Ecosystem carbon stock across a chronosequence of spruce plantations established on cutovers of a high-elevation region

Purpose

This study quantified the above- and belowground carbon (C) stocks across a chronosequence of spruce (Picea asperata) plantations established on cutovers and explored the turning point after which the increase in biomass C slowed or biomass C decreased for guiding forest management.

Materials and methods

We assessed above- and belowground plant biomass stocks at 11 sites in three regions, representing 12- to 46-year-old spruce plantations established on clear-cut areas in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. Biomass and C stocks of trees, understory vegetation, and forest floor litter were determined from plot-level inventories and destructive sampling. Fine root (<2 mm) biomass and mineral soil organic C (SOC) stock were estimated from soil cores. Tree biomass was quantified using allometric equations based on diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (H).

Results and discussion

Plant biomass C stocks in spruce plantations rapidly increased from 12 to 20 years at a rate of 7.8 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1, but decreased from 25 to 46 years at a rate of 0.79 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1. SOC stocks in spruce plantations gradually decreased from 12 to 46 years at a rate of 4.4 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1. Total C stock in the ecosystem remained unchanged for the first 20 years after the planting of spruce on cutovers, because the buildup of C stock in spruce biomass during the first 20 years was offset by the decrease in SOC. From 21 to 46 years after the reforestation, ecosystem C stock even decreased at a rate of 5.2 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1. The contribution of the understory vegetation, forest floor litter, and fine root to ecosystem C stock was low (<5.0 %) in the spruce plantations.

Conclusions

Ecosystem C stock in the spruce forest established on the cutover in the eastern Tibetan Plateau was related to stand age. During the first 20 years, this ecosystem was C neutral. However, aged (20–46 years) spruce plantation ecosystem can be a C source if no management was implemented to revitalize tree growth, promote understory vegetation, and enhance SOC accumulation.

     

Dynamics of the dead wood carbon pool in northwestern Russian boreal forests

Our study examines dead wood dynamics in a series of permanent plots established in closed, productive second-growth forest stands of north-west Russia and in temporary plots that represent different successional stages and types of disturbance. Dead wood stores measured on 63 plots 0.2–1.0 ha in size range from 1–8 Mg C ha^?1 in young to mature intensively managed stands, 17 Mg C ha^?1 in an old-growth forest, 20 Mg C ha^?1 on a clear-cut, and 21–39 Mg C ha^?1 following a severe windthrow. A total of 122 logs, snags, and stumps aged by long-term plot records was sampled for decay rates and to develop a system of decay classes. Annual decomposition rates are: 3.3% for pine, 3.4% for spruce, and 4.5% for birch. Based on these decay rates the average residence time of carbon (C) in the dead wood pool is 22–30 years. The mortality input on the permanent plots was 23–60 Mg C ha^?1 over 60 years of observation or 15–50% of the total biomass increment. This data suggests a dead wood mass of 10–22 Mg C ha^?1 would be expected in these mature forests if salvage had not occurred. In old-growth forests, dead wood comprised about 20% of the total wood mass, a proportion quite similar to the larger, more productive forests of the Pacific Northwest (USA). If this proportioning is characteristic of cool conifer forests it would be useful to estimate potential dead wood mass for old-growth forests without dead wood inventories. However, the use of a single live/dead wood ratio across the range of successional stages, a common practice in C budget calculations, may substantially over-or under-estimate the dead wood C pool depending upon the type of disturbance regime. Intensive forest management including short harvest rotations, thinning and wood salvage reduces dead wood C stores to 5–40% of the potential level found in undisturbed old-growth forest. In contrast, natural disturbance increases dead wood C pool by a factor of 2–4.     

