Beet vinasse applied to wheat under dryland conditions affects soil properties and yield

The effect of six doses of beet vinasse (0, 3, 6, 10, 20 and 40 t ha⁻¹, respectively) on wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Cajeme) yield in dryland conditions (Guadalquivir Valley, Andalusia, Spain) for 3 years on a Typic Xerofluvent was studied. The results showed that at low doses, beet vinasse is of agricultural interest due mainly to its organic matter concentration. The application of this byproduct to the soil increased soil microbial biomass and mineralization of its organic matter increased NO₃⁻–N concentrations in soil. This caused an increase in grain yield in the three seasons. When the vinasse was applied with high doses, NO₃⁻–N concentrations in soil, soil microbial biomass, soil structure, bulk density, electric conductivity, nutrient uptake, crop yield and grain quality were negatively affected. We assume that the high amounts of monovalent cations, particularly Na⁺, and of fulvic acids, which had been transported into the soil by the vinasse, destabilized the soil structure. This may have led to anaerobic soil conditions being presumably responsible for restricted N mineralization or even for denitrification. This explains the lower N supply to the crops reflected by the low N concentrations in the leaves of treatments A4 and A5.     

Alternative strategies for nitrogen fertilization of overwinter processing spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in Southern Italy

To identify the best practice for nitrogen (N) fertilization of overwinter processing spinach, two field experiments were carried out in the Foggia plain (Southern Italy), one of the most vocated area for leafy vegetables production. The field trials were aimed to define and suggest the proper fertilizer dose, typology and the right time of application. Experiment 1 evaluated four N fertilizer doses (0, 150, 225, 300 kg ha⁻¹) in a two-year field trial. Experiment 2 was aimed to assess the effect of the split distribution of prilled urea fertilizer in comparison with the application of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) containing urea fertilizer, broadcasted at sowing.Spinach yield, yield quality (nitrate – NO₃⁻ – and carotenoids content), N-use efficiency and risk of soil nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) leaching were evaluated. The processing spinach yielded 37.8 and 3.6 t ha⁻¹ of fresh and dry yield, respectively (average of the two experiments). Fresh and dry yield among the fertilizing treatments were similar. Also the β-carotene and the lutein content of spinach leaves (19.5 and 38.1 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) were not affected by the N fertilizer dose. Conversely, the N dose strongly influenced the NO₃⁻ content of the leafy vegetable tissues (1286 mg kg⁻¹ on average, 58% lower than the limits imposed by the EC regulation). As expected, the different rainfall pattern influenced both the leaf NO₃⁻ content and the risk of soil NO₃⁻-N leaching. The results achieved demonstrated that, in order to get a favorable trade-off, among yield, yield quality, N-use efficiency and environmental impact, the processing spinach growers of the Foggia plain area should be encouraged to apply 225 kg N ha⁻¹ as maximum fertilization rate. Also, the split urea fertilizer application appeared as the more effective strategy for N fertilization of overwinter spinach in comparison with the use of the nitrification inhibitor containing urea fertilizer, being the last strategy not able to adequately match the N crop demand.     

Pig slurry fertilization in a double-annual cropping forage system under sub-humid Mediterranean conditions

In areas of Southern Europe with very intensive pig production, most of the pig slurry (PS) is applied as fertilizer. However, in the European Union, no more than 170 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ can be applied in nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) from livestock manures. In this context, a six-year trial was conducted for a maize-triticale double-annual forage cropping rotation under rainfed conditions. Four different N rates were applied (0, 170, 250 and 330 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), to evaluate their effect on crop yield, N uptake, unrecovered N and soil nitrate content. The corresponding PS rates were defined as zero (PS 0), low (PSL) medium (PSM) and high (PSH). The annual average dry matter (DM) yields (maize + triticale) for the PS fertilization treatments PS0, PSL, PSM and PSH were 12.6, 17.7, 20.2 and 22.0 Mg DM ha⁻¹, respectively. Maize DM yield was influenced mainly by weather conditions, and triticale DM yield was clearly influenced by initial soil NO₃⁻-N and PS fertilization rates. Unrecovered N was affected by PS fertilization rate and initial soil NO₃⁻-N content. A residual effect of the PS when applied to maize had an important effect on soil NO₃⁻-N and subsequent triticale DM yield. Moreover, total annual average unrecovered N, considering the sum of both crops (maize + triticale), were 91, 144, and 222 kg N ha⁻¹ in PSL, PSM and PSH, respectively. In order to avoid part of this unrecovered N, mainly by lixiviation of nitrates, PS fertilization in triticale should be applied as side dressing at tillering. The application of N, in the form of PS, at rates higher than the legally permitted maximum of 170 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, may result in better yields. However, high rates of PS fertilization may originate in significantly lower N use efficiency and a higher potential environmental impact in double-cropping systems, practiced in rainfed sub-humid Mediterranean conditions.     

