Effects of Slow-release Fertilizer and Balanced Fertilization on Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Uptake in Peppers

Field plot experiment was conducted to study the effects of two slow-re- lease fertilizers and balanced fertilization on dry matter accumulation, yield, fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake of peppers at Jiangna Town, Yanshan County, Yunnan Province in 2011. The results showed that the dry matter accumulation in dried pepper plant, pepper yield, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium uptake in peppers were significantly increased in all the fertilizer treat- ments, compared with those in control （no fertilizer）. Compared with conventional fertilization, balanced fertilization, slow-release compound fertilizer and slow-release urea fertilizer significantly increased dried pepper economic output by 20.94%, 17.5% and 14.54%, nitrogen uptake in dried peppers by 21.53%,18.46% and 13.19%, phosphorus uptake in dried peppers by 14.08%, 15.76% and 10.44%, potassium uptake in dried peppers by 22.66%, 15.73% and 16.28%; they also in- creased nitrogen and potassium use efficiency, but reduced potassium use efficiency due to the increased potassium addition. In treatments with balanced fertilization, slow-release compound fertilizer and slow-release urea fertilizer, the nitrogen utiliza- tion was 5.84%, 7.14% and 8.33% higher and the phosphorus utilization was 3.32%, 3.27% and 2.47% higher than those in treatment with conventional fertiliza- tion. In addition, the nitrogen application could be reduced by 20%-50% by bal- anced fertilization and the two slow-release fertilizers, thereby reducing environmen- tal pollution. Slow-release fertilizers could also reduce the frequency of fertilization and labor costs.

Effects of Balanced Fertilization on Mulberry Leaf Quality and Its Active Substance Content

This paper study the effect of nitrogen （N, X1）, phosphorus （P, X2） and potassium （K, X3） in different amounts on crude protein, soluble sugar, total flavonoid and 1-deoxynojirimycin contents in mulberry leaves, with mulberry trees in spring and autumn as the material and as per ＂3414＂ experimental design. The results showed that the qualities and active substance content of mulberry leaves changed from increasing to decreasing with its development; crude protein and solu-ble sugar achieved the peak on August 20; total flavonoid and 1-deoxynojirimycin was the highest on May 15. Fertilizations with N, P and K fertilizers at different amounts had significant effects on quality of mulberry leaf and content of active substances. Specifically, as fertilizer amount increased, the content of active sub- stances grew dramatically and achieved the highest at level 2 （X^2X=X~_）. Based on fertilizer effect functions of objective yield, the recommended amounts of N, P and K fertilizers based on crude protein, soluble sugar, flavonoid content and DNJ in test sites were 718.46, 220.11 and 305.23 kg/hm2, when the highest of crude protein in mulberry leaf was 1 813.83 kg/hm2. When N, P and K fertilizers were recommended at 666.54, 204.41 and 243.18 kg/hm2, soluble sugar in mulberry leaf achieved the peak at 1 042.65 kg/hm2. When N, P and K fertilizers were at 675.96, 326.49 and 462.90 kg/hm2, flavonoid content achieved the maximum at 147.90 kg/hm2. When N, P and K fertilizers were at 720.9, 225.11 and 323.63 kg/hm2, DNJ content was the highest at 13.55 kg/hm2.

Establishment of a Mathematical Model for Mulberry Balanced Fertilization in Hilly Areas of Sichuan Province

