Cotton growth and the fate of N fertilizer as affected by saline water irrigation and N fertigation in a drip-irrigated field

The objective of this two-year field experiment was to study the effects of irrigation amount, N rate, and irrigation water salinity on cotton growth and the fate of N fertilizer. The movement of N through the plant-soil system was traced using ¹⁵N-labeled urea. The study consisted of twelve treatments, including two irrigation amounts (405 and 540?mm, I405 and I540, respectively); two N application rates (240 and 360?kg?N/ha, N240 and N360, respectively); and three irrigation water salinity levels [0.35, 4.61 and 8.04?dS/m, representing fresh water (FW), brackish water (BW), and saline water (SW), respectively]. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications. The results showed that cotton biomass, N uptake, and yield increased as irrigation amount and N amount increased; however, all three variables were significantly less in SW than in FW and BW. Plant ¹⁵N recovery rates were greater (i) in the I540 treatments than in the I405 treatments and (ii) in the N360 treatments than in the N240 treatments. Plant ¹⁵N recovery rates in BW were 7.98% and 30.01% greater than those in FW and SW, respectively. Residual soil ¹⁵N increased as N fertilizer amount increased but declined as irrigation amount increased. Residual soil ¹⁵N in BW and SW was 6.02% and 21.44% greater, respectively, than in FW. Total ¹⁵N recovery was significant greater in BW than in FW and SW. The ¹⁵N leaching losses increased significantly with increases in irrigation amount, irrigation water salinity, and N rate. Our study suggests that if appropriate amounts of irrigation water and N fertilizer are used, then brackish irrigation water (4.61?dS/m) will not affect cotton growth, yield and N recovery. In contrast, saline irrigation water (EC?>?8?dS/m) reduces cotton growth, yield, and N use efficiency.     

A 15N tracing technique-based analysis of the fate of fertilizer N: a 4-year case study in eastern China

The fate of fertilizer N applied with different irrigation amounts in tobacco fields was quantitatively studied by applying ¹⁵N double-labelled NH₄NO₃ in lysimeters. The ¹⁵N (fertilizer N originating from the fertilizer applied in 2011) in tobacco plants, ¹⁵N in soils and ¹⁵N loss were observed continuously from 2011 to 2014. The results showed that 21.6% of ¹⁵N was utilized by tobacco plants, 72.1% remained in the 0–60 cm soil layer and 6.3% was lost from the soil–plant system after the first season’s harvest (2011) of flue-cured tobacco. During the four seasons from 2011 to 2014, cumulative utilization of ¹⁵N by tobacco plants was 34.3%, while 54.2% remained in the 0–60 cm soil layer, and 11.5% was lost via mechanisms such as leaching and volatilization. The fate of ¹⁵N in terms of accumulation in plants and soils or losses from the soil–plant system from 2012 to 2014 was greatly affected by the fertilizer and irrigation management strategies in 2011. The results of this investigation suggest that the major amount of fertilizer N applied during the first season remains available in the soil for utilization by tobacco plants after 4 years.     

利用15N揭示滴灌区盐旱胁迫对土壤氮素分布与棉花生长的影响

为了探究盐旱胁迫对土壤中氮素分布和棉花生长的影响,通过测坑试验研究滴灌区不同盐分、干旱条件下土壤全氮、硝氮、氨氮的分布和棉花生长情况。试验设置3种盐分梯度的土壤（电导率,EC）：3,6,9 dS/m,分别用T1、T2、T3表示;3个灌水量：2 700,3 600,4 500 m³/hm²,分别用W1、W2、W3表示（4 500 m³/hm²为当地推荐灌水量）。结果表明：当土壤盐分梯度> 3 dS/m时土壤全氮累积量显著高于低盐土壤（P<0.05）,且土壤盐分对棉花花期生长影响较大。土壤的氨氮挥发量和土壤盐分梯度成正比。土壤硝态氮的淋失与灌水量呈正比,与正常灌水量的硝态氮淋失相比,水分胁迫对棉花产量的影响更为严重（P<0.01）。随土层深度的增加,土壤碱解氮以每20 cm土层8%的速度减少。各处理土壤¹⁵N残留率为11%~40%,随土壤盐度增加而增加,随灌水量增加而减少,与土壤全氮含量呈正比,与棉花产量呈反比。综上所述,T1W3处理更有利于棉花对氮肥的利用和产量的提高,推荐滴灌区棉花土壤盐度<3 dS/m,灌水量4 500 m³/hm²,可在花期适当提高施肥量以稳定产量。     

