The microbial community,nutrient supply and crop yields differ along a potassium fertilizer gradient under wheat-maize double-cropping systems

Soil microorganisms play critical roles in ecosystem function.However,the relative impact of the potassium(K)fertilizer gradient on the microbial community in wheat-maize double-cropping systems remains unclear.In this long-term field experiment(2008-2019),we researched bacterial and fungal diversity,composition,and community assemblage in the soil along a K fertilizer gradient in the wheat season(K0,no K fertilizer;K1,45 kg ha^(-1) K_(2)O;K_(2),90 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O;K3,135 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O)and in the maize season(K0,no K fertilizer;K_(1),150 kg ha^(-1) K_(2)O;K_(2),300 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O;K_(3),450 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O)using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal internally transcribed spacer(ITS)data.We observed that environmental variables,such as mean annual soil temperature(MAT)and precipitation,available K,ammonium,nitrate,and organic matter,impacted the soil bacterial and fungal communities,and their impacts varied with fertilizer treatments and crop species.Furthermore,the relative abundance of bacteria involved in soil nutrient transformation(phylum Actinobacteria and class Alphaproteobacteria)in the wheat season was significantly increased compared to the maize season,and the optimal K fertilizer dosage(K2 treatment)boosted the relative bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation(genus Lactobacillus)and soil denitrification(phylum Proteobacteria)bacteria in the wheat season.The abundance of the soil bacterial community promoting root growth and nutrient absorption(genus Herbaspirillum)in the maize season was improved compared to the wheat season,and the K2 treatment enhanced the bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation(genus MND1)and soil nitrogen cycling(genus Nitrospira)genera in the maize season.The results indicated that the bacterial and fungal communities in the double-cropping system exhibited variable sensitivities and assembly mechanisms along a K fertilizer gradient,and microhabitats explained the largest amount of the variation in crop yields,and improved wheat?maize yields by 11.2-22.6 and 9.2-23.8%with K addition,respectively.These modes are shaped contemporaneously by the different meteorological factors and soil nutrient changes in the K fertilizer gradients.

Research on the Production Efficiency and Utilizing Rate of Potassium Fertilizer for Rape in Yunnan Province

[Objective] This study aimed at investigating the effects of consumption of potassium fertilizer on production and biological characteristics of rape and utilizing efficiency of potassium fertilizer.[Method] Taking 0 kg/hm2 as control,nine consumptions of potassium fertilizer were designed for the experiment using single factor randomized block design with three replications and field experiment in nine rape-producing areas with different ecological types in Yunnan Province.[Result] Appropriately applying potassium fertilizer in Yunnan Province could improve the rapeseed production,the rape production could achieve 3 983-4 151 kg when applied 150-180 kg/hm2 of K2O,which had increased by 4.7-9.1% compared with the control and attained the peak in K165 treatment.When applied 1 kg of K2O,the rapeseed production could enhance 559 kg,the net profit could reach 1 229 yuan/hm2 and the partial productivity of potassium fertilizer could attain 31.32 kg/kg K2O and 3.7 kg/kg K2O,respectively.Applying potassium fertilizer could promote the growth of rape and increase rapeseed production.[Conclusion] The recommended optimal consumptions of potassium fertilizer with high production and high efficiency for rape in Yunnan Province were ranged between 150 and 180 kg K2O/hm2.However,comprehensively considering production and efficiency factors,the consumption of potassium fertilizer in Yunnan Province was around 73.9 kg/hm2,which should be appropriately increased to around 100.0 kg/hm2 in Longchuan,Yulong,Linxiang and other producing areas with similar conditions.

Effects of Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium Fertilizers on Soft Rot of Konjac Based on Grey Correlation Analysis

[Objective] The effects of different application amounts of nitrogen, phos-phate and potassium fertilizers on soft rot of konjac were investigated in this study. [Method] The grey correlation analysis was adopted to evaluate the correlation be-tween the application amount of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers and the occurrence of soft rot of konjac. [Result] The excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer would induce the occurrence of soft rot of konjac, but the application of potassium fertilizer had a good control effect on soft rot. [Conclusion] The applica-tion amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be control ed reasonably in the planting of konjac, but the application amount of phosphate and potassium fertilizer could be in-creased to some extent, reducing the occurrence of soft rot of konjac.