Turnover and fate of 15N-labelled cattle slurry ammonium-N applied in the autumn to winter wheat

The fate of ¹⁵NH₄-N labelled cattle slurry applied before sowing in September of a winter wheat crop was studied on a loamy sand soil. The aim was to quantify immobilization of slurry NH₄-N into microbial biomass, the speed at which nitrate derived from the slurry NH₄-N was transported down the soil profile, and the utilization of slurry NH₄-N by the winter wheat crop. Cattle slurry was applied at a rate corresponding to 75 kg NH₄-N ha⁻¹ , with very little loss by volatilization (<4%) due to rapid incorporation by ploughing. The slurry amendment resulted in a doubling of soil surface CO₂ flux, an index of microbial activity, over non-amended soil within the first c. 2 weeks, but ceased again after c. 4 weeks, due to depletion of the easily degradable substances, e.g. volatile fatty acids, in the slurry. Nitrification of the applied NH₄-N was fast and complete by 3 weeks from application, and at this time, the maximum immobilization of slurry NH₄-N into the microbial biomass (23% of applied ¹⁵NH₄-N) was also observed, although no significant increase in total microbial biomass was observed. Rapid turnover of the microbial biomass quickly diluted the assimilated ¹⁵N, with only 6% of applied ¹⁵NH₄-N remaining in the microbial biomass by next spring. Downwards transport of nitrate was rapid in spite of lower than normal precipitation, and slurry-derived ¹⁵NO₃-N appeared in ceramic suction cups installed at 60 cm depth already 2 months after slurry application. Due to the unusually low winter precipitation in the experimental year, wheat yields were high, and the recovery of N in above-ground plant biomass derived from slurry NH₄-N at harvest reached 32%. An additional 45% of the applied slurry NH₄-N could be found in the soil to a depth of 100 cm (mostly in organic form in the plough layer), indicating that 23% had been lost by leaching or in gaseous form. It was concluded that although significant immobilization of slurry NH₄-N did occur, this was not sufficient to prevent leaching of slurry-derived N over the winter and that the relatively high recovery of slurry-derived N in the wheat crop was due partly to lower than normal winter percolation and partly to a relatively high rooting depth on this particular site.     

Effects of ozone on sugar beet grown in open-top chambers

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris cv. Patriot) plants were grown on field plots and in open-top chambers (OTCs) in two successive years. In the OTC treatments, plants were exposed to charcoal filtered air, unfiltered air or unfiltered air enriched with additional ozone (O₃). Ozone exposure continued for almost 5 months and the 8-h average concentration was raised from 34 to 39 nL L⁻¹ in the ambient air chambers to 62 nL L⁻¹ in the ozone enriched chambers. In both years, the AOT40 exposure index in the ozone enriched chambers exceeded 30 μL L⁻¹ h during the 5-month exposure period compared to 6.5 and 2.9 μL L⁻¹ h in ambient air in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Visible symptoms in the form of small white necrotic flecks appeared in both seasons in the ozone enriched chambers. When the data for both years were analysed statistically, a significant reduction of root yield of 6% and a slight reduction of sugar content were detected. These changes resulted in an overall reduced sugar yield ha⁻¹ of about 9%. Although the sensitivity of sugar beet to ozone is highly variety-dependent, in general this biennial crop appears less sensitive than annual crops such as wheat and potato. Ozone has limited effects on quality parameters in sugar beet, although an increase in α-amino-N content was observed, in agreement with the increased nitrogen content resulting from ozone exposure of wheat and potato.Enclosure within the OTCs increased aboveground biomass but decreased root yield (fresh biomass) and sugar content. These effects were most likely caused by a reduction of radiation by the chamber walls and annulus. The increased temperature in the chambers reduced yield quality by increasing mineral content.     

Effect of free air carbon dioxide enrichment combined with two nitrogen levels on growth,yield and yield quality of sugar beet: Evidence for a sink limitation of beet growth under elevated CO2

The increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration [CO₂] has been demonstrated to stimulate the growth of C₃ crops. However, little information exists about the effect of elevated [CO₂] on biomass production of sugar beet, and data from field experiments are lacking. In this study, sugar beet was grown within a crop rotation over two rotation cycles (2001, 2004) at present and elevated [CO₂] (375 μl l^?1 and 550 μl l^?1) in a free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) system and at two levels of nitrogen supply [high (N2), and 50% of high (N1)], in Braunschweig, Germany. The objective of the present study was to determine the CO₂ effect on seasonal changes of leaf growth and on final biomass and sugar yield. Shading treatment was included to test whether sugar beet growth is sink limited under elevated [CO₂]. CO₂ elevation did not affect leaf number but increased individual leaf size in early summer resulting in a faster row closure under both N levels. In late summer CO₂ enrichment increased the fraction of senescent leaves under high but not low N supply, which contributed to a negative CO₂ effect on leaf area index and canopy chlorophyll content under high N at final harvest. Petioles contained up to 40% water-soluble carbohydrates, which were hardly affected by CO₂ but increased by N supply. More N increased biomass production by 21% and 12% in 2001 and 2004, respectively, while beet and sugar yield was not influenced. Concentration of α-amino N in the beet fresh weight was increased under low N and decreased under high N by CO₂ enrichment. The CO₂ response of total biomass, beet yield and white sugar yield was unaffected by N supply. Averaged over both N levels elevated [CO₂] increased total biomass by 7% and 12% in 2001 and 2004, respectively, and white sugar yield by 12% and 13%. The shading treatment in 2004 prevented the decrease in leaf area index under elevated [CO₂] and high N in September. Moreover, the CO₂ effect on total biomass (24%) and white sugar yield (28%) was doubled as compared to the unshaded conditions. It is concluded that the growth of the storage root of sugar beet is not source but sink limited under elevated [CO₂], which minimizes the potential CO₂ effect on photosynthesis and beet yield.     

Tillage,cover crops,and nitrogen fertilization effects on soil nitrogen and cotton and sorghum yields

Sustainable soil and crop management practices that reduce soil erosion and nitrogen (N) leaching, conserve soil organic matter, and optimize cotton and sorghum yields still remain a challenge. We examined the influence of three tillage practices (no-till, strip till and chisel till), four cover crops {legume [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)], nonlegume [rye (Secaele cereale L.)], vetch/rye biculture and winter weeds or no cover crop}, and three N fertilization rates (0, 60–65 and 120–130 kg N ha⁻¹) on soil inorganic N content at the 0–30 cm depth and yields and N uptake of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. A field experiment was conducted on Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Plinthic Paleudults) from 1999 to 2002 in Georgia, USA. Nitrogen supplied by cover crops was greater with vetch and vetch/rye biculture than with rye and weeds. Soil inorganic N at the 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths increased with increasing N rate and were greater with vetch than with rye and weeds in April 2000 and 2002. Inorganic N at 0–10 cm was also greater with vetch than with rye in no-till, greater with vetch/rye than with rye and weeds in strip till, and greater with vetch than with rye and weeds in chisel till. In 2000, cotton lint yield and N uptake were greater in no-till with rye or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in other treatments, but biomass (stems + leaves) yield and N uptake were greater with vetch and vetch/rye than with rye or weeds, and greater with 60 and 120 than with 0 kg N ha⁻¹. In 2001, sorghum grain yield, biomass yield, and N uptake were greater in strip till and chisel till than in no-till, and greater in vetch and vetch/rye with or without N than in rye and weeds with 0 or 65 kg N ha⁻¹. In 2002, cotton lint yield and N uptake were greater in chisel till, rye and weeds with 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in other treatments, but biomass N uptake was greater in vetch/rye with 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in rye and weeds with 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹. Increased N supplied by hairy vetch or 120–130 kg N ha⁻¹ increased soil N availability, sorghum grain yield, cotton and sorghum biomass yields, and N uptake but decreased cotton lint yield and lint N uptake compared with rye, weeds or 0 kg N ha⁻¹. Cotton and sorghum yields and N uptake can be optimized and potentials for soil erosion and N leaching can be reduced by using conservation tillage, such as no-till or strip till, with vetch/rye biculture cover crop and 60–65 kg N ha⁻¹. The results can be applied in regions where cover crops can be grown in the winter to reduce soil erosion and N leaching and where tillage intensity and N fertilization rates can be minimized to reduce the costs of energy requirement for tillage and N fertilization while optimizing crop production.     

