Fertilizer Amount and Split Application on Fertilizer Efficiency in Garlic

Transcription

1 International Journal of Vegetable Science, 20: , 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: print / online DOI: / Fertilizer Amount and Split Application on Fertilizer Efficiency in Garlic J. A. Olfati, 1 M. Piree, 1 M. Rabiee, 2 and Z. Sheykhtaher 1 1 Horticultural Department, University of Guilan, Rasht, Islamic Republic of Iran 2 National Rice Research Institute, Rasht, Islamic Republic of Iran If appropriate amounts of fertilizers are not applied during production, physiological symptoms of deficiency can occur in garlic (Allium sativum L.). Most producers use synthetic fertilizers because they are easy to transport, quickly available to plants, and produce high yields. However, nitrate levels in the soil should be kept to a level where leaching is not a problem. Split nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications can play a role in a nutrient management strategy that is productive, profitable, and environmentally responsible. This project was undertaken to determine effects of amount of, and split application of, nitrogen on growth and yield of garlic. Levels of urea (CO (NH 4 ) 3 ) and KNO 3 (100, 150, or 200 Mt ha 1 ) fertilizers were applied at planting or as a split application at planting time and corm formation. There were no differences due to treatment. It is likely that the lowest amount of fertilizer can be used for garlic production. Keywords Allium sativum, Environmentally responsible, Iran, KNO 3, Leaching, Urea. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a component of foods of many cultures and has been reported to have medicinal purposes (Tsai et al., 2012). Fast-growing crops take up nitrogen quickly, so they need a generous supply of nitrogen (Mengel et al., 2006). If the appropriate amount of fertilizers is not applied during production, physiological symptoms of deficiency can occur. Most producers use synthetic fertilizers because they are easy to transport, quickly available to plants, and initially produce high yields. However, with succeeding crops, quantities of chemical fertilizers must be increased because of low soil fertility (Thy and Buntha, 2005). It is necessary that nitrate levels in soil do not contribute to water pollution. Leaching of N occurs when soils have more incoming water than the soil can hold. As water moves through the soil, nitrates (NO 3 ) in the soil solution move with the water. Ammonia (NH 4 + ) forms of N have a Address correspondence to J. A. Olfati, Horticultural Department, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. jamalaliolfati@gmail.com

2 198 J. A. Olfati et al. positive charge and are held by the negative sites on clay in the soil; therefore, NH 4 + forms of N leach very little (de Paz and Ramos, 2004). Split nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications can play a role in a nutrient management strategy that is productive and profitable. Dividing total nitrogen application into two or more applications can help growers enhance nutrient efficiency, improve yields, and mitigate nutrient loss. By postponing applying a portion of the N treatment until the crop is better able to utilize it, plants take up the nitrogen more quickly and efficiently. Growers get improved return from fertilizer investment and fertilizer losses can be reduced (Yang et al., 2011). To split apply nitrogen, growers make two or more fertilizer applications during the growing season rather than providing all of the crop N requirements with a single treatment prior to, or at, planting. When all of the nitrogen is supplied ahead of crop growth, more of the nitrogen is susceptible to denitrification, leaching, or volatilization (Grant et al., 2012; Yang et al., 2011). Application of 60 to 240 kg ha 1 of N improved garlic yield (Aijaro and Gacitue, 1976; Chaudhry, 1979; Gardenas, 1986; Maurya and Bhuyan, 1982). Optimum bulb size was obtained from treatment with 150 kg ha 1 N (Maurya and Bhuyan, 1982). Nelson (1983) observed high yield with combinations of 100, 150, or 200 kg ha 1 of N and 25 or 35 kg ha 1 of P and improved bulb size by increasing nitrogen rate with higher P. It is important to improve yield in garlic with the lowest amount of fertilizer. This project was undertaken to determine effects of amount of and split application of fertilizer on growth and yield of garlic. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at the National Rice Research Institute, Rasht, Iran, during The soil was a loam, ph 7.44, containing 1% total N, 1.08% total C, and 4600, 1700, and 4000 mg kg 1 of Ca, P, and K, respectively, in soil dry matter, with an EC of 0.1 ds cm 1. The soil was prepared by plowing and disking. Rainfall and temperature varied during the experiment (Table 1). The study was arranged in a two-factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Urea and KNO 3 fertilizers at 100, 150, Table 1: Temperatures and rainfall at garlic planting site. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Month Rainfall (mm) Temperature ( C) max Temperature ( C) min

