Study on Compound Substrate Properties with Spent Mushroom Compost and Cattle Manure Compost and Effects on the Growth of Seedlings

[Objective] The purpose was to study the optimum composition ratio of compound substrate with spent mushroom compound （SMC） and cattle manure com- post （CMC） for the seedling growth of tomato, cucumber and watermelon. [Method] With internationally best formula substrate （turf：vermiculite=2：1） used for CK, SMC and CMC were matched according to different proportions to get different substrate whose physical and chemical nutrient properties and their effects on the growth of tomato, cucumber and watermelon were studied by means of plug seeding technolo- gy. [Result] The results showed that the bulk density, porosity and the pH of the compound substrates are all in the ideal condition. However, CMC increased the EC value and the pH of the compound substrates. Compound substrates with high ratio of CMC are not suitable for seedlings. [Conclusion] Tomato and watermelon seedlings grew well in the compost substrate with SMC：CMC=3：1 with no river sand. And the cucumber seedlings grew well in the compost substrate with SMC：CMC=2：1 with 5% volume river sand.

Effects of Dairy Cattle Manure and Chemical Fertilizers on Fertility of Soils Grown with Cichorium intybus

[Objective] The aim was to explore recycling utilization of manure of dairy cattle through returning of manures into fields. [Method] Effects of dairy cattle ma- nure and chemical fertilizer on fertility of soils grown with Cichorium intybus were in- vestigated through a pot experiment. [Result] After manure of dairy cattle was ap- plied, it can be concluded that organic matter, total N, total P, alkali-hydrolyzable ni- trogen, available P, activities of urease and invertase in soils increased by 0.14-1.28 times, 43.8%-79.7%, 17.4%-30.8%, 147%-188%, 7 times, 17.2%-38.5%, and 1.36%- 3.34%, respectively. Furthermore, organic matter, total N. urease and invertase activi- ties in group of M7F3 increased most; total P and available P achieved the best in group of M3F7. These indicated that the applied manures of dairy cattle would maintain and improve soil fertility, providing better soils for Cichorium intybus. [Conclusion] The research provides reference for recycling of cattle manures and construction of ecological cyclical pattern of ＂grass planting-cattle breeding-methane fermentation-returning of manures into fields＂.

Effect of Enriched Cattle Manure on Soil Nutrient Status, Nitrogen Uptake and Yield of Tea （Camellia sinensis）

Inorganic fertilizer NPK （nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium） （S） 25：5：5：5 is generally recommended for optimum yield and quality of tea （Camellia sinensis）. Non-judicious use of this inorganic fertilizer however acidifies the soils and pollutes the environment. Integrated soil fertility management （ISFM） which involves the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizer is recommended for improved crop yield and soil health. An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of enriching cattle manure with different ratios of inorganic fertilizers （OM： NPKS at ratios 1：2 and 1：4）, and rates on soil nutrient status, nitrogen uptake and yield of tea in the east of Rift Valley, Kenya. Enriching manures and organic manure up to a rate of 150 kg N/ha increased the level of P mature leaf. A higher N and K level in the mature leaf was observed when NPKS was applied at higher rates. In the soil, fertilizer rate up to 150 kg N/ha showed higher pH and K where organic manure and enriched manures were applied while NPKS treatment showed higher P content throughout the soil depths. Enriching organic manures with inorganic fertilizers increased yield significantly.

Long-term cattle manure application to saline-sodic soil increases maize yield by decreasing key obstacle factors in the black soil region of Northeastern China

Poor soil physical properties, serious salinization and low soil nutrients are the limiting factors for crop yield in saline-sodic soil. Long-term cattle manure application is an important measure that can affect the physicochemical properties and increase the maize yield of saline-sodic soil. This experiment included five treatments according to the history of cattle manure application: a control treatment with no cattle manure (CK) and treatments with cattle manure application for 14 years (14 a), 17 years (17 a), 20 years (20 a), and 25 years (25 a). The results indicated that compared with the CK treatment, long-term cattle manure application to saline-sodic soil resulted in significant increases in soil organic matter (SOM), soil total nitrogen (TN) and available nutrients at the 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm depths (p<0.05). The soil physical properties improved significantly, and cattle manure application significantly decreased the soil bulk density (ρb) and soil density (ρd) and increased the soil total porosity (ft) and water-holding capacity (WHC). With the number of years of cattle manure application, the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR1:5) decreased significantly, and the maize yield gradually increased over time from 8690 kg/hm2 in the CK treatment to 14 690 kg/hm2 in the 25a treatment. There were significant differences among all treatments (p<0.05). The results showed that long-term cattle manure application decreased the soil ρb and saline-alkaline properties, which was the main factor that affected the maize yield in the saline-sodic soil, especially for soil ρb.

