Influence of tillage and method of metam sodium application on distribution and survival ofVerticillium dahliae in the soil and the development of verticillium wilt of potato

The effect of plowing and deep-rip tillage, in combination with chemigation or shank injection of metam sodium, onVerticillium dahliae populations and disease development was assessed in two fields with differing soil types and potato rotations. Soil samples were collected on a geo-referenced basis at depths of 0 to 10 cm and 10 to 20 cm before tillage, after tillage, after chemical application, and before planting and assayed for the presence of the pathogen. Propagules ofV. dahliae were detected at 140 of 141 sites sampled prior to tillage. Most (74.4% in heavy, sandy loam; 63.1% in light, loamy sand) were concentrated in upper 10 cm of the soil profile. Plowing redistributed inoculum vertically while deep-rip tillage did not. In the non-chemical treated areas of both fields, theVerticillium population reached a maximum between 25 July and 8 August before declining to near pre-tillage levels. Overall, the population generally was lower in the field with heavy soil, higher organic matter content, and a 3-year crop rotation. Metam sodium appeared to be most effective when shank injected, as the levels of inoculum in both fields declined by 60% to 80% following this application method. Chemigation was ineffective in the lighter soil, but the inoculum density in the deep-rip tillage area of the field with the heavier soil declined by nearly 20% in the upper and 60% in the lower strata following this treatment. The number ofV. dahliae propagules at the 10- to 20-cm depth in the plowed area of the same field was reduced by 25% following chemigation, but remained unchanged in the upper strata. Wilt was reduced in both fields by as much as 50% with shank injection of metam sodium with concomitant increases in total yield, marketable yield and gross income. Increases in total yield were significant (P<0.05) for the main effect of chemical, in the plowed area of the field with the heavier soil type following shank injection. These data suggest that growers might benefit from altering their tillage and chemical application practices as part of an integrated approach to managing Verticillium wilt.     

Soil Ecosystem Changes During the Transition to No-Till Cropping

Summary

Growers in the United States and worldwide are adopting no-tillage (no-till) cropping to reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality, increase water infiltration, and reduce number of passes with farm equipment over their fields. Soil erosion from dry farmed (i.e., non-irrigated) cropland in most regions of the United States exceeds the tolerable rate. An understanding of the changes in the soil ecosystem with changing tillage practices is needed to minimize the impact of agriculture on the environment and foster the use of sustainable agricultural practices. The soil biota is critical to the functioning of any agro-ecosystem, but studying the soil biota is difficult due to the diversity and the challenges associated with isolating and identifying these organisms. Soil disturbance or lack of disturbance can have a profound effect on biotic populations, processes and community structure. This contribution examines changes that occur in soil during the transition to no-till cropping, interrelations among organisms in the soil food web, and the relationships between organisms and their environment. As interest grows in sustainable cropping systems that mimic processes and soil organic matter turnover of native, undisturbed systems, it is imperative to understand how the transition to no-till affects an organism's niche, or functional role within the soil environment. Ecosystem investigations will enhance the understanding of changes that occur with the adoption of reduced tillage and no-till cropping systems so that these systems become increasingly viable.     

Soil organic carbon sequestration as affected by tillage, crop residue, and nitrogen application in rice–wheat rotation system

Despite being a major domain of global food supply, rice?Cwheat cropping system is questioned for its contribution to carbon flux. Enhancing the organic carbon pool in this system is therefore necessary to reduce environmental degradation and maintain agricultural productivity. A field experiment (November 2002?CMarch 2006) evaluated the effects of soil management practices such as tillage, crop residue, and timing of nitrogen (N) application on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in the lowland of Chitwan Valley of Nepal. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown in rotation adding 12?Mg?ha^?1?y^?1 of field-dried residue. Mung-bean (Vigna radiata L.) was grown as a cover crop between the wheat and the rice. Timing of N application based on leaf color chart method was compared with recommended method of N application. At the end of the experiment SOC sequestration was quantified for five depths within 50?cm of soil profile. The difference in SOC sequestration between methods of N application was not apparent. However, soils sequestered significantly higher amount of SOC in the whole profile (0?C50?cm soil depth) with more pronounced effect seen at 0?C15?cm soil depth under no-tillage as compared with the SOC under conventional tillage. Crop residues added to no-tillage soils outperformed other treatment interactions. It is concluded that a rice?Cwheat system would serve as a greater sink of organic carbon with residue application under no-tillage system than with or without residue application when compared to the conventional tillage system in this condition.     

