Levity cropscience has published a new scientific poster for a congress in Africa about Delta technology effects in a cucumber crop.
Total cumulative yield over the three month study, was 14.19 kg/m2 where 20% of N was supplied as stabilised NH2, compared to 11.46 0,512 kg/m2 using only conventional N. This represented an increase in cucumber production of 15.38 MT per hectare, a 24% increase, when using 20% stabilised N.
The results showed that by use of stabilised urea based fertilisers, the total nitrogen input could be reduced by 25% with no negative impact in yield.
Introduction
Given increasing societal demand for food, fiber, and fuel, intense global financial stress, and growing concerns over impacts on water
and air quality, simultaneous improvement of productivity and nutrient use efficiency is an essential goal for African agriculture.
Responses to N in are common in sub saharan Africa. In plantation crops and vegetables N recommendations vary from 120 to 300 kg N/ha/yearand yield reductions of 30-50% are expected when N is not applied (Liel, 2010) However single-year average recovery efficiency for N in farms is often less than 40%, due to losses from ammonia volatilisation, and nitrate leaching (Dobermann, 2007).
Improving efficiency of nitrogen fertilsers has the potential to both decrease environmental, and allow lower inputs for farmers.
Urea is the most common source of N used in plantations due to its high N content, and relatively low unit price. However high N losses
via voltilization from applied urea are expected in tropical and subtropical climates. Studies in sugar cane (Costa, 2003) and coffee
plantations (Leal 2010) show that up to 35% of N is lost in the first 20 days following application through ammonia volatilisation.
LimiN is an additive that prevents volatilisation of urea when incorporated into fertilisers. Use of fertilisers incorporating LimiN can
reduce total N applications by between 25 and 36%, whilst improving
Abstract
Work is presented from studies on vegetable crops carried out in Southern Spain. The studies compared production using a standard
nitrogen fertilisation regime, and a fertilisation where 20% of the total N was supplied using a product stabilised using LimiN (NHCa Delta). significant improvements in yield were observed in the fertilisation regime using stabilised N, over the yield using only conventional N.
Method
the study was carried out on cucumbers on a commercial farm in Almeria, the main protected vegetable producing region in Europe.
Fertilisation was via drip irrigation. Each row was treated separately, and the trial was randomized.
Applications were made weekly during a full production cycle of three months November 2010 through January 2011. Each plot was 7500 m2
The crop was harvested and graded, and the yield was recorded both at each picking date, and cumulatively.
Results
The first graph shows total marketable yield of cucumber (kg fresh weight) at each picking date during the three month study. Cumulative yield (kg fresh weight) is shown in the second graph.
Discussion
The studies presented here show significant yield increases achieved by supplying some nitrogen using formulations stabilised using LimiN when compared to the standard regime.
Total cumulative yield over the three month study, was 14.19 kg/m2 where 20% of N was supplied as stabilised NH2, compared to 11.46
0,512 kg/m2 using only conventional N. This represented an increase in cucumber production of 15.38 MT per hectare, a 24% increase, when using 20% stabilised N.
The results showed that by use of stabilised urea based fertilisers, the total nitrogen input could be reduced by 25% with no negative impact in yield.
African activity
NHCa Delta is an Ecoculture product and has been used extensively in Africa on a number of crops.
It is currently available in the following African nations:
East Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda.
Southern Africa – Zambia, Malawi, South Africa
West Africa – Ghana, Ivory Coast
NHCa Delta has been proven to be effective on a range of crops, including roses and cut flowers, cacao, potato, and vegetable crops.
References and Acknowledgements
Costa, G., C. Vitti, H. Cantarella. 2003. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 27:631-637.
Dobermann, A. 2007. In Fertilizer Best Management Practices. International Fertilizer Industry Assoc., Paris, France.
Leal, L. 2010. Urea volatilisation losses from coffee plantations. Better Crops vol. 94 no.4
Article by David Marks, Levity CropScience,
To download this document in pdf click here: Africa poster
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