Nutrient Management Influences Root Characteristics and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in the Vegetable-Based Agroecosystem in the Northwestern Himalayas

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Sharma A., Sharma J. C., Shukla Y. R., Verma M. L., Singh U., Spehia R. S., ...More

SUSTAINABILITY, vol.15, no.13, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 13
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/su151310593
  • Journal Name: SUSTAINABILITY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, INSPEC, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Imbalanced nutrient fertilization adversely affects root growth and alters the nutrient use efficiency of a crop. This study aimed to understand the influence of integrated nutrient management on root characteristics and nitrogen use efficiency in the vegetable-based agroecosystem. The field trial was conducted at the Department of Soil Science and Water Management of Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan (HP) India in 2019 and 2020. There were nine treatments viz. T-1- control, T-2-100% farmyard manure (FYM; N equivalent basis), T-3-100% N, T-4-100% NP, T-5-100% NK, T-6-100% PK, T-7-100% NPK, T-8-100% NPK + FYM (recommended practice), and T-9-150% NPK + FYM on root densities (mass, volume, and length) and N use efficiency of cauliflower and capsicum. The results observed that different treatments exert significant effects on measured as well as derivative parameters. In detail, the application of 150% NPK + FYM recorded significantly higher root-mass density (0.72 and 1.71 g m(-3) x 10(-3)), root-volume density (4.49 and 2.52 m(3) m(-3) x 10(-3)), and root-length density (1.21 and 0.81 cm m(-3) x 10(-4)) in cauliflower and capsicum, respectively, which was statistically at par with treatment T-9 (100% NPK + FYM). Similarly, this treatment (150% NPK + FYM) resulted in a maximum positive N (774.6 kg ha(-1)), P (650.4 kg ha(-1)), and K (334.9 kg ha(-1)) balance of soil after the complete harvest of two cropping-sequence cycles. However, maximum agronomic N use efficiency (59.9 and 67.9 kg kg(-1)) and apparent recovery of N (39.3 and 59.7%) were recorded under 100% FYM (N equivalence) in cauliflower and capsicum, respectively, but this treatment produced the negative N balance (-91.7 kg ha(-1)) and K (-340.3 kg ha(-1)) in soil, whereas significant improvement in agronomic use efficiency, apparent recovery of applied N, as well as in soil, and the NPK balance was recorded under 100% NPK + FYM over the other treatment. This study recommended an integrated nutrient module that is the application of 100% NPK + FYM to ensure better root growth and positive nutrient balance in the soil.