中国太湖地区稻麦轮作农田硝态氮动态与氮素平衡

Nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3--N) dynamics and nitrogen (N) budgets in rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotations in the Taihu Lake region of China were studied to compare the effects of N fertilizer management over a two-year period. The experiment included four N rates for rice and wheat, respectively: N1 (125 and 94 kg N ha-1 ), N2 (225 and 169 kg N ha-1 ), N3 (325 and 244 kg N ha-1 ), and N0 (0 kg N ha-1 ). The results showed that an overlying water layer during the rice growing seasons contributed to moderate concentrations of NO 3--N in sampled waters and the concentrations of NO 3--N only showed a rising trend during the field drying stage. The NO 3--N concentrations in leachates during the wheat seasons were much higher than those during the rice seasons, particularly in the wheat seedling stage. In the wheat seedling stage, the NO 3--N concentrations of leachates were significantly higher in N treatments than in N0 treatment and increased with increasing N rates. As the NO 3--N content (below 2 mg N L-1 ) at a depth of 80 cm during the rice-wheat rotations did not respond to the applied N rates, the high levels of NO 3--N in the groundwater of paddy fields might not be directly related to NO 3--N leaching. Crop growth trends were closely related to variations of NO 3--N in leachates. A reduction in N application rate, especially in the earlier stages of crop growth, and synchronization of the peak of N uptake by the crop with N fertilizer application are key measures to reduce N loss. Above-ground biomass for rice and wheat increased significantly with increasing N rate, but there was no significant difference between N2 and N3. Increasing N rates to the levels greater than N2 not only decreased N use efficiency, but also significantly increased N loss. After two cycles of rice-wheat rotations, the apparent N losses of N1, N2 and N3 amounted to 234, 366 and 579 kg N ha-1 , respectively. With an increase of N rate from N0 to N3, the percentage of N uptake in total N inputs decreased from 63.9% to 46.9%. The apparent N losses during the rice seasons were higher than those during the wheat seasons and were related to precipitation; therefore, the application of fertilizer should take into account climate conditions and avoid application before heavy rainfall.     

华北平原玉米季优化管理的密集型农业系统下一氧化二氮和甲烷通量研究

Addressing concerns about mitigating greenhouse gas （GHG） emissions while maintaining high grain yield requires improved management practices that achieve sustainable intensification of cereal production systems. In the North China Plain, a field experiment was conducted to measure nitrous oxide （N2O） and methane （CH4） fluxes during the maize （Zea mays L.） season under various agricultural management regimes including conventional treatment （CONT） with high N fertilizer application at a rate of 300 kg N ha-1 and overuse of groundwater by flood irrigation, optimal fertilization 1 treatment （OPTIT）, optimal fertilization 2 treatment （OPT2T）, and controlled-release urea treatment （CRUT） with reduced N fertilizer application and irrigation, and a control （CK） with no N fertilizer. In contrast to CONT, balanced N fertilization treatments （OPT1T, OPT2T, and CRUT） and CK demonstrated a significant drop in cumulative N20 emission （1.70 v.s. 0.43-1.07 kg N ha-l）, indicating that balanced N fertilization substantially reduced N20 emission. The vMues of the N20 emission factor were 0.42%, 0.29%, 0.32%, and 0.27% for CONT, OPTIT, OPT2T, and CRUT, respectively. Global warming potentials, which were predominantly determined by N20 emission, were estimated to be 188 kg CO2-eq ha-1 for CK and 419-765 kg CO2-eq ha-1 for the N fertilization treatments. Global warming potential intensity calculated by considering maize yield was significantly lower for OPT1T, OPT2T, CRUT, and CK than for CONT. Therefore, OPTIT, OPT2T, and CRUT were recommended as promising management practices for sustaining maize yield and reducing GHG emissions in the North China Plain.     

