Mineral nutrition of slash pine in subtropical australia. I. stand growth response to fertilization

Fertilization at plantation establishment and later age is often required to maximize stand growth of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) in subtropical Australia. A field experiment was conducted to examine stand growth response of slash pine in the first 11.5 years of plantation following (1) initial fertilization at plantation establishment with phosphorus (P) at 11, 22, 45 and 90 kg P ha^–1 which were either banded or broadcast in the presence or absence of basal fertilizers containing 50 kg nitrogen (N) ha^–1, 50 kg potassium (K) ha^–1 and 5 kg copper (Cu) ha^–1 and (2) additional application of 40 kg P ha^–1 at age 10 years.The initial P fertilization significantly increased the stand growth in the first 9.6 years. The P banded application was more effective in improving the stand growth than the P broadcast application. Application of the N, K and Cu basal fertilizers did not affect the stand growth. Overall, 53–73% of the variation in basal area and volume growth in the first 9.6 years was explained by the initial P fertilization, indicating that P deficiency was the major factor limiting the stand growth under the experimental conditions. Optimum plantation age, at which the maximum periodical annual increment (PAI) of basal area was obtained, increased from age 10.9 to 12 years when the initial P rate increased from 11 to 90 kg P ha^–1. Application of additional 40 kg P ha^–1 at age 10 years resulted in a further improvement in the stand growth at age 11.5 years. With 66% of the variation in basal area PAI between ages 9.6 and 11.5 years, 50% was explained by the initial P fertilization and 16% by the additional P applied at age 10 years. Similarly, 51% and 12% of the variation in volume PAI were attributed to the initial P fertilization and the additional P application, respectively. This highlights the need of refertilization with P on some established stands of slash pine at later ages.     

Mineral nutrition of slash pine in subtropical Australia. III. Relationships between foliar P concentration and stand growth

Foliar P concentration of slash pine was significantly related to the stand growth in the first 11.5 years. The relationship between foliar P concentration and total stand growth at foliar sampling improved as the plantation aged with coefficient of determination (R²) increasing from 0.14–0.15 at age 3.3 years to 0.56–0.65 at age 9.6 years. However, only 12–18% of the variation in total stand growth was explained by foliar P concentration at age 11.5 years when additional 40 kg P ha^–1 was applied to the stands at age 10 years. This suggests that caution should be exercised in interpreting the foliar P concentrations of the established stands which had received application of P fertilizer just prior to foliar sampling. Periodic stand growth was more closely related to the foliar P concentration than total stand growth. Basal area and volume periodic annual increment (PAI) was better related to the foliar P concentration than height PAI.Optimum foliar P concentration, at which the maximum stand growth was obtained, was between 0.093% and 0.110%. The optimum foliar P concentration for height PAI immediately prior to foliar sampling decreased from 0.097% at age 3.3 years to 0.070% at age 9.6 years. Critical foliar P concentration at age 9.6 years, at which 90% of the maximum basal area growth was obtained, was between 0.066% and 0.070%. Both optimum and critical foliar P concentration might decrease as the plantation aged.     

Post-establishment phosphatic fertilizer treatments in a New South WalesPinus radiata plantation

A five-year-oldPinus radiata plantation treated with a spot application of phosphatic fertilizer (13.5 g P per tree)(23 kg P ha^–1) at planting was given various additional booster treatments: two levels of superphosphate (48 and 72 kg P ha^–1) and one level each of basic superphosphate (61 kg P ha^–1) and monoammonium phosphate (70 kg P ha^–1, 35 kg P ha^–1) all broadcast applied. All fertilizer treatments resulted in significant increases in timber volume production which were not significantly different from each other. The stands which had received no additional treatment produced 108 m³ ha^–1 merchantable timber at age 17 years while the treated plots produced between 188 and 201 m³ ha^–1. The best financial gains were from the higher rate of superphosphate. The experiment is discussed in relation to foliar analysis and routine management practice.     

