Studies on the Mechanism of Single Basal Application of Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Increasing Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This paper was to explore the mechanism of single basal application of controlled-release fertilizers for increasing yield of rice （Oryza sativa L.）. Pot trials and cylinder trials were carried out from 2002 to 2005 to study the influences of single basal application of 3 controlled-release fertilizers on the changes of soil available N, root development, senescence and lodging resistance at late growth stages. Results showed that at 30 days after fertilization, single basal application of controlled-release fertilizers coated with vegetal-substance （CRF1） and polymer materials （CRF3） increased soil available N to 12.0 and 147.9%, respectively, in comparison to split fertilization of rice-specific fertilizer （RSF1）. Treatments of the two CRFs obviously benefited the development of root system, resulting in greater rice root weights with extensive distribution and higher root activity. In addition, the two CRF treatments, in comparison to RSF1, enhanced chlorophyll consents of the flag leaves to 9.5 and 15.5%, and soluble protein up to 89.7 and 108.0% respectively. Application of the two CRFs also made the base of rice stems strong and large, declined the proportion of shoot and root, increased root depth index. Though relatively low K rate, single basal application of the CRF3 coated with NH4MgPO4 could also promote the development of root system, enhance root activity and some physiological functions of flag leaves. Based on these results, it was concluded that major mechanisms for increasing rice yield by single basal application of the CRFs should be attributed to grater soil available N supply, superior development of root systems, better nutrient absorption capacity, slower senescence and enhancement of lodging resistance at late stages.

Controlled-release fertilizer(CRF): A green fertilizer for controlling non-point contamination in agriculture

Fertilizers contribute greatly to high yields but also result in environmental non-point contamination, including the emission of greenhouse gas(N 2O) and eutrophication of water bodies. How to solve this problem has become a serious challenge, especially for China as its high ecological pressure. Controlled-release fertilizer(CRF) has been developed to minimize the contamination while keeping high yield and has become a green fertilizer for agriculture. Several CRFs made with special coating technology were used for testing the fertilizer effects in yield and environment through pot experiment and field trial. The result indicated that the CRFs had higher N use efficiency, thus reducing N loss through leaching and volatilization while keeping higher yields. Comparing with imported standard CRFs, the test on CRFs showed similar fertilizer effect but with much lower cost. CRFs application is becoming a new approach for minimizing non-point contamination in agriculture.

Shifts in soil bacterial communities induced by the controlled-release fertilizer coatings

Coated controlled-release fertilizers （CRFs） have been widely applied in agriculture due to their increased efficiency. However, the widespread and a lot of coated CRFs application may leave undesired coating residues in the soil due to their slow degradation. Limited information is available on the effects of substantial residual coatings on the soil bacterial community. By adding 0, 5, 10, 20, and 50 times quantities of residual coating from conventional application amount of resin and water-soluble coated CRFs, we studied the responses of soil properties and bacterial community composition to these two residual coatings in black soil. The results showed that the resin and water-soluble coatings did not essentially alter the properties of black soil or cause dramatic changes to bacterial diversity within the test concentration range. The residual resin and water-soluble coatings also did not distinctly alter the relative abundance of the top ten bacteria at phylum level. Heatmap results suggested that the treatments were basically clustered into two groups by concentration rather than types of coating material. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the Simpson＇s diversity index of the bacterial community was significantly correlated with microbial biomass carbon （MBC, r=0.394, P〈0.05）, and the richness index abundance-based coverage estimator （ACE） of the bacterial community was significantly correlated with microbial biomass nitrogen （MBN, t=0.407, P〈0.05）. Overall, results of this study suggested that substantial residual resin and water-soluble coatings with 0-50 times quantities of residual coating from conventional application amount of coated CRFs did not generate obviously negative impacts on the bacterial community in black soil.

