Impact of Biofertilizers on grain yield in spring wheat under varying fertility conditions and wheat-cotton rotation

High nitrogen fixing and phytohormone producing diazotrophs such as Azotobacter were isolated, identified and used as bioinoculants on wheat and cotton with varying doses of nitrogen under field conditions. The impact of bio-inoculants was determined on the basis of their effect on yield, dry weight and survival rate of bacteria at different days of plant growth under field conditions in two consecutive seasons (2000–01 and 2001–02). Pronounced effects were seen by the use of bio-inoculants in wheat crop. The effects were more visible in the second year as the level of bio-inoculants was maintained in the soil. A net saving of 25–30?kg nitrogen was observed using chosen bio-inoculants for wheat crop.     

Assessment of urea coated with pomegranate fruit powder as N slow-release fertilizer in maize

It has been hypothesized that plant polyphenol plus lignin, cellulose, and hemicelluloses can immobilize/remineralize inorganic fertilizers, such as urea, better than polyphenol alone. To test this hypothesis, urea was coated with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit powder (containing polyphenol+lignin+cellulose) at rates of 0%, 30%, 70%, and 100% (w/w) of fertilizer urea. Fertilizer nitrogen was applied at 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 soil in a clay loam soil. This natural coating material, particularly at the rate of 100% (w/w), improved the distribution of mineral nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (P) in soil during both early and advanced growth stages of maize and significantly increased total crop N and P uptake at both rates of fertilizer nitrogen compared to urea alone. The results suggest that urea coated with the powder of pomegranate fruit could potentially be an N slow-release fertilizer for use in better synchronizing crop N demand with soil N supply.     

Evaluation of rice–legume–rice cropping system on grain yield,nutrient uptake,nitrogen fixation,and chemical,physical, and biological properties of soil

To achieve higher yields and better soil quality under rice–legume–rice (RLR) rotation in a rainfed production system, we formulated integrated nutrient management (INM) comprised of Azospirillum (Azo), Rhizobium (Rh), and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with phosphate rock (PR), compost, and muriate of potash (MOP). Performance of bacterial bioinoculants was evaluated by determining grain yield, nitrogenase activity, uptake and balance of N, P, and Zn, changes in water stability and distribution of soil aggregates, soil organic C and pH, fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio, casting activities of earthworms, and bacterial community composition using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting. The performance comparison was made against the prevailing farmers’ nutrient management practices [N/P₂O₅/K₂O at 40:20:20 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and 20:30:20 kg ha⁻¹ for legume as urea/single super-phosphate/MOP (urea/SSP/MOP)]. Cumulative grain yields of crops increased by 7–16% per RLR rotation and removal of N and P by six crops of 2 years rotation increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots over that in compost alone or urea/SSP/MOP plots. Apparent loss of soil total N and P at 0–15 cm soil depth was minimum and apparent N gain at 15–30 cm depth was maximum in Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots. Zinc uptake by rice crop and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-extractable Zn content in soil increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Total organic C content in soil declined at 0–15 cm depth and increased at 15–30 cm depth in all nutrient management plots after a 2-year crop cycle; however, bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots showed minimum loss and maximum gain of total organic C content in the corresponding soil depths. Water-stable aggregation and distribution of soil aggregates in 53–250- and 250–2,000 μm classes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio seems to be a more reliable indicator of C and N dynamics in acidic soils than total microbial biomass C. Compost alone or Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of earthworms’ casts compared to urea/SSP/MOP alone and bacterial bioinoculants with urea or SSP-applied plots. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on similarity matrix of DGGE profiles revealed changes in bacterial community composition in soils due to differences in nutrient management, and these changes were seen to occur according to the states of C and N dynamics in acidic soil under RLR rotation.     

Effects of inoculation of cyanobacteria on nitrogen status and nutrition of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in an Entisol amended with chemical and organic sources of nitrogen

