Adapting the potentially mineralizable N concept for the prediction of fertilizer N requirements

Quantification of N dynamics in the ecosystem has taken on major significance in today's society, for economic and environmental reasons. A major fraction of the available N in soils is derived from the mineralization of organic matter. For decades, scientists have attempted to quantify the rate at which soils mineralize N, but the complexity of the N cycle has made this a major task. Further, agronomists have long sought soil test methods that are practical, yet will provide accurate means of predicting the amounts and rates of release of N from soils. Such tests would allow us to make more precise fertilization decisions. This paper discusses the potentially mineralizable N concept, first promoted by Stanford and colleagues [61, 62, 64], and suggests how it may be incorporated into deterministic models, such as CERES and LEACHM, so as to provide more accurate estimates of N mineralization under field conditions. We also suggest how the potentially mineralizable N concept may be coupled to quick, routine laboratory methods of determining available soil N, such as the hot 2M KCl extracted NH₄-N method recently developed by Gianello and Bremner [35], and used together with deterministic N models, such as CERES, for predicting probable fertilizer N requirements.     

Farmer's view on soil organic matter depletion and its management in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is an agricultural country. About 80% of the total population live in rural areas. The contribution of agriculture to the gross domestic product is 30%. Rice is the major food crop while jute, sugarcane and tea are the main cash crops. Other important crops are wheat, tobacco, pulses, vegetables and fruits. Overall productivity in Bangladesh is stagnating or declining. The implication of yield stagnation or declining productivity is severe, since these trends have occurred despite rapid growth in the use of chemical fertilisers. Depletion of soil organic matter is the main cause of low productivity, which is considered one of the most serious threats to the sustainability of agriculture in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, most soils have less than 17 g/kg and some soils have less than 10 g/kg organic matter. Farmers realise that there is a problem with soil fertility related to organic matter depletion. Farmers say that organic matter increases yield, reduces the production cost, improves crop growth and the economy, increases water-holding capacity and improves the soil structure. They recognise soil with higher organic matter content by darker brownish to black in colour. Some farmers are using fast-growing trees such as Flemingia macrophyla, Ipilipil (Leucaen leucophala), Glyricidia sepium, Boga Medula (Tephrosia candida), Dhol Kolmi (Ipomoea fistulosa), etc., as living fences, which can be used as fuel, fertiliser and fodder. To increase the soil organic matter, farmers use green manure crops, compost, quick compost, cow dung, azolla, etc. However, fuel for cooking purposes is limited and cow dung and crop residues are largely used as fuel. Crop residues are also used as fodder for livestock. Farmers expressed the wish to learn more about organic fertilizer management. However, sufficient food should be produced to keep pace with population growth. To alleviate the hunger and poverty is to increase the intensity of agricultural production and maintain favorable ecological conditions. Therefore, more organic matter should be used in the farmers' fields to sustain the soil fertility in an intensive farming system. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil organic carbon management for sustainable land use in Sudano-Sahelian West Africa

Judged by their negative nutrient balances, low soil cover and low productivity, the predominant agro-pastoral farming systems in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa are highly unsustainable for crop production intensification. With kaolinite as the main clay type, the cation exchange capacity of the soils in this region, often less than 1 cmol_c kg⁻¹soil, depends heavily on the organic carbon (Corg) content. However, due to low carbon sequestration and to the microbe, termite and temperature-induced rapid turnover rates of organic material in the present land-use systems, Corg contents of the topsoil are very low, ranging between 1 and 8 g kg⁻¹ in most soils. For sustainable food production, the availability of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) has to be increased considerably in combination with an improvement in soil physical properties. Therefore, the adoption of innovative management options that help to stop or even reverse the decline in Corg typically observed after cultivating bush or rangeland is of utmost importance. To maintain food production for a rapidly growing population, targeted applications of mineral fertilisers and the effective recycling of organic amendments as crop residues and manure are essential. Any increase in soil cover has large effects in reducing topsoil erosion by wind and water and favours the accumulation of wind-blown dust high in bases which in turn improves P availability. In the future decision support systems, based on GIS, modelling and simulation should be used to combine (i) available fertiliser response data from on-station and on-farm research, (ii) results on soil productivity restoration with the application of mineral and organic amendments and (iii) our present understanding of the cause-effect relationships governing the prevailing soil degradation processes. This will help to predict the effectiveness of regionally differentiated soil fertility management approaches to maintain or even increase soil Corg levels. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

几种确定作物施肥量的方法

确定作物施肥量是配方施肥技术中的核心问题。确定施肥量主要考虑作物产量、土壤供肥量和肥料利用率。介绍土壤养分分级法,目标产量配方法,田间试验法,氮、磷、钾比例法和经验施肥法确定施肥量的技术方法。     

基于微生物分型的归因方法对我国归因研究的启示

食源性疾病是全球重要的公共卫生问题,尤其以微生物危害因素中致病菌导致的危害最为严重,在基于风险的食品安全管理体系下,识别优先管控的危害因素极其重要的食物来源是防控食源性疾病的前提和关键。结合微生物分型和统计建模的归因方法是国际通用的以确定不同食物来源对食源性疾病相对贡献的技术方法,目前欧美等国已经建立了频率匹配和群体遗传学两大类基于微生物分型的归因方法模型,并将其结果转化为食品安全风险管控措施制定的科学依据,而我国目前正处于食源性疾病归因方法研究的初步探索阶段。本文系统梳理了目前国际广泛应用的归因方法的方法原理和模型,结合我国食源性疾病归因研究基础和现状,提出“建方法、合数据、搭平台、强交流”四个我国下阶段食源性疾病归因体系建设的工作方向,其中研发本土化微生物分型归因模型方法是解决我国确证管控核心和防控我国食源性疾病面临的挑战,最终实现食品安全和保障人民生命健康。