 75 150 4.56 138.3 17.8 66.1

3 80 0 25a 105 4.01 107.7 20.2 65.2

4 40 40 25a 105 4.24 115.5 22.4 72.7

5 80 0 37a 117 4.21 113.2 19.8 63.2

6 40 40 29a 109 4.47 112.0 23.7 66.8

CD at 5% 0.42 10.11 3.29 7.45

(Singh et al., 2011) Karnal

Evaluation of Green Seeker-based N management ( PBW 343)

Soil pH 8.2,OC(3.9%),N total(0.64 g/kg),P(8.9mg/kg),K(12.2mg/kg)

AE (Agronomic efficiency of applied N) RE ( Recovery efficiency of applied N) aGreenSeeker-guided N application

48

PERFORMANCE OF RICE AS AFFECTED BY FOLIAR APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT K FERTILIZER SOURCES

Treatments

No .Of tillers

yield (t/ha) K Contents % K uptake Recovery %

Agronomic Efficiency(kg grain /kg nutrient)

paddy straw paddy straw paddy straw

Control 10.29d 2784d 3909d 0.36d 1.45c 10.09d 56.78 - -

KCl 11.84c 3024c 4199c 0.42c 1.41d 12.77c 63.60 23 13.12

K2SO4 13.89a 3336a 4876a 0.50a 1.66a 16.74a 80.3 72.8 8.69

KNO3 12.67b 3150b 4518b 0.46b 1.58b 14.32b 71.49 45 5.66

Shahzad et al 2005 Pakistan

pH 7.4, OM (0.65%), N-N03(5.4 mg/kg),P(4.12 mg/kg),K(68.0 mg/kg)The basal dose of N, P and Zn were applied @ 100, 50 and 10 kg/ ha as urea, SSP and ZnS04, respectively.K sources @ 1.5% Solution at 30 and 45 DATVar-Basmati -385K2SO4 produced more no of tillers

49

Improved nitrogen use efficiency due to interaction with other nutrients

Crop and N fertilization(kg/ha)

NUE(kg grain /kg N applied)

Additional fertilization(kg/ha)

NUE(kg grain/kg applied N)

Wheat -120 20.3 + 90 kg S 25.9

Rice -120 21.6 +60 kg P 24.6

Corn -120 8.8 +60 kg P 13.6

Sorghum-120 11.7 +60 kg P 17.1

Sunflower-60 8.8 +30 kg P 12.6

Soybean-80 0 +0.4 kg Fe 9.0

Tobacco-224 0.9 +0.22 kg Mo 3.1

Aulakh and Mahli (2005)

50

Speciality fertilizerscrop Specialty fertilizer Concentratio

n(%)No of sprays

Stage of spraying

Rice polyfeed 1 1 Max tilleringMulti-K 1 1 Grain filling

Maize polyfeed 1 1 Knee high

Multi-K 1 1 Grain filling

soybean polyfeed 1 1 Max. vegetative growth

sunflower polyfeed 0.5 1 Grain floret

cotton polyfeed 1 1 Square formation

Mung bean polyfeed 1 1 Pod development

Polyfeed NPK Blend 19-19-19 MULTI-K: Potassium Nitrate 13-00-46

51

Speciality fertilizers For foliar Spray• MONO POTASSIUM PHOSHATE:• Water soluble Phosphate as

P205(min.52%).• Water soluble Potash as K2O(min.32%).• sodium as NaCl (dry basis) max.0.025%.• Moisture content max(0.5%).• Spray Recommendations : 5-6 gm / Lit of

Water for Fruit Crops / Vegetables / Kharif -Rabi Crops.

•Potassium Nitrate (NOP) Nitrate Nitrogen (as NO3) 13 % min• Water Soluble Potash (as K2O) 45 % min •Sodium (as Na ) (Dry Basis) 1 % max.•Matter Insoluble in water 0.05 % max •Moisture Content 0.5 % max •Spray Recommendations : 7-10 gm / Lit of water for Fruit crops / Vegetables / Kharif - Rabi crops.

Customized Fertilizers in INDIACrop Formulations( N:P:K: Zn/

N:P:K:S:Zn:B)Geography

Wheat 10:18:25:3:0.5:0 Muzaffarnagar,Barielly,Bijnore,Hathras, Pilibhit,Mathura, Meerut and Etah

Sugarcane 7:20:18:6:0.5:0 Moradabad, KR Nagar,Farukhabad and Ferozabad

Paddy 8:15:15:0.5:0.15:0 GB Nagar, Ghaziabad, Rampur,Shahjahanpur, Mainpuri and USBagar

Maize 20:0:15:0:0:0.2 Andhra Pradesh

Ground nut 15:15:15:9:0.5:0.2 Andhra Pradesh

Paddy 15:32:8:0.5,18:33:7:0.5

Andhra Pradesh

Grapes, Sugarcane 10:20:10:5:2:0.5:0.3:0.2 Aurangabad, Nasik, Pune andAhmednagar

Rakshit et al IARI, 2012

53

Comparative evaluation of tools and strategies for enhancing fertilizer N use efficiency

Tools/strategies Benefit cost

Limitations

Site-specific N management High Has to be developed for every Infrastructure required.

Chlorophyll meter High Initial high cost

Leaf color chart Very high None

Controlled release fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors

Low Lack of interest by industry

54

Tools/strategies Benefit Cost limitation

fertilizer placement High Lack of equipment

Foliar N application High Lack of equipment, risk

Remote sensing tools Low Needs fine tuning

Precision farming technology

High Needs fine tuning

Breeding strategies Medium Limited research effort

55

Measures to increase nutrient use efficiencyMeasure Nutrient Increase in nutrient use

efficiency(%)

Split vs. single dose application N 15-20

Furrow placement vs. broadcast application

PK 20-30

The incorporation of urea super granules (USG) vs. split application

N 20

The foliar vs. basal application Micro-nutrients 15-20

Neem coated vs. prilled urea N 5-10

Preferential application of phosphorus to wheat in rice-wheat sequence

P 50

Probable Gains in Nutrient use Efficiency in Future

Giller et al. 2004

Conclusion• Widespread nutrient deficiencies and deteriorating soil health are causes of low nutrient use efficiency, productivity & profitability.

• Adoption of site-specific balanced and integrated nutrient management involving major, secondary and micro nutrients, organic manures, biofertilizer and amendments.

• Utilizing all indigenously available nutrient sources to reduce dependence on imports.

• Developing new efficient fertilizer products/ approaches.

• Effective soil testing service to back up precise fertilizer use.

• Creating awareness amongst farmers on benefits of balanced fertilization.

59