Long-term evaluation of productivity,stability and sustainability for cropping systems in Mediterranean rainfed conditions

Mediterranean cropping systems in rainfed conditions are generally based on rotations with a very high frequency of winter wheat and, therefore, they are at risk of declining trends for yield and soil health in the long-term. In order to quantify this risk, a long-term experiment was set-up in 1971 in central Italy, which is still running at present (2016). This experiment is based on 13 rotations, i.e. three continuous winter wheat systems with different N fertilization rates (W150, W200 and W250), five maize/winter wheat rotations with increasing wheat frequency (maize preceded by 1–5 years of wheat: i.e., WM, 2WM, 3WM, 4WM and 5WM) and five two-year rotations of winter wheat with either pea (WP), faba bean (WFB), grain sorghum (WGS), sugar beet (WSB) or sunflower (WSU). All these rotations are managed either with the removal of crop residues after harvest (REM), or with their burial into the soil at ploughing (BUR). For each rotation, all phases are simultaneously grown in each year, according to a split-plot design (with REM and BUR randomised to main plots), with three replicates in complete blocks and plots of 24.5 m² each. The following data are considered: (1) total and marketable biomass yields from 1983 to 2012; (2) content of Organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (N) in soil, as determined in 2014. Considering the 30-year period, BUR resulted in an average positive effect on yield (+3.7%), increased OC (+13.8%) and total N content (+9.4%) in soil, while the C/N ratio was not significantly affected. Wheat in two-year rotations showed a significantly higher (+19.4%) average yield level than in continuous cropping or in 2WM, 3WM, 4WM and 5WM, mainly due to a drop in yield occurring in the first (−13%) and second (−19%) year of recropping. Increasing N fertilisation level from 150 to 250 kg N ha⁻¹ with continuous cropping resulted in an increase (+3.7%) in long-term average yield and in a decrease in yield stability. All rotations heavily based on wheat (continuous cropping and 5WM) produced the highest amount of buried biomass (>175 t ha⁻¹ in 30 years), with the highest increase in soil OC content (>16 t ha⁻¹). All the other rotations produced a lower amount of residues and were less efficient in terms of carbon sequestration in soil, apart from WFB, which gave a high increase in soil organic carbon content (+18.9 t ha⁻¹ in 30 years), in spite of a low amount of buried residues (158 t ha⁻¹).     

Long-term effects of N fertilization on cropping and growth of olive trees and on N accumulation in soil profile

Two experiments were conducted for 13 years in two olive groves of southern Spain to study the long-term effect of nitrogen (N) fertilization on trees and soil. In the first experiment, 12-year-old ‘Picual’ olive trees were arranged in a split plot design with method of N application (soil versus a 50% soil:50% foliar combination) as the whole plot factor, and amount of N applied annually (0, 0.12, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 kg N tree⁻¹) as the subplot factor. In the second experiment, N application to 50-year-old ‘Picual’ trees was based on the previous season's leaf N concentration. Urea was the source of N in both experiments. During the last 4 years, soil samples were taken at 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm depth to evaluate the effect of N application on soil eutrophication. Fertilization with N had no significant effects on yield, fruit characteristics, and growth of olive trees for the 13 years of study, even when leaf N concentration increased with the amount of fertilizer N applied. Combining soil and foliar application may reduce the amount of fertilizer N necessary to correct a possible N deficiency because our experiments showed this practice to be more effective in increasing leaf N that applying N only to the soil. Our results question the established deficiency threshold of 1.4% of N in dried leaf because no reduction in yield or growth was observed for lower concentrations. However, leaf N concentration did not drop below 1.2% after 13 years with no N application, probably because of N inputs from rainfall and the mineralization of organic N. Whereas under natural conditions of the non-fertilized treatments NH₄⁺–N represented the dominant fraction of mineral N in soil, accumulation of high amounts of NO₃⁻–N in the soil profile occurred in the fertilized plots, which represents a high risk of N leaching from soil. All these results suggest that annual applications of fertilizer N are unnecessary to maintain high productivity and growth in olive. Applying N only when the previous season's leaf analysis indicates that leaf N concentration is below the deficiency threshold, is thus a recommended practice to optimize N fertilization in olive orchards and to reduce N losses by leaching.     

Exploring options to combine high yields with high nitrogen use efficiencies in irrigated rice in China

In Jiangsu province, Southeast China, high irrigated rice yields (6–8000 kg ha⁻¹) are supported by high nitrogen (N) fertilizer inputs (260–300 kg N ha⁻¹) and low fertilizer N use efficiencies (recoveries of 30–35%). Improvement of fertilizer N use efficiency can increase farmers’ profitability and reduce negative environmental externalities. This paper combines field experimentation with simulation modeling to explore N fertilizer management strategies to realize high yields, while increasing N use efficiency. The rice growth model ORYZA2000 was parameterized and evaluated using data from field experiments carried out in Nanjing, China. ORYZA2000 satisfactorily simulated yield, crop biomass and crop N dynamics, and the model was applied to explore options for different N-fertilizer management regimes, at low and high levels of indigenous soil N supply, using 43 years of historical weather data.On average, yields of around 10–11,000 kg ha⁻¹ were realized (simulated and in field experiments) with fertilizer N rates of around 200 kg ha⁻¹. Higher fertilizer doses did not result in substantially higher yields, except under very favorable weather conditions when yields exceeding 13,000 kg ha⁻¹ were calculated. At fertilizer rates of 150–200 kg ha⁻¹, and at the tested indigenous soil N supplies of 0.6–0.9 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, high fertilizer N recovery (53–56%), partial N productivity (50–70 kg kg⁻¹) and agronomic N use efficiency (20–30 kg kg⁻¹) were obtained with application in three equal splits at transplanting, panicle initiation and booting. Increasing the number of splits to six did not further increase yield or improve any of the N use efficiency parameters.     

