Wheat response to N2 fixed by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as affected by sulfur fertilization and rhizobial inoculation in semi‐arid Northern Ethiopia

Nitrogen fixation in faba bean (Vicia faba cv. Mesay) as affected by sulfur (S) fertilization (30 kg S ha^–1) and inoculation under the semi‐arid conditions of Ethiopia was studied using the ¹⁵N‐isotope dilution method. The effect of faba bean–fixed nitrogen (N) on yield of the subsequent wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) was also assessed. Sulfur fertilization and inoculation significantly (p < 0.05) affected nodulation at late flowering stage for both 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons. The nodule number and nodule fresh weighs were increased by 53% and 95%, relative to the control. Similarly, both treatments (S fertilization and inoculants) significantly improved biomass and grain yield of faba bean on average by 2.2 and 1.2 Mg ha^–1. This corresponds to 37% and 50% increases, respectively, relative to the control. Total N and S uptake of grains was significantly higher by 59.6 and 3.3 kg ha^–1, which are 76% and 66% increases, respectively. Sulfur and inoculation enhanced the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere in the whole plant of faba bean from 51% to 73%. This corresponds to N₂ fixation varying from 49 to 147 kg N ha^–1. The percentage of N derived from fertilizer (%Ndff) and soil (%Ndfs) of faba bean varied from 4.3% to 2.8 %, and from 45.1% to 24.0%, corresponding to the average values of 5.1 and 47.9 kg N ha^–1. Similarly, the %Ndff and %Ndfs of the reference crop, barley, varied from 8.5 % to 10.8% and from 91.5% to 89.2%, with average N yields of 9.2 and 84.3 kg N ha^–1. Soil N balance after faba bean ranged from 13 to 52 kg N ha^–1. Beneficial effects of faba bean on yield of a wheat crop grown after faba bean were highly significant, increasing the average grain and N yields of this crop by 1.11 Mg ha^–1 and 30 kg ha^–1, relative to the yield of wheat grown after the reference crop, barley. Thus, it can be concluded that faba bean can be grown as an alternative crop to fallow, benefiting farmers economically and increasing the soil fertility.     

Influence of crop residue management, cropping system and N fertilizer on soil N and C dynamics and sustainable wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production

Management of N is the key for sustainable and profitable wheat production in a low N soil. We report results of irrigated crop rotation experiment, conducted in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, during 1999–2002 to evaluate effects of residue retention, fertilizer N application and mung bean (Vigna radiata) on crop and N yields of wheat and soil organic fertility in a mung bean–wheat sequence. Treatments were (a) crop residue retained (+residue) or (b) removed (−residue), (c) 120 kg N ha⁻¹ applied to wheat, (d) 160 kg N ha⁻¹ to maize or (e) no nitrogen applied. The cropping system was rotation of wheat with maize or wheat with mung bean. The experiment was laid out in a spit plot design. Postharvest incorporation of crop residues significantly (p < 0.05) increased the grain and straw yields of wheat during both years. On average, crop residues incorporation increased the wheat grain yield by 1.31 times and straw yield by 1.39 times. The wheat crop also responded strongly to the previous legume (mung bean) in terms of enhanced grain yield by 2.09 times and straw yield by 2.16 times over the previous cereal (maize) treatment. Application of fertilizer N to previous maize exerted strong carry over effect on grain (1.32 times) and straw yield (1.38 times) of the following wheat. Application of N fertilizer to current wheat produced on average 1.59 times more grain and 1.77 times more straw yield over the 0 N kg ha⁻¹ treatment. The N uptake in wheat grain and straw was increased 1.31 and 1.64 times by residues treatment, 2.08 and 2.49 times by mung bean and 1.71 and 1.86 times by fertilizer N applied to wheat, respectively. The soil mineral N was increased 1.23 times by residues, 1.34 times by mung bean and 2.49 times by the application of fertilizer N to wheat. Similarly, the soil organic C was increased 1.04-fold by residues, 1.08 times by mung bean and 1.00 times by the application of fertilizer N. We concluded that retention of residues, application of fertilizer N and involvement of legumes in crop rotation greatly improves the N economy of the cropping system and enhances crop productivity in low N soils.     

