Ammonium accumulation in soil: the long‐term effects of tillage,rotation and N rate in a Mediterranean Vertisol

Plant nutrition requires organic nitrogen to be mineralized before roots can absorb it. A 13‐year field study was conducted on typical rain‐fed Mediterranean Vertisol to determine the effects of tillage system, crop rotation and N fertilizer rate on the long‐term NH₄⁺–N content in the soil profile (0–90 cm). The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with a split–split plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots tested the effects from the tillage system (no‐tillage and conventional tillage); the subplots tested crop rotation with 2‐year rotations (wheat–wheat, wheat–fallow, wheat–chickpea, wheat–faba bean and wheat–sunflower) and the sub‐subplots examined the N fertilizer rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha). Soil NH₄⁺–N content was greatest in the rainiest years and greater under the no‐tillage (NT) system than the conventional tillage (CT) system (57 and 48 kg/ha, respectively). The deepest soil (30–60 and 60–90 cm) contained a greater NH₄⁺–N content (21.0 and 21.4 kg/ha, respectively) than the shallowest soil (19.5 kg/ha in 0–30 cm). This observation may be related to Vertisol characteristics, especially crack formation that allows greater mineralization in the deepest layers by displacing organic matter.     

Yield of take‐all infested winter wheat as influenced by inhibiting nitrification with dicyandiamide

Abstract

The potential for using dicyandiamide (DCD) to enhance yield of take‐all‐infested winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was evaluated in six field experiments on four acid soils (pH 5.7–6.2). Ammonium and NO₃ ^‐ concentrations and NH₄ ⁺: NO₃ ^‐ ratios in 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths were measured for ten weeks after spring topdressing 180 kg N/ha as urea with 0, 13, or 27 kg DCD/ha. Nitrification was strongly inhibited for 6 to 10 weeks by either 13 or 27 kg DCD/ha. Averaged over the ten‐week sampling period, NH₄ ⁺: N0₃ ^‐ ratios in the 0–10 cm depth of soil were 36: 1 for DCD‐treated plots as compared to 2: 1 for plots receiving only urea. Ratios in DCD‐treated plots were considerably wider than ratios associated with take‐all suppression (10: 1 to 3: 1) in earlier studies. Extractable NH₄ ⁺ + NO₃ ^‐ concentrations in soil were high in DCD‐treated plots after 30 to 40 days, suggested that DCD had reduced crop uptake of N because of the lower mobility of NH₄ ⁺ as compared to NO₃ ^‐. In four of the six studies, grain yields tended to be reduced by DCD. Results suggest that lower rates of DCD and/or application of some NO₃ ^‐ will be necessary if DCD is to be used as a tool for suppressing take‐all.     

长期施肥对土壤固定态铵含量及其有效性影响

棕壤连续13年定位试验表明,长期施用化肥或低量有机肥对土壤固定态接含量均无显著影响;而施用高量有机肥区固定态接含量比试验前平均增加30.2％。这部分增加的固定态按主要来自土壤有机氮矿化补充。施肥后固定态铵的净增加量超过作物施氮量是土壤激发效应的结果。土壤原有固定态铵含量在113～116mg／kg,对作物无效,而新固定态按时作物有效。生长季耕层土壤固定态铵总释放量（N）对照区为43kg／hm2,化肥区平均为110kg／hm2;有机肥与化肥配合区平均为165kg／hm2。施钾对固定态铵的释放有一定抑制作用。     

氮在紫色土中的移动和水稻氮素利用率的研究

利用养分渗漏池研究了紫色土中氮肥品种、用量对氮素移动、淋失和水稻氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明:淹水期间淋失的氮素基本形态是NH4+-N,主要分布在土壤表层,并随时间而下移;NH4+-N 淋失量与降雨量呈显著正相关;氯化铵促进了NH4+-N 的淋失,但其氮肥利用率比尿素高8 个百分点,说明水稻上可酌施含氯化肥;增施氮肥增加了NH4+-N 的淋失量,减少了氮肥利用率,建议水稻施氮控制在150kg/hm2。     

