Perennial Grass Bioenergy Cropping on Wet Marginal Land: Impacts on Soil Properties,Soil Organic Carbon,and Biomass During Initial Establishment

The control of soil moisture, vegetation type, and prior land use on soil health parameters of perennial grass cropping systems on marginal lands is not well known. A fallow wetness-prone marginal site in New York (USA) was converted to perennial grass bioenergy feedstock production. Quadruplicate treatments were fallow control, reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae L. Bellevue) with nitrogen (N) fertilizer (75 kg N ha^?1), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. Shawnee), and switchgrass with N fertilizer (75 kg N ha^?1). Based on periodic soil water measurements, permanent sampling locations were assigned to various wetness groups. Surface (0–15 cm) soil organic carbon (SOC), active carbon, wet aggregate stability, pH, total nitrogen (TN), root biomass, and harvested aboveground biomass were measured annually (2011–2014). Multi-year decreases in SOC, wet aggregate stability, and pH followed plowing in 2011. For all years, wettest soils had the greatest SOC and active carbon, while driest soils had the greatest wet aggregate stability and lowest pH. In 2014, wettest soils had significantly (p?<?0.0001) greater SOC and TN than drier soils, and fallow soils had 14 to 20% greater SOC than soils of reed canarygrass + N, switchgrass, and switchgrass + N. Crop type and N fertilization did not result in significant differences in SOC, active carbon, or wet aggregate stability. Cumulative 3-year aboveground biomass yields of driest switchgrass + N soils (18.8 Mg ha^?1) were 121% greater than the three wettest switchgrass (no N) treatments. Overall, soil moisture status must be accounted for when assessing soil dynamics during feedstock establishment.     

Long‐term biochar application promotes rice productivity by regulating root dynamic development and reducing nitrogen leaching

Biochar is beneficial for improving soil quality and crop productivity. However, the long‐term effects of biochar addition on temporal dynamics of plant shoot and root growth, and the changes in soil properties and nitrogen (N) leaching are still obscure. Here, based on a long‐term (7 years) biochar field experiment with rice in northwest China, we investigated the effects of two biochar rates (0 and 9 t ha^?1 year^?1) and two N fertilizer rates (0 and 300 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) on shoot and root growth, root morphology, N leaching, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that both biochar and N fertilizer significantly promoted rice growth, with their interaction significant only in some cases. Both fertilizers enhanced rice shoot biomass and N accumulation in various growth stages as well as increased grain yield. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly promoted root growth regardless of biochar application. However, biochar application without N fertilizer increased root biomass and length during the whole growth period, except in the booting stage; biochar with N application promoted root growth at tillering, reduced root biomass but maintained root length with low root diameter and high specific root length during the jointing and booting stages, and then delayed root senescence in the grain filling stage. Long‐term applications of biochar and N fertilizer reduced 10%–12% bulk density of topsoil compared to the control treatment with no N fertilizer and no biochar. Long‐term biochar application also improved soil total organic carbon and concentrations of available N, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition, biochar and N fertilizer applied together significantly reduced nitrate and ammonium concentration in leachate at different soil depths. In conclusion, biochar could regulate root growth, root morphology, soil properties, and N leaching to increase rice N fertilizer‐use efficiency.     