Potassium and magnesium fertilizers on banana in Uganda: yields, weevil damage, foliar nutrient status and DRIS analysis

Low soil fertility and pest pressure are two causes of the decline in banana (Musa AAA) production in central Uganda. Foliar analysis by the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) pinpoints K and Mg as the most limiting nutrients. This study tested the effects of K and Mg additions on plant performance and weevil damage for 2.75 yr, at Buligwe in central Uganda and Muyogo in southwest Uganda. All treatments received 25 kg P ha^–1 and 100 kg N ha^–1 annually, while K and Mg were applied (kg ha^–1) at 0 K–0 Mg, 100 K–0 Mg, 100 K–25 Mg and 100 K–50 Mg. Fresh fruit yields (Mg ha^–1 yr^–1) ranged from 3.2 to 5.0 at Buligwe and 14.4 to 18.9 at Muyogo, with similar treatment trends at both sites. The 100 K–0 Mg treatment produced higher yields than no-K control (p = 0.022 for the combined dataset). Yields with K+Mg tended to be lower than with K only, though not significantly different. Foliar nutrient concentrations were little affected by treatments, but varied substantially among sample dates. With increasing cumulative rainfall between foliar samplings, foliar P declined (p = 0.077), K declined (ns), and Ca and Mg increased (p = 0.02 to 0.03). Weevil damage was higher at Buligwe, but was little affected by K and Mg treatments at either site.     

Nutrient input-output budget of shifting agriculture in Eastern Amazonia

A case study on the nutrient input-output budget of slash and burn agriculture was carried out in Northeast-Pará, Brazil, where such a land-use system has been practised for about 100 years. A common cropping period lasts for two years and the fields lie fallow for 4 to 8 years. We quantified rates of deposition, fertilization, and losses due to the burn, harvest and leaching. Six fields of different phases in the rotational cycle were under study during a 19 month period. During the fallow period, the input of Na, K, Mg, N, P and S via deposition exceeded the estimated losses with the seepage water. The Ca budget was almost balanced. The balance of fields in the transition from the fallow to the cropping phase was negative for Na, K, Ca, Mg, N, and S. The P balance was positive when NPK fertilizer was applied, and negative without fertilizer application. The nutrient balance for K, Mg, Ca, N, and P was also negative on the field in transition from the cropping to the fallow period. The nutrient budget for an entire land-use cycle of 9 years was estimated by the false time series approach. In the case of an NPK fertilization during the cropping period there were net losses of 75 kg K ha^–1, 125 kg Ca ha^–1, 16 kg Mg ha^–1, 285 kg N ha^–1 and 13 kg S ha^–1. Na (86 kg ha^–1) and P (11 kg ha^–1) were accumulated. The harvest was the most important flux for the K (61%) and P (62%) output. The element transfer into the atmosphere during the burn caused the main losses of N (60%), S (65%), Ca (58%) and Mg (41%). The most important path of Na loss was leaching (92%). The net K losses were severe as they represented 45% of the K store found extractable in the soil down to 1m depth and in the above ground biomass. The presented results may be useful in planning a sustainable and environmentally protective method of land-use within a shifting cultivation system. It is strongly recommended that slash burning be abandoned in order to keep the nutrients in the ecosystem.     

Response to fertilization and nutrient deficiency diagnostics in peach palm in Central Amazonia

