Long-term tree growth rate,water use efficiency,and tree ring nitrogen isotope composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus massoniana</Emphasis> L. in response to global climate change and local nitrogen deposition in Southern China

Purpose  

We aimed to investigate long-term tree growth rates, water use efficiencies (WUE), and tree ring nitrogen (N) isotope compositions (δ¹⁵N) of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) in response to global climate change and local N deposition in Southern China.     

Nitrogen use efficiency of microalgae application in wheat compared to mineral fertilizer

Background

Wastewater from sewage treatment plants contains high levels of nutrients, which can be used for plant nutrition. Classical wastewater treatment plants use complex microbial consortia of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms for biological wastewater treatment. Certain autotrophic microalgae (e.g., species of the genera Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Pediastrum) accumulate nutrients from wastewater very effectively.

Aims

We investigated the potential of microalgae biomass obtained from a prototype wastewater treatment plant as a source of nutrients for crops, focusing on nitrogen.

Methods

We provided wheat plants with different levels of algae biomass equivalent to 60, 120, and 180 kg N per hectare or with mineral fertilizer (N, P, and K) equivalent to the amounts contained in the algal biomass. Physiological and phenotypic traits were measured during growth, including vegetation indices, photosynthetic performance, growth, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). In addition, the adundances of Bacteria, Archaea and fungi and genes of ammonium oxidizing Bacteria and Archaea were determined in the rhizosphere of differently fertilized plants.

Results

Microalgal application at fertilizer levels of 120 and 180 kg N ha^–1 showed significantly improved physiological performance, growth, yield and nutrient uptake compared to the unfertilized control. Nevertheless, their yields and NUE were lower than with the application of equal amounts of mineral fertilization, while the adundance of rhizosphere microbes and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms were not significantly affected.

Conclusions

Microalgae from wastewater treatments form a suitable source of organic fertilizer for wheat plants with only moderate reductions in N use efficiency compared to mineral fertilizer.     

Double mulching improves soil properties and productivity of maize-based cropping system in eastern Indian Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years at North Eastern Indian Himalayan region to assess the effect of soil moisture conservation measures on soil and water productivity of different rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) - based cropping sequences. Results revealed that double mulching with in-situ maize stover mulch (MSM) + fresh biomass of white hoary pea (WHP-Tephrosia candida) and MSM + fresh biomass of ragweed (RW- Ambrosia artemisiifolia) improved soil moisture content (SMC) and leaf relative water content of crops during dry season. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stocks under MSM + WHP and MSM + RW mulches were significantly higher than that under no mulch at 0–15 cm depth. The soil microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity were maximum under MSM + WHP/RW. The highest system productivity was obtained from maize-French bean (Pole type-PT) sequence under MSM + RW followed by MSM + WHP. The water productivity was the highest under MSM + WHP. While SOC content was the highest under maize-French bean (PT), the maximum plant available nitrogen and phosphorus were obtained under maize-black gram sequence.Thus, double mulching technology involving MSM and RW (available in plenty) is a viable option for improving soil, crop and water productivity under rainfed hill ecosystems of eastern Indian Himalayas.     

Surface water quality of factory-based and vegetable-based peri-urban areas in the Yangtze River Delta region,China

Detailed surveys of surface water in two contrasting peri-urban areas in the Yangtze River Delta region of China were conducted to determine the distribution of heavy metals, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as well as the speciation of N and P. A factory-based (FB) area was compared with a vegetable-based (VB) area during the dry season. The concentrations of heavy metals in the surface water in the FB area were higher than those in the VB area, suggesting modest contamination of surface water with Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb but not Cd, from discharge of factory effluent in the FB area but not the VB area. Although total N (TN) and total P (TP) levels in the surface water were high in both areas, the surface water in the VB area had significantly higher levels of nitrate N (NO₃–N), organic N (ON) and TN than those in the FB area. In both areas, the levels of water-soluble P (WP), organic P (OP) and TP were high in the river water that received municipal wastewater. The distribution of N and P species throughout the surface water system indicated that the NO₃–N and ON mainly came from vegetable fields, while ammonium N (NH₄–N), WP and OP were mainly from municipal wastewater. Treatment of municipal wastewater prior to discharge to reduce N and P by purification is recommended together with research and extension to develop more efficient use of N and P fertilizer by vegetable farmers.     

