Impact of long-term organic and inorganic nutrient managements on the biological properties and eubacterial community diversity of the Indian semi-arid Alfisol

Intensive cropping with limited nutrient management options in low fertile semi-arid tropical soils will have agricultural sustainability problems in future. A better understanding of soil variables as influenced by long-term nutrient amendments could lead to the identification of more precise indicators to monitor soil fertility that would promote sustainability. Long-term nutrient experiment in semi-arid Alfisol at Coimbatore, India was investigated in two successive years, 2009 and 2010 to assess the enduring effects of organic (OM) and inorganic (IC) nutrient managements on soil variables. The organic amendments induced higher microbial population and enzyme activity compared to IC and control soils. The principal component analysis of observed variables revealed that soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity and diazotrophs population could be the possible indicators for predicting soil fertility resulting from long-term nutrient managements. The eubacterial community profile assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequence polymorphism revealed that the abundance and relative ratio of phyla belonging to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Firmicutes were considerably affected due to either organic manures or inorganic fertilizers, and organic nutrient management favours bacterial community diversity. These results emphasize the importance of organic nutrient management to maintain soil biological properties in semi-arid Alfisol.     

Impact of stand age on soil C, N and P dynamics in a 40-year chronosequence of alder-cardamom agroforestry stands of the Sikkim Himalaya

The impact of age (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 years) on chemical characteristics of mineral soil under an age sequence of alder-cardamom agroforestry stands was studied in the Eastern Himalayas. The seasonal variation in soil organic carbon (OC), soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), forms of phosphorus (total P, organic P, inorganic P, available P, fractionated forms of P), mineral nitrogen, potential N mineralization and nitrification was measured in the chronosequence across three replicate sites each having six representative stand ages. We hypothesized that nutrient stocks would be lower in younger agroforestry stands, would eventually increase with stand age due to the influence of alder but then decline as the stands mature further. The expected pattern of increasing soil nutrient stocks with stand age did occur with a peak at 15–20 years; nutrient stocks then substantially declined in 30- to 40-year-old stands. A significant seasonality, which coincided with cardamom flowering and fruiting, was observed in soil nutrient contents and N transformation rates. The 15–20-year-old stands had the highest nutrient pools and potential N transformation rates, whereas the youngest and oldest stands had the lowest nutrient pools. Soil acidity increased with stand age. Soil pH was negatively related to stand age and SOM in the linear regression. Nutrient dynamics varied with age depending on the successional stage, which limited soil nutrient availability for plant uptake after the 20-year point. The performance of both alder and cardamom was reduced after this age likely due to limited soil nutrient availability and nutrient dynamics as a result of recurrent biomass removal – part of the traditional management practice. This study concludes that the ecological and economic sustainability of this particular agroforestry system is possible by adopting a 20-year re-plantation cycle for alder and cardamom, and a phase-wise agroforestry rotation.     

Impact of sod-cutting and choppering on nutrient budgets of dry heathlands

Heathlands are endangered by both atmospheric nutrient deposition and natural succession. High-intensity management measures are considered necessary, as low-intensity measures (e.g. mowing, prescribed burning) are not able to compensate for atmospheric nutrient loads. Choppering (i.e. the near-complete removal of the O-layer) has several advantages over sod-cutting, including less waste material, faster vegetation recovery and lower costs. This raises the question addressed in this study as to the extent to which choppering and sod-cutting affect nutrient budgets in dry heathlands.We compared the quantities of N, Ca, K, Mg, and P removed by choppering and sod-cutting in the Lueneburg Heath (NW Germany). Nutrient balances were calculated by analysing atmospheric inputs, elevated leaching rates following management, and output due to the removal of above-ground biomass and humus horizons.Nutrient loss was particularly high after removal of O- and A-horizons. In contrast, increased leaching after management was of minor importance for nutrient budgets. Although considerably more nutrients were removed by sod-cutting than by choppering (e.g. N: 1712/1008 kg ha⁻¹), nutrient output by choppering was still sufficient to compensate for 60.7 years of net N-input. Choppering was able to remove more N per volume unit than sod-cutting due to higher N-contents in the organic layer than in the A-horizon. For this reason, choppering is more economical than sod-cutting and, thus, should be considered the preferable method at sites not dominated by Molinia caerulea. A combination of high-intensity measures with prescribed burning would appear to be suitable as this would ensure more selective removal of N.     

