System productivity,nutrient use efficiency and apparent nutrient balance in rice-based cropping systems

A 2-year field experiment was conducted to assess system productivity, nutrient use efficiency and apparent balances of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in diversified rice-based cropping systems at Gazipur, Bangladesh. Four cropping systems: wheat–fallow–rice, maize–fallow–rice, potato–fallow–rice and mustard–fallow–rice in main plots and four nutrient combinations: NPK, NK, NP and PK in sub-plots were arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Receiving the NPK treatment, all the component crops gave the highest yield, and omission of N from fertilizer package gave the lowest yield. The maize–rice system removed the highest amount of N (217 kg ha^?1), P (41 kg ha^?1) and K (227 kg ha^?1) followed by wheat–rice, potato–rice and the least in mustard–rice system. The wheat–rice and maize–rice system showed negative K balance of –35.5 and –60.4 kg ha^?1 in NPK treatment, while potato–rice system showed a positive K balance of 31.0 kg ha^–1 with NPK treatment. The N, P and K uptake and apparent recovery by the test crops may be used for site-specific nutrient management. The K rates for fertilizer recommendation in wheat and maize in Indo-Gangetic plain need to be revised to take account for the negative K balance in soil.     

Influence of different plantain cropping systems on physical properties of soil and plantain bunch yield

Information on the effects of soil physical properties on plantain yield is rare. A factorial trial was conducted in three southern Cameroonian villages comparing four cropping systems comprising: two planted legumes, (1) Flemingia macrophylla and (2) Pueraria phaseoloides; a crop, (3) hot pepper; and (4) natural regrowth, all planted to plantain established in old forest versus young bush fallow. Initially, bush fallow had significantly higher sand content, mean weight diameter (MWD) and proportion of macroaggregates, but lower clay content and lower proportions of mesoaggregates and microaggregates than forest soil. Between 2002 and 2006, clay and silt content, MWD, geometric mean diameter and the proportion of macroaggregates increased, whereas sand content, bulk density, and the proportions of mesoaggregates and microaggregates decreased in all villages, fallows and cropping systems. Changes in aggregate stability parameters were greater in forest than in bush fallow at Ngoumou and Mfou, and greater in the F. macrophylla and natural regrowth systems than in the pepper and Pueraria systems. In Ngoumou and Nkometou, available water capacity increased. Plantain fresh-bunch yield was unaffected by village, fallow and cropping systems, and was not correlated with soil physical properties or their changes.     

洱海流域北部农田养分平衡及残留特性研究

为减少农田氮磷流失,改善洱海水质、遏制富营养化发展,以洱海流域北部8个乡（镇）为研究区域,采用现场调查与分析测试相结合的方法研究了洱海流域北部10种典型轮作模式的施肥量、作物养分吸收量、农田养分盈余量以及土壤养分残留状况,对不同轮作模式农田养分平衡及残留特性进行了分析评价。结果表明,水稻-大蒜轮作模式下有机肥和氮肥的投入量显著高于其他模式,水稻-蔬菜作物轮作模式的磷肥投入量显著高于其他模式;不同轮作模式间土壤养分残留差异性以硝态氮最为突出：水稻-大蒜轮作条件下土壤硝态氮残留量达43.4mg.kg-1,明显高于其他轮作模式;10种轮作模式均处于养分盈余状态,以水稻-大蒜轮作模式养分盈余量最大,为1258.8kgN.hm-2和1472.7kgP2O5.hm-2;养分盈余量差异主要凸现在小春季作物上;土壤中易流失的硝态氮、铵态氮和速效磷与氮磷肥的投入量和养分盈余均呈显著相关。表明水稻-大蒜和水稻-蔬菜轮作是洱海流域农田环境污染风险较高的种植模式,需要重点防控。     

The rehabilitation of degraded soils in eastern bolivia by subsoiling and the incorporation of cover crops