Soil nitrogen mineralization and fate of (<Superscript>15</Superscript>NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> in field-incubated soil in a hardwood plantation of subtropical Australia: the effect of mulching

Background, aim, and scope  

Mulching is frequently used to overcome the drought problem in hardwood plantations that are increasingly being established in lower rainfall areas of Queensland, Australia because of increasing land values. In addition to soil water content, soil nitrogen (N) availability is another critical determinant of plantation productivity in these areas. The purpose of this study was to understand how soil mineral N dynamics, in situ N mineralization, and the fate of fertilized N would be affected by mulching during the early establishment of hardwood plantations.     

近30年中国稻区氮素平衡及氮肥偏生产力的时空变化

  【目的】  中国的稻作模式和区域条件复杂多样，研究和推荐各稻区氮肥合理施用量，为提高氮肥利用效率和维持土壤氮素平衡提供参考。  【方法】  基于1988―2017年开展的全国水稻土长期监测平台，分析主要稻区（包括东北、西南、长江中游、华南、长三角稻区，322个土壤监测点）氮肥施用水平、氮肥偏生产力、土壤氮素平衡的时空演变特征，并进一步探究各稻区氮肥的合理用量。  【结果】  近30年来，我国东北、西南、长江中游 (早稻)、华南 (双季) 和长三角稻区水稻氮肥平均施用量分别为N 159、173、179、284和279 kg/hm2，全国稻区氮肥平均施用量为N 215 kg/hm2。西南和长三角稻区氮肥施用量随施肥年限的增加而显著增加 (P < 0.05)，增加速率分别为N 0.4和2.5 kg/ (hm2·a)。整体而言，全国稻区氮肥施用量随施肥年限的增加无显著变化。30年间，各稻区之间氮素表观平衡量差异显著 (P < 0.05)。东北、西南、长江中游 (早稻)、华南 (双季) 和长三角稻区氮素年均盈余量分别为N 35、5、20、69和109 kg/hm2，氮素盈余量分别占氮肥平均施用量的22%、3%、11%、24%和39%。各稻区氮素盈余量均随着氮肥施用量的增加而显著增加 (P < 0.0001)。东北、西南、长江中游 (早稻)、华南 (双季) 和长三角各稻区水稻氮肥偏生产力分别为54、51、42、44和35 kg/kg，全国平均为45 kg/kg，仅东北和长江中游 (早稻) 稻区水稻氮肥偏生产力随施肥年限增加而显著提高 (P < 0.05)。各稻区氮肥偏生产力均随着氮素盈余量的增加而呈指数下降趋势 (P < 0.0001)。  【结论】  除西南稻区，其他稻区氮素施用量偏高。综合考虑维持土壤氮平衡和提高氮肥偏生产力，建议东北、西南、长江中游 (早稻)、华南 (双季) 和长三角稻区的适宜施氮量分别为N 131、167、156、244和151 kg/hm2。     

Amino acid and peptide dynamics in horticultural soils under conventional and organic management strategies

Purpose  

Free amino acids (FAAs) and peptides, and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) comprise key pools in terrestrial soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. A comparative study of organic and conventional arable farming systems was conducted in Shanghai, China to determine the influence of management practices on characterization of AA and peptide dynamics.     