Tomato Growth in Soil Amended with Sugar Mill By-Products Compost

Sugar mill by-products compost may be a good soil amendment to promote tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) growth. In addition, the compost may further promote plant growth by inoculation with N₂-fixing bacteria. Compost from sugar-mill waste was prepared with and without the N₂-fixing bacteria, Azotobacter vinelandii, Beijerinckia derxii and Azospirillum sp. and incubated for 50 days. Each compost type was added to 10 kg of soil in pots at rates of 0, 15, and 45 g with and without fertilizer N at rates of 0, 0.75, and 1.54 g. A blanket application of P and K was applied to all pots. Shoot and root dry weights and N content of the whole plant was measured at 55 days. Dry weight of tomato shoots was increased by 40% by addition of fertilizer N and root weight was increased by 66%. Without fertilizer N the high rate of inoculated compost increased shoot growth 180% and uninoculated compost increased shoot growth 112%. For most treatments with and without fertilizer N, inoculated compost enhanced shoot growth and nitrogen content more than uninoculated compost. Root weights were nearly doubled by addition of either compost in comparison to the 0 N treatment. At the low rate of compost addition without fertilizer N, root weight was the same for uninoculated and inoculated compost but at the high rate of compost addition root weight was 32% higher for inoculated compost. The N₂-fixing bacteria colonized roots when inoculated compost was used. Sugar mill by-products compost proved to be an effective soil amendment for promoting the growth of tomato plants.     

Long-term effects of CO2 enrichment and temperature increase on a temperate grass sward

Perennial ryegrass swards were grown in large containers on a soil and were exposed during two years to elevated (700 L L^-1) or ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentration at outdoor temperature and to a 3 °C increase in air temperature in elevated CO₂. The nitrogen nutrition of the grass sward was studied at two sub-optimal (160 and 530 kg N ha^-1 y^-1) and one non-limiting (1000 kg N ha^-1 y^-1) N fertilizer supplies. At cutting date, elevated CO₂ reduced by 25 to 33%, on average, the leaf N concentration per unit mass. Due to an increase in the leaf blade weight per unit area in elevated CO₂, this decline did not translate for all cuts in a lower N concentration per unit leaf blade area. With the non-limiting N fertilizer supply, the leaf N concentration (% N) declined with the shoot dry-matter (DM) according to highly significant power models in ambient (% N=4.9 DM^-0.38) and in elevated (%N=5.3 DM^-0.52) CO₂. The difference between both regressions was significant and indicated a lower critical leaf N concentration in elevated than in ambient CO₂ for high, but not for low values of shoot biomass. With the sub-optimal N fertilizer supplies, the nitrogen nutrition index of the grass sward, calculated as the ratio of the actual to the critical leaf N concentration, was significantly lowered in elevated CO₂. This indicated a lower inorganic N availability for the grass plants in elevated CO₂, which was also apparent from the significant declines in the annual nitrogen yield of the grass sward and in the nitrate leaching during winter. For most cuts, the harvested fraction of the plant dry-matter decreased in elevated CO₂ due, on average, to a 45–52% increase in the root phytomass. In the same way, a smaller share of the plant total nitrogen was harvested by cutting, due, on average, to a 25–41% increase in the N content of roots. The annual means of the DM and N harvest indices were highly correlated to the annual means of the nitrogen nutrition index. Changes in the harvest index and in the nitrogen nutrition index between ambient and elevated CO₂ were also positively correlated. The possible implication of changes in the soil introgen cycle and of a limitation in the shoot growth potential of the grass in elevated. CO₂ is discussed.Abbreviations 350 outdoor climate - 700 outdoor climate +350 L L^-1[CO₂] - 700+ outdoor climate +350 L L^-1 (CO₂) and +3 °C - N-- low N fertilizer supply - N+ high N fertilizer supply - N++ non-limiting N fertilizer supply - DM dry-matter     

Management of Warm- and Cool-Season Grasses for Biomass on Marginal Lands: II. Composition and Nutrient Balance

