Influence of soil tillage on net N-mineralization under sugar beet

The shift from conventional to reduced soil tillage may affect physical and chemical soil properties and thereby net N-mineralization. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of soil tillage on net N-mineralization at different depths. For this purpose the mineralization rate in the 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm soil layer of conventionally and reduced tilled, N unfertilized plots under sugar beet was estimated with a field incubation method in 1993 and 1994. This method was compared to a balance method which takes into account N uptake of the crop and mineral N in the soil (0–90 cm). The mineralization rate in 1993 and 1994 was determined by the increase of soil temperature in spring and the change of water content in summer. Although the amount of cumulated mineralized N did not differ. soil tillage affected the mineralization rate in the three soil layers depending on the distribution of organic matter. In the reduced tilled soil the mineralization rate in the upper soil layer (0–10 cm) was higher than in conventionally tilled soil, whereas in the layer 10–20 cm depth the mineralization rate of the conventional treatment exceeded that of the reduced tilled treatment. These differences in mineralization rate between conventional and reduced tillage were more distinct in 1994 than in 1993. Since the amount of N mineralized during the season and the period of highest N-mineralization rate in the arable soil layer did not differ due to soil tillage the necessity of an increased N-fertilization in reduced tillage systems cannot be concluded from these results. This is supported by results of the white sugar yield, which showed no interaction between tillage and N fertilization. Results of the field incubation method differed considerably from those of the balance method. This is primarily due to lacking parameters in the N balance.     

Cover crop effects on soil structure and early sugar beet growth

Cover crops can improve soil properties, especially soil structure, through organic matter input and rooting activity. However, large variations exist among cover crops, which may lead to differences in the extent of these effects. In this study, cover crops with differing properties were compared regarding soil structure and subsequent sugar beet growth. Field experiments were conducted at two Luvisol sites in Central Germany. Four cover crops (oil radish, saia oat, spring vetch and winter rye) were compared with fallow. Cover crop effects on soil water, N_min content, soil structure and subsequent early sugar beet growth were studied. Additionally, sugar beet received either no or optimal N fertilizer application. Rye and radish had the highest and vetch the lowest above- and belowground biomass. Soil water content was hardly affected by cover cropping, while topsoil N_min contents in April were increased. Penetration resistance was lowered, and aggregate stability was increased by the cover crops, especially oil radish, while values after spring vetch were similar to those of fallow. Differences among the cover crops might be because of a differing root biomass. Independent of N fertilizer application, sugar beet biomass in May tended to be higher after all cover crops, in particular under oil radish. The higher aggregate stability and lower penetration resistance were found to be beneficial for early sugar beet growth. Thus, sugar beet can benefit from a 1-year cultivation of preceding cover crops. Modifications of this effect through cover crop root biomass and architecture as well as repeated cover cropping need to be investigated in further studies.     

Increases in growth and nutrient uptake of alfalfa grown in soil amended with microbially-treated sugar beet waste

Sugar beet waste (SB), treated by Aspergillus niger under the conditions of 10-, 20-, and 30-day-solid state fermentation, supplemented or not with rock phosphate (RP), was added to a soil-plant system. Plant growth responses depended on the time period of preincubation of the agrowaste characterized by different lignocellulosic composition and N and P contents before introduction into soil. Maximum growth and nutrient uptake of alfalfa during three crop cycles were recorded in a soil amended with microbially-treated SB waste+RP. This effect was more pronounced in treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus grown in soil enriched with 10- and 20-day-microbially-treated SB+RP, when the respective average total plant growth increased 233% and 343% over the non-mycorrhizal control containing untreated SB. Compared to other treatments, plant mycorrhization was ineffective when 30-day-treated agrowaste was used. Similarly, plant nodule numbers and uptake of metal ions depended on both the time period of waste preincubation and mycorrhization.     

