Translocation and recovery of 15N-labelled N derived from foliar uptake of 15NH3 by rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

Foliar uptake of ¹⁵NH₃ applied at two growth stages (tillering and anthesis) and the subsequent ¹⁵N-labelled vegetative-N distribution in different plant components at maturity was investigated in three rice cultivars, IR-6, NIAB-6 and Bas-385. Rice plants absorbed 22–30% and 18–24% of the ¹⁵NH₃ applied at tillering and anthesis stages, respectively. Of the total ¹⁵NH₃ absorbed at tillering stage, IR-6 and Bas-385 showed higher recovery (71%) in different plant components at maturity as compared to NIAB-6 (48% recovery). At maturity, percent recovery of the ¹⁵NH₃ absorbed at anthesis stage was almost comparable in different cultivars, but it was lower (46–55%) than that absorbed at the tillering stage. Recovery of the absorbed ¹⁵NH₃-N in the soil was negligible and ranged from 0.3–1%. At maturity, the cultivars IR-6 and Bas-385 showed a higher loss (45–53%) of ¹⁵NH₃ absorbed at anthesis than at the tillering stage (29% loss), whereas for NIAB-6, the corresponding figures were comparable for the two growth stages (tillering, 51% loss; anthesis, 49% loss). Results indicated a variable potential of the tested rice cultivars for foliar uptake of atmospheric ¹⁵NH₃ and distribution of ¹⁵N-labelled vegetative-N in different plant components.     

Response of flooded rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) to nitrogen application at two root-zone temperature regimes in a pot experiment

In a greenhouse experiment, the response of three cultivars of rice to N application was studied at two root-zone moisture regimes. The response was measured in terms of dry matter yield, uptake of N from applied fertilizer and soil organic matter, loss of fertilizer N, and interaction of applied N with the native soil N. Nitrogen was applied as ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulphate and two temperature regimes in the root-zone were established by digging one set of pots into the soil, while keeping the other set on the surface. This setup created and maintained a temperature difference of 5–7°C in the rhizosphere, temperature being lower in the buried pots throughout the growth period. The rice cultivars included a coarse-grain and high-yielding cultivar (IR-6) and two aromatic fine-grain cultivars (Bas-198 and Bas-Pak). IR-6 showed a negative response to higher root-zone temperature with resultant reduced efficiency of soil N and fertilizer N. The other two cultivars were relatively insensitive. The effect of temperature was more pronounced for N yield than dry matter accumulation. Loss of applied N occurred in all cases, but it was more pronounced in IR-6 at the higher temperature regime. Application of labelled fertilizer N led to an increase in the uptake of unlabelled N due to a real "added nitrogen interaction" which was attributed mainly to an increase in root biomass.     

Comparative effects of applying leguminous and non-leguminous green manures and inorganic N on biomass yield and nitrogen uptake in flooded rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

The beneficial role of green manures in rice production is generally ascribed to their potential of supplying plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N). However, the mechanisms through which green manures enhance the crop productivity are poorly understood. Pot experiments were conducted using a ¹⁵N-tracer technique: (1) to compare the biomass production potential of sesbania (Sesbania aculeata Pers.) and maize (Zea mays L.) as green manuring crops for lowland rice and (2) to compare the effect of the two types of green manure and inorganic N on the dry matter accumulation and N uptake by two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, viz. IR-6 and Bas-370. Although maize produced three times higher shoot biomass compared with sesbania, the latter showed higher N concentration; and thus the total N yield was similar in the two types of plants. Applying the shoot material of the two plants to flooded rice significantly enhanced the dry matter yield and N uptake by the two rice cultivars, the positive effects generally being more pronounced with sesbania than with maize amendment. The difference in the growth-promoting potential of the two plant residues was related more to an increased uptake of the native soil N rather than to their direct role as a source of plant-available N. A positive added nitrogen interaction (ANI) was observed due to both plant residues, the effect was much more pronounced with the application of sesbania than with maize residues. In both rice cultivars, inorganic N also caused a substantial ANI, particularly at higher application rate. Losses from the applied N were 2–3 times lower from sesbania, compared with maize treatment. Green manuring with sesbania also caused much lower N losses than the inorganic N applied at equivalent or higher rates. The overall benefit of green manuring to rice plants was higher than inorganic N applied at comparable rates. The two rice cultivars differed in their response to green manuring, IR-6 generally being more responsive than Bas-370.     

