Response of dryland wheat to fertilizer nitrogen in relation to stored water,rainfall and residual farm yard manure

Yield response of dryland wheat to fertilizer N application in relation to components of seasonal water (available soil moisture and rainfall) and residual farm yard manure (FYM) was studied for five years (1983–84 to 1987–88) on a maize-wheat sequence on sandy loam soils in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India. Four rates of N viz. 0, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha^–1 in wheat were superimposed on two residual FYM treatments viz. no FYM (F₀) and 15 t ha^–1 (F₁₅) to preceding maize. FYM application to maize increased the residual NO₃-N content by 19–30 kg ha^–1 in the 180 cm soil profile. For a given moisture distribution, F₁₅ increased attainable yields. Over the years, F₁₅ increased wheat yield by 230 to 520 kg ha^–1. Response to fertilizer N was lower in FYM amended plots than in unamended plots. Available soil moisture at wheat seeding and amount and distribution of rainfall during the vegetative and the reproductive phases of crop development affected N use efficiency by wheat. Available soil moisture at seeding alone accounted for 50% variation in yield. The residual effect of FYM on wheat yield could be accounted for by considering NO₃-N in 180 cm soil profile at seeding. The NO₃-N and available soil moisture at wheat seeding along with split rainfall for two main phases of crop development and fertilizer N accounted for 96% variation in wheat yield across years and FYM treatments.     

Applications of poultry litter and triple superphosphate fertilizer to a sandy soil: effects on soil phosphorus status and profile distribution

To determine P loadings, added through poultry litter, sufficient to cause downward movement of P from the cultivated layer of a sandy soil, six rates of poultry litter were applied annually for four years to a site in central England. (total loading 0 – 1119 kg P ha^-1). A single extra plot also received an extra 1000 kg ha^-1 as triple superphosphate (TSP; total loading 2119 kg P ha^-1) and three other treatments received 200 – 800 kg ha^-1 P as TSP only. Annual soil sampling in 30-cm increments to 1.5-m depth provided information on P build-up in the topsoil and P movement to depth. There were strong linear trends between P balance (P applied – P removed in crops) and total P, Olsen bicarbonate extractable P and water-soluble P in the topsoil. Phosphorus from TSP and poultry litter fell on the same regression lines, suggesting that both would be equally effective as fertilizer sources. We calculated that 100 kg ha^-1 surplus total P would increase the Olsen extractable P content by c. 6 mg kg^-1 and the water-soluble P by c. 5 mg kg^-1. Thus, relatively large amounts of P would need to be applied to raise soil P status. We found some evidence of P movement into the soil layers immediately below cultivation depth. However, neither soil sampling nor soil solution extracted through Teflon water samplers showed evidence of movement into the deep subsoil (1 m) despite large P loadings.     

Control of nitrate pollution by application of controlled release fertilizer (CRF), compost and an optimized irrigation system

A nitrogenous controlled release fertilizer (Floranid 32) and a treatment of municipal organic waste compost were tested under two irrigation managements (conventional and ET-adjusted irrigation rates) with the aim of assessing risk of nitrate leaching to the aquifer. A check without N fertilizer was introduced. The experiment was carried out at La Poveda Field Station (30 km SE Madrid, Spain) in alluvial soils with water table depth at 4 m and under maize cropping. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications, allocating 12 plots to each irrigation management. Although N fertilizer rate (150 kg ha^–1) was reduced at half as related to a previous experiment, no difference in grain yields was observed. This result relates to a high content of soil-N. Floranid showed promising results in controlling N-leaching in comparison with urea that exhibited an accelerated rate of N release which finally determines low use of N by the plant and marked NO₃ ^– leaching. Treatment of municipal waste compost showed NO₃ ^– concentrations in the soil water solution of similar values as those of urea at 140 cm. ET-adjusted irrigation showed no drainage during the corn growing season and lower NO₃ ^– concentrations in the soil water solution which could indicate a general lower rate of N solubilization.     

