Nutrient availability and corn growth in a poultry litter biochar‐amended loam soil in a greenhouse experiment

Nutrient‐rich biochar produced from animal wastes, such as poultry litter, may increase plant growth and nutrient uptake although the role of direct and indirect mechanisms, such as stimulation of the activity of mycorrhizal fungi and plant infection, remains unclear. The effects of poultry litter biochar in combination with fertilizer on mycorrhizal infection, soil nutrient availability and corn (Zea mays L.) growth were investigated by growing corn in a loam soil in a greenhouse with biochar (0, 5 and 10 Mg/ha) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer (0, half and full rates). Biochar did not affect microbial biomass C or N, mycorrhizal infection, or alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities, but acid phosphomonoesterase activities, water‐soluble P, Mehlich‐3 Mg, plant height, aboveground and root biomass, and root diameter were greater with 10 Mg/ha than with no biochar. Root length, volume, root tips and surface area were greatest in the fully fertilized soil receiving 10 Mg/ha biochar compared to all other treatments. The 10 Mg/ha biochar application may have improved plant access to soil nutrients by promoting plant growth and root structural features, rather than by enhancing mycorrhizal infection rates.     

丘陵红黄壤区施用399对“一种两收”再生稻根系和产量的影响

[目的]研究399对"一种两收"再生稻的影响。[方法]以适宜丘陵红黄壤种植的丰两优香1号、准两优527、宜优673再生稻品种为材料,分别设置喷施399和不喷施399(CK)2种处理,研究各处理对再生稻根系和产量的影响。[结果]结果表明:施用399使水稻在生育期上延缓成熟,且施后再生稻的总根系数量、白根数量、根鲜重、根干重、根体积大幅度增加,同时在两季总产量上准两优527、丰两优香1号和宜优673品种分别比对照增产6.39%、4.86%、5.94%。[结论]施用399有利于准两优527、丰两优香1号和宜优673再生稻品种再生根的发生。     

不同施肥处理对油茶生长及土壤肥力的影响

为探究不同施肥处理对油茶生长及土壤肥力的影响,连续3年在广西柳州市对5年生油茶人工林进行施肥试验研究。结果表明,施肥后,处理Ⅱ的树高、地径和冠幅的增长量明显高于其它处理,即有机—无机复混肥料直接施入油茶林地最有利于营养生长,而处理CK(不施肥)各项生长指标的增长量最低。不同施肥处理对油茶林地土壤养分各指标的影响差异较大,经灰色关联度法分析得出土壤综合肥力的高低顺序,其中处理Ⅲ(即无纺布包装有机—无机复混肥)施肥后对油茶林地土壤综合肥力的提高最显著,其次为处理Ⅰ(即有机栽培肥料),不施肥处理CK的土壤综合肥力则显著降低,土壤质量退化严重。     

Environmental performances of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) cultivated in fertile and marginal lands: A case study in the Mediterranean

Perennial rhizomatous grasses (PRGs) tend to have a high yield combined with a low environmental impact. Cultivation in marginal or poorly cultivated land is recommended in order not to compromise food security and to overcome land use controversies. However, the environmental impacts of using different types of soil are still unclear. We thus assessed the environmental impact of two giant reed (GR) systems cultivated in a fertile soil (FS) and in a marginal soil (MS) through a cradle-to-plant gate LCA. We analyzed energy balance, GHG emissions (including LUC, not including iLUC), and the main impacts on air, water and soil quality. In both systems the annualized soil carbon sequestration was more than twofold the total GHG emitted, equal to −6464 kg CO₂eq ha⁻¹ in FS and −5757 kg CO₂eq ha⁻¹ in MS. Overall, soil characteristics affected not only GR yield level, but also its environmental impact, which seems to be higher in the MS system both on a hectare and tonne basis. The production of GR biomass in marginal soil could thus lead to higher environmental impacts and a more extensive land requirement.     

