Nitrogen‐Supplying Capacity of Soils for Rice and Wheat and Nitrogen Availability Indices in Soils of Northwest India

Abstract

Quantitative assessment of soil nitrogen (N) that will become available is important for determining fertilizer needs of crops. Nitrogen‐supplying capacity of soil to rice and wheat was quantified by establishing zero‐N plots at on‐farm locations to which all nutrients except N were adequately supplied. Nitrogen uptake in zero‐N plots ranged from 41.4 to 110.3 kg N ha^?1 for rice and 33.7 to 123.4 kg N ha^?1 for wheat. Availability of soil N was also studied using oxidative, hydrolytic, and autoclaving indices, salt‐extraction indices, light‐absorption indices, and aerobic and anaerobic incubation indices. These were correlated with yield and N uptake by rice and wheat in zero‐N plots. Nitrogen extracted by alkaline KMnO₄ and phosphate borate buffer and nitrogen mineralized under aerobic incubation were satisfactory indices of soil N supply. For rice, 2 M KCl and alkaline KMnO₄ were the best N‐availability indices. Thus, alkaline KMnO₄ should prove a quick and reliable indicator of indigenous soil N supply in soils under a rice–wheat cropping system.     

Leaching and Transformation of Nitrogen Fertilizers in Soil After Application of N with Irrigation： A Soil Column Method

A soil column method was used to compare the effect of drip fertigation （the application of fertilizer through drip irrigation systems, DFI） on the leaching loss and transformation of urea-N in soil with that of surface fertilization combined with flood irrigation （SFI）, and to study the leaching loss and transformation of three kinds of nitrogen fertilizers （nitrate fertilizer, ammonium fertilizer, and urea fertilizer） in two contrasting soils after the fertigation. In comparison to SFI, DFI decreased leaching loss of urea-N from the soil and increased the mineral N （NH4^＋-N ＋ NO3^--N） in the soil. The N leached from a clay loam soil ranged from 5.7% to 9.6% of the total N added as fertilizer, whereas for a sandy loam soil they ranged between 16.2% and 30.4%. Leaching losses of mineral N were higher when nitrate fertilizer was used compared to urea or ammonium fertilizer. Compared to the control （without urea addition）, on the first day when soils were fertigated with urea, there were increases in NH4^＋-N in the soils. This confirmed the rapid hydrolysis of urea in soil during fertigation. NH4^＋-N in soils reached a peak about 5 days after fertigation, and due to nitrification it began to decrease at day 10. After applying NH4^＋-N fertilizer and urea and during the incubation period, the mineral nitrogen in the soil decreased. This may be related to the occurrence of NH4^＋-N fixation or volatilization in the soil during the fertigation process.     

How Does Nitrogen Application Ameliorate Negative Effects of Long-Term Drought in Two Maize Cultivars in Relation to Plant Growth,Water Status,and Nitrogen Metabolism?

Two maize cultivars, Shaandan 9 (S₉) and Shaandan 911 (S₉₁₁), were investigated to explore the ameliorating effects of nitrogen (N) addition on their growth, water status, and N metabolism under long-term drought stress (DS). Elevated N rate increased dry matter, grain yield, relative water content, nitrate reductase activity, soluble protein concentration, and concentrations of free proline and endogenous glycinebetaine (main contributors to osmoregulation) of both cultivars under DS than control. The responses under DS were more significant for S₉₁₁ than those for S₉, especially at high N rate. Additionally, S₉ maintained greater evaluated parameters than S₉₁₁ with no N addition under DS, and these differences decreased with N application. Correlations were more evident among all parameters under DS than those under control. Thus, moderate N plays an evident physiological role in alleviation of DS effects on plant growth by improving water status and N metabolism, especially for drought-sensitive cultivars.     

