Yellow melon yield in response to mineral or organic fertilization

Although current recommendations in Brazil suggest the application of mineral and organic fertilizers, there is little information regarding the interaction between them in melon plants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mineral and organic fertilization in the plant development, nutritional status, and fruit yield of yellow melon. The following fertilizations were evaluated: mineral fertilization; bovine manure; bovine manure associated with mineral fertilization; poultry litter; and poultry litter associated with mineral fertilization. Bovine manure and poultry litter were applied at rates equivalent to 15 m³ ha^?1 and 5 m³ ha^?1, respectively. Phosphorus and potassium were applied based on the results of the soil analysis and nitrogen based on the expected yield of 20 to 30 t ha^?1 of fruits. Phosphate and organic fertilizers were applied at the time of preparation of the beds, while nitrogen and potassium were supplied daily through irrigation water. Goldex F1 melon hybrid seedlings were used in the experiment. Plants were collected to evaluate the dry matter production at beginning of flowering, beginning of fruiting, fruit growth, and fruit harvest. Leaves were collected at flowering stage to evaluate the nutritional status of plants. Harvest was made when the fruits reached the intense yellow coloration. Organic fertilizers alone and combined to mineral fertilizer did not affect the dry matter yield of leaves, stems, fruits and shoot, the concentrations of macro and micronutrients in melon leaves, the nitrogen accumulation in the plant, and the yield of the yellow melon. The application of bovine manure associated to mineral fertilization showed the lowest values of nitrogen recovery applied. Bovine manure application resulted in increase of nitrogen organic forms in soil.     

QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CITRUS ON A CITROMELO ROOTSTOCK AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT TYPES OF N FERTILIZATION (CHEMICAL AND ORGANIC)

With respect to the important effects of nitrogen (N) on plant growth and fruit production, a five-year experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of different sources of N fertilization including chemical and organic on the quantity and quality of citrus fruit. Using five-year old trees, different types of fertilization including ammonium sulfate, urea coated with sulfur, ammonium nitrate and manure were tested using seven treatments in five replicates from 2002 to 2007. Different plant quantitative and qualitative parameters were determined. The most effective strategy on fruit yield production was the use of urea coated with sulfur and manure with 92.46 kg ha^?1 fruit yield followed by ammonium sulfate and manure (87.06 kg ha^?1) and ammonium sulfate (86.43 kg ha^?1). The combination of mineral and organic fertilization may be the most suitable fertilization strategy for citrus production.     

Impact of Biofertilizers on Mineral Status and Fruit Quality of Yellow Passion Fruit in Brazil

Biofertilizers, liquid cattle manure obtained from anaerobic processes, have emerged as an important component of the integrated nutrient supply system. Thus, an experiment was carried out from May 2002 to February 2004 to evaluate the fruit quality and macronutrient foliar contents of biofertilized yellow passion plants in Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement (2?×?5) referring to two biofertilizers [one simple and another enriched with macro- and micronutrients] and five doses of each biofertilizer (0.0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 L plant^?1). Fruit quality and nutritional status of yellow passion fruit are affected by biofertilizer doses applied. Fruit length, width, pulp percentage, skin diameter, mass, soluble solids, and titratable acidity were improved with biofertilizer application. Simple biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of potassium, calcium, and sulfur, while enriched biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.     

Short-term responses of soil nutrients and corn yield to tillage and organic amendment

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University to evaluate the effects of cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizers on soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil electrical conductivity, soil pH and corn yield under two tillage systems. Treatments included tillage systems in two levels as conventional tillage and reduced tillage as subplots, cattle manure (0, 25 and 50 tons ha^?1) and N fertilizer (0, 125 and 250 kg N ha^?1) as sub-subplots. Results showed that SOC and SON were significantly affected by tillage system in both years of the experiment. SOC and SON were higher in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage. Tillage system had no significant effect on grain yield, plant height and 1000 seed weight. Increased cattle manure rates at 25 and 50 tons ha^?1 increased grain yield by 27% and 38%, respectively, in 2010 and 25% and 25% in 2011. The results showed that application of cattle manure combined with N fertilizer might be an efficient management to increase soil productivity in southern Iran, in soils with poor organic content. Additionally, reduced tillage showed to be an efficient method to increase soil organic matter.     

