Carbon Sequestration Efficiency of Organic Amendments in a Long-Term Experiment on a Vertisol in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain,China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is important for improving soil fertility of cropland and for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. The efficiency of SOC sequestration depends on the quantity and quality of the organic matter, soil type, and climate. Little is known about the SOC sequestration efficiency of organic amendments in Vertisols. Thus, we conducted the research based on 29 years (1982–2011) of long-term fertilization experiment with a no fertilizer control and five fertilization regimes: CK (control, no fertilizer), NPK (mineral NPK fertilizers alone), NPK+1/2W (mineral NPK fertilizers combined with half the amount of wheat straw), NPK+W (mineral NPK fertilizers combined with full the amount of wheat straw), NPK+PM (mineral NPK fertilizers combined with pig manure) and NPK+CM (mineral NPK fertilizers combined cattle manure). Total mean annual C inputs were 0.45, 1.55, 2.66, 3.71, 4.68 and 6.56 ton/ha/yr for CK, NPK, NPKW1/2, NPKW, NPKPM and NPKCM, respectively. Mean SOC sequestration rate was 0.20 ton/ha/yr in the NPK treatment, and 0.39, 0.50, 0.51 and 0.97 ton/ha/yr in the NPKW1/2, NPKW, NPKPM, and NPKCM treatments, respectively. A linear relationship was observed between annual C input and SOC sequestration rate (SOCsequestration rate  = 0.16 Cinput –0.10, R = 0.95, P<0.01), suggesting a C sequestration efficiency of 16%. The Vertisol required an annual C input of 0.63 ton/ha/yr to maintain the initial SOC level. Moreover, the C sequestration efficiencies of wheat straw, pig manure and cattle manure were 17%, 11% and 17%, respectively. The results indicate that the Vertisol has a large potential to sequester SOC with a high efficiency, and applying cattle manure or wheat straw is a recommendable SOC sequestration practice in Vertisols.     

Effects of integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with effective microorganisms (EM) on seed cotton yield in Pakistan

A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with effective microorganisms on growth and yield of cotton. Treatments included: control; organic materials (OM); effective microorganisms (EM); OM+EM; mineral NPK (170:85:60 kg); 1/2 mineral NPK+EM; 1/2 mineral NPK+OM+EM and mineral NPK+OM+EM. OM and EM alone did not increase the yield and yield attributing components significantly but integrated use of both resulted in a 44% increase over control. Application of NPK in combination with OM and EM resulted in the highest seed cotton yield (2470 kg ha-1). Integrated use of OM+EM with 1/2 mineral NPK yielded 2091 kg ha-1, similar to the yield (2165 kg ha-1) obtained from full recommended NPK, indicating that this combination can substitute for 85 kg N ha-1. Combination of both N sources with EM also increased the concentrations of NPK in plants. Economic analysis suggested the use of 1/2 mineral NPK with EM+OM saves the mineral N fertilizer by almost 50% compared to a system with only mineral NPK application. This study indicated that application of EM increased the efficiency of both organic and mineral nutrient sources but alone was ineffective in increasing yield.     

不同农田生态系统土壤碳库管理指数的研究

讨论不同农田生态系统的土壤活性碳库和碳库管理（ＣＰＭＩ）,结果表明,不同农田生态系统的土壤ＣＰＭＩ明显受施肥、气候、土壤利用方式,耕种年限等因素的影响。供试土壤的活性碳含量范围为０．４９～４．９９ｍｇ／ｇ,土壤ＣＰＭＩ为５１．６～１６５。不同施肥地红壤ＣＰＭＩ的影响顺序为绿肥（ＧＭ）〉概肥（ＦＹＭ）〉ＦＹＭ－ＮＰＤ〉参考（ＲＥＦ）〉ＮＰＫ〉对照（ＣＫ）,在水稻土中,共相应的影响顺序为,稻草（ＲＳＣ     