Effects of different types of slow-and controlled-release fertilizers on rice yield

This experiment explored the effects of single application of seven types of slow-and controlled-release fertilizers on rice yield and various population characteristics.Based on a study of the nitrogen(N)release characteristics of these fertilizers,pot experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 with split fertilization(CK,urea applied split equally at basal and panicle initiation stages,respectively)as control,which assessed the effects on SPAD value,yield and yield components,dynamic changes of rice tillers and dry matter accumulation.The results showed that the N release characteristics of different types of slow-and controlled-release fertilizers were significantly different.Polymer-coated urea(PCU)showed a controlledrelease mode and provided sustained release throughout the whole growth stages.Sulfur-coated urea(SCU)exhibited a slow-release mode,providing insufficient release at the middle and late stages.Urease inhibitor urea(AHA)and ureaformaldehyde(UF)yielded a rapid-release mode,with an explosive N release at the early stage and no release at the middle and late stages.These results showed that PCU delayed the peak seedling stage.Compared with CK,dry matter accumulation and SPAD showed no significant differences,and due to the continuous release of N throughout the growth stages,rice yield,spikelets per panicle,seed setting rate,and 1000-grain weight were all increased.Owing to the lack of N supply at the late stage and the low number of spikelets,SCU led to a reduction of rice yield,which is nevertheless not statistically significant.AHA and UF were susceptible to environmental factors and had varying effects on rice yield.The results of this experiment indicated that given a fixed amount of N applied in a pot,the stronger the N supply capacity and the longer the effective duration time of the fertilizer,the higher the dry matter accumulation at the late growth stage,and the higher the rice yield.

Effects of a New Long-term Controlled-release Fertilizer on Growth and Development and Yield of Summer Maize

[Objective] The aim was to select the optimal amount of controlled-release fertilizer and provide theoretical references for controlled-release fertilizers use in summer maize. [Method] Long-term controlled-release fertilizers were applied once at sowing summer maize to explore effects on maize growth, yield, economic profits and environment. [Result] Maize yield reduced a little in the treatment group with 60% CRF, and increased in varying degrees in the rest groups in the range of 1.1%-7.4%, and some showed significant differences. [Conclusion] Controlled-release fertilizers can be applied once at the amount of 80% common fertilizer＇s, with con- sideration of maize yield, nitrogen use rate and economic profits, which is beneficial for summer maize application and promotion in North China.

Effects of Controlled-Release Fertilizers and Their Application Methods on Germination and Seedling Growth of Dent and Sweet Corns

Effects of controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) (C-AS, polyolefin coated ammonium sulfate, 50-day-type; Dd-LP, polyolefincoated urea with dicyandiamide, 40-day-type; C-ANP, polyolefin coated ammonium nitrate phosphate, 40-day-type; andC-DAP, polyolefin coated diammonium acid phosphate, 40-day-type), ammonium sulphate and no fertilizer control, andtheir application methods (spot, band, surface and mixed) on germination and seedling development of sweet corn (Zeamays L.var. saccharata Sturt.) and dent corn (Zea mays L.var. indentata Sturt.) were investigated in a greenhouse. Underco-situs application (band and spot) of CRFs, there were no obvious differences in the germination speed and rate for bothdent corn and sweet corn relative to control. Mortality rates of sweet corn seedlings under co-situs application were highin experiment 1, but were very low in experiment 2, because the environmental conditions were different in the twoexperiments. That is, under lower temperature and weaker sunlight, young seedlings easily die due to high soil nutrientconcentration and slow growth speed of corn. Shoot weight of both dent and sweet corn did not greatly decrease inexperiment 1. In experiment 2, there were no significant differences in shoot and root weight of both corns between co-situs and surface or mixed application methods. However, with spot and band application of ammonium sulfate, shoot androot weight were significantly reduced. Soil EC and pH were considerably affected by co-situs application, especially atthe fertilizer application site. For both dent and sweet corn, EC in the 0-3 cm soil was significantly higher under co-situsapplication and surface application than that under mixed application, whereas in the 3-6 cm soil depth the situation wasreversed. Compared with control, mixed application of CRFs decreased soil pH slightly (0-3 cm depth) or greatly (3-6 cmdepth).

Preparation and characterization of controlled-release fertilizers coated with marine polysaccharide derivatives

Encapsulation of water-soluble nitrogen fertilizers by membranes can be used to control the release of nutrients to maximize the fertilization ef fect and reduce environmental pollution.In this research,we formulated a new double-coated controlled-release fertilizer(CRF)by using food-grade microcrystalline wax(MW)and marine polysaccharide derivatives(calcium alginate and chitosan-glutaraldehyde copolymer).The pellets of water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer were coated with the marine polysaccharide derivatives and MW.A convenient and eco-friendly method was used to prepare the CRF.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)were used to characterize the morphology and composition of the products.The nitrogen-release properties were determined in water using UV-Vis spectrophotometry.The controlled-release properties of the fertilizer were improved dramatically after coating with MW and the marine polysaccharide derivatives.The results show that the double-coated CRFs can release nitrogen in a controlled manner,have excellent controlled-release features,and meet the European Standard for CRFs.

