Ammonia Volatilization and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in Response to Urea Application in Rice Fields of the Taihu Lake Region,China

Ammonia volatilization losses, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and rice yields in response to urea application to a rice field were investigated in Wangzhuang Town, Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, China. The N fertilizer treatments, applied in triplicate, were 0 （control）, 100, 200, 300, or 350 kg N ha^-1. After urea was applied to the surface water, a continuous airflow enclosure method was used to measure ammonia volatilization in the paddy field. Total N losses through ammonia volatilization generally increased with the N application rate, and the two higher N application rates （300 and 350 kg N ha^-1） showed a higher ratio of N lost through ammonia volatilization to applied N. Total ammonia loss by ammonia volatilization during the entire rice growth stage ranged from 9.0% to 16.7% of the applied N. Increasing the application rate generally decreased the ratio of N in the seed to N in the plant. For all N treatments, the nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency ranged from 30.9% to 45.9%. Surplus N with the highest N rate resulted in lodging of rice plants, a decreased rate of nitrogen fertilizer utilization, and reduced rice yields. Calculated from this experiment, the most economical N fertilizer application rate was 227 kg ha^-1 for the type of paddy soil in the Taihu Lake region. However, recommending an appropriate N fertilizer application rate such that the plant growth is enhanced and ammonia loss is reduced could improve the N utilization efficiency of rice.

^(15)N Isotope Techniques for Estimating Effects of Urea-N Fertilizer Application Rate on Yields and Nutrient Contents of Pakchoi Cabbage and Asparagus Lettuce and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency

A pot experiment combined with15N isotope techniques was conducted to evaluate effects of the varying rates of urea-N fertilizer application on yields,quality,and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of pakchoi cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) and asparagus lettuce (Lactuca saiva L.).15N-labbled urea (5.3515N atom %) was added to pots with 6.5 kg soil of 0.14,0.18,0.21,0.25,and 0.29 g N/kg soil,and applied in two splits:60 percent as basal dressing in the mixture and 40 percent as topdressing.The fresh yields of two vegetable species increased with the increasing input of urea-N,but there was a significant quadratic relationship between the dose of urea-N fertilizer application and the fresh yields.When the dosage of urea-N fertilizer reached a certain value,nitrate readily accumulated in the two kinds of plants due to the decrease in NR activity; furthermore,there was a linear negative correlation between nitrate content and NR activity.With the increasing input of urea-N,ascorbic acid and soluble sugar initially increased,declined after a while,and crude fiber rapidly decreased too.Total absorbed N (TAN),N derived from fertilizer (Ndff),and N derived from soil (Ndfs) increased,and the ratio of Ndff and TAN also increased,but the ratio of Ndfs and TAN as well as NUE of urea-N fertilizer decreased with the increasing input of urea-N.These results suggested that the increasing application of labeled N fertilizer led to the increase in unlabeled N (namely,Ndfs) presumably due to "added nitrogen interaction" (ANI),the decease in NUE of urea-N fertilizer may be due to excess fertilization beyond the levels of plant requirements and the ANI,and the decrease in the two vegetable yields with the increasing addition of urea-N possibly because the excess accumulation of nitrate reached a toxic level.

Rumen-protected lysine supplementation improved amino acid balance,nitrogen utilization and altered hindgut microbiota of dairy cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein(CP)and rumen-protected lysine(RPL)supplementation on lactation performance,amino acid(AA)balance,nitrogen(N)utilization and hindgut microbiota in dairy cows.Treatments were in a 2×2 factorial arrangement,and the main effects were CP concentration(16%vs.18%)and RPL supplementation(with or without RPL at40 g/cow per day).Forty cows were randomly allocated to 4 groups:low-CP diet(LP),low-CP diet plus RPL(LPL),high-CP diet(HP),high-CP diet plus RPL(HPL).The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks.Results showed that RPL increased the dry matter intake(P<0.01),milk protein yield(P=0.04)and energy corrected milk(P=0.04),and tended to increase milk fat yield(P=0.06)and fat corrected milk(P=0.05).Cows in the HP group tended to have higher milk urea N(P=0.07).Plasma concentrations of Arg,Ile,Lys,Met,Pro,total essential AA and total nonessential AA were increased by RPL(P<0.05).The total essential AA,total nonessential AA and most AA(except Ile,Phe,Gly and Pro)were increased in the HP group(P<0.05).N excretion was increased in the HP group through an increase in urea N excretion(P<0.01)and an upward trend in plasma urea N(P=0.07).In addition,RPL tended to increase milk protein N secretion(P=0.08),milk N(P=0.07)and microbial protein synthesis(P=0.06),and decreased plasma urea N(P<0.001).In the hindgut,the bacterial community were different between the LP and LPL groups(P<0.01).The probiotic abundances of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Acinetobacter were increased by RPL(P=0.03 and 0.03,respectively).The pathogenic abundances of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1(P<0.001)and Turicibacter(P<0.01)were decreased by RPL.In conclusion,supplementing RPL with low dietary CP could balance AA supply and increase milk protein yield,resulting in an improvement in N utilization efficiency,and altered the composition of the hindgut microbiota to favor the lactation performance of dairy cows.