High N fertilizer application to irrigated wheat in Northern Mexico for conventionally tilled and permanent raised beds: Effects on N balance and short term N dynamics

Nitrogen (N) surpluses from fertilizer application can cause major environmental harm including pollution of surface water, groundwater, and air. To assess such negative externalities, N balances are a complex but useful tool to predict surpluses and to measure effects of nutrient optimization strategies in agriculture. The Yaqui Valley in north‐western Mexico is representative for thousands of square kilometres of intensive, irrigated wheat production under arid conditions worldwide and has been targeted for conservation agriculture in recent years. For these cropping systems, detailed N balances are scarce and often incomplete. To help fill this knowledge gap, data from a long‐term experiment were collected in 2013/14 on a Vertisol to examine the impact of three tillage‐straw management practices (CTB: conventionally tilled beds; PB‐straw: permanent raised beds with residue retention; PB‐burn: permanent raised beds with residue burning) on N dynamics. Tillage had significant effects on soil NO₃‐N, NH₄‐N, and total N contents across the cropping period. Soil total N content was at all sampling depths lowest in CTB. Soil NO₃‐N in the 0–90 cm profile was highest in PB‐burn over the cropping period and ranged from 77 kg ha^?1 in the bed before pre‐planting fertilizer application up to 269 kg ha^?1 in the furrow after the second fertilizer application. Annual simple N balances were +59 kg N ha^?1 in CTB, +39 kg N ha^–1 in PB‐straw, and +46 kg N ha^?1 in PB‐burn. Residual mineral soil N was significantly affected by tillage‐straw management and lowest for PB‐straw (+205 kg N ha^?1) and highest for CTB, and for PB‐burn (+283 kg N ha^?1 each) in the 0–90 cm soil profile. Soil NO₃‐N moved out of the effective wheat root zone, as indicated by the high residual NO₃‐N content at 30–90 cm depth, which is an important pathway of N leaching. Quantifiable N losses through leaching and volatilization averaged 100 kg N ha^?1. Our findings suggest that there is potential for substantial reductions in N inputs in all tillage‐straw systems to decrease N losses and to reduce mineral residual soil N, but care should be taken to avoid reducing grain protein content, which in PB straw was already below the quality standard. A knowledge transfer of the European “N_min” concept is advisable in this region to regulate N fertilizer over‐application.     

Soil structure and organic carbon relationships following 10 years of wheat straw management in no-till

Crop residue retention is important for sequestering soil organic carbon (SOC), controlling soil erosion, and improving soil quality. Magnitude of residue management impacts on soil structural properties and SOC sequestration is, however, site specific. This study assessed long-term (10 year) impacts of three levels (0, 8, and 16 Mg ha⁻¹ on a dry matter basis) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw applied annually on SOC concentration and physical properties of the bulk soil and individual 5- to 8-mm aggregates for the 0- to 50-cm soil depth under no-till (NT) on a Crosby silt loam (fine, mixed, active, mesic Aeric Epiaqualfs) in central Ohio. This study also quantified relationships between soil properties and straw-induced changes in SOC concentration. Changes in soil properties due to straw mulching were mostly confined to the upper 5 cm of the soil. Mulching increased SOC concentration, but it did not significantly change cone index (CI) and shear strength (SHEAR). Within the upper 0–5-cm soil depth, mulching decreased bulk density (ρ_b) by 40–50%, aggregate density (ρ_agg) by 30–40%, and particle density (ρ_s) by 10–15%, and increased tensile strength (TS) of aggregates by up to 14 times as compared to unmulched soil. At the same depth, soil with mulch retained >30% more water than soil without mulch from 0 to −1500 kPa potentials. The SOC amount was 16.0 Mg ha⁻¹ under no straw, 25.3 Mg ha⁻¹ under 8 Mg ha⁻¹ straw, and 33.5 Mg ha⁻¹ under 16 Mg ha⁻¹ straw in the 0- to 10-cm depth. Below 10 cm, differences in SOC pool between mulched and unmulched soil were not significant. Overall, SOC from 0- to 50-cm depth was 82.5 Mg ha⁻¹ for unmulched soil, 94.1 Mg ha⁻¹ for 8 Mg ha⁻¹ mulch, and 104.9 Mg ha⁻¹ for 16 Mg ha⁻¹. About 33% of C added with straw over the 10-year period was sequestered in soil. This means that 2/3 of the wheat straw applied was not converted to SOC and most probably was lost as emissions of CO₂ and CH₄. The annual rate of total C accrual was 1.2 Mg ha⁻¹ in soil mulched with 8 Mg ha⁻¹ and 2.2 Mg ha⁻¹ in soil mulched with 16 Mg ha⁻¹ of straw in the 0- to 50-cm depth. The percentage of macroaggregates (>5-mm) was six times higher under 8 Mg ha⁻¹ of straw and 12 times higher under 16 Mg ha⁻¹ compared to unmulched treatments. Macroaggregates contained greater SOC than microaggregates in mulched soil. The SOC concentration explained the variability in aggregate properties by as much as 96%. Overall, long-term straw mulching increased SOC concentration and improved near-surface aggregate properties.     