Organic fertilizers can improve soil health while providing nutrients for perennial grass growth for bioenergy feedstock, particularly under marginal soil conditions. The impact of organic fertilizer application on perennial grass composition needs clarification. Our objective was to evaluate feedstock composition, and N, P, and K dynamics of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.)], and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) provided with either inorganic or organic fertilizer sources. Grasses were established on a sandy soil and a clay soil at the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, NY. The experiment was a split-split plot randomization of a randomized block design with six replicates. Sites were whole plots, grass species were subplots, and fertility treatments were sub-subplots. Six treatments were (1) 168 kg ha^?1 of N fertilizer for cool-season grasses; 84 kg ha^?1 for switchgrass, (2) 56 kg ha^?1 of 0-46-0 P fertilizer plus N (#1), (3) 112 kg ha^?1 of 0-0-60 K fertilizer plus N (#1), (4) 89.6 Mg dairy manure ha^?1, (5) 44.8 Mg dairy manure compost ha^?1, and (6) a control without fertilizer. Organic fertilizers produced a net positive P and K balance, while other treatments had negative balances. Organic fertilizer treatments resulted in lower lignin and gross energy values, and higher total ash and Cl, compared to inorganic fertilizer treatments. Switchgrass biomass had higher fiber and gross energy, lower total ash, and much lower Cl content under organic fertilizer applications than cool-season grasses, making switchgrass a more desirable feedstock regardless of conversion process.     

Biochar application to rice with 15N-labelled fertilizers,enhanced leaf nitrogen concentration and assimilation by improving morpho-physiological traits and soil quality

Leaf nitrogen (N) concentration plays an important role in biochemical and physiological functions, and N availability directly influences rice yield. However, excessive N fertilization is considered to be a root cause of environmental issues and low nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, the selection of appropriate nutrient management practices and organic amendments is key to maximizing nitrogen uptake and maintaining high and sustainable rice production. Here, we evaluated the effects of different ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen sources (urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate at 315 kg ha⁻¹) with or without biochar (30 t ha⁻¹) on paddy soil properties, root growth, leaf gas exchange, N metabolism enzymes, and N uptake in the early and late seasons of 2019. We found significant differences among N fertilizer sources applied with or without biochar (P < 0.05). Across the seasons, the combination of biochar with N fertilizers significantly increased soil organic carbon by 51.21% and nitrogen availability by 27.51% compared with N fertilizers alone. Correlation analysis showed that rice root morphological traits were strongly related to soil chemical properties, and higher root growth was measured in the biochar treatments. Similarly, net leaf photosynthetic rate averaged 9.34% higher, chlorophyll (Chl) a concentration 12.91% higher, and Chl b concentration 10.05% higher in the biochar treatments than in the biochar-free treatments across the seasons. Notably, leaf ¹⁵N concentration was 23.19% higher in the biochar treatments in both seasons. These results illustrated higher activities of N metabolism enzymes such as NR, GS, and GOGAT by an average 23.44%, 11.26% and 18.16% in the biochar treatments across the seasons, respectively. The addition of biochar with synthetic N fertilizers is an ecological nutrient management strategy that can increase N uptake and assimilation by ameliorating soil properties and improving the morpho-physiological factors of rice.     

Partitioning of habitable pore space in earthworm burrows

Earthworms affect macro-pore structure of soils. However, some studies suggest that earthworm burrow walls and casts themselves differ greatly in structure from surrounding soils, potentially creating habitat for microbivorours nematodes which accelerate the decomposition and C and N mineralization. In this study aggregates were sampled from the burrow walls of the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris and bulk soil (not altered by earthworms) from mesocosm incubated in the lab for 0, 1, 3, 5 and 16 weeks. Pore volumes and pore sizes were measured in triplicate with Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP). This method is well suited to establish pore size structure in the context of habitat, because it measures the stepwise intrusion of mercury from the outside of the aggregate into ever smaller pores. The progress of mercury into the aggregate interior thus resembles potential paths of a nematode into accessible habitable pore spaces residing in an aggregate. Total specific pore volume, V(s), varied between 0.13 and 0.18 mL/g and increased from 3 to 16 weeks in both burrow and bulk soil. Differences between total V(s) of bulk and burrow samples were not significant on any sampling date. However, differences were significant for pore size fractions at the scale of nematode body diameter.     