The installation of underground pipelines: effects on soil properties

Since the 1970s a network of underground pipes, up to 1200 mm diameter, has been installed in the UK to transmit crude oil to refineries and gas from onshore terminals for distribution. Chosen routes are subject to significant constraints. Current techniques for pipe installation involve topsoil removal and storage. Trench depth is set to allow a cover of 1200 mm overburden after pipes have been installed. The heavy machinery involved results in severe compaction of exposed subsoil. Subsoil is loosened comprehensively and topsoil replaced. Existing field drains are reconnected, and, if necessary, new drains with gravel backfill installed. Pipe installation usually takes place between April and October. Preventative measures to limit compaction during installation are not a practical option. If subsequent arable crops or grass are poorer or drainage more defective than before disturbance, the loss is assessed and compensation paid. To determine the cause of the loss >60, investigations have been made throughout the UK. Soil physical properties were assessed in an open trench using visual and tactile methods. Consistently, severe compaction in the subsoil was identified as the cause of poor crop growth or drainage; it was not observed in the topsoil. Specific recommendations for remedial action were made based on location, depth and severity of the compaction. These included the installation of additional land drains, increasing the amount of gravel above the drains, or further subsoil loosening orientated to cross gravel backfill. After appropriate remedial action, net compensation for crop losses was frequently small or negligible.     

Soil organic carbon stock variability in the Northern Gangetic Plains of India: interaction between agro‐ecological characteristics and cropping systems

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its spatial distribution in the Northern Gangetic Plain (NGP) Zone of India were determined to establish the cause–effect relationship between agro‐ecological characteristics, prevailing crop management practices and SOC stock. Area Spread Index (ASI) approach was used to collect soil samples from the NGP areas supporting predominant cropping systems. Exponential ordinary kriging was found most suitable geo‐statistical model for developing SOC surface maps of the NGP. Predicted surface maps indicated that 43.7% area of NGP had 0.5–0.6% SOC, while the rest of the area was equally distributed with high (0.61–0.75%) and low (< 0.5%) SOC content levels. Averaged across cropping systems, maximum SOC content was recorded in Bhabar and Tarai Zone (BTZ), followed by Central Plain Zone (CPZ), Mid‐Western Plain Zone (MWPZ), Western Plain Zone (WPZ) and South‐Western Plain Zone (SWPZ) of the NGP. The SOC stock was above the optimum threshold (> 12.5 Mg/ha) in 97.8, 57.6 and 46.4% areas of BTZ, CPZ and MWPZ, respectively. Only 9.8 and 0.4% area of WPZ and SWPZ, respectively, had SOC stock above the threshold value. The variation in SOC stock was attributed largely to carbon addition through recycling of organic sources, cropping systems, tillage intensity, crop or residue cover and land‐use efficiency, nutrient‐use pattern, soil texture and prevailing ecosystem. Adoption of conservation agriculture, balanced use of nutrients, inclusion of legumes in cropping systems and agro‐forestry were suggested for enhancing SOC stock in the region.     

Genotypic Variation for Tolerance to Transient Drought During the Reproductive Phase of Brassica rapa

Brassica rapa L. is a genetically diverse parent species of the allotetraploid species, oilseed rape (B. napus) and a potential source of drought tolerance for B. napus. We examined the effect of a 13‐day drought stress period during the early reproductive phase, relative to a well‐watered (WW) control, on subsequent growth and development in nine accessions of B. rapa and one accession of Brassica juncea selected for their wide morphological and genetic diversity. We measured leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, water use, and leaf and bud temperatures during the stress period and aboveground dry weight of total biomass at maturity. Dry weight of seeds and reproductive tissue were not useful measures of drought tolerance due to self‐incompatibility in B. rapa. The relative total biomass (used as the measure of drought tolerance in this study) of the 10 accessions exposed to drought stress ranged from 47 % to 117 % of the WW treatment and was negatively correlated with leaf‐to‐air and bud‐to‐air temperature difference when averaged across the 13‐day stress period. Two wild‐type (B. rapa ssp. sylvestris) accessions had higher relative total and non‐reproductive biomass at maturity and cooler leaves and buds than other types. We conclude that considerable genotypic variation for drought tolerance exists in B. rapa and cooler leaves and buds during a transient drought stress in the early reproductive phase may be a useful screening tool for drought tolerance.     