The effects of pure and undersowing green manures on yields of succeeding spring cereals

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2004–2006 to investigate the effect of green manure treatments on the yield of oats and spring barley. In the experiment, different green manure crops with undersowing and pure sowing were compared for amounts of N, C, and organic matter driven into soil and their effect on cereal yield. The spring barley field had a total of 41.7–62.4 kg N ha^?1 and 1.75–2.81 Mg C ha^?1 added to the soil with straw, weed, and roots, depending on the level of fertilisation; with red clover, and both common and hybrid lucerne undersowing, with barley straw and roots, the values were 3.45–3.96 Mg C ha^?1 and 139.9–184.9 kg N ha^?1. Pure sowings of these three leguminous green manure crops had total applications of 3.37–4.14 Mg C ha^?1 and 219.7–236.8 kg N ha^?1. The mixed and pure sowing of bird's-foot trefoil provided considerably less nitrogen and carbon to the soil with the biomass than with the other leguminous crops. Application of biomass with a high C/N ratio reduced the yield of the succeeding spring cereals. Of the green manures, the most effective were red clover and both common and hybrid lucerne, either as undersowing or as pure sowing. Undersowings with barley significantly increased the N supply for the succeeding crop without yield loss of the main crop compared with the unfertilised variant. Compared with ploughing-in of green manure in autumn, spring ploughing gave a 0.2–0.57 Mg ha^?1 larger grain yield.     

Yam tuber and maize grain yield response to cropping system intensification in south-west Nigeria

Four factorial trials were conducted with yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) at Ibadan, Nigeria from 2013 to 2015, investigating effects of (1) tillage (2) fertilizer (3) intercropping (4) yam plant densities. Yam tuber yields varied between years (2013: 16.44 Mg ha^?1; 2014: 10.08 Mg ha^?1; 2015 26.61 Mg ha^?1). In 2013 neither tillage nor fertilizer affected tuber yields. In 2014 tillage increased yields (+25.4%, P < 0.0001), fertilizer reduced yield (?10.5%; P = 0.0046). In 2015 tillage increased tuber yields by 8.1% (ns), fertilizer application increased yield (+17.5%, P = 0.0017). Across the years, tuber yields increased (P < 0.01) with increasing yam density with a constant increase in 2013 up to the highest density, yet yields leveled out above 14,815 plants ha^?1 in 2014 and 2015. Intercropping with maize (66,667 plants ha^?1) reduced tuber yield by 42.62% in 2013, 44.52% in 2014 and 30.68% in 2015 (P < 0.01 all years) across all yam densities. Maize grain yield was higher in sole crop in 2 years. Fertilizer increased yields in all years (P < 0.0001). Maize yield had no response to the yam densities. Ridging had a negative effect on grain yield in 2015 (?0.3 Mg ha^?1, P = 0.0002). Increasing plant density appears a safe measure to increase yam yields.     

Harvest of green willow biomass for feed – effects of harvest time and frequency on yield,nutrient concentration,silage quality and regrowth

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of harvest time during the growth season on yield, quality and regrowth of willow. An eight-year-old willow field was harvested in April 2017, and biomass was harvested either once during 2017 on five dates from 13 June to 27 October, harvested twice in June and October or not harvested in 2017. Biomass yield, nutrient uptake and silage quality were measured for 2017 harvests, and regrowth yield was measured in November 2018. Postponing harvest from June to October increased dry matter (DM) mass fraction from 17.4 to 42.8% and decreased the concentration of ash, N, P and K in DM with N decreasing from 33.3 to 9.7?g kg^?1. pH in willow silage decreased with the later harvest. DM yield increased from 1.1 to 5.8 Mg ha^?1 from June to September and decreased to 4.5 Mg ha^?1 in October, and two harvests in 2017 only yielded 2.2 Mg ha^?1 in total. The sum of DM yields in 2017 and 2018 were 11.4 Mg ha^?1 without harvest in 2017 and ranged between 5.2 and 9.8 Mg ha^?1 when harvested in 2017.     

