Rainfall Pattern at Chakwal

1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Agu Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rain

fall (

mm

)

2008 2009 2010 1977-2010 Evaporation (2000-2010)

Over 70% rain occurs during monsoon (July-August)Rabi (winter) crops are sown on stored soil moisture of rains during monsoon

BARI, Chakwal:Established 1979 Longitude 72O

Latitude 32O

Altitude 575 mTOTAL AREA 89 haRESEARCH AREA 65 ha

Dr. Abid Subhanibarichakwal@yahoo.com

Role of Soil Moisture in Fertilizer Use Efficiency for Rainfed Areas-A Review

Introduction

Green water (water contained in the soil)is a key factor in rainfed agriculture

Rainfed agriculture covers 80 per cent of the world’s agricultural area and contributes two-third of global food production

Adequate soil moisture leads to higher yields Unreliable/insufficient rainfall is a major limiting

factor for agricultural productivity in rainfed areas Soil moisture plays a significant role in nutrient

absorption/uptake by the plant

•Major constraints of low Agric. Productivity in Rainfed areas: (i) low and erratic rainfall(ii) soil erosion (loss of top fertile soil and moisture) (iii) small and fragmented land holdings (iv) low agricultural inputs

•Possible approaches to increase the agric. Production

1. By bringing more area under cultivation (horizontal expansion) 2. Increasing the yield per hectare (vertical expansion).

There is vast scope for horizontal and vertical expansions by increasing the water productivity and FUE.

Rainfed Areas of Punjab Province

4

3.1

8.7

Cultivated Area (Mha)

Rainfed Irrigated

Districts:

Attock Rawalpindi

JhelumChakwal

Parts of:

Sialkot Narowal Gujrat

Khushab Mianwali JhangBhakkar Layyah

D.G.Khan Rajanpur

Cultivated Area of Punjab 11.8 MhaIrrigated cultivated Area 8.7 MhaRainfed cultivated area 3.1 Mha

Rainfall in rainfed areas

> 1000mmMurree,KotliSattianTeh.

500 to 1000mmRawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal

300-500mmAttock, Chakwal, Khushab

150-300mmMianwali, Jhang, Bhakkar, Layyah, M’Garh, DGKhan,

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec0

50

100

150

200

250 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Rainfall Pattern at ChakwalRainfall (mm)

7

Almost 70% rain occur during Monsoon; Rabi crops are sown on stored soil moisture of rains received during Monsoon

Monthly rainfall during Rabi (2007-2011) at Chakwal

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

5.4 4.39.3 11.4

43.1

26.59.4 7.6

16.3

20

75.4

46.4

Av. %age

Size of farms in Punjab rainfed tract

LESS THAN 1

01 – 05 06 – 10 11 – 20 21 – 60 OVER 600

10

20

30

40

50

60

19.1

52.8

17.5

7.7

2.60.3

2

29.8

24.7

20.6

15.8

7.1

FARM NUMBER (%)

AREA (%)

Farm Size (Hectares)

Pe

rce

nt

Contribution of Punjab Barani tract (Area wise: 2009-10)

CROP PUNJAB AREA

(000 ha)

BARANI AREA

(000 ha)

BARANI AREA CONTRIBUTION

(%)

WHEAT 6483.4 652.4 10.1

CHICKPEA 900.1 818.5 90.9

LENTIL 20.7 16.2 78.3

RAPSEED & MUSTARD 127.6 32.3 25.3

GROUNDNUT 81.8 76.3 93.3

MUNG 189.3 8.5 4.5

MASH 30.4 26.3 86.5

SORGHUM 147.1 86.3 58.7

PEARL MILLETS 361.8 143.8 40.0

Contribution of Punjab Barani tract (Production wise: 2009-10)

CROP PUNJAB Production (000 tons)

BARANI Production (000 tons)

BARANI AREA CONTRIBUTION

(%)

WHEAT 16776 883 6.3

CHICKPEA 382.5 324 84.7

LENTIL 10.1 6.9 68.3

RAPSEED & MUSTARD 108.6 20.7 19.1

GROUNDNUT 49.9 41.6 83.4

MUNG 101.8 2.5 2.5

MASH 13.6 10.9 80.1

SORGHUM 76.0 32.7 43.0

PEARL MILLETS 205.0 43.7 21.3

TOTAL 17724 1366 7.7

Use of NPK (kg/ha) in different areas of Punjab and NWFP during 2000-01

Source: Nisar and Rashid, 2003

PARTICULARS N P2O5 K2O

PUNJAB (IRRIGATED)

Cotton-Wheat (region) 116 24 1

Mixed crops (region) 99 20 2

Rainfed-Punjab

Pulses-wheat (region) 31 7 -

Maize-wheat (region) 19 4 -

NWFP (IRRIGATED)

Mixed crops (region) 123 27 0.5

Rainfed-NWFP

Pulses-wheat (region) 19 4 -

Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE)

FUE: The amount of produce increased by application of one unit of nutrient /fertilizer (Agronomist)

FUE: Is the percent recovery of the applied nutrient in the harvested portion of crop (Soil Scientist)

FUE: Rupees returned for each rupee spent on fertilizer (Economist)

Source: Nisar and Rashid, 2003

Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE)/%Recovery

Nitrogen: Utilization of applied N ranges from 40% in flooded (lowland) rice to about 50-60% in irrigated upland crops.

