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Response of Vegetables to Npk Briquette Deep Placement

Apurba Kanti Choudhury
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.

Md. Jalal Uddin Sarker
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.

Md. Harunur Rashid
Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.

Md. Mamunur Rashid Sarker
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.

Md. Shahduzzaman
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Mymensingh 2200, Bangladesh.

Md. Sirajul Islam
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Jessore 7400, Bangladesh.

H. M. Khairul Bashar
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Patuakhali 8600, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The performance was evaluated during April to November, 2012 of the deep placement of NPK fertilizer briquettes compared with broadcast incorporation of N, P, and K, with each treatment supplying S, Zn and B fertilizers as a blanket dose, for vegetables like cucumber, taro and bitter gourd. The experiments were conducted under on-station and on-farm conditions in three locations in Bangladesh: at Jessore for cucumber, at Patuakhali for bitter gourd and for taro at Mymensingh (only on-farm) and at Jessore (only on-station). Six treatments were designed to evaluate the crop responses to: the broadcast incorporation of N, P, and K applied as prilled urea (PU), triple super phosphate (TSP), and muriate of potash (MOP); deep placement of urea briquettes and NPK briquettes; native fertility; and general farmer practice. The size of the NPK briquettes and the urea briquettes was 3.4 g and 1.8 g, respectively. The results showed that deep placement of the NPK briquettes gave higher vegetable yields (28.8% for cucumber, 25.6% for taro and 10.8% for bitter gourd) and higher gross margins over broadcast incorporation of N, P, and K. The amount of NPK nutrient uptake and recovery by all three vegetable crops was also higher in the NPK briquette treatment compared to the broadcast treatment with PU, TSP and MOP.

Keywords: Vegetables, NPK briquette, Fertilizer deep placement

Location: Jessore, Patuakhali, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-04-2012

End Date: 00-11-2012

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer, Cucumber, Bitter gourd, Aroids

Objectives:

To evaluate the effect of fertilizer deep placement on the yield and nutrient uptake of a number of vegetable crops.

Methodology:

Field experiments were carried out on-station as well as on-farm to evaluate the effectiveness of the deep placement of NPK briquettes on cucumber, bitter gourd and taro. The research was carried out during April to November, 2012 at Jessore, Bangladesh (located in agro- ecological zone-ll; AEZ-ll) for cucumber and taro (on-station), at Mymensingh (AEZ-9) for taro (on-farm) and at Patuakhali (AEZ-13) for bitter gourd. The total economic and biological yields were determined at harvest. Biomass samples were collected at harvest and analyzed for the N, P and K contents. The apparent nutrient recovery percentage was calculated as shown by Hashemidezfooli et al. (1998). NPK (prilled urea (PU) for N, di- ammonium phosphate (DAP) for Nand P, and muriate of potash (MOP) for K) briquettes, urea briquettes and straight fertilizer (prilled urea, triple super phosphate (TSP) for P, MOP, gypsum for S, zinc sulphate monohydrate for Zn and Boric acid for B) were used to provide different nutrient combinations. Commercial briquette-producing machines modify the physical characteristics of conventional urea fertilizer as the process compresses the multiple urea particles to achieve a granule that is about 15 to 20 times larger than conventional PU (Savant and Stangle, 1990). Six treatments were designed to evaluate the crop response to the broadcast incorporation of N, P and K, deep placement of urea briquettes and NPK briquettes, and of common farmer practice. The treatments were selected on the basis of soil- test based fertilizer application recommended following Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (2005) except for the treatment involving common farmer practice. Crop-wise, the six different treatments were tested using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Briefly, these treatments were: T₁,PU + other fertilizers + cowdung; T₂, 10% less urea briquette + other fertilizers + cowdung; T₃ 10% less NPK briquette + other fertilizers + cowdung; T₄, farmer practice; T₅, native fertility; and T₆, the same as T₃ without cowdung. Cucumber: At the time of final plowing, the full amounts of well decomposed cow dung (as organic matter source) and S, Zn and B fertilizers were applied and mixed with the soil thoroughly. Fertilizers containing phosphorus and potash were applied basally except in the T₃and T₆ treatments. Ten days after transplanting seven NPK briquettes (for T₃ and T₆) and eight urea briquettes (for T₂) per plant were applied in a ring around the stem-the urea and the NPK briquettes were applied 9-10 cm apart from the base of the plant and 7-8 cm deep into the soil. Subsequently, the fertilizers were completely covered by soil. In treatment T₁, one half of the N was basally incorporated and the remaining N was applied at 30 d after transplanting. Bitter gourd: At the time of final plowing, the full amounts of well decomposed cow dung (as organic matter source) and S, Zn and B fertilizers were applied and mixed with the soil thoroughly. Fertilizers containing phosphorus and potash were applied basally except in the T₃ and T ₆ treatments. Ten days after transplanting nine NPK briquettes (for T₃and T 6) and 10 urea briquettes (for T₂) for each plant were applied using the ring method. The N and NPK briquettes were applied 9-10 cm apart from the base of the plant and 7-8 cm deep. Subsequently, the fertilizers were covered completely with soil. In treatment T" N was applied in two equal installments at 10 and 28 d after transplanting. Taro: At the time of final plowing, the full amounts of well decomposed cow dung (as organic matter source) and S, Zn and B fertilizers were applied and mixed with soil thoroughly. Fertilizers containing phosphorus and potash were applied basally except in the T₃ and T₆ treatment. In the on-farm treatments (Trishal and Mymensingh), 12 d after transplanting, five NPK briquettes (for T3 and T 6) and five urea briquettes (for T 2) for each plant were applied whereas in Jessore, 12 d after transplanting, five NPK briquettes (for T3 and T₆) and seven urea briquettes (for T₂) for each plant were applied using the ring method. The urea and NPK briquettes were applied 9-10 cm apart from the base of the plant and 7-8 em deep. Subsequently, the fertilizers were well covered with soil. In treatment TJ, N was applied in two equal installments at 30 and 60 d after planting.Briquette production: Briquettes of different sizes were prepared to provide the different nutrient combinations and rates.Data analysis: The yield and the N, P and K uptake data were processed and analyzed. Mean comparisons were performed using the least significant difference (at the P < 0.05 level).

Source of Information: Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 49: 536 - 546 (2015)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The deep placement of urea briquettes and NPK briquettes resulted in greater vegetable yields and in a generally higher uptake of nutrients compared with the broadcast application of NPK. The results also revealed that the yield increased by 14.6-36.5% while the input quantity of NPK fertilizers decreased by 10% and the gross margin also increased when the NPK fertilizer briquettes were used as the source of plant nutrients compared to when N, P and K were broadcast applied. Greater benefits were accrued with the integrated use of manures and the deep placement of briquettes. The deep placement of the NPK briquettes was largely beneficial to cucurbits like cucumber and bitter gourd and to tuber crops like taro. It is worthwhile recommending the deep placement of NPK instead of prilled urea and urea briquettes because with a single operation all the required N, P and K could be provided to crops.

Knowledge Management: Journal