A field experiment was conducted with wetland rice (Oryza sativa cv. IR-36) in a sandy clay loam soil (Entisol) to study the effect of inoculation with a soil-based mixed culture of four diazotrophic cyanobacteria,Aulosira fertilissima, Nostoc muscorum, N. commune andAnabaena spp., on the N-flux in inorganic NH₄ ⁺+NO₃ ^–+ NO₂ ^–), easily oxidizable, hydrolysable and non-hydrolysable forms of N in soil during vegetative growth periods of the crop. Effects on grain and straw yield and N uptake by the crop were estimated. The effects of applying urea N and N as organic sources, viz.Sesbania aculeata, Neem (Azardirachta indica) cake and FYM, each at the rate of 40 kg N ha^–1, to the soil were also evaluated. Inoculation significantly increased the release of inorganic N, evidenced by its increased concentrations either in soil or in soil solution. However, such increases rarely exceeded even 4% of total N gained in different froms in the soil system by inoculation during the vegetative growth stages of the rice plant, when the nutritional requirement of the plants is at a maximum. Most of the N₂ fixed by cyanobacteria remained in the soil as the hydrolysable form (about 85%) during this period. Inoculation caused an insignificant increase in grain (8%) and straw (11%) yield, which was, however, accompanied by a significant increase in N uptake by the grain (30%) and an increase in total uptake of 15.3 kg N ha 1. Such beneficial effects of inoculation varied in magnitude with the application of organic sources, with farmyard manure (FYM) being the most effective. Application of urea N, on the other hand, markedly reduced such an effect.     

Effects of Biosolids-Derived Organomineral Fertilizers,Urea, and Biosolids Granules on Crop and Soil Established with Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

A pot scale trial investigated the agronomic performance of two organomineral fertilizers (OMF₁₅—15:4:4 and OMF₁₀—10:4:4) in comparison with urea and biosolids granules to establish ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Two soils of contrasting characteristics and nitrogen (N) application rates in the range of 0–300 kg ha^?1 were used over a period of 3 years. Fertilizer effects were determined on: (1) dry matter yield (DMY) and crop responses, (2) nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and (3) selected soil chemical properties. Ryegrass responded linearly (R² ≥ 0.75; P < 0.001) to organomineral fertilizers (OMF) application increasing DMY by 2–27% compared with biosolids but to a lesser extent than urea (range: 17–55%). NUE was related to concentration of readily available N in the fertilizer: urea and OMF showed significantly (P < 0.05) greater N recoveries than biosolids. Total N in soil and soil organic matter showed increments (P < 0.05), which depended on the organic-N content in the fertilizer applied. Soil extractable P levels remained close to constant after 3 years of continuous OMF application but increased with biosolids and decreased with urea, respectively (P < 0.05). The application of biosolids changed soil P Index from 5 to 6; hence, there is a need to monitor soil P status. Both OMF₁₀ and OMF₁₅ formulations are suitable for application in ryegrass.     

Effects of biochar,urea and their co‐application on nitrogen mineralization in soil and growth of Chinese cabbage

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of soil applications of kunai grass (Imperata cylindrica) biochar (0 and 10 t/ha) and laboratory grade urea (0, 200 and 500 kg N/ha) and their co‐application on nitrogen (N) mineralization in an acid soil. The results of an incubation study showed that the biochar only treatment and co‐application with urea at 200 kg N/ha could impede transformation of urea to ammonium‐N (NH₄⁺‐N). Soil application of biochar together with urea at 500 kg N/ha produced the highest nitrate‐N (NO₃^?‐N) and mineral N concentrations in the soil over 90 days. Co‐application of urea N with biochar improved soil N mineralization parameters such as mineralization potential (N_A) and coefficient of mineralization rate (k) compared to biochar alone. In a parallel study performed under greenhouse conditions, Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis L.) showed significantly greater (P < 0.05) marketable fresh weight, dry matter production and N uptake in soil receiving urea N at 500 kg/ha or co‐application of biochar with urea N compared to the control. Application of biochar only or urea only at 200 kg N/ha did not offer any short‐term agronomic advantages. The N use efficiency of the crop remained unaffected by the fertilizer regimes. Applications of biochar only at 10 t/ha did not offer benefits in this tropical acid soil unless co‐applied with sufficient urea N.     

N2-fixing bacteria in the rhizosphere: Quantification and hormonal effects on root development

