The Effects of Water and Fertilizer Coupling on Plant and Soil Nitrogen Characteristics and Fruit Growth of Rabbiteye Blueberry Plants in a Semi-Arid Region in China

To evaluate the effects of nitrogen(N)and irrigation coupling on the soil N distribution,plant N utilization,and fruit yield of rabbiteye blueberries(Vaccinium virgatum),a field experiment was designed using two factors(water and fertilizer application)with four levels of irrigation and three levels of fertilization,and a control.Under the different water and fertilizer combinations,N primarily accumulated in the leaves.Irrigation and N application within appropriate ranges(pure N≤29 g/plant and irrigation volume≤2.5 L/plant)significantly improved the blueberry fruit yield.Increases in water and N within these ranges promoted the effective accumulation of N in various organs and the absorption and utilization of N in the plants,which ultimately promoted blueberry yield.With increased N application rate,the nitrate N content of the 0–20 cm and 20–50 cm soil layers increased.With increased irrigation volume,the nitrate N content of the 0–20 cm soil layer decreased,while the nitrate content in the 20–50 cm soil layer increased.Low N and moderate water treatments resulted in high fruit yields and reduced nitrate N retention in the soil.Under these conditions,the economic input-output ratio was high and the soil N accumulation was low,and thus the economic and ecological benefits were maximized.

Evaluating the Effects of Aquaculture Wastewater Irrigation with Fertilizer Reduction on Greenhouse Tomato Production,Economic Benefits and Soil Nitrogen Characteristics

The utilization of aquaculture wastewater as irrigation is an effective way to recycle and reuse water and nitrogen fertilizer resources because it contains numerous nutrients.However,it is still unclear that the pattern of substituting aquaculture wastewater irrigation for fertilizer supplementing is conducive to improving the soil nitrogen status,fruit yield and water-fertilizer use efficiency for tomato production.In this context,the experiment was intended to establish the appropriate irrigation regime of aquaculture wastewater in tomato production for freshwater replacement and fertilizer reduction to ensure good yields.Pot experiments were conducted with treatments as farmers accustomed to irrigation and fertilization used as control(CK),1.75 L aquaculture wastewater with base fertilizer(W1),2 L aquaculture wastewater with base fertilizer;and 2.25 L aquaculture wastewater with base fertilizer(W3).We examined the effects of aquaculture wastewater irrigation on soil nitrogen distribution,Nrelated hydrolases,tomato yield,and economic benefits.The results showed that the control treatment had the highest N input,about 24.68%higher than the W3 treatment,while the yield was only about 7.81%higher than W3.This indicated that the overuse of chemical fertilizer was present in the current tomato production.Although the reduction of fertilizer in aquaculture wastewater irrigation caused a decrease in tomato production,this economic loss can be compensated by cost savings in the wastewater disposal.Among aquaculture wastewater treatments,the W3 treatment had the highest overall benefit,achieving 62.63%freshwater savings,37.50%fertilizer input reduction,and an economic return of approximately 19,466 Yuan per hectare higher than the control.Additionally,increasing the irrigation volume of aquaculture wastewater could provide more available nutrients to the soil,which were more prevalent in the form of organic nitrogen.The lower soil nitrate reductase activities(NR)under aquaculture wastewater treatments after harvesting also proved that this pattern was beneficial to reduce soil nitrate nitrogen residues.Overall,the results demonstrate that aquaculture wastewater irrigation alleviates the soil nitrate residues,improves nutrient availability,and results in more economic returns with water and fertilizer conservation for the greenhouse production of tomatoes.