灌溉施用氮肥后氮素在土壤中的转化及淋失状况: 土柱模拟研究

A soil column method was used to compare the effect of drip fertigation (the application of fertilizer through drip irrigation systems, DFI) on the leaching loss and transformation of urea-N in soil with that of surface fertilization combined with flood irrigation (SFI), and to study the leaching loss and transformation of three kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate fertilizer, ammonium fertilizer, and urea fertilizer) in two contrasting soils after the fertigation. In comparison to SFI, DFI decreased leaching loss of urea-N from the soil and increased the mineral N (NH₄⁺-N + NO₃^--N) in the soil. The N leached from a clay loam soil ranged from 5.7% to 9.6% of the total N added as fertilizer, whereas for a sandy loam soil they ranged between 16.2% and 30.4%. Leaching losses of mineral N were higher when nitrate fertilizer was used compared to urea or ammonium fertilizer. Compared to the control (without urea addition), on the first day when soils were fertigated with urea, there were increases in NH₄⁺-N in the soils. This confirmed the rapid hydrolysis of urea in soil during fertigation. NH₄⁺-N in soils reached a peak about 5 days after fertigation, and due to nitrification it began to decrease at day 10. After applying NH₄⁺-N fertilizer and urea and during the incubation period, the mineral nitrogen in the soil decreased. This may be related to the occurrence of NH₄⁺-N fixation or volatilization in the soil during the fertigation process.     

Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition and the Properties of Soils in Forests of Vologda Region

Twenty plots (20 m² each) were selected in coniferous and mixed forests of the industrial Vologda district and the Vytegra district without developed industries in Vologda region. In March, snow cores corresponding to the snow cover depth were taken on these plots. In August, soil samples from the 0- to 20-cm layer of litter-free soddy-podzolic soil (Albic Retisol (Ochric)) were taken on the same plots in August. The content of mineral nitrogen (N_min), including its ammonium (NH⁺₄) and nitrate (NO^-₃) forms, was determined in the snow (meltwater) and soil. The contents of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and elements (Al, Ca); pH; particle size distribution; and microbiological parameters―carbon of microbial biomass (C_mic) and microbial respiration (MR)―were determined in the soil. The ratio MR/C_mic = qCO₂ (specific respiration of microbial biomass, or soil microbial metabolic quotient) was calculated. The content of N_mic in meltwater of two districts was 1.7 mg/L on the average (1.5 and 0.3 mg/L for the NH⁺₄ and NO^–₃ forms, respectively). The annual atmospheric deposition was 0.6–8.9 kg N_min/ha, the value of which in the Vologda district was higher than in the Vytegra district by 40%. Reliable correlations were found between atmospheric NH⁺₄ depositions and C_mic (–0.45), between NH⁺₄ and qCO₂ (0.56), between atmospheric NO^-₃ depositions and the soil NO^-₃ (–0.45), and between NO^-₃ and qCO₂ (–0.58). The content of atmospheric N_min depositions correlated with the ratios C/N (–0.46) and Al/Ca (–0.52) in the soil. In forests with the high input of atmospheric nitrogen (>2.0 kg NH⁺₄/(ha yr) and >6.4 kg N_min/(ha yr)), a tendency of decreasing C_mic, C/N, and Al/Ca, as well as increasing qCO₂, was revealed, which could be indicative of deterioration in the functioning of microbial community and the chemical properties of the soil.     