Natural Nitrogen-15 Abundance of Ammonium Nitrogen and Fixed Ammonium in Soils

The present article deals with the natural nitrogen-15 abundance of ammonium nitrogen and fixed ammonium in different soils.Variations in the natural ^15N abundance of ammonium nitrogen mineralized in soils under anaerobic incubation condition were related to soil pH.The δ ^15N of mineralizable N in acid soils was lower but that in neutral and calcareous soils was higher compared with the δ ^15N of total N in the soils.A variation tendence was also found in the δ ^15N of amino-acid N in the hydrolysates of soils.The natural ^15N abundance of fixed ammonium was higher than that of total N in most surface soils and other soil horizons,indicating that the increase of δ ^15N in the soil borizons beneath subsurface horizon of some forest soils and acid paddy soils was related to the higher δ ^15N value of fixed ammonium in the soil.     

Nitrogen Fertilizer Influences Fruit Quality,Soil Nutrients and Cover Crops,Leaf Color and Nitrogen Content,Biennial Bearing and Cold Hardiness of ‘Golden Delicious’

Four rates of ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) (0, 151, 454, and 908 g actual N/tree) were applied each spring for 6 years to ‘Golden Delicious’ (Malus domestica) apple trees. High rates of nitrogen (N) increased N concentration of Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) blades and increased cover-grass growth whereas various legume species were prevalent at the low rates. Leaf N in spur or mid-terminal leaves increased yearly, and was related to leaf color by visual comparison and reflectance. Fruit from the higher N rates had greener peel and lower firmness, soluble solids content and titratable acidity. In vitro freeze tests indicated trees fertilized with lower rates of N were more cold hardy during the fall, winter and spring than those receiving the higher rates. In a similar long-term study on ‘Delicious,’ cold hardiness was related not only to seasonal temperature cycles and shoot dry matter, but to total sugars and sorbitol content in wood or sap.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Flows in the Finnish Agricultural and Forest Sectors, 1910–2000

An assessment of the environmental quality of sediments at several locations of the Ría de Pontevedra (NW of Spain) was performed by integrating toxicity data obtained from multiespecies bioassays, chemical data from analysis of mussels and sediment, and physical–chemical parameters of the sampled sites. Subsequently, a toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) method intended for characterization and identification of the toxic agents was applied to the most polluted location by using the Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin bioassay. Both metals and organic compounds seem to be the causative agents of toxicity in elutriates of the studied sediment. Finally, multivariate statistics were applied for a better interpretation of results. A factor analysis was developed to establish the relationship among variables and to derive local sediment quality guidelines (SQG) by linking chemical contamination to biological effects. When multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were performed to group the locations according to either the chemistry or toxicity data, P3-site was always clearly broken up the others. The different approaches all supported the same conclusion: site P3 can be considered highly contaminated by both trace metals and PAHs resulting in high toxicity for all the tested species.     

Mitrification-Denitrification Loss of Added Nitrogen in Flooded RiceRhizosphere

Nitrification-denitrification losses of 15N-labelled nitrate and ammonium applied to the rhizos phere and nonrhizosphere of flooded rice were evaluated in 2 greenhouse rhizobox experiments.The loss of added N via denitrification was estimated directly by measuring the total fluxes of (N2O N2)12N,It was found that 67% and 51%-56% of 15N-nitrate added to rice rhizosphere were lost as (N2O N2)-15N in the 2 experiments,respectively,which were comparable to that added to norhizosphere soil(70%and 47%,respectively),implying that the denitrifying activity in rice rhizosphere was as high as that in nonrhizosphere soil.However,only trace amounts (0-0\3% of added N)were recovered as (N2O N2)-15N when 15N-ammonium was applied to either rhizosphere or nonrhizosphere,which seems to indicate that the nitrifying activity in the either rhizosphere of nonrhizosphere soils was quite low.The apparent denitrification calculated from 15N balance studies was 10%-47% higher than the total flux of (N2O N2)-15N.Reasons for the large differences can not be explained satisfactorily.Though the denitrifying activity in rhizosphere was high and comparable to that in nonrhizosphere soil.presumably due to the low nitrifying activity and /or the strong competition of N uptake against denitrification.the nitrification-denitrification taking place in rhizosphere could not be an important mechanism of loss of ammonium N in flooded rice-soil system.     