Yield Effect of Chemical and Soil Nitrogen on the Mid-season and Ratooning Hybrid Rice

Using hybrid rice Yixiang1577 as the material, the mid-season and ratooning hybrid rice yield variation was studied in Southem Sichuan at different levels of nitrogen fertilizer. The results showed that rice yield by using N fertilizer increased to the most significant level than no fertilizer ones, and the mid-season rice and rice yield by using more N fertilizer increased to the significant level than less fertilizer ones. The rice yield by using no fertilizer ones increased to the most significant level than some used fertilizer, and the ratooning rice and rice yield by using more N fertilizer decreased to the most significant level than less fertilizer ones. The rice yield by using some fertilizer increased to the most significant level than no fertilizer ones for mid-season＋rationing rice and rice yield by using some fertilizer had no obvious differences at different nitrogen levels. Therefore, application of fertilizer can improve yield of mid-season rice and mid-season＋rationing rice. Soil test results showed that nutrient contents in rice field in South Sichuan were very rich in nitrogen, which could provide more adequate crop growth potential soil nitrogen nutrition. The crops with a deep root system had stronger ability of utilization on soil nitrogen. Therefore, the ratooning rice used no or little N fertilizer had a high yield performance because they made full use of soil nitrogen with deep root system.

Effects of Litter Removal and Addition on Soil Nitrogen Mineralization of Eucalyptus Plantation

[Objectives]This study was conducted to understand the process of soil nitrogen mineralization in Eucalyptus plantations,and to identify the characteristics of soil nitrogen mineralization with different litter inputs.[Methods]With the soil of the Eucalyptus plantation in Fusui County,Guangxi as the research object,the soil nitrogen mineralization of the Eucalyptus plantation under different litter treatments(removing litter,adding litter and retaining litter)was studied by PVC tube closed-top in-situ incubation.[Results]①After 1 year of litter treatment,the inorganic nitrogen(NH_(4)^(+)-N+NO_(3)^(-)-N)in the soil of different treatments ranked as adding litter(20.15 mg/kg)>retaining litter(16.02 mg/kg)>removing litter(11.60) mg/kg),and the differences reached a significant level(P<0.05).②After 30 d of in-situ incubation,there were significant differences in soil nitrate nitrogen content before and after incubation in the three treatments(removing litter,adding litter,and retaining litter)before and after incubation(P<0.05),but no significant differences were observed in soil ammonium nitrogen content(P>0.05).Soil nitrate nitrogen contents increased from 1.47,2.01 and 1.72 mg/kg before incubation to 3.66,6.73 and 5.02 mg/kg,respectively,and soil ammonium nitrogen content increased from 11.60,20.15 and 16.02 mg/kg before incubation to 13.65,21.54 and 17.18 mg/kg,respectively.The net nitrogen mineralization quantities of the three treatments were 4.24,6.11 and 4.46 mg/kg,respectively,and the net nitrogen mineralization rates from large to small were adding litter[0.180 mg/(kg·d)]>retaining litter[0.141 mg/(kg·d)]>removing litter[0.125 mg/(kg·d)].Therefore,both removal and addition of litter affected the soil nitrogen input and nitrogen mineralization rate of the Eucalyptus plantation,thereby affecting soil nitrogen availability and the ability of soil to maintain plant-available nitrogen.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for nutrient management in Eucalyptus plantations,especially nitrogen nutrient management.

SIMULATION OF SOIL NITROGEN MINERALIZATION AND NITRIFICATION IN TWO NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

A process-based, biological model is presented that simulates soil nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification in two northern hardwood forest ecosystems in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The soil system is divided into two compartments (forest floor and mineral soil) since quantity and quality of the organic substrate, and the important driving variables (temperature and moisture) for the model vary between these two compartments. The model focuses on the central position of microorganisms in the N mineralization and nitrification processes, and the use of multiplicative factors to account for the effect of temperature, moisture and carbon(C):N ratio on these processes.The model has been validated with data from two northern hardwood stands in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A close agreement between calculated and observed monthly means was obtained in both stands, especially for net N mineralization, which plays a very impormnt role in determining available N. The nitrification rates had relatively larger variation than the N mineralization rates, but the model adequately described the seasonal trends of the observed values. A simple sensitivity analysiwas performed to assess the response of the model to changes in important variables (temperature, moisture, organic N, and C:N ratio) between the two study sites. This analysis showed that increased temperature and higher organic N levels consistently increased N mineralization and nitrification in the both stands. The model's results were most sensitive to moisture changes in forest floor, but were not sensitive to moisture changes in the mineral soil. In contrast, C:N ratio was influential in the mineral soil, but did not have any effect in the forest floor.

