Maintaining soil fertility under increasing land use pressure in the Middle Mountains of Nepal

Abstract. Nepal is facing a serious problem of being unable to maintain soil fertility in agriculture and forestry. Land use practices initiated over the past 10–15 years have resulted in insufficient nutrient inputs, while biomass use and production have increased. Changes in forest soil fertility have resulted from intensive use of forest biomass for animal feed and collection of forest litter for use in agriculture. The agricultural fertility changes have resulted from intensifying annual crop rotations from 1.5 to 2.5 crops and insufficient inputs. The removal of biomass from the forest has curtailed the natural organic cycle by virtually eliminating nutrient inputs.
The soils are very acidic and have little C, N, P and exchangeable bases, but have large amounts of active iron. Basic nutrients are not sustained in agriculture and differences in inputs and management between irrigated and rainfed agricultural systems are becoming visible. Irrigated fields show the largest cation content because of input from irrigation water. Rainfed agricultural sites, which receive the most nutrients (fertilizers and manure), have the highest pH values and C and N contents. All soil fertility conditions are marginal and put into question the long-term sustainability of current levels of production. Alterations in the cropping intensity are needed and the introduction of nitrogen fixing trees and crops seems to be the most viable option towards sustainability.     

Modelling of soil nutrient budgets: an assessment of agricultural sustainability in Nepal

Abstract. Sustaining soil fertility under agricultural intensification and expansion onto marginal lands is a significant challenge in the Nepalese Middle Mountains. In a detailed watershed study it was shown that the overall soil fertility is poor, forest soils display the poorest conditions as a result of biomass removal, and sustaining agriculture is questionable due to the transformation from traditional to multiple cropping systems. Parent material is a significant factor influencing low phosphorus status while insufficient inputs create deficiencies in total carbon, nitrogen and bases. A nutrient budget model was developed to assess inputs, redistribution and losses relative to soil fertility. Yield, input and management data obtained from farm interviews, and soil analysis data were used in the calculation of nutrient budgets. Results from modelling indicate declining soil fertility under rainfed agriculture, forest and rangelands, and marginal conditions under irrigated agriculture subject to intensive cultivation. Nutrient deficits were relatively low for irrigated rice-wheat systems, which benefit from nutrient inputs via sediments and irrigation waters, but the introduction of triple cropping showed greater deficits. Nutrient balances were most critical under rainfed maize production where 94% of the farms were in deficit. Current shortages of organic matter make elimination of nutrient deficits problematic but improvement of composting, biological N-fixation and fertilizer efficiency and reducing erosion were found to be potential options.     

Soil ecological study on dynamics of K,Mg, and Ca,and soil acidity in shifting cultivation in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Soil degradation caused by excessive land use is presently one of the major constraints on sustainable agriculture in the mountainous area of northern Thailand. In order to obtain basic information about soil fertility problems involved in the transition from traditional shifting cultivation to more intensive upland farming, the dynamics of K, Mg, and Ca, and soil acidity in the farming systems of both Karen and Hmong/Thai peoples were investigated. In the fields that lay fallow for more than 5 y, the soils were highly acidic and poor in exchangeable bases, mainly due to the fact that the fallow vegetation rapidly absorbed inorganic bases (K, Mg, and Ca) in the soils. In the fields both under fallow and cropping within 3 y after the slash and burn practice, the high acidity observed in the soils at the fallow stage seemed to be alleviated by ash input with high alkalinity. The aboveground biomass ranged from 9 to 10 t ha^?1 in the 8 y fallow field and the sum of inorganic bases and alkalinity, which were expected to be added to the soils with ash input, ranged from 3 to 4 kmol( + ) ha^?1 or kmol(-) ha^?1 , respectively. In the fields under continuous cultivation for more than 4 y after the slash and burn practice, the subsoils showed a more acidic nature than in the fields immediately after burning. Judging from the high concentrations of inorganic bases in the soil solution from the subsoils, the decrease of the content of exchangeable bases and resulting soil acidification might have proceeded through leaching loss of these bases. Among the exchangeable bases in the soils, Ca and Mg were generally predominant and K occurred as trace. Comparison of the total contents of the bases with the contents of exchangeable ones showed that most of Ca occurred in an exchangeable form while most of K and Mg occurred in the nonexchangeable forms in the soils. Therefore, Ca was likely to be readily depleted along with soil acidification in continuous cultivation.     