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is increasingly grown in the tropics for its heart-of-palm and fruit. Determining fertilization response and diagnosing nutrient status in peach palm may require methods that consider the particularities in nutrient acquisition and recycling of perennial crops. Responses to nutrient additions, and the diagnostic value of soil and foliar analyses were examined in three field experiments with three-year old peach palm stands on Oxisols in Central Amazonia. To diagnose P-deficiency levels in soils, samples from 0–5 cm and 5–20 cm depth were analyzed for available P by different methods (Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and Modified Olsen). The second and fifth leaves were analyzed to assess N, P and K deficiencies. Field experiments involved several combinations of N (from 0 to 225 kg ha^–1 yr^–1), K (from 0 to 225 kg ha^–1 yr^–1) and P (from 0 to 59 kg ha^–1 yr^–1). Palms on control plots (unfertilized) and those receiving 225 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 N and 2 Mg ha^–1 of lime yielded between 4 and 19% of the maximum growth which was obtained with N, P and K applications. In one of the experiments, yield of heart-of-palm was positively related to N additions at the lowest levels of P (8.6 kg ha^–1 yr^–1) and K (60 kg ha^–1 yr^–1) additions. In one experiment, critical leaf N level was 2.5% for the second leaf and 2.2% for the fifth leaf. Some growth responses to P additions at constant N and K levels were observed (e.g., 797 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of heart-of-palm with 39.3 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of applied P, and 632 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of heart-of-palm with 10.9 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of applied P in one experiment, and 2334 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of heart-of-palm with 39.3 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of P and 1257 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of heart-of-palm with 19.7 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 of P in another trial). In the experiment for fruit production from peach palm, total plant height did not respond to P additions between 19.7 and 59 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 and K additions between 75 and 225 kg ha^–1 yr^–1. Leaf P levels were found to be above the proposed critical levels of 0.23% for the third leaf and 0.16% for the fifth leaf. Plants in this experiment, however, showed evident symptoms of Mg deficiency, which was associated with a steep gradient of increasing Mg concentration from the fifth leaf to the second leaf. Standard leaf diagnostic methods in most cases proved less useful to show plant N and P status and growth responses to N and P additions. Soil P determined by common extractions was in general too variable for prediction of growth.     

Fertilization response and nutrient diagnosis in peach palm (Bactris gasipaes): a review

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a relatively new food crop with great potential for the humid tropics. Native to tropical America, it is commercially grown to produce hearts-of-palm and, to a lesser extent, an edible fruit. Peach palm is well adapted to nutrient poor, acid soils, and is cultivated in Brazil and Costa Rica on highly weathered soils with low pH, high aluminum saturation and, often, low organic matter content. Fertilization trials on peach palm have shown significant responses to applied nitrogen while the response to other nutrients such as phosphorus has been less frequent. Additional research, however, is necessary to determine soil and foliar nutrient critical levels and to address questions concerning peach palm growth responses to nutrient additions varying in time and space. Recycled nutrients likely contribute significantly to peach palm nutrition because plant residues are produced in considerable amounts and can decompose rapidly in commercial peach palm plantation in humid environments where cut leaves and stems are left in the field following harvest. On the other hand, nutrient exports from the system are relatively small (e.g., 4.8–6.4 kg P ha^-1yr^-1, 28–32.3 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1, 31–45.2 kg K ha^-1 yr^-1). As for most perennial tree crops, diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies in peach palm is less clear than in annual crops because of factors such as nutrient cycling, internal retranslocation, stand age, foliage age and position within the crown, and seasonal and climatic variations. Some studies on peach palm have examined variation in nutrient content within leaves and plants, and among plants as well, but the sensitivity of different plant tissues to reflect changes in nutrient uptake and response to nutrient additions should be investigated in controlled field experiments.     

The effect of foliar supplements of potassium nitrate and urea on the yield of winter wheat

Winter wheat crops were grown with ostensibly adequate supplies of all soil nutrients in 1990 and 1991 with the aim of testing if late foliar supplements of K and N, applied at key development stages, could improve grain yield and grain N content. Foliar sprays of KNO₃ solution, supplying up to 40 kg K ha^–1 in total, at flag leaf unfolded, inflorescence completed and the watery-ripe stage of grain filling, had no effect on yield, yield components or grain N. Urea, supplying 40 kg N ha^–1 at flag leaf unfolded, had no effects on grain yield and grain N in 1990, but in 1991 grain N was increased by 0.14% whilst yield was reduced by up to 0.6 t ha^–1. Urea scorched flag leaf tips in both years. In 1990, the spring was very dry and foliar supplements might have been expected to have had an effect, but on this highly fertile soil all crop K and N requirements were met from the soil.     