Nitrogen fertilization and nitrate pollution in groundwater in Japan: Present status and measures for sustainable agriculture

During the last two decades, nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations in groundwater in Japan have increased steadily due to the development of intensive agriculture. In some areas, they have reached or even exceeded the unacceptable level for drinking water, 10 mg l^–1. In 2000, the Environment Agency showed that 5.6% (173 of 3,374) tested wells and 4.7% (64 of 1,362) wells used for drinking water exceeded the standard level in 1999. The highest value of NO₃-N in the wells was 100 mg l^–1. Many researches have shown that NO₃-N pollution of groundwater was widely observed in Japan, except the paddy field regions. Farming practices in Kagamigahara city of Gifu prefecture have been typical ones for reducing NO₃-N pollution in groundwater. In the east district of the city, NO₃-N concentration was low in 1966, but reached 27.5 mg l^–1 in June, 1974. The farmers in this district began to reduce the nitrogen fertilizers in carrot cultivation, going from 256 kg N ha^–1 in 1970 to 153 kg N ha^–1 in 1991. The use of controlled release fertilizer increased fertilizer-nitrogen efficiency compared with common compound fertilizer and NO₃-N concentration in the groundwater began to decrease steadily. It was discussed that in order to decrease the NO₃-N pollution of groundwater, it is necessary to refocus not only agricultural technology but also agricultural policy, toward sustainable agriculture and rural development.     

Light fraction organic N, ammonium, nitrate and total N in a thin Black Chernozemic soil under bromegrass after 27 annual applications of different N rates

Anadequate supply of N for a crop depends among others on the amounts of N thataremineralized from the soil organic matter plus the supply of ammonium andnitrateN already present in the soil. The objective of this study was to determine thebehaviour of light fraction organic N (LFN), NH₄-N, NO₃-Nand total N (TN) in soil in response to different rates of fertilizer Napplication. The 0–5, 5–10, 10–15 and 15–30cm layers of a thin Black Chernozemic soil under bromegrass(Bromus inermis Leyss) at Crossfield, Alberta, Canada,weresampled after 27 annual applications of ammonium nitrate at rates of 0, 56,112,168, 224 and 336 kg N ha^–1. The concentration andmass of TN and LFN in the soil, and the proportion of LFN mass within the TNmass usually increased with N rates up to 224 kg Nha^–1. The increase in TN mass and LFN mass per unit ofNadded was generally maximum at 56 kg N ha^–1 anddeclined with further increases in the rate of N application. The percentchangein response to N application was much greater for the LFN mass than for the TNmass for all the N rates and all soil depths that were sampled. Mineral N intheform of NH₄-N and NO₃-N did not accumulate in the soil at 112 kg N ha^–1 rates, whereas theiraccumulation increased markedly with rates of 168 kg Nha^–1. In conclusion, long-term annual fertilization at 112 kg N ha^–1 to bromegrass resulted insubstantial increase in the TN and LFN in soil, with no accumulation ofNH₄-N and NO₃-N down the depth. The implication of thesefindings is that grasslands for hay can be managed by appropriate Nfertilization rates to increase the level of organic N in soil.     

Effect of compost and soil properties on the availability of compost phosphate for white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Wide variation in results exists in the literature on the effectiveness of composts to sustain the phosphorus (P) nutrition of crops. The aim of this work was to assess the importance of some soil and composts properties on the utilization of compost-P by white clover (Trifolium repens L.). This study was carried out with samples collected from four composts made from solid kitchen and garden wastes, and with two soil samples taken from the A horizon of a P-rich sandy acidic Dystrochrept and of a P-limited clayey calcareous Eutrochrept. Changes in the amount of inorganic P (Pi) isotopically exchangeable within 1 min (E_1min) were measured during 32 weeks in incubated soil-composts or soil-KH₂PO₄mixtures where P sources had been added at the rate of 50 mg P kg^–1 soil. Uptake of compost-P or KH₂PO₄-P by white clover was measured on the same amended soils during 16 weeks. In both soils, the application of composts resulted after 32 weeks of incubation in E_1min values ranging between those observed in the control without P and those observed in the KH₂PO₄treatment, i.e., in values ranging between 4.2 and 5.9 mg P kg^–1 in the sandy acidic soil and between from 1.6 to 4.3 mg P kg^–1 in the clayey calcareous soil. The total coefficient of utilization of compost-P (CU-P) by white clover reached values in both soils for the four composts ranging between 6.5% and 11.6% of the added P while in the presence of KH₂PO₄ the CU-P reached values ranging between 14.5% in the clayey calcareous soil and 18.5% in the sandy acidic soil. Results obtained in the sandy acidic soil suggest, that white clover initially used a fraction of the rapidly exchangeable compost P, while at a latter stage plant roots enhanced the mineralisation of compost organic P and took up a fraction of the mineralized P. These relations were not observed in the clayey calcareous soil probably because of its high sorbing capacity for P. In the sandy acidic soil, composts application increased the uptake of soil P by the plant from 31.4 mg P kg^–1 soil in the control without P to values ranging between 37.9 to 42.7 mg P kg^–1 soil in the presence of composts. This indirect effect was related to a general improvement of plant growth conditions in this soil induced by compost addition (from 9.9 g DM kg^–1 soil in the control without P to values ranging between 14.0 to 16.1 g DM kg^–1 soil in the presence of composts) and/or to the release of Al- or Fe bound soil P to the solution due to soil pH increase following compost application. Finally the total coefficient of utilization of P (CU-P) derived from KH₂PO₄ and composts was related to the total amount of N exported by white clover in the P-limited clayey calcareous soil but not in the P-rich sandy acidic soil. This suggests that in a soil where N₂ biological fixation is limited by low P availability, the CU-P of a compost by white clover is not only related to the forms of P present in the compost but also to its effect on N nutrition. However, it is not clear whether this improved N nutrition was due to compost mineralisation, or to an indirect compost effect on the N₂ biological fixation.     

