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.

Mitigation of N_(2)O emissions in water-saving paddy fields:Evaluating organic fertilizer substitution and microbial mechanisms

Water-saving irrigation strategies can successfully alleviate methane emissions from rice fields,but significantly stimulate nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emissions because of variations in soil oxygen level and redox potential.However,the relationship linking soil N_(2)O emissions to nitrogen functional genes during various fertilization treatments in water-saving paddy fields has rarely been investigated.Furthermore,the mitigation potential of organic fertilizer substitution on N_(2)O emissions and the microbial mechanism in rice fields must be further elucidated.Our study examined how soil N_(2)O emissions were affected by related functional microorganisms(ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA),ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB),nirS,nirK and nosZ)to various fertilization treatments in a rice field in southeast China over two years.In this study,three fertilization regimes were applied to rice cultivation:a no nitrogen(N)(Control),an inorganic N(Ni),and an inorganic N with partial N substitution with organic manure(N_(i)+N_(o)).Over two rice-growing seasons,cumulative N_(2)O emissions averaged 0.47,4.62 and 4.08 kg ha^(−1)for the Control,Ni and N_(i)+N_(o)treatments,respectively.In comparison to the Ni treatment,the N_(i)+N_(o)fertilization regime considerably reduced soil N_(2)O emissions by 11.6%while maintaining rice yield,with a lower N_(2)O emission factor(EF)from fertilizer N of 0.95%.Nitrogen fertilization considerably raised the AOB,nirS,nirK and nosZ gene abundances,in comparison to the Control treatment.Moreover,the substitution of organic manure for inorganic N fertilizer significantly decreased AOB and nirS gene abundances and increased nosZ gene abundance.The AOB responded to N fertilization more sensitively than the AOA.Total N_(2)O emissions significantly correlated positively with AOB and nirS gene abundances while having a negative correlation with nosZ gene abundance and the nosZ/nirS ratio across N-fertilized plots.In summary,we conclude that organic manure substitution for inorganic N fertilizer decreased soil N_(2)O emissions primarily by changing the soil NO_(3)^(−)-N,pH and DOC levels,thus inhibiting the activities of ammonia oxidation in nitrification and nitrite reduction in denitrification,and strengthening N_(2)O reduction in denitrification from water-saving rice paddies.

Carbon sequestration rate,nitrogen use efficiency and rice yield responses to long-term substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic manure in a rice–rice cropping system

Combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic amendments was recommended as a strategy for improving yield,soil carbon storage,and nutrient use efficiency.However,how the long-term substitution of chemical fertilizer with organic manure affects rice yield,carbon sequestration rate(CSR),and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE)while ensuring environmental safety remains unclear.This study assessed the long-term effect of substituting chemical fertilizer with organic manure on rice yield,CSR,and NUE.It also determined the optimum substitution ratio in the acidic soil of southern China.The treatments were:(i)NPK0,unfertilized control;(ii)NPK1,100%chemical nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizer;(iii)NPKM1,70%chemical NPK fertilizer and 30%organic manure;(iv)NPKM2,50%chemical NPK fertilizer and 50%organic manure;and(v)NPKM3,30%chemical NPK fertilizer and 70%organic manure.Milk vetch and pig manure were sources of manure for early and late rice seasons,respectively.The result showed that SOC content was higher in NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments than in NPK0 and NPK1 treatments.The carbon sequestration rate increased by 140,160,and 280%under NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments,respectively,compared to NPK1 treatment.Grain yield was 86.1,93.1,93.6,and 96.5%higher under NPK1,NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments,respectively,compared to NPK0 treatment.The NUE in NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments was higher as compared to NPK1 treatment for both rice seasons.Redundancy analysis revealed close positive relationships of CSR with C input,total N,soil C:N ratio,catalase,and humic acids,whereas NUE was closely related to grain yield,grain N content,and phenol oxidase.Furthermore,CSR and NUE negatively correlated with humin acid and soil C:P and N:P ratios.The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS)showed that NPKM3 treatment was the optimum strategy for improving CSR and NUE.Therefore,substituting 70%of chemical fertilizer with organic manure could be the best management option for increasing CSR and NUE in the paddy fields of southern China.