Biomass production and N fixation of five Mucuna pruriens varieties and their effect on maize yields in the forest zone of Cameroon

Mucuna has been tested intensively in past years as green manure for intensive maize production in West Africa. However, information is missing about the yield effect of different existing mucuna varieties. Five Mucuna pruriens varieties were grown for 40 weeks followed by sole maize (Zea mays L.) in order to determine differences in biomass production, nitrogen fixation, and effects on maize yield. Mucuna varieties differed in length of growing period, total biomass production (5.9—8.8 Mg ha^—1), seed production (0.65—1.3 Mg ha^—1), nitrogen (N) uptake (147—222 kg ha^—1), N fixation (87—171 kg ha^—1), and the amount of N retained in residues (138—218 kg ha^—1). The grain yield of maize grown immediately after the short mucuna fallow was significantly higher after mucuna vars. jaspaeda (4.60 Mg ha^—1), utilis (3.49 Mg ha^—1), and cochinchinensis (3.44 Mg ha^—1), compared with a non‐fertilized control (1.93 Mg ha^—1) which had a maize crop and vegetation regrowth before. After mucuna vars. ghana and veracruz, 2.90 and 2.65 Mg ha^—1 of maize grain were produced, respectively. No significant correlation between mucuna biomass and its N uptake and maize grain yield was found, whereas maize stover yield showed a significant positive correlation. Application of 30, 60, and 90 kg ha^—1 N as <?tw=98%>urea on sub‐plots of the control yielded 2.20, 3.19, and 3.46 Mg ha^—1 <?tw>of maize grain in the first year. Only the difference between 0 and 90 kg ha^—1 N was significant. Fertilizer N equivalent values for mucuna varieties ranged from 41 to 148 kg ha^—1. The yield advantage of vars. jaspaeda, utilis, and cochinchinensis versus the control without N fertilizer application was confirmed in the following year, with no significant difference in maize grain yield between mucuna and the control with N fertilizer application.<?show $6#>     

Bio-organic Amendment of Udic Ustochrept Soil for Minimizing Yield Decline in Sugarcane Ratoon Crops under Subtropical Conditions

The effects of subsequent sugarcane ratooning on soil quality and the crop yields under four treatments [an absolute control (T0), application of recommended dose of nitrogen (N)–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) (T1), application of sulfitation press mud (SPM), a sugar factory by-product (T2), and SPM along with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd, T3)] were evaluated for 7 years. In the control (T0) and NPK-fertilized (T1) plots, an increase in soil compaction (5.4%), decrease in infiltration rate (6.04%), lower microbial activities, and increased soil phenolic contents (72.4%) rendered the nutrients unavailable, leading to significant declines in the crop yields at the rate of 5.47 Mg ha^?1 y^?1 and 4.67 Mg ha^?1 y^?1, respectively. The crop yield declined from 53 kg ha^?1 in plant crop to 18 kg ha^?1 in the sixth ratoon crop under the absolute control. The rates of yield decline, however, were minimized in SPM (T2) and SPM + Gd (T3) plots to 3.54 and 3.51 Mg ha^?1 y^?1.     

Rice yield gaps in irrigated systems along an agro‐ecological gradient in West Africa

Irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) in West Africa covers about 12 % of the regional rice‐growing area, and is produced all along the agro‐ecological gradient from the forest zone to the Sahara desert margins. Spatial and temporal variability of yield gaps (i.e., difference between actual and potential yield) were determined to set priorities for research and target technologies. On‐farm trials were conducted on 191 irrigated lowland fields in the humid forest, the savanna and the Sahel. Farmers' yields were compared with those of super‐imposed treatments of improved fertilization and weed management. Farmers' yields varied between 0.2 and 8.7 Mg ha^‐1, with average yields of 3.4 Mg ha^‐1 (Guinea savanna), 3.6 Mg ha^‐1 (humid forest), 3.9 Mg ha^‐1 (Sahel), and 5.1 Mg ha^‐1 (Sudan savanna). Simulated potential yields increased from 7 Mg ha^‐1 in the forest to about 10 Mg ha^‐1 in the Sahel. Accordingly, yield gaps were large, ranging from 3.2 to 5.9 Mg ha^‐1. Researcher weed control in the Sahel gave grain yield increases of about 1.0 Mg ha^‐1. Improved weed and N fertilization management increased yields by 1 to 2 Mg ha^‐1 in the forest and Guinea savanna sites. A share of 57‐80 % of the yield gap could not be accounted for. Improving weed control is likely to have the highest pay‐off in the Sahel while improved management of fertilizer N will be most beneficial in the forest and savanna environments.     