Seasonal soil nitrogen dynamics in rice‐wheat cropping systems of Nepal

The rice‐wheat annual double cropping system occupies some 0.5 million ha in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal. Alternating soil drying and wetting cycles characterize the 6–10 weeks long dry‐to‐wet season transition period (DWT) after wheat harvesting and before wetland rice transplanting. Mineral fertilizer use in the predominant smallholder agriculture is low and crops rely largely on native soil N for their nutrition. Changes in soil aeration status during DWT are likely to stimulate soil N losses. The effect of management options that avoid the nitrate build‐up in soils during DWT by N immobilization in plant or microbial biomass was studied under controlled conditions in a greenhouse (2001/2002) and validated under field conditions in Nepal in 2002. In potted soil in the greenhouse, the gradual increase in soil moisture resulted in a nitrate N peak of 20 mg (kg soil)^–1 that rapidly declined as soil moisture levels exceeded 40 % water‐filled pore space (equiv. 75 % field capacity). Similarly, the maximum soil nitrate build‐up of 40 kg N ha^–1 under field conditions was followed by its near complete disappearance with soil moisture levels exceeding 46 % water‐filled pore space at the onset of the monsoon rains. Incorporation of wheat straw and/or N uptake by green manure crops reduced nitrate accumulation in the soil to < 5 mg N kg^–1 in pots and < 30 kg N ha^–1 in the field (temporary N immobilization), thus reducing the risk for N losses to occur. This “saved” N benefited the subsequent crop of lowland rice with increases in N accumulation from 130 mg pot^–1 (bare soil) to 185 mg pot^–1 (green manure plus wheat straw) and corresponding grain yield increases from 1.7 Mg ha^–1 to 3.6 Mg ha^–1 in the field. While benefits from improved soil N management on lowland rice are obvious, possible carry‐over effects on wheat and the feasibility of proposed options at the farm level require further studies.     

Yields of wheat and soil carbon and nitrogen contents following long-term incorporation of barley straw and ryegrass catch crops

Abstract. Three successive crops of winter wheat were grown on a sandy loam to test the residual effect of long‐term annual incorporation of spring barley straw at rates of 0, 4, 8 and 12 t ha^?1, and ryegrass catch crops with or without additions of pig slurry. Soil receiving 4, 8 and 12 t ha^?1 of straw annually for 18 years contained 12, 21 and 30% more carbon (C), respectively, than soil with straw removal, and soil C and nitrogen (N) contents increased linearly with straw rate. The soil retained 14% of the straw C and 37% of the straw N. Ryegrass catch‐cropping for 10 years also increased soil C and N concentrations, whereas the effect of pig slurry was insignificant. Grain yield in the first wheat crop showed an average dry matter (DM) increase of 0.7 t ha^?1 after treatment with 8 and 12 t straw ha^?1. In the two subsequent wheat crops, grain yield increased by 0.2–0.3 t DM ha^?1 after 8 and 12 t straw ha^?1. No grain yield increases were found after 4 t straw ha^?1 in any of the three years. Previous ryegrass catch crops increased yields of wheat grain, but effects in the third wheat crop were significant only where ryegrass had been combined with pig slurry. Straw incorporation increased the N offtake in the first wheat crop. In the second crop, only 8 and 12 t straw ha^?1 improved wheat N offtake, while the N offtake in the third wheat crop was unaffected. Ryegrass catch crops increased N offtake in the first and second wheat crop. Again, a positive effect in the third crop was seen only when ryegrass was combined with slurry. Long‐term, annual incorporation of straw and ryegrass catch crops provided a clear and relatively persistent increase in soil organic matter levels, whereas the positive effects on the yield of subsequent wheat crops were modest and transient.     