Partial organic substitution weakens the negative effect of chemical fertilizer on soil micro-food webs

Soil biotic communities play vital roles in enhancing soil nutrient cycling and soil fertility.Long-term excessive nitrogen(N)application is disadvantageous to the stability of soil food webs and affects arable soil health and sustainable utilization.Proper organic substitution is essential to improve soil health and alleviate the disadvantages of excessive chemical fertilization.However,the biological effects of various organic amendments on soil micro-food webs are poorly understood.In order to explore the effects of various organic amendments including stover,biochar and manure on soil micro-food webs(microbial and nematode communities),a field plot experiment with maize having five treatments viz.,100%urea(100%N),70%urea(70%N),70%urea plus stover(Stover),70%urea plus cattle manure(Manure)and 70%urea plus biochar(Biochar)was conducted.Manure treatment increased the carbon(C)to N use efficiency of soil microbes,which contributed to the retention of soil C,while Biochar treatment elevated soil organic C(SOC)and soil p H.Additionally,Biochar treatment mitigated the negative effects of soil acidification on the soil micro-food web and reduced the abundance of plant parasites.Overall,the biological effect of organic amendments was distinguished from chemical fertilization(100%N and 70%N)through principal co-ordinates analysis.Negative relationships among soil properties,microbial and nematode biomass in the 100%N treatment were diminished in treatments where chemical fertilizer was reduced.The bottom-up effects on soil food webs were observed in organic substitution treatments.In conclusion,organic amendments improved soil fertility by regulating soil microbial and nematode communities in the cropland ecosystem,alleviated the negative effects of chemical fertilizer on the micro-food webs and controlled the trophic cascades among soil biota.

Effects of Biological Organic Fertilizer on Flue-cured Tobacco Chemical Composition

Through field experiment,special biological fertilizer and cake fertilizer were applied collectively to tobacco,and chemical compositions of Wanxi flue-cured tobacco leaves were researched.The results showed that the increase of biological organic fertilizer would significantly improve soil nutrient supplying capacity.Compared with conventional fertilization,the contents of reducing sugar,total sugar and starch in different parts of tobaccos which were applied with biological organic fertilizer were closer to standards of excellent tobacco.In the treatment,the ratio of reducing sugar and nicotine in tobacco was more suitable in middle and lower parts of the plant and the contents of total N,nicotine and chlorine in tobacco were lowered,improving tobacco quality.

Natural Radioactivity and Dose Assessment for Brands of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers Used in Saudi Arabia

The activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 232Th have been measured in different brands of fertilizer samples in Saudi Arabia using sodium iodide gamma spectrometry. The results of measurements showed that the mean (ranges) of specific activities for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activities in the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are 64 (35.8 - 120.7), 17 (3.2 - 56.8) and 2453 (744.9 - 4227.1) Bq/kg, respectively. With respect to organic fertilizers under investigation, the average radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 42, 10 and 333 BqKg?1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity is not exceed 370 Bq/kg, the maximum permissible limit for radiation dose for all present samples. Average values of the three natural radionuclides measured in the brands of fertilizers used in Saudi Arabia are within the range of values reported in several other countries. This study could be useful as baseline data for radiation exposure to fertilizers and their impact on human health.

Yield, Growth and Vegetative Development Parameters Response of Dry Beans to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers and Biofertilizer

As part of the promotion of common bean cultivation, fertilization methods will have to be proposed to growers. The aim of this study is therefore to develop a technical itinerary for dry bean fertilization. To this end, different types of chemical and organic fertilizers were evaluated on three dry bean varieties (HARI25/GHA19, HARI35/GHA19 and HARI36/GUI21). Seven (7) doses of chemical and organic fertilizers were used, including two controls (D0 with no fertilizer and D1, the reference dose using NPK base and cover fertilizers in the form of urea). The fertilization trial was set up as a Split-Plot design, with variety as the primary factor and dose as the secondary factor. The experiment was repeated three (3) times. The results showed that vegetative development parameters and fruit set rate varied according to the variety studied. For yield and its components, the treatments had a significant effect. Indeed, the response of varieties to fertilizers was specific. For each variety used, the optimum yield was obtained with a different treatment, thus highlighting the genotype effect of the dry bean varieties studied. Among the treatments tested, D4 (5 t organic fertilizer/ha) performed best in all three varieties, generating yield increases of 20%, 46% and 91% respectively.

