Interaction of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate,urea and ammonium sulphate with soil N during growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

The effects of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate on yield and uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Mexi-Pak-65) were studied in a field experiment. The dry matter and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The wheat crop used 64.0–74.8%, 61.5–64.7% and 61.7–63.4% of the N from ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate, respectively. The fertilizer N uptake showed that ammonium nitrate was a more available source of N for wheat than urea and ammonium sulphate. The effective use of fertilizer N (ratio of fertilizer N in grain to fertilizer N in whole plant) was statistically similar for the three N fertilizers. The application of fertilizer N increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N by wheat, a result attributed to a positive added N interaction, which varied with the method of application of fertilizer N. Ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate gave 59.3%, 42.8% and 26.3% more added N interaction, respectively, when applied by the broadcast/worked-in method than with band placement. A highly significant correlation between soil N and grain yield, dry matter and added N interaction showed that soil N was more important than fertilizer N in wheat production. A values were not significantly correlated with added N interaction (r=0.719). The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution, whereby added labelled fertilizer N stood proxy for unlabelled soil N.     

Response of Cotton to Potassium Fertilizer on Effectiveness of Fruiting Sites in Aridisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of fruiting positions along sympodia under varying levels and sources of potassium (K) fertilizer on field-grown cotton in an arid environment. Treatments consisted of four rates of K (0, 62.5, 125.0, 250.0 kg K ha^{? 1}) and two types of K (K₂SO₄ and KCl). Cotton cultivar S-12 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was used as a test crop. Plant mapping data showed that the total number of fruiting positions, number of intact fruit on sympodia/monopodia, and percent of bolls per position on sympodia differed greatly under different doses of K fertilizer. The percentage of fruit retention was markedly improved under increasing doses of K fertilizer as compared with the K-unfertilized treatment. The percent survival of harvestable bolls for the first five positions along sympodia at the end of the season was 30%, 25%, 18%, 13%, and 8%, respectively. Potassium fertilization stimulated cotton crop in lengthening sympodial branches and retaining more fruit on the first three positions and also at the bottom of the plant during the early reproductive phase. The fruiting pattern was 2–3 and 6–7 d vertical and horizontal fruiting interval, respectively.     

Nitrogen uptake by sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) in the early growth stages

Previous trials have revealed variable responses of sago palm ( Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) to fertilizer application, particularly nitrogen (N). In the present study, we quantified the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of sago palm for the first time using ¹⁵N-labeled fertilizer in pot and field experiments. The pot experiment was conducted in Japan using a 2:1 mixture of sand to Philippine soil. The field experiment was conducted in Leyte in the Philippines. Both experiments consisted of three replicates in each of three treatments: control, ¹⁵N urea at 50 kg N ha⁻¹ and ¹⁵N urea at 100 kg N ha⁻¹. The N uptake of sago palm increased significantly, but inconsistently with increasing N application. The few instances of a significant increase in N uptake did not translate into significant improvements in growth parameters, except for the number of leaflets in the pot experiment. The FUE values for sago seedlings (< 6 months) in the pot experiment treated with 50 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ were 10.5 and 13.2%, respectively, whereas for the 2-year-old sago palms in the field, the corresponding FUE values were 14.8 and 12.0%. The FUE values were similar at the two levels of N application in both experiments. Sago growth parameters appeared to be insensitive to N application, suggesting that the form of N and the timing of N fertilization are important factors for sago palms. Therefore, the use of N fertilizer in sago production can only be justified after determining and fully understanding the response of sago palm to N application.     

喷灌不同施肥量对‘宝岛’香蕉生产效果影响

为给‘宝岛’香蕉生产提供适宜的施肥方式,试验采用低压微喷灌研究不同施肥量对香蕉生长发育的影响,以传统施肥(干撒肥料,CK)为对照,设置3个低压微喷灌施肥量处理,依次为传统施肥量的100%(T1)、80%(T2)和60%(T3)。试验结果表明:较CK相比,T1和T2表现为生长势强,抽蕾期提前约30 d,产量分别提高8.80%和6.87%以上,每公顷经济效益分别提高11.84万和12.03万元。因此,T2是为生产中较好的施肥模式。     

Effects of organic manure and NPK fertilization on earthworm activity in an Oxisol

The effects of fertilization with N, P, K, and organic manure (alone or in combination) on earthworm populations, biomass, and casting activity were measured in a cultivated soil (organic C 1.5%, annual rainfall 2000–2300 mm). These applications of fertilizer caused significant increases in earthworm numbers, biomass, and casts. N alone or in combination with P and K also influenced these earthworm parameters significantly. The inorganic NPK fertilizer in combination with organic manure had a significantly greater effect on earthworm activities than NPK fertilizer alone, and therefore the addition of organic matter appears advisable in order to obtain maximum benefits from NPK fertilizer in this soil.     

