Assessment of environmental nitrogen pollution load potential from sewage treatment water in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan Area, Japan

An evaluation of the nitrogen pollution load potential (NPLP) arising from several sewage treatment systems in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan Area was evaluated by determining the removal percentage of nitrogen as a result of sewage treatment and amounts of nitrogen lost from the different treatment systems. These data were applied to the entire area resulting in an estimated total NPLP of 734 t year⁻¹ (10³ kg year⁻¹), of which 548 t year⁻¹ discharges into the Japan Sea and so does not contribute to the pollution of the environment considered here. The residual 186 t year⁻¹ of the NPLP has a high probability of causing groundwater or downstream pollution, with 58% of the NPLP being contributed from septic tanks not connected to public sewage systems. Rural sewage system accounted for about 18% of the NPLP. Material directly flowing into the middle stream of the Tedori River together with sewage water from small companies and untreated sewage water from local family dwellings made up about 3–12% of the NPLP. To improve water quality due to sewage effluent, it is essential to increase the number of connections to public sewage systems from septic tanks.     

Evaluation of N and P mass balance in paddy rice culture along Kahokugata Lake, Japan, to assess potential lake pollution

Kahokugata Lake, a closed lake, has been subject to eutrophication. This research was conducted to clarify the actual phenomena and evaluation of the discharges of N and P from paddy test fields in the lowlands into Kahokugata Lake. A comprehensive mass balance of N and P was obtained from 4 years of study. About N, the mean value of harvested unhulled rice (79.9 kg/ha) was greater than mean controlled release fertilizer inputs (56.7 kg/ha). Other inputs and outputs include N in atmospheric acid deposition (21.4 kg/ha) and N fixation–denitrification (9.2 kg/ha). The rice straw recycled after harvest was balanced by straw produced in the succeeding year. The runoff and percolation losses discharged into the lake was 11.3 kg/ha, (8.6% of total inputs). Since the rice harvested was consumed domestically, which taking out from the farmland and, therefore, nitrogen pollutant into the lake was becoming small, paddy rice at this site is considered an “anti-polluting, purifying or cleansing” crop. The P content in harvested rice (39.4 kg/ha) was balanced by fertilizer inputs (36.4 kg/ha). Previous studies examining inflow–outflow relationships without considering a comprehensive mass balance may lead to erroneous conclusions. Our findings indicate paddy rice in lowlands could be an environmentally friendly crop and can play an important role in reducing pollution of lakes, and therefore should be considered in land use planning.     

Assessment for nitrogen pollution loads from farmland, Japan, by objective yield and standard fertilizer usage

This research proposes an assessment for nitrogen (N) pollution loads potential from farmland, based on comparison of N in objective crop yields with standard fertilizer usage. N in the objective yield was calculated using the “Standard Table of Food Composition in Japan”. Three findings were made by considering yields removed from farmland. First, paddy rice and beans have a low pollution potential, with rice paddies showing a negative pollution potential for N (around −14 kg/ha). Second, almost all vegetable and orchard crops tested had a high pollution potential for N, although this differed from crop to crop. Third, our outcomes align well with farmland pollution potential and non-absorbed nitrogen (NAN) as defined by Nishio, although the latter and indices rely on a laborious and complicated method. The correlation coefficients were 0.745 (R ² = 0.555). These outcomes show the effectiveness of our proposed assessment for potential environmental pollution loads.     

Assessment of long-term changes in nitrogen pollution load potential from sewage treatment water in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan Area, Japan