Impacts of chemical fertilizer reduction and organic amendments supplementation on soil nutrient,enzyme activity and heavy metal content

Excessive use of agro-chemicals （such as mineral fertilizers） poses potential risks to soil quality. Application of organic amendments and reduction of inorganic fertilizer are economically feasible and environmentally sound approaches to de- velop sustainable agriculture. This study investigated and evaluated the effects of mineral fertilizer reduction and partial substitution of organic amendment on soil fertility and heavy metal content in a 10-season continually planted vegetable field during 2009-2012. The experiment included four treatments： 100% chemical fertilizer （CF100）, 80% chemical fertilizer （CF80）, 60% chemical fertilizer and 20% organic fertilizer （CF60＋OM20）, and 40% chemical fertilizer and 40% organic fertilizer （CF40＋OM40）. Soil nutrients, enzyme activity and heavy metal content were determined. The results showed that single chemical fertilizer reduction （CF80） had no significant effect on soil organic matter content, soil catalase activity and soil heavy metal content, but slightly reduced soil available N, P, K, and soil urease activity, and significantly reduced soil acid phosphatase activity. Compared with CF100, 40 or 60% reduction of chemical fertilizer supplemented with organic fertilizer （CF60＋OM20, CF40＋OM40） significantly increased soil organic matter, soil catalase activity and urease activity especially in last several seasons, but reduced soil available P, K, and soil acid phosphatase activity. In addition, continu- ous application of organic fertilizer resulted in higher accumulation of Zn, Cd, and Cr in soil in the late stage of experiment, which may induce adverse effects on soil health and food safety.

Effects of Organic Manure Application with Chemical Fertilizers on Nutrient Absorption and Yield of Rice in Hunan of Southern China

To evaluate the effect of organic manure application with chemical fertilizers on rice yield and soil fertility under long-term double-rice cropping system, a six year field experiment was conducted continually in the paddy soil derived from Quaternary red clay in Hunan Province of southern China. Four different treatments, i.e., no nitrogen with chemical P and K （PK）, swine manure only （M）, N, P and K chemical fertilizers only （NPK）, and half chemical fertilizers combined with half swine manure （NPKM） with four replications were included. Each N, P and K application rate was the same at all the treatments （except the N application rate at PK） and N application rate was 150 kg N ha^-1. All fertilizers were applied to soil tillage layer with once application as baseal fertilizers. The nutrients uptake rate, grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil organic matter content at each treatment were investigated. The NPKM treatment achieved the highest mean annual yield of 12.2 t ha^-1 （68% higher than that of PK）. Higher dry matter accumulation and nutrients absorption were observed during the middle-late growth period in the NPKM treatment, with higher panicle number per unit and filled-grain number per panicle. Its average nitrogen use efficiency was 36.3% and soil organic matter increased by 18.5% during the experimental period in the NPKM treatment, which were significantly higher than those in the NPK treatment. Organic manure application with chemical fertilizers increased the yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice, reduced the risk of environmental pollution and improved soil fertility greatly. It could be a good practical technique that protects the environment and raises the rice yield in this region.

Residual Effect of Long Term Application of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Selected Chemical Properties of a Savanna Alfisol

The residual effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on selected chemical properties of an Alfisol in the long term soil fertility trial established in 1950 at Samaru, Nigerian savanna was assessed. The trial was left fallow for fourteen years due to lack of funds. Topsoil was collected from plots that received three levels of cow dung （D）, nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） in all possible combinations. The soils were analyzed for selected chemical properties. Except for significant effect of applied P on available P, sole application of cow dung, N or P had no significant effect on all the measured soil properties. The interaction of D and P significantly affected the mean values of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and ECEC in the range of 1.12-1.96, 0.62-1.11, 0.37-0.64 and 2.82-4.11 cmol/kg respectively. The most important results were the ability of the plot that received neither D nor P to significantly increase these parameters than the plots that received only one of the treatments. The results show that the fallow period has changed the effects of application of organic and mineral fertilizers on the soil chemical properties under continuous cultivation by modifying them towards those of a native savanna Alfisol.

