Soil organic‐C accumulation and N availability under improved pastures established in Mediterranean oak woodlands

Long‐term effects of improved pasture establishment (with high proportion of legumes) on soil organic‐C status and N availability in Mediterranean cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodlands were assessed. Soils were sampled beneath scattered crowns and in open areas, considering two systems: unmanaged and managed woodlands where improved pastures were installed 26 and 32 years ago. Total and labile C and N pools were measured and C and N mineralization were determined over 24 weeks laboratory incubation. Soils under improved pastures showed higher organic‐C, total‐N and net N mineralization than those under unmanaged pasture, mainly when established beneath trees. Potentially mineralizable C, C mineralization rate and microbial C were not statistically different between the unmanaged and improved pasture sites, but were higher closer to the tree than in the open area (1.8, 1.2 and 1.2 times, respectively). The qCO₂ was higher in improved pastures (1.7 times). Labile pool of C and N extracted with hot water increased under improved pasture (3.4 and 1.7 times, respectively). Results indicate that soil quality amelioration by improved pastures is stronger in the presence of oak trees. Management systems that favour oak tree maintenance and regeneration should be taken into account to reverse soil degradation.     

The use of a new portable erosion measuring device for assessing the erodibility of the surface layers of flood embankments

When a river overtops its flood banks, water running down the landward side of the bank can rapidly erode the soil surface and scour the bank, sometimes leading to breaches and collapse. A covering of living vegetation, particularly grass, can reduce this risk of water erosion. As part of a project to assess the effectiveness of different management regimes on bank vegetation cover, direct measurements were required of the erodibility of the soil surface. A portable erosion measurement device (EMD) was developed by LAB Coastal with the support of the Environment Agency. This could direct water flowing at known velocities across areas of the flood banks, and it was used to test directly the erosion resistance of vegetated grass banks at three sites. The EMD gave a direct measure of the erodibility of a small sample of flood bank. While measurements of soil strength and assessments of vegetation cover were useful, they did not always correctly characterize the stability of the bank surface as measured directly by the EMD. The EMD and its use are described and the results obtained are discussed. The results indicate that flood banks need to be mown at least once a year to make them less vulnerable to erosion.     

Suitability of foliar N applied to rainfed maize in permanent beds after 12 crop seasons of granular N application

Abstract

Yield and kernel quality of rainfed maize as affected by N fertilizer has been generally evaluated through the application of granular N sources at high rates. The purpose of this work was to estimate the response of maize yield and quality (kernel hardness—floating index, weight and test weight -, P uptake and protein) to foliar N application and preceding granular N. Data for this report were collected in 2014 and 2015 in a long-term experiment established in 2002 under permanent beds in a split plot arrangement. Main plot treatments were three foliar N rates (0, 4.5 and 9?kg ha^?1) laid out on the top of four preceding granular N rates (0, 20, 40 and 60?kg ha^?1) applied from 2002 to 2013 as subplots. Weather conditions were relatively wetter in 2014 than 2015. In 2014, test weight and floating index improved over that in 2015. Foliar application of 9?kg N ha^?1 enhanced yield and protein. In 2014, yield response to preceding N rates showed an increasing trend whereas in 2015 response was null. Kernel P uptake response to preceding N rates showed a differential reaction among foliar N rates; 9?kg ha^?1 showed the greatest uptake. Kernel floating index was associated to kernel P uptake. Apparently, this relationship has not been previously reported. Results suggests that the application of 9?kg N ha^?1 to foliage of rainfed maize grown in permanent beds has the potential to substitute the traditional fertilization practice of granular N sources.     

Distribution and Dynamics of Phosphorus in an Agricultural Watershed with a Long-Term History of Poultry Waste Application

The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of long-term broiler litter application on soil phosphorus (P) and water quality and examine the spatial variations of soil P at a private poultry farm in Mississippi. Results indicated that the littered soil had 86 times more Mehlich III–extractable P in the surface horizon compared to the nonlittered soil. When compared to the runoff from nonlittered soil, mean soluble phosphate (PO₄)-P concentrations in the littered soil's runoff were 85 times greater throughout the study. Mass loss of P from the littered field was significantly greater than from the nonlittered field, and it decreased with each sequential runoff event. There were no linear relationships between the spatial variations of litter application rates and the P spatial variability in the littered soil; however, the variations in soil P levels could be a result of the cumulative effects of more than 20 years of litter application.     

Effects of Carbofuran on Availability of Macronutrients and Growth of Tomato Plants in Natural Soils and Soils Amended with Inorganic Fertilizers and Vermicompost

The effects of lower field rate (LFR), field rate (FR), and higher field rate (HFR) applications of carbofuran on ammonium (NH₄)-nitrogen (N), nitrate (NO₃)-N, available phosphorus (P), and available potassium (K) contents in natural soils and those amended with inorganic fertilizers and vermicompost on the growth of tomato plants were studied. The NH₄-N, NO₃-N, available P, and available K contents increased up to FR but the most significant increase in was observed at LFR of carbofuran application. At HFR there was a significant reduction in nutrient availability. With passage of time all these parameters increase up to 30 days; thereafter, a decrease was observed up to the end of the experiment in both unamended and amended soils. The greater plant growth was observed at LFR of carbofuran application and at HFR the plants exhibited phytotoxicity in the form of marginal leaf scorching in both systems. The morphological growth parameters of tomato plants were positively correlated with nutrients availability.     