Long-term changes (1974–2007) in the nitrogen pollution load potential (NPLP) arising from sewage treatment water were assessed in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan Area of Japan. The total NPLP from sewage treatment systems (STS) during the 34 year period was 439 t (10³ kg) year⁻¹ from about 260,000 users in 1974 increasing to a peak of 793 t year⁻¹ in 1992 from about 363,000 users, and then decreasing to 676 t year⁻¹ from about 400,000 users in 2007. The NPLP outflow into the area increased from 356 t year⁻¹ in 1974 to a peak of 596 t year⁻¹ in 1985 followed by a rapid decrease to 98 t year⁻¹ in 2007. The NPLP outflow from the public STS to the Japan Sea began in 1979 and rapidly increased to 575 t year⁻¹ in 2007 from about 362,000 users. This represents 85.5% of the total NPLP. The NPLP from septic tanks in the area was 356 t year⁻¹ from about 107,000 users in 1974 gradually increasing to a peak of 587 t year⁻¹ from about 177,000 users in 1985 before rapidly decreasing to 60 t year⁻¹ from about 15,000 users in 2007. Although the current NPLP is about 98 t year⁻¹ in the study area, the average NPLP during 34 years was very different at 424 t year⁻¹. NPLP assessments affecting groundwater and closed water bodies should consider long-term processes of nitrogen pollution from STS over time periods compatible with the residence time of the receiving waters.     

黑龙江省玉米施肥现状调查分析

2017年和2018年对黑龙江省大部分地区农户进行施肥现状问卷调查,结果表明,2017年和2018年黑龙江省玉米单位面积产量分别为6415 kg/hm2和6216 kg/hm2.两年农户平均施氮量分别为208 kg/hm2和197 kg/hm2,氮肥偏生产力分别为30.8 kg/kg和31.6 kg/kg,两年农户施氮...     

Effect on water quality in irrigation reservoir due to application reduction of nitrogen fertilizer

Until 1997, tea farmers in the Makinohara district of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, applied around 1.2 ton/ha of nitrogen fertilizer per year to their tea fields. In general, uptake amount of nitrogen by tea plants is around 300–350 kg/ha. Then some part of the remainder of nitrogen fertilizer leach into ground water and flow out into the river. The other part of remainder of nitrogen fertilizer is accumulated in the soil layer. Following a recommendation by the local government, this amount was then gradually decreased to 660 kg/ha in 1999 and 540 kg/ha in 2000. Although nitrate nitrogen concentrations in local ground and river water have decreased, they remain high today. The river water runs off from a watershed in the Makinohara area and enters a small irrigation reservoir called Tanno Reservoir, where it has caused deterioration of the water quality, that is, acidification of the reservoir. In Japan, environmental standard for nitrate nitrogen is 10 mg/L in public water body and ground water. Here, the author developed the Water Quality Tank Model, and applied this model to investigate the nitrate nitrogen concentrations in the rivers and an irrigation reservoir called Tanno. The author applies these findings to demonstrate that nitrogen concentrations continue to remain high due to nitrogen accumulation in the soil layer, and that the amount accumulated would be reduced by a reduction in application. The simulation results demonstrate a small decrease in accumulation in the soil layer, and thus that the present high nitrate nitrogen concentrations will continue in ground, river and reservoir water will decrease only gradually.     

基于渗漏池法研究施肥对东北中部雨养区玉米氮素地下淋溶的影响

2010~2013年,对东北玉米土壤氮素地下淋溶年际发生规律和氮排放强度进行研究。结果表明,淋溶年平均发生7~8次,受降雨影响较大,其中6月和7月的淋溶次数占全年的2/3。农田氮素淋溶排放强度年际间差异较大,最高值与最低值差8倍左右,农田本底(不施肥)流失量平均为5 kg/hm2,各施肥处理在4.53~7.17 kg/hm2,农田本底氮素流失70%以上,整体来看,北方农区氮素的地下淋溶强度不高,约占施氮量的5%左右,受降雨、施肥、土壤类型等综合因素的影响。     

Assessment of the long-term variation in the nitrogen pollution load potential from farmland to groundwater in the Tedori River Basin, Japan