铜绿微囊藻混养生长能力及其对细胞增殖的影响研究

以葡萄糖为外加碳源,对不同氮磷营养水平下低光照条件中铜绿微囊藻的混养生长能力及其对细胞增殖的影响进行了系统研究,同时讨论了不同营养水平下葡萄糖对微囊藻生长的贡献差异。结果表明,铜绿微囊藻在低光照（[500±50）lx]下可吸收利用外界葡萄糖维持自身生长;外界适当浓度葡萄糖会促进微囊藻增殖,但过高则会抑制其生长,且微囊藻对葡萄糖的耐受性与氮磷营养环境存在着交互关系;混养生长组中的细胞叶绿素a含量均低于光照自养组。研究还发现,相同浓度的葡萄糖在氮磷营养较低的环境中对微囊藻增殖的贡献程度远远大于氮磷含量较高的环境。本文从氮磷营养水平的角度考察铜绿微囊藻的混养生长能力,并揭示混养生长在不同营养水平下对细胞增殖的贡献,可为解释低氮磷水体中暴发水华的原因提供科学依据。     

Certification of lead concentration in standard reference materials by isotope dilution mass spectrometry

In response to needs for analytical standards by researchers studying the exposure of humans to lead, a wide variety of environmental and "food" Standard Reference Materials have been prepared and certified for lead as well as for many other elements. Among the food types are SRM 1571, Orchard Leaves, 45 ppm; SRM 1575, Pine Needles, 10.8 ppm; SRM 1573, Tomato Leaves, 6.3 ppm; SRM 1566, Oyster Tissue, 0.48 ppm; SRM 1577, Bovine Liver, 0.34 ppm; SRM 1568, Rice Flour, 0.045 ppm; and SRM 1567, Wheat Flour, 0.020 ppm. These materials, intended for use in calibrating instruments and methods, have been certified by a definitive method, isotope dilution mass spectrometry. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique are discussed and some suggestions for the use of its isotopic selectivity in the study of lead in the human environment are presented.     

Nutrient Balances of New Zealand Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) at High Yield Level

The productivity of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) orchards varies widely in New Zealand. We hypothesized that such variation was attributable in part to nutrient imbalance. However, nutrient imbalance is currently diagnosed using critical nutrient ranges that are noisy and biased. Unbiased diagnosis can be performed using the isometric log ratio (ilr) technique for ad hoc balances. Our objective was to present, calibrate, and validate ilr balance standards to diagnose nutrient problems in New Zealand kiwifruit orchards. We collected leaf analytical data [nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), chloride (Cl), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe)] in 433 kiwifruit orchards grown under conventional or organic farming in various agroecological zones of the North Island of New Zealand. Nutrients were arranged into sound balances illustrated by a mobile-fulcrums-buckets metaphor with balance sliders at fulcrums (domain of balances where statistics are computed) and concentrations in buckets (domain of concentrations where nutrient levels are examined relatively to each other). We developed optimum ranges of ilr balances to reach high yield levels and computed a nutrient imbalance predictor as the Mahalanobis distance. The critical Mahalanobis distance was 4.45 ± 0.13 at high yield level (>44 049 ± 334 kg ha^?1), averaged from a five-fold cross-validation test; the test performance was 85 percent using the receiver operating characteristic curve, indicating that the test was informative for diagnostic purposes. After assessing relative nutrient levels in the concentrations domain, the most limiting nutrients appeared to be Cl, Mg, and Fe in poor-yield imbalanced specimens and Cl and S in organic orchards. Indeed, kiwifruit has high demand for Cl. Balance standards should be further tested in field trials.     