Availability of soil and fertilizer nitrogen to wetland rice following wheat straw amendment

Summary A pot experiment was conducted to study the availability of soil and fertilizer N to wetland rice as influenced by wheat straw amendment (organic amendment) and to establish the relative significance of the two sources in affecting crop yield. Straw was incorporated in soil at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% before transplanting rice. Inorganic N as ¹⁵N-ammonium sulphate was applied at 30, 60, and 90 g g^-1 soil either alone or together with wheat straw in different combinations. After harvesting the rice, the plant and soil samples were analyzed for total N and ¹⁵N. Straw incorporation significantly decreased the dry matter and N yield of rice, the decrease being greater with higher rates of straw. The reduction in crop yield following the straw incorporation was attributed mainly to a decrease in the uptake of soil N rather than fertilizer N. The harmful effects of organic matter amendment were mitigated by higher levels of mineral N addition. The uptake of applied N increased and its losses decreased due to the straw incorporation. Mineral N applied alone or together with organic amendment substantially increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N. The increase was attributed to a real added N interaction.     

Fate and interaction with native soil N of ammonium N applied to wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown under saline and non-saline conditions

Summary The effect of salts on the balance of fertilizer N applied as ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulphate and its interaction with native soil N was studied in a pot experiment using rice (Oryza sativa L.) as a test crop. The rice crop used 26%–40% of the applied N, the level of applied N and salts showing no significant bearing on the uptake of fertilizer N. Losses of fertilizer N ranged between 54% and 68% and only 5%–8% of the N was immobilized in soil organic matter. Neither the salts nor the rate of N application had any significant effect on fertilizer N immobilization. The effective use of fertilizer N (fertilizer N in grain/fertilizer N in whole plant) was, however, better in the non-saline soil. The uptake of unlabelled N (N mineralized from soil organic matter and that originating from biological N₂ fixation in thes rhizosphere) was inhibited in the presence of the salts. However, in fertilized soil, the uptake of unlabelled N was significantly enhanced, leading to increased A values [(1-% Ndff/% Ndff)x N fertilizer applied, where Ndff is N derived from fertilizer], an index of interaction with the added N. This added N interaction increased with increasing levels of added N. Since the extra unlabelled N taken up by fertilized plants was greater than the fertilizer N immobilized, and the root biomass increased with increasing levels of added N, a greater part of the added N interaction was considered to be real, any contribution by an apparent N interaction (pool substitution or isotopic displacement) to the total calculated N interaction being fairly small. Under saline conditions, for the same level of fertilizer N addition, the added N interaction was lower, and this was attributed to a lower level of microbial activity, including mineralization of native soil N, rootdriven immobilization of applied N, and N₂ fixation.     

Interaction of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate,urea and ammonium sulphate with soil N during growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

The effects of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate on yield and uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Mexi-Pak-65) were studied in a field experiment. The dry matter and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The wheat crop used 64.0–74.8%, 61.5–64.7% and 61.7–63.4% of the N from ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate, respectively. The fertilizer N uptake showed that ammonium nitrate was a more available source of N for wheat than urea and ammonium sulphate. The effective use of fertilizer N (ratio of fertilizer N in grain to fertilizer N in whole plant) was statistically similar for the three N fertilizers. The application of fertilizer N increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N by wheat, a result attributed to a positive added N interaction, which varied with the method of application of fertilizer N. Ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate gave 59.3%, 42.8% and 26.3% more added N interaction, respectively, when applied by the broadcast/worked-in method than with band placement. A highly significant correlation between soil N and grain yield, dry matter and added N interaction showed that soil N was more important than fertilizer N in wheat production. A values were not significantly correlated with added N interaction (r=0.719). The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution, whereby added labelled fertilizer N stood proxy for unlabelled soil N.     

