Abstract
Purpose
Surface broadcasting application of prilled nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer by hand in small-scale upland crops is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and wastes of a significant amount of fertilizer, contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Methods
For this, a novel hand-held applicator for subsoil placement of NPK briquette was designed, developed, and tested both in the laboratory and experimental fields to evaluate applicator performance and its impact on field crop performance. The applicator works with the four mechanisms—feeding, metering, delivery, and subsurface placement with covering. The field experiment was conducted with four application treatments (NPK briquette application by applicator and hand, prilled NPK fertilizer as same dose and standard dose as applied by farmers).
Results
The result showed that the applicator had the highest consistent placement of NPK briquette (no losses) during laboratory and field tests. The applicator had a field capacity of 0.039 ha/h and field efficiency of 86.6%, which resulted in better performance than other application methods. The average hole coverage was 85.6%, the depth of placement was 77 mm, and the distance between the plant and the briquette application was 96.8 mm, all of which were close to the reference value. Moreover, crop yield was higher or similar to NPK briquette application by the applicator but significantly (p≤0.05) higher than other application methods. The weight of the applicator is 1.8 kg, so farmers can efficiently operate this user-friendly applicator.
Conclusion
NPK briquette applicator has shown excellent performance and significant potential for accurate, consistent, and deep precision placement of NPK briquette in the crop root zone for upland crops. Furthermore, the applicator has several advantages, including lower fertilizer costs and less drudgery associated with hand placement, which encourages farmers on a small-scale upland crop production.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- avg.:
-
Average
- BARI:
-
Bangladesh agricultural research institute
- CRU:
-
Control released urea
- CO2eq:
-
Carbon dioxide equivalent
- CSA:
-
Climate-smart agriculture
- DAT:
-
Day after transplantation
- DP:
-
Deep placement
- dec:
-
Decimal
- FAOSTAT:
-
Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database
- GDP:
-
Gross domestic product
- GWP:
-
Global warming potential
- IFDC:
-
International fertilizer development center
- IPCC:
-
Intergovernmental panel on climate change
- MS:
-
Mild steel
- RCB:
-
Randomized complete block
- GHG:
-
Greenhouse gases
- NPK:
-
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
- NUE:
-
Nitrogen use efficiency
- UB:
-
Urea briquette
- UPD:
-
Urea deep placement
- USG:
-
Urea super granule
- UNEP:
-
United Nations Environment Programme
References
Ahmad, R. (2021). A catalytic gene to cut a third of fertilizer use. Dhaka Tribune Newspaper, Dhaka, Bangladesh. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/agriculture/2021/01/23/a-catalytic-gene-to-cut-a-third-fertilizer-use
Ahmed, M., Rauf, M., Mukhtar, Z., & Saeed, N. A. (2017). Excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers: An unawareness causing serious threats to environment and human health. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 26983–26987. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0589-7
Akter, H., Tarafder, S., Huda, A., & Mahmud, A. (2015). Effect of prilled urea, urea and NPK briquettes on the yield of bitter gourd in two upazillas of Jessore District. Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, 8, 157–160. https://doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v8i1.24691
Alam, M. K., Islam, M. M., Salahin, N., & Hasanuzzaman, M. (2014). Effect of tillage practices on soil properties and crop productivity in wheat-mungbean-rice cropping system under subtropical climatic conditions. Scientific World Journal, 7, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/437283
Anas, M., Liao, F., Verma, K. K., Sarwar, M. A., Mahmood, A., Chen, Z. L., Li, Q., Zeng, X. P., Liu, Y., & Li, Y. R. (2020). Fate of nitrogen in agriculture and environment: Agronomic, eco-physiological and molecular approaches to improve nitrogen use efficiency. Biological Research, 53, 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-020-00312-4
Azad, A. K., Miaruddin, M., Wohab, M. A., Sheikh, M. H. R., Nag, B. L, & Rahman, M. H. H. (2020). Krishi Projukti Hatboi (Handbook on Agro-Technology), 9th edition. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh. http://www.bari.gov.bd/site/page/841c811d-14ad-4796-97a4-41cd602d3cfa/কৃষি-প্রযুক্তি-হাতবই
