Application of liquid cattle manure and inorganic fertilizers affect dry matter,nitrogen accumulation,and partitioning in maize

Efficient use of N applied in the form of organic and inorganic fertilizers is important in maize (Zea mays L.) production to maximize producer’s economic returns and maintain soil and water quality. A field study was conducted for three consecutive years (2003–2005) in Thessaloniki, Greece to investigate whether liquid cattle manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizers and also whether inorganic fertilizer can be applied preplant or as a combination of preplant and sidedress and can affect maize growth, development and N use efficiency. The treatments were control (unfertilized), liquid dairy cattle manure (Manure), application of 260 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ as basal dressing (N-single), application of 130 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ N as basal dressing before sowing and 130 kg N ha⁻¹ when plants were at the eight-leaf stage (V8) (N-split). In 2 out of the 3 years of the study there was a significant positive effect of fertilizer application on maize growth, development, N uptake, and partitioning compared with the control. Dry matter production was increased by an average of 39% during the 2 years in plots fertilized either with manure or inorganic fertilizers than the control plots. Also from the yield components kernel weight per ear and number of kernels per ear were increased by an average of 35% and 32%, respectively in the fertilized plots compared with the control plots. Chlorophyll level was affected as it was increased by an average of 18%, 14%, and 18% at the ten-leaf stage (V10), silking and milk stage, respectively in the fertilization treatments compared with the control. Similar trend was observed in the other parameters that were studied. No differences were found between the manure and the different times of N application which indicates that manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizer. Applying N either preplant in a single application or in split application (half of N preplant and half as sidedress) did not have any effect on any characteristics that were studied indicating that preplant application can be used as it is more cost effective. The present study indicates that liquid cattle manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizers and also that there was no difference between preplant and sidedress application of N.     

Response of wheat to nitrogen fertilization,a data set to validate simulation models for nitrogen dynamics in crop and soil

A data set originating from winter wheat experiments at three locations during two years is described. The purpose is to provide sufficient data for testing simulation models for soil nitrogen dynamics, crop growth and nitrogen uptake. Each experiment comprised three different nitrogen treatments, and observations were made at intervals of two or three weeks. The observations included measurements of soil mineral nitrogen content, soil water content, groundwater table, dry matter production and dry matter distribution, nitrogen uptake, nitrogen distribution and root length density.     

Fertilization of millet cv. Souna III in Senegal: dry matter production and nutrient uptake

In a fertilizer and manure experiment, millet was grown under four treatments (no fertilizer or manure, farmyard manure, chemical fertilizer, and both). Grain yield and total aboveground biomass production of the unfertilized plot were relatively high. The observed differences in total dry matter production must be attributed to differences in nutrient availability, as amount of rainfall and its distribution were favourable. Results show only small differences in distribution of dry matter among the various plant organs between the best and the non-fertilized treatments.Nutrient supply from natural sources, defined as crop content of N, P, and K at maturity without fertilizer application, amounted to 104, 16 and 103 kg ha^–1, respectively, which are very high values.Total uptake of calcium and magnesium is related to that of potassium, as the combined content of these three elements is linearly related to total aboveground biomass production. Minimum removal of nitrogen and phosphorus per ton grain dry matter amounts to 29 and 4kg, respectively, and 9 kg potassium per ton total aboveground dry matter. A possible double function of phosphorus as element of structural biomass and for maintenance of electro-neutrality is discussed.     

Simulation of nitrogen in soil and winter wheat crops: Modelling nitrogen turnover through organic matter

A computer model is described that simulates leaching, organic matter turnover and nitrogen uptake by a winter wheat crop. The model is assessed against a data set from the Netherlands where winter wheat was grown in two seasons (1982–3 and 1983–4) on three different soils in two different parts of the country. The model satisfactorily simulated the growth, N uptake and production of grain. It also simulated the dynamics of indigenous soil N well but it did not always account for the fate of applied fertilizer N. Some possible reasons for this and ways of improving the model are discussed.     

The effect of soil pH and chemical form of nitrogen fertilizer on heavy-metal contents in ryegrass

Ryegrass was grown in pots containing metal-enriched soil which was adjusted to different pH levels with acid or lime, and supplied with either ammonium sulphate or calcium nitrate as the N fertilizer.Concentrations of heavy metals in the grass tops increased with decreasing soil pH to an extent diminishing in the order: Mn, Ni, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr.Nitrate application was the more appropriate treatment for the production of lower concentrations of heavy metals in the grass because its use by the grass increased the pH of the soil, whereas added ammonium sulphate released acid to the soil during nitrification and plant uptake of ammonium. After three successive cuttings and repeated dressings, soil pH (H₂O) was 3 units higher with nitrate than with ammonium, resulting in a marked reduction in the uptake of the more pH-sensitive metals in soils where nitrate was applied     

Effect of foliar sprayings of urea during or after anthesis on dry matter and nitrogen accumulation in the grain of two wheat cultivars ofT. aestivum L.