The paper summarizes the results of a series of experiments on enumeration of N₂-fixing bacteria (diazotrophs) and hormonal effects of Azospirillum on root development. Numbers of N₂-fixing and N-heterotrophic bacteria were determined on the root (rhizoplane plus “inner” root surface) and in the rhizosphere soil (0–3 mm from the root surface) of Arrhenatherum elatius, other forage grasses and some herbaceous plant species. Pot experiments involved freshly collected soil from an unfertilized grassland area containing its natural population of N₂-fixing bacteria. The MPN (most probable number) of diazotrophs in relation to the MPN of the total bacterial population was always lower on the root than in the rhizosphere soil, suggesting that diazotrophs were not selectively advantaged at the root surface. Supply of mineral nitrogen (NH₄NO₃) decreased the proportion of N₂-fixing bacteria at the rhizoplane as well as in the rhizosphere soil. Similar results were obtained when N was supplied via the leaves. The data suggest that N₂-fixing bacteria in the rhizosphere are poor competitors once they loose their competitive advantage of binding dinitrogen. Correspondingly, the increase in the MPN of the diazotrophs found during plant development was interpreted as a result of decreased available combined N in the rhizosphere. The proportion of N₂-fixing bacteria relative to the total number of bacteria was generally below 1%. Considering the potential amount of substrate released from the roots and the substrate requirement of the bacterial population, N₂-fixation was considered insignificant for plant growth under the given conditions. For the investigations on possible beneficial effects on plant development by bacterial hormones, Azospirillum brasilense was chosen because evidence suggests that amongst the soil bacteria releasing hormones, especially IAA, certain strains of this species are more important than other bacteria. Application of A. brasilense Cd (ATCC 29710) onto the roots of young wheat plants grown in soil increased the number of lateral roots, the total root length and the number of root hairs. Similar results were obtained after application of IAA. This suggests that IAA is an important factor responsible for the effects observed after inoculation with A. brasilense. The increase in root surface may improve acquisition of nutrients and enhance growth of plants. Another hormonal effect of A. brasilense was an increase in nodulation of Medicago sativa grown on agar. Again pure IAA resulted in a similar increase in nodule number. Increases in nodule number were only in part associated with a change in root morphology. Therefore an effect of IAA on the plant immanent regulation system for nodulation is likely.     

控释氮肥减量对糜子产量、氮素利用及土壤氮含量的影响

针对黄土高原旱作区糜子生产中氮肥种类单一、肥料利用效率低的问题,本试验以当地习惯施氮尿素N 120kg/hm²(TN)为对照,设置控释氮肥N 120kg/hm²(T1)、108kg/hm²(T2)、96kg/hm²(T3)、84kg/hm²(T4)、72kg/hm²(T5)和不施肥(T0)七个处理,探究不同控释氮肥处理下土壤全氮、微生物量氮、硝态氮和铵态氮含量的变化规律,分析糜子成熟期氮素积累分配、氮素利用效率及产量对控释氮肥的响应,以期为建立旱地糜子控释氮肥一次性基施轻简栽培技术提供支撑。结果表明：与施用尿素相比,等量控释氮肥可以提高糜子抽穗期和成熟期土壤全氮、微生物量氮、硝态氮和铵态氮含量分别达0.38%~5.51%、1.76%~7.63%、5.41%~11.80%和4.04%~14.77%,其中硝态氮和铵态氮含量两年均显著高于TN,随着控释氮肥减量糜子田各形态氮素均呈降低趋势,减氮量达20%以上时土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量均显著低于TN处理。施用控释氮肥可以提高糜子成熟期氮素积累量1.97%~3.21%,增加糜子氮素向籽粒中的分配比例0.55%~1.18%,控释氮肥减量20%以上时糜子氮素积累量显著低于尿素全量基施处理。与普通尿素相比,控释氮肥提高了糜子氮肥表观利用率、氮肥偏生产力及氮肥农学利用率,增幅分别为3.29%~4.59%、3.88%~4.14%和5.01%~7.63%,其中氮肥偏生产力处理间差异达显著水平,随着控释氮肥减量糜子氮肥表观利用率、氮肥偏生产力及氮肥农学利用率均呈上升趋势。施用控释氮肥通过增加单位面积穗数和穗重显著提高了糜子产量两年分别达3.88%和4.47%,控释氮肥减量20%以下时糜子产量与尿素差异不显著。相关性分析结果表明,糜子氮素积累量与产量呈极显著正相关,氮素利用效率指标与土壤硝态氮含量相关性最强。综上所述,施用控释氮肥较尿素可显著提高糜子生育中后期土壤供氮能力,促进糜子对氮素的吸收利用进而增加产量,且在适量减氮20%时并未显著降低糜子产量,因此控释氮肥在糜子生产中有较大的应用前景及减氮潜力。     

Contribution of chickpea nitrogen fixation to increased wheat production and soil organic fertility in rain-fed cropping