Long continued applications of N fertilizer to cereals on sandy loam: grain and straw response to residual N

Abstract. The residual value of mineral N fertilizer applied in the spring was investigated in a field experiment where four cereals (winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley and spring oats) had been grown at reduced (0.7N), normal (1N) or high (1.3N) N fertilizer rates for 20 to 28 years. The effect of previous N fertilizer dressing was tested in two succeeding years by replacing the original N rate with five test N rates ranging from 0 to 240 kg N ha^?1 for winter cereals and 0 to 200 kg N ha^?1 for spring cereals. In the first test year, winter wheat grown on plots previously supplied with the high rate of mineral fertilizer (202 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) yielded more grain and straw and had a higher total N uptake than wheat on plots previously supplied with the normal (174 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) or reduced (124 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) rate. The grain yield response and N uptake was not significantly affected by the N supply in the test year. The winter wheat grown in the second test year was unaffected by the previous N supply. Grain and straw yield response and total N uptake for spring barley, winter barley and oats, were almost identical irrespective of the previous N rate. After 20 to 28 years there were no significant differences in soil C and N (0 to 20 cm) between soil receiving three rates of N fertilizer. Soil from differently fertilized oat plots showed no significant differences in N mineralizing capacity. Nitrate leaching losses from the soils at the three N rates were estimated and the N balances for the 20 to 28 years experimental period calculated. The data indicated a reduction in overall loss of 189 to 466 kg N ha^?1 at the normal and high N rates compared with the reduced N rate. We conclude that the N supplying capacity and soil organic matter content of this fertile sandy loam soil under continuous cereal cropping with straw removal was not significantly affected by differences in N fertilizer residues.     

15N Fertilizer recovery in different tillage–straw systems on a Vertisol in north‐west Mexico

Tillage and residue retention affect nitrogen (N) dynamics and nutrient losses and therefore nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop fertilizer use, however, there is little information about residual fertilizer effects on the subsequent crop. Micro‐plots with ¹⁵N‐labelled urea were established in 2014/2015 on a long‐term experiment on a Vertisol in north‐west Mexico. N fertilizer recovery (NFR) and the effects of residual fertilizer N for summer maize (Zea mays L.) and the subsequent wheat (Triticum durum L.) crop were studied in three tillage–straw management practices (CTB: conventionally tilled beds; PB‐straw: permanent raised beds with residue retention; PB‐burn: permanent raised beds with residue burning). Fertilizer ¹⁵N recovery rates for maize grain across all treatments were low with an average of 11%, but after wheat harvest total recovered ¹⁵N (¹⁵N in maize and wheat straw and grain, residual soil ¹⁵N) was over 50% for the PB‐burn treatment. NFR was lowest in CTB after two cropping cycles (32%). Unaccounted N from applied fertilizer for the maize crop averaged 120 kg ¹⁵N ha^?1 after wheat harvest. However, more than 20% of labelled ¹⁵N was found in the 0–90 cm soil profile in both PB treatments after wheat harvest, which highlights the need for long‐term studies and continuous monitoring of the soil nutrient status to avoid over‐application of mineral N fertilizer.     

Influence of long-term residue management on soil enzyme activities in relation to soil chemical properties of a wheat-fallow system

Summary Soil enzyme activities (acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, -glucosidase, urease and amidase) were determined (0- to 20-cm depth) after 55 years of crop-residue and N-fertilization treatment in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow system on semiarid soils of the Pacific Northwest. All residues were incorporated and the treatments were: straw (N₀), straw with fall burn (N₀FB), straw with spring burn (N₀SB), straw plus 45 kg N ha^–1 (N₄₅), straw plus 90 kg N ha^–1 (N₉₀), straw burned in spring plus 45 kg N ha^–1 (N₄₅SB), straw burned in spring plus 90 kg N ha^–1 (N₉₀SB), straw plus 2.24 T ha^–1 pea-vine residue and straw plus 22.4 T ha^–1 of straw-manure. Enzyme activities were significantly (P<0.001) affected by residue management. The highest activities were observed in the manure treated soil, ranging from 36% (acid phosphatase) to 190% increase in activity over the control (N₀). The lowest activities occurred in the N₀FB (acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase and -glucosidase) and N₉₀ treated soils (alkaline phosphatase, amidase and urease). Straw-burning had a significant effect only on acid phosphatase activity, which decreased in spring burn treated soil when inorganic N was applied. Urease and amidase activity decreased with long-term addition of inorganic N whereas the pea vine and the manure additions increased urease and amidase activity. There was a highly significant effect from the residue treatments on soil pH. Arylsulfatase, urease, amidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were positively correlated and acid phosphatase activity was negatively correlated with soil pH. Enzyme activities were strongly correlated with soil organic C and total N content. Except for acid phosphatase, there was no significant relationship between enzyme activity and grain yield.Journal Paper No. 8072 of the Agricultural Experimental Station, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA     

