Contribution of green manure legumes to nitrogen dynamics in traditional winter wheat cropping system in the Loess Plateau of China

Excessive application of N fertilizer in pursuit of higher yields is common due to poor soil fertility and low crop productivity. However, this practice causes serious soil depletion and N loss in the traditional wheat cropping system in the Loess Plateau of China. Growing summer legumes as the green manure (GM) crop is a viable solution because of its unique ability to fix atmospheric N₂. Actually, little is known about the contribution of GM N to grain and N utilization in the subsequent crop. Therefore, we conducted a four-year field experiment with four winter wheat-based rotations (summer fallow-wheat, Huai bean–wheat, soybean–wheat, and mung bean–wheat) and four nitrogen fertilizer rates applied to wheat (0, 108, 135, and 162 kg N/ha) to investigate the fate of GM nitrogen via decomposition, utilization by wheat, and contribution to grain production and nitrogen economy through GM legumes. Here we showed that GM legumes accumulated 53–76 kg N/ha per year. After decomposing for approximately one year, more than 32 kg N/ha was released from GM legumes. The amount of nitrogen released via GM decomposition that was subsequently utilized by wheat was 7–27 kg N/ha. Incorporation of GM legumes effectively replaced 13–48% (average 31%) of the applied mineral nitrogen fertilizer. Additionally, the GM approach during the fallow period reduced the risk of nitrate-N leaching to depths of 0–100 cm and 100–200 cm by 4.8 and 19.6 kg N/ha, respectively. The soil nitrogen pool was effectively improved by incorporation of GM legumes at the times of wheat sowing. Cultivation of leguminous GM during summer is a better option than bare fallow to maintain the soil nitrogen pool, and decrease the rates required for N fertilization not only in the Loess Plateau of China but also in other similar dryland regions worldwide.     

紫云英还田方式对烟田土壤微生物及酶的影响

为探明紫云英不同还田方式对土壤生物学特性的影响,选择合理的还田方式,通过定位试验进行了全层翻耕紫云英覆盖、全层翻耕紫云英深埋和全层翻耕紫云英不还田3种方法对烟草不同生育期的土壤微生物数量、微生物活度和酶活性的影响研究。结果表明:在烟草生育期内,好气性细菌数量呈现前期急速下降,中期缓慢上升,后期稍微波动的趋势,深埋处理都略高于覆盖处理;真菌数量整体呈现上升趋势,紫云英覆盖前期可显著增加真菌数量,深埋对真菌数量影响不大;放线菌数量紫云英还田处理呈现前期下降,中期急速上升,后期缓慢上升的趋势。土壤微生物活度则先下降再持续上升,至烟草成熟期,紫云英覆盖紫云英深埋不还田。土壤纤维素酶活性以旺长期为分界点,表现为前期增加、后期下降的特点,紫云英还田高于不还田;土壤脲酶活性呈现先迅速下降,再缓慢上升,再急速上升的趋势,以紫云英深埋处理的脲酶活性最高;土壤蛋白酶和过氧化氢酶的活性在烟草生育期的变化不大,都表现为早期稍微下降,以后趋于平缓,以紫云英深埋的酶活性较高。土壤生物学综合评价表明,采用全层翻耕紫云英深埋(1500kg/667m2)更利于提高土壤质量。     

Effects of different green manure treatments on soil apparent N and P balance under a 34-year double-rice cropping system

Purpose

Although green manure rotation is often used to promote soil fertility and crop yield, the effects of this management practice on the nitrogen or phosphorus balance and the relationship between nutrient balance and the increase in soil nutrients have not been systematically studied.

Materials and methods

We investigated the apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balances and their associations with soil nitrogen and phosphorus increases, respectively, in a 34-year-old experimental site with various green manures and rice rotations using linear and logistic models. Cropping treatments included a rice-rice-winter fallow treatment as a control (RRW) and three green manure rotation treatments: rice-rice-ryegrass (RRR), rice-rice-oil rape (RRO), and rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch (RRC).

