Land use dynamics and nutrient characteristics of soils and plants along topo-sequences in inland valley watersheds of Ashanti region,Ghana

Surveys on land use dynamics were conducted over a 3-year period along various toposequences in benchmark inland valley watersheds of the Ashanti region, Ghana. Six typical land use systems were selected for more detailed studies, Le., primary forest (PF), cacao farm (CP), fallow (Fallow), mixed cropping (MC), and lowland rice-based systems including both traditional rice (TR) and sawah{ft1} (paddy)-based rice farming (Sawah). Topsoil samples (0-20 cm) and samples of leaves and bark of various plants were collected from these land use systems for nutrient characterization using laboratory analyses. The remaining primary and secondary forests cover only a patchy area, accounting for less than 20%, in forest reserves and surrounding areas. Cacao farms were developed both in the upland areas, middle slopes, and lowland areas, which occupied about 20% of the watershed. Lowland rice farming is estimated to account for about 10% of the watershed. Oil palm cultivation is also common in the lowland areas. The remaining land use systems were mostly fallow and mixed cropping of maize, cocoyam, cassava, and plantain. Plant leaves of various species in the lowland traditional rice area showed higher concentrations of phosphorus and potassium but lower calcium and strontium concentrations than those of the leaves in the upland surveyed plots, especially, the forest area. Nitrogen, sulfur, magnesium, and the other mineral elements, however, did not show any clear differences among the six land use systems. Bark samples tended to exhibit lower concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, sodium, silicon, aluminum, iron, manganese, and copper but higher concentrations of calcium and strontium. Cacao leaves showed silicon-accumulator characteristics and the magnesium concentration was high too. Cacao bark contained potassium and zinc in appreciable amounts in compared to the leaves. Topsoil samples of the primary forest and cacao farms in the upland areas showed higher levels of TC, TN, exchangeable Ca and Mg, and eCEC while the levels of available P showed a rather reverse trend compared to the lowland traditional and sawah rice plots. Topsoil samples of the fallow and mixed cropping plots at upland and fringe sites showed intermediate levels. The pH at the mixed cropping site was the lowest. These general fertility trends along upland and lowland topo-sequences were different from those of monsoon Asia and Japan. With the implementation of the sawah rice-based farming system, the inland valleys could contribute to the enhancement of sustainable food production in the country.     

Improving soil organic carbon pools through inclusion of summer mungbean in cereal-cereal cropping systems in Indo-Gangetic plain

Long-term effect of mungbean inclusion in lowland rice-wheat and upland maize-wheat systems on soil carbon (C) pools, particulate organic C (POC), and C-stabilization was envisaged in organic, inorganic and without nutrient management practices. In both lowland and upland systems, mungbean inclusion increased very-labile C (Cfrac₁) and labile C (Cfrac₂) in surface soil (0–0.2 m). Mungbean inclusion in cereal-cereal cropping systems improved POC, being higher in lowland (107.4%). Lowland rice-based system had higher passive C-pool (11.1 Mg C ha^?1) over upland maize-based system (6.6 Mg C ha^?1) indicating that rice ecology facilitates the stabilization of passive C-pool, which has longer persistence in soil. Organic nutrient management (farmyard manure + full crop residue + biofertilizers) increased Cfrac₁ and carbon management index (CMI) over inorganic treatment. In surface soil, higher CMI values were evident in mungbean included cropping systems in both lowland and upland conditions. Mungbean inclusion increased grain yield of cereal crops, and yield improvement followed the order of maize (23.7–31.3%) > rice (16.9–27.0%) > wheat (lowland 7.0–10.7%; upland 5.4–16.6%). Thus, the inclusion of summer mungbean in cereal-cereal cropping systems could be a long-term strategy to enrich soil organic C and to ensure sustainability of cereal-cereal cropping systems.     