In order to increase mulberry leaf yield and production efficiency in hilly areas of Sichuan Province through scientific fertilization,＂3414＂,a quadratic regression design for modern fertilization,was employed to simulate the regression relationship between mulberry leaf yield and major fertilizer elements including nitrogen（N）,phosphor（P） and potassium（K） among which mulberry leaf yield was the objective function and N,P and K were the regulatory factors to fertilization level.As a result,7 types of ternary,binary and monadic quadratic fertilizer effect functions of N,P and K fertilizer elements were established.The weight of fertilizer factors in the optimal mulberry leaf yield obtained by various types of functions was in decreasing order of KPKPNPKNKNNP,and the weight of fertilizer factors in the ratio of leaf yield to input was in decreasing order of K〉PK〉NPK〉P〉NK〉NP〉N.To be specific,the ternary quadratic fertilizer effect function（Y=20 313＋0.25X1＋43.48 X2＋34.47X3-0.01X1^2-0.14X2^2-0.06X3^2＋0.05X1X2＋0.02X1X3-0.07X2X3,in which X1,X2 and X3 indicate the fertilizer factors N,P and K,respectively） was a model containing all factors,thereby being a recommended fertilization program for mulberry field.Single factor effect analysis indicated that K fertilizer had the highest influence on mulberry leaf yield and ratio of leaf yield to input.Therefore,among all the simulation functions,the monadic quadratic fertilizer effect function of K fertilizer factor（Y=25 002.27＋44.728X3-0.084X32） leads to the optimal leaf yield and maximum ratio of leaf yield to input.By using the optimal fertilization program with 600 kg/hm2 N,210 kg/hm2 P2O5 and 254.33 kg/hm2 K2O,the optimal economic leaf yield obtained is 30 945.00 kg/hm2,the cost of fertilizer input is 4 403.65 yuan/hm2,and the ratio of leaf yield to input is as high as 17.57.After verification by production practices,the recommended fertilization indicators in the optimal mulberry fertilization program can provide reference for the construction of high-yield mulberry field in hilly areas of Sichuan Province.

Balanced Fertilization and the Effect of Fertilization on Water Use Efficiency of Upland Winter Wheat in Western Henan, China

A study on balanced fertilization was conducted by means of long-term field experiments, and a convenient table for balanced fertilization was compiled. The experimental results about the effect of fertilization on water use efficiency of upland wheat showed that the input of inorganic fertilizer should be reduced in dry years.

Study on the Balanced Fertilization forCorn in Black SoilRegion

Regressive models were obtained by employing '311 B' and '3414' optimal regressive desingns through 5 year (1993～1997) field experiment,and by datum processing with computer.These models express the relationships between corn yields in high,middle and low yield areas and N,P,and K application rates in black soil.By analysis to the models,the fertilizer application rates for maximum yield and optimal yield were achieved.

Fertilization for High Yields in Corn-Sweet Potato-Wheat Rotation: A Systematic Approach to Nutrient Limiting Factors of Soils in Chongqing, China

A systematic approach was adopted to investigate the nutrient limiting factors in gray-brown purple soils and yellow soils derived from limestone in Chongqing, China, to study balanced fertilization for corn, sweet potato and wheat in rotation. The results showed that N, P and K were deficient in both soils, Cu, Mn, S andZn in the gray-brown purple soils and Ca, Mg, Mo and Zn for the yellow soils. Balanced fertilizer application increased yields of corn, sweet potato and wheat by 28.4%, 28.7% and 4.4%, respectively, as compared to the local farmers' practice. The systematic approach can be considered as one of the most efficient and reliable methods in fertility study.

Effect of Balanced Application of Potash Fertilizer on the Yield of Rice Yongyou 15 and Soil Nutrient Content

By the field experiment,we set up the treatments of non-application of potash fertilizer,conventional fertilization,balanced fertilization and halved application of potash fertilizer,and studied the effect of different treatments on rice yield and soil nutrient content. The results showed that compared with non-application of potash fertilizer,conventional fertilization and balanced fertilization significantly increased the spike length,thousand kernel weight,yield and total potassium content of the stalk,as well as soil organic matter,total nitrogen and available phosphorus content; compared with conventional fertilization,the balanced fertilization did not significantly increase the rice growth and yield,but effectively increased rice grain total nitrogen,stalk total nitrogen and total phosphorus content,as well as soil available phosphorus and available potassium content. It could be found that potash fertilizer played a certain role in increasing rice yield and soil nutrient content,and the balanced fertilization had the most significant effect.

Soil phosphorus dynamic, balance and critical P values in longterm fertilization experiment in Taihu Lake region, China