Effect of Poultry Manure on Yield and Nutrient Composition of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Poultry manure is one of the best organic fertilizers available and is an extremely valuable resource, organic matter content, exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity, and percent base saturation. Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) is an essential oil producing crop used in culinary and fragrance applications. The objective of this present study was to evaluate the effects of organic poultry manure and conventional fertilization on plant growth, yield and inorganic matter content of sweet basil. In this context, the different doses of chicken and turkey manure (7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 t ha^?1) with a control (no manure) and conventional fertilization were applied with sowing. The highest fresh and dry weights were obtained from the plants grown with turkey and chicken manure at a rate of 10–12.5 t ha^?1. The most of the nutrient content varied significantly with organic poultry manure applications. Overall, basil plants fertilized with turkey manure at a rate of 10–12.5 t ha^?1 and 7.5 t ha^?1 chicken manure dose accumulated greater concentrations of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). The results from this study demonstrated that organic or conventional fertilizer can alter fresh or dry weight, and the nutrient content.     

Potassium fertilization enhances pepper fruit quality

The effect of potassium (K⁺) concentration on the nutritional quality and yield of pepper fruits was evaluated. Pepper plants were grown in a controlled-environment greenhouse under hydroponic conditions with different nutrient solutions obtained by modifying the Hoagland solution to achieve different K⁺ concentrations. Potassium nutrition affected fruit yield parameters more than vegetative biomass in pepper plants. The maximum fruit yield was obtained with 7 mM K⁺ in the nutrient solution. However, it is possible to improve the bioactive compounds of pepper fruits with a higher application of K⁺ without reducing yield. The increase of K⁺ in the nutrient solution improved pepper fruit quality by increasing fruit firmness, TSS content, soluble sugars and ascorbic acid concentration. Therefore, the fruit quality improvements obtained with adequate K⁺ nutrition resulted in nutritionally enriched fruits, which, at little or no extra cost, benefits the consumer.     

氮素营养对甜椒果实生长发育的影响

采用营养液培养试验,研究了氮素营养对甜椒果实生长发育的影响。结果表明,氮素营养过高,门椒难以座果,首次商品果实的上市时间推迟7d以上。氮素营养对甜椒前期商品果产量及产量性状的综合影响看出,中氮营养处理可获得最高的商品果产量,主要是各层位果实的高收果数,而与单果鲜重差异不明显;氮素营养过高或过低均导致商品果产量降低,因单株平均收果数降低,且单果重下降。高氮营养有利于提高后期幼果座果率。试验还发现,甜椒的结果习性在很大程度上取决于其植物学特性,氮素营养对果实发育进程的促进或延缓作用在某种程度上可能大于对结果数量的影响。中氮营养条件下,二分侧枝整枝方式对甜椒的结果数量和产量的影响符合等比数列Y=2(n-1)的理论模型。     

ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF PEPPER PLANTS FERTILIZED WITH PELLETIZED POULTRY MANURE

Poultry manure (PM) has been traditionally applied to crops for decades as an organic fertilizer, because it is a good and balanced source of plant nutrients. Its effect on plant growth and yield has been widely investigated and is well known. However, there has been little effort to relate elemental compositions of the manure applied to their concentrations in the plants. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of PM on the growth, and essential and non-essential element composition of pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves and also fruits. Pepper plants were grown in soil with 0, 10, 20, and 40 g kg^?1 PM under greenhouse conditions. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), chloride (Cl), nickel (Ni), bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), lanthanum (La), and cerium (Ce) in leaves at the flowering stage and in fruits were determined by polarized energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Poultry manure fertilization significantly improved pepper shoot growth and also fruit yield, and increased leaf and fruit P concentrations but not N, K, Mg, Si, Al, Ni, and Fe. Leaf Ca was significantly reduced by increased rate of PM application. Applied PM increased the concentrations of leaf and fruit Zn and Cl. Poultry manure applications had a positive effect on the concentrations of leaf Cu, and fruit Mn. The concentrations of Rb and Ce in fruits and Br in fruit and leaves were increased by PM treatments. Applied PM levels had no clear effect on the concentrations of Ba and La in pepper leaves. The leaf Ba was the highest with 10 g kg^?1 PM, and leaf La was higher in 20 and 40 g kg^?1 PM treatments than in the control.     

