Increase in the Nitrogen Content of Soil by the Introduction of Earthworms into Soil

The contribution of an earthworm species ( Amynthas vittatus ) to the increase of the nitrogen content of soil was examined. Three specimens of adult earthworms were introduced into 300 g of soil (Gray Lowland soil, silty clay) supplemented with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose in a container and incubated for 32 d at 22°C in the dark. The contents of total-N, NH₄-N and NO₃-N, and the population of aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil significantly increased after incubation with the earthworms, while the natural abundance of ¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N) in soil decreased. The amount of nitrogen in the earthworms did not decrease during the incubation in the microcosm. Both acetylene reduction activity of the microcosm and incorporation of ¹⁵N to soil from atmospheric ¹⁵N₂ were significantly enhanced by the introduction of the earthworms into soil, though the observed increment of nitrogen in soil was much higher than the estimated one based on the nitrogen-fixing activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the earthworms increased the nitrogen content of soil, presumably due to the enhancement of the nitrogen-fixing activity of the soil from the microcosm by the earthworms.     

Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test Method Optimization for Analysis of Temperate Mineral Grassland Soils

ABSTRACT

A reliable and practical test that can provide timely measurements of the levels of mineralizable nitrogen (MN) in soil is critical for improving the accuracy of N fertilizer applications for grassland and crops. The Illinois soil N test (ISNT) is considered to be a good estimate of MN, once soils are grouped according to soil characteristics such as the drainage type and sampling depth. To date, development and evaluation of the ISNT method has been conducted using arable soils mainly in North America where, in general, soils have lower levels of soil organic matter (SOM) compared to temperate grassland soils. We evaluated the effects of two pre-treatment soil aggregate sizes of <1 mm and <2 mm on the yield and recovery of MN (1) across temperate grassland soil types, and (2) across a 6-h interval diffusion period. No significant difference existed in the concentrations of ISNT-N between the two soil aggregate sizes of each soil type. For both aggregate sample sizes, the recovery of spiked amino sugar-N glucosamine from a temperate grassland soil was generally linear until hour 5, after which the quantities of recovered N diminished. Although N recovery after 6 h of diffusion at 50°C (±1°C) was less than 100% in both aggregate size samples, the response models indicated that the standard ISNT protocol using a 5-h diffusion period is appropriate for temperate grassland soils. The incomplete recovery of N in these mineral soils suggested that the protocol could be further optimized for temperate soils with high organic matter content and additional evaluation of the temperature during diffusion within an enclosed environment may be required using N (spiked glucosamine-N) recovery studies.     

Irrigation Module and Sowing Date Affect Seed Cotton Yield,Quality, Productivity Indices,and Economics of Cotton in North-western India

ABSTRACT

Delayed sowing and imprecise application of irrigation water to cotton has been the major hurdle in sustaining cotton yield in north-western India. Therefore, studies were initiated to ascertain the impact of heavy or normal level of presowing irrigation (PSI), scheduling time of first postsowing irrigation (POSI) under two sowing dates (SDs) on cotton arranged in a split block design replicated thrice. PSI_h (100 mm) recorded 23.2% higher seed cotton yield over PSI_n (70 mm) owing to better yield attributes and higher stand. First POSI at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) resulted the highest yield (3072 kg ha^?1), while one at 6 WAS (POSI₆) recorded least due to poor population and reduced yield attributes. Water productivity under POSI₆ was lesser by 29.1%, 25.2%, and 16.2% as compared to POSI₃, POSI₄, and POSI₅, respectively. April sown crop out yielded the May sown cotton crop by 939 kg ha^?1 due to better yield attributes. Nitrogen factor productivity (NFP) among SD remained higher by 23.3% for April as compared to May sowing. PSI_h exhibited better NFP over PSI_n. POSI₆ recorded least NFP by 24.4%, 28.5%, and 16.3% as compared to POSI₃, POSI₄, and POSI₅, respectively and was indicative of relatively poor utilization of N under delayed schedules. Therefore, planting in April after heavy PSI and scheduling first POSI at 4 WAS is best strategy for sustaining cotton yield and maximizing farmer profitability.     