Fate of phosphorus applied in slurry and mineral fertilizer: accumulation in soil and release into surface runoff water

Phosphorus (P) accumulation on the soil surface and its effect on the concentration of dissolved orthophosphate P (PO₄-P) in surface runoff water were studied after three years of surface application of slurry and mineral fertilizer to grass ley on a sandy soil, poor in P. The total amount of P applied was 107–143 kg ha^–1>, of which 72–119 kg ha^–1> was applied on the soil surface during two or three years without incorporation or mixing. The addition of slurry and mineral fertilizer resulted in an increase in inorganic P in the 0–5 cm but not the 5–25 cm soil layer, but organic P was not affected. The measured changes in inorganic P deviated only by 4–6 kg ha^–1> from the values derived from inputs and outputs of P (crop uptake + losses in surface runoff and drainage water). The increase in inorganic-P was accompanied by increases in the degree of P saturation (DPS) and in P extracted with acid am monium acetate (P_Ac ), sodium bicarbonate (P_Olsen) and anion-exchange resin (P_Resin). In surface runoff, 10–18 months after the last surface application of P, the mean flow-weighted concentration of PO₄-P was linearly increased with the values of DPS, P_Ac, P_Olson and P_Resin in the 0–5 cm soil layer. PO₄-P was lowest (0.033 mg l^–1> ) in the control plots and highest (0.62 mg l^–1>) in the plot where 143 kg ha^–1> P had been applied in slurry and fertilizer. On that plot, the corresponding values of DPS, P_Ac, P_Olson and P_Resin were 16%, 13 mg kg^–1>, 85 mg kg^–1> and 71 mg kg^–1 , even within a few years, and multiply the P loading to surface runoff from the site. A very shallow soil sampling (< 5 cm) is needed to assess P loading potential in a soil where P has been surface-applied.     

Phosphorus budget and phosphorus availability in soils under organic and conventional farming

The aim of this work was to assess to which extent organic farming practices would affect the accumulation of total and available phosphorus (P) in a cropped soil in comparison to conventional practices. In order to achieve this, soil samples were taken from a long-term field trial comparing a non-fertilised control (NON), two conventionally cultivated treatments (MIN, CON), and two organically cultivated treatments (ORG, DYN). Soil samples were taken from each treatment at two depths (0-20 and 30-50 cm) before starting the field trial (1977) and at the end of every three crop rotations (1984, 1991 and 1998). They were then analysed for total P (P_t), total inorganic P (P_i), total organic P (P_o) and isotopically exchangeable P_i. After 21 years, the average P input-output budget reached -20.9 kg P ha^–1 a^–1 for NON, -7.8 for DYN, -5.7 for ORG, -5.0 for MIN and +3.8 for CON. Total P, P_i as well as the amount of P_i isotopically exchangeable within 1 minute (E₁) were positively correlated to the P budget. Comparison between P budget and P_t in the top- and subsoils of the fertilised treatments suggested a net transfer of P from the 0–20 to the 30–50 cm layers between 13 and 26 kg P ha^–1 a^–1during the first rotation and between 3 and 12 kg P ha^–1 a^–1during the second rotation. During the third rotation a net upward movement of P from the subsurface to the topsoil ranging between 3.7 and 10.5 kg P ha^–1 a^–1was estimated. In the topsoil, E₁decreased from an initial value of 12 mg P kg^–1 to 11 in CON, 8 in MIN, 6 in ORG, 5 in DYN and 2 in NON after 21 years. In the subsoil, E₁ increased from an initial value of 2 mg P kg^–1 to 4 in MIN, ORG, DYN and NON and to 6 in CON. These results show that, with the exception of NON, all treatments had still an adequate level of available P after 21 years of trial and that, in this low to moderately P sorbing soil, an equilibrated input-output budget allows to maintain P availability at a constant level. In the organic systems, yields have so far partly been attained at the expense of soil reserves or residual P from earlier fertiliser applications.     