Quantitative Evaluation on the Comprehensive Benefit of Controlled-Release Fertilizer in Typically Middle-Low Yield Rice Field

Quantitative evaluation and analysis was made to the soil nutrients,rice yield,rice and fertilizer utilization rate,and economic and ecological benefits of the slow controlled release fertilizer in typical rice fields with middle-low yield by comparing the one-time application and split applications of slow-or controlledrelease fertilizer（ CRF） with farmers fertilizer practice as the control,with the aim to explore the effect of CRF. Results showed that compared with the control,the application of CRF could meet balance nutrients required for rice growth,and the effective panicles and seed-setting rate were higher in the treatment groups of FVOL,SVOL,LADVOLwhich applied CRF. As for soil nutrients,soil pH maintained balance in FVOL,FCAI,SVOL,LADVOL. In addition,differences in soil nutrient reduction amount reached the extremely significant level between FVOLand SXNK.SVOLwhich applied CRF provided reasonable regulation of N,P and K release rate,which showed advantages over blending fertilization and farmers fertilizer practice. Comprehensive analysis found that the application of CRF could make rice tillering growth and decline leveled off,which effectively improved the quality of rice population,and it also had higher input-output ratio than that of the control and good economic benefits. In general,CRF suits to be used widely on rice crop in the regions with medium-low yield.

Advances in controlled-release fertilizer encapsulated by organic-inorganic composite membranes

Heavy use of conventional fertilizers can lead to negative environmental concerns.Controlled-release fertilizers(CRFs)can effectively reduce the amounts of fertilizers used,improve the availability of fer-tilizers,and which is conducive to the protection of the ecological environment and sustainable devel-opment of agriculture.Therefore,it is imperative to develop and use CRFs as an alternative to traditional fertilizers.This review aims to present the classification,raw material composition,benefits,release process,release mode,and manufacturing methods of fertilizers coated with organic-inorganic com-posite membranes(OICMs)in order to provide an overall update and summarize CRFs encapsulated by OICMs and provide an insight for future trends in the field of fertilizers.It is expected that utilizing CRFs encapsulated by OICMs and their characteristics for agricultural applications can provide innovative ideas and suggestions for developing novel CRFs suitable for modern and sustainable agriculture.

Effects of mixed fertilizers formed by the compounding of two targeted controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers on yield,nitrogen use efficiency,and ammonia volatilization in double-cropping rice

One-time application of mixed fertilizer formed by the compounding of two controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers(CRUs)with targeted N supply during the periods from transplantation(TS)to panicle initiation(PI)and from PI to heading(HS)is expected to synchronize the double-peak N demand of rice.However,its effects on the yield and N use efficiency(NUE)of labor-intensive double-cropping rice were unknown.Two targeted CRU(CRU_(A)and CRU_(B))were compounded in five ratios(CRU_(A):CRU_(B)=10:0,7:3,5:5,3:7,and 0:10)to form five mixed fertilizers(BBFs):BBF1-5.A field experiment was performed to investigate the characteristics of N supply in early and late seasons under different BBFs and their effects on N uptake,yield,and ammonia volatilization(AV)loss from paddy fields of double-cropping rice.Conventional high-yield fertilization(CK,three split applications of urea)and zero-N treatments were established as controls.The N supply dropped significantly with the increased compound ratio of CRU_(B)during the period from TS to PI,but increased during the period from PI to HS.With the exception of the period from TS to PI in the late rice season,the N uptake of early and late rice maintained close synchronicity with the N supply of BBFs during the double-peak periods.Excessive N supply(BBF1 and BBF2)in the late rice season during the period from TS to PI increased N loss by AV.The effect of BBF on grain yield increase varied widely between seasons,irrespective of year.Among the BBFs,the BBF2 treatment of early rice not only stabilized the spikelets per panicle but also ensured a high number of effective panicles by promoting N uptake during the period from TS to PI and a high grain-filling percentage by appropriately reducing the N supply at the later PI stage,resulting in the highest rice yield.While stabilizing the effective panicle number,the BBF4 treatment of late rice increased the number of spikelets per panicle by promoting N uptake during the period from PI to HS,resulting in the highest rice yield.The two-year average yield and apparent N recovery efficiency of the BBF2 treatment during the early rice season were 9.6 t ha 1 and 45.3%,while those of late rice in BBF4 were 9.6 t ha 1 and 43.0%,respectively.The yield and NUE indexes of BBF2 in early rice and BBF4 in late rice showed no significant difference from those of CK.The AVs of BBF2 during the early rice season and of BBF4 during the late rice season were 50.0%and 76.8%lower,respectively,than those of CK.BBF2 and BBF4 could effectively replace conventional urea split fertilization in early and late rice seasons,ensuring rice yield and NUE and reducing AV loss in paddy fields.