Maize yield and water balance is affected by nitrogen application in a film-mulching ridge–furrow system in a semiarid region of China

Poor soil and drought stress are common in semiarid areas of China, but maize has a high demand for nitrogen (N) and water. Maize production using the technique of double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic film are being rapidly adopted due to significant increases in yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in these areas. This paper studied N use and water balance of maize crops under double ridges and furrows mulched with plastic-film systems in a semiarid environment over four growing seasons from 2007 to 2010. To improve precipitation storage in the non-growing season, the whole-year plastic-film mulching technique was used. There were six treatments which had 0, 70, 140, 280, 420 or 560 kg N ha⁻¹ applied in every year for maize. In April 2011, spring wheat was planted in flat plots without fertilizer or mulch following four years of maize cultivation. After four years, all treatments not only maintained soil water balance in the 0–200 cm soil layer but soil water content also increased in the 0–160 cm soil layer compared to values before maize sowing in April 2007. However, under similar precipitation and only one season of spring wheat, soil water content in the 0–160 cm soil layer sharply decreased in all treatments compared to values before sowing in April 2011. Over the four years of maize cultivation, average yield in all treatments ranged from 4071 to 6676 kg ha⁻¹ and WUE ranged from 18.2 to 28.2 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. In 2011, the yield of spring wheat in all treatments ranged from 763 to 1260 kg ha⁻¹ and WUE from 3.5 to 6.5 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. The potential maximum grain yield for maize was 6784 kg ha⁻¹ with 360 kg N ha⁻¹ applied for four years, but considerable NO₃N accumulated in the soil profile. A lesser application (110 kg N ha⁻¹) to this tillage system yielded in 82% of the maximum, increased nitrogen use efficiency and mitigated the risk of nitrogen loss from the system. This study suggests that double ridge–furrow and whole-year plastic-film mulching could sustain high grain yields in maize with approximately 110 kg N ha⁻¹ and maintain soil water balance when annual precipitation is >273 mm in this semiarid environment.     

White lupine as a beneficial crop in Southern Europe. II. Nitrogen recovery in a legume–oat rotation and a continuous oat–oat

One experiment lasting for two years was carried out at Pegões (central Portugal) to estimate the impact of mature white lupine residue (Lupinus albus L.) on yield of fodder oat (Avena sativa L. cv. Sta. Eulalia) as the next crop in rotation, comparing with the continuous cultivation of cereal, under two tillage practices (conventional tillage and no-till) and fertilized with five mineral nitrogen (N) rates, with three replicates. Oat as a first crop in the rotation provided more N to the agro-ecosystem (63 kg N ha⁻¹) than did lupine (30–59 kg N ha⁻¹). This was at a cost of 100 kg of mineral N ha⁻¹, whereas lupine was grown without addition of N. A positive response of oat as a second crop was obtained per kg of lupine-N added to the system when compared with the continuous oat–oat. The cereal also responded positively to mineral N in the legume amended soil in contrast with the oat–oat sequence where no response was observed, partly due to the fast mineralization rate of lupine residue and a greater soil N immobilization in the continuous oat system. Each kg N ha⁻¹ added to the soil through the application of 73 kg DM ha⁻¹ mature lupine residue (above- and belowground material) increased by 72 kg DM ha⁻¹ the oat biomass produced as the second crop in rotation when 150 kg mineral N ha⁻¹ were split in the season, independent of tillage practice. Mature legume residue conserved in the no-tilled soil depressed the yield of succeeding cereal but less than the continuous oat–oat for both tillage practices, where the application of mineral N did not improve the crop response.     

