A simple and easy method to measure ammonia volatilization: Accuracy under field conditions

Field studies on soil ammonia(NH₃)volatilization are restricted in many countries owing to the high costs commonly demanded for accurate quantification.We assessed the accuracy of a simple,open chamber design to capture NH₃under field conditions,as affected by different chamber placement schemes.Urea-15 N was surface applied to lysimeters installed in the spaces between maize rows.Open chambers made from plastic bottles were installed on each lysimeter with variations in i)N rates(3,8,13,and 18 g m^-2),ii)the height of the chamber above the soil surface(0,5,and 10 mm),and iii)chamber relocation(static vs.dynamic).Reference lysimeters without chambers were used to measure NH₃losses by¹⁵N-balance.Losses of NH₃-N accounted for more than 50%of the applied N.Relocation of the chambers had no impact on their NH₃-trapping efficiencies,proving to be an unnecessary procedure.Variation in the height of the chambers above the soil surface affected the capture of NH₃,but the results still maintained high linearity with the NH₃losses quantified by the reference method(R²>0.98).When the same placement scheme used in the introductory study describing the chamber was utilized(static and touching the soil surface),we found a trapping efficiency of 60%,which was very similar to that(57%)obtained in the previous study.Our results show that this simple,open chamber design can be used with satisfactory accuracy under field conditions,provided that simple,standardized procedures are warranted.     

典型红壤区稻田树脂包膜控释氮肥氨挥发研究

本文研究了红壤水稻土上,树脂包膜尿素(控释N肥)和普通尿素施用后氨挥发损失的过程及数量。结果表明:①基施后2～4天内和追施后的1～2天内,控释N肥氨挥发通量相对普通尿素处理均有下降,下降幅度分别为28.57%和25.00%;控释N肥氨挥发峰值分别于基肥后第5天和追肥后第4天出现,均滞后于普通尿素处理。②追肥2天后,控释N肥氨挥发通量极显著高于普通尿素处理。因此,只有采取合理的基施方式,控释N肥才能比普通尿素发挥更大的环境效益。     

不同土壤水分条件下华北冬小麦基施不同氮肥的氨挥发研究

研究了不同氮肥在不同水分管理下的氨挥发损失情况。在冬小麦播种施肥后的一个月时期内,对尿素一次基施、尿素50%基施、缓释肥、有机无机复合肥的氨挥发状况进行研究,实验表明,在较低水平土壤含水量条件下(20%左右),以上各处理的氨挥发分别占总施氮量的0.84%、1.08%、0.44%、1.07%;在较高水平土壤含水量条件下(>25%),以上各处理的氨挥发分别占总施氮量的0.77%、0.73%、0.70%、1.36%。     

黄河上游灌区稻田氨挥发损失研究

采用密闭气室间歇式抽气法研究了黄河上游灌区不同施肥处理下稻田氨挥发损失特征。结果表明,在水稻全生育期不同施肥处理下稻田氨挥发量为N 27.6～94.1 kg/hm2,肥料氮损失率为16.4%～22.2%;不同施肥阶段氨挥发损失持续时间为10 d左右,氨挥发最大峰值均发生在施肥后2～3d;分蘖肥后氨挥发损失量最大,损失量占全生育期损失总量的27.1%～37.0%。温度、光照、pH值是黄河上游灌区氨挥发的主要影响因素,稻田田面水铵浓度与氨挥发呈显著线性正相关。稻田氨挥发损失量随氮肥施用量的增加而增加,与习惯施肥（N300）相比,减氮20%（N240）及有机肥和化肥配合施用（N240-1/2OM）均能有效减少稻田氨挥发损失,且这两个处理的水稻产量最高,是生态效益和经济效益双赢的最佳模式。     

