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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/FWSH/04
Development and testing of soluble NPK fertilizer for improving the quality of food
crops under drip irrigation system

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Muhammad Aslam* , Asif Naeem and Shermeen Tahir
1 Soil and Environmental Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology
(NIAB), Faisalabad, Pakistan
Correspondence: moeedaslam@niab.org.pk

Abstract
Drip irrigation system could save irrigation water, however, unavailability of good quality
commercially soluble NPK fertilizer in affordable prices is a major constraint in its adoption
by the farmers. Therefore, a soluble NPK fertilizer was prepared at Nuclear Institute for
Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad and evaluated in field experiments on maize,
tomato (under tunnels) and citrus for three years at three locations viz. Faisalabad, Renala
Khurd and Koont at 10 and 15% of maximum allowable deficit (MAD) under drip irrigation.
For conventional sowing (bed & furrow), fertilizers (Urea, DAP and SOP) were applied at
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recommended rates (N, P2O5 and K2O at 250, 125 and 125 kg ha for maize; 500, 225 and 375
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kg ha for tomato and 300, 150 and 150 g plant annum for citrus, respectively) and named
as farmer’s practice or control. Under drip irrigation system, NIAB soluble NPK fertilizer was
applied at 50 and 75%, while Imported NPK at 75% of the recommended rates. The average
of three years/locations data depicted that in maize grain the maximum concentrations of N
(1.57%), P (0.37%) and K (0.42%) were recorded in 75% NIAB-NPK fertilizer treatment as
compared to Farmer’s practice (N: 1.31%; P: 0.29% & K: 0.35%). In tomatoes the maximum
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concentration of N (2.68%), P (0.35%) and K (3.40%), firmness (3.96 kg cm ) and TSS
(5.28°Brix) were recorded in 75% NIAB-NPK fertilizer treatment as compared to Farmer’s
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practice (N: 2.0%; P: 0.27%; K: 2.68%; firmness: 3.46 kg cm & TSS: 4.74°Brix). Similarly,
in citrus leaves the maximum concentrations of N (2.77%), P (0.23%) and K (1.88%) were
recorded in 75% NIAB-NPK fertilizer treatment as compared to Farmer’s practice (N: 2.26%;
P: 0.16% & K: 1.47%). It is concluded that NIAB–NPK fertilizer improved nutritional/quality
parameters of maize, tomato and citrus with the saving of 25% fertilizer at 15% of MAD level.
Keywords: Fertigation, High Efficiency Irrigation Systems, Soluble fertilizers, Tunnel,
Nutrition

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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