NATURAL ABUNDANCES OF 15NITROGEN AND 13CARBON INDICATIVE OF GROWTH AND N2 FIXATION IN POTASSIUM FED LENTIL GROWN UNDER WATER STRESS

Dual natural abundance analysis of ¹⁵Nitrogen (N) and ¹³Carbon (C) isotopes in lentil plants subjected to different soil moisture levels and rates of potassium (K) fertilizer were determined to assess crop performance variability in terms of growth and N₂-fixation (Ndfa). The δ¹⁵N values in lentils ranged from +0.67 to +1.36‰; whereas, those of the N₂-fixed and reference plant were ?0.45 and +2.94‰, respectively. Consequently, the Ndfa% ranged from 45 and 65% of total plant N uptake. Water stress reduced Δ¹³C values. However, K fertilization enhanced whole plant Δ¹³C along with dry matter yield and N₂-fixation. The water stressed plants amended with K fertilizer seemed to be the best treatment because of its highest pod yield, high N balance, and N₂-fixation with low consumption of irrigation water. This illustrates the ecological and economical importance of K fertilizer in alleviating water stress occurring during the post-flowering period of lentil.     

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.     

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.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A SOIL N TEST FOR FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEAT

Optimal fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates result in economic yield levels and reduced pollution. A soil test for determining optimal fertilizer N rates for wheat has not been developed for Quebec, Canada, or many other parts of the world. Therefore, the objectives were to determine: 1) the relationship among soil nitrate (NO^? ₃)- N, soil ammonium (NH ⁺ ₄)- N and N fertilizer on wheat yields; and 2) the soil sampling times and depths most highly correlated with yield response to soil NO^? ₃-N and NH ⁺ ₄-N. In a three year research work, wet and dried soil samples of 0- to 30- and 30- to 60-cm depths from 20 wheat fields that received four rates of N fertilizer at seeding and postseeding (plants 15 cm tall) were analyzed for NH ⁺ ₄-N and NO^? ₃ -N using a quick-test (N-Trak) and a standard laboratory method. Wheat yield response to N fertilizer was limited, but strong to soil NO^? ₃-N.     

Excessive nitrogen application decreases grain yield and increases nitrogen loss in a wheat–soil system

Abstract

Excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in wheat fields has led to elevated NO₃-N concentrations in groundwater and reduced N use efficiency. Three-year field and ¹⁵N tracing experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of N application rates on N uptake from basal and topdressing ¹⁵N, N use efficiency, and grain yield in winter wheat plants; and determine the dynamics of N derived from both basal and topdressing ¹⁵N in soil in high-yielding fields. The results showed that 69.5–84.5% of N accumulated in wheat plants derived from soil, while 6.0–12.5%and 9.2–18.1% derived from basal ¹⁵N and top ¹⁵N fertilizer, respectively. The basal N fertilizer recovery averaged 33.9% in plants, residual averaged 59.2% in 0–200 cm depth soil; the topdressing N fertilizer recovery averaged 50.5% in plants, residual averaged 48.2% in 0–200 cm soil. More top ¹⁵N was accumulated in plants and more remained in 0–100 cm soil rather than in 100–200 cm soil at maturity, compared with the basal ¹⁵N. However, during the period from pre-sowing to pre-wintering, the soil nitrate moved down to deeper layers, and most accumulated in the layers below 140 cm. With an increase of N fertilizer rate, the proportion of the N derived from soil in plants decreased, but that derived from basal and topdressing fertilizer increased; the proportion of basal and top ¹⁵N recovery in plants decreased, and that of residual in soil increased. A moderate application rate of 96–168 kg N ha^?1 led to increases in nitrate content in 0–60 cm soil layer, N uptake amount, grain yield and apparent recovery fraction of applied fertilizer N in wheat. Applying above 240 kg N ha^?1 promoted the downward movement of basal and top ¹⁵N and soil nitrate, but had no significant effect on N uptake amount; the excessive N application also obviously decreased the grain yield, N uptake efficiency, apparent recovery fraction of applied fertilizer N, physiological efficiency and internal N use efficiency. It is suggested that the appropriate application rate of nitrogen on a high-yielding wheat field was 96–168 kg N ha^?1.     