Nitrogen balances, i.e. the difference between N ₂ fixation inputs and N in harvested products (outputs), and rotational benefits of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum) on soil organic fertility and wheat ( Triticum aestivum) yields were quantified for rain-fed systems in the northern Punjab, Pakistan. The experiments were conducted during 1995–2000 at three sites. The four treatments were continuous wheat (0 N), continuous wheat (+N), chickpea-wheat (0 N) and chickpea-wheat (+N). The +N fertiliser rate was 100 kg N ha ^-1 applied to the wheat. Grain yields of the wheat with 0 N varied in the range 1.0–3.0 t ha ^-1, compared with 2.0–3.2 t ha ^-1 for the N-fertilised wheat. Chickpea grain yields were in the range 0.6–2.0 t ha ^-1. Chickpea N ₂ fixation was assessed using the natural ¹⁵N abundance method. Percentage of chickpea N derived from N ₂ fixation (%Ndfa) estimates were 58% (Mandra), 65% (Taxila) and 86% (Islamabad). The overall mean %Ndfa was 78%. Crop N fixed by the chickpea varied between sites (87–186 kg N ha ^-1) and essentially reflected crop biomass. The overall mean N balance for chickpea (crop N fixed minus N removed in grain and above-ground residues) was +28 kg N ha ^-1. Wheat grain yields responded to chickpea (19–73% increase for the three sites), to fertiliser N (99–136% increase) and to the combination of chickpea and fertiliser N (106–145% increase). Chickpea in the rotation increased soil organic C by 30% and soil N by 38%, relative to the continuous wheat with 0 N. These experiments indicated that chickpea could have a positive N balance, even when shoot residues were removed, and confirmed the rotational benefits of chickpea for improving soil organic fertility and yield of a following wheat crop.     

不同施肥模式对春玉米产量、水分利用效率及硝态氮残留的影响

通过2年田间试验,研究了减量施氮和减氮配施不同比例控释肥对黄土旱塬春玉米产量、水分利用效率及土壤硝态氮残留量的影响,旨在为黄土高原旱作农业区提供合理的施肥管理模式。试验于2017年4月至2018年9月在黄土旱塬雨养农业区进行,供试作物为春玉米,采用半覆膜种植方式,一年一熟制。试验共设置CK(不施氮肥)、N1C1(控释尿素65%+普通尿素35%,N200kg/hm^2)、N1C2(控释尿素50%+普通尿素50%,N200kg/hm^2)、N1C3(控释尿素35%+普通尿素65%,N200kg/hm^2)、N1(减氮模式,普通尿素,N200kg/hm^2)、N2(传统施氮模式,普通尿素,N250kg/hm^2)6个处理,测定土壤含水量、收获期土壤剖面(0—300cm)中的硝态氮含量及春玉米产量。结果表明:与N2处理相比,减氮处理(N1)并没有减少作物产量,反而显著增加作物产量(p<0.05),2017年、2018年分别增加9.6%和6.9%,土壤水分利用效率分别提高13.3%和10.2%(p<0.05)。同等施氮量(200kg/hm^2)下,与全尿素N1处理相比,2017年配施不同比例控释肥的各处理降低了春玉米的产量和水分利用效率;2018年N1C2处理较N1处理显著增加春玉米的产量和水分利用效率(p<0.05),分别增加7.7%和11.6%。此外,试验2年后减氮模式N1和减氮配施一定比例的控释肥处理显著减少土壤剖面(0—300cm)中硝态氮的残留量(p<0.05),与N2处理相比,N1处理减少了61.2%;同等施氮量(200kg/hm^2)下,与N1处理相比,N1C2处理降低了50.8%。     

