Breakdown of Azadirachtin A in a Tropical Soil Amended with Neem Leaves and Animal Manures

A field investigation was conducted to assess the breakdown of azadirachtin A in a tropical coastal savanna soil amended with neem leaves （NL） combined with poultry manure （PM） or cow dung （CD） using gas chromatography. Samples in polythene bags 15 cm long and 4.8 cm in diameter were randomly placed to a depth of 14 cm in the soil, and azadirachtin A concentration was assessed on days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. Azadirachtin A degradation in the soil followed first-order reaction kinetics with different half-lives obtained for varying combinations of the amendments. Higher neem amendment levels of 100 g gave shorter half-lives of azadirachtin A than the lower levels of 50 g. Within the 50 g NL group the additions of the poultry manure and the cow dung gave significantly shorter （P 〈0.05） half-lives of azadirachtin A than the sole neem amendment, whereas in the 100 g NL group only additions of 10 g CD and 10 g PM were significantly less （P 〈 0.05） than the sole neem amendment. Different changes resulting from the kind and quantity of animal manure added were observed in the half-lives of azadirachtin A. The 100 g NL group had significantly higher （P 〈0.05） moisture content, which, coupled with the likely differeaces in microbial biomass, could be the major factor responsible for variations in the half-llfe of the compound. Therefore, the quantity of the neem leaves applied and the addition of animal manure affected the breakdown of azadirachtin A in the soil amended with neem leaves.

Biochar Applied with Organic Fertilizer Improves Alkaline Soil Properties and Crop Yield

Biochar(BC)is widely applied in agricultural production for its multiple uses such as carbon sequestration.However,application of BC alone has limited effect on soil fertility and crop yield,especially alkaline soil.Therefore,a pot experiment on Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa var.glabra)was carried out in this study to investigate the effect of BC applied with organic fertilizer(OF)on alkaline soil properties and crop yield.To be specific,BC and OF were respectively applied at 0,1%,2%,and 3%,and Chinese cabbage was transplanted and cultivated for 2.5 months.Results showed that BC and OF increased the content of both organic matter and available P in alkaline soil(P<0.05).Moreover,the application of OF alone decreased the pH value but raised available N content of alkaline soil,and the application of only BC demonstrated the contrary effect(P<0.05).OF significantly improved crop yield(P<0.05),but the effect of BC was insignificant.Crop yield was the highest under the treatment of 1%BC and 3%OF.Thus,BC had limited effect on alkaline soil fertility and crop yield,but the application with OF was a good option for ameliorating alkaline soil and raising crop yield.

Inhibition and Control Effects of Different Amendments on Cd Activation in Soil and Cd Absorption in Rice

Through pot tests of early rice and late rice in Cd polluted environment(soil Cd content,1.0 mg/kg),the inhibition and control effects of single application of organic fertilizers involving pig manure and biochar,and their combined application with alkaline amendments involving lime and oyster shell powder on soil Cd activation and rice Cd absorption were compared.And the correlation between soil available Cd and rice grain Cd was discussed.The results showed that compared with CK which did not involve amendments,the grain yields of early rice and late rice increased by 15.52%~36.01%and 12.02%~27.28%,respectively,the grain Cd content decreased by 24.76%~64.53%and 4.93%~58.32%,respectively,and the grain Cd accumulation decreased by 22.27%~51.76%and 33.84%~46.95%,respectively,except for single pig manure treatment.In particular,the Cd reduction effect of biochar was significantly better than that of pig manure,and the combined application with oyster shell powder was better than that with lime;after the harvest of early and late rice,the available Cd content in soil applied with amendments decreased by 35.00%~65.88%and 30.93%~68.57%,respectively,compared with CK.Further analysis showed that the soil available Cd content and rice grain Cd content could fit the linear equation well(R2>0.70,P<0.05),which demonstrated that the combined application of organic fertilizers and alkaline amendments can quickly reduce the Cd content of rice grain by passivating soil available Cd,and the combined application between biochar and oyster shell powder had a better effect.