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Babatunde Sunday Ewulo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Maize Growth and Yield Modelling Using AquaCrop Under Deficit Irrigation with Sole and Combined Application of Biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser
Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2020Co-Authors: Oluwaseun Temitope Faloye, Ayodele Ebenezer Ajayi, Micheal Olanrewaju Alatise, Babatunde Sunday Ewulo, Rainer HornAbstract:Biochar amendment has been widely investigated, in both laboratory and field experiments and reported to improve some soil quality parameters, with consequent net positive effect on crop growth and yield. However, the use of modelling techniques to predict maize growth and yields in soils individually or co-applied with biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser is scanty. In this study, we used field obtained data for two growing seasons, to calibrate and validate AquaCrop model for the prediction of canopy cover (CC), grain yield and total biomass yield of maize grown in biochar amended soil and the unamended control. Treatments consist of biochar application at two rates, 0 and 20 Mg ha−1, in combination with Inorganic Fertiliser at two rates, 0 and 300 kg ha−1, under different irrigation water managements. The simulation results replicated with good accuracy the field-measured soil water, CC, grain yield and total biomass yield, increasing in this order: F0B0 (Control) 0.88 in all treatments for grain yield and total biomass yields, indicating a good predictive ability. Therefore, modelling approach with the use of AquaCrop predicted the suppressed negative impact of drought on crop productivity in soil treated with biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser.
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Nutrient uptake, maximum yield production, and economic return of maize under deficit irrigation with biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser amendments
Biochar, 2019Co-Authors: Oluwaseun Temitope Faloye, Ayodele Ebenezer Ajayi, Micheal Olanrewaju Alatise, Babatunde Sunday Ewulo, Rainer HornAbstract:The individual and combined effects of biochar ( B ) and Inorganic Fertiliser ( F ) have all been widely proofed to improve soil fertility and enhance crop growth and yield under irrigation ( I ) and rain fed conditions. However, the strength of their individual and combined effects on crop productivity has been scarcely reported. In addition, few studies have assessed their individual and co-application effects on economic returns. Therefore, a 2-year field experiment which consisted of factorial combination of irrigation ( I ) [100% full irrigation (FI), 80% FI and 60% FI], biochar (0 and 20 t/ha) and Fertiliser (0 and 300 kg/ha) was conducted. According to the results, irrigation was the dominant factor that influences maize grain yield, followed by Inorganic Fertiliser and biochar, and they were all significant in their main effects. The strength of interaction effects among, I , F and B on maize grain yield follow the sequence F × I > B × F > B × I . The economic analysis showed that the ternary combination of B , F and I was more economical than the binary combination of B plus I , and F plus I (in that order), when compared with the standalone application of I at maximum production in the field experiment. In addition, combined applications of biochar and Fertiliser improved soil nutrients, nutrient uptake in all irrigation treatments, compared to the standalone applications of biochar or Fertiliser. Further research is, therefore, recommended for long-term evaluation of the economic viability of integrating biochar with Fertiliser under irrigation.
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Effects of biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser applications on growth, yield and water use efficiency of maize under deficit irrigation
Agricultural Water Management, 2019Co-Authors: Oluwaseun Temitope Faloye, Ayodele Ebenezer Ajayi, Micheal Olanrewaju Alatise, Babatunde Sunday EwuloAbstract:Abstract The additions of biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser to agricultural soils have been reported to enhance soil fertility and crop production under rainfed and irrigation conditions. However, it is unclear how biochar improve the growth, yield, irrigation and crop water use efficiency of a field grown maize under deficit irrigation. The objective of this study is to determine the main and interactive effects of biochar and Fertiliser on the maize growth, yield, crop water use efficiency (CWUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) under deficit irrigation, which has been scarcely studied. Therefore, a field experiment which consisted of factorial combination of Irrigation (100% Full Irrigation (FI), 80% FI and 60% FI), biochar (0 and 20 t/ha) and Fertiliser (0 and 300 Kg/ha) was conducted over two growing seasons. The 100% FI, 80% of FI and 60% of FI received 1, 0.8 and 0.6 of the estimated irrigation need required to bring the soil water to field capacity, respectively. Effect of the soil amendments were determined on the crop evapotranspiration (water use), soil hydrophysical and chemical properties. Maize growth parameters were determined weekly while the yield components were determined at harvest. Results showed that the application of the soil amendments improved the soil hydro-physical, chemical properties, and water use by maize plant which consequently resulted in increased maize growth, yield, IWUE and CWUE under all irrigation treatments. Combined addition of the soil amendments gave significant (P