Performance and application of the APSIM Nwheat model in the Netherlands

APSIM Nwheat is a crop system simulation model, consisting of modules that incorporate aspects of soil water, nitrogen (N), crop residues, and crop growth and development. The model was applied to simulate above- and below-ground growth, grain yield, water and N uptake, and soil water and soil N of wheat crops in the Netherlands. Model outputs were compared with detailed measurements of field experiments from three locations with two different soil types. The experiments covered two seasons and a range of N-fertiliser applications. The overall APSIM Nwheat model simulations of soil mineral N, N uptake, shoot growth, phenology, kernels m⁻², specific grain weight and grain N were acceptable. Grain yields (dry weight) and grain protein concentrations were well simulated with a root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.8 t ha⁻¹ and 1.6 protein%, respectively. Additionally, the model simulations were compared with grain yields from a long-term winter wheat experiment with different N applications, two additional N experiments and regional grain yield records. The model reproduced the general effects of N treatments on yields. Simulations showed a good consistency with the higher yields of the long-term experiment, but overpredicted the lower yields. Simulations and earlier regional yields differed, but they showed uniformity for the last decade.In a simulation experiment, the APSIM Nwheat model was used with historical weather data to study the relationship between rate and timing of N fertiliser and grain yield, grain protein and soil residual N. A median grain yield of 4.5 t ha⁻¹ was achieved without applying fertiliser, utilising mineral soil N from previous seasons, from mineralisation and N deposition. Application of N fertiliser in February to increase soil mineral N to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ improved the median yield to 7.8 t ha⁻¹ but had little effect on grain protein concentration with a range of 8–10%. Nitrogen applications at tillering and the beginning of stem elongation further increased grain yield and in particular grain protein, but did not affect soil residual N, except in a year with low rainfall during stem elongation. A late N application at flag leaf stage increased grain protein content by several per cent. This increase had only a small effect on grain yield and did not increase soil residual N with up to 40 kg N ha⁻¹ applied, except when N uptake was limited by low rainfall in the period after the flag leaf stage. The economic and environmental optima in winter wheat were identified with up to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ in February, 90 kg N ha⁻¹ between tillering and beginning of stem elongation and 40 kg N ha⁻¹ at flag leaf stage resulting in a median of 8.5 t ha⁻¹ grain yield, 14.0% grain protein and 13 kg N ha⁻¹ soil residual N after the harvest. The maximum simulated yield with maximum N input from two locations in the Netherlands was 9.9 t ha⁻¹.     

Organic fertilizer effects on growth,crop yield,and soil microbial biomass indices in sole and intercropped peas and oats under organic farming conditions

In a field experiment, peas (Pisum sativum L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) were grown as sole crops and intercrops, fertilized with horse manure and yard-waste compost derived from shrub and garden cuttings at 10 t C ha⁻¹ each. The objectives were to compare the effects of these organic fertilizer and cropping system in organic farming on (a) yield of peas and oats, grown as the sole crop or intercropped, as well as N₂ fixation and photosynthetic rates, (b) the yield of wheat as a succeeding crop, (c) microbial biomass indices in soil and roots, and (d) microbial activity estimated by the CO₂ evolution rate in the field and the amount of organic fertilizers, recovered as particulate organic matter (POM). In general, organic fertilizer application improved nodule dry weight (DW), photosynthetic rates, N₂ fixation, and N accumulation of peas as well as N concentration in oat grain. Averaged across fertilizer treatments, pea/oat intercropping significantly decreased nodule DW, N₂ fixation and photosynthetic rate of peas by 14, 17, and 12%, respectively, and significantly increased the photosynthetic rate of oats by 20%. However, the land equivalent ratio (LER) of intercropped peas and oats exceeded 1.0, indicating a yield advantage over sole cropping. Soil microbial biomass was positively correlated with pea dry matter yields both in sole and intercropped systems. Organic fertilizers increased the contents of microbial biomass C, N, P, and fungal ergosterol in soil and CO₂ production, whereas the cropping system had no effects on these microbial indices. According to the organic fertilizer recovered as POM, 70% (manure) and 64% (compost) of added C were decomposed, but only 39% (manure) and 13% (compost) could be attributed to CO₂–C during a 101-day period. This indicated that horse manure was more readily available to soil microorganisms than compost, leading to increased grain yields of the succeeding winter wheat.     

The relevance of N fertilization for the amount of total greenhouse gas emissions in sugar beet cultivation

The agricultural sector is highly affected by climate change and it is a source of greenhouse gases. Therefore it is in charge to reduce emissions. For a development of reduction strategies, origins of emissions have to be known. On the example of sugar beet, this study identifies the main sources and gives an overview of the variety of production systems. With data from farm surveys, calculations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in sugar beet cultivation in Germany are presented. Emissions due to the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, emissions due to tillage as well as field emissions were taken into account. All emissions related to the growing of catch crops during fall before the cultivation of sugar beet were also included. The emissions are related to the yield to express intensity.The median of total GHG emissions of sugar beet cultivation in Germany for the years 2010–2012 amounted to 2626 equivalents of CO₂ (CO₂eq) kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ when applying mineral plus organic fertilizer and to 1782 kg ha⁻¹ when only organic fertilizer was applied. The CO₂eq emissions resulting from N fertilization exclusively were 2.5 times higher than those caused by diesel and further production factors. The absence of emissions for the production of organic fertilizers led to 12% less total CO₂eq emissions compared to the use of mineral fertilizer only. But by applying organic fertilizer only, there were more emissions via the use of diesel due to larger volumes transported (126 l diesel ha⁻¹ vs. 116 l ha⁻¹ by applying mineral fertilizer exclusively).As there exists no official agreement about calculating CO₂eq emissions in crop production yet, the authors conclude that there is still need for further research and development with the aim to improve crop cultivation and crop rotations concerning GHG emissions and the therewith related intensity.     

