Corn growth response to K fertilization on three compacted soils

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to K fertilization on Kewaunee silty clay loam, Plainfield loamy sand, and Plano silt loam soils compacted to two bulk density levels. Treatments were established in a factorial combination of two soil bulk density levels, three soil K levels, with and without banded placement of K. Increasing soil bulk density did not affect the height growth of the corn on any soil, but did increase shoot dry matter weight on the Kewaunee soil. Root dry matter was reduced by increased soil bulk density on the Kewaunee soil. The shoot/ root ratio was greater at the higher bulk density on all soils. Increasing soil K increased the shoot dry matter content on all soils and increased root dry matter content on the Kewaunee and Plano soils. The banded K treatment did not affect height growth or dry matter accumulation. Shoot K concentration was reduced at the higher soil bulk density on the Kewaunee and Plano soils. Both methods of K application increased the K concentration of the shoots on all soils.     

Increased phosphorus availability from sewage sludge ashes to maize in a crop rotation with clover

A recycling of Phosphorus (P) from the human food chain is mandatory to secure the future P supply for food production. However, many available recycled P fertilizers from sewage sludge do not have an adequate P bioavailability and, thus, are not suitable for their application in soils with pH >5.5–6.0, unless being combined with efficient mobilization measures. The aim of the study was to test the P mobilization ability of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) from two thermally recycled P fertilizers for a subsequently grown maize. Two sewage sludge ashes (SSA) were investigated in a pot experiment at soil pH 7.5 with red clover differing in its nitrogen (N) supply (added N fertilizer or biological N₂ fixation (BNF)), followed by maize (Zea maize L.). Shoot dry matter of maize was almost doubled when N supply of previous grown clover was covered by BNF, instead of receiving added N fertilizer. Similarly, shoot P removal of maize following clover with BNF was significantly increased. It is suggested that the P mobilization is related to the BNF, and a proton release of N₂ fixing clover roots led to the measured decrease in soil pH and thereby increased P availability of the tested fertilizers.     

Effect of Lime and Flooding on Phosphorus Availability and Rice Growth on Two Acidic Lowland Soils

Abstract

Loss of soil‐water saturation may impair growth of rainfed lowland rice by restricting nutrient uptake, including the uptake of added phosphorus (P). For acidic soils, reappearance of soluble aluminum (Al) following loss of soil‐water saturation may also restrict P uptake. The aim of this study was to determine whether liming, flooding, and P additions could ameliorate the effects of loss of soil‐water saturation on P uptake and growth of rice. In the first pot experiment, two acid lowland soils from Cambodia [Kandic Plinthaqult (black clay soil) and Plinthustalf (sandy soil)] were treated with P (45 mg P kg^?1 soil) either before or after flooding for 4 weeks to investigate the effect of flooding on effectiveness of P fertilizer for rice growth. After 4 weeks, soils were air dried and crushed and then wet to field capacity and upland rice was grown in them for an additional 6 weeks. Addition of P fertilizer before rather than after flooding depressed the growth of the subsequently planted upland rice. During flooding, there was an increase in both acetate‐extractable Fe and the phosphate sorption capacity of soils, and a close relationship between them (r²=0.96–0.98). When P was added before flooding, Olsen and Bray 1‐extractable P, shoot dry matter, and shoot P concentrations were depressed, indicating that flooding decreased availability of fertilizer P. A second pot experiment was conducted with three levels of lime as CaCO₃ [to establish pH (CaCl₂) in the oxidized soils at 4, 5, and 6] and four levels of P (0, 13, 26, and 52 mg P kg^?1 soil) added to the same two acid lowland rice soils under flooded and nonflooded conditions. Under continuously flooded conditions, pH increased to over 5.6 regardless of lime treatment, and there was no response of rice dry matter to liming after 6 weeks' growth, but the addition of P increased rice dry matter substantially in both soils. In nonflooded soils, when P was not applied, shoot dry matter was depressed by up to one‐half of that in plants grown under continuously flooded conditions. Under the nonflooded conditions, rice dry matter and leaf P increased with the addition of P, but less so than in flooded soils. Leaf P concentrations and shoot dry matter responded strongly to the addition of lime. The increase in shoot dry matter of rice with lime and P application in nonflooded soil was associated with a significant decline in soluble Al in the soil and an increase in plant P uptake. The current experiments show that the loss of soil‐water saturation may be associated with the inhibition of P absorption by excess soluble Al. By contrast, flooding decreased exchangeable Al to levels below the threshold for toxicity in rice. In addition, the decreased P availability with loss of soil‐water saturation may have been associated with a greater phosphate sorption capacity of the soils during flooding and after reoxidation due to occlusion of P within ferric oxyhydroxides formed.     