Inverse modeling approach for determining soil hydraulic properties as affected by application of cattle manure

Numerical codes are extensively used in the modeling of water and solute transport in the vadose zone.The application of these codes depends on knowledge of soil hydraulic properties such as soil water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity.Application of cattle manure to the soil can increase soil organic matter(SOM)contents.Increases in SOM associated with changes in the structure and adsorption properties of soil and,thus,their hydraulic properties.In this study the effect of cattle manure on soil hydraulic properties was investigated using inverse method.Applied inverse method was based on Levenberg-Marquart optimization algorithm to estimate hydraulic properties of soil in transient condition using C++programming language along with forward model(HydroGeoSphere)as a numerical code.Nine iron cylinders of 57 cm in inner diameter and about 40 cm in height were filled with Sandy clay loam soil of 30 cm in height.Cattle manure applied at 0,30,and 60 Mg/ha at three replications in a completely random design.One year after cattle manure application,saturated hydraulic conductivity,porosity,and water retention curve parameters(van Genuchten function,αandβ)were estimated using inverse method.Statistical analysis showed that the automatic calibration is sensitive toαmore than the other parameters.The results showed that porosity,saturated hydraulic conductivity,residual water content,αandβincreased significantly(P<0.05)with application 30 and 60 Mg/ha cattle manure.But there was no significant difference(P<0.05)inβbetween application of 30 and 60 Mg/ha cattle manure.The study also indicated thatαwas 25.0%and 50.0%higher andβwas 9.6%and 12.6%lower than control treatment in 30 and 60 Mg/ha treatments.In addition,application cattle manure showed positive effect on hydraulic parameters of soil.

Cattle manure biochar and earthworm interactively affected CO_(2)and N_(2)O emissions in agricultural and forest soils:Observation of a distinct difference

The application of manure-derived biochar offers an alternative to avoid the direct application of manure to soil causing greenhouse gas emission.Soil fauna,especially earthworms,can markedly stimulate carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emissions from soil.This study therefore investigated the effect of cattle manure biochar(added at rates of 0,2%,or 10%,coded as BC0,BC2 and BC10,respectively)application,with or without earthworm Aporrectodea turgida,on emissions of CO_(2) and N_(2)O and changes of physic-chemical properties of agricultural and forest soils in a laboratory incubation experiment.The BC10 treatment significantly enhanced cumulative CO_(2) emissions by 27.9%relative to the untreated control in the agricultural soil.On the contrary,the BC2 and BC10 treatments significantly reduced cumulative CO_(2) emissions by 16.3%–61.1%and N_(2)O emissions by 92.9%–95.1%compared to the untreated control in the forest soil.The addition of earthworm alone significantly enhanced the cumulative CO_(2) and N_(2)O fluxes in agricultural and forest soils.Cumulative CO_(2) and N_(2)O fluxes were significantly increased when BC2 and BC10 were applied with earthworm in the agricultural soil,but were significantly reduced when BC10 was applied with earthworm in the forest soil.Our study demonstrated that biochar application interacted with earthworm to affect CO_(2) and N_(2)O emissions,which were also dependent on the soil type involved.Our study suggests that manure biochar application rate and use of earthworm need to be carefully studied for specific soil types to maximize the climate change mitigation potential of such management practices.

