Effect of Different Fertilization Practices on Yield of a Wheat-Maize Rotation and Soil Fertility

A 15-year field experiment was carried out in Henan Province, China, to study the effects of different fertilization practices on yield of a wheat-maize rotation. Fertilizers tested contained N alone (N), N plus P (NP) or plus P and K (NPK), all with or without manure (M). Different long-term fertilization practices affected the yields under the rotation system of wheat and maize differently and the effects on yields was in a general trend of MNPK＞MNP＞MN＞NPK＞NP＞M＞N＞the control. The average contribution rate of soil fertility to the highest yield was 37.9%, and the rest 62.1% came from fertilizer applications. The yield effects of the chemical fertilizers were in the order of N＞P＞K and were increased by application of manure.Balanced fertilization with multielement chemical fertilizers and manure can be effective in maintaining growth in agricultural production. Combined application of chemical fertilizer and organic manure also increased the content of soil organic matter.

The effect of fertilization on early growth of konara oak and Japanese zelkova seedlings planted in a harvested pitch pine plantation

We determined a suitable amount of fertilizer for konara oak（Quercus serrata） and Japanese zelkova（Zelkova serrata） planted in a harvested pitch pine（Pinus rigida） plantation. Two-year-old bare-root seedlings of konara oak and one-year-old containerized seedlings of Japanese zelkova were planted in April 2011. Three plots were established for each tree species to evaluate each of three fertilization applications. Solid compound fertilizer（N：P：K = 3：4：1） was applied yearly in three amounts（control： no fertilization, F1： 180 kg ha-1, and F2：360 kg ha-1）, every May from 2011 to 2013. We measured the root collar diameter and height, and analyzed the compartmental N and P concentrations. Compartmental N concentrations of konara oak and Japanese zelkova were not consistent based on amount of fertilization. However,the compartmental P concentrations of konara oak and Japanese zelkova were significantly different in the order of F2, F1, and control. Although the differences in growth of konara oak appeared after 3 years of fertilization,Japanese zelkova showed differences after only 2 years of fertilization owing to differences in seedling type. Growth of konara oak was affected by fertilization at F1 and F2 in2013. However, growth of Japanese zelkova was affected only at F2. Nutrient demand of Japanese zelkova appeard to be higher than that of konara oak, at least during the early growing period. Results from this study could be practically used in harvested pitch pine plantations to determine appropriate fertilization regimes.

Effects of substituting chemical fertilizers with manure on rice yield and soil labile nitrogen in paddy fields of China: A meta-analysis

Substituting chemical fertilizers with manure is an important method for efficient nutrient management in rice cropping systems of China.Labile nitrogen(N)is the most active component of the soil N pool and plays an essential role in soil fertility.However,the effects of manure substitution on soil labile N in rice cropping systems and their relationships with soil properties,fertilization practices,and climatic conditions remain unclear and should be systematically quantified.Here,we investigated rice grain yield and four types of soil labile N that have been widely reported,including available nitrogen(AN),ammonium nitrogen(NH_(4)^(+)-N),nitrate nitrogen(NO_(3)^(−)-N),and microbial biomass nitrogen(MBN).We reviewed 187 published articles and performed a meta-analysis to quantify the effects of manure substitution on yield and soil labile N.The results showed that manure substitution increased AN,MBN,NH+4-N,and NO−3-N by 11.3%,38.5%,5.9%,and 8.1%,respectively.Partial substitution significantly increased the yield by 1.4%–5.9%,but full substitution significantly decreased the yield by 2.9%.The positive effects of manure substitution on yield and AN were stronger with long-term fertilization.The differences in responses varied across specific manure types,N application rates,soil properties,and climatic factors.In conclusion,manure substitution can increase soil labile N and is regarded as an efficient strategy for improving soil N fertility and a recommended measure for applying both chemical and organic fertilizers in rice systems.This study provides evidence of the effects of manure substitution on yield enhancement by increasing soil labile N.