Survey of weed composition befor maize sowing in long-term fertilization experiment

The study was carried out in a long-term fertilization field experiment of the Experimental Station of University of Pannonia, Department of Crop Science and Soil Science in 2006. The Long-term fertilization experiment was set up in 1983. In the experiment, the success of the weeds ability to grow under the influence of NPK, NPK + FYM* and NPK + straw treatments was compared, and the effect of increasing Nitrogen dosing on weediness was studied. The bifactorial test was arranged in split plot design with three replications. Treatment A: nutrient: NPK, NPK + 35 t/ha FYM* and NPK + straw manure. Treatment B: N kg/ha(-1) N0-N4 (0, 70, 140, 210, 280), and 100 kg P2O5 ha(-1) & 100 kg K20. The weed survey was made on 2nd of May 2006. There were spraying no herbicide until the survey. For the weed survey the Balázs-Ujvárosi coenological method was applied. Altogether, we have found 23 weed species in the trial. In the NPK treatment there were 20 species, in the treatment NPK+organic manure there were 17 species and in the NPK+ stalk rest treatment there were 16 weed species. The most dominant of the weeds on the NPK and NPK+straw manure treatments was Veronica hederifolia while on the fertilizer + FYM, the A. theophrasti was most dominant. The average weed covering value of the treatment NPK + FYM was 1.36 times higher (10.87%) than that of treatment NPK only (7.97%) and 3.65 times higher than on the NPK + straw manure treatment.     

Impact of long-term additions of chemical fertilizers and farm yard manure on carbon and nitrogen sequestration under rice-cowpea cropping system in semi-arid tropics

Restoration of soil organic carbon (SOC) in arable lands represents potential sink for atmospheric CO₂. The strategies for restoration of SOC include the appropriate land use management, cropping sequence, fertilizer and organic manures application. To achieve this goal, the dynamics of SOC and nitrogen (N) in soils needs to be better understood for which the long-term experiments are an important tool. A study was thus conducted to determine SOC and nitrogen dynamics in a long-term experiment in relation to inorganic, integrated and organic fertilizer application in rice-cowpea system on a sandy loam soil (Typic Rhodualf). The fertilizer treatments during rice included (i) 100% N (@ 100 kg N ha^?1), (ii) 100% NP (100 kg N and 50 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1), (iii) 100% NPK (100 kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅ and 50 kg K₂O ha^?1) as inorganic fertilizers, (iv) 50% NPK + 50% farm yard manure (FYM) (@ 5 t ha^?1) and (v) FYM alone @ 10 t ha^?1 compared with (vi) control treatment i.e. without any fertilization. The N alone or N and P did not have any significant effect on soil carbon and nitrogen. The light fraction carbon was 53% higher in NPK + FYM plots and 56% higher in FYM plots than in control plots, in comparison to 30% increase with inorganic fertilizers alone. The microbial biomass carbon and water-soluble carbon were relatively higher both in FYM or NPK + FYM plots. The clay fraction had highest concentration of C and N followed by silt, fine sand and coarse sand fractions in both surface (0–15 cm) and subsurface soil layers (15–30 cm). The C:N ratio was lowest in the clay fraction and increased with increase in particle size. The C and N enrichment ratio was highest for the clay fraction followed by silt and both the sand fractions. Relative decrease in enrichment ratio of clay in treatments receiving NPK and or FYM indicates comparatively greater accumulation of C and N in soil fractions other than clay.     

