Effect of mixed cropping with lupin (Lupinus albus L.) on growth and nitrogen uptake in pasture grasses grown under manure application

ABSTRACT

The use of organic fertilizer is essential to ensure sustainable agricultural production. Because organic fertilizer normally acts as a slow-release fertilizer, improving its nutrient-use efficiency is important, particularly in terms of nitrogen (N) nutrition. In the present study, we attempted to increase the N-use efficiency of cattle farmyard manure (CM) in the cultivation of pasture grasses by mixed cropping with white lupin (Lupinus albus), which has been reported to decompose organic N in its rhizosphere. Timothy (Phleum pratense) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) were cultivated with or without either lupin or soybean (Glycine max) in pots under three different N treatments (CM, ammonium sulfate, or no N). In the CM treatment, growth was higher in grasses cultivated with lupin than in those cultivated alone or with soybean. Moreover, decomposition of soluble organic N and protease activity in the rhizosphere soil of grasses with CM treatment were enhanced by mixed cropping with lupin. Analyses of microbial activity and bacterial community structure using Biolog EcoPlates suggested that the enhanced decomposition of soluble organic N was facilitated by lupin roots rather than by rhizosphere microorganisms.     

A comparative study on chemical characteristics of tropical soils from volcanic material under forest and agriculture

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to compare differences in chemical characteristics of Costa Rica soils under continuous cultivation and under forest vegetation. Inceptisols from young volcanic material under forest, sugar cane, coffee and pasture, respectively, were sampled in the San Carlos region of Costa Rica, and analysed for pH, organic matter, N, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Al, Fe, Zn and Mn contents. Indications were obtained that continuous cropping for 1 to 22 years with sugar cane resulted in a decrease in Ca and Mg content and an increase in acid extractable Al concentrations, compared to amounts found in forest soils. In soils under coffee the only significant changes were a reduction in soil organic matter, N and Al contents. Exchangeable bases decreased slightly during the first two years, but in fields 15 years under coffee, the content of exchangeable bases was affected slightly, except for a relatively marked decrease in amounts of Mg. Conversion into pasture maintained soil fertility at a level comparable to that found in the forest soil ecosystem. It was concluded that differences in vegetational ecosystems caused soil chemical changes, but deforestation in the tropics did not necessarily result in rapid soil degradation processes. The magnitude of the data showed that the soil in the San Carlos region of Costa Rica had been cultivated for at least 10 to 20 years without producing evidence of excessive deterioration.     

Sulphur in soil and light fraction organic matter as influenced by long-term application of superphosphate

Numerous studies have examined the role of light fraction (LF) organic matter in soil C and N cycling, but there is no published information on the amounts and nature of S in LF. The objective of this work was to characterize the S composition of LF in soils receiving different inputs of fertilizer S. Soils (0-7.5 cm) were taken from a long-term experiment (1952-1999) set up to examine the effects of single superphosphate (SP) (applied at 0, 188, or 376 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, which equates to 0, 21, and 42 kg SO₄-S ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) on the productivity of an irrigated, grass-clover pasture grazed by sheep. The S content of LF (separated by flotation on NaI solution with specific gravity 1.7) increased by ∼20-30% in response to SP. The LF was enriched in organic S compared with whole soil (S concentration in LF was ∼1000-1400 mg kg⁻¹ vs ∼400-500 mg kg⁻¹ in whole soil), but LF-S represented only 1.3-4.7% of soil S. Most (∼88%) of the S in LF was C-bonded, reflecting the dominance of this form of S in organic matter returned to the soil in dung and plant residues. Hydriodic acid (HI) reducible-S accounted for only ∼12% of LF-S, compared with 28-35% of whole soil organic S. Superphosphate tended to increase total soil N, due to improved clover growth. There was a strong positive relationship between total N and C-bonded S in whole soil and LF, whereas soil HI-S and N were not associated. Increases in C-bonded S where SP was applied appeared to be driven mainly by increases in soil N, which in turn were due to improved clover growth in response to phosphate supplied by SP. Increases in HI-S due to SP application were probably a direct response to inputs of S. As LF is a small pool of S, with a relatively wide C:S ratio (∼200:1), we concluded that it is unlikely to contribute a significant amount of plant-available S.     

Landslide erosion risk to New Zealand pastoral steeplands productivity

Pastoral land use in New Zealand's North Island hill terrain has led to high rates of rainstorm-induced landslide erosion higher than existed under the indigenous forest regime, with consequent soil productivity declines in the long term. To assist extrapolation of research results to other areas, and to shed light on long-term erosion risks, a simple model was developed that simulates the evolution of hillslope soil productivity, taking into account the effect of slope, rainstorm magnitude–frequency relations and soil recovery rates. Risks are evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation, and reflect parameter uncertainty as well as the natural randomness associated with climatic events. A sensitivity analysis showed that landslide risk was most affected by the rainfall threshold for landsliding, the mean of the extreme value distribution for annual maximum storm rainfall, and the maximum degree of recovery of pasture productivity following landsliding. Simulations suggest productivity stabilizes at a reduced level well before all steep terrain is affected by landsliding, and that subsequent expected landslide-induced productivity declines are too slow to provide sufficient economic motivation for measures to prevent landslide damage. A refined model showed that long-term average rates of productivity decline are sensitive to changes in recovery rates resulting from progressive removal of the soil resource. Charts summarizing simulation results can be used to estimate long-term productivity declines. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