Response of burley tobacco to banded fertilizer and in‐row subsoiling

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 4 years at two locations in Kentucky to study the response of burley tobacco to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer rate and placement, and to in‐row subsoiling. In one experiment on Pope soil (mesic Fluventic Dystrochrepts), dry matter and P and K uptake 40 days after transplanting, and cured leaf yield and value/ha were increased as application of a 5–13–36 (%N‐P₂O₅‐K₂O) grade fertilizer increased from 310 to 930 kg/ha. Generally, fertilizer placed in 40‐cm wide bands directly under and parallel to the row was more effective than broadcasting and in‐row subsoiling was more effective than not subsoiling. Significant 2‐way and 3‐way interactions suggested that plant responses to band applications over broadcasting were greater in the presence than absence of subsoiling. In another experiment conducted on two silt loam soils, Pope and Maury (typic Paleudalfs), fertilizer applied in a 40‐cm band with in‐row subsoiling was more effective than broadcasting without subsoiling or placement in 10‐cm wide bands applied 0.6‐m apart and perpendicular to the row without subsoiling. Growth and yields increased up to the 620 kg/ha rate and 40 days after transplanting, soil pH decreased and soil electrical conductivity and plant manganese (Mn) increased with increased rate of fertilizer.     

长期有机物循环利用对红壤稻田土壤供磷能力的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了长期不同施肥处理定位试验土壤供磷能力的差异,并从土壤磷素平衡、全磷、有机磷、Olsen-P和MB-P的含量的变化等方面探索了导致供磷能力差异的原因。结果表明,长期施用磷肥能显著提高土壤的供磷能力,其中以有机物循环利用配合磷肥施用处理土壤的供磷量能力最高,植株平均吸磷量是长期不施磷肥处理的3.5倍,比长期施用磷肥处理平均高出59.8%。长期单施氮肥导致土壤供磷能力衰竭,植株总吸磷量比长期不施肥还低17.2%,单一有机物循环利用和配施N肥植株总吸磷量比长期不施肥分别高80.3%和40.2%。有机物循环利用能明显提高土壤微生物对磷素的固持量,土壤微生物对无机磷的利用可能是其向有效磷转化的关键途径。磷肥配合系统内有机物循环利用,是提高红壤稻田土壤供磷能力的有效施肥模式。     

接种含ACC脱氨酶的假单胞菌能部分缓解干旱胁迫对豌豆生长、产量及成熟的影响

Two preselected plant growth promoting rhizobacteria （PGPR） containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate （ACC）- deaminase （EC 4.1.99.4） were used to investigate their potential to ameliorate the effects of drought stress on growth, yield, and ripening of pea （Pisum sativum L.）. Inoculated and uninoculated （control） seeds of pea cultivar 2000 were sown in pots （four seeds pot-1） and placed in a wire house. The plants were exposed to drought stress at different stages of growth （vegetative, flowering, and pod formation） by skipping the respective irrigation. Results revealed that inoculation of peas with PGPR containing ACC-deaminase significantly decreased the ＂drought stress imposed effects＂ on the growth and yield of peas. Exposure of plants to drought stress at vegetative growth stage significantly decreased shoot growth by 41% in the case of uninoculated plants, whereas, by only 18% in the case of inoculated plants compared to nonstressed uninoculated control.
Grain yield was decreased when plants were exposed to drought stress at the flowering and pod formation stage, but inoculation resulted in better grain yield （up to 62% and 40% higher, respectively） than the respective uninoculated nonstressed control. Ripening of pods was also delayed in plants inoculated with PGPR, which may imply decreased endogenous ethylene production in inoculated plants. This premise is further supported by the observation that inoculation with PGPR reduced the intensity of classical ＂triple＂ response in etiolated pea seedlings, caused by externally applied ACC. It is very probable that the drought stress induced inhibitory effects of ethylene could be partially or completely eliminated by inoculation with PGPR containing ACC-deaminase.     

