Energy budgeting and emergy synthesis of rainfed maize–wheat rotation system with different soil amendment applications

Soil is a non-renewable resource and its preservation is essential for food security, ecosystem services and our sustainable future. Simultaneously, it is a major challenge to substitute non-renewable fossil based resources with renewable resources to reduce environmental load. In order to check soil erosion vis-a-vis degradation of sloppy lands of rainfed maize–wheat rotation system, fertilization with organic manure supplemented with inorganic fertilizers is required. In order to address these issues, substitution of 50% NPK through four organic manures viz. farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM) and in situ green manuring (GM) of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) were evaluated against 100% NPK through inorganic fertilizers and through FYM for energy budgeting and emergy synthesis during 2009–2014. Integrated use of FYM along with 50% NPK fertilizers could maintain the highest energy ratio (7.3), human energy profitability (142.4), energy productivity (0.22 kg MJ⁻¹), and energy profitability (6.3 MJ ha⁻¹) over other treatments. However, GM and inorganic fertilizers on equal NPK basis maintained the highest energy intensiveness (24.61 MJ US $⁻¹) and exhibited higher emergy yield ratio (2.66) and lower emergy investment ratio (0.60) and environmental loading ratio (3.74) which resulted into higher environmental sustainability index (0.71) over other treatments. Fertilization with organic manure (FYM) alone could not compete with other fertilized options to energy budgeting and emergy synthesis except specific energy. The study demonstrated that innovative integrated nutrient management of chemical fertilizers and organic manures particularly FYM for energy budgeting and GM for emergy synthesis may be considered as feasible and environment-friendly options for soil conservation, thereby benefiting a 50% saving on costly chemical fertilizers in non-OPEC countries which import most of its phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.     

Effect of mixing on biogas production during mesophilic anaerobic digestion of screened dairy manure in a pilot plant

The effect of mixing on biogas production of a 1.5‐m³ pilot continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) processing screened dairy manure was evaluated. Mixing was carried out by recirculation of reactor content with a mono pump. The experiment was conducted at a controlled temperature of 37±1°C and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 20 and 10 days. The effect of continuous and intermittent operation of the recirculation pump on biogas production was studied. At 10 days of HRT, the results showed a minimal influence of recirculation rate on biogas production and that continuous recirculation did not improve reactor performance. At 20 days of HRT, the recirculation rate did not affect reactor performance. Combination of low solid content in feed animal slurry and long HRTs results in minimal mixing requirements for anaerobic digestion.     

The fate of nitrogen (15N) released from different plant materials during decomposition under field conditions

Release of N, retention in soil, availability to a subsequent crop and total recovery of N derived from different¹⁵N-labelled plant materials decomposing in soil was investigated in two field experiments. In the first experiment five different plant species (white clover, red clover, subterranean clover, field bean and timothy) and in the second subterranean clover of different maturity (2,3 and 4 months old) were buried in mesh bags in the soil and allowed to decompose for 10 and 4 months, respectively. Most of the N released from the decaying plant materials was retained in the soil (27–46% of input). The subsequent crop (barley) took up 6–25% of input. The uptake correlated with the amount of N released from the decomposing material (r=0.936^*, I experiment). Similar amounts of subterranean clover N were taken up by barley regardless to whether the material was buried in soil in the previous autumn or just before sowing of the crop. At the end of the experiments, the total recovery of the introduced plant-derived N varied between 89 and 102%. The results present evidence that the ability of the soil to retain plant-derived N is strong in comparison with the ability of the subsequent crop and different loss mechanisms to remove it.     

Changes in DTPA-iron and management of iron chlorosis in rice nurseries

Summary On a Typic Ustochrept soil incorporation of 10 tons/ha of a green manure plus submergence for 10 days followed by raising upland nursery checked iron chlorosis. In contrast, presubmergence with and without FYM and iron sulfate or pyrite were a failure. Nor weekly sprays with 3.0% iron sulfate were found very effective. The success of green manure plus submergence was associated with the mobilization of soil iron as a result of intense reduction and its subsequent retention in available form at a sufficient high level during the growth of upland nursery.     

Effect of continuous application of manures and fertilizers on rhizosphere microflora in arecanut palm

Summary The rhizosphere microflora of arecanut palm under continuous application of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers was studied. The nutrients applied are 100 g N, 40 g P₂O₅ and 140 g K₂O/palm/year in the form of organics and inorganics. The application of organic manure increased the microbial population. The increase in microbial population was observed between the rhizosphere samples collected at 0–30cm and 30–60 cm depths. The surface cultivation of soil increased the microbial population.Trichoderma sp. andAspergillus sp. dominated in therhizosphere of arecanut palm. Contribution No. 208. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Vittal-574243, Karnataka, India.     

Distribution of Fusarium wilt of Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) in farmers’ fields’ of Busia County in Western Kenya and its management using farmyard manure

A study was carried out to determine Fusarium wilt distribution in Bambara nut farmers’ fields and its management using farm yard manure (FYM). Four villages in Busia County were purposively sampled for the study. The data generated were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means separated by least significant difference test. Fusarium wilt incidence in the fields ranged from 14.63 to 43.56%. In the greenhouse, FYM reduced the disease incidence by 10.2% and severity by 9.5% on the black landrace and 1.9 and 12.8%, respectively, on the red landrace. In the field, FYM reduced disease incidence by 9.1% and severity by 6.9% on the black landrace and 10.4 and 10.4%, respectively, on the red landrace. Farm yard manure had the lowest area under disease progress curve irrespective of the landrace. The study confirmed the presence of the pathogen in the fields and the ability to manage the disease using FYM.     