Ecological Engineering for Sustainable Food Production and the Restoration of Degraded Watersheds in Tropics of Low pH Soils: Focus on West Africa

Since upland rice under shifting cultivation is common, the mean paddy yield in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), especially West Africa, has been stagnated at 1.3–1.7 t ha^?1 during the past 30 years of 1970–2000. There exist numerous small inland valley swamps (IVS), of which 10 million ha is capable of being turned into small scale irrigated rice fields, i.e., sawah* by simple and low cost ecological engineering technology with farmer's self-support efforts. The fertility of lowland soils in West Africa was the lowest, particularly available phosphorous status was extremely poor and low pH as well as low exchangeable bases among the three tropics of Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, because of multi-functional mechanisms of soil and water conservation and replenishment of nutrients, sustainable productivity of 1 ha of lowland sawah system can be equivalent more than 10 ha of upland fields. Geological fertilization, nitrogen fixation, neutralization of pH and increase phosphorous availability are the important functions of the sawah system. Sustainable development of sawah systems in IVSs can contribute to increase food production and to restore the degraded watersheds of SSA. *Sawah: The term sawah refers to leveled rice field surrounded by bund with inlet and outlet connecting irrigation and drainage. The term originates from Malayo-Indonesian. The English term, Paddy or Paddi, also originates from the Malayo-Indonesian term, Padi, which means rice plant. The term, Paddy, refers to rice grain with husk in West Africa of SSA. Most of the paddy fields in the Asian countries correspond to the definition of the term sawah. Paddy field is almost equivalent to sawah for Asian scientists. However, the term paddy fields refers to just a rice field including upland rice field in West Africa of SSA. Therefore in order to avoid confusion between the terms rice plant, paddy, and the improved man-made rice growth environment through ecological engineering, the authors propose to use the term sawah.     

Effects of preceding compost application on the nitrogen budget in an upland soybean field converted from a rice paddy field on gray lowland soil in Akita,Japan

Abstract

The annual nitrogen (N) budget was measured in a soybean-cultivated upland field during the first year after conversion from a paddy field on gray lowland soil, which is typically found on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan. Forage rice was cultivated on lysimeter fields for 4 consecutive years with applications of chemical fertilizer, immature compost, or mature compost (the control, immature compost, and mature compost plots, respectively), and then the fields were converted to upland fields for soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill cultivar Ryuho) cultivation. Input (seed, bulk N deposition, and symbiotic dinitrogen [N₂] fixation) and output (harvested grain, leached N via drainage water, and nitrous oxide emission) N flows were measured, and the field N budget was estimated from the difference between the input and output. The soybean plants in the immature and mature compost plots grew well and had higher yields (498–511 g m)^?2) compared to the control plot (410 g m)^?2). Total N accumulation in the soybean plants derived from N₂ fixation (g N m)^?2) in the mature compost plot (27.7) was higher than those in the control (18.1) and immature compost plots (19.9). Percentages of soybean N accumulation derived from N₂ fixation ranged from 53% to 74%. N derived from symbiotic N₂ fixation accounted for more than 90% of the total N input, whereas harvested grain accounted for approximately 85% of the total N output. N leaching mainly occurred during the fallow period, accounting for 13–15% of the total N output. The annual N budgets were negative (?10.0,?14.2, and ?6.4 g N m)^?2 year)^?1 for the control, immature compost, andmature compost plots, respectively). The Nloss from the immature compost plot was higher than that of the control plot, because the N output in harvested grain was higher, and the N input by N₂ fixation was similar between plots. While the N loss from the mature compost plot was lower than that of the control plot because the N output in harvested grain was higher, as was the case in the immature compost plot, the N input by N₂ fixation was also higher. Preceding compost application—whether immature or mature compost—to paddy fields increased the subsequent soybean yield during the first year after conversion. This result suggests that N loss and the following decrease in soil N availability in the field could be mitigated by increased N₂ fixation resulting from mature compost application with an appropriate application practice.     