Influence of soil properties on the response to phosphorus in some tropical soils: II. Response to fertilizer P residues

The residual values of fertilizer P in six tropical soils were assessed from the response of grass in a pot experiment. The comparison was made between residues of P that had been applied to a previous crop (also grass) and fresh P applied to uncropped soil. Yields of dry matter and P uptakes were fitted to Mitscherlich and linear equations respectively, and the availabilities of fresh and residual P were assessed by fitted parameters of these equations. With sufficient residual P, the maximum yields were close to those obtained with fresh P, but residual P always had a lower availability than fresh P. The residual value was assessed by the ratio of the availability parameters for residual and fresh P and these values showed that there were differences between soils in the decline of P availability. Residual value was not directly related to the initial availability of P. The P uptake responses to both fresh and residual P were correlated significantly with buffer capacity for exchangeable sorption of phosphate and Al extracted by acid oxalate. This suggested that there is an available fraction of residual P, the uptake of which is influenced by the sorption and mobility of phosphate in soil, in the same way as for fresh fertilizer P.     

Evaluation of Dolomite Phosphate Rock–N‐Viro Soil Mixtures for Growth of a Horticultural Crop in an Acidic Sandy Soil

Abstract

Most agricultural soils in the Indian River area, South Florida, are sandy with minimal holding capacity for moisture and nutrients. Phosphorus (P) leaching from these soils has been suspected of contributing to the eutrophication of surface waters in this region. Dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) and N‐viro soil are promising amendments to increase crop production and reduce P loss from sandy soils. Soil incubation and greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to examine the effects of Florida DPR–N‐viro soil mixtures on the growth of a horticultural crop in an acidic sandy soil and to generate information for developing a desired formula of soil amendments. Dolomite phosphate rock and N–viro soil application increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable P, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). N–viro soil had greater effect on soil pH, organic matter content, and microbial biomass than the DPR. Comparatively higher nitrification rates were found in the N–viro soil treatment than the DPR treatment. A systematic decrease in soil‐extractable P was found with increasing proportions of N‐viro soil from the combined amendments. Greenhouse study demonstrated that the application of DPR and N‐viro soil significantly improved dry‐matter yield and increased plant P, Ca, and Mg concentrations of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Based on dry‐matter yield and plant N uptake, the combined amendments that contained 30% or 20% of DPR materials appear to be optimal but remain to be confirmed by field trials.     

Evaluation of some chemical methods of soil nitrogen available based on 15Nitrogen technique

Abstract

The large increases in nitrogen (N) fertilizer usage in recent years have led to a recognition of the need for reliable and quick methods of measuring the N‐supplying capacities of soil. Despite this need, there is no well accepted method for testing soils for N availability that has been generally considered to be satisfactory. This study was conducted to determine the N status of the soils of the Bafra Plain and to evaluate some of the more promising methods of determining the index of soil N availability by using a ¹⁵N technique as a standard. Twelve representative soil samples were collected having a broad range of chemical and physical characteristics. In determining the available N contents of these soils, one aerobic incubation method and 12 different chemical methods were compared. In order to evaluate the availability of indigenous soil N to plants and also to investigate the N status of these soils, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with corn as the test plant. Nitrogen was applied as urea at the rate of 0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm with ¹⁵N enriched (2% a.e) urea used at the 50 ppm rate. After eight weeks of growth, plants were harvested. The increased amounts of N were not affected linearly by the dry matter, N content, and N uptake by the corn plants for most of the soils. The most suitable N rate was found to be 50 ppm N under the experimental conditions. In order to select the most suitable chemical methods, the A_N‐value (soil N availability to plant as the applied fertilizer N) was taken as the standard method. Highly significant correlation coefficients were obtained between the A_N‐value and each of the following methods: alkaline hydrolysis (r=0.900 and r=0.938, P<0.001), alkaline permanganate (r= 0.873, r=0.864 and r=0.826, P<0.001), and total N (r=0.850, P<0.001), respectively. These methods appeared worthy of consideration as a routine test for assessing the N availability for these soils.     