不同施肥制度土壤微生物量碳氮变化及细菌群落16S rDNA V3 片段PCR产物的DGGE分析

应用化学分析和变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）技术分离PCR扩增的16S rDNA的方法,研究了不同施肥制度对土壤微生物量碳、氮变化及微生物多样性的影响。结果表明,连续15a长期试验下,土壤微生物量碳（SMB-C）和微生物量氮（SMB-N）的含量大小均为长期撂荒（CK0）土壤高于农田土壤,而在农田土壤中,长期施肥的处理（NPK、NPKM、NPKSt和NPKF）高于长期不施肥处理（CK）,不同的种植制度中,长期复种轮作（NPKF）高于长期复种连作（NPK）;各处理的SMB-C/SOC（土壤有机碳）和SMB-N/TN（全氮）的比值的变化趋势与SMB-C和SMB-N变化一致;从PCR-DGGE分析,长期氮磷钾化肥配施有机肥（NPKM）处理的微生物量碳、氮的含量最高,微生物丰度最高,细菌物种最多,其次为长期撂荒（CK0）,CK处理细菌物种最少。UPGMC聚类分析表明NPK和NPKF处理细菌的群落结构相似,CK和CK0处理细菌的群落结构相似,而NPKM和NPKSt处理细菌的群落结构相似。     

The effects of mineral fertilizer and organic manure on soil microbial community and diversity

The effects of mineral fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure on phospholipid fatty acid profiles and microbial functional diversity were investigated in a long-term (21-year) fertilizer experiment. The experiment included nine treatments: organic manure (OM), organic manure plus fertilizer NPK (OM + NPK), fertilizer NPK (NPK), fertilizer NP (NP), fertilizer NK (NK), fertilizer N (N), fertilizer P (P), fertilizer K (K), and the control (CK, without fertilization). The original soil was extremely eroded, characterized by low pH and deficiencies of nutrients, particularly N and P. The application of OM and OM + NPK greatly increased crop yields, soil pH, organic C, total N, P and K, available N, P and K content. Crop yields, soil pH, organic C, total N and available N were also clearly increased by the application of mineral NPK fertilizer. The amounts of total PLFAs, bacterial, Gram-negative and actinobacterial PLFAs were highest in the OM + NPK treatment, followed by the OM treatment, whilst least in the N treatment. The amounts of Gram-positive and anaerobic PLFAs were highest in the OM treatment whilst least in the P treatment and the control, respectively. The amounts of aerobic and fungal PLFAs were highest in the NPK treatment whilst least in the N and P treatment, respectively. The average well color development (AWCD) was significantly increased by the application of OM and OM + NPK, and the functional diversity indices including Shannon index (H ^′ ), Simpson index (D) and McIntosh index (U) were also significantly increased by the application of OM and OM + NPK. Principal component analysis (PCA) of PLFA profiles and C source utilization patterns were used to describe changes in microbial biomass and metabolic fingerprints from nine fertilizer treatments. The PLFA profiles from OM, OM + NPK, NP and NPK were significantly different from that of CK, N, P, K and NK, and C source utilization patterns from OM and OM + NPK were clearly different from organic manure deficient treatments (CK, N, P, K, NP, NK 6 and NPK). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that total N, available P and soil pH significantly affected PLFA profiles and microbial functional diversity. Our results could provide a better understanding of the importance of organic manure plus balanced fertilization with N, P and K in promoting the soil microbial biomass, activity and diversity and thus enhancing crop growth and production.     

Zinc-biochemical co-fertilization improves rice performance and reduces nutrient surplus under semi-arid environmental conditions