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Synergistic effects of biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser on maize (zea mays) yield in an alfisol under drip irrigation
Soil and Tillage Research, 2017Co-Authors: Oluwaseun Temitope Faloye, Ayodele Ebenezer Ajayi, Micheal Olanrewaju Alatise, Babatunde Sunday EwuloAbstract:Abstract Biochar, Inorganic Fertilisers and drip irrigation have all been shown to have potential to increase crop yield in tropical and water-limiting environments. However, their complementary effect on crop yield is scarcely studied. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of biochar made from maize-cob residue and Inorganic Fertiliser on the yield of maize under drip irrigation system. A factorial field experiment in which the biochar was applied at four rates; 0, 3, 6, and 10 t/ha, in combination with NPK 15:15:15 Inorganic Fertiliser applied at two rates; 0 and 300 kg/ ha to a sandy soil classified as Alfisol was evaluated. The plots were irrigated by drip irrigation to keep available moisture at about 50% Maximum Allowable Deficiency (MAD). Four models (linear, linear + squares, linear + interactions and full quadratic) were obtained by analysing the response surface for the relationship between biochar, Inorganic Fertiliser and yields. Results showed thatthe grain and biomass yields were positively increased with increase in the amount of added biochar. The interaction effect between Fertiliser and biochar did not significantly ( P > 0.05) affect maize yield, but significantly ( P 0.05) influenced biomass yield. The full quadratic model established between biochar and Inorganic Fertiliser gave the best prediction, with R 2 equal to 0.85 and 0.97 for grain and biomass yields, respectively. Therefore, using the modelling approach, it was established that for every 10 t/ha of biochar application and 300 kg/ha of Fertiliser application, the maize grain yield and biomass yield could increase by up to 6.03 and 10.43 t/ha. The Pareto analysis of the standardized effects showed that the combined application of Fertiliser and biochar resulted in an additional contribution of 11.4% and 16.5% for grain and biomass yields. Also, analysis on soil chemical properties showed that biochar positively increased soil pH, N, P, K and CEC. The results established that Fertiliser and biochar application synergistically increase drip irrigated maize yields. Also, Fertiliser contributed more to the yields than the increase in the amount of added biochar, suggesting a further need to investigate higher biochar application rate to determine the optimum rate under drip irrigation.
Evelyn Doyle - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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comparison of bacterial succession in green waste composts amended with Inorganic Fertiliser and wastewater treatment plant sludge
Bioresource Technology, 2015Co-Authors: Sean Storey, Dearbhail Ni Chualain, Nicholas Clipson, O. Doyle, Evelyn DoyleAbstract:Abstract Replacing CAN with DWS resulted in a stable product capable of supporting similar levels of plant growth to conventional compost. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum detected in both CAN- and DWS-amended composts with Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi present also. Proteobacteria in both composts negatively correlated with pH, NO 3 concentration and temperature, but were positively influenced by NH 4 levels. Sphaerobacter was the most abundant genus in the mature phase of both CAN- and DWS-amended composts but bacterial community structure in mature DWS-amended compost appeared more diverse than that present in mature compost made using CAN.
S.m. Rhind - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Exposure to chemical cocktails before or after conception - The effect of timing on ovarian development
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2013Co-Authors: Michelle Bellingham, S.m. Rhind, Carol E. Kyle, Richard M. Sharpe, Maria R. Amezaga, Béatrice Mandon-pepin, Corinne Cotinot, Neil P. Evans, Christopher J.b. Speers, Paul A. FowlerAbstract:Exposure of female fetuses to environmental chemicals (ECs) during pregnancy results in a disturbed ovarian adult phenotype. We investigated the influence of pre- and/or post-conception exposure to low-level mixtures of ECs on the structure and function of the fetal ovine ovary. We examined ovarian morphology, expression of oocyte and granulosa cell-specific genes and proteome. Female fetuses were collected at day 110 of gestation, from dams exposed continuously until, and after mating, by grazing in pastures treated with sewage sludge as a Fertiliser (TT) or in control fields treated with Inorganic Fertiliser (CC). In addition, in a cross-over design, fetal ovaries were collected from dams maintained on sludge pastures up to the time of mating but then transferred to control pastures (TC) and, reciprocally, those transferred from control to treated pastures at mating (CT). On examination, the proportion of type 1a follicles (activating primordial follicles) was significantly lower in animals from the CT groups compared with CC and TT groups (P
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Tissue accumulation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) in adult and fetal sheep following exposure to sewage sludge-treated pastures.