A high proportion of the soils in the central zone of Santa Cruz, eastern Bolivia, are chemically and physically degraded, with low organic matter and N contents, compacted subsoil layers and a propensity to crusting, hardsetting and wind erosion. The aim of the experiment discussed in this paper was to identify suitable cover crops to be used in combination with subsoiling for the rehabilitation of degraded soils and the improvement of crop yields in eastern Bolivia. Fertilizers were not used because of their high cost. An experiment with a split complete block design, with subsoiling and no-subsoiling as the main treatments, 14 cover crops and a continuously cultivated soybean/wheat control as the subtreatments, and four replications, was established on a degraded site comprising a mosaic of two compacted siliceous isohyperthermic soils (a coarse loamy Typic Ustropept and a fine loamy Typic Haplustalf). After a two-year fallow period, the cover crops were incorporated and test crops were sown for five seasons to evaluate the effects of the treatments on subsequent crop yields. Soil samples were taken to measure changes in chemical fertility. The only significant cover crop effect on soil nutrients was an increase in exchangeable K from 0.47 to 0.56 cmol_c kg⁻¹ by Lablab; subsoiling had no effect on chemical fertility. For all treatments there was an average 24 per cent increase in soil organic matter from 13.1 g kg⁻¹ at 3 months after cover crop incorporation to 16.3 g kg⁻¹ at 19 months after incorporation. No significant differences in total N were found during this period. Test crop yields were not influenced by subsoiling, but were significantly increased by some of the cover crops as compared to the soybean/wheat control during the first three seasons only. Evidence from foliar analysis suggests that the effects of the cover crops on soybean yields were not nutritional and so presumably were physical in nature, whereas the benefits on wheat yields were possibly related to increased N availability. Panicum maximum var. Centenario and P. maximum var. Tobiatá gave the highest total yield increases over the first three cropping seasons (101 and 85 per cent, respectively), but these yield increases would not compensate the farmer for the loss of four crop harvests whilst the land was in fallow. These results highlight the difficulties of rehabilitating soil fertility and increasing crop yields through the use of subsoiling and cover crop fallows on compacted, low organic matter soils in eastern Bolivia.     

Nutrients in the West African Sudano-Sahelian zone: Losses,transfers and role of external inputs

Crop growth on acid sandy soils of the Sudano-Sahelian zone is primarily limited by the low amounts of organic matter and available mineral nutrients in the topsoil. The shortening of fallow periods with population growth, the exploitation of fire wood, spatial nutrient transfers by wind and water and net nutrient exports with crop yields in the order of 15 kg nitrogen (N) 2 kg phosphorus (P) and 15 kg potassium (K) ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for traditional fields planted to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in the southern Sahel have exhausted these resources. Large productivity declines in the prevailing agro-pastoral systems are the consequence. Data are presented to show bow nutrient exports at the level of individual fields, through grain yields and biomass removal as forage, firewood, construction material, and also through run-off, wind and water erosion, leaching and volatilisation, are either losses for the ecosystem or sources of nutrients transferred within the ecosystem. Livestock is a vector of nutrients from rangelands to manured fields through forage intake and excretion and helps to shortcut nutrient cycles, but it is also a net consumer of organic matter and minerals. Through the effects of trampling on the soil and of grazing on the vegetation composition and production, livestock also indirectly affects the cycling and transfer of nutrients. Net nutrient inputs by heavy rains causing overland flow, dust deposition and through biological nitrogen fixation, are also unequally distributed and thus aggravate the fertility gradient from large nutrient ‘source’ areas such as rangelands to small ‘sink’ areas such as fallows, low lands, temporary lakes and river benches. At a finer resolution, shrubs and trees with their alternating periods of nutrient storage and recycling in leaves and wood, micro-depressions, termite mounts and ant nests become localised points of nutrient concentration and high crop productivity. To balance losses of nutrients in these integrated systems and to obtain sustainable increases in production, external inputs of nutrients are necessary. These may be introduced by two different pathways, either via mineral fertilisers applied to croplands or via externally produced supplements fed to livestock. These pathways are complementary and each one has direct effects on the other. Fertiliser application to croplands affect livestock through the increase in available forage and crop residue feed, whereas feed supplementation affects crop production through higher amounts and better quality of manure. The adoption of either strategy by farmers requires a high nutrient use efficiency at low cost. Data from regional field trials revealed increases in total dry matter (TDM) of cereals with broadcast annual P application at 13 kg ha⁻¹ ranging across three years from 19 to 88% for rockphosphate and from 34 to 102% for single superphosphate (SSP). Still, a low-external input approach seemed more advantageous to farmers. The placement of NPK fertiliser at 4 kg P ha⁻¹ with the seed at or shortly after planting caused average TDM increases of 70% for millet, sorghum, maize, cowpea and groundnut and showed an up to three-fold higher phosphorus use efficiency than broadcast P. On the other hand, late dry season supplementation of grazing steers with millet bran not only decreased animal weight losses but also increased N and P concentrations in the faeces. The larger nutrient concentrations in the manure increased millet grain yield by 28% and stover yield by 21% on a field manured at a rate of 3 t DM ha⁻¹. However, even with such approaches the current trends of declining soil productivity can only be reversed, if local policy makers are willing to support agricultural change through better terms of trade for agricultural products.     