Soil nitrogen transformations varied with plant community under Nanchang urban forests in mid-subtropical zone of China

Soil N transformations using the polyvinyl chloride （PVC） closed-top tube in situ incubation method were studied in Nanchang urban forests of the mid-subtropical region of China in different months of 2007. Four plots of 20 m × 20 m were established in four different plant communities that represented typical successional stages of forest development including shrubs, coniferous forest, mixed forest and broad- leaved forest. Average concentrations of soil NH4^＋-N from January to December were not different among the four plant communities. The concentrations of soil NO3^--N and mineral N, and the annual rotes of ammonification, nitrification and net N-mineralization under the early successional shrub community and coniferous forest were generally lower than that of the late successional mixed and broad-leaved forests （p〈0.05）. Similar differences among the plant communities were also shown in the relative nitrification index （NH4^＋-N/NO3^--N） and relative nitrification intensity （nitrification rate/net N-mineralization rate）. The annual net N-mineralization rate was increased from younger to older plant communities, from 15.1 and 41.4 kg.ha^-1.a^-1 under the shrubs and coniferous forest communities to 98.0 and 112.9 kg.ha^-1.a^-1 under the mixed and broad-leaved forests, respectively. Moreover, the high annual nitrification rates （50-70 kg.ha^-1.a^-1） and its end product, NO3-N （2.4-3.8 mg·kg^-1）, under older plant communities could increase the potential risk of N loss. Additionally, the temporal patterns of the different soil N variables mentioned above varied with different plant community due to the combined affects of natural biological processes associated with forest maturation and urbanization. Our results indicated that urban forests are moving towards a state of＂N saturation＂ （extremely niUification rate and NO3^--N content） as they mature.

Impact of Crude Oil on Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Uptake by Legumes Grown in Wetland Ultisol of the Niger Delta, Nigeria

The effects of crude oil on soil nitrogen dynamics and cycling in plant-soil ecosystems and its effect on the growth of legumes (Calopogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens and Pueraria phaseolodes) grown in wetland ultisols were investigated. The test plants species were grown on wetland soil simulated with 0.35, 10.8, 20.5, and 50 g.kg-1levels of crude oil contamination. The results showed time and species dependent variation in mineral N content of the treated soils. The variation is indicative of significant interaction between the hydrocarbon content and plant species. Variations in microbial N and microbial C were similar and correlation between the microbial N and the total C (Organic matter (C) + hydrocarbon content (C)) in soil was highly significant (r = 0.96, n = 12, P ≤ 0.01). The presence of hydrocarbon contaminant widens the C:N ratio in soil and leads to more available N being immobilized by soil microorganisms, which reduces available N for plant uptake. This result implies that crude oil contamination significantly reduces N uptake by plants but increases N accumulation in soil microbial biomass. The findings show that N dynamics, transformation and cycling in soil are influenced by hydrocarbons and that the interactions between hydrocarbon content and plant species in contaminated soil are remarkable. The use of plant Centrosema pubescens with poultry manure or NPK fertilizer for bioremediation is more effective than that of Calopogonium mucunoides and Pueraria phaseoloides. However, the selective attributes of the various treatment approaches adopted here may be exploited for enhanced remediation of contaminated wetlands in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