Localized application of sewage sludge improved plant nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by rhizobox‐grown spring wheat

Sewage sludge (SS) can be used as an alternative fertilizer in agriculture. It is normally broadcasted and plowed into soil, but it is not clear if it has a potential as a placement fertilizer. A rhizobox experiment was conducted to investigate the placement effect of SS and mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer on shoot and root growth as well as nutrient uptake of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The treatments included localized SS, mixed SS, localized SS and ammonium, localized ammonium, and a control without addition of SS and ammonium to examine the effect of SS placement and, further, if ammonium co‐localization would enhance the placement effect. The results show that SS fertilization improved soil N and P availability, which significantly increased plant N and P uptake and enhanced shoot growth, while root length was significantly reduced compared to the control. Localized SS increased root proliferation in the placement region, resulting in enhanced uptake of P from the SS patch compared to homogenous application. However, co‐localized application of ammonium with SS significantly depressed plant shoot and root growth. Localized ammonium markedly restricted root proliferation in the placement region and reduced soil pH in both bulk soil and placement region, contributing to decreased nutrient uptake and plant growth.     

长期施肥对棕壤氨氧化细菌和古菌丰度的影响

【目的】氨氧化是氮转化过程的限速步骤,其由氨氧化微生物所驱动。本研究旨在探明 37 年玉米–大豆轮作施肥条件下影响棕壤氨氧化微生物丰度的主要影响因子及变化规律。【方法】以沈阳农业大学棕壤肥料长期定位试验耕层土壤 (0—20 cm) 为材料,选取其中 9 个施肥处理进行取样分析:不施肥 (CK)、低量氮肥 (N₁)、高量氮肥 (N₂)、氮磷肥 (N₁P)、氮磷钾肥 (N₁PK)、高量有机肥 (M₂)、高量有机肥 + 低量氮肥 (M₂N₁)、高量有机肥 + 氮磷肥 (M₂N₁P)、高量有机肥 + 氮磷钾肥 (M₂N₁PK)。采用实时荧光定量 PCR 技术测定其氨氧化微生物丰度,通过对土壤基本化学性质和氨氧化微生物丰度的冗余分析找出影响氨氧化微生物丰度的主要因素。【结果】施用有机肥处理的土壤 pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效钾、速效磷、铵态氮、硝态氮含量明显高于不施肥和单施化肥处理。各施肥处理土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效钾、速效磷的含量总体呈现有机肥处理 > 化肥处理 > CK;与不施肥处理 (CK) 相比,单施化肥处理显著降低了土壤 pH 值,施用有机肥处理显著提高了土壤 pH 值,其中 N₂ 处理的土壤 pH 最低,M₂ 处理的土壤 pH 最高。不同施肥处理氨氧化细菌 (AOB) 的丰度为 0.94 × 106～5.77 × 106 copies/g 干土,氨氧化古菌 (AOA) 的丰度为 3.56 × 106～1.22 × 107 copies/g 干土;施用有机肥处理 AOB 和 AOA 丰度显著高于不施肥和单施化肥处理,其中 M₂ 处理的 AOB 和 AOA 丰度最高,单施氮肥处理的 AOB 和 AOA 丰度最低。冗余分析 (RDA) 表明,影响棕壤 AOB 和 AOA 丰度的主要环境因子有土壤 pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾,且与 AOB 和 AOA 丰度呈正相关关系。【结论】长期轮作施肥显著改变了棕壤的化学性质,从而对氨氧化微生物的丰度产生了显著影响。长期施用有机肥显著提高了土壤养分含量及 AOB 和 AOA 的丰度,对维持土壤氨氧化微生物的数量起到十分重要的作用;同时试验结果也为今后通过改变土壤 pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾等性质对 AOB 和 AOA 进行调节提供了依据。     

Influence of sulfur and nitrogen fertilzer on the uptake of iron,manganese, and zinc by corn plants grown in calcareous soil