The long-term nitrogen pollution load potential (NPLPg) to groundwater from farmlands was examined in the Tedori River Basin. The NPLPg was estimated using the difference between N in the fertilizer application rate and N outputs in crop yield at 5-yearly intervals from 1960 to 2005. The total yearly NPLPg of 1,085 t (103 kg) in the 1960s decreased to 774 t by 1975. Thereafter, the NPLPg gradually increased to 976 t in the 1990s, but decreased again to 369 t in 2005. The NPLPg decreased by 23% for rice and by 37% for horticultural crops from 1960 to 2005 with an overall decrease of 34%. The NPLPg per unit area was relatively stable over time for rice, soybean, barley, and horticultural crops, but there were significant differences among them. The NPLPg for rice ranged from 39 to 85 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ with an average of 65 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and that of the horticultural crops ranged from 273 to 357 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ with an average of 302 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ The significant long-term changes in the NPLPg suggest that evaluation at a specific point in time is insufficient for an integrated assessment of groundwater pollution.     

Rice yield variability in Punjab: an overview of five decades

Rice is a major kharif cereal crop cultivated in Punjab. Over the past five decades the rice yield has increased from as low as 1800 kg/ha during 1970–4815 kg/ha during 2017, i.e., an overall increase of 167.5% or increase @ 3.5% per year. One of the major reasons for this increase has been the introduction of improved and high-yielding varieties (PR 106, PR 111, PR 116, PR 118, PR 121, PR 122, PR 126, PR 127, etc.). Other important factors are the improved crop production and protection practices coupled with mechanization of farm operations. However, weather factors have always been a major bottleneck shattering the steady plateau of high rice yield (3443 kg/ha during 1979, 3231 kg/ha during 1995, 3273 kg/ha during 1998, 4257 kg/ha during 2011 and recent low yield of 4387 kg/ha during 2018). The actual weather data of the recent two decades at Ludhiana (2000–2018) were correlated with the historical rice yield. The results revealed a combination of high temperature coupled with clear sunny (total seasonal sunshine?~?900–1000 h) and dry (low relative humidity) days is conducive for proper growth, development and yield of rice in Punjab. The rainfall and rainy days were found to be negatively correlated with yield since heavy rainfall events and more number of rainy days create a humid weather which is conducive for insect-pest and disease incidence in rice and also reduces sunshine duration. Hence, a combination of ample sunshine hours and well-distributed rainfall during the vegetative stage of rice leads to high productivity of cultivars grown under optimized crop management techniques.

     

Nitrogen fertilisation effects on technological parameters and carotenoid,tocol and phenolic acid content of einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. subsp. monococcum): A two-year evaluation

Recent studies on einkorn wheat, an underutilised relative of durum and bread wheat, demonstrated its outstanding nutritional characteristics and fostered a renewed interest for its cultivation. Einkorn is a disease-resistant and thrifty crop, supplying flour with optimal composition even with minimal agronomic management. To understand the role of nitrogen fertilisation on its composition and nutritional quality, a two-year study comparing five different nitrogen treatments (0 kg/ha, 40 and 80 kg/ha at tillering, 40 and 80 kg/ha at heading) was performed on three einkorn accessions.The two years had similar temperatures but very different rainfall profiles, so the climate had a strong effect on most traits, including thousand kernels weight, Falling number, viscoamylographic parameters, carotenoid and phenolic acid concentration. On the other hand, nitrogen fertilisation improved protein content, SDS sedimentation volume and phenolic acids concentration. Carotenoids synthesis was slightly limited with increasing fertilisation; a similar, but less evident, effect was present for tocols. The results demonstrate that einkorn wheat does not require abundant nitrogen fertilisation to provide flour with good nutritional and technological characteristics.     

Development of an algorithm for relating pasture nitrogen status to yield response curves