Fertigation versus broadcasting in an orange grove

A long-term experiment was carried out in a mature orange grove comparing broadcasting versus continuous application of nitrogen at three rates (80, 160, 280 kg ha^–1), 22 kg P ha^–1 and 126 kg K ha^–1 annually. The trees were irrigated with minispriklers wetting 70% of the soil area.The level of NO₃-N in the leaves varied according to the rate of N application. Leaf K and P content were not affected by fertilization. High N applications caused excess N in the soil solution. The rate of N application did not affect orange yield, fruit size or quality. Fertigation at 160 kg N ha^–1 caused higher yields than when the same amount of fertilizer was broadcast. At the high application rate, no differences between modes of application were found.This study was initiated by A. Bar-Akiva, who died suddenly early in 1986. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No 2104-E, 1987 series.(deceased)     

Impact of organic residue management on nitrogen use efficiency in an annual rice cropping sequence of lowland Central Thailand

Field experiments were conducted in Central Thailand under a rice–fallow–rice cropping sequence during consecutive dry and wet seasons of 1998 to determine the impact of residue management on fertilizer nitrogen (N) use. Treatments consisted of a combination of broadcast urea (70 kg N ha^–1) with rice straw (C/N 67) and rice hull ash (C/N 76), which were incorporated into the puddled soil 1 week before transplanting at a rate of 5 Mg ha^–1. Nitrogen-15 balance data showed that the dry season rice recovered 10 to 20% of fertilizer N at maturity. Of the applied N, 27 to 36% remained in the soil. Loss of N (unaccounted for) from the soil–plant system ranged from 47 to 54% of applied N. The availability of the residue fertilizer N to a subsequent rice crop was only less than 3% of the initial applied N. During both season fallows NO₃-N remained the dominant form of mineral-N (NO₃+NH₄) in the aerobic soil. In the dry season grain yield response to N application was significant (P=0.05). Organic material sources did not significantly change grain yield and N accumulation in rice. In terms of grain yields and N uptake at maturity, there was no significant residual effect of fertilizer N on the subsequent rice crop. The combined use of organic residues with urea did not improve N use efficiency, reduced N losses nor produced higher yields compared to urea alone. These results suggested that mechanisms such as N loss through gaseous N emissions may account for the low fertilizer N use efficiency from this rice cropping system. Splitting fertilizer N application should be considered on the fertilizer N use from the organic residue amendment.     

Land application of poultry litter and water quality in Oklahoma,U.S.A.