The new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole succinic (DMPSA) as an alternative to DMPP for reducing N2O emissions from wheat crops under humid Mediterranean conditions

Nowadays agricultural practices are based in the use of N fertilizers which can lead to environmental N losses. These losses can occur as nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions as result of the microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification. N₂O together with carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) are the strongest greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with agricultural soils. Nitrification inhibitors (NI) have been developed with the aim of decreasing fertilizer-induced N losses and increasing N efficiency. One of the most popular NI is the 3,4-dimethylpyrazol phosphate (DMPP) which have proven to be an advisable strategy to mitigate GHG emissions while maintaining crops yield. A new NI, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole succinic (DMPSA), has been developed. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of the new nitrification inhibitor DMPSA on greenhouse gases emissions, wheat yield and grain protein with respect to DMPP. For this purpose a field-experiment was carried out for two years. Fertilizer dose, with and without NIs, was 180 kg N ha⁻¹ applied as ammonium sulphate (AS) split in two applications of 60 kg N ha⁻¹ and 120 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively. A single application of 180 kg N ha⁻¹ of AS with NIs was also made. An unfertilized treatment was also included. The new nitrification inhibitor DMPSA reduces N₂O emissions up to levels of the unfertilized control treatment maintaining the yield and its components. The DMPSA shows the same behavior as DMPP in relation to N₂O fluxes, as well as wheat yield and quality. In spite of applying a double dose of N at stem elongation than at tillering, N₂O losses from that period are lower than at tillering as a consequence of the influence of soil water content and temperature reducing the N₂O/N₂ ratio by denitrification. NI efficiency in reducing N₂O losses is determined by the magnitude of the losses from the AS treatment.     

Strategies to optimize nitrogen efficiency when fertilizing with pig slurries in dryland agricultural systems

In dryland agricultural systems, pig slurry (PS) is usually applied to cereal crops only at sowing, and slurries accumulate for the rest of the year in pits. In this context, a four-year experiment was established in order to evaluate the feasibility of PS applications at the barley or wheat tillering stage. The main treatments were PS either applied at sowing (25 Mg ha⁻¹) or not, but they alternated after a two-year period. Both were annually combined with eight side-dressing treatments at cereal tillering: mineral N as NH₄NO₃ (M; 60 or 120 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), PS from fattening pigs (PSf; 17, 30, 54 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), PS from sows (PSs; 25, 45, 81 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and a treatment without N. The combined fertilization treatments were 18 plus a control (no N applied). In the context of crop rotation, the biennial alternation of PS applied at sowing allowed the control of soil nitrate increments, while PS side-dressing improved N recovery compared with a unique application at sowing. The highest yields (>3.6 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) were obtained with an annual average (4-yr) N rate close to 173 kg N ha⁻¹ (±40 kg N ha⁻¹). The best overall strategies corresponded to PSs side-dressings of 50–90 kg N ha⁻¹. These PSs rates also recorded the highest values on the five calculated N-efficiency indexes, which were higher than or similar to results from M side-dressings or those recorded in the literature. These similarities (M vs. PSs) were also shown by the reduction of unaccounted-for N inside the overall N balance. Thus, split PS application during the crop cycle is a sound fertilization option in dryland systems.     

Response of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to nitrogen fertilization and soil water availability in semi-arid Mediterranean environment

