潮土肥料定位试验研究

4年定位监测结果表明土壤与肥料对小麦的供肥比例为12.7,玉米为11.7,施肥在作物高产中起重要作用,尤其要重视小麦施肥.有机肥与氮磷化肥配施增产更明显,还能提高籽实品质.单施氮磷化肥土壤速效钾出现亏缺,在生产中应注意施用钾肥.     

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.     

磷在土壤中的固定机制和磷肥的高效利用

磷肥当季利用率只有10%～25%,通过系统分析文献研究进展表明,磷肥低效利用的主要原因是土壤对磷的固定,固定方式包括吸附固定和化学反应固定。土壤对磷的固定取决于土壤中碳酸钙、铁铝氧化物、土壤粘粒的含量以及土壤中磷的初始浓度,在施肥初期发生大量的吸附固定,持续数小时至数十小时,后期逐渐转化为化学反应固定,使有效态磷转化为无效态磷,持续数月乃至数年。磷肥在土壤中的固定动力学可用Elovich方程描述。要减弱土壤对磷的固定,需要降低土壤中水溶性磷的浓度。本文结合文献中报道的嵊县红壤对磷的固定规律和油菜对磷的吸收特性,定量分析了磷在土壤中的释放、固定、吸收过程,通过建立模型计算得出,与单施普通磷肥相比,混施普通磷肥和包膜磷肥可大幅度降低施肥量和提高磷的当季利用率。     

An attempt to evaluate phosphorus fertilizer requirements of western Nigeria savannah soils

A greenhouse fertilizer trial was carried out on 60 surface soils of the western Nigeria savannah derived from basement complex rocks. Bray's P₁ available P in the soils varied between 1 and 112µg ml^–1. There was maize response to P addition and a critical P level of 12.7µg ml^–1 was calculated for the soils.For 22 of the soils, a laboratory incubation technique was used in evaluating changes in Bray's P₁ extractable P at various rates with time. The initial rapid decline in soil available P was completed between 28 and 84 days of incubation. A fertilizer factor, calculated from extracted P in treated and untreated soils varied between 1.5 and 16.7µg ml^–1 and was significantly correlated with soil pH and citrate-dithioniteextractable oxides of Fe and Al.Fertilizer rates based on critical soil P, available soil P and fertilizer factor, correlated significantly with greenhouse estimates for optimum yield obtained with the linear response plateau model (r = 0.91,p < 0.001). At ten field locations varying in available P content, response was only to P applications lower than 60 kg ha^–1 and the calculated P rates using a mean fertilizer factor of 3.0µg ml^–1 corresponded to P rates at which maximum yields were obtained in the sites.     

Crop yield and the fate of nitrogen and phosphorus following application of plant material and feces to soil

Organic materials are the most important sources of nutrients for agricultural production in farming systems of semi-arid West Africa. However, reliance on locally available organic nutrient sources for both crop and livestock production is rapidly becoming unsustainable. A series of feeding and agronomic trials have been conducted to address the role of livestock in sustainable nutrient cycling. This paper reports results of a greenhouse study that evaluated the effects of applying crop residue and browse leaves, or feces derived from these feeds, at equal organic-N application rates (150 kg ha^-1), alone or with fertilizer-N (60 kg ha^-1), on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R.Br.) dry matter (DM) yield, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake, on soil nutrients, and on total, labile and recalcitrant fractions of soil organic matter (SOM). Millet DM and cumulative N uptake were most affected by fertilizer-N, followed by plant species and amendment type, although various interactions among these treatments were noted due to variations in the composition of the applied amendments. Fertilizer-N increased total millet DM by 39%, N uptake by 58% and P uptake by 17%, and enhanced N mineralization from most organic amendments, but was applied insufficiently to totally offset N and P immobilization in pots containing leaves of low initial N and P content. Feces alone appeared to supply sufficient N to meet millet-N demands. Nitrogen use efficiency was, in most cases, higher in pots amended with feces than with leaves. Nitrogen in feces apparently mineralized more in synchrony with millet-N demands. Also, the relatively high cell wall content of feces may have provided an effective, temporary sink for fertilizer-N, which upon remineralization provided more N to millet than pots amended with leaves. Whereas most of the P contained in feces mineralized and was taken up by millet, most leaves immobilized P. Assessing the costs and benefits associated with the direct land application of biomass as a soil fertility amendment versus feeding biomass first to livestock then using feces (and urine) to fertilize the soil requires information on both crop and livestock production and associated impacts on nutrient cycling.     