Paddy Soil Stability and Mechanical Properties as Affected by Long-Term Application of Chemical Fertilizer and Animal Manure in Subtropical China

Wet stability, penetration resistance （PR）, and tensile strength （TS） of paddy soils under a fertilization experiment for 22 years were determined to elucidate the function of soil organic matter in paddy soil stabilization. The treatments included no fertilization （CK）, normal chemical fertilization （NPK）, double the NPK application rates （2NPK）, and NPK mixed with organic manure （NPK＋OM）. Compared with CK, Fertilization increased soil organic carbon （SOC） and soil porosity. The results of soil aggregate fragmentation degree （SAFD） showed that fast wetting by water was the key fragmentation mechanism. Among the treatments, the NPK＋OM treatment had the largest size of water-stable aggregates and greatest normal mean weight diameter （NMWD） （P ≤ 0.05）, but the lowest PR and TS in both cultivated horizon （Ap） and plow pan. The CK and 2NPK treatments were measured with PR 〉 2.0 MPa and friability index 〈 0.20, respectively, in the Ap horizon, suggesting that the soils was mechanically unfavourable to root growth and tillage. In the plow pan, the fertilization treatments had greater TS and PR than in CK. TS and PR of the tested soil aggregates were negatively correlated to SOC content and soil porosity. This study suggested that chemical fertilization could cause deterioration of mechanical properties while application of organic manure could improve soil stability and mechanical properties.

Isolation and Characterization of Beneficial Microorganisms in Organic, Semi-Organic and Conventional Fertilizer Treated Agricultural Field Soil and Comparison of Bacterial Richness

The effect of different farming systems on microbial communities in agricultural environment was investigated in the present study. Depending on the present farming trend, the microbial distribution in agricultural soils treated with organic, semi-organic and conventional fertilizers was analyzed. A total of 20 soil samples were collected from different types of agricultural fields of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI, Gazipur). Microorganisms playing beneficial roles in soil such as nitrogen fixation (e.g. Rhizobium sp., Azotobacter sp.), phosphate solubilization (e.g. Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Phosphobacteria) and auxin production (e.g. Pseudomonas sp., Serratia sp. and Bacillus sp.) were evaluated from each of the samples. The results revealed that agricultural fields treated with chemical fertilizers showed lower microbial count than that of organic fertilizer treated agricultural fields’ soil samples. In addition, organic fertilizers amended field soils have higher phytohormone (Auxin) activities, phosphate solubilization bacteria and other bacterial richness compared to chemical fertilizer applied field soil.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Organic Nitrogen Forms in a Calcareous Alluvial Soil on the North China Plain

In order to illustrate the change of nitrogen （N） supply capacity after long-term application of manure and chemical fertilizer, as well as to properly manage soil fertility through fertilizer application under the soil-climatic conditions of the North China Plain, organic N forms were quantified in the topsoil with different manure and chemical fertilizer treatments in a 15-year fertilizer experiment in a Chinese calcareous alluvial soil. Soil total N （TN） and various organic N forms were significantly influenced by long-term application of chemical fertilizer and manure. TN, total hydrolysable N, acid-lnsoluble N, amino acid N and ammonium N in the soil increased significantly （P 〈 0.05） with increasing manure and fertilizer N rates, but were not influenced by increasing P rates. Also, application of manure or N fertilizer or P fertilizer did not significantly influence either the quantity of amino sugar N or its proportion of TN. Application of manure significantly increased （P 〈 0.05） hydrolysable unknown N, but adding N or P did not. In addition, application of manure or N fertilizer or P fertilizer did not significantly influence the proportions of different soil organic N forms.

The Impacts on Spinach Growth and Yield by Biological Organic Fertilizer

To decrease fertilization amount of chemical fertilizer and improve the quality of vegetable crops,spinach was taken as the test material,and the impact of different fertilizer on spinach growth and yield was studied via the manners of biological organic fertilizer and organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer. Experimental results showed that in the formula of organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer,chlorophyll and nitrogen contents in spinach leaves obviously increased; in the formula of only adding organic fertilizer,spinach leaf temperature,leaf width,root length,plant height and fresh weight were all better than those in the formula of organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer,and better formulas were A_5,E_5,F_3 and I_5,in which spinach plant height in E_5 was 5. 63 times higher than G_5,root length in E_5 was 2. 67 times higher than G_5,and fresh weight in G_5 was 32. 6 times higher than G_5. By comprehensive analysis,the most suitable formula for spinach production was E_5,and the research could provide theoretic basis for fertilization amount of organic fertilizer required by spinach growth and development.