苏南稻田4种冬绿肥养分特性及对翻压前土壤无机氮的影响

为充分利用苏南冬闲稻田发展适宜绿肥作物种植,在大田试验条件下,研究了毛叶苕子（Vicia villosa Roth）、 光叶苕子（Vicia villosa var.）、 紫云英（Astragalus sinicus L.）和肥田萝卜（Raphanus sativus L.）4种绿肥作物的生长、 营养特性,比较分析了绿肥作物翻压前不同处理间耕层土壤无机氮含量与构成的差异。结果表明,在绿肥作物翻压期,4种绿肥作物均达到较高生物量和养分累积量,鲜重、 干重分别为24.8 30.7 t/hm2和3.6 4.2 t/hm2,不同绿肥作物间无显著差异。 4种绿肥作物的吸氮量为69.8 136.4 kg/hm2,毛叶苕子最高,肥田萝卜最低。吸磷量为7.1~11.3 kg/hm2,肥田萝卜最高,紫云英最低。吸钾量为117.6~151.3 kg/hm2,毛叶苕子最高,光叶苕子最低。与对照冬闲相比,种植绿肥作物不同程度地降低了耕层土壤无机氮含量（平均降低38.9 kg/hm2）,其中硝态氮含量下降明显,铵态氮含量均较对照土壤有增加趋势（平均提高6.5 kg/hm2）,毛叶苕子和光叶苕子处理铵态氮含量增加显著。4种绿肥作物均适合苏南冬闲稻田种植,能潜在降低无机氮的损失风险和为后季水稻作物生长提供养分。     

Effects of fallow system and cropping frequency upon quantity and composition of earthworm casts

The quantities of earthworm surface casts were monitored in traditional bush fallow regrowth (BFR), Pueraria phaseoloides live mulch (PLM), Leucaena leucocephala alley cropping (LAC) and undisturbed forest. The fallow systems were planted to maize/cassava intercrop either permanently or for one year after three years of fallow i.e. at 100 and 25% cropping frequencies. Earthworm casting activity was lower in fields cropped after clearing three year old fallow than in the respective permanently cropped fallow management system. The reduction in casting was related both to the degree of biomass removed through burning and to re-establishment of cover crops. Higher exchangeable cation concentration in the soil did not cause increased casting activity. Concentrations of organic C, total N and exchangeable Ca and Mg in casts were significantly higher than in the 0–15 cm topsoil. Exchangeable Ca and Mg in casts did not significantly differ between treatments, with the exception of significantly higher Mg in casts after three years of P. phaseoloides fallow. Topsoil (0–15 cm) exchangeable Ca and Mg were not correlated with cast exchangeable Ca and Mg, but concentrations of organic C and total N in casts were significantly correlated with organic C and total N in the topsoil. Coefficients of variability of organic C, total N and exchangeable Ca and Mg were about twice as high in the soil than in casts. Significant negative correlations between the cast to soil ratio (cast enrichment factor) of organic C, total N and exchangeable Ca and Mg and the respective concentrations in the soil show that earthworms are increasingly selective in organic carbon and nutrient uptake as these parameters of soil fertility are declining.     

NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND USE EFFICIENCY BY TROPICAL LEGUME COVER CROPS AT VARYING PH OF AN OXISOL

Oxisols comprise large soil group in tropical America. These soils are acidic and have low fertility. Use of tropical legume cover crops in cropping systems is an important strategy to improve fertility of these soils for sustainable crop production. Data are limited on nutrient uptake and use efficiency of tropical cover crops under different acidity levels. The objective of our study was to evaluate growth and nutrient uptake parameters of sixteen tropical legume cover crops under three soil pH (5.1, 6.5, and 7.0) of an Oxisol. Shoot dry weight was influenced significantly by pH and cover crop treatments and their interactions, indicating that cover crops used had differential responses to changing soil pH levels. Overall, shoot dry weight decreased when soil pH was raised from 5.1 to 7.0, indicating acidity tolerance of cover crops. Nutrient concentration (content per unit of dry weight), uptake (concentration X dry weight), and nutrient use efficiency (dry weight of shoot per unit of nutrient uptake) varied significantly among cover crops. The variation in nutrient uptake and use efficiency among cover crop species was associated with variation in shoot dry matter production. Significant variation among crop species in dry matter production and low C/N ratios (average value of 14.25) suggest that cover crops which produced higher dry matter yield like white jack bean, gray mucuna bean, black mucuna bean, mucuna bean ana, and lablab are important choices for planting in tropical soils to recover large amount of macro and micronutrients, and to prevent such nutrient leaching in soil plant systems.     

Leaching and crop uptake of N, P and K from organic and conventional cropping systems on a clay soil

In this study, three types of cropping systems with different nutrient management strategies were studied on a clay soil with the aim of comparing leaching of N, P and K and obtaining knowledge on nutrient budgets. A conventional cropping system with cereals and application of mineral fertilizers (CON) was compared with two organic cropping systems, one without animal manure in which green manure crops were used for N supply (OGM) and one where animal manure (cattle slurry) was applied (OAM). Leaching and crop uptake of N, P and K, and soil mineral N were measured in pipe‐drained plots over a 6‐year period. The mean annual leaching loads of N were moderate and did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between treatments; 13 kg N ha^?1 in CON, 11 kg N ha^?1 in OGM and 7.4 kg N ha^?1 in OAM. Average annual P leaching showed greater variation than N leaching and was significantly greater in OGM (0.81 kg ha^?1 year^?1) than in CON (0.36 kg ha^?1) and OAM (0.41 kg ha^?1). For all cropping systems, removal in harvested crops was the most important export of nutrients from the field and constituted between 80 and 94% of total N outputs (harvested and leached N). Yields of cereals in the organic systems were considerably less (15–50%) than in the CON system, leading to a less efficient use of N than in the conventional system.     

Root growth,nutrient uptake and use efficiency by roots of tropical legume cover crops as influenced by phosphorus fertilization

The root is an important organ which supplies water and nutrients to growing plants. Data related to root growth and nutrient uptake by tropical legume cover crops are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate root growth of tropical legume cover crops and nutrient uptake and use efficiency under different phosphorus (P) levels. The P levels used were 0 (low), 100 (medium) and 200 (high) mg kg^?1 of soil and 5 cover crops were evaluated. Root dry weight, maximum root length, specific root length were significantly influenced by P and cover crop treatments. Maximum values of these root growth parameters were achieved with the addition of 100 mg P kg^?1 soil. The P X cover crops interaction for all the macro and micronutrients, except manganese (Mn) was significant, indicating variation in uptake pattern of these nutrients by cover crops with the variation in P rates. Overall, uptake pattern of macronutrients was in the order of nitrogen>calcium>potassium>magnesium>phosphorus (N > Ca > K > Mg > P) and micronutrient uptake pattern was in the order of iron>manganese>zinc>copper (Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu). Cover crops which produced maximum root dry weight also accumulated higher amount of nutrients, including N compared to cover crops which produced lower root dry weight. Higher uptake of N compared to other nutrients by cover crops indicated that use of cover crops in the cropping systems can reduce loss of nitrate (NO₃^?) from soil-plant systems. Increase in root length and root dry weight with the addition of P can improve nutrient uptake from the soil and less loss of macro and micronutrients from the soil-plant systems.     

冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植模式氮、磷、钾养分循环与产量可持续性特征

研究分析农业生态系统NPK养分循环和产量的可持续性,对实现养分资源优化管理和农业可持续发展具有重要意义。基于长期冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植定位试验,分析了2004—2017年冬闲-双季稻、马铃薯-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、黑麦草-双季稻、油菜-双季稻等轮作种植模式早、晚稻产量的可持续性与稳定性;采用投入产出法（Input-Output Analysis）分析不同轮作种植模式NPK养分循环与平衡状况。结果表明：1）黑麦草-双季稻模式早稻产量变异系数与可持续性指数分别为0.09和0.81,说明稻田冬种黑麦草有利于促进早稻产量稳定性和可持续性的提高;油菜-双季稻模式晚稻产量变异系数与可持续性指数分别为0.07和0.82,说明稻田冬种油菜有益于晚稻产量稳定性和可持续性的提高;2）长期冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植未影响水稻产量和糙米NPK养分含量（P>0.05）;3）在稻田轮作种植周年内目前的NPK投入水平下,黑麦草-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻、马铃薯-双季稻等模式均存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为375.70 kg（K）·hm^-2、279.98 kg（K）·hm^-2、363.71 kg（K）·hm^-2、93.74 kg（K）·hm^-2;黑麦草-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻等模式均在冬季作物种植季存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为240.07 kg（K）·hm^-2、89.57 kg（K）·hm^-2、140.08 kg（K）·hm^-2,但马铃薯-双季稻模式在马铃薯种植季K盈余为255.21 kg（K）·hm^-2;同时黑麦草-双季稻模式和紫云英-双季稻模式均存在冬季作物种植季存在N亏缺,N亏缺量分别为59.47 kg（N）·hm^-2和89.17 kg（N）·hm^-2;油菜-双季稻模式和马铃薯-双季稻模式在晚稻种植季均存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为45.93 kg（K）·hm^-2、124.33 kg（K）·hm^-2。冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植模式的养分循环是冬季作物和外部投入的NPK肥料共同驱动的养分循环,建议科学管理冬季作物和3季的NPK养分投入。     

Effect of improved fallow on crop productivity, soil fertility and climate-forcing gas emissions in semi-arid conditions

The impacts of fallow on soil fertility, crop production and climate-forcing gas emissions were determined in two contrasting legumes, Gliricidia sepium and Acacia colei, in comparison with traditional unamended fallow and continuous cultivation systems. After 2 years, the amount of foliar material produced did not differ between the two improved fallow species; however, grain yield was significantly elevated by 55% in the first and second cropping season after G. sepium compared with traditional fallow. By contrast, relative to the unamended fallow, a drop in grain yield was observed in the first cropping season after A. colei, followed by no improvement in the second. G. sepium had higher foliar N, K and Mg, while A. colei had lower foliar N but higher lignin and polyphenols. In the third year after fallow improvement, a simulated rainfall experiment was performed on soils to compare efflux of N₂O and CO₂. Improved fallow effects on soil nutrient composition and microbial activity were demonstrated through elevated N₂O and CO₂ efflux from soils in G. sepium fallows compared with other treatments. N₂O emissions were around six times higher from this nitrogen-fixing soil treatment, evolving 69.9 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ after a simulated rainfall event, compared with only 8.5 and 4.8 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ from soil under traditional fallow and continuous cultivation, respectively. The findings indicate that selection of improved fallows for short-term fertility enhancement has implications for regional N₂O emissions for dry land regions.     