With the rapid growth of the poultry industry in Oklahoma, U.S.A., more litter is applied to farm land. Thus, information is required on the impact of applications on regional soil and water resources. The effect of soil and poultry litter management on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in runoff and subsurface flow from four 16 m² plots (Ruston fine sandy loam, 6 to 8% slope) was investigated under natural rainfall. Plots under Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) received 11 Mg litter ha^–1, which amounts to contributions of approximately 410 kg N and 140 kg P ha^–1 yr^–1. In spring, litter was broadcast on 3 of the plots; the upper half of one and total area of the other two. One of the total-area broadcast plots was tilled to 6 cm, the other remained as no till. The fourth plot served as a control. Relative to the control, litter application increased mean concentrations of total N and total P in runoff during the 16-week study for no-till (15.4 and 5.8 mg L^–1) and tilled treatments (16.7 and 6.1 mg L^–1). However, values for the half-area application (5.6 and 2.0 mg L^–1) were similar to the control (5.7 and 1.3 mg L^–1). Interflow (subsurface lateral flow at 70 cm depth) P was not affected by litter application; however, nitrate-N concentrations increased from 0.6 (control) to 2.9 mg L^–1 (no till). In all cases, < 2 % litter N and P was lost in runoff and interflow, maintaining acceptable water quality concentrations. Although litter increased grass yield (8518 kg ha^–1) compared to the control (3501 kg ha^–1), yields were not affected by litter management. An 8-fold increase in the plant available P content of surface soil indicates long-term litter management and application rates will be critical to the environmentally sound use of this nutrient resource.     

Nitrogen uptake efficiency in maize production using irrigation water high in nitrate

In order to achieve efficient use of nitrogen (N) and minimize pollution potentials, producers of irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) must make the best use of N from all sources. This study was conducted to evaluate crop utilization of nitrate in irrigation water and the effect N fertilizer has on N use efficiencies of this nitrate under irrigated maize production. The study site is representative of a large portion of the Central Platte Valley of Nebraska where ground water nitrate-N (NO₃-N) concentrations over 10 mg L^–1 are common. Microplots were established to accommodate four fertilizer N rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha^–1) receiving irrigation water containing three levels of NO₃-N (0, 10, 20 mg L^–1). Stable isotope¹⁵N was applied as a tracer in the irrigation water for treatments containing 10 and 20 mg L^–1 NO₃-N. Plots that did not receive nitrate in the irrigation water where tagged with¹⁵N fertilizer as a sidedress treatment. Sidedressed N fertilizer significantly reduced irrigation-N uptake efficiencies. When residual N uptake is added to first year plant usage, total irrigation NO₃-N uptake efficiencies are similar to total sidedress N fertilizer uptake efficiencies for our cropping system over the two year period. Efficiency of irrigation-N use depends on crop needs and availability of N from other sources during the irrigation season.     

Nutrient losses in surface and subsurface flow from pasture applied poultry litter and composted poultry litter

Over application of poultry litter may cause pollution of surface and ground water. Spatial variability in soil characteristics makes predictions difficult. Composting poultry litter could reduce the risk of pollution by creating more stable organic components. Three rates of poultry litter and compost (10 Mg ha^-1 litter, 20 Mg ha^-1 litter and 10 Mg ha^-1 litter combined with 50 Mg ha^-1 compost) to three watersheds under pasture. The watersheds were monitored for surface and subsurface flow. Nitrate-N concentrations in subsurface flow did not exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standard of 10 mg L^-1. Soluble phosphorus concentrations in runoff were high, reaching a maximum of 8.5 mg L^-1 under the compost treatment. These concentrations are generally lower than reported on smaller scale studies, which shows the need of studies at the correct scale.     

Nitrate distribution and accumulation in an Ustochrept soil profile in a long term fertilizer experiment

Distribution and accumulation of NO₃—N, down to 210 cm depth, in the soil profile of a long term fertilizer experiment were studied after 16 cycles of cropping (maize-wheat-fodder cowpea). The application of fertilizer N without P and K or in combination with only P resulted in higher NO₃—N concentration in the soil profile than the application of N with P and K. With an annual application of 320 kg N ha^–1 alone, a peak in NO₃—N accumulation occurred at 135 cm soil depth. However, with the application of NPK, no peak in NO₃—N distribution was discernible and its content at most of the sampling depths was either less than or equal to N and NP treatments. The annual application of 10 tons farm yard manure (FYM) per ha along with NPK resulted in a relatively lower NO₃—N content in the sub soil. The amount of NO₃—N accumulation in the soil profile decreased as the cumulative N uptake by the crops increased. Application of fertilizer amounts greater than that of the recommended (100% NPK) resulted in low percent N recoveries in crops and greater NO₃—N accumulation in the soil profile.     