The effects of burning forest biomass on the yield of plantain (cv. Ebang,Musa spp. AAB,false horn) after hot-water and boiling-water treatment in southern Cameroon

Plantain grown after forest slash-and-burn raises concerns due to the release of CO₂ and the destruction of biodiversity. Plantain yields are presented after forest biomass was burned or retained in combination with sucker sanitation versus traditional planting. Biomass burning did not affect plant crop and total yield. Soil chemical properties were weakly positively affected by burning. Sucker sanitation increased total yield at one site from 6.2 to 9.7 Mg ha^?1 (p = 0.015), without effects on root health. In the second site, sucker sanitation had no effect on fresh bunch yield (mean 8.59 Mg ha^?1), yet significantly improved root health parameters. Thus, at the first site, sucker sanitation elicited a positive response via a mechanism different from nematode control. At the second site, by contrast, nematode control was not the most important factor in yield formation. These data do not support the notion that retaining biomass increases plantain production. Other factors related to labor requirements and later weed infestation are probably more important in farmers' decision making on biomass management.     

Economic and environmental optimization of nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for cereals in Norway

Abstract

Results of 240 annual N fertilizer trials in 1991–2007 in spring and winter cereals are presented. On average, spring barley and oat yields increased little beyond 120 kg N ha^?1 in fertilizer. Somewhat higher figures were found for spring and winter wheat. Regression equations for yield and N uptakes in grain and straw were derived, related to N fertilizer input and the yield level in individual trials (indicator of yield expectancy). These equations accounted for 90% of the variation in yield and 80% of that in N uptake. Quadratic N responses were significant in all cases, as were interactions between N responses and yield level. They were verified with data from 27 separate trials performed in 2008–2010. The yield equations were used to calculate economically optimum N fertilizer levels with varying ratios of product price to fertilizer cost at contrasting levels of yield. The optimum N fertilizer level for barley and oats was found to increase by 8.3 kg N ha^?1 per Mg increase in expected yield. The equivalent figure in wheat was 16.3 kg N ha^?1. Optimum N fertilizer levels decreased by 4.1 and 6.7 kg N ha^?1, for barley/oats and wheat respectively, per unit increase in the cost/price ratio. The equations for N uptake were used to calculate simple N balances between fertilizer input and removal in crop products. Large N surpluses were indicated at low levels of yield expectancy, but the surplus declined markedly with increasing yield level, despite greater N fertilizer inputs at high yield. Calculations made for national average yield levels in recent years showed N surpluses of 50–60 kg N ha^?1 when only grain is removed and 25–40 kg N ha^?1 when straw is removed also. Limiting N input to obtain zero balance reduces yields considerably at average levels of yield expectancy.     

Soil data importance in guiding maize intensification and yield gap estimations in East Africa

Wide maize yield gaps have been reported in Eastern Africa, hence possibility for increasing production. Previous yield gap studies relied on generic soils data such as Harmonized World Soils Database (HWSD). Using CERES-Maize model, the importance of newly available and detailed Africa Soil and Information Service (AFSIS) data in estimating yield gaps and assessing intensification potentials was studied at Sidindi, Kenya and Mbinga, Tanzania. Predicted water-limited yields (Yw) at Sidindi using AFSIS and HWSD soils data were 9.21 Mg ha^?1 and 9.88 Mg ha^?1 (p = 0.002); and at Mbinga 10.48 Mg ha^?1 and 10.90 Mg ha^?1 (p = 0.085). Adequate rainfall masks differences in simulated Yw. The calibrated model predicted grain yield with a root mean square (RMSE) of 1.7 Mg ha^?1 at Sidindi; and 2.13 Mg ha^?1 at Mbinga. The model was sensitive to available phosphorus, with a 15% increase resulting in yield increases of 177% for treatment NK and 46% for the control. For stable organic carbon content, a 15% decrease increased grain yields for treatment PK by 57.6%. To guide intensification and yield gap estimations, accurate active soil carbon, total carbon, available phosphorus and texture data are vital.     