Root renewal of sugar beet as a mechanism of P uptake efficiency

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) was grown in two different long‐term P fertilization experiments on a sandy and a loamy soil. The P supply levels of the soils were ”︁low”, ”︁sufficient”, and ”︁high”, according to the German recommendation scheme. The low P level decreased shoot and storage root yield only on the loam soil, where the recovery of the P‐deficient plants after a drought period was slower than at a sufficient P supply. The size of the living root system, as determined by a conventional auger sampling method, peaked at early July and decreased until harvest on the sandy soil without any influence of the P level. On loam, the living root systems were more constant and larger at P shortage. Total root production, as determined by the ingrowth core method, was about 120 km m^—2 in the well P supplied loam treatments and 200 km m^—2 at P deficiency, which was 3—4 times and 5 times higher than the average size of the living root systems, respectively. Hence, a rapid root renewal took place. On sand, where no P deficiency occurred, total root production was not different between the P supply levels but higher than in the well‐supplied loam treatments. Modelling P uptake revealed that this root turnover and the concomitant better exploitation of the soil facilitates P uptake at a low P level in soil, but is of no advantage at a sufficient P supply. The increase of root production at P shortage increased calculated P uptake by 25% compared to a calculation with the ”︁usual” root production at a sufficient supply.     

腐植酸型改良剂对盐碱地甜菜生长发育的影响

盐碱地问题的日益严重制约着河套灌区甜菜的发展。前人研究不同改良剂的配施可以改善土壤理化性质,进而提高作物产量和质量,但关于盐碱地甜菜中的研究鲜有报道。因此,2019—2020年在河套灌区盐碱地中施用不同配比腐植酸型改良剂,通过分析不同处理间甜菜产量和质量、各器官生物量、叶面积指数以及土壤中含盐量的变化规律,结果表明,(1)施用腐植酸型改良剂可以提高盐碱地甜菜的产量和质量,甜菜产量、产糖量相较于对照分别增加11.29%～32.54%、13.50%～38.61%,不同配比腐植酸型改良剂的改良效果不同。(2)施用腐植酸型改良剂可以促进甜菜在盐碱地中的生长发育,并提高甜菜植株的光合效率。(3)施用腐植酸型改良剂可以降低当季盐碱地中的含盐量,相较于不施用改良剂的地块土壤含盐量减少0.59～3.17个百分点,从而改善甜菜生长发育的土壤环境。以上结论为揭示改良剂对盐碱地甜菜生物学特性和产量、质量的影响及其对土壤理化性质的改善提供了理论依据。     

滴施改良剂对新疆盐碱土改良及甜菜产量的影响

为了明确滴施化学改良剂对新疆盐碱土盐碱指标的影响,合理选用化学改良剂,选择4种滴灌专用盐碱改良剂类产品(酸碱平衡护理剂、酸酸肥霸、肽能氮、生物有机菌肥),以不施化学改良剂为对照,对施用前后土壤盐分、pH值、钠吸附比、总碱度、碱化度指标变化和甜菜锤度、产量的差异进行分析。结果表明:与不施化学改良剂相比,酸碱平衡护理剂处理和生物有机菌肥处理使土壤pH值分别降低了0.67和1.03个单位,达到显著水平(P0.05)。除施用酸酸肥霸处理的土壤盐分上升外,其余3种改良剂处理的土壤盐分均下降,施用生物菌肥使土壤盐分下降1.19 g/kg,达到显著水平(P0.05)。施用改良剂使土壤CO_3~(2-)和HCO_3~-的降幅达2.00%~80.00%,酸碱平衡护理剂和肽能氮主要降低土壤中CO_3~(2-)的含量,分别降低了49.50%和30.00%;酸酸肥霸降低HCO_3~-的效应优于CO_3~(2-);生物菌肥对HCO_3~-和CO_3~(2-)均有显著的降低作用,分别下降了60.40%和80.00%。4种盐渍土改良剂均能够有效地降低土壤耕层总碱度和pH值,以生物有机菌肥效果最显著;肽能氮和生物有机菌肥可同时降低土壤钠吸附比和碱化度,显著提高了甜菜的产量,但酸酸肥霸和酸碱平衡护理剂处理的甜菜产量与对照相比差异不显著。     