Optimization of nitrogen fertilizer rate under integrated rice management in a hilly area of Southwest China

China has the world''s highest nitrogen (N) application rate, and the lowest N use efficiency (NUE). With the crop yield increasing, serious N pollution is also caused. An in-situ field experiment (2011-2015) was conducted to examine the effects of three N levels, 0 (i.e., no fertilizer N addition to soil), 120, and 180 kg N ha^-1, using integrated rice management (IRM). We investigated rice yield, aboveground N uptake, and soil surface N budget in a hilly region of Southwest China. Compared to traditional rice management (TRM), IRM integrated raised beds, plastic mulch, furrow irrigation, and triangular transplanting, which significantly improved rice grain yield, straw biomass, aboveground N uptake, and NUE. Integrated rice management significantly improved ¹⁵N recovery efficiency (by 10%) and significantly reduced the ratio of potential ¹⁵N loss (by 8%-12%). Among all treatments, the 120 kg N ha^-1 level under IRM achieved the highest ¹⁵N recovery efficiency (32%) and ¹⁵N residual efficiency (29%), with the lowest ¹⁵N loss ratio (39%). After rice harvest, the residual N fertilizer did not achieve a full replenishment of soil N consumption, as the replenishing effect was insufficient (ranging from -31 to -49 kg N ha^-1). Furthermore, soil surface N budget showed a surplus (69-146 kg N ha^-1) under all treatments, and the N surplus was lower under IRM than TRM. These results indicate IRM as a reliable and stable method for high rice yield and high NUE, while exerting a minor risk of N loss. In the hilly area of Southwest China, the optimized N fertilizer application rate under IRM was found to be 100-150 kg N ha^-1.     

太湖地区不同轮作模式下的稻田氮素平衡研究

采用田间微区15N示踪,研究了太湖地区稻田不同轮作模式(紫云英-水稻轮作、休闲-水稻轮作、小麦-水稻轮作)和施氮水平(0、120 kg·hm?2、240 kg·hm?2、300 kg·hm?2)下水稻对氮肥的吸收利用效率及土壤氮素残留特征。结果表明,水稻吸收的氮素来自肥料的比例为20.9%~49.6%,休闲-水稻轮作模式下水稻产量的获得更加依赖无机氮肥的大量投入。当季水稻对肥料氮的利用率为25.0%~41.5%,肥料氮的土壤残留率为13.4%~24.6%,其中90%以上的土壤残留肥料氮集中在0~20 cm土层,在土壤剖面中的残留率随土层深度增加而迅速降低,30~40 cm土层的肥料残留量仅占氮肥施用量的0.2%~0.7%。紫云英?水稻轮作和休闲?水稻轮作模式下氮肥利用率和土壤残留率均在施氮240 kg·hm?2时达到最大值,其氮肥利用率显著高于小麦?水稻轮作55.6%和66.0%。稻季施氮240 kg·hm?2时,小麦-水稻轮作模式下的氮肥利用率、土壤残留率以及总回收率显著最低,损失率显著最大;紫云英?水稻轮作模式下的氮肥损失率最小,分别小于休闲?水稻轮作和小麦-水稻轮作13.9%、39.2%。不同轮作模式下,水稻籽粒产量随施氮量的增加而增加,稻季施氮240 kg·hm?2时,紫云英?水稻轮作下水稻籽粒产量显著高于休闲?水稻轮作和小麦?水稻轮作,小麦?水稻轮作籽粒产量虽略高于休闲?水稻轮作,但没有达到显著水平。本研究认为,选择紫云英还田配施氮肥240 kg·hm?2,既可以保证水稻氮肥利用率而获得高产,又能减少氮肥损失而带来的环境风险,是一种值得在当地大力推广的耕作制度。     

Availability of soil and fertilizer nitrogen to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following rice-straw amendment

Summary A pot experiment was conducted to study the N availability to wheat and the loss of ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer N as affected by the rate of rice-straw applied. The availability of soil N was also studied. The straw was incorporated in the soil 2 or 4 weeks before a sowing of wheat and allowed to decompose at a moisture content of 60% or 200% of the water-holding capacity. The wheat plants were harvested at maturity and the roots, straw, and grains were analysed for total N and ¹⁵N. The soil was analysed for total N and ¹⁵N after the harvest to determine the recovery of fertilizer N in the soil-plant system and assess its loss. The dry matter and N yields of wheat were significantly retarded in the soil amended with rice straw. The availability of soil N to wheat was significantly reduced due to the straw application, particularly at high moisture levels during pre-incubation, and was assumed to cause a reduction in the dry matter and N yields of wheat. A significant correlation (r=0.89) was observed between the uptake of soil N and the dry matter yield of wheat with different treatments. In unamended soil 31.44% of the fertilizer N was taken up by the wheat plants while 41.08% of fertilizer N was lost. The plant recovery of fertilizer N from the amended soil averaged 30.78% and the losses averaged 45.55%     

连续翻压紫云英对福建单季稻产量与化肥氮素吸收、分配及残留的影响

【目的】紫云英翻压后在一定程度上可改善土壤理化性状,并提高后作水稻的产量,但是该机理是由于紫云英翻压矿化后提供的氮素还是由于与翻压紫云英后化肥氮素利用率的提高有关尚不清楚,因此,本项目通过连续4年紫云英翻压还田的定位试验与原状土柱模拟及15N示踪,研究了福建单季稻区紫云英压青回田对水稻产量与化肥15N吸收、 分配及残留的影响。【方法】采用单季稻田间定位试验,设5个处理: 1）对照,不翻压紫云英,不施化肥（CK）;2）不翻压紫云英,常规化肥施用量（100%H）;3）紫云英＋常规化肥用量（Z+100%H）;4）紫云英＋60%的常规化肥（Z+60%H）;5）只翻压紫云英,不施化肥（Z）。常规化肥用量（100%H）为施氮量N 135 kg/hm2,N∶P2O5∶K2O=1∶0.4∶0.7,每年紫云英翻压量为18000 kg/hm2。每个处理3次重复,小区面积15 m2,种植水稻为每小区2015丛。于定位试验的第4年,在田间定位试验小区中,采用15N-尿素（丰度10%）示踪法与原状土柱模拟水稻植株的氮素吸收及分配情况。PVC管直径25 cm,长35 cm,其中压入田面下20 cm,每小区埋两个土柱,每个土柱中种植两株水稻。【结果】紫云英年翻压18000 kg/hm2并结合施用100%化肥（Z+100%H）,水稻子粒4年平均产量比单施100%化肥（100%H）增产6.5%,同时在18000 kg/hm2 的紫云英翻压量下,主作物水稻化肥减量40%（Z+60%H）的产量与100%H的处理基本相当。Z+100%H处理对提高水稻分蘖期植株氮含量最为明显,尤其是茎叶氮含量较100%H提高7.0%,差异显著。虽然不同施肥处理水稻生育期的化肥氮素利用率无明显变化,但Z+100%H处理分蘖期与成熟期植株氮素吸收量分别较100%H提高23.0%与18.0%,说明绿肥与化肥配施有利于水稻植株吸收外源氮素,且植株吸收氮的差异主要来自于紫云英矿化的氮源。Z+60%H 与100%H处理的分蘖期与成熟期植株氮素吸收量则基本相当。不同施肥处理均有提高土壤全氮含量的趋势;Z+60%H 处理的耕层土壤化肥氮素的残留率最高,并显著高于Z+100%H处理。【结论】连续4年翻压紫云英明显提高了福建单季稻区黄泥田的农田生产力,在减少40%常规化肥用量的情况下仍可维持产量稳定。翻压绿肥减肥增效的主要机制之一是紫云英矿化的养分替代了化肥。     

Effects of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate and urea on soil nitrogen during growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