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted with a coarse‐textured calcareous soil (pH‐H₂O 8.3) to study the effect of single and combined application of N and S fertilizers on soil pH, Fe, Mn, Zn, and P mobilization, and on growth and micronutrient uptake by com (Zea mays L.). Increasing amounts of elemental sulfur were mixed with the soil. To stimulate S oxidation, the treated soils were incubated for six weeks at field capacity. Nitrogen was applied as NH₄NO₃ (100, 200, and 400 mg N/kg). After six weeks, dry matter yields were recorded and shoots were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, and P. At the end of the experiment, soil pH and the DTPA‐extractable micronutrients were determined. The results showed that: a. Soil pH was decreased by 0.2, 0.5, and 0.9 unit as a result of increasing S applications.

b. Applied sulfur and N fertilizer had increased the availability of micronutrients to following crops.

c. Application of N and/or S resulted in increased dry matter yields.

d. Manganese uptake tended to be higher as amounts of N applied increased; this was most evident at the higher S application rates. This effect was, however, reversed for Fe, Zn, and P uptake.

e. Under our experimental conditions, promising results were achieved on improving micronutrient availability and uptake when 400 mg N/kg was combined with 3 g S/kg.

     

Agronomic Efficiency of Indian Rock Phosphates in Acidic Soils Employing Radiotracer A‐Value Technique

Abstract

A greenhouse pot culture study was conducted to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of two rock phosphates from Mussoorie (MRP) and Purulia (PRP) in two acidic soils from Dapoli (Maharashtra) and Aruvanthklu (Karnataka), India, by growing maize (cv. Ganga) as the test crop and using ³²phosphorus (P) single superphosphate (³²P=SSP) as a tracer (A‐value technique). Dry‐matter yield and P uptake increased significantly with the application of P fertilizers compared to control treatment (without P) in both the soils. There was no significant difference with respect to dry‐matter yield among the P fertilizer treatments. However, P uptake by the shoots was found to be significantly higher in the PRP treatment in only Dapoli soil compared to other P fertilizer treatments. Phosphorus derived from fertilizer decreased in rock phosphate treatments compared to standard ³²P‐SSP treatment in both the soils, indicating an excess availability of P from the rock phosphates. A‐values of soil and rock phosphate indicate a relatively higher P availability from Aruvanthklu soil compared to Dapoli soil; A‐values for the rock phosphates were in the order PRP>MRP. The substitution ratio showed that the availability of P from both the rock phosphates were less than SSP in both the soils.     

Soil development on loess substrate in central Germany — results of a long‐term trial on soil formation§

In 1948, a model soil formation trial was started in Halle/Saale by Schmalfuß. Loess nearly free of soil organic matter (SOM) was used as substrate and the soil formation has been studied in dependence on the level of mineral P and N fertilization. The trial consists of 48 glazed clay cylinders (∅︁ 40 cm × 100 cm), which are open at the bottom. The cylinders are embedded in the ground and stand on a layer of gravel. The trial is divided in a section with constant P and graduated N application and a section with constant N and graduated P application respectively. In the first 30 years, yields increased strongest in the highest NP fertilizer treatment compared with the no‐N or no‐P fertilizer treatment. Afterwards yields in the different fertilization treatments remained nearly constant on the reached levels. Actually the mean shoot dry matter per year is 2.5 times higher in the highest fertilizer treatment as compared to the no‐N fertilizer treatment. The C_org content in the topsoil increased over 49 years in the highest fertilized treatment from 0.18% at the beginning of the trial to 1.94%. Compared to the treatments without N or P fertilization this corresponded, however, only to a 1.2 fold increase. With higher levels of fertilizer application, humus accumulation and biological activity increased relatively faster than the C_org content in the topsoil. Soil organic matter improved the nutrient availability (increase of cation exchange capacity, mobile P fractions). It is assumed that decalcification and the decrease in the C/N ratio will continue. The lower C_org and N_org contents and the lower cation exchange capacity in comparison with soils developed in‐situ near to the parent loess material suggest a still ongoing soil formation process in the trial.     