Effects of Straw Covering and Different Types of Potassium Fertilizer on Salinity Accumulation in Surface Layer of Tobacco-planted Paddy Soil

[Objective] This study aimed to investigation the effects of straw covering and different types of potassium fertilizer on salinity accumulation in surface layer of tobacco-planted paddy soil in southern China. [Method] Tobacco variety ‘Yunyan87’ was used as the experimental material to investigate the effects of salinity accumulation in surface layer of tobacco-planted paddy soil on the growth and development of flue-cured tobacco using different types of potassium fertilizer and mulching cultivation methods. [Result] The results showed that K＋ , Ca2＋ , SO42and NO3-were the major salt ions in topsoil at different growth stages of flue-cured tobacco, Na ＋ and Mg2＋ contents were also relatively high at vigorous growth stage, indicating that these salt ions were easily accumulated in surface layer of soil; to be specific, the absolute increase of salt ion concentration showed a decreasing order of K＋ SO42- NO3-Ca2＋ Mg2＋ Na＋ Cl-, while the relative increase of salt ion concentration showed a decreasing order of Ca2＋ K＋ Na＋ NO3-SO42-Mg2＋ Cl-. At 60 d posttransplanting, total salt content in topsoil reached the minimum of 359.1 mg/kg in Treatment 2, total salt content in topsoil reached the maximum of 536.1 mg/kg in Treatment 5 （CK）, which was significantly higher than that in other treatments. At 90 d post-transplanting, no significant difference was observed in total salt content among various treatments. At harvesting period, total salt content in topsoil reached the maximum of 3 278.4 mg/kg in Treatment 1, which was significantly higher than that in other treatments. Topsoil pH showed no significant differences among various treatments at three different periods, ranging from 5.39 to 5.59. Straw covering could effectively reduce salt content in topsoil, accelerate vigorous growth of tobacco, shorten vigorous growth period and increase plant height, leaf number and lead area; at vigorous growth stage, root vitality and root volume of tobacco were improved, but the yield and output value were relatively low. Major agronomic traits and yield of tobacco showed no significant difference among various treatments. Output value of tobacco reached the maximum of 24 196.8 yuan/hm2 in Treatment 3, which was significantly higher than that in other treatments. [Conclusion] Appropriate types and proportions of potassium fertilizer and straw covering can effectively reduce the total salt content in tobacco-planted paddy soil and increase the effective supply amount of K＋ , Ca2＋ , SO42-and NO3-, thereby promoting and improving the root vitality of tobacco, which is conducive to the growth and development of tobacco and will eventually enhance the yield, quality and economic benefits of flue-cured tobacco.

Effect Models of Nitrogen,Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Formulation in Banana

[Objective] The aim was to modify the application amount of N,P and K fertilizer so as to provide a reference for establishing balanced fertilization index system of banana.[Method]The N,P and K fertilizer ＂3414＂ test was carried out on banana,and then regression analysis was performed on the fertilizer effect.Ternary quadratic,binary quadric and one-variable quadratic regression equations for the fertilizer effect on the banana yield were constructed.[Result]Suitable amount of N,P and K fertilizer had significant yield improving effect,whereas overdose of fertilizer application led to decreasing of utilization rate of fertilizer.Therefore,suitable amount of N,P and K fertilizer should be selected in production.It could be concluded that one-variable quadratic regression equations was the best model to calculate the suitable fertilizer amount.The best yield range of banana in the tested field was 44.193-45.904 t/hm2,while the corresponding optimum application amount of N,P2O5 and K2O was 795.1,262.3 and 1 236.9 kg/hm2 respectively,and the ratio among nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium are 1∶0.33∶1.55.[Conclusion]The result in this study could provide references for the soil types similar to the tested field.

