Calcium carbonate promotes the formation and stability of soil macroaggregates in mining areas of China

We studied changes in the concentrations of aggregate-cementing agents after different reclamation times and with different fertilization regimes,as well as the formation mechanism of aggregates in reclaimed soil,to provide a theoretical basis for rapid reclamation of soil fertility in the subsidence area of coal mines in Shanxi Province,China.In this study,soil samples of 0–20 cm depth were collected from four fertilization treatments of a longterm experiment started in 2008:no fertilizer (CK),inorganic fertilizer (NPK),chicken manure compost (M),and50%inorganic fertilizer plus 50%chicken manure compost (MNPK).The concentrations of cementing agents and changes in soil aggregate size distribution and stability were analysed.The results showed that the formation of>2 mm aggregates,the aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD),and the proportion of>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WR_(0.25)) increased significantly after 6 and 11 years of reclamation.The concentration of organic cementing agents tended to increase with reclamation time,whereas free iron oxide (Fed) and free aluminium oxide(Ald) concentrations initially increased but then decreased.In general,the MNPK treatment signi?cantly increased the concentrations of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3),and CaCO_(3) increased by 60.4%at 11 years after reclamation.Additionally,CaCO_(3) had the greatest effect on the stability of aggregates,promoting the formation of>0.25 mm aggregates and accounting for 54.4%of the variance in the proportion and stability of the aggregates.It was concluded that long-term reclamation is bene?cial for improving soil structure.The MNPK treatment was the most effective measure for increasing maize grain yield and concentration of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3).

Effects of Combined Organic-inorganic Fertilization on Quality and Water Use Efficiency of Spring Maize under Equal Nitrogen Fertilization

The experiment was conducted in the abandoned land of Liangjia Village,Huayin City,Shaanxi Province from April to September 2019.The experimental crop was spring maize.A total of six treatments were set up in a randomized block design.The moisture content of the top 0-60 cm soil was determined regularly,and the yield and quality indices of maize at maturity were checked.The results show that:(i)combined organic-inorganic fertilization increased the yield of spring maize by 3%-8%.(ii)Compared with CK,fertilization treatments significantly improved the water use efficiency of spring maize,with an increase of 59.2%.The average water use efficiency of three combined organic-inorganic fertilization treatments was 27.81 kg/(ha·mm).Compared with CON,combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly improved the water use efficiency of spring maize,with an increase of 12.5%.(iii)The combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers increased the moisture,total starch,crude protein and crude fat contents,and reduced crude fiber content of maize kernels.However,with the increase of the proportion of organic fertilizer,the crude protein content of maize kernels decreased.(iv)Yield of spring maize showed a significant parabolic relationship with soil water consumption.In summary,70%inorganic fertilizer+30%organic fertilizer is a scientific and reasonable way of fertilization.

Crop Yield,N Uptake and Nitrates in a Fluvo-Aquic Soil Profile

The effects of different chemical fertilizer combinations (N, P and K) oncrop yield, N uptake and nitrate distribution and accumulation to a depth of 100 cm were studied ina cinnamon fluvo-aquic soil profile (Beijing) with a continuous winter wheat-summer maize croppingsystem for nine years. The experiment consisted of 7 treatments: no fertilizer control (CK); Nalone, N in combination with K (NK), P (NP), and P and K (NPK and N1PK); and P and K in combinationwithout N (PK). The rate of N was 150 kg ha^(-1) for the N treatments except Treatment N1PK withhigher N rate (195 kg ha^(-1)), and the rates of P (P_2O_5) and K (K2O) were 75 and 37.5 kg ha^(-1),respectively. The applications of N combined with P and K (NK, NP and NPK) resulted in higher cropyields than a single application of N. The yields followed the order: NPK > NP > N1PK > PK > NK > N> CK for winter wheat, and NPK > N1PK > NP > NK > N > PK > CK for summer maize. Supplement of N withP or K, or both P and K resulted in a higher average N uptake of the two crops, which was in adecreasing order NPK > NP > N1PK > NK > N > PK > CK. The combinations also increased apparent Nrecovery more than N alone and CK. The nitrate content in the profile was thus reduced more in thecombination treatments. The nitrate accumulation in the soil profiles followed the order: N > NK >N1PK > NPK > NP > CK > PK. Higher N uptake by the adequately fertilized crops (Treatment NPK)reduced nitrate accumulation in the profile and thus reduced nitrate leaching. The optimum N:P:Kratio was thus of paramount importance in increasing yields and N uptake of crops and reducingnitrate leaching losses.

Combined Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Black Soil Fertility and Maize Yield

By two years （2007-2008） located fertilizer experiment, the effect of long-term combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on black soil fertility and crop yield was investigated in Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province. The results showed that the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers could increase the organinc matter, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium. At the same time, the increasing application of organic fertilizer could reduce the soil bulk density and improve the field moisture capacity. Field moisture capacity and organic matter of the combined application of high quantities of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers AtB5 treatment increased the fhstest, organic matter increased by 3.33 g. kg and field moisture capacity increased by 11.25% than the beginning of the experiment. Under the same fertilization, the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers＇ increasing production range was higher than the single chemical fertilizers＇ which was from 0.8% to 9.4%. The results showed that the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers could increase the nutrient contents of soil and also was the highest productivity contribution to black soil fertility. It was the best fertilization structure of increasing productivity level and improving the soil fertility.

Effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers on productivity of groundnut(Arachis hypogaea L.)varieties in East Hararghe,Eastern Ethiopia

Groundnut(Arachis hypogaea L.)is a high economic value oil crop commonly grown in low-land semi-arid areas of Ethiopia.The crop production is constrained by low soil fertility;however,the nutrient management practice has been given low attention.This study was therefore conducted during the main cropping season of 2015/2016 at Babile and Fedis sites of East Hararghe,Ethiopia to evaluate the growth,nodulation,and yield response of groundnut varieties to the application of combined mineral nitrogen,phosphorus,and vermicompost fertilizers,and zinc.Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of three varieties(Ba-ha-Gudo,Ba-ha-Jidu,and Roba);three fertilizers combinations(0:0 kg N:POhawith no VC,46:46 kg N:POhawith no VC,and 46:46 kg N:POhawith 2.5 t VC ha);and three rates of Zn(0,5,and 10 kg Zn ha)in a randomized complete block design at both sites.The growth,nodulation,yield components,and yield data were subjected to analysis by SAS.The result revealed that plant height was significantly affected by variety and fertilizers combination,the number of branches plant-1affected by the interaction of variety and fertilizers combination while canopy spread and nodulation parameters were affected by the interaction of variety,fertilizers combination,and Zn rate.Pod plant-1and hundred seed weight,dry biomass,pod and seed yields,and seed oil content were significantly affected by the interaction of variety,fertilizers combination,and Zn rate.The highest dry biomass(7.26 t ha),pod(3.13 t ha),seed(2.16 t ha)yields and seed oil content(51.3%),net benefit($1704.2 ha)with a marginal rate of return of 242%were obtained from variety Ba-ha Gudo received the combined application of 46:46 kg N:POhaand 2.5 t VC hawith 5 kg Zn ha.Therefore,it can be concluded that the Ba-ha Gudo variety is preferably produced using the combined application of 46:46 kg N:POhaand 2.5 t VC hawith 5kg Zn hafor high productivity in the study sites and similar agro-ecologies.