Approaches to calculating P balance at the field‐scale in Europe

Policies for mitigating phosphorus (P) loss from agriculture are being developed in a number of European countries and calculation of P balance at farm‐gate or field‐scale is likely to be a part of such policies. The aim of the paper was to study P balance at the field‐scale in 18 countries that participated in the European Union's (EU) European Co‐operation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST) action on “Quantifying the Agricultural Contribution to Eutrophication (COST 832)”. A questionnaire related to P balance at the field‐scale was sent to representatives in the 18 countries and all replied. The field as a unit is defined differently in the various European agricultural systems. The identification of the inputs and outputs differ among the countries. For example, P losses may or may not be taken into account in balances. Phosphorus balance at the field‐scale is used in all countries in the context of soil analysis and P recommendations for crops and advisory and research purposes, while only a few countries use it for policy purposes (agri‐environmental). There is wide variation in P balances between countries in relation to soil fertility and vulnerability of water to eutrophication from nutrients from agricultural sources. In several eastern European countries, Hungary for example, fertilizer P use has dropped to about one tenth of the levels used in the 1980's. Many of these countries now have a negative P balance. In western European countries, by contrast, although fertilizer P use has decreased in recent years, the average input is higher than the average off take, and soil test phosphorus (STP) values remains high and continue to increase in some areas. Twelve different soil extractants for STP are used in Europe, and their interpretation can hinder direct comparisons. Calculating P balance at the field‐scale involves approximations in estimating inputs and outputs and spatial variations in fertility in individual fields. Accuracy of data and standardization of methods for calculating balances with inputs and outputs will be a challenge for the future development of a sustainable agriculture in Europe.     

Can agroforestry improve soil fertility and carbon storage in smallholder banana farming systems?

Soil fertility depletion is a major constraint to agricultural production for smallholder farming households in many sub‐Saharan countries, and it is worsened by climate variability. In order to sustain food security for a growing population, measures have to be taken against C and nutrient losses from soils. This study examines whether banana–coffee agroforestry systems can improve soil fertility and C pools in smallholder farms in E Africa amidst observed climate variability. We selected 20 farms in Central Uganda, where soil samples were obtained from the top and subsoil layers. Samples were analyzed for several soil fertility parameters including soil organic matter (SOM), total soil organic C, pH, total N, plant‐available P, exchangeable K, texture, and bulk density. Soil C stocks were calculated based on soil organic C concentrations and bulky density. We measured tree diameter and height and calculated aboveground plant biomass using allometric equations. Belowground biomass was estimated using equations based on the respective aboveground plant biomass. Our results show that banana–coffee agroforestry farming systems had significantly higher total SOM and total N compared to the banana monoculture. Similar trends were observed for soil C stocks and total C pools. The former contained 1.5 times higher soil C stocks than the latter. Likewise, the mean total C pools for the banana–coffee agroforestry farm plots were 26% larger than that under banana monoculture. However, exchangeable K was higher in the soil of banana monocultures. Plant‐available P levels were limiting under both farming systems. The study demonstrates that beyond socio‐economic benefits banana–coffee agroforestry farming systems have beneficial effects on soil fertility and C sequestration compared to banana monocultures in the study area. However, precautions to avoid P depletion have to be taken under current climate conditions.     

Influence of land use on soil properties in a forest region of Southern Nigeria

Abstract. To assess the effect of different land uses on soil properties, five land use types (fallow, Gmelina , arable, secondary forest and cocoa plots) on a sandy loam Alfisol (Typic Kandiudalf) were compared in terms of surface (0–15 cm) soil pH, exchangeable acidity, K, Ca and Mg, extractable P, total N, organic matter, gravimetric moisture, temperature and bulk density. There were significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05- P ≤ 0.001) between the land use types for all the properties except exchangeable acidity and moisture. All the land use types differed significantly from each other in at least four properties. Fallow and secondary forest differed in nine properties, fallow and cocoa in seven and fallow and Gmelina in six. In terms of the number of properties with high variability (CV ≥ 35%), the order was arable, secondary forest and cocoa (4) > Gmelina (3) > fallow (1).     