Effects of Silicon Levels on Rice Grain Yield and Its Nitrogen Absorption

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of Si fertilizer on yield and N-uptake and use efficiency of double-season rice under the conditions of equal nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients. The results showed that along with the increase of Si fertilizer application, the yield of early and late rice increased firstly and then decreased within the range of SiO2 application rate of 0-0.8 g/kg soil. There was a significant parabolic correlation between the amounts of Si fertilizer application and rice grain yield （r= 0.931 2 and r= 0.973 3 in early-and late-rice season, respectively）. Results showed that efficient Si fertilizer application enchanced N contents in different plant components of early rice at maturity stages with increased nitrogen uptake of double cropping rice and nitrogen harvest index of late rice.

Responses of Greenhouse Tomato and Pepper Yields and Nitrogen Dynamics to Applied Compound Fertilizers

Yield and N uptake of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) and pepper(Capsicum annuum L.) crops in five successive rotations receiving two compound fertilizers (12-12-17and 21-8-11 N-P_2O_5-K_2O) were studied to determine 1) crop responses, 2) dynamics of NO_3-N andNH_4-N in different soil layers, 3) N balance and 4) system-level N efficiencies. Five treatments (2fertilizers, 2 fertilizer rates and a control), each with three replicates, were arranged in thestudy. The higher N fertilizer rate,300 kg N ha^(-1) (versus 150 kg N ha^(-1)), returned highervegetable fruit yields and total aboveground N uptake with the largest crop responses occurring forthe low-N fertilizer (12-12-17) applied at 300 kg N ha^(-1) rather than with the high-N fertilizer(21-8-11). Ammonium-N in the top 90 cm of the soil profile declined during the experiment, whilenitrate-N remained at a similar level throughout the experiment with the lower rate of fertilizer N.At the higher rate of N fertilizer there was a continuous NO_3-N accumulation of over 800 kg Nha^(-1). About 200 kg N ha^(-1) was applied with irrigation to each crop using NO_3-contaminatedgroundwater. In general, about 50% of the total N input was recovered from all treatments. Pepper,relative to tomato, used N more efficiently with smaller N losses, but the crops utilized less than29% of the fertilizer N over the two and a half-year period. Local agricultural practices maintainedhigh residual soil nutrient status. Thus, optimization of irrigation is required to minimizenitrate leaching and maximize crop N recovery.

The fate of fertilizer N applied to cotton in relation to irrigation methods and N dosage in arid area

Quantitative information on the fate and efficiency of nitrogen （N） fertilizer applied to coarse textured calcareous soils in arid farming systems is scarce but, as systems intensify, is essential to support sustainable ag- ronomic management decisions. A mesh house study was undertaken to trace the fate of N fertilizer applied to cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L. cv., Huiyuan701） growing on a reconstructed profile （0-100 cm） of a calcareous （〉15% CaCQ） sandy loam soil. Two irrigation methods （drip irrigation, DI; and furrow irrigation, FI） and four N ap- plication rates （0, 240, 360 and 480 kg/hm2, abbreviated as No, N240, N360, and N480, respectively） were applied. 15N-labelled urea fertilizer was applied in a split application. DI enhanced the biomass of whole plant and all parts of the plant, except for root; more fertilizer N was taken up and mostly stored in vegetative parts; N utilization efficiency （NUE） was significantly greater than in FI. N utilization efficiency （NUE） decreased from 52.59% in N240 to 36.44% in N480. N residue in soil and plant N uptake increased with increased N dosage, but recovery rate decreased consis- tently both in DI and Fl. Plant N uptake and soil N residue were greater in DI than in FI. N residue mainly stayed within 0-40 cm depth in DI but within 40-80 cm depth in Ft. FI showed 17.89% of N leached out, but no N leaching occurred in DI. N recovery rate in the soil-plant system was 75.82% in DI, which was markedly greater than the 55.97% in FI. DI exhibited greater NUE, greater residual N in the soil profile and therefore greater N recovery rate than in FI; also, N distribution in soil profile shallowed in DI, resulting in a reduced risk of N leaching compared to FI; and enhanced shoot growth and reduced root growth in DI is beneficial for more economic yield formation. Com- pared to furrow irrigation, drip irrigation is an irrigation method where N movement favors the prevention of N from being lost in the plant-soil system and benefits a more efficient use of N.

