Optimisation of fertiliser rates in crop production against energy use indicators

Optimising mineral nitrogen (N) use in crop production is inevitable target as mineral fertilisers reflect one of the highest inputs both in terms of economy and energy. The aim of the study was to compare the relationship between the rate of N fertiliser application and different measures of energy parameters exemplary data for spring-wheat in boreal climate condition in Estonia in 2006–2010. The effect of mineral N with rates 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha⁻¹ was studied on the background of composted cow manure and without organic fertilisers. Univalent parameters, energy gain (EG) (energy output − energy input) and energy ratio (ER) (energy output/energy input) were calculated. To aggregate parameters with different units (ER and EG) we proposed two standardisation approaches for combined indices. ER maximisation gave both organic fertilisation background optimum N norms significantly lower than EG (p < 0.05) optimisation. Both the new combined indices gave optimum N norms in between the rate of ER an EG. Composted cow manure background did not affect mineral N optimisation significantly. We suggest optimisation of mineral N according to bi-dimensional parameters as they capture important features of production efficiency and are more objective using as advisory tool for sustainable production systems.     

Development and evaluation of a model for prediction of fecal and urinary nitrogen excretions in cattle

The reduction of nitrogen (N) excretion in animal production is crucial in intensive farming systems particularly in the developed countries. In this study, a model to predict N excretion in cattle was developed based on existing feeding standards and evaluated using independent N balance experiments for Holstein steers and lactating cows and Japanese Black (JB) steers. Although model predictions for fecal and urinary N excretions appeared to be close to observed values in plot figures, statistical analysis showed that the model tended to over-predict both fecal and urinary N excretions, especially in Holstein lactating cows. This was because body weight changes of cows during lactation period were not considered in the model due to the lack of information (i.e., body weight gain or loss) available in the experimental data for evaluation. There were large mean bias and small line bias for urinary N prediction, but reverse results were obtained for fecal N prediction. The largest mean square prediction errors for both N excretions were due to random variation in all cases. When all data were pooled (combined), the accuracy for predictions for fecal N excretion was considerably high (r² = 0.94), indicating that the model may predict fecal N excretion beyond breeds, sexes and physiological states (growing and lactating). More information and accumulated data will be required to predict urinary N excretion under a wide range of genotype and environmental situation.     

Evaluation of optical sensor measurements of canopy reflectance and of leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents to assess crop nitrogen status of muskmelon

Nitrogen losses from intensive vegetal production systems are commonly associated with contamination of water bodies. Sustainable and optimal economic N management requires correct and timely on-farm assessment of crop N status to detect N deficiency or excess. Optical sensors are promising tools for the assessment of crop N status throughout a crop or at critical times. We evaluated optical sensor measurement of canopy reflectance and of leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents to assess crop N status weekly throughout a muskmelon crop. The Crop Circle ACS 470 was used for reflectance measurement, the SPAD 502 for leaf chlorophyll, and the DUALEX 4 Scientific for leaf chlorophyll and flavonols. Four indices of canopy reflectance (NDVI, GNDVI, RVI, GVI), leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents and the nitrogen balance index (NBI), the ratio of chlorophyll to flavonols contents, were linearly related to crop N content and to crop Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) throughout most of the crop. NBI most accurately predicted crop N status; in five consecutive weekly measurements, R² values were 0.80–0.95. For NDVI during the same period, R² values were 0.76–0.87 in the first three measurements but R² values in the last two measurements were 0.39–0.45. Similar relationships were found with the three other reflectance indices. Generally, the relationships with NNI were equal to or slightly better than those with crop N content. These optical sensor measurements provided (i) estimation of crop N content in the range 1.5–4.5%, and (ii) an assessment of whether crop N content was sufficient or excessive for optimal crop growth for NNI ranges of 0.8–2.0. Composite equations that integrated the relationships between successive measurements with the optical sensors and crop N content or NNI for periods of ≥2 weeks (often 2–3 weeks) were derived for most indices/parameters. Overall, these results demonstrated the potential for the use of these optical sensor measurements for on-farm monitoring of crop N status in muskmelon.     

硫营养对小麦、玉米碳、氮代谢中几项生理参数的影响

人工控制条件下生长的小麦、玉米分别培养在含0、0.5、1.0和2.0mM SO_4~(-2)4个硫营养水平的Hoagland 培养液中,对2—6周龄的植株进行了 RuBPCase、PEPCase、NR 的活性,叶片可溶性蛋白质含量,叶绿素 a 和 b 含量以及植株最终叶面积和总干重的测定。结果指出,硫营养不足影响了作物的碳、氮代谢,随着供硫量的增加,上述各参数值     

护堤固岸箣竹林营造技术

从苗木选择、整地造林以及林分的管护等方面详细介绍了护堤固岸林箣竹林的营造技术,调查了箣竹林的生长情况,表明箣竹林生长良好,能起到保持水土、护堤固岸作用。     

Effects of urinary excretion of nitrogen, potassium and sodium on urine volume in dairy cows

Data of 50 balance measurements were collected from dry and lactating Holstein cows to clarify the effects of urinary excretion of nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) on urine volume in cows. In dry cows, orchardgrass silage, timothy hay, alfalfa silage and corn silage were offered to meet the TDN requirement. Orchardgrass silage or alfalfa silage diets were offered in switch back trials in lactating cows. There were no relationships between urinary excretion and plasma concentrations of K or Na in cows, but urinary N excretion increased with the increase of plasma urea nitrogen. There was positive correlation between urinary excretion and urinary content of Na, but urinary K contents increased rapidly by 1.3% with the increasing urinary K excretion and thereafter remained almost constant. The increasing urinary K and N excretion enhanced urine volume in cows, but urine production in cows was accurately estimated from the regression equation of urine K excretion on urine volume. Urine volume was not affected by urinary Na excretion. These results suggest that the increase of urine volume in cows affected by the increasing urinary excretion of K and N may be due to the maintenance of urine or plasma osmolality.     