近红外光谱技术在天然草地牧草营养价值评价中的应用及展望

近红外光谱技术(NIRS)是近几十年迅速发展的测试分析技术,由于准确、高效、无损等检测优势,在牧草营养价值评价领域得到广泛应用,但是在天然草地牧草方面应用较少。快速、实时评价天然草地牧草营养价值,为研究天然草地营养供给和营养载畜量提供基础数据,对草地畜牧业生产具有重要意义。文章阐述了近红外光谱技术的基本原理和特点,介绍了直接法和间接法评价牧草营养价值,分别从常规营养成分、矿物元素、抗营养成分、营养物质消化率4个层次综述近红外光谱技术在2个方法中的应用,并做出展望,以期建立基于NIRS技术的天然草地牧草营养价值数据库,为天然草地的科学管理和合理利用发挥重要作用。     

Effects of silvopastoral areas on milk production at dual-purpose cattle farms at the semi-humid old agricultural frontier in central Nicaragua

In extensive cattle production systems, the composition of grazing areas may significantly influence productivity. In dual-purpose cattle production systems in the lowland tropics, pasture lands with trees, so-called silvopastoral areas, are considered as being important, particularly to facilitate the management of crossbred European native cattle. The aim of the study was to quantify the effects of silvopastoral areas on production at dual-purpose cattle farms in the semi-humid lowlands of central Nicaragua. The relationships between seasonal milk production and herd data, and the proportions of land use types were examined for 74 farms by stepwise regression analysis.     

微灌技术对环湖区退化人工草地的影响

旨在采用微灌技术对环湖区混播人工草地进行节水灌溉试验的观测研究,探索环湖区人工草地对灌溉条件响应,为环湖区混播人工草地管理和持续高效利用提供参考依据。采用光伏扬水系统进行微喷灌节水灌溉试验,调查群落结构,计算地上和地下植物量。研究表明：植物群落多样性、均匀度、生态优势度指数均为灌溉区大于对照区;水分充足条件下能促进植物茎叶的生长,而干旱有利其根部的发育;灌溉可有效提高环湖区人工草地的优良牧草产量。可见水分的增加抑制了退化草地指标种生长,有利于草地恢复,环湖区人工草地对灌溉条件具有较好响应。     

对牧区实行草场流转的几点思考

本文通过对青海省当前畜牧业发展形势的分析,提出加快推进牧区草场流转是推进当前产业结构调整,实现畜牧业规模经营,增加农牧民收入的重要途径,阐述了实行草场流转的必要性和重要性,并试分析了制约牧区草场流转的主要因素,进而提出了搞好牧区草场流转的对策和建议。     

Long-Term Cultivation Effects on Biological C and N Fractions in a Fluvaquentic Haplustolls of Semi-arid Region of the Northern Turkey

Conversion of a native ecosystem can impact the nature and dynamics of organic carbon (C) fractions. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of cultivation and monoculture wheat production on soil organic C and biological C fractions compared to a previously flooded native pasture in northern Turkey. Soil samples were collected from four randomly selected locations of each management system. Some soil chemical [pH, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), total nitrogen (N), and organic C], physical (sand, clay, and silt), and biological properties [microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mineralizable C, and mineralizable N] were measured. Conversion of pasture to cultivated land slightly increased soil pH, but CaCO₃, total organic C (TOC), and N contents were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with cultivation. Total organic C and N contents were more than three times less in cultivated soils compared to pasture. Microbial biomass C was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with long-term cultivation, and the greater seasonal fluctuations were measured at the surface of both ecosystems. The greatest level of potentially mineralizable C was observed in the pasture rather than the cultivated soil, but the proportional distribution of mineralized C to TOC was greater in the cultivated soil. These results suggested that the long-term cultivation (15 years) of previously flooded native ecosystems increased C mineralization and resulted in 72% C loss at the surface soil. Cultivated soils have a greater potential to restore atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) if proper cultivation and management systems are used.     

坡地土壤水分动态及耗水规律研究

8年长期坡耕地土壤水分研究表明:裸地2m土层水分季节性变化呈倒S型;40～100cm内土层水分对作物供水极为重要;在降水量为500mm左右的黄土丘陵沟壑区,降水能完全满足坡耕地作物生长发育;在降雨因素不成为限制作物生长发育主要因素时,水平沟耕作可以有效地控制地表蒸发,降低作物耗水量;人工草地耗水强度趋势为:沙打旺>草木樨>紫花苜蓿>红豆草>柠条（二年生）;3年生人工草地主要利用50～200cm土层水分,8年生人工草地利用150～400cm土层水分,且8年生人工草地土壤水分恢复维艰。