Results and discussion

We found that apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balances of RRR, RRO, and RRC were 164, 162, and 149 kg hm^?2, which were all significantly lower than 200 kg hm^?2 of RRW (P <?0.05). Moreover, the optimal fitted model of the relationship between cumulative nutrient balance and the increase in soil nutrients was different among treatments. Specifically, the correlation coefficients of cumulative nitrogen balance and soil nitrogen increase of RRR, RRO, and RRC in the linear model (0.49, 0.80, and 0.63) were all significantly lower than in the logistic model (0.81, 0.90, and 0.82). The correlation coefficients of cumulative phosphorus balance and increase in soil phosphorus of RRW in the linear model (0.81) were significantly lower than in the logistic model (0.91). Parameter analysis of the optimal fitted model revealed that RRC would increase the storage capacity of soil nitrogen and decrease the rate of soil phosphorus accumulation.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that long-term rice-rice-green manure rotation could significantly change the apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balance and their association with soil nitrogen and phosphorus content, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of green manure rotation in an agro-ecological environment and soil fertility in a double rice cropping system in red paddy soil.

     

Dielectric coated water content reflectometer for improved monitoring of near surface soil moisture in heavily fertilized paddy field

Mat rush (Juncus effusus L.), used for ‘Tatami’ (a traditional Japanese mat), is a type of crop requiring a large amount of fertilizer (450–600 kg ha⁻¹ of N). In a heavily fertilized mat rush paddy field we examined the monitoring of soil water content (θ) by using the water content reflectometer (WCR). WCR sensors with and without coating rods were prepared and tested for their performance in different solutions. In addition, these sensors for Gley Lowland Soils were also calibrated for measuring θ. The results showed that the measured water content using the uncoated WCR, increasing with the EC of the solution, was 1.6 times of that for distilled water while the output for the coated WCR became 1.04 times. The coating prevents conduction losses while it influences the sensitivity of the WCR sensor. The monitoring of θ using both coated and uncoated WCR sensors in a mat rush paddy field was conducted throughout a cropping season. For the coated sensors, water content could be determined accurately even after fertilizer applications, while with the uncoated sensors it was overestimated. Thus, it was concluded that the use of insulated WCR sensors make it possible to accurately monitor the near surface soil moisture in a heavily fertilized paddy field.     

不同氮肥管理模式对早稻产量及氮肥利用率的影响

为了探明不同氮肥管理模式对水稻产量及氮肥利用率的影响,采用田间小区试验,对氮肥用量、施用时期、有机无机肥结合等氮肥管理方式下早稻产量及氮肥利用率的差异进行研究。结果表明,施用氮肥在水稻生产中增产效果显著,与对照相比,早稻施氮比不施氮增产41.06%~76.90%。不同的氮肥管理模式对产量的影响较大,高产高效模式、超高产高效模式与农民模式相比均可以显著提高水稻产量,增产幅度为16.62%~25.41%,并可以不同程度地提高氮肥利用率,同时提高了单位面积有效穗,也促进了氮、磷养分的累积。     

小麦秸秆覆盖量对烤烟生长及烟叶产质量的影响

采用田间小区试验,研究了不同小麦秸秆覆盖量对地烟和田烟农艺性状及烟叶产质量的影响。结果表明:秸秆覆盖对前期烟株生长作用不大,到后期覆盖量为500 kg/(667 m2)处理的烟株农艺性状显著优于其他处理,烟叶化学成分协调性较好、经济性状较佳,可提高上部烟叶总糖、还原糖的含量,降低中、上部烟叶氯的含量,提高中、上部烟叶的钾/氯比值,使中、上部烟叶的糖/碱比值较接近10,下部烟叶的氮/碱比值较接近1;地烟和田烟的烟叶产量、产值、均价、上等烟率和中上等烟率分别比无覆盖的对照高16.39%、31.81%、13.29%、37.72%、12.69%和15.75%、34.11%、15.88%、12.18%、8.80%。覆盖量为750 kg/(667 m2)的处理促进了下部烟烟叶品质的提高,使下部烟叶糖/碱比值较接近10。综合来看,覆盖量为500 kg/(667m2)的处理促进烟株生长、提高烟叶产质量的效果更明显。     