Effect of burning on soil organic matter content and N mineralization under shifting cultivation system of Karen people in Northern Thailand

In the traditional shifting cultivation system practiced by the Karen people in northern Thailand, the effects of burning on the content of extractable organic matter, microbial biomass, and N mineralization process of the soils were studied. Five plots (5×5 m² quadrat) with 0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Mg ha^-1 of slashed materials were arranged and burned. Ten to 20 Mg ha^-1 of slashed biomass corresponded to the amount commonly burned by the Karen people. During the burning process, the soil temperature at the depth of 2.5 cm in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot almost evenly increased to 300°C while the temperature in the 10 to 50 Mg ha^-1 plots increased with large variations from 50 to 300°C. Burning caused a conspicuous increase in the contents of organic C and (organic + mineral)-N extracted at room temperature and a simultaneous decrease in the contents of microbial biomass C and N, especially in the soil of the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot. In the rainy season, the values of the changes induced by burning reverted to the values recorded before burning, except for the microbial biomass in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot, which still remained lower. Based on an incubation experiment, N mineralization rate was higher in the soils taken just after burning, especially in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot, than in the soils taken during the rainy season. However, the soil in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot was considered to have the lowest ability to supply mineral N among the soils in the rainy season. Burning of 10 to 20 Mg ha^-1 biomass corresponding to the values recorded in Karen peoples' shifting cultivation system was more compatible with soil ecology in terms of N supply at the initial stage of crop growth and of microbial biomass recovery during the rainy season, compared to the burning of 100 Mg ha^-1 biomass corresponding to the value recorded in a natural forest. Thus, the shifting cultivation system implemented by the Karen people can be considered to be a well-balanced agricultural system.     

Phytoextraction by high-Cd-accumulating rice to reduce Cd in wheat grains grown in Cd-polluted fields

Abstract

Phytoextraction using indica rice plants (Indian Rice Oryza ssp.) is a promising technique for remediating cadmium (Cd)-polluted paddy fields. Because this technique has only been established for paddy fields, we decided to examine phytoextraction in upland fields that have been converted from paddy fields. Although “CHOKOUKOKU” shows a shattering habit and lodging, its Cd uptake was significantly higher than that of other indica rice varieties. On the other hand, “IR8”, which was able to accumulate only moderate levels of Cd in its shoots, has a lodging tolerance, making it an optimal variety for southwest Japan, which experiences several typhoons each year. Therefore, both “CHOKOUKOKU” and “IR8” were useful in estimating practical phytoextraction in upland fields. A practical phytoextraction examination showed that the total Cd uptake of “CHOKOUKOKU” and “IR8” was 822 and 545 g ha^?1, respectively, after a 4-year period. After phytoextraction by planting high Cd-accumulating rice plants, the Cd concentration of the plot soil decreased by approximately 35%, compared to the initial Cd concentration. To evaluate phytoextraction efficiency in the upland field, wheat (Triticum aestivum) was subsequently grown in the remediation field. The Cd concentration in the grains of “SHIROGANEKOMUGI” grown in the phytoextraction plot was lower than that grown in a non-phytoextraction plot; regrettably, it exceeded the Codex Alimentarius Commission standard, whereas the grain Cd concentrations of “CHUGOKU165” planted in phytoextraction plots complied with the Codex standard for wheat grain. These results suggest that phytoextraction using high Cd-accumulating rice varieties is a practical remediation system for low Cd-polluted upland fields. Moreover, we determined the end point of the phytoextraction process, which occurs when the soil Cd concentration of the phytoextraction fields is less than 0.6 mg kg^?1 if “CHUGOKU165” is cultivated in this area.     

Decomposition of rice residue in tropical soils

Nitrogen mineralization and immobilization of rice residue in Maahas clay soil under lowland and upland conditions were investigated by using ¹⁵N-labelled rice straw. The mineralization of residue-nitrogen was taking place even though the net mineralization was depressed by incorporation of rice residue.

There were some significant differences in the pattern of nitrogen transformation between lowland and upland soil conditions. The nitrogen transformation measured by mineralization of soil nitrogen and rice-residue nitrogen and the nitrogen immobilization into rice residue were more active under lowland conditions than under upland conditions, during the earlier period of residue decomposition.     

