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No. 61 | September 2020 e-ifc No. 61, September 2020 Editorial Dear readers, Editorial 2 Population growth, urbanization, diets becoming more Research Findings diverse: all these are increasing demand for more vegetables and fruits. Response of Cabbage to Potash 3 Fertilization in Field Plot Trials Conducted However, consumers do not just want quantity, most of in Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and us want quality too. Quality is consistently rated higher Maharashtra in importance than price, brand name or freshness. Bansal, S.K., P. Imas, and J. Nachmansohn Of all essential plant nutrients, potassium is often referred to as the ‘quality element’ in crop production: grains are bigger; more protein, oil and vitamin C Polyhalite Effects on Coffee (Coffea 13 content in grains, fruits and vegetables; increased size robusta) Yield and Quality in Central of fruits and tubers; enhanced fruit color and flavor; and Highlands, Vietnam improved storage, ease of shipping and longer shelf life. Tien, T.M., T.T.M. Thu, H.C. Truc, and T.C. Tu Numerous on-farm trials within IPI projects have proved that balanced fertilization ticks all the quality criteria boxes. The farmer who practices balanced fertilization will have better market opportunities, get higher prices and increased income. Scale this up across Publications 27 a region and it is easy to see how the application of balanced fertilizer benefits the whole nation with better Scientific Abstracts 27 social stability, less migration and, last but not least, better export opportunities of competitive high-quality produce. Obituary 35 Professor Emeritus Joseph Hagin In October this year, again we celebrate FAO’s World Food Day to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger. While food security is vitally important, and fertilizers are important in achieving that, we also have a responsibility to farmers everywhere to help them achieve the best quantity and quality in their crops. In this quality e-ifc edition, we present a paper on the experiment in Vietnam with polyhalite on coffee. There is also a paper on cabbage response to potash fertilization in demonstration plots in India. I wish you an enjoyable read and that you stay safe! Dr. Patricia Imas IPI Scientific and Communications Coordinator Photo cover page: Almond orchard in Israel. Photo by N. Cohen Kadosh. 2/36 e-ifc No. 61, September 2020 Research Findings Cabbages grown with (right) and without (left) potash fertilizer, from demonstration plots in Nasik, Maharashtra, India. Photo by Potash for Life. Response of Cabbage to Potash Fertilization in Field Plot Trials Conducted in Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and Maharashtra Bansal, S.K.(1)*, P. Imas(2), and J. Nachmansohn(3) Abstract Potassium (K) in Indian agriculture operates at an annual deficit of with the only difference that one of them was fertilized with additional nearly 10 million tonnes (Mt) and has increasingly become a limiting K. Results from all trial plot-pairs showed a significant yield increase nutrient adversely affecting both yield and quality of agricultural and response to the MOP addition; average yield increase was statistically horticultural produce. Lower additions on the pretext of soils being significant and stable at 3,139 kg ha–1 (absolute) or 11.8% (relative). rich in available potassium have further exacerbated the situation. For demonstrating the usefulness and criticality of potassium as a yield- Keywords: Cabbage, potash fertilization, field plot trials, relative limiting nutrient, Indian Potash Limited conducted field experiments yield, mean, median as a part of the Potash for Life (PFL) project to evaluate the K response (1)Potash Research Institute of India, Gurgaon, Haryana in cabbage, and to demonstrate to farmers the increased yield and (2)ICL Fertilizers, Beer Sheva, Israel profitability obtained with muriate of potash (MOP) on the K-depleted (3)Fertilizer, Soil & Water Management Expert, Yeruham, Israel * soils. A simple and straight forward methodology was applied; the Corresponding author: [email protected] Note: From article published in Indian Journal of Fertilisers 16(7):708-716 with yields of two identical plots positioned side by side were recorded permission from Ind. J. Fert. 3/36 e-ifc No. 61, September 2020 Introduction Despite concerted efforts towards industrialization, particularly A number of cabbage-specific field trials have been carried out over the past three decades, the Indian economy still continues to be by different researchers in India to examine the effect of different an agricultural one. Contribution of agriculture to the India’s GDP fertilization regimes on yields. These trials are designed to