Determination of optimum nitrogen (N) fertilization rates which maximize pasture growth is challenging due to variability in plant requirements and likely near‐future supply of N by the soil. Remote sensing can be used for mapping N nutrition status of plants and to rapidly assess the spatial variability within a field. An algorithm is, however, lacking which relates the N status of the plants to the expected yield response to additions of N. An algorithm was developed based on a simulation study carried out using the APSIM model. Simulations were performed for an irrigated ryegrass pasture in Canterbury, New Zealand. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied monthly at different rates, ranging from 0 to 150 kg N/ha. To obtain a range of different pasture N contents, a total of 1456 different fertilization rules were set up and evaluated over 20 different years of weather giving 29,120 combinations of pasture herbage N contents and growth responses for each month. The analysis focused on November (spring), a month with generally vigorous growth. A three‐dimensional surface response function, based on the Mitscherlich yield response function, was developed. This function was used to determine required N fertilization rates, which achieve 90% of the maximum yield, based on the antecedent pasture N content. At low pasture herbage N contents (25 g/kg), the required fertilization rate was estimated as 130 kg N/ha, whereas at N contents of 40 g/kg, only 60 kg N/ha was required to obtain the same yield, reflecting the much higher supply of N by the soil.     

2005～2014年苏州市农业面源污染源强变化特征

利用清单分析的方法,对2005～2014年苏州市农业面源污染排放量进行了计算,分析该地区农业面源污染源强的时间变化特征.研究结果表明,2014年苏州市农业面源污染化学需氧量(COD)、氨氮(NH4+-N)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)的排放总量分别为131 843.8 t、6 150.2 t、20 848.5 t和2 922.8 t,属于畜禽养殖型和农村生活双重污染区.而近十年苏州市农业面源污染总体呈现逐年下降趋势,较2005年分别降低38.40％、21.80％、17.13％和25.26％.同时,选用等标污染负荷法分析了苏州市的农业面源污染风险,按照污染物等标排放量TN＞TP＞COD,而按照行业等标排放量畜禽养殖＞农村生活＞种植业＞水产养殖.近十年苏州市农业面源污染等标污染排放量从554.1亿m3降至420.6亿m3,降低24.09％,污染风险降低.随着工业经济的逐年提升,苏州市农业面源污染排放量逐渐下降,但农业面源污染风险依旧存在,TN污染风险最高,且污染来源复杂,应加强各行业的协同减控.     

Long-term evaluation of the groundwater recharge function of paddy fields accompanying urbanization in the Nobi Plain, Japan

The groundwater recharge function, one example of the multifunctionality of agriculture, is closely related to hydrogeological phenomena and socioeconomic factors such as pumpage and land use. A long-term evaluation of the groundwater recharge function is necessary to understand its role among the multiple functions of agriculture. The Nobi Plain, one of the largest coastal plains in Japan, was selected as the study area because it has experienced typical socioeconomic changes. We conducted a long-term evaluation of the groundwater recharge function based on simple water-balance equations using long-term data on groundwater levels and river flows. Leakage recharge from paddy fields in 1975 was about 2.8×10⁸ m³/year, decreased to 0.6×10⁸ m³/year in 1984, and ceased in 1985. Its monetary value of the function in 1975 was estimated by the replacement cost method, was about $56 million for 20 ha×10³ ha of paddy fields. The value per unit area of paddy fields was calculated as $2820/ha and that in Japan was calculated as $400/ha. Paddy fields in suburbs of big cities have a higher value than the average paddy field in Japan. However, this recharge value is no longer produced because no leakage recharge occurs at present owing to socioeconomic changes.     

Feasibility of SRI methods for reduction of irrigation and NPS pollution in Korea

An experimental study on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using them to conserve irrigation water and reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution in Korea. Eight experimental runoff plots were prepared at an existing paddy field. Runoff and water quality were measured during the 2010 growing season in which a Japonica rice variety was cultivated. The irrigation water requirements of SRI methods and conventional (CT) plots were 243.2 and 547.3 mm, respectively, meaning that SRI methods could save 55.6% of irrigation water. Runoff from SRI methods plots decreased 5–15% compared with that from CT plots. Average NPS pollutant concentrations in runoff from SRI methods plots during rainfall-runoff events were SS 89.4 mg/L, COD_Cr 26.1 mg/L, COD_Mn 7.5 mg/L, BOD 2.0 mg/L, TN 4.2 mg/L, and TP 0.4 mg/L. Except for COD_Cr and TN, these concentrations were significantly lower than those from CT plots. Measured pollution loads from SRI methods plots were SS 874 kg/ha, COD_Cr 199.5 kg/ha, COD_Mn 47 kg/ha, BOD 13 kg/ha, TN 36.9 kg/ha, and TP 2.92 kg/ha. These were 15.8–44.1% lower than those from CT plots. Rice plants grew better and healthier in SRI methods plots than in CT plots. However, rice production from SRI methods plots ranged between 76 and 92% of that of CT plots because the planting density in SRI methods plots was too low. It was concluded that SRI methods could be successfully adopted in Korea and could help save a significant amount of irrigation requirement in paddies and reduce NPS pollution discharge.     

