Substituting nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer with optimal amount of crop straw improves rice grain yield,nutrient use efficiency and soil carbon sequestration

Crop straw return after harvest is considered an important way to achieve both agronomic and environmental benefits.  However, the appropriate amount of straw to substitute for fertilizer remains unclear.  A field experiment was performed from 2016 to 2018 to explore the effect of different amounts of straw to substitute for fertilizer on soil properties, soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, grain yield, yield components, nitrogen (N) use efficiency, phosphorus (P) use efficiency, N surplus, and P surplus after rice harvesting.  Relative to mineral fertilization alone, straw substitution at 5 t ha^–1 improved the number of spikelets per panicle, effective panicle, seed setting rate, 1 000-grain weight, and grain yield, and also increased the aboveground N and P uptake in rice.  Straw substitution exceeding 2.5 t ha^–1 increased the soil available N, P, and K concentrations as compared with mineral fertilization, and different amounts of straw substitution improved SOC storage compared with mineral fertilization.  Furthermore, straw substitution at 5 t ha^–1 decreased the N surplus and P surplus by up to 68.3 and 28.9%, respectively, compared to mineral fertilization.  Rice aboveground N and P uptake and soil properties together contributed 19.3% to the variation in rice grain yield and yield components.  Straw substitution at 5 t ha^–1, an optimal fertilization regime, improved soil properties, SOC storage, grain yield, yield components, N use efficiency (NUE), and P use efficiency (PUE) while simultaneously decreasing the risk of environmental contamination.     

Grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under different nitrogen and seeding rates in direct-seeded and double-season rice in Central China

Nitrogen(N) and seeding rates are important factors affecting grain yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in directseeded rice. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on direct-seeded and double-season rice(DDR) in Central China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various N and seeding rates on the grain yield and NUE of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 in Wuxue County and 2019 in Qichun County, Hubei...     

Millet/peanut intercropping at a moderate N rate increases crop productivity and N use efficiency,as well as economic benefits,under rain-fed conditions

Cereal and legume intercropping has been widely adopted to increase crop productivity in sustainable farming systems worldwide.  Among different intercropping combinations, millet and peanut intercropping can be adapted to most water-limited areas.  However, there are few studies on the differences in yield characteristics and nitrogen use efficiency between millet/peanut intercropping and monocultures under different nitrogen (N) application rates.  The objective of this study was to determine the yield advantages and economic benefits, as well as the appropriate N application rate, of millet/peanut intercropping.  A two-year field experiment was conducted with three cropping patterns (monoculture millet, monoculture peanut and millet/peanut intercropping) and four N rates (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg ha⁻¹).  The results showed that the land equivalent ratio (LER) and net effect (NE) of the intercropping system reached their highest levels at the N input of 150 kg ha⁻¹ in 2018 and 2019 (1.04 for LER, 0.347 Mg ha⁻¹ for NE, averaged across two years).  Millet was the dominant crop in the intercropping system (aggressivity of millet and peanut (Amp)>0, competitive ratio of millet and peanut (CRmp)>1), and millet yields achieved their highest values at N inputs of 225 kg ha⁻¹ for monoculture and 150 kg ha⁻¹ for intercropping.  NUE reached its highest levels with N inputs of 150 kg ha⁻¹ for all planting patterns over the two years.  Intercropping combined with an N input of 150 kg ha⁻¹ achieved the highest net income of 2 791 USD ha⁻¹, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.56, averaged over the two years.  From the perspective of economics and agricultural sustainable development, millet/peanut intercropping at 150 kg N ha⁻¹ seems to be a promising alternative to millet or peanut monoculture.     

Grain yield,nitrogen use efficiency and physiological performance of indica/japonica hybrid rice in response to various nitrogen rates

Utilizing the heterosis of indica/japonica hybrid rice (IJHR) is an effective way to further increase rice grain yield.Rational application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer plays a very important role in using the heterosis of IJHR to achieve its great yield potential.However,the responses of the grain yield and N utilization of IJHR to N application rates and the underlying physiological mechanism remain elusive.The purpose of this study was to clarify these issues.Three rice cultivars currently used...     