Phosphorus（P） is an important macronutrient for plant but can also cause potential environmental risk. In this paper, we studied the long-term fertilizer experiment（started 1980） to assess the soil P dynamic, balance, critical P value and the crop yield response in Taihu Lake region, China. To avoid the effect of nitrogen（N） and potassium（K）, only the following treatments were chosen for subsequent discussion, including： C0（control treatment without any fertilizer or organic manure）, CNK treatment（mineral N and K only）, CNPK（balanced fertilization with mineral N, P and K）, MNK（integrated organic manure and mineral N and K）, and MNPK（organic manure plus balanced fertilization）. The results revealed that the response of wheat yield was more sensitive than rice, and no significant differences of crop yield had been detected among MNK, CNPK and MNPK until 2013. Dynamic and balance of soil total P（TP） and Olsen-P showed soil TP pool was enlarged significantly over consistent fertilization. However, the diminishing marginal utility of soil Olsen-P was also found, indicating that high-level P application in the present condition could not increase soil Olsen-P contents anymore. Linear-linear and Mitscherlich models were used to estimate the critical value of Olsen-P for crops. The average critical P value for rice and wheat was 3.40 and 4.08 mg kg^（–1）, respectively. The smaller critical P value than in uplands indicated a stronger ability of P supply for crops in this paddy soil. We concluded that no more mineral P should be applied in rice-wheat system in Taihu Lake region if soil Olsen-P is higher than the critical P value. The agricultural technique and management referring to activate the plant-available P pool are also considerable, such as integrated use of low-P organic manure with mineral N and K.

Effects of Grape Balanced Nutrition Fertilizer on Yield and Quality of Wine Grapes

In this study,the wine grapes balanced nutrient fertilizer(BNF)was designed according to the wine grape nutritional requirements in different growth stages,and objected to reduce fertilizer application rate of wine grape cultivation,improve fertilizer utilization rate,achieve stable yield and improve the quality of wine grapes.The experiment was carried out at the Great Wall Sanggan Winery,and the Aristocratic Winery.The experiment was designed with two treatments:Namely BNF treatment,and the traditional fertilization(CK).We investigated the effects of BNF on the quality of wine grapes by examining the plant traits of wine grapes in different experimental areas during the growing season,the fruit traits at maturity,and determined the contents of VC,organic acids,amino acids,flavonoids,soluble total sugars,soluble solids,tannins,total phenols and catechins.The results show that:①The application of grape BNF greatly reduced the application amount of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium,while the vine had no fertilizer deficiency phenomenon;②It increased the single fruit weight,the ear weight and yield to varying degrees,and the yield increase range was between 12% and 41%;③The wine grapes with BNF had the following characteristics:tight infructescence,even color,small fruit less,no fruit dropped,strong fruit colloid feeling,better aroma and taste;④It greatly improved the quality of wine grapes,and increased the content of soluble solids,soluble total sugar,organic acids,VC,total phenols,flavonoids,amino acids and tannins in fruits;⑤It greatly increased the total catechin content of"Riesling"and"Syrah",and had no significant effects on the catechin content of"Merlot"and"Cabernet Sauvignon".In summary,the application of grape BNF has certain practical significance for guiding the production of local wine grapes,ensuring the yield while improving the quality,increasing the income and reducing the environmental pollution caused by excessive fertilization.

Response of Tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i>(Zucc.) Trotter) to Balanced Fertilizer in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Tef is grown as an important domestic cereal in Ethiopia. Currently, global attention is given for it particularly as a “health food” due to the absence of gluten and gluten like proteins in its grains. Regardless of its wider adaptation, productivity of tef is low in the country with the national average grain yield of 1.379 tons·ha-1. This is mainly because of low soil fertility and severe organic matter depletion intensified by low rate of chemical fertilizer application. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of balanced fertilizers on the yield, yield components of tef and to determine economic feasibility for tef production in Wolaita. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with sixteen treatments replicated three times. The treatments consist of factorial combinations of four rates of K (Potassium) (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg/ha) and four rates of NPSB (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Boron) (0, 50, 100, 200 kg/ha) fertilizers. Fertilizer types such as urea (46-0-0), NPSB (18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1) and K (0-0-60) were used as a source of nutrients. The soil analysis result indicated that, most of the nutrients are below optimum level to support the potential crop production. This may be related with reduced farm management practices and continuous cropping with little or no fertilizers input. In this study, it was found that, the combined application of NPSB and K fertilizers had a significant effect on growth, yield and yield components of tef. Among the treatments studied, NPSB (100 Kg/ha) and K (50 Kg/ha) gave greater grain yield. Furthermore, this treatment enhanced growth and yield related parameters compared to the control treatment. Thus, it is conceivable to recommend each to attain greater grain yield of tef in the study area. However, it is desirable to undertake further research across soil type, years and locations to appeal comprehensive recommendation on a wider scale.

