Influence of Slow-Release Fertilisers on Growth of Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) Seedlings
Rubber, Hevea brasiliensis, is a valuable crop of some countries in Asia. In the rubber industry, fertiliser application is one of the most effective methods to enhance growth of rubber seedlings in the nursery. However, application of chemical fertilisers has several disadvantages such as fast...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
1997
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10408/1/FP_1997_16_A.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Rubber, Hevea brasiliensis, is a valuable crop of some countries in
Asia. In the rubber industry, fertiliser application is one of the most effective
methods to enhance growth of rubber seedlings in the nursery. However,
application of chemical fertilisers has several disadvantages such as fast
nutrient leaching, fertiliser bum and requirement of intensive labour for split
applications. In recent years, slow-release fertilisers have been introduced to
solve the above problem so n many crops including rubber. Studies on the
effect of slow-release fertilisers on rubber are limited and there has been no
work reported on the use of isotope technique to accurately study nutrient
uptake and efficiency of fertilisers use.
This study was set up with the aim of studying the rate of nutrient
release of slow-release fertilisers and their effect on the performance of rubber
seedlings using 15N isotope dilution technique. Two experiments, namely,
laboratory incubation and glass-house experiments were conducted. Five
fertilisers were evaluated, four of which were slow-release fertilisers
(Agroblen, Best Tab, Kokei Nugget and Nurseryace) and one conventional
chemical fertiliser (Nitrophoska Yellow). In the soil-incubation experiment,
Bungor and Sungai Buloh series soils were used, while in the glass-house
experiment, only Bungor series soil was used
Results from the incubation experiment showed that during the period
of incubation, Nitrophoska Yellow gave the fastest rate of fertiliser
decomposition and NPK release, while Nurseryace were persistently the
lowest. Higher fertiliser decomposition and release of N and K were obtained
in Bungor series soil as compared to Sungai Buloh series soil. However
phosphorus release in Bungor series soil was lower than that in Sungai Buloh
series soil. It was found that there was a very close relationship between
fertiliser decomposition and NPK release of slow-release fertilisers,
particularly for Kokei Nugget and Nitrophoska Yellow. |
|---|