Bentonite-humic acid improves soil organic carbon,microbial biomass,enzyme activities and grain quality in a sandy soil cropped to maize (Zea mays L.) in a semi-arid region

A bentonite-humic acid (B-HA) mixture added to degraded soils may improve soil physical and hydraulic properties, due to effects such as improved soil structure and increased water and nutrient retention, but its effect on soil physicochemical and biological properties, and grain quality is largely unknown.  The effect of B-HA, added at 30 Mg ha⁻¹, was studied at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years after its addition to a degraded sandy soil in a semi-arid region of China.  The addition of B-HA significantly increased water-filled pore space and soil organic carbon, especially at 3 to 5 years after its soil addition to the soil.  Amending the sandy soil with B-HA also increased the content of microbial biomass (MB)-carbon, -nitrogen and -phosphorus, and the activities of urease, invertase, catalase and alkaline phosphatase.  The significant effect of maize (Zea mays L.) growth stage on soil MB and enzyme activities accounted for 58 and 84% of their total variation, respectively.  In comparison, B-HA accounted for 8% of the total variability for each of the same two variables.  B-HA significantly enhanced soil properties and the uptake of N and P by maize in semi-arid areas.  The use of B-HA product would be an effective management strategy to reclaim degraded sandy soils and foster sustainable agriculture production in northeast China and regions of the world with similar soils and climate.     

Nitrogen management improves lodging resistance and production in maize (Zea mays L.) at a high plant density

Lodging in maize leads to yield losses worldwide. In this study, we determined the effects of traditional and optimized nitrogen management strategies on culm morphological characteristics, culm mechanical strength, lignin content,root growth, lodging percentage and production in maize at a high plant density. We compared a traditional nitrogen(N) application rate of 300 kg ha–1(R) and an optimized N application rate of 225 kg ha^–1(O) under four N application modes: 50% of N applied a...     

Quantifying in situ N2 fluxes from an intensively managed calcareous soil using the 15N gas-flux method

Denitrification-induced nitrogen (N) losses from croplands may be greatly increased by intensive fertilization.  However, the accurate quantification of these losses is still challenging due to insufficient available in situ measurements of soil dinitrogen (N₂) emissions.  We carried out two one-week experiments in a maize–wheat cropping system with calcareous soil using the ¹⁵N gas-flux (¹⁵NGF) method to measure in situ N₂ fluxes following urea application.  Applications of ¹⁵N-labeled urea (99 atom%, 130–150 kg N ha⁻¹) were followed by irrigation on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after fertilization (DAF 1, 3, and 5, respectively).  The detection limits of the soil N₂ fluxes were 163–1 565, 81–485, and 54–281 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ for the two-, four-, and six-hour static chamber enclosures, respectively.  The N₂ fluxes measured in 120 cases varied between 159 and 2 943 (811 on average) μg N m⁻² h⁻¹, which were higher than the detection limits, with the exception of only two cases.  The N₂ fluxes at DAF 3 were significantly higher (by nearly 80% (P<0.01)) than those at DAF 1 and 5 in the maize experiment, while there were no significant differences among the irrigation times in the wheat experiment.  The N₂ fluxes and the ratios of nitrous oxide (N₂O) to the N₂O plus N₂ fluxes following urea application to maize were approximately 65% and 11 times larger, respectively (P<0.01), than those following urea application to wheat.  Such differences could be mainly attributed to the higher soil water contents, temperatures, and availability of soil N substrates in the maize experiment than in the wheat experiment.  This study suggests that the ¹⁵NGF method is sensitive enough to measure in situ N₂ fluxes from intensively fertilized croplands with calcareous soils.     