Effects of fallow system and cropping frequency upon quantity and composition of earthworm casts

The quantities of earthworm surface casts were monitored in traditional bush fallow regrowth (BFR), Pueraria phaseoloides live mulch (PLM), Leucaena leucocephala alley cropping (LAC) and undisturbed forest. The fallow systems were planted to maize/cassava intercrop either permanently or for one year after three years of fallow i.e. at 100 and 25% cropping frequencies. Earthworm casting activity was lower in fields cropped after clearing three year old fallow than in the respective permanently cropped fallow management system. The reduction in casting was related both to the degree of biomass removed through burning and to re-establishment of cover crops. Higher exchangeable cation concentration in the soil did not cause increased casting activity. Concentrations of organic C, total N and exchangeable Ca and Mg in casts were significantly higher than in the 0–15 cm topsoil. Exchangeable Ca and Mg in casts did not significantly differ between treatments, with the exception of significantly higher Mg in casts after three years of P. phaseoloides fallow. Topsoil (0–15 cm) exchangeable Ca and Mg were not correlated with cast exchangeable Ca and Mg, but concentrations of organic C and total N in casts were significantly correlated with organic C and total N in the topsoil. Coefficients of variability of organic C, total N and exchangeable Ca and Mg were about twice as high in the soil than in casts. Significant negative correlations between the cast to soil ratio (cast enrichment factor) of organic C, total N and exchangeable Ca and Mg and the respective concentrations in the soil show that earthworms are increasingly selective in organic carbon and nutrient uptake as these parameters of soil fertility are declining.     

Amino acid 15N in long-term bare fallow soils: influence of annual N fertilizer and manure applications

Long‐term dynamics of amino acids (AAs), from a bare fallow soil experiment (established in 1928 at INRA‐Versailles, France), were examined in unamended control (Con) plots and plots treated with ammonium sulphate (Amsul), ammonium nitrate (Amnit), sodium nitrate (Nanit) or with animal manure (Man). Topsoil (0–25 cm) from 1929, 1963 and 1997 was analysed for C, N and ¹⁵N content and distribution of 18 amino acids recovered after acid hydrolysis with 6 m HCl. With time, soil N, C and AA content were reduced in Con, Amsul, Amnit and Nanit, but increased in Man. However, the absolute N loss was 3–11 times larger in Man than Nanit, Amsul, Amnit and Con, due to the much higher N annual inputs applied to Man. From 1929 to 1997 in Con, Amsul, Amnit and Nanit the whole soil and non‐hydrolysable‐N pool δ¹⁵N increased associated with the loss of N (indicative of Rayleigh ¹⁵N^/14N fractionation). No δ¹⁵N change from 1929 to 1997 was found in the hydrolysable AA‐N (HAN) pool. Fertilizer N inputs aided stabilization of soil AA‐N, as AA half‐life in the mineral N fertilizer treatments increased from 34 years in 1963 to 50 years in 1997. The δ¹⁵N values of alanine and leucine reflected both source input and ¹⁵N^/14N fractionation effects in soils. The δ¹⁵N increase of ornithine (～6‰) was similar to the whole soil. The δ¹⁵N change of phenylalanine in Con (decrease of 7‰) was related to its proportional loss since 1929, whereas for Amsul, Amnit, Nanit and Man it was associated with isotope effects caused by the fertilizer inputs. However, the soil δ¹⁵N value of most individual amino acids (IAAs) did not significantly change over nearly 70 years, even with mineral or organic N inputs. We conclude for these bare fallow systems that: (i) δ¹⁵N changes in the whole soil and non‐hydrolysable AA pool were solely driven by microbial processes and not by the nature of fertilizer inputs, and (ii) without plant inputs, the δ¹⁵N of the HAN pool and (most) IAAs may reflect the influence of plant–soil interactions from the previous (arable cropping) rather than present (fallow) land use on these soil δ¹⁵N values.     

Soil quality and other factors influencing maize yield in northern Ghana

Food security is a crucial issue in sub‐Saharan Africa as a consequence of unreliable rainfall, marginal soil fertility and a low level of inputs leading to declining crop yields. As a case study, we investigated the most important variables affecting maize yield in northern Ghana. We combined a soil quality index on a continuous scale with a social data set to model maize yield using linear multiple regression. Five significant variables have been identified (P < 0.05): soil quality index, fertilizer use, household size, distance from main market, and the interaction between fallow length and soil quality index. The effect of the interaction between soil quality and fallow on maize yield is negative, suggesting the influence of litter quality and N immobilization in the soils. Research and policy should focus on the development of site‐specific, legume‐based cropping, and the integration of crop and livestock farming in Northern Ghana and similar areas in sub‐Saharan Africa.     

What soil information do crop advisors use to develop nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for grain growers in New South Wales,Australia?