控释掺混肥结合增密对水稻氮肥利用效率和氨挥发的影响

为探究控释掺混肥结合增密对水稻产量、氮素吸收、施肥经济效益和氨挥发损失的影响,该研究以扬籼优418为供试材料,设不施氮对照（CK）、常规施氮（Farmer''s Fertilization Practice,FFP）、优化施氮（Optimized Nitrogen Application,OPT）、控释掺混肥（Controlled Release Blended Fertilizer,CRBF）和控释掺混肥结合增密（Controlled Release Blended Fertilizer Combined with Dense Planting,CRFDP）共5个处理,对比分析了不同处理的水稻产量及构成因子、氮素吸收和氮肥利用效率、经济效益和氨挥发损失的差异。结果发现,CRFDP处理的水稻有效穗数和每穗实粒数显著高于其他处理（P<0.05）,较FFP分别增加26.1%和18.7%。CRFDP处理较FFP处理水稻增产33.3%。与FFP相比,CRFDP的氮肥吸收利用率、氮肥偏生产率、氮肥农学利用率分别提高160%、22.8 kg/kg、16.27 kg/kg。CRFDP较CRBF处理的氮肥吸收利用率显著提高10.0个百分点,氮肥偏生产率、氮肥农学利用率和氮素生理利用率则没有显著差异（P>0.05）;与FFP处理相比,3个优化施氮处理（OPT、CRBF和CRFDP）在氮肥用量降低20%的情况下,水稻每公顷净收益增加3 328～8 968元,其中CRFDP处理的水稻产值和净收益最高。施氮显著提高了水稻生长季的田面水铵态氮浓度和土壤脲酶活性,与FFP处理相比,CRFDP处理的氨挥发强度和累积氨挥发损失分别降低62.5%和46.3%。综上,控释掺混肥与增密结合可兼顾水稻高产、氮肥高效利用和氨减排。研究结果可为水稻高产及环境友好和资源高效的水稻种植新模式数据支持和理论支撑。     

棕壤线虫对尿素配施尿酶抑制剂和硝化抑制剂的响应研究

Effects of urea amended with urease and nitrification inhibitors on soil nematode communities were studied in a Hapli- Udic Argosol （Cambisol, FAO） in Liaoning Province of Northeast China. A completely random design with four treatments, i.e., conventional urea （CU）, slow-release urea amended with a liquid urease inhibitor （SRU1）, SRU1 ＋nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide （SRU2）, and SRU1 ＋ nitrification inhibitor 3,5-dimethylpyrazole （SRU3） and four replicates were applied. Thirty-nine genera of nematodes were identified, with Cephalobus and Aphelenchus being dominant; and in all treatments, the dominant trophic group was bacterivores. In addition, during the growth period of spring wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）, soil urease activity was lower in SRUs than in CU. The numbers of total nematodes and bacterivores at wheat heading and ripening stages, and omnivores-predators at ripening stage were higher in SUR3 than in CU, SRU1 and SRU2 （P 〈 0.05）.     

Measurement of ammonia volatilization loss using a dynamic chamber technique: A case study of surface-incorporated manure and ammonium sulfate in an upland field of light-colored Andosol

The present study aimed to elucidate ammonia (NH₃) volatilization loss following surface incorporation (0–15 cm mixing depth) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer in an upland field of light-colored Andosol in central Japan. A dynamic chamber technique was used to measure the NH₃ effluxes. Poultry manure, pelleted poultry manure, cattle manure, pelleted cattle manure and ammonium sulfate were used as N fertilizers for basal fertilization to a bare soil with surface incorporation. All three experiments in summer and autumn 2007 and in summer 2008 showed negligible NH₃ volatilization losses following the application of all N fertilizers with the same application rate of 120 kg N ha⁻¹ as total N; these negligible losses were primarily ascribed to chemical properties of the soil, that is, its high cation exchange capacity (283 mmol_c kg⁻¹ dry soil) and relatively low pH(H₂O) (5.9). In addition, the surface incorporation, the very small ratio of ammoniacal N to total N for the manure, and the decrease in soil pH to ≤5.5 following applications of ammonium sulfate were also advantageous to the inhibition of NH₃ volatilization loss from the field-applied N fertilizers.     

Ammonia toxicity in aerobic rice: use of soil properties to predict ammonia volatilization following urea application and the adverse effects on germination

Recent studies indicate that aerobic rice can suffer injury from ammonia toxicity when urea is applied at seeding. Urea application rate and soil properties influence the accumulation of ammonia in the vicinity of recently sown seeds and hence influence the risk of ammonia toxicity. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of urea rate on ammonia volatilization and subsequent seed germination for a range of soils, (ii) establish a critical level for ammonia toxicity in germinating rice seeds and (iii) assess how variation in soil properties influences ammonia accumulation. Volatilized ammonia and seed germination were measured in two micro‐diffusion incubations using 15 soils to which urea was applied at five rates (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 g N kg^?1 soil). Progressively larger urea rates increased volatilization, decreased germination and indicated a critical level for ammonia toxicity of approximately 7 mg N kg^?1. Stepwise regression of the first three principal components indicated that the initial pH and soil texture components influenced ammonia volatilization when no N was added. At the intermediate N rate all three components (initial pH, soil texture and pH buffering) affected ammonia volatilization. At the largest N rate, ammonia volatilization was driven by soil texture and pH buffering while the role of initial pH was insignificant. For soils with an initial pH > 6.0 the risk of excessive volatilization increased dramatically when clay content was <150 mg kg^?1, cation exchange capacity (CEC) was <10 cmol_c kg^?1 and the buffer capacity (BC) was <2.5 cmol_c kg^?1 pH^?1. These findings suggest that initial pH, CEC, soil texture and BC should all be used to assess the site‐specific risks of urea‐induced ammonia toxicity in aerobic rice.     

