Scientific basis for establishing country greenhouse gas estimates for rice-based agriculture: An Indian case study

A comprehensive scientific assessment of CH₄ budget estimation for Indian rice paddies, based on a decade of measurements in India, is presented. Indian paddy cultivation areas contain soils that have low to medium levels of soil organic carbon. The average seasonally integrated CH₄ flux (E _sif) values calculated from these measurements were 15.3 ± 2.6 g m^–2 for continuously flooded (CF), 6.9 ± 4.3 g m^–2 for intermittently flooded (IF) single aeration (SA) and 2.2 ± 1.5 g m^–2 for IF multiple aeration (MA) rice ecosystems. For CF and IF (MA) rice ecosystems having high soil organic carbon, without organic amendments, the CH₄ flux (E _sif) may be increased by 1.7 times relative to low soil organic carbon, whereas it may enhance by 5.3 for CF if amended organically. Organic amendment and high soil organic carbon paddy areas do not alter the methane budget estimates for India (3.6±1.4 TgY^–1) much, due to their small paddy harvested area. Methane estimated using average emission factors (E _sif) for all paddy water regimes, which include harvested areas having soils with high organic carbon and organic amendments, may give a budget of 5 TgY^–1 for India.     

粒径对膨胀土无荷膨胀率的影响研究

为了研究粒径大小对重塑土无荷膨胀率试验结果的影响,在符合现有规范的试验条件下,将某地基泥岩碾碎成1~2 mm、0.1~1 mm、0.1 mm的三种不同粒径,进行不同比例组合搭配的重塑土无荷膨胀率试验。试验结果表明:不同粒径大小的膨胀土样的无荷膨胀率试验结果有很大差异,并且不同粒径组合下的无荷膨胀率试验结果呈正态分布趋势,且峰值处的无荷膨胀率值为该重塑土稳定、可靠的无荷膨胀率值,无荷膨胀率试验结果接近峰值处无荷膨胀率值的粒径级配为该重塑土的最佳级配。经过分析得到使重塑土无荷膨胀率结果稳定、可靠的粒径级配是1~2 mm、0.1~1 mm、0.1 mm的土粒质量比为0∶100∶0,即使重塑土无荷膨胀率试验结果稳定可靠的粒径范围为0.1~1 mm。在该粒径范围内的重塑土无荷膨胀率试验结果最为真实、准确。     

修复土壤,腐植酸能做些什么

我国土壤污染形势严峻,已成为农产品安全和农业可持续发展的一大障碍."十一五"期间已将防治土壤污染列入重要议事日程,"全国土壤污染状况调查和防治项目"业已启动,2006年11月<农产品质量安全法>也开始实施.腐植酸学术界及行业又面临新的机遇和挑战.介绍了我国土壤污染的现状及其治理技术,阐述了腐植酸类物质(HS)修复污染土壤的研究进展、存在问题及应用的可行性,并对今后的研究开发及应用方向提出若干建议.     

Reactive rock phosphate fertilizers and soil testing for phosphorus: The effect of particle size of the rock phosphate

North Carolina rock phosphate (NCRP) (highly carbonate—substituted apatite) was ground to produce three samples with different particle size distributions. The effectiveness of these fertilizers was compared with the effectiveness of superphosphate in a field experiment and three glasshouse experiments using lateritic soils from south-western Australia. Non-reactive Queensland rock phosphate (low carbonate-substituted apatite from the Duchess deposit) was also used in the pot experiments. Bicarbonate-soluble phosphorus extracted from the soil is widely used in Western Australia to predict plant yields from previously-applied fertilizer dressings. For both field and pot experiments bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (soil test value) was measured and related to subsequent plant yields.As calculated from the initial slope of the relationship between yield and the level of P applied, finely powdered NCRP was about 5–32% as effective as freshly-applied superphosphate in the year of application and also for two years after application in the field experiment, and for two successive crops in the three pot experiments. For both field and pot experiments, finely powdered NCRP, was at best, 1.5–2.0 times as effective as granular NCRP. Relative to freshly-applied superphosphate, the effectiveness of rock phosphates usually decreased with increasing level of application.For each of the crops in the field experiment, the relationships between yield and phosphorus content of plants (i.e. internal efficiency curves) were similar for all fertilizers. Thus the low effectiveness of the rock phosphates relative to superphosphate was solely due to much less phosphorus being taken up by plants. By contrast, in the pot experiments internal efficiency curves differed for different fertilizers. This is attributed to differences in the rate of phosphorus uptake by plant roots during the early stages of plant growth.For both field and pot experiments, soil test calibrations (the relationship between yield and soil test value) differed for rock phosphates and superphosphate. For superphosphate, soil test calibrations also differed for the three different years after the initial application of this fertilizer in the field experiment. For the second crop in the pot experiment, soil test calibrations differed for superphosphate applied at different times (before the first and the second crop). These results point out the difficulty of applying soil testing procedures to soils that have experienced different histories of fertilizer application.     