The Australian grains industry relies on mineralized nitrogen (N) from soil organic matter and plant residues, but fertilizer N is increasingly needed to optimize yields. Most farmers are guided on N fertilizer requirements by commercial crop advisors. We surveyed (n = 132) and interviewed (n = 11) New South Wales grains advisors to gauge the usage of soil process understanding, soil data and decision support systems (DSSs) when developing N recommendations. Soil moisture at sowing, seasonal forecasts, crop rotation, soil mineral N, financial risk profiles and paddock history were all used to prepare N fertilizer advice, but stored soil moisture was most important. Farmer confidence in soil N testing was low due to high spatial variability. Most advisors calculated N fertilizer required for yields within 10%–15% of crop potential, but clients’ attitude to financial risk guided final N recommendations. Conservative growers preferred a low input system, while more reliable rainfall or greater reliance on stored soil water led growers to apply higher N rates to maximize long‐term profits. Advisors preferred “rules‐of‐thumb,” simple DSSs and knowledge of crop growth, to elaborate DSSs requiring detailed inputs and soil characterization. Few used in‐crop N sensing. N decision methodologies need to be updated to account for changes in soil fertility, cropping systems and farming practices. New research is needed to answer practical questions regarding soil N mineralization and N losses associated with alternative N application practices and extreme weather events. Training of new advisors in N processes and DSS use needs to be ongoing.     

种植制度和施肥对半干旱区土壤中锰形态及有效性的影响

Manganese(Mn) deficiencies are common in soils on the Loess Plateau of China. This research provided essential information on improving Mn availability in semiarid soils through agricultural practices. Twelve cropping system and fertilization treatments were designed in a 28-year experiment. The cropping systems included long-term fallow, continuous winter wheat cropping, pea(1 year)-winter wheat(2 years)-millet(1 year) rotation(crop-legume rotation) cropping, and continuous alfalfa cropping. The fertilizer treatments under the cropping systems included no-fertilizer control(CK), application of P fertilizer(P), application of N and P fertilizers(NP), and application of N and P fertilizers and manure(NPM), but the NP treatment was excluded in the continuous alfalfa cropping system. Available Mn and Mn fractions of soil samples(0–20 and 20–40 cm depths) were measured and further analyzed quantitatively using path analyses. Results showed that the crop-legume rotation and continuous alfalfa cropping systems significantly increased available Mn compared with the fallow soil. Compared with the no-fertilizer control, manure application increased available Mn in soil of the continuous wheat cropping system. Across all treatments, the averaged content of mineral-, oxide-, carbonateand organic matter-bound and exchangeable Mn accounted for 42.08%, 38.59%, 10.05%, 4.59%, and 0.09% of the total Mn in soil,respectively. Cropping significantly increased exchangeable Mn in soil and the highest increase was 185.7% in the continuous wheat cropping system at 0–20 cm depth, compared with the fallow soil. Fertilization generally increased exchangeable and carbonate-bound Mn in soil. Carbonate-bound Mn was the main and direct source of available Mn in soil, followed by exchangeable and organic matterbound Mn. These results indicated that crop-legume rotation cropping, continuous alfalfa cropping and application of manure, have the potential to promote Mn availability in soils of rainfed farmlands.     

基于土壤氮素平衡的旱地冬小麦监控施氮

提高作物产量,平衡土壤氮素携出,培肥土壤,避免过多肥料氮残留造成淋溶,是旱地作物施氮的主要目标。本研究通过1 m土层硝态氮监控,从土壤氮素的输入和携出平衡计算氮肥用量,并在陕西永寿不同肥力水平的地块上连续2年布置田间试验进行验证。结果表明,与习惯施肥相比,监控施肥的氮肥用量减少41.2%,籽粒平均增产17.0%,氮肥偏生产力平均增加188.3%,产投比平均提高28.9%。监控施肥处理在收获期1 m土层硝态氮残留量平均为37.0 kg/hm2,较习惯施肥（112.1 kg/hm2）降低66.9%。经过降雨集中的夏季休闲期后,监控施肥处理1 m土层的硝态氮平均增加15.4 kg/hm2,习惯施肥则减少27.4 kg/hm2。这说明通过对1 m土层硝态氮的监控,依据土壤养分平衡,计算旱地小麦氮肥用量,可以提高产量,有效减少氮肥投入,降低成本,增加农户收入,提高氮肥效率,减少旱地土壤硝态氮残留和淋溶。     

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.     