BBS. (2021). Bangladesh: An overview. In Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics-2020, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Statistics and Informatics Division (SID), Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. http://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b2db8758_8497_412c_a9ec_6bb299f8b3ab/2021-08-11-04-54-154c14988ce53f65700592b03e05a0f8.pdf
Bijay-Singh, & Craswell, E. (2021). Fertilizers and nitrate pollution of surface and ground water: An increasingly pervasive global problem. SN Applied Sciences, 3, 518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04521-8
Carvalho, P., & Foulkes, M. J. (2019). Roots and uptake of water and nutrients. In Crop Science (pp. 107–130). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8621-7_195
Chandini, R. K., Kumar, R., & Prakash, O. (2019). The impact of chemical fertilizers on our environment and ecosystem. In Research Trends in Environmental Sciences (2nd ed., pp. 71–86). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331132826
Chatterjee, D., Mohanty, S., Kumar Guru, P., Kumar Swain, C., Tripathi, R., Shahid, M., Kumar, U., Kumar, A., Bhattacharyya, P., Gautam, P., Lal, B., Kumar Dash, P., & Kumar Nayak, A. (2018). Comparative assessment of urea briquette applicators on greenhouse gas emission, nitrogen loss and soil enzymatic activities in tropical lowland rice. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 152, 178–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.013
Chen, Z., Wang, Q., Ma, J., Zou, P., & Jiang, L. (2020). Impact of controlled-release urea on rice yield, nitrogen use efficiency and soil fertility in a single rice cropping system. Scientific Reports, 10, 10432. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67110-6
Choudhury, A., Sarker, M., & Rashid, M. (2015). Response of vegetables to NPK briquette deep placement. Kasetsart Journal - Natural Science, 49, 1–11.
Chowdhury, M. A. H., & Hassan, M. S. (2013). Agricultural technology hand book. In Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. Farmgate, Dhaka, Bangladesh. http://btri.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btri.portal.gov.bd/page/a556434c_e9c9_4269_9f4e_df75d712604d/Hand.Book of Agricultural Technology.pdf
de Pinto, A., Cenacchi, N., Kwon, H. Y., Koo, J., & Dunston, S. (2020). Climate smart agriculture and global food-crop production. PLoS ONE, 15(4), e0231764. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231764
Dhakal, K., Baral, B. R., Pokhrel, K. R., Pandit, N. R., Thapa, S. B., Gaihre, Y. K., & Vista, S. P. (2020). Deep placement of briquette urea increases agronomic and economic efficiency of maize in sandy loam soil. Agrivita, 42(3), 499–508. https://doi.org/10.17503/agrivita.v42i3.2766
Dudda, W. (2018). Strength analysis of a boom sprayer with the use of CAD/CAE systems. Mechanik, 91(7), 549–551. https://doi.org/10.17814/mechanik.2018.7.80
Fan, D. J., Liu, T. Q., Sheng, F., Li, S. H., Cao, C. G., & Li, C. F. (2020). Nitrogen deep placement mitigates methane emissions by regulating methanogens and methanotrophs in no-tillage paddy fields. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 56, 711–727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-020-01447-y
FRG. (2018). Fertilizer Recommendation Guide 2018, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Farmgate, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://moa.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/moa.portal.gov.bd/page/9d1b92d4_1793_43af_9425_0ed49f27b8d0/FRG-2018%20%28English%29.pdf
Gavlak, R., Horneck, R., & Miller, R. O. (2005). Soil, plant and water reference methods for the Western Region. In Soil, Plant and Water Reference Methods for the Western Region (3nd ed. Re). Western Rural Development Center. https://lter.kbs.msu.edu/protocols/108
Hoque, M. A., Gathala, M. K., Hossain, M. M., Ziauddin, A. T. M., & Krupnik, T. J. (2021). Modified strip tillage blades for two-wheel tractor seed drills improves maize crop establishment under conservation agriculture. Development Engineering, 6, 100061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.deveng.2021.100061
Hoque, M. A., Karim, M. R., Miah, M. S., Rahman, M. A., & Rahman, M. M. (2016). Field performance of BARI urea super granule applicator. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 41(1), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v41i1.27676
Hoque, M. A., Wohab, M. A., Hossain, M. A., Saha, K. K., & Hassan, M. S. (2013). Improvement and evaluation of Bari USG applicator. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 15(2), 87–94.