Community composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea in rice field soil as affected by nitrogen fertilization

Little information is available on the ecology of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) in flooded rice soils. Consequently, a microcosm experiment was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the composition of AOB and AOA communities in rice soil by using molecular analyses of ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) fragments. Experimental treatments included three levels of N (urea) fertilizer, i.e. 50, 100 and 150 mg N kg⁻¹ soil. Soil samples were operationally divided into four fractions: surface soil, bulk soil deep layer, rhizosphere and washed root material. NH₄⁺-N was the dominant form of N in soil porewater and increased with N fertilization. Cloning and sequencing of amoA gene fragments showed that the AOB community in the rice soil consisted of three major groups, i.e. Nitrosomonas communis cluster, Nitrosospira cluster 3a and cluster 3b. The sequences related to Nitrosomonas were predominant. There was a clear effect of N fertilizer and soil depth on AOB community composition based on terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. Nitrosomonas appeared to be more abundant in the potentially oxic or micro-oxic fractions, including surface soil, rhizosphere and washed root material, than the deep layer of anoxic bulk soil. Furthermore, Nitrosomonas increased relatively in the partially oxic fractions and that of Nitrosospira decreased with the increasing application of N fertilizer. However, AOA community composition remained unchanged according to the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses.     

Soil strength influences wheat root interactions with soil macropores

Deep rooting is critical for access to water and nutrients found in subsoil. However, damage to soil structure and the natural increase in soil strength with depth, often impedes root penetration. Evidence suggests that roots use macropores (soil cavities greater than 75 μm) to bypass strong soil layers. If roots have to exploit structures, a key trait conferring deep rooting will be the ability to locate existing pore networks; a trait called trematotropism. In this study, artificial macropores were created in repacked soil columns at bulk densities of 1.6 g cm⁻³ and 1.2 g cm⁻³, representing compact and loose soil. Near isogenic lines of wheat, Rht-B1a and Rht-B1c, were planted and root–macropore interactions were visualized and quantified using X-ray computed tomography. In compact soil, 68.8% of root–macropore interactions resulted in pore colonization, compared with 12.5% in loose soil. Changes in root growth trajectory following pore interaction were also quantified, with 21.0% of roots changing direction (±3°) in loose soil compared with 76.0% in compact soil. These results indicate that colonization of macropores is an important strategy of wheat roots in compacted subsoil. Management practices to reduce subsoil compaction and encourage macropore formation could offer significant advantage in helping wheat roots penetrate deeper into subsoil.     

Dynamic model of the response of a vegetative grass crop to light, temperature and nitrogen

Abstract A previously described growth model of the vegetative grass crop is extended to include a simple representation of the root system, uptake of nitrogen from a soil nitrogen pool, and response to fertilizer application. The model simulates the processes of light interception, photosynthesis, partitioning of new growth, leaf area expansion, growth and maintenance respiration, ageing of plant tissues, senescence, recycling of substrates from senescing tissues, nitrogen uptake by the plant, leaching, mineralization, and fertilizer application. A principal component of the model, nitrogen uptake, is assumed to depend positively on plant carbon substrate concentration and soil nitrogen concentration, and to be inhibited by plant nitrogen substrate concentration. The dynamic responses to different levels of soil nitrogen, of shoot and root growth, nitrogen uptake and root activity, carbon and nitrogen plant substrate concentrations, and the fraction of substrate carbon used by the shoots, are examined; realistic behaviour is observed. The model predicts nitrogen fertilizer responses of yield and plant nitrogen content, which are compared directly with experimental data; good agreement is obtained.     

Effects of elevated CO2, temperature and N fertilization on nitrogen fluxes in a temperate grassland ecosystem