Increased plant nitrogen loss with increasing nitrogen applied in winter wheat observed with 15nitrogen

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is generally the most costly input for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Therefore, it was important to maximize fertilizer use efficiency and minimize N losses to the environment. One of the mechanisms responsible for decreased N use efficiency (NUE) was plant N loss. The objectives of this experiment were to determine fertilizer N recovery in winter wheat when produced for forage and grain, and to quantify potential plant N losses from flowering to maturity in winter wheat. Two long‐term (>25 years) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) N rate fertility experiments (Experiment 222 and Experiment 502) were selected to evaluate ¹⁵N fertilizer recovery. Percent ¹⁵N recovery was determined from all microplots in plant tissue at flowering, in the grain, and straw at harvest and in the soil. Fertilizer N(¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃) was applied atratesof 0, 45, 90, and 135kg N ha^‐1 in Experiment 222, and 0, 22, 45, 67, 90, and 112 kg N ha^‐1 in Experiment 502. The ratio ofNO₃ ^‐to NH₄ ⁺ in wheat forage at flowering was positively correlated with estimated plant N loss. Estimated plant N loss (total N uptake in wheat at flowering minus N uptake in the grain and straw at maturity) ranged from a net gain of 12 kg N ha^‐1 to a loss of 42 kg N ha^‐1, and losses increased with increasing N applied.     

Integrated Effects of Mulching Treatment and Nitrogen Fertilization on Cotton Performance under Dryland Agriculture

ABSTRACT

Crop production in arid regions is characterized with high temperature, drought and salinity which decrease water and nutrient use efficiency. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of wheat residue mulch in relation to N fertilizer application rates for cotton productivity under dryland condition of Uzbekistan. Main plots were control of no mulch addition and a 5 t ha^?1 mulch treatment. These plots were split into 5 N rate plots of 0, 70, 140, 210 or 280 kg of N ha^?1. The results showed that mulching pattern decreased soil temperature by 0.7–1.5°C as compared to conventional treatment (CT), regardless of N fertilization rates. The soil water storage increased by 41.8, 17.3, 48.0 mm in the flowering, boll formation and ripening stages of cotton, respectively under mulching treatment. Soil available N concentration and nutrients uptake by plants consistently increased with the increase of N fertilization rates with positive correlations. At flowering period, the plant height, chlorophyll content, stem diameter, and a number of fruit branches in plants were higher by 32.3%, 46.8%, 26.7% and 55.3%, respectively at 210 kg N ha^?1 under mulching treatment as compared to the non-fertilized control. The highest cotton yield was obtained at 210 kg N ha^?1 application under mulching treatment. The correlation difference between mulch and N application rates was higher (R² = 0.97) than the difference in CTs and N application rates (R² = 0.89). This study showed that mulching had a greater impact to preserve nutrients and water resources in the soil, thereby improved cotton growth and yield.     

Soil carbon fractions in response to straw mulching in the Loess Plateau of China

Straw mulching has been used to conserve soil water and sustain dryland crop yields, but the impact of the quantity and time of mulching on soil C fractions are not well documented. We studied the effects of various amounts and times of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw mulching on soil C fractions at 0–10- and 10–20-cm depths from 2009 to 2017 in the Loess Plateau of China. Treatments were no mulching (CK), straw mulching at 9.0 (HSM) and 4.5 Mg ha^?1 (LSM) in the winter wheat growing season, and straw mulching at 9.0 Mg ha^?1 in the summer fallow period (FSM). Soil C fractions were soil organic C (SOC), particulate organic C (POC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and potential C mineralization (PCM). All C fractions at 0–10 and 10–20 cm were 8–27% greater with HSM and LSM than FSM and CK. Both SOC and POC at 0–10 cm increased at 0.32 and 0.27 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 with HSM and at 0.40 and 0.30 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1 with LSM, respectively, from 2009 to 2017. Winter wheat grain yield was lower with HSM and LSM, but total aboveground biomass was greater with HSM than other treatments. All C fractions at most depths were correlated with the estimated wheat root residue returned to the soil and PCM at 0–10 and 0–20 cm was correlated with wheat grain yield. Wheat straw mulching during the growing season increased soil C sequestration and microbial biomass and activity compared with mulching during the fallow period or no mulching, regardless of mulching rate, due to increased C input, although it reduced wheat grain yield. Continuous application of straw mulching over time can increase soil C sequestration by increasing nonlabile C fractions while decreasing labile fractions. Straw mulching at higher rate and mulching during the summer fallow period had no additional benefits in soil C sequestration.     