小麦-玉米轮作系统下长期施钾对作物产量、钾素利用率和钾素平衡的影响

Sustainable potassium (K) management at different soil sites requires understanding the relationships between crop productivity and long-term K fertilizations on a regional or national scale.We analyzed responses of grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.),K efficiency,and partial balance (difference between K input through fertilizer and K output in the aboveground biomass) during 15-(1990-2005) or 18-year (1990-2008) K fertilizations at five distinctive agroecological zones across China.Compared to the inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization,the inorganic NPK fertilization significantly increased grain yields of wheat (21%) and maize (16%-72%) at Qiyang and Changping,where soils have low exchangeable and non-exchangeable K contents,but not at rmqi,Yangling and Zhengzhou,where soils have a high exchangeable and non-exchangeable K and/or low N/K ratio in crop plants.Compared to the inorganic NPK fertilization,the inorganic NPK (30% N) and organic manure (70% N) fertilization (NPKM) increased grain yields of wheat (14%-40%) and maize (9%-61%) at four sites,but not at Zhengzhou.For a productivity of wheat at 2-5 t ha-1 or maize at 3-6 t ha-1,13-26 or 9-17 kg K ha-1 were required to produce 1.0 t wheat or maize.The NP fertilization resulted in the lowest negative partial K balance and accumulated 52 kg K ha-1 year-1 less than the NPK fertilization,which accumulated 28 kg ha-1 year-1 less K than the NPKM fertilization.A re-evaluation of the site-specific fertilization effects on N/K ratio in crop plants and soil K accumulation under current NPK and NPKM fertilization is urgently needed to increase both crop yield and K use efficiency at different agroecological zones across China.     

Application of controlled-release urea increases maize N uptake, environmental benefits and economic returns via optimizing temporal and spatial distributions of soil mineral N

The creation of controlled-release urea (CRU) is a potent substitute for conventional fertilizers in order to preserve the availability of nitrogen (N) in soil, prevent environmental pollution, and move toward green agriculture. The main objectives of this study were to assess the impacts of CRU''s full application on maize production and to clarify the connection between the nutrient release pattern of CRU and maize nutrient uptake. In order to learn more about the effects of CRU application on maize yields, N uptake, mineral N (N_min) dynamics, N balance in soil-crop systems, and economic returns, a series of field experiments were carried out in 2018–2020 in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China. There were 4 different treatments in the experiments: no N fertilizer input (control, CK); application of common urea at 210 kg ha^-1 (U), the ideal fertilization management level for the study site; application of polyurethane-coated urea at the same N input rate as U (PCU); and application of PCU at a 20% reduction in N input rate (0.8PCU). Our findings showed that using CRU (i.e., PCU and 0.8PCU) may considerably increase maize N absorption, maintain maize yields, and increase N use efficiency (NUE) compared to U. The grain yield showed considerable positive correlations with total N uptake in leaf in U and 0.8PCU, but negative correlations with that in PCU, indicating that PCU caused excessive maize absorption while 0.8PCU could achieve a better yield response to N supply. Besides, PCU was able to maintain N fertilizer in the soil profile 0–20 cm away from the fertilization point, and higher N_min content was observed in the 0–20 cm soil layer at various growth stages, particularly at the middle and late growing stages, optimizing the temporal and spatial distributions of N_min. Additionally, compared to that in U, the apparent N loss rate in PCU was reduced by 36.2%, and applying CRU (PCU and 0.8PCU) increased net profit by 8.5% to 15.2% with less labor and fertilization frequency. It was concluded that using CRU could be an effective N fertilizer management strategy to sustain maize production, improve NUE, and increase economic returns while minimizing environmental risks.     

玉米植株冠层遥感技术揭示N缺乏的空间变异特征

To evaluate the temporal patterns in N deficiencies in corn and assess the ability of remote sensing to diagnose N deficiencies during the vegetative growth of corn, three field-scale experiments were conducted with various rates (56, 112, and 168 kg N ha-1), timing (early and late applications) and placement (injected into soil and dribbled on soil surface) of N fertilization in a split-plot design. Relationships between canopy reflectance during the growing season and yield data at the end of growing season were studied for different treatments. Results showed significant variation in both grain yields and canopy reflectance among the three cornfields. The N fertilization made in early June resulted in low canopy reflectance in early July, but the differences disappeared as the season progressed. The effect of N rates on canopy reflectance was not significant in early July but it gradually became detectable in mid-July and thereafter. The fertilizer placement had a significant effect on grain yields only in one field but not on canopy reflectance in all three fields. These observations suggest that the deficiency of N developed under field conditions is a dynamic phenomenon, which adds complexity for accurately defining “N deficiency” and effectively developing management strategies for in-season correction. Remote sensing throughout the season helps collect information about important interactions that have not been given enough attention in the past.     