利谷隆在玉米及土壤中的残留动态

采用高效液相色谱分析技术测定了利谷隆在玉米及土壤中的残留动态和最终残留量。喷施50％利谷隆可湿性粉剂（2812.5g a．i.／hm^2）测出在玉米植株上的残留量较低，施药后14d的残留量仅为0．08mg／kg；土壤中的原始沉积量为7．02mg／kg，半衰期为2．1d，据施药后第14d采样，消解率为72％。利谷隆属于易降解农药。     

新疆某黄土的土水特征及其分形描述

本研究采用新疆某引水渠道边坡的黄土填料进行土水特征曲线试验,研究压实度和应力水平对土料的土水特征的影响规律。针对试验结果,本研究首先采用经典的van Genuchten模型进行曲线拟合。然后采用分形理论进行土水特征曲线的比较分析。结果表明:(1)随着压实度的增加,土水特征曲线向下移动;随着轴向应力的增加,土水特征曲线也会有所下移;(2)相应于孔隙分布,该土料的土水特征曲线具有明显的分形特性;(3)在相同压实度下,不同应力水平的SWCC分形拟合基本平行。采用本文所述的分形方法,在已知不同应力水平下的孔隙率时,可较为合理的从一个应力水平下的土水特征曲线推求其它应力水平下的土水特征曲线。     

The influence of soil properties on the effectiveness of phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD) in reducing ammonia volatilization from surface applied urea

Urea can be an inefficient N source due to rapid hydrolysis by soil urease leading to NH₃ volatilization. The current study investigated the effect of the urease inhibitor phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD) incorporated at two concentrations (0.5% and 1% w/w) within the fertilizer granule on NH₃ volatilization from surface applied urea. The daily rates of NH₃ loss from 20 soils of widely differing properties from Northern Ireland were measured over 14 days using ventilated enclosures under simulated spring conditions. Cumulative loss rates were calculated and fitted to a logistic model from which total NH₃ loss (Amax) and the time to maximum rate of loss (Tmax) were determined. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis related the effectiveness of PPD in reducing NH₃ volatilization from urea to soil properties.The total cumulative loss of ammonia from unamended urea varied from 0.37 to 29.2% depending on soil type. Ammonia volatilization appeared to be greatest on a soil with a high pH (R² = 0.65), a low titratable acidity (TA) (R² = 0.63) and a soil that was drying out (R² = 0.50). Soil pH was negatively correlated with TA (r = –0.826, P < 0.001) suggesting that soils with a low TA may have received recent lime. Including cation exchange capacity (CEC) and % N as well as pH-KCl in the multiple linear regression equation explained 86% of the variance.The effectiveness of PPD in reducing Amax varied between 0% to 91% depending on soil type, the average over all 20 soils being 30 and 36% for 0.5% and 1% PPD respectively. The most important soil properties influencing the effectiveness of the urease inhibitor were soil pH-H₂O and TA accounting for 33% and 29% of the variance respectively. PPD was less effective on a soil with a high pH and low TA. These were the soil conditions that led to high NH₃ volatilization from unamended urea and may explain why PPD had limited success in reducing ammonia loss on these soils. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that 75% of the variation in the % inhibition of NH₃ loss by PPD could be significantly accounted for by pH-H₂O, initial soil NO ₃ ^- -N concentration, % moisture content and % moisture loss.The delay in Tmax by PPD ranged from 0.19 to 7.93 days, the average over all 20 soils being 2.5 and 2.8 days for 0.5% and 1% PPD respectively. TA, % moisture content, urease activity and CEC were soil properties that significantly explained 83% of the variation in the % delay in Tmax by PPD in multiple linear regression analysis. However, none of these soil properties were significant on their own. As urea hydrolysis occurs rapidly in soil, delaying Tmax under field conditions would increase the chance of rain falling to move the urea below the soil surface and reduce NH₃ volatilization. A urease inhibitor should be more effective than PPD on soils with a high pH and low TA to be successful in reducing high NH₃ losses.     