Fertilization practices affect biological nitrogen fixation by modulating diazotrophic communities in an acidic soil in southern China

Biological nitrogen(N)fixation(BNF)driven by diazotrophs is an important pathway for N input in agricultural ecosystems.However,free-living BNF and its associated diazotrophic communities under different fertilization practices in acidic soils are poorly studied.Here,we conducted a long-term(29 years)fertilization experiment to explore how fertilization affected free-living BNF via changing biotic and abiotic variables.The fertilization treatments included an unfertilized control(CK),chemical N,phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)fertilizers(NPK),NPK plus lime(NPKL),NPK plus straw(NPKS),NPK plus straw and lime(NPKSL),and NPK plus manure(NPKM).Compared with CK(1.51 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)),BNF rate was significantly(P<0.05)higher in NPKM(1.99 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1))but lower in NPK(0.55 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)),NPKL(0.61 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)),and NPKS(0.69nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)).Similarly,chemical fertilization treatments without manure reduced the gene abundance(0.71×10^(8)-1.18×10^(8)copies g^(-1))andα-diversity(Shannon index,1.11-2.43)of diazotrophic communities,whereas the treatment with manure had a positive effect on diazotrophic abundance(3.23×10^(8)copies g^(-1))and Shannon index(3.36).Non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance(PERMANOVA)suggested that manure application(R^(2)=0.212,P=0.001)had a stronger influence on diazotrophic community composition than the addition of lime(R^(2)=0.115,P=0.019)or straw(R^(2)=0.064,P=0.161).Random forest modeling revealed that BNF rates can be significantly(P<0.05)explained by soil pH(9.9%),diazotrophic community attributes(composition,8.5%;Chao 1 index,8.1%;abundance,6.0%;Shannon index,5.7%),and soil total carbon(5.1%).Partial least squares path modeling(PLS-PM)suggested that the diazotrophic community attributes and soil properties mainly provided direct and indirect contributions to the variations in BNF rates,respectively.The dominant genera,Pelomonas,Azospirillum,and Dechloromonas,were positively associated with BNF rates,with their members being observed as keystone species in the community network.Application of chemical fertilizers combined with manure is an effective practice for improving BNF in acidic soils by affecting soil diazotrophic communities.

Influence of Long-Term Fertilization on Selenium Accumulation in Soil and Uptake by Crops

Continuous applications of organic and inorganic fertilizers can affect soil and food quality with respect to selenium （Se） concen- trations. A long-term （over 20 years） experimental field study, started in 1989, was conducted to investigate the changes in soil Se fractions and its uptake by crops, as affected by different fertilizer practices, in the North China Plain with an annual crop rotation of winter wheat and summer maize. The long-term experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design consisting of 4 replications with 7 fertilizer treatments： 1） organic compost （OC）, 2） half organic compost plus half N-P-K chemical fertilizers （OC ＋ NPK）, 3） N-P-K fertilizers （NPK）, 4） N-P fertilizers （NP）, 5） P-K fertilizers （PK）, 6） N-K fertilizers （NK）, and 7） an un-amended control. Soil samples from the surface （20 cm） were collected in 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009 to characterize Se and other soil properties. In 2009, the average soil Se concentrations in the treatments （149 ± 8 beg kg-1） were higher than those in the soil samples collected in 1989 at the beginning of the experiment （112 4- 4 beg kg-1）, and decreased in the order of OC 〉 OC ＋ NPK 〉 NPK NP 〉 PK NK 〉 control. Sequential extraction showed the oxidizable fraction （50.06%± 3.94%） was the dominant form of Se in the soil, followed by the residual fraction （24.12% ± 2.89%）, exchangeable fraction （15.09% ± 4.34%） and Fe-Mn oxides fraction （10.73%±4.04%）. With an increase of soil K, the exchangeable Se concentrations in the soil increased. The Se concentrations in the soil tillage layer （0-20 cm） were mainly related to soil organic carbon （SOC）, although different contributions came from atmospheric deposition, irrigation and fertilizers. With the accumulation of SOC, the uptakes of soil Se by two crops were inhibited. For the OC and OC ＋ NPK treatments, Se concentrations in wheat grains were lower than the critical standard of Se in stable food （100 μg kg·1]. Additionallv. Se concentrations in grains were also decreased by the deficiencies of major soil nutrients, especially P.