Degradation and restoration of sandy soils under different agricultural land uses in northeast Thailand: a review

Conversion of natural forest to agricultural land use has significantly lowered the soil organic matter (SOM) content in sandy soils of northeast Thailand. This paper reviews the findings of comparative studies on contents of SOM pools (labile, i.e. microbial biomass and particulate organic matter—POM and stable, i.e. humic substance) and related soil aggregate formation, in natural forest plots and cultivated fields (monocrops of cassava, sugarcane and rice) in sites representative of northeast Thailand from the viewpoints of terrain (i.e. undulating), soils (sandy) and land use and discusses the restoration of SOM and fertility (nitrogen) in these degraded soils. Monocultural agriculture brings about the degradation of all SOM pools and associated soil aggregation as compared to the forest system because of decreased organic inputs and more frequent soil disturbance. The build‐up of SOM was achieved through the continuous recycling of organic residues produced within the system. Low‐quality residues contributed the largest SOM build‐up in whole and fractionated SOM pools, including POM and humic substance. However, to restore N fertility, high quality residues, (i.e. with low C/N ratios, lignin and polyphenols) were also needed. Timing of N release to meet crop demand was achieved by employing a mixture of high and low quality residues. Selection of appropriate residues for N sources was affected by environmental factors, notably soil moisture regimes, which differed in upland field and lowland paddy subsystems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

培肥措施培肥土壤的效果与机理研究进展

土壤肥力是农业可持续发展的基础资源,培肥是维持农业土壤肥力水平最主要的措施之一,藉以补偿由于养分随农产品收获及农作物废弃物(如秸秆)带出农田对土壤养分库亏损造成的影响。如何对农田土壤进行有效培肥,达到既提高作物产量和品质,又使农田土壤保持较高肥力,同时有效控制农业面源污染,维护农田良好生态环境,已成为目前农业现代化面临的重要课题之一。本文综述了国内外有关培肥措施与土壤肥力水平关系的研究进展,重点阐述了培肥措施与土壤基本理化性状、土壤酶活性、土壤微生物肥力指标、土壤动物肥力指标之间关系的规律,并指出培肥措施与土壤肥力关系方面今后的研究重点,主要包括:有机肥的精细化高效化投入与土壤肥力关系研究、土壤动物学肥力指标的深入研究、土壤长期培肥的土壤生物学过程研究、土壤培肥与农业面源污染问题研究。本文旨在为通过合理培肥措施来提高农田土壤肥力及维护农田良好生态环境方面的深入研究提供科学依据。     

Soil acidity under multiple land-uses: assessment of perceived causes and indicators,and nutrient dynamics in small-holders’ mixed-farming system of northwest Ethiopia

Knowledge on farmers’ perspectives is of paramount importance in order to design appropriate agricultural research and development interventions attuned to local farming systems. A participatory rural appraisal was conducted in order to understand perceived causes and indicators of soil acidity under multiple land-uses in three Districts of northwest Ethiopia. Soil samples were also collected from five dominant land-uses. The samples were analysed for soil pH, exchangeable acidity and other physico-chemical properties. The result indicated that the pH_(H2O) of most of the soils in the study sites were in a strongly acidic range (4.6–5.5). Gashena Akayita of the Banja District was the most acidic of all. Among the land-uses, eucalyptus fields were the most acidic followed by crop outfields and grazing lands in that order. At all the study sites, exchangeable Al was detected in soils having a pH of less than 5.0. Overall, the nutrient dynamics showed variation across land-uses and study sites. Farmers’ perceived causes of soil acidity included: soil erosion; contending use of fertility replenishing local resources; abandoning traditional fertility management practices and minimal use of external inputs. The farmers attributed the exclusive use of acid-forming inorganic fertilizers to exhaustion of the soil. Various land and soil characteristics, plant growth attributes, changes in genetic diversity were mentioned as indicators of soil acidity. Particularly, the farmers used prevalence of acidophilic weed species on crop fields and grazing lands as marker of strongly acidic soil. Farmers’ perceived causes and indicators were in agreement with scientific facts and can be utilized as input in designing sustainable acid soil management strategies. Decline in genetic diversity of the once widespread crop species and land races, and expansion of newly introduced soil acidity tolerant species, suggests the need to undertake rescue collections in these areas.     

