Fertilization strategy and application model using a centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreader

With the sustainable development of precision agriculture and the steady progress of variable-rate fertilization technology,the centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreader has attracted research attention due to its lower incidence of crush damage,high efficiency,and low cost.To improve fertilization accuracy and uniformity,spreading performance tests were conducted using this spreader in accordance with the test methods specified in ISO 5690 and ASAE S341.2,in which particle mass was weighed in a two-dimensional matrix of collection boxes.The effects of fertilization strategies that control the feed gate flow rate and the disc rotation speed on particle distribution,and application rate per unit area and effective swath width,were investigated.A variable-rate fertilization model was developed by analyzing the variation characteristics resulting from an increasing and decreasing application rate,and field experiments were conducted to verify its accuracy.The results indicated that when the feed gate flow rate was 300 g/s,the mean application rate was 26.47 g,the standard deviation is 2.81,and the coefficient of variation of particle distribution is at its minimum value of 14.25%.When the disc rotation speed was 600 r/min,the fertilizer was most evenly distributed with a coefficient of variation of 13.86%,and an average effective spreader swath width of 24.51 m.The proposed variable-rate fertilization model showed a high fitting degree with an S-shaped function curve for both increasing and decreasing distribution rates and the yielding coefficients of determination were more than 0.82 and 0.71,respectively.The average error between the model predictions and the test results was 9.47%,and the coefficients of determination for the increasing and decreasing distribution rates were 0.91 and 0.82,respectively,which confirmed the accuracy of the proposed variable-rate fertilization model.This investigation provided a theoretical basis for traditional empirical fertilization using centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreaders,and guides the selection of a multiple trajectory,variable-rate fertilization strategy.

Optimization of fertilizer performances in long-term garlic cropping soils

Continuous cropping is a common pattern of modern agriculture that takes regional advantages for crop yield profits.Along the progress of mono-cropping continuously supported by intensive fertilizer inputs,such a cropping pattern often undergoes serious problems with low fertilizer use efficiencies and unsustainable crop production.In this study,we dealt with a>25-year continuous garlic cropping system as an example for a problem-solving investigation.These garlic cropping soils underwent problems characterized by loss of soil organic matter,dramatic retention of NH_(4)^(+)-N,and excess accumulation of phosphate and potash chemicals.Through hydroponic simulations,we revealed that the presence of NH_(4)^(+)-N inhibited the root uptake of NO_(3)^(-)-N and K by 68% and 88%,respectively.Despite the traditionally emphasized importance of K,we observed the negative effect of high K on the growth of garlic roots.Further field experiments demonstrated that P and K applications can be reduced by 60% and 50%,respectively,without loss of yield.We thus developed a high-performance fertilization strategy by integrating a recomposed NPK fertilizer formulation to reduce unnecessary P and K inputs,a supplementary application of long-lasting C of woody peat to compensate for the soil C loss,and a foliar K approach to strengthen the stomatal function improvement with K.This strategy allowed a 15% increase of garlic yield and a seasonal soil C profit of ca.1.8 Mg ha^(-1)even at ca.30% lower fertilizer cost.This study would be helpful in managing garlic fertilization and developing compound fertilizers,with broader significance for other long-term cropping soils.

Long-term manure application increased soil organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization through accumulation of unprotected and physically protected carbon fractions

Soil organic carbon(SOC)and nitrogen(N)mineralization are important biogeochemical processes associated with soil fertility.These processes are influenced by physically,chemically,and biologically stabilized SOC fractions,the mechanisms of which are not well known.The present study was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of manure and mineral fertilizers on the contents of SOC fractions to promote the mineralization of SOC and N.Treatments included:i)no fertilizer control(CK);ii)a combination of mineral N,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizers(NPK);iii)manure alone(M);iv)manure combined with NPK(MNPK);and v)a high dose of manure combined with NPK(hMNPK).The combined uses of manure and mineral fertilizers(MNPK and hMNPK)enhanced the accumulation of the unprotected coarse particulate organic carbon(C)fraction(cPOC)by 44%-72%compared to CK.Manure applications(M,MNPK and hMNPK)enhanced physically microaggregate-protected organic C(μagg),physicochemically protected organic C within the microaggregate-derived silt(μsilt)fraction(H-μsilt),and physicobiochemically protected organic C within theμsilt fraction(NH-μsilt)by 30%-56%,62%-150%,and 27%-51%,respectively.In contrast,all chemically and biochemically protected SOC fractions showed a minor response to manure application.Accumulation of cPOC,μagg,H-μsilt,and physicochemically protected organic C within the microaggregate-derived clay fraction(H-μclay)significantly contributed to the mineralization of SOC and N,resulting in a significant increase in rice grain yield with long-term manure application.In summary,long-term combined use of manure and mineral fertilizers improved SOC accumulation in unprotected and physically protected fractions,which enhanced SOC and N mineralization and benefited soil productivity in a rice-wheat cropping system.