Long-term effects of mulch,fertilization and tillage on cassava grown in sandy soils in northern Colombia

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is often cultivated in sandy soils that are very low in nutrients and organic matter. Under such conditions, yields often decline when the crop is grown successively without fertilizer application. An 8-year on-farm trial was conducted on sandy soils in northern Colombia to study effects of (1) surface mulching with residues of the grass Panicum maximum, (2) moderate applications of N, P and K fertilizer and (3) tillage on crop productivity, root quality and soil properties. Mulch applications significantly increased root and top biomass, increased root dry matter content while reducing its yearly variation, and decreased root HCN, particularly in the absence of fertilizer. Mulch applications also significantly reduced soil temperatures within the top 20 cm and increased soil organic carbon, K, P, Ca and Mg. Without mulch, soil pH decreased over the years. Annual applications of 21 kg ha⁻¹ P resulted in a build-up of soil P, whereas no build-up of soil K was observed with applications of 41 kg K ha⁻¹. The application of N, P and K fertilizer significantly increased root and top biomass and reduced root HCN, especially if no mulch was applied. Where both mulch and fertilizer applications were absent, root yield and top biomass declined over the years. Tillage, except when combined with fertilizer application, had no effect on root yield, top biomass, root dry matter or HCN contents. Neither were effects of tillage observed in any of the studied soil parameters. The trial indicated that, to sustain cassava productivity in poor sandy soils, applications of plant mulch and/or chemical fertilizer are highly desirable.     

Rice–wheat cropping system: tillage,mulch, and nitrogen effects on soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity

Maintenance of organic carbon in soil (SOC) is critically important for sustained agricultural productivity and environmental quality. This paper presents SOC resulting from differences in tillage types and demonstrates how mulch and nitrogen (N) application can mediate the tillage functions on SOC and crop productivities. The results are derived from a 4-year field-scale study carried out in a low-land under sub-tropical hot and humid environment of Nepal. It compared eight treatment combinations, viz., tillage (no-tillage and conventional tillage), mulch (no-mulch and 12 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 of mulch), and N application (recommended versus leaf color chart method) under rice–wheat cropping system. Seasonal grain and biomass yields of these crops were recorded and at the end of the 4-year study, quantified the organic carbon stock of soil; Within 15 cm of surface soil, SOC stock (Mg C ha^?1) was statistically (p < 0.05) higher on no-tillage plots (11.2–11.8) than on conventional tillage plots (9.2–10.5). The treatment effect was more pronounced on winter wheat productivity where conventional tillage combined with straw-mulch exceled the performance of no-tillage. Clearly, no-tillage had the environmental benefit, and conventional tillage had the crop productivity benefit.     