Improving dryland cropping system nitrogen balance with no‐tillage and nitrogen fertilization

Studies on N balance due to N inputs and outputs and soil N retention to measure cropping system performance and environmental sustainability are limited due to the complexity of measurements of some parameters. We measured N balance based on N inputs and outputs and soil N retention under dryland agroecosystem affected by cropping system and N fertilization from 2006 to 2011 in the northern Great Plains, USA. Cropping systems were conventional tillage barley (Hordeum vulgaris L.)–fallow (CTB‐F), no‐tillage barley–fallow (NTB‐F), no‐tillage barley–pea (Pisum sativum L.) (NTB‐P), and no‐tillage continuous barley (NTCB). In these cropping systems, N was applied to barley at four rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha^?1), but not to pea and fallow. Total N input due to N fertilization, pea N fixation, soil N mineralization, atmospheric N deposition, nonsymbiotic N fixation, and crop seed N and total N output due to grain N removal, denitrification, volatilization, N leaching, gaseous N (NO_x) emissions, surface runoff, and plant senescence were 28–37% greater with NTB‐P and NTCB than CTB‐F and NTB‐F. Total N input and output also increased with increased N rate. Nitrogen accumulation rate at the 0–120 cm soil depth ranged from –32 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 for CTB‐F to 40 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 for NTB‐P and from –22 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 for N rates of 0 kg N ha^?1 to 45 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 for 120 kg N ha^?1. Nitrogen balance ranged from 1 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 for NTB‐P to 74 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 for CTB‐F. Because of increased grain N removal but reduced N loss to the environment and N fertilizer requirement as well as efficient N cycling, NTB‐P with 40 kg N ha^?1 may enhance agronomic performance and environmental sustainability while reducing N inputs compared to other management practices.     

旱地小麦地表覆盖对土壤水分硝态氮累积分布的影响

在黄土高原南部半湿润易干旱地区,通过长期田间定位试验,研究了不同地表覆盖对第3季冬小麦生长、氮素吸收及土壤水分和硝态氮累积分布的影响。结果表明,无论地表覆盖能否促进小麦生长及其对氮素的吸收,在收获期均能提高表层土壤水分;覆膜栽培增加表层硝态氮含量,覆草也在高量施用氮肥时,提高表层硝态氮的累积。而地表覆盖对耕层以下土壤水分和硝态氮累积的影响与施氮量、作物生长及其对氮素吸收利用有关。覆膜在促进作物生长、提高氮素吸收的同时,降低了深层土壤水分及其硝态氮的累积,且随施氮量的增加降低幅度增大;覆草在不施氮肥和施氮120kg·hm^-2时未能促进小麦生长,但有增加深层土壤水分的趋势,而高量施用氮肥,明显提高了小麦地上部生物产量及其对氮素的吸收,降低了深层土壤水分;同时发现,无论施氮与否覆草均降低了下层土壤硝态氮的累积。在高量施用氮肥的情况下,采用地表覆盖,不仅能够促进作物生长、提高氮素吸收,还能有效降低氮素在土壤中的累积及其向下层淋溶。     

Influence of Long-term Tillage,Straw, and N Fertilizer Management on Crop Yield,N Uptake,and N Balance Sheet in Two Contrasting Soil Types