Effects of urea fertigation of apple trees on soil pH,exchangeable cations and extractable manganese in a sandy loam soil in New Zealand

Changes in soil pH, exchangeable aluminium (Al), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) and extractable manganese (Mn) were investigated after urea fertigation of a sandy loam soil in an apple orchard in New Zealand. Urea at three rates (0, 25, 50 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 or 0, 16.9, 33.8 g N emitter^–1 yr^–1) was applied in 4 equal fertigations. Soil cores at 4 profile depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm) directly below and 20 cm from the emitter were sampled approximately 4 weeks after each fertigation and in the following winter. Results obtained showed that the largest changes in soil pH and cations occurred in soils directly below the emitter in the 50 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 treatment where the soil pH decreased by 1.6 pH units at all soil depths. The lowest pH of 4.3 was observed at a depth of 27 cm. Exchangeable Al and extractable Mn levels increased to 11 meq kg^–1 and 78µg g^–1 respectively. Estimated losses of Ca, Mg and K from the upper soil profile depth (0–10 cm) represented 23, 63 and 27% of their respective total exchangeable levels. At lower profile depths (>20 cm), accumulation of displaced K was evident. Variable, and generally non-significant, chemical changes recorded in soils 20 cm from the emitter were attributed to restricted lateral water movement, and therefore urea movement, down the profile.The present study showed that one season of urea fertigation by trickle emitters, applied to a sandy loam, at half the rate conventionally applied to apple orchards (50 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1) resulted in pH and mineral element imbalances which were potentially and sufficiently severe to inhibit tree growth.     

Effect of nitrogen,phosphorus and soil and crop residues management practices on maize (Zea mays L.) yield in ultisol of eastern Cameroon

The shortening of fallow period in several areas in tropical Africa has reduced soil fertility and exposed soils to erosion and run-off. Fertilizer application and crop conservation practices are needeed to sustain high crop yield and to conserve the natural resource base for upland crop production in the continent. Field trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of fertilizer application and soil and crop residues management practices on yield of maize (Zea mays L.) planted on a Plinthudult soil at Bertoua, Eastern Cameroon. Maize yields increased significantly with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application. Under the rainfall pattern prevailing in the area, the amount of nitrogen required for maximum yield was higher in the second season. On the other hand, the amount of phosphorus required for maximum yield appeared to decrease with time. The burning of crop residues and weeds prior to planting together with no-till practive gave higher yield of maize than other soil and crop residues management practices.     

Lowland rice response to potassium fertilization and its effect on N and P uptake

Not much is known about the response of lowland rice to K fertilization under Brazilian conditions. A field experiment was conducted during four consecutive years to determine the response of three lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars to K fertilization on a Low Humic Gley soil. In the first two years, K was broadcast at rates of 0, 42, 84, 126, and 168 kg K ha^–1. In the last two years K rates were reduced to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg K ha^–1 and applied in a band. Potassium significantly (P < 0.01) increased grain yields but the response varied from cultivar to cultivar and year to year. Yield responses to K fertilization were superimposed on a general trend of increasing grain yields across the four growing seasons. Mean grain yields increased 14.3% with broadcast application of K in the first two years and 10.4% with banded application of K in the last two years when compared to the control treatments. Extractable soil K increased with K application rate and decreased with soil depth. Potassium was rapidly removed from the soil and yearly broadcast or banded application of K can be expected to result in a significant increase in grain yield of lowland rice in these soils.