MY EXPLORATIVE RESULTS ON SOIL NITROGEN

The efficient application of nitrogen fertilizers in farming and its theoretical basis are of great concern to soil scientists both at home and abroad.Since 1961, my colleagues and I have been involved in the rational application of nitrogen fertilizers in crop production by probing the transformation of nitrogen and its compounds in soils.A total of 96 research papers have been published, two monographs edited and eight prizes received from the State S&T Commission,the CAS and the Government of Jiangsu Province.Our main contributions may be listed as follows:

Storage,Patterns and Controls of Soil Nitrogen in China

Soil holds the largest nitrogen(N)pool in terrestrial ecosystems,but estimates of soil N stock remain controversial. Storage and spatial distribution of soil N in China were estimated and the relationships between soil N density and environmental factors were explored using data from China's Second National Soil Survey and field investigation in northwest China and the Tibetan Plateau.China's soil N storage at a depth of one meter was estimated at 7.4 Pg,with an average density of 0.84 kg m^(-2).Soil N density appeared to be high in southwest and northeast China and low in the middle areas of the country.Soil N density increased from the arid to semi-arid zone in northern China,and decreased from cold-temperate to tropical zone in the eastern part of the country.An analysis of general linear model suggested that climate and vegetation determined the spatial pattern of soil N density for natural vegetation,which explained 75.4% of the total variance.

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Soil Nitrogen Distribution under Different Land Uses in a Watershed in the Hilly Area of Purple Soil,China

Quantification of soil spatial and temporal variability at watershed scale is important in ecological modeling,precision agriculture,and natural resources management.The spatio-temporal variations of soil nitrogen under different land uses in a small watershed(12.10 km 2) in the hilly area of purple soil at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in southwestern China were investigated by using conventional statistics,geostatistics,and a geographical information system in order to provide information for land management and control of environmental issues.A total of 552 soil samples(0 to 15 cm) from 276 sites within the watershed were collected in April and August of 2011,and analyzed for soil total nitrogen(STN) and nitrate nitrogen(NO3-N).We compared spatial variations of STN and NO3-N under different land uses as well as the temporal variations in April(dry season) and August(rainy season).Results showed that STN contents were deeply affected by land-use types;median STN values ranged from 0.94 to 1.27 g.kg-1,and STN contents decreased in the following order:paddy field > forestland > sloping cropland.No significant difference was found for STN contents between April and August under the same land use.However,NO3N contents were 23.26,10.58,and 26.19 mg.kg-1 in April,and 1.34,8.51,and 3.00 mg.kg-1 in August for the paddy field,sloping cropland and forestland,respectively.Nugget ratios for STN indicated moderate spatial dependence in the paddy field and sloping cropland,and a strong spatial dependence in forestland.The processes of nitrogen movement,transformation,absorption of plant were deeply influenced by land use types;as a result,great changes of soil nitrogen levels at spatial and temporal scales were demonstrated in the studied watershed.

Soil Nitrogen Distribution and Plant Nitrogen Utilization in Direct-Seeded Rice in Response to Deep Placement of Basal Fertilizer-Nitrogen

Deep placement of controlled-release fertilizer increases nitrogen (N) use efficiency in rice planting but is expensive. Few studies on direct-seeded rice have examined the effects of deep placement of conventional fertilizer. With prilled urea serving as N fertilizer, a two-year field experiment with two N rates (120 and 195 kg/hm2) and four basal N application treatments (B50, all fertilizer was broadcast with 50% as basal N;D50, D70 and D100 corresponded to 50%, 70% and 100% of N deeply placed as basal N, respectively) were conducted in direct-seeded rice in 2013 and 2014. Soil N distribution and plant N uptake were analyzed. The results showed that deep placement of basal N significantly increased total N concentrations in soil. Significantly greater soil N concentrations were observed in D100 compared with B50 at 0, 6 and 12 cm (lateral distance) from the fertilizer application point both at mid-tillering and heading stages. D100 presented the highest values of dry matter and N accumulation from seeding to mid-tillering stages, but it presented the lowest values from heading to maturity stages and the lowest grain yield for no sufficient N supply at the reproductive stage. The grain yield of D50 was the highest, however, no significant difference was observed in grain yield, N agronomic efficiency or N recovery efficiency between D70 and D50, or between D70 and B50, while D70 was more labor saving than D50 for only one topdressing was applied in D70 compared with twice in other treatments. The above results indicated that 70% of fertilizer-N deeply placed as a basal fertilizer and 30% of fertilizer-N topdressed as a panicle fertilizer constituted an ideal approach for direct-seeded rice. This recommendation was further verified through on-farm demonstration experiments in 2015, in which D70 produced in similar grain yields as B50 did.