understand is 14% against 7% of China (World Bank, 2019). Value of Indian the combination of fertilizer inputs best suited to improving soil agriculture to the domestic economy has increased by more than fertility and therefore yield levels. These have included NPK, US$ 1 billion since 2010. The size and growth of the Indian economy farmyard manure and vermicompost in different ratios. However, to is dependent on the quality and fertility of soils as it directly influences date no field trials have been carried out as a means to examine the the sustainability and profitability of agriculture. Soil fertility specific effects of K on cabbage yield levels in the country. management is, therefore, central to sustenance of productivity and nutritional security (Prasad and Power, 1997). Fertilizer use is Cabbage is a rich source of vitamins (A, B1, B2 and C) as well as essential in arresting the fertility decline and realizing the potential vital minerals such as calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and crop yields. phosphorus (P) – important to human health. Additionally, edible cabbage leaves contain water, carbohydrates and fiber which serve to Fertilizer constitutes one of the highest running costs of agricultural improve the human health. Originating in Europe, cabbage found its systems. Yet, if used correctly it can also be one of the most profitable way to Asia through Egypt and Mesopotamia. It was brought to India investments. Imbalanced and incorrect use of fertilizers is known by Portuguese settlers during the middle of the second millennium. not only to lower the nutrient use efficiency, but it can also cause The absence of Sanskrit words for cabbage suggests that it arrived deterioration of soil quality (Wallace, 2008). Promotion of balanced later than other vegetables. fertilizer is, therefore, a must for prevention of both soil fertility decline in case of insufficient use, or soil quality deterioration arising Today, India ranks among the world’s top two cabbage producers by out of over-fertilization exacerbated by the imbalanced use. Depletion volume (8.8 Mt – Fig. 1) after China. Despite being among the top of soil potassium (K) is a major factor for decline in soil fertility. Loss three producers worldwide, yield levels of cabbage are particularly of K is most significant in developing countries such as India, where low in India at just 22 t ha–1 compared to 30–35 t ha–1 in China K-deficit is around 11 Mt (Tanet al., 2005); in the developed and least and Russia (Fig. 1). Vulnerability of the Indian soils to depletion developed areas of the world it is only 900 t and 1 Mt, respectively. of nutrients through years of intensive and aggressive agricultural 40 40 60 35 35 50 30 30 s 25 25 40 e nn -1 o a t h 20 20 n g k 30 llio i m 15 15 10 10 Indices of yield level 20 5 5 10 0 0 n n n o o o 0 i i ield ield ield t t ti c c c y y y u u u 0 1 2 3 d d d o o o r r r p p p Indices of N dosing rate China India Russia Khan 2002 Babyshila 2012 Alam 2017 Fig. 1. Annual production and average yields of cabbage in top three countries. Fig. 2. Examples of results from literature on field trials on cabbage yield levels Note: Compilation of results on cabbage field trials (nitrogen). Results on the effects of nitrogen in all papers are clear; however there is an absence of field trials on K in cabbage in India (author’s own analysis). 4/36 e-ifc No. 61, September 2020 Table 1. Fertilizer type and dose applied to the two treatments in both cabbage demo plot trial in Jammu and Kashmir in India. Treatment (size of dosage)* Fertilizer source Control + K Control + K -----------kg ha-1----------- ----------kg plot-1---------- N (from urea + DAP) 75 or 45 30 or 18 P2O5 (from DAP) 60 24 K2O (from MOP) 0 35 or 48 0 14 or 19.2 Manure (tonnes) 15-20 6-8 * There were only two sites in Jammu and Kashmir. Different dosing sizes were used in the two plots as shown here. Table 2. Fertilizer type and dose applied to the two treatments in both cabbage demo plot trials in Maharashtra in India. Treatment (size of dosage)* Fertilizer source Control + K Control + K ----------kg ha-1---------- ----------kg plot-1---------- N (from urea + DAP) 150 60 P2O5 (from DAP) 75 30 K2O (from MOP) 0 150 0 60 Manure (tonnes) 1 or 2 0.4 or 0.8 * Of the two plots in Maharashtra, all dosing rates were the same except for manure (either 1 or 2 tonnes per hectare). practices also makes it imperative to go in studied (Khan et al., 2002; Babyshila to farmers the increased yield and for the balanced fertilization in cabbage. and Irabanta, 2014; Alam et al., 2017; profitability through fertilizing with Islam et al., 2017; Chaudhary et al., muriate of potash (MOP) on K-depleted Cabbage is a heavy feeder of N and K and 2018; Srivastava et al., 2018) (Fig.