15N标记的包膜尿素在华北平原渗滤系统中的回收和淋失

The effectiveness of polyolefin-coated urea (Meister-5 and Meister-10; CU) in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system was studied in lysimeter plots located in the North China Plain for three consecutive maize- wheat-maize cropping seasons. An isotopic method was used to compare the fate of CU to that of non-coated urea (NCU), and N application rates of 0, 100, 150 and 225 kg N ha-1 were evaluated. The results showed that the nitrogen use effciency (15NUE) of CU was 13.3%–21.4% greater than that of NCU for the first crop. Alternatively, when the difference method was applied (apparent NUE), no significant variations were observed among treatments in all three seasons. Although inorganic N leached from the 1.3 m layer was less than 1% of the total applied N, unidentified losses of 15N (losses of 15N = 15N applied as fertilizer – 15N absorbed by crops – 15N remaining in the 0–0.2 m layer – 15N leached from the 1.3 m layer) in CU-treated plots were 24.2%–26.5% lower than those of NCU-treated plots. The nitrate concentration in the 0–1.3 m layer of CU plots at the end of the experiment was 53% lower than that of NCU-treated plots. Thus, CU increased crop N uptake from fertilizer and reduced unidentified losses of applied N, which can reduce the risk of groundwater pollution.     

灌溉施用废水和蚯蚓类肥料对土壤生物化学以及农学特性的影响

To study how wastewater（WW） and different organic sources（humic substances or vermicompost） affected soil chemical and biochemical fertility and agronomic productivity in field-grown melon, an experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted with the following treatments： three different mixtures of irrigation water（100% WW, 50% WW with 50% groundwater, and 100% groundwater） and, for each WW treatment, four different organic fertilization treatments of control without organic matter application（CK）, vermicompost used as surface mulch（SM）, vermicompost incorporated into the soil（VC）,and humic substances extracted by vermicompost（HS）. Chemical and biochemical results indicated an improvement in soil fertility,suggested by the increase in soil organic carbon and nutrient（nitrate and macro- and microelements） contents and in soil microbial activities（hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes）, in particular in the VC treatments. In addition, even soil potential metabolism was stimulated by WW combined with organic treatments, as highlighted by the increase in the metabolic（dehydrogenase activity/watersoluble carbon） and nitrification indices（NO-3and NH＋4）. Melon productivity confirmed these results, with the highest yield and melon quality in the VC treatments irrigated with 100% WW. In conclusion, the combined use of WW and organic amendment,recovering both mineral and organic nutrients from these kinds of recycled materials, was effective in the improvement of soil quality and crop productivity.     

Fate of 15N after combined application of rabbit manure and inorganic N fertilizers in a rice–wheat rotation system

The present study was carried out on pot experiments with rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Wuyujing 7) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yangmai 6) rotation in a sandy and a clayey soil fertilized with ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium sulfate (AS) and ¹⁵N-labeled rabbit feces so as to study the mechanisms of reduction of fertilizer N loss by organic fertilizers. The treatments included: (1) control without any N fertilizer application; (2) fertilization with ¹⁵N-labeled AS (IF); (3) fertilization with labeled rabbit feces (OF); (4) fertilization with either 40% ¹⁵N-labeled rabbit feces and 60% unlabeled AS (IOF1) or (5) 40% unlabeled rabbit feces and 60% ¹⁵N-labeled AS (IOF2). In the rice season, the IOF treatments compared to the IF treatment decreased the percentage of lost fertilizer N from the sandy and clayey soils, whereas it increased the percentage of fertilizer N, present as mineral N and microbial biomass N (MBN). During the second season, when soils were cropped to winter wheat, the IOF treatments in comparison with the IF or OF treatment increased mineral N and MBN contents of soils sampled at tillering, jointing, and heading stages, and such increases were derived from the organic N fertilizer in the sandy soil and from the inorganic N fertilizer in the clayey soil. The increased MBN in the IOF treatments was derived from inorganic fertilizers applied both soils. Therefore, in the IOF treatment, during the rice season, the organic N increased the immobilization of inorganic N in MBN, while the inorganic N fertilizer applied to both soils stimulated the uptake of organic N and the organic N fertilizer increased the uptake of inorganic N by winter wheat; the inorganic N increased the recovery of organic N in the plant-soil system after harvesting the winter wheat.     

分根区交替灌溉和氮形态影响土壤硝态氮的迁移利用

采用模拟土柱利用15N标记于土层10~20 cm、40~50 cm的方法,并设置不同形态氮肥供应(铵态氮、硝态氮)、灌溉方式(常规灌溉CI、分根区交替灌溉APRI),研究APRI下土壤中不同层次硝态氮的去向以及不同形态氮肥的影响。结果发现,APRI节水34.31%而不显著影响产量(P0.05)。随着15N标记层次下降,番茄植株对15N吸收利用率以及番茄收获后15N在1 m土层内的残留量显著下降,损失率显著增加。CI对10~20 cm土层的15N淋洗作用强于40~50 cm土层,APRI对10~20 cm的15N淋洗作用相对CI减弱,而促进了40~50 cm土层中61.3%的15N向上层土壤迁移。APRI下15N的损失率显著降低,利用率没有大幅度下降。相对于铵态氮肥料,硝态氮供应由于促进了植株生长及对15N的吸收,造成番茄收获后1m土层内15N累积量减少,而损失率与相应铵态氮供应的处理没有显著差异。因此分根区交替灌溉能够减少土壤中硝态氮的淋洗,并能够促进下层土壤硝态氮向上迁移,减少损失,增加植物吸收利用的机会;不同形态氮肥通过影响植物生长而影响土壤中硝态氮的去向。     