Production Benefits of Double-Cropping Rice Under Optimized Application of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers Combined with Chinese Milk Vetch and Straw Co-Returning to Fields

In order to explore the technology and effects of reducing nitrogen and potassium fertilizer applications in double-cropping rice,a field plot experiment was conducted to study the effects of optimized application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers combined with returning Chinese milk vetch and straw to fields on yield,fertilizer utilization efficiency,net photosynthetic rate(Pn),stomatal conductance(Gs),intercellular CO_(2) concentration(Ci),chlorophyll content(SPAD value)and soil physical and chemical properties in late rice harvest period.The results showed that the optimized application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers combined with the integrated technology of Chinese milk vetch and straw co-returning to the field could enhance the photosynthetic efficiency of double-cropping rice,increase rice yield,and enhance soil biological activity,especially T4 treatment involving the returning of Chinese milk vetch and straw to the field instead of 30%nitrogen fertilizer achieved the highest rice yield,fertilizer use efficiency,net photosynthetic rate and soil biological activity.Compared with the conventional fertilization treatment T2,the total rice yield of T4 treatment increased by 4.1%,among which the early rice and late rice increased by 6.3%and 2.4%,respectively;Pn,Gs and SPAD values of flag leaves at full heading stage significantly increased,and the contents of soil active organic carbon,alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen,available phosphorus and readily available potassium significantly increased.

Effects of Nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium Combined Fertilization on Rice Yield and Fertilizer Use Efficiency in Jianghan Plain

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the rational formula for rice fertilization in Jianghan Plain.[Methods]An experiment on the combined application of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers was carried out in Jianghan Plain,an important rice producing area in Hubei,with a total of five treatments to study the effects of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on the fertilizer use efficiency and yield of rice.[Results]Fertilization had a significant effect on improving rice yield,and nitrogen fertilizer had the greatest effect on rice yield,followed by potassium fertilizer and phosphorous fertilizer.[Conclusions]This study provides a scientific basis for the application of rice fertilizers and the reduction and efficiency improvement of chemical fertilizers in Jianghan Plain.

Effects of Different Application Rates of Pesticides and Chemical Fertilizers on Wheat Stripe Rust and Wheat Yield

[Objectives]The paper was to investigate the effects of different application rates of pesticides and fertilizers on wheat stripe rust and wheat yield.[Methods]Two-factor split block design was adopted.[Results]Different application rates of pesticides and chemical fertilizers would affect the incidence of wheat stripe rust,and further affect the yield of wheat.Triadimefon had no significant effect on wheat yield,and potassium sulfate compound fertilizer had significant effect on wheat yield,while their interaction had no significant effect on wheat yield.There were significant differences in wheat yield among the 15 treatment combinations,which may be due to the fact that the application rate of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer had extremely significant effect on wheat yield.[Conclusions]Under the wheat/green manure/maize zonal rotation system in Bijie,the sowing width of wheat is guaranteed to be 0.5 m under the 1.65 m zonal cropping system,and the sowing rate of wheat is arranged according to the basic seedling of 1.2 million plants/hm^(2).In the early stage of wheat stripe rust,15%triadimefon WP can be sprayed evenly at the dose of 1050 g/hm^(2)by a high-power sprayer in a sunny day.

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the uptake and utilization of potassium by various rice varieties in purple soil

Nitrogen and potassium are important nutrientelements for rice.Besides supplied by the or- ganic manure,potassium nutrition of ricecomes dominantly from purple soils in Sichuanbasin.Potassium exists abundantly in mineralforms in the purple soils.Availability of soilpotassium for crop depends on the potassiumforms,the uptake ability of crops,and fertiliz-er practices.A pot culture experiment wasconducted to study the kinetics of potassiumuptake in the purple soil(total N 22.64g·kg,total K 24.36g·kg,available N 102.6mg·kg,available K 140.6mg·kg,acidsoluble K 936.0mg·kg,and pH 6.8).Ma-terials used were three Fhybrid rices,Eryou

Effects of Potassium Fertilizing Rates on Yield, Fiber Quality and Potassium Use Efficiency of Three Hybrid Cotton Cultivars

