A variable rate fertilizer system was developed for control of fertilizer amount by optical sensor measured NDVI of crop. The paper analyzes the input and output conditions of control system, and designed hardware, algorithm and control of fertilizer, mainly software flow and a feedback control way. In the paper, the variable-rate control system consisted of 6 optical sensors mounted on a boom ...

Though rice is the predominant source of energy and micronutrients for more than half of the world population, it does not provide enough zinc (Zn) to match human nutritional requirements. Moreover, climate change, particularly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, reduces the grain Zn concentration. Therefore, rice biofortification has been recognized as a key target to increase the...

Physiological aspects of why vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) can be tolerant to heavy metals and be used as an alternative method for rehabilitation of abandoned metalliferous mine wastelands have been investigated. The results showed that high proportions of lead and zinc (Pb/Zn) tailing greatly inhibited the leaf growth, dry matter accumulation, and photosynthesis of leaves, but stim...

The main reasons for the fixation of some elements and consequently nutrient deficiencies, especially phosphorus, iron and zinc, are high levels of calcium (calcareous soils) and soil pH. Two sulfur fertilizers (sulfur alone and sulfur + organic material + Thiobacillus spp.) with two rates (2 and 4 kg sulfur/tree) were used to decrease soil pH and availability of P, Fe and Zn in apple trees dur...

Precision agriculture is the developing trend of modern agriculture, and the rational utilization of fertilizer is one of the key technologies in the precision agriculture, which needs to fertilize variably according to the crop needs and soil fertility conditions. Thus a fertilizer automated proportioning equipment is developed to Proportion the three fertilizers: Nitrogen fertilizer, Phosphor...

Just after transplanting, the vegetable has difficulty in nutrients uptake. To explore the effect of different fertilization on spring cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) production and fertilizer use efficiencies, this experiment consisting of six treatments was implemented and divided into three groups: 1) no fertilizer (NF) and vegetable planting fertilizer (VPF); 2) conventional fe...

The inherent problems associated with inorganic fertilizer such as scarcity and high cost informed the invention of cocoa pod husk based organic fertilizer. The impact of the fertilizer on cocoa output is hereby investigated in this study. The study was conducted in Cross-River State, Nigeria and purposive random sampling technique was used to select fifty cocoa farmers including the user and n...

Soil physicochemical properties, soil microbial biomass and bacterial community structures in a rice-wheat cropping system subjected to different fertilizer regimes were investigated in two seasons (June and October). All fertilizer regimes increased the soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen. Both fertilizer regime and time had a significant effect on soil physicochemical properties and ba...

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown on a clay soil in a direct-seeded, delayed-flood system as used in the southern U.S. requires 30 to 60 lb/acre more nitrogen (N) fertilizer to achieve maximal grain yields compared to rice grown on silt loam soils. Seasonal N fertilizer accumulation studies are almost non-existent for rice grown on clay soils. Therefore, a two-year field study was conducted to evalu...

The research described in this report was conducted as part of the Brown County Waste Transformation Initiative (BCWTI). The BCWTI is a public-private partnership of various stakeholders in northeast Wisconsin that is exploring methods of improved solid waste utilization through the development of commercially viable products that are appealing for public use. Many of these materials are curren...