The soil nitrogen cycle was investigated in a pre‐established Lolium perenne sward on a loamy soil and exposed to ambient and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (350 and 700 μL L^?1) and, at elevated [CO₂], to a 3 °C temperature increase. At two levels of mineral nitrogen supply, N– (150 kgN ha^?1 y^?1) and N+ (533 kgN ha^?1 y^?1), ¹⁵N‐labelled ammonium nitrate was supplied in split applications over a 2.5‐y period. The recovery of the labelled fertilizer N was measured in the harvests, in the stubble and roots, in the macro‐organic matter fractions above 200 μm in size (MOM) and in the aggregated organic matter below 200 μM (AOM). Elevated [CO₂] reduced the total amount of N harvested in the clipped parts of the sward. The harvested N derived from soil was reduced to a greater extent than that derived from fertilizer. At both N supplies, elevated [CO₂] modified the allocation of the fertilizer N in the sward, in favour of the stubble and roots and significantly increased the recovery of fertilizer N in the soil macro‐organic matter fractions. The increase of fertilizer N immobilization in the MOM was associated with a decline of fertilizer N uptake by the grass sward, which supported the hypothesis of a negative feedback of elevated [CO₂] on the sward N yield and uptake. Similar and even more pronounced effects were observed for the native N mineralized in the soil. At N–, a greater part of the fertilizer N organized in the root phytomass resulted in an underestimation of N immobilized in dead roots and, in turn, an underestimation of N immobilization in the MOM. The 3 °C temperature increase alleviated the [CO₂] effect throughout much of the N cycle, increasing soil N mineralization, N derived from soil in the harvests, and the partitioning of the assimilated fertilizer N to shoots. In conclusion, at ambient temperature, the N cycle was slowed down under elevated [CO₂], which restricted the increase in the aboveground production of the grass sward, and apparently contributed to the sequestration of carbon belowground. In contrast, a temperature increase under elevated [CO₂] stimulated the soil nitrogen cycle, improved the N nutrition of the sward and restricted the magnitude of the soil C sequestration.     

长期秸秆还田对水稻土团聚体及氮磷钾分配的影响

为了探究秸秆还田配施化肥条件下水稻土团聚体组成及其稳定性,以及土壤团聚体氮、磷、钾养分特征,本研究进行了34年定位试验,设置无肥(CK)、化肥(NPK)、秸秆还田+化肥(NPKS)3个处理。采用湿筛法测定0～20、20～40 cm土层水稳性团聚体组成,量化分析氮、磷、钾养分分配特征、贡献率和活化度。结果表明: 水稻土水稳性团聚体以>2 mm和0.25～1 mm粒级为主,<0.053 mm粒级含量最低。与CK相比,在0～20 cm和20～40 cm土层,NPKS处理增加了>2 mm和1～2 mm团聚体含量,降低了0.053～0.25 mm和<0.053 mm团聚体含量;NPK处理在0～20 cm土层也表现出与NPKS类似的规律。NPKS较NPK处理0～20 cm和20～40 cm土层团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)提高3.9%～15.5%,几何平均直径(GMD)提高6.3%～41.7%,不稳定团粒指数(E_LT)降低5.7%～28.7%。NPKS处理显著提高了团聚体全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量,尤其是直径>0.25 mm部分,但对碱解氮和全钾的提升效果与NPK处理差异不显著。水稻土团聚体养分贡献率受到其团聚体组成的影响,NPKS处理明显增大了>1 mm团聚体氮、磷、钾养分贡献率。秸秆还田配施化肥可提高0～20 cm和20～40 cm土层团聚体稳定性,并增加团聚体氮、磷、钾养分含量,尤其是大团聚体(>1 mm)。该研究结果为调节土壤碳氮比来保障稻田土壤质量和资源可持续发展提供了科学依据。     

Effect of mineral nitrogen on nitrogen nutrition and biomass partitioning between the shoot and roots of pea (Pisum sativum L.).