The effects of potassium （K） application rates on the yield, fiber quality and K fertilizer use efficiency of three hybrid cotton varieties （Jin102, Xiangzamian8, Siyang328） were studied in field experiment. Fertilizer rates of K2O 135 and 270 kg/hm2, representing 1x and 2x recommended K rates, were applied, no application of k fertilizer as the CK. The results show that the lint yield increased 39.13%-57.48%with potassium application, highly significantly. Al yield components of the three hy-brid cotton varieties increased with the increase of K application amounts. The bol number per plant, single bol weight and lint percentage were increased by 14.24%-40.29%, 3.59%-15.51% and 0.16%-4.89%, respectively, and the fiber length and specific strength also increased with the increasing K application amounts, showing no significant influence on Micronaire. When the K application amounts increased from 135 to 270 kg/hm2, the partial factor productivity （PFPk） reduced by 45.93%-48.01%, and the agronomic efficiency （AEk） reduced by 37.1%-42.9%. The PFPk and KE （K efficiency coefficients） of S328 were the highest among the three varieties, which also showed the strongest resistance to low potassium stress, and with no potassi-um fertilizer application （K0）, the lint yield of S328 was 5.54% and 11.19% higher than that of X8 and J102. The AEk of J102 was the highest, and its reward of K fertilizer was the greatest among the three varieties.

Effects of different ration of NPK fertilizer on the grain yield and protein content in forage rice

Different ratios of NPK were adopted in this research to study its effects on the objective traits of 2 early forage-rice varieties, and to obtain the optimum ratio to further improve the application technique in theory. At the same time, the possibility of increasing yield and protein content in the grain through cultivation technique was also studied. The conclusions were：

The effects of straw‑returning and inorganic K fertilizer on the carbon–nitrogen balance and reproductive growth of cotton

Background:Many studies have indicated that straw-returning could meet part or even all of the potassium(K)demand for crop growth in the field,but few have compared the effects of crop straw as K source and inorganic K fertilizer on carbon–nitrogen(C–N)balance of cotton and the reproductive growth.To address this,field experiments were conducted using the cotton cultivar,Siza 3,under there treatments(CK as control group one,no crop straw and inorganic K fertilizer were applied;K150 as control group two,150 kg·ha^(-1) of K2O was applied;and W9000,9000 kg·ha^(-1) wheat straw,which could provide K2O about 150 kg·ha^(-1),was incorporated into soil).Results:Although the final reproductive organ biomass did not differ between W9000 and K150,W9000 had a higher ratio of reproductive organ biomass to total biomass(RRT),suggesting that straw-returning was more conducive to the allocation of biomass to reproductive organs.The theoretical maximum biomass of reproductive organ was higher,but the average and maximum accumulation rates of reproductive organ biomass were 2.8%∼8.3%and 2.5%∼8.2%lower under W9000 than K150.Also,the duration of rapid-accumulation period for reproductive organ biomass(T)was 2.0∼2.8 d longer under W9000 than K150,which was a reason for the higher RRT under W9000.Straw-returning altered the dynamics of leaf K with the growth period,so that W9000 had a more drastic effect on leaf C metabolism than K150.Consequently,lower soluble sugar/free amino acid and C/N ratios were measured under W9000 than K150 at boll-setting(BSS)and boll-opening(BOS)stages.Higher leaf net photosynthetic rate,sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase activities,and lower acid invertase activity were observed under W9000 than K150 at BSS and BOS and these were more conducive to sucrose accumulation.However,less sucrose was measured under W9000 than K150 at these stages.This should be because straw-returning promoted the assimilate transport capacity when compared with inorganic K fertilizer application,which also explained the higher RRT under W9000 than K150.The lower acid invertase activity under W9000 inhibited the conversion of sucrose to other sugars,hence lower contents of soluble sugar and starch were measured under W9000 than K150.Conclusion:Under low K condition,crop straw as K source can increase the assimilate transport from source to sink,leading to lower C/N ratio in leaf and higher allocation of biomass to reproductive organs than inorganic K fertilizer.