干旱条件下墨西哥中部高地不同耕作措施和农作物残留物管理对玉米产量和净收益的影响

In the subtropical highlands of Central Mexico, where the main crop is maize （Zea mays）, the conventional practice （CP） involves tillage, monoculture and residue removal, leading to soil degradation and unsustainable use of natural resources and agricultural inputs. Conservation agriculture （CA） has been proposed as a viable alternative in the region, based on reduction in tillage, retention of adequate levels of crop residues and soil surface cover and use of crop rotation. This study began in 2009 when the highlands of Central Mexico suffered from a prolonged drought during vegetative maize growth in July-August, providing an opportunity for the on-farm comparison of CA with CP under severe drought conditions which 21 climate change models projected to become more frequent. Under dry conditions, CA resulted in higher yields and net returns per hectare as early as the first and second years after adoption by farmers. As an average of 27 plots under farmers＇ management in 2009, the maize yields were 26% higher under CA （6.3 t ha-1） than under CP （5.0 t ha-l）. 2010 was close to a normal year in terms of rainfall so yields were higher than in 2009 for both practices; in addition, the yield difference between the practices was reduced to 19% （6.8 t ha-1 for CA vs. 5.7 t ha-1 for CP）. When all the 2009 and 2010 observations were analyzed in a modified stability analysis, CA had an overall positive effect of 3 838 Mexican Pesos ha-1 （320 $US ha-1） on net return and 1.3 t ha-1 on yield. After only one to two years of adoption by farmers on their fields, CA had higher yields and net returns under dry conditions that were even drier than those predicted by the analyzed 21 climate change models under a climate change scenario, emission scenario A2.     

不同施肥措施对小麦－玉米轮作中作物产量和土壤肥力的影响

A 15-year field experiment was carried out in Henan Province, China, to study the effects of different fertilization practices on yield of a wheat-maize rotation. Fertilizers tested contained N alone (N), N plus P (NP) or plus P and K (NPK), all with or without manure (M). Different long-term fertilization practices affected the yields under the rotation system of wheat and maize differently and the effects on yields was in a general trend of MNPK＞MNP＞MN＞NPK＞NP＞M＞N＞the control. The average contribution rate of soil fertility to the highest yield was 37.9%, and the rest 62.1% came from fertilizer applications. The yield effects of the chemical fertilizers were in the order of N＞P＞K and were increased by application of manure.Balanced fertilization with multielement chemical fertilizers and manure can be effective in maintaining growth in agricultural production. Combined application of chemical fertilizer and organic manure also increased the content of soil organic matter.     

中国南方大棚蔬菜地氮平衡与损失

High rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N) are applied in greenhouse vegetable fields in southeastern China to maximize production;however,the N budgets of such intensive vegetable production remain to be explored.The goal of this study was to determine the annual N balance and loss in a greenhouse vegetable system of annual rotation of tomato,cucumber,and celery at five N (urea) application rates (0,348,522,696,and 870 kg N ha-1 year-1).Total N input to the 0-50 cm soil layer ranged from 531 to 1 053 kg ha-1,and N fertilizer was the main N source,accounting for 66%-83% of the total annual N input.In comparison,irrigation water,wet deposition,and seeds in total accounted for less than 1% of the total N input.The fertilizer N use efficiency was only 18% under the conventional application rate of 870 kg N ha-1 and decreased as the application rate increased from 522 to 870 kg N ha-1.Apparent N losses were 196-201 kg N ha-1,of which 71%-86% was lost by leaching at the application rates of 522-870 kg N ha-1.Thus,leaching was the primary N loss pathway at high N application rates and the amount of N leached was proportional to the N applied during the cucumber season.Moreover,dissolved organic N accounted for 10% of the leached N,whereas NH3 volatilization only contributed 0.1%-0.6% of the apparent N losses under the five N application rates in this greenhouse vegetable system.     