菌剂配施有机肥下植物-土壤-微生物生态化学计量特征及内稳性——以内蒙矿区排土场中药复垦模式为例

生态化学计量学是研究生态系统与多重化学元素平衡的有效方法,明确不同施肥制度对植物—土壤—微生物连续体碳、氮、磷含量及其生态化学计量比的影响,可为揭示生态系统养分循环、实现矿山复垦农业系统元素平衡及可持续发展提供参考依据。以武家塔露天煤矿排土场复垦地为研究对象,设置微生物菌剂配施不同有机肥(A1B0、A2B0、A3B0、A1B1、A2B1、A3B1) 6个施肥处理,结合苦参的种植,研究其植物—土壤—微生物碳氮磷特征及内稳性。结果表明：(1)与单施有机肥相比,有机肥配施微生物菌剂对茎叶磷、土壤碳氮磷和微生物量氮影响显著(p<0.05),但对根系养分影响不显著。其中,微生物菌剂与A1有机肥配施下对土壤全磷影响最大,增加90.06%;与A2有机肥配施下,对土壤有机碳和生物量氮影响最大,分别增加104.60%和71.95%;与A3有机肥配施下,对茎叶全磷和土壤全氮影响显著,茎叶全磷减少183.96%,土壤全氮增加29.14%。(2)施肥处理下,相比于茎叶和微生物,苦参根系内稳性较弱,对于外源养分的输入比较敏感。(3)施肥处理下,植物根系养分与土壤及土壤微生物之间相关性较强,因此可通过根系敏...     

Responses of Saline Soil Properties and Cotton Growth to Different Organic Amendments

Application of organic waste to saline alkaline soils is considered to be a good practice for soil remediation. The effects of applying different organic amendments (e.g., cattle dung, vermicompost, biofertilizer) and earthworm inoculations (Eisenia fetida) on saline soils and cotton growth were investigated during 1 year of cotton cultivation. Compared to the control (applied with inorganic NPK fertilizer), applying organic amendments improved soil physicochemical properties. Biofertilizer application improved available nutrient content, reduced short-term soil electrical conductivity, and produced the highest cotton yield, whereas cattle dung and vermicompost applications resulted in higher soil organic matter content. Application of organic amendments significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon during the flowering period, which sharply declined at harvest. This was especially true for the biofertilizer treatment, which also exhibited lower nematode abundance compared with the other organic materials. Earthworm inoculation following cattle dung application failed to significantly change soil physicochemical properties when compared to the treatments without earthworm inoculation. Results suggest that biofertilizer application to saline soil would improve soil nutrient status in the short-term, whereas cattle dung application would improve soil organic matter content and increase soil organism abundance to a greater extent. However, different strategies might be required for long-term saline soil remediation.     

有机物循环对红壤稻田土壤有机碳和热水可提取碳的影响

利用长期定位试验研究了有机物循环对红壤稻田土壤有机碳(SOC)和热水可提取碳(HWC)的影响。研究包括4种施肥处理:CK(无肥),C(有机物循环),NPK和NPK+C。结果表明,有机物循环显著提高了SOC和HWC的含量(P<0.05)。在4种处理中,NPK+C处理的SOC和HWC含量均为最大值。SOC随时间呈线性增加(R2>0.7);然而,HWC则是先下降,后缓慢上升或趋于稳定,变化趋势以一元二次线性拟合更好(R2>0.7)。与化肥NPK相比,有机物循环对SOC和HWC变化趋势的影响更大,它明显加快了SOC的积累速率,减缓了HWC的下降速率。与SOC相比,HWC与土壤养分更相关,它可能更好地反映了土壤养分的供应能力。     

安塞新修黄绵土农地有机质分解及土壤有效态养分变化

通过模拟试验研究了安塞黄绵土中有机质分解及土壤有效态养分变化。其结果是:1.土壤中加入的有机质分解率随温度、湿度升高而增加。其分解表现出快速与慢速两个阶段,各阶段的分解量与有机质的化学组成有关。2.土壤中原有的土壤有机质分解速度与半衰期成反比。若不向土壤中施加任何有机质,大约18年左右,土壤中原有的有机质贮量要减少一半。3.新加入的有机质分解时,土壤有效态养分增加。但个别有效态稀土元素在减少。     