Nitrogen concentrations and proportions of ammonium and nitrate in the nutrition and growth of yellow passion fruit seedlings

Abstract

Despite the importance of nitrogen (N) supply to plants, there are still doubts concerning the optimal relations of ammonium and nitrate in the nutrition of yellow passion fruit seedlings. This study aims to evaluate the interaction between nitrogen concentrations and ammonium and nitrate proportions in the nutrition, growth, and dry matter production of passion fruit seedlings grown in a substrate with a nutrient solution. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in randomized complete block design with three replications in a 4 × 5 factorial design, consisting of four N concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0?mmol L^?1) and five ammonium proportions (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in relation to the total N supply). At 60?days after transplanting, green color index; accumulation of N, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in roots and shoots; stem diameter; leaf area; root length; nitrogen use efficiency (NUE); and dry matter of roots and shoots were evaluated. For the formation of seedlings of yellow passion fruit, the nutrient solution should have 13?mmol L^?1 of N, with 40% of this nutrient in the form of ammonium. The passion fruit is a plant tolerant to ammonium. However, a critical concentration above 5.7?mmol L^?1 of NH₄⁺ in the nutrient solution decreases absorption of cations, NUE, and production of dry matter.     

Effect of top-dressed potassium fertilization on the yield and quality of cucumber

The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of top-dressed potassium (K) application on the production of hybrid cucumber “Sapphire.” The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with five blocks of 0.80 × 0.40 m² each and eight replicate plants per block. The five fertilization rates of K used were 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg K₂O ha^?1. Data collection consisted of the estimation of fruit diameter, fruits length, fruit fresh and dry weights, the number of fruits per plant, and the weight of fruits per plant. The number of fruits per hectare and the fruit fresh weight per hectare were calculated. Fruit tissue was analyzed for determination of macronutrient concentrations, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, sugar contents, and protein content. The data were statistically analyzed using regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). There was a significant effect of the fertilization rate of K on fruit diameter, fruit fresh and dry weights, macronutrients concentrations in fruits, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and reducing sugars. A quadratic equation was adjusted for the number of fruits per plant and per hectare; fruit yield per plant and per hectare, with maximum top-dressing doses, was estimated to be between 60 and 95 kg K₂O ha^?1. A linear increase was obtained in the pH. An increase in the K fertilization rate caused a linear decrease in the fruit length.     

不同氮肥水平对日光温室黄瓜品质和产量的影响

为合理施肥，实现设施栽培蔬菜的优质高产，该文就5种氮肥水平（不施肥、只施基肥膨化于鸡粪22．5t／hm^2、基肥＋追肥N540、1080、2160kg／hm^2）对日光温室黄瓜品质和产量的影响进行了研究。结果表明：随施肥量的增加黄瓜果实的维生素C、可溶性蛋白、游离氨基酸、可溶性糖和有机酸含量均有增加的趋势，风味也有改善，味甜、香气浓，但黄瓜硝酸盐含量呈直线上升。施肥过量还会导致黄瓜脆度下降，商品瓜率和总产量显著降低。综合考虑产量和品质两个因素，在中等使用年限，中等土壤肥力的日光温室黄瓜冬春茬栽培中，每公顷施用于鸡粪22．5t作为基肥，配施化学肥料N540kg做为追肥，能获得较高的产量和较好的品质；过少或过量的施肥均不利于黄瓜产量和品质的形成。     

YELLOW PASSION FRUIT PLANT NUTRITIONAL DIAGNOSIS AT DIFFERENT PHENOLOGICAL STAGES BY THE DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDATION INTEGRATED SYSTEM METHOD

