Impact of organic residues and mineral fertilizer application on soil–crop systems I: yield and nutrients content

Abstract

A five-season experiment was initiated to study the effects of the recycling of some organic residues on a soil-crop system of a guar-wheat rotation in a sandy clay loam soil located in the semi-arid tropics of Sudan. Treatments included: incorporation of crop residues alone after harvest (Cr þ ), with (FCr þ ) or without (FCr 7 ) inorganic fertilizer, sewage sludge (SS) and humentos (H). Grain yield of wheat in FCr þ and Cr þ treatments was significantly higher than that obtained in FCr 7 and control plots by *22762% and 1167119%, respectively. When crop residues were incorporated with inorganic fertilizer, the priming effect of crop residues on straw yield (106%) was almost double that of the priming effect of inorganic fertilizer (56%). The sustainable yield index of wheat straw dry matter for the control, crop residue, humentos, inorganic fertilizer, combined fertilizer and crop residue and sewage sludge was 28, 27, 8, 35, 21 and 38%, respectively. In general, N, P and K of straw dry matter (SDM) was in the order of FCr þ 4 FCr 7 4 SS 4 Cr þ 4 H 4 C. The findings suggest that repeated incorporation of crop residues with inorganic fertilizer and applications of SS could both sustain wheat performance in the dryland ecosystems.

Decomposition and nutrient release pattern of wheat (Triticum aestivum) residues under different treatments in desert field conditions of Sudan

“…Incorporation of crop residue with or without fertilizer and sewage sludge significantly changed soil physicochemical properties (Rezig et al 2013). The decomposition rate of wheat residue increased with the increase in N and P content in the soil.…”

“…and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba local var.) in a crop rotation system (Rezig et al 2013). Treatments included recommended inorganic fertilizer 92 kg P 2 O 5 ha (271.7 kg urea ha -1 ) with crop residues (RF ?…”

Evaluation of soil nutrient management practices of taro farmers in Taveuni, Fiji

“…Conversely, abundant supply of chemical fertilizers in some countries has changed farmers' perception and appreciation of organic sources of nutrients such as manure (Schroder, 2005). It has also been reported that a combined input of both organic and chemical fertilizers have shown increased intensity and enhanced synchronization of nutrient release and uptake by crops causing improved yields (Mbah and Onweremadu, 2009;Kunzova, 2013;Rezig et al, 2013). Therefore, the challenge is to combine the right proportion and type of different qualities of organic nutrient inputs with chemical fertilizers to optimize nutrient availability to taro plants (Jate, 2012;Palm, 1997).…”

Optimizing Arabica coffee production systems in Rwanda : a multiple-scale analysis

“…Nitrogen mineralisation proceeds more rapidly in residues rich in N and P, or in residues with a low C/N ratio (Abbasi et al, 2015;Nikolaidou et al, 2010). Generally, residues high in P, or with a low C/P ratio or N/P ratio, release more P within a shorter period (Baggie et al, 2004;Rezig et al, 2013;Vanzolini et al, 2017). Thus, high quality residues release nutrients rapidly, while nutrients from low quality residues are initially immobilised, and later are eventually mineralised and become available to crops (Herencia and Maqueda, 2016;Jensen et al, 2005;Xavier et al, 2013).…”

“…Mulching with residues from multipurpose agro-forestry trees has also been proven to be a good source of nutrients to crops in the absence of mineral fertilisers (Bucagu et al, 2013). The tree residues serve mainly as natural resource options for supplying soil organic C and soil N, but also for other major nutrients through biological mineralisation, and this has resulted in increased crop yields (Mwango et al, 2016;Rezig et al, 2013;Shisanya et al, 2009). In coffee farming systems, the use of mulch of Tephrosia vogelii at 2.5 t of dry matter ha -1 in combination with NPK fertiliser and 1.41 t ha −1 resulted in a 33% increase in yield, from 2.1 t ha −1 to 2.8 t ha −1 (Bucagu et al, 2013).…”