Combination of agricultural waste compost and biofertilizer improves yield and enhances the sustainability of a pepper field

Application of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been considered as an environmentally friendly method for crop yield promotion as well as plant disease management. Efforts have been devoted to unraveling mechanisms involved in bacteria–plant and bacteria–pathogen interactions. However, little is known on the effect of the interaction among PGPR, soil, and plant. We compared growth and yield promotion capacity of biofertilizer Ning Shield, a consortium of bacterial preparation used as a biofertilizer (BF), and its mixture with compost of agricultural waste including spent substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus (SSP)/Volvariella volvacea (SSV), chicken manure (CM), and inorganic fertilizer (IOF) in a pepper field, respectively. The disease control efficacy, pepper fruit preservation time, and nutrients were also determined. Soil nutrient parameters including organic matter and available NPK of treatments were assayed before and after one growth season. All of the mixture of BF+organic compost treatment significantly enhanced the yield and quality of pepper fruit. Moreover, disease control capacity was promoted by the mixture of BF+organic compost, with BF+SSV reaching the highest control efficacy of 81% on 60th day after transplanting, and remaining 76% at the 105^th day. The BF+SSV treatment showed soil fertility retention ability with higher soil nutrient contents after one growth season of pepper. This study provides evidence that, when combined with organic fertilizers such as spent mushroom substrate compost, beneficial microbes have the ability to promote plant growth and yield as well as suppress plant disease by sustaining soil fertility through complex bacteria–soil–plant interaction.     

Fagopyritols, D-chiro-inositol, and other soluble carbohydrates in buckwheat seed milling fractions

Fagopyritols are mono-, di-, and trigalactosyl derivatives of D-chiro-inositol that accumulate in seeds of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and may be important for seed maturation and as a dietary supplement. Fagopyritols and other soluble carbohydrates were assayed in mature groats and 11 milling fractions of common buckwheat seed. Because fagopyritols are in embryo and aleurone tissues, differences in fagopyritol concentrations reflect varying proportions of these tissues in each milling fraction. Bran milling fractions contained 6.4 g of total soluble carbohydrates per 100 g of dry weight, 55% of which was sucrose and 40% fagopyritols. Flour milling fractions had reduced fagopyritol concentration [0.7 g/100 g of dry weight total fagopyritols in the dark (Supreme) flour and 0.3 g/100 g in the light (Fancy) flours]. Fagopyritol B1 was 70% of total fagopyritols in all milling fractions. Fagopyritols were 40% of total soluble carbohydrates in groats of two cultivars of common buckwheat but 21% in groats of tartary buckwheat [Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.], probably a reflection of environment and genetics. A rhamnoglucoside present in tartary buckwheat was not detected in common buckwheat.     

紫色土丘陵地区农田土壤养分空间分布预测

为深入研究紫色土丘陵区农田土壤养分空间分布规律,在GIS技术的支持下,利用研究区450个土壤实测数据,结合地形因子和土地利用类型,运用多重线性回归构建了土壤养分预测模型,对养分的空间分布进行预测。结果表明,土壤有机质和碱解氮含量与地形因子之间的相关性较强,有效磷和速效钾含量与地形因子之间的相关性较弱。土壤水田和旱地中有机质、碱解氮和有效磷含量均值间的差异显著(P<0.01),速效钾之间不显著(P=0.34)。基于地形因子的土壤养分预测模型与基于地形因子和土地利用方式组合的土壤养分预测模型预测结果精度对比表明,在预测变量中增加土地利用类型对提高预测模型的拟合度和预测精度作用非常微小,且仅用地形因子预测土壤养分的空间分布更方便,因此选用该模型对验证集数据进行预测。以验证集数据进行预测结果与实测值进行比较,结果显示预测值与实测值之间的差异甚小,有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾的相对偏差分别为0.09、0.19、0.08和0.12,均方根误差分别为1.38、3.42、1.03和1.57,说明基于地形因子的土壤养分预测模型的精度较高,可以很好地预测土壤养分分布规律。该研究结果可为丘陵地区农田合理施肥提供理论依据。     

