Tobacco, a pivotal economic crop in China, faces the challenge of securing high-quality raw materials for its industry due to unbalanced and inefficient nitrogen (N) application. To assess the impact of fertilizer management and soil factors on the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco (FCT), a meta-analysis was conducted across 82 peer-reviewed research studies. The findings demonstrated that both fertilizer management and soil properties exerted a significantly greater influence on yield (63.13% and 62.05%, respectively) than the proportion of superior and medium tobacco (PSMT) (23.57% and 23.83%, respectively). Multiple models were conducted to analyze the N application rate for maximum yield and PSMT, respectively, resulting in an optimum range from 90 to 100 kg N ha−1. The highest yield and PSMT increments were observed with fertilizer timing (FT) applied twice, a basal fertilizer ratio (BFR) exceeding 50%, and a soil pH below 6.5. The nicotine content escalated with increasing N application rates (NR) and soil nitrogen content, peaking at NR over 120 kg N ha−1 and soil total nitrogen (TN) above 2 g kg−1. Stepwise regression modeling indicated that nicotine content was positively influenced by fertilizer management factors (including NR, fertilizer timing, and BFR), as well as initial soil nitrogen content (AN and TN). However, it was negatively correlated with available potassium (AK). Therefore, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that effective fertilizer management, slightly acidic soils enriched with AK, and lower N supply capacity are crucial for enhancing leaf quality while reducing nicotine content. This approach promises improved economic and environmental returns for the tobacco industry in China.
The greatest challenge of our time is to meet the global food demand by producing enough food without harming the environment. Over application and misuse of synthetic fertilizer is a major challenge that results in lower fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), stagnated crop yield, and environmental pollution. In this review study, three alternative fertilization options (AFOs), such as the use of organic fertilizer enhanced-efficiency fertilizer (EEFs), and secondary, and micronutrient fertilizers were evaluated. The adoption of appropriate fertilization practices was believed to improve crop yield and FUE over the conventional fertilization approach. As of late, the use of organic fertilizers has received more attention as a better alternative to counter the challenges posed by the inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers. The formulation of slow or controlled-release fertilizers contributes to preventing nutrient losses by slowing down nutrient release patterns in the soil and allowing better synchrony between crop nutrients requirement and nutrient supply. The use of secondary macronutrients and micronutrient also has considerable importance to improve nutrient uptake, grain yield, and quality. In summary, the review result showed that the adoption of AFOs can enhance crop yield and nutrient use efficiency.
Adoption of improved agricultural technologies is the tool for boosting production and productivity of agricultural sector, poverty reduction and ensuring food security in developing countries.Due to a plenty of determining factors in most developing countries, the rate and intensity of adoption of improved agricultural technologies is still low.This study focuses on some potential factors hindering farmers from adopting and using of improved agricultural technologies in developing countries.Many literatures were reviewed and found that economical, technological, socio-cultural, demographic and institutional factors are the main determinant factors in technology adoption and diffusion.In order to increase the likelihood of adoption of the improved agricultural technologies by farmers, policy makers should focus on building irrigation scheme, strengthening research-extension-farmers (R-E-F) linkage, making credit services more accessible without bias, equipping development agents with different training and workshops, empowering educational sector to focus on adult teaching, advising farmers to improve their educational level and making information accessible to farmers on time and finally the technology developer should incorporate the need and perceptions of farmers during technology design and development; will enhance the adoption of the technology more easily.
Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) without compromising yield remains a crucial agroecological challenge in theory and practice. Some meta-analyses conducted in recent years investigated the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on crop yield and gaseous emissions, but most are region-specific and focused on N sources and application methods. However, various factors affecting yield and N fertilizer efficiency in wheat crops on a global scale are not extensively studied, thus highlighting the need for a comprehensive meta-analysis. Using 109 peer-reviewed research studies (published between 2000 and 2022) from 156 experimental sites (covering 36.8, 38.6 and 24.6% of coarse, medium, and fine texture soils, respectively), we conducted a global meta-analysis to elucidate suitable N management practices and the key factors influencing N fertilization efficiency in wheat as a function of yield and recovery efficiency and also explained future perspectives for efficient N management in wheat crop. Overall, N fertilization had a significant impact on wheat yield. A curvilinear relationship was found between N rates and grain yield, whereas maximum yield improvement was illustrated at 150-300 kg N ha -1 . In addition, N increased yield by 92.18% under direct soil incorporation, 87.55% under combined chemical and organic fertilizers application, and 72.86% under split application. Site-specific covariates (climatic conditions and soil properties) had a pronounced impact on N fertilization efficiency. A significantly higher yield response was observed in regions with MAP > 800 mm, and where MAT remained < 15 °C. Additionally, the highest yield response was observed with initial AN, AP and AK concentrations at < 20, < 10 and 100-150 mg kg -1 , respectively, and yield response considerably declined with increasing these threshold values. Nevertheless, regression analysis revealed a declining trend in N recovery efficiency (REN) and the addition of N in already fertile soils may affect plant uptake and RE. Global REN in wheat remained at 49.78% and followed a negative trend with the further increase of N supply and improvement in soil properties. Finally, an advanced N management approach such as “ root zone targeted fertilization ” is suggested to reduce fertilizer application rate and save time and labor costs while achieving high yield and NUE.