新疆石河子地区玉米产量及氮素平衡的施氮量阈值研究

【目的】合理施用氮肥不仅会提高肥料利用率,还会降低氮素面源污染的风险。通过2年田间肥料定位试验,研究北疆灰漠土区不同氮肥用量下,土壤无机氮积累量、 氮素平衡和玉米产量间的相互关系,为氮肥合理施用提供依据。【方法】研究采用肥料田间定位试验,小区试验于2011-2012年开展,设计6个氮肥（N）用量水平: 0、 225、 300、 375、 450、 600 kg/hm2,分别以N0、 N225、 N300、 N375、 N450、 N600表示,其中300 kg/hm2为当地玉米农田氮肥推荐用量,磷肥（P2O5）施用量为75 kg/hm2,钾肥（K2O）施用量为37.5 kg/hm2。【结果】 1）施用氮肥增加了土壤硝态氮和铵态氮残留量,硝态氮主要残留于060 cm土层,铵态氮主要分布在020 cm土层深度。2011年试验中,土壤无机氮残留量随氮肥用量增加而显著增加,与对照相比,施氮处理无机氮残留量增幅为12%~102%,与施氮量呈指数增长关系。2012年氮肥用量对土壤无机氮残留量的影响与2011年相似。2）施氮量 225 kg/hm2时,0100 cm土层深度土壤无机氮积累量降低,表现为负积累效应,N0和N225处理下2012年土壤无机氮积累量分别较2011年降低165%和170%; 施氮量高于 300 kg/hm2时,土壤无机氮积累量显著增加,表现为富集现象,其中,N375、 N450和N600处理下2012年土壤无机氮积累量分别较2011年增加17%、 388%、 170%。土壤无机氮积累量与施氮量显著呈二次抛物线关系,2011年回归方程为y=0.0001x2 + 0.1013x－22.537（R2 = 0.9288）,无机氮无积累时施氮量为187 kg/hm2; 2012年为 y = 0.0003x2 + 0.1417x - 52.78（R2 = 0.9583）,无机氮无积累时施氮量为245 kg/hm2。土壤氮素表观损失量和氮素盈余量的增加幅度随氮肥用量增加而显著加大。3）氮肥投入可提高玉米产量,产量与施氮量呈显著的二次抛物线或线性加平台的关系,施氮量高于300 kg/hm2时,玉米产量与最高产量差异不显著; 产量与无机氮积累量呈二次抛物线形关系,当土壤无机氮达到平衡时,玉米产量显著低于最高产量,当玉米产量达到最大时,土壤无机氮有一定积累。氮肥利用率则随氮肥用量增加呈指数关系显著降低。施氮量270 kg/hm2为产量与氮肥利用率的交点,施氮量340 kg/hm2 是土壤无机氮残留量与氮肥利用率的交点。【结论】利用产量效应、 环境效应与肥料效应函数的交点确定氮肥投入阈值,是较为优化的方法。合理的氮肥投入不仅能获得玉米高产,降低氮素面源污染风险,还能获得较高的氮肥利用率。因此,施氮量260340 kg/hm2为本研究区玉米高产与环境友好的氮肥投入阈值。     

Corn (Zea mays L.) Grain and Stover Yield as Affected by Soil Residual Mineral Nitrogen

Evaluation of nitrogen (N) dynamic in soil using regression equations is important for proper determination of N fertilization. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to (1) develop the best-fitted regression model relating corn grain and stover yield to soil residual ammonium (NH₄)-N and nitrate (NO₃)-N for corn yield prediction and (2) evaluate how such a model can be beneficial to the health of ecosystem by predicting the appropriate rates of N fertilization for corn production. Soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N were determined at corn harvest at the depths of 0–30 and 30–60 cm. Nitrogen fertilizer rates and soil mineral N accounted for a maximum of 93% variation in corn grain yield. Soil mineral N enhanced corn yield more than N fertilizer. Totals of 63.1 and 14.1 kg/ha of soil residual NO₃-N and NH₄-N were found in the 0- to 60-cm depth, indicating the importance of performing soil N tests.     