Influence of phosphorus-solubilizing compounds on soil P and P uptake by perennial ryegrass

Found throughout the world, phosphorus (P)-fixing soils have long been studied for their effect on the availability of P fertilizers for crop production. It is known that organic acids in the rhizosphere affect P solubilization and uptake, although effectiveness has been shown to vary with acid, crop, and soil characteristics. Regardless, commercial products have been developed that include some formulation of organic acids intended to increase P solubility and uptake. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the ability of the commercial P-solubilizing products Avail (maleic-itaconic copolymer) and P Miner (organic acid-based product) to maintain a greater pool of plant-available P for uptake by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Greenhouse experiments were conducted with P fertilization (0, 17, 34, and 50 kg P ha^?1) and P solubilization materials in an incomplete 4?×?5 factorial design. Treatments were added to a soil with a high P-fixing capability and perennial ryegrass planted. Collected data included plant dry matter and P content, and acid (Mehlich-I) and labile (CaCl₂) extractable soil P concentrations. Results are not definitive, but they indicate that both Avail and P Miner have the potential to improve available forms of P in the soil that are available to ryegrass. In these greenhouse trials, the application of P Miner at four times the recommended rate (480 kg ha^?1) resulted in highest labile and acid-extractable P, while application of Avail and P Miner at the recommended rate (120 kg ha^?1) resulted in the highest P uptake.     

土壤紧实胁迫对黄瓜生长、产量及养分吸收的影响

用容重分别为1.2、1.4和1.6.g/cm3的土壤进行盆栽试验,研究了土壤紧实度对黄瓜生长、产量及养分吸收的影响。结果表明,当土壤紧实度增大时,黄瓜秧苗的株高在定植后的15.d后受到显著抑制;第4叶的叶宽和叶长在定植后9～17.d内增加;茎粗则是在稍紧的土壤中(R.1.4)最大,过紧的土壤中(R.1.6)最小;根系伸长生长受阻,干物质质量及活力显著下降,根冠比降低;生物学产量、经济产量、经济系数的变化情况及植株对氮、磷、钾吸收量的变化与茎粗的变化趋势相同。在本试验条件下,容重为1.2.g/cm3的土壤利于株高及根系的生长,容重1.4g/cm3的土壤则利于茎粗、根系养分的吸收及产量的增加。     

Fermentation of sugar beet waste by Aspergillus niger facilitates growth and P uptake of external mycelium of mixed populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Sugar beet waste has potential value as a soil amendment and this work studied whether fermentation of the waste by Aspergillus niger would influence the growth and P uptake of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plants were grown in compartmentalised growth units, each with a root compartment (RC) and two lateral root-free compartments (RFC). One RFC contained untreated soil while the other RFC contained soil, which was uniformly mixed with sugar beet waste, either untreated (SB) or degraded by A. niger (ASB) in a rock phosphate (RP)-supplied medium. The soil in each pair of RFC was labelled with ³³P and ³²P in order to measure P uptake by the AM fungal mycelium, of which length density was also measured. Whole cell fatty acid (WCFA) signatures were used as biomarkers of the AM fungal mycelium and other soil microorganisms. The amount of biomarkers of saprotrophic fungi and both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was higher in SB than in ASB treatments. Whilst ASB increased growth and activity of AM mycelium, SB had the opposite effect. Moreover, shoot P content was increased by the addition of ASB, and by inoculation with AM fungi. Modification of soil microbial structure and production of exudates by A. niger, as a consequence of fermentation process of sugar beet waste, could possibly explain the increase of AM growth in ASB treatments. On the other hand, the highest P uptake was a result of the solubilisation of rock phosphate by A. niger during the fermentation.     