Participatory pre extension demonstration works of three variety (BH-546, BH-547 and BH-661) were conducted in 2016 at two FTC and 11 beneficiary farmers field by the main objective of enhancing the adoption and diffusion of the technology, to collect feedback information from the farmers and to study cost benefit analysis. All data were collected from 100 m2 demonstration plots and the collected data were analyzed through Genstat Software, Simple descriptive statistics and matrix rankings. Farmers were evaluate the demonstration plots three times i.e., at sowing, knee height and maturity stages. Average yield performances that were obtained from farmers field were 49 Quintal/ hectare, 53 Quintal/hectare and 43.5 Quintal/hectare of BH-546, BH-547 and BH-661 respectively and Yield that obtained from FTCs were 54 Quintal/hectare, 55 Quintal/hectare and 48 Quintal/hectare of BH-546, BH-547 and BH-661 respectively. BH-547 variety shows better yield performance than other variety. The net benefit that were obtained from BH-546, BH-547 and BH-661 were 23,750 ETB, 24,280 ETB and 20,400 ETB respectively. Finally, the demonstration sites were visited by organized farmer’s field day and farmers select those varieties by different criteria and rank at first BH-547 by its ability to tolerate drought, earliness, resistance to pest and disease and resistance to lodging. Secondly they select as best BH-546 by criteria of good seed emergency rate, earliness, resistance to disease and pest and ability to tolerate drought. Finally it is better to scale up both BH-547 and BH-546 in larger scale to enhance adoption and diffusion of variety.
Boosting global food production to meet the escalating demand without distressing the environment is a major challenge of our time. In the present review study, a-59 years global cereal production and fertilizer use trends, nutrients use efficiency (NUE) and some of its management approaches in agriculture were evaluated. Accordingly, the world cereal production increased by 3.4-fold (876.9 to 2979 Mt) from 1961 to 2019, whereas the area of production increased moderately by 1.11 folds. The chemical N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizer consumption in cereal crop production were increased by 9.45 folds (from 6.9 to 65.2 Mt), 4-fold (from 6.6 to 26.3 Mt), and 4.34-fold (from 5.2 to 22.6 Mt), respectively. The estimated world cereal N, P, and K use efficiency is 33%, 16%, and 19%, respectively. The unaccounted 65% of N, 84% of P and 81% of K fertilizer was either remained in the soil or lost to the environment through volatilization, leaching, and run-offs leading to higher environmental and economic costs. Therefore, improving NUE is a crucial step to enhance crop yields, tackle environmental pollution, reduce production costs. Several NUE management approaches were identified such as soil management (use of organic inputs, 4R nutrient stewardship, adoption of modified fertilizer, root-zone nutrient management, etc.), plant management (growing nutrient use efficient cultivars, crop rotation, and so on), integrated soil-crop system management (ISSM), and application of precision agriculture. However, no single management approach solely resulted in higher NUE but rather the combination. Hence this could be applied in agricultural production to improve yield and NUE while minimizing environmental degradation.
The crop production in Ethiopia is markedly constrained by soil nutrient depletion and limited fertilizer input. Nitrogen is among the most yield-limiting factors of cereal crops, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A meta-analysis of 82 studies was carried out to evaluate the response of major cereal crops, viz. wheat, maize, barley, teff, and sorghum, to nitrogen fertilization in Ethiopia. The results showed that N-application significantly increased yields of all the five crops examined herein. The average yields of the treatment effects over controls for the five crops were 3775.8 kg∙ha−1 and 2593.3 kg∙ha−1, respectively. The overall yield response to nitrogen treatments for all the crops was 64.8% (wheat, 96.5%; maize, 40.65%; barley 84.36%; teff, 50.48%; and sorghum; 23%). Overall, nitrogen agronomic efficiency (AEN) and partial factor productivity (PFPN) were 18.2 and 71.81 kg∙kg−1, respectively. A downtrend of nitrogen use efficiency with an increase in N rate was realized. The yield response was higher for the nitrogen treatment effects of >100 kg∙N∙ha−1 (123.9%), clay soils (75.46%), low initial soil organic carbon (SOC) and available phosphorous (AP) (92.4% and 101.6%), respectively, Therefore, we recommend the application of nitrogen fertilizer (>100 kg∙N∙ha−1), especially on infertile soils for improved grain yield and NUE in aforementioned cereal crops in Ethiopia and similar regions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Community level problem identification (CLIP) survey were undertaken in Basketo special district in 2016/17 by the objective of identifying, generating and prioritizing different crop, natural resource management, livestock, marketing and technology related problems for further study. Groups were selected purposively from three representative agro ecology of highland, midland and lowland and contains youth, men headed and women headed farmers. Focus group discussion, transact walk, structured observation and key informant interview were undertaken to collect data. Agricultural production constraint data were collected and prioritized by farmers themselves. Lack of access to improved seed, disease and pests, loss of soil fertility, lack of improved breeds, animal diseases, low or limited feed supply in quality and quantity, knowledge and skill gap on forage production, poor market linkage and poor management, soil erosion, land degradation, deforestation, and lack of access to credit are some bottlenecks of agricultural production in the district. keywords : Agricultural production constraints, CLIP, Focus group discussion
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