Kura Clover Response to Potassium Fertilization

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.) is a persistent perennial forage legume that produces high-quality herbage for grazing, but its response to potassium (K), an essential plant nutrient, is unknown. Our objective was to determine the effect of four dipotassium oxide (K₂O) rates on forage yields and stands of Kura clover compared to birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). There was a significant linear response in Kura clover and alfalfa forage yields to K₂O fertilization each year. Averaged over 4 years, Kura clover forage yield increased by 0.024 Mg ha^–1 per kg of K₂O applied, and the yield response was similar for alfalfa. Birdsfoot trefoil forage yield response to K₂O fertilization was less than those of alfalfa and Kura clover. In the first 2 years after seeding, Kura clover forage yields were consistently less than for alfalfa at all rates of K₂O fertilizer, but in subsequent years Kura clover yields were similar to or exceeded those of alfalfa. Final groundcover values, an estimate of stand density, of unfertilized (0 K₂O rate) Kura clover, birdsfoot trefoil, and alfalfa were 86, 35, and 21%, respectively. Final groundcover of Kura clover and alfalfa was increased by K₂O fertilization. We conclude that Kura clover has good persistence with low soil K fertility but stands and yields can be increased by fertilization.     

Nitrogen fertilizer applications to maize after alfalfa: grain yield,kernel composition,and plant mineral nutrients

Nitrogen (N) is often applied to first year maize (Zea mays L.) after alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at rates greater than needed to attain maximum yields. This study explored other potential benefits of excess N fertilizer applications to maize after alfalfa. Effects of N fertilizer (no N fertilizer, 73, or 135 kg N ha^?1) to maize after alfalfa on stalk dry weight, stalk mineral concentrations [N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)], grain yield, and kernel components (protein, oil, starch, P, and K) were investigated. Fertilizer N increased stalk N concentration but not stalk dry weight. Grain yields and yields of protein, oil, starch, P, and K kernel components, expressed on a kg ha^?1 basis, were also unaffected by N fertilizer treatments. Thus, there appears to be no advantage, in terms of yield or kernel components, in applying N fertilizer to maize after alfalfa under the environments experienced during this two year field experiment.     

RELATIVE RESPONSE OF FORAGE AND SEED YIELD OF ALFALFA TO SULFUR,PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

A field experiment was conducted from 2000 to 2007 on three-year old alfalfa stand near Star City in northeastern Saskatchewan to determine the influence of balanced application of sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), or potassium (K) fertilizers on forage dry matter yield (DMY) and seed yield, protein concentration (PC) in forage, concentration and uptake of total nitrogen (N), P, K, S, and boron (B) in forage and seed, and residual soil extractable P, exchangeable K and sulfate-S. Appropriate application of S, P, or K fertilizer nutrients was required to obtain optimum yield, PC, and nutrient concentration and uptake, especially when alfalfa was grown for hay production. Yield response to fertilization was much more frequent and much higher when alfalfa was managed as hay compared to when managed for seed production. The results suggest the importance of proper fertilization in increasing longevity of alfalfa stands. Under both hay and seed plots, there was only a small increase in residual sulfate-S from S fertilization, but significant accumulation of extractable P mainly in the 0–15 soil layer from P application. There was relatively higher concentration of exchangeable K in soil in the seed plots than in hay plots. In hay plots, concentrations of residual exchangeable K in soil were negatively related to DMY, especially in 2007. The findings suggest that when a soil is testing low (or deficient) in a nutrient and alfalfa growth is reduced, then alfalfa producers should consider applying fertilizers to supply adequate amounts of nutrients that are lacking in the soil, especially for optimum forage production. However, it is still difficult to predict accurately if a profitable alfalfa seed yield response to fertilization would occur, particularly when soils are testing marginal in some nutrient levels and yields are negatively affected by abnormal weather conditions (drought soil moisture conditions reducing plant growth, wet, cloudy and cool weather conditions decreasing pollination activity and late summer and/or early autumn frost damage to seed formation) that often occur in the growing season in this region.     