2009Co-Authors: S.m. Rhind, C.e. Kyle, E. I. Duff, Michelle Bellingham, Maria R. Amezaga, Béatrice Mandon-pepin, Corinne Cotinot, C. Mackie, L. Macdonald, Neil P. EvansAbstract:Fetal liver tissue concentrations of selected pollutant classes were determined in sheep fetuses and their dams, at 110 days of gestation (term = 145d) following exposure to pasture treated with either Inorganic Fertiliser (Control; C) or with sewage sludge (Treated; T). In flock 1, ewes were maintained on either T or C pastures throughout their breeding lives. Ewes of flock 2 were mated 2 weeks later and exposed to the same T pastures either, throughout life up to the time of experimental mating when they were transferred to control pasture (TC), or only from mating until slaughter at 110days gestation having been on untreated pastures before mating (CT). Neither maternal nor fetal tissue concentrations of DEHP, PCB, PBDE and PAH was affected by sludge exposure in any group. At 110 days gestation, mean DEHP concentrations were similar in adult and fetal tissues. Concentrations of PCB congeners 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 were generally higher in maternal tissues (P
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Long term effects of environmental EDC exposure on ovine pituitary KiSS-1 expression.
2009Co-Authors: Michelle Bellingham, S.m. Rhind, Paul A. Fowler, Richard M. Sharpe, Maria R. Amezaga, Béatrice Mandon-pepin, Corinne Cotinot, Neil P. EvansAbstract:Environmental exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) during development could adversely affect reproductive function via effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG). The HPG axis is regulated by many steroid sensitive inputs, including the KiSS-1 gene product kisspeptin. We have previously shown that KiSS-1 mRNA and protein are expressed within gonadotrophs in the foetal ovine pituitary and that KiSS-1 mRNA expression is decreased following gestational exposure to EDCs. The current study aimed to determine whether KiSS-1 mRNA expression is also changed in pituitary glands of adult animals exposed to EDCs in-utero. Tissue was obtained from 12 month old male and female sheep born to mothers pastured on fields fertilised with Inorganic Fertiliser (C) or sewage sludge (T) throughout pregnancy (n=12 per group). mRNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and KiSS-1 mRNA expression quantified by QrtPCR (relative to β-actin). Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA. Results - KiSS-1 mRNA expression was significantly (P
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Prenatal and postnatal exposure to environmental pollutants in sewage sludge alters emotional reactivity and exploratory behaviour in sheep
Science of the Total Environment, 2004Co-Authors: Hans Erhard, S.m. RhindAbstract:In order to find out whether exposure to environmental pollutants (EP) present in sewage sludge can change the behaviour of sheep, we compared the behaviour of two groups of 5-month old lambs (Ovis aries) with respect to their emotional reactivity and exploratory behaviour. One group (treated, T) comprised the offspring of ewes who had been kept throughout their lives on pastures with slightly elevated, environmental levels of pollutants, as a result of the application of sewage sludge at rates used in normal practice. The other group (control, C) were the offspring of ewes whose pastures had been treated with Inorganic Fertiliser. During a 1-min period in the weigh crate, T lambs were less reactive than C lambs, but vocalised more. Exploratory behaviour showed a clear sex difference, with female C lambs exploring more than male C lambs. However, this difference was not found in the T lambs, where both males and females showed high levels of exploration. This points to a demasculinising effect of exposure to higher pollutant concentrations with respect to exploratory behaviour. These observations demonstrate the need to take account of the effects of combinations of pollutants, even at very low, environmental concentrations, and further highlight the usefulness of ethotoxicology for the study of biological effects of environmental pollutants.