Alfalfa response to lime,phosphorus, potassium,magnesium, and molybdenum on acid ultisols

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a high protein forage, cultivated widely in young, fertile soils. There is considerable potential for alfalfa production in areas with acidic, highly weathered soils, but few field studies on fertility requirements under these conditions have been published.Two field trials were conducted on ultisols to study the effects of lime, P, K, Mg and Mo on alfalfa growth and tissue composition. A trial with three rates of calcitic lime (0, 2400, and 3800 kg ha^–1) and P (0, 25, and 50 kg ha^–1) and two rates each of K (20 and 200 kg ha^–1 the first year, 250 and 500 kg ha^–1 in subsequent years), Mg (36 and 106 kg ha^–1) and Mo (0 and 0.25 kg ha^–1) was conducted on an Appling coarse sandy loam (Typic Hapludult). Another factorial experiment with three levels each of lime (0, 2000, and 4,000 kg ha^–1), P (0, 100, and 200 kg ha^–1), and K (0, 150, 300 kg ha^–1) was conducted on a Davidson sandy clay loam (Rhodic Paleudult).Application of lime or P resulted in increased dry matter (DM) production at both locations. Liming also raised plant tissue N concentration. Addition of Mo had no effect on DM production or on foliar composition. Addition of K depressed soil Mg, plant tissue Mg, and plant Mg uptake at both locations. On the Davidson soil DM increased when K was applied, but on the Appling soil K increased DM production only where Mg was also added. Addition of Mg decreased K uptake and depressed DM production unless K was also added.The observed antagonism between K and Mg is of importance for alfalfa production in highly weathered soils. Successful alfalfa production in these soils is unlikely unless attention is paid to the balance between these two nutrients. Raising soil pH increased foliar N concentration affecting forage quality as well as DM production.Contribution from the Dept. of Agronomy, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.     

Identification of nutrients limiting cassava yield maintenance on a sedimentary soil in southern Benin,West Africa

Market opportunities will drive intensification of cassava production and fertilizer will play a role in this. A trial was initiated on 15 farmers fields (replications) in one village territory in Benin on a relatively fertile sedimentary soil site to identify nutrients limiting cassava yield using nutrient omission plots over three cropping years. There was no response to fertilizer in the first year when fresh root yields in the unamended control averaged 19.1 t ha^–1. In the second year, the control yield was 16 t ha^–1 and there were significant reductions from withholding P (3.5 t ha^–1) and K (2 t ha^–1) from a complete fertilizer regime. Nutrient balance after 1 and 2 years (cumulative) showed substantial P and K deficits in unamended plots. In the third year, the control yield was 12.9 t ha^–1 and effects of withholding K (5.3 t ha^–1), P (5.0 t ha^–1) and N (3.0 t ha^–1) were statistically significant. Soil K was a significant source of variation in yield in the third year. In the third year of annual nutrient additions soil P and K in the top 0.3 m were increased by 37 and 40%, respectively. Based on the cumulative nutrient balance calculation, the annual application needed to compensate nutrient depletion was 13 kg N, 10 kg P, and 60 kg K ha^–1. Partial budget analysis based on these amounts of fertilizer suggested that investment was clearly justified in the third year of continuous cropping at current low cassava prices.     