Root Growth,Nutrient Uptake,and Nutrient-Use Efficiency by Roots of Tropical Legume Cover Crops as Influenced by Phosphorus Fertilization

Roots are important organs that supply water and nutrients to growing plants. Data related to root growth and nutrient uptake by tropical legume cover crops are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate root growth of tropical legume cover crops and nutrient uptake and use efficiency under different phosphorus (P) levels. The P levels used were 0 (low), 100 (medium), and 200 (high) mg kg^?1 of soil, and five cover crops were evaluated. Root dry weight, maximum root length, and specific root length were significantly influenced by P and cover crop treatments. Maximum values of these root growth parameters were achieved with the addition of 100 mg P kg^?1 soil. The P?×?cover crops interactions for all the macro- and micronutrients, except manganese (Mn), were significant, indicating variation in uptake pattern of these nutrients by cover crops with the variation in P rates. Overall, uptake pattern of macronutrients was in the order of nitrogen (N) > calcium (Ca) > potassium (K) > magnesium (Mg) > P and micronutrient uptake pattern was in the order of iron (Fe) > Mn > zinc (Zn) > copper (Cu). Cover crops which produced maximum root dry weight also accumulated greater amount of nutrients, including N, compared to cover crops, which produced lower root dry weight. Greater uptake of N compared to other nutrients by cover crops indicated that use of cover crops in the cropping systems could reduce loss of nitrate (NO₃ ^?) from soil–plant systems. Increase in root length and root dry weight with the addition of P can improve nutrient uptake from the soil and lessen loss of macro- and micronutrients from the soil–plant systems.     

Light Intensity Effects on Growth and Micronutrient Uptake by Tropical Legume Cover Crops

ABSTRACT

Cover crops are important components of a sustainable crop-production system in plantation crops such as cacao (theobroma cacao), coffee (Coffee arabica), oil palm (Elaeis Spp.), and banana (Musa Spp.). Optimal growth of cover crops in plantation agriculture is determined by adaptability of crop species, light intensity reaching their leaf canopies, and their nutrient-use efficiencies, including those of micronutrients. An experiment was conducted in a climatically controlled growth chamber to evaluate the influence of levels of light intensity on growth and micronutrient [boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn)] uptake parameters in legume cover crops. Two photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD, 200 and 400 μmol m^?2 s^?1) light treatments were imposed on nine legume species (joint vetch (Aeschynomene americana), sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), Crotalaria rchroleuca, showy crotalaria (crotalaria spectabilis), hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsute L.), lab-lab (Lablab purpureus), sesbania (Sesbania microcarpa), Brazilian stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)). Overall, light intensity significantly affected growth, micronutrient uptake, and use-efficiency ratios; with few exceptions, interactions between cover crop species and PPFD were also significant. Such PPFD × crop species interactions show that the cover crops used in this study differed in growth and nutrient-uptake parameters under the conditions imposed. Sunhemp, cowpea, sesbania, and lab-lab species were superior in producing shoot dry weight and in nutrient accumulation compared with other species at lower as well as at higher PPFD levels. Interspecific differences in nutrient influx and transport were observed. Influx and transport of micronutrients was in the order Mn > B > Fe > Zn > Cu. Overall, growth, nutrient uptake, and use-efficiency ratios were higher at higher PPFD than at lower PPFD. Results of this study indicate that the use of proper crop species at adequate light intensities is an important component of successful cultivation of cover crops in plantation agriculture.     

Response of Different Crops to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Inoculation in Phosphorus-Deficient Soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the capability to improve crop yields by increasing plant nutrient supply. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions to determine the response of AMF inoculation on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), mash bean (Vigna mungo L.), and mung bean (Vigna radiata. L.) crops during 2008. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in three replications using phosphorus (P)–deficient soil. Three plants were grown in 10 kg soil up to the stage of maximum growth for 70 days. Spores of AMF were isolated from rhizosphere of freshly growing wheat and berseem crops and mixed with sterilized soil with fine particles. Crops were inoculated in the presence of indigenous mycorrhiza with the inoculum containing 20 g sterilized soil mixed with 40–50 AMF spores. Inoculation with AMF improved yield and nutrient uptake by different crops significantly over uninoculated crops. Inoculated millet crop showed 20% increase in shoot dry matter and 21% in root dry matter when compared with other inoculated crops. Increases of 67% in plant nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) were observed in millet, 166% in plant P uptake was observed in mash beans, 186% in zinc (Zn) was measured in maize, and 208% in copper (Cu) and 48% in manganese (Mn) were noted in sorghum crops. Maximum root infection intensity of 35% by AMF and their soil spore density were observed in millet crop followed by 32% in mash beans. Results suggest that inoculation of AMF may play a role in improving crop production and the varied response of different crops to fungi signifies the importance of evaluating the compatibility of the fungi and plant host species.     