Oil residuals in lowland forest soil after pollution with crude oil

Research on oil residuals in lowland forest soil was carried out in 6 sample plots in the lowland forest ecosystem located in an oil field. Four plots were differently affected in terms of discharged oil and the time lapsed after the accident, as well as in terms of micro-relief terrain features. One plot was established in a reclaimed mud ditch site, while the control plot was set up in a micro-relief elevation outside the influence of oil pollution. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations were measured at three soil depths at the beginning and the end of the vegetation period. The analysis of the results revealed significant differences in petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations among the sites. Increased TPH concentrations were recorded in several plots, while the values measured in some other plots indicated very low quantities of residual TPH in the soil. The highest average TPH concentrations (200–400 mg kg¹) were recorded in the mud ditch site. In one of the plots exposed to oil pollution after an oil pipe rupture, there was the constant presence of increased TPH concentration in the surface soil part (≥200 mg kg¹ on average). The sporadic presence of increased TPH concentrations in micro-depressions that cannot be attributed to a local accident indicates seasonal soil pollution with petroleum carbohydrates from floodwater. The soil in the sample plots is not contaminated with soluble salts or heavy metals. Low values of TPH concentrations in the soil water eluate indicate that the soil does not represent a source of hydrospheric pollution with petrol hydrocarbons.     

Effects of the Establishment of a Forested Riparian Buffer and Grazing on Soil Characteristics

Poultry-litter applications to pastures can result in relatively high soil phosphorus (P) levels, which in turn can contaminate runoff and degrade surface water quality. New management protocols for temperate grasslands are needed to reduce the risk of P transport to surface water. The effects of three land-use treatments on soil characteristics related to P runoff were investigated using small watersheds with 8% slope near Booneville, Arkansas, U.S. The land use treatments were (1) haying of bermudagrass overseeded with winter annual forage (ryegrass or rye), (2) rotationally grazed, and (3) rotationally grazed with 12-m-wide tree buffer on the downhill portion of the plot. Plots and trees were established in 2003. Annual spring application of poultry litter (5.6 Mg ha^?1) to the hayed or grazed portions of the plots was started in 2004. Grazing treatments were imposed shortly thereafter. By the summer of 2008 (4 years of treatments), soil concentrations of Bray 1–extractable P and soluble reactive P had increased significantly from approximately 40 and 4 mg P kg^?1 soil, respectively, to more than 200 and 30 mg P kg^?1 soil, respectively, in the areas of the plots receiving poultry litter. Soil bulk density in the portions of the plots being grazed had increased significantly also. The soil collected from the forested riparian buffer in 2008 had similar soil bulk densities and Bray 1–extractable P concentrations as the plots did in 2003 before treatments were imposed.     

Seasonal nitrogen dynamics in lowland rice cropping systems in inland valleys of northern Ghana

Farmers in the inland valleys of northern Ghana are challenged with nitrogen (N) deficiency as a major production constraint of rainfed lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.). With extremely low use of external inputs, there is a need to efficiently use the systems' internal resources such as native soil N. Largest soil nitrate‐N losses are expected to occur during the transition between the dry and wet season (DWT) when the soil aeration status changes from aerobic to anaerobic conditions. Technical options avoiding the build‐up of nitrate are expected to reduce N losses and may thus enhance the yield of rice. A field study in the moist savanna zone of Ghana assessed the in situ mineralization of native soil N, the contribution of nitrate to the valley bottom by sub‐surface flow from adjacent slopes, and the effects of crop and land management options during DWT on seasonal soil N_min dynamics and the yield of lowland rice. Large amounts of nitrate accumulated during DWT with a peak of 58 kg ha⁻¹ in lowland soils, of which 32 kg ha⁻¹ were contributed from the adjacent upland slope. Most of this nitrate disappeared at the onset of the wet season, possibly by leaching and denitrification upon soil flooding. While the incorporation of rice straw (temporary immobilization of soil N in the microbial biomass) had little effect on soil N conservation, growing a crop during DWT conserved 22–27 kg of soil N ha⁻¹ in the biomass and Crotalaria juncea supplied an additional 43 kg N ha⁻¹ from biological N₂ fixation. Farmers' practice of bare fallow during DWT resulted in the lowest rice grain yield that increased from 1.3 (2.2) to 3.9 t ha⁻¹ in case of the transition‐season legume. Growing a pre‐rice legume during DWT appears a promising option to manage N and increase lowland rice yields in the inland valleys of northern Ghana.     