Yield-scaled nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen-fertilized croplands in China: A meta-analysis of contrasting mitigation scenarios

Nitrogen(N) losses in cropland resulting from the application of synthetic fertilizers decrease crop productivity and exacerbate environmental pollution.Mitigation measures, such as reduction in N fertilizer application rates, can have unintentional adverse effects on crop yield. We conducted a meta-analysis of soil N₂O emissions from agricultural fields across China under contrasting mitigation scenarios as a novel approach to identify the most effective strategy for the mitigation of emissions of N₂O derived from N fertilizer use in China. Current standard agricultural practice was used as a baseline scenario(BS), and 12 potential mitigation scenarios(S1–S12) were derived from the available literature and comprised single and combinations of management scenarios that accounted for crop yield. Mitigation scenarios S6(nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate) and S11(20% reduction in N application rate plus nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide) in maize, rice, and wheat crops led to an average 56.0% reduction in N₂O emissions at the national level, whereas scenario S4(nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide) led to yield optimization, with a 14.0% increase for maize and 8.0% increase for rice as compared to the BS. Implementation of these most effective mitigation scenarios(S4, S6, and S11) might help China, as a signatory to the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(Paris Agreement), to achieve a 30% reduction in N₂O emissions by 2030.     

施氮水平对黄土旱塬区小麦产量和土壤有机碳、氮的影响

施用氮肥是雨养农业区提高作物产量和土壤有机碳（SOC）、氮[TSN（Total soil N）]含量的重要养分管理措施。利用长期田间试验（1984～2007）,定量评价了常规耕作条件下5个施氮水平N 0（N0）、45（N45）、90（N90）、135（N135）和180（N180）kg/hm2处理下,小麦子粒产量、SOC、TSN和氮肥利用效率的变化。研究了施氮水平对黄土旱塬区旱地小麦产量、SOC和TSN积累的影响。结果表明,1984～2007年期间,N0、N45、N90、N135和N180处理小麦产量的平均值依次为1.2、2.4、2.9、3.2和3.4 t/hm2;N0处理的小麦产量随试验年限而降低,年降低幅度达67 kg/hm2（P0.001）;但增施氮肥后降低趋势得到显著控制,当施氮水平提高到N 90 kg/hm2时,产量随年限呈现出缓慢升高的趋势。随着施氮水平的提高,地上部氮肥利用率由40%（N45处理）降低到28%（N180）。不同施氮水平条件下,SOC含量随年限呈缓慢升高趋势。23年后（2007年）,N0、N45、N90、N135和N180处理下,0—20 cm土层SOC储量依次为16.9、18.2、18.7、19.0和19.1 t/hm2;TSN储量依次为2.03、2.16 、2.24 、2.34和2.37 t/hm2。施氮水平与产量呈显著的抛物线关系（R2＝0.993）。产量与SOC存在着极显著的线性相关关系（R2=0.997）。增施N 1 kg/hm2,小麦产量可提高29 kg/hm2,SOC提高1.2 kg/hm2,TSN提高0.13 kg/hm2。根茬还田量的增加是导致黄土旱塬区SOC和TSN提高的主要因素。     

中国玉米小麦产量与氮肥利用效率同步提高的研究进展

Achieving both high yield and high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) simultaneously has become a major challenge with increased global demand for food, depletion of natural resources, and deterioration of environment. As the greatest consumers of N fertilizer in the world, Chinese farmers have overused N and there has been poor synchrony between crop N demand and N supply because of limited understanding of the N uptake-yield relationship. To address this problem, this study evaluated the total and dynamic N requirement for different yield ranges of two major crops (maize and wheat), and suggested improvements to N management strategies. Whole-plant N aboveground uptake requirement per grain yield (N _req) initially deceased with grain yield improvement and then stagnated, and yet most farmers still believed that more fertilizer and higher grain yield were synonymous. When maize yield increased from < 7.5 to > 12.0 Mg ha^-1, Nreq decreased from 19.8 to 17.0 kg Mg^-1 grain. For wheat, it decreased from 27.1 kg Mg^-1 grain for grain yield < 4.5 Mg ha^-1 to 22.7 kg Mg^-1 grain for yield > 9.0 Mg ha^-1. Meanwhile, the percentage of dry matter and N accumulation in the middle-late growing season increased significantly with grain yield, which indicated that N fertilization should be concentrated in the middle-late stage to match crop demand while farmers often applied the majority of N fertilizer either before sowing or during early growth stages. We accordingly developed an integrated soil-crop system management strategy that simultaneously increases both grain yield and NUE.     

