Abstract: Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is the combined application of inorganic with organic fertilizer for soil fertility and improving crop yield. A study was conducted in West Arsi Zone, Shashemene District on six farmers' field to determine the combined effects of vermi compost as organic fertilizer and NPS as inorganic fertilizer on grain yield of bread wheat and soil chemical properties. There were eight treatments that were replicated over farmers ‘field. The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences (P≤ 0.05) between the treatments in wheat grain yield, plant height, and spike length. The highest grain yield (5130kg/ha) was obtained from T3 where 50% RNP combined with 8t/ha vermicompost followed by T7 (1275.53kg/ha) and T2 (1212.24kg/ha). The lowest grain yield was obtained from control (1944kg/ha). Composite soil samples were collected before compost application and after harvesting to evaluate the residual effect of compost on soil chemical properties. Accordingly, major soil nutrients after crop harvesting were increased at the treatments treated with maximum level of vermicompost. The partial budget analysis was done to recommend economically optimum rate of vermi compost integrated with chemical fertilizer. Accordingly, the highest net benefit (148,678.25 ETB ha-1) was recorded from treatment two where 4ton/ha vermicompost plus 50% recommended NP were applied. Therefore, 50%recommended NP plus half recommended vermi compost (4ton/ha) was economically feasible and recommended for scaling up of ISFM for bread wheat production in the district.Abstract: Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is the combined application of inorganic with organic fertilizer for soil fertility and improving crop yield. A study was conducted in West Arsi Zone, Shashemene District on six farmers' field to determine the combined effects of vermi compost as organic fertilizer and NPS as inorganic fertilizer on grain...Show More
Abstract: Reduction of organophosphate group of pesticides catalyzed by bimetallic nickel cobalt nanoparticles (NiCoNPs) in presence of sodium borohydride has been discussed. An easy, simple, quick and economically feasible approach has been made to synthesize the good ordered structures of hetero nanoparticles. These air stable nanoclusters could be synthesized most economically using nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate salts with tetrabutyl ammonium bromide as surfactant and sodium borohydride as reducing reagent. The nanoparticles were used to degrade pesticides like profenofos and imidacloprid under ambient conditions in aqueous media. The concentrations of Profenofos (PFF) were quantified by measuring the absorption intensities at λmax288 nm after treatment with KOH solution. The nickel nanocolloids in common organic solvents were found to be good catalysts for the reductive transformation of Profenofos but suffer considerable deactivation during recycling steps. The bimetallic group of particles containing cobalt and nickel however can be easily recovered and recycled three-four times without loss of catalytic activity. The bimetallic nanoclusters having average particle size 90-120 nm can degrade organophosphate group of pesticides within 120 minutes which is much less compared to photodegradation of such similar pesticides as reported in literatures. The study can become a protocol for waste water management with environmental benefits, strengthening the need of green chemistry in industrial projects.Abstract: Reduction of organophosphate group of pesticides catalyzed by bimetallic nickel cobalt nanoparticles (NiCoNPs) in presence of sodium borohydride has been discussed. An easy, simple, quick and economically feasible approach has been made to synthesize the good ordered structures of hetero nanoparticles. These air stable nanoclusters could be synthes...Show More