Phosphorus: Only about 10-25% of the applied P is utilized by the first crop, with residual P being partly available over a period of time to succeeding crops.

Potassium: Utilization efficiency of applied K is reported fairly high, about 70%.

Source: Nisar and Rashid, 2003

Role of water in the use of fertilizers

• Availability of soil moisture is an important determinant of fertilizer use in the semi-arid areas

• Availability of soil moisture is essential for fertilizer breakup in ionic forms, their movement in the soil and nutrient absorption/uptake & use

• Efficient use of nutrients after uptake depends on continuous supply of moisture • It provide substrate for different physiological reactions/functions in plant cell like photosynthesis.

• Water serves as transport agent for nutrients and products of plant metabolism

Factors Affecting Fertilizer Efficiency

Sources of

Reduction in fertilizer efficiency

5-10* Improper Fertilizer Placement

10-20* Inadequate Irrigation/moisture

15-50* Weed Infestation

5-50* Insect

Attack

20-50* Imbalanced fertilizer application

10-25* Poor Seedbed preparation

5-20* Improper Seeding

20-40* Delay in Sowing

20-40* Inappropriate Crop Variety

10-25* Inadequate Plant Population

*Reduction in %

Source: FAO Fertilizer Plant Nutr. Bulletin 2, 1981

1 2 3 4 5 60

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5RF Irri

Fertilizer response of irrigated and rainfed wheat in Pakistan

From: Nisar and Rashid, 2003

Fertilizer rates (kg/ha)

Fertilizer Rates kg/ha IRRIGATED RAINFED 1. 0 - 0 - 0 0 -0- 0 2. 56 - 56 - 0 30-0-0 3. 112- 62- 0 30-30-0 4. 112-112-0 60-30-0 5. 168-112 -0 60-60-0 6. 168-112-62 60-60-30

Grain Yield of Wheat After Kharif Crops (2004-09) at BARI, Chakwal

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-090

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Mung Mash Millet Sorghum Fallow(WR) Fallow (WNR) Deep plowing

Yie

ld (

kg/h

a)

393 mm

257 mm

104 mm 158 mm

Low yields are

due to poor

germination & frost damage

255 mm

0 40 80 1200

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

M1=19cm M2=26cm M3=32cm

Nitrogen applied (kg/ha)

Wheat yield kg/ha

M2= 26cm

Response of rainfed wheat to nitrogen on soils having different stored moisture (M1, M2, M3)

Source: Meelu et al., 1976

M1= 19cm

M3= 32cm

S. No Treatment Moisture level in soil profile (mm/90cm)

Yield as average of two years (kg/ha)

1 Farmers practice 147 1500

2 Minor leveling & bundling

168 1780

Effect of moisture conservation practices on wheat yield

Source: Fertilizer Use in Dryland Farming, Booklet No. 43, Manures & Fertilizers: MFS - 13

A Study CaseTitle: Optimal Fertilizer Requirement of Rainfed sunflower Based on Varying Soil

Moisture stress indices on semi-arid Vertisols of india

Methodology: (1999-2004)Dates of Sowing (DOS):

D1=28th Standard meteorological week (SMW) (9-15 July)

D2= 30th SMW (23-29 July); D3= 32nd SMW (6-12 Aug.)

D4= 34th SMW (21-26 Aug.)

Moisture Conservation Methods (MC):M1= Ridges and furrowsM2= Skip row with furrowM3= Flat bed

Levels of N & P Fertilizers: F1= 40-20; F2= 50-25; F3= 60-30 kg NP/ha

MSI= Crop soil Moisture Stress IndexBased on daily rainfall (RF), daily runoff MSI were measured for each combination of DOS and MC method in each season

(ranged 0.15 to 0.75)

Source: Maruthi Sankar, G. R. et al. 2008 (Helia: 31: 137-154)

Ready reckon of optimum “N” fertilizer doses (Kg/ha) at varying levels of soil moisture stress index

MSI  D1  D2  D3  D4M1 M2 M3 M1 M2 M3 M1 M2 M3 M1 M2 M3

0.15 53 # 200 # 66 # 158 73 # 103 74 #0.20 53 # 196 # 64 # 144 71 # 98 72 #0.25 53 # 192 # 61 # 131 68 # 94 70 #0.30 53 # 189 # 59 # 117 66 # 89 67 #0.35 53 # 185 # 57 # 104 63 # 84 65 #0.40 52 # 181 # 54 # 90 61 # 80 63 #0.45 52 # 177 # 52 # 77 59 # 75 61 #0.50 52 # 174 # 50 # 64 56 # 70 59 #0.55 52 # 170 # 47 # 50 54 # 65 56 #0.60 52 # 166 # 45 # 37 51 # 61 54 #0.65 52 # 163 # 42 # 23 49 # 56 52 #0.70 52 # 159 # 40 # 10 46 # 51 50 #0.75 51 # 155 # 38 # 0 44 # 46 47 #