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phthalate and alkyl phenol concentrations in soil following applications of Inorganic Fertiliser or sewage sludge to pasture and potential rates of ingestion by grazing ruminants
Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 2002Co-Authors: S.m. Rhind, C.e. Kyle, Alistair Smith, Gillian Telfer, Gillian Martin, E. I. Duff, Robert W. MayesAbstract:Soil concentrations of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and the alkyl phenols, octyl phenol (OP) and nonyl phenol (NP), after repeated surface applications of sewage sludge to pastures, were investigated. Liquid sludge was applied at a rate of 2.25 tonnes dry matter (DM) per hectare to each of three treated (T) plots on three occasions during the summer and two occasions in the early spring over a period of 2.5 years. Control (C) plots were treated with Inorganic Fertiliser containing amounts of nitrogen equivalent to those applied to the treated plots. At between 69 and 81 days after the application of sludge, 15 separate soil samples were collected from one half of each of the plots (Experiment 1). Concentrations (µg g−1) of DOP were higher (P < 0.001) than those of NP, while those of OP were generally below detectable levels. Mean soil concentrations of DOP were not significantly different in T and C plots [0.233 vs. 0.155 µg g−1; standard error of the difference (SED) = 0.046; not significant (NS)], partly because there was already a relatively large amount of DOP present. NP concentrations were, however, significantly higher in T than in C plots (0.021 vs. 0.013 µg g−1; SED = 0.002; P < 0.05). There was no consistent change over time in the mean soil concentrations of these compounds when sampled at intervals of 3–6 months. Concentrations in soil samples collected at monthly intervals following sludge application indicated that the variation in concentrations of these endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) was unrelated to time since sludge application. Rates of soil ingestion, expressed as the percentage of DM intake represented by soil, were higher during the winter than the summer (5.40 vs. 1.17; SED = 0.360; P < 0.001) and estimated daily intakes of DOP and NP were up to 150 µg and 8 µg, respectively. It is concluded that the application of sewage sludge to pasture does not increase soil concentrations of phthalate (as DOP) or alkyl phenols. Thus, the risk of increased exposure to these EDC as a result of sludge application is small. However, the small effect of sludge application on soil concentrations may be largely a reflection of the relatively high concentrations of DOP already present in the soil, which may be biologically significant.
Katarina Hedlund - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The effects of 55 years of different Inorganic Fertiliser regimes on soil properties and microbial community composition
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: Alwyn Williams, Gunnar Börjesson, Katarina HedlundAbstract:Agricultural fertilisation increases crop yields but can cause environmental damage, thus reductions in Inorganic Fertiliser application have been advocated. Farmer usage of phosphate rock has declined over the last decade, which may lead to soil nutrient depletion that undermines future crop production. We investigated the long-term (55 years) effects of eight different Inorganic Fertiliser regimes at four sites: no phosphorous and potassium (PR) fertilisation or annual replacement of harvested PR, combined with 0, 50, 100, or 150 kg nitrogen (N) ha(-1) yr(-1) on a range of soil properties and microbial community composition. We also investigated whether differences in microbial community composition under different Fertiliser regimes arose from differences in underlying soil properties, changes in soil properties resulting indirectly from fertilisation, or directly from fertilisation. Reduced Fertiliser application significantly reduced topsoil organic carbon and N, as well as plant-available R This significantly reduced sugar beet yields but had less impact on winter wheat. The different Fertiliser regimes had no significant effect on microbial community composition. Differences in soil properties as a result of fertilisation were less than differences between sites, and differences in microbial community composition were mainly explained by site. The results show that long-term Inorganic Fertiliser practices have little impact on microbial community composition, and lend support to research showing that microbial community composition is more influenced by organic matter inputs and underlying soil properties. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Juha Helenius - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Short-term effects of biochar on soil properties and wheat yield formation with meat bone meal and Inorganic Fertiliser on a boreal loamy sand
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2014Co-Authors: Priit Tammeorg, Asko Simojoki, Pirjo Mäkelä, Frederick L. Stoddard, Laura Alakukku, Juha HeleniusAbstract:Abstract Poor water retention capacity (WRC) and nutrient deficiency commonly limit crop yields in sandy soils. The use of biochar as a soil amendment has been previously reported to improve these limiting factors in subtropical and temperate soils. We studied the effects of biochar on soil properties and yield formation of spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) when applied together with Inorganic Fertiliser or meat bone meal (MBM) to an Endogleyic Umbrisol with a loamy sand texture in boreal conditions. In a two-year field experiment, biochar was applied at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 t ha −1 combined with three Fertiliser treatments (unfertilised control, MBM and Inorganic Fertiliser) providing equal amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Soil WRC and fertility as well as wheat yield, yield components and quality were analysed. Soil moisture content, leaf area index and leaf chlorophyll values (SPAD) were monitored during the experiment. Biochar increased the plant-available water content of the topsoil in the first year and reduced the bulk density in the second year after application. It also increased the contents of easily soluble K and soil organic C (SOC) in the 20 cm of topsoil, but had no effects on other soil nutrients, pH or moisture content. Biochar amendment decreased the soil NO 3 − -N content below control values in the first year but increased it significantly in the second year. The addition of biochar did not significantly affect the nitrogen uptake, grain yield or quality of wheat, possibly because of its low nutrient availability and the high organic matter content of the soil.