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of foliar urea spraying during or after anthesis, on dry matter and nitrogen accumulation in the wheat grain of two cultivars, differing in grain protein content. The experiment was carried out in the field, and 20 kg N ha^–1 as urea (46-0-0) was sprayed at anthesis, 7 or 14 days after anthesis. Dry weight, N content and N percentage of the grain were determined at several stages of its development.Neither the rate nor the duration of dry matter accumulation in the grain was significantly modified by N sprayings at anthesis or later and, consequently, not its final weight. Nitrogen sprayings at anthesis or later increased the grain N content and N percentage at ripeness in both cultivars, but to a greater extent in the low grain protein cultivar. Greater N content in the grain was attributed to a rapid uptake of the N applied and not to a longer duration of the period of N accumulation.The different responses of the cultivars to N sprayings can be related to differences in N demand, and is probably associated, also, to a genetic ability to accumulate N in the grain.     

Production of fuel ethanol from softwood by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation at high dry matter content

BACKGROUND: The production of bio‐ethanol from softwood is considered a promising alternative to fossil fuels in Sweden. In order to make fuel ethanol economically competitive with fossil fuels, it is important to reduce the production cost, which can be done by increasing the dry matter content of the fermentation medium, thus reducing the energy demand in the final distillation of the fermentation broth. Running simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at higher dry matter content has, however, been found to decrease the ethanol yield. RESULTS: The use of different stirrer types and stirring speeds in the present study has shown to have an influence on the final ethanol yield in SSF with 10% water‐insoluble solids (WIS). Also, higher concentration of pretreatment hydrolysate, i.e., with increased inhibitor concentration, at the same WIS resulted in a decreased ethanol yield. However, despite stirring problems and high inhibitor concentration, ethanol was produced at 12% WIS with an ethanol yield in the SSF step of 81% of the theoretical based on the content of fermentable sugars in the fermentor. CONCLUSION: The decrease in ethanol yield in SSF at high dry matter content has been shown to be a combined effect of increased mass transfer resistance and increased inhibitor concentration in the fermentation broth. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nitrogen availability of soluble and slow release nitrogen fertilizers as assessed by electroultrafiltration

The efficiency of different nitrogenous fertilizers under forced leaching conditions was determined in pot experiments using ryegrass as an indicator plant in a sandy loam soil. Treatments were: ON (unfertilized), AN (ammonium nitrate), U (urea), DAP (diammonium phosphate), T (Triabon), FK (Floranid Komplett) and CDU (crotonylidendiurea).N source effects on N uptake, and N leached (as % of N applied) were evaluated. Results show that the fertilizers which behaved best with regard to N uptake were FK followed by Triabon and AN. The most soluble fertilizers, AN and urea, gave the highest N leaching losses.Significant correlations between EUF-NI (rapidly soluble fraction) and leaching, as well as between EUF-N (I + II) and N uptake by the plant (where EUF-N II relates to the slowly soluble fraction) were obtained.     

Effect of sodium iodide on growth and chemical composition of lucerne and ryegrass

Growth of lucerne was inhibited by sodium iodide even more than that of ryegrass above a concentration equivalent to 1µg cm^–3 of iodine in an applied solution. In sand-culture the extent to which the iodide depressed yield of dry matter depended on the type of nutrient-solution used to stimulate and maintain vigorous growth. In contrast, where the plants were grown in soil the depression was independent of the nutrient-solution used. This difference between solutions is a reflection of the extent to which growing plants can modify pH in the root-zone of a sandy unbuffered substrate and leads to a conclusion that acidity greatly enhances the toxic effect of the iodine. There are reasons for believing that in sunlight iodine may be lost by volatilization even from living plant-tissue. The implication of these findings is discussed in relation to using either iodized fertilizers or iodized salt-blocks in order to maintain iodine in pastoral systems at levels satisfactory for animal-health.     

