Effects of Organic Manure Application with Chemical Fertilizers on Nutrient Absorption and Yield of Rice in Hunan of Southern China

To evaluate the effect of organic manure application with chemical fertilizers on rice yield and soil fertility under long-term double-rice cropping system, a six year field experiment was conducted continually in the paddy soil derived from Quaternary red clay in Hunan Province of southern China. Four different treatments, i.e., no nitrogen with chemical P and K （PK）, swine manure only （M）, N, P and K chemical fertilizers only （NPK）, and half chemical fertilizers combined with half swine manure （NPKM） with four replications were included. Each N, P and K application rate was the same at all the treatments （except the N application rate at PK） and N application rate was 150 kg N ha^-1. All fertilizers were applied to soil tillage layer with once application as baseal fertilizers. The nutrients uptake rate, grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil organic matter content at each treatment were investigated. The NPKM treatment achieved the highest mean annual yield of 12.2 t ha^-1 （68% higher than that of PK）. Higher dry matter accumulation and nutrients absorption were observed during the middle-late growth period in the NPKM treatment, with higher panicle number per unit and filled-grain number per panicle. Its average nitrogen use efficiency was 36.3% and soil organic matter increased by 18.5% during the experimental period in the NPKM treatment, which were significantly higher than those in the NPK treatment. Organic manure application with chemical fertilizers increased the yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice, reduced the risk of environmental pollution and improved soil fertility greatly. It could be a good practical technique that protects the environment and raises the rice yield in this region.

Dynamics of Nutrient Accumulation in Maize Plants Under Different Water and N Supply Conditions

The dynamics of accumulations of plant dry matter, nutrient uptake and N fertilizer recovery were studied with different water and N supply, using summer maize (Zea mays L. var. Shandan9) as an indicator crop. The total dry matter (including roots) and N, P, K uptake amounts were continuously increased with plant growth, and their accumulations with time during plant-growing period were shaped in S curves that could be described by exponential regression equations. Differentiating the regression equations fitting the curves over time for first derivatives, the momentary rate was obtained of the dry matter and nutrient uptake. Results show that the dry matter and the nutrient uptake were not in the same rate at all time, but changed from one time to another. Usually, the rate increased rapidly at early stages, and gradually decreased after reaching their peak. Of N, P and K, the uptake rate of N and K was higher, and their increase and decrease were both fast while P was reversed. The time of the maximum absorptive rate appeared earlier for K, followed by N, and then by P. In any case, the maximum nutrient uptake rate appeared earlier than did the dry matter. The momentary N recovery rate was similar in trend to those of dry matter and N uptake, and its maximum recovery rate occurred almost at the same time as its maximum uptake rate. Supplemental irrigation raised the cumulative and momentary rates of N. Although water and N supplies increased dry matter and nutrient uptake rates, they did not alter their changing trends during the plant-growing period.

Effects of Biochar,Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nitrogen Application on Crop(Cichorium intybus L.)Growth and Soil Properties in Cadmium Contaminated Soil

The effects of biochar(BC),arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AM),nitrogen(N)and their composite treatments(BC+N,AM+N,BC+AM and BC+AM+N)application on Cichorium intybus L.(C.intybus L.)nutrient uptake,soil properties and cadmium(Cd)accumulation were investigated in Cd contaminated soil(0.11 mg·kg^(-1)).The results showed that the addition of BC increased the rate of mycorrhizal infection.However,the addition of N slightly inhibited mycorrhizal colonization,and the shoot and root bioaccumulation of chicory was positively influenced by BC and N when inoculated with AM fungi.Compared with the single component treatment(AM,BC or N)or two-component treatment(BC+N,AM+N or BC+AM),the three-component composite treatment(BC+AM+N)had the highest shoot bioaccumulation,whereas BC+AM treatment was considered the best for root biomass bioaccumulation.Compared with the control treatment,the single component treatment(AM,BC or N)and the composite treatment resulted in an overall improvement of the chicory shoot,root related nutrient uptake(N,P,K,Mg,Ca,Mn and Fe)and some soil physicochemical properties;in addition,these treatments showed better results than BC+AM+N and BC+AM treatments.Among the Cd-related indexes,Cd concentrations in the shoot,root and soil of C.intybus L.were reduced through treatment with AM and BC.However,a lower bioconcentration coefficient(BCF)and a higher transfer coefficient(TF)were observed in both treatments,and the most desirable effect was observed following the combination treatment(BC+AM).Compared with other single management,the shoot and root Cd concentrations of C.intybus L.after the management of N alone were higher,and the value of BCF(2.63%)was higher,but the value of TF(1.05%)was lower.Indexes related to Cd improved concurrently following the application of N in combination with BC or AM.Therefore,in Cd contaminated soils,single or combined application of BC,AM and N could promote chicory growth and nutrient uptake and improve some soil physicochemical properties.However,N should not be applied alone and needed to be combined with AM and BC;furthermore,it was evident that the treatment with the three composites(BC+AM+N)was optimal from an application point of view.

Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L.during seed germination and seedling growth stages

Nanoplastic pollution has become a significant problem in farmland systems worldwide.However,research on the effects of nanoplastics(NPs)with different charges on field crops is still limited.In our study,NPs with different charges,including unmodified polystyrene nanoplastics(PS),positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics(PS-NH_(2)),and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics(PSSO3H),were investigated for their impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rape.The results showed that seed water uptake(after 12 h),seed germination,seed vigour,and relative root elongation were all significantly reduced under exposure to NPs(200 mg/L).Similarly,remarkable decreases in plant biomass(root weight,shoot weight),growth(root length,plant height),photosynthesis ability(chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,carotenoids),essential nutrient uptake(Fe,Mn,Zn,Cu),and plant quality(soluble protein,soluble sugar,crude fibre content)of rape seedlings were also observed after exposure to NPs.Among the three kinds of NPs,PS-NH_(2)showed stronger effects.Moreover,superoxide dismutase,peroxidase,and catalase activities of rape seedlings were changed,and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased under exposure to NPs.Furthermore,positively charged PS-NH_(2)showed stronger effects on the phenotype,physiology,biochemistry,nutrient uptake,and plant quality of rape.Notably,a comprehensive toxicity evaluation revealed that PS-NH_(2)had the strongest toxicity to rape.The present study provides important implications for the interaction and risk assessment of NPs and crops in soil-plant systems.