Impact of water availability on root growth of sugar beet varieties

On average, sugar beet yield in the UK is reduced by 10% due to water limitation. The root system of a plant is responsible for water uptake and hence an extensive root system is crucial to mitigate drought stress. There might be varietal differences when it comes to plant root system architecture but so far none have been reported in sugar beet. This study shows the results of 2 years of field experiments, examining the rooting patterns and overall plant growth of sugar beet under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. In the first year, three varieties were assessed, and in the second year, five varieties. No significant yield differences were found between the rainfed and irrigated treatments, which is likely due to the applied drought stress only being mild in both years. There were, however, significant varietal differences in plant growth and rooting patterns in rainfed plants which were most distinct when plants were subjected to mild drought stress. Varietal differences observed might indicate the possibility of breeding for certain root traits to mitigate drought stress in sugar beet in the future.     

四种有机废弃物对新疆盐碱地及甜菜苗期生长的影响

为探明4种有机废弃物及施用量对甜菜苗期生长及土壤盐分的影响,采用盐碱土开展甜菜盆栽试验,施用不同浓度味精废弃物、加菌味精废弃物、沼液、动物氨基酸,以清水为对照,观测盆栽土壤的pH值、盐分及甜菜苗期生长指标。结果表明,施用沼液与动物氨基酸能降低土壤的pH值,施高浓度沼液的土壤pH降值1.46个单位,效果明显;施用150 g·m~(-2)味精废弃物与加菌味精废弃物能明显降低土壤盐分,脱盐率分别达到33%、31%;同时150 g·m~(-2)加菌味精废弃物能显著提高发芽质量,发芽率达到88%,活力指数较对照增加3.59;施用50 g·m~(-2)动物氨基酸能有效促进甜菜生长,干物质较对照增重3.95 g。研究结果可为高效利用有机废弃物改善新疆盐碱地与甜菜生长环境提供参考。     

Effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria and soil compaction on barley seedling growth, nutrient uptake, soil properties and rhizosphere microflora

Inoculants are of great importance in sustainable and/or organic agriculture. In the present study, plant growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare) has been studied in sterile soil inoculated with four plant growth-promoting bacteria and mineral fertilizers at three different soil bulk densities and in three harvests of plants. Three bacterial species were isolated from the rhizosphere of barley and wheat. These bacteria fixed N₂, dissolved P and significantly increased growth of barley seedlings. Available phosphate in soil was significantly increased by seed inoculation of Bacillus M-13 and Bacillus RC01. Total culturable bacteria, fungi and P-solubilizing bacteria count increased with time. Data suggest that seed inoculation of barley with Bacillus RC01, Bacillus RC02, Bacillus RC03 and Bacillus M-13 increased root weight by 16.7, 12.5, 8.9 and 12.5% as compared to the control (without bacteria inoculation and mineral fertilizers) and shoot weight by 34.7, 34.7, 28.6 and 32.7%, respectively. Bacterial inoculation gave increases of 20.3–25.7% over the control as compared with 18.9 and 35.1% total biomass weight increases by P and NP application. The concentration of N and P in soil was decreased by increasing soil compaction. In contrast to macronutrients, the concentration of Fe, Cu and Mn was lower in plants grown in the loosest soil. Soil compaction induced a limitation in root and shoot growth that was reflected by a decrease in the microbial population and activity. Our results show that bacterial population was stimulated by the decrease in soil bulk density. The results suggest that the N₂-fixing and P-solubilizing bacterial strains tested have a potential on plant growth activity of barley.     