Soil Nitrogen Status of Larch Plantations in Comparison with SecondaryBroad-leaved Forest

Soils were collected from.three neighboring forest sites: 36-year-old larch plantation, 11-year-old larch plantation, and natural secondary broad-leaved forest (as control). Soil pH, total C. totaI N, C/N ratio. and available N (NO3-N and NH4-N) were measured. Laboratory incubations of soil samples were conducted during a 50 days period for the measurement of nitrogen mineralization rate and nitrification potenial. The results proved a degeneration in soil nitrogen status with stand age of larch plantations, which implicated one important aspect of soil degradation when natural forest was replaced by coniferous plantations.

Spatial and Temporal Variations in Available Soil Nitrogen—A Case Study in Kobresia Alpine Meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Elucidating the factors that determine the effects of temporal and spatial variation of nutrients is important for analyzing the characteristics of an ecosystem. The goal of this paper was to estimate how values obtained using a particular sampling approach correlated with the actual data for an entire plot. The mesh partition method was employed to divide an integrated observing field (IOF) located at the Haibei National Field Research Station of an alpine grassland ecosystem, China, into 25 subplots. Five of the 25 subplots were randomly selected for soil sampling and to determine the source of variations in soil nutrient content from 2001 to 2012. The results showed that, contributions of temporal and spatial variation in available nitrogen in the 0 - 10 cm soil layer accounted for 47.3% and 52.7%, respectively. The contribution of spatial variance was higher than that of temporal variance especially in the surface soil layers. The available soil nitrogen content in the alpine meadow was not obviously affected by fluctuations in rainfall and temperature. Increasing the number of samples could reduce calculation errors in measuring available soil nitrogen content, while collecting a reasonable number of samples can save time and labor.

Effect of Irradiated Sewage Sludge on Crop Yield and Soil Nitrogen

INTRODUCTIONUtilizationanddisposalofsewagesludgeisanurgentproblemtobesolvedduringrapidurbanizationformanydevelopingcountries.Sincesewagesludgecontainsessentialnutrientsforplalltgrowth,suchasN,P,K,Zn,Cu,Fe,Mnandothertraceelemellts,andconsiderableamoks...

Measurement and analysis of soil nitrogen and organic matter content using near-infrared spectroscopy techniques

Near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy is as a rapid, convenient and simple nondestructive technique useful for quantifying several soil properties. This method was used to estimate nitrogen (N) and organic matter (OM) content in a soil of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou County. A total of 125 soil samples were taken from the field. Ninety-five samples spectra were used during the calibration and cross validation stage. Thirty samples spectra were used to predict N and OM concentration. NIR spectra of these samples were correlated using partial least square regression. The regression coefficients between measured and predicted values of N and OM was 0.92 and 0.93, and SEP (standard error of prediction) were 3.28 and 0.06, respectively, which showed that NIR method had potential to accurately predict these constituents in this soil. The results showed that NIR spec- troscopy could be a good tool for precision farming application.