Implications of municipal wastewater irrigation on soil health from a study in Bangladesh

This study evaluated soil health in fields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Shatabdi) and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) irrigated by different blends of municipal wastewater (hereafter called wastewater). The crops were grown with and without added fertilizers over three consecutive years. The wastewater contained high concentrations of organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and boron (B). It also contained negligible concentrations of a few heavy metals. Irrigation by wastewater resulted in an increase in the porosity of the surface soil and thus a reduced bulk density. Wastewater enhanced the saturated hydraulic conductivity and water retention capacity of the soils. The organic carbon, total N, available P and S, and exchangeable Na, K, Ca and Mg of the soils increased proportionately with the quantity of applied wastewater. C, N and K increased significantly (α = 0.05) when fields were irrigated using raw wastewater after applied fertilizers; the other elements accumulated in the soil insignificantly under both fertility levels. Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of the upper 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers increased with the application of wastewater; the increase was significant only under raw wastewater irrigation. In the 40–60 cm soil layer, both EC and pH remained unchanged. The applied inorganic fertilizers raised EC but reduced soil pH. The wastewater contained large counts of total coliform (TC: 17.2 × 10⁶ cfu/100 mL) and faecal coliform (FC: 13.4 × 10³ cfu/100 mL). Irrigation using municipal wastewater is proposed for improving soil fertility as well as for alleviating water scarcity with the exception of some crops whose edible parts come in direct contact with wastewater and/or are eaten uncooked.     

Microbial biomass activity of a sodic Lixisol reclaimed with gypsum and clean water irrigation in urban vegetable systems of Burkina Faso

Background

Little is known about the effects of gypsum application to remediate saline–sodic soils in the tropics and the role of microbial indicators in soil reclamation.

Aims

Our study aimed at (1) remediating a highly weathered, irrigated sodic Lixisol under prolonged urban crop production by clean water and gypsum application and (2) to determine the remediation effects on soil microbial indices.

Methods

A three-factorial on-farm experiment with maize (Zea mays L.) was used to study effects on soil microbial biomass of (1) soil degradation at two levels of salinity, (2) irrigation with clean water and wastewater, and (3) the impact of added gypsum during a typical growing season.

Results

At the high-degradation site, the 0.5 M K₂SO₄ extractable carbon (C) content was 40% higher than at the low-degradation site. In addition, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were 20% lower than at the low-degradation site, while fungal ergosterol was even 40% lower, leading to a 33% lower ergosterol/MBC ratio. Wastewater irrigation increased MBN but decreased ergosterol content at the low-degradation site while having no effect at the high-degradation site. Gypsum amendment led to higher MBN at the low-degradation site but to lower MBN at the high-degradation site. Gypsum amendment always increased the ergosterol content whereby this increase was stronger at the low-degradation site, especially in combination with wastewater irrigation.

Conclusions

From a microbial perspective, high soil degradation levels should be avoided by treatment of a saline–sodic wastewater prior to its use for irrigation rather than relying on future remediation strategies of affected field sites.     

Soil proprieties and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) responses to sustainable treated urban wastewater reuse

ABSTRACT

The present work aims to perform an experimental reuse study of raw and sustainable treated urban wastewaters in the irrigation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under semi-controlled conditions. The obtained results highlight a significant effect (p < 0.05) of water quality on soil monitored parameters. Compared to control soils irrigated with groundwater (GW), those irrigated with treated urban wastewaters from the modified activated sludge process (PTW) and raw urban wastewater (RW) showed significant increase in their organic matter (OM) and nutrients content. Indeed, in comparison to GW organic matter (OM) of RW and PTW was 5,37 and 3,84 times higher; Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) was 3,50 and 2,81 times higher and total phosphorus (TP) was 4,00 and 3,25 times higher, respectively. The results showed also a significant effect of water quality on yield, macro and microelements concentrations of alfalfa plant. Hence, the highest yield, macro and microelements uptake of the plant were obtained in response to irrigation with PTW and RW compared to control soil GW. Concerning trace metallic elements concentrations, pots irrigated with RW and PTW showed relatively higher concentrations than those of GW pots.     