Distribution of acid extractable P and exchangeable K in a grassland soil as affected by long-term surface application of N, P and K fertilizers

Information on the fate and distribution of surface-applied fertilizer P and K in soil is needed in order to assess their availability to plants and potential for water contamination. Distribution of extractable P (in 0.03 M NH₄F + 0.03 M H₂SO₄ solution) and exchangeable K (in neutral 1.0 M ammonium acetate solution) in the soil as a result of selected combinations of 30 years (1968–1997) of N fertilization (84–336 kg N ha^–1), 10 years of P fertilization (0–132 kg P ha^–1), and 14 years of K fertilization (0 and 46 kg K ha^–1) was studied in a field experiment on a thin Black Chernozem loam under smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) at Crossfield, Alberta, Canada. Soil samples were taken at regular intervals in October 1997 from 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–30, 30–60, 60–90 and 90–120 cm layers. Soil pH decreased with N rate and this declined with soil depth. Increase in extractable P concentration in the soil reflected 10 years of P fertilization relative to no P fertilization, even though it had been terminated 20 years prior to soil sampling. The magnitude and depth of increase in extractable P paralleled N and P rates. The extractable P concentration in the 0–5 cm soil layer increased by 2.2, 20.7, 30.4 and 34.5 mg P kg^–1 soil at 84, 168, 280 and 336 kg N ha^–1, respectively. The increase in extractable P concentration in the 0–15 cm soil depth was 1.5 and 12.8 mg P kg^–1 soil with application of 16 and 33 kg P ha^–1 (N rate of 84 N ha^–1 for both treatments), respectively; and it was 81.6 and 155.2 mg P kg^–1 soil with application of 66 and 132 kg P ha^–1 (N rate of 336 N ha^–1 for both treatments), respectively. The increase in extractable P at high N rates was attributed to N-induced soil acidification. Most of the increase in extractable P occurred in the top 10-cm soil layer and almost none was noticed below 30 cm depth. Surface-applied K was able to prevent depletion of exchangeable K from the 0–90 cm soil, which occurred with increased bromegrass production from N fertilization in the absence of K application. As only a small increase of exchangeable K was observed in the 10–30 cm soil, 46 kg K ha^–1 year^–1 was considered necessary to achieve a balance between fertilization and bromegrass uptake for K. The potential for P contamination of surface water may be increased with the high N and P rates, as most of the increase in extractable P occurred near the soil surface.     

Relative efficiency of ammonium polyphosphate and orthophosphates for wheat and their residual effects on succeeding cowpea fodder

The relative efficiency of ortho and polyphosphates as P sources for wheat were studied in a field experiment with five sources—TSP, DAP, NP, APP (solid) and APP (Liquid) at three levels—13, 26 and 39 kg P ha^–1 and the residual effect was studied on a succeeding cowpea (fodder). Both the crops were grown each year at same location. Wheat responded upto 39 kg P ha^–1 in the first year but only upto 26 kg P ha^–1 in the second year. The growth parameters—plant height and dry matter production and yield attributes-ears m^–1, grains ear^–1 and test weight were favourably influenced by P application. The rate of P uptake initially exceeded the dry matter production. Wheat when fertilized with 26 or 39 kg P ha^–1 left behind a significant residual effect to raise the soil P availability and dry matter yield of cowpea. The grain yield of wheat was higher with APP's than with NP or DAP but the residual effect was the highest with NP. The magnitude of build up of soil available P with NP and APP's were similar and higher than DAP or TSP.     

Fertilizer inputs,nutrient balance and soil nutrient supplying power in intensive,irrigated rice system. III. Phosphorus

Data from long-term experiments at 11 sites in Asia with a wide range of nutrient input treatments and yield levels were used to quantify crop P requirements of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and the P balance in intensive, irrigated rice systems. Uptake of 1.8–4.2 kg P was required to produce one ton of grain yield. Physiological P use efficiency varied between 220 to 900 kg grain kg P^-1. Without added P, there was a net loss of 7 to 8 kg P ha^-1 per crop; with added P there was a net gain of 4 to 5 kg P ha^-1 per crop. Phosphorus adsorption kinetics on mixed-bed ion-exchange resin capsules provided an integrative measure of soil P status, P diffusion, and acid-induced P solubilization. The resin capsule was a sensitive tool to characterize buildup or depletion of soil P as a result of different P balances. Both Olsen-P and the resin capsule were suitable methods to predict P uptake of tropical lowland rice. It is hypothesized that both methods measure a similar soil P pool which is soluble under alkaline, aerobic conditions but transformed into acid-soluble P froms as a result of submergence and reduction. Present recommendations for P fertilizer use on rice of 20–25 kg P ha^-1 are adequate to maintain yields of 5–6 t ha^-1, but sustaining higher yields of 7–8 t ha^-1 will require farm-specific management strategies based on knowledge of the long-term P balance and soil P-supplying capacity.     

