Growth, nitrogen fixation, yield and kernel quality of peanut in response to lime, organic and inorganic fertilizer levels

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of different levels of chemical fertilizers alone and in combination with farmyard manure and lime on growth, nitrogen fixation, yield and kernel quality of peanut in an acid lateritic soil. Five fertilization levels viz., no chemical fertilizer (CF) (F0), CF @ 20:40:30 (F1), CF @ 40:80:60 (F2) kg ha(-1) NPK, F1 +2.5 t ha(-1) FYM (F3) and F2 +5 t ha(-1) FYM (F4) with and without liming (2 t ha(-1)) were tested. Results revealed that integrated application of FYM+CF at F3 level significantly (P0.05) improved the nitrogen content of nodules (12.4%), kernel yield (19.3%), mineral composition, oil content (4.8%), protein content (28.2%) and hydration coefficient (11.6%) of kernels over sole CF at F1 level. Maximum level of CF or FYM+CF though improved the population of symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria in the peanut rhizosphere, however, could not improve nitrogen fixation, yield and kernel quality.     

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.     

Agronomic effects of multi-year surface-banding of dairy slurry on grass

Sleigh-foot application of slurry manure is the best method for applying slurry manure on many forage fields. This study was designed to assess agronomic effectiveness of multi-year surface banding of dairy slurry on a sward of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Our study showed that with this application technology, crop recovery of total-N from applied manure in the long-term is only about 77% that of mineral fertilizer. Despite relative inefficiency of N uptake from manure, yield response to manure equaled that to fertilizer at equivalent total-N rates although N-recovery was significantly lower. About 26-32% of applied manure-N was stored in soil organic matter and the buildup of soil-N was related to application rate of organic N. At moderate applications rates (approx. 400 kg Nha(-1)a(-1)), soil N accumulated at about 120 kg ha(-1) annually compared to 98 kg ha(-1)a(-1) of unaccounted N, much of that probably volatilized and denitrified. Alternating between manure and fertilizer improved productivity per unit land area without increasing the rate of N non-recovery per unit of feed produced.     

Regulation of acidity of arable lands contaminated by Sr-90: analysis of cost of the averted doses of irradiation of population of Belarus

Results of researches on study of efficiency of soil acidity optimization on decrease of a collective doze from 90Sr to the population of Belarus are presented. On the basis of the "cost--benefit" analysis it is shown, that the savings for averted collective doze due to optimization of soil acidity of arable lands on cereals amount to 21-170 thousand US dollars per 1 man.-Sv depending on density of 90Sr soil contamination of districts of Belarus. It is established, that high effect on averting of collective doze 90Sr at cultivation of cereals can be expected at liming of sod-podsolic loamy sand soils with contamination density of 90Sr more than 12 kBq/m2, sand soils more than 16 kBq/m2, light loam soils more than 17 kBq/m2, at present time share of these lands in Belarus is about half from the area of the arable lands contaminated with radiostrontium - 86 thousand hectares.     

The effectiveness of lime,chicken manure and leaf litter ash in ameliorating acidity in a soil previously under black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) plantation

There are about 130,000 hectares of land in South Africa that have been under black wattle plantation for a long time and whose soils have become more acidic than those from contiguous land without the tree. This incubation study investigated the effectiveness of lime, chicken manure and leaf litter ash to ameliorate the soil acidity. Lime and chicken manure were applied in pots at rates equivalent to 0, 5, 10 and 20 Mg ha(-1) while ash was applied at 0, 3 and 5 Mg ha(-1). In comparison to the control, the application of all the three amendments caused significant increases in soil pH(KCL) (4.1-5.6) and reduced the exchangeable acidity. The liming effectiveness of the amendments varied with rate and type of amendment and were in the order: lime > chicken manure > ash. A similar trend was evident in the concentration of exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg and K) in the soil. The effectiveness of ash and chicken manure as liming material was 0.12 and 0.26 respectively compared to lime. The difference in liming effect between ash and chicken manure was related to their alkalinity concentration. It was concluded that both amendments have the potential to be used as liming materials and merit further field evaluation.     

