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.     

基于FDR原理的自动灌溉系统设计

利用土壤的介电特性测量土壤含水量是一种快速、简便、可靠的方法。根据频域反射(FDR)法测量原理,电磁波在土壤中的传播频率可用来测试土壤的介电常数,从而得到土壤容积含水率,设计出了一种基于FDR原理的自动灌溉系统,介绍了FDR测量原理,阐述了自动灌溉系统的软硬件构成,土壤水分传感器测得的土壤水分含量信息,经信号处理,输出为0~5V电压信号,经A/D转换送至AT89S52单片机进行判断处理,根据输出数值的大小控制电磁阀的通断时间,从而实现自动灌溉和节水灌溉的目的。试验表明:该系统工作稳定,控制准确,反应灵敏,满足自动灌溉要求。     

含温度补偿的便携式土壤水分测定仪研制

针对现有土壤水分测定仪的不足,研制了一种新型的便携式土壤水分测定仪。传感器快速测量出土壤温、湿度数据,GPS自动获取时间、经纬度信息,数据既可临时保存在仪器的存储芯片中,又可通过GPRS/GSM将数据及时发送到后台数据库和手机用户。通过温度补偿和野外验证实验得出,温度补偿项为Δy=0.0002 t3-0.011 t2+0.444 1 t-6.423 2,仪器所有功能运行正常,测量绝对误差为-3.64%~3.82%,平均绝对误差为2.24%,精度较高,适合在地方农技和水利部门推广应用,有助于农业水利信息化水平的提高。     

Summary of research on soil testing for rock phosphate fertilizers in Western Australia

The relationship between plant yield and values of soils tests for phosphorus (P) was studied in long-term field experiments in south-western Australia for soil previously fertilized with rock phosphate and superphosphate. The rock phosphates studied were: Queensland (Duchess) apatite rock phosphate; reactive apatite rock phosphate from North Carolina; and rock phosphate from Christmas Island (as either C-grade ore or Calciphos). The P fertilizers were applied once only at the start of each experiment, and in subsequent years, soil samples were collected in January-March to measure soil test values. These were compared with plant yields measured later on in that year. The Colwell alkaline bicarbonate soil test was used in all years in all experiments. Olsen, Bray, lactate and Troug tests were used in some years in some experiments. For all soil tests the relationships between yield and soil test values was generally different for rock phosphate and superphosphate. For a given source of P, none of the different soil test reagents was significantly superior for predicting plant yields. The relationship between yield and soil test value was also generally different for different plant species. At one site cultivation was included as a treatment and the relationship varied depending on the cultivation treatment of the topsoil before sowing oats (Avena sativa). The relationship between yield and soil test also differed between years.     

不同频率激励信号下土壤水分传感器性能试验

激励信号频率是影响高频电容式土壤水分传感器性能的重要因素。利用去离子水和2—异丙氧基乙醇(2—isoproxyethanol)或二氧六环(dioxane)2种溶液混合,配制了一系列等效土壤体积含水率为0.9%~51.8%的待测介电溶液来替代土样。从与土壤含水率的函数关系、温度变异性2个方面,分别对激励信号频率为40,50,60,70,80,90,100 MHz的7种土壤水分传感器进行了性能测试与分析。结果表明:7种频率的传感器的输出电压均与土壤体积含水率呈线性负相关,其相关系数R2均大于0.94;激励信号频率不影响传感器输出电压的温度变异性,温差是影响温度变异性的主要因素,其最大变异率均小于4%。试验结果可为设计高频电容式土壤水分传感器时选择激励信号频率提供依据。     

Ammonium transformation in paddy soils affected by the presence of nitrate

Coupled nitrification and denitrification is considered as one of the main pathways of nitrogen losses in paddy soils. The effect of NO₃ ^– on NH₄ ⁺ transformation was investigated by using the ¹⁵N technique. The paddy soils were collected from Wuxi (soil pH 5.84) and Yingtan (soil pH 5.02), China. The soils were added with either urea (18.57 mol urea-N enriched with 60 atom% ¹⁵N excess) plus 2.14 mol KNO₃-N (natural abundance) per gram soil (U+NO₃) or urea alone (U). The KNO₃ was added 6 days after urea addition. The incubation was carried out under flooded condition in either air or N₂ gas headspace at 25°C. The results showed that in air headspace, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ oxidization was so fast that about 10% and 8% of added ¹⁵N in the treatment U could be oxidized during the incubation period of 73 hours after KNO₃ addition in Wuxi and Yingtan soil, respectively. The addition of KNO₃ significantly inhibited ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ oxidation (p<0.01) in air headspace, while it stimulated ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ oxidation in N₂ gas headspace, although the oxidation was depressed by the N₂ gas headspace itself. Therefore, the accumulation of NO₃ ^– would inhibit further nitrification of NH₄ ⁺ at micro-aerobic sites in paddy soils, especially in paddy soils with a low denitrification rate. On the other hand, NO₃ ^– would lead to oxidation of NH₄ ⁺in anaerobic bulk soils.     

溴虫腈土壤和甘蓝微量残留量的气相色谱法测定

采用气相色谱法定量分析溴虫腈土壤和甘蓝微量残留量。样品经丙酮提取 ,液 液分配及氧化铝柱层析法净化后 ,以GC ECD测定 ,DB 170 1毛细管柱 ,氮气为载气 ,柱温 2 6 0℃ ,汽化室温度 2 5 0℃ ,检测器温度 2 80℃ ,外标法定量。该方法快速、准确 ,在 0 0 1～ 2 0 0mg/L范围内线性相关系数r2 =0 9999,平均回收率 90 0 %～ 10 3 6 7% ,变异系数 4 4 8%～ 5 89% ,最小检测量 2× 10 12 g ,最低检出浓度 3 3× 10 4mg/kg。