Optimization of slow-release fertilizer application improves lotus rhizome quality by affecting the physicochemical properties of starch

To achieve the dual goals of high yield and good quality with low environmental costs,slow-release fertilizer (SRF) has been widely used in lotus cultivation as new type of fertilizer instead of traditional nitrogen fertilizer.However,the optimal amount of SRF and how it would promote lotus rhizome quality remain unclear.This study was designed to investigate the photosynthetic characteristics and the synthesis,accumulation,and physicochemical properties of lotus rhizome starches under six SRF l...     

Growth and nitrogen productivity of drip-irrigated winter wheat under different nitrogen fertigation strategies in the North China Plain

Excessive application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is the main cause of N loss and poor use efficiency in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the North China Plain (NCP).  Drip fertigation is considered to be an effective method for improving N use efficiency and reducing losses, while the performance of drip fertigation in winter wheat is limited by poor N scheduling.  A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth, development and yield of drip-fertigated winter wheat under different split urea (46% N, 240 kg ha^–1) applications.  The six treatments consisted of five fertigation N application scheduling programs and one slow-release fertilizer (SRF) application.  The five N scheduling treatments were N0–100 (0% at sowing and 100% at jointing/booting), N25–75 (25% at sowing and 75% at jointing and booting), N50–50 (50% at sowing and 50% at jointing/booting), N75–25 (75% at sowing and 25 at jointing/booting), and N100–0 (100% at sowing and 0% at jointing/booting).  The SRF (43% N, 240 kg ha^–1) was only used as fertilizer at sowing.  Split N application significantly (P<0.05) affected wheat grain yield, yield components, aboveground biomass (ABM), water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP).  The N50–50 and SRF treatments respectively had the highest yield (8.84 and 8.85 t ha^–1), ABM (20.67 and 20.83 t ha^–1), WUE (2.28 and 2.17 kg m^–3) and NPFP (36.82 and 36.88 kg kg^–1).  This work provided substantial evidence that urea-N applied in equal splits between basal and topdressing doses compete economically with the highly expensive SRF for fertilization of winter wheat crops.  Although the single-dose SRF could reduce labor costs involved with the traditional method of manual spreading, the drip fertigation system used in this study with the N50–50 treatment provides an option for farmers to maintain wheat production in the NCP.     

The Nutrient Expert decision support system improves nutrient use efficiency and environmental performance of radish in North China

Excessive fertilization has led to nutrient use inefficiency and serious environmental consequences for radish cultivation in North China.  The Nutrient Expert (NE) system is a science-based, site-specific fertilization decision support system, but the updated NE system for radish has rarely been evaluated.  This study aims to validate the feasibility of NE for radish fertilization management from agronomic, economic, and environmental perspectives.  A total of 46 field experiments were conducted over four seasons from April 2018 to November 2019 across the major radish growing regions in North China.  The results indicated that NE significantly reduced N, P₂O₅, and K₂O application rates by 98, 110, and 47 kg ha⁻¹ relative to those in the farmers’ practice (FP), respectively, and reduced N and P₂O₅ inputs by 48 and 44 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, while maintaining the same K₂O rate as soil testing (ST).  Relative to FP and ST, NE significantly increased radish yield by 2.7 and 2.6 t ha⁻¹ (4.2 and 4.0%) and net returns by 837 and 432 USD ha⁻¹, respectively.  On average, NE significantly improved the agronomic efficiency (AE) of N, P, and K (relative to FP and ST) by 42.4 and 31.0, 67.4 kg kg⁻¹ and 50.9, and 20.3 and 12.3 kg kg⁻¹; enhanced the recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P, and K by 11.4 and 7.0, 14.1 and 7.5, and 11.3 and 6.3 percentage points; and increased the partial factor productivity (PFP) of N, P, and K by 162.9 and 96.8, 488.0 and 327.3, and 86.9 and 22.4 kg kg⁻¹, respectively.  Furthermore, NE substantially reduced N and P₂O₅ surpluses by 105.1 and 115.1 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, and decreased apparent N loss by 110.8 kg ha⁻¹ compared to FP.  These results indicated that the NE system is an effective and feasible approach for improving NUE and promoting cleaner radish production in North China.     