Boiling Potassium Chloride–Extractable Nitrogen as an Index of Potentially Mineralizable and Plant‐Available Nitrogen in Soil

Abstract

Mineralization of soil organic nitrogen (N) and its contribution toward crop N uptake is central to developing efficient N‐management practices. Because biological incubation methods are time consuming and do not fit into the batch‐analysis techniques of soil‐testing laboratories, an analytical procedure that can provide an estimate of the mineralizable N would be useful as a soil‐test method for predicting plant‐available N in soil. In the present studies, the ability of boiling potassium chloride (KCl) to extract potentially mineralizable and plant‐available N in arable soils of semi‐arid India was tested against results from biological incubations and uptake of N by wheat in a pot experiment. Mineralization of organic N in soils was studied in the laboratory by conducting aerobic incubations for 112 days at 32°C and 33 KPa of moisture. Cumulative N mineralization in different soils ranged from 8.2 to 75.6 mg N kg^?1 soil that constituted 2.7 to 8.8% of organic N. The amount of mineral N extracted by KCl increased with increase in length of boiling from 0.5 to 2 h. Boiling for 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 h resulted in an increase in mineral‐N extraction by 9.3, 12.7, 19.6, and 26.1%, respectively, as compared to mineral N extracted at room temperature. The boiling‐KCl‐hydrolyzable N (ΔN_i) was directly dependent upon soil organic N content, but the presence of clay retarded hydrolysis for boiling lengths of 0.5 and 1 h. However, for boiling lengths of 1.5, and 2 h, the negative effect of clay was not apparent. The ΔN _i was significantly (P=0.05) correlated to cumulative N mineralized and N‐mineralization potential (N₀). The relationship between N₀ and ΔN _i was curvilinear and was best described by a power function. Boiling length of 2 h accounted for 78% of the variability in N₀. Results of the pot experiment showed that at 21‐ and 63‐day growth stages, dry‐matter yield and N uptake by wheat were significantly correlated to boiling‐KCl‐extractable mineral N. Thus, boiling KCl could be used to predict potentially mineralizable and plant‐available N in these soils, and a boiling time of 2 h was most suitable to avoid the negatively affected estimates of boiling‐KCl‐hydrolyzable N in the presence of clay. The results have implications for selecting length of boiling in soils varying widely in clay content, and this may explain why, in earlier studies, longer boiling times (viz. 2 or 4 h) were better predictors of N availability as compared to 0.5 and 1 h.     

Effects of Fertilizer Nitrogen on Short‐Term Nitrogen Loss in Bypass Flow in a Vertisol

Bypass flow, the vertical flow of free water along the walls of macropores or preferential flow paths in the soil, can lead to movement of fertilizer nutrients beyond the reach of plants. Fertilizer type and the rate of application, as well as the amount, frequency, and intensity of rainfall, can influence the amount of fertilizer nitrogen (N) loss in leaching or bypass flow. The effect of fertilizer N form and rate of application on N recovery in bypass flow in a Kenyan Vertisol was determined. Calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, used to supply nitrate (NO₃ ^?)‐N and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)‐N, respectively, were surface‐broadcast to 40‐cm‐long undisturbed soil columns at equivalent rates of 50, 100, and 200 kg N ha^?1. Using a rainfall simulator, two rainfall events (30 mm of water applied in 1 h) were applied to the soil columns, one before and the other after fertilizer application. Total N, NO₃ ^?‐N, and NH₄ ⁺‐N concentrations in the bypass flow were determined after the second rainfall event. The application of NH₄ ⁺‐N, regardless of the rate, had no effect on N recovery in the bypass flow. When nitrate N was applied, the amount of fertilizer N recovered in the bypass flow significantly increased with the rate of NO₃ ^?‐N application. Of the total N in the bypass flow, 24 to 48% was derived from the soil, the bulk of which was organic N. It is concluded that following the application of NO₃ ^?‐N, bypass flow is an important avenue of loss of both fertilizer and soil N from Vertisols.     