Dryland wheat yield dependence on rainfall,applied N and mulching in preceding maize

To evaluate the response of dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to mulching in preceding maize and fertilizer N application field experiments were conducted for six years (1980–86) with maize-wheat sequence on a sandy loam soil in northern India. Four rates of N application viz. 0, 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha^–1 in wheat were combined with three mulch treatments viz. no mulch (M₀), paddy straw mulch (M_p) and basooti (Premma mucronate) mulch (M_b) applied at the rate of 4 tons ha^–1 on dry weight basis applied three weeks before harvest of maize. Mulching (M_p and M_b) increased (profile) stored moisture at wheat seedling by 31 to 88 mm. M_b also increased NO₃-N content by 33 to 42 kg ha^–1 in 0–120 cm profile over M₀ and M_p. Over the years, M_p increased wheat yield by 11 to 515 kg ha^–1 and M_b by 761 to 879 kg ha^–1. Wheat yield response to mulching was related to rainfall pattern during its growth season. Significant response to mulching was obtained only in years when rainfall during vegetative phase of the crop was low. Amount and distribution of rainfall during two main phases of crop development affected the N use efficiency by wheat. On an average, each cm of rain substituted for 3.5, 4.6 and 6.5 kg of applied N ha^–1 under M₀, M_p and M_b, respectively. Split rainfall for two main phases of crop growth, available stored water at seeding, fertilizer N and profile NO₃-N content accounted for 89 per cent variability in wheat yield across years and mulching treatments.     

Effects of soil fumigation and N source on soil inorganic N and tomato growth

Soil fumigation, commonly used in vegetable production, may alter the rate of nitrification, affecting availability of N for crop use. The objective of this research was to examine effects of soil fumigation and N fertilizer source on tomato growth and soil NO₃–N and NH₄–N in field production. Experiments 1 and 2 included application of methyl bromide at 420 kg ha^-1 to a Norfolk sandy loam (fine loamy siliceous thermic Typic Kandiudult) in combination with preplant applications of calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate at 144 kg N ha^-1. An additional fumigant, metam-sodium, was included in the second experiment at 703 L ha^-1 (268 kg sodium methyldithiocarbamate ha^-1). Experiment 3 included methyl bromide and metam-sodium, with ammonium sulfate as the sole source of N applied at 144 kg N ha^-1. In the first two studies, fumigants had little or no effect on soil NH₄–N or NO₃–N concentration. Tomato plants were larger and fruit yield was greater in fumigated plots, but there were few growth or yield responses to N source. In the third experiment, fumigants increased concentration of soil NO₃–N and NH₄–N at 16 days after fumigation (DAF), however, there was no effect on nitrification owing to fumigants. It appears that N source selection to overcome inhibition of nitrification is not necessary in plant production systems that involve fumigation     

Nitrogen fertigation of trickle-irrigated potato

This three-year field study, on Pellic Vertisol, was designed to investigate the response of trickle-irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to four nitrogen levels continually applied with the irrigation stream. Waters containing 70, 130, 190, and 250 mg Nl^–1 and uniformly supplied with 50 and 120 mgl^–1 of P and K, respectively, were applied when the soil water potential was between 0.03 and 0.04 MPa. The amount of water applied at each irrigation was equivalent to 0.8 of pan evaporation from a screened USWB Class A pan. The resulting N application totals ranged from 205 to 735 kg ha^–1. Significant buildup of soil NO₃-N occurred below 45 cm depth with the two higher amounts of N but not with the 70 or 130 mg Nl^–1. A concentration of 130 mg Nl^–1 was adequate for maintaining petiole NO₃-N above the critical value throughout the growing period. The highest yield of good quality (58130 kg ha^–1; specific gravity 1.071) was obtained with 130 mg Nl^–1. It was concluded that fertigation (combined irrigation with fertilization) is a promising means for maintaining N concentration in the soil throughout the growing period at desirable levels, without undue losses by leaching.     

Detectability of15N-depleted fertilizer N in soil and plant tissue during a corn-rye crop rotation