Verification of traffic-induced soil compaction after long-term ploughing and 10 years minimum tillage on clay loam soil in South-East Norway

Grain yields are presented from a 10-year field trial with four tillage regimes (annual ploughing, harrowing only, ploughing/harrowing alternate years and minimum tillage) on clay loam. We also present soil physical analyses and use the compaction verification tool (CVT) to assess compaction on plots with annual ploughing and minimum tillage, after using slurry tankers with contrasting wheel loads (4.1 Mg, 6.6 Mg) and wheeling intensities (1×/10×) in the 11th trial year, and yields monitored two years after compaction. Winter wheat yields in the period before compaction were strongly affected by tillage, with annual ploughing giving on average 24% higher yield than direct drilling. Both wheat and oats were far less affected in treatments with harrowing only or ploughing/harrowing alternate years, on average within 6% of annual ploughing. Yields after compaction were affected by both previous tillage and compaction intensity. In the first year, single wheeling after annual ploughing gave 23% yield reduction with 4.1 Mg wheel load and 28% reduction with 6.6 Mg wheel load, whilst multiple wheeling gave 14% reduction at 6.6 Mg wheel load. Yield reductions after minimum tillage ranged from 63% (single wheeling with 4.1 Mg) to 100% (multiple wheeling with 6.6 Mg). Similar trends were found in the second year. The soil physical data indicated that all wheeling led to changes in bulk density, pore sizes and permeability in both topsoil and subsoil on both sampled tillage plots. However, effects in the subsoil were partly masked by the soil's high initial bulk density, partly due to its high clay content. The CVT, which plots air capacity against hydraulic conductivity, suggested some harmful compaction on both plots, with the minimum tillage plot being less affected than the ploughed plot. However, yield results did not support this conclusion, indicating that other factors limited yields on the minimum tilled plot.     

Erosional impacts on soil properties and corn yield on Alfisols in central Ohio

Accelerated soil erosion can impact upon agronomic productivity by reducing topsoil depth (TSD), decreasing plant available water capacity and creating nutrient imbalance in soil and within plant. Research information on soil‐specific cause – effect relationship is needed to develop management strategies for restoring productivity of eroded soils. Therefore, two field experiments were established on Alfisols in central Ohio to quantify erosion‐induced changes in soil properties and assess their effects on corn growth and yield. Experiment 1 involved studying the effects of past erosion on soil properties and corn yield on field runoff plots where soil was severely eroded and comparing it with that on adjacent slightly eroded soil. In addition, soil properties and corn grain yield in runoff plots were compared on side‐slopes with that on toe‐slopes or depositional sites. Experiment 2 involved relating corn growth and yield to topsoil depth on a sloping land. With recommended rates of fertilizer application, corn grain yield did not differ among erosional phases. Fertilizer application masked the adverse effects of erosion on corn yield. Corn grain yield on depositional sites was about 50 per cent more than that on side‐slope position. Corn plants on the side‐slope positions exhibited symptoms of nutrient deficiency, and the ear leaves contained significantly lower concentrations of P and Mg and higher concentrations of Mn and K than those grown on depositional sites. Corn grain yield in experiment 2 was positively correlated with the TSD. Soil in the depositional site contained significantly more sand and silt and less clay than that on the side‐slope position. There were also differences in soil properties among erosional phases. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content was 19\7 g kg⁻¹ in slightly eroded compared with 15\1 g kg⁻¹ in severely eroded sites. Aggregate stability and the mean weight diameter (MWD) were also significantly more in slightly eroded than severely eroded soils. Adverse effects of severe erosion on soil quality were related to reduction in soil water retention, and decrease in soil concentration of N and P, and increase in those of K, Ca and Mg. Severe erosion increased leaf nutrient contents of K, Mn and Fe and decreased those of Ca and Mg. Corn grain yield was positively correlated with aggregation, silt and soil N contents. It was also negatively correlated with leaf content of Fe. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of mineral and organic fertilizers on soil organic carbon pools