Interactions between phosphorus availability and microbes in a wheat–maize double cropping system: A reduced fertilization scheme

Mechanisms controlling phosphorus (P) availability and the roles of microorganisms in the efficient utilization of soil P in the wheat–maize double cropping system are poorly understood.  In the present study, we conducted a pot experiment for four consecutive wheat–maize seasons (2016–2018) using calcareous soils with high (30.36 mg kg^–1) and low (9.78 mg kg^–1) initial Olsen-P content to evaluate the effects of conventional P fertilizer application to both wheat and maize (Pwm) along with a reduced P fertilizer application only to wheat (Pw).  The microbial community structure along with soil P availability parameters and crop yield were determined.  The results showed that the Pw treatment reduces the annual P input by 33.3% without affecting the total yield for at least two consecutive years as compared with the Pwm treatment in the high Olsen-P soil.  Soil water-soluble P concentrations in the Pw treatment were similar to those in the Pwm treatment at the 12-leaf collar stage when maize requires the most P.  Furthermore, the soil P content significantly affected soil microbial communities, especially fungal communities.  Meanwhile, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of Pw were significantly higher (by 11.4 and 13.3%) than those of Pwm in soil with high Olsen-P.  The microfloral contribution to yield was greater than that of soil P content in soil with high Olsen-P.  Relative abundances of Bacillus and Rhizobium were enriched in the Pw treatment compared with the Pwm treatment.  Bacillus showed a significant positive correlation with acid phosphatase (ACP) activity, and Rhizobium displayed significant positive correlations with ACP and ALP in soil with high Olsen-P, which may enhance P availability.  Our findings suggested that the application of P fertilization only to wheat is practical in high P soils to ensure optimal production in the wheat and maize double cropping system and that the soil P availability and microbial community may collaborate to maintain optimal yield in a wheat–maize double cropping system.     

辽西地区坡耕地垄膜沟种对土壤侵蚀和作物产量的影响

【目的】为了充分有效地利用辽西地区有限的自然降雨,减少坡耕地水土流失,提高水土资源利用率,促进作物稳产高产,在辽西地区坡耕地进行了不同耕种模式研究。【方法】2012—2015年在辽宁省农业科学院阜新旱农试验区进行,试验采用径流小区定位观测的方法,研究天然降雨条件下坡耕地不同耕种模式对土壤侵蚀、土壤水分和作物产量的影响。径流小区长15 m,宽4 m。试验为双因素裂区设计,主区为坡度,设5°和10°两个坡度,副区为种植模式,分设传统种植(CK,等高土沟土垄)、等高垄膜沟秸秆种植(T1)、等高垄膜沟种(T2)3种处理,3次重复。垄膜沟种沟宽60 cm,垄宽40 cm,垄高10—12 cm。供试作物为谷子和玉米,轮作种植。【结果】垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种可有效减少和防止水土流失。4年间,5°坡对照总径流量为512.7m3·hm~(-2),总侵蚀量为4 561.3 kg·hm-2,T1处理和T2处理未发生土壤侵蚀;10°坡T1处理总径流量和总侵蚀量较10°坡对照分别减少81.71%和96.17%,T2处理较对照分别减少56.92%和95.15%,10°坡T1处理总径流量和总侵蚀量较T2处理分别减少57.54%和21.05%。垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种较对照减少侵蚀量的同时可明显减少侵蚀泥沙中的养分流失量。随着坡度的增大,径流量和侵蚀量都随之增加,同时垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种防蚀效果相对减弱。4年平均土壤水分,坡度间由5°坡到10°坡呈降低的趋势,但差异不显著;种植方式间垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种与对照差异极显著,较对照分别高出1.68和1.45个百分点。对谷子而言,无论丰水年(2012年)或干旱年(2014年),垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种较对照都表现出极显著的增墒效果;对玉米而言,平水年(2013年)垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种较对照未表现出显著的增墒效果,干旱年(2015年)增墒效果极显著。4年平均产量,坡度间由5°坡到10°坡呈降低的趋势,但差异不显著。种植方式间垄膜沟秸秆与对照及垄膜沟种差异极显著,分别增产25.59%和10.68%,同时垄膜沟种与对照产量差异极显著,比对照增产13.47%。其中2012年和2014年,谷子垄膜沟种较对照增产不显著,垄膜沟秸秆较对照增产显著,分别增产24.75%和74.58%;2013年和2015年,玉米垄膜沟秸秆和垄膜沟种较对照增产极显著,垄膜沟秸秆较对照分别增产11.29%和54.39%,垄膜沟种较对照分别增产5.05%和51.81%。干旱年份,垄膜沟秸秆(谷子,玉米)和垄膜沟种(玉米)增产效果尤为显著。【结论】通过连续4年的旱坡耕地垄膜沟种试验,明晰了该技术模式在辽西半干旱地区的防蚀、集雨、增墒、增产效果,有效减轻干旱缺水和水土流失对坡耕地作物生长所造成的不利影响,丰富了辽西半干旱地区旱作集水农业的理论基础。通过该项技术的推广应用,可有效提高该区水土资源利用率,保护坡耕地质量,提升坡耕地粮食综合生产能力,使作物高产,促进该区旱作农业健康、可持续发展。从防蚀、集水、增墒、增产等角度考虑,垄膜沟秸秆耕种模式比较适宜于辽西半干旱区坡耕地。     