Influence of different fertilizers on nett gain or loss of soil nitrogen in long-term manure and fertilizer applications

Summary The nett gain or loss of total soil nitrogen was worked out from a long-term manure and fertilizer experiment conducted for seven years and still continuing at Ranchi Agricultural College, Kanke, Ranchi India. The total nitrogen in soil showed a deficit balance where lower and unbalanced doses of fertilizers were applied. Increasing levels of fertilizer combinations with lime removed the highest amount of nitrogen in intensive cropping. The nett loss was highest (95 kg/ha) in case of control, at 100% NPK the nett gain was 37 kg N per ha, and at 150% NPK 72 kg N per ha which was the highest.     

Effect of long-term application of agrotechnical techniques and crops on soil microbial communities

Effects of long-term application of various fertilizers and crops on soil microbiomes in a long-term field experiment were investigated using the library of the 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained by highthroughput sequencing of the total DNA. The communities exhibited high diversity, with 655 microbial genera belonging to 34 phyla detected (31 bacterial and 3 archaeal ones). For analysis of the effect of the studied factors on community structure, a linear model was developed in order to simplify interpretation of the data of high-throughput sequencing and to obtain biologically important information. Liming was shown to modulate the effect of mineral fertilizers on the structure of microbial populations. The differences in the structure and alpha-diversity of microbial communities were shown to depend more on the crops and liming than on the fertilizers applied. Interaction between the crop factor and liming expressed as an ambiguous effect of liming on the microbiome in the presence of different plants was reliably demonstrated. Thus, in the case of barley and clover, liming resulted in increased taxonomic diversity of the community, while in the case of potato and flax it had an opposite effect.     

不同施肥处理对土壤水稳定性团聚体及有机碳分布的影响

以国家褐潮土16 a的长期肥料试验为平台(北京昌平),研究长期不同施肥对耕层土壤水稳定性团聚体及其有机碳的影响。主要研究结果:与耕种农田土壤相比,长期撂荒(CK0)可以提高水稳定性大团聚体的含量及其有机碳含量和储量。而农田耕作后,破坏了水稳性大团聚体,相应地增加水稳性微团聚体的含量。与长期不施肥种植作物(CK)相比,长期施氮磷钾肥(NPK)、氮磷钾配施有机肥(NPKM)和氮磷钾秸秆还田(NPKS)处理对水稳性团聚体数量分布和平均重量直径(MWD)有显著影响,其中对2mm和0.25 2mm水稳性大团聚体的促进作用最明显,说明施肥处理增加的新碳主要向0.25 2mm和2mm团聚体富集。在不同水平水稳性团聚体中,2mm和0.25 2mm两个级别的水稳性大团聚体有机碳的含量显著高于0.0530.25mm和0.053mm水稳性微团聚体。化肥与有机肥配施(NPKM)处理可提高水稳性大团聚体含量,改善土壤团聚体的结构。长期小麦-玉米→小麦-大豆复种轮作并施氮磷钾化肥的处理(NPKF)各级团聚体中有机碳的含量高于长期小麦-玉米轮作并施氮磷钾化肥的处理(NPK)。     

Compatibility of Soil Amendments with Entomopathogenic Nematodes

The impact of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the infectivity, reproduction, and population dynamics of entomopathogenic nematodes was investigated. Prolonged (10- to 20-day) laboratory exposure to high inorganic fertilizer concentrations inhibited nematode infectivity and reproduction, whereas short (1-day) exposures increased infectivity. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was more sensitive to adverse effects than were two species of Steinernema. In field studies, organic manure resulted in increased densities of a native population of Steinernema feltiae, whereas NPK fertilizer suppressed nematode densities regardless of manure applications. Inorganic fertilizers are likely to be compatible with nematodes in tank mixes and should not reduce the effectiveness of nematodes used for short-term control as biological insecticides, but may interfere with attempts to use nematodes as inoculative agents for long-term control. Organic manure used as fertilizer may encourage nematode establishment and recycling.     

The deflation of the soils and the horizontal migration of 137Cs

The results of the researching of 137Cs migration with deflation soils are presented. It was established, that on drained peat and on sod-podsolic sandy soils, subjected to the radioactive pollution, the deflation is a major factor of the horizontal carry radionuclides. The quantity indicators of the 137Cs migration depend on the density of the pollution of the top layer soils, on the intensity of deflationary processes and on the use of the agricultural grounds. At the identical density of the pollution on drained peat soils the 137Cs carry is higher on 25-35%, than on mineral easy ones. The decrease of the deflationary processes to maximum permissible levels (for the drained peat soils--0.2-0.5, for sandy soils--1.3 t/ha per one year) promotes the reduction of the 137Cs migration on drained peat soils on 92-94%, on sod-podsolic sandy soils--on 87%.     