Soil chemical properties after long‐term n fertilization of bromegrass: Nitrogen rate

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers increase yield and quality of grass forage, and may also alter soil chemical properties. A field experiment was conducted in south‐central Alberta to determine the effect of long‐term application of ammonium nitrate to bromegrass on concentration and downward mobility of soluble NO₃‐N, extractable NH₄‐N, P, Ca, Mg, and K, and total C and N in a Thin Black Chernozemic loam soil. The fertilizer was applied annually in early spring for 16 years at 0 to 336 kg N/ha. There was little accumulation of NO₃‐N in the soil at N rates of 112 kg/ha or less. However, at rates higher than 112 kg N/ha there was accumulation of NO₃‐N in the 15–30 and 30–60 cm layers, but very little in the 90–120 cm depth. The NH₄‐N accumulated in the 0–5 cm layer when the fertilizer was applied at rates between 168 to 280 kg N/ha and in the 5–10 cm layer at N rates exceeding 280 kg/ha. There was a decline in extractable P in soil with N application up to 84 kg N/ha rate, while it increased with high N rates. The increasing amounts of applied N resulted in a decline in extractable soil Ca, Mg and K, and this decrease was more pronounced in the 0–5,5–10,10–15, and 15–30 cm layers for K, 0–5 and 5–10 cm layers for Ca, and 0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm layers for Mg. There was a build‐up of total C and N in the surface soil with increasing rate of applied N.     

Acidification and nutrient imbalance in forest soils subjected to nitrogen deposition

Emission of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and ammonia (NH₃) from a fertilizer factory and the resulting input of nitrates (NO₃ ^?) and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) into the soil were the main reasons of nitrogen (N) cycle disturbance in forest ecosystems near Novgorod, North-Western Russia (50°31′ North, 31°17′ East). Total N atmospheric input was about 100 kg/ha annually. NH₃ was a dominant pollutant, causing the increase of atmospheric precipitation pH within the polluted region compared to background territories (6.0–6.5 and 4.5–5.0, respectively). Soil acidification through NH₄ ⁺ nitrification was observed. N-NO₃ ^? concentrations in soil solution reached 20–30 mg/l, and proton (H) production was equal to 4.1 keq/ha per warm season (from April to October). Compared with soil status in 1983, pH decrease by 0.2 pH units was found in A horizon. The content of exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) decreased by the factor of 2–3 and 1.5–2 in A and B horizons, respectively. Triple increase of exchangeable aluminium (Al) content was detected in A horizon. Through recent decrease of pollutant emission, the polluted territory is now a suitable subject for recovery studies.     

减氮配施有机物质对土壤氮素淋失的调控作用

采用室内土柱模拟试验方法,研究不同氮肥施用下1m土体中氮素的分布和移动特征,揭示土壤氮素动态变化规律。结果表明:FN(农民习惯施无机氮用量)、RN(根据土壤养分供应和作物需求确定的推荐无机氮用量)显著增加了土壤上层NH_4^+-N和NO_3^--N向下层淋失。RN+HA(与推荐无机氮纯养分相等的锌腐酸尿素)和RN40%+OMB(推荐无机氮肥减60%基础上配施自制有机调理物质)可延长上层土壤NH_4^+-N峰值出现时间,降低下层NH_4^+-N。淋溶结束后,等氮量下增施HA较RN降低60cm以下NH_4^+-N残留29.7%～54.2%;降低60—80cm NO_3^--N累积17.4%。RN40%+OMB处理无机氮肥用量最小,0—20cm的NH_4^+-N最高,40—100cm稳定在2.0mg/kg左右;0—20,20—40cm土层NO_3^--N较RN+HA增加12.3%和2.0%,显著降低40cm以下NO_3^--N残留。RN+HA和RN40%+OMB较RN的土壤总无机氮残留分别减少7.4%和20.2%,降低表观淋失率。因此,RN40%+OMB可较好地抑制氮素下移,降低氮素淋失风险,为减少氮素淋失、明确合理氮肥施用方式提供科学依据。     

Effects of application of lime nitrogen and dicyandiamide on nitrous oxide emissions from green tea fields

