About Book

New fertilizer technologies are focused on improving the efficiency and utilization rate of fertilizer, rather than simply increasing soil’s nutrient level. Fertilizers are naturally occurring materials that are used on soil to provide them with essential nutrients to ensure the proper growth of plants and crops. They can also be of synthetic nature. The most commonly known fertilizers are potassium fertilizers, nitrogen fertilizers and phosphorus fertilizers. Additives like adjuvants, organic acids and microbial solutions are being used to enhance effectiveness. The new technology overcomes the negative nutrient interactions in the soil which limit the availability of fertilizers. Each nutrient is unique in the soil. This book outlines the benefits and applications of fertilizers in soil and plant growth in detail. It elucidates the concepts and innovations and respective developments with respect to this field. It provides in-depth information on mineral fertilizer integration, soil fertility, soil management strategies, organic fertilizers, physicochemical properties, organic waste and micronutrient fertilizers. The topics included in this book are of utmost significance and are bound to provide incredible insights to readers about fertilizers. It strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. This book is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Soybean Yield Responses to Micronutrient Fertilizers.....................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction ..........................................................................................2

2. Bases for soybean fertilization with micronutrients in Brazil.....3

3. Soybean yield responses to fertilizer containing manganese.......6

4. Soybean yield responses to fertilizer containing molybdenum...8

5. Soybean yield responses to fertilizer containing boron..............11

6. Soybean yield responses to fertilizer containing zinc and

copper....................................................................................................13

7. Conclusions..........................................................................................15

Acknowledgements.............................................................................15

Chapter 2 Effects of Fertilizers on Biomass, Sugar Content and Ethanol Production of Sweet Sorghum...............................................................19

Abstract ................................................................................................19

1. Introduction..........................................................................................20

2. Materials and methods .....................................................................21

3. Statistical analysis ..............................................................................24

4. Results ..................................................................................................24

5. Discussion ...........................................................................................27

6. Conclusions..........................................................................................29

Acknowledgements.............................................................................30

Chapter 3 Organic Fertilizers: Public Health Intricacies....................................33

Abstract ................................................................................................33

1. Introduction..........................................................................................34

2. Treatment and risk reduction .........................................................35

3. Potential human pathogens in organic fertilizers from faecal

materials and implications................................................................41

4. Residual antibiotics (AB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs)

in organic fertilizers............................................................................49

5. Guidelines for reuse of human and animal waste products as

organic fertilizers.................................................................................51

6. Conclusions and research gaps .......................................................52

Chapter 4 Use of Organic Fertilizers to Enhance Soil Fertility, Plant Growth,

and Yield in a Tropical Environment..................................................71

Abstract.................................................................................................71

1. Introduction..........................................................................................72

2. Meat and bone meal by-products (tankage).................................73

3. Livestock manure................................................................................81

4. Algae species........................................................................................87

Acknowledgements.............................................................................93

Chapter 5 Physicochemical Properties of a Red Soil Affected by the Longterm

Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers...................98

Abstract.................................................................................................98

1. Introduction..........................................................................................99

2. The nature and properties of red soils.........................................100

3. Long-term application of fertilizers...............................................101

4. The effects of organic-chemical fertilizer application on soil

properties............................................................................................103

5. Sustainable development and nutrient management of red

soil........................................................................................................108

Acknowledgements...........................................................................109

Chapter 6 Organic Waste as Fertilizer in Semi-Arid Soils and Restoration in

Mine Sites.................................................................................................112

Abstract...............................................................................................112

1. Introduction........................................................................................112

2. Research methods ............................................................................114

3. Case study..........................................................................................121

4. Conclusions........................................................................................135

Acknowledgements .........................................................................136

Chapter 7 Impact of Organic Fertilizers on Phenolic Profiles and Fatty Acids

Composition: A Case Study for Cichorium intybus L...................145

Abstract...............................................................................................145

1. Introduction........................................................................................146

2. Materials and analytical methods..................................................149

3. Results and discussion.....................................................................154

4. Conclusions........................................................................................163

Acknowledgements...........................................................................163

Chapter 8 Long-Term Mineral Fertilization and Soil Fertility ......................169

1. Introduction ......................................................................................169

2. Influence of long-term mineral fertilization on some agrochemical

characteristics of slightly leached chernozems

(Haplic Chernozems) ......................................................................171

3. Conclusion .........................................................................................191

4. Acknowledgment .............................................................................193

Chapter 9 Soil Management Strategies for Radish and Potato Crops: Yield

Response and Economical Productivity in the Relation to Organic

Fertilizer and Ridging Practice............................................................196

1. Introduction ......................................................................................196

2. Materials and methods ...................................................................198

3. Results & discussion .......................................................................202

4. Acknowledgment .............................................................................215

Chapter 10 Mineral and Organic Fertilization to Improve Soil Fertility and

Increasebiomass Production and N Utilization by Cereals ........217

1. Introduction ......................................................................................217

2. Material and methods .....................................................................219

3. Results and discussion ...................................................................220

4. Conclusion .........................................................................................233

5. Acknowledgment .............................................................................235

Chapter 11 Impact of Mineral Fertilizer Integration with Farmyard Manure on

Crop Yield, Nutrient Use Efficiency, and Soil Fertility in a Long-

Term Trial ................................................................................................238

1. Introduction ......................................................................................238

2. Material and methods .....................................................................240

3. Results ................................................................................................243

4. Discussion .........................................................................................251

5. Conclusion .........................................................................................255

Citation......................................................................................................259

Index...........................................................................................................261

About Author

Philippe Edner pursued his Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agronomy from the Public University, Rockhampton. His areas of research interest are environmental soil science and its management. He is a Senior Lecturer at University, Waitahuna. He has authored and edited numerous articles, journal papers and book chapters in the field of fertilizer integration, soil fertility and soil management, which have been published worldwide. He has also been an invited speaker at various international agricultural conferences.