Effects of a controlled-release fertilizer on yield, nutrient uptake, and fertilizer usage efficiency in early ripening rapeseed(Brassica napus L.)

Background： Nitrogen（N）, phosphorous（P）, and potassium（K） are critical nutrient elements necessary for crop plant growth and development. However, excessive inputs will lead to inefficient usage and cause excessive nutrient losses in the field environment, and also adversely affect the soil, water and air quality, human health, and biodiversity. Methods： Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of controlled-release fertilizer（CRF） on seed yield, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and fertilizer usage efficiency for early ripening rapeseed（Xiangzayou 1613） in the red-yellow soil of southern China during 2011–2013. It was grown using a soluble fertilizer（SF） and the same amounts of CRF, such as SF1/CRF1（3750 kg/hm^2）, SF2/CRF2（3000 kg/hm^2）, SF3/CRF3（2250 kg/hm^2）, SF4/CRF4（1500 kg/hm^2）, SF5/CRF5（750 kg/hm^2）, and also using no fertilizer（CK）. Results： CRF gave higher seed yields than SF in both seasons by 14.51%. CRF4 and SF3 in each group achieved maximum seed yield（2066.97 and 1844.50 kg/hm^2, respectively）, followed by CRF3（1929.97 kg/hm^2） and SF4（1839.40 kg/hm^2）. There were no significant differences in seed yield among CK, SF1, and CRF1（P0.05）. CRF4 had the highest profit（7126.4 CNY/hm2） and showed an increase of 12.37% in seed yield, and it decreased by 11.01% in unit fertilizer rate compared with SF4. The branch number, pod number, and dry matter weight compared with SF increased significantly under the fertilization of CRF（P0.05）. The pod number per plant was the major contributor to seed yield. On the other hand, the N, P, and K uptakes increased at first and then decreased with increasing the fertilizer rate at maturity, and the N, P, and K usage efficiency decreased with increasing the fertilizer rate. The N, P, and K uptakes and usage efficiencies of the CRF were significantly higher than those of SF（P0.05）. The N accumulation and N usage efficiency of CRF increased by an average of 13.66% and 9.74 percentage points, respectively, compared to SF. In conclusion, CRF significantly promoted the growth of rapeseed with using total N as the base fertilizer, by providing sufficient N in the later growth stages, and last by reducing the residual N in the soil and increasing the N accumulation and N usage efficiency.

Nitrogen release characteristics of polyethylene-coated controlled-release fertilizers and their dependence on membrane pore structure

In this study, controlled-release fertilizers （CRFs） with five different nitrogen release periods were pre- pared by coating large urea particles with polyethylene （PE） membranes under various experimental conditions. The preliminary and differential solubility rates, release periods, and membrane pore sizes of the obtained CRFs were measured using water immersion, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury porosimetry. For all CRF samples, the median pore diameters of the membranes were equal to 4.5-5.3 nm and pores with sizes smaller than 10 nm accounted for 86-96% of the total pore surface area. The obtained pore diameter distributions differed for the five studied types of CRF, having release periods of 1,2, 4, 6, and 8 months. Thus, for the CRFs with a 1-month release period, the maximum pore diameter reached a magnitude of 4000 nm, while this value did not exceed 30 nm for the CRFs with a release period of 8 months. Hence, we have established a relationship between the release period of CRFs and their effective maximum pore sizes.