Interspecies differences and variability with time of protein precipitation activity of extractable tannins,crude protein,ash, and dry matter content of leaves from 13 species of Nepalese fodder trees

Dry matter, ash, crude protein, and protein precipitation activity (PPA) of 13 Nepalese tree fodder species were monitored in dried samples prepared monthly between November 1990 and May 1991, and additionally in November 1991, covering the season when they are particularly important as fodder. Monthly levels of dry matter, ash, and crude protein were fairly stable except when there was new leaf growth, although year to year differences in dry matter were found inBrassaiopsis hainla (Bh),Dendrocalamus strictus (Ds),Ficus roxburghii (Fr), andQuercus semecarpifolia (Qs). Tannin PPA fluctuated considerably inArtocarpus lakoocha (Al),Ficus glaberrima (Fg),F. nerrifolia (Fn), Fr,F. semicordata (Fs),Litsea polyantha (Lp), andPrunus cerasoides (Pc), and to a lesser extent in Bh,Castanopsis indica (Ci),C. tribuloides (Ct),Quercus lamellosa (Ql), and Qs. Similar fluctuations in PPA were observed in fresh leaf samples taken weekly. Ds did not have any detectable PPA. Trends in PPA fluctuation were generally similar for trees located at similar altitudes. Fr, Pc, Al, Fn, Ql, and Ci had falling PPAs before shedding leaves. Some of the fluctuations in Fr, Fs, Fg, Pc, and Lp were apparently due to changes in the extractability and quantity of condensed tannins. These fluctuations in PPA may affect the nutritive value of the fodders.     

城市污水自养脱氮系统中有机物与磷的回收

厌氧氨氧化的发现使开发低能耗城市污水处理技术成为可能,可通过生物吸附实现污水能源与资源的回收。强化除磷系统污泥龄(SRT)仅为2 d,系统抗冲击性强,污泥沉降性良好,污泥体积指数(SVI)低于50,可为自养脱氮系统提供稳定的进水,但系统污泥碳含量仅为37%。将反应器内好氧水力停留时间(HRT)降至 40 min后,实现有机物去除序批式反应器(SBR)的稳定运行,厌氧段COD去除率占总COD去除率的93.8%,这表明系统对有机物的去除主要为生物吸附作用,同时污泥碳含量提升至48%。由于异养菌对有机物的消耗利用与除磷菌的吸磷过程同时进行,若试验废水C/P比较低,可降低系统水力停留时间、提升碳的回收率并辅助少量的化学除磷手段,对系统厌氧搅拌时间、曝气时间及污泥龄进行优化,从而实现C与P的高效回收。     

A nitrogen and phosphorus herbage nutrient index as a tool for assessing the effect of N and P supply on the dry matter yield of permanent pastures

In order to propose consistent decision rules for fertilizer supply, a study was made on the effect of additions of N and P fertilizers and of their interaction on the above-ground dry matter yield of pastures during spring. The interaction between N and P could occur through nutrient acquisition or nutrient efficiency for growth. We therefore characterised the herbage N and P status (N and P index) from previously established critical curves of herbage mineral content according to above-ground dry matter. First we studied the effect of N and P addition on herbage nutrient status. Secondly, we expressed the above-ground dry matter as a function of the herbage nutrient status. This study consisted of four treatments applied to four permanent pastures which had a low phosphorus availability. The results showed a positive effect of P supply on the herbage nitrogen status, which may be due to an increase of organic matter mineralization or root growth. The P herbage status decreased only if N was supplied without P. The dry matter yield was positively related to the herbage nitrogen status, but a low P herbage status reduced the slope of the relationship. For the pastures studied, the indirect effect of P supply on above-ground dry matter, revealed by an increase in N index, was greater than its direct effect. This methodology allows us to distinguish the direct and indirect effects of N and P addition on herbage growth at field level. It could be used to propose consistent rules to manage jointly both N and P supplies.     

Use of data from long-term fertilizer experiments to model plant nitrogen uptake

Correct values for plant N-uptake are particularly important when correctly modelling the dynamics of nitrate leaching from agricultural soils. The general abundance of grain yield statistics represent a potential source of information for modelling plant N-uptake, provided that grain yield dry weight can be used to predict the total plant N-uptake (Vold & Søreng, 1997). In this paper, a nonlinear relationship for plant N-content as a function of grain yield dry weight and fertilizer N-level is derived. Data from long-term field experiments of grain dry weight (g N m^-2) and N-content in grains plus straw (g N m^-2) at harvest was used with nonlinear regression to estimate the parameters of the function. The parameters of a linear function were estimated similarly. Both models obtained could equally well describe the harvested N as a function of fertilizer N-level and grain dry weight, but the year-to-year variation of each fertilizer level was best described by the nonlinear model. An independent dataset, consisting of series of dry weight and N-content of grain yield from farm level experiments conducted in the same region (southeast Norway), was used to validate the nonlinear model.     