Contribution of Biofertilizers and Fertilizer Nitrogen to Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Egyptian Winter Wheat

ABSTRACT

Nutrient uptake and grain and straw yield of Egyptian winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Merr.) were evaluated for two site-years after the seed inoculation with two biofertilizer products, Phosphorien, containing the phosphorus (P)-solubilizing bacteria Bacillus megatherium, and Nitrobien, containing a combination of nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum liposerum. Ammonium nitrate and polymer-coated urea fertilizers were applied to plots alone and together with the biofertilizers at rates of either 83 kg N ha^?1 or 186 kg N ha^?1 for comparison. The highest grain yield (5.76–6.74 Mg ha^?1) and straw yield (11.49–13.32 Mg ha^?1) occurred at the highest fertilizer rates with N fertilizer. There was a slight additional increase in grain and straw yields when a biofertilizer was applied along with N fertilizer. A slightly higher grain and straw yield was measured with the polymer-coated urea treatment than with the ammonium nitrate treatment. The biofertilizer materials were not as effective as N fertilizers in producing grain (4.02–4.09 Mg ha^?1) or straw (7.71–8.11 Mg ha^?1) for either year, although the Nitrobien + Phosphorien combination increased these parameters over the N-fertilizer control. The effect of the Nitrobien biofertilizer in increasing grain yields was equivalent to a urea application rate of about 13 kg N ha^?1. Biofertilizer inoculations increased iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentrations in wheat tissue (at boot stage), but these higher levels did not influence grain or straw yield.     

The effect of different nitrogen levels on yield and quality of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana bert.)

In the present work, the efficiency of different nitrogen doses (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha^?1) on growth, yield, and quality of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bert.) was investigated in 2011–2013. The study was conducted in Antalya located in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Terra rossa type soil (LVx, FAO) characteristics of the experimental field were clay loam, with high amounts of lime (33,9%) and slightly alkaline (pH 7.7). The experiment was carried out in randomized block design with four replications. All the results were summarized as mean of three years. The highest fresh and dry biomass yields (26.75 t ha^?1 and 7.5 ha^?1, respectively) were obtained from 150 kg ha^?1 N dose and followed by 100 kg ha^?1 N dose (26.29 t ha^?1 and 7.24 ha^?1, respectively). Whereas the highest fresh and dry leaf yields (13.27 t ha^?1 and 3.82 t ha^?1, respectively) were realized in 100 kg ha^?1 N dose. Actually, all nitrogen doses gave higher biomass and leaf yields compared to the control. On the hand, major steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside A) in the leaf were not influenced by nitrogen levels. In conclusion, 100 kg ha^?1 N dose was found to be suitable for cultivation of stevia under field conditions.     

YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF HYBRID RICE AS INFLUENCED BY NITROGEN FERTILIZATION AT DIFFERENT ECO-SITES

Hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars play an important role in rice production due to its high yield potential. Optimum nitrogen (N) rate is necessary to achieve the maximum yield of hybrid. The main objective of this study was to reveal the responses of yield and yield component of hybrid rice ‘Eryou 107’ to different N rates in Nanjing and Taoyuan, a special eco-site. Leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation was also compared. Rice yield showed a quadratic response to N rates at both sites with maximum yields approximately 10 t ha^?1 at the 195 kg ha^?1 N rate in Nanjing and maximum yield above 18 t ha^?1 at the 375 kg ha^?1 N rate in Taoyuan. Panicle per m² was positively linear related to N rate at both sites in both years, while spikelets per panicle showed a quadratic relation. Larger sink size was the primary contributor to higher yields in Taoyuan compared with Nanjing, and panicle per m² was the main cause. With the increasing N rate, LAI increased linearly and the dry matter accumulation first increased than declined at both sites. Greater effects of N rates on yield and yield components, LAI, and biomass was observed in Taoyuan than Nanjing. Higher LAI, biomass, and larger sink size resulted in the higher yields and more N rate for maximum yields in Taoyuan, compared with Nanjing.     