Coupling of reduced inorganic fertilizer with plant-based organic fertilizer as a promising fertilizer management strategy for colored rice in tropical regions

Colored rice is a type of high-quality,high-added-value rice that has attracted increasing attention in recent years.The use of large amounts of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer in rice fields results in low fertilizer use efficiency and high environmental pollution.Organic fertilizer is a promising way to improve soil quality and sustain high yields.However,most studies focus on the effect of animal-based organic fertilizers.The effects of different ratios of plantbased organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer on the grain yield and quality of colored rice have rarely been reported.Therefore,a two-year field experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 to study the effects of replacing inorganic N fertilizers with plant-based organic fertilizers on the yield,nitrogen use efficiency(NUE),and anthocyanin content of two colored rice varieties in a tropical region in China.The experimental treatments included no nitrogen fertilization(T1),100% inorganic nitrogen fertilizer(T2),30%inorganic nitrogen fertilizer substitution with plant-based organic fertilizer(T3),60%inorganic nitrogen fertilizer substitution with plant-based organic fertilizer(T4),and 100% plantbased organic fertilizer(T5).The total nitrogen provided to all the treatments except T1 was the same at 120 kg ha-1.Our results showed that the T3 treatment enhanced the grain yield and anthocyanin content of colored rice by increasing nitrogen use efficiency compared with T2.On average,grain yields were increased by 9 and 8%,while the anthocyanin content increased by 16 and 10% in the two colored rice varieties under T3 across the two years,respectively,as compared with T2.Further study of the residual effect of partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers showed that the substitution of inorganic fertilizer with plant-based organic fertilizer improved the soil physiochemical properties,and thus increased the rice grain yield,in the subsequent seasons.The highest grain yield of the subsequent rice crop was observed under the T5 treatment.Our results suggested that the application of plantbased organic fertilizers can sustain the production of colored rice with high anthocyanin content in tropical regions,which is beneficial in reconciling the relationship between rice production and environmental protection.

Repositioning fertilizer manufacturing subsidies for improving food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China

China removed fertilizer manufacturing subsidies from 2015 to 2018 to bolster market-oriented reforms and foster environmentally sustainable practices.However,the impact of this policy reform on food security and the environment remains inadequately evaluated.Moreover,although green and low-carbon technologies offer environmental advantages,their widespread adoption is hindered by prohibitively high costs.This study analyzes the impact of removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies and explores the potential feasibility of redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in the diffusion of these technologies.Utilizing the China Agricultural University Agri-food Systems model,we analyzed the potential for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes regarding food security and environmental sustainability.The findings indicate that removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies has reduced greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions from agricultural activities by 3.88 million metric tons,with minimal impact on food production.Redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in green and low-carbon technologies,including slow and controlled-release fertilizer,organic-inorganic compound fertilizers,and machine deep placement of fertilizer,emerges as a strategy to concurrently curtail GHG emissions,ensure food security,and secure robust economic returns.Finally,we propose a comprehensive set of government interventions,including subsidies,field guidance,and improved extension systems,to promote the widespread adoption of these technologies.

Integrated assessment of yield,nitrogen use efficiency and ecosystem economic benefits of use of controlled-release and common urea in ratoon rice production

Controlled-release urea(CRU)is commonly used to improve the crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE).However,few studies have investigated the effects of CRU in the ratoon rice system.Ratoon rice is the practice of obtaining a second harvest from tillers originating from the stubble of the previously harvested main crop.In this study,a 2-year field experiment using a randomized complete block design was conducted to determine the effects of CRU on the yield,NUE,and economic benefits of ratoon rice,including the main crop,to provide a theoretical basis for fertilization of ratoon rice.The experiment included four treatments:(i)no N fertilizer(CK);(ii)traditional practice with 5 applications of urea applied at different crop growth stages by surface broadcasting(FFP);(iii)one-time basal application of CRU(BF1);and(iv)one-time basal application of CRU combined with common urea(BF2).The BF1 and BF2 treatments significantly increased the main crop yield by 17.47 and 15.99%in 2019,and by 17.91 and 16.44%in 2020,respectively,compared with FFP treatment.The BF2 treatment achieved similar yield of the ratoon crop to the FFP treatment,whereas the BF1 treatment significantly increased the yield of the ratoon crop by 14.81%in 2019 and 12.21%in 2020 compared with the FFP treatment.The BF1 and BF2 treatments significantly improved the 2-year apparent N recovery efficiency,agronomic NUE,and partial factor productivity of applied N by 11.47-16.66,27.31-44.49,and 9.23-15.60%,respectively,compared with FFP treatment.The BF1 and BF2 treatments reduced the chalky rice rate and chalkiness of main and ratoon crops relative to the FFP treatment.Furthermore,emergy analysis showed that the production efficiency of the BF treatments was higher than that of the FFP treatment.The BF treatments reduced labor input due to reduced fertilization times and improved the economic benefits of ratoon rice.Compared with the FFP treatment,the BF1 and BF2 treatments increased the net income by 14.21-16.87 and 23.76-25.96%,respectively.Overall,the one-time blending use of CRU and common urea should be encouraged to achieve high yield,high nitrogen use efficiency,and good quality of ratoon rice,which has low labor input and low apparent N loss.

Combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer alleviates the kernel position effect in summer maize by promoting post-silking nitrogen uptake and dry matter accumulation

Adjusting agronomic measures to alleviate the kernel position effect in maize is important for ensuring high yields.In order to clarify whether the combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer(CAOFCF)can alleviate the kernel position effect of summer maize,field experiments were conducted during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons,and five treatments were assessed:CF,100%chemical fertilizer;OFCF1,15%organic fertilizer+85%chemical fertilizer;OFCF2,30%organic fertilizer+70%chemical fertilizer;OFCF3,45%organic fertilizer+55%chemical fertilizer;and OFCF4,60%organic fertilizer+40%chemical fertilizer.Compared with the CF treatment,the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments significantly alleviated the kernel position effect by increasing the weight ratio of inferior kernels to superior kernels and reducing the weight gap between the superior and inferior kernels.These effects were largely due to the improved filling and starch accumulation of inferior kernels.However,there were no obvious differences in the kernel position effect among plants treated with CF,OFCF3,or OFCF4 in most cases.Leaf area indexes,post-silking photosynthetic rates,and net assimilation rates were higher in plants treated with OFCF1 or OFCF2 than in those treated with CF,reflecting an enhanced photosynthetic capacity and improved postsilking dry matter accumulation(DMA)in the plants treated with OFCF1 or OFCF2.Compared with the CF treatment,the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments increased post-silking N uptake by 66.3 and 75.5%,respectively,which was the major factor driving post-silking photosynthetic capacity and DMA.Moreover,the increases in root DMA and zeatin riboside content observed following the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments resulted in reduced root senescence,which is associated with an increased post-silking N uptake.Analyses showed that post-silking N uptake,DMA,and grain yield in summer maize were negatively correlated with the kernel position effect.In conclusion,the combined application of 15-30%organic fertilizer and 70-85%chemical fertilizer alleviated the kernel position effect in summer maize by improving post-silking N uptake and DMA.These results provide new insights into how CAOFCF can be used to improve maize productivity.

Application of organic fertilizer for improving soybean production under acidic stress

The presence of acidic soil in rural areas poses difficulties for agricultural production.One factor regulating soil pH is the overuse of inorganic fertilizer.The increased use of fertilizers in soybean production not only raises sustainability concerns but also contributes to soil acidity.Therefore,the use of organic fertilizer could offer a solution for addressing both issues related to soil acidity and sustainability.The purpose of this study was to investigate the manipulation of soil pH using organic fertilizer for soybean production under acidic stress.The planting medium,consisting of a mixture of topsoil,rice husk charcoal,and organic fertilizer(in a ratio of 2:1:1),was supplemented with 0.5 g of NPK fertilizer as a basal treatment in each planting medium.To regulate the soil acidity to pH 4,we added FeSO_(4) and allowed the mixture to incubate for 30 days.The results demonstrate that the application of three types of organic fertilizers chicken manure(P1),oil palm empty bunch fertilizer(P2),and vermicompost(P3)positively impacts the growth of three soybean varieties.The findings indicate that the application of P2 organic fertilizer can increase vegetative growth almost 50%in soybeans on acidic soil,including plant height,leaf count,and root length.Meanwhile,applying P3 organic fertilizer can boost reproductive growth responses in soybeans on acidic soil,such as pod number(from around 0-4 unit to 42-51 unit),grain number(from around 0-5 unit to 88-90 unit),and grain weight(from around 0-0.37 g to 12-25 g).Organic fertilizer has the potential to regulate soil pH,promoting higher yields of soybeans under acidic stress.