耕作方式和施氮量对旱地冬小麦开花后干物质转运特征、糖含量及产量的影响

为探讨耕作方式和氮肥对旱地小麦的互作效应,在甘肃半干旱雨养农业区大田试验条件下,采用双因素裂区设计,以常规耕作(CT)、秸秆还田(CTI)、全膜覆土穴播(PM)、免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)4种耕作方式为主区,75、150、225、300kg·hm~(-2)4个施氮量(分别用N1～N4表示)为副区,分析了不同耕作方式及施氮量组合处理下旱地冬小麦花后干物质转运、糖含量及产量的差异。结果表明,4种耕作方式中,PM的株高最高,叶面积最大,籽粒产量最高,较CT增产14.50%。PM增产主要是通过增加穗长和穗粒数来实现,也归因于花前营养器官干物质的积累量及其在花后向籽粒中转运量、转运效率和对籽粒产量的贡献率较CT显著增加,特别是增加了叶片和颖壳的干物质转运量、转运效率。CTI的千粒重和有效穗数虽然最高,但产量与CT无显著差异;NTS的株高、千粒重、有效穗数、干物质积累量和花后向籽粒中转运量均处于较低水平,产量较CT降低16.74%。施氮显著增加了旱地冬小麦的籽粒产量,平均产量表现为N4N2N3N1。CT、CTI、NTS下,施氮的增产作用显著,但PM下不显著。在所有处理中,PMN2的籽粒产量最高,比最低的NTSN1增加70.55%。施氮增产的原因主要是促进了不同器官干物质积累和开花后干物质转运。NTS提高了各器官的可溶性糖含量,但其效应在不同生育时期存在差异,茎秆主要表现在开花后20～30d,叶片和颖壳在开花后10～40d,叶鞘在开花后20～40d,籽粒在开花后10～30d。施氮显著降低了开花后0～30d茎秆和叶片的可溶性糖和蔗糖含量,但显著增加了开花后20d籽粒的可溶性糖含量。以上结果说明,在甘肃旱地雨养农业区,常规耕作、秸秆还田、全膜覆土穴播下冬小麦高产的氮肥施用量以中等水平(150kg·hm~(-2))最佳,免耕秸秆覆盖下需增加氮肥施用量(300kg·hm~(-2))。     

基于高通量测序技术分析不同耕作方式下水稻根际土壤真菌多样性

为研究不同耕作方式下水稻根际土壤真菌群落多样性,本研究以旋耕、免耕和粉垄耕作处理的水稻根际土壤为研究对象,采用高通量测序技术分析了真菌群落结构和多样性,并结合土壤环境因子进行相关性分析。结果表明：3种耕作处理水稻根际土壤中优势菌门为子囊菌门、接合菌门、担子菌门和球囊菌门,优势菌属为镰刀菌属、被孢霉属、Pyrenochaetopsis、柄孢壳属、毛壳菌属、支顶孢属、隐球菌属、Westerdykella、顶囊壳属、绿僵菌属。接合菌门和被孢霉属、支顶孢属、隐球菌属、顶囊壳属真菌相对丰度在不同处理间差异显著。Alpha多样性指数分析显示,3种耕作处理间无显著差异。PCoA分析表明,不同耕作处理下的土壤真菌群落分布特征存在明显差异。冗余分析表明前两个排序轴共解释了3种耕作处理间土壤真菌群落变化的87.46%。相关性分析显示,土壤pH与接合菌门真菌丰度呈极显著正相关关系,土壤速效磷、碱解氮和有机质含量与接合菌门真菌丰度呈极显著负相关关系,土壤速效磷与担子菌门真菌丰度呈显著正相关关系。综上表明,短期不同耕作方式处理下水稻根际土壤真菌群落结构和多样性存在差异,不同处理下真菌群落分布受土壤pH值、有机质、碱解氮和速效磷影响。     

The effect of tillage practice,input level and environment on the grain yield of winter wheat in the Czech Republic

The response of winter wheat grain yield to four variants of treatment (two input levels, combined with either conventional or reduced tillage) was tested over six seasons at three locations. These experiments with 10 and 12 winter wheat varieties were analysed within three experimental series. The environmental (location and season) effects on grain yield were large in all combinations of input level and tillage type, and the varieties responded differentially to both season and location. However, there was no varietal response either to the tillage system used, or to the level of nitrogen (and other inputs) supplied. The high input reduced tillage system (surface stubble-ploughing to a depth of 8–10 cm) resulted in all series in significantly higher grain yields than the equivalent conventional tillage system. The reduced tillage system combined with high input level delivered a yield advantage for all of the wheat varieties tested.     

