Organomineral fertilizer as an alternative for increasing potato yield and quality

ABSTRACT Organomineral fertilizer has great potential to replace synthetic fertilizers. The goal of this study was to determine an optimal substitution rate of organomineral fertilizer for mineral fertilizer to increase potato yield and quality. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates and six treatments, namely four substitution rates of organomineral fertilizer application (25, 50, 75, and 100% of mineral fertilizer demand), one rate of mineral fertilizer application (100% of mineral fertilizer demand), and the control (no fertilizer application). The organomineral application rates were tested as an alternative to substitute 25 to 100% of mineral fertilizer. The potato yield (total and in-class) and quality and plant and soil nutrient contents were monitored. The pH and total soluble solid contents had positive correlations with yield. Potatoes accumulated higher contents of K > N > P in the leaves, stems, and tubers. The organomineral fertilizer application rate of 3.7 t ha-1 (equivalent to 100% of mineral fertilizer demand) was the optimal rate to increase potato yield and quality. Organomineral fertilizer is a viable alternative to increase potato quality and yield and to increase plant and soil nutrient contents.

Estimation of the P Fertilizer Demand of China Using the LePA Model

Modern phosphate (P) fertilizers are sourced from P rock reserves, a finite and dwindling resource. Globally, China is the largest producer and consumer of P fertilizer and will deplete its domestic reserves within 80 years. It is necessary to avoid excess P input in agriculture through estimating P demand. We used the legacy P assessment model (LePA) to estimate P demand based on soil P management at the county, regional, and country scales according to six P application rate scenarios: (1) rate in 2012 maintained; (2) current rate maintained in low-P counties and P input stopped in high-P counties until critical Olsen-P level (CP) is reached, after which rate equals P-removal; (3) rate decreased to 1–1.5 kg ha−1 year−1 in low-P counties after CP is reached and in high-P counties; (4) rate in each county decreased to 1–8 kg ha−1 year−1 after soil Olsen-P reached CP in low P counties; (5) rate in each county was kept at P-removal rate after reduction; (6) P input was kept at the rate lower than P-offtake rate after reduction. The results showed that the total P fertilizer demand of China was 750 MT P2O5, 54% of P fertilizer can be saved from 2013 to 2080 in China, and soil Olsen-P of all counties can satisfy the demand for high crop yields. The greatest potential to decrease P input was in Yangtze Plain and South China, which reached 60%. Our results provide a firm basis to analyze the depletion of P reserves in other countries.

Growth & Determinants of Fertilizer Consumption in India: Application of Demand and Supply Side Models

This paper estimated the growth of fertilizer consumption in India and forecasted it upto the year 2030 and both supply side and demand side factors which influences it. The results indicated that consumption of fertilizers had been increased at the rate of 4.16 per cent. The demand side determinants like area under irrigation reflected at the rate of 1.42 per cent growth, average minimum support prices showed a growth rate of 7 per cent and a short term institutional credit registered a growth rate of 17 per cent. Area under irrigation and sum of average MSP encourages the fertilizer consumption substantially. The supply side factors viz., production, import and subsidy were influencing the fertilizer consumption significantly. The total fertilizer demand is expected to reach at 57 million tons by 2030 and at the same time, rate of consumption might enhanced to 277 kg per hectare. It is concluded that import is unavoidable to meet the gap between domestic production and total demand.

Fertilizer Value Updation to Farmers

Fertilizer demand updating has a good practical significance to direct agricultural yield and for notifying the growth in market price of fertilizer to the farmer. In this the data analysis technology is used to update the rate change via notification. When the fertilizer value changes market gets the notifications for different types of land states. Fertilizers quality is pick out by ranking process. By this process the rate of the low and high qualities fertilizer is informed. The usage of number of classifiers provides a way to make good decision on prophecy due to the usage of multiple classifiers. Additionally, a ranking process is adapted to take conclusion to select classifiers outcome. This forecast price of the fertilizers in future.

Method for Volume of Irregular Shape Pellets Estimation Using 2D Imaging Measurement

Growing population and decreasing amount of cultivated land conditions the increase of fertilizer demand. With the advancements of computerized equipment, more complex methods can be used for solving complex mathematical problems. In the fertilizer industry, the granulometric composition of products matters as much as the quality of production of chemical composition products. The shape and size of pellets determines their distribution over cultivated land areas. The effective distance of field spreading is directly related to the size and shape parameters of a pellet. Therefore, the monitoring of production in production lines is essential. The standard direct methods of the monitoring and control of granulometric composition requires too much time and human resources. These factors can be eliminated by using imaging measuring methods that have a variety of benefits, but require additional research in order to assure and determine the compliance of real-time results with results of the control equipment. One of the fastest, most flexible and largest amount of data providing methods is the processing and analysis of digital images. However, then we face the issue of the suitability of 2D images to be used for the evaluation of granulometric compositions, where processing of digital images provides only two dimensions of a pellet: length and width. This study proposes a method of evaluating an irregular pellet. After experimental research we determined < 2% of discrepancy when compared to the real volume of a pellet.

Phosphate Release from Slow Release fertilizer using a mixture of Chitosan and Potato Flour as a coating

Indonesia has a high fertilizer demand because its use is easily dissolved during watering, so the fertilization process is inefficient. On the other hand, crab shells accumulate every year because the waste is almost 50% of the initial weight. One way to overcome this problem is to make a modified fertilizer into a slow release fertilizer by adding a bio-gel layer from chitosan and potato flour. The hydrophobic properties of chitosan and potato powder were chosen in addition to the amylopectin content of potato flour more than other types of starch. Then chitosan was dissolved using acetic acid, while potato starch was dissolved by distilled water by heating 76oC. Both mixtures are added to the fertilizer then stirred until the compost is coated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the morphology and composition of the products. Addition of thickness to the outer layer of manure reached 35.56 µm. The O-H function group is found in the spectrum of potassium and phosphorus which shows that there is a hydrogen bond in chitosan and potato flour. The most substantial swelling is obtained at the K (chitosan): P (potato flour) ratio of 3:7. The wet retention test showed that the addition of chitosan and potato flour was able to withstand soil retention. In the release test for Phosphorus shows good results at a value of 0.923 mg/L.