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the mitigating effects of lime nitrogen (calcium cyanamide) and dicyandiamide (DCD) application on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from fields of green tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze]. The study was conducted in experimental tea fields in which the fertilizer application rate was 544 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1 yr^?1 for 2 years. The mean cumulative N₂O flux from the soil between the canopies of tea plants for 2 years was 7.1 ± 0.9 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 in control plots. The cumulative N₂O flux in the plots supplemented with lime nitrogen was 3.5 ± 0.1 kgN ha^?1, approximately 51% lower than that in control plots. This reduction was due to the inhibition of nitrification by DCD, which was produced from the lime nitrogen. In addition, the increase in soil pH by lime in the lime nitrogen may also be another reason for the decreased N₂O emissions from soil in LN plots. Meanwhile, the cumulative N₂O flux in DCD plots was not significantly different from that in control plots. The seasonal variability in N₂O emissions in DCD plots differed from that in control plots and application of DCD sometimes increased N₂O emissions from tea field soil. The nitrification inhibition effect of lime nitrogen and DCD helped to delay nitrification of ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), leading to high NH₄⁺-N concentrations and a high ratio of NH₄⁺-N /nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃^–-N) in the soil. The inhibitors delayed the formation of NO₃^–-N in soil. N uptake by tea plants was almost the same among all three treatments.     

稻田土壤中氮素淋失的研究

本文应用稻田大型原状土柱渗漏计，研究了双季稻田土壤中氮素随渗漏水流淋失的形态、数量、季节性变化以及若干农化因子的影响。明确了稻田中氮素淋失的基本形态是硝态氮（ＮＯ３＾－－Ｎ），估算出双季稻田中氮素淋失总量可接近３０ｋｇＮ／ｈａ，同时肯定了农田施用氮肥对地下水体环境可能的ＮＯ３＾－－Ｎ污染，建议双季稻田中每季水稻的氮肥用量宜控制在１５０ｋｇＮ／ｈａ；本文还证实氮肥用量对氮素淋失有明显影响，不同氮肥品     

双季稻田添加脲酶抑制剂NBPT氮肥的最高减量潜力研究

【目的】添加脲酶抑制剂（Urease inhibitor, UI）是提高肥料利用率的有效途径,在尿素（Urea,U）中添加1%的脲酶抑制剂NBPT（N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺）是目前研究使用证明效果最可靠的添加比例。针对当前稻田氮肥施用水平过高的问题,本文采用田间小区试验研究了目前脲酶抑制剂添加比例下稻田氮肥的减施潜力以及脲酶抑制剂的节肥增效机理。【方法】本试验在我国长江中下游的双季稻田进行,脲酶抑制剂用量NBPT为尿素用量的1%。尿素用量设五个水平为N 90、 112.5、 135、 157.5 和180 kg/hm2,分别依次记为U1、 U2、 U3、 U4和U5, 7个处理为CK（不施氮肥）、 U1+UI、 U2+UI、 U3+UI、 U4+UI、 U5+UI、 U5（U5为传统施氮量, N 180 kg/hm2为农民习惯施氮量）,三次重复。U1~U5处理施氮量分别是在农民习惯施氮量的基础上降低50%、 37.5%、 25%、 12.5%、 0%。通过取样分析水稻分蘖期和孕穗期各处理对土壤脲酶活性、 硝酸还原酶活性、 土壤铵态氮含量、 硝态氮含量以及微生物量碳、 氮的含量,研究NBPT对水稻两个主要生育期土壤氮素供应的影响,比较各处理的产量以及氮肥利用率来得出氮肥的减施潜力,在此基础上通过逐步回归分析研究以上各指标对产量的影响,探明脲酶抑制剂（NBPT）在双季稻田的增效机理。【结果】 1) 在双季稻田,添加NBPT后,施氮量为N 135 kg/hm2的籽粒产量达到最高。与传统施氮（单施尿素N 180 kg/hm2）处理相比,早、 晚稻可分别增产8.54%和12.87%,氮肥当季利用率分别提高6.78%和9.46%,可节约氮肥25%; 2)与传统施氮相比,添加NBPT显著降低了水稻分蘖期的土壤脲酶活性和铵态氮含量,显著提高了孕穗期的铵态氮含量,而对此时期的脲酶活性无显著影响,NBPT对两个时期的硝酸还原酶活性、 硝态氮含量及微生物量碳、 氮含量均无明显影响,可见基施的NBPT主要是降低尿素水解速率方面效果显著,并且NBPT具有时效性,其主要是在水稻孕穗期之前起作用,在生态上较为安全; 3) 从各项土壤指标与水稻产量相关性的逐步回归分析结果来看,水稻分蘖期与孕穗期稻田土壤中铵态氮含量对水稻产量影响显著,而且孕穗期的影响大于分蘖期,其余指标则对产量无明显影响。【结论】由于脲酶抑制剂NBPT减缓了分蘖期尿素的水解作用,提高了孕穗期土壤中的铵态氮含量,为水稻后期生长提供充足的氮肥,在双季稻减肥方面具有显著的效果。在本试验土壤条件下,尿素中添加1% 的NBPT,可在提高产量的同时,将传统施氮肥量减少25%,是适于稻田应用的脲酶抑制剂。     