太湖地区水稻最适宜施氮量研究

To determine the optimal amount of nitrogen(N) fertilizer for achieving a sustainable rice production at the Taihu Lake region of China,two-year on-farm field experiments were performed at four sites using various N application rates.The results showed that 22%-30% of the applied N was recovered in crop and 7%-31% in soils at the rates of 100-350 kg N ha 1.Nitrogen losses increased with N application rates,from 44% of the applied fertilizer N at the rate of 100 kg N ha 1 to 69% of the N applied at 350 kg N ha 1.Ammonia volatilization and apparent denitrification were the main pathways of N losses.The N application rate of 300 kg N ha 1,which is commonly used by local farmers in the study region,was found to lead to a significant reduction in economic and environmental efficiency.Considering the cost for mitigating environmental pollution and the maximum net economic income,an application rate of 100-150 kg N ha 1 would be recommended.This recommended N application rate could greatly reduce N loss from 199 kg N ha 1 occurring at the N application rate of 300 kg N ha 1 to 80-110 kg N ha 1,with the rice grain yield still reaching 7 300-8 300 kg DW ha 1 in the meantime.     

Assessment of nitrogen uptake and utilization in drought tolerant and Striga resistant tropical maize varieties

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop in the Guinea savannas of Nigeria. Despite its high production potential, drought, Striga hermonthica parasitsim, and poor soil fertility particularly nitrogen deficiency limit maize production in the savannas. Breeders at IITA have developed drought- and Striga-tolerant cultivars for testing, dissemination, and deployment in the region. Information on the response of these cultivars to N fertilization is, however, not available. This study evaluated grain yield, total N uptake (TNU), N uptake (NUPE), N utilization (NUTE), and N use efficiency (NUE) of selected maize cultivars along with a widely grown improved maize cultivar at two locations in the Guinea savannas of northern Nigeria. Maize grain yield increased with N application. The average grain yield of the maize cultivars was 76% higher at 30, 156% higher at 60, and 203% higher at 120 kg N ha^?1 than at 0 kg N ha^?1. This suggests that N is a limiting nutrient in the Nigerian savannas. Five drought-tolerant cultivars produced consistently higher yields when N was added at all levels. These cultivars had either high NUPE or NUTE confirming earlier reports that high N uptake or NUTE improves maize grain yield. The study also confirms earlier reports that maize cultivars that are selected for tolerance to drought are also efficient in uptake and use of N fertilizer. This means that these cultivars can be grown with application of less N fertilizer thereby reducing investment on fertilizers and reduction in environmental pollution.     

华南受干扰林和成熟林氮素流失对模拟氮沉降的响应

Current nitrogen (N) leaching losses and their responses to monthly N additions were investigated under a disturbed pine (Pinus massoniana) forest and a mature monsoon broadleaf forest in southern China. N leaching losses from both disturbed and mature forests were quite high (14.6 and 29.2 kg N ha^-1 year^-1, respectively), accounting for 57% and 80% of their corresponding atmospheric N inputs. N leaching losses were substantially increased following the first 1.5 years of N applications in both forests. The average increases induced by the addition of 50 and 100 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 were 36.5 and 24.9 kg N ha^-1 year^-1, respectively, in the mature forest, accounting for 73.0% and 24.9% of the annual amount of N added, and 14.2 and 16.8 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 in the disturbed forest, accounting for 28.4% and 16.8% of the added N. Great N leaching and a fast N leaching response to N additions in the mature forest might result from long-term N accumulation and high ambient N deposition load (greater than 30 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 over the past 15 years), whereas in the disturbed forest, it might result from the human disturbance and high ambient N deposition load. These results suggest that both disturbed and mature forests in the study region may be sensitive to increasing N deposition.     

