Aug 2026· New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research· 0 citations· 8 references
Abstract
Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient for plant growth. Therefore, nitrogen fertilization of pastures must be prioritized to sustain high pasture yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological and agronomic responses of Tamani grass managed under different nitrogen fertilization strategies. A randomized block design with four replications was used. Treatments consisted of the application of fertilizer‐controlled release (FCR) fractioned in one, two, four, or six applications per year (FCR 1×, FCR 2×, FCR 4×, or FCR 6×), conventional urea (CU), and without N fertilization (0N). The application of CU fertilizer was divided according to the number of cycles per year, considering a 21‐day cycle (rest period). The nitrogen dose corresponds to 600 kg N ha
−1
year
−1
. The variables photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance showed higher rates in the FCR 6× and 4× strategies, while the variables transpiration rate, internal concentration of CO
2
, and leaf temperature were not influenced by the fertilization strategies. The highest tiller population density was observed in the CU, FCR 4×, and FCR 6×. Pastures managed with FCR 4× showed increments of 28% and 197% in total accumulated forage biomass and 27% and 209% in accumulated green forage biomass, compared to CU and 0N, respectively. The highest accumulated total forage, green forage, and green leaf blade biomass was observed in pastures managed with FCR 4× (26,733, 25,566, and 25,561 kg ha
−1
year
−1
, respectively). Applying FCR in four or six fractioned per year positively influenced the structural, physiological, and agronomic characteristics of Tamani grass.
Evaluating biological strategies for reducing fertilizer use in grain sorghum through the application of Trichoderma harzianum combined with varying rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers found higher dry grain mass was attributed to higher photosynthetic activity, greater plant height and stem diameter, and increased fresh stem and leaf mass.
de Oliveira Cíntia da Silva, Rikelme Matheus dos Santos Relvas, Rithielly Machado Rodrigues de Araújo et al.· Frontiers in Agronomy· 0 citations
Partial replacement of chemical fertilizers, particularly nitrogen fertilizers, with biological fertilizers is considered an effective strategy for reducing the negative environmental impacts associated with excessive fertilizer use. This study aimed to optimize N use through the application of bacterial-based biofertilizer, specifically plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in different maize cultivars under semi-arid conditions. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) arranged in a split-plot arrangement was used, with the three hybrids (Shahkar, Bumbus and DK 7024) assigned to the main plots and different N treatments allocated to sub-plots. The field experiment was conducted during two consecutive spring seasons (Feb to June 2024 and 2025). The N treatments were defined as follows: control, 100% recommended N (200 kg/ha), 100% N with Pseudomonas stutzeri, 100% N with Bacillus subtilis, 100% N with Enterobacter sp., 50% N with Pseudomonas stutzeri, 50% N with Bacillus subtilis, 50% N with Enterobacter sp., 100% Pseudomonas stutzeri, 100% Bacillus subtilis, and 100% Enterobacter sp. The N treatments included synthetic fertilizer alone at the 100% recommended N rate and a combination of 100%, 50% and 0% of recommended levels with three N-fixing bacterial strains. Among the hybrids, DK 7024 exhibited the highest 1000-grain weight (349 g and 362.5 g), grain yield (6756 and 6971 kg ha−1) and total dry matter (17,500 and 18,368 kg ha−1) in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Among N levels, maximum 1000-grain weight, grain yield and total dry matter were noticed in 100% N with Enterobacter sp.: 402 g, 8446 kg ha−1 and 21,656 kg ha−1 in 2024 and 421 g, 8684 kg ha−1 and 22,237 kg ha−1 in 2025. Nitrogen application increased grain yield and total dry matter production; however, the treatment combined with 100% recommended synthetic N fertilizer with biofertilizer (Enterobacter sp.) showed superior performance compared with 100% N applied through only the synthetic fertilizer. The interaction between maize hybrids and N levels was statistically non-significant, suggesting that 100% N plus biofertilizers could be an effective strategy for achieving higher yields across different maize cultivars. Additionally, the beneficial effects of PGPR may contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. Further research is recommended to evaluate strategies involving reduced-N inputs combined with biological fertilizer, including the application of 100% N with biofertilizer. The present study suggests that N application in combination with biofertilizers has the potential to improve crop growth while promoting sustainable crop production.