The effect of mineral N availability on nitrogen nutrition and biomass partitioning between shoot and roots of pea (Pisum sativum L., cv Baccara) was investigated under adequately watered conditions in the field, using five levels of fertiliser N application at sowing (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 kg N ha^–1). Although the presence of mineral N in the soil stimulated vegetative growth, resulting in a higher biomass accumulation in shoots in the fertilised treatments, neither seed yield nor seed nitrogen concentration was affected by soil mineral N availability. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation was inhibited by mineral N in the soil but it was replaced by root mineral N absorption, which resulted in optimum nitrogen nutrition for all treatments. However, the excessive nitrogen and biomass accumulation in the shoot of the 400 kg N ha^–1 treatment caused crop lodging and slightly depressed seed yield and seed nitrogen content. Thus, the presumed higher carbon costs of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, as compared to root mineral N absorption, affected neither seed yield nor the nitrogen nutrition level. However, biomass partitioning within the nodulated roots was changed. The more symbiotic nitrogen fixation was inhibited, the more root growth was enhanced. Root biomass was greater when soil mineral N availability was increased: root growth was greater and began earlier for plants that received mineral N at sowing. Rooting density was also promoted by increased mineral N availability, leading to more numerous but finer roots for the fertilised treatments. However, the maximum rooting depth and the distribution of roots with depth were unchanged. This suggested an additional direct promoting effect of mineral N on root proliferation.     

不同氮效率水稻生育后期根表和根际土壤硝化特征

通过田间试验研究了不同氮效率粳稻品种4007(氮高效)和Elio(氮低效)生育后期在N0(0 kgN hm-2)、N180(180 kgN hm-2)和N300(300 kgN hm-2)水平下根表、根际和土体土壤pH值、铵态氮(NH+4-N)和硝态氮(NO-3-N)含量、硝化强度和氨氧化细菌(AOB)数量.结果表明无论是齐穗期、灌浆期还是成熟期,根表土壤pH值均显著低于根际和土体土壤.土壤pH值范围在5.95至6.84之间变化.土壤NH+4-N含量随水稻生长显著下降,且随施氮量增加而显著增加.根表土壤NH+4-N有明显亏缺区,且随距水稻根表距离增加,NH+4-N含量逐渐升高.土壤NO-3-N含量随水稻生长显著增加,施氮处理均显著高于不施氮处理,但N180和N300处理差异不显著.NO-3-N含量表现为根际>土体>根表.水稻根表和根际土壤硝化强度随水稻生长显著下降,而土体土壤硝化强度随时间延长小幅增加.施氮显著提高4007水稻根表土壤在齐穗和收获期硝化强度以及Elio在齐穗期根际硝化强度,但在施氮处理N180和N300中无显著差异.在整个采样期间,土壤硝化强度均表现为根际>根表>土体.水稻根表和根际AOB数量随水稻生长而显著降低,而土体土壤AOB数量无显著变化.例如,根表土壤AOB数量在齐穗期、灌浆期和收获期分别为16.7×105、8.77×105个g-1 dry soil和8.01×105个g-1 dry soil.根表和根际土壤AOB数量无显著差异,但二者显著高于土体土壤AOB数量.就两个氮效率水稻品种而言,土壤pH值基本无差异.4007土壤NH+4-N含量均显著高于Elio.在齐穗期水稻根表、根际和土体土壤NO-3-N含量在N180水平下均表现为Elio显著高于4007.而在灌浆期和收获期,水稻根表、根际和土体土壤则表现为4007显著高于Elio.在所有采样期,两个水稻品种土体土壤硝化强度和AOB数量在3个施氮量下均无显著差异.Elio根表和根际土壤硝化强度和AOB数量在水稻灌浆期之前一直显著高于4007,而在灌浆期之后则显著低于4007,且最终产量和氮素利用率(NUE)显著低于4007,这可能是由于4007灌浆期后硝化作用强,根际产生的NO-3-N含量高,从而4007根吸收NO-3-N的量也高造成的.因此水稻灌浆期和收获期根表和根际硝化作用以及AOB与水稻高产及氮素高效利用密切相关.     