Biofertilizers are a promising approach to substantially improve nutrient recovery and crop production. Moreover, zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the key abiotic factors limiting global rice production. However, the effect of Zn-biochemical co-fertilization on rice production and nutrients recovery and surplus under semi-arid environmental conditions is not fully obvious. Two years field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zn-biochemical (nitrogen “N”, phosphorus “P”, and potassium “K”) co-fertilization on yield and yield components, physico-chemical characteristics, and nutrient recovery and surplus as well as farm profitability of four rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars treated with two Zn levels (no Zn application, and 600 mg chelated Zn L^?1 as a foliar application) and six fertilization regimes (no fertilizers application, biofertilizers, 25% NPK plus biofertilizers, 50% NPK plus biofertilizers, 75% NPK plus biofertilizers, and 100% NPK). Biofertilizers mixture (cerealin, phosphorine, and potassiomage) were used. The results revealed that chemical constituents, growth attributes, yield, yield components, nutrients uptake (N, P, K, and Zn), and nutrients recovery (N, P, and K) significantly increased due to Zn foliar application. Biofertilizers replacement for 25% of inorganic NPK combined with Zn provides the highest nutrients uptake through increasing N, P, and K recovery by 57–94%, 61–128%, and 45–69%, respectively in the four rice cultivars compared with 100% NPK treatment. This improvement in nutrients uptake and recovery was attributed to decrease nutrients surplus by 64–78%, 46–53%, and 50–59%, respectively. Additionally, Zn-biochemical co-fertilization improves growth attributes, yield, and yield components of rice cultivars through producing more contents of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total carbohydrates, and total amino acids than using 100% NPK alone. All previous characteristics significantly affected by the cultivated rice variety. The net return under the treatment of 75% NPK plus biofertilizers plus Zn foliar application was 21.5–27.5% higher than the treatment of 100% NPK. Therefore, our findings suggest that biofertilizers replacement for 25% of inorganic NPK combined with Zn foliar application supplies a financially attractive choice to substantially enhance nutrient recovery and production of rice, while effectively reducing nutrients loss.     

Resource-island soils and the survival of the giant cactus,cardon, of Baja California Sur

Early survival and growth of some plants in arid environments depends on facilitation by a nurse plant. Amelioration of soil temperature extremes through shading and accumulation of mineral nutrients near nurse-plants are mechanisms of facilitation. We investigated the effects of shading (soil temperature) and soil type on survival and growth of the giant columnar cactus, cardon (Pachycereus pringlei). Cardon was grown either in a sandy clay-loam soil obtained from resource islands formed under mature mesquite (Prosopis articulata) or in the loamy-sand soil from plant-free bare areas that surround the islands. Seedlings were potted in these soils and the pots were buried to ground level in the open. We also determined plant responses to fertilization with N, P, K or NPK in the bare-area soils. Enhancement of survival and growth in the resource-island soils compared to that in the bare-area soils was highly significant. Plants survived and grew better in resource-island soils than in bare-area soil, an effect that was enhanced by shading (one-half of full sun). Greater root/shoot ratios of plants grown in bare-area soil indicated increased resource allocation to roots under limiting conditions. Significant interactions (analysis of variance) indicated that the soil and sun factors of the experiment were not independent of one another. Plant growth in bare-area soil improved considerably (>200%) in response to N fertilization (screenhouse conditions), and approximated that of plants in resource-island soil without N amendment. The growth response to P was small (<50%), while K did not affect growth significantly. Responses to NPK were similar to those to N alone. The results suggested that shading and nutritional effects interact in determining early survival and growth of cardon in different soils. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of long‐term straw return on soil organic carbon storage and sequestration rate in North China upland crops: A meta‐analysis

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is essential for soil fertility and climate change mitigation, and carbon can be sequestered in soil through proper soil management, including straw return. However, results of studies of long‐term straw return on SOC are contradictory and increasing SOC stocks in upland soils is challenging. This study of North China upland agricultural fields quantified the effects of several fertilizer and straw return treatments on SOC storage changes and crop yields, considering different cropping duration periods, soil types, and cropping systems to establish the relationships of SOC sequestration rates with initial SOC stocks and annual straw C inputs. Our meta‐analysis using long‐term field experiments showed that SOC stock responses to straw return were greater than that of mineral fertilizers alone. Black soils with higher initial SOC stocks also had lower SOC stock increases than did soils with lower initial SOC stocks (fluvo‐aquic and loessial soils) following applications of nitrogen‐phosphorous‐potassium (NPK) fertilizer and NPK+S (straw). Soil C stocks under the NPK and NPK+S treatments increased in the more‐than‐20‐year duration period, while significant SOC stock increases in the NP and NP+S treatment groups were limited to the 11‐ to 20‐year period. Annual crop productivity was higher in double‐cropped wheat and maize under all fertilization treatments, including control (no fertilization), than in the single‐crop systems (wheat or maize). Also, the annual soil sequestration rates and annual straw C inputs of the treatments with straw return (NP+S and NPK+S) were significantly positively related. Moreover, initial SOC stocks and SOC sequestration rates of those treatments were highly negatively correlated. Thus, long‐term straw return integrated with mineral fertilization in upland wheat and maize croplands leads to increased crop yields and SOC stocks. However, those effects of straw return are highly dependent on fertilizer management, cropping system, soil type, duration period, and the initial SOC content.     