Validation of the Lysine Requirement as Reference Amino Acid for Ideal In-Feed Amino Acid Ratios in Modern Fast Growing Meat-Type Chickens

Nitrogen (N) balance studies were conducted with male growing broiler chickens to reevaluate the lysine (Lys) requirement of a modern broiler strain (Ross 308), making use of eight diets with graded crude protein (CP) supply (6% - 34% CP as-fed). Wheat, soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, fishmeal and crystalline amino acids (AAs) were the protein sources in the experimental diets with Lys as limiting AA. Following an adaptation period of five days, two consecutive excreta collection periods (2 × 5 d) were conducted: 10 - 20 d of age (starter period) and 25 - 35 d of age (grower period). Statistical evaluation of N balance data utilized an exponential modelling approach. Based on different dietary Lys efficiency, Lys requirement data were derived by modelling depending on average body weight (BW) during starter and grower period and targeted body protein deposition (PD), respectively. In addition, the influence of graded feed intake was taken into account. For the starter period at 600 g BW and assumed 10 g daily body PD, Lys requirement data between 741 mg and 823 mg per day were observed. The corresponding Lys in-feed concentration was 1.06% and 1.18%, dependent on supposed Lys efficiency at 70 g daily feed intake. For the grower period (average BW 1800 g), 1272 mg to 1473 mg Lys per day was needed to yield 16.5 g daily PD. The corresponding required Lys in-feed concentration was between 0.85% and 0.94% Lys for 150 g daily feed intake.

Effects of the Partial Replacement of Soybean Meal by Insect or Algae Meal in Chicken Diets with Graded Amino Acid Supply on Parameters of Gut Microbiology and Dietary Protein Quality

Insects or algae are considered future solutions to substitute imported feed proteins like soybean meal (SBM) in animal nutrition. The objective of this research, as part of the multidisciplinary project “Sustainability transitions”, focused on replacing 50% SBM by partly defatted larvae meal from black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) or the blue-green algae Spirulina platensis in meat type chicken diets. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects on body composition, protein quality, apparent precaecal digestibility (apcD) and parameters of intestinal microbiota. In total, 288 one-day-old male growing chickens (Ross 308) from a commercial hatchery were randomly allotted to 48 pens (6 birds per pen) across five diets, which were fed at a free choice level. The control diet utilized SBM, wheat and corn as main ingredients, and experimental diets replaced 50% of SBM by the alternative proteins under study. Amino acid (AA) supplementation of the final diets was conducted both at a basic level (diets HM, SM;Lys and Met added equal to the control diet) and an extended level of AA fortification (diets HM+, SM+;extended supplementation of Lys, Met, Thr, Arg). After finishing the growth study, 4 individual birds per diet were slaughtered for whole body analyses to derive nutrient utilization and dietary protein quality parameters. Additionally, pooled chyme samples from 16 birds per diet (control, HM and SM) were analyzed to assess apcD and microbial parameters. Diets HM and SM with a basic level of AA fortification led to significant depressions in nutrient deposition and dietary protein quality. However, HM+ and SM+ diets with an extended level of AA supplementation led to significantly improved responses;however these were still generally not on par with the control diet. The HM+ diet provided superior CP deposition and dietary protein quality, as compared to the SM+ diet, but equal to the control diet. Results of gut microbiology yielded no significant effects due to feeding the alternative protein sources under study.