Nitrogen‐mediated effects of elevated CO2 on intra‐aggregate soil pore structure

Soil pore structure has a strong influence on water retention, and is itself influenced by plant and microbial dynamics such as root proliferation and microbial exudation. Although increased nitrogen (N) availability and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (eCO₂) often have interacting effects on root and microbial dynamics, it is unclear whether these biotic effects can translate into altered soil pore structure and water retention. This study was based on a long‐term experiment (7 yr at the time of sampling) in which a C₄ pasture grass (Paspalum notatum) was grown on a sandy loam soil while provided factorial additions of N and CO₂. Through an analysis of soil aggregate fractal properties supported by 3D microtomographic imagery, we found that N fertilization induced an increase in intra‐aggregate porosity and a simultaneous shift toward greater accumulation of pore space in larger aggregates. These effects were enhanced by eCO₂ and yielded an increase in water retention at pressure potentials near the wilting point of plants. However, eCO₂ alone induced changes in the opposite direction, with larger aggregates containing less pore space than under control conditions, and water retention decreasing accordingly. Results on biotic factors further suggested that organic matter gains or losses induced the observed structural changes. Based on our results, we postulate that the pore structure of many mineral soils could undergo N‐dependent changes as atmospheric CO₂ concentrations rise, having global‐scale implications for water balance, carbon storage, and related rhizosphere functions.     

Soil physical properties and carbon/nitrogen relationships in stable aggregates under legume and grass fallow

Short-season fallow with legumes and/or grasses can restore the soil organic C and nitrogen (N) and improve soil structure. In this study, we accessed the effects of 2-season legume and grass fallow on structural properties and C/N relationships in aggregates of a sandy loam soil. Two legumes (Calopogonium mucunoides and Centrosema pubescens), and two grasses (Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and goose grass (Eleusine indica) were used. Results showed that Calopogonium and Centrosema increased soil total porosity and reduced soil bulk densities, while goose grass increased bulk density and reduced total porosity of the soils at 0–15 and 15–30?cm depths. Guinea grass significantly increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity (50.4?cm?h^?1) and water holding capacity of the soils. Aggregates, 4.75 to 0.5?mm were greater in Guinea grass and least in goose grass fallowed soils. Calopogonium increased macro-aggregates at 0–15?cm soils by 48%, and mean weight diameter (MWD) by 44%. Organic carbon in 0.5–0.25?mm and <0.25?mm aggregate sizes was higher in Guinea grass soils. Generally, grasses had 4-fold increases of C:N contents in dry aggregates. In conclusion, short-season fallow with Guinea grass, Calopogonium and Centrosema, increased soil C and N and protected them from losses in stable aggregates.     

Effect of substituting nitrogen fertilizer with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria on yield in a double-rice cropping system in southern China

The efficient use of nitrogen fertilizer to increase rice production is essential for food security in China. However, the high-input of chemical nitrogen fertilizer has also resulted in soil N losses and environmental pollution. Here we investigated the possibility of using biofertilizer to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use via partial substitution of chemical nitrogen fertilizer (NF) with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (NFC) in red soil. The effects of 100% NF (N10C0) and different substitution rates of NF with NFC (70%, 50%, 30%, and 0% NF plus 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% N obtained through NFC, labeled as N7C3, N5C5, N3C7, and N0C10, respectively) on rice yield and soil properties were assessed in a double-rice system in greenhouse (six treatments) and field experiments (four treatments) from 2018 to 2019. The N10C0 and N7C3 treatments had no significant effect on grain and straw yields and the nutrient uptake in the greenhouse experiment. The higher substitution treatments could not sustain stable rice yields and the nutrient uptake in either greenhouse or field experiments, which indicated that 30% substitution was appropriate to sustain rice yields. For rice growth traits, higher substitution rates (70–100%) significantly decreased the number of tillers/plant and panicles/plant. In general, soil TN and TP contents in the 0–15 cm layer increased with increasing substitution rate during the early and late rice seasons. Compared to the N7C3 and N5C5 treatments, there were no significant differences in NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^?-N contents under the N10C0 treatment. Compared to the application of NF as the sole nitrogen source, 30% substitution with NFC could result in monetary savings of approximately 5.77 US$ ha^?1. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that substituting NF with an appropriate amount of NFC is beneficial for improving the productivity and sustainability of paddy fields under the double-rice cropping system.