Linking sorghum nutrition and production with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and alternative soil amendments

Mounting fertilizer costs are disproportionally affecting farmers in developing countries. Alternative soil fertility amendments [worm compost, pyrolyzed carbon (biochar)] and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have the potential to reduce these costs while promoting soil health. Our greenhouse study investigated the role of mycorrhizal associations and alternative fertility amendments on the productivity and plant nutrition of grain sorghum. We assessed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor cv. Macia) grown with ten different treatments (combinations of biochar, worm compost, and commercial N and P fertilizers) plus a non‐amended control. An amendment blend containing worm compost, biochar, and 50% of the typically recommended commercial fertilizer rate produced similar plant biomass and protein, similar total tissue mineral contents (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, and Zn), and supported ≈ 60% more mycorrhizal fungi in the host plant's roots, compared to sorghum grown with the recommended rate of commercial fertilizer (N and P). Our results indicate the potential of biochar and worm compost to enhance the benefits of mycorrhizal fungi for grain sorghum production and plant nutrition while reducing commercial fertilizer applications.     

Transfer of rubidium‐86 (potassium) from deeply‐rooted alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to associated,shallow‐rooted maize (Zea mays L.) or grain sorghum (Sorghum vulgare pers.).

Circumstantial evidence exists for non‐N‐mineral element transfer in legume‐grass associations. Three experiments were conducted in an effort to directly demonstrate transfer of a non‐N‐mineral element in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)‐maize (Zea mays L.) and alfalfa‐grain sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) associations in two rooting media. Associations were established in double‐tube apparatus so that a single alfalfa plant was rooted in media of top‐ and bottom‐tubes, while an associated grass plant was rooted exclusively in the top‐tube (Intact treatment). Severed treatments (the control) were identical to the Intact treatments except the alfalfa roots in an air gap between the top‐and bottom‐tubes were excised.

⁸⁶Rb was dispensed onto the medium of bottom tubes with movement of the radioisotope determined by analyzing the legume and grass tissues over time. ⁸⁶Rb was detected in: i) soil‐grown maize associated with alfalfa within a 40‐day treatment period; ii) sand‐grown maize associated with alfalfa within 20 days after treatment and iii) sand‐grown sorghum associated with alfalfa within 10 days. Detection of ⁸⁶Rb in grass plants associated with alfalfa demonstrated that transfer of this potassium analog can occur via the root systems of legume‐grass associations.     

Phosphorus source effects on alfalfa yield,total nitrogen content,and soil test phosphorus

Abstract

Recent studies showing a lack of response by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to phosphorus (P) fertilization have raised concerns about the efficacy of commonly used P fertilizer materials in the southwestern United States. Studies were conducted between 1982 and 1985 in southeastern New Mexico to evaluate (i) alfalfa yield response to different P sources, (ii) the effect of P fertilizer source on forage total nitrogen (N) content and leafiness, and (iii) the effect of P fertilizer source on soil test P. Nine P sources were applied annually from 1982 through 1984 at a rate of 58 kg P/ha. Alfalfa was grown during 1985 without fertilization to examine the residual effect of P sources. Triple superphosphate (TSP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) gave the highest alfalfa forage yields over the 3‐year application period, but no residual fertilizer effects were observed when fertilization was discontinued. Fertilization did not affect forage leafiness. Except for a small N response in forage total N content in 1984, neither P nor concomitant applied N had a significant effect on forage N content over the 3‐year period. Phosphorus fertilization significantly increased average soil test P for the 3‐year period, but there were no significant differences between treatments. Currently used P materials (TSP and MAP) still appear to be the most efficacious for alfalfa production.     