Unexpected enrichment of nitrogen during the diagenetic evolution of sedimentary organic matter

This study examines the behaviour of nitrogen during coalification in two coal series: the sedimentologically homogeneous coal series of the Mahakam delta, Indonesia and a reference coal series composed of samplesfrom several sources. The variations in the total nitrogen contents, in hydrolysable nitrogen, and in the natural isotopic abundance of ¹⁵N are reported. The behaviour of nitrogen during coalification presents three main stages: 1. a first stage where microbial and/or chemical degradations produce a loss of nitrogen; 2. a second stage of preservation, where organic nitrogen does not take part in the reactions involved and consequently remains unchanged in the residual organic matter; and 3. a third stage of thermal alteration, where nitrogen is mainly released with methane.     

肥料中硝态氮、铵态氮、总氮的研究

研究仅含硝态氮、铵态氮的肥料,结果表明,用GB/T8572-2010《复混肥料中总氮含量的测定蒸馏后滴定法》检测含有硝态氮、铵态氮的肥料中铵态氮含量、硝态氮含量(差减法总氮含量-铵态氮含量=硝态氮含量)(标准GB/T8572-2010《复混肥料中总氮含量的测定蒸馏后滴定法》中没有体现总氮含量-铵态氮含量=硝态氮含量,这是根据铵态氮与硝态氮性质总结研究出来的)与标准NY/T1116-2014《肥料硝态氮、铵态氮、酰胺态氮含量的测定》单独检测铵态氮含量、硝态氮含量结果无显著性差异。GB/T8572-2010检测总氮含量与SN/T0736.5-2010《进出口化肥检验方法第5部分:氮含量的测定》检测总氮含量无显著性差异。     

Effect of cultivation on the nitrogen fertility of selected agro-ecosystems in South Africa

Surveys of soils on commercial farms practising rainfed agriculture in South Africa, found large losses of N fertility. Information regarding the pattern of this loss is not available for different agro-ecosystems. Thus, the aim was to quantify the effect of cultivation on the N fertility of soils in five agro-ecosystems with virgin soils serving as reference, find the relation between the period of cultivation and the decrease in N fertility for each agro-ecosystem and determine whether this decline differed between the agro-ecosystems. Five to six sites with different cultivation periods were sampled within each agro-ecosystem. At each site a cultivated soil and its virgin counterpart were sampled to 200 mm depth and total and mineralizable N were determined as indices of N fertility. Cultivation, irrespective of the period, caused a significant decrease in the N fertility of all five agro-ecosystems and the rate of loss was rapid during the first few years of cultivation. Thereafter, the rate decreased until an equilibrium was approached. In agro-ecosystems from the warmer, drier regions, an equilibrium was approached much sooner than in agro-ecosystems from the cooler, wetter regions, but the percentage of N fertility loss was larger in the latter regions. The percentage loss of mineralizable N was larger than that of total N. This depletion of N fertility in cultivated soils may result in unsustainable crop production.     

A microplot study of the fate of15N-labelled ammonium nitrate and urea applied at two rates to ryegrass in spring

Confined microplots were used to study the fate of¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate and urea when applied to ryegrass in spring at 3 lowland sites (S1, S2 and S3). Urea and differentially and doubly labelled ammonium nitrate were applied at 50 and 100 kg N ha^–1. The % utilization of the¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer was measured in 3 cuts of herbage and in soil to a depth of 15 cm (soil_0–15).Over all rates, forms and sites, the % utilization values for cuts 1, 2, 3 and soil_0–15 were 52.4, 5.3, 2.4 and 16.0% respectively. The % utilization of¹⁵N in herbage varied little as the rate of application increased but the % utilization in the soil_0–15 decreased as the rate of application increased. The total % utilization values in herbage plus soil_0–15 indicated that losses of N increased from 12 to 25 kg N ha^–1 as the rate of N application was increased from 50 to 100 kg N ha^–1.The total % utilization values in herbage plus soil_0–15 over both rates of fertilizer N application were 84.1, 80.8 and 81.0% for urea compared with 74.9, 72.5 and 74.4% for all ammonium nitrate forms at S1, S2 and S3 respectively. Within ammonium nitrate forms, the total % utilization values in herbage plus soil_0–15 over both rates and all sites were 76.7, 69.4 and 75.7% for¹⁵NH₄NO₃, NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ and¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ respectively. The utilization of the nitrate moiety of ammonium nitrate was lower than the utilization of the ammonium moiety.The distribution of labelled fertilizer between herbage and soil_0–15 varied with soil type. As the total utilization of labelled fertilizer was similar at all sites the cumulative losses due to denitrification and downward movement appeared to account for approximately equal amounts of N at each site.     