Field experiments (established in autumn 1979, with monoculture barley from 1980 to 1990 and barley/wheat–canola–triticale–pea rotation from 1991 to 2008) were conducted on two contrasting soil types (Gray Luvisol [Typic Haplocryalf] loam soil at Breton; Black Chernozem [Albic Agricryoll] silty clay loam soil at Ellerslie) in north-central Alberta, Canada, to determine the influence of tillage (zero tillage and conventional tillage), straw management (straw removed [S_Rem] and straw retained [S_Ret]), and N fertilizer rate (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha^?1in S_Ret, and only 0 kg N ha^?1in S_Rem plots) on seed yield, straw yield, total N uptake in seed + straw (1991–2008), and N balance sheet (1980–2008). The N fertilizer urea was midrow-banded under both tillage systems in the 1991 to 2008 period. There was a considerable increase in seed yield, straw yield, and total N uptake in seed + straw with increasing N rate up to 100 kg N ha^?1 under both tillage systems. On the average, conventional tillage produced greater seed yield (by 279 kg ha^?1), straw yield (by 252 kg ha^?1), and total N uptake in seed + straw (by 6.0 kg N ha^?1) than zero tillage, but the differences were greater at Breton than Ellerslie. Compared to straw removal treatment, seed yield, straw yield, and total N uptake in seed + straw tended to be greater with straw retained at the zero-N rate used in the study. The amounts of applied N unaccounted for over the 1980 to 2008 period ranged from 1114 to 1846 kg N ha^?1 at Breton and 845 to 1665 kg N ha^?1 at Ellerslie, suggesting a great potential for N loss from the soil-plant system through denitrification, and N immobilization from the soil mineral N pool. In conclusion, crop yield and N uptake were lower under zero tillage than conventional, and long-term retention of straw suggests some gradual improvement in soil productivity.     

Long-term effects of fertilizer managements on crop yields and organic carbon storage of a typical rice–wheat agroecosystem of China

The present paper summarizes the results from a long-term experiment setup in 1980 in the Taihu Lake region, China, to address the yield sustainability, the dynamic changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, and soil fertility in the rice–wheat ecosystem. Treatments in three replicates comprising manure-treated and chemical fertilizer-treated groups (two factors), each having seven sub-treatments of different combinations of inorganic nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and rice straw, were randomly distributed. Results showed that the treatments of manure (pig manure from 1980 to 1996 and oil rape cake thereafter) + N + P + K (MNPK) and chemical fertilizer + N + P + K (CNPK) produced the highest and the most stable yields for both rice and wheat within the respective fertilizer treatment group. Potassium fertilization was necessary for yield sustainability in the ecosystem. Treatments of straw (as rice straw) + N (CRN) and manure + straw + N (MRN) produced more stable yield of rice but less stable of wheat. It was therefore recommended that straw should be only incorporated during the rice season. SOC contents in all treatments showed increasing trends over the period, even in the control treatment. Predicted SOC in chemical fertilizer-treated plots (mostly yet attainable) ranged from 16 to 18 g C kg⁻¹, indicating the high carbon (C) sequestration potential of the soil as compared to the initial SOC. SOC in manure- or straw-treated plots ranged from 17 to 19 g C kg⁻¹, which had been attained roughly 10 years after the experiment was initiated. Nutrient balance sheet showed that there was P surplus in all P-treated plots and a steady increase in Olsen-P over a 24-year period in 0–15 cm soil, which contributed little to crop yield increases. It was therefore suggested that P fertilization rate should be decreased to 30–40 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Comparison of yields among the treatments showed that wheat was more responsive to P fertilizer than rice. Thus P fertilizer should be preferably applied to wheat. Soil pH decrease was significant over the 24-year period and was not correlated with fertilizer treatments. The overall recommendation is to incorporate straw at 4,500 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ during the rice season only, with additional 190 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, 30–40 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ mainly during the rice season, and 150–160 kg K ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Further research on the unusual P supply capacity of the soil is needed.     

Exploring optimal soil mulching to enhance maize yield and water use efficiency in dryland areas in China

Water and nutrient availability significantly limits global crop production, especially for dryland agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions. To explore the optimal soil mulching options for the Loess Plateau in China, a 3-year field study was conducted to investigate the effects of various soil mulching practices on soil temperature and the water use and grain yield of spring maize. The treatments included traditional flat farming (CK), narrow plastic film mulch (NM), wide plastic film mulch (WM) and narrow plastic film mulch?+?maize straw mulch between rows (MS). The results showed that MS treatment increased consistently soil temperature during the initial stages of maize growth, and more importantly, it reduced diurnal temperature variation. MS also increased in soil water storage by 10.1%, leading to the highest water use efficiency (WUE?=?30.9?kg?ha^?1?mm^?1) over CK on 3 year average. MS significantly increased maize yield and net income of farmers by up to 20%, compared to CK. In conclusion, optimisation of soil mulching strategies significantly enhanced crop yield and water productivity in dryland agriculture in China. Our study provides important guidance for exploring better soil management practice for dryland agriculture in the other regions of the world.     

