Biochar and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers improved growth, nitrogen use, yield, and fiber quality of cotton under arid climatic conditions

Abstract

The efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizers in South Asia is on a declining trajectory due to increased losses. Biochar (BC) and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) have been found to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in certain cases. However, field-scale studies to explore the potential of BC and SRNF in south Asian arid climate are lacking. Here we conducted a field experiment in the arid environment to demonstrate the response of BC and SRNF on cotton growth and yield quality. The treatments were comprised of two factors, (A) nitrogen sources, (i) simple urea, (ii)neem-coated urea, (iii)sulfur-coated urea, (iv) bacterial coated urea, and cotton stalks biochar impregnated with simple urea, and (B) nitrogen application rates, N1=160 kg ha-1, N2 = 120 kg ha-1, and N3 = 80 kg ha-1. Different SRNF differentially affected cotton growth, morphological and physiological attributes, and seed cotton yield (SCY). The bacterial coated urea at the highest rate of N application (160 kg ha-1) resulted in a higher net leaf photosynthetic rate (32.8 μmol m-2 s-1), leaf transpiration rate (8.10 mmol s-1), and stomatal conductance (0.502 mol m-2 s-1), while leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and seed cotton yield (4513 kg ha-1) were increased by bacterial coated urea at 120 kg ha-1 than simple urea. However, low rate N application (80 kg ha-1) of bacterial coated urea showed higher nitrogen use efficiency (39.6 kg SCY kg-1 N). The fiber quality (fiber length, fiber strength, ginning outturn, fiber index, and seed index) was also increased with the high N application rates than N2 and N3 application. To summarize, the bacterial coated urea with recommended N (160 kg ha-1) and 75% of recommended N application (120 kg ha-1) may be recommended for farmers in the arid climatic conditions of Punjab to enhance the seed cotton yield, thereby reducing nitrogen losses.

Effect of Short-Term Zero Tillage and Legume Intercrops on Soil Quality, Agronomic and Physiological Aspects of Cotton under Arid Climate

“…The higher seed cotton yield and mung bean yield increased the net benefits and, ultimately, economic benefit ratio. The results and findings showed the significance of the issues, as similar aspects have been investigated in previous studies, under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions [56][57][58][59][60][61].…”

Effect of slow release nitrogenous fertilizers and biochar on growth, physiology, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency of sunflower under arid climate

“…It has also positive influence on the reduction of the N losses by controlling nitrate leaching and carbon sequestration in the soil layers (Kammann et al 2011 ; Shafqat et al 2019 ; Steiner et al 2008 ). Cotton crop has showed higher nitrogen use efficiency with the application of biochar which is attributed to increased microbial activity and N cycling in the soils (Basso et al 2013 ; Manzoor et al 2021 ). Furthermore, it reduces pollutants from the environment and can be used as an ecofriendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers (Bashir et al 2021 ; Ijaz et al 2020 ).…”

“…Furthermore, it reduces pollutants from the environment and can be used as an ecofriendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers (Bashir et al 2021 ; Ijaz et al 2020 ). Slow release N fertilizers are also used to reduce the nitrogen losses as they slowly release nitrogen and stabilize it for efficient utilization (Cantarella et al 2018 ; Manzoor et al 2021 ). Hence, nitrogen losses can be reduced through biochar application (Mandal et al 2016 ; Rasuli et al 2021 ).…”

The Use of Soil Conditioners to Ensure a Sustainable Wheat Yield under Water Deficit Conditions by Enhancing the Physiological and Antioxidant Potentials

“…Similarly, Moosavi et al [54] showed that the cultivation of cowpea with biochar enhanced the seed number per plant due to the relief of water-deficient stress and a higher phosphate and potassium content. Other studies also endorsed that biochar and nitrogen fertilizer improved the yield-related characteristics in arid climates [55,56]. On the basis of the findings from this study, it is recommended that the use of such soil conditioning materials is helpful for the sustainable production of crops in areas of limited water availability and could also be helpful for the community of the farmers for sustainable production under arid climatic conditions.…”