Distribution and stability of water-stable aggregates as affected by long-term cattle manure application to saline-sodic soil in the black soil region of northeastern China

Saline-sodic soil has a poor structure,low nutrient content,and excessive sodium in the western Heilongjiang Province,resulting in low crop productivity.Experimental treatments were established by applying manure to the soil for 5 years,12 years,and 16 years and soil without manure application was used as a control treatment(CK).The results indicate that the application of manure significantly increased soil macroaggregates,the mean weight diameter(MWD)and the geometric mean diameter(GMD)compared to those for the CK treatment.The soil organic matter(SOM)concentration increased from 17.8 to 47.9 g/kg,the soil pH decreased from 10.18 to 7.89,and the electrical conductivity(EC)decreased from 4.92 to 0.19 dS/m.The soil exchangeable Na^(+)was decreased and exchangeable Ca^(2+)was increased in the treatments with manure application compared with the CK treatment.And a decrease in the CaCO_(3)content was observed in the treatment with manure.Water-stable aggregates(WSAs)of greater than 2.0 mm were the dominant factor driving the changes in the MWD,and WSAs of 1.0-2.0 mm were the dominant factor driving the changes in the GMD.The correlation matrix showed that the SOM and soil exchangeable Ca^(2+)concentration was positively correlated with the stability of the WSAs,while the pH,EC,and soil exchangeable Na^(+)were negatively and significantly correlated.We conclude that the long-term application of manure to saline-sodic soil can increase the proportion of soil macroaggregates and thus increase the stability of WSAs,as a result of the formation of soil macroaggregates mainly caused by the increase in the organic colloidal matter and soil exchangeable Ca^(2+),and by the decrease in soil exchangeable Na^(+).

Nitrogen Mineralization from Animal Manures and Its Relation to Organic N Fractions

Laboratory aerobic incubation was conducted for 161 d to study N mineralization and the changes of organic N fractions of nine different manures（3 chicken manures, 3 pig manures and 3 cattle manures） from different farms/locations. Results indicated that significant（P〈0.01 or P〈0.001） difference existed in N mineralization between manures. The rapid N mineralization in manures occurred during 56 to 84 d of incubation. First order exponential model can be used to describe N mineralization from chicken manures and pig manures, while quadratic equation can predict mineralization of organic N from cattle manures. An average of 21, 19 and 13% added organic N from chicken manure, pig manure and cattle manure was mineralized during 161 d of incubation. Amino acid-N was the main source of N mineralization. The changes of amino acid-N together with ammonium N could explain significantly 97 and 96% of the variation in mineralized N from manured soils and manures. Amino acid-N and ammonium N are two main N fractions in determining N mineralization potential from manures. Amino acid-N contributed more to the mineralized N than ammonium N.

Soil properties and corn(Zea mays L.)production under manure application combined with deep tillage management in solonetzic soils of Songnen Plain,Northeast China

Poor soil structure and nutrients, excessive exchangeable Na＋, high pH as well as low enzyme activities are common in the solonetz, and significantly restrict corn （Zea mays L.） production. Cattle manure application combined with deep tillage is an important management practice that can affect soil physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities as well as corn yield in the solonetz. Field experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design comprising four treatments： Corn with conventional tillage was used as a control, and corn with manure application combined with deep tillage as well as film mulching and aluminium sulfate were used as the experimental treatments, respectively. The relationship between corn yield and measured soil properties was determined using stepwise regression analysis. Manure application combined with deep tillage management was more effective than conventional tillage for increasing corn yield and for improving soil properties in the solonetz. The highest corn yield was obtained in the treatments with manure application＋deep tillage＋plastic film mulching （11 472 and 12 228 kg ha-l）, and increased by 38 and 43% comparing with the control treatment （8 343 and 8 552 kg ha-1） both in the 2013 and 2014 experiments, respectively. Using factor analysis, three factors were obtained, which represented soil fertility status, soil saline-alkaline properties and soil structural properties both in the 2013 and 2014 experiments, respectively. Manure and deep tillage management resulted in two distinct groups of soil properties： （1） soils with manure application combined with deep tillage and （2） soils with conventional tillage. Stepwise regression analysis showed that corn yield was significantly and positively correlated to urease and available P, as well as negatively correlated to pH, electrical conductivity （EC）, exchange sodium percentage （ESP）, and bulk density （Pb）. We concluded that Pb was dominant factor for corn yield on the basis of discriminant coefficient. Manure application combined with deep tillage man- agement resulted in an increase in corn yield mainly owing to improved soil structural properties, followed by decreased soil saline-alkaline obstacle as well as increased urease activity and available P. This result is likely that the improvement in soil organic matter （SOM） from manure application greatly and positively contributed to better soil physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities, especially decrease in pb. Suggestion for corn production should be improvement in soilstructural properties firstly. This could cause decrease in Pb that key factor which limited the corn production in the solonetz.

