BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is a basic plant component, playing a decisive role in the intensification of plant production. Bio-fertilizers play a very significant role in improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, both, in association with plant roots and without it, insoluble soil phosphates and produces plant growth substances in the soil. OBJECTIVES:</s...

Cakchiquel farmers in Patzún, Guatemala stated that pest populations have increased in corn crops since they abandoned organic fertilization and adopted synthetic fertilizers. Given the dearth of scientific information about the effects of fertilization practices on pests, a controlled experiment was performed to elucidate these interactions. Pests, their natural enemies, and nutritional status...

Since nitrogen (N) is the most essential nutrient for plants and a major limiting factor in plant productivity, doubling agricultural food production worldwide over the past four decades is associated with a 20-fold increase in N fertilizer use. As a consequence, use of N fertilizers in agriculture has already shown a number of detrimental environmental impacts. Therefore, the need to reduce N ...

are associated with declines in SOC concentrations, and that increased residue inputs from high nitrogen applications do not mitigate this decline as much as we might hope. It is not possible, however, to link the over-application of nitrogen fertilizers to the decline in SOC. It would be appropriate for the authors to restate their conclusions to refl ect a more measured assessment of the evid...

Plant nutrients might affect the activity and bioavailability of heavy metals in the soil –plant environment thus their accumulation in the plant. Little is known about the effect of nitrogen fertilization on cadmium (Cd) uptake by alfalfa “Medicago sativa”. This work aims to characterize the oxidative status, the physiological stress parameters and the Cd uptake in alfalfa « Medicago sativa » ...

The gross alpha (α) and beta (β) activities and trace heavy elemental concentrations have been determined in Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium (NPK) fertilizers samples used for agricultural purposes in Nigeria. Cultivated farm soil samples from two regions (north and south) in the country and samples of phosphate rocks were also analyzed for gross α and β radioact...