Hossen, M., Rahman, M., Zaman, M., & Islam, M. (2017). Field evaluation of Brri Usg applicator in dry and wet season of rice cultivation. Bangladesh Rice Journal, 20(2), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.3329/brj.v20i2.34128
Hunt, L. A., White, J. W., & Hoogenboom, G. (2001). Agronomic data: Advances in documentation and protocols for exchange and use. Agricultural Systems, 70(2–3), 477–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-521X(01)00056-7
IFDC. (2017). Rapid introduction and market development for urea deep placement technology for lowland transplanted rice: A reference guide. International Fertilizer Development Center. https://lccn.loc.gov/2016042889
IFDC. (2018). Accelerating Vegetable Productivity Improvement (AVPI). International Fertilizer Development Center. https://ifdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IFDC-Walmart-Foundation-AVPI-Monthly-Report-November-2018-Final.pdf
Jin Park, K., Vohnikova, Z., & Pedro Reis Brod, F. (2002). Evaluation of drying parameters and desorption isotherms of garden mint leaves (Mentha crispa L.). Journal of Food Engineering, 51(6), 193–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0260-8774(01)00055-3
Kalev, S. D., & Toor, G. S. (2018). The composition of soils and sediments. In Green Chemistry: An Inclusive Approach (pp. 339–357). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809270-5.00014-5
Kasirajan, S., & Ngouajio, M. (2012). Polyethylene and biodegradable mulches for agricultural applications: A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 32, 501–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0068-3
Kepner, R. A., Bainer, R., & Barger, E. L. (1978). Principles of farm machienry (Third edit). CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd. https://content.kopykitab.com/ebooks/2017/10/11971/sample/sample_11971.pdf
Knoema. (2021). Bangladesh - urea - agricultural use. Knoema — Commodities Data Hub. Food and Agriculture Organization, World Data Atlas. https://knoema.com/FAORFBFP/faostat-fertilizers-by-product?country=1000130&item=1000210&element=1000000&frequency=A
Koli, P., Bhardwaj, N. R., & Mahawer, S. K. (2019). Agrochemicals: Harmful and beneficial effects of climate changing scenarios. In Climate Change and Agricultural Ecosystems: Current Challenges and Adaptation (pp. 65–94). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816483-9.00004-9
Mahashin, M., & Roy, R. (2018). Mapping practices and technologies of climate-smart agriculture in Bangladesh. Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, 10(2), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v10i2.39010
Manuwa, S. I. (2013). Soil behaviour characteristics under applied forces in confined and unconfined spaces. In Advances in Agrophysical Research (p. 1). https://doi.org/10.5772/52774
Mulligan, K. (2016). Technology Dissemination and Design, Fertilizer deep placement. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USA (p. 1–6). https://ingenaes.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/ING-Tech-Profile-2016-Fertilizer-Deep-Placement-Bangladesh.pdf
Page, A. L., Miller, R. H. H., Keny, D. R., & Kuny, D. R. (1989). Methods of soil analysis-Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties (2nd ed). American Society of Agronomy, Inc. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed
Patra, S., Mishra, P., Mahapatra, S. C., & Mithun, S. K. (2016). Modelling impacts of chemical fertilizer on agricultural production: A case study on Hooghly district, West Bengal, India. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 2, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-016-0223-6
Polakowski, C., Ryżak, M., Sochan, A., Beczek, M., Mazur, R., & Bieganowski, A. (2021). Particle size distribution of various soil materials measured by laser diffraction—the problem of reproducibility. Minerals, 11, 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11050465
R Core Team. (2018). A language and environment for statistical computing (3.5.1.). In R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.r-project.org/index.html
Rahman, K. M. A., & Zhang, D. (2018). Effects of fertilizer broadcasting on the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and environmental sustainability. Sustainability (Switzerland), 10, 759. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030759