Impacts of silver nanoparticles on enzymatic activities, nitrifying bacteria, and nitrogen transformation in soil amended with ammonium and nitrate

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are effective antimicrobial compounds that are used in a myriad of applications. Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in nitrogen cycling, but there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the effects of AgNPs on enzymatic activity in the nitrogen cycle, nitrifying bacteria, and nitrogen transformation in soil. Herein, enzyme activities were determined following the addition of different forms of nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen ((NH₄)₂SO₄), nitrate nitrogen (KNO₃), and amide nitrogen (urea, CO(NH₂)₂) at 200 mg N kg^-1, into the soil amended with AgNPs at 0, 10, 50, and 100 mg kg^-1. After 7 d of incubation with 10 mg kg^-1 AgNPs, the activities of urease, nitrite reductase (NiR), nitrate reductase (NaR), and hydroxylamine reductase (HyR) were reduced by 12.5%, 25.0%, 12.2%, and 24.2%, respectively. Of particular note, more than 53.5%, 61.7%, and 34.7% of NaR, NiR, and HyR activities, respectively, were inhibited at 100 mg kg^-1AgNPs. The abundance (most probable number) of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB, respectively) was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the Cochran method. The abundance of AOB and NOB decreased when AgNPs were present in the soil. The NH₄NO₃ amendment increased copy numbers of bacterial and archaeal amoA nitrification functional genes, by 38.3% and 12.4%, respectively, but AgNPs at 50 mg kg^-1 decreased these values by 70% and 56.4%, respectively. The results of ¹⁵N enrichment (atom% excess) of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- experiments illustrated the influence of AgNPs on soil nitrogen transformation. According to the ¹⁵N atom% excess detected, the conversion of ¹⁵N-labeled NH₄⁺ to NO₃^- was significantly inhibited by the different levels of AgNPs in soil. The reduced gross nitrification rate further confirmed this finding. Overall, this study revealed considerable evidence that AgNPs inhibited nitrogen cycle enzyme activity, the number of nitrifying bacteria, the abundance of the amoA gene, and the gross nitrification rate. Silver nanoparticles inhibited nitrogen transformation, and the rate of nitrification was also negatively correlated with AgNP levels.     

内蒙古荒漠化草地土壤碳、氮养分及土壤呼吸的空间异质性研究

There is a limited knowledge of spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrients and soil respiration in the semi-arid and arid grasslands of China. This study investigated the spatial differences in soil nutrients and soil respiration among three desertified grasslands and within two shrub-dominated communities on the Ordos Plateau of Inner Mongolia, China in 2006. Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly different (P < 0.01) among the three desertified grasslands along a degradation gradient. Within the two shrub-dominated communities, the SOC and TN contents decreased with increasing distance from the main stems of the shrub, and this “fertile island” effect was most pronounced in the surface soil. The total soil respirations during the growing season were 131.26, 95.95, and 118.66 g C m-2, respectively, for the steppe, shrub, and shrub-perennial grass communities. The coefficient of variability of soil respiration was the highest in the shrub community and lowest in the steppe community. CO2 effluxes from the soil under the canopy of shrub were significantly higher than those from the soil covered with biological crusts and the bare soil in the interplant spaces in the shrub community. However, soil respiration beneath the shrubs was not different from that of the soil in the inter-shrub of the shrub-perennial grass community. This is probably due to the smaller shrub size. In the two shrub-dominated communities, spatial variability in soil respiration was found to depend on soil water content and C:N ratio.     