东北玉米带秸秆覆盖免耕对土壤性状的影响

研究玉米秸秆全覆盖免耕对土壤性质的影响及在东北春玉米种植区的应用。结果表明,在播种前后,免耕较常规垄作可增加30%～78%土壤含水量,显著降低耕层土壤温度,增加表层0～20 cm土壤容重;秸秆全覆盖免耕较常规垄作极显著增加单位面积土壤内蚯蚓的数量和重量;免耕5年后,土壤有机质变化主要集中在表层,在0～5 cm,秸秆全覆盖免耕土壤有机质含量5年间增加了29.1%。实施秸秆全覆盖免耕可以达到土壤可持续发展,积温较低区域采取此耕作方式可适当降低秸秆覆盖量。     

粉垄耕作对甘蔗土壤微生物群落的影响

粉垄耕作是一种新型的深耕深松的耕作技术,与常规耕作方式不同,粉垄耕作能增加耕层土壤深度,从而更好地改善土壤结构.为揭示不同耕作方式对甘蔗种植土壤细菌和真菌群落的影响,本研究以粉垄耕作和常规耕作的土壤为研究对象,通过16S rRNA和18S rRNA高通量测序技术分析不同生态位(非根际、根际和根表)土壤的细菌和真菌群落的...     

Nutrient Dynamics

Summary

Environmental concerns currently trigger the development of more sustainable soil fertility management strategies. It appears that effective sustainable practices are those that enhance natural soil processes. Soil processes include the decomposition of residues and mineralization of organic matter, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, nitrate leaching, denitrification and sulfur reduction. Natural soil processes also include less well-understood interactions, namely, those leading to the dissolution of minerals by organic acids, as well as rhizospheric and mycorrhizospheric interactions. Plants, associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal symbionts, supply and distribute carbon and energy, sustaining most of the biotic mechanisms responsible for nutrient release from soil, and maintaining organic pools of nutrients. Among these pools, the microbial biomass and fine roots pools, with their very fast turnover time, are particularly important as they can maintain large amounts of nutrients in very labile form and, therefore, increase soil fertility. Agricultural soil systems are very dynamic and are characterized by large spatial and temporal variations, which are largely driven by plant development. In addition, nutrient dynamics in agricultural soil systems seem particularly influenced by temperature, moisture, and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. Nitrogen losses from soil are reduced in systems where nitrogen release corresponds to plant demand. Biological nitrogen fixation is a sound way to input nitrogen in cropping systems. Phosphorus losses can be reduced through increased reliance on the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of crops. Soils are diverse and complex systems, which, furthermore, respond to increasingly unpredictable climatic variations. Optimal agricultural soil management is a moving target and, hence, a challenging goal that will never be totally reached.     

玉米留高茬少、免耕对土壤环境的影响

多年不同耕作措施试验研究结果表明,土壤理化性状因耕作措施不同而异。长期免耕土壤容重高于连耕;免耕土壤有机质较长期连耕及少耕明显提高;少、免耕的耕层土壤水分高于连耕;免耕土壤有机质高于连耕,少耕(5年)与连耕(26年)相比无明显差异;少耕与长期免耕及连耕相比产量有所提高。     

Fumigant persistence and emission from soil under multiple field application scenarios

Chemical fumigants are routinely used for soil disinfestation of high value crops. Good agricultural practices (GAPs) are needed to reduce their human health risks, environmental impacts, and improve their cost-effectiveness. This study investigated the effect of fumigant application methods on soil persistence and emission of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP). Field experiments were conducted to measure the individual and combined effects of pre-application tillage practices, fumigant application technology, and plastic films on 1,3-D soil concentrations to obtain a numerical index (CT value) to estimate their potential for pest control efficacy and to compare soil persistence, atmospheric flux rate, and cumulative emission of CP and 1,3-D under two diverse application scenarios. Greater 1,3-D soil vapor concentrations were observed by combining a pre-application soil seal with low soil disturbance application technology when compared to pre-application soil tillage and the use of back-swept application shanks. Under high density polyethylene plastic, the low disturbance scenario resulted in time weighted exposure concentration (CT) values ranging from 6.8 to 12.2 μg h cm⁻³ of soil as compared to CT values ranging from 2.9 to 5.4 μg h cm⁻³ under the conventional application scenario. Cumulative atmospheric emission of 1,3-D was decreased by 18% under the low disturbance scenario and atmospheric emission of CP by 21% when compared to a conventional application scenario. This study identified GAPs that can be readily implemented in the field to reduce the human and environmental impacts of soil fumigants and improve their cost-effectiveness under solid-tarp (broadcast) applications.     