Soil fertility in indigenous swidden fields and fallows in northern Amazonia,Brazil

In the northern Brazilian Amazon, indigenous peoples who inhabit the savannas of Roraima, plant their crop fields in frequently managed “forest islands” using a rotating “slash-and-burn” system. The system advocates long-term sustainability, but population growth and threats to indigenous lands have led to shorter rotations and greater frequency of use of forest island areas. Our objective was to examine soil texture and fertility (0–20 cm in depth) in indigenous crop fields (roças) and fallow lands (capoeiras, secondary forests), generating recommendations that may help to optimize traditional soil management. Results indicated that roça sites are less acidic than capoeira sites, which was expected as ashes produced by burning are alkalizing, but acidity did not increase again after 8 months of cultivation, and pH was high in all sites (>6). The general increase in nutrients expected in roças compared with capoeiras did not occur. The expected decrease of soil fertility after first months of cultivation did not happen, nor the increase of soil fertility according to fallow length. Overall, soil texture proved to be the main determinant of fertility. The unexpected results suggest that the edaphic processes resulting from the traditional indigenous cultivations, practised for centuries or millennia in this region, likely contributed to the current stabilization of soil acidity and fertility. The stable moderate fertility and stable high pH observed in all sites are advantages for production in slash-and-burn systems in this region, and this is especially important for more pressured areas, where agroecological practices could improve soil use and management. Although not determinant for soil fertility recovery at the studied depth (0–20 cm), the fallow period (growth of capoeiras) is still important for recovery of environmental and social functions of forest islands.     

Charcoal in Amazonian paddy soil—Nutrient availability,rice growth and methane emissions

We investigated the effects of charcoal under flooded (anoxic) rice cultivation at low and high fertilizer levels during 2 y in the Maranhão lowlands, eastern periphery of Amazonia. Two applications (at onset of first and second year) of 15 Mg ha^–1 of fine (< 2 mm) charcoal derived from the endocarp of the babassu (Attalea speciosa Mart.) palm nut had little influence on soil fertility, rice growth, yield, and nutritional status. Exception to this were negative impacts of charcoal on first‐year N availability, with lower sub‐superficial soil NH$ _4^+ $ availability paired with lower rice tissue N and a responsiveness of grain yields to (mainly N‐) fertilization following charcoal application. This N‐limitation effect was, however, limited to the first year and—though statistically significant—without agronomic relevance. The most consistent charcoal effect on flooded‐soil fertility was the strong increase in K availability in the second year, at low and to a lesser extent at intermediate, but not at high fertilizer level. Low K concentrations of our charcoal exclude the possibility of direct K inputs via charcoal, suggesting other indirect mechanisms for K availability increases. Methane fluxes in the second year were significantly reduced (–43.8%) by charcoal application, charcoal‐induced reductions were stronger under high‐ (–47.3%) than under low‐fertilizer regime (–26.0%). Thus, charcoal could be a valuable tool for reducing methane emissions associated with intensely fertilized flooded rice, without significantly affecting grain yields.     

紫云英和秸秆替代部分化肥对双季稻产量、养分含量及土壤综合肥力的影响

化肥对于农业生产的意义重大，但过量施用化肥将增加面源污染风险。为了优化施肥结构，减少养分流失，利用紫云英和秸秆替代部分化肥，可以在保证双季稻稳产的同时提高稻田土壤肥力。本文基于连续四年田间定位实验，探讨了紫云英和秸秆替代部分化肥对双季稻产量、土壤综合肥力和植株养分含量的影响。试验设置六个等养分投入的处理：（1）冬闲+氮、磷、钾（CF）；（2）冬闲+秸秆低量还田+氮、磷、钾（RSL）；（3）冬闲+秸秆高量还田+氮、磷、钾（RSH）；（4）紫云英+氮、磷、钾（MV）；（5）紫云英+秸秆低量还田+氮、磷、钾（MV＋RSL）；（6）紫云英+秸秆高量还田+氮、磷、钾（MV＋RSH）。结果表明：早稻季，将有机物料替代比例控制在20%以内，水稻产量保持稳定；当替代比例达到39%及以上时，水稻产量显著降低。晚稻季，与CF处理相比，其余各处理提高了土壤有机质和全氮含量，其中，以RSH处理提升效果最为明显，分别提高了11.15%和7.64%。与RSH处理相比，MV+RSH处理土壤综合肥力指数提高了8.5%。与CF处理相比，MV和RSH处理显著提高了稻谷磷、钾含量。等养分投入条件下，利用2500kg/hm2秸秆替代20%化肥在保证水稻稳产的同时提高了土壤肥力。紫云英与秸秆联合利用能显著改善土壤肥力状况，但该模式下替代化肥的比例过高在短期内可能有减产的风险。