Phosphorus fractions and adsorption characteristics in grassland soils of varied soil phosphorus status

Characterization of phosphorus (P) in soils is important both agronomically and environmentally, although the outcome may depend on the technique applied. Consequently, we evaluated fractionation and adsorption, individually and jointly, and relevant ancillary soil attributes, to determine the dominant functional characteristics of soil P in 32 fertilized temperate grassland Inceptisols classified by eight soil series, and by two soil-P index and parent material groups. Residual P was low (30.7%) and organic P (Po) prominent, 42.0% vs. 17.5% for equivalent soils in unfertilized natural ecosystems. Labile fractions comprised 6.8% inorganic P (Pi) and 9.1% Po. The proportional increase in high vs. low index soils (Morgan P > 6.0 mg l⁻¹ vs. ≤ 6.0 mg l⁻¹) was higher for Pi, and highest for labile and moderately labile fractions. Only moderately labile Pi and Po differed significantly between soils of limestone and non-limestone origin. Oxalate extractable Fe (Fe_ox) and buffering (EBC) were higher in the latter. The equilibrium P concentration (EPC) was substantially higher in the high index group, and EBC and binding energy (k) substantially lower, with no significant difference in sorption maximum (Pmax). EBC equated with weak to strong buffering in different soil series, and conformed better than k to ancillary attributes. Pmax correlated in order Al_ox > clay > OC > Fe_ox, and more broadly reflected sorption attributes than oxalate-based sorption capacity (PSC). Principal component (PC) analysis showed consistent differentiation of P fractions, mostly labile and moderately labile, in PC 1 vs. adsorption and ancillary attributes in PC 2. However, scatterplots of PC scores showed that adsorption characteristics provided better functional differentiation than P fractions for distinguishing individual soil series, which may have implications in selection and interpretation of extractants not only for environmental but also for agronomic soil-tests.     

有机无机生物肥的生产技术与应用效果

介绍一种有机无机生物肥的生产技术。其生产方法是:以工农业废物复合菌剂发酵生产生物有机肥料颗粒;以氮磷钾及中微量元素生产无机肥颗粒,再进行包膜以克服无机盐分对生物活菌的影响;将两种颗粒肥按比例混合。讨论和确定了有机物料加入菌剂达到腐熟的各项指标。该肥料通过在苹果树栽培中的应用效果试验,增产提质效果显著。     

Phosphorus supplying capacity of heavily fertilized soils I. Phosphorus adsorption characteristics and phosphorus fractionation

Studies were conducted to investigate the P sorption characteristics and P fractions in eight intensively fertilized soils collected from southern and central Norway. Adsorption of P at the initial P concentrations in the soil solution was very high in the Særheim clay loam soil which contained high amounts of organic C and clay. Adsorption data were fitted well to the classical Langmuir equation. The P affinity constant (k), adsorption maximum (b) and maximum buffer capacity (mbc) calculated from this equation differed considerably among soils. The P affinity constant (r=0.96,p=0.01) and maximum buffer capacity (r=0.97,p=0.01) were highly and positively correlated to organic C. None of the soil parameters were related to adsorption maximum. Phosphorus desorption from the heavily fertilized soils varied widely and depended on the initial P status of the soil and soil texture. The ratio between desorbed P and total P was significantly correlated to sorption parameters. Multiple regression analysis showed that total P positively and organic C negatively affected P desorption in the soils. Iron-P was a major P sink in these soils and it was related to clay content (r=0.69,p=0.1) and organic P (r=0.76,p=0.0.5), but it did not relate to average P removed per harvest (RPH). Calcium-P and Al-P were not related to any of the soil parameters but these fractions were the major contributors to RPH as expressed by a multiple regression equation: RPH=0.397+0.0016 × Ca-P + 0.0012 × Al-P (r=0.84,p=0.05). High content of inorganic fractions shows that most of the residual P may be plant available, albeit at reduced rate with time, in these soils but the availability will depend on soil types.     