Sustainability of the rice–crayfish farming model in waterlogged land: A case study in Qianjiang County,Hubei Province,China

The rice–crayfish farming model has been rapidly developed and become an economically viable method to supply food in China in recent years.  However, its environmental and economic sustainability has not been thoroughly investigated.  This study uses a survey in 2016 and a field experiment in 2017 in Qianjiang, Hubei Province, China to assess the relative economics of concurrent rice–wheat (RW), rice–crayfish (RC), and crayfish monoculture (CM) models in waterlogged land areas.  The field survey indicated that the RC model had a higher benefit–cost ratio (3.5:1) than the RW (2.0:1) and CM (3.1:1) models and the RC model protected farmers’ enthusiasm for grain production facing unfavourable weather conditions.  The field experiment aimed to explore nitrogen management strategies in RC fields.  In the experiment, four levels of nitrogen concentration gradient - 0 kg N ha^–1 (0 N), 75 kg N ha^–1 (75 N), 150 kg N ha^–1 (150 N) and 225 kg N ha^–1 (225 N), were set in a 2-year-old rice–crayfish (RC2) field, an 8-year-old rice–crayfish (RC8) field, and a RW field as a control.  The field experiment results suggested that the peak  rice yield in RW, RC2, and RC8 occurred when 225 N, 150 N and 75 N were used, respectively.  In RC2 and RC8, however, residual feed-nitrogen that was not used by crayfish was utilized by rice plants.  Thus, an optimal amount of nitrogen in RC fields was proposed to improve the nitrogen use efficiency and reduce environmental pollution by nitrogen fertilizer.  Farmers use less nitrogen but have higher net income in RC than in RW and CM.  It is necessary to sustainably develop integrated farming technologies (i.e., proper field configurations for rice fields) to effectively sustain rice production.  The results also showed that the RC farming model was a viable diversification option for rice farmers in waterlogged land.       

