Value-Added Fertilizers Enhanced Growth, Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency through Reduced Ammonia Volatilization Losses under Maize–Rice Cropping Cultivation

Muhammad Yaseen (), Adeel Ahmad, Noman Younas, Muhammad Naveed (), Muhammad Asif Ali, Syed Shahid Hussain Shah, Muhammad Hasnain and Adnan Mustafa
Additional contact information
Muhammad Yaseen: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Adeel Ahmad: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Noman Younas: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Muhammad Naveed: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Muhammad Asif Ali: Engro Fertilizers Limited the Harbor Front Building, HC-3, Marine Drive, Block-4, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan
Syed Shahid Hussain Shah: Engro Fertilizers Limited the Harbor Front Building, HC-3, Marine Drive, Block-4, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan
Muhammad Hasnain: Engro Fertilizers Limited the Harbor Front Building, HC-3, Marine Drive, Block-4, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan
Adnan Mustafa: Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Plant nutrition is an essential element for crop production and enormous amounts of fertilizers are used in agricultural systems. However, these sources emit toxic gasses and compounds in the environment that not only deteriorate soil quality but also cause a reduction in the use efficiency of applied nutrients. Therefore, the value addition of these fertilizer sources by coating micronutrients, microbes, polymers or other organic and inorganic compounds have been advocated recently. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of value-added fertilizer sources for growth and yield improvement of Zea mays (Pioneer-30T60) and Oryza sativa (Super Basmati-515) with a reduction in ammonia volatilization and an improvement in nutrient recovery by crop grains. Different phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources (Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), polymer coated DAP, zarkhez plus NPK, urea, polymer-coated urea and zabardast urea) were used in different combinations keeping one control for N. The results revealed that maximum growth, yield and nutrient recovery was shown by polymer-coated urea and DAP followed by zarkhez plus NPK and zabardast urea. Moreover, a minimum ammonia emission was recorded by polymer-coated fertilizers, but other value-added fertilizers were found inefficient in reducing ammonia emission, though these sources improved all growth and yield attributes. Nutrient recovery efficiency was patterned as; polymer coated fertilizers > zarkhez plus NPK + zabardast urea > zarkhez plus NPK + urea > DAP + zabardast urea > DAP + urea > DAP. Thus, the use of polymer-coated fertilizers was beneficial for both the reduction in ammonia volatilization and for improving nutrient use efficiency with maximum crop benefits.

Keywords: nitrogen losses; ammonia emission; value-added fertilizers; polymer-coated fertilizers; Zea mays; Oryza sativa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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