# indicates calibration not possible due to non-diminishing response of nutrient

Ready reckon of optimum “P” fertilizer doses (Kg/ha) at varying levels of soil moisture stress index

MSI  D1  D2  D3  D4M1 M2 M3 M1 M2 M3 M1 M2 M3 M1 M2 M3

0.15 27 # 99 # 33 # 79 36 # 52 37 #0.20 26 # 98 # 32 # 72 35 # 49 36 #0.25 26 # 96 # 31 # 65 34 # 47 35 #0.30 26 # 94 # 29 # 59 33 # 45 34 #0.35 26 # 92 # 28 # 52 32 # 42 32 #0.40 26 # 90 # 27 # 45 30 # 40 31 #0.45 26 # 88 # 26 # 39 29 # 38 30 #0.50 26 # 86 # 25 # 32 28 # 35 29 #0.55 26 # 85 # 24 # 25 27 # 33 28 #0.60 26 # 83 # 22 # 18 26 # 30 27 #0.65 26 # 81 # 21 # 12 24 # 28 26 #0.70 26 # 79 # 20 # 5 23 # 26 25 #0.75 26 # 77 # 19 # 0 22 # 23 24 #

# indicates calibration not possible due to non-diminishing response of nutrient

Fertilizer adjustment equations via crop season moisture stress index

DOS Nutrient Ridge & furrow Skip row with furrow Flat bed

D1N FN=53.7-3.08 MSI # FN=211.0-74.50 MSI

P FP=26.8-1.54 MSI # FP=105.0- 37.20 MSI

D2N # FN=73.3-47.47 MSI #

P # FP=36.6-23.74 MSI #

D3N FN=198.0- 268.90 MSI FN = 80.3-48.31 MSI #

P FP=99.0-134.40 MSI FP=40.1-24.15 MSI #

D4N FN=117.3-94.45 MSI FN = 80.8-44.56 MSI #

P FP=58.6- 47.22 MSI FP=40.4-22.28 MSI #

# indicates calibration not possible due to non-diminishing response of a nutrient

FN= Fertilizer nitrogenFP= Fertilizer phosphorus

Optimal fertilizer doses for varying levels of available soil moisture

Based on multiple regression models, fertilizer adjustment equations of N and P were derived under different models having a +ive linear coefficient, a –ive quadratic coefficient for a fertilizer variable along with a negative interaction coefficient for fertilizer X soil moisture stress index.

An increasing response at the initial level and diminishing returns at higher levels of fertilizer application was indicated

The negative interaction was predicted for a higher fertilizer dose at low soil moisture stress index and vice versa for better response of the crop.

Current constraints on yield and on the use of fertilizer

• Availability of soil moisture is an important determinant of fertilizer use in the semi-arid areas•Lack of proper extension in the popularization of fertilizer use and the knowledge of the farmer is a major constraint•Fertilizer price and credit are important institutional factors•Regional and temporal differences in seasonal conditions, occurrence of pests and diseases, availability of fertilizer, market and fertilizer distribution network, etc., are important determinants of differences in fertilizer use •Lack of suitable management practices that make the best use of applied fertilizer

Improvement of Fertilizer Use Efficiency

The objective behind the use of fertilizer in dryland condition should be to make maximum amount of fertilizer nutrient available to the plant within the existing low levels of soil moisture. Certain points must be kept in mind in order to achieve this objective:

•Use of organic matter•Placement of fertilizers•Spray applications•Balanced use of fertilizers•Use of P mixed with FYM•Use of amendments (like gypsum in alkali soil)•Alteration in time of fertilizer application (based on moisture availability)•Water conservation practices•Other farming practices (e.g. Split N in rainy season; proper crop rotation)•Mulching

Suggestions for Improvement in Model

•Commendable job has been done to design a model to predict fertilizer doses for all districts of Punjab with the help of some basic soil fertility status (O.M, available P, desired yield target) knowledge by scientists of U. A. F

•The areas where proper irrigation practices are available, the moisture level differences are minimum, the prediction of fertilizer is simple and dependent soil type and availability of different nutrients and organic matter in the soil which helps to estimate nutrient deficiencies to be supplemented by different fertilizers with optimum dose to achieve desired yield target.

•This ideal situation does not exist under rainfed agriculture especially during winter/rabi season as fertilizer efficiency is directly related to moisture availability in the soil.

•It is needed to study the role/effect of soil moisture on fertilizer use efficiency under different rainfall (low, medium, high) areas to predict fertilizer doses.

• Therefore, it is suggested that a collaborative study/Project may be designed between main stakeholders like UAF; Soil Fertility Directorate; SAWCRI, Chakwal; UAAR and BARI, Chakwal etc. to reach at any consolidated conclusions

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