Digestion and nitrogen metabolism in beef cattle and in vitro rumen fermentation of autumn grass differing in fertilizer nitrogen application rate

Beef cattle partition dietary nitrogen (N) into meat or excrete it mainly in faeces and urine, which can contribute significantly to water and air pollution. The effects of two inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates—15 (LN) or 80 (HN) kg N/ha—to Lolium perenne‐dominant swards in autumn, on herbage chemical composition, intake, digestion and N balance in beef cattle, and in vitro fermentation and methane production were studied. Four growing beef steers used in a 2 × 2 crossover design experiment were offered zero‐grazed grass harvested 21 days post‐N application between July and October. The same grasses were incubated in an eight‐vessel rumen simulation technique in a randomized complete block experiment. Grass dry‐matter (DM) concentration was 26 g/kg lower and crude protein (CP) concentration was 35 g/kg DM higher for HN compared to LN. There was no difference in herbage DM intake or in vivo DM digestibility between treatments. Nitrogen intake and the digestibility of N were higher for HN compared to LN. Total and urine N loss were 41 and 45 g/day greater, respectively, for HN compared to LN, but faecal N loss did not differ between treatments. The quantity of N retained and therefore N‐use efficiency did not differ between LN and HN (25% vs. 22%). In vitro rumen pH and ammonia‐N concentrations were higher for HN compared to LN, whereas volatile fatty acid concentrations and molar proportions did not differ between treatments. In vitro methane and total gas production were 0.9 mmol/day and 280 ml/day lower for HN than LN respectively. Under the particular conditions of this experiment, reducing fertilizer N application rate reduced total and urinary N excretion, which has potential environmental benefits; however, methane output measured in vitro was increased.     

Tracing the fate of nitrogen with <Superscript>15</Superscript>N isotope considering suitable fertilizer rate related to yield and environment impacts in paddy field

While the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer is believed to dramatically influence rice fields and improve the soil conditions in paddy fields, fertilization with low use efficiency and nitrogen loss may cause environmental pollution. In this paper, ¹⁵N-labeled urea was used to trace the fate of nitrogen at four rates (0, 75, 225 and 375 kg N/ha) of urea fertilizer over three split applications in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, in 2014. Plant biomass, the soil nitrogen content of different layers, NH₃ volatilization and N₂O emissions were determined using the ¹⁵N abundance to calculate the portion from nitrogen fertilizer. The results indicated that rice yields increased with the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer. NH₃ volatilization is the main nitrogen loss pathway, and N₂O emissions were significantly associated with nitrogen application rates in the paddy. The percent of nitrogen loss by NH₃ volatilization and N₂O emissions increased with the nitrogen application rate. This study showed that the suitable N fertilizer in a loam clay paddy, considering the yield requirements and environmental issues, is approximately 225 kg N/ha in Hangzhou, with a distribution of 50.06% of the residual in the rice and soil and 48.77% loss as NH₃ volatilization and N₂O emissions. The nitrate from fertilization mainly remained in the 0–20 cm level of the topsoil.     