Performance of legume–grass mixtures in the West Balkan region

Three perennial legumes (alfalfa, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil) and four cool-season perennial grasses (orchardgrass, tall fescue, Italian ryegrass and red fescue) were grown in legume–grass combinations and in pure stands of individual species, at three locations in the West Balkan region (Novi Sad, Banja Luka and Pristina) in the period from 2012 to 2015. The study evaluated dry matter yield, legume–grass–weed proportion and forage quality. High annual forage yield of legume–grass mixtures can be obtained with proper selection of species and an appropriate legume–grass ratio. However, high and stable yield, particularly in the case of grasses, depends on the amount and schedule of precipitation as well as the cutting time. The mixtures and legume pure stands achieved better forage production both per cutting and on the annual basis and had better forage quality than grass pure stands.     

Effects of NPK fertilizer combinations on yield and nitrogen balance in sorghum or pigeonpea on a vertisol in the semi-arid tropics

A long-term experiment was carried out on a Vertisol from 1986 to 1992 to examine the combined effects of NPK fertilizers on yield using sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. CSH 5) and short-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp. cv. ICPL 87). The fertilizer treatments were as follows: 0 (no fertilization), N (150 kg N ha^-1 ), P (65.5 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1), K (124.5 kg K₂O ha^-1), and all possible combinations (NP, NK, PK, and NPK). In this study we continued this experiment during the period 1993 to 1994 and analyzed the crop yield response to fertilizers and the N balance. The amount of N derived from the atmosphere and fertilizer was estimated by the ¹⁵N natural abundance method and ^l5N isotope dilution method, respectively. A combined application of Nand P fertilizers gave the highest grain yield for the two crops under the 8th and 9th continuous croppings, unlike the application of K fertilizer. The values of total N for the two crops were significantly higher in the NP and NPK plots. These crops took up N mainly from soil. There was a significant positive relationship between the uptake of N_dff and N_dfs by each crop. Pigeonpea or sorghum took up more N from the soil in the N fertilizer plots than in the plots without N, suggesting that soil N fertility was enhanced and the amount of N supplied from soil increased in the plots with consecutive application of N fertilizer for 7 y. Even pigeonpea, which fixes atmospheric N inherently, needed N fertilizer to achieve high grain yield, suggesting that N fixation by the nodules was not always sufficient to meet the N requirements of the crop under these conditions. Although fertilizer N exerted a beneficial effect on plant growth and yield in the two crops, the values of fertilizer N recovery (FNR) by the two crops were considerably low. Therefore, it is suggested that the development of N fertilizer management which could maximize FNR of each crop should be promoted.     

施肥对不同品种苜蓿生产力及土壤肥力的影响

研究了不同施肥处理对生长7年的3个紫花苜蓿品种的产量及土壤养分的影响。结果表明,NP配施和单施K肥对苜蓿均有显著的增产效果,不同施肥对不同品种的生产力影响效果不同。N30P120处理巨人201+Z和牧歌401+Z产量最高,分别比对照增产41.1%和74.8%;单施K60处理,路宝比对照增产了76.7%。种植苜蓿可以提高土壤氮的有效性,生长7年的苜蓿根系固氮在土壤仍有累积。种植苜蓿,不施肥处理土壤全氮含量均有不同程度增加,而土壤全磷和全钾略有下降。随磷肥用量的增加而增加,N30P120处理土壤速效磷增加11.45～41.7 mg/kg;单施钾肥,土壤速效磷含量提高了3.71～4.41 mg/kg,全钾含量增加了0.06～1.69 mg/kg。     

氮、磷、钾肥配施对紫花苜蓿产量及营养物质含量的影响

2008年在内蒙古西辽河平原灰色草甸土上,采用"3414"二次回归最优设计试验方案,研究施肥对不同品种紫花苜蓿的产量效应及营养物质含量的影响。研究结果表明,紫花苜蓿产量最高的施肥方案为N 0 kg/hm2、P2O5 63.56 kg/hm2、K2O 110.00 kg/hm2,并筛选出WL-232HQ为适宜通辽地区种植的最佳苜蓿品种。同时分析不同施肥水平对紫花苜蓿营养物质含量的影响,14个处理组合中,处理N0P2K2、N1P1K2、N2P2K0、N2P1K2和N2P2K3是试验条件下获得粗蛋白含量较高的组合。     