非灌溉条件下播前深松对冬小麦水分利用和产量的影响

为了解华北地区深松土壤的蓄水保墒节水和增产效果,在中国农业大学吴桥实验站,对播前深松+旋耕(S)和旋耕(N)两种耕作方式下非灌溉冬小麦田的土壤容重和水分及小麦根条数、干物质生产和水分利用进行了评价。结果表明,与N处理相比,S处理下0~35cm土层的容重显著降低,越冬期、返青期、拔节期、开花期和成熟期的土壤蓄水量分别提高35.8、34.2、23、80和41.3mm,越冬期和拔节期根数显著增加,花前干物质积累量、生物产量和籽粒产量分别增加28.1%、16.3%和23.2%,花后干物质积累量变化不明显,同时耗水量降低28.7mm,籽粒产量-水分利用效率提高39.3%。因此,冬小麦播前深松在降水量稀少的华北地区应该大力推广。     

Soil resources: What is needed and how do we maintain these resources

The soil as a resouce in potato production must be maintained if potato production is to be sustained into the 21st century. Increased pest resistance, resource scarcity, and increased input costs will all be important in determining the availability of technology in the future. As demands to maintain and improve environmental quality increase, our ability to overcome poor soil management by increased inputs may be restricted. j To sustain soil as a resource more attention must be given to soil organic matter, structure, and water holding capacity. Cropping systems that increase crop residue returned to the soil and reduce tillage can increase soil organic matter levels and improve soil physical properties. Greenmanure crops may also help reduce pathogen populations. Soil compaction, soil erosion, and salinization represent the most significant threats to maintaining the soil resource. Compaction can significantly limit the soil’s ability to supply water and nutrients to the plant by limiting water holding capacity and root growth. Limiting rooting depth increases the potential for nitrates to be leached below the rooting zone. Erosion, through the removal of the most productive topsoil, has the potential to destroy soil productivity. The actual impact of erosion over time is very difficult to measure and has been compensated for by increased inputs. Salinization throughout history has decreased productivity of irrigated soils. The sustainability of the soil resource depends upon the development and use of Best Management Practices that maintain or improve soil physical properties, while minimizing soil compaction and erosion. These practices will have to be developed within the parameters established by changing human needs and expectations.     

Agronomic performance of late-season rice under different tillage,straw, and nitrogen management

In double rice-cropping system in China, zero tillage in late-season rice with straw return from early season rice is an emerging technology for saving inputs, shortening the lag time between rice crops, avoiding straw burning, and conserving natural resources. The objective of this 2-year field study was to determine the effects of tillage and straw return on N uptake, grain yield, and N use efficiency of late-season rice. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with four combinations of tillage and straw return as main plots and three N management practices as subplots. Tillage was either conventional soil puddling or zero tillage with newly harvested crop residue from early season rice either removed or placed on the soil surface without incorporation. The N treatments were zero-N control, site-specific N management (SSNM), and farmers’ N-fertilizer practice (FFP). Straw return regardless of tillage or N management did not reduce rice yield. In the second year, straw return significantly increased grain yield in the zero-N control. Chlorophyll meter readings at heading and total N uptake at maturity were higher with straw return in the zero-N control, suggesting that straw provides nutrients to rice in the late growing period. Zero tillage did not reduce N uptake, grain yield, and N use efficiency compared with conventional tillage. Despite large differences in timing and rate of N application between FFP and SSNM, these two N treatments resulted in comparable N uptake and grain yield of late-season rice regardless of tillage and straw return. These results suggest that zero tillage after early rice with straw return could replace conventional tillage for late rice in the double rice-cropping system in China.     