Costs of existing and recommended manure management practices for house fly and stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) control on dairy farms

Costs of fly control practices were estimated for 26 New York and Maryland dairy farms. Objectives were to characterize existing practices, compare them with the cost of more frequent and complete manure removal to reduce fly breeding, and to compare costs of manure removal and insecticide application. Information was collected in scouting visits and personal interviews of farm operators. Equipment, labor, and bedding costs were included for manure removal. Insecticide application costs included chemicals and labor for application. A typical farm with a stanchion barn had manure removal costs of $0.348 per cow per day. Recommended changes would increase costs by $0.016-0.033 per cow per day. Insecticide costs averaged $0.021 per cow per day. It may be possible to eliminate many of the insecticide applications on the farms by using the recommended 7-d manure removal practice. Even if insecticides are not eliminated entirely, increased manure removal costs would be offset by some reduction in insecticide cost. This also would have the additional benefit of greatly slowing the development of insecticide resistance by the flies.     

Leaching losses of nitrogen and potassium in polders reclaimed from Lake Ijssel

Summary Mineral nitrogen and potassium lost from the Eastern Flevoland polder and from the North Eastern polder were estimated at regular intervals by determining the amounts of soluble nitrogen and potassium in the water which had been admitted by locks and inlets and discharged by pumping stations and subtracting nitrogen and potassium added in the rain. From 1959 to 1966 the nett annual losses of nitrogen in the discharged water from various pumping stations in Eastern Flevoland ranged from 18.9 to 33.2 (average 25.2) kg N per ha. Similarly in the North Eastern polder from 1963 to 1966 the nett annual losses ranged from 16.7 to 33.2 (average 22.1) kg N per ha. Rainfall added annually between 4.8 and 11.8 (average 8.6) kg N per ha to both polders. Nett losses from Eastern Flevoland ranged from 9.2 to 21.9 (average 15.8) kg per ha and from the North Eastern polder from 10.1 to 24.0 (average 14.9) kg N per ha, annually. Drainage water contained principally nitrate nitrogen, whereas the discharged water in many cases contained both ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, and often more ammonium than nitrate, presumably because the composition of the mineral nitrogen in the waterways is changed by the growth and death of algae. From 1962 to 1966 the discharged water removed potassium from the Eastern Flevoland polder in amounts ranging from 105 to 226 (average 162) kg K per ha annually. During 1963–1964, amounts lost from the North Eastern polder ranged from 47 to 71 (average 59) kg K per ha each year. The rain added from 4.5 to 10.7 (average 6.9) kg K per ha annually to both polders. Nett losses from Eastern Flevoland ranged from 99 tot 219 (average 156) kg K per ha and from the North Eastern polder from 41 to 67 (average 54) kg K per ha annually.     

长期施肥下红壤性水稻土有机碳储量变化特

研究了1982—2012年长期不同施肥下红壤性水稻土土壤有机碳含量变化、固碳趋势及外源碳输入对土壤固碳的贡献.结果表明： 施肥能提高土壤有机碳含量,连续30年不同施肥后,各施肥处理土壤有机碳含量趋于稳定,有机无机配施的土壤有机碳含量为21.02～21.24 g·kg^-1,增加速率为0.41～0.59 g·kg^-1·a^-1,单施化肥的土壤有机碳含量为15.48 g·kg^-1.各有机无机肥配施处理土壤的平均有机碳储量为43.61～48.43 t C·hm^-2,历年平均土壤有机碳储量显著大于单施化肥处理.土壤固碳速率与年均投入碳量呈显著指数正相关.本试验条件下,每年需要增加外源有机碳为0.12 t C·hm^-2才能维持土壤有机碳的平衡.     