Abstract

The influence of farmyard manure (FYM) and equivalent mineral NPK application on organic matter content, hot water extractable carbon (HWC), microbial biomass C (C_mic), and grain yields in a long-term field experiment was assessed after 40 years in Hungary. The unfertilized plot, FYM fertilized plots and plots fertilized with equivalent NPK fertilizer contained 0.99%, 1.13% and 1.05% total organic carbon (TOC) respectively. Compared to the unfertilized plot, FYM application resulted in 8.2% higher TOC than equivalent NPK fertilization. The highest TOC was only 1.21%, much lower than expected for a soil containing 21.3% of clay. The quantity of HWC varied depending on the type of fertilization: Compared to control, FYM treatments lead to 29% more HWC than mineral fertilization (FYM: 328 mg kg^?1; NPK: 264 mg kg^?1). The impact of FYM and equivalent NPK fertilizer on C_mic was contrary. FYM and NPK resulted in 304 and 423 mg kg^?1 C_mic, respectively. The difference was 119 mg kg^?1; 42% as compared to the unfertilized plot. Despite the higher HWC content, FYM treatments lead to significantly less (35%) grain yields than equivalent NPK doses; C_mic content showed closer correlation to grain yields.     

长期施肥与地膜覆盖对棕壤交换性钙、镁的影响

本文以沈阳农业大学棕壤长期定位试验站（始于1987年）玉米连作试验为研究对象,探讨了施肥与地膜覆盖对棕壤中交换性钙、镁含量的影响,以及交换性钙、镁和pH之间的相关性。研究结果表明:试验地040 cm土壤交换性钙含量在1.34～2.52 g/kg之间,交换性镁含量在0.30～0.66 g/kg之间,目前都比较丰富,作物基本不会出现缺钙缺镁症状。经过24年的不同施肥处理,施有机肥土壤表层（020 cm）交换性钙和交换性镁含量呈明显增加趋势,施用化肥土壤表层交换性钙和交换性镁含量呈明显下降趋势。无论不覆膜还是覆膜,单施化肥底层（2040 cm）土壤交换性钙和交换性镁含量大于表层;施用有机肥土壤交换性钙含量在两个层次差异不明显,交换性镁含量土壤表层大于底层。覆膜与不覆膜相比,单施化肥土壤覆膜后表层土壤交换性钙和交换性镁含量增加,底层含量降低,而有机肥处理表现的不明显。土壤表层交换性钙和交换性镁与pH之间都有极显著的正相关关系。     

Effect of induced compaction by wheel traffic on soil physical properties and yield of maize in Romania

Results of field experiments with soil compaction induced by wheel traffic applied uniformly to cover the entire surface of the experimental plots are reported. Compaction was done immediately before sowing, and each year, in each location, the same treatments were repeated on the same plots. The number of tractor passes varied between 0 and 30. The experiments were conducted during the 1978–1981 period in four locations with different soil and climatic conditions.Changes in soil physical properties, as well as in the yield of maize grain, were shown to be related to the number of tractor passes according to regression formulae of the type: Y = aX^b. Most of the changes were recorded between 0 and 8–10 passes, while with more than 15–20 passes changes became negligible. The average maximum increase in bulk density was 20–25% as compared with the non-compacted control plot, and the average maximum decrease in yield was 46%. Moisture content in the compacted control plot, and the was 2–3% (w/w) lower than in the control plot, except for the soils with poor drainage where the lower part of the compacted topsoil showed an increase in moisture content. Air content in the compacted plots often dropped below 10, and occasionally to nearly 0% (v/v). For three of the four locations, grain yield of maize linearly decreased by 13 kg ha^?1 (or 0.18% of the control plot yield) for each 1 kg m^?3 increase in bulk density.     

