Deep Placement of Briquette Urea Increases Agronomic and Economic Efficiency of Maize in Sandy Loam Soil

Krishna Dhakal, Bandhu Raj Baral, Keshab Raj Pokhrel, Naba Raj Pandit, Surya Bahadur Thapa, Yam Kanta Gaihre, Shree Prasad Vista

Abstract


Imbalanced use of fertilizers along with inappropriate sources and application methods has attributed to reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop productivity. The use of the right N source and appropriate application method is essential to reduce N losses and increase NUE, crop yield, and economic return. A field trial was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Dasharathpur, Surkhet following a randomized complete block design with seven treatments (three replications) using various N sources (urea, urea briquette, and three different blended fertilizers) and their application methods to assess their fertilizing efficiencies. Treatments showed a significant effect (p<0.05) for all the traits viz. plant and ear height, stover and grain yield, harvest index, and thousand-grain weight. Compared to the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), the grain yield advantage of blended fertilizer (10:26:26 NPK) in a combination of Zinc followed by RDF+Zn and urea deep placement (UDP) applied treatments were 7.8, 2.7, and 2.4% respectively. Among all, deep placement of urea briquette was found to be economic for the cultivation of Khumal Hybrid-2 maize variety while producing similar yield (2.4% higher) with 25% lower nitrogen dose, increasing agronomic nitrogen use efficiency by 10.41 kg/kg N, and economic benefit by US$30.4/ha compared to RDF.

Keywords


Benefit cost ratio; Blended fertilizers; Nitrogen use efficiency; Urea briquettes; Urea deep placement

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adhikari, S. P., Timsina, K. P., Brown, P. R., Ghimire, Y. N., & Lamichhane, J. (2018). Technical efficiency of hybrid maize production in eastern terai of Nepal: A stochastic frontier approach. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1(2), 189–196. crossref

Agyin-Birikorang, S., Tindjina, I., Adu-Gyamfi, R., Dauda, H. W., Fuseini, A. R. A., & Singh, U. (2020). Agronomic effectiveness of urea deep placement technology for upland maize production. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 116, 179–193. crossref

Amare, D., Endalew, W., Yayu, N., Endeblihatu, A., Biweta, W., Tefera, A., & Tekeste, S. (2017). Evaluation and demonstration of maize shellers for small-scale farmers. MOJ Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 1(3), 93–98. crossref

Badu-Apraku, B., Fakorede, M. A. B., Menkir, A., & Sanogo, D. (2012). Conduct and management of maize field trials. Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA. Retrieved from website

Bindraban, P. S., Dimkpa, C. O., White, J. C., Franklin, F. A., Melse-Boonstra, A., Koele, N., … Schmidt, S. (2020). Safeguarding human and planetary health demands a fertilizer sector transformation. Plants, People, Planet, 2(4), 302–309. crossref

Chimdessa, D. (2016). Blended fertilizers effects on maize yield and yield components of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 5(5), 151–162. crossref

Choudhary, D., Khan, A. I., Poudyal, A., Thapa, A., Joshi, D., Kafle, D., … Sharma, S. R. (2016). Nepal seed and fertilizer project (NSAF). Lalitpur, Nepal. Retrieved from website

Conijn, J. G., Bindraban, P. S., Schröder, J. J., & Jongschaap, R. E. E. (2018). Can our global food system meet food demand within planetary boundaries? Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 251, 244–256. crossref

Dawadi, D., & Sah, S. (2012). Growth and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) in relation to planting density and nitrogen levels during winter season in Nepal. Tropical Agricultural Research, 23(3), 218–227. crossref

Detchinli, K. S., & Sogbedji, J. M. (2015). Maize nitrogen use efficiency and yield as affected by fertilizer nitrogen form and rate of application in the guinea savanna agro ecological zone of West Africa. International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review, 3(10), 222–233. Retrieved from pdf

FAOSTAT. (2020). Area, production and productivity of maize in South Asian countries. Retrieved from website

Fixen, P., Brentrup, F., Bruulsema, T., Garcia, F., Norton, R., & Zingore, S. (2014). Nutrient/fertilizer use efficiency: measurement, current situation and trends. In P. Drechsel, P. Heffer, H. Magen, R. Mikkelsen, & D. Wichelns (Eds.), Managing Water and Fertilizer for Sustainable Agricultural Intensificati (pp. 1–30). Paris; Colombo; Norcross; Horgen: International Fertilizer Industry Association; International Water Management Institute; International Plant Nutrition Institute; International Potash Institute. Retrieved from pdf

Fugice, J., Dimkpa, C., & Johnson, L. (2018). Slow and steady: The effects of different coatings on nitrogen release in soil. Fertilizer FOCUS, (September/October), 12–13. Retrieved from pdf

