Nitrogen Fertilizer Replacement Value of the Liquid Fraction of Separated Livestock Slurries Applied to Potatoes and Silage Maize

Separation of livestock slurries followed by reverse osmosis yields mineral concentrates (MCs) in which almost all nitrogen (N) is ammonium (NH₄)-N. The ability of MCs to substitute calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), a common conventional mineral N fertilizer, was tested in two trials on a silty loam soil (ware potatoes, 2009 and 2010) and four trials on sandy soils (starch potatoes, 2009 and 2010; silage maize in 2010 and 2011). The N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) of spring-injected MCs ranged from 72 to 84%, slightly less than their share of ammonium-N (90–100%). The fate of N that was apparently unavailable to crops was not fully disclosed, but there were indications that ammonia loss may have played a role.     

Mineral Composition and Soil-Plant Relationships for Common Guava (Psidium guajava L.) and Yellow Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum) Tree Parts and Fruits

The mineral compositions of the fruit and tree parts of common guava, Psidium guajava L., and strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum, were determined. The study occurred during three seasons at six locations in Hawaii to assess guava as feed for livestock. Guava bark contained the greatest concentrations of calcium (Ca) and ash; leaves the greatest concentrations of magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), sodium (Na), boron (B), and manganese (Mn); and the shoots had the greatest concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The leaves and the shoots had the greatest concentrations of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe). Between guava and waiwi, guava had greater concentrations of most minerals except for Na in all plant parts, and Mg and ash in the leaves. Guava leaves and shoots meet the macromineral requirements for various phases of sheep, goat, and beef cattle life cycles with the exception of P and Na. Guava shoots do not meet Mn requirements for lactating cows.     

Effects of bark mulch and npk fertilizer on yield,leaf nutrient status and soil mineral nitrogen during three years of strawberry production

The effects of bark mulch and NPK fertilizers on yield and leaf and soil nutrient status of ‘Korona’ strawberry plants (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.), were studied over a period of three years. A significant effect of mulching was found in the first harvest year, but additional fertilizer did not affect total yield. Bark mulch slightly decreased the level of leaf nitrogen, but increased the level of leaf phosphorus and potassium in all years. Bark had a significant, negative effect on soil nitrate and ammonium content in the two first seasons. Mulching increased the soil moisture content in all years.     

Short Root Densities and Surface Phosphatase Activities of Ectomycorrhizal Morphotypes in a Slash Pine Plantation

Abstract

Mineralization is the dominant process controlling soil-solution P in the Spodosols of the southeastern United States. Pine trees growing in these soils are typically colonized by ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi that are known to produce phosphatases. Little, however, is known of the dynamics of EM short roots or phosphatase activity in tree plantations. To address this question, short root densities, EM morphotypes, and associated surface acid phosphomonoesterase in a 12-year-old Pinus elliottii plantation in northern Florida were evaluated. The density of total (living and dead) short roots changed little from February through June, with a mean of 7.6 cm³ soil. The majority of the short roots, however, were inactive or dead with only 14 to 38% appearing viable upon visual inspection. The majority of the viable short roots were mycorrhizal. The most abundant morphotypes were formed by Cenococcum and Thelephora but these had low phosphatase activity. In contrast, less frequently observed morphotypes had substantially higher rates of enzyme production and these may play an important role in sustainable P nutrition of plantation trees.     

Long-Term Effect of Fertilizer and Rice Straw on Mineral Composition and Potassium Adsorption in a Reddish Paddy Soil

Increasing K⁺ adsorption can be an effective alternative in building an available K pool in soils to optimize crop recovery and minimize losses into the environment. We hypothesized that long-term fertilization might change K⁺ adsorption because of changes in the chemical and mineralogical properties of a rice (Oryza sativa L.). The aims of this study were (i) to determine clay minerals in paddy soil clay size fractions using X-ray diffraction methods and a numerical diagram-decomposition method; (ii) to measure K⁺ adsorption isotherms before and after H₂O₂ oxidation of organic matter, and (iii) to investigate whether K⁺ adsorption is correlated with changes in soil chemical and mineral properties. The 30-yr long-term fertilization treatments caused little change in soil organic C (SOC) but a large variation in soil mineral composition. The whole-clay fraction (<5 μm) corresponded more to the fertilization treatment than the fine-clay fraction (<1 μm) in terms of percentage of illite peak area. The total percentage of vermiculite-chlorite peak area was significantly negatively correlated with the total percentage of illite peak area in the <5 μm soil particles (R=-0.946, P<0.0006). Different fertilization treatments gave significantly different results in K⁺ adsorption. The SOC oxidation test showed positive effects of SOC on K⁺ adsorption at lower K⁺ concentration (?120 mg L^?1) and negative effects at higher K⁺ concentration (240 mg L^?1). The K⁺ adsorption by soil clay minerals after SOC oxidization accounted for 60–158% of that by unoxidized soils, suggesting a more important role of soil minerals than SOC on K⁺ adsorption. The K⁺ adsorption potential was significantly correlated to the amount of poorly crystallized illite present (R=0.879, P=0.012). The availability of adsorbed K⁺ for plant growth needs further study.     

集雨栽培冬小麦田土壤水分和矿质氮

在半湿润易旱地区的关中红油土上,研究了垄上覆膜集雨栽培措施对冬小麦(Triticumaestivum)田土壤水分和矿质氮的影响。结果表明覆膜有一定的蓄水保墒效果,冬小麦返青期,0～40cm土壤贮水量覆膜处理比不覆膜处理平均多7.7mm;覆膜能使冬小麦在生长后期更有效地利用土壤深层贮水,在小麦成熟期,100～200cm土壤贮水量覆膜处理比未覆膜处理少23.8mm。覆膜有利于作物对氮肥的吸收利用,氮肥用量相同的处理,覆膜条件下的硝态氮浓度和矿质氮累积量低于不覆膜处理;施氮也可以明显增加土壤剖面中的硝态氮含量和矿质氮累积量。