Eucalyptus biochar application enhances Ca uptake of upland rice,soil available P,exchangeable K,yield, and N use efficiency of sugarcane in a crop rotation system

It was hypothesized that the application of eucalyptus biochar enhances nutrient use efficiencies of simultaneously supplied fertilizer, as well as provides additional nutrients (i.e., Ca, P, and K), to support crop performance and residual effects on subsequent crops in a degraded sandy soil. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an on‐farm field experiment in the Khon Kaen province of Northeastern Thailand to assess the effects of different application rates of eucalyptus biochar in combination with mineral fertilizers to upland rice and a succeeding crop of sugarcane on a sandy soil. The field experiment consisted of three treatments: (1) no biochar; (2) 3.1 Mg ha^?1 biochar (10.4 kg N ha^?1, 3.1 kg P ha^?1, 11.0 kg K ha^?1, and 17.7 kg Ca ha^?1); (3) 6.2 Mg ha^?1 biochar (20.8 kg N ha^?1, 6.2 kg P ha^?1, 22.0 kg K ha^?1, and 35.4 kg Ca ha^?1). All treatments received the same recommended fertilizer rate (32 kg N ha^?1, 14 kg P ha^?1, and 16 kg K ha^?1 for upland rice; 119 kg N ha^?1, 21 kg P ha^?1, and 39 kg K ha^?1 for sugarcane). At crop harvests, yield and nutrient contents and nitrogen (N) use efficiency were determined, and soil chemical properties and pH₀ monitored. The eucalyptus biochar material increased soil Ca availability (117 ± 28 and 116 ± 7 mg kg^?1 with 3.1 and 6.2 Mg ha^?1 biochar application, respectively) compared to 71 ± 13 mg kg^?1 without biochar application, thus promoting Ca uptake and total plant biomass in upland rice. Moreover, the higher rate of eucalyptus biochar improved CEC, organic matter, available P, and exchangeable K at succeeding sugarcane harvest. Additionally, 6.2 Mg ha^?1 biochar significantly increased sugarcane yield (41%) and N uptake (70%), thus enhancing N use efficiency (118%) by higher P (96%) and K (128%) uptake, although the sugar content was not increased. Hence, the application rate of 6.2 Mg ha^?1 eucalyptus biochar could become a potential practice to enhance not only the nutrient status of crops and soils, but also crop productivity within an upland rice–sugarcane rotation system established on tropical low fertility sandy soils.     

Metal Pollution by Old Lead-Zinc Mines in Urumea River Valley (Basque Country,Spain). Soil,Biota and Sediment

Soil, aquatic biota (moss: Brachythecium rivulare; aquatic macrophytes: Juncus effusus, Potamogeton crispus; fish: Salmo trutta fario, Anguilla anguilla, Phoxinus phoxinus, Chelon labrosus) and sediment samples from the Urumea river valley were analysed for metals by acid digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The sediments show the presence of metal pollution (Cd: 2.5–24 mg kg^-1; Pb: 125–1,150 mg kg^-1; Zn: 125–2,500 mg kg^-1) because mining and industrial wastes. A selective retention of dense minerals in dam sediments contributes to the load of metal, but interstitial water analysis (Cd: <0.02–0.1 mg L^-1; Pb: 0.3–1.0 mg L^-1; Zn: <0.05–0.6 mg L^-1) shows that precipitation equilibrium controls their mobilisation. Biota samples show evidence of metal accumulation, moss reaching 1,100 mg kg^-1 in lead and 6,800 mg kg^-1 in zinc. Soil from the valley is polluted by both, river carried material and industrial sources (Cd: 1.0–4.0 mg kg^-1; Pb: 26–1,120 mg kg^-1; Zn: 105–1,390 mg kg^-1/math>), but they are used, indistinctly, for farming and pasture.     