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of soil water availability and nitrogen fertilization on yield, water use efficiency and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) over four-year field experiment.After the year of establishment, three levels for each factor were studied in the following three years: I₀ (irrigation only during the year of establishment), I₁ (50% ETm restitution) and I₂ (100% ETm restitution); N₀ (0 kg N ha⁻¹), N₁ (60 kg N ha⁻¹) and N₂ (120 kg N ha⁻¹).Irrigation and nitrogen effects resulted significant for stem height and leaf area index (LAI) before senescence, while no differences were observed for stem density and LAI at harvest.Aboveground biomass dry matter (DM) yield increased following the year of establishment in all irrigation and N fertilization treatments. It was always the highest in I₂N₂ (18.3, 28.8 and 28.9 t DM ha⁻¹ at second, third and fourth year growing season, respectively). The lowest values were observed in I₀N₀ (11.0, 13.4 and 12.9 t DM ha⁻¹, respectively).Water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly higher in the most stressed irrigation treatment (I₀), decreasing in the intermediate (I₁) and further in the highest irrigation treatment (I₂). N fertilization lead to greater values of WUE in all irrigation treatment.The effect of N fertilization on agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was significant only at the first and second growing season.Giant reed was able to uptake water at 160–180 cm soil depth when irrigation was applied, while up to 140–160 cm under water stress condition.Giant reed appeared to be particularly suited to semi-arid Mediterranean environments, showing high yields even in absence of agro-input supply.     

Nitrogen use efficiency and fertiliser fate in a long-term experiment with winter cover crops

The use of winter cover crops enhances environmental benefits and, if properly managed, may supply economic and agronomic advantages. Nitrogen retained in the cover crop biomass left over the soil reduces soil N availability, which might enhance the N fertiliser use efficiency of the subsequent cash crop and the risk of depressive yield and pre-emptive competition. The main goal of this study was to determine the cover crop effect on crop yield, N use efficiency and fertiliser recovery in a 2-year study included in a long-term (10 years) maize/cover crop production system. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.), as cover crops, were compared with a fallow treatment during the maize intercropping period. All treatments were cropped following the same procedure, including 130 kg N ha⁻¹ with ¹⁵N fertiliser. The N rate was reduced from the recommended N rate based on previous results, to enhance the cover crop effect. Crop yield and N uptake, soil N mineral and ¹⁵N fertiliser recovered in plants and the soil were determined at different times. The cover crops behaved differently: the barley covered the ground faster, while the vetch attained a larger coverage and N content before being killed. Maize yield and biomass were not affected by the treatments. Maize N uptake was larger after vetch than after barley, while fallow treatment provided intermediate results. This result can be ascribed to N mineralization of vetch residues, which results in an increased N use efficiency of maize. All treatments showed low soil N availability after the maize harvest; however, barley also reduced the N in the upper layers before maize planting, increasing the risk of pre-emptive competition. In addition to the year-long effect of residue decomposition, there was a cumulative effect on the soil’s capacity to supply N after 7 years of cover cropping, larger for the vetch than for the barley.     

Growth and yield of winter wheat in the first 3 years of a monoculture under varying N fertilization in NW Germany

Different preceding crops interact with almost all husbandry and have a major effect on crop yields. In order to quantify the yield response of winter wheat, a field trial with different preceding crop combinations (oilseed rape (OSR)–OSR–OSR–wheat–wheat–wheat), two sowing dates (mid/end of September, mid/end of October) and 16 mineral nitrogen (N) treatments (80–320 kg N ha⁻¹) during 1993/1994–1998/1999, was carried out at Hohenschulen Experimental Station near Kiel in NW Germany. Single plant biomass, tiller numbers m⁻², biomass m⁻², grain yield and yield components at harvest were investigated. During the growing season, the incidence of root rot (Gaeumannomyces graminis) was observed. Additionally, a bioassay with Lemna minor was used to identify the presence of allelochemicals in the soil after different preceding crops.Averaged over all years and all other treatments, wheat following OSR achieved nearly 9.5 t ha⁻¹, whereas the second wheat crop following wheat yielded about 0.9 t ha⁻¹ and the third wheat crop following 2 years of wheat about 1.9 t ha⁻¹ less compared with wheat after OSR. A delay of the sowing date only marginally decreased grain yield by 0.2 t ha⁻¹. Nitrogen fertilization increased grain yield after all preceding crop combinations, but at different levels. Wheat grown after OSR reached its maximum yield of 9.7 t ha⁻¹ with 210 kg N ha⁻¹. The third wheat crop required a N amount of 270 kg N ha⁻¹ to achieve its yield maximum of 8.0 t ha⁻¹.Yield losses were mainly caused by a lower ear density and a reduced thousand grain weight. About 4 weeks after plant establishment, single wheat plants following OSR accumulated more biomass compared to plants grown after wheat. Plants from the third wheat crop were smallest. This range of the preceding crop combinations was similar at all sampling dates throughout the growing season.Root rot occurred only at a low level and was excluded to cause the yield losses. The Lemna bioassay suggested the presence of allelochemicals, which might have been one reason for the poor single plant development in autumn.An increased N fertilization compensated for the lower number of ears m⁻² and partly reduced the yield losses due to the unfavorable preceding crop combination. However, it was not possible to completely compensate for the detrimental influences of an unfavorable preceding crop on the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop.