Dinitrogen (C2H2) fixation in relation to nitrogen fertilization of grey alder [Alnus incana (L.) Moench.] plantations in a peat bog

Summary Nitrogenase activity was measured in young grey alder plantations in a peat bog in central Sweden. The stands were treated in three ways: (1) daily irrigation during the growing season with a complete nutrient solution, including N; (2) application of bark ash or wood ash before planting; and (3) fertilization every second year with solid PK fertilizers. Acetylene reduction assays were performed on (1) detached nodules and attached nodules, either on (2) whole enclosed plants or (3) enclosed nodules. The acetylene reduction rate for the enclosed plants showed a maximum in July when mean values of nearly 80 mol C₂H₄ (g nodule dry matter)^-1 h^-1 were reached. No diurnal patterns were observed. The irrigated stands, with an N supply, showed overall nitrogenase activities that corresponded well with those of the other treatments. Only in the case of temporarily increased soil nutrient concentrations in the irrigated stands did the nitrogenase activity fall considerably. In 6-to 7-year-old intensively managed irrigated stands N₂-fixation was estimated as 85–115 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 which was about 55% of the total N uptake of the trees.     

Soil N dynamics and N yield of barley grown on Breton loam using N from biological fixation or fertilizer

Summary Soil N dynamics and barley yields (Hordeum vulgare L.) were compared in pot experiments using surface samples from a Gray Luvisol under three cropping systems at Breton, Alberta: (1) an agroecological 8-year rotation including cereals, forage, and fababeans (Vicia faba L.) as green manure, from wich two plots were selected, one following fababeans, and the second following 3 years of forage; (2) a continuous grain system, with fertilizer N at 90 kg ha^-1 year^-1; and (3) a classical Breton 5-year rotation [following oats (Avena sativa L.)] involving forage and cereals, without returning crop residues to the land, selecting one plot with PKS treatment and a second as control. The fertilizer N equivalent for the cropping system; A_N value and A value (analogous to A_N), but in fertilizer ¹⁵N units, soil biomass, and C and N mineralization were monitored. In the first agroecological plot (after fababeans), grain and total plant biomass production were 116% greater than from the continuous grain treatment. Barley plants in the two agroecological plots derived 48.5% and 37.8%, respectively, of their N requirement from non-labelled soil N sources not present in the continuous grain plot. At crop maturity, the recovery of ¹⁵N microbial biomass was 1.5 times higher in soil from the first agroecological plot than from the continuous grain plot. The fertilizer N equivalent was 2670 mg pot^-1 (485 kg ha^-1) for the first and 1850 mg pot^-1 for the second agroecological treatment. Fertilizer N equivalent values exceed net amounts of N mineralized by a factor of 4. Recovery by the barley crop of ¹⁵N added at 55 mg pot^-1 was more efficient in the agroecological treatments (45%–51%) than in the continuous grain or classical Breton treatments (35%–37%). It was concluded (1) that past soil history may be associated more with the ability of barley plants to compete for available N, and hence the use of N, than with net soil N mineralization; and (2) an increased supply of N to crops following the incorporation of fababean residues, manure application, and the soil N-conserving effect of growing legumes were all partly responsible for the observed differences in soil fertility.     

Effects of weed control and fertilization at early establishment on tree nitrogen and water use in an exotic F1 hybrid pine of subtropical Australia

Purpose

We investigated the effects of weed control and fertilization at early establishment on foliar stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (N) isotope (δ¹⁵N) compositions, foliar N concentration, tree growth and biomass, relative weed cover and other physiological traits in a 2-year old F₁ hybrid (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (Engelm) × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (Barr. ex Golf.)) plantation grown on a yellow earth in southeast Queensland of subtropical Australia.

Materials and methods

Treatments included routine weed control, luxury weed control, intermediate weed control, mechanical weed control, nil weed control, and routine and luxury fertilization in a randomised complete block design. Initial soil nutrition and soil fertility parameters included (hot water extractable organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N), total C and N, C/N ratio, labile N pools (nitrate (NO₃ ^?) and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)), extractable potassium (K⁺)), soil δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C. Relative weed cover, foliar N concentrations, tree growth rate and physiological parameters including photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, foliar δ¹⁵N and foliar δ¹³C were also measured at early establishment.

Results and discussion

Foliar N concentration at 1.25 years was significantly different amongst the weed control treatments and was negatively correlated to the relative weed cover at 1.1 years. Foliar N concentration was also positively correlated to foliar δ¹⁵N and foliar δ¹³C, tree height, height growth rates and tree biomass. Foliar δ¹⁵N was negatively correlated to the relative weed cover at 0.8 and 1.1 years. The physiological measurements indicated that luxury fertilization and increasing weed competition on these soils decreased leaf xylem pressure potential (Ψ_xpp) when compared to the other treatments.

Conclusions

These results indicate how increasing N resources and weed competition have implications for tree N and water use at establishment in F₁ hybrid plantations of southeast Queensland, Australia. These results suggest the desirability of weed control, in the inter-planting row, in the first year to maximise site N and water resources available for seedling growth. It also showed the need to avoid over-fertilisation, which interfered with the balance between available N and water on these soils.     

Nutritional stress in ficea sitchensis plantations in coastal British columbia: The effects of gaultheria shallon and declining site fertility

Examples of nutritional stress in conifer seedlings caused by competing ericaceous species (e.g. Calluna and Kalmia), have been reported in several parts of the world. Nutritional stress (primarily N deficiency) has been reported in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations growing in association with an ericaceous species, salal (Gaultheria shallon), in coastal British Columbia. Nutritional interference by salal was investigated on a chronosequence of sites up to 10 yr after clearcutting and slashburning. No direct evidence for an allelopathic contribution to the N stress was obtained. However, the rapid accumulation of salal fine roots and rhizomes, and the nutrients contained therein, provides a partial explanation for the observed stress symptoms. Soil analyses and seedling bioassays demonstrated a reduction in fertility in the period 8 to 10 yr after clearcutting and slashburning in comparison to the period 2 to 4 yr, which is believed to impose further nutritional stress on Sitka spruce. It is concluded that the nutritional stress in these Sitka spruce plantations is caused by a combination of (1) salal competition for nutrients and their subsequent immobilization in salal biomass, and (2) declining site fertility caused by the termination of the flush of nutrients (the assert period) that occurs in the immediate post-clearcutting and slashburning period. Sustaining good growth of plantations under such circumstances will require site nutrient management as well as vegetation management.     

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。     

How weed control and fertilisation influence tree physiological processes and growth at early establishment in an exotic F<Subscript>1</Subscript> hybrid pine plantation of subtropical Australia

Purpose

This study investigated how nitrogen (N) nutrition and key physiological processes varied under changed water and nitrogen competition resulting from different weed control and fertilisation treatments in a 2-year-old F₁ hybrid (Pinus elliottii Engelm var. elliottii?×?P. caribaea var. hondurensis Barr. ex Golf.) plantation on a grey podzolic soil type, in Southeast Queensland.

Materials and methods

The study integrated a range of measures including growth variables (diameter at ground level (DGL), diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (H)), foliar variables (including foliar N concentration, foliar δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and physiological variables (including photosynthesis (A_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE_i) (A/g_s) and xylem pressure potential (Ψ_XPP)) to better understand the mechanisms influencing growth under different weed control and fertilisation treatments. Five levels of weed control were applied: standard (routine), luxury, intermediate, mechanical and nil weed control, all with routine fertilisation plus an additional treatment, routine weed control and luxury fertilisation. Relative weed cover was assessed at 0.8, 1.1 and 1.6 years after plantation establishment to monitor the effectiveness of weed control treatments. Soil investigation included soil ammonium (NH₄ ⁺-N), nitrate (NO₃ ^?-N), potentially mineralizable N (PMN), gravimetric soil moisture content (MC), hot water extractable organic carbon (HWETC), hot water extractable total N (HWETN), total C, total N, stable C isotope composition (δ¹³C), stable N isotope composition (δ¹⁵N), total P and extractable K.

Results and discussion

There were significant relationships between foliar N concentrations and relative weed cover and between tree growth and foliar N concentration or foliar δ¹⁵N, but initial site preparation practices also increased soil N transformations in the planting rows reducing the observable effects of weed control on foliar δ¹⁵N. A positive relationship between foliar N concentration and foliar δ¹³C or photosynthesis indicated that increased N availability to trees positively influenced non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis. However, trees with increased foliar N concentrations and photosynthesis were negatively related to xylem pressure potential in the afternoons which enhanced stomatal limitations to photosynthesis and WUE_i.

Conclusions

Luxury and intermediate weed control and luxury fertilisation positively influenced growth at early establishment by reducing the competition for water and N resources. This influenced fundamental key physiological processes such as the relationships between foliar N concentration, A _n, E, g_s and Ψ_XPP. Results also confirmed that time from cultivation is an important factor influencing the effectiveness of using foliar δ¹⁵N as an indicator of soil N transformations.

     

减量施肥对湖垸旱地作物产量及氮磷径流损失的影响

为探明洞庭湖区旱地生产中的氮磷盈余问题, 利用在该区域连续两年的玉米 油菜轮作田间小区试验, 研究了常规施肥[玉米: 400 kg(N)·hm^-2, 90 kg(P₂O₅)·hm^-2, 135 kg(K₂O)·hm^-2; 油菜: 180 kg(N)·hm^-2, 65 kg(P₂O₅)·hm^-2, 60 kg(K₂O)·hm^-2]、常规施肥减氮15%、减氮30%、缓控释肥减氮30%+减磷20%、常规施肥减磷20%共5个处理下, 玉米和油菜产量、氮磷肥利用率、氮磷径流损失量以及土壤氮磷养分的变化。结果表明, 在研究区域现有施肥水平下(常规施肥), 减量施肥对玉米和油菜产量没有显著影响; 缓控释肥减氮30%+减磷20%处理下玉米和油菜对氮磷养分的利用率显著提高, 其中氮素利用率较常规施肥处理两年平均提高7.96%和4.89%、磷素利用率提高2.02%和2.56%; 同时, 减量施肥各处理下氮磷径流损失量与常规处理比较, 分别减少3.54%~29.36%和7.14%~35.71%; 试验期内, 减量施肥下土壤全量氮磷及硝态氮含量与常规施肥处理无显著差异。根据本研究结果, 各施肥处理中, 以缓控释肥减氮30%+减磷20%处理效果更佳。研究结果可以为该地区旱地作物合理施肥、区域农业面源污染防控和洞庭湖区水环境保护提供参考依据。     

Influence of management practices on soil organic matter,microbial biomass and cotton yield in Alabama's “Old Rotation”

The Old Rotation cotton experiment was designed to aid farm managers in implementing rotation schemes that not only increase yield, but also improve soil quality. Six different crop rotation treatments were imposed since 1896. Rotations were: IA, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown every year without a winter legume and without N fertilization; IB, cotton grown every year with a winter legume and without N fertilization; IC, cotton grown every year without a winter legume and with 134 kg N as NH₄NO₃ ha^-1 year^-1; IIA, 2-year cotton-corn (Zea mays L.) rotation with a winter legume and without N fertilization; IIB, 2-year cotton-corn rotation with a winter legume and with 134 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 as NH₄NO₃; and III, 3-year cotton-corn- alternating soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or rye (Secale cereale L.) rotation with a winter legume and with 134 g N as NH₄NO₃ ha^-1 year^-1. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) was the winter legume cover crop. The 2-year cotton-corn rotation with a winter legume and with 134 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 (IIB) and the 3-year cotton-corn soybean/rye rotation with a winter legume and with 134 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 (III) had higher amounts of soil organic matter, soil microbial biomass C and crop yield than the other four treatments. The cotton grown every year without a winter legume or N fertilizer (IA) had a lower amount of soil organic matter, soil microbial biomass C and N and cotton seed yield than all other rotations. In 1988 and 1992 cotton seed and legume yield were correlated in positive, curvilinear relationships with soil organic matter (r ² ranged from 0.72 to 0.87). In most months, soil microbial biomass C and N was lower in the cotton grown every year without winter legumes or fertilizer (IA) than the other five rotations. In 1994, microbial biomass C and the C_mic:C_org ratio correlated in positive, curvilinear relationships with seed cotton yield (r ²=0.87 and 0.98, respectively). After 99 years of management the Old Rotation cotton experiment indicates that winter legumes increase amounts of both C and N in soil, which ultimately contribute to higher cotton yields. Microbial biomass C and the C_mic:C_org ratio are poor predictors of annual crop yield but may be an accurate indicator of soil health and a good predictor of long-term crop yield.     

Effect of residue placement and chemical fertilizer on soil microbial biomass under tropical dryland cultivation

Four treatments (control, chemical fertilizer, wheat straw, and wheat straw+fertilizer) were established on the dryland experimental farm of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. Organic in C in the different treatments ranged from 0.69 to 0.93%, total N from 0.08 to 0.11%, and total P from 0.018 to 0.021. The application of straw significantly increased the soil water-holding capacity. The maximum effect on the microbial biomass was realized with the straw+fertilizer treatment, followed by straw and then by the fertilizer treatment. During the study microbial biomass C ranged from 144 to 491 g g^-1 dry soil, biomass N from 14.6 to 50.1 g g^-1, and biomass P from 7.2 to 17.6 g g^-1 soil. Microbial biomass C, N and P represented 3.2–4.6% of total C, 2.6–3.8% of total N, and 5.8–8.2% of total P in the soil, respectively, in all cases the highest proportion occurred in the straw+fertilizer treatment and the lowest in the control. Microbial biomass C, N, and P were positively correlated with each other. Microbial biomass C and N increased by 77% in straw+fertilizer-treated plots relative to the control. The increase in microbial biomass P in the straw+fertilizer treatment over the control was 81%. The increase in the microbial biomass is expected to enhance nutrient availability in the soil, as the microbial biomass acts both as a sink and a source of plant nutrients.     

长期施肥对南方黄泥田冬春季杂草群落及其C、N、P 化学计量的影响

在福建黄泥田长期定位施肥试验的第27年,研究了不同施肥处理对冬春季稻田杂草群落及其C、N、P化学计量的影响。结果表明,与不施肥(CK)相比,化肥+牛粪(NPKM)、化肥+秸秆还田(NPKS)及单施化肥(NPK)处理的杂草Shannon均匀度指数(E)降低0.03~0.07个单位,NPKM与NPKS处理还同时降低了Margalef物种丰富度指数(DMG),而表征综合量度的Shannon多样性指数(H′)则降低0.02~0.16个单位。各施肥处理的杂草生物量较CK增加89.6%~214.7%。不同施肥处理还提高了杂草N、P、K养分含量,尤其是NPKM处理,各施肥处理养分积累顺序表现为:NPKM>NPKS>NPK。此外,各施肥处理降低了杂草C/N与C/P计量比值。植株C/N、C/P、N/P与土壤C/N、C/P、N/P及生物量间呈一定的显著相关。不同施肥处理影响杂草多样性及其养分吸收,施肥处理的杂草养分储量可观,培肥潜力大。杂草的C、N、P计量比一定程度上可反映土壤C、N、P计量特征。     

Fertilization of declining conifer stands in the Vosges and in the French Ardennes

Twenty fertilization experiments were set up in 1985 and 1986 in the Vosges mountains, using mostly calcareous or Mg fertilizers, in order to verify whether fertilization can attenuate defoliation and yellowing recently recorded in Silver fir and Norway spruce. In the Ardennes, a fertilization experiment set up in Norway spruce stands prior to the appearance of yellowing was assessed. In these areas, the total acid deposition is about 2 kg eq H⁺ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Nitrogen deposition is much more important in the Ardennes (52 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in form of wet and dry deposition) than in the Vosges (16 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The results in the eight adult stands showed no uniform reaction to the treatments. Spontaneous improvement, further deterioration independently of the treatment, as well as a positive reaction to fertilization were observed. Additional N or P fertilization sometimes had a beneficial effect on Ca or Mg treatments. The selection of the stands with the best response turns out to be difficult, as the nutrient contents of needles alone seem not to be a satisfactory criterion for selection. Young plantations reacted positivley to the treatments. Soluble Mg fertilizer leads to an immediate response. Low solubility Ca-Mg fertilizers (Ca-Mg lime) did not produce reactions until three years after the application. In the Ardennes, in a 40 yr old spruce stand suffering from severe Mg deficiency, a Ca and Ca-phosphate fertilization applied 5 yr before yellowing appeared had positive effects on crown density, discoloration and wood production. Conversely, a single N fertilization in this experiment, as well as in a young plantation in the Vosges, had a marked negative effect on Mg nutrition, even at low levels.     

Crop nitrogen recovery and soil nitrogen dynamics in a 10‐year field experiment with biowaste compost

When fertilizing with compost, the fate of the nitrogen applied via compost (mineralization, plant uptake, leaching, soil accumulation) is relevant both from a plant‐production and an environmental point of view. In a 10‐year crop‐rotation field experiment with biowaste‐compost application rates of 9, 16, and 23 t ha^–1 y^–1 (f. m.), the N recovery by crops was 7%, 4%, and 3% of the total N applied via compost. Due to the high inherent fertility of the site, N recovery from mineral fertilizer was also low. In the minerally fertilized treatments, which received 25, 40, and 56 kg N ha^–1 y^–1 on average, N recovery from mineral fertilizer was 15%, 13%, and 11%, respectively. Although total N loads in the compost treatments were much higher than the N loads applied with mineral fertilizer (89–225 kg N_tot ha^–1 y^–1 vs. 25–56 kg N_tot ha^–1 y^–1; both on a 10‐year mean) and the N recovery was lower than in the treatments receiving mineral N fertilizer, soil NO ‐N contents measured three times a year (spring, post‐harvest, autumn) showed no higher increase through compost fertilization than through mineral fertilization at the rates applied in the experiment. Soil contents of N_org and C_org in the plowed layer (0–30 cm depth) increased significantly with compost fertilization, while with mineral fertilization, N_org contents were not significantly higher. Taking into account the decrease in soil N_org contents in the unfertilized control during the 10 years of the experiment, 16 t compost (f. m.) ha^–1 y^–1 just sufficed to keep the N_org content of the soil at the initial level.     

Fertilization of declining conifer stands in the vosges and in the French Ardennes

Twenty fertilization experiments were set up in 1985 and 1986 in the Vosges mountains, using mostly calcareous or Mg fertilizers, in order to verify whether fertilization can attenuate defoliation and yellowing recently recorded in Silver fir and Norway spruce. In the Ardennes, a fertilization experiment set up in Norway spruce stands prior to the appearance of yellowing was assessed. In these areas, the total acid deposition is about 2 kg eq H⁺ ha^–1 yr^–1. Nitrogen deposition is much more important in the Ardennes (52 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 in form of wet and dry deposition) than in the Vosges (16 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1). The results in the eight adult stands showed no uniform reaction to the treatments. Spontaneous improvement, further deterioration independently of the treatment, as well as a positive reaction to fertilization were observed. Additional N or P fertilization sometimes had a beneficial effect on Ca or Mg treatments. The selection of the stands with the best response turns out to be difficult, as the nutrient contents of needles alone seem not to be a satisfactory criterion for selection. Young plantations reacted positivley to the treatments. Soluble Mg fertilizer leads to an immediate response. Low solubility Ca-Mg fertilizers (Ca-Mg lime) did not produce reactions until three years after the application. In the Ardennes, in a 40 yr old spruce stand suffering from severe Mg deficiency, a Ca and Ca-phosphate fertilization applied 5 yr before yellowing appeared had positive effects on crown density, discoloration and wood production. Conversely, a single N fertilization in this experiment, as well as in a young plantation in the Vosges, had a marked negative effect on Mg nutrition, even at low levels.     

Seasonal fluctuations in soil microbial biomass carbon,phosphorus, and activity in no-till and reduced-chemical-input maize agroecosystems

Summary The soil microbial biomass contains important labile pools of C, N, P, and S, and fluctuations in its size and activity can significantly influence crop productivity. In cropping systems where fertilizer use is reduced or eliminated and green-manure legumes are used, nutrient availability is more directly linked to C-cycle dynamics. We observed the fluctuations in microbial biomass C and P, and in microbial biomass activity over three cropping seasons in continuous maize and 2-year maize-wheat-soybean rotation agroecosystems under no-till and reduced-chemical-input management. We estimated the concentrations of microbial C and P using fumigation-incubation and fumigation-extraction techniques for the surface 20 cm of Cecil and Appling series soils (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Kanhapludults). There were significant seasonal fluctuations in microbial C and P under all cropping systems. Generally, the magnitude of fluxes and the quantity of microbial C and P tended to be higher in reduced-chemical-input systems due to tillage and incorporation of crop, weed, and legume residues. Over 3 years, the means for microbial C were 435 under reduced-input maize; 289 under no-till maize; 374 und the reduced-input crop rotation; and 288 mg kg^-1 soil under the no-till rotation. The means for microbial P were 5.2 under reduced-input maize; 3.5 under no-till maize; 5.0 under the reduced-input rotation; and 3.5 mg kg^-1 soil under the no-till rotation. Estimates of microbial activity, derived from CO₂–C evolution and specific respiratory activity (mg CO₂–C per mg biomass C), suggest that reduced-chemical-input management may cause a larger fraction of the biomass to be relatively inactive but may also increase the activity of the remaining fraction over that in no-till. Thus in these specific systems, the turnover of C and P through the microbial biomass with a reduced chemical input to the soil may be higher than under a no-till system.     

The use of organic and mineral fertilizers in reforestation and in revitalization of declining protective forests in the Alps

BIOSOL and BACTOSOL, organic fertilizers based on residue from commercial antibiotic production, were tested as an alternative to mineral fertilizers in reforestation and in revitalization of Norway spruce stands (Picea abies) affected by forest decline. Due to its slow release of N and its stimulation of root growth, the organic fertilizer was superior to mineral fertilizer in enhancing growth of spruce planted in nutrient poor soil with low nutrient retention capacity, especially when combined with magnesium carbonate fertilizer. In mature stands, basal area increment responded positively and significantly to both mineral fertilizer and BIOSOL. So far no pronounced effects of fertilizer treatment on seed production and viability were observed. Fertilization in the moderate amounts employed had no adverse effects on microbial activity in the soil and mycorrhizal status and thus seems to be a safe method to increase tree vigor without dramatically changing site parameters.     

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.     

Effect of stand age and management regime on genetic diversity of Thuidium cymbifolium in western China

Using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, we examined genetic variability of the moss Thuidium cymbifolium (Thuidiaceae) sampled from three types of spruce (Picea asperata) stands: an intact stand, naturally regenerated stands after clearcut harvests, and planted stands after clearcut harvests in the Miyaluo area, western Sichuan of China. Stands of the latter two types were of various age since the last clearcut. Results showed that the population of T. cymbifolium from the intact stand displayed the highest level of genetic diversity, and populations from the planted stands exhibited significantly higher levels than the naturally regenerated stands. In planted stands, genetic variation within populations increased over time. These findings indicated that habitat destruction by forest harvesting led to the reduction in genetic variation within populations, but that given time, artificial reforestation after clearcut was effective in promoting the recovery of genetic diversity in the recolonized moss species. Therefore, lengthening the normal felling rotation of plantations should be favored to restore and conserve genetic diversity in recolonized species. In addition, thinning young plantations via selective logging may provide heterogenous microhabitats similar to those in the old stands, and thereby facilitate the development of bryophyte communities and the increase of genetic variation of the recolonized mosses.     

Stream chemistry impacts of conifer harvesting in welsh catchments

Hydrochemical data have been collected for between 6 and 9 years from forest harvesting experiments in small catchments (>10 ha) at Plynlimon and Beddgelert, Wales, UK. Felling resulted in rapid increases in NO ₃ ^? and K⁺ concentrations at both sites. A maximum of 3.2 mg N L^?1 was observed at Plynlimon about one year after the start of felling. Concentrations declined to control stream values (0.5 mg N L^?1) after 5 years. At Beddgelert, NO ₃ ^? concentrations in the manipulated catchments remained above those in the unfelled control catchment for three years, before declining below control values. The NO ₃ ^? pulse was related to increased rates of mineralization and nitrification in the soil after felling. The initial increase in K⁺ concentration after felling at Plynlimon was followed by a slow decline, but concentrations were still above those in the control stream after 5 years. From 4 to 8 years after felling at Beddgelert, K⁺ concentrations fell below and then generally remained lower than control values. The NO ₃ ^? pulse after felling at Plynlimon sustained inorganic anion concentrations above those in the control stream for the first 18 months after felling. As the NO ₃ ^? pulse declined, inorganic anion concentrations decreased to below those in the control stream about 4 years after felling. At Beddgelert, the smaller increase in NO ₃ ^? concentrations had less of an effect on inorganic anion concentrations which decreased after felling relative to values in the control stream. The increase in NO ₃ ^? was associated with temporary streamwater acidification in the felled catchments due to the increased rates of nitrification and nitrate leaching. At Plynlimon, streamwater filterable Al concentrations declined after felling, but controls on Al behaviour are complex and not explained by simple equilibrium relationships with Al(OH)₃ or by variations in inorganic anion concentrations. At Beddgelert, felling had no effect on stream water filterable Al concentrations. Felling at Plynlimon led to a large reduction in streamwater Cl^?, Na⁺ and SO ₄ ^2? concentrations. At Beddgelert reductions in SO ₄ ^2? and ‘sea salt’ ion concentrations were less clear, reflecting the smaller proportions of the catchments which were harvested. Felling had no deleterious effects on water quality, apart from a temporary slight further decline in stream pH at Beddgelert. Increases in NO ₃ ^? concentrations were short-lived and concentrations were well below drinking water standards. Filterable Al concentrations were already higher than statutory standards, but were not increased or decreased through felling.     

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.