华北平原玉米种植中施入氮肥的去向研究

为了定量研究玉米氮肥利用特性以及肥料氮的去向,设计了~(15) N标记微区控制试验,设置3个施氮水平:不施氮肥(对照)、低氮处理(120kg N/hm~2)和高氮处理(240kg N/hm~2)。结果表明:土壤中残留~(15) N量随施氮量增加而显著增加(P0.05)。在空间分布上,总体呈现出随土壤深度先下降后上升的趋势,高氮处理和低氮处理~(15) N累积量均以40—60cm和60—80cm土层最多,这两层残留~(15) N总量分别占总投入量的37.55%和18.99%。与对照相比,施氮处理均显著提高了玉米地上、地下生物量和籽粒产量以及各部分吸氮量。虽然高氮处理较低氮处理施氮量增加了1倍,但籽粒产量仅增加0.14倍。氮肥农学效率与氮肥表观利用率随着施氮量增加而显著降低。高氮处理和低氮处理中玉米对~(15) N标记氮肥的利用率分别为28.86%和31.15%,土壤氮残留率分别为50.42%和36.52%,当季进入地下水的比率分别为4.27%和0.68%,其他损失率分别为16.45%和32.33%。研究结果表明,施氮量为120kg/hm~2可有效增加玉米产量,同时提高氮肥利用率,减少土壤氮累积,减小氮肥施用产生的环境污染风险。     

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。     

日光温室番茄灌水量与根层硝态氮淋溶特征及渗漏关系研究

针对蔬菜灌溉水肥渗漏问题,采用田间试验和室内分析相结合,研究了番茄膜下沟灌灌水量与土壤硝态氮的根层外渗漏关系,分析了灌水量与不同根层土壤硝态氮的淋溶和保蓄特征,结果表明:灌溉不施肥条件下灌水量与土壤硝态氮淋溶量和淋溶率、灌溉施肥条件下灌水量与土壤施入硝态氮的保蓄率和渗漏率均呈直线关系;灌溉均会引起浅根层(0—20 cm)硝态氮淋溶,灌溉施肥条件下7.5～15 mm灌水量范围硝态氮积累有一个峰值,而22.5～45 mm范围则有两个峰值;灌水量在7.5～15mm之间,灌溉不施肥条件下根层土壤硝态氮淋溶率为0,灌溉施肥条件下土壤硝态氮渗漏率为0～5.19%;灌水量在22.5～45 mm之间,灌溉不施肥土壤硝态氮淋溶率为5.38%～19.08%,灌溉施肥条件下根层土壤硝态氮渗漏率为21.91%～61.96%。日光温室番茄膜下沟灌能减少肥料淋溶与渗漏的节水灌水量为15 mm。     

灌溉量与减氮配施有机肥模式对温室黄瓜及土壤的影响

为探究设施农业中不同灌溉量与施肥模式对土壤理化特性、作物产量、品质、水分利用效率（water use efficiency,WUE）及氮肥偏生产力（nitrogen partial productivity,NPP）的影响。该研究通过对温室黄瓜设置充分（W1）与亏缺（W2）灌溉下不同比例减氮（N1：275 kg/hm²、N2：220 kg/hm²、N3：165 kg/hm²）配施腐熟羊粪有机肥（O1：12 t/hm²、O2：8 t/hm²）处理试验,分析充分与亏缺灌溉下不同减氮配施有机肥处理对土壤理化特性、黄瓜品质、产量、WUE及NPP的影响。结果表明,在相同灌溉条件下,减施氮肥和配施有机肥均能有效改善土壤结构,O1N3处理较其他处理土壤容重平均降低5.8%,孔隙度平均增加7.7%,三相组成优化,大粒径水稳性团聚体含量平均提高25.4%,0～30 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量平均降低21.8%。同时,配施有机肥能提高温室黄瓜WUE和NPP,在相同灌溉和氮肥条件下,O1较O2水平黄瓜WUE和NPP分别平均提高14.5%和15.7%。综合对比分析不同指标得出W1O2N2处理表现最佳,黄瓜可溶性葡萄糖、可溶性固形物、维生素C（VC）含量及产量较W1O1N1处理无显著差异（P>0.05）,同时能有效改善土壤环境,减少肥料用量,保证生产经济效益。研究结果对于设施农业科学水肥管理及绿色高效生产具有重要的参考意义。     

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.     