Use of¹⁵N-depleted fertilizer materials have been primarily limited to fertilizer recovery studies of short duration. The objective of this study was to determine if¹⁵N-depleted fertilizer N could be satisfactorily used as a tracer of residual fertilizer N in plant tissue and various soil N fractions through a corn (Zea mays L.) -winter rye (Secale cereale L.) crop rotation. Nitrogen as¹⁵N-depleted (NH₄)₂SO₄ was applied at five rates (0, 84, 168, 252, and 336 kg N ha^–1) to corn. Immediately following corn harvest a winter rye cover crop treatment was initiated. Residual fertilizer N was easily detected in the soil NO ₃ ^- -N fraction following corn harvest (140-d after application). Low levels of exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ -N (<2.5 mg kg^–1) did not permit accurate isotope-ratio analysis. Fertilizer-derived N recovered in the soil total N fraction following corn harvest was detectable in the 0 to 30-cm depth at each N rate and in the 30 to 60 and 60 to 90-cm depths at the 336 kg ha^–1 N rate. Atom %¹⁵N concentrations in the nonexchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ -N fraction did not differ from the control at each N rate. Nitrogen recovery by the winter rye cover crop reduced residual soil NO ₃ ^- -N levels below the 10 kg ha^–1 level needed for accurate isotope-ratio analysis. Atom %¹⁵N concentrations in the soil total N fraction (approximately one yr after application) were indistinguishable from the control plots below the 168, 252, and 336 kg ha^–1 N rate at the 0 to 30, 30 to 60, and 60 to 90-cm depths, respectively. Recovery of residual fertilizer N by the winter rye cover crop was verified by measuring significant decreases in atom %¹⁵N concentrations in rye tissue with increasing N rates. The greatest limitation to the use of¹⁵N-depleted fertilizer N as a tracer of residual fertilizer N in a corn-rye crop rotation appears to be its detectibility from native soil N in the total N pool.Research partially supported by grants from the National Fertilizer and Environmental Research Center/TVA and the Virginia Division of Soil and Water Conservation.     

Leaching losses from Kenyan maize cropland receiving different rates of nitrogen fertilizer

Meeting food security requirements in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will require increasing fertilizer use to improve crop yields, however excess fertilization can cause environmental and public health problems in surface and groundwater. Determining the threshold of reasonable fertilizer application in SSA requires an understanding of flow dynamics and nutrient transport in under-studied, tropical soils experiencing seasonal rainfall. We estimated leaching flux in Yala, Kenya on a maize field that received from 0 to 200 kg ha^?1 of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Soil pore water concentration measurements during two growing seasons were coupled with results from a numerical fluid flow model to calculate the daily flux of nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃ ^?-N). Modeled NO₃ ^?-N losses to below 200 cm for 1 year ranged from 40 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 in the 75 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 treatment to 81 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 in the 200 kg N ha^?1 treatment. The highest soil pore water NO₃ ^?-N concentrations and NO₃ ^?-N leaching fluxes occurred on the highest N application plots, however there was a poor correlation between N application rate and NO₃ ^?-N leaching for the remaining N application rates. The drought in the second study year resulted in higher pore water NO₃ ^?-N concentrations, while NO₃ ^?-N leaching was disproportionately smaller than the decrease in precipitation. The lack of a strong correlation between NO₃ ^?-N leaching and N application rate, and a large decrease in flux between 120 and 200 cm suggest processes that influence NO₃ ^?-N retention in soils below 200 cm will ultimately control NO₃ ^?-N leaching at the watershed scale.     

Effect of green manure and supplemental fertility amendments on selected soil quality parameters in an organic potato rotation in Eastern Canada

The effects of green manure, crop sequence and off-farm composts on selected soil quality parameters were assessed in a three-year organic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) rotation in Eastern Canada. Three crop sequences varying in preceding green manure [red clover (RCl) + RCl, and beans/buckwheat or carrots + oats/peas/vetch mixture (OPV)] as main plots and four fertility treatments applied in the potato phase only [control; inorganic fertilizer; municipal solid waste compost (MSW); composted paper mill biosolid (PMB)] as subplots were compared. In 2008 and 2010, changes in selected soil quality parameters (0–15 cm) were assessed prior to planting of potatoes and at potato tuber initiation stage. Potentially mineralizable nitrogen (N) and the acid phosphatase enzyme activity average values across years were greater following RCl (1.51 abs and 622 kg ha^?1) compared with OPV (1.32 abs and 414 kg ha^?1) at potato planting. Soil NO₃–N average value was greater following RCl compared with OPV (63 vs. 52 kg ha^?1) at tuber initiation. For the other measured parameters, OPV and RCl were similar. The soil organic carbon (C) and particulate organic matter-C were greater under PMB and MSW (31.1 and 7.57 kg ha^?1) compared with fertilizer treatment (27.9 and 6.05 kg ha^?1). The microbial biomass C and microbial biomass quotient were greater under MSW (216 kg ha^?1 and 0.73 %) than PMB and fertilizer (147 kg ha^?1 and 0.50 %) across crop rotations. Annual legume green manures and off-farm composts can be used to satisfy potato N requirement and maintains soil quality in organic potato rotations.     