小麦播量与减氮对潮土微生物量碳氮及土壤酶活性的影响

【目的】以我国黄淮平原粮食主产区潮土为研究对象,通过探讨小麦-玉米轮作体系下,不同小麦播量与减量氮肥下,土壤微生物量碳、氮和酶活性的差异和变化,以了解小麦播量和氮肥对土壤微生物量的影响。【方法】试验设4个处理,分别为：（1）常规播量+常规施氮肥（CK）;（2）增播30%+常规施氮（T1）;（3）增播30%+减氮20%（T2）;（4）常规播量+减氮20%（T3）。2016—2018年3季作物收获后,采取不同土层土壤,测定有机碳（SOC）、全氮（TN）、微生物量碳氮（SMBC、SMBN）及其相关酶活性。【结果】总体上,3季中各处理土壤微生物量碳氮、有机碳、全氮以及3种酶活性均随土壤深度增加而下降。常规施肥处理（CK和T1）的SMBC的含量在2017年的小麦和玉米季0—20 cm土层以及2018年小麦季则0—30 cm基本表现为显著高于减氮处理（T2和T3）,其中T1处理最高为170.89 mg?kg ^-1。SMBN与SMBC表现出类似的趋势,在3季中均以常规施肥处理显著高于减氮处理,其中CK处理的SMBN在3季中0—30 cm土层均表现较高,最高为57.24 mg?kg ^-1。各处理SOC含量的差异在前两季主要集中在0—20 cm土层,而第3季则集中在10—30 cm土层;其中2017年玉米季0—20 cm土层减氮处理的SOC含量显著高于常规施肥处理,以T3处理SOC含量最高,为12.85 g?kg ^-1。2017年小麦季各处理TN含量在0—30 cm土层基本差异不显著;而在2017年玉米季和2018年小麦季的0—20 cm土层均以CK处理TN含量显著高于其他处理,最高为1.57 g?kg ^-1。各处理土壤碳氮比（C/N）在2017年小麦季没有明显规律,而在2017年玉米季和2018年小麦季的0—20 cm土层基本表现为减氮处理的C/N显著高于常规施肥处理。各处理的微生物熵（C_mic/C_org）、微生物量氮/全氮（N_mic/N_total）分别在0.5%—2.5%、2%—6%之间,微生物量碳氮比（C_mic/N_mic）在5﹕1以下。各处理C_mic/C_org除2017年小麦季10—20 cm土层,其他作物季节和土层均表现为常规施肥处理显著高于减氮处理。各处理N_mic/N_total与C_mic/C_org类似,除2017年玉米季的10—20 cm和2018年小麦季处理间N_mic/N_total基本差异不显著,其他季节和土层则表现为常规施肥处理显著高于减氮处理。2017年T1处理的C_mic/N_mic在0—20 cm土层均显著高于其他处理;而在后两季的0—10 cm处理间C_mic/N_mic均差异不显著。土壤脲酶活性在2018年小麦季显示增播处理显著高于常播处理。各处理蔗糖酶活性在玉米季明显高于小麦季,其中在2017年玉米季10—30 cm土层的减氮处理高于常规施肥处理。减氮处理的土壤中性磷酸酶活性在2017年小麦季0—30 cm土层均显著高于常规施肥处理。减氮处理2018年小麦季产量显著高于常规施肥处理,同时提高了地上部氮素积累量,最高达到了322.30 kg?hm ^-2。 【结论】在黄淮平原小麦-玉米轮作区,在供试条件下,减氮处理降低了土壤微生物量和全氮含量,但提高了土壤酶活性和地上部氮素积累量,能增加或维持小麦产量,其中小麦常规播量下减氮20%处理综合效果较好。     

Effects of erect panicle genotype and environment interactions on rice yield and yield components

The dense and erect panicle (EP) genotype conferred by DEP1 has been widely used in the breeding of high-yield Chinese japonica rice varieties.  However, the breeding value of the EP genotype has rarely been determined at the plant population level.  Therefore, the effects of the interaction of EP genotype and the environment at different locations and times on rice yield and its various components were investigated in this study.  Two sets of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of EP and non-EP (NEP) genotypes with Liaojing 5 (LG5) and Akitakomachi (AKI) backgrounds were grown in the field in 2016 and 2017 in Shenyang, China, and Kyoto, Japan.  In 2018, these sets were grown only in Kyoto, Japan.  The average yields of the EP and NEP genotypes were 6.67 and 6.13 t ha⁻¹ for the AKI background, and 6.66 and 6.58 t ha⁻¹ for the LG5 background, respectively.  The EP genotype positively affected panicle number (PN) and grain number per square meter (GNPM), mostly resulting in a positive effect on harvest index (HI).  In contrast, the EP genotype exerted a negative effect on thousand-grain weight (KGW).  The ratio of the performance of the EP genotype relative to the NEP genotype in terms of yield and total biomass correlated positively with mean daily solar radiation during a 40-day period around heading.  These results indicate that the effectiveness of the EP genotype depends on the availability of solar radiation, and the effect of this genotype is consistently positive for sink formation, conditional in terms of source capacity, and positive in a high-radiation environment.     