不同土地利用方式土壤温室气体排放对碳氮添加的响应

揭示不同土地利用方式下土壤N2O产生机制及其CO2和CH4的排放,有助于土壤温室气体减排措施的制定。本研究以长沙金井河流域酸性红壤上菜地、稻田、茶园和林地土壤为研究对象,控制温度和土壤含水量,采用静态培养-气相色谱法,研究4种利用方式土壤N2O、CO2和CH4的排放对不同碳氮和硝化抑制剂添加的响应。结果表明,由于土壤pH较低,酸性红壤外加氮源后仅有较小的N2O排放。葡萄糖能够促进尿素添加后N2O的排放及土壤反硝化作用N2O的排放。异养硝化作用可能是酸性红壤N2O产生的主要途径。硝化抑制剂双氰胺（DCD）对酸性红壤N2O减排无明显效果。碳氮添加后土壤N2O的总排放量表现为茶园 > 菜地 > 稻田 > 林地。外源有机碳能够显著促进4种利用方式土壤CO2的排放,表现为茶园、稻田 > 菜地、林地。但除稻田土壤CH4排放增加外,菜地、茶园和林地土壤CH4排放对外源有机碳无明显响应。     

氮肥用量对太湖水稻田间氨挥发和氮素利用率的影响

Ammonia volatilization losses, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and rice yields in response to urea application to a rice field were investigated in Wangzhuang Town, Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, China. The N fertilizer treatments, applied in triplicate, were 0 （control）, 100, 200, 300, or 350 kg N ha^-1. After urea was applied to the surface water, a continuous airflow enclosure method was used to measure ammonia volatilization in the paddy field. Total N losses through ammonia volatilization generally increased with the N application rate, and the two higher N application rates （300 and 350 kg N ha^-1） showed a higher ratio of N lost through ammonia volatilization to applied N. Total ammonia loss by ammonia volatilization during the entire rice growth stage ranged from 9.0% to 16.7% of the applied N. Increasing the application rate generally decreased the ratio of N in the seed to N in the plant. For all N treatments, the nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency ranged from 30.9% to 45.9%. Surplus N with the highest N rate resulted in lodging of rice plants, a decreased rate of nitrogen fertilizer utilization, and reduced rice yields. Calculated from this experiment, the most economical N fertilizer application rate was 227 kg ha^-1 for the type of paddy soil in the Taihu Lake region. However, recommending an appropriate N fertilizer application rate such that the plant growth is enhanced and ammonia loss is reduced could improve the N utilization efficiency of rice.     

Sensitivity of crop yield and N losses in winter wheat to changes in mean and variability of temperature and precipitation in Denmark using the FASSET model

Abstract

Sensitivity of wheat yield and soil nitrogen (N) losses to stepwise changes in means and variances of climatic variables were determined using the FASSET model. The LARS-WG was used to generate climate scenarios using observed climate data (1961–90) from two sites in Denmark, which differed in climate and soil conditions. Scenarios involved changes to (i) mean temperature alone, (ii) mean and variability of temperature, (iii) winter and summer precipitation amounts and (iv) duration of dry and wet series.

The model predicted lower grain yield and N uptake in response to increases in mean temperatures, caused by early maturity, with little change in variability. This, however, increased soil mineral N causing increased N losses. On sandy loam, larger temperature variability lowered grain yields and increased N losses coupled with higher variability at all the mean temperature ranges. On coarse sand, grain yields either remained unaltered or were slightly reduced when larger temperature variability was introduced to increase in mean temperatures of up to +2°C above baseline. However, introducing variability to further increase in mean temperatures lowered yields without any change in variability. Larger temperature variability did not affect soil mineral N and N₂O emissions, but increased N leaching on coarse sand.

Large response in grain yield, N uptake and soil N cycling, and in their variability was predicted when summer precipitation was varied, whereas only N leaching responded to changes in winter precipitation. Doubling the duration of dry series lowered grain yield and N removed by grain, but increased N leaching, whereas doubling the duration of wet series showed opposite effect. Predicted responses to changes in precipitation patterns were larger on coarse sand than on sandy loam. This study illustrates the importance of considering effects of changes to mean climatic factors, climatic variability and soil types on both crop yield and soil N losses.     

Effects of land use on soil erosion and nitrogen loss in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau,China

This study examines the effects of land use and slope angle on runoff, soil loss and nitrogen loss from hillslopes of the Loess Plateau in China. Farmland, wasteland and four forest treatments (sea buckthorn+poplar, immature sea buckthorn, mature sea buckthorn, and immature Chinese pine) were the types of land use that were compared. The results showed that July was the critical period for runoff, soil loss and nitrogen loss from farmland. Farmland was the most susceptible land use. Sea buckthorn+poplar, immature sea buckthorn, and mature sea buckthorn limited the runoff, soil loss and nitrogen loss. Farmland on slopes over 15 degrees should be abandoned because of the high erosion rate and nitrogen loss. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