Macronutrient accumulation in wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) with Azospirillum brasilense associated with nitrogen doses and sources

Abstract

New studies are needed to optimize the nitrogen (N) amount that can be applied to utilize the Azospirillum brasilense benefits. In addition, information regarding the interaction between the urease inhibitor and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and how they affect the macronutrients accumulation are also needed. We evaluate the effect of N sources and doses associated with A. brasilense regarding the macronutrients accumulation in straw and grains and wheat grain yield in tropical conditions. A randomized block experimental design was used with four replications in a 2?×?5?×?2 factorial arrangement as follows: two N sources (urea and urea with urease enzyme inhibitor NBPT; five N doses (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200?kg ha^?1) applied in topdressing; with and without A. brasilense inoculation. We found that an increase in N doses positively influenced the accumulation of macronutrients in straw and grains and the wheat grain yield. N sources have similar effects. Inoculation with A. brasilense increased accumulation of Mg and S in straw and P, Ca, and Mg in grains, regardless of the N dose. The inoculation with A. brasilense associated with 140?kg ha^?1 of N increased wheat grain yield. The inoculation can contribute in a more sustainable way to wheat nutrition and optimizing N fertilization.     

Drip irrigation and nitrogen fertilization alter phenological development and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.) under semi-arid conditions

Abstract

Maize response to deficit water and nitrogen for assessing phenological development and yield was studied under semi-arid conditions. Experiment consisting three drip irrigation levels, replenish 60 (DI₆₀), 80 (DI₈₀) and 100 percent (DI₁₀₀) of cumulative pan evaporation, and four nitrogen doses 50 (RN₅₀), 75 (RN₇₅), 100 (RN₁₀₀) and 125 (RN₁₂₅) per cent of recommended nitrogen. A Furrow irrigated treatment was kept as control/check. Significant earliness in visibility of collar of 8^th leaf, tasseling, silking and significant delay in dough stage and physiological maturity was recorded under well water treatment DI₁₀₀ as compared to DI₆₀. Days to collar of 8^th leaf, tasseling and silking had significant negative correlation, and duration of yield formation phase and days to physiological maturity had significant positive correlation with grain yield. Higher DM production, longer yield formation phase and late physiological maturity led to significantly higher grain yield under DI₁₀₀. In case of nitrogen levels, phonological characteristics like collar of 8^th leaf, tasseling and silking were significantly delayed, and dough stage and physiological maturity were advanced under nitrogen deficit treatment RN₅₀ as compared to RN₁₀₀ and RN₁₂₅. Significantly higher dry matter production and longer yield formation phase observed led to significant higher SCY under RN₁₀₀ and RN₁₂₅ as compared to RN₅₀. Yield formation phase was significantly longer under drip irrigated crop as compared to control during 2^nd year of study. Crop phenological development significantly affected by drip irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels, and there was significant correlation between phenological stages development and grain yield.     

不同抗旱性小麦叶片膜脂过氧化的氮素调控机制

在田间条件下研究了施氮对不同抗旱性冬小麦叶片全生育期黄嘌呤氧化酶(XOD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性以及过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量的影响。结果表明,施氮提高了叶片CAT和SOD活性,降低了XOD活性和MDA含量,以N180处理效果最明显,而且产量最高,表明N180处理对小麦膜脂抗过氧化能力和产量形成最为适宜;不施氮(N0)处理条件下,旱地品种较水浇地品种具有较高的保护酶系活性和较低的XOD活性、MDA含量。而适量氮素能够提高叶片保护酶系活性和降低XOD活性、MDA含量,所以氮素能够通过提高叶片膜质抗过氧化能力来增强小麦对干旱的适应。由于降低了超氧阴离子的生成量,使XOD活性降低和CAT活性提高,H2O2和MDA含量维持在较低水平,最终提高小麦产量。     