Estimation of water dynamics in a vertical-flow constructed wetland with a growing plant species

Purpose  

Vertical-flow constructed wetland (VFCW) is a promising technique for wastewater treatment comparable to conventional wastewater treatment plants. The physical, chemical, and biological processes and interactions in a VFCW are highly coupled with water movement, and thus the performance of a VFCW to remove contaminants hinges on a better understanding of its water dynamics. The aim of this study was to develop a model for estimating water dynamics in an artificial VFCW with a growing plant system.     

Suppression of NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions by massive urea intercalation in montmorillonite

Purpose  

A large amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizers has been broadcasted over soil surface for reliable crop production. Unfortunately, the broadcasted N vulnerable to volatilization and leaching can lead to serious environmental problems. As a new approach to mitigate N loss of broadcasted fertilizers, massive intercalation of urea into montmorillonite (MMT) was recently proposed to innovatively enhance the urea use efficiency. This study focuses on demonstrating the behaviors of the urea intercalated into MMT in soils.     

Ammonium-nitrate dynamics in the critical zone during single irrigation events with untreated sewage effluents

Purpose

Previous studies in the Mezquital Valley evidenced that irrigation with untreated sewage effluent supplies two- to tenfold larger nitrogen doses to crops than common fertilizer recommendations. However, nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are only slightly above threshold concentrations for drinking water. To understand the N dynamics in this agroecosystem, we quantified nitrogen inputs, outputs, and transformations within the rooting zone and in the vadose zone down to the aquifer (i.e., in the critical zone).

Materials and methods

Single irrigation events were monitored in three different fields cropped with either annual rye grass (Lolium rigidum) or oats (Avena sativa L.) harvested for fodder. For each irrigation event, the total amount of water entering and leaving the field was quantified with a flowmeter. Soil pore water was collected with either microsuction cups or observation wells and groundwater was sampled at two wells. All water samples were analyzed for total nitrogen (Nt), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺–N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ^?–N), chloride (Cl^?1), and pH. Organic N was calculated as the difference between total N and inorganic N. The water tension and the soil water content were monitored before, during, and after the irrigation with tensiometers and TDR probes, respectively, installed at different depths and at three sites within each field. Batch experiments were conducted to assess the NH₄ ⁺ adsorption capacity of the soils.

Results and discussion

The irrigations added 537 to 727 kg ha^?1 N in form of organic N (40 %) and NH₄ ⁺–N (60 %) to the fields. Crops absorbed 65 % of the N and 31 to 66 kg NO₃ ^?–N ha^?1 leached out beyond the rooting zone (>40 to 130 cm). Batch experiments evidenced an ammonium adsorption capacity of 43 and 53 % of the input ammonium mass. Nitrification dominated over denitrification as the water infiltrated through the soil, evidenced by changes in nitrate concentrations and pH values in the soil pore water. The behavior of the total N/Cl ratio with depth indicated possible N losses due to NH₃ volatilization at the field surface, a temporal withdrawal of N from the soil solution due to NH₄ ⁺–N adsorption in the rooting zone, as well as probable denitrification losses in the vadose zone.

Conclusions

Although the studied agroecosystem muses the large N inputs relative efficiently, between 7 and 10 % of the added N with each irrigation leaches beyond the crop root zone as nitrate. This is triggered by overflow irrigation, since up to 8,699,000 L of water with N concentrations of up to 50 mg total N L^?1 infiltrate rapidly through macropores beyond the rooting zone. Additionally, ammonia volatilization and denitrification seem to be occurring. The latter could provide a self-cleaning potential to the system, if it reaches N₂ and needs further verification. Nevertheless, N inputs to the system should match crop uptake to avoid groundwater and atmospheric pollution.

     

Impact of in-season split application of nitrogen on intra-panicle grain dynamics,grain quality,and vegetative indices that govern nitrogen use efficiency in sorghum

Background

The correct rate and timing of nitrogen (N) has the potential to improve sorghum productivity through modified grain yield components and quality. The impacts of in-season split application of N have little documentation.

Aim

An experiment was conducted to determine the optimum rate and timing of N to relate vegetative indices that govern nitrogen use efficiency and to maximize grain yield and quality under different soil types.

