Micronutrients use efficiency and dry matter yield of annual crops as affected by inorganic and organic amendments

Sustainable crop production is increasing, owing to environmental concerns
over the intensive use of chemical fertilizers. This study investigated
the effects of equal N substitution by pig slurry compost on micronutrients
use efficiency and dry matter yield of Vicia faba L., Lupinus albus L. and
Triticum aestivum L. Plants were grown in pots with sandy-loam soil and
quartz (silica) sand under controlled greenhouse conditions. The treatments
were (a) no fertilization (control), (b) NPK fertilizer, (c) pig slurry
compost with 50% NPK (PSC), (d) quartz sand with pig slurry compost and
50% NPK (Quartz-PSC) applied at the same rate of 200mg N kg1 soil.
Inorganic N (NPK) and PSC applications increased seed yield about 10-32%,
shoot and root dry matter, on average, by 36% and 21% respectively in
mature plants. Micronutrients uptake and use efficiencies were generally
lower in PSC- plants than in NPK-plants. Results also showed increased
seed Fe (3-28%), Zn (10-26%) and Cu (6-31%) concentrations in NPK and
PSC-treated plants. Also, NPK (enriched with Se) significantly elevated seed
Se concentration and use efficiency (SeUE) in all plants. Interestingly, PSC
addition increased, although not significant, seed Se concentration and
SeUE in faba bean and wheat. But no such effect was observed in white
lupin. Overall, the results suggest that substitution of half-dose of NPK
fertilizer with pig slurry compost is a promising alternative of chemical
fertilizer for improved biomass yield and seed micronutrients (Zn, Fe and
Cu) concentration in sustainable intensifications.