青海高原复种绿肥毛叶苕子对土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的影响

通过在小麦收获后复种绿肥毛叶苕子研究绿肥的培肥效应。在复种绿肥毛叶苕子的情况下,研究后茬作物小麦生育期土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的时空变化。结果表明,小麦生育期0～20 cm土层土壤微生物生物量碳、氮均表现为有毛叶苕子处理高于无毛叶苕子处理,其中施肥70%化肥+毛苕子翻压还田处理的土壤微生物生物量碳、氮最高。小麦苗期土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量最低,至抽穗期土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量达到最高,成熟期又有所降低。微生物熵在各时期的变化与微生物生物量碳一致,绿肥处理表现出明显较高的微生物熵。     

Gaseous emissions from management of solid waste: a systematic review

The establishment of sustainable soil waste management practices implies minimizing their environmental losses associated with climate change (greenhouse gases: GHGs) and ecosystems acidification (ammonia: NH₃). Although a number of management strategies for solid waste management have been investigated to quantify nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) losses in relation to varied environmental and operational conditions, their overall effect is still uncertain. In this context, we have analyzed the current scientific information through a systematic review. We quantified the response of GHG emissions, NH₃ emissions, and total N losses to different solid waste management strategies (conventional solid storage, turned composting, forced aerated composting, covering, compaction, addition/substitution of bulking agents and the use of additives). Our study is based on a meta‐analysis of 50 research articles involving 304 observations. Our results indicated that improving the structure of the pile (waste or manure heap) via addition or substitution of certain bulking agents significantly reduced nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions by 53% and 71%, respectively. Turned composting systems, unlike forced aerated composted systems, showed potential for reducing GHGs (N₂O: 50% and CH₄: 71%). Bulking agents and both composting systems involved a certain degree of pollution swapping as they significantly promoted NH₃ emissions by 35%, 54%, and 121% for bulking agents, turned and forced aerated composting, respectively. Strategies based on the restriction of O₂ supply, such as covering or compaction, did not show significant effects on reducing GHGs but substantially decreased NH₃ emissions by 61% and 54% for covering and compaction, respectively. The use of specific additives significantly reduced NH₃ losses by 69%. Our meta‐analysis suggested that there is enough evidence to refine future Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodologies from solid waste, especially for solid waste composting practices. More holistic and integrated approaches are therefore required to develop more sustainable solid waste management systems.     

长期施用猪粪红壤稻田土壤Cu、Zn累积规律

为揭示长期施用猪粪红壤稻田土壤Cu、Zn累积规律,以设立于1981年的红壤稻田有机肥定位试验为载体,选取PM1(早稻施猪粪和紫云英)、PM2(早稻施紫云英+晚稻施猪粪)、GMS(早稻施紫云英+晚稻秸秆还田)和NPK(早稻施化肥)等处理为对象,分析了不同试验年限土壤全量和有效态Cu、Zn含量。结果表明:长期施用猪粪显著提高了土壤Cu、Zn含量;连续施用猪粪30 a后,土壤全量Cu、Zn含量分别增加了7.69—9.52 mg/kg和22.42—35.46 mg/kg;生物有效性显著增加,有效态Cu、Zn含量占全量Cu、Zn的比例分别由15%和5%增加到51%和27%。猪粪年度内的施用时间对土壤Cu的累积没有显著影响,早稻施用猪粪加剧了土壤Zn的累积。土壤铜、锌累积分为两个差异显著的阶段,1981—2002年为缓慢增长期,2002—2010年为快速增长期,这可能与2002年后施用的猪粪中Cu、Zn含量增高有关。以研究的结果推算,红壤稻田鲜猪粪施用量在9.5 t hm-2a-1以下,50 a内不会造成土壤Cu、Zn含量超标。     

不同有机肥对土壤镉锌生物有效性的影响

在南方典型稻田设置连续4年施用猪粪、鸡粪、稻草的定位试验,监测施用不同有机肥条件下土壤及水稻植株镉(Cd)、锌(Zn)含量的变化,研究有机肥对土壤Cd、Zn活性及其交互作用的影响.结果表明: 施用有机肥(猪粪、鸡粪、稻草)对土壤全Cd、有效态Cd含量及Cd活性皆无显著影响,但有增加土壤Cd全量的趋势,且显著增加土壤全Zn、有效态Zn含量及Zn活性.施用猪粪、鸡粪、稻草皆可降低稻米Cd含量,降Cd效果为猪粪>鸡粪>稻草,猪粪处理水稻稻米、茎、叶Cd含量分别比对照下降37.5%、44.0%、36.4%;鸡粪处理水稻米、茎、叶Cd含量分别比对照下降22.5%、33.8%、22.7%;而稻草处理水稻米Cd含量比对照下降7.5%,但茎、叶Cd含量比对照分别增加8.2%、22.7%;施用猪粪、鸡粪降低稻米Cd含量主要是降低了水稻植株对土壤Cd的富集,而施用稻草则主要是降低了水稻茎Cd向稻米的转运.施用有机肥还增加了水稻茎Zn含量,施用猪粪、鸡粪、稻草的水稻茎Zn含量比单施化肥分别增加53.4%、41.2%、13.9%,但对水稻稻米、叶Zn含量无显著影响.Zn、Cd在土壤、植株茎中皆表现出显著的拮抗作用,土壤及水稻茎Zn含量的增加显著抑制了水稻米、茎、叶对Cd的吸收积累,且随土壤有效态Zn/Cd含量比值的增加,Zn、Cd竞争土壤吸附不是抑制水稻吸收积累Cd的主控因子,而Zn、Cd竞争吸收才是影响水稻吸收积累Cd的主控因子.