Effect of different fertilizers on methane emission from a paddy field of Zhejiang, China

Methane emissions from Chinese paddy soil (Zhejiang Province) were measured over the rice growing seasons. Different fertilizers (organic and chemical) were applied, emissions of methane were high during two periods(5 days after peak tillering and 7 days after heading flowering stage) and significant effect of fertilizers was observed. Methanogenic activities in soils treated with organic manures were obviously higher than those with chemical fertilizers. Among the organic manured fields the maximum methane emission from green manure, biogas residue and beef manure treatment were 52, 20 and 19 times respectively of that given by control, and among chemical fertilizers it was NH\-4HCO\-3>CO(NH 2) 2>(NH 4) 2SO 4>NH 4Cl>NaNO 3 with 2\^4, 2, 1\^5,1\^3 and 0\^2 times respectively of that from control.

Yield and Quality Response of Ryegrass, Egyptian Clover and Their Mixtures to Different Sources of Fertilizers

Two field experiments were conducted during two successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 to investigate the potentialities of mixing Egyptian clover with ryegrass under bio, organic and mineral fertilization treatments and their combination to increase forage yield and quality grown under sandy soil conditions. The experiment included the combination of five mixing ratios (Egyptian clover alone, ryegrass alone, 75% Egyptian clover: 25% ryegrass, 50% Egyptian clover: 50% ryegrass and 25% Egyptian clover: 75% ryegrass) and eight fertilizer sources, which include control, organic fertilization, bio fertilization, chemical fertilizer, organic + bio fertilizer, organic + chemical fertilizer, bio + chemical fertilizer and combination of organic and chemical and bio fertilizers. The obtained results indicate the superiority of 75% E. clover: 25% ryegrass mixture fertilizedby Bio + O + N in fresh and dry forage production. On the other hand, it reported the lowest dry weight of weeds g/m2. Chemical analysis of forage plants showed that the mixture of ?75% E. clover: 25% ryegrass surpassed that of other treatments yield for crude protein, ether extract and ash. The results also revealed that the highest record of DCP, crude fiber and TDNY was obtained by forage mixture of 75% E. clover: 25% ryegrass fertilized with Bio + O + N. Such higher yield of these characters hassecured a balanced ratio which is really needed for ruminants ration.

Soil Chemical Analysis of Kazi and Kazi Organic Tea Garden and Compared to Ordinary Tea Gardens of Bangladesh

Tea is grown in Bangladesh under marginal climatic and soil conditions. Its production is greatly influenced by many physical, chemical, biological and natural factors. The increasing land use intensity without adequate and balanced use of chemical fertilizers and with little or no use of organic manure has caused severe fertility deterioration of our soils resulting in stagnating or even declining of crop productivity. The need of the hour is to achieve substantially higher crop yield than the present yield levels from our limited land resources on a sustainable basis. A feasibility study was carried out of one and only organic tea garden namely Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate at Panchaghar and compared to ordinary tea gardens located at Sylhet namely Zareen Tea Estate, Nurjahan Tea Estate and Malnichara Tea Estate as secondary data to investigate the fertility status of soil. Results of the present study showed that soil solutions were acidic in nature in all seasons. Medium to high soil organic matter, medium to high available iron and phosphorous, and low availability of potash showed that soils were not sufficiently fertile for crop production. Student t-test values of all the parameters with control sample showed statistically significant results for SOM and available P. The critical values have been fixed at 0.1% for N and 1% for OM, 10 μg/g for P, 80 μg/g for K, 25 μg/g for Mg, 90 μg/g for Ca, 2 μg/g for Zn and 20 μg/g for S. The nutrient status is much higher in Kazi & Kazi organic tea estate in compared to other ordinary tea estates in Bangladesh.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in a Subtropical Paddy Soil