Effects of N,P and K Fertilizers on Photosynthetic Characteristics of Mulberry

[Objective] The aim was to research the effects of N, P and K fertilizers on photosynthetic characteristics of mulberry. [Method] In the test, Chuan 826, a va- riety of mulberry, was taken as an example to explore the relationships of chloro- phyll content, leaf area index, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance of leaf, CO2 concentration of cells in leaves and transpiration rate with N, P and K fertilizers at different quantities. [Result] N, P and K fertilizers at different quantities have ef- fects on photosynthetic indices. In detail, N, P and K fertilizer at appropriate quanti- ties enhanced LAI, Chla＋b, Pn, Cond and Tr, Ci of mulberry leaves in control group without fertilizers was significantly higher than that in treatment groups. N, P and K at proper quantities （N at 600 kg/hm2, P at 210 kg/hm2 and K at 300 kg/hm2） would keep functional leaves well and higher photosynthetic period for a long term. [Conclusion] The research explored adjustment of photosynthetic characteristics and differ- ent treatments on photosynthesis of mulberry, providing reference for construction of excellent and highly-qualified mulberry garden.

Economically Optimal Rates and Nutrients Use Efficiency Indices of Maize to the Application of Different Rates of Nutrients in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The use of balanced fertilizers in adequate amount is very important to increase crop productivity and production in Ethiopia. The study was executed to quantify maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield response to different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) under balanced fertilization of other nutrients. On farm trials were conducted at seven sites on 8 farmers’ fields in Negele Arsi districts, west Arsi zone of Oromia region for three consecutive cropping seasons (2014-2016). Six rates of N, P, S and eight rates of K treatments established separately for each nutrient were laid out in randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replicates per farm. Nutrient response function modelling showed that 184, 20 and 80 kg•ha−1 were the agronomic optimum rate for N, P, and K, respectively. Mean agronomic efficiency (AE) of N, P and K were recorded at the lower rates of these nutrients, application of 46, 10 and 20 kg•ha−1 N, P and K resulted in 19.1, 61.0, and 24 kg additional grain yield•kg−1 N, P and K, respectively. Also, the mean partial factor productivity (PFP) of N, P and K were 77.6, 370 and 158 kg additional grain•kg−1 applied N, P and K respectively. Economically optimal rate (EOR) of N, P and K were 48 - 114 kg•ha−1 N with CP 8 - 3.5, 12 - 20 kg•ha−1 P with CP 18 - 4.5 and 32 - 53 kg•ha−1 K with CP 8-4, from these rates net returns of US$487.23 - 143.30, US$698.16 - 498.3 and US$359.31 - 193.63 could be obtained respectively. To conclude, application of 84, 12 and 40 kg•ha−1 N, P and K could be recommended for the production of maize.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Soil Productivity on the North China Plain

Soil productivity is the ability of a soil, in its normal environment, to support plant growth and can be evaluated with respect to crop production in unfertilized soil within the agricultural ecosystem. Both soil productivity and fertilizer applications affect crop yields. A long-term experiment with a winter wheat-summer maize rotation was established in 1989 in a field of the Fengqiu State Key Agro-Ecological Experimental Station, a region typical of the North China Plain, including seven treatments： 1） a balanced application of NPK chemical fertilizers （NPK）; 2） application of organic fertilizer （OM）; 3） application of 50% organic fertilizer and 50% NPK chemical fertilizers （1/2OMN）; 4） application of NP chemical fertilizers （NP）; 5） application of PK chemical fertilizer （PK）; 6） application of NK chemical fertilizers （NK）; and 7） unfertilized control （CK）. To investigate the effects of fertilization practices on soil productivity, further pot tests were conducted in 2007-2008 using soil samples from the different fertilization treatments of the long-term field experiment. The soil sample of each treatment of the long-term experiment was divided into three pots to grow wheat： with no fertilization （Potunf）, with balanced NPK fertilization （POtNPK）, and with the same fertilizer（s） of the long-term field experiment （Potori）. The fertilized soils of the field experiment used in all the pot tests showed a higher wheat grain yield and higher nutrient uptake levels than the unfertilized soil. Soil productivity of the treatments of the field experiment after 18 years of continuous fertilizer applications were ranked in the order of OM 〉 1/2OMN 〉 NPK 〉 NP 〉 PK 〉 NK 〉 CK. The contribution of soil productivity of the different treatments of the field experiment to the wheat grain yield of Potori was 36.0%-76.7%, with the PK and NK treatments being higher than the OM, 1/2OMN, NPK, and NP treatments since the soil in this area was deficient in N and P and rich in K. Wheat grain yields of PotNPK were higher than those of Potori and Potunf. The N, P, and K use efficiencies were higher in POtNPK than Potori and significantly positively correlated with wheat grain yield. Soil organic matter could be a better predictor of soil productivity because it correlated more strongly than other nutrients with the wheat grain yield of Potuf. Wheat yields of POtNPK showed a similar trend to those of Potunf, indicating that soil productivity improvement was essential for a further increase in crop yield. The long-term applications of both organic and chemical fertilizers were capable of increasing soil productivity on the North China Plain, but the former was more effective than the latter. The balanced application of NPK chemical fertilizers not only increased soil productivity, but also largely increased crop yields, especially in soils with lower productivity. Thus, such an approach should be a feasible practice for the sustainable use of agricultural soils on the North China Plain, particularly when taking into account crop yields, labor costs, and the limited availability of organic fertilizers.