A survey of the forest site characteristics in a transect through the central Canadian boreal forest

As a contribution to the BOReal Ecosystem Atmosphere Study (BOREAS), a total of 97 sites have been surveyed in the boreal forest regions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The sites extend across an ecoclimatic transect through the boreal forest of central Canada, from aspen parkland to sub-arctic woodland. Sites were selected using satellite, air photograph, and forest cover map data. Each site represents a minimum 100 m by 100 m homogeneous stand, suitable for satellite imaging. Data collected at each site covers overstory (species composition, DBH, pathogens, age, etc.), understory (percent cover by species), debris, and soil characteristics. These data provide a background database for the diverse measurements of terrestrial ecology, land surface climatology, tropospheric chemistry, and remote sensing. Such data provide an important baseline for ongoing studies of the boreal forest in a region sensitive to global change. The results of this study aid integration of a variety of more detailed studies being carried out in the region and also allow comparison with other international studies of a similar nature. Sites are concentrated in two regions: north of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and west of Thompson, Manitoba. Additional sites are located in the area of the Boreal Forest Transect Case Study (BFTCS) between Batoche, Saskatchewan and Gillam, Manitoba. The surveyed sites were classified according to three criteria: dominant species (Picea mariana, Populus tremuloides, Pinus banksiana, or “mixed”), age (mature, immature, or young/recently disturbed), and productivity (low, medium, or high). Overstory and understory measurements were usually taken at three points within each site. Debris measurements were taken at two points, and soil measurements at one point per site. This paper focuses on overstory and debris data taken at 97 sites in 1993 and 1994. The sites are predominantly in medium and high productivity stands. Overstoiy. data, primarily from point-sampling, have been used to estimate stand basal areas, stem densities, volumes, and aboveground biomass (excluding foliage). Stand basal areas ranged from 5 m² ha^?1 to over 60 m² ha^?1. Stem densities ranged from a few hundred to over 40 000 stem ha^?1. Estimates of total aboveground biomass range from a few Mg ha^?1 to over 250 Mg ha^?1. The Prince Albert sites tend to have greater values than Thompson for basal area, volume and biomass, but stem densities are highly variable. Detritus data show values from zero to 60 Mg ha^?1. Generally, these values are small compared to aboveground biomass, but in recently disturbed sites the detrital mass can exceed aboveground biomass.     

Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Biomass Production for Biofuel and the Effects of Soil Types and Nitrogen Fertilization

This research aimed to determine the optimum nitrogen fertilization rate on three soils for producing biomass sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor cultivar M81E) and corn (Zea mays cultivar P33N58) grain yield and to compare their responses. The research was conducted in Missouri in rotations with soybean, cotton, and corn. Seven rates of nitrogen (N) were applied. Sweet sorghum dry biomass varied between 11 and 27.5 Mg ha^?1) depending on year, soil type, and N rate. Nitrogen fertilization on the silt and sandy loam soils had no effect (P > 0.05) on sweet sorghum yield grown after cotton and soybean. However, yield increased in the clay soil. Corn grain yielded from 1.3 to 12.9 Mg ha^?1, and 179 to 224 kg N ha^?1 was required for maximum yield. Increasing biomass yield required N application on clay but not on silt loam and sandy loam in rotations with soybean or cotton.     

Do farmers in Germany exploit the potential yield and nitrogen benefits from preceding oilseed rape in winter wheat cultivation?

Field experiments show that wheat grown after oilseed rape (OSR) achieves higher yield levels, while the nitrogen (N) application is reduced. However, field experiment data are based on few locations with optimised management. We analysed a large dataset based on farm data to assess the true extent of break crop benefits (BCB) for yield and N fertilisation within German commercial farming.

Across all German states and years, average yield of wheat preceded by OSR was 0.56 Mg ha^?1 higher than yield of wheat preceded by cereals (7.09 Mg ha^?1), although considerable variation between regions was observed. Mean N application across all states to wheat after OSR was 5 kg ha^?1 lower than to wheat after cereals. Choice of wheat types for different end uses (bread flour or animal feed) showed higher (0.77 Mg ha^?1) or lower (0.44 Mg ha^?1) BCB for yield of wheat cultivated after OSR compared with after cereals. The calculated BCB for yield and N fertilisation were lower than expected from dedicated field experiments and fertiliser recommendations. Thus the advantages of OSR as a preceding crop are generally utilised by commercial farmers in Germany but there is room for improvement.     

