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

Author:

Waqar Muhammad,Habib-ur-Rahman Muhammad,Hasnain Muhammad Usama,Iqbal Shahid,Ghaffar Abdul,Iqbal Rashid,Hussain Muhammad Iftikhar,Sabagh Ayman EL

Abstract

Abstract Sunflower plants need nitrogen consistently and in higher amount for optimum growth and development. However, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of sunflower crop is low due to various nitrogen (N) losses. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the advanced strategies to minimize N losses and also improve sunflower productivity under arid climatic conditions. A field trial was conducted with four slow release nitrogenous fertilizers [SRNF (bacterial, neem, and sulfur-coated urea and N loaded biochar)] and three N levels (100% = 148 kg N ha−1, 80% = 118 kg N ha−1, and 60% = 89 kg N ha−1) of recommended application (100%) for sunflower crop under arid climatic conditions. Results showed that neem-coated urea at 148 kg N ha−1 significantly enhanced crop growth rate (CGR) (19.16 g m−2 d−1) at 60–75 days after sowing (DAS); leaf area index (2.12, 3.62, 5.97, and 3.00) at 45, 60, 75, and 90 DAS; and total dry matter (14.27, 26.29, 122.67, 410, and 604.33 g m−2) at 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 DAS. Furthermore, higher values of net leaf photosynthetic rate (25.2 µmol m−2 s−1), transpiration rate (3.66 mmol s−1), and leaf stomatal conductance (0.39 mol m−2 s−1) were recorded for the same treatment. Similarly, neem-coated urea produced maximum achene yield (2322 kg ha−1), biological yield (9000 kg ha−1), and harvest index (25.8%) of the sunflower crop. Among various N fertilizers, neem-coated urea showed maximum NUE (20.20 kg achene yield kg−1 N applied) in comparison to other slow release N fertilizers. Similarly, nitrogen increment N60 showed maximum NUE (22.40 kg grain yield kg−1 N applied) in comparison to N80 and N100. In conclusion, neem-coated urea with 100% and 80% of recommended N would be recommended for farmers to get better sunflower productivity with sustainable production and to reduce the environmental nitrogen losses.

Funder

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Pollution,Environmental Chemistry,General Medicine

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3