长期定位试验中氮肥与磷肥有机肥联合施用通过刺激根的生长增加玉米产量和养分吸收

Imbalanced application of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers can result in reduced crop yield, low nutrient use efficiency, and high loss of nutrients and soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) accumulation decreases when N is applied with P and/or manure; however, the effect of applications of N with P and/or manure on root growth and distribution in the soil profile is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of different N and P fertilizer application rates with or without manure on maize (Zea mays L.) yield, N uptake, root growth, apparent N surplus, Olsen-P concentration, and mineral N (Nmin) accumulation in a fluvo-aquic calcareous soil from a long-term (28-year) experiment. The experiment comprised twelve combinations of chemical N and P fertilizers, either with or without chicken manure, as treatments in four replicates. The yield of maize grain was 82% higher, the N uptake 100% higher, and the Nmin accumulation 39% lower in the treatments with combined N and P in comparison to N fertilizer only. The maize root length density in the 30--60 cm layer was three times greater in the treatments with N and P fertilizers than with N fertilizer only. Manure addition increased maize yield by 50% and N uptake by 43%, and reduced Nmin (mostly NO₃^--N) accumulation in the soil by 46%. The long-term application of manure and P fertilizer resulted in significant increases in soil Olsen-P concentration when no N fertilizer was applied. Manure application reduced the apparent N surplus for all treatments. These results suggest that combined N and P fertilizer applications could enhance maize grain yield and nutrient uptake via stimulating root growth, leading to reduced accumulation of potentially leachable NO₃^--N in soil, and manure application was a practical way to improve degraded soils in China and the rest of the world.     

Non-target effects of bioinoculants on rhizospheric microbial communities of Cajanus cajan

“Bioinoculants” have become a useful, environment-friendly tool in agriculture to increase crop yield. Previous work has shown that Cajanus cajan, India's most important pulse, can profit considerably from applications of the three bioinoculants, viz. Bacillus megaterium MTCC 453, Pseudomonas fluorescens LPK2 and Trichoderma harzianum MTCC 801. For careful “risk assessment”, it is of interest to investigate the effect of application of such bioinoculants not only on the target crop, but also on the indigenous rhizospheric microbial community of that particular plant. To do so C. cajan treated with bioinoculants, individually as well as in combinations, was grown in pots under field conditions. Fingerprinting, using automated ribosomal spacer analysis showed distinct, highly diverse bacterial and fungal rhizospheric communities, which were differently influenced by the applied bioinoculants. Two important groups of soil microbes, actinomycetes and β-proteobacteria, were quantified using qPCR and shown to be little affected by the bioinoculants. Additionally, rhizosphere populations of groups to which the inoculants belonged were enumerated on selective media. An increase in abundance of phosphate solubilizing Bacillus sp. (73%), Pseudomonas sp. (42%), and fungi (53%) was observed with triple inoculation at maturity, as compared to control plants. Thus, there was no negative impact of the bioinoculants used in the study on specific groups of indigenous microbial community.     

Fate of Azolla spp. and urea nitrogen applied to wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Using ¹⁵N, the fate of N applied to wetland rice either as Azolla or urea was studied in a field at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In bigger plots nearby, yield response and N uptake were also determined with unlabelled N sources. Azolla microphylla was labelled by repeated application of labelled ammonium sulfate. Labelled and unlabelled N were used alternately in applications of Azolla or urea 0 and 42 days after transplanting, in order to determine the effect of the time of application on the availability of Azolla N. The quantities of Azolla N incorporated were 23% more than those of urea N (30 kg N ha^–1) in the isotope plots or 7% less in the yield response plots. Grain yield and total N uptake by the rice plants in the yield-response plots were higher in the urea-treated plots than in the Azolla-treated plots, but the physiological effect of Azolla N (grain yield response/increase in N uptake) was higher than that of rea. The labelled N balance was studied after the first and second crops of rice. Losses of labelled N after the first crop were higher from urea (30%–32%) than from Azolla (0%–11 %). Losses in N applied as a side dressing 42 days after transplanting were less than those of N applied basally. No further losses of ¹⁵N occurred after the first crop. The recovery of Azolla ¹⁵N in the first crop of rice was 39% from the basal application and 63% from the side dressing. The recovery of urea ¹⁵N was 27% from the basal application and 48% from the side dressing. Recoveries of residual N from both Azolla and urea during the second rice crop were similar. Laboratory incubation of the Azolla used and the changes in labelled exchangeable N in the soil showed that at least 65% of Azolla N (4.7% N content) was mineralized within 10 days.     

Crop improvement and root rot suppression by seed bacterization in chickpea

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Regional Research Station, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Bawal, India, to evaluate the contribution of different bioinoculants in terms of nodule number, nodule biomass, root rot incidence and seed yield in chickpea. Nodule number and biomass were positively affected by the application of bioinoculants. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) alone or in combination with bioinoculants reduced plant mortality and increased seed yield of the crop. Seed yield at 50% fertilizer dose (RF) plus all the three inoculants was at a maximum during all the three years of experimentation.     