Inoculating Microbes Effect on Composting Process of Dairy Manure Under Low Temperature

The compost of cattle manure was inoculated with complex microbial agent lower than 5 ℃ to explore the application of beneficial microbial agent and maturation accelerator aiming at accelerating the process of compostimg under the low temperature Results showed that adding the maturation accelerator accelerated the process of composting and increased the nitrogen content of composting products. Inoculating the microogannic maturation agent made the composting temperature rise quickly and the maW.ration become better.

Zai Pit Effects on Selected Soil Properties and Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>) Growth and Grain Yield in Two Selected Dryland Regions of Kenya

Erratic rainfall and temperature regimes, strongly affect agricultural productivity. To address the reduction in production, this study assessed the effect of Zai pit depths on selected soil properties and cowpea growth and grain yield. “Zai” pit technology was tested in two locations falling under Agroecological Zone IV (relatively dry areas) i.e. Katumani in Machakos County and Naivasha in Nakuru County, Kenya, aiming to determine the combined effect of four “Zai” pit depths and two levels of manure (plots with manure and plots without manure) on selected soil properties, growth and yield of cowpea. Experiment was laid out in split plot arrangement, with manure levels as the main plot factor and “Zai” pit depths (Flat: Z0, 30 cm: Z30, 45 cm: Z45 and 60 cm: Z60) as subplot factor, replicated four times. Cowpea (M66 variety) was used as the test crop. Inorganic N and extractable P were significantly (P < 0.05) higher, at 1.37 mg⋅kg−1 for Nin and 80.4 mg⋅kg−1 for Pex in Zai pits compared to flat plots which were at 0.91 mg⋅kg−1 for Nin and 47.1 mg⋅kg−1 for Pex. The values of Nin and Pex also varied depending on depths, with Z45 having highest Nin at 1.17 against the least, at 0.89 in the Z0, while Pex was highest in Z30 at 102.3 mg⋅kg−1 while Z0 having the least Pex of 89.7 mg⋅kg−1. Generally, crops in “Zai” pitted plots were larger in diameter at 0.46 cm than crops in flat plots at 0.42 cm. Better performance was observed in yield, with Z30 yielding 30.5% against 18.2% Flat plots in Machakos while 27.9% in Z30 against 22.5% from Flat plots in Naivasha. This study demonstrated great potential of “Zai” pit technology on crop production, as reflected on improved growth and yield of cowpeas. Combining “Zai” pits with manure increases soil Nin, Pex and is a guarantee of great crop performance in terms of high final yields.

Mitigating greenhouse gas of chemical fertilizer with farmland emissions through replacement organic manure in a temperate

Burning crop residues and excessive use of chemical fertilizers results in an enormous waste of bio- logical resources, which further weakens the potential capacity of the agro-ecosystem as a carbon sink. To explore the potential of farmlands acting as a carbon sink without yield losses, we conducted an experiment on a temperate eco-farm in eastern rural China. Crop residues were applied to cattle feed, and the composted cattle manure was returned to cropland with a winter wheat and maize rotation. Four different proportions of fertilizers were designed： 100 % cattle manure, 100 % mineral nitrogen, 75 % cattle manure plus 25 % mineral nitrogen, and 50 % cattle manure plus 50 % mineral nitrogen. Crop yield and greenhouse gas （GHG） emissions were carefully calculated according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC） Guidelines for National Green- house Gas Inventories 2006. Our results showed that replacing chemical fertilizer with organic manure signifi- cantly decreased the emission of GHGs. Yields of wheat and corn also increased as the soil fertility was improved by the application of cattle manure. Totally replacing chemical fertilizer with organic manure decreased GHG emissions, which reversed the agriculture ecosystem from a carbon source （＋2.7 t CO_2-eq. hm-2 year-1） to a carbon sink （-8.8 t CO_2-eq. hm^-2 year^-1）. Our findings provide useful insights for improving agricultural ecosystems under global change scenarios.