稻秸还田提高我国南方典型稻田冬绿肥产量和养分积累

  【目的】  提高冬绿肥的产量和养分积累量有利于轮作系统中主作物的高产稳产和光、温、养分资源的高效循环利用。研究稻秸还田对冬季豆科绿肥生长和养分积累及土壤性状的影响,为稻田豆科绿肥的高产栽培及稻秸资源化利用提供指导。  【方法】  在广西、四川和安徽,分别以盐渍水稻土、紫色土和黄棕壤为供试土壤,进行相同处理的豆科绿肥盆栽试验,供试品种均为当地主栽品种。稻秸添加量设 3个水平:0、3000、6000 kg/hm2 (S0、S1、S2),每个稻秸添加水平下设两个施氮水平:0和45 kg/hm2 (N0、N45),共包括6个处理。于豆科绿肥盛花期采集植株和土壤样品,测定鲜草产量和土壤理化性状。  【结果】  与稻秸不还田且不施氮肥处理(RS0N0)相比,盐渍水稻土、紫色土和黄棕壤上稻秸还田与氮肥配施处理的绿肥鲜草产量分别提高了63.0%～66.0%、35.2%～53.8%和103.6%～117.1%,植株氮累积量分别提高了19.1%～41.5%、43.7%～67.2%和65.1%～70.5%,磷累积量分别提高了12.1%～68.9%、31.4%～57.3%和37.9%～45.3%,钾累积量分别提高了22.0%～58.7%、30.7%～35.0%和89.2%～102.9%。在盐渍水稻土、紫色土,稻秸还田(S1、S2)均可提高绿肥鲜草产量和氮磷钾养分积累量,配合施氮没有进一步提高鲜草产量和氮磷钾养分积累量;而在黄棕壤与秸秆半量还田相比,稻秸全量还田降低了绿肥产量,但在一定程度上增加了绿肥地上部养分积累量,稻秸还田配合施用氮肥则显著增加了绿肥的产量和地上部养分积累量。盐渍水稻土稻秸还田与氮肥配施处理(RS1N45和RS2N45)提高了土壤有效磷含量;黄棕壤土壤有效磷含量、土壤速效钾含量随稻秸添加量增加先下降后上升,与不施肥对照相比,3种土壤上稻秸与氮肥配施处理均显著提高了土壤无机氮含量。偏最小二乘法路径模型分析表明,稻秸还田及土壤类型对豆科绿肥鲜草产量和地上部氮、磷、钾的累积量均有极显著正影响(P < 0.01),氮肥处理仅对豆科绿肥鲜草产量有极显著正影响(P < 0.01)。  【结论】  稻秸还田不同程度地促进了豆科绿肥对土壤速效养分的吸收,提高了豆科绿肥鲜草产量和地上部氮磷钾累积量。在肥力较高的盐渍水稻土和紫色土上,稻秸全量还田可显著增加豆科绿肥的鲜草产量,维持土壤有效养分,无需配合施用氮肥。在肥力较低的黄棕壤上,全量还田(6000 kg/hm2)需配施氮肥才可充分发挥稻秸还田的增产效果,缓解土壤中有效养分含量的下降。     

Relationships of barley biomass and grain yields to soil properties within a field in the arid region: Use of factor analysis

Abstract

Understanding the variability of soil properties and their effects on crop yield is a critical component of site-specific management systems. The objective of this study was to employ factor and multiple regression analyses to determine major soil physical and chemical properties that influence barely biomass and grain yield within a field in the arid region of northern Iran. For this purpose, soil samples and crop-yield data were collected from 108 sites, at regular intervals (20×30 m) in a 5.6 ha field. Soil samples were analysed for total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P_ava), available potassium (K_ava), cation-exchange capacity(CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, mean weight diameter of aggregates (MWD), water-stable aggregates (WSA), field capacity volumetric (FC), available water-holding capacity (AWHC), bulk density (BD), and calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE). Results of the factor analysis, followed by regression of biomass and grain yield of barley with soil properties, showed that the regression equations developed accounted for 78 and 73% of the total variance in biomass and grain yield, respectively. Study of covariance analysis among soil variables using factor analysis indicated that some of the variation measured could be grouped to indicate a number of underlying common factors influencing barley biomass and grain yields. These common factors were salinity and sodicity, soil fertility, and water availability. The most effective soil variables to barley production in the study area identified as EC, SAR, pH, TN, P_ava, AWHC, and FC. In this study, factor analysis was effective to identify the groups of correlated soil variables that were significantly correlated with the within field variability in the yield of the barley crop. Our results also suggest that the approach can be applied to other crops under similar soil and agroclimatic conditions.