Economic and Soil Environmental Benefits of Using Controlled‐Release Bulk Blending Urea in the North China Plain

Crop production must be increased in order to ensure a sustainable food supply for the growing world population. Controlled‐release urea (CRU) improves nutrient use efficiency and saves labor, but its use in crop production is limited due to its high cost. Bulk blending urea (BBU) consists of both CRU and conventional urea and could be an excellent substitute or replacement for CRU. Nevertheless, its economic benefits and soil environment impact are unknown. A 3‐year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two different nitrogen management practices in terms of economic benefits, soil mineral nitrogen availability, aggregate stability, and soil microbial communities. Split applications of conventional urea (UREA) and a single application of BBU were tested on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and summer maize (Zea mays L.) in the North China Plain between 2010 and 2013. Crop yields were measured after each harvest, and soil environmental parameters were determined after the 3‐year crop sequence. Relative to UREA, BBU significantly increased net revenue, soil inorganic nitrogen concentration, and the functional diversity of the soil microbial community without adverse effects on the soil bacterial community composition. On the other hand, BBU reduced the amount of soil macro‐aggregates and the mean weight diameter value of soil water‐stable aggregates. Although BBU showed great potential for improving wheat–maize cropping systems in the North China Plain, future studies should focus on optimizing the nitrogen dosage and the CRU ratio in BBU to decrease nitrogen leaching, avoid soil aggregate deterioration, and maintain crop yield. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

15N Fertilizer recovery in different tillage–straw systems on a Vertisol in north‐west Mexico

Tillage and residue retention affect nitrogen (N) dynamics and nutrient losses and therefore nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop fertilizer use, however, there is little information about residual fertilizer effects on the subsequent crop. Micro‐plots with ¹⁵N‐labelled urea were established in 2014/2015 on a long‐term experiment on a Vertisol in north‐west Mexico. N fertilizer recovery (NFR) and the effects of residual fertilizer N for summer maize (Zea mays L.) and the subsequent wheat (Triticum durum L.) crop were studied in three tillage–straw management practices (CTB: conventionally tilled beds; PB‐straw: permanent raised beds with residue retention; PB‐burn: permanent raised beds with residue burning). Fertilizer ¹⁵N recovery rates for maize grain across all treatments were low with an average of 11%, but after wheat harvest total recovered ¹⁵N (¹⁵N in maize and wheat straw and grain, residual soil ¹⁵N) was over 50% for the PB‐burn treatment. NFR was lowest in CTB after two cropping cycles (32%). Unaccounted N from applied fertilizer for the maize crop averaged 120 kg ¹⁵N ha^?1 after wheat harvest. However, more than 20% of labelled ¹⁵N was found in the 0–90 cm soil profile in both PB treatments after wheat harvest, which highlights the need for long‐term studies and continuous monitoring of the soil nutrient status to avoid over‐application of mineral N fertilizer.     

Influences of past application rates of nitrogen and a catch crop on soil microbial communities between an intensive rotation

The aim of this study was to investigate influences of six-year past application rates of nitrogen and a catch crop, sweet corn (Zea mays L. ssp. Saccharata Sturt), on soil microbial community and diversity in a greenhouse-based intensive vegetable soil in eastern China. Soil electrical conductivity, pH, mineral nitrogen, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) profiles and carbon source utilization patterns under five annually past nitrogen rates (0, 348, 522, 696 and 870?kg?nitrogen?ha^?1) were evaluated after the establishment of sweet corn during 1–1.5-month fallow period over three-year tomato/cucumber/celery rotations. The past nitrogen application rates exerted significant effects on soil electrical conductivity, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen and carbon source utilization patterns, but not on PLFAs profiles. The sweet corn had a significant effect on soil chemical properties, total and actinobacterial PLFAs, but not on carbon source utilization patterns. Soil electrical conductivity, nitrate-nitrogen and the total PLFAs decreased whilst soil organic carbon, pH and the actinobacterial PLFAs increased after the establishment of sweet corn. Soil microbial functional diversity from carbon source utilization patterns and actinobacterial PLFAs were greatest after the establishment of sweet corn at a 60% of the conventional nitrogen rate (i.e. 522?kg?nitrogen?ha^?1). Soil electrical conductivity and ammonium-nitrogen were two key factors to determine carbon source utilization patterns, whilst soil pH was the key factor to determine PLFAs profiles. A combination of the catch crop sweet corn during summer fallow and a 60% of the conventional nitrogen rate is a sustainable pathway of utilizing greenhouse-based intensive vegetable soils in eastern China.     