Effects of Glyphosate on Soil Salinization and Alkalization in Cotton Fields

We analyzed the effects of glyphosate to the index of salinization and alkalization by simulation in soils collected from cotton fields in Anyang, Henan and Anqing, Anhui, China, in 2014. The results showed that application of glyphosate changed electrical conductivity (EC), total alkalinity (TAL), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and pH of soil in both regions，compared with the blank control. With increased frequency of glyphosate application and increased concentration applied, all indices increased in the Anqing cotton fields soil which were treated with concentrations of 2.5-20 g·L^－1 . However, EC, TAL and ESP increased dynamically in Anyang soil to which high concentrations of 20 g·L^－1 were applied only four consecutive times. After different glyphosate treatments, the soil pH value showed an upward trend but smaller changes. Therefore, after repeated use of glyphosate to soils of two different region soils, although the changes of all indices were within the range of non-saline and non-sodic soils, the soils affected by salt in the glyphosate aqueous solution tended towards saline-sodic soils.     

Soil property differences among high‐ and average‐yielding soya bean areas in Arkansas,USA

Soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] yields >6719 kg/ha (100 bu/ac) have only recently and infrequently been achieved. Quantifying soil property differences between high‐ and average‐yielding areas can help to further identify non‐plant‐related properties contributing to soya bean yield potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of region and soil depth on soil property differences between high‐ and average‐yielding areas. In each of the seven regions of the ‘Grow for the Green’ yield contest in Arkansas, prior to or just after harvest in 2014 and 2015, soil samples were collected from the top 20 cm of one contest high‐yield (HY ) area that was in close proximity to an average‐yield (AY ) area. Across all regions and both years, soya bean yields differed (P  <  0.05) between yield areas, averaging 4701 and 5498 kg/ha in AY and HY areas, respectively. Averaged across soil depth and years, numerous soil properties differed (P  <  0.05) between HY and AY areas within at least one of seven regions. Total soil C content was at least 20.2% greater in the HY than in the AY area in three of seven regions. Extractable soil P content was, on average, 19.4 kg/ha greater in HY than in AY areas in three of the seven regions. Results from this study have the potential to help producers better understand soil properties that contribute to or hinder achieving ultra‐high (>6719 kg/ha) soya bean yields.     

用SahysMod模型研究不同灌排管理情景土壤水盐动态

银北灌区是宁夏土地整治和高标准灌溉绿洲农田建设的重点区域。该区域耕荒地交错分布、土壤盐渍化严重。通过模型分区模拟,在土地整治过程中建立完整、配套的灌排系统是解决区域土壤盐渍化的有效措施。该研究以银北灌区典型区域-西大滩为例,综合考虑荒地与耕地土壤属性的空间变异性,以2015—2016年土壤盐分数据进行率定,2017年盐分数据作为验证,利用SahysMod探索在土地整治过程中不同灌排管理下未来10 a内土壤水盐动态变化。结果表明,现有灌排管理下(即灌水量为670 mm,灌溉水电导率为1.05 dS/m,排水沟深1.5 m),荒地土壤盐分在预测初期(2017—2022年)逐年升高,预测后期(2023—2027年)变化平缓;耕地土壤盐分在预测初期变化缓慢,预测后期逐年增加。加大灌水量是解决土壤盐渍化的一个重要途径,可以有效延迟耕地盐分累积到障碍水平的时间;在灌溉水电导率为0.6 dS/m情况下,未来10 a内耕地都不会受到盐害胁迫;现有灌排管理下,在2024年以后作物生长就会受到盐害胁迫,当灌溉水电导率继续增加时,作物生长受到胁迫的时间相应提前。通过土地整治,加深排水沟深度可以延迟土壤盐分达到障碍水平的时间。在整治过程中深为2.2 m的排水沟,可保证未来10 a内耕地盐分小于1.7 dS/m,区域内玉米可正常生长。研究可为在土地整治过程中的灌排管理及土壤盐渍化防治提供建议。