Effects of nitrogen management on the ratoon crop yield and head rice yield in South USA

Ratoon rice cropping is an important component of the rice cropping system in Texas and south Louisiana, USA, and expanded to Asian countries in 1970. Two field studies were conducted with widely planted rice(Oryza sativa L.) cultivars at Eagle Lake, Texas, USA to determine the effects of nitrogen(N) management in main(first) crop(MC) and ratoon(second) crop(RC) on RC yield. In 2012 and 2013, one cultivar(Presidio) was adopted to determine the effects of RC N management on ratoon yield and head rice yield. In 2016 and 2017, CL153, CL163 and CL272 in addition to Presidio were adopted to examine the effect of MC N management on ratoon yield and head rice yield. N applied at preflood after MC harvest considerably improved RC yield. Application of 99 kg N ha–1 at preflood after MC harvest was practically adequate for RC regrowth, development and approaching the yield potential for Presidio. RC could produce quite high average grain yields of 5.90 to 6.53 t ha–1 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Main crop N rate only significantly affected MC yield; however, given N applied of 99 kg ha–1 at preflood after MC harvest, ratoon yield was not significantly affected by MC N rate. Neither the main nor ratoon crop N management had a significant effect on RC head rice yield. Considerable RC head rice yields(55–65%) were observed in all of the four cultivars and 4 years except for CL272 in 2016. These results indicat that without very high N fertilizer application, rice ratoon crop could produce a considerable grain yield and an expectative head rice yield. Rice ratooning could be a practical way to increase rice yields with the minimal input in south Texas and regions with a similar climate.     

An economic and viable approach to improve wheat quality in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau,China

Wheat flour products are the main dietary component of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) population in China.  However, the high altitude restricts the local wheat quality and quantity, and the applied nitrogen rate is higher than the optimal rate for wheat planting.  In this study, we considered whether reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and introducing the superior varieties from the North China Plain (NCP) are viable ways to increase the wheat quality and quantity in the QTP.  Three and four winter wheat cultivars from QTP and NCP, respectively, were planted in Lhasa at an altitude of 3 647 m with reduced topdressing nitrogen application at the jointing stage.  The wheat from NCP exhibited higher grain hardness index and test weight, and better flour and dough quality.  Reducing the topdressing nitrogen fertilizer from 135 to 75 kg N ha⁻¹ at the jointing stage (with the same basal fertilization of 105 kg N ha⁻¹) did not significantly (P<0.05) affect the grain yield, grain quality, flour quality or dough quality in any of the cultivars.  In summary, introducing high-quality winter wheat varieties from the NCP to the Lhasa plateau is a viable way to enhance the wheat supply and quality in the QTP.  Reducing a certain amount of the nitrogen fertilizer is an economic and feasible approach for the QTP region.     

Effect of long-term fertilization on phosphorus fractions in different soil layers and their quantitative relationships with soil properties