Nutrient concentrations and NH4+‐N mineralization under different soil types and fallow forms in southern Cameroon

To evaluate the soil‐fertility sustainability of the fallow systems, nutrient concentrations and NH₄⁺‐N mineralization were determined in different soil and fallow types in the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon. Two experiments were conducted, the first comprised planted leguminous tree Calliandra calothyrsus, planted leguminous Pueraria phaseoloides, and regrowth mainly composed of Chromolaena odorata on the Typic Kandiudult. The second experiment made up of a fallow dominated by C. odorata, a fallow with C. odorata removed, and a P. phaseoloides fallow on the Rhodic Kandiudult, Typic Kandiudult, and Typic Kandiudox. In the first experiment, available P, Ca²⁺, K⁺ concentrations and effective CEC under C. calothyrsus were, respectively, 40%, 22%, 45%, and 15% lower when compared to P. phaseoloides but no differences were found between soils under P. phaseoloides and C. odorata. Mineralization of NH₄⁺‐N was higher under C. calothyrsus than under C. odorata‐ and P. phaseoloides‐fallow types, indicating the impoverishment of organic material under the former. In the second experiment, the beneficial effect of P. phaseoloides was found in the Rhodic Kandiudult in the 0–10 cm layer throughout its low NH₄⁺ release from mineralization. In the Typic Kandiudult, no differences in NH₄⁺‐N mineralization were found between C. odorata and P. phaseoloides fallows. In the Typic Kandiudox, there was no difference in NH₄⁺ mineralization between the three fallow types. According to the nutrient concentrations and NH₄⁺ mineralization, the fertility sustainability of the different fallow types may be ranked as follow: P. phaseoloides ≥ C. odorata > C. calothyrsus > fallow without C. odorata.     

Long–term effect of crop rotation and nutrient management on soil–plant nutrient cycling and nutrient budgeting in Indo–Gangetic plains of India

In the present investigation, the long-term effect of pulse crop inclusion in the maize-wheat rotation was assessed for the nutrient availability and soil-plant nutrient cycling under different nutrient management practices. Including pulses in the maize-wheat rotation improved soil organic carbon (SOC) and plant available macronutrients being higher in maize-wheat-mungbean rotation. Inclusion of mungbean to maize-wheat rotation enhanced the nitrogen (33.9%), phosphorus (46.4%), potassium (36.3%), and sulphur (55.5%) uptake in maize crop; likewise, alternate-year chickpea inclusion increased the uptake of these nutrients by 18.2, 19.1, 21.7, 32.1%, respectively. Inorganic fertilization maintained the positive annual balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and zinc. By contrast, the nutrient balance under organic nutrient management was mostly negative. The magnitude of negative balance of potassium and sulphur was higher in inorganic than that of organic nutrient management. The low nutrient supply (particularly nitrogen) in organic fertilization largely inhibited the yield of cereal crops but not that of pulses. In view of this, the inclusion of pulses in the cereal-cereal systems could cause substantial improvement in soil fertility and sustainability in Indo-Gangetic plains. We infer that supply of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in organic, and potassium and sulphur in recommended inorganic fertilization merit special attention.     