Foliar uptake of volatilized ammonia from surface‐applied urea by spring wheat

Abstract

Large volatile losses of NH₃ can occur from surface‐applied urea in semi‐arid areas. Our objective was to determine possible absorption of this volatilized N by the crop canopy under field conditions. At two different times during crop growth, ¹⁵N‐enriched urea was surface‐applied at rates equivalent to 100 kg N ha^‐1 to soil contained in trays placed between two rows of spring wheat. Seven days after application, the soil in the trays was removed from the field and analyzed for ¹⁵N content. Addition of HC1 during soil air drying was necessary to prevent volatile losses of ¹⁵N. Of applied urea‐N, 13% was volatilized over seven days at both application times. Of the urea‐N that was volatilized, 15% was absorbed by wheat at the first application time and 7% was absorbed by wheat at the second application time. Plant absorption of urea N (Y, mg) declined with distance from the source (x, cm) following the equation Y=10.95*10^(‐0.0142x). About 90% of absorbed N was within the first three wheat rows. Our findings suggest that a significant portion of ammonia volatilized from top‐dressed urea might be captured by plant foliage.     

Long‐Term Durum Wheat‐Based Cropping Systems Result in the Rapid Saturation of Soil Carbon in the Mediterranean Semi‐arid Environment

Climate, soil physical–chemical characteristics, land management, and carbon (C) input from crop residues greatly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. According to the concept of SOC saturation, the ability of SOC to increase with C input decreases as SOC increases and approaches a SOC saturation level. In a 12‐year experiment, six semi‐arid cropping systems characterized by different rates of C input to soil were compared for ability to sequester SOC, SOC saturation level, and the time necessary to reach the SOC saturation level. SOC stocks, soil aggregate sizes, and C inputs were measured in durum wheat monocropping with (Ws) and without (W) return of aboveground residue to the soil and in the following cropping systems without return of aboveground residue to soil: durum wheat/fallow (Wfall), durum wheat/berseem clover, durum wheat/barley/faba bean, and durum wheat/Hedysarum coronarium. The C sequestration rate and SOC content were lowest in Wfall plots but did not differ among the other cropping systems. The C sequestration rate ranged from 0.47 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in Ws plots to 0.66 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in W plots but was negative (−0.06 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) in Wfall plots. Increases in SOC were related to C input up to a SOC saturation value; over this value, further C inputs did not lead to SOC increase. Across all cropping systems, the C saturation value for the experimental soil was 57.7 Mg ha⁻¹, which was reached with a cumulative C input of 15 Mg ha⁻¹. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil aggregation and distribution of carbon and nitrogen in different fractions under long-term application of compost in rice–wheat system

Soil organic matter improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, and crop residue recycling is an important factor influencing soil organic matter levels. We studied the impact of continuous application of rice straw compost either alone or in conjunction with inorganic fertilizers on aggregate stability and distribution of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in different aggregate fractions after 10 cycles of rice–wheat cropping on a sandy loam soil at Punjab Agricultural University research farm, Ludhiana, India. Changes in water stable aggregates (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD), aggregate-associated C and N, total soil C and N, relative to control and inorganically fertilized soil were measured. Total WSA were significantly (p = 0.05) higher for soils when rice straw compost either alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers was applied as compared to control. The application of rice straw compost either alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers increased the macroaggregate size fractions except for 0.25–0.50 mm fraction. The MWD was significantly (p = 0.05) higher in plots receiving rice straw compost either alone at 8 tonnes ha⁻¹ (0.51 mm at wheat harvest and 0.41 mm at rice harvest) or at 2 tonnes ha⁻¹ in combination with inorganic fertilizers (0.43 and 0.38 mm) as compared to control (0.34 and 0.33 mm) or inorganically fertilized plots (0.33 and 0.31 mm). The macroaggregates had higher C and N density compared to microaggregates. Application of rice straw compost at 2 tonnes ha⁻¹ along with inorganic fertilizers (IN + 2RSC) increased C and N concentration significantly over control. The C and N concentration increased further when rice straw compost at 8 tonnes ha⁻¹ (8RSC) was added. It is concluded that soils can be rehabilitated and can sustain the soil C and N levels with the continuous application of rice straw compost either alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers. This will also help in controlling the rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.