Tracing sources of soil nitrate using the dual isotopic composition of nitrate in 2 M KCl-extracts

Soils comprise a critical interface between the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, and play a major role in the cycling of nitrogen (N), an element crucial to plant growth. Isotope techniques constitute a powerful tool to study the origin and fate of N compounds (e.g. NO₃⁻) within the environment including soils. The objective of our study was to test the usefulness of the isotope composition of soil NO₃⁻ extracted with 2 M KCl (soil NO₃) as a tool to investigate the origin and fate of NO₃⁻ in the environment. Specifically issues related to repeat extractions, crop type, length of fertilization, and soil depth were addressed. Soils from four contrasting agricultural management regimes were sampled. Within the relatively confined study area (4 ha), the isotopic compositions of soil NO₃ differed markedly due to management treatments (up to 6 and 17‰ for δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O, respectively), but were repeatable among replicate plots (±1‰). Differences in both δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values were observed between legume and non-legume treatments, as well as fertilized versus non-fertilized treatments, which were larger than the variability observed between replicate plots. Differences in the isotopic composition of extractable soil nitrate were not limited to the surface layer, but also occurred within deeper soil layers. This study indicates that the analysis of the natural abundance stable isotope composition of soil NO₃ may provide a promising additional tool for tracing the origin and fate of NO₃⁻ in the soil zone.     

氮密互作对夏玉米物质生产及氮素利用的影响

以夏玉米杂交种郑单958为材料,对不同种植密度和不同施氮水平下夏玉米的物质生产和氮素利用状况进行了研究。结果表明,在中(67 500株/hm2)、高(82 500株/hm2)密度下,氮肥对玉米单株物质生产能力的调控作用更为明显,并主要是通过影响穗粒数来实现的。适量施氮,可促进顶部子粒发育,减少败育,使秃尖缩短、瘪粒数减少,增加穗粒数,增加产量;促进植物体吸收的氮素高效地向籽粒中分配,提高氮肥的利用效率;使玉米叶片维持较高的光合性能,为籽粒形成提供充足的光合碳量,并促进营养体碳氮向子粒运转。     

不同栽培措施对小麦籽粒戊聚糖含量的影响

在大田和池栽条件下,以徐州26、宁麦9号、扬麦10号和扬麦9号为试验材料,研究了播期、库源改变和水氮互作对小麦籽粒戊聚糖含量的影响。结果表明,早播或迟播均能显著提高籽粒戊聚糖的含量,分别比适播提高2.13%和8.07%;去小穗处理（减库）显著降低籽粒戊聚糖含量,而剪叶处理（减源）极显著提高籽粒戊聚糖含量,两种情况均存在品种间差异;花后渍水显著提高籽粒戊聚糖含量,提高施氮量则降低其含量,但其降幅随施氮量增加而变小;追施氮肥极显著降低小麦籽粒戊聚糖含量。研究结果表明,栽培措施可能在很大程度上主要通过影响籽粒千粒重调控了戊聚糖含量。     

Nitrogen-fixation dynamics in a cut-and-carry silvopastoral system in the subhumid conditions of Guadeloupe, French Antilles

This paper summarizes several studies on N recycling in a tropical silvopastoral system for assessing the ability of the system to increase soil fertility and insure sustainability. We analyzed the N₂ fixation pattern of the woody legume component (Gliricidia sepium), estimated the recycling rate of the fixed N in the soil, and measured N outputs in tree pruning and cut grass (Dichanthium aristatum). With this information, we estimated the N balance of the silvopastoral system at the plot scale. The studies were conducted in an 11-year-old silvopastoral plot established by planting G. sepium cuttings at 0.3 m × 2 m spacing in natural grassland. The plot was managed as a cut-and-carry system where all the tree pruning residues (every 2-4 months) and cut grass (every 40-50 days) were removed and animals were excluded. No N fertilizer was applied. Dinitrogen fixation, as estimated by the ¹⁵N natural abundance method, ranged from 60-90% of the total N in aboveground tree biomass depending on season. On average, 76% of the N exports from the plot in tree pruning (194 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) originated from N₂ fixation. Grass production averaged 13 Mg ha^–1 yr^–1 and N export in cut grass was 195 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1. The total N fixed by G. sepium, as estimated from the tree and grass N exports and the increase in soil N content, was about 555 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1. Carbon sequestration averaged 1.9 Mg [C] ha^–1 yr^–1 and soil organic N in the 0-0.2 m layer increased at a rate of 166 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1, corresponding to 30% of N₂ fixation by the tree. Nitrogen released in nodule turnover (10 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) and litter decomposition (40 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) contributed slightly to this increase, and most of the recycled N came from the turnover or the activity of other below-ground tree biomass than nodules. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.