Fertilization of SRC Willow,I: Biomass Production Response

Short rotation coppice (SRC) willow is often regarded as one of the most promising crops to increase biomass production and thereby meet the growing demand for renewable energy. This study is based on the hypotheses that biomass production of SRC willow responds positively to increasing doses of nitrogen, and that similar biomass production response can be achieved by use of mineral fertilizer, sewage sludge and animal manure. A 2-year experiment was established with the clone Tordis grown on a sandy soil in northern Jutland, Denmark. The experiment included mineral fertilizer, sludge and manure, and treatments of different doses up to 360 kg nitrogen ha^?1. The fertilization led to a modest but significant increase in biomass production. The largest production of 11.9 oven dried tons/ha/year was obtained for the application of 60 kg nitrogen ha^?1 annually. Higher doses did not lead to increased biomass production; in fact, production seemed to decline with increasing fertilization application (not significant). We found no difference in production between different types of fertilizers. The limited response of the fertilization may be caused by a high fertility of the soil due to former agricultural fertilization. The number of sagging shoots increased significantly with increasing nitrogen dose.     

Quantification of methane emissions from Chinese rice fields (Zhejiang Province) as influenced by fertilizer treatment

Methane emissions from rice paddies were quantified by using an automatic field system stationed in Zhejiang Province, one of the centres for rice cultivation in China. The data set showed pronouned interannual variations over 5 consecutive vegetation periods; by computing average values of all experimental plots the annual emissions were 177 g CH₄ m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 1987, 50 g CH₄ m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 1988, and 187 g CH₄ m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 1989. The field preparations encompassed 4 different treatments: (1) no fertilizers, (2) mineral fertilizer (KCl, K₂SO₄), (3) organic manure (rape seeed cake, animal manure), (4) mineral fertilizer plus organic manure. The methane emission rates of the different fertilizer treatments did not show significant differences. The mean emission rates, calculated over the entire observation period of 5 seasons, were 30.4 mg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ (non-fertilized plot) and 28.3 mg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ (mineral fertilizers). These values indicate a high level of methane production even without additional input of organic material into the rice-soils. In the other plots, the organic fertilizers were added once per vegetation period at app. 1 t fresh weight per ha, a relatively low application rate by agronomical standards. The mean emission rates were 35.1 mg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ when manure was applied as sole fertilizer and 27.5 mg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ when applied jointly with potassium fertilizers. Based on the results of this study we estimate a range of 18–28 Tg CH₄ yr⁻¹ as the total methane emission from Chinese rice fields. However, more field data from representative sites in China are needed to reduce the uncertainties in this estimate.     

Green manure technology: Potential,usage, and limitations. A case study for lowland rice

The growing concern about the sustainability of tropical agricultural systems stands in striking contrast to a world-wide decline in the use of soil-improving legumes. It is timely to assess the future role that soil-improving legumes may play in agricultural systems. This paper reviews recent progress, potential, and limitations of green manure technology, using lowland rice cropping systems as the example.Only a few legume species are currently used as green manures in lowland rice. Sesbania cannabina is the most widely used pre-rice green manure for rice in the humid tropics of Africa and Asia. Astragalus sinicus is the prototype post-rice green manure species for the cool tropics. Stem-nodulating S. rostrata has been most prominent in recent research. Many green manure legumes show a high N accumulation (80–100 kg N ha^-1 in 45–60 days of growth) of which the major portion (about 80%) is derived from biological N₂ fixation. The average amounts of N accumulated by green manures can entirely substitute for mineral fertilizer N at current average application rates. With similar N use efficiencies, green manure N is less prone to loss mechanisms than mineral N fertilizers and may therefore contribute to long-term residual effects on soil productivity.Despite a high N₂-fixing potential and positive effects on soil physical and chemical parameters, the use of green manure legumes for lowland rice production has declined dramatically world-wide over the last 30 years. Land scarcity due to increasing demographic pressure and a relatively low price of urea N are probably the main determining factors for the long-term reduction in pre-rice green manure use. Post-rice green manures were largely substituted for by high-yielding early-maturing grain legumes. Unreliability of green manure performance, non-availability of seeds, and labor intensive operations are the major agronomic constraints. The recognition and extrapolation of niches where green manures have a comparative advantage may improve an often unfavorable economic comparison of green manure with cash crop or fertilizer N. Socio-economic factors like the cost of land, labor, and mineral N fertilizer are seen to determine the cost-effectiveness and thereby farmers' adoption of sustainable pre-rice green manure technology. Hydrology and soil texture determine the agronomic competitiveness of a green manure with N fertilizers and with alternative cash crops. In general, the niches for pre-rice green manure are characterized by a relatively short time span available for green manure growth and a soil moisture regime that is unfavorable for cash crops (flood-prone rainfed lowlands with coarse-textured soils).Given the numerous agronomic and socio-economic constraints, green manure use is not seen to become a relevant feature of favourable rice-growing environments in the foreseeable future. However, in environments where soil properties and hydrology are marginal for food crop production, but which farmers may be compelled to cultivate in order to meet their subsistence food requirements, green manures may have a realistic and applicable potential.     