Nitrate leaching from the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, Rothamsted, UK, as influenced by fertilizer and manure inputs and the weather

Abstract. Nitrate leaching was measured over the eight drainage seasons spanning the nine years from 1990–1998 on the 157‐year old Broadbalk Experiment at Rothamsted, UK. The weather pattern of two dry, three wet and three dry years was the dominant factor controlling nitrogen (N) loss. Both the concentration of nitrate in the drainage waters and the amount of N leached increased with the amount of N applied, mostly because of long‐term, differential increases in soil organic matter and mineralization. On average, losses of N by leaching were 30 kg ha^?1yr^?1 when no more than the optimum N application was applied and were typical of amounts leached from arable land in the UK. Losses increased significantly in both amounts and as the percentage of N applied for supra‐optimal applications of N and from autumn‐applied farmyard manure (FYM). Extra spring‐applied fertilizer was very effective at increasing yields on plots given FYM in the autumn but at the expense of leaching losses three times those from optimum fertilizer N applications. Losses increased after potatoes because they left significant amounts of mineral N in the soil, and decreased after forage maize because it used applied N more effectively. Losses measured 120 years ago from identical treatments were 74% greater than current losses because of today's larger yields and more efficient varieties and management practices. Average concentrations of nitrate in drainage waters did not exceed the EU limit of 11.3 mg NO₃‐N l^?1 until supra‐optimal amounts of N fertilizer (>150–200 kg ha^?1yr^?1) were applied in spring or FYM was applied in autumn. However some drainage waters from all plots, even those that have not received fertilizer for >150 years, exceeded the limit when rain followed a dry summer and autumn. Nitrate leaching into waters will remain a problem for profitable arable farming in the drier parts of Eastern England and Europe despite increased N use efficiency.     

Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Herbage Production of an Established Grass Sward in Relation to Moisture and Nitrogen Fertilization