Dry matter production,nutrient accumulation,and nutrient partitioning of barley

Total dry matter (TDM) and nutrient accumulation, nutrient partitioning, and cumulative growing degree days at the time of maximum nutrient accumulation for two‐row spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are not well quantified under high‐yielding irrigated conditions common in the semi‐arid western United States. Thus, five cultivars of barley were grown under irrigated conditions on a loam soil in the 2015 and 2016 growth seasons to determine these factors. Total nutrient accumulation was greatest at either the soft dough or maturity stage where specific nutrients were greater at one stage as compared to the other. Mean N accumulation was greatest at the soft dough stage (256 kg ha^?1) where the regression model accounted for 80% of the variation in the data. Additionally, spike N increased from 91 to 105 kg ha^?1 from soft dough to maturity. Specific nutrients (e.g., K) had significantly greater plant (i.e., culms plus leaves) accumulation between soft dough and maturity, 253 and 172 kg ha^?1, respectively, where the spike at the same growth stages had an accumulation of 37 and 42 kg ha^?1, respectively. In contrast, other nutrients (e.g., P) were remobilized to the spike as noted by the increase from 14 kg ha^?1 at soft dough to 26 kg ha^?1 at maturity. In addition to nutrient partitioning, linear regressions resulted in well‐correlated models between TDM and total nutrient accumulation (R² = 0.35–0.88) for measured nutrients. Results from the current study provide critical data on nutrient accumulation as well as regression models for two‐row barley under high‐yielding conditions. This information can be used to improve harvest decisions as well as more accurately predict nutrient cycling in barley cropping systems.     

Long-Term Cropping System, Tillage, and Poultry Litter Application Affect the Chemical Properties of an Alabama Ultisol

Sustainable agricultural practices have been steadily increasing in the last couple of decades. These management practices frequently involve cover crops, less or no-tillage, and organic fertilization. In this study, we evaluated the effects of cropping systems,tillage and no-tillage, and the application of poultry litter(PL) on selected soil physicochemical properties and soil test nutrients. Soil samples were collected from the topmost surface(0–5 cm) and subsurface(5–10 cm) layers. The general effect trend was PL application no-tillage cover crop cropping type. There were more statistically significant(P ≤ 0.05) correlations between the 18 soil attributes at the topmost surface than at the subsurface. This could be due to the accumulation of external C inputs and nutrients by crop residues and PL application as well as the retaining effects of no-tillage on less mobile nutrient components. Because of their high mobility and volatile nature, total nitrogen(N), ammonia-N(NH_4~+-N), and nitrate-N(NO_3~--N) levels varied greatly(high standard deviations), showing no consistent patterns among the treatments. Compared to the soybean cropping system, corn, especially with the wheat cover crop, contributed more to the total carbon(C) and sulfur(S) in the topmost surface soils(0–5 cm). Poultry litter application greatly increased pH, cation exchange capacity(CEC), base saturation, magnesium(Mg), phosphorus(P), calcium(Ca),sodium(Na), potassium(K), manganese(Mn), copper(Cu), and zinc(Zn) in both soil layers. Contrast comparisons revealed that PL application had more of an effect on these soil chemical properties than no-tillage and cropping systems. These results will shed light on developing better nutrient management practices while reducing their runoff potentials.     

Alleviation of Multinutrient Deficiency for Productivity Enhancement of Rain-Fed Soybean and Finger Millet in the Semi-arid Region of India

Soil nutrient contents were determined in 802 surface soil samples (0–15 cm deep) collected from farmers' fields that support extensive cultivation of soybean (Glycine max L.) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana G.), spread across three districts, in the semi-arid regions of Karnataka, India. Following soil analysis, on-farm crop trials were conducted during 2005–2007 to study the crop response to the soil application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) fertilizers. Analyses of soil samples revealed that 4–83% fields were deficient in N, 34–65% in P, 83–93% in extractable S, 53–96% in B, and 34–88% of farmers' fields were deficient in Zn. On-farm trials conducted during the three rainy seasons (2005, 2006, and 2007) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced crop productivity indices such as yields of grain, stover, and total biomass in soybean and finger millet crops. Integrated management of deficient nutrients in finger millet and soybean crops significantly enhanced the grain and straw uptake of N, P, K, S, and Zn.