克隆文库分析红树林土壤中放线菌的多样性

直接提取8个红树林土壤的总DNA,用放线菌门的特异性PCR引物进行扩增,通过构建16S rRNA文库,测序及系统发育分析,获取新颖放线菌菌株.结果发现,有酸微菌亚纲(Acidimicrobidae) (30.2％)、放线菌亚纲(Actinobacteridae) (68.0％)、红蝽菌亚纲(Coriobacteridae)(1.1％)和去腈基菌亚纲(Nitriliruptoridae)( 0.7％)成员,没有红色杆菌亚纲( Rubrobacteridae)成员.仙农指数和Chao1物种多样性指数(Schao1)表明,红树林土壤样品中含有丰富的放线菌多样性.以16S rDNA基因的相似率≥97％作为临界点,45.1％可能代表新候选种(candidate species)(未培养、分离).本研究为进一步获取新颖的红树林放线菌资源提供了基础.     

Boron toxicity of strawberry

Abstract

Radlands Crimson strawberries were grown in a glasshouse with 7 rates of applied boron. Wood shavings mulches with different boron concentrations were also applied as separate treatments. Boron toxicity symptoms were produced in leaves by boron rates of 0.32 kg ha^‐1 and greater on a soil containing 1.6 ug B g^‐1 of hot water extractable boron. Concentrations greater than 123 μg B g^‐1 in old leaves were associated with boron toxicity symptoms.

In the B rate experiment, soil boron concentrations greater than 1.9 μg B g^‐1 soil were associated with leaf toxicity symptoms which increased in severity with increasing soil boron concentrations up to 4.1 μg B g^‐1 soil. Wood shavings mulch containing 17 μg B g^‐1 caused boron toxicity symptoms in older leaves whereas mulches containing less than 6 μg B g^‐1 did not produce toxicity symptoms.     

Legume–barley intercropping stimulates soil N supply and crop yield in the succeeding durum wheat in a rotation under rainfed conditions

Legume–cereal intercropping is increasingly being appreciated in dryland areas, where severe climatic conditions and intensive agricultural practices, generally dominated by continuous cereal cultivation, determine depletion of soil nutrient resources and decline of soil fertility. This research aimed to assess whether and to what extent a newly introduced legume-based intercropping system is able to ameliorate the biological fertility status of an arable soil in a way that is still noticeable during the succeeding durum wheat cropping season in terms of changes in bacterial community structure, soil C and N pools, and crop yield. A field experiment was carried out under rainfed conditions in Southern Italy on a sandy clay loam soil cultivated with durum wheat following in the rotation a recently established grain legume (pea, faba bean)–barley intercropping. Soil chemical, biochemical and eco-physiological variables together with compositional shifts in the bacterial community structure by LH-PCR fingerprinting were determined at four sampling times during the durum wheat cropping season. Soil fertility was estimated by using a revised version of the biological fertility index. Results showed that even though the microbial biomass was significantly altered, the preceding legume intercrops stimulated C-related functional variables thus leading to an increased release of mineral N, which was larger in crop treatments succeeding pea-based than faba bean-based intercropping. The increased N made available in soil enabled the succeeding durum wheat to achieve an adequate grain yield with a reduced N-fertilizer use. Soil type and environmental conditions rather than crop treatments were major determinants of bacterial community structure. The biological fertility status was not varied, suggesting that in intensively managed rainfed areas long-term crop rotations with intercropped legumes are needed to consistently ameliorate it.     

不同地被物处理方式对红壤坡地养分状况的影响

选择3种不同水保措施的径流小区,即百喜草(Paspalum natatu)全园覆盖处理、全园敷盖处理和全园裸露处理,分析和测定了不同坡位和深度土层中土壤有机质、全N和全P空间异质性之间的关系。结果表明:(1)有机质含量随着土层增加整体呈先增加后减少的趋势,在自上而下坡面上,有机质含量全园覆盖区无明显变化,全园敷盖区有递增趋势,全园裸露区则先增加后减少;(2)全N含量随着深度加深均呈下降趋势,各处理间无显著性差异。在坡面上,全N含量大小为:全园覆盖区全园敷盖区全园裸露区,且全园敷盖处理在坡面中部有富集作用,全园覆盖和全园裸露处理自上而下呈下降趋势;(3)全P含量随着土层加深,全园覆盖区逐渐减少,全园敷盖区和全园裸露区先增加后减少。在坡面上,全P含量大小为:全园敷盖区全园覆盖区全园裸露区,且在坡面中部有富集作用。该研究可为亚热带地区红壤坡地养分恢复途径提供科学依据。     

内蒙古京津风沙源治理工程土壤风蚀控制效益研究

2000—2013年内蒙古风沙源治理工程区风蚀模数整体呈现下降趋势,风蚀程度有所减轻。5个亚治理区风蚀模数差异较大,其中浑善达克沙地治理区风蚀模数最高,其他依次为科尔沁沙地南缘治理区﹥乌兰察布高平原退化草原、荒漠草原治理区﹥锡林郭勒高平原-乌珠穆沁沙地盆地退化草原治理区﹥华北北部丘陵山地水源涵养治理区。工程区土壤风蚀量明显减少,2001—2013年累计净减少1 370 446.65×104t,其中,乌兰察布高平原退化草原、荒漠草原治理区累计净减少风蚀量最大;其次为锡林郭勒高平原-乌珠穆沁沙地盆地退化草原治理区。风力是造成内蒙古风沙源工程区土壤侵蚀的最主要营力。2000—2013年,工程区风蚀模数与风蚀量的逐步降低说明,京津风沙源治理工程实施十余年以来,通过实施各类治理措施,工程区土壤风蚀得到初步控制,工程区生态状况趋向好转,随着森林资源总量与质量的提高,水土流失状况进一步改善,沙化土地治理初见成效。