Herbage growth and nitrogen (N) use efficiency in grazed or mown grasslands are generally low, associated mostly with poor response to fertilizer N. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the short-term response of grass to fertilizer N with respect to herbage yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in order to provide a better basis for improving the efficient use of fertilizer N in grassland ecosystems. Both NO₃ ^? and NH₄ ⁺ sources of N were applied to an established grass sward with three moisture levels, i.e., natural conditions (63% water-filled pore space, WFPS), near field capacity level (71% WFPS), and slightly wetter than field capacity (84% WFPS). Herbage yield, i.e., dry matter (DM), N uptake, N recovery efficiency, yield efficiency, and physiological efficiency were determined over a 7–28 d period. Addition of N fertilizers significantly increased the herbage yield and N uptake of grass sward over that of the control. In the plots where NO₃ ^??N was added as the N source, DM yield was between 1760–1870 kg ha^?1, N recovery efficiency was between 24%–43%, and yield and physiological efficiency were in the range of 2.1–3.2 and 6.4–8.8 kg DM kg^{? 1} N, respectively. In NH₄ ⁺?N added plots, the DM yield was between 3190–3700 kg ha^{? 1}, N recovery efficiency was between 39%–48% while yield and physiological efficiency were in the range of 3.5–5.6 and 9.0–11.6 kg DM kg^{? 1} N, respectively. Results indicated that total DM yield, N uptake, and NUE depend on the source of N and the level of moisture in the field. Assimilation of N is also affected by the stage of plant development after N fertilization. About 50%–54% of applied N was recovered in the initial 14 and 21 d after fertilizer application and thereafter translocation of N slowed. A fall in herbage production and minimal response to N fertilizer has been observed at 84% WFPS, while the maximum herbage yield and N recovery efficiency was recorded in soil near or below field capacity. The grass sward with added NH₄ ⁺?N produced a larger yield and had higher NUE relative to the sward with NO₃ ^??N. Results confirm that applied N was not utilized efficiently by grass sward and a decrease in N uptake and its utilization seem to be the key factors responsible for the poor herbage productivity often observed in pastoral agriculture. These results suggest that both moisture and N source have a substantial effect on herbage yield and N utilization by plants and therefore should be considered for efficient management of N fertilization and recommendations for grass sward.     

不同灌溉施肥方式下尿素态氮在土壤中迁移转化特性的研究

采用室内土柱模拟试验方法 ,研究了不同灌溉施肥方式下尿素态氮在土壤中的迁移、淋溶和转化特征。结果表明 ,灌水量及水肥供应方式是决定尿素态氮在土壤中迁移、转化和淋失的关键因素。氮素淋溶量随灌水量的增加而增加 ;与浇灌施肥相比 ,滴灌施肥显著地降低了氮素的淋溶损失。在淋失的氮素形态中 ,以尿素态氮为主 ,其次为硝态氮 ,铵态氮的淋失量最低。灌水量低时 ,滴灌施肥铵态氮在土壤上层明显累积 ;灌水量增加后 ,这种累积作用减弱。灌水量低时 ,灌溉施肥的土壤硝态氮变化呈上低下高 ,增加灌水量降低了土壤中硝态氮含量 ;滴灌施肥显著地减少了尿素态氮的淋溶损失 ,增加了土壤中有效态氮的含量。     

Losses of nitrate-nitrogen in water draining from under autumn-sown crops established by direct drilling or mouldboard ploughing

The leaching of nitrate-N under autumn-sown arable crops was measured using hydro-logically isolated plots, about 0.24 ha in area, from 1984–1988. Fluxes of water and nitrate moving over the soil surface (surface runoff), at the interface between topsoil and subsoil (interflow), and in the subsoil (drainflow) were monitored in plots with mole-and-pipe drain systems (drained plots); surface runoff and interflow only were monitored in ‘undrained’ plots. Half the drained and undrained plots were direct-drilled, and on the other half seedbeds were prepared by tillage to 200 mm. Tillage increased the total leaching loss of nitrate by 21 % compared with direct drilling in drained plots. About 95% or the nitrate moving from the soil was present in the water intercepted by the subsoil drains in these plots. In undrained plots less water and nitrate were collected in total; more of the nitrate was present in interflow on ploughed plots and in surface runoff in direct-drilled land. Losses of nitrate for the whole experiment from 1978-1988 were analysed. This showed that, between the harvest of one crop and the spring application of fertilizer to the next, loss of nitrate-N from ploughed land (L_p) was approximated by L_p=22+Fkg N ha^?1, where F was the autumn fertilizer-N applied. After fertilizer was applied in spring, loss of nitrate-N depended on rainfall such that for 100 mm rainfall about 30% of the fertilizer-N was lost by leaching. About 18% more nitrate-N was lost from direct-drilled land than from ploughed land in spring, but the total loss was generally small compared to that over winter. The apparent net mineralization of organic-N was measured in 1988. In autumn and winter there was little effect of tillage treatment (26 and 31 kg N ha^?1 on direct drilled and tilled plots respectively). However, over the year 83 kg N ha^?1 were mineralized in tilled plots, and 67 kg N ha^?1 in direct-drilled plots. Five factors governing the leaching of nitrate are assessed and this identified that fertilizer nitrogen application to the seedbed of winter sown crops and the mineralization of nitrogen from the residues of the previous crop are the most significant factors for nitrogen leaching in the UK.     