A long-term experiment beginning in 1981 in Jinxian County of Jiangxi Province, subtropical China, was conducted in a paddy field under a double rice cropping system with four different fertilization regimes, including 1) no fertilizer as control (CK), 2) balanced chemical N, P, and K fertilizers (NPK), 3) organic manure using milk vetch and pig manure in the early and late rice growing season, respectively (OM), and 4) balanced chemical fertilizers combined with organic manure (NPKM). Samples (0-17 cm) of the paddy field soil, which was derived from Quaternary red clay, were collected after the late rice harvest in November 2003 for determination of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) and fractions of organic C and N. Results showed that TOC and TN in the NPKM and OM treatments were significantly higher than those in other two treatments (CK and NPK). Application of organic manure with or without chemical fertilizers significantly increased the contents of all fractions of organic C and N, whereas chemical fertilizer application only increased the contents of occluded particulate organic C (oPOC) and amino acid N. In addition, application of organic manure significantly enhanced the proportions of free particulate organic carbon (fPOC) and oPOC in total C, and those of amino sugar N and amino acid N (P < 0.01) in total N. In contrast, chemical fertilizer application only increased the proportions of oPOC and amino acid N (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in either contents or proportions of soil organic C and organic N fractions between the NPKM and OM treatments. These indicated that organic manure application with or without chemical fertilizers played the most significant role in enhancing soil organic C and N quantity and quality in the paddy field studied.

Effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates and their implications

Application of fertilizer has been found to significantly affect soil N cycling. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates is still lacking. We compiled data of observations from 10 long-term fertilization experiments and conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates. The results showed that if chemical fertilizers of N, P and K were applied in balance, soil p H decreased very slightly. There was a significantly positive effect of long-term fertilization, either chemical or organic fertilizers or their combinations, on gross N mineralization rate compared to the control treatment（the mean effect size ranged from 1.21 to 1.25 at 95% confidence intervals（CI） with a mean of 1.23）, mainly due to the increasing soil total N content. The long-term application of organic fertilizer alone and combining organic and chemical fertilizer could increase the mineralization-immobilization turnover, thus enhance available N for plant while reduce N losses potential compared to the control treatment. However, long-term chemical fertilizer application did not significantly affect the gross NH4＋ immobilization rate, but accelerated gross nitrification rate（1.19; 95% CI： 1.08 to 1.31）. Thus, long-term chemical fertilizer alone would probably induce higher N losses potential through NO3– leaching and runoff than organic fertilizer application compared to the control treatment. Therefore, in the view of the effects of long-term fertilization on gross N transformation rates, it also supports that organic fertilizer alone or combination of organic and chemical fertilizer could not only improve crop yield, but also increase soil fertility and reduce the N losses potential.

Effects of Different Fertilization Measures on Chemical Composition and Quality of Flue-cured Tobacco

[Objectives]The paper was to obtain fertilizer varieties and fertilization techniques that meet the special nutritional requirements of characteristic tobacco varieties in Mengyin tobacco area.[Methods]With the local main plant variety NC102 as the test material,the effects of combined application,dosage and application methods of different types of organic fertilizers,compound fertilizers and potassium fertilizers on chemical composition and quality of NC102 flue-cured tobacco leaves were studied.[Results]Under the premise of reducing the amount of fertilizer applied,the slow-release integrated fertilizer increased the sugar-alkali ratio and potassium-chloride ratio,and reduced the sulfur content of tobacco leaves,but it did not significantly improve the sensory quality of tobacco leaves.Increasing the application of organic fertilizer made the sugar-alkali ratio and potassium-chloride ratio more coordinated,reduced the sulfur content and improved the sensory quality of tobacco leaves.Microbial agents significantly increased the sugar-alkali ratio in tobacco leaves,and had obvious effects of increasing potassium and reducing chlorine.Different types and application methods of potassium fertilizers had obvious effects on sensory quality of tobacco leaves.Increasing the application amount of potassium fertilizer and later topdressing significantly improved the potassium content and sensory quality of tobacco leaves.[Conclusions]The study provides a basis for balanced fertilization in characteristic flue-cured tobacco production in Mengyin tobacco area.