Fate of residual 15N-labeled fertilizer in dryland farming systems on soils of contrasting fertility

Abstract

Up to 50% of nitrogen (N) fertilizer can remain in soil after crop harvest in dryland farming. Understanding the fate of this residual fertilizer N in soil is important for evaluating its overall use efficiency and environmental effect. Nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N)-labeled urea (165 kg N ha^?1) was applied to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growing in three different fertilized soils (no fertilizer, No-F; inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization, NPK; and manure plus inorganic NPK fertilization, MNPK) from a long-term trial (19 years) on the south of the Loess Plateau, China. The fate of residual fertilizer N in soils over summer fallow and the second winter wheat growing season was examined. The amount of the residual fertilizer N was highest in the No-F soil (116 kg ha^?1), and next was NPK soil (60 kg ha^?1), then the MNPK soil (43 kg ha^?1) after the first winter wheat harvest. The residual fertilizer N in the No-F soil was mainly in mineral form (43% of the residual ¹⁵N), and for the NPK and MNPK soils, it was mainly in organic form. The loss rate of residual ¹⁵N in No-F soil over summer fallow was as high as 48%, and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the NPK soil (22%) and MNPK soil (19%). The residual ¹⁵N use efficiency (RNUE) by the second winter wheat was 13% in the No-F soil, 6% in the NPK soil and 8% in the MNPK soil. These were equivalent to 9.0, 2.0 and 2.2% of applied ¹⁵N. The total ¹⁵N recovery (¹⁵N uptake by crops and residual in 0–100 cm soil layer) in the MNPK and NPK soils (84.5% and 86.6%, respectively) were both significantly higher than that in the No-F soil (59%) after two growing seasons. The ¹⁵N uptake by wheat in two growing seasons was higher in the MNPK soil than in NPK soil. Therefore, we conclude that a high proportion of the residual ¹⁵N was lost during the summer fallow under different land management in dryland farming, and that long-term combined application of manure with inorganic fertilizer could increase the fertilizer N uptake and decrease N loss.     

农茬口对土壤特性及熟地当归育苗的调控效应

利用高寒草甸生荒地进行当归育苗的传统方式造成严重的水土流失。为了探讨农茬口调控土壤特性继而影响后茬当归育苗的效应,在道地产区甘肃省卓尼县熟地培育农作物茬口后进行当归育苗,测定育苗期土壤特性、成苗数和产量。结果表明,农茬口对后茬当归育苗田土壤特性具有显著影响,与休耕茬田比较,马铃薯、油菜、蚕豆茬田土壤电导率极显著降低, pH显著提高,青稞茬田土壤pH和电导率均降低,农茬口极显著提高了后茬土壤阳离子含量,降低了阴离子含量。各茬口土壤K~+含量依次为青稞蚕豆油菜马铃薯休耕, Na~+含量为马铃薯青稞蚕豆油菜和休耕, Cl~-含量为休耕马铃薯青稞油菜蚕豆。随土层加深,紧实度增加,孔隙度减少,含水量随土层和茬口而异。0～15 cm土层的土质疏松且含水量高则有利于保苗。当归成苗数和苗产量与土壤电导率、Cl~-含量均呈显著负相关;苗产量与pH、K~+含量呈显著正相关,与5～10 cm土层容重呈显著负相关;苗数与0～5 cm土层总孔隙度呈显著正相关。各茬口育成苗产量排序与综合评价指数顺序一致,综合评价指数依次为蚕豆(0.986)油菜(0.682)青稞(0.668)马铃薯(0.297)休耕(0.159)。因此,优异的茬口特性可优化当归幼苗赖以生存的农田土壤环境,改善土壤性质,富集营养,促生保苗,蚕豆茬口更为优异。     

包膜尿素对芹菜产量、品质及氮素平衡的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了包膜尿素(自制)和尿素等肥料在两种质地灰潮土上对芹菜产量、品质、氮素吸收和氮平衡的影响。结果表明,施用包膜尿素较尿素使当季芹菜增产11.5％-15.2％,氮素吸收增加5.9％-9.5％,氨挥发损失N减少14.2％-14.9％,淋失和反硝化氮损失减少25.5％-28.3％,氮素利用率提高19.2％-27.1％,土壤持留氮增加32.0％-37.3％。芹菜植株硝态氮含量降低44.2％-58.9％,维生素C含量显著提高,品质改善;后茬作物生菜增产14.4％-35.2％。