黑龙江春玉米籽粒产量与氮素吸收变化特征

【目的】在高产玉米生产系统中,对氮素需求的过量评估,导致了氮素的过量施用和环境污染。东北春玉米种植区是我国重要的商品粮生产基地,仅黑龙江省玉米总产量就占到了全国的13.8%。在黑龙江省玉米面积迅速增加的情况下,在全省范围内收集整理施肥试验数据,分析品种、缓释氮肥试验数据,对揭示氮素需求与产量之间的关系具有重要意义。本研究的主要目的是量化黑龙江省籽粒产量和氮素需求之间的关系;评估产量增加时每吨籽粒吸氮量的变化;研究不同熟期品种籽粒产量和氮素吸收之间关系;分析缓释尿素产量和氮素吸收之间关系。【方法】采用调查方法,对2003~2012年黑龙江省不同地点的56个春玉米田间施肥试验中439个试验产量和成熟期数据进行了收集和整理,运用幂指数模型对成熟期产量和地上部总氮素吸收量之间的关系进行模拟。采用田间试验方法研究普通尿素和缓释尿素不同施肥方法对产量和农学性状的影响。试验以不施氮肥为对照,尿素100%基施、缓释尿素100% 基施、尿素40%基施60%追施、尿素40%缓释尿素60%基施5个处理,测产并分析计算收获指数、氮素收获指数。【结果】黑龙江玉米收获指数逐年提高,从2000年代的0.43增加到2010年代的0.48。56个试验的玉米平均产量为9.5 t/hm2,这一产量高于全国的平均产量5.3 t/hm2和世界平均产量4.5 t/hm2。每吨籽粒吸氮量平均为16.7 kg。将玉米产量分为6个范围:7、7~8、8~9、 9~10、10~11、11 t/hm2,每吨籽粒吸氮量平均值分别为18.3、18.3、16.8、17.0、16.4和15.3 kg。早熟品种每吨籽粒吸氮量高于晚熟品种。田间试验中尿素40%基施60%追施处理和40%尿素60%缓释尿素基施处理的每吨籽粒吸氮量显著高于尿素100%基施。【结论】黑龙江省玉米产量从2000年代的8.5 t/hm2 增长到2010年代的9.7 t/hm2,收获指数的提高是主要原因之一,收获指数的增加和籽粒中氮浓度的稀释是每吨籽粒吸氮量呈下降趋势的主要原因。在相同籽粒产量下,早熟品种籽粒和秸秆中的氮素浓度高于中、晚熟品种。追施氮肥处理和缓释氮肥与尿素基施处理的玉米籽粒和秸秆中的氮浓度更高。黑龙江省高产玉米生产系统中,产量的提高伴随着收获指数的提高和籽粒氮浓度的下降,而晚熟品种的种植面积扩大是导致这一现象的原因之一。     

Applications of reduced tillage in hills of central Nepal

Conventional tillage practices on steep and fragile landscape of Himalayan hills result in significant loss of topsoil during rainy season. Soil erosion in Nepal mid-hills is the most critical during pre-monsoon season. Many reviews argue that reduced tillage could be an option to tackle this problem. However, very few field experiments to evaluate reduced tillage systems have to date been conducted in this region. Thus, a field experiment was initiated in factorial randomized complete block design on acidic sandy loam soil (Lithic Dystochrept) during the summer season of 2001 at Kathmandu University (1500 masl) to assess the effects of tillage and cropping patterns on soil and nutrient losses, crop yield and soil fertility. Two main treatments viz. conventional and reduced till, and two sub-treatments viz. sole maize (Zea mays) and maize + soybean (Glycine max) were considered. Soil organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), plant available phosphorus (P) and exchangeable potassium (K) were determined for the original soil and eroded sediment using standard methods. Two years of data indicated annual soil and nutrient losses to be significantly lowered by reduced till as compared to conventional till. Total annual soil loss from conventional and reduced till was 16.6 and 11.1 Mg/ha, respectively. Similarly, annual nutrient losses associated with the eroded sediment were 188 kg OC/ha, 18.8 kg N/ha, <1 kg P/ha and 3.8 kg K/ha for conventional till and 126 kg OC/ha, 11.8 kg N/ha, <1 kg P/ha and 2.4 kg K/ha for reduced till. Soil OC and N losses were significantly higher in conventional till and this may be one of the major causes of fertility depletion in the Nepalese hills. Soil chemical properties did not differ due to tillage and cropping systems; however, over years pH, N and P were increased irrespective of treatments. Although treatments were at par for maize grain yield, conventional till + soybean produced highest grain yield (4.0 Mg/ha) followed by reduced till + soybean (3.9 Mg/ha) and conventional till sole maize (3.8 Mg/ha). Mixed cropping of legumes and maize do not help conserve soil and nutrient loss in hills of central Nepal. Thus, reduced till could be a viable option for minimizing soil and nutrient losses without sacrificing economic yields in central hills of Nepal.     