We studied the effects of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate and urea on the yield and uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Mexi-Pak-65) in a field experiment. The dry matter and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The wheat crop used 33.6–51.5 and 30.5–40.9% of the N from ammonium nitrate and urea, respectively. Splitting the fertilizer N application had a significant effect on the uptake of fertilizer N by the wheat. The fertilizer N uptake showed that ammonium nitrate was a more available source of N for wheat than urea. The effective use of fertilizer N (ratio of fertilizer N in grain to fertilizer N in whole plant) was statistically similar for the two N fertilizers. The application of fertilizer N increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N by wheat, a result attributed to a positive added N interaction, which varied according to the fertilizer N split; six split applications gave the highest added N interaction compared to a single application or two split applications for both fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate gave 90.5, 33.5, and 48.5% more added N interaction than urea with one, two, and six split N applications. A values were not significantly correlated with the added N interaction (r=0.557). The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution, whereby added labelled fertilizer N replaced unlabelled soil N.     

Influence of Unflooded Mulching Cultivation on Nitrogen Uptake and Utilization of Fertilizer Nitrogen by Rice

Abstract

Through unflooded mulching in field plots and ¹⁵nitrogen microplot tracer experiments, nitrogen (N) uptake of rice and N utilization have been studied compared with normal irrigation cultivation. The results showed that N uptake of unflooded rice and N derived from fertilizer (NDFF) of root, stem, and grain under mulching cultivation were lower than that under cultivation without mulching. However, the NDFF of rice under unflooded cultivation was higher than that under normal irrigation cultivation. The N utilization has been greatly enhanced under unflooded cultivation without mulching and unflooded plastic film cultivation with mulching as compared with normal irrigation. At the same time, there was no significant difference on the N uptake of unflooded rice among different ways of mulching cultivations. During the growth period of rice, no prominent differences were found in the soil residue, recovery, and N losses of fertilizer except the N uptake of rice between unflooded mulching and normal irrigation. The yield of rice under film mulching and straw mulching cultivation was higher than that of cultivation without mulching in the condition of unflooded cultivation, whereas the yield of rice under irrigation cultivation was higher than that under unflooded cultivation.     

The fate of markerAzospirillum lipoferum inoculated into rice and its effect on growth,yield and N2 fixation of plants studied by acetylene reduction,15N2 feeding and15N dilution techniques

Summary A spontaneous mutant ofAzospirillum lipoferum, resistant to streptomycin and rifampicin, was inoculated into the soil immediately before and 10 days after transplanting of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Two rice varieties with high and low nitrogen-fixing supporting traits, Hua-chou-chi-mo-mor (Hua) and OS4, were used for the plant bacterial interaction study. The effect of inoculation on growth and grain and dry matter yields was evaluated in relation to nitrogen fixation, by in situ acetylene reduction assay,¹⁵N₂ feeding and¹⁵N dilution techniques. A survey of the population of marker bacteria at maximum tillering, booting and heading revealed poor effectivety. The population of nativeAzospirillum followed no definite pattern. Acetylene-reducing activity (ARA) did not differ due to inoculation at two early stages but decreased in the inoculated plants at heading. In contrast, inoculation increased tiller number, plant height of Hua and early reproductive growth of both varieties. Grain yield of both varieties significantly increased along with the dry matter. Total N also increased in inoculated plants, which was less compared with dry matter increase.¹⁵N₂ feeding of OS4 at heading showed more¹⁵N₂ incorporation in the control than in the inoculated plants. The ARA,¹⁵N and N balance studies did not provide clear evidence that the promotion of growth and nitrogen uptake was due to higher N₂ fixation.     

Evolution of dinitrogen and nitrous oxide from the soil to the atmosphere through rice plants