Methods

Pioneer 86P20 was grown in three environments on two different soil types following a completely randomized block design with nine N application treatments. Treatments included differing N rates applied at critical developmental stages of sorghum (planting, panicle initiation, and booting), accompanied with high temporal aerial phenotyping.

Results

Opportunities to increase grain protein content while using split N applications were observed, with panicle initiation identified as a critical developmental stage. In-season split application of N enhances grain yield under low soil mineral N. Split application of 31 kg N ha⁻¹ each at the time of planting, panicle initiation, and booting emerged as optimum N treatment to increase protein content in sorghum. Vegetative indices, that is, normalized difference vegetation index and normalized difference red edge index are capable of predicting grain yield and protein content, respectively. Intra-panicle grain numbers and weights were altered significantly at different portions within panicles, with an opportunity to enhance yield potential at the bottom portion. The strong stay-green trait in this hybrid locked a large proportion of nitrogen in the leaves, which warrants the need for balancing stay-green and senescence in sorghum improvement programs.

Conclusions

Findings highlight that in grain sorghum remobilization of residual leaf N into grain is a target to increase yield and grain quality. An optimized stay-green trait balanced with senescence is recommended for enhancing sorghum yield potential.     

Cotton growth and the fate of N fertilizer as affected by saline water irrigation and N fertigation in a drip-irrigated field

The objective of this two-year field experiment was to study the effects of irrigation amount, N rate, and irrigation water salinity on cotton growth and the fate of N fertilizer. The movement of N through the plant-soil system was traced using ¹⁵N-labeled urea. The study consisted of twelve treatments, including two irrigation amounts (405 and 540?mm, I405 and I540, respectively); two N application rates (240 and 360?kg?N/ha, N240 and N360, respectively); and three irrigation water salinity levels [0.35, 4.61 and 8.04?dS/m, representing fresh water (FW), brackish water (BW), and saline water (SW), respectively]. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications. The results showed that cotton biomass, N uptake, and yield increased as irrigation amount and N amount increased; however, all three variables were significantly less in SW than in FW and BW. Plant ¹⁵N recovery rates were greater (i) in the I540 treatments than in the I405 treatments and (ii) in the N360 treatments than in the N240 treatments. Plant ¹⁵N recovery rates in BW were 7.98% and 30.01% greater than those in FW and SW, respectively. Residual soil ¹⁵N increased as N fertilizer amount increased but declined as irrigation amount increased. Residual soil ¹⁵N in BW and SW was 6.02% and 21.44% greater, respectively, than in FW. Total ¹⁵N recovery was significant greater in BW than in FW and SW. The ¹⁵N leaching losses increased significantly with increases in irrigation amount, irrigation water salinity, and N rate. Our study suggests that if appropriate amounts of irrigation water and N fertilizer are used, then brackish irrigation water (4.61?dS/m) will not affect cotton growth, yield and N recovery. In contrast, saline irrigation water (EC?>?8?dS/m) reduces cotton growth, yield, and N use efficiency.     

Effects of different fertilization regimes on nitrogen and phosphorus losses by surface runoff and bacterial community in a vegetable soil

Purpose

Vegetables are major economic crops in China. Their cultivation usually involves high fertilizer application rates leading to significant losses of N and P to the wider environment, resulting in water contamination and low nutrient use efficiency. Hence, it is a matter of urgency to understand the mechanisms and factors that affect N and P losses in vegetable production systems in order to develop optimum fertilization regimes.

Materials and methods

Different fertilization regimes were applied in a long-term chili (Capsicum spp. L.) production soil to study the effects on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoff losses, microbial biomass, microbial community, and crop yields. Three fertilization regimes were implemented: control (no fertilizer; CK), farmer’s fertilization practice (FFP), and site-specific nutrient management (SSNM). A fixed collection device was used to quantify the total volume of water output after each precipitation event. All water samples were analyzed for total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^?-N), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP). Soil samples were collected for analysis of the physicochemical properties and for DNA extraction after chili harvest. High-throughput sequencing was used to further investigate the relationship between the microbial community and nutrient losses.

Results and discussion

The SSNM fertilizer regime resulted in a 23.3% yield increase and enhanced agronomic N use efficiency from 11.87 to 15.67% compared with the FFP treatment. Soil available nutrients (i.e., AN and AP) and ATP content increased significantly after SSNM implementation. Under the SSNM regime, N losses decreased by 25.8% compared with FFP but did not lead to significantly different P losses. High-throughput sequencing results showed that each treatment formed a unique microbial community structure. VPA results revealed that the microbial community structure was mainly (50.56%) affected by the interactions between N and P. Mantel results indicated that the soil properties that significantly affected soil microbial community structure followed the order: AP, AK, and salinity.

Conclusions

Our study has demonstrated that SSNM not only generates lower N losses but also provides higher contents of soil available nutrients and plant yield, which were mainly attributed to the multiple top dressings and meeting of the plants’ demand with adequate nutrient supplies. The combined data showed that the microbial community differentiation between the different fertilizer regimes was mainly linked to the interactions between N and P in the soil.

     

Seasonal and Annual Fluxes of Inorganic Constituents in a Small Catchment of a Japanese Cedar Forest near the Sea of Japan

Fluxes of major ions in rainfall (RF), throughfall plus stemflow (TF + SF), and stream water (SW) were measured for five water years in a small catchment of a Japanese cedar forest near the Sea of Japan. The fluxes of most ions in RF and in TF + SF, including the non-sea-salt constituents, increased from late autumn to midwinter owing to the seasonal westerly wind. The concentrations of most ions in SW showed no obvious seasonal trend during the study period, whereas ${\text{NO}}_3 ^ - $ concentrations were lowest in summer, with a small seasonality. The Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ outputs in SW were approximately 3.7 and 1.8 times the TF + SF inputs of these cations, respectively. The large net outputs of base cations in the catchment may indicate a decrease in the soil's acid-neutralizing capacity. Annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen inputs in RF and in TF + SF were 17.7 and 17.9 kg N ha^?1 year^?1, respectively, which exceeded previously published thresholds in Europe and the U.S. (i.e., the values at which these inputs increased ${\text{NO}}_3 ^ - $ levels in SW) and equaled the highest level of nitrogen deposition previously reported in Japan. The ${\text{NO}}_{\text{3}} ^{\text{ - }} $ concentrations in SW were relatively high even in summer. During high-precipitation events, ${\text{NO}}_{\text{3}} ^{\text{ - }} $ concentrations in SW increased with increasing water discharge, and the pH decreased simultaneously during several events. Nitrogen deposition may contribute to the high ${\text{NO}}_{\text{3}} ^{\text{ - }} $ concentrations in SW and the temporary acidification that occurred during the rain events.     

Influence of Polyethylene Mulch,Irrigation Regime,and Potassium Rates on Field Cucumber Yield and Related Traits

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was field grown from April 2001–July 2001 to determine the effects of mulch, irrigation regime, and potassium (K) rates on yield and related traits (i.e., leaf relative water content, water-use efficiency, and macronutrition). This was a factorial experiment with two irrigation levels (125% A pan daily versus 75% A pan every three days), two mulch levels (mulched versus unmulched), and three K₂O levels (20, 40, or 60 g/m²). Plants receiving reduced water application (75% A pan every 3 days) showed significant reductions in all parameters when compared with well-watered plants (125% A pan daily). The use of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) covers improved the plant dry matter, chlorophyll concentrations, fruit yield, and relative water content in leaves of well-watered plants and also improved K availability to the plants by keeping soil moisture higher than that of stressed plants without mulch. Using BPM increased plant water-use efficiency compared with that under the reduced water (RW) treatment. Reduced water application enhanced electrolyte leakage compared with that recorded under the well-watered (WW) treatment. Mulching decreased electrolyte leakage under the RW treatment. Increased K rates significantly enhanced leaf K in the mulched and WW plants. However, increased K rates did not increase leaf K in the RW plants. Reduced water application reduced leaf concentrations of all nutrients tested, i.e., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). However, mulching enhanced the concentrations of these elements, although their concentrations were still lower than those under the WW treatment. These results clearly indicate that field-grown number plants under mulched treatments were less stressed under semi-arid conditions and also that mulched treatments increased K availability to the plants.     

Assessing long term effects of compost fertilization on soil fertility and nitrogen mineralization rate

Background

Fertilization with organic waste compost can close the nutrient cycles between urban and rural environments. However, its effect on yield and soil fertility must be investigated.

Aim

This study investigated the long-term effect of compost on soil nutrient and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) concentration, nutrient budgets, and nitrogen (N) mineralization and efficiency.

Methods

After 21 years of annual compost application (100/400 kg N ha^–1 year^–1 [100BC/400BC]) alone and combined with mineral fertilization, soil was analyzed for pH, organic carbon (SOC), nutrient (total N and P, N_min, extractable CAL-P, CAL-K, and Mg), and PTE (Cu, Ni, Zn) concentrations. Yields were recorded and nutrient/PTE budgets and apparent net mineralization (ANM, only 2019) were calculated.

Results

N efficiency was the highest in maize and for mineral fertilization. Compost application led to lower N efficiencies, but increased ANM, SOC, pH, and soil N, and surpluses of N, P, and all PTEs. Higher PTE concentrations were only found in 400BC for Cu. Nutrient budgets correlated with soil nutrient concentration. A surplus of 16.1 kg P ha^–1 year^–1 and 19.5 kg K ha^–1 year^–1 resulted in 1 mg kg^–1 increase in CAL-P and CAL-K over 21 years.

Conclusion

Compost application supplies nutrients to crops with a minor risk of soil-accumulation of PTEs. However, the nutrient stoichiometry provided by compost does not match crop offtakes causing imbalances. Synchronization of compost N mineralization and plant N demand does not match and limits the yield effect. In winter wheat only 65–70% of N mineralization occurred during the growth period.     

城市污水再生水灌溉对黑麦草生长及土壤磷素转化的影响

为了进一步明确城市污水再生水的农业利用价值,在温室条件下采用盆栽试验方法种植黑麦草,以自来水(clean water,CW)灌溉为对照,分别进行全再生水(reclaimed municipal wastewater,RW)和混合再生水(自来水+再生水,CW+RW,1∶1)灌溉处理,研究了再生水灌溉对黑麦草生长和土壤磷素的转化特征。结果表明,城市污水再生水灌溉显著增加了黑麦草地上部和根系的生物量,CW+RW处理黑麦草地上部和根系生物量在播种55 d后分别较对照(CW)增加18.92%和6.42%,RW处理分别增加26.79%和10.55%;黑麦草地上部磷含量分别显著增加8.48%和10.93%。再生水灌溉土壤全磷含量变化不大并有减少趋势,但土壤速效磷含量CW+RW和RW处理分别较对照(CW)增加29.15%和43.80%;CW+RW和RW处理显著增加了土壤有机磷组分中的活性有机磷和中活性有机磷,与对照CW相比,其中活性有机磷增幅分别为50.30%和81.57%,中活性有机磷增幅分别为7.66%和13.68%;也显著增加了无机磷组分中的Ca2-P和Ca8-P,CW+RW和RW处理Ca2-P含量由对照的12.90 mg·kg-1分别增加到16.42 mg·kg-1和15.49 mg·kg-1,与对照相比,增幅分别为27.29%和19.38%,Ca8-P增幅分别为19.94%和16.03%。再生水灌溉显著降低了土壤pH并显著增加了土壤有机质含量,这可能是增加土壤磷活性的原因之一。再生水灌溉对提高土壤磷素利用率有促进作用。