Partitioning the Nutrient and Nonnutrient Contributions Of Compost to Dryland-Organic Wheat

Organic materials supply nutrients to plants but may also have other, nonnutrient-related benefits which are more difficult to quantify. This study partitioned the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield response from compost applications into nutrient and nonnutrient fractions. Composted dairy manure and wheat straw bedding was applied at five rates (0, 10, 25, 50, and 75 Mg dry weight ha^?1) to dry-land wheat in an organic wheat-fallow farming system. The compost was fall-applied and incorporated prior to planting at adjacent sites in sequential years. Maximum grain yield increases from compost application ranged from 2,139 kg ha^?1 in a year with 186% of average annual precipitation to 1,324 kg ha^?1 in a year with 87% of average annual precipitation. The Mitscherlich equation was used to describe the yield response to compost rate. The nutrient and nonnutrient contributions of compost to grain yield were partitioned by solving the Mitscherlich equation for compost rates where applied nutrients were in surplus (≥25 Mg ha^?1), calculating a non-nutrient Mitscherlich response function, and subtracting the nonnutrient response function from the full response to determine the nutrient contribution across compost rates. At the 10 Mg ha^?1 compost rate, the nonnutrient to nutrient yield response ratio varied from 0.25:1 for the year with above average precipitation to 2.2:1 for the year with below average precipitation. Compost significantly increases dry-land wheat yields. These results suggest that nonnutrient benefits of compost applications may be significant and exceed nutrient benefits under dryland production in low rainfall years.     

Performance of Kura clover compared to that of perennial forage legumes traditionally cultivated in central Europe

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) is a rhizomatous perennial legume that is native to Caucasia, is extremely persistent in North America, but its performance has not been adequately evaluated in Europe. The objective of this research was to compare forage yield and nutritive value of Kura clover to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) at two locations in Poland. All clover stands thinned markedly by spring of the second production year because of infection by Sclerotinia crown and stem rot, but lucerne stands remained dense and this legume produced the highest total yield over 3 or 4 production years. Kura clover yields of 7.2–8.3?Mg?ha^?1 were second to lucerne by the third production year but long-term performance was diminished by stand thinning. Kura clover and white clover had lower fiber concentrations and greater protein concentrations and forage digestibility than red clover and lucerne. Kura clover can be a source of high-quality forage in Europe, but cannot be recommended for use in areas with known Sclerotinia trifoliorum presence until resistance to this pathogen is developed.     

Phosphorus,potassium, chloride,and fungicide effects on wheat yield and leaf rust severity

Abstract

Plant nutrition and disease suppression are among the most important management tools for producers of hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the central and southern Great Plains. This study was conducted to examine the effects of phosphorus (P) (0, 15, and 30 kg ha^?1) and potassium (K) (0, 37, and 74 kg ha^?1) fertilization, foliar fungicide application, and cultivar disease tolerance on wheat yield, yield components, and severity of leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.). Compared with no P, fertilizing with P increased yield by as much as 60% (>1.3 Mg ha^?1 increase). Yield of cultivars susceptible to leaf rust was nearly 0.6 Mg ha^?1 less without K than with K fertilization. Fungicide application resulted in mean yields of 4.8 Mg ha^?1 for both resistant and susceptible cultivars, however, yield of susceptible cultivars was suppressed more than yield of resistant ones without fungicide. Although P fertilization had a moderately suppressive effect on leaf rust, the increased yield was primarily due to production of about 50% more heads m^?2 apparently from more prolific tillering. Similarly, K fertilization appeared to reduce leaf rust severity and improve yield by increasing kernel weight, but this response may have been related partially to chloride (Cl) in the KCl fertilizer. Correlations suggested that improving dry matter production and N, P, and K uptakes at the boot stage by P and K fertilization can reduce leaf rust severity later in the growing season and increase wheat grain yield. These results indicate that especially P fertilization, but also K fertilization and fungicide application, are important management tools for reducing disease and increasing winter wheat yield.