Assessing phosphorus bioavailability in agricultural soils and runoff

Bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) transported in agricultural runoff can accelerate surface water eutrophication. Although several algal assays and chemical extractions have been proposed to estimate BAP, procedural and theoretical limitations have restricted widespread BAP measurement. Thus, a routine method was developed to estimate BAP, which uses iron oxide-impregnated paper strips (Fe-oxide strips) as a P-sink for BAP in runoff. In the proposed method BAP is determined by shaking 50 mL of unfiltered runoff with one Fe-oxide strip for 16 h. Phosphorus is removed from the strip by 0.1M H₂SO₄ and measured. The BAP content of runoff from 20 agricultural watersheds in the Southern Plains was related to the growth of P-starved algae incubated for 29 d with runoff as the sole source of P. Acting as a P sink, Fe-oxide strips may have a stronger theoretical basis than chemical extraction in estimating BAP. The method may also have potential use as an environmental soil P test to indicate soils liable to enrich runoff with sufficient P to accelerate eutrophication. Bioavailable P loss in runoff was lower from no till (438 g ha^–1 yr^–1) than from conventional till (1288 g ha^–1 yr^–1). Kinetic and enrichment ratio approaches accurately predicted (r² of 0.93) BAP transport in runoff during 1988 to 1990. Use of the Fe-oxide strip method will facilitate estimation of BAP transport in runoff and thereby, improve assessment of the resultant impact on the biological productivity of receiving surface waters.Abbreviations A Degree of soil aggregation (unitless) - B Soil bulk density (Mg m^–3) - BAP Bioavailable P content of runoff (mg L^–1 and kg ha^–1) - BIOP Bioavailable P content of soil (mg kg^–1) - BPP Bioavailable particulate P content of runoff (mg L^–1 and kg ha^–1) - D Effective depth of interaction between runoff and surface soil (mm) - DP Dissolved P content of runoff (mg L^–1 and kg ha^–1) - ER Enrichment ratio (unitless) - P Phosphorus - P_a Bray I available P content of 0-50 mm depth of soil (mg kg^–1) - PP Particulate P content of runoff (mg L^–1 and kg ha^–1) - STP Soil test P, plant available (mg kg^–1) - TP Total P content of runoff (mg L^–1 and kg ha^–1) - t Duration of runoff event (min) - W Runoff water/soil (suspended sediment) ratio (L g^–1) - K,, ß, i Constants of the equation describing the kinetics of soil P desorption     

复合肥中磷的形态及其在土壤中的作用

介绍磷酸盐的特性;在复合肥生产中应合理配料,减少水溶磷的退化。研究了复合肥中不同形态的磷在土壤中的作用。     

A farm-level evaluation of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use and planting density for pearl millet production in Niger

Mineral fertilizer use is increasing in West Africa though little information is available on yield response in farmers' fields. Farmers in this region plant at low density (average 5,000 pockets ha^–1, 3 plants pocket^–1), which can affect fertilizer use efficiency. A study was conducted with 20 farmers in Niger to assess the response of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] to phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers under farm conditions. In each field, treatments included control, single superphosphate (SSP) only, SSP plus N (point placed near plant), and either SSP or partially acidulated phosphate rock (PAPR) plus N broadcast. N and P were applied at 30 kg N ha^–1 and 30 kg P₂O₅ ha^–1. Farmers were allowed to plant, weed, etc., as they wished and they planted at densities ranging from 2,000 to 12,000 pockets ha^–1. In the absence of fertilizer, increasing density from 2,000 to 7,000 pockets ha^–1 increased yield by 400%. A strong interaction was found between fertilizer use and density. Farmers planting at densities less than 3,500 pockets ha^–1 had average yields of 317 kg grain ha^–1 while those planting at densities higher than 6,500 pockets ha^–1 showed average yields of 977 grain ha^–1. Though phosphate alone increased yields significantly at all densities, little response to fertilizer N was found at densities below 6,000 pockets ha^–1. Significant residual responses in 1987 and 1988 were found to P applied in high-density plots in 1986. Depending on fertilizer and grain prices, analysis showed that fertilizer use must be be combined with high plant density (10,000 pockets ha^–1) or no economic benefit from fertilizer use will be realized.     