Sajjad Hussain, S. Qaisrani, Muhammad Mubeen et al.· Nitrogen· 0 citations
Nitrogen is one of the most essential nutrients influencing the growth, development, and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different nitrogen fertilization rates on the growth and yield performance of hybrid maize under the agro-climatic conditions of Nangarhar, Afghanistan. The experimental treatments consisted of four nitrogen fertilization rates; 0, 130, 160 kg and 190 kg N ha⁻¹, Nitrogen fertilizer was applied in form of Urea (46%N) in three split application ¼ dose at sowing, ½ at knee high stage and ¼ at tasseling stage. The experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results showed that the application of 190 kg N ha⁻¹, produced significantly higher values than the other treatments for plant height (244 cm), stem diameter (9.92 cm), number of leaves per plant (15.83), cob length (22 cm), number of grain per cob (455), grain weight per cob (133.17 g), 1000-grain weight (300 g), biological yield (808 g), fresh cob yield (8.33 kg), fresh net grain yield per cob (153.17 g). The lowest values were recorded under the control treatment (0 kg N ha⁻¹) across all plant growth and yield parameters.
Therefore, this article recommends 190 kg N ha⁻¹ for farmers in the region and in similar climatic regions to achieve good maize growth and high yields.
Ibrahim Samim, Amira Saidi· International Journal of Cur...· 0 citations
Fertigation is an important strategy to increase nutrient use efficiency in irrigated coffee cultivation, especially in Coffea canephora crops. The objective was to evaluate early growth and biomass accumulation of Conilon coffee plant clone R08 submitted to different nitrogen and potassium fertilization fractionation strategies via fertigation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design with split-plots in time and five replications. Four NK fertilization fractionation strategies were evaluated: single application of the recommended dose (100%), fractionation in two applications (50%), four applications (25%), and ten applications (10%). Evaluations were performed at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days after planting (DAP), determining dry mass of shoot, root, and total. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, Tukey test (p≤0.05), and polynomial regression. A significant interaction was observed between evaluated factors for all analyzed variables. Less fractionated treatments promoted higher initial growth up to 90 DAP due to greater immediate nutrient availability. However, from 120 DAP onwards, the treatment with ten fractionations showed superior performance, providing greater accumulation of shoot, root, and total biomass. At 150 DAP, this management promoted an 11.54% increase in total dry mass compared to single fertilization application. Frequent fractionation of NK fertilization via fertigation favors greater synchronization between nutrient supply and physiological demand of plants, increasing nutritional efficiency and vegetative growth of Conilon coffee plants in early development phase.
Guilherme Pereira Leite, Gil César da Silva Pimentel, Josiel Dutra Moura et al.· ARACÊ· 0 citations
The following work evaluated the yield of the rice crop (Oryza sativa L.), using controlled release nitrogen fertilizer, the study area was two hectares. A simple factorial experimental design in randomised blocks was established, with four treatments with different percentages of fertiliser: T1(0%N); T2(50%N); T3(100%N); and T4(150%N), the percentages of nitrogen applications were carried out according to the indications of an agronomist, based on the Nitrogen losses from conventional fertilization reduce nitrogen use efficiency and limit productivity in irrigated rice systems. This study evaluated the effect of controlled-release urea with a urease inhibitor (NITROXTEND+S) on the yield of irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Huila, Colombia. The field trial (2 ha) was designed as a randomized complete block design with four nitrogen (N) treatments: T1 (0%), T2 (50%), T3 (100%), and T4 (150%). Five fertilization applications were carried out in 2023 (March 22, 29, April 1, 15, and 25), following the agronomist's technical recommendations based on soil chemical analysis and weekly crop monitoring. Phenological variables and yield (using 50 × 50 cm measuring devices) were evaluated, and Shapiro-Wilk, ANOVA, and Fisher's LSD tests were applied. The yield of green paddy rice (mean ± SE) was: T1 = 5.86 ± 0.12, T2 = 7.19 ± 0.25, T3 = 9.48 ± 0.19, T4 = 7.91 ± 0.15 t ha⁻¹; T3 exceeded the national and departmental averages. It is concluded that inadequate doses (below or above the crop's nutritional requirements) reduce production, and that the optimal use of controlled-release nitrogen with a urease inhibitor improves productivity and nutrient use efficiency.
Jean Carlos Acosta-Vargas, J. G. Ardila-Marín, Diana Carolina Polanía-Montiel· Revista Ciência Agrícola· 0 citations
Maize being an important cereal crop shows the need for proper nitrogen management for the plant's optimum growth and yield. There is potential to use biofertilizers to enhance nutrient use and crop performance. The present study was carried out at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana Ambala, Haryana in Kharif season of 2025. The experiment was laid in split plot design with three replications. Four levels of Nitrogen and four biofertilizer treatments were applied. The results revealed that application of 100% RDN showed better yield attributes, yield parameters and economic returns. On the other hand, among all the bio-fertilizers Azotobacter reported higher grain yield (5.15t/ha), stover yield (10.91t/ha) and biological yield (16.06t/ha) which are statistically at par with Azospirillum. Under the condition of Haryana, the study revealed that, proper application of nitrogen by the biofertilizer can increase the productivity of maize and farm returns.
