The research was conducted on wheat in China.
It demonstrated that 100% organic fertiliser with a 10% reduction in chemical fertilisers was most effective at improving soil moisture and organic matter.
In turn, it enhanced the wheat plant’s uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
According to the study, the aboveground uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased by 29.2%, 29.0%, and 56.5%, respectively.
At the same time, the nutrient use efficiency also improved, with increases of 30.4% for nitrogen, 21.1% for phosphorus, and 47.7% for potassium.
“While previous research has predominantly concentrated on the nutrient uptake of wheat grains and the aboveground parts, our findings reveal that as nutrient uptake increases, the nutrient translocation rate within the wheat plants also rises.”
This resulted in an increase in wheat grain nutrient content, which led to higher yields and higher quality grain.
In 2023, this treatment saw the number of spikes and spikelets and the thousand-grain weight increased by 20.90%, 14.39%, and 10.29%, respectively.
“In conclusion, substituting chemical fertilisers with organic fertilizers improves the soil moisture and organic matter content, thereby enhancing the total uptake and translocation efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This leads to increased nutrient content in wheat grains, resulting in higher yields and improved grain quality,” said the researchers.
An urgent need to replace chemicals
Researchers highlighted how in recent years, excessive chemical fertiliser use has led to a decline in wheat yield and soil quality, increased production costs, and heightened environmental pollution risks.
The study proposed to replace chemical fertilisers with organic alternatives, as the latter could potentially help repair soil ecosystems disrupted by prolonged chemical fertiliser use.
“Compared to chemical fertilisers, organic fertilizers not only provide a continuous release of nutrients and improve soil structure but also promote nutrient cycling and transformation, ultimately enhancing soil and crop productivity”
The two-year experiment
From October 2022 to June 2024, field experiments were conducted in Liugongshun Village in China.
The study acknowledged that the yield of wheat was better in 2023 than 2022, which was impacted by frost damage, affecting wheat yield and nutrient uptake, especially potassium.
“In 2023, with no disaster impact, the potassium uptake capacity returned to normal, allowing for the proper uptake and metabolism of potassium.”
Source: Agriculture
Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Can Improve the Soil Quality and Increase the Wheat Yield and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency: The Fertilising Effect of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilisers
Authors: Ping Bo, Qingyang He, Yubin Lan, Jiankun Li, Haiteng Liu, Xinlong Li and Huizheng Wang
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121294