Effect of spatial distribution and soil volume fertilized on recovery of phosphorus fertilizer by wheat in a pot experiment

Labelled Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ · H₂O was added to two soils (an Oxisol and a vertisol) at two rates, both as a point source and completely dispersed through the soil. The point source treatments included two spatial distributions at each of two percentages of soil volume fertilized. Total and fertilizer phosphorus uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown for 42 days were determined in a glasshouse experiment. Uptake of fertilizer phosphorus was not affected by spatial distribution, but declined in the Oxisol as percentage soil volume fertilized increased at the low application rate. The implications of these results in terms of the effects of cultivation on fertilizer availability are briefly discussed.     

Influence of soil organic carbon on the interpretation of soil test P for wheat grown on alkaline soils

Organic carbon is known to alter crop response to applied phosphorus (P) but that fact has not been incorporated in soil test interpretations. To achieve this objective, field experiments with wheat were conducted for four years on alkaline soils of Punjab, India. The experimental soils ranged from loamy sand to loam in texture, 7.4 to 9.6 in pH, 0.16 to 0.75% in organic carbon (OC) and 2 to 40 mg Olsen extractable P kg^–1 soil. Response of wheat to fertilizer phosphorus application was related to the combined effect of Olsen P and soil OC content. At a given Olsen P level, wheat yield was a function of soil OC content. Multiple regression analysis of the data showed that OC content <0.2% did not affect yield significantly. At values >0.6%, OC along with Olsen P accounted for 97% of the variation in yield and there was no response to applied fertilizer P. Yield isoquants for 4 and 5 tons grains ha^–1 showed that for a given Olsen P level, as OC content increased the amount of fertilizer P required to achieve a yield target decreased. It was shown that OC may be used to approximate the contribution of organic P mineralization to plant available soil P during a growing season. The reliability of fertilizer recommendations based on Olsen P may be improved on some alkaline soils by consideration of soil OC content.     

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.     

Residual phosphate fertilizer compounds in soils

A variety of P compounds can accumulate in soils as residues of fertilizer and may influence soil test versus plant yield relationships. This work evaluates specific chemical extractants for their capacity to identify such Al, Fe and Ca phosphates in soils as a basis for increasing the precision of yield prediction. Aluminium phosphate, iron phosphate, calcium phosphate (apatite) and P sorbed onto gibbsite, goethite and calcite were added to four Western Australian lateritic soils. These soils were then subjected to sequential selective extraction using a modified Chang and Jackson procedure in order to evaluate the selectivity of these extractants for the different forms of P with the sequence of extraction: 1 M NH₄Cl, 0.5 M NH₄F, 0.1 M NaOH + 1 M NaCl, citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate (CDB), 1 M NaOH and 1 M HCl. The results show that the procedure is not sufficiently specific and thus might be of little value for estimating the forms and amounts of residues of phosphate rock fertilizers in soils.     

Association of soil-test phosphorus with phosphorus fractions and adsorption characteristics

There is incomplete understanding, based on a single comprehensive study, of the relationship between empirical extractants of soil-test P (STP) and fundamental measurements of soil-P status such as inorganic (Pi) and organic (Po) fractions, P adsorption and relevant ancillary soil attributes. Consequently, we assessed these relationships for the extractants Morgan, Mehlich-3, Olsen, Bray-1, lactate–acetate, CaCl₂ (1:2 and 1:10 soil:solution) and resin. Multiple regression analysis indicated that STP extracted with Morgan and CaCl₂ related dominantly with the most labile resin Pi fraction, Mehlich-3 and Olsen with labile NaHCO₃ Pi, Bray-1 with moderately labile NaOH Pi and lactate-acetate with relatively stable Ca-bound HCl Pi, for example. Especially for Morgan and CaCl₂ (1:2), and except for Bray-1, the best relationship of STP with adsorption characteristics was with equilibrium P concentration in solution (EPC). Buffering capacity (EBC) and binding energy (k) did not have significant effects, as indicated by regression, whereas the effects of clay and oxalate-extractable Fe (Fe_ox) were generally negative and Al_ox and organic carbon (OC) positive. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted many similarities in the extractants. However, regression of STP against soil-P pools, integrated as principal component scores, inadequately revealed relationships, which were better facilitated by PCA ordinations. For ordinations of STP with P fractions, eigenvalues for the first two axes explained 88.6% of the variance. Closest associations were residual Pi with HCl Pi, CaCl₂ (1:10) and to a lesser extent Morgan with OC and clay, and Mehlich-3 and Olsen with NaHCO₃ Pi and resin Pi. For ordinations of STP with P adsorption, eigenvalues for the first two axes explained 97.8% of the variance. The STP extractants grouped in specific, but distinctly different, combinations. For example, strongest inverse relationships were EBC to EPC and Morgan, and k to resin and Olsen, and to OC and clay, indicative of weak P bonding on these surfaces. These distinctions are consistent with, and provide a rationale for, the relevance of Morgan as an environmental P test vis-a-vis other extractants of STP.     