辽宁省主要农田土壤有机质状况及调控对策

根据辽宁省各类高低产农田土壤有机质状况的调查,分析了土壤有机质下降的主要原因。获得了各类农田土壤有机质含量的适宜值。指出作物秸秆、畜禽粪便、城市生活垃圾等都是可利用的有机肥资源。积极推广优质有机肥料,可以改善生态环境、提高土壤肥力、改善农产品品质。     

Effects of moldboard plowing,chisel plowing and rotation crops on the Rhizoctonia disease of white potato

Two tillage practices, chisel plowing (30 cm) and deep moldboard plowing (22 cm), and five rotation crops (oats, lupine, buckwheat, broccoli and peas) were studied for their effects on the soil population ofRhizoctonia solani AG-3 and on Rhizoctonia disease on potato. All rotation crops were harvested except buckwheat, which was treated as a green manure crop. Chisel plowing significantly reduced (p = 0.05) the incidence and severity of stem lesions on potato caused byR. solani AG-3. In 1990, oats after moldboard plowing significantly increased disease when compared to other crops and broccoli after chisel plowing decreased disease severity. Soil populations ofR. solani AG-3 were significantly lower with chisel plowing. No interactions between tillage and rotation crops were observed. Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is a soil inhabiting plant pathogen found worldwide that affects many plant species including white potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).R. solani attacks potato at one or more stages in development resulting in distinct disease symptoms (25) often termed the Rhizoctonia disease complex of potato. In Maine, only strains AG-3 and AG-5 ofR. solani (4, 5) have been identified as attacking potato and causing four distinct types of symptoms: 1) black scurf (sclerotia) on tubers, 2) stem cankers, 3) aerial tubers and top rosetting, and 4) killing of sprouts. Crop rotation has been reported to reduce the incidence and severity ofR. solani on potato, but no single rotation method controls completely or to a high degree of reliability (11, 23, 24, 26). Deep moldboard plowing has been shown to reduce diseases caused byR. solani andSclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in crops other than potatoes (2, 7, 15, 19, 20). However, Gudmestadet al. (6) reported that deep moldboard plowing increased the severity ofR. solani on stems and stolons of potatoes. The reduction of diseases caused byR. solani andS. rolfsii by moldboard plowing is attributed to low inoculum densities in the upper soil layer by the burial of sclerotia to depths where germination and infection were prevented (14, 15, 19, 20). However, disking to a depth of 5–7 cm did not affect disease as the inoculum remained in the root zone (14, 15). Gurkin (7) states that the rationale for deep moldboard plowing is to promote decay of organic matter, remove organic matter from the infection court and to bury the sclerotia below the infection court. Cultural control techniques are largely preventive and are designed to reduce the quantity or the activity of inoculum by means of crop rotation, tillage practices, green manure crops, etc. (22). This study was conducted to determine individual effects and possible interactions of deep moldboard plowing versus chisel plowing in various rotation crops on the presence ofR. solani AG-3 in the soil and on the incidence of Rhizoctonia disease complex of potato.     

国营阳江农场橡胶园土壤有机质与全氮时空变异分析

运用GIS和地统计学相结合的方法研究了1983年和2007年国营阳江农场橡胶园土壤有机质与全氮的时空变异.结果表明.20多年间土壤有机质和全氮含量有所降低.土壤有机质和全氮含量的空间差异缩小,含量水平基本上有朝均衡化发展的趋势,空间变化趋于平均.这些变化主要是由人为生产管理和施肥造成.同时随着生产管理、施肥等人为活动影响的增加与积累,使得土壤有机质和全氮的空间变异减弱,朝均衡化方向发展.     

不同耕作措施土壤结构特征及其影响因素的研究进展

综述不同耕作措施下土壤团聚体稳定性和孔隙结构特征的研究进展，归纳总结影响土壤结构稳定性的主要因素。结果表明，与传统翻耕相比，免耕、深松及其秸秆覆盖还田增加表层土壤大团聚体含量及稳定性，提高大孔隙数量和孔隙度。轮耕系统对土壤结构的影响在不同气候区域和土壤类型间差异较大。土壤结构稳定性与铁铝氧化物形态变化、有机质含量、蚯蚓数量、微生物和线虫丰度及多样性、根系构型及其分泌物、干湿交替及冻融交替次数等因素相关。针对目前研究现状，提出建立长期保护性耕作和轮耕体系监测系统，从铁铝氧化物形态变化、土壤微食物网结构和功能、根系驱动等研究方向进一步解析旱地耕作对土壤结构的影响机制。