糖用甜菜氮磷钾配方施肥效益分析

采用3414试验设计方案,探讨NPK配方施肥对糖用甜菜产量、含糖率和产糖量的影响,并通过肥料效应方程对NPK配合比率进行了优化与解析。结果表明,随着NPK肥施用量的增加,糖用甜菜产量、含糖率和产糖量均呈先升后降的趋势,符合肥料报酬递减律;甜菜产量和产糖量的效应为NP2O5K2O,含糖率的效应为K2OP2O5N;肥料配合比率以全肥区(N 260 kg/hm2、P2O5130 kg/hm2、K2O 130 kg/hm2)为最佳,与高N区、高P区和高K区无显著差异,且产投比相对较高,可获得最高产量47.13 t/hm2、最佳种植效益17 069.34元/hm2、最高产糖量8.108 8 t/hm2、最佳企业效益33 217.32元/hm2。     

Effect of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production

Recently, biochar has shown to be an alternative to waste disposal and a source of nutrients, acting as a soil amendment. The effects of two types of biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production as well as potential for carbon (C) sequestration were evaluated:biochar produced from sewage sludge (SB) and biochar produced from a 1:1 mixture of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse (MB). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a sandy loam soil from the Brazilian savanna under treatments of MB applications at 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0%, SB application at 5.0%, and a conventional fertilization (CF) using lime and mineral fertilizers, with no fertilization as a control. After incubation for 45 d, seedlings were transplanted into each pot and cultivated for 55 d. Biochar characterization showed that pyrolysis reduced the biomass volume drastically, but concentrated the trace elements per unit of biochar weight. The MB treatments increased soil total C (by 27.8%) and pH (by 0.6), reduced the concentrations of nutrients, except for potassium (K), and chromium (Cr), and did not significantly alter lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Results of stable isotopes showed that all biochar treatments increased the total soil C stock and stability, suggesting a potential for application in C sequestration, and improved overall soil fertility. However, the biochar treatments also increased the concentrations of trace elements in the soil and plants. The sugar beet yields at 10.0% MB and 5.0% SB corresponded to 55% and 29% of the yield obtained in the CF treatment, respectively. These results may be due to biochar nutrients not being bioavailable when required by plants or to biochar nutrient adsorption.     

Influence of mulch and soil compaction on earthworm cast properties

The effects of different mulch materials applied to compacted and uncompacted soil on the quantity and the quality of deposited earthworm casts were investigated. Biochemical properties and water stability of soil aggregates were compared with the corresponding properties of worm casts. This short-time experiment was conducted in the laboratory, simulating field conditions of mulch management in temperate agricultural systems. In microcosms Lumbricus terrestris and Octolasion cyaneum were inoculated separately. Barley, lupin, maize, or sugar-beet as straw or leaves were applied as mulch in amounts comparable to those usually found in the field. The soil was compacted artificially to a bulk density of 1.0 or 1.5 Mg m⁻³. In general, plant material and to a lesser extent soil compaction influenced the dynamic processes in the soil affecting microbial activity and water stable aggregation. Higher values of phosphatase activity was measured in compacted soil, while the corresponding enzyme activities in the casts were less affected by compaction. The worm species and the nutritional quality of the food source were factors strongly influencing water stable aggregation. Mulch as well as soil compaction had consequences for the burrowing activity of the worms, which resulted in different rates of cast production depending on the species.     

Influence of soil redox potential on nitrogen uptake and growth of wetland Oak seedlings

A study was conducted to determine ammonium nitrogen uptake by cherrybark oak and overcup oak as affected by soil redox conditions. Seedlings of the two species were grown in laboratory microcosms for 60 days in soil suspensions incubated at three separate Eh levels (+560, +340, and + 175 mV). In both species, uptake of added ¹⁵N labeled nitrogen (N) (NH₄Cl) and photosynthesis activity decreased with decreasing soil redox potentials. Net photosynthesis in cherrybark oak decreased by 72.9 and 100% in response to the +340 and + 175 mV treatments as compared to control plants, respectively. Similarly, net photosynthetic rates were reduced by 53.7 and 65.8% in overcup oak under + 340 and + 175 mV treatments, respectively. A significant correlation between net photosynthesis and leaf ¹⁵N content was found in cherrybark oak (r=0.866, P=0.01) but not in overcup oak (r=0.648, p>0.05). However, in overcup oak, the correlation between net photosynthesis and total leaf N content was significant (r=0.911, P=0.01). Maximum ¹⁵N uptake was measured at the highest soil redox level (+560 mV). Uptake of ¹⁵N in cherrybark oak decreased from a maximum of 1.83 mg under aerated (+560 mV) treatment to 0.11 mg under reduced conditions (+175 mV). Similarly, ¹⁵N uptake in overcup oak decreased from 2.37 mg under the + 560 mV treatment to 0.28 mg under + 175 mV treatment. Greater uptake of soil and fertilizer nitrogen was measured under the soil redox conditions in which adequate plant growth was recorded. Moderately reducing soil redox conditions (+340 and + 175 mV) adversely affected both plant nitrogen uptake and net photosynthetic activities of the two species.     