Cultivation reduces fertilizer residual effectiveness and affects soil testing for available phosphorus

The agronomic effectiveness of superphosphate and two rock phosphates that had been applied once only to the soil surface 8 to 12 years previously was measured in a field experiment with oats on a lateritic soil in south-western Australia. The soil was either undisturbed or cultivated with a rotary hoe before sowing. The rock phosphates were Christmas Island C-grade ore (C-ore, a calcium ironaluminium rock phosphate), and C-ore calcined (heated) at about 500°C (Calciphos).Cultivation reduced the effectiveness for all three fertilizers by 20 to 50%. The effectiveness of phosphorus (P) applied as superphosphate decreased with increasing period from time of application whereas the effectiveness of the rock phosphates increased but they were always much less effective than superphosphate.The relationship between grain yield and P concentration of plant tissue (i.e. the internal efficiency of P use curve) was similar regardless of fertilizer type, year of application of fertilizer, and whether or not the soil was cultivated. Thus differences in fertilizer residual effectiveness were solely due to the amount of P taken up by the plants.Values of bicarbonate-soluble P (i.e. soil test for P values) for superphosphate treated soil were reduced by about 20 to 25% when the fertilizer was incorporated into the soil whereas for the rock phosphate treated soils the values were little affected by cultivation. The relationship between yield and soil test for P values varied depending on cultivation treatment and fertilizer.We conclude that cultivation decreases the effectiveness of residual fertilizer P and that cultivation and fertilizer type influence the accuracy of yield prediction from soil test values.     

有机肥料氮、磷、钾的化学分析方法

介绍用化学分析方法测定有机肥料氮、磷、钾的含量,即样品经硫酸-过氧化氢消化后,制备待测溶液,分取待测溶液用NC-2型快速定氮仪测定氮,用磷钼酸喹啉重量法测定磷,用四苯硼酸钾重量法测定钾,不需使用分光光度计和火焰光度计,适宜一般复混肥料厂采用,对含氮、磷、钾分别达0.1%以上的样品均可用本法测定,方法的准确度和精密度能满足生产的要求。     

钾肥和有机肥对油荬菜产量及商品品质的影响

试验结果表明 ,土壤缺钾是该试验的主要养分限制因子之一 ;在NP基础上施钾肥增产 5 5 0 6 % ;有机无机肥料配合施用 ,比单施有机肥增产 4 5 0 1% ,比单施化肥仅增产 3 88% ,并可提高油荬菜的商品质量 ;化肥的利用率为 6 2 11% ,钾肥的利用率为 77 90 %。     

Direct and residual fertilizer phosphorus effects on yield and phosphorus efficiency of upland rice in an Ultisol

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major limiting factors for crop production in highly weathered soils in the humid zone of West Africa. Very few studies have evaluated the residual value of fertilizer P to rice in these soils. Field experiments were conducted for three years (1993–1995) to determine the response of four upland rice cultivars to fertilizer P applied at 0, 45, 90, 145 and 180 kg P ha^-1 only once in 1993, and to fertilizer P residues in 1994 and 1995. The soil at the experimental site, in the humid forest zone of Ivory Coast (West Africa), was an Ultisol, low in available P. Grain yields of the rice cultivars were significantly increased by fertilizer P in 1993, and by the fertilizer P residues in 1994 and 1995 although the magnitude of response decreased with time since the fertilizer was applied. The cultivars differed in cumulative agronomic and physiological efficiencies, and the efficiencies were higher at the lower rates of P. The amounts of total P removed in three successive crops were similar for all the four rice cultivars although P harvest index was 10–12% higher in the P efficient than inefficient cultivars. The results suggest that the differences observed in the P efficiency of rice cultivars are due to differences in the internal efficiency of P. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.