施肥措施对水旱轮作条件下灌淤土磷素形态的影响

  目的  研究水旱轮作条件下灌淤土磷素形态的变化特征,为宁夏引黄灌区作物施肥调控土壤磷素有效性提供科学依据。  方法  在水稻-玉米轮作体系下,设不施氮肥（T0）、常规施肥（T1）、优化施氮（T2）、70%优化施氮 + 30%有机肥氮（T3）、80%优化施氮 + 20%有机肥氮（T4）、秸秆还田 + 70%优化施氮 + 30%有机肥氮（T5）、秸秆还田 + 80%优化施氮 + 20%有机肥氮（T6）7个试验处理,通过田间小区定位试验研究了不同施肥措施对灌淤土全磷、速效磷和无机态磷含量的影响。  结果  在水旱轮作过程中,不同施肥措施对各季作物土壤全磷含量和旱地玉米速效磷含量影响不明显,但秸秆还田配施化肥和有机肥（T5、T6）能提高耕层土壤速效磷含量,水稻季和玉米季最高含量分别达56.4 mg kg?1和40.4 mg kg?1。由水田改为旱作后,不同施肥措施下土壤速效磷含量平均降低了7.6 ~ 18.1 mg kg?1。水田条件下不同施肥措施对无机磷含量均有显著影响（铝结合态磷除外）;旱作条件下不同施肥措施对铝结合态磷、铁结合态磷、闭蓄态磷含量均有显著影响,但对交换态磷、钙结合态磷含量影响不大。水田或旱作条件下,闭蓄态磷和钙结合态磷都是灌淤土无机磷的主要赋存形态。  结论  在宁夏引黄灌区水旱轮作体系下,有机无机肥配施秸秆还田是灌淤土磷素有效化调控的最有效手段,且在水稻季的调控效应最明显。     

肥料与石膏配施对滨海盐土油菜生长及养分吸收的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了肥料与石膏配合施用对滨海盐土油菜生长及养分吸收的影响,探讨了滨海盐土适宜的肥料品种。结果表明,肥料与石膏配合施用对滨海油菜生长有显著影响,在油菜干物质累积、油菜产量上均以有机无机复混肥、生物有机肥配合无机复混肥配施石膏效果最好。供试肥料品种间,油菜生长中后期在干物质累积、产量上均表现出有机无机复混肥(F2)、生物有机肥配合无机复混肥(F4)>无机复混肥(F1)>生物有机肥(F3)>对照,各肥料较对照分别增产195.6%、190.9%、117.0%和53.4%。在有机无机复混肥、生物有机肥配合无机复混肥的基础上增加石膏的施用量可明显改善油菜生长状况和产量,但在无机复混肥基础上增加石膏施用量会导致油菜干物质累积和产量的明显降低。肥料与石膏配合施用影响油菜对N、P、K养分的吸收,在油菜苗期养分吸收上,N、K以无机复混肥(F1)较高,P以有机无机复混肥(F2)较高,施用石膏可促进油菜对N、K的吸收,但会显著降低对P的吸收量。滨海盐土地区油菜栽培以有机无机复混肥(F2)、生物有机肥配合无机复混肥(F4)配合石膏(B2)施用较为适宜。     

长期施肥和耕作管理对华北平原土壤肥力的影响

In the North China Plain, fertilizer management and tillage practices have been changing rapidly during the last three decades; however, the influences of long-term fertilizer applications and tillage systems on fertility of salt-affected soils have not been well understood under a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize (Zea mays L.) annual double cropping system. A field experiment was established in 1985 on a Cambosol at the Quzhou Experimental Station, China Agricultural University, to investigate the responses of soil fertility to fertilizer and tillage practices. The experiment was established as an orthogonal design with nine treatments of different tillage methods and/or fertilizer applications. In October 2001, composite soil samples were collected from the 0–20 and 20–40 cm layers and analyzed for soil fertility indices. The results showed that after 17 years of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) fertilizer and straw applications, soil organic matter (SOM) in the top layer was increased significantly from 7.00 to 9.30–13.14 g kg-1 in the 0–20 cm layer and from 4.00 to 5.48–7.75 g kg-1 in the 20–40 cm layer. Soil total N (TN) was increased significantly from 0.37 and 0.22 to 0.79–1.11 and 0.61–0.73 g N kg-1 in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm layers, respectively, with N fertilizer application; however, there was no apparent effect of straw application on TN content. The amounts of soil total P (TP) and rapidly available P (RP) were increased significantly from 0.60 to 0.67–1.31 g kg-1 in the 0–20 cm layer and from 0.52 to 0.60–0.73 g kg-1 in the 20–40 cm layer with P fertilizer application, but were decreased with combined N and P fertilizer applications. The applications of N and P fertilizers significantly increased the crop yields, but decreased the rapidly available potassium (RK) in the soil. Straw return could only meet part of the crop potassium requirements. Our results also suggested that though some soil fertility parameters were maintained or enhanced under the long-term fertilizer and straw applications, careful soil quality monitoring was necessary as other nutrients could be depleted. Spreading straw on soil surface before tillage and leaving straw at soil surface without tillage were two advantageous practices to increase SOM accumulation in the surface layer. Plowing the soil broke aggregates and increased aeration of the soil, which led to enhanced organic matter mineralization.     