Promotion of plant growth by phytohormone-producing endophytic microbes of sugar beet

Three plant-growth-promoting isolates of endophytic bacteria from sugar beet roots produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro in a chemically defined medium. The three isolates were selected from 221 endophytic bacteria isolated from surface-disinfected beet roots and evaluated for potential to produce IAA and to promote beet growth under gnotobiotic and glasshouse conditions. The inoculation of roots of beet by three selected bacteria isolates significantly increased plant height fresh and dry weights and number of leaves per plant, as well as levels (p < 0.01) of phytormones compared with control plants. In the glasshouse test, the three selected bacterial isolates were recovered from inside roots in all samplings, up to 8 weeks after inoculation, indicating that the roots of healthy beet may be a habitat for these endophytic bacteria.     

Soil dynamics of the origination of soil tare during sugar beet lifting

High soil tare of sugar beet on wet clay soil after uprooting with share lifters is usually attributed to the fact that the soil becomes sticky due to mechanical impact during uprooting. Results of field experiments have shown good potential for obtaining low soil tare of sugar beet on wet clay soil by beet extraction with a high average vertical acceleration and a spiral extraction path with a small pitch. The objective of this research was to provide models for soil–beet–lifter systems used in these experiments, and to simulate some of the observed effects of the uprooting method on soil tare and soil adherence. As the rootlet system plays an important role in the origination of soil tare, the rootlet system was also modelled. A constitutive soil model, assuming elastic–perfectly-plastic soil behaviour, was used as a basis for modelling soil–beet–lifter system variants, including beet with and without rootlets, uprooting by extraction, rotation and extrusion, and uprooting with low and high vertical acceleration. The origination of soil tare is presented on the basis of the calculated zone of initial soil failure during extraction. Expected soil adherence is discussed in relation to the stress state of the soil. The simulated initial soil failure and stress state of the soil agreed well with experimental results on soil tare and soil adherence.     

Sugar yield,nitrogen uptake by sugar beet and optimal nitrogen fertilization in relation to nitrogen soil analyses and several additional factors

To test the relative usefulness of different methods of chemical analysis for soil nitrogen fractions in the assessment of the fertilizer nitrogen needs of sugar beet, different doses of nitrogen were applied in field experiments laid out during the years 1985–1991. The chemical methods used were N mineral (NO _– ³ +NH ₊ ⁴ ) analyses on soil samples taken in late winter, and extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂ from soil samples taken the preceding autumn and in late winter. The results of the chemical methods were evaluated in models using estimated optimum nitrogen fertilization, nitrogen present in beets or beets+leaves at leaf maximum and sugar yield as variables. In addition, parameters such as estimates of possible rooting depth and mineralization capacity of the soil were also included in the model. All models for estimating nitrogen fertilization need showed low R ² values. The two methods of soil chemical analysis yielded similar R ² values for nitrogen uptake in plots both with and without nitrogen fertilization. The N mineral method was least useful in predicting sugar yield. Addition of the covariables rooting depth and mineralization capacity appreciably improved the explanatory value of the models with 0.01 M CaCl₂, especially when the analytical results of soil samples taken in autumn were used. For the N mineral method the addition of covariates was found to have far less influence.