On-farm estimation of indigenous nitrogen supply for site-specific nitrogen management in the North China plain

Estimating indigenous nitrogen supply (INS) by measurement of crop N uptake in N omission plots for site-specific N management is not feasible on a routine basis because it involves destructive plant sampling and plant tissue analysis, which is time-consuming and expensive. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of INS and develop a method to estimate it using soil testing in the North China plain (NCP). On-farm experiments at 229 sites were conducted from 2003 to 2005 in seven key winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/summer maize (Zea mays L.) production regions of the NCP. The mean INS during the wheat-growing season was129 kg N ha⁻¹ with a range from 62 to 212 kg N ha⁻¹, and it varied from 69 to 202 kg N ha⁻¹ with a mean of 142 kg N ha⁻¹ during the maize-growing season. Considering all sites, the variability of INS was not simulated by initial soil N _min or apparent N mineralization (N _organic) alone, while together they could explain about 38% and 60% of INS during the wheat and maize-growing seasons, respectively. During the wheat-growing season, mean N _organic was 63 kg N ha⁻¹, and 59% and 33% of its variation could be explained by SOM in high-yielding regions (mean yield, 7.6 t ha⁻¹) and low-yielding regions (mean yield, 5.3 t ha⁻¹), respectively. Mean N _organic during the maize-growing season was 109 kg N ha⁻¹, 22% of which could be explained by SOM across all sites. An average of 40% and 42% of INS variation could be explained by both SOM and initial soil N _min content during the wheat and maize-growing seasons, respectively. We conclude that the accuracy of estimating crop N requirement for site-specific N management will be increased by using initial soil N _min and SOM.     

城市污泥与锯末复配作为绿化基质在黑麦草上的应用初探

为探讨厌氧消化处理后的城市污泥在园林方面利用的可行性,采用盆栽实验研究城市污泥与锯末不同配比作为绿化基质对黑麦草种苗生长的影响。经过测定,厌氧消化处理后污泥中重金属含量均达到国家园林绿化标准。LIPP厌氧消化污泥与锯末质量比在40%、50%时,复配基质所含总氮、总磷、总钾与营养土较为接近。污泥与锯末质量配比在50%时,对黑麦草种苗生长效果最好,分蘖数和叶长分别达到营养土的92%、97.8%;根长、鲜质量、叶绿素和可溶性糖质量分数比营养土分别增加了19.0%、17.9%、17.9%、29.8%;相对电导率和丙二醛(MDA)质量分数分别比营养土降低了18.5%、20.8%。     

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on yield,oil content,nitrogen accumulation and water use of canola (Brassica napus L.)

Effects of N application and water supply on yield, oil content and N accumulation by canola, cultivar Marnoo, grown on a heavy clay soil in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation Region were investigated. Treatments were rainfed (R_f) or watered at a deficit of 50 mm (40–60 mm, I₅₀) beginning in the spring. N treatments were 0, 50, 100 or 200 kg N ha^–1 at sowing or as split applications of 20/80, and 50/50 kg N ha^–1 at sowing and rosette, respectively.Yield (Y_g) ranged from 170 to 520 g m^–2. Irrigation and N increased yield in both years. Grain yields were increased by N application on the irrigated treatments when 100 or 200 kg N ha^–1 was applied. Oil concentrations ranged from a maximum of 46.4% in treatment N₀ to a minimum of 40.6% in treatment N₂₀₀ and was inversely related to seed N concentration. Although fertilizer N decreased oil concentration, it increased the yield of oil.Nitrogen accumulation (N_b) limited yield of all treatments and was described by the equation, Y_g = 806[1-EXP(–0.039*N_b)]. This implied a decrease in yield per unit of N_b at the higher rates of fertilizer addition with consequent increases in grain N concentration.The efficiency of water use in the production of grain (WUE_g) and biomass (WUE_b) were 7.5 and 23 kg ha^–1 mm^–1 respectively. Nitrogen additions increased WUE_g and WUE_b in both seasons. Maximum values of 8.9 (WUE_g 1986) and 26.8 (WUE_b 1987) were measured from treatment N₂₀₀. These data suggest that the crops made efficient use of the applied water.