Differences in Chemical Composition of Soil Organic Carbon Resulting From Long-Term Fertilization Strategies

Chemical composition of soil organic carbon (SOC) is central to soil fertility. We hypothesize that change in SOC content resulting from various long-term fertilization strategies accompanies the shift in SOC chemical structure. This study examined the effect of fertilization strategies along with the time of fertilizer application on the SOC composition by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The soils (Aquic Inceptisol) subjected to seven fertilizer treatments were collected in 1989, 1999 and 2009, representing 0, 10 and 20 years of fertilization, respectively. The seven fertilizer treatments were (1–3) balanced fertilization with application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) including organic compost (OM), half organic compost plus half chemical fertilizer (1/2OM), and pure chemical NPK fertilizer (NPK); (4–6) unbalanced chemical fertilization without application of one of the major elements including NP fertilizer (NP), PK fertilizer (PK), and NK fertilizer (NK); and (7) an unamended control (CK). The SOC content in the balanced fertilization treatments were 2.3–52.6% and 9.4–64.6% higher than in the unbalanced fertilization/CK treatments in 1999 and 2009, respectively, indicating significant differences in SOC content with time of fertilizer application between the two treatment groups. There was a significantly greater proportion of O-alkyl C and a lower proportion of aromatic C in the balanced fertilization than in unbalanced fertilization/CK treatments in 1999, but not in 2009, because their proportions in the former treatments approached the latter in 2009. Principal component analysis further showed that the C functional groups from various fertilization strategies tended to become compositionally similar with time. The results suggest that a shift in SOC chemical composition may be firstly dominated by fertilization strategies, followed by fertilization duration.     

Effect of different fertilizers on the germination and growth of velvetleaf (Abutilon theohrasti Medic.)

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) is one of the most important and invasive weed species in Hungary and also in Europe. Its dangerousness derives from its germination biology characteristics and its strong competitive and allelopathic ability. In wide line space crops such as corn, sunflower and soybean it may reduce the yield significantly, According to some authors, this yield reducing ability is lower with bigger nutrient supplies. Our experiment was carried in Keszthely, Hungary (46 degrees 45'35.53"; 17 degrees 14'26.9") at the Institute of Plant Protection, Georgikon Faculty, University of Pannonia in 2009 and 2010. We studied the separate and combined effect of different fertilizers on the germination and growth of velvetleaf in greenhouse pot experiments. The applied fertilizers were Linzer NAC (27% N) in doses of 200 kg N ha(-1) (2,325 g Linzer NAC/pot), Patent Káli (30% K2O) in 100 kg K2O ha(-1) (1,05g Patent Káli/pot) and DC Szuperfoszfát (20.5% P2O5) in 100 kg P2O5 ha(-1) (1,05g DC Szuperfoszfát/pot). Our study was carried out in 1.5-litre pots with Ramman brown-forest soil in four replications, with 25 seeds of velvetleaf per pots. Five velvetleaf plants were removed four and six weeks after planting from the pots and the lenght, the fresh- and the air dried weight and the leaf area of the plants was measured. The data were analyzed by ANOVA. We observed that nitrogen which was applied alone or with other nutrients can reduce the germination and growth of Abutilon with 200kg N ha(-1) doses. Potassium and phosphorus stimulate germination and growth. The biggest stimulating effect was produced by potassium when it was applied alone.     