Halvorson, A. D., & Del Grosso, S. J. (2013). Nitrogen placement and source effects on nitrous oxide emissions and yields of irrigated corn. Journal of Environmental Quality, 42(2), 312–322. crossref

Jiang, C., Lu, D., Zu, C., Zhou, J., & Wang, H. (2018). Root-zone fertilization improves crop yields and minimizes nitrogen loss in summer maize in China. Scientific Reports, 8, 15139. crossref

Jiang, C., Ren, X., Wang, H., Lu, D., Zu, C., & Wang, S. (2019). Optimal nitrogen application rates of one-time root zone fertilization and the effect of reducing nitrogen application on summer maize. Sustainability, 11(10), 2979. crossref

Johnson II, F. E., Nelson, K. A., & Motavalli, P. P. (2017). Urea fertilizer placement impacts on corn growth and nitrogen utilization in a poorly-drained claypan soil. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9(1), 28–40. crossref

KC, G., Karki, T. B., Shrestha, J., & Achhami, B. B. (2015). Status and prospects of maize research in Nepal. Journal of Maize Research and Development, 1(1), 1–9. crossref

Kugbe, J. X., Kombat, R., & Atakora, W. (2019). Secondary and micronutrient inclusion in fertilizer formulation impact on maize growth and yield across northern Ghana. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 5(1), 1700030. crossref

Liu, G., Zotarelli, L., Li, Y., Dinkins, D., Wang, Q., & OzoresHampton, M. (2014). Controlled-release and slow-release fertilizers as nutrient management tools. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), 2014(HS1255), 1–6. Retrieved from pdf

Liu, W., Xiong, Y., Xu, X., Xu, F., Hussain, S., Xiong, H., & Yuan, J. (2019). Deep placement of controlledrelease urea effectively enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and fresh ear yield of sweet corn in fluvo-aquic soil. Scientific Reports, 9, 20307. crossref

Lungu, O. I., & Dynoodt, R. F. (2008). Acidification from long-term use of urea and its effect on selected soil properties. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 8(1), 63–76. crossref

MoALD. (2018). Statical information on Nepalese agriculture 2073/74 (2016/17). Kathmandu, Nepal. Retrieved from website

MoALD. (2020). Agriculture and livestock diary (Nepali). Lalitpur, Nepal. Retrieved from website

Njoroge, R., Otinga, A. N., Okalebo, J. R., Pepela, M., & Merckx, R. (2018). Maize (Zea mays L.) response to secondary and micronutrients for profitable n, p and k fertilizer use in poorly responsive soils. Agronomy, 8(4), 49. crossref

Osti, N. P. (2019). Animal feed resources and their management in Nepal. Journal of Food Processing & Technology, 10, 34–35. crossref

Paudyal, K. R., Ransom, J. K., Rajbhandari, N. P., Adhikari, K., Gerpacio, R. V., & Pingali, P. L. (2001). Maize in Nepal: production systems, constraints and priorities for research. Kathmandu, Nepal. Retrieved from website

Ruffo, M., Olson, R., & Daverede, I. (2016). Maize yield response to zinc sources and effectiveness of diagnostic indicators. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 47(2), 137–141. crossref

Sahrawat, K. L., Rego, T. J., Wani, S. P., & Pardhasaradhi, G. (2008). Sulfur, boron, and zinc fertilization effects on grain and straw quality of maize and sorghum grown in semi-arid tropical region of India. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 31(9), 1578–1584. crossref

Sangakkara, R., Amarasekera, P., & Stamp, P. (2011). Growth, yields, and nitrogen-use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) as affected by potassium fertilizer in tropical South Asia. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 42(7), 832–843. crossref

Sapkota, A., Shrestha, R. K., & Chalise, D. (2017). Response of maize to the soil application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers. International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 5(4), 537-541. crossref

Sitienei, K., Kamiri, H. W., Nduru, G. M., & Kamau, D. M. (2018a). Effects of blended fertilizers on soil chemical properties of mature tea fields in Kenya. Advances in Agricultural Science, 06(04), 85–98. Retrieved from website

Sitienei, K., Kamiri, H. W., Nduru, G. M., & Kamau, D. M. (2018b). Nutrient budget and economic assessment of blended fertilizer use in Kenya tea industry. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2018, 2563293. crossref

SQCC. (2019). Notified and denotified varieties of different crops till September 13, 2019. Lalitpur, Nepal: Seed Quality Control Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal. Retrieved from pdf

TEPC. (2019). Export import data bank. Lalitpur, Nepal: Trade and Export Promotion Center, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal. Retrieved from website

TFI. (n.d.). The nutrient stewardship: 4R pocket guide. Washington, DC. Retrieved from website




DOI: http://doi.org/10.17503/agrivita.v42i3.2766

Copyright (c) 2020 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.