Mobilization of residual phosphate of different phosphate fertilizers in relation to pH in the rhizosphere of ryegrass

Only 10 to 20% of the P in fertilizers are utilized by crops in the year of application. The value of the remaining 90% to 80% for succeeding crops is uncertain. This paper is aimed at assessing the residual value of several P-fertilizers such as superphosphate (Super-P), Thomasphosphate (Thomas-P), Rhenaniaphosphate (Rhenania-P) and Hyperphos (Hyper-P) a ground rock phosphate. These fertilizers had been applied annually for ten years to supply a total of 520 kg P ha^–1 to a silt loam soil derived from loess. Fertilizer P accumulation compared to the unfertilized plots was 520 kg ha^–1 for Hyper-P and 410 kg ha^–1 for Super-P (4.2 and 3.3 mmol P kg^–1 soil). The residual value of this P was assessed by both conventional soil test procedures and P-depletion at the soil-root interface by ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) supplied with either NO₃-N, NH₄-N or no N. The different N sources changed soil pH in the rhizosphere and thereby the solubility of P present in this region. To measure P depletion at the soil-root interface, ryegrass seedlings were grown on a soil block covered with a nylon screen, mesh 30µm. A dense root mat developed simulating a plane root surface. After 10 days of growth the soil block was sliced into 0.2 mm layers parallel to the root mat. These soil samples were analysed for P (4N HCl) giving P concentration as a function of distance from the root surface. Phosphorus depletion at the root surface, in mmol kg^–1, was 1.7 for the No-P and 3.2 for the Super-P treatment. Thomas-P and Rhenania-P were in between while for Hyper-P the depletion was only 1.0. This gave a residual effect of 47% for Super-P and a negative 15% for Hyper-P. Acidification of the rhizosphere due to NH₄-N supply had no effect on the residual effect of Super-P but increased that of Hyper-P to +18%. NH₄-N increased the residual effect of Thomas-P from 16 to 28% and of Rhenania-P from 9 to 37%. The supply of NO₃-N increased the rhizosphere pH and decreased the residual effect of Super-P but increased slightly the residual effect of the other P-fertilizers as compared to No-N application.The pattern of these changes of P depletion in the rhizosphere was similar for the No-P and the Super-P treatments suggesting the presence of similar P compounds in both cases. In contrast, Hyper-P apparently remained unchanged in soil, as Ca-P, if not mobilized by acidification. These results are supported by the soil tests. Reasons for the relatively low residual effect even of Super-P (only 47%) are discussed. It is concluded that, because of the low rate of P release from soil, the 10 days growth period of the plants was not long enough to include all P that could potentially be mobilized.     

Nitrogen budget for fescue pastures fertilized with broiler litter in Major Land Resource Areas of the southeastern US

The southeast US produces a tremendous number of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus), which in turn produce massive quantities of litter (manure and bedding materials). In the Southeast, litter is most often disposed of via land application to pastures, however, the ultimate fate of much of the applied nitrogen (N) is not known. We have constructed N budgets for three sites across the southeastern U.S. in an effort to determine how much of the applied N is useful for plant production and how much is left to be absorbed by the environment. Study sites were located in the Coastal Plain (Alabama), Piedmont (Georgia), and Cumberland Plateau (Tennessee) Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA) of the southeastern US. Litter was applied in the Spring of two consecutive years at a rate to supply 70 kg of available N ha^–1. The total amount of N applied ranged from 103 to 252 kg N ha^–1 depending on site and year. Nitrogen fluxes monitored in this study were broiler litter N, ammonia (NH₃) volatilization, denitrification, plant uptake, and leaching. Plant uptake represented the largest flux of applied N, averaging 43% of applied N. Losses due to NH₃ volatilization and denitrification combined were only 6% of applied N on average. Loss of N due to NO₃-N leaching appeared to be significant only at the Coastal Plain site where NO₃-N concentrations in the groundwater peaked at 38 mg N l^–1. We believe the majority of excess N shown in these budgets is likely accounted for by leaching losses and soil accumulation. Regardless of these assumptions and low gaseous losses, it is apparent that on average, 57% of applied N is destined for a fate other than plant uptake. The results of this study indicate that land-application of broiler litter at currently recommended rates has the potential for negative impacts on the environment of the southeastern U.S. in the long-term.