Community structure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria under long-term application of mineral fertilizer and organic manure in a sandy loam soil

The effects of mineral fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure on the community structure of soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was investigated in a long-term (16-year) fertilizer experiment. The experiment included seven treatments: organic manure, half organic manure N plus half fertilizer N, fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NP, fertilizer NK, fertilizer PK, and the control (without fertilization). N fertilization greatly increased soil nitrification potential, and mineral N fertilizer had a greater impact than organic manure, while N deficiency treatment (PK) had no significant effect. AOB community structure was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of the amoA gene, which encodes the alpha subunit of ammonia monooxygenase. DGGE profiles showed that the AOB community was more diverse in N-fertilized treatments than in the PK-fertilized treatment or the control, while one dominant band observed in the control could not be detected in any of the fertilized treatments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the DGGE bands derived from N-fertilized treatments belonged to Nitrosospira cluster 3, indicating that N fertilization resulted in the dominance of Nitrosospira cluster 3 in soil. These results demonstrate that long-term application of N fertilizers could result in increased soil nitrification potential and the AOB community shifts in soil. Our results also showed the different effects of mineral fertilizer N versus organic manure N; the effects of P and K on the soil AOB community; and the importance of balanced fertilization with N, P, and K in promoting nitrification functions in arable soils.     

Long‐term nitrogen fertilization decreases bacterial diversity and favors the growth of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in agro‐ecosystems across the globe

Long‐term elevated nitrogen (N) input from anthropogenic sources may cause soil acidification and decrease crop yield, yet the response of the belowground microbial community to long‐term N input alone or in combination with phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) is poorly understood. We explored the effect of long‐term N and NPK fertilization on soil bacterial diversity and community composition using meta‐analysis of a global dataset. Nitrogen fertilization decreased soil pH, and increased soil organic carbon (C) and available N contents. Bacterial taxonomic diversity was decreased by N fertilization alone, but was increased by NPK fertilization. The effect of N fertilization on bacterial diversity varied with soil texture and water management, but was independent of crop type or N application rate. Changes in bacterial diversity were positively related to both soil pH and organic C content under N fertilization alone, but only to soil organic C under NPK fertilization. Microbial biomass C decreased with decreasing bacterial diversity under long‐term N fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, but reduced the abundance of Acidobacteria, consistent with the general life history strategy theory for bacteria. The positive correlation between N application rate and the relative abundance of Actinobacteria indicates that increased N availability favored the growth of Actinobacteria. This first global analysis of long‐term N and NPK fertilization that differentially affects bacterial diversity and community composition provides a reference for nutrient management strategies for maintaining belowground microbial diversity in agro‐ecosystems worldwide.     

Changes in cropland topsoil organic carbon with different fertilizations under long-term agro-ecosystem experiments across mainland China

Topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) data were collected from long-term Chinese agro-ecosystem experiments presented in 76 reports with measurements over 1977 and 2006. The data set comprised 481 observations (135 rice paddies and 346 dry croplands) of SOC under different fertilization schemes at 70 experimental sites (28 rice paddies and 42 dry croplands). The data set covered 16 dominant soil types found in croplands across 23 provinces of mainland China. The fertilization schemes were grouped into six categories: N (inorganic nitrogen fertilizer only), NP (compound inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers), NPK (compound inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers), O (organic fertilizers only), OF (combined inorganic/organic fertilization) and Others (other unbalanced fertilizations such as P only, K only, P plus K and N plus K). Relative change in SOC content was analyzed, and rice paddies and dry croplands soils were compared. There was an overall temporal increase in topsoil SOC content, and relative annual change (RAC, g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹) ranged −0.14–0.60 (0.13 on average) for dry cropland soils and −0.12–0.70 (0.19 on average) for rice paddies. SOC content increase was higher in rice paddies than in dry croplands. SOC increased across experimental sites, but was higher under organic fertilization and combined organic/inorganic fertilizations than chemical fertilizations. SOC increase was higher under balanced chemical fertilizations with compound N, P and K fertilizers than unbalanced fertilizations such as N only, N plus P, and N plus K. The effects of specific rational fertilizations on SOC increase persisted for 15 years in dry croplands and 20 years in rice paddies, although RAC values decreased generally as the experiment duration increased. Therefore, the extension of rational fertilization in China’s croplands may offer a technical option to enhance C sequestration potential and to sustain long-term crop productivity.     