SOIL NITROGEN MINERALIZATION UNDER NORTHERN HARDWOOD FORESTS ALONG A SULFATE AND NITRATE DEPOSITION GRADIENT IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION

Net N mineralization (ammonification and nitrification) in the 0-10 cm mineral soil zone of five northern hardwood forest sites along a gradient of SO and NO deposition from northeastem Minnesota to central lower Michigan was measured by an in situ buried bag technique at monthly intervals from September 1987 to April 1990. Soil nitrification rates (36.9 to 46.7 kg N·ha-1·yr-1) increased from north to south among the five study sites and were strongly associated with soil temperature (r=0.87, p<0.001). The rates of soil ammonification (66.8 to 84. 1 kg N·ha-1·yr-1) and amounts of total N mineralized (103.7 to 130.6 kg N·ha-1·yr-1)did not show a clear regional trend across the gradient sites. Significant correlations between SO(r=0.82, p<0.001), No(r=0.77, p=0.003) deposition and the adjusted means of ammonium-N after removing the effects of soil temperature indicated that SO and NO deposition had significantly impacts on ammonification process. Soil pH did not correspond to the gradient of H+deposition, which was not correlated with either ammonification or nitrification rates across the study sites.

Effect of Industrial Sludge Application on Soil Nitrogen and Wheat Plant Response

Wazirpur industrial area of Delhi generates a huge quantity of sludge per day, which is highly acidic in nature (pH 2.7 to 4.4) and contains macronutrients, micronutrients as well as toxic metals. A pot-culture experiment was conducted by taking the two soils (JNU and Chhattarpur) amended with sludge (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%), pretreated with lime (0%, 0.5% and 1%). Two wheat seedlings were planted per pot containing 3 kg sludge amended or control soil and the experiment was carried out till harvesting (four months) in a glass house. Lime treatments enhanced the N content in wheat plant in almost all cases. Sludge and lime treatments enhanced dry weight in wheat plants grown in Chhattarpur soil and dry weight increased with time. Maximum growth was observed in 0.5 lime treated and 20% sludge amended soils. But we have to take an account about any kind of metal toxicity before disposal of this waste to land.

Pedo-Transfer Functions to Estimate Kinetic Parameters for Anaerobic Soil Nitrogen Mineralization

Knowledge of potential anaerobic soil N mineralization is important for nitrogen fertilizer application. Instead of time-consuming laboratory incubation, we attempt to use pedo-transfer functions (PTFs) approach to get this information. 27 soil samples with various soil depths were collected from paddy field, woodland and tea field in subtropical central China, anaerobically incubated at 35°C for 7 weeks to determine N mineralization, which was fitted by a modified double exponential model with two parameters (the fraction of active N pool (f) and mineralization rate constant (k) for active N pool). The PTFs for parameters were developed from significant soil properties using multiple stepwise regression method. Parameter f (range: 1.59% - 10.4%, mean: 5.2%) was mainly correlated with soil total N (TN), organic C (SOC), sand and silt particle contents (r = -0.59 - 0.69, p k (range: 0.027 - 0.155 d-1, mean: 0.97 d-1) was significantly related to TN, SOC, clay content, C to N ratio and pH (r = -0.6 - 0.71, p f (R2 = 0.72, p TN and pH) for parameter k (R2 = 0.61, p < 0.01). The developed PTFs, integrating various land uses and soil depths, suggest that basic soil properties are helpful for estimation of anaerobic soil N mineralization.

Clear felling and burning effects on soil nitrogen transforming bacteria and actinomycetes population in Chittagong University campus, Bangladesh

The effect of forests clear felling and associated burning on the population of soil nitrogen transforming bacteria and actinomycetes are reported at three pair sites of Chittagong University campus, Bangla- desh in monsoon tropical climate. Clear felled area or burnt site and 15-21 year mixed plantation of native and exotic species, situated side by side on low hill having Typic Dystrochrepts soil was represented at each pair site. At all the three pair sites, clear felled area or burnt site showed very significantly （p~_0.001） lower population of actinomycetes, Rhizobium, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter and ammonifying as well as deni- trifying bacteria compared to their adjacent mixed plantation. From en- vironmental consideration, this finding has implication in managing natural ecosystem.