An economic assessment of algal turf scrubber technology for treatment of dairy manure effluent

Controlling the input of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from dairies and other livestock operations into the surrounding air- and water-sheds poses both technical and economic challenges to the agricultural community. The purpose of this paper is to assess the economics of algal turf scrubber treatment technology at the farm-scale for a hypothetical 1000-cow dairy. Costs were developed for farms with and without anaerobic pretreatment. The majority of capital costs were due to land preparation, installation of liner material, and engineering fees. The majority of operational costs were due to energy requirements for biomass drying, pumping water, and repayment of capital investment. On farms using anaerobic pretreatment, waste heat from burning of biogas could be used to offset the energy requirements of biomass drying. In addition, biogas combustion exhaust gas could then be recycled back to the algal system to supply dissolved inorganic carbon for optimal algal production and pH control. Under the best case (algal system coupled with anaerobic digestion pretreatment), the yearly operational costs per cow, per kg N, per kg P, and per kg of dried biomass were $454, $6.20, $31.10, and $0.70, respectively. Without anaerobic digestion pretreatment, the yearly operational costs were 36% higher, amounting to $631 per cow, $8.70 per kg N, $43.20 per kg P, and $0.97 per kg of dried biomass. For perspective, a recent survey of 36 Maryland dairy farms found long-term annual profits of about $500 per cow. As no market currently exists for manure grown algal biomass, our cost analysis does not include any value of the biomass generated during manure treatment. In addition, there are a variety of potential uses for the algal biomass from manure treatment that could defray treatment costs. Future opportunities for dairies to participate in nutrient trading approaches to watershed nutrient management may also become important.     

Recycling of manure nutrients: use of algal biomass from dairy manure treatment as a slow release fertilizer

An alternative to land spreading of manure is to grow crops of algae on the N and P present in the manure and convert manure N and P into algal biomass. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertilizer value of dried algal biomass that had been grown using anaerobically digested dairy manure. Results from a flask study using two soils amended with algal biomass showed that 3% of total algal nitrogen (N) was present as plant available N at day 0. Approximately 33% of algal N was converted to plant available N within 21 days at 25 degrees C in both soils. Levels of Mehlich-3 extractable phosphorus (P) in the two soils rose with increasing levels of algal amendment but were also influenced by existing soil P levels. Results from plant growth experiments showed that 20-day old cucumber and corn seedlings grown in algae-amended potting mix contained 15-20% of applied N, 46-60% of available N, and 38-60% of the applied P. Seedlings grown in algae-amended potting mixes were equivalent to those grown with comparable levels of fertilizer amended potting mixes with respect to seedling dry weight and nutrient content. These results suggest that dried algal biomass produced from treatment of anaerobically digested dairy manure can substitute for commercial fertilizers used for potting systems.     

稻作系统有机肥替代部分化肥的土壤氮循环特征及增产机制

采用有机肥替代部分化肥是实现化肥使用零增长和作物稳产增产的重要途径。基于近年来的研究进展,探讨了稻作系统有机肥替代部分化肥对水稻产量、氮素利用效率、土壤氮库组分和微生物固氮、氨化、硝化和反硝化等氮循环关键过程的影响。同时,就单施化肥与有机肥替代部分化肥的氮素循环特征进行了比较。有机肥替代部分化肥通过改变稻田土壤氮素循环多个环节(增强氨化过程、协调硝化和反硝化过程、降低氨挥发和减少氮素损失等),改善土壤氮素供给状态(提高小分子有机氮供给、协调无机氮组分与比例、提高土壤微生物量氮和总氮固持),进而促进水稻氮素吸收并协调植株氮素分配过程,最终实现水稻稳产增产。     

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。