养分运筹对早稻叶片叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量的影响

以湘早籼45号为材料,采用田间小区试验,研究养分运筹对早稻叶片叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量的影响。结果表明：高产高效施肥与农民习惯施肥相比,在节氮20%的条件下,通过增施有机肥及调节后期施氮比例,益阳、湘阴早稻叶片灌浆期总叶绿素含量分别提高29.27%、38.20%,类胡萝卜素含量分别提高13.16%、30.12%,增产4.20%、4.80%。益阳超高产高效施肥 A和 B处理早稻叶片灌浆期总叶绿素含量比农民习惯施肥分别提高53.91%、53.73%,类胡萝卜素含量分别提高35.95%、37.47%,增产16.60%、18.75%;湘阴超高产高效施肥 A和 B处理早稻叶片灌浆期总叶绿素含量比农民习惯施肥分别提高57.82%、56.80%,类胡萝卜素含量分别提高54.88%、57.03%,增产10.10%、6.75%。相关分析表明：不同地力环境条件下,早稻叶片叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量与产量呈显著或极显著正相关（P＜0.05或 P＜0.01）。养分运筹模式对早稻叶片叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量的促进作用显著。     

长沙城郊农田土壤重金属Pb、Cd的生态风险评价研究

采集长沙城郊18个乡镇513个农田土壤样点,运用模糊综合评价法和层次分析法从农田土壤重金属Pb、Cd的含量、土壤理化特性(pH值、有机质、碱解氮、有效磷)、土壤区位特征(土壤采样点离城镇的距离、离建设用地的距离、离河流的距离、离农村居民点的距离)3个方面选取评价指标,建立农田土壤重金属Pb、Cd的生态风险评价模型,并根据生态风险指数值(ERI)将生态风险等级划分为四级(Ⅰ级ERI>0.70、Ⅱ级0.6相似文献   

70多年来纸坊沟小流域土壤侵蚀演变过程

为了系统研究黄土高原丘陵沟壑区土壤侵蚀演变过程及其规律,以黄土高原纸坊沟流域为例,在GIS的支持下,运用RUSLE估算了该流域1938-2010年间18个年份的年侵蚀量和侵蚀强度,分析了70多年来流域土壤侵蚀时空演变过程.结果表明:1)纸坊沟流域的土壤侵蚀随时间呈四次抛物线变化,侵蚀模数由1938年的7 584.39t/(km2·a)猛增到1958年的4万6 392.56 t/( km2 ·a),随后总体呈递减趋势,到2010年侵蚀模数降至5 150.80t/( km2·a).2)1938年中度以下侵蚀面积占流域总面积的52.99％;1958-1978年以剧烈侵蚀为主,占流域总面积的67.05％,其中1958年高达78.61％;1978-1998年侵蚀强度有所下降,微度侵蚀面积占流域总面积比例达到29.27％;1999年以来,微度侵蚀面积达到3.85 km2,剧烈侵蚀面积仅占流域总面积的8.96％.经过30多年的综合治理,该流域生态环境明显改善,但沟谷陡荒坡侵蚀依然严重,是今后水土流失治理的重点区域.     

Comparative diversity and abundance of ammonia monooxygenase genes in mulched and vegetated soils

Soil microbial habitats are altered by mulching, a common practice in urban areas during which vegetation is removed and soils covered to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Soil microorganisms drive nitrogen-cycling processes in mulched soils, because living plants no longer take up ammonium-N released during decomposition of residual organic matter. Because ammonia oxidizers carry out the first, rate-limiting step of nitrification, we compared ammonia oxidizers in experimental, unfertilized plots of mulched and vegetated soils. We hypothesized that mulched and vegetated soils would support contrasting communities of bacterial and archaeal ammonia oxidizers, as determined by quantitative PCR and primers specific for genes encoding ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA). Clone libraries of archaeal amoA also were constructed to compare diversity in soil cores, duplicate blocked plots, and treatments (bark-mulched, gravel-mulched, and unmanaged old field vegetation). Gene copies from ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) ranged from 2.2 × 10⁶ to 2.7 × 10⁷ gene copies per gram dry soil and did not differ across treatments. In contrast, gene copies from ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) ranged from 9.1 × 10⁵ to 1.0 × 10⁸ copies per gram dry soil, with bark-mulched soils having significantly lower abundance. Community structure of AOA in gravel-mulched soils was distinct from the other two treatments. At 97% amino acid similarity, 22 operational taxonomic units, or OTUs, were identified, with only one OTU found in all 18 clone libraries. This ubiquitous OTU-1, which was highly similar to published amoA sequences recovered from soils, comprised 55% of all 482 translated sequences. Greater variability in OTU richness was observed among cores from mulched soils than from vegetated soils. Our observations supported our hypothesis that AOA communities differ in mulched and vegetated soils, with mulched soils providing altered and variable microniches for these N cycling microorganisms.