Effect of Drip Fertigation under Different Fertilizer Levels on Nutrient Status in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) Leaf

A study was conducted during 2017-18 under the All India Co-ordinated Research Project initiated in 2009 at research farm of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur. The aim of this study was compare the nutrient concentration of coconut leaves at different nutrient levels through drip fertigation in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four (4) replications. Result was observed that leaf Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Sulphur, Iron, Manganese, Copper and Boron content under different fertigation treatments were not significantly different from each other. The content of micronutrients in leaf were found to increase with increasing levels of fertilizer in the treatments. Cation Exchange Capacity was positively correlated with all the leaf nutrients. Organic carbon did not show remarkable relation with plant nutrient parameters. Soil K content of all three depths was positively correlated with all the leaf nutrient elements. Soil pH value was positively correlated with leaf P content in coconut which explains that leaf P content is directly proportional to the soil pH value. Electrical conductivity (EC) of soil was also positively correlated with P, K and B concentration in coconut leaf. Correlation coefficient value between CEC and leaf nutrient contents explains that 2nd depth of soil is more important for mineral nutrition of coconut palm. Correlation coefficient values between soil P content and leaf nutrient content. Higher correlation coefficient value was found at lower soil depth between available sulphur content in soil and sulphur content in leaf of coconut. This result suggests that inherent supplying capacity of micronutrient of experimental soil is not so influential for higher plant growth, but application of N, P and K fertilizers trigger the absorption capacity for micronutrient from soil. Under different NPK levels, the applied NPK does not have significant effect on leaf N, P, S, Zn content after five (5) years of experimentation while the effect was found to be significant for few elements like K, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B. An increasing trend was observed for leaf nutrient content with increasing levels of fertilizer application.

Yield Enhancement of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] through Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Management

Background: Pigeonpea an indeterminate pulse crop with profuse branching responds well to both irrigation and fertilizer. Erratic rainfall distribution pattern exposes this crop to dry spell during its vegetative stage and terminal drought at reproductive stage and the poor crop nutrition further results in to low yield. Under such circumstances it is very difficult to sustain the yield of pigeonpea. Agronomic practices like precise and timely application of drip irrigation along with judicious use of nutrients play a vital role to boost the yield of any crop. Thus the attempts were made to explore the yield potential of pigeonpea under drip irrigation and fertigation management. Methods: The present study was conducted at the experimental farm of AICRP on Irrigation Water Management, VNMKV, Parbhani (MS) during kharif 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with main plots comprising of four drip irrigation levels viz. 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 ETc (crop evapotranspiration) and conventional method and sub plots were allotted to four fertigation levels viz. control (no fertilizer), 80% RDF, 100% RDF (25: 50: 25 NPK kg ha-1) and 120% RDF. Result: Drip irrigation at 0.8 ETc recorded higher seed yield, harvest index, water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency and net returns of pigeonpea followed by 1.0 ETc except in case of water use efficiency. As regards to fertigation studies, higher values of seed yield, harvest index and water use efficiency were recorded with drip fertigation @ 25:50:25 NPK kg ha-1 closely followed by 20:40:20 NPK kg ha-1. However higher nutrient use efficiency and net returns were obtained in drip fertigation @ 20:40:20 NPK kg ha-1.

Otomatisasi Sistem Fertigasi Tetes untuk Tanaman Berbasis Mikrokontroler

The process of manual fertilization and irrigation of plants has disadvantages such as it requires human labor and is inefficient in the use of fertilizers and water sources. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to design and develop an automatic fertigation system. The method used in this research is a drip fertigation technique where the fertigation liquid that has been stirred is placed in a tank with 100 cm height from ground. With the gravitational force, the fertigation liquid is distributed through pipes, hoses and emitters around the plant. While the control system and automation of fertigation distribution to plants is carried out based on a microcontroller that need the condition of soil moisture values around the plant. If the watering time and humidity values are met, the electronic valve will open so that the fertigation liquid flows from the tank to the plants. Furthermore, in this study the tests were carried out to determine the uniformity coefficient and debit of drip fertigation. From the results, it shows that the emitter’s debit influenced by the liquid level in the tank. The uniformity coefficient obtained in the two tests is greater than 90%. From the two tests carried out from the moisture sensor 1 and 2, it shows the mean percentage error for both sensor is less than 1.7%, while the percentage error of soil moisture sensor 1 is 1.6% and the percentage error of soil moisture sensor 2 is 1%, respectively. Meanwhile, from the ultrasonic sensor testing it was obtained 0% of error. It also shows from the testing conducted that the fertigation system works very well and successfully.