Residue Decomposition and Fate of Nitrogen‐15 in a Wheat Crop under Different Previous Crops and Tillage Systems

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) management may be improved by a thorough understanding of the nutrient dynamics during previous‐crop residue decomposition and its impact on fertilizer N fate in the soil–plant system. An experiment was conducted in the Argentine Pampas to evaluate the effect of maize and soybean as previouscrops and plow‐till and no‐till methods on N dynamics and ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer uptake during a wheat growing season. Maize and soybean residues released N under both tillage treatments, but N release was faster from soybean residues and when residues were buried by tillage. Net immobilization of N on decomposing residues was not detected. A regression model that accounted for 92% of remaining N variability included time, previous crop, and tillage treatment as independent variables. The rapid residue decomposition with N release was attributed to the high temperatures of the agroecosystem. The recovery of ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer in the wheat crop, soil organic matter, and decomposing residues was not statistically different between previous crop treatments or tillage systems. Crop uptake of fertilizer N averaged 52% across treatments. Forty percent of fertilizer N was removed in grains. Immobilization of labeled N on soil organic matter was substantial, averaging 34% of the ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer retained, but was very small on decomposing residues, averaging 0.2–3.0%. Fertilizer N not accounted for at harvest in the soil–plant system was 12% and was ascribed to losses. Previous crop or tillage system had no impact on wheat yield, but when soybean was the previous crop, N content of grain and straw+roots increased. Discussion is presented on the potential availability of N retained in wheat straw, roots, and soil organic matter for future crops.     

添加生物炭对酸性红壤中玉米生长和氮素利用率的影响

Biochar added to soil can improve crop growth through both direct and indirect effects, particularly in acidic, highly weathered soils in subtropical and tropical regions. However, the mechanisms of biochar improving crop growth are not well understood. The objectives of this study were i） to determine the crop responses to biochar addition and ii） to understand the effect of biochar addition on N use efficiency. Seven acidic red soils varying in texture, p H, and soil nutrient were taken from southern China and subjected to four treatments： zero biochar and fertilizer as a control（CK）, 10 g kg-1biochar（BC）, NPK fertilizers（NPK）, and 10 g kg-1biochar plus NPK fertilizers（BC＋NPK）.15N-labeled fertilizer was used as a tracer to assess N use efficiency. After a 46-d pot experiment,biochar addition increased soil p H and available P, and decreased soil exchangable Al3＋, but did not impact soil availabe N and cation exchange capacity（P 〉 0.05）. The N use efficiency and N retained in the soil were not significantly affected by biochar application except for the soil with the lowest available P（3.81 mg kg-1） and highest exchanageable Al3＋（4.54 cmol kg-1）. Greater maize biomass was observed in all soils amended with biochar compared to soils without biochar（BC vs. CK, BC＋NPK vs. NPK）. This agronomic effect was negatively related to the concentration of soil exchangeable Al3＋（P 〈 0.1）. The results of this study implied that the liming effect of biochar improved plant growth through alleviating Al toxicity and P deficiency, especially in poor acidic red soils.     

Comparison of two chemical methods for extracting residual N fertilizer

Summary Considerable effort has been spent in developing chemical indices to predict N mineralization. However, in spite of numerous studies, the relationship between the index value and plant N uptake has not been as apparent as hoped, and therefore, additional work is required to evaluate the ability of promising new indices to predict the extraction of mineralizable N from soil. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of phosphate borate and hot KCl to extract immobilized ¹⁵N-labeled fertilizer, applied 1 and 2 years previously. Soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected on 12 June 1989 from field soil fertilized in either 1987 or 1988 with ¹⁵N-labeled urea. In the laboratory, net N mineralization over 51 days and the amount of N extracted by the phosphate borate and hot KCl methods were determined. In the field, the amount of residual fertilizer and soil plus fixed N in soybeans (Glycine max) at the V5 growth stage were determined on 12 June 1989. The extractability ratio (ER^*) and the mineralizable extractability ratio (MER) were higher for mineralizable N and phosphate borate N for fertilizer applied in 1988 than 1987, while ER^* and MER values for the hot KCl were similar for both application dates. These results suggest that compositional changes occurred which influenced the extractability and mineralization of residual fertilizer applied 1 and 2 years previously, and that the phosphate borate was able to predict these changes while the hot KCl method was not.