Influence of Potassium Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Foliar Vegetable Crops

Over a period of two years , field experiments were conducted on four silty loam soils grown with foliar vegetable crops including Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis Rupr., cv. Lu-Bai 3), autumn greens (B. chinensis L., cv. Piao-Geng-Bai), winter greens (B. var. rosularis Tsen et Lee, cv. You-Dong-Er), and summer greens (B. chinensis L., cv. Zao-Shu 5), respectively. Each experiment included one CK treatment without K, N and P fertilizers applied, and four treatments with from low to high doses, 0-300 kg hm-2 for Chinese cabbage, 0-150 kg hm-2 for autumn and winter greens and 0-180 kg hm-2 for summer greens, of K fertilizers in the form of sulfate of potash (SOP) applied together with N and P fertilizers. One treatment of K fertilizer in the form of muriate of potash (MOP) applied at high levels (150 or 180 kg hm-2) together with N and P fertilizers was included in the experiments of autumn, winter and summer greens , respectively, in order to compare the effects of SOP and MOP. The market yields of the tested crops increased significantly with the increasing rate of K application. The crops supplied with K fertilizers yielded more stably as the CV% of their yields decreased with the rate of K application. K fertilization increased not only K contents but also the amounts of N, P and K absorbed in shoots of autumn, winter and summer greens, which were statistically significantly correlated to their yields. It can also be found that potassium improved the quality of the foliar vegetable crops as their dry mater contents were generally increased and Vc contents obviously increased and nitrate contents markedly decreased. As compared to MOP, SOP was more effective on the yields and quality of autumn, winter and summer greens at the high levels of fertilization.

Yield and Quality Responses of Selected Solanaceous Vegetable Crops to Potassium Fertilization

Over a period of two years, field experiments were conducted on two silty loam soils grown with four solanaceous vegetable crops of eggplant (var. serpentinum Bailey), tomato (var. commune Bailey), sweet pepper (var. grossum Bailey) and chilli (var. lengum Bailey), respectively. Each experiment included four treatments with from low to high doses, 0-450 kg ha-l for eggplant, tomato and sweet pepper, and 0-270 kg ha-1 for chilli, of K fertilizers in the form of sulfate of potash (SOP) applied together with N and P fertilizers. One CK treatment without K, N and P fertilizers applied and one treatment of K fertilizer in the form of muriate of potash (MOP) applied at the high level (450 kg ha-1) together with N and P fertilizers were included in the experiments of eggplant, in order to compare the effects of SOP and MOP. The fruit yields of the tested crops increased significantly with the increasing rate of K application. The crops supplied with K fertilizers yielded more stably as the CV% of their yields decreased with the rate of K application. The dry matter and vitamin C contents in fruits of tomato, sweet pepper and chilli, and the sugar content and the titratable acidity level of tomato fruits were increased, and the S/A ratio (ratio of sugar content to titratable acidity) of tomato fruits were decreased by K fertilization, indicating that K fertilization could improve the fruit quality of the solanaseous vegetable crops. However, the high rate of K fertilizer might lower the dry matter and vitamin C contents of tomato fruits and sweet pepper fruits. SOP was more effective than MOP in increasing the yield and quality of eggplant fruits at the high fertilization rate; therefore, the choice of applying SOP may be better for high levels of K fertilization.

Genotypic Differences of Forage Crop Tolerance to Acid Soils

Twenty eight species of forage crops were planted on acid soils derived from Quaternary red clay (pH 4.16)and red sandstone (pH 4.55) to study genotypic differences of the forage crops in tolerance to acid soils as affected by liming, phosporus and potassium fertilizer application. Eight forage species, Lolium multiflorum L., Brachiaria decumbens, Digitaria sumtisii, Melinis minutiflora, Paspalum dilatatum, Paspalum wettsteinii,Sataria viridis Beanv and Shcep’s Festuca, were highly tolerant to acid soils, and grew relatively well in the tested soils without lime application, whereas most of the other 20 tested forage species such as Lolium perenne L., Meadow Festuca and Trifolium pratense L. were intolerant to acid soils, showing retarded growth when the soil pH was below 5.5 and significant increase in dry matter yields by phosphrus fertilizer application at soil pH 6.0. Results showed that large differences in tolerance to acid soils existed among the forage species,and tolerance of the forage species to acid soils might be closely associated with their tolerance to Al and P efficiency.

