to determinine the timeliness cost of machine operation, farm-level data were collected from random sample of 227 sugar beet farms located in the three major districts of fars province of iran: eghlid, marvdasht and fasa in 2006.  the results showed that timeliness cost of tillage practices (plough and land leveling), applying fertilizers before planting and timeliness in seed planting per ever...

Cultural methods such as crop fertilization can affect susceptibility of plants to insect pests by altering plant tissue nutrient levels. Research shows that the ability of a crop plant to resist or tolerate insect pests and diseases is tied to optimal physical, chemical and mainly biological properties of soils. Soils with high organic matter and active soil biology generally exhibit good soil...

Field experiments were conducted during 2002-2003 on clay loam, sandy loam and red loam soil at Sivapuri, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the efficacy of vermicompost on the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the soils and on the yield and nutrient content of blackgram Vigna mungo, in comparison to inorganic fertilizers nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium. Vermicompost had inc...

Plant nutrients are essential for the production of crops and healthy food for the world’s expanding population. Plant nutrients are therefore a vital component of sustainable agriculture. Increased crop production largely relies on the type of fertilizers used to supplement essential nutrients for plants. The nature and the characteristics of nutrient release of chemical, organic and biofertil...

The impending phosphorus crisis Phosphorus is a nutrient essential to all living organisms, and thus, it is essential in food production for humans. Although it is the eleventh most abundant element on earth, phosphorus never occurs in its pure form and is always bonded with other elements forming other compounds, such as phosphate rock. More importantly, much of the phosphorus in soil is not a...

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary research field. In recent past efforts have been made to improve agricultural yield through exhaustive research in nanotechnology. The green revolution resulted in blind usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers which caused loss of soil biodiversity and developed resistance against pathogens and pests as well. Nanoparticle-mediated material delivery to...

Bio-fertilizers are naturally occurring soil bacteria that aggressively colonize plant roots and benefit plants by providing growth promotion. This investigation was aimed at determining the effect of Nitroxin bio-fertilizer application on growth, inoculation and yield production of corn hybrids. An experiment was conducted as split plot on the basis of randomized complete block design with fou...

The agricultural production system in Sri Lanka consists of two traditional and well-defined components. One is the plantation section, established during the colonial period, consisting of large units, and producing perennial crops such as coffee, tea, rubber, and coconut mainly for export. The other is the smallholder sector comprised of small farms which produce most of the country’s rice, v...