Effects of application of two organomineral fertilizers on nutrient leaching losses and wheat crop

The topic of how to decrease environmentally adverse effects of agriculture without losing too much crop yield is an important issue. In this respect, nutrient leaching losses were studied from a soil (land fallowing is not practiced) treated with two types of organomineral fertilizers [organomineral fertilizer (OMF) and organic + inorganic fertilizer mixture (O +IF), respectively]. Inorganic N losses were greatest in the soil treated with the O + IF, followed by those treated with the OMF, the former of which resulted in more gradual losses than the latter. Losses of other elements supplied by the fertilizers, particularly P and K, were greatest for the O + IF, followed by OMF treatment. The high nutrient losses observed in the soil treated with the O + IF make it advisable to use an OMF in soils with an abundant water supply. The highest N/P ratios were produced by the OMF, which suggest a lower eutrophication risk in drainage waters from soils treated with this fertilizer. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Cajeme) yield parameters obtained and the alveographic assays showed that the OMF has a great potential of being used, at least on the wheat variety tested and under the pedoclimatic conditions prevailing in the study area. In this respect, application of OMF gave a significant increase in grain gross protein content of 2.9%, an increase in number of grains per spike of 2.2%, a significant increase in number of spikes per square meter of 3.4%, an increase in 1000-grain weight of 3.9%, and a significant yield increase of 2.5% with respect to the O + IF treatment.