This work was performed in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with the objective to evaluate the nutritional status of yellow passion fruit plants along different phenological stages, using the DRIS method. Fifty-four passion fruit cultivated areas with an annual yield productivity ranging from 6.95 to 33.8 t ha^?1 year^?1 and average productivity of 16.9 t ha^?1 year^?1 were selected in the region. The contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and boron (B) were evaluated. The reference standards were established (mean and variation coefficient) for the values of the nutrient concentration ratios, two by two, on samples from high yield productivity plantations and analyzed by the DRIS index of nutrients for the medium and low yield productivity areas. The established standards differed according with the phenological stage of the culture. In a general way, the mean content of the evaluated nutrients did not differed between the two productivity levels into each phonological stage. There was a difference for the Nutritional Limitation Order between different phenological stages of yellow passion fruit plants. The most negative DRIS indexes and the highest absolute values for the Average Nutritional Balance on yellow passion fruit plants in the region, were found for potassium in May, phosphorus in October and iron in January.     

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC AND MINERAL FERTILIZATION ON GERMINATION,LEAF NITROGEN,NITRATE ACCUMULATION AND YIELD OF VEGETABLE AMARANTH

The influence of manure and diammonium phosphate (DAP) mineral fertilizer on germination, leaf nitrogen content, nitrate accumulation and yield of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) was investigated. Field trials were set up at the University of Nairobi Field Station at the Upper Kabete Campus during the long rains of March–May in 2007 and 2008. Trials were laid out as complete randomized block design with four fertilization treatments: 20, 40, and 60 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1 supplied by DAP (18:46:0), 40 kg N ha^?1 supplied by cattle manure and an unfertilized control variant. The vegetables were harvested at three maturity stages at 6, 7, and 8 weeks after planting. Results indicated that there were significant differences between treatments in germination percentage, leaf nitrogen content, nitrate accumulation and vegetable yield. Plants that received manure had a higher germination percentage than those that received the same amount of N supplied by the chemical fertilizer DAP. The yields generally increased from week 6 to week 8. The highest yield was recorded in plots receiving 40 kg N ha^?1 from DAP at eight weeks after planting. Plots that were supplied with manure recorded the lowest yield when compared to the fertilizer treated plots at all rates. Leaf nitrogen content increased with increasing rate of N but only when N was supplied by DAP fertilizer. The leaf nitrogen content decreased with increasing age of the plants. The leaf nitrate content increased with increase in DAP application rate. Results indicate that manure application produced quality vegetables in terms of low nitrate levels, but leaf nitrogen and vegetable yields were low. DAP application effected higher yields, but the vegetables had high though acceptable nitrate levels.     

Nitrogen nutrition of guava trees in response to byproduct of fruit processing

Studies of the effect of organic fertilization of perennial crops are scarce due to the time necessary for the plants to present the first results. The objective of this study was to assess the leaf nitrogen (N) content, the direct and indirect measures of chlorophyll content, fruit yield and their correlations in an orchard of adult guava trees of the Paluma cultivar, through five consecutive harvests, in function of application of a byproduct of guava processing. The following doses of the byproduct were applied: 0, 9, 18, 27 and 36 t ha^?1. The material was applied on the surface, without incorporation, once a year between 2006 and 2010. The byproduct doses influenced the nitrogen concentrations, SPAD index, chlorophyll b level and fruit production.     

Nutritional Evaluation of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization of Carob Tree under Dry‐Farming Conditions

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess how potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) fertilization might affect the variation of leaf and fruit nutrient concentrations in carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) under low precipitation. A field study was conducted in 1997, 1998, and 1999 in a calcareous soil. Four fertilization treatments were tested: no fertilizer (C), 0.8 kg N tree^?1 (N treatment), 0.83 kg K tree^?1 (K treatment), and 0.80 kg N tree^?1 plus 0.83 kg K tree^?1 (NK treatment). During the hydrological cycle 1998/1999, only 250 mm of rain were recorded. Because of this, from 1998 to 1999 a decrease in the concentrations of mobile nutrients N, phosphorus (P), and K and an increase in calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were observed in leaves. The application of N led to higher leaf N concentration compared with other treatments. This response allowed the establishment of a linear model that relates soil plant analysis development (SPAD) readings with leaf N concentrations (r²=0.55; P<0.05). Compared with leaves, fruits showed similar amounts of N and P; less Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn; and high concentrations of K. Fertilization did not change considerably the mineral composition of fruits, and because of large variation among trees, yield was similar for all treatments.     

Effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on yield,economics, and energetics of pepper and soil properties in naturally ventilated polyhouse

A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2009 and 2010 at Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Hawalbagh, Almora, Uttarakhand, under the mid-hills of north-western Himalaya, to study the effect of farmyard manure and fertilizers on fruit yield, economics, energetics of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and on soil chemical properties. The highest level of farmyard manure (20 t ha^?1) along with 125% of recommended NPK (125, 27.5, and 52.1 kg N, P and K ha^?1) resulted in significantly higher fruit yield (33.9 t ha^?1) over other combinations. Both farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers significantly increased fruits/plant, average fruit weight, plant height, fruit length, and fruit diameter. The maximum net returns (4520 $ ha^?1) was achieved at 20 t of FYM along with 125% of recommended NPK. Energy ratio of 1.29 and 1.13 was the highest under 20 t FYM ha^?1 and 125% of recommended NPK, respectively. Available nutrients (N, P, and K) improved the status of the soil significantly due to 20 t ha^?1 of FYM and 125% of recommended NPK over other treatments.     

Effect of Integrated Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Cattle Manure on the Leaf Chlorophyll,Yield, and Tuber Glycoalkaloids of Agria Potato

Management of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), is one of the most important factors in potato production. Cattle manure and mineral fertilizers are two sources of N that can affect the quality and quantity of potato yield. The effects of the use of cattle manure (5, 10, 15, and 20 ton ha^?1), N fertilizer (50, 100, and 150 kg ha^?1), and their interaction on tuber yield, chlorophyll content, and glycoalkaloid concentration were evaluated during field experiments in Iran in 2008 with a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of three experimental replications. At the time of flowering, chlorophyll a, b, and total (chlorophyll) were recorded by spectrophotometry. Furthermore, at the end of the growth season, tuber yield was calculated and tuber glycoalkaloids were measured by the colorimetric method for the assessment of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of potato. Chlorophyll a, b, and total content increased linearly and very significantly in response to the application of manure and N fertilizer. The interaction between manure and N fertilizer was also significant; somehow the maximum content of total chlorophyll [1.448 mg g^?1 fresh weight (FW)] was obtained by using 150 kg N + 20 ton of manure per hectare. Cattle manure, N fertilizer, and their combination had a highly significant effect on tuber yield. Maximum tuber yield (36.8 ton ha^?1) was obtained by the utilization of 20 ton manure + 150 kg N per hectare. Total glycoalkaloid content was affected by the N application only. It showed a linear increase in the presence of increased concentration of N fertilizer.     