Community Structure of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria under Long-Term Application of Mineral Fertilizer and Organic Manure in a Sandy Loam Soil

The effects of mineral fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure on the community structure of soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was investigated in a long-term (16-year) fertilizer experiment. The experiment included seven treatments: organic manure, half organic manure N plus half fertilizer N, fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NP, fertilizer NK, fertilizer PK, and the control (without fertilization). N fertilization greatly increased soil nitrification potential, and mineral N fertilizer had a greater impact than organic manure, while N deficiency treatment (PK) had no significant effect. AOB community structure was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of the amoA gene, which encodes the α subunit of ammonia monooxygenase. DGGE profiles showed that the AOB community was more diverse in N-fertilized treatments than in the PK-fertilized treatment or the control, while one dominant band observed in the control could not be detected in any of the fertilized treatments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the DGGE bands derived from N-fertilized treatments belonged to Nitrosospira cluster 3, indicating that N fertilization resulted in the dominance of Nitrosospira cluster 3 in soil. These results demonstrate that long-term application of N fertilizers could result in increased soil nitrification potential and the AOB community shifts in soil. Our results also showed the different effects of mineral fertilizer N versus organic manure N; the effects of P and K on the soil AOB community; and the importance of balanced fertilization with N, P, and K in promoting nitrification functions in arable soils.     

Impact of legume versus cereal root residues on biological properties of West African soils

Many microbial turnover processes in acidic sandy subtropical soils are still poorly understood. In a 59-day pot and a 189-day laboratory incubation experiment with two West African continuous cereal soils, the effects of 2 mg g^?1 root residues were investigated on growth of sorghum seedlings, soil microbial biomass and activity indices, using cowpea, groundnut, pearl millet, maize and sorghum. The effects of root residues were compared with mineral P or mineral P + N treatments and with a non-fertilized control treatment. On the Alfisol (Fada, Burkina Faso), shoot dry mass was always significantly higher than on the Ultisol (Koukombo, Togo). Highest shoot dry mass was observed after application of mineral P + N on the Alfisol and after mineral P alone on the Ultisol. The application of legume root residues led to small and non-significant increases in dry mass production compared to the non-amended control, whereas the application of cereal root residues led to a decline, regardless of their origin (millet, maize or sorghum). Contents of microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N and ergosterol were 75 to 100% higher in the Alfisol than in the Ultisol, while ATP was only 36% higher. Organic amendments increased ergosterol concentrations by up to 145% compared to the control and mineral P application. Microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N increased by up to 50% after application of root residues, but ATP only up to 20%. After application of legume root residues, cumulative CO₂ production was similar in both soils with an average of 370?µg CO₂-C g^?1 over 189 days. After application of cereal root residues, cumulative CO₂ production was higher in the Alfisol (530?µg g^?1) than in the Ultisol (445?µg g) over 189 days.     