不同施肥制度对作物产量及土壤磷素肥力的影响

在潮棕壤上连续进行18年的定位试验, 研究了不同施肥制度对作物产量和土壤磷素肥力的影响.结果表明: 与对照处理相比, 施用磷肥有明显的增产和稳产作用.不施磷肥处理, 土壤磷素收支赤字, 土壤全磷和速效磷含量均明显下降, 且土壤磷收支的盈亏值与土壤速效磷的增减量呈显著直线相关; 施磷肥处理, 土壤磷素收支盈余, 18年间耕层土壤全磷含量均明显提高, 提高幅度为0.02～0.04 g·kg-1, 土壤速效磷含量亦明显增加, 特别是在试验的后几年, 土壤速效磷含量似有加速上升的趋势.施氮肥对玉米有明显增产作用, 施磷钾肥对玉米增产作用不明显; 大豆则相反, 施氮肥增产作用不明显, 施磷钾肥有显著增产作用.     

不同供氮水平对夏玉米养分累积、转运及产量的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究了高肥力土壤上施N.125、250、375.kg/hm2对夏玉米生物量、子粒产量、N、P、K养分累积动态、及氮肥表观利用率、养分转运的影响。结果表明,不同施氮量只影响夏玉米不同生育时期养分的阶段累积量,而对累积趋势基本无影响。植株生物量及N、P、K养分累积量随生育期的延长而增加,且它们的累积趋势相似,都呈S型曲线。各处理的子粒产量在7000～7700.kg/hm2之间,只有N250处理增产达显著水平;氮肥表观利用率在10%～18%之间,随施氮量的增加略有降低。施氮可提高子粒中的氮素累积量,而对磷的累积量影响不大。随着施氮量的增加,氮素的转运量、转运效率及其在子粒中的比例都降低,磷的转运与氮表现出类似的趋势。综合考虑产量、氮肥利用率、养分转运及环境污染等因素,该地区夏玉米的推荐施氮量应控制在125.kg/hm2以内。     

辽西土壤养分供应能力与高粱施肥推荐

为探讨辽西褐土区土壤养分供应能力,2012年和2014年采用随机区组试验研究了不同施肥处理下土壤养分供应、高粱产量及养分吸收利用的变化。试验包括CK、NPK、PK、NK和NP 5个处理,3次重复。结果表明,该试验区土壤供氮、供磷、供钾能力分别为80.9%、88.5%、97.6%。土壤供氮、磷能力为"中",供钾能力为"高",氮素是该区高粱生产首要养分限制因子。2012年NPK较PK处理增产20.5%,与NK处理产量差异不显著,2014年NPK分别较PK和NK处理增产26.9%和20.3%,2年间NPK与NP处理产量差异不显著。NPK或NP配施可显著提高高粱产量。不同施肥措施对N、P、K的吸收量以NPK和NP处理较高。施氮肥可显著降低氮素收获指数,施磷肥和钾肥对磷素和钾素收获指数无显著影响。肥料农学效率以磷肥最高,氮肥居中。肥料利用率以氮肥最高,磷肥最低。综合不同施肥处理下的养分供应能力、高粱产量、养分吸收量和利用率可知,本地区高粱施肥应加强氮肥的合理投入,并注重磷肥的合理施用。     

Effects of long-term legume cover crop incorporation on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass, nutrient build-up and grain yields of sorghum/sunflower under rain-fed conditions