Efficient Management of Nitrogen Fertilizers for Flooded Rice in Relation to Nitrogen Transformations in Flooded Soils

Recent progresses in efficient management of nitrogen fertilizers for flooded rice in relation to nitrogen transformations in flooded soil were reviewed.Considerable progress has been achieved in the investigation on the mechanism of ammonia loss and the factors affecting it .However,little progress has been obtained in the investigations on nitrification-denitrification loss owing to the lack of method for estimating the fluxes of gaseous N products.Thus,so far the management practices developed or under investigation primarily for reducing ammonia loss are feasible or promising,while those for reducing nitrification-denitrification loss seem obscure,except the point deep placement. In addition,it was emphasized that the prediction of soil N supply and the recommendation of the optimal rate of N application based on it are only semi-quantitative.The priorities in research for improving the prediction are indicated.     

Effect of Straw Incorporation on 15N‐Labeled Ammonium Nitrogen Uptake and Rice Growth

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the effect of rice straw residue on growth and uptake of added ¹⁵N‐labeled ammonium nitrogen (NH₄‐N) (3% ¹⁵N abundance at the rate of 150 kg N ha^?) by rice in Crowley silt loam soil (Typic Albaqualfs). Higher rates of rice straw addition had an adverse affect on plant growth from the first to sixth week. After 6 weeks, the high rice straw treatment had a positive effect on plant growth (P<0.05). The ¹⁵N‐labeled ammonium or fertilizer nitrogen (N) uptake by rice was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the high rice straw treatment as compared to lower rice straw treatments. Greater plant growth was recorded under alternate flooding and draining condition as compared to continuously flooded treatment (P<0.01).     

Seasonal Variations of Nitrogen Isotopic Ratios of Ammonium and Nitrate in Precipitations Collected in the Yahiko–Kakuda Mountains Area in Niigata Prefecture,Japan

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Precipitation was collected from May 15, 2001 to November 18, 2002, at the mountain top (620&nbsp;m a.s.l.) and mountain foot (47&nbsp;m a.s.l.) of the...     

Soil Total Nitrogen and Natural 15Nitrogen in Response to Long-Term Fertilizer Management of a Maize–Wheat Cropping System in Northern China

The Fengqiu long-term field experiment was established to examine effects of organic manure and mineral fertilizers on soil total nitrogen (N) and natural ¹⁵N abundance. Fertilizer regimes include organic manure (OM), one-half N from organic manure plus one-half N from mineral N fertilizer (1/2OMN), mineral fertilizers [N–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K), NP, NK, PK], and a control. Organic manure (OM and 1/2OMN) significantly increased soil total N and δ¹⁵N, which was expected as a great amount of the N applied remained in soils. Mineral NPK fertilizer and mineral NP fertilizer significantly increased total N and slightly increaed δ¹⁵N. Phosphorus-deficient fertilization (NK) and N-deficient fertilization (PK) had no effect on soil total N. Significantly greater δ¹⁵N was observed in the NK treatment as compared to the control, suggesting that considerable N was lost by ammonia (NH₃) voltalization and denitrification in this P-deficiency fertilization regime.     

Nitrogen and organic matter of volcanic ash soils of Santa Bárbara Association in Chile

Santa Bárbara association is a group of Andosols widely distributed on the western foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Central Valley of Chile from about 36° to 40° south latitude. The soils of this association may be divided into two groups—south and north—by the characteristics of soil organic matter, although they are much alike in morphology. The line of demarcation between the groups lies at about 38° south latitude.

The potential nitrogen fertility or , the content of easily decomposable organic nitrogen is greater in the south soils than in the north soils of which humic matter is at a more advanced stage of humification, as compared with that of the south soils. Dry summers have caused the north soils to lessen in their potential nitrogen fertility and to stimulate humification of organic matter, altering the organic matter in quantity as well as in nature. It is evident that the analysis of soil organic matter is an effectual measure for the characterization of Andosols, and hence for the classification of the soils.

It is very probable that a considerable water erosion has occurred in the soils of this association, transporting the fine soil particles from the mid-slope to the foot of the hills.     

Release Rates of Ammonium‐Nitrogen,Nitrate‐Nitrogen,Phosphorus, Potassium,Magnesium, Iron,and Manganese from Seven Controlled‐Release Fertilizers

Abstract

Samples of seven controlled‐release fertilizers, Nutricote Total 13–13–13, Nutricote Total 18–6–8, Osmocote Plus 15–9–12, Osmocote 13–13–13, Polyon 18–6–12, Polyon 14–14–14, and Plantacote 14–8–15, were placed in leaching columns containing acid‐washed sand. Samples of all leachates were analyzed weekly to determine release rates of ammonium‐nitrogen (N), nitrate‐N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe). Release rates for P from all products were slower than those for NH₄‐N, NO₃‐N, and K. Release of Mg, Mn, and Fe was very poor, with less than 50% of the total amount of each of these elements ever being released from the prills for some products. Nutricote products released Fe and Mn more effectively than did Osmocote or Plantacote.     

Effect of B,Mn and Zn on nodulation and N2‐fixation in southernpeas

Abstract

Two greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of B, Mn and Zn on nodulation and N₂‐fixation of southernpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Halp.) cultivars ‘Freezegreen’, ‘Mississippi Silver’ and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’. The cultivars were grown in plastic pots with a Norfolk sandy loam (fine, loamy siliceous thermic, Typic Paleudult) soil treated with B, Mn and Zn at rates of 0, 5, 10 and 20 kg/ha each at pH levels 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. At pH 6.5 all micronutrient treatments significantly increased nodulation and N₂‐fixation over the control (no micronutrient applied). The effects of B, Mn and Zn on nodulation and N₂‐fixation depended on the cultivar and soil pH. For plants given the 5 kg/ha B and Mn treatments, ‘Mississippi Silver’ produced the highest number of nodules and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’ the least. At 20 kg/ha Zn, nodulation of ‘Freezegreen’ was highest and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’ the lowest. As a whole, maximum nodulation was at 5 kg/ha B and Mn and 20 kg/ha for Zn. Nitrogen fixation rates responded similarly except that the optimum rate for Zn was 10 kg/ha. Seed yield of plants peaked at 5 kg/ha for B and 10 kg/ha for Zn, indicating a possible relation of N₂‐fixation to seed yield.     

Estimation of Plant‐Available Nitrogen in Soils using Rapid Chemical and Biological Methods

The relationships between potential laboratory indices for plant‐available nitrogen (N) and the plant N uptake in a pot experiment with ryegrass were assessed for 13 mineral soils and 2 peat soils. The methods included aerobic soil incubation, soil incubation in a bioreactor, hot potassium chloride (KCl)–extractable mineral N, 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂)–extractable N, and N loss at heating. The indices for total plant‐available N accounted for 63–93% of the variance in N uptake in a statistical analysis with all soils (n = 15) and 27–89% for the mineral soils (n = 13). Most indices were not a direct quantitative measure of the plant N uptake. The N mineralization indices accounted for 57–86% of the variance in N mineralization for all soils and 5–50% for the mineral soils. Hot KCl‐extractable mineral N and 0.01 M CaCl₂–extractable N were the most promising rapid indices for plant‐available N.     

Nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium effects on pre‐ and post‐transplant growth of salvia and vinca seedlings

Pre‐ and post‐transplant growth of bedding plants is affected by seedling nutrition. However, there is little information available on how seedling nutrition affects the growth of ornamental bedding plants. In this study, we quantified the effects of nitrogen (N) (8 to 32 mM) and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentration (0.25 to 1 mM) of the seedling fertilizer on pre‐ and post‐transplant growth and nutrient element content of salvia (Salvia splendens F. Sellow ex Roem. & Schult.) and vinca (Catharanthus roseus L.) seedlings. Shoot growth of salvia and vinca increased with increasing concentrations of N in the pre‐transplant fertilizer and these differences lasted until the end of the study at 15 days after transplanting. Pre‐transplant root dry mass of these species was not affected by the N concentration of the fertilizer, but root dry mass at 12 days after transplanting was positively correlated with the N concentration of the pre‐transplant fertilizer. Increasing N concentrations in the seedling fertilizer increased tissue N levels of salvia and decreased tissue K level of vinca at transplanting. Increasing P and K concentrations in the pre‐transplant fertilizer increased tissue P level of salvia and P and K levels of vinca, but had little effect on seedling growth. Leaf area and root dry mass at transplanting decreased slightly with increasing P and K concentration in the fertilizer. There were no lasting effects of pre‐transplant P and K concentration of the fertilizer. These results indicate that salvia and vinca seedlings can benefit from high concentrations of N (up to 32 mM) in the fertilizer, while only low concentrations of P and K (0.25 mM) are needed.     

Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilization of a Coastal Plain Cotton–Peanut Rotation

Abstract

A cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)–peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation is widely practiced in the southern coastal plain following the reemergence of cotton as a major crop in the 1990s. Very few plant nutrition studies have been conducted in the coastal plain (CP) with modern cotton varieties and none with the cotton–peanut rotation. Experiments with varying rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were conducted to determine if the recommendations from soil tests provide adequate nutrition for maximizing profit when yield goals are Georgia state averages, due to other conditions. From 1996 through 1998, N, P, and K experiments were conducted in cotton crops, and P and K experiments were conducted in peanut crops on Tifton loamy sand. Initial Mehlich‐1 P was 2 to 3 mg/kg (“low”) and Mehlich‐1 K was 50 to 64 mg/kg (“medium” for cotton and “high” for peanut). Each crop was grown each year. State average yields of cotton and peanuts were produced. There was no response in cotton yield to N rates from 34 to 136 kg N/ha. Lack of response may have been due to the fact that the field had not been in production for several years prior to 1996 and there was ample soil mineral N. In 1997 and 1998, residual N provided by N fixation by the previous peanut crop appeared to be sufficient. Maximum profit from P fertilization in cotton was attained at 50 kg P/ha, the recommendation from the soil test. However, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service recommendation to double the P rate for new land with a “low” Mehlich‐1 P soil test was not validated. Cotton yield did not respond to K fertilization even though an application of 55 kg K/ha/year was recommended from the soil test. Peanut yield and grade did not respond to either P or K fertilization. The recommendation from the soil test was 40 kg P/ha/year and no K. Estimates of P removal were 11 kg/ha for cotton and 8 mg/ha for peanut crops. Estimates of K removal were 25 kg/ha for cotton and 22 kg/ha for peanut crops. Over 3 years, soil P was not depleted, but soil K was depleted. Approximately 12 kg P/ha were required to raise soil test P 1 mg/kg and 18 kg K/ha were required to raise soil test K 1 mg/kg (49 lb. P₂O₅ to increase the P test 1 lb./acre, 38 lb. K₂O to raise the K test 1 lb./acre). Additional studies are needed, but the current studies suggest that revisions in recommendations are needed for both cotton and peanut crops.     

Nitrogen for no‐tillage corn in Virginia: Sources and time of application

Abstract

No‐tillage corn (Zea mays L.) culture normally entails the placement of N fertilizer on the soil surface without mechanical incorporation. This field investigation was conducted to compare the N fertilizers that are most widely used in Virginia, when applied in this manner, for their effectiveness in producing notillage corn. Comparisons of the time of applying NH₄NO₃ were also made. Grain and stover yields, in addition to N removed in the crop, were used to draw conclusions. The experiments were conducted on both fertile and infertile soils in 1972 and 1973, both of which were relatively wet years. The fertilizers tested, urea, NH₄NO₃, and N solutions, were equally effective, per unit of N applied. Split applications of NH₄NO₃ showed no statistically significant advantage over all applied at planting but slightly trended to do so. N deficiency reduced grain yields relatively more than stover yields.