Rahman, M. M., Mahejabin, A., & Al Mamun, M. (2021a). Annual Plan 2020-21 and Report 2019-20, Rural Development Academy (RDA). Bogura, 5842, Bangladesh. http://rda.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/rda.portal.gov.bd/page/bce49554_a975_41c5_b874_1689dccba266/2020-12-28-09-35-22b51012ad0b31f7f79061a863dc5efd.pdf
Rahman, M. M., Aravindakshan, S., Hoque, M. A., Rahman, M. A., Gulandaz, M. A., Rahman, J., & Islam, M. T. (2021b). Conservation tillage (CT) for climate-smart sustainable intensification: Assessing the impact of CT on soil organic carbon accumulation, greenhouse gas emission and water footprint of wheat cultivation in Bangladesh. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 10, 100106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2021.100106
Rahman, M. T. (2017). Role of agriculture in Bangladesh economy: Uncovering the problems and challenges. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 6(7), 36–46. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3697022
Sarma, P. K. (2021). Adoption and impact of super granulated urea (guti urea) technology on farm productivity in Bangladesh: A Heckman two-stage model approach. Environmental Challenges, 5, 100228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100228
Savant, N. K., Ongkingco, P. S., Zarate, I. V., Torrizo, F. M., & Stangel, P. J. (1991). Urea briquette applicator for transplanted rice. Fertilizer Research, 28, 323–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054333
Sayed, A., Sarker, A., Kim, J. E., Rahman, M. M., & Mahmud, M. G. A. (2020). Environmental sustainability and water productivity on conservation tillage of irrigated maize in red brown terrace soil of Bangladesh. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 19(4), 276–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2019.03.002
Sikder, R., & Xiaoying, J. (2014). Urea super granule (USG) as key conductor in agricultural productivity development in Bangladesh. Developing Country Studies, 4(6), 132–139. https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/DCS/article/view/11794/12148
UNEP. (2017). The Emissions Gap Report 2017 - A UN environment synthesis report. In United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.04.034
Wang, X., Liu, S., Yin, X., Bellaloui, N., Winings, J. H., Agyin-Birikorang, S., Singh, U., Sanabria, J., & Mengistu, A. (2020). Maize grain composition with additions of NPK briquette and organically enhanced N fertilizer. Agronomy, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060852
Wohab, M. A., Gaihre, Y. K., Ziauddin, A. T. M., & Hoque, M. A. (2017). Design, development and field evaluation of manual-operated applicators for deep placement of fertilizer in puddled rice fields. Agricultural Research, 6(3), 259–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-017-0267-5
Wong, J. Y. (2010). Introduction. In Terramechanics and Off-Road Vehicle Engineering (Second Edition) (pp. 1–19). Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-8561-0.00001-4
Worldbank. (2019). In Bangladesh climate-smart agriculture investment plan: Investment opportunities in the agriculture sector’s transition to a climate resilient growth path. https://doi.org/10.1596/32742
Zhu, C., Xiang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhu, D., & Chen, H. (2019). Mechanized transplanting with side deep fertilization increases yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice in Eastern China. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 5653. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42039-7
Zhu, S., Liu, L., Xu, Y., Yang, Y., & Shi, R. (2020). Application of controlled release urea improved grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency: A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 15(10), e0241481. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241481
Acknowledgements
The laboratory and workshop facility were provided by the Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division, BARI, Gazipur.
Funding
The funding for this study was supported by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) under the regular core research for the sustainable machinery development programme.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 1263 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Miah, M.S., Rahman, M.M., Hoque, M.A. et al. Design and Performance Evaluation of NPK Briquette Applicator for Small-Scale Upland Crops. J. Biosyst. Eng. 47, 270–285 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42853-022-00145-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42853-022-00145-x