3 Fertilizer Application in Garlic 199 and 200 Mt ha 1 were applied at planting or in a split application at planting and corm formation. A local variety of garlic was used at a planting rate of 600 kg ha 1 (Suthar, 2009). Cultural practices were those used for the region (Mahdieh Najafabadi et al., 2012). Cloves were planted on 5 Nov at a distance of m between rows and plants (Muro et al., 2000). Harvest was on 20 May Measurements were taken on corm, cormlet, and neck ; corm total plant weight; and corm and total yield. Dry matter was determined by drying samples at 75 ± 5 C until a constant weight was reached (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 1984). Data were subjected to analysis of variance in SAS (Ver. 9.1, SAS, Inc., Cary, NC). If interactions were significant they were used to explain the data. If interactions were not significant, means were separated with Tukey s test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fertilizer type, type of application, and their interaction had no effect on results (Tables 2 and 3). Average values for total and corm yield, plant height, neck, number of leaves and cormlets, fresh corm weight, of corm and cormlet, width of cormlet, and height of cormlet were as follows: Mt ha 1, Mt ha 1, cm, mm, g, 9.76 g, g, mm, mm, mm, and mm, respectively. Garlic producers in Iran and other growing areas use high rates of fertilizers to obtain high yields. This can leave nitrates in the soil that can be leached and contribute to groundwater pollution (de Paz and Ramos, 2004). Water moving through soil can accumulate nitrates (NO 3 ), which can be deposited in the water table. Ammonia (NH 4 + ) forms of N have a positive charge and are held by negative sites on clay particles in the soil, have a reduced capacity for leaching (de Paz and Ramos, 2004), and are more suitable for use as a fertilizer. Table 2: ANOVA table for effects of fertilizer type, type of application, and their interaction on total yield, corm yield, plant height, neck, and number of leaves. Mean square Source of variation df Total yield yield Plant height Neck Number of leaves Rep ns 0.36ns 0.65ns 3.99ns 0.18ns Fertilizer type (F) 5 45ns 0.26ns 74.74ns 5.10ns 0.55ns Type of application (T) ns 0.001ns 53.78ns 0.06ns 0.001ns Interaction F T ns 0.05ns 7.52ns 2.42ns 0.55ns Error CV (%) ns = Nonsignificant.

4 200 J. A. Olfati et al. Table 3: ANOVA table for effects of fertilizer type, type of application, and their interaction on number of cormlet, corm fresh weight, corm, cormlet, cormlet width, and cormlet height. Mean square Source of variation df Number of cormlest fresh weight let let width let height Rep ns 0.18ns 4.51ns 1.65ns 0.62ns 1.30ns Fertilizer type (F) ns 0.5ns 11.83ns 5.47ns 3.41ns 1.69ns Type of ns 0.01ns 3.15ns 0.35ns 4.27ns 0.13ns application (T) Interaction F T ns 0.27ns 18.27ns 6.62ns 1.60ns 6.03ns Error CV (%) ns = Nonsignificant. Splitting application of fertilizer can mean that the same amount of nitrogen is applied in a growing season but that an additional trip or trips are necessary through the field, which increases input cost. A single fertilizer application may contribute to fertilizer loss, especially if a planting area receives high quantities of precipitation. If that is the case, a split application of fertilizer may be more environmentally responsible even if cost of application is increased (Yang et al., 2011). The lowest level of N fertilizer for acceptable yield was lower than previously reported (Chaudhry, 1979; Gardenas, 1986; Maurya and Bhuyan, 1982; Nelson, 1983). Differences may be due to soil type, amount of precipitation, location, and year. It is important to reach the highest yield in garlic with the lowest amount of chemical fertilizer. Aijaro and Gacitue (1976) applied nitrogen at 75 kg ha 1 to garlic and obtained high yields. It may be that less fertilizer can be applied, and this needs to be determined. REFERENCES Aijaro, U.A. and E.A. Gacitue Nitrogen fertilizer and garlic plant population. Hort. Abstr. 47:546. Association of Official Analytical Chemists Official methods of analyses. 14th ed. Assoc. of Official Anal. Chem., Arlington, Va. Chaudhry, B The vegetables. 6th ed. Rekha Printing Press, New Delhi, India. de Paz, J.M. and C. Ramos Simulation of nitrate leaching for different nitrogen fertilization rates in a region of Valencia (Spain) using a GIS-GLEAMS system. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 103(1):59 73.

5 Fertilizer Application in Garlic 201 Gardenas, V.T.M Nitrogen fertilization and planting layout in garlic. Hort. Abstr. 56:733. Grant, C.A., R. Wu., F. Selles, K.N. Harker, G.W. Clayton, S. Bittman, B.J. Zebarth, and N.Z. Lupwayi Crop yield and nitrogen concentration with controlled release urea and split applications of nitrogen as compared to non-coated urea applied at seeding. Field Crops Res. 127(27): Mahdieh Najafabadi, M.B., Gh. Peyvast, M. Hassanpour Asil, J.A. Olfati, and M. Rabiee Mulching effects on the yield and quality of garlic as second crop in rice fields. Intl. J. Plant Production 6(3): Maurya, K.R. and P. Bhuyan Effect of nitrogen and plant density on growth and yield of garlic in acid soil of Assam. Hort. Abstr. 53: Mengel, K., B. Hütsch, and Y. Kane Nitrogen fertilizer application rates on cereal crops according to available mineral and organic soil nitrogen. Eur. J. Agron. 24(4): Muro, J., I. Ignacio, C. Lamsfus, and A. Fernandez Militino Effect of defoliation on garlic yield. Sci. Hort. 86(2): Nelson, M Garlic fertilizer trial. Hort Abstr. 53: Suthar, S Impact of vermicompost and composted farmyard manure on growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.) field crop. Intl. J. Plant Production 3(1): Thy, S. and P. Buntha Evaluation of fertilizer of fresh solid manure, composted manure or biodigester effluent for growing Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis). Livestock Res. Rural Dev. 17(3): ( org.co/lrrd/lrrd17/ 3/sant17026.htm). Tsai, C.W., H.W. Chen, L.Y. Sheen, and C.K. Lii Garlic: Health benefits and actions. BioMedicine 2(1): Yang, G., H. Tang, Y. Nie, and X. Zhang Responses of cotton growth, yield, and biomass to nitrogen split application ratio. Eur. J. Agron. 35(3):