Investigating the dynamics and distribution of soil phosphorus (P) fractions can provide a basis for enhancing P utilization by crops.  Four treatments from a 29-year long-term experiment in black soil with maize cropping were involved in this study: no fertilizer (CK), inorganic nitrogen and potassium (NK), inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), and NPK plus manure (NPKM).  We analyzed soil P fractions in different soil layers using a modified Hedley sequential method.  The long-term NPKM treatment significantly increased total P by 0.6–1.6 times in the different soil layers.  The Olsen-P concentration far exceeded the environmental threshold for soil Olsen-P (50.6 mg kg^–1) in the NPKM treatment in the 0–60 cm soil profile.  Moreover, the concentrations and proportion of labile and partially labile inorganic P (Pi) fractions (i.e., NaHCO₃-extracted Pi, NaOH-extracted Pi, and dilute HCl-extracted Pi) to the sum of all P fractions (Pt) in the 0–60 cm soil profile were higher in the NPKM treatment than in the NPK treatment, indicating that manure could promote the transformation of non-labile into more labile forms of P in soil, possibly by manure reducing P fixation by soil particles.  Soil organic matter, Mehlich-3 extractable iron (Fe), and organic-bound aluminum were increased by fertilization, and were the main factors influencing the differences in the P fractions in the 0–20 cm soil layer.  Soil mineral components, i.e., free Fe oxide and CaCO₃, were the main factors influencing the P fractions in the subsoil.  The soil P transformation process varied with soil layer and fertilization.  Application of manure fertilizer can increase the labile (Olsen) P concentrations of the various soil layers, and thus should reduce the mineral P fertilizer requirement for crop growth and reduce potential environmental damage     

Hole fertilization in the root zone facilitates maize yield and nitrogen utilization by mitigating potential N loss and improving mineral N accumulation

Reducing environmental impacts and improving N utilization are critical to ensuring food security in China.  Although root-zone fertilization has been considered an effective strategy to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), the effect of controlled-release urea (CRU) applied in conjunction with normal urea in this mode is unclear.  Therefore, a 3-year field experiment was conducted using a no-N-added as a control and two fertilization modes (FF, furrow fertilization by manual trenching, i.e., farmer fertilizer practice; HF: root-zone hole fertilization by point broadcast manually) at 210 kg N ha^–1 (controlled-release:normal fertilizer=5:5), along with a 1-year in-situ microplot experiment.  Maize yield, NUE and N loss were investigated under different fertilization modes.  The results showed that compared with FF, HF improved the average yield and N recovery efficiency by 8.5 and 22.3% over three years, respectively.  HF had a greater potential for application than FF treatment, which led to increases in dry matter accumulation, total N uptake, SPAD value and LAI.  In addition, HF remarkably enhanced the accumulation of ¹⁵N derived from fertilizer by 17.2% compared with FF, which in turn reduced the potential loss of ¹⁵N by 43.8%.  HF increased the accumulation of N in the tillage layer of soils at harvest for potential use in the subsequent season relative to FF.  Hence, HF could match the N requirement of summer maize, sustain yield, improve NUE and reduce environmental N loss simultaneously.  Overall, root-zone hole fertilization with blended CRU and normal urea can represent an effective and promising practice to achieve environmental integrity and food security on the North China Plain, which deserves further application and investigation.     

商品有机肥替代部分化肥对玉米生长、产量及土壤肥力的影响

【目的】研究商品有机肥替代部分化肥施用后对玉米生长、产量、土壤肥力及经济效益的影响,为玉米生产中有机肥替代部分化肥的应用提供可行性依据。【方法】设3个处理,不施肥(CK)、常规施肥(NPK)、有机肥替代部分化肥(MNPK)(等养分条件下,氮、磷和钾替代比例分别为10.0%、18.3%和15.0%),设田间小区试验与室内分析。【结果】商品有机肥替代部分化肥(MNPK)较常规施肥(NPK)和不施肥(CK),提高了玉米各生育期株高、茎粗、叶片数和叶片SPAD值;改善了玉米的穗部性状和产量构成;玉米产量增加83.47%、14.94%,净收益增加419.58元/hm²;土壤碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、有机质含量分别增加13.08%～39.29%、71.97%～95.70%、13.29%～45.13%、20.00%～23.26%,提高含水量,降低土壤pH和土壤容重。【结论】商品有机肥替代部分化肥是促进玉米生长、增产增效和培肥土壤的一种经济可行的施肥方法。