Summary It is commonly assumed that a large fraction of fertilizer N applied to a rice (Oryza sativa L.) field is lost from the soil-water-plant system as a result of denitrification. Direct evidence to support this view, however, is limited. The few direct field, denitrification gas measurements that have been made indicate less N loss than that determined by ¹⁵N balance after the growing season. One explanation for this discrepancy is that the N₂ produced during denitrification in a flooded soil remains trapped in the soil system and does not evolve to the atmosphere until the soil dries or is otherwise disturbed. It seems likely, however, that N₂ produced in the soil uses the rice plants as a conduit to the atmosphere, as does methane. Methane evolution from a rice field has been demonstrated to occur almost exclusively through the rice plants themselves. A field study in Cuttack, India, and a greenhouse study in Fort Collins, Colorado, were conducted to determine the influence of rice plants on the transport of N₂ and N₂O from the soil to the atmosphere. In these studies, plots were fertilized with 75 or 99 atom % ¹⁵N-urea and ¹⁵N techniques were used to monitor the daily evolution of N₂ and N₂O. At weekly intervals the amount of N₂+N₂O trapped in the flooded soil and the total-N and fertilized-N content of the soil and plants were measured in the greenhouse plots. Direct measurement of N₂+N₂O emission from field and greenhouse plots indicated that the young rice plant facilitates the efflux of N₂ and N₂O from the soil to the atmosphere. Little N gas was trapped in the rice-planted soils while large quantities were trapped in the unplanted soils. N losses due to denitrification accounted for only up to 10% of the loss of added N in planted soils in the field or greenhouse. The major losses of fertilizer N from both the field and greenhouse soils appear to have been the result of NH₃ volatilization.     

Dynamics of 15N-labeled ammonium sulfate in various inorganic and organic soil fractions of wetland rice soils

Summary The dynamics of basally applied ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium sulfate in inorganic and organic soil fractions of five wetland rice soils of the Philippines was studied in a greenhouse experiment. Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for ¹⁵N at various growth stages. Exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ depletion continued after 40 days after transplanting (DAT) and corresponded with increased nitrogen uptake by rice plants. Part of the applied fertilizer was fixed by 2:1 clay minerals, especially in Maligaya silty clay loam, which contained beidellite as the dominant clay mineral. After the initial fixation, nonexchangeable ¹⁵N was released from 20 DAT in Maligaya silty clay loam, but fixation delayed fertilizer N uptake from the soil. Part of the applied N was immobilized into the organic fraction. In Guadalupe clay and Maligaya silty clay loam, immobilization increased with time while the three other soils showed significant release of fertilizer N from the organic fraction during crop growth. Most of the immobilized fertilizer N was recovered in the nondistillable acid soluble (alpha-amino acid + hydrolyzable unknown-N) fraction at crop maturity. Between 61% and 66% of applied N was recovered from the plant in four soils while 52% of fertilizer N was recovered from the plant in Maligaya silty loam. Only 20% – 30% of the total N uptake at maturity was derived from fertilizer N. Nmin (mineral N) content of the soil before transplanting significantly correlated with N uptake. Twenty-two to 34% of applied N was unaccounted for possibly due to denitrification and ammonia volatilization.     

Effect of long-term fertilization on 15N uptake and retention in soil

We did a pot experiment with three different fertilized soils (no fertilizer (No-F), inorganic fertilizer nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), manure plus inorganic fertilizer (MNPK)) from a 19-year fertilizer trial. Three N treatments, (1) no N, (2) 100 mg/kg urea-¹⁵N (N), (3) 50 mg/kg urea-¹⁵N + 50 mg/kg corn straw-N (1/2N + 1/2S), were applied to each soil. The residual soil from the same treatments was used to grow second wheat crop. The MNPK soil had significantly higher nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in the first growing season, and lower N loss than the NPK, and No-F soils. The 1/2N + 1/2S treatment decreased NUE on each soil, even though the MNPK soil still had highest NUE and lowest N loss. The residual ¹⁵N use efficiency (RNUE) in 1/2N + 1/2S treatment of MNPK soil was higher than NPK and No-F soils. We concluded that long-term application of manure plus inorganic fertilizer increased NUE and decreased N loss.     