Response of lowland rice and common bean grown in rotation to soil fertility levels on a Varzea soil

Brazil has approximately 30 million hectares of lowland areas, known locally as Varzea, but very little is known about their fertility and crop production potential. A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years to evaluate response of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in rotation with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on a Varzea (low, Humic Gley) soil. Rice was grown at low (no fertilizer), medium (100 kg N ha^–1, 44 kg P ha^–1, 50 kg K ha^–1, 40 kg FTE-BR 12 ha^–1), and high (200 kg N ha^–1, 88 kg P ha^–1, 100 kg K ha^–1, 80 kg FTE-BR 12 ha^–1 fritted trace element-Brazil 12 as a source of micronutrients) soil fertility levels. Green manure with medium fertility was also included as an additional treatment. Average dry matter and grain yields of rice and common bean were significantly (P < 0.01) increased with increasing fertilization. Across the three years, rice yield was 4327 kg ha^–1 at low fertility, 5523 kg ha^–1 at medium fertility, 5465 kg ha^–1 at high fertility, and 6332 kg ha^–1 at medium fertility with green manure treatment. Similarly, average common bean yield was 294 kg ha^–1 at low soil fertility, 663 kg ha^–1 at medium soil fertility, 851 kg ha^–1 at high fertility, and 823 kg ha^–1 at medium fertility with green manure treatment. Significant differences in nutrient uptake in bean were observed for fertility, year, and their interactions; however, these factors were invariably nonsignificant in rice.     

Effect of rates and sources of nitrogen application on yield and nutrient uptake of Citronella Java (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt)

Two field experiments were conducted for two crop cycles each of two years (1985–87 and 1986–88) on an entisols to study the effect of rate and sources of N application on yield and nutrient uptake of Citronella Java (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt). Fresh herbage and essential oil yields were significantly influenced by application of N up to 200 kg ha^–1 yr^–1, while tissue N concentration and N uptake increased only to 150 kg N ha^–1. The oil yields with Neem cake coated urea (urea granules coated with Neem cake) and urea super granules were 22 and 9% higher over that with prilled urea and urea supergranules were significantly increased up to 200 kg N ha^–1 while with Neem cake coated urea, response was observed only to 150 kg N ha^–1! Estimated recovery of N during two years from Neem cake coated urea, urea supergranules and prilled urea were 38, 31 and 21%, respectively.     

Potential impact of agroforestry on soil nutrient balances at the farm scale in the East African Highlands

There is much current interest in the potential role of agroforestry in the mitigation of nutrient depletion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from farm surveys and trials, a static model of N and P flows was constructed for a standard farm system, representative of typical subsistence farms in humid parts of the East African Highlands. The model was used to explore the possible impact of improved agroforestry systems on nutrient budgets, to identify priorities for research.Soil nutrient balances in the standard farm system were - 107 kg N and - 8 kg P ha^–1 yr^–1. Agroforestry systems did not significantly reduce the N deficits except when a high proportion of the total biomass was returned to the soil, rather than removed from the farm. Agroforestry increased N input through biological N fixation and deep N uptake, but this was offset by a larger nutrient removal from the farm in harvested products, which increased from 38 kg N in the standard system to 169 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 in an intensive dairy-agroforestry system. Agroforestry did not increase P inputs, and harvested P increased from 6 kg P in the standard farm system to 29 kg P ha^–1 yr^–1 in the dairy-agroforestry system. Thus, moderate P inputs, of 20 kg P ha^–1 yr^–1 were required to maintain soil P stocks.N leaching from the field was the most significant nutrient loss from the farm system, with a range of 68 to 139 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1. The capture of subsoil N by deep-rooted trees in agroforestry systems substantially increased N-use efficiency, providing 60 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 in the dairy-agroforestry system. The budgets were sensitive to N mineralization rates in subsoils, N losses from soils and manures, and effectiveness of deep-rooted plants in subsoil N capture, for which there is little data from the region. Therefore, high priority should be given to research in these areas.The current model can not account for important feedback mechanisms that would allow analysis of the long-term effects of nutrient budgets on nutrient availability and plant productivity. Dynamic models of farm nutrient budgets that include such interactions are needed to further assess the sustainability of farming systems.     