Low organic matter, poor fertility and erosion are common features of rain‐fed Alfisols in southern India. Build‐up of organic matter is crucial to maintain sustainable production on these soils. The possibility of on‐farm generation of legume biomass [horsegram; Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] by using off‐season rainfall was examined in two field experiments involving sorghum and sunflower from 1994 to 2003. The effects of this incorporation were assessed on crop yields and soil properties for 10 years together with fertilizer application. Horsegram biomass ranging from 3.03–4.28 t ha^?1 year^?1 (fresh weight) was produced and incorporated in situ under different levels of fertilizer application. Annual incorporation improved the soil properties and fertility status of the soil, which resulted in improved yields of test crops. With biomass incorporation, mean organic carbon content improved by 24% over fallow. Microbial biomass carbon improved by 28% at site I. Long‐term biomass incorporation and fertilizer application resulted in the build‐up of soil nutrients compared with the fallow plots. Application of N and P alone resulted in a negative balance of soil K. A time‐scale analysis of yields showed that incorporation together with fertilizer application maintained a stable yield trend over a 10‐year period in sorghum, whereas fertilizer application alone showed a declining trend. At the end of 10 years of incorporation, the increase in grain yield because of incorporation was 28 and 18%, respectively, in sorghum and sunflower over fallow when no fertilizers were applied to rainy season crops. The incorporation effect was even larger in plots receiving fertilizer. The growing and incorporation of a post‐rainy season legume crop is a low‐cost simple practice that even small and marginal farmers can adopt in semi‐arid regions of the country. Widespread adoption of this practice, at least in alternate years, can restore the productivity of degraded soils and improve crop yields.     

NITROGEN,PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM NUTRIENT EFFECTS ON GRAIN FILLING AND YIELD OF HIGH-YIELDING SUMMER CORN

A three-site-year field experiment was conducted to determine nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer effects on grain filling dynamics and yield formation of high-yielding summer corn (Zea mays L.) in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-corn double crop cropping system. Application of combined NPK fertilizers resulted in the greatest grain yield, largest grain number and grain weight when compared with the treatments receiving N, NP, or NK. Grain filling rate and duration, grain volume, and grain yield increased with NPK rates; however, doubling the rate of 180 kg N ha^?1, 40 kg P ha^?1, and 75 kg K ha^?1 fertilizer only led to minimal increases in grain filling rate (0.8%), grain filling duration (1.6%), grain volume (1.3%) and grain yield (0.4%). Our results suggested that for the high-yielding summer corn, a combined NPK fertilization is required to enhance grain filling and yield, and that under well-fertilized circumstances, limited increases in both grain filling and sink capacity might be the main factor restricting further yield improvement.     

Leaf elemental concentrations and grain yield of sorghum grown on an acid soil

Abstract

Determination of the nutrient requirements of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown on acid soils is, a critical step in the development of plants which are adapted to these problem soils. Sorghum genotype, environment, and soil type interact with the uptake of elements and affect plant growth and production. This study compared the yields of a sorghum grain hybrid grown on a sandy loam soil at four acid pH levels. Nutrient concentrations in sorghum leaves on these soil regimes were also investigated. Grain yields declined 96% as soil pH decreased from 5.5 to 4.4. Leaf element analysis revealed that as pH decreased from 5.5 to 4.4, there was an increase in plant Al, Fe, Mn, K, P and a decrease in Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca. Interactions among several of these elements were readily apparent. Additional data involving different sorghum genotypes and different soil types are needed to establish a consistent pattern of element uptake on acid soils in relation to yield and plant production.     

Response of tall fescue to fertilizer placement at different levels of phosphorus,potassium, and soil pH 1

Fertilizer application, particularly nitrogen (N), is important in cool‐season grass forage production. Subsurface (knife) placement of N often has resulted in higher forage yield and N uptake of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) compared to surface‐broadcast fertilization, but further studies were needed to indicate whether soil pH, phosphorus (P), or potassium (K) modifies the response. Experiment I tested responses of forage yield and N and P concentration to N, P, and K amount and placement. Two types of fertilizer placement ‐ broadcast and knife ‐ were used with 13, 112, or 168 kg N; 0 or 19 kg P; and 0 or 37 kg K/ha in a factorial arrangement. Yields increased by 53% as N fertilization went from 13 to 112 kg/ha and by 69% as N increased from 13 to 168 kg N/ha. Forage yield was increased 26% from knife compared to broadcast fertilizer placement. P application increased forage production by 13%, but K application had no effect on yield. Forage N concentrations increased by 25% as N fertilization went from 13 to 112 kg/ha and by 38% as N increased from 13 to 168 kg N/ha. Effects of added P and fertilizer placement on N concentration often resulted in interactions among factors. Forage P generally was increased by added P, with some effects of interactions among N rate, P rate, and placement. In Experiment II, fescue responses to N placement were tested where different soil characteristics had been established by previous lime and fertility treatments. Forage yield, N concentration, and N uptake were highest where 9.36 Mg/ha of lime were applied as compared to the control. Previous fertility treatments had no significant (P<0.05) effect. When N was knifed, forage yield was related positively to available soil P but not to pH or K. Yield and forage N concentration and uptake were increased by 20, 11, and 33%, respectively, as a result of knife versus broadcast N application.     