Crop Residue Retention and Nutrient Management Practices on Stratification of Phosphorus and Soil Organic Carbon in the Soybean–Wheat System in Vertisols of Central India

The long-term crop residue retention coupled with external nutrient inputs are crucial for maintaining soil phosphorus (P) and soil organic carbon (SOC) in Vertisols of Central India. A study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effect of three wheat residue management practices (residue burning, incorporation, and surface retention) in combination with three supplementary nutrient inputs (SNI) [control, fertilizer, and farmyard manure (FYM)] on stratification of P and SOC in the soybean–wheat system in Vertisol. The wheat residue either incorporated or retained on the soil surface increased the availability of P and SOC content as compared to the common practices of residue burning. Residue retention or incorporation increased stratification of P and soil organic carbon over the residue burning. Irrespective of the nutrient treatments, greater stratification ratio of SOC and P were registered under wheat residue incorporation or retention compared to residue burning. It is evident from the study that wheat residue incorporation or retention plus addition of FYM could be an effective strategy for increasing the soil fertility in a soybean–wheat system of Vertisols of Central India.     

Physicochemical Properties of Australian Flours Influencing the Texture of Yellow Alkaline Noodles

Flour properties of 25 Australian wheat cultivars were examined for their relationship to alkaline noodle quality. Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) analyses of flours showed that RVA breakdown and final viscosity determined in both water and dilute sodium carbonate were significantly related to the alkaline noodle firmness, elasticity, and surface smoothness. Flour swelling volume (FSV) of flours was negatively correlated with alkaline noodle firmness and elasticity, and positively correlated with surface smoothness of cooked noodles. Use of a dilute sodium carbonate solution led to overall increases in both paste viscosity and FSV. High FSV and low RVA final viscosity values were associated with both the softest noodles and with cultivars containing a null allele for granule-bound starch synthase on chromosome 4A. Flour protein content and SDS sedimentation volumes were significantly related to noodle texture. The relationship between protein content and noodle firmness was dependent on the Null4A status of the flours and suggested an interaction between starch and protein in determining noodle texture. Multiple regression analysis using flour protein and FSV accounted for 76% of the variation in alkaline noodle firmness. A speculative model of noodle structure was developed based on a concept of the cooked noodle as a composite material.     

Soil fauna in sheep-grazed hill pastures under organic and conventional livestock management and in an adjacent ungrazed pasture

Organic pasture management includes a focus on mixed livestock grazing, restrictions on nutrient inputs and livestock pest control. These are all factors which influence the environment of soil invertebrates. In this study, soil macrofauna, mesofauna and microfauna were collected from duplicate 11 and 20 year old organic and conventional legume-based sheep-grazed pasture systems. Pastures in both systems had received the same annual input of reactive phosphate rock and elemental sulphur and were stocked with the same numbers of sheep. The major difference between the two systems was absence of the chemical control of livestock pests on the organic system, resulting in lower sheep liveweights. Two ungrazed pastures which had not received any nutrient inputs for 20+ years were also sampled as part of the study to provide an additional contrast.No significant differences in either the diversity or abundance of the soil invertebrate community were found between the organic and conventional systems, despite the use of chemicals in the conventional system. The lack of difference suggests that many of the observed and reported responses to organic management reflect altered nutrient inputs and grazing management (which were the same in the current study), rather than the cessation of chemical controls in the organic system. In contrast, the invertebrate community in the unfertilised, ungrazed pasture was distinctly different from both the grazed systems. The ungrazed pasture had a higher diversity with more New Zealand endemic species than the grazed pasture. This included twice as many large Oribatida as soil pore size increased. The lower litter quality from the lack of nutrient inputs in the ungrazed pasture was reflected in both lower earthworm abundance and the Nematode Channel Ratio (indicative of a higher proportion of fungal- than bacterial-feeding nematodes), than the grazed pasture.We conclude that organic management when limited to a comparison of livestock pest control is not beneficial to soil invertebrates. Management practices such as stocking rates and fertiliser regime, by altering the soil physical environment and food resources, are more important in influencing invertebrate populations in this soil. Some would argue these altered management practices are an integral part of an organic production system.     