Effectiveness of biofertilizers foliar application on yield and quality traits of flax(Linum usitatissimum L.)

Flax is considered to be one of the most significant dual-purpose crops for oil and fiber production in Egypt and worldwide.Biofertilizers have a substantial impact on various metabolic processes,including increased photo-synthesis,endogenous hormone levels,ion absorption,nucleic acid synthesis,and protein synthesis.These factors collectively contribute to the growth and development of plants.Therefore,this study aims to investigate how three biofertilizers(Algae extract,CMS as a by-product of yeast,and Metalosate multi minerals as amino acids)can enhance both the quantity and quality of flax seed yield under sandy soil conditions.Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Station of National Research Centre in Nubaria District,Behira Governorate,Egypt during two seasons(2021/2022)using a randomized complete block design(RCBD).The results revealed significant differences among all tested biofertilizers in terms of various characteristics studied in flax.Foliar application of algae extract at a rate of 1.50 mL/L resulted in an increase in seed yield(ton/ha)by 26.69%&19.89%,straw yield(ton/ha)by 8.08%&17.12%,and oil yield(kg/ha)by 47.72%&33.69%compared to the control group during both seasons respectively.Foliar applications of algae extract at a rate of 1.50 mL/L along with CMS at a rate of 5 m L/L and amino acids at a rate of 1.50 mL/L demonstrated significantly higher macronutrient contents(N,P,K),micronutrient contents(Fe,Zn,Mn),seed oil content,and protein content in flax seeds during both seasons.The highest values for seed oil content and protein content%were obtained through foliar application of amino acids at a rate of 1.50 mL/L.It can be concluded that foliar sprays with these bio-fertilizers effectively improved flax performance by increasing seed straw and oil yields,nutrients oil,protein and fatty acids seeds contents.

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.

Optimized NPK fertilizer recommendations based on topsoil available nutrient criteria for wheat in drylands of China

The optimized management of crop fertilization is very important for improving crop yield and reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers.Critical nutrient values can be used for evaluating the nutritional status of a crop,and they reflect the nutrient concentrations above which the plant is sufficiently supplied for achieving the maximum potential yield.Based on on-farm surveys of 504 farmers and 60 field experimental sites in the drylands of China,we proposed a recommended fertilization method to determine nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)fertilizer input rates for wheat production,and then validated the method by a field experiment at 66 different sites in northern China.The results showed that wheat grain yield varied from 1.1 to 9.2 t ha^(-1),averaging 4.6 t ha^(-1),and it had a quadratic relationship with the topsoil(0-20 cm)nitrate N and soil available P contents at harvest.However,yield was not correlated with the inputs of N,P,and K fertilizers.Based on the relationship(exponential decay model)between 95–105%of the relative yield and topsoil nitrate N,available P,and available K contents at wheat harvest from 60 field experiments,the topsoil critical nutrient values were determined as 34.6,15.6,and 150 mg kg^(-1)for soil nitrate N,available P,and available K,respectively.Then,based on five groups of relative yield(>125%,115–125%,105–115%,95–105%,and<95%)and the model,the five groups of topsoil critical nutrient levels and fertilization coefficients(Fc)were determined.Finally,we proposed a new method for calculating the recommended fertilizer input rate as:Fr=Gy×Nr×Fc,where Fr is the recommended fertilizer(N/P/K)input rate;Gy is the potential grain yield;Nr is the N(N_(rN)),P(N_(rP)),and K(N_(rK))nutrient requirements for wheat to produce 1,000 kg of grain;and Fc is a coefficient for N(N_c)/P(P_c)/K(K_c)fertilizer.A 2-year validated experiment confirmed that the new method reduced N fertilizer input by 17.5%(38.5 kg N ha^(-1))and P fertilizer input by 43.5%(57.5 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1))in northern China and did not reduce the wheat yield.This outcome can significantly increase the farmers’benefits(by 7.58%,or 139 US$ha^(-1)).Therefore,this new recommended fertilization method can be used as a tool to guide N,P,and K fertilizer application rates for dryland wheat production.