Fate of Azolla spp. and urea nitrogen applied to wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Using ¹⁵N, the fate of N applied to wetland rice either as Azolla or urea was studied in a field at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In bigger plots nearby, yield response and N uptake were also determined with unlabelled N sources. Azolla microphylla was labelled by repeated application of labelled ammonium sulfate. Labelled and unlabelled N were used alternately in applications of Azolla or urea 0 and 42 days after transplanting, in order to determine the effect of the time of application on the availability of Azolla N. The quantities of Azolla N incorporated were 23% more than those of urea N (30 kg N ha^–1) in the isotope plots or 7% less in the yield response plots. Grain yield and total N uptake by the rice plants in the yield-response plots were higher in the urea-treated plots than in the Azolla-treated plots, but the physiological effect of Azolla N (grain yield response/increase in N uptake) was higher than that of rea. The labelled N balance was studied after the first and second crops of rice. Losses of labelled N after the first crop were higher from urea (30%–32%) than from Azolla (0%–11 %). Losses in N applied as a side dressing 42 days after transplanting were less than those of N applied basally. No further losses of ¹⁵N occurred after the first crop. The recovery of Azolla ¹⁵N in the first crop of rice was 39% from the basal application and 63% from the side dressing. The recovery of urea ¹⁵N was 27% from the basal application and 48% from the side dressing. Recoveries of residual N from both Azolla and urea during the second rice crop were similar. Laboratory incubation of the Azolla used and the changes in labelled exchangeable N in the soil showed that at least 65% of Azolla N (4.7% N content) was mineralized within 10 days.     

Priming effects of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate on uptake of soil N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

Summary The uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat was measured in a field experiment using ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The dry matter yield and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The uptake of applied N by wheat ranged between 25 and 34%. Fertilizer N application increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N which was attributed to a positive priming effect or added N interaction. The added N interaction observed by applying 20, 60, and 120 kg fertilizer N was 11.4, 19.1, and 27.9 kg, corresponding to 26, 44 and 64%, respectively of the N taken up from unfertilized soil. The A values did not alter with the increase in fertilizer N application. The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution whereby added labelled fertilizer N stood proxy for unlabelled soil N. A significant correlation coefficient (r=0.996^**) between the uptake of soil N and the dry matter yield showed that soil N was more important than fertilizer N in wheat production.     

The effect of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 and Azotobacter chroococcum on nitrogen balance in soil under cropping with oats (Avena sativa L.)

Summary Pot experiments with oats were carried out to study the effect of Azospirillum brasilense Sp 7 and Azotobacter chroococcum 94K on the yield of plants, the N content of soil and the ¹⁴N balance. The plants were grown on gray forest soil under irrigation with deionized water and application of ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer at a rate of 4 mg N 100 g^-1 soil. Inoculation of plants with Azospirillum spp. and Azotobacter spp. failed to increase the plant yield. However, the increase in total N in the soil at the end of the experiment and the positive ¹⁴N balance in the soil-plant system due to increased nitrogenase activity in the rhizosphere were statistically significant. The amount of N accumulated in the soil was comparable with the rate of N applied as fertilizer.     

Green manure application improves rice growth and urea nitrogen use efficiency assessed using 15N labeling

ABSTRACT

Green manure is an efficient nitrogen (N) source when used as an alternative to chemical fertilizer. However, the N taken up by rice derived from green manure, chemical fertilizers or soil native N in complex nutrient systems is unclear. A pot experiment with partial substitution of urea with Chinese milk vetch (a green manure) implemented with ¹⁵N-labeled urea and Chinese milk vetch was set up to study the sources of N in rice and the fate of the fertilizers. The dry weights, N contents, N uptake, and urea N use efficiency were notably higher (by 15–16%, 4–13%, 22–30% and 182%-203%, respectively) in the Chinese milk vetch applied with urea treatment than in the urea alone treatment. The uptake of N from Chinese milk vetch and the use efficiency of Chinese milk vetch N were increased with reductions in the urea input amount. The application of Chinese milk vetch substantially changed the fate of urea: higher amounts of urea N were taken up by rice (approximately 29%) and remained as residue in the soil (approximately 15%) in the related treatments than in the treatment with urea alone (10% and 9%). More urea N than Chinese milk vetch N was taken up by rice (29% vs 20%, respectively) and lost (56% vs 14%, respectively), but less urea N than Chinese milk vetch N remained as residue in the soil (15% vs 66%, respectively). The partial substitution of chemical fertilizer with green manure is an effective method of promoting rice growth by supplying N for rice uptake and promoting more efficient N use.