Comparative yield and chemical composition of soybean and fababean grown on chernozemic soils on the Canadian prairies

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) and fababean (Vicar faba (L.)) were grown under field conditions on six Orthic Black Chernozemic soils over three years at two levels of fertility. At flowering, full pod and maturity the yield and N, P, K and S composition of harvested plant materials were compared. Application of fertilizer (P, K and S) increased dry matter and seed yields of both crops. At all, growth stages fababeans produced more dry matter than soybean, and at maturity produced higher yields of seed, hull and stalk. However, the ratio of seed: hull: stalk for both crops was similar and constant at 3.8: 1: 4.7 on all soils and at both levels of soil fertility. At the high level of soil fertility, at the flowering and full pod stages, the concentration of N, P, and K in fababean was higher than that in soybean, but both crops had a similar concentration of S. At low fertility both crops had similar concentrations of P, K and S. At maturity, soybean seed had the higher concentrations of the four nutrients. The concentration of P in the hull and stalk of both crops was similar, but fababean hull had a higher concentration of K and soybean stalk a higher concentration of S. Soybean seed also had a higher protein content and yielded more protein per hectare than fababean seed.     

Effects of boron and lime on boron concentration and growth of forage legumes under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Maximum yields of red clover, alfalfa, and birdsfoot trefoil were obtained when 0.25 to 1.0 ppm B was added to the soil. An application of lime to raise the soil pH to 5.8–6.3 improved yields, while at pH 6.8 a decline in yield in the first and second cuts of birdsfoot trefoil was noted. There was a marked B x lime interaction on the yield of all cuts of birdsfoot trefoil and first cut of red clover, with much higher yields with high rates of lime at high rates of added B.

Levels of 4 to 9 ppm B in the leaf tissue of the three crops were in the deficiency range. Boron concentrations of 21 to 45, 39 to 52, and 30 to 45 ppm in the first cuts of red clover, alfalfa, and birdsfoot trefoil were indicative of sufficiency and were associated with maximum yields, while levels of >59, >99, and >68 ppm, respectively, in the three crops were in the toxicity range. Sufficiency levels of soil B for legumes appeared to be related to pH since B deficiency was more severe at higher pH than at lower pH. Liming of soil from pH 5.3 to 6.8 resulted in decreased concentration of B in all the three crops with the smallest decreases in alfalfa. There was a marked B x lime interaction on the B concentrations of the three crops, with much higher B concentrations in high B treatments at low soil pH than at high pH values.     

Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Biomass Production for Biofuel and the Effects of Soil Types and Nitrogen Fertilization

This research aimed to determine the optimum nitrogen fertilization rate on three soils for producing biomass sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor cultivar M81E) and corn (Zea mays cultivar P33N58) grain yield and to compare their responses. The research was conducted in Missouri in rotations with soybean, cotton, and corn. Seven rates of nitrogen (N) were applied. Sweet sorghum dry biomass varied between 11 and 27.5 Mg ha^?1) depending on year, soil type, and N rate. Nitrogen fertilization on the silt and sandy loam soils had no effect (P > 0.05) on sweet sorghum yield grown after cotton and soybean. However, yield increased in the clay soil. Corn grain yielded from 1.3 to 12.9 Mg ha^?1, and 179 to 224 kg N ha^?1 was required for maximum yield. Increasing biomass yield required N application on clay but not on silt loam and sandy loam in rotations with soybean or cotton.