CHANGES IN TOTAL INORGANIC PROFILE NITROGEN IN LONG-TERM RYE–WHEAT–RYEGRASS FORAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEM*

ABSTRACT

Inorganic soil profile nitrogen (N) levels can increase with application rates greater than those necessary for maximum cereal grain yields. Forage systems are different than grain production systems in that harvest is generally prior to anthesis and gaseous plant N loss is not allowed to occur. This promotes removal of more total N from the system and results in higher nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE).Nitrogen rates representing increased profile N accumulation as well as those below this threshold were evaluated from a long-term rye–wheat–ryegrass production experiment. Nitrogen rates from 1979–1993 were 0, 56, 84, 112, 168, and 224 kg N ha^?1.Rates were doubled in 1994 in an effort to add N at a rate above which no increase in forage production would be expected.Wheat was eliminated from the winter seeding mix in 1994, as it was an extremely small portion of the total harvested forage. Deep soil cores (0–366 cm) were taken during the early summer of 1996 from plots with a history of continuous fertilization and forage production since 1979.Cores were split into 15 cm (0–60 cm) or 30 cm increments (60–366 cm) and analyzed for NO₃–N, NH₄–N, and pH.Total inorganic N accumulations were calculated by adding NO₃–N and NH₄–N.Surface accumulations of NH₄–N were significant with annual N rates of 224 kg N ha^?1 or more. No differences in NH₄–N were noted at lower depths, thus movement through the profile was not observed. Nitrate–N at the highest N rate was significantly higher than check levels down to 270 cm increasing the risk of groundwater contamination.It should be noted that the maximum N rate was increased to 448 kg ha^?1 in 1994 in an attempt to determine a level above which no yield response would be noted. No increase in forage production has been consistently noted with rates over 224 kg N ha^?1 and at this level the only adverse effect is increased NO₃–N in the surface 90 cm. These long-term experimental results support the conclusion that nitrogen fertilizer additions at recommended rates do not increase the risk of NO₃–N leaching.     

Stimulation of N2‐fixation in chickpea by gamma irradiation as affected by different levels of ammonium sulfate fertilizer

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted under natural climatic conditions to study the effect of low doses of gamma irradiation (0, 5, 10, and 20 Gy) on the performance of winter chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the presence of increased supply of ¹⁵N labeled ammonium sulfate (0, 20, 50, and 100 kg N ha^‐1). Presowing seed irradiation produced a significant increase in dry matter production (up to 3 6%) and total nitrogen yield (up to 45%). The stimulative effect of irradiation was more pronounced with the application of NH₄ ⁺‐N fertilizer. Seed irradiation increased the amount of N₂‐fixation by 8–61% depending on the dose and level of NH₄ ⁺‐N fertilizer rate. A 10 Gy was found to be the optimal irradiation dose for enhancing N₂‐fixation. High levels of NH₄ ⁺‐N decreased the percentage and the amount of N₂‐fixation, but did not affect nodule formation. However, the presowing 10 Gy irradiation dose reduced the negative effect of ammonia‐N fertilizer on N₂‐fixation. Therefore, we recommend irradiating chickpea seeds with a 10 Gy dose before planting in soil containing high levels of mineral nitrogen to reduce its negative effect on N₂‐fixation.