根际注射施肥对黄土高原苹果氮素吸收利用及产量和品质的影响

【目的】在西北黄土高原地区,春季干旱少雨和肥料利用率低限制着生产优质苹果。国外通常应用水肥一体化技术来克服水肥利用率低的问题,但由于其硬件设施要求高,投资大,短期内在我国难以推广。近年来我国采用的根际注射施肥可利用施肥枪将肥料溶液直接注入根际土壤中,施肥成本低且技术简单。本研究利用同位素15N示踪技术,研究根际注射施肥对苹果氮素吸收利用及产量品质的影响,可为黄土高原果园水肥高效利用提供依据。【方法】以9年生富士/M26/新疆野苹果为试验材料,利用15N尿素标记肥料去向,最后通过MAT-251质谱计测15N丰度,得出果树各器官和土壤的肥料利用率。同时利用叶绿素仪(SPAD-502)测定标记叶片的SPAD值,用浸以磷酸甘油溶液的海绵进行田间原位测定,得到土壤氨挥发的量,用静态箱—气相色谱法测定土壤的N2O逸失量。综合对比分析黄土高原传统环状开沟撒施肥与根际注射施肥对苹果吸收利用氮素、肥料氮在土壤中残留及果实产量和品质的影响。【结果】黄土高原苹果园根际注射施肥的优越性体现在:1)施肥后一个月内,果园土壤的气态氮素损失发生变化,根际注射施肥比传统环状开沟施肥的氨挥发总量低54.9%,同时N2O的排放通量低5.0%。2)根际注射施肥后,促进了肥料在土壤中的扩散范围,扩大了根系肥水吸收容积,叶片和果实吸收的肥料氮比例(Ndff%)在整个生长季始终处于较高水平。生长季末期,根际注射施肥的整株氮素当季吸收率为53.04%,比环状开沟施肥提高12.25个百分点,表明根际注射施肥有利于氮素更快地被吸收利用,显著提高苹果树的氮素当季利用率。3)生长季末,在0—60 cm土层内,根际注射施肥的土壤氮素残留率为36.55%,而环状开沟施肥为43.13%,前者显著低于后者。4)在整个生长季内,根际注射施肥处理下的树体新梢叶片内叶绿素含量(SPAD)值一直高于环状开沟施肥。根际注射施肥能提高苹果单株产量和单果重,其单果重和单株产量分别比环状开沟施肥处理提高了3.8%和19.7%。【结论】黄土高原地区推广的果树根际注射施肥技术可以有效提高苹果树体氮素的利用率,降低了土壤中的氮素残留。此外注射施肥的深度、注射量、密度和时间均可根据不同时期的养分需要随时调整,使水肥在土壤中均匀分布,达到节水节肥的目的。同时可避免传统施肥时挖坑作业对浅土层吸收根的损伤,降低劳动力成本。综合来看,根际注射施肥是提高黄土高原区旱地苹果树肥水利用率、产量和品质的有效方式之一。     

Effect of Cattle Manure and Sulfur on Yield and Oil Composition of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca) Inoculated with Thiobacillus thiooxidans in Calcareous Soil

The effect of cattle manure and sulfur fertilizer on seed yield and oil composition of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca) under inoculated with Thiobacillus thiooxidans was investigated in a factorial study based on a randomized complete block design. Experimental factors consisted of cattle manure (M) (M₀: 0, M₁: 10; and M₂: 20 t ha^?1), sulfur (S) (S₀: 0, S₁: 250; and S₂: 500 kg ha^?1) and T. thiooxidans (B): inoculated (B₁) and non-inoculated (B₀). Results demonstrated that the application of T. thiooxidans, cattle manure, and S fertilizer decreased the soil pH. The largest number of seed per fruit (367), highest fruit yield (70.57 t ha^?1), seed iron (Fe) content (16.26 mg 100 g^?1), and seed yield (111 kg ha^?1) was obtained when 20 t ha^?1 manure was applied in combination with 500 kg ha^?1 S inoculated with T. thiooxidans. In this condition, the content of S, Fe, phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) in plant shoots was increased by 44.8%, 22.58%, 33.89%, and 10.38%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, the highest content of seed protein was observed in 10 t ha^?1 manure and 500 kg ha^?1 S fertilizer inoculated with T. thiooxidans. When 250 kg ha^?1 S fertilizer was applied, 20 t ha^?1 manure decreased seed P content sharply. At the rate of 500 kg ha^?1 S fertilizer, the highest content of seed P was obtained from 20 t ha^?1 manure. Totally, 20 t ha^?1 cattle manure, along with 500 kg ha^?1 S fertilizer as well as T. thiooxidans inoculation, improved oil and seed yield of medicinal pumpkin.     

Tomato fruit yield and quality are affected by organic and inorganic fertilization and cadmium pollution

The effects of different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) (0, 3, 30, and 100 mg.kg^‐1) and different fertilizers on the yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Marmande) fruits were evaluated in a calcareous soil (Haploxeroll calcic). Two types of fertilizer were applied, one organic with the addition of sewage sludge and other inorganic with amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) equivalent to those due to the sewage sludge incorporation. Plants fertilized with sewage sludge produced the highest yield. Very little difference was found in fruit quality due to fertilization and the presence of Cd had no significant effect on yield and quality of fruit.