     

种植模式和施肥对黄土旱塬农田土壤团聚体及其碳分布的影响

本研究以长武黄土高原农业生态试验站33年长期定位试验处理为研究对象,选取撂荒(R)、小麦连作(CK/W)、小麦玉米轮作(L),小麦连作选取单施氮肥(N)、单施磷肥(P)、施氮磷肥(NP)、单施有机肥(M)、氮肥配施有机肥(NM)、磷肥配施有机肥(PM)、氮磷肥配施有机肥(NPM)共10种不同种植模式和施肥田间处理,运用...     

绿肥种植配施减量氮肥对柑橘园杂草群落组成及多样性的影响

以湖北当阳柑橘园杂草群落为对象,研究绿肥种植(自然生草和间种光叶苕子)下配施减量氮肥处理(当地推荐施氮肥量的0%、70%、85%、100%)对橘园杂草群落组成和多样性的影响,并运用Pearson相关分析和典范对应分析探究土壤因子对不同处理下杂草多样性和物种组成的影响。结果显示:(1)经样方调查,试验区共记录杂草植物21科29属30种,以禾本科和菊科为主,稗(Echinochloa crusgalli(L.)Beauv.)、酢浆草(Oxalis corniculata L.)、野老鹳草(Geranium carolinianum L.)等是所有处理中的共有种,自然生草下以匙叶鼠麴草(Gnaphalium pensylvanicum Willd.)和稗为优势种,间种光叶苕子(Vicia villosa Roth.var.glabrescens Koch.)下以酢浆草为优势种;(2)不同氮肥施入量下柑橘园草本物种Margalef指数、Patrick指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均无显著差异;相同施肥量下,间种光叶苕子能显著降低柑橘园杂草群落的物种多样性指数;(3)速效磷是显著影响柑橘园草本植物多样性指数的土壤因子;(4)不同处理下影响杂草物种分布的主要土壤因子是速效磷、pH值、含水率和温度。本研究认为无论减施氮肥与否,间种光叶苕子比自然生草更能显著降低杂草群落的物种多样性,从而避免恶性杂草与果树争肥。     

农田减氮调控施肥对华北潮土区小麦-玉米轮作体系氮素损失的影响

针对华北平原麦玉轮作区氮肥用量大、氮损失及土壤氮素累积严重的问题,探索不同减氮调控施肥措施对作物产量、氮损失及土壤无机氮累积的影响.通过(2016—2017年)设置两年大田试验,以农民施肥为对照,研究控释肥处理、微生物肥处理及配施硝化抑制剂处理减少氮用量后对小麦、玉米产量和地上部吸氮量、氮损失及土壤无机氮含量的影响.结果表明: 2016年微生物肥处理的小麦产量显著低于控释肥处理和硝化抑制剂处理,与农民施肥处理无显著性差异;且小麦和周年作物地上部吸氮量都显著降低.2017年各处理间作物产量和吸氮量无显著性差异.3种减氮调控施肥处理均能保持和改善耕层土壤肥力;且微生物肥处理随种植时间延长对土壤碱解氮、速效钾和有机质含量均有提升.随种植时间延长无机氮累积严重,微生物肥处理和添加硝化抑制剂处理均可降低40～100 cm土壤剖面的无机氮含量,而控释肥处理可提高0～40 cm土层无机氮含量.氮损失中氨挥发>淋溶量>N₂O排放>径流,径流损失可忽略不计,其中以农民施肥处理氮损失最大,微生物肥处理可显著降低氨挥发损失量,但淋溶量较大.综上所述,减量施氮条件下,控释肥处理和添加硝化抑制剂处理可保证作物产量及地上部吸氮量,微生物肥处理随种植年限的延长可保证作物产量和吸氮量.微生物肥和添加硝化抑制剂处理可降低40～100 cm土层无机氮含量,控释肥处理对削减无机氮量效果不明显;几种减氮调控措施均可降低氮损失,但微生物肥处理需调整措施来降低氮的淋溶量.