华北平原不同施氮量对玉米产量和品质的影响研究

试验研究了5个供氮水平下不同施氮量对玉米产量和品质的影响。结果表明,不同施氮量对玉米产量和品质有不同的影响。施氮量为337.5 kg/hm²时,玉米产量最高,达到6 845.0 kg/hm²;继续增施氮肥,产量显著降低。施氮量为112.5 kg/hm²和225 kg/hm²时,蛋白质含量最高,达到了8.94%,品质最好;施氮量继续增加,玉米品质显著下降,其绝对值下降了0.13%～0.56%。225 kg/hm²为玉米最佳氮肥用量。为了进一步促进农业可持续发展,在玉米生产中应设定氮肥使用上限,减少氮肥在环境中的残留和积累,减少潜在的农田环境污染,提高氮肥增产效果。     

The contribution of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) breeding to whole pasture productivity under dairy cattle grazing in New Zealand. 2. Rates of gain in production traits and economic value

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) plant breeding has delivered several high performing and broadly adapted cultivar-endophyte (Epichloë) combinations for the New Zealand pasture-based livestock industries. However, the trends in key traits and the potential economic value being added to farm systems have not previously been addressed systematically. Rates of gain in yield, nutritive value, phenological and morphological traits, and the economic value of those traits, were estimated among and within ryegrass functional groups (heading date, ploidy) traded commercially between 1973 and 2012. Whole pasture dry matter yield improvements of c. 80 and 60 kg DM/ha per year were identified in in late-season heading diploids and tetraploids respectively. Trends in metabolisable energy were negative within functional groups, but positive when all cultivar-endophyte combinations were included in the analysis due to the addition of tetraploids and late-season heading diploids from the mid-1990s. The estimated trend in overall economic value (all cultivar-endophyte combinations included) was $7/ha per year based on DM yield only, about half the rate of gain previously estimated using small-plot merit testing data. The trend increased to $15/ha per year when ME was included due to the emergence of commercial tetraploids from the early 2000s onwards. Estimated economic gains were high within late-season heading diploids and tetraploids but not mid-season diploids. These trends suggest that, if high performing cultivar-endophyte combinations had been adopted in New Zealand dairy systems, then pasture utilization should have increased by ~1 t DM/ha above the current industry average. Reasons for this apparent discrepancy are discussed.     

不同土地利用方式对苏打盐碱土壤氮素垂直分布的影响

供试材料于2012年3月份采集于吉林省西部盐碱地典型代表区白城市镇赉县嘎什根乡,材料选择地块分别为:碱斑地、芦苇地、旱田地(前茬为玉米,采样时也为玉米)、水稻种植1年地、水稻种植5年地、水稻种植10年地(分别用SJ、SL、SH、SS1、SS5、SS10表示)。结果表明:盐碱地不同土地利用方式对土壤氮素空间分布具有一定影响,盐碱水田随着种植年限的增加,土壤全氮、速效氮含量均增加,在种植1~5年内,增加幅度较大,积累的氮素多富集于0~20 cm土层内。     

Optimization of nitrogen rate and seed density for safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) production under low-input farming conditions in temperate climate

Field experiments under low-input farming conditions were conducted in South West Germany (lhinger Hof) and North Switzerland (Wil) in 2004 and 2005 aimed at optimizing nitrogen rate and seed density for the production of the newly introduced safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). The experiments were laid out in a four-replicated-split plot design with three nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 40, 80 kg/ha) as main plots and cultivars (Sabina, Saffire, BS-62915) and seed densities (50, 100, 150 seeds/rn2) randomized in split plots. It was shown that many traits responded differentially across environments to rate of nitrogen and seed density. Application of 40 and 80 kg N/ha did not significantly affect most of the investigated traits. At Ihinger Hof, the total nitrogen fertilizer needed to maximize safflower yield was estimated to be 86 kg N/ha. At Wil, residual soil nitrogen alone resulted in satisfactory seed yield when safflower followed a crop fertilized at a commercial rate. The nitrogen rate × seed density interaction was only significant for seed yield and Alternaria leaf spot disease. Nitrogen rates provided significant increases in seed yield at high seed density compared to low seed density. Seed density did not reveal any significant variation in seed yield, oil content, and oil yield. On average, the low seed density produced substantially higher numbers of heads/plant and seeds/plant compared to medium and high densities. These results demonstrate the ability of safflower to use residual soil nitrogen efficiently and to compensate for low plant density.