氮肥配施生化抑制剂对黄泥田土壤钾素淋溶特征的影响

中国南方黄泥田土壤中养分淋失严重,尤其是氮(N)和钾(K),不仅造成资源浪费和潜在环境威胁,还严重制约作物的可持续生产。采用室内土柱模拟培养,研究尿素(U)和尿素硝铵(UAN)中单独添加脲酶抑制剂N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)和硝化抑制剂2-氯-6-(三氯甲基)吡啶(CP),及两者配合施用对黄泥田土壤中K素淋溶特征的影响,探讨提高黄泥田供钾能力的施肥技术。不同氮肥种类淋溶液中,K~+平均浓度大小表现为UAN处理(103.0 mg·kg~(-1))高于U处理(93.9 mg·kg~(-1)),且抑制剂处理间存在明显差异。培养结束时(第72 d),UAN处理K~+淋失量较U处理高6.7%。U各处理淋溶液中K~+累积量大小表现为UU+NBPTU+NBPT+CPU+CPCK,其中U+NBPT、U+CP和U+NBPT+CP处理较U处理分别降低8.7%、20.2%和14.9%;UAN各处理淋溶液中K~+累积量表现为UANUAN+NBPTUAN+NBPT+CPUAN+CPCK,其中UAN+NBPT、UAN+CP和UAN+NBPT+CP处理较UAN处理分别降低6.0%、13.8%和9.2%。不同施肥处理K~+淋溶率表现为UANUAN+NBPTUUAN+NBPT+CPUAN+CPU+NBPTU+NBPT+CPU+CP。培养中期(第36 d),U和UAN处理肥际微域中土壤速效钾含量显著降低,而添加CP处理有效维持土壤中较高的速效钾含量。与单施NBPT相比,配施CP可以减少黄泥田土壤中NO_3~-淋溶,增加土壤晶格对K~+的固定,减轻K~+淋溶风险,有效时间超过72 d。对各处理淋溶液中K~+累积量(y)随NO_3~-累积量(x)的变化进行拟合,其中以线性方程(y=ax+b)和Elovich方程(y=alnx+b)的拟合度最高,且抑制剂处理间a、b值均存在明显差异。总之,在黄泥田土壤中单施CP,或与NBPT配施可以有效增加K~+吸附,降低土壤中K~+淋溶损失,减轻养分淋失风险,提高肥料利用率。     

Nutrient constraint of rainfed rice production in foot slope soil of Guinea Forest in Côte d’Ivoire

Soil nutrient deficiencies can affect rice yield and grain mineral content wherever they occur, but an understanding of their effect on upland rice production in humid forest zone of West Africa is still limited. Therefore, a nutrient omission trial was conducted on foot slope soil in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in Côte d’Ivoire using rice variety WAB 56–104. The effect on rice grain yield (GY) and nutrient content of complete fertilizer (Fc with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn)) was compared with Fc from which a specific nutrient was excluded (Fc – N, Fc – P, Fc – K, Fc – Ca, Fc – Mg and Fc – Zn). Before the trial, soil K (0.10 cmol kg^?1) and Mg (0.20 cmol kg^?1) contents were suitable, but available P-Bray I (4.2 mg kg^?1) was found to be deficient. In course of the study, K, Mg and P deficiencies were observed. An antagonistic effect was observed between rice GY and grain concentrations in P, Mg and Ca for treatments Fc – Mg, Fc – P and Fc – K, respectively. Therefore, the use of P, K and Mg fertilizers is recommended for successive cropping seasons in order to rich stable and high rice yield while decreasing of grain concentrations in P, Mg and Ca can be observed.     

Runoff and Sediment Attenuation by Undisturbed and Lightly Disturbed Forest Buffers

A runoff plot experiment found that ten metre undisturbed forest buffers removed80–90% of runoff and over 95% of sediment produced by logging skid tracks. The study was carried out on 21^º slopes in a native forest in eastern New South Wales, Australia. The experiment included three replicates of four treatments including undisturbed control, skid track, skid track + undisturbed buffer and skid track + disturbed buffer. Skid track and control plots were 20 m long by 5 m wide. Buffer plots consisted of a 20 m by 5 m skid track directing runoff to a 10 m by 5 m naturally vegetated buffer that was either undisturbed or lightly disturbed. Runoff and sediment yields from plots were monitored over two successive summers. Undisturbed buffers greatly reduced overland flow and decreased sediment yields from around 100 Mg ha¹ to less than 0.5 Mg ha^-1. Differences in both runoff and sediment yield between undisturbed buffer and control treatments were minimal and not statistically significant. Disturbed buffers achieved similarly large reductions in runoff and sediment yield in two out of three replicates. The third replicate yielded as much or more runoff and sediment than the skid track plots suggesting that disturbance increased the risk of buffer failure. The peak rate of outflow from buffer plots was generally not related to peak buffer inflow until a threshold inflow of 1.6 L s^-1 was reached, after which peak outflow and peak inflow were linearly related.