Application of municipal solid waste compost reduces the negative effects of saline water in Hordeum maritimum L

The efficiency of composted municipal solid wastes (MSW) to reduce the adverse effects of salinity was investigated in Hordeum maritimum under greenhouse conditions. Plants were cultivated in pots filled with soil added with 0 and 40tha(-1) of MSW compost, and irrigated twice a week with tap water at two salinities (0 and 4gl(-1) NaCl). Harvests were achieved at 70 (shoots) and 130 (shoots and roots) days after sowing. At each cutting, dry weight (DW), NPK nutrition, chlorophyll, leaf protein content, Rubisco (ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) capacity, and contents of potential toxic elements were determined. Results showed that compost supply increased significantly the biomass production of non salt-treated plants (+80%). This was associated with higher N and P uptake in both shoots (+61% and +80%, respectively) and roots (+48% and +25%, respectively), while lesser impact was observed for K+. In addition, chlorophyll and protein contents as well as Rubisco capacity were significantly improved by the organic amendment. MSW compost mitigated the deleterious effect of salt stress on the plant growth, partly due to improved chlorophyll and protein contents and Rubisco capacity (-15%, -27% and -14%, respectively, in combined treatment, against -45%, -84% and -25%, respectively, in salt-stressed plants without compost addition), which presumably favoured photosynthesis and alleviated salt affect on biomass production by 21%. In addition, plants grown on amended soil showed a general improvement in their heavy metals contents Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ (in combined treatment: 190%, 53%, 168% and 174% in shoots and 183%, 42%, 42% and 114% in roots, respectively) but remained lower than phytotoxic values. Taken together, these findings suggest that municipal waste compost may be safely applied to salt-affected soils without adverse effects on plant physiology.     

不同施肥处理对玉米-小麦轮作土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

土壤微生物多样性能反应土壤的肥力,不同的施肥措施对土壤微生物的种群和功能多样性也会产生重要的影响。以山东德州连续两年小麦季和玉米季收获后土壤为研究对象,利用Biolog技术研究了6种不同施肥处理对土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响。结果表明:其中各个施肥处理的平均颜色变化率(average well color development,AWCD)差异显著,常规氮磷钾肥+全量秸秆还田+秸秆腐熟剂(FS)处理代谢活性最高;物种丰富度指数(H)和均匀度指数(E)也表明各施肥方式均能够维持微生物种群的多样性,其中FS和30%猪粪+70%常规氮磷钾肥(OF)处理物种丰富度指数(H)和均匀度指数(E)最高;PCA及RDA分析显示,OF和FS处理微生物功能多样性相似,且其微生物功能多样性与有机质(Soil organic matter,SOM)、全氮(Total N,TN)、速效磷(Available P,AP)和速效钾(Available K,AK)密切相关。猪粪堆肥有机无机复合肥3 600 kg/hm2(OI2)处理与猪粪堆肥有机无机复合肥1 800 kg/hm2(OI1)处理相似,其功能多样性比常规施肥(CF)处理稍高。综上所述,OF处理和FS处理的土壤微生物群落功能多样性程度高于其他处理,说明秸秆还田+秸秆腐熟剂和有机肥部分替代氮磷钾肥能够显著提高土壤微生物功能多样性,有利于保护土壤微生态。     

Effect of irrigation,plant density and fertilisers on yield and NPK uptake by groundnut

Summary Three levels of irrigation, three plant densities and three fertiliser schedules were tested in 3³ factorial confounded design with two replications in winter on sandy loam soils of Tirupati campus of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University. Pod yield did not vary due to the plant densities and the fertiliser schedules when the crop was sown in optimum time during 1980. When the sowings were delayed, as in 1979, 444000 plants per ha and 60 kg N ha⁻¹, 40 kg P ha⁻¹ and 100 kg K ha⁻¹ was optimum. Scheduling irrigation at 25 or 50% DASM (depletion of available soil moisture) was optimum for the groundnut crop. There was no difference in the uptake of NPK due to irrigations at 25 and 50% DASM in both the years. Low plant density was as effective as high plant density for efficient use of fertilisers. Uptake of NPK by the crop was relatively high at higher fertiliser levels. However, this higher uptake did not contribute to high pod yield, probably due to utilisation of absorbed nutrients for rank vegetative growth.