Preliminary Study of Variable Rate Application – Organic Liquid Fertilizer by Using SPAD Chlorophyll Meter on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Cultivation

Knowing actual nutrient requirements for rice plants is crucial in supplying the correct amount of fertilizer, especially nitrogen since nitrogen is one of the most key limiting nutrients in rice cultivation. A preliminary study of variable rate application (VRA) on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) planting by using organic foliar fertilizer was carried out to determine the effectiveness of precision fertilization. Foliar fertilizer was formulated based on actual nitrogen needed by rice plants using Soil-Plant Analyses Development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter measurements. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments (50% fixed rate, 100% fixed rate, 150% fixed rate and VRA) and four replications for each treatment. Plant growth performances (plant heights, number of tillers, number of panicle and flower) and yield performances (grain yield, number of grain, 1000-grain weight and number of spikelets) were recorded during the study. The results showed that foliar application of VRA resulted in significantly higher yield performances; grain yield (13.65 g), number of grain (807.50), 1000-grain weight (16.79 g), and number of spikelets (7.50) compared to uniform fertilizer applications. VRA treatments had the highest SPAD readings at every planting stage during the experiment; however, a high nitrogen supply was needed during the mid-tillering stages (35 DAT) compared to other fertilizer rates. Besides, VRA application shows the most savings in term of total nitrogen supply (415 µg) compared to uniform rates application; 50% fixed rate (400 µg), 100% fixed rate (810 µg), and 150% fixed rate (1210 µg).     

Fractionation of soil cadmium from some new zealand soils

Abstract

The concentrations and forms of soil cadmium (Cd) in 12 different New Zealand topsoils were investigated using a sequential fractionation procedure. Total soil Cd concentrations were low and ranged between 0.03 μg g^‐1 to 1.34 μg g^‐1 and were highly correlated with total soil phosphorus (r²=0.85, P<0.01). Results indicated that there was a wide range in the concentrations of Cd associated with individual soil fractions and large variations between soils. On average for all soils, the smallest proportion of Cd was in exchangeable forms, i.e., 3%, with 12% in the crystalline oxide fraction, 13% in the amorphous oxide fraction and the greatest proportion of Cd associated with the organic 34% and residual 38% fractions. There was evidence to show that a soil extractant which is commonly used to predict plant uptake of Cd from soils, i.e., 0.04 M ethylene diamine terra acetic acid (EDTA), extracts Cd from both exchangeable and organic forms of soil Cd.     

Selective Dissolution Analysis of Major and Trace Elements in an Allophanic Andisol Acidified by Long‐Term Fertilizer Application

A long‐term (61 years) experimental field was used to examine the effect of acidification on the chemical composition of an allophanic Andisol in northeastern Japan. The pH values of the 1:10 water extract of the plow layer soils were 4.1, 4.7, and 6.2 for three fertilizer application treatments: chemical fertilizers only (CF), CF and compost (CFC), and CFC with liming, respectively. Three batch dissolution analyses were conducted to determine water‐soluble and exchangeable (D1), D1 plus, inorganically bound elements to noncrystalline clays and organically bound elements (D2), and total concentration of elements (TCE, 45 elements). The D1 fraction of 20 elements increased, and that of eight decreased with acidification. The D2 fraction of lithium increased, and that of eight elements decreased with acidification. Because the D2 fraction of many other elements and TCE were not strongly altered, present acidification of this soil can be restored with liming and other necessary amendments.     

Problem of Applying Sodium Selenate to Increase Selenium Concentration in Grassland Plants in Southern Belgium

In a survey of grasslands, mean selenium (Se) concentration in Holcus lanatus was 83 μg kg^?1 (less than 100 μg kg^?1, the minimal concentration protecting mammals from deficiency disorders). Despite rather high levels of soil extractable Se, plant Se availability was supposed to be low because of high soil humus concentration. A pot experiment with common grassland species showed contrasting responses to selenate addition (9 g Se ha^?1 yr^?1). Lolium perenne leaves reached 470 μg kg^?1, and Trifolium pratense reached 292 μg kg^?1. The controls were less than 100 μg kg^?1. Leaves of others species showed greater values both in control and treated series and no significant difference. In a second pot experiment, Melilotus albus, a supposed secondary accumulator, and Lolium perenne as a control were submitted to moderate increased selenate additions (up to 45 g Se ha^?1 yr^?1). The results confirmed that Melilotus albus was a better accumulator with a leaf concentration that could reach the toxicity level of 2 mg kg^?1.     

Do combined applications of crop residues and inorganic fertilizer lower emission of N2O from soil?

Emissions of N₂O were measured following addition of ¹⁵N‐labelled residues of tropical plant species [Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Mucuna pruriens and Leucaena leucocephala] to a Ferric Luvisol from Ghana at a rate of 100 mg N/kg soil under controlled environment conditions. Residues were also applied in different ratio combinations with inorganic N fertilizer, at a total rate of 100 mg N/kg soil. N₂O emissions were increased after addition of residues, and further increased with combined (ratio) applications of residues and inorganic N fertilizer. However, ¹⁵N‐N₂O production was low and short‐lived in all treatments, suggesting that most of the measured N₂O‐N was derived from the applied fertilizer or native soil mineral N pools. There was no consistent trend in magnitude of emissions with increasing proportion of inorganic fertilizer in the application. The positive interactive effect between residue‐ and fertilizer‐N sources was most pronounced in the 25:75 Leucaena:fertilizer and cowpea:fertilizer treatments where 1082 and 1130 mg N₂O‐N/g residue were emitted over 30 days. N₂O (log_e) emission from all residue amended treatments was positively correlated with the residue C:N ratio, and negatively correlated with residue polyphenol content, polyphenol:N ratio and (lignin + polyphenol):N ratio, indicating the role of residue chemical composition in regulating emissions even when combined with inorganic fertilizer. The positive interactive effect in our treatments suggests that it is unlikely that combined applications of residues and inorganic fertilizer can lower N₂O emissions unless the residue is of very low quality promoting strong immobilisation of soil mineral N.