Long-term fertilization and residue return affect soil stoichiometry characteristics and labile soil organic matter fractions

Ecological stoichiometry provides the possibility for linking microbial dynamics with soil carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)metabolisms in response to agricultural nutrient management.To determine the roles of fertilization and residue return with respect to ecological stoichiometry,we collected soil samples from a 30-year field experiment on residue return(maize straw)at rates of 0,2.5,and 5.0 Mg ha^-1 in combination with 8 fertilization treatments:no fertilizer(F0),N fertilizer,P fertilizer,potassium(K)fertilizer,N and P(NP)fertilizers,N and K(NK)fertilizers,P and K(PK)fertilizers,and N,P,and K(NPK)fertilizers.We measured soil organic C(SOC),total N and P,microbial biomass C,N,and P,water-soluble organic C and N,KMnO4-oxidizabIe C(KMnO4-C),and carbon management index(CMI).Compared with the control(F0 treatment without residue return),fertilization and residue return significantly increased the KMn〇4-C content and CMI.Furthermore,compared with the control,residue return significantly increased the SOC content.Moreover,the NPK treatment with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 significantly enhanced the C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios in the soil,whereas it significantly decreased the C:N and C:P ratios in soil microbial biomass.Therefore,NPK fertilizer application combined with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 could enhance the SOC content through the stoichiometric plasticity of microorganisms.Residue return and fertilization increased the soil C pools by directly modifying the microbial stoichiometry of the biomass that was C limited.

Nitrous Oxide and Methane Fluxes During the Maize Season Under Optimized Management in Intensive Farming Systems of the North China Plain

Addressing concerns about mitigating greenhouse gas （GHG） emissions while maintaining high grain yield requires improved management practices that achieve sustainable intensification of cereal production systems. In the North China Plain, a field experiment was conducted to measure nitrous oxide （N2O） and methane （CH4） fluxes during the maize （Zea mays L.） season under various agricultural management regimes including conventional treatment （CONT） with high N fertilizer application at a rate of 300 kg N ha-1 and overuse of groundwater by flood irrigation, optimal fertilization 1 treatment （OPTIT）, optimal fertilization 2 treatment （OPT2T）, and controlled-release urea treatment （CRUT） with reduced N fertilizer application and irrigation, and a control （CK） with no N fertilizer. In contrast to CONT, balanced N fertilization treatments （OPT1T, OPT2T, and CRUT） and CK demonstrated a significant drop in cumulative N20 emission （1.70 v.s. 0.43-1.07 kg N ha-l）, indicating that balanced N fertilization substantially reduced N20 emission. The vMues of the N20 emission factor were 0.42%, 0.29%, 0.32%, and 0.27% for CONT, OPTIT, OPT2T, and CRUT, respectively. Global warming potentials, which were predominantly determined by N20 emission, were estimated to be 188 kg CO2-eq ha-1 for CK and 419-765 kg CO2-eq ha-1 for the N fertilization treatments. Global warming potential intensity calculated by considering maize yield was significantly lower for OPT1T, OPT2T, CRUT, and CK than for CONT. Therefore, OPTIT, OPT2T, and CRUT were recommended as promising management practices for sustaining maize yield and reducing GHG emissions in the North China Plain.