The effect of Ca and K levels on the herbage yield and nutrient composition of barley plants grown in high Mg soils

Abstract

The effects of Ca and K levels on barley (cv. Johnston) yield were studied in soil media containing high levels of Mg. The dry matter yield of barley decreased with increasing concentrations of Mg in soils, but the decrease was small. Dry matter yield was positively related to concentration of K in the soil. However, additions of fertilizer Ca or K did not increase dry matter yield, indicating that depressed yield associated with high Mg levels was not due to reduced availability of Ca or K. In commercial agriculture, applications of either Ca or K to such soils are unlikely to prove beneficial in increasing crop yields.

Concentrations of Mg in soil solutions of unfertilized soils were lower than levels which were previously shown to reduce crop yield. Additions of N fertilizer increased Mg concentrations to levels which could reduce barley yield     

Effect Of The Sequential Application Of Liquid Organic Manure And Phosphorus On Maize Agronomic Traits And P Uptake In Some Tropical Soils

Improving phosphorus (P) fertility is challenging in tropical soils because of the fixation of P by soil components. The trial investigated the effect of the sequential application of poultry manure extract (tea) and P fertilizer on maize agronomy and P uptake, through screen house and field experiments. Results indicated that poultry manure tea is rich in nutrients but low in P and could be applied with phosphorus fertilizer to enhance P availability and reduce fixation. Application of P before manure tea produced taller maize plant on the field and the highest P uptake in the screen house and on the field. Manure tea also increased maize dry matter and grain yield. Combined application of poultry manure tea and P fertilizer had positive complementary and synergistic effects. It was concluded that manure tea enhances P availability and reduces P fixation by soil aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides irrespective of the sequence of application.     

Dry season soil conditions and soil nitrogen availability to wet season wetland rice

A pot experiment with Maahas clay soil covered three consecutive crops. After uniform growth of the first crop, the soils were subjected to different moisture conditions during the dry season. Prolonged drying before wet season flooded rice stimulated increased release of mineral nitrogen but moistening of the dry soil for a dryland crop or by occasional rain during the dry season reduced nitrogen use from the soil in the next wet season. One cycle of alternate wet and dry soil preparation for 20 days before transplanting rice improved soil nitrogen availability and plant uptake of fertilizer nitrogen.

The initial growth of rice was retarded after flooding the previously moist dryland or dried soil, but not in the continuously flooded soils.

Losses of applied nitrogen were small in continuously flooded soils and were greater in the previously moist dryland and dry treatments. Uptake of soil nitrogen, however, was much higher in the air-dried soil treatment and in the dry with alternate wet and dry preparation treatments. Total nitrogen uptake (soil+fertilizer) was also greater in those dry treatments. Uptake of soil nitrogen in the wet-season crop was roughly proportional to the amounts of ammonia measured just before transplanting.

The proportion of the uptake of immobilized fertilizer nitrogen to available soil nitrogen was constant among treatments. Release of immobilized fertilizer nitrogen was also greatly enhanced by soil drying. For 1976 wet-season crop, the availability of fertilizer nitrogen immobilized in the 1975 wet season was three times higher than that of native soil nitrogen.