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point-placed calcium ammonium nitrate. The split N application enhanced the N
use efficiency (Uyovbisere and Lombin 1991 ).
The placement of the fertilizer in relation to seed position in soil can influence
the uptake, crop response and crop germination and onward performance. Both the
N and K should never be mixed with crop seeds because they can delay the germina-
tion and may cause seedling mortality, and the loss can be more on frequently dry-
ing soils (Carter 1967 ; Mason 1971 ). Band placement of N and K fertilizers below
the seed at some distance is quite beneficial than other fertilizer placement methods
(Nyborg and Hennig 1969 ). However, in the soils severely deficient in phosphate,
mixing of phosphate fertilizer with the seeds of cereals at sowing is very useful
(Loutit et al. 1968 ). The surface placement of phosphatic fertilizer is less effective
in dryland soils due to its fixation. The availability may further decrease upon dry-
ing of the soil surface as happens in drylands. In India, substantial increase in dry-
land crop yields with the amendment of soil with micronutrients and the yield was
further enhanced when both micronutrients and adequate N and P were applied in
sorghum, mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), maize, chickpea, pigeonpea,
groundnut and castor bean (Ricinus communis L.). Supplementing crops with
micronutrients also enhanced the rainwater productivity in these crops (Rego et al.
2005 ).
A crop usually obtains 45–70 % of its total N from soil which necessities that the
application of N should be done on the basis of soil N supplying capacity in dryland
soils. For dryland soils, the fertilizer application should be done in furrows below
the crop seed, which will not only help to replenish crop nutrients but will also help
to efficiently utilize the soil moisture. In P deficient soil, and the dry soils where the
root penetration is not too much, the P fertilizers must be placed very near to young
seedlings so that it can be readily absorbed by the plant roots. In a study at Agra,
India, the mixing of P fertilizer with seed or band application 10 cm below the seed
gave higher black gram yield than the broadcasting of P fertilizer. At Indore, the
soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) yields were much higher when P fertilizer was
placed in furrow, or at/below the seed level (Sharma et al. 1979 ). In dryland soils,
the foliar application of P is also beneficial. In cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.),
P use efficiency was enhanced when some of the P fertilizer was drilled into the soil
at the time of sowing and the rest of P was foliage applied in the form of 5 % solu-
tion of triple superphosphate (Gill et al. 1971 ; Mohta and De 1971 ). In India, the
recommended fertilizer application schedule for dryland crops consist of drilling
the basal fertilizer application 5–10 cm below the upper soil curst. In the season
with high rainfall, whole of K and P, while a portion of the N dose are used as basal
dose in India. However, in dry spells of little or no rainfall, the full amount of fertil-
izers is applied as basal dose. Yield improvement from 340 to 1500 kg grain ha−^1
has been reported in dryland crops in India due to adoption of this recommended
fertilizer placement method (Venkateswarlu 1987 ).
A. Nawaz and M. Farooq