氮施用水平和方式对高粱作物产量和质量的影响

A field study was conducted for two years at the Arid Zone Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, to determine the optimum level of nitrogen and efficient application method in the production of sorghum （Sorghum bicolor L.）. Using four levels of nitrogen, i.e., 0, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha^-1, and two different application methods （soil application and foliar spray）, the experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, where the main plots were used to determine the effective method of application and the subplots were used to detect the influence of N levels on the grain yield. The average data obtained after two years of study indicated an increase in the grain yields with an increase in N levels irrespective of the method used of N application. The grain yield increased from 2.92 to 5.61 t ha^-1 in the plots that were treated with 90 kg N ha^-1 compared with the control plots. Quadratic regression analysis showed that the increase in the yield was higher at the lower levels of N compared with the succeeding higher levels. The soil application method, producing an average grain yield of 4.79 t ha^-1, was found to be superior to the foliar spray method with an average grain yield of 4.56 t ha^-1. The protein content of the grain showed a linear increase with N application, attaining the maximum at 120 kg N ha^-1 in both the methods of N application. In addition, compared with the method of soil application, higher crude protein contents were observed using the method of foliar spray at all N levels.     

氮肥运筹对水稻农学效应和氮素利用的影响

通过田间试验,以不同氮肥量级为参照,结合关键生育期叶片叶绿素含量（SPAD值）指导氮肥施用,以探明潜江地区水稻关键生育期的氮肥适宜用量。结果表明,在施N 90～180kg/hm2间水稻产量差异不显著,当超过N 180 kg/hm2,产量降低。根据水稻产量（y）和施氮量（x）拟合得出一元二次关系式:y = -0.0728x2 + 22.335x + 6811.5,R2 = 0.9442。结合当年水稻价格肥料投入费用等计算出水稻的经济效益（Y）和施氮量（X）之间的函数式:y = -0.134x2 + 37.097x + 12533-M,R2 = 0.9331;由此得出经济效益最大时水稻的施氮量是N 138 kg/hm2。该施氮量下水稻的氮肥表观利用率,农学利用率和氮肥偏生产力可保持在40.9%,11.5 kg/ kg和63.2 kg/ kg,与完全依据SPAD值指导关键生育期的氮肥施用量相近似（N 140 kg/hm2）,保证了水稻最大的经济效益,同时也保持了较高的氮肥利用率,降低氮素表观损失。     

中国南方红壤上作物产量和土壤性质对长期施肥的响应

A 15-year fertilization experiment with different applications of inorganic N, P and K fertilizers and farmyard manure (M)was conducted to study the yield and soil responses to long-term fertilization at Qiyang, Hunan Province, China. Average grain yields of wheat and corn (1 672 and 5 111 kg ha^-1, respectively)for the treatment NPKM were significantly higher than those (405 and 310 kg ha^-1)of the unfertilized control and single inorganic fertilizer treatments. Compared with the corresponding initial values of the experiment, all treatments showed a yield decline of 9 to 111 kg ha^-1 year^-1 in wheat and 35 to 260 kg ha^-1 year^-1 in corn, respectively, and a significant pH decline of 0.07 to 0.12 pH year^-1, except for the treatments PK and NPKM. After long-term fertilization, the soil organic C, soil available P, exchangeable Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ and available Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ contents were higher in the treatment NPKM than in the treatments applied with inorganic fertilizer only. Compared to the treatment NPK, the treatment NPKM, where manure partially replaced inorganic N, had a positive impact on arresting the decline of soil pH. This improved grain yields of wheat and corn, suggesting that application of NPK fertilizer in combination with farmyard manure is important to maintain soil fertility and buffering capacity in red soil.