砂姜黑土长期定位培肥技术研究

根据20年定位试验资料,阐述了有机肥与化肥配施、单施有机肥、单施化肥及不施肥等五种施肥方式对作物产量和土壤肥力的影响。两季作物的总产量以有机肥与化肥配施处理最高,较单施有机肥和单施化肥分别增产18.4%～36.1%和7.4%～23.4%。有机肥与化肥配合,能显著增加土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、有效氮、磷的含量。每kg氮素增产粮食数也以等量的有机肥与化肥配施的处理最多。有机肥加化肥是砂姜黑土培肥改良较理想的施肥方式,但同时必须重视钾肥的施用。     

长期施肥对土壤碳储量和作物固定碳的影响

利用长期定位试验研究有机肥、化肥以及有机肥和化肥混合施用对耕层土壤有机C储量变化和作物固定C的影响。处理包括化学肥料NPK不同组合。NPK、NP、NK、PK、全部施用有机肥(OM)、化学肥料氮和有机肥氮对半施用(1/20M)及不施肥(CK)七个处理。均衡施用N、P和K,显著提高土壤有机C储量,而养分缺乏的施肥,土壤有机碳大量损失。抵消N2O排放后,只有外源有机碳输入的OM和1/2OM具有净的碳固定。土壤有机碳储量变化(Y)与土壤有机碳输入量(X)符合线性方程Y=1.3231X-1942.7(r=0.9840, n=7)。作物固定碳量和可以返还到土壤的根茬和秸秆中有机碳量都以NPK、NP和1/2ON施肥处理最多。若固定于根茬和秸秆的碳返还到原施肥土壤,则这些处理的土壤有机碳储量最多。但从经济效益考虑,最佳的施肥方式为有机和化学肥料配合施用。     

Nutritional standards and nutritional diagnosis of the Conilon coffee plants in phenological growth stages

The objective of this study was to establish a nutrient sufficiency range and DRIS standards of Conilon coffee grown in southern Bahia, Brazil for the pre-flowering and grain-filling stages and to perform a nutritional diagnosis of these plants using different methods. The collections were performed in 24 Conilon coffee farm fields to establish the leaf nutritional standards, and 278 samples were collected to the nutritional diagnosis. The nutritional diagnosis was performed by using the sufficiency range criterion and the DRIS method. The nutrient sufficiency range and the DRIS standards must be specific to each phenological stage of the Conilon coffee plants. The leaf concentrations of calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and boron (B) were higher in the pre-flowering stage; and the leaf concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were higher in the grain-filling stage.     

Evaluation of soil health in organic vs. conventional farming of basmati rice in North India

Conventional agricultural practices that use excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides come at a great price with respect to soil health, a key component to achieve agricultural sustainability. Organic farming could serve as an alternative agricultural system and solve the problems associated with the usage of agro‐chemicals by sustainable use of soil resources. A study was carried out to evaluate the impact of organic vs . conventional cultivations of basmati rice on soil health during Kharif (rainy) season of 2011 at Kaithal district of Haryana, India, under farmers' participatory mode. Long‐term application of organic residues in certified organic farms was found to improve physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil health. Greater organic matter buildup as indicated by higher soil organic carbon content in organic fields was critical to increase soil aggregate stability by increasing water holding capacity and reducing bulk density. Proper supplementation of nutrients (both major and micro nutrients) through organic residue addition favored biologically available nutrients in organic systems. Further, the prevalence of organic substrates stimulated soil microorganisms to produce enzymes responsible for the conversion of unavailable nutrients to plant available forms. Most importantly, a closer look at the relationship between physicochemical and biological indicators of soil health evidenced the significance of organic matter to enzyme activities suggesting enhanced nutrient cycling in systems receiving organic amendments. Enzyme activities were very sensitive to short‐term (one growing season) effects of organic vs . conventional nutrient management. Soil chemical indicators (organic matter and nutrient contents) were also changed in the short‐term, but the response was secondary to the biochemical indicators. Taken together, this study indicates that organic farming practices foster biotic and abiotic interactions in the soil which may facilitate in moving towards a sustainable food future.