Effects of Different Fertilization Measures on Chemical Composition and Quality of Flue-cured Tobacco

[Objectives]The paper was to obtain fertilizer varieties and fertilization techniques that meet the special nutritional requirements of characteristic tobacco varieties in Mengyin tobacco area.[Methods]With the local main plant variety NC102 as the test material,the effects of combined application,dosage and application methods of different types of organic fertilizers,compound fertilizers and potassium fertilizers on chemical composition and quality of NC102 flue-cured tobacco leaves were studied.[Results]Under the premise of reducing the amount of fertilizer applied,the slow-release integrated fertilizer increased the sugar-alkali ratio and potassium-chloride ratio,and reduced the sulfur content of tobacco leaves,but it did not significantly improve the sensory quality of tobacco leaves.Increasing the application of organic fertilizer made the sugar-alkali ratio and potassium-chloride ratio more coordinated,reduced the sulfur content and improved the sensory quality of tobacco leaves.Microbial agents significantly increased the sugar-alkali ratio in tobacco leaves,and had obvious effects of increasing potassium and reducing chlorine.Different types and application methods of potassium fertilizers had obvious effects on sensory quality of tobacco leaves.Increasing the application amount of potassium fertilizer and later topdressing significantly improved the potassium content and sensory quality of tobacco leaves.[Conclusions]The study provides a basis for balanced fertilization in characteristic flue-cured tobacco production in Mengyin tobacco area.

Carbon and nitrogen allocations in corn grown in Central and Northeast China: different responses to fertilization treatments

In order to reveal the impact of various fertilization strategies on carbon（C） and nitrogen（N） accumulation and allocation in corn（Zea mays L.）, corn was grown in the fields where continuous fertilization management had been lasted about 18 years at two sites located in Central and Northeast China（Zhengzhou and Gongzhuling）, and biomass C and N contents in different organs of corn at harvest were analyzed. The fertilization treatments included non-fertilizer（control）, chemical fertilizers of either nitrogen（N）, or nitrogen and phosphorus（NP）, or phosphorus and potassium（PK）, or nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium（NPK）, NPK plus manure（NPKM）, 150% of the NPKM（1.5NPKM）, and NPK plus straw（NPKS）. The results showed that accumulated C in aboveground ranged from 2 550–5 630 kg ha^–1 in the control treatment to 9 300–9 610 kg ha^–1 in the NPKM treatment, of which 57–67% and 43–50% were allocated in the non-grain organs, respectively. Accumulated N in aboveground ranged from 44.8–55.2 kg ha^-1 in the control treatment to 211–222 kg ha^–1 in the NPKM treatment, of which 35–48% and 33–44% were allocated in the non-grain parts, respectively. C allocated to stem and leaf for the PK treatment was 65 and 49% higher than that for the NPKM treatment at the both sites, respectively, while N allocated to the organs for the PK treatment was 18 and 6% higher than that for the NPKM treatment, respectively. This study demonstrated that responses of C and N allocation in corn to fertilization strategies were different, and C allocation was more sensitive to fertilization treatments than N allocation in the area.

Effects of Application of Cassava Alcohol Anaerobic Fermentation Liquid and Mulching of Film on Overwintering and Next Year's Growth and Yield of Banana

The effects of application of cassava alcohol anaerobic fermentation liquid and mulching of film on overwintering and next year's growth and yield of banana were investigated in this study.The results showed that the application of cassava alcohol anaerobic fermentation liquid with COD concentration of 1 200-2 000 mg/L(900 m^3/hm^2) and mulching of film significantly increased the soil organic matter and available potassium contents in banana orchard,improved the cold resistance of banana seedlings,increased the pseudostem height,pseudostem circumference,green leaf number and chlorophyll content of next year's banana seedlings,brought the flower bud emergence period and harvest period forward,and significantly increased the yield per plant.