洱海缓冲带土壤特性的空间分布

[目的]了解洱海缓冲带内土壤特性空间分布状况,进而为缓冲带面源污染治理、精细农业与植被布局等提供参考。[方法]采集80个缓冲带表层土壤样品,测定其含水率、有机质、全磷、全氮、氨氮和硝氮的含量,并应用传统统计学和地统计学方法对数据进行分析。[结果](1)土壤中含水率、有机质、全磷、全氮、氨氮和硝氮各项统计特性均通过K—S检验,呈正态分布;(2)洱海缓冲带土壤中养分水平较高;氨氮和硝氮的变异系数大于100%,属强变异性;(3)有机质南部略低,东西向呈东西高,中部低,全氮、全磷南北向呈南北低,中部高,东西向变化不大;(4)有机质表现出强烈的空间相关性,而全氮和全磷空间相关性弱。[结论]缓冲带农田格局和迁移转化是影响土壤特性空间分布的两个重要因素。     

不同N水平紫色土上不同水稻品种吸收N、K的动力学

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen and potassium uptake by four rice cultivars. Results showed that the quadratic parabola relationship between biomass of rice and nitrogen levels was observed, with the maximum biomass at the nitrogen level of 150 mg kg^-1. The rates of nitrogen and potassium uptake by the four rice cultivars depended on growth stage and rice cultivar with the maximum rate of N in Shanyou-63 and maximum rate of K in Kaiyou-5 (hybrid rice), respectively. The kinetics of nitrogen and potasssium uptake by rice plant could be quantitatively described by the following equations: y = a + blogt, y = ab + t^1/2 and y = ae^-bt. The b value in the equations was correlated significantly to the rates of nitrogen and potassium uptake (N_R and K_R, r = 0.901^**~0.990^**), suggesting that the b value could be used to distinguish the index of nitrogen and potassium uptake capacity of rice. The maximum values of nitrogen uptake by plant (b value) and apparent recovery of fertilizer nitrogen were observed in Shanyou-63, and the minimum value in Eryou-6078. However, the capacity of potassium uptake (b value) by Kaiyou-5 ranked first and that by Shanyou-63 second. There was a significant linear relationship between nitrogen level and nitrogen uptake by rice, but a quadratic parabola relationship was found between nitrogen level and patassium uptake by rice. The application of nitrogen fertilizer decreased the ratios of potassium to nitrogen uptake by rice plant. The greatest reduction in the ratio was observed at high nitrogen level, and the least reduction was found in Kaiyou-5 and Shanyou-63 due to their greater ability to absorb potassium.     

分次施氮对水稻根际土壤微生物生态效应的影响

研究了分次施氮条件，施氮对水稻根际土壤微生物生态效应的影响，结果表明：水稻根际土壤微生物生态效应不仅仅受到根际土壤微生物的影响，同时也受到水稻生长状态的影响。一般来说，水稻生长旺盛的时候，水稻根系与根际土壤微生物竞争营养元素，导致水稻根际微生物活性的下降。在水稻生长周期内，水稻根际土壤微生物生物量C与根际土壤酶等变化不一致。分次施氮条件下，施氮对根际微生物生物量C、磷酸酶、脲酶、总蛋白和总酚有一定的影响，尤其是在水稻生长的后期，4次施氮全部完成后，施氮与不施氮表现出明显的差异。     

日光温室番茄的氮素追施与反馈调控

在施用足量有机肥的基础上,以山东寿光当地的常规氮肥追施措施为对照,通过结合硝酸盐速测技术对日光温室秋冬茬番茄不同生育时期的氮素供应进行实时动态调控,以确定合理的追肥数量。结果表明,同当地农民的常规处理相比,采用实时调控处理的氮素投入总量减少了N170kg.hm2,但对番茄的生长(株高、茎粗、果实发育速度等)、产量和品质等指标没有任何影响。根据追肥前根层土壤氮素的供应水平(0—30cm土壤NO3--N含量+氮素追施数量)的监测,可初步确定日光温室秋冬茬番茄在第一穗果膨大期、第二穗果膨大期和第四穗果膨大期时的氮素供应目标值最多为N296kg.hm2、216kg.hm2和191kg.hm2。与此同时,将每个时期所确定的目标值应用在同期生长的其它3个日光温室的番茄氮素追施调控,结果发现与相应的农民常规处理相比,实时调控处理对作物的生长同样没有影响,这表明在日光温室秋冬茬番茄生产过程中,结合植株和土壤硝酸盐速测技术,通过施肥调控满足作物在不同生长时期的氮素供应水平是可行的。