Assessment of phosphorus leaching losses from a free draining grassland soil

Intact soil monoliths (70 cm deep, 50 cm diameter), collected from a free draining Lismore silt loam soil (Udic Haplustept) under grassland, were used to evaluate phosphorus (P) leaching for two years. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of the application of mineral P fertiliser (at 45 or 90 kg P ha^–1 y^–1) and/or farm dairy effluent (FDE) (30 to 60 kg P ha^–1 y^–1) on P losses by leaching. Annual mean total P (TP) concentrations and losses were higher from the treatments that received both FDE and P fertiliser (203–429 g L^–1; 1.4–2.5 kg ha^–1) compared with P fertiliser alone (77–151 g L^–1; 0.6–1.3 kg ha^–1). The form of applied P influenced the pattern of P forms leached. For example, significantly higher P losses in different P forms were observed for the combined mineral P fertiliser and FDE treatment (P45/FDE200) than fertiliser alone (P90/N200/U). This is due to the inclusion of liquid FDE in the former treatment although the total P inputs were similar for both treatments. This illustrates the potential of these soils to adsorb soluble inorganic P applied from mineral P fertiliser, while FDE contained unreactive P forms that were mobile in the soil profile. There was a distinct pattern of P forms leached in the following order: particulate unreactive P (PUP: 40–70%)>dissolved unreactive P (DUP: 14–53%)>particulate reactive P (PRP: 5–12%)>dissolved reactive P (DRP: 1–11%). Results also suggest that changing the irrigation method from flood to spray may be the most effective means to reduce P loss in these stony, free-draining soils.     

Phosphorus transformations as affected by sampling date, fertilizer rate and phosphorus uptake in a soil under pasture

A phosphorus (P) fertilization study was conducted in the southeast of the Buenos Aires province in Argentina, to determine the effect of P fertilizer rate and sampling date on microbial biomass P, and of organic and inorganic P extractable with 0.5M NaHCO₃, in a soil under pasture. In addition, Bray-P, dry-matter production and P uptake were measured. Soil was sampled at different times over one year, and two to three years after application of 0, 50, 100 and 200 kg P ha ^–1. The addition of P fertilizer significantly increased total soil P and the labile fraction of P extractable with NaHCO₃, with the greatest change in the labile inorganic P form, but had no effect on microbial biomass P. Fractions of P showed different patterns of seasonal variation. Microbial biomass P had a peak in winter and a lowest value in summer, the opposite occurring with NaHCO₃-extractable organic P, while NaHCO₃-extractable inorganic P remained relatively constant throughout the year. The cumulative dry-matter yield after three years was 31% higher in the fertilized than in the unfertilized treatments; the highest being 27660 kg ha^–1 for 200 kg P ha^–1. Concentration of Bray-P increased by 0.18 mg P kg ^–1 for each additional kg P ha^–1 added, but remained relatively constant over the year. A significant correlation was found between available Bray-P and microbial biomass P (r = 0.53), and NaHCO₃-extractable organic P (r = 0.47), suggesting that these organic fractions may contribute to plant nutrition.