Changes in the pH,EC, available P,SOC and TN stocks in a single rice paddy after long-term application of inorganic fertilizers and organic matters in a cold temperate region of Japan

Purpose

The objective of this study was to determine the changes in the main soil chemical properties including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), available phosphorus (P), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks after long-term (31 years) additions of two types of organic matters—rice straw and rice straw compost, combined with NPK fertilizers in single rice paddy in a cold temperate region of Japan.

Materials and methods

A long-term experiment on combined inorganic fertilizers and organic matters in paddy rice cultivation began in May 1982 in Yamagata, northeastern Japan. After the 31st harvest, soil samples were collected from five treatments [(1) PK, (2) NPK, (3) NPK + 6 Mg ha^?1 rice straw (RS), (4) NPK + 10 Mg ha^?1 rice straw compost (CM1), and (5) NPK + 30 Mg ha^?1 rice straw compost (CM3)] at five soil depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, and 20–25 cm). Soil chemical properties of pH, EC, available P, SOC, and TN were analyzed.

Results and discussion

The pH decreased significantly only at the higher compost rate of 30 Mg ha^?1, while EC increased in all the organic matter treatments. Available P significantly increased in the CM1 and CM3 treatments by 55.1 and 86.4 %. The amounts of SOC stock increased by 67.2, 21.4, and 8.6 %, and soil TN stock by 64.1, 20.2, and 8.5 % in CM3, RS, and CM1, respectively, compared to NPK treatment.

Conclusions

Significant changes in soil properties were observed after 31 years of organic matter applications with reference to PK- and NPK-fertilized rice paddy soils. A significant decrease in pH was observed with the application of a high rate (30 Mg ha^?1) of rice straw compost but not with the conventional rate of 10 Mg ha^?1. However, EC increased significantly relative to that of the PK- and NPK-fertilized plots in all the organic matter treatments. Available P significantly increased in the CM1 and CM3 treatments by 55.1 and 86.4 %. The amounts of SOC stock expressed as a percentage of total C applied to the soil were higher from 10 Mg ha^?1 compost (28.7 %) than that from 6 Mg ha^?1 rice straw (17.4 %), indicating a more effective soil organic C accumulation from rice straw compost than that from original rice straw.

     

Stable carbon isotope ratios of water-extractable organic carbon affected by application of rice straw and rice straw compost during a long-term rice experiment in Yamagata,Japan

ABSTRACT

Hot-water- and water-extractable organic matter were obtained from soil samples collected from a rice paddy 31 years after the start of a long-term rice experiment in Yamagata, Japan. Specifically, hot-water-extractable organic carbon and nitrogen (HWEOC and HWEON) were obtained by extraction at 80°C for 16 h, and water-extractable organic carbon and nitrogen (WEOC and WEON) were obtained by extraction at room temperature. The soil samples were collected from surface (0–15 cm) and subsurface (15–25 cm) layers of five plots that had been treated with inorganic fertilizers alone or with inorganic fertilizers plus organic matter, as follows: PK, NPK, NPK plus rice straw (RS), NPK plus rice straw compost (CM1), and NPK plus a high dose of rice straw compost (CM3). The soil/water ratio was 1:10 for both extraction temperatures. We found that the organic carbon and total nitrogen contents of the bulk soils were highly correlated with the extractable organic carbon and nitrogen contents regardless of extraction temperature, and the extractable organic carbon and nitrogen contents were higher in the plots that were treated with inorganic fertilizers plus organic matter than in the PK and NPK plots. The HWEOC and WEOC δ¹³C values ranged from ?28.2% to ?26.4% and were similar to the values for the applied rice straw and rice straw compost. There were no correlations between the HWEOC or WEOC δ¹³C values and the amounts of HWEOC or WEOC. The δ¹³C values of the bulk soils ranged from ?25.7% to ?23.2% and were lower for the RS and CM plots than for the PK and NPK plots. These results indicate that HWEOC and WEOC originated mainly from rice plants and the applied organic matter rather than from the indigenous soil organic matter. The significant positive correlations between the amounts of HWEOC and HWEON and the amount of available nitrogen (P < 0.001) imply that extractable organic matter can be used as an index for soil fertility in this long-term experiment. We concluded that the applied organic matter decomposed more rapidly than the indigenous soil organic matter and affected WEOC δ¹³C values and amounts.     

Effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on soil microbial activity and soil organic carbon build-up under rice in west coast of India

The effect of medium-term (5 years) application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients (as mineral or inorganic fertilizers) on soil organic carbon (SOC), SOC stock, carbon (C) build-up rate, microbial and enzyme activities in flooded rice soils was tested in west coast of India. Compared to the application of vermicompost, glyricidia (Glyricidia maculate) (fresh) and eupatorium (Chromolaena adenophorum) (fresh) and dhaincha (Sesbania rostrata) (fresh), the application of farmyard manure (FYM) and combined application of paddy straw (dry) and water hyacinth (PsWh) (fresh) improved the SOC content significantly (p < 0.05). The lowest (p < 0.05) SOC content (0.81%) was observed in untreated control. The highest (p < 0.05) SOC stock (23.7 Mg C ha^?1) was observed in FYM-treated plots followed by recommended dose of mineral fertilizer (RDF) (23.2 Mg C ha^?1) and it was lowest (16.5 Mg C ha^?1) in untreated control. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C_mb) (246 µg g^?1 soil) and C_mb/SOC (1.92%) were highest (p < 0.05) in FYM-treated plot. The highest (p < 0.05) value of metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was recorded under RDF (19.7 µg CO₂-C g^?1 C_mb h^?1) and untreated control (19.6 µg CO₂-C g^?1 C_mb h^?1). Application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients impacted soil enzyme activities significantly (p < 0.05) with FYM causing highest dehydrogenase (20.5 µg TPF g^?1 day^?1), phosphatase (659 µg PNP g^?1 h^?1) and urease (0.29 µg urea g^?1 h^?1) activities. Application of organic source of nutrients especially FYM improved the microbial and enzyme activities in flooded and transplanted rice soils. Although the grain yield was higher with the application of RDF, but the use of FYM as an organic agricultural practice is more useful when efforts are intended to conserve more SOC and improved microbial activity.     

Effect of green revolution technology from 1970 to 2003 on sawah soil properties in Java,Indonesia: I. Carbon and nitrogen distribution under different land management and soil types

Abstract

Many countries have reported that green revolution (GR) technology caused some adverse effects on agricultural lands, but there is no research on the effects of GR in Indonesia. To evaluate the effect of GR technology on sawah soil in Indonesia, a comparative study between seedfarms, where GR technology has been continuously applied, and non-seedfarms was conducted in Java as a pioneer place of GR technology in Indonesia and, in particular, on the carbon and nitrogen status in sawah soils. The term sawah refers to a leveled and bounded rice field with an inlet and outlet for irrigation and drainage. Soil samples collected by Kawaguchi and Kyuma in 1970 and new samples taken in 2003 from the same sites or sites close to the 1970 sampling sites were analyzed and compared. During the period 1970–2003 the land-use pattern of sawah in seedfarms and non-seedfarms did not change, but cultivation intensity increased. The results showed that total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents significantly increased from 31.90 to 40.42 Mg ha^?1 and from 3.04 to 3.97 Mg ha^?1, respectively, and TC and TN were mostly found accumulated in the surface soil layer. The difference in land management practices between seedfarms and non-seedfarms affected the change in TC and TN content in the 0–20 cm soil layer from 1970 to 2003. In seedfarms, where rice had been planted in a monoculture system, TC and TN contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased from 34.50 to 39.24 Mg ha^?1 and from 3.16 to 3.95 Mg ha^?1, respectively. In non-seedfarms, TC and TN increased more than in seedfarms from 29.77 to 41.37 Mg ha^?1 and from 2.94 to 3.98 Mg ha^?1, respectively. Within the 0–100 cm soil layer, TC and TN increased from 92.68 to 112.83 Mg ha^?1 and from 9.34 to 12.03 Mg ha^?1 and from 79.60 to 114.86 Mg ha^?1 and from 8.93 to 11.44 Mg ha^?1 for seedfarms and non-seedfarms, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two main soil types, Inceptisols and Vertisols, in Java. Intensive use of sawah over a long time may eliminate the original difference in the properties of these two soil types.     

Soil carbon fractions in response to straw mulching in the Loess Plateau of China

Straw mulching has been used to conserve soil water and sustain dryland crop yields, but the impact of the quantity and time of mulching on soil C fractions are not well documented. We studied the effects of various amounts and times of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw mulching on soil C fractions at 0–10- and 10–20-cm depths from 2009 to 2017 in the Loess Plateau of China. Treatments were no mulching (CK), straw mulching at 9.0 (HSM) and 4.5 Mg ha^?1 (LSM) in the winter wheat growing season, and straw mulching at 9.0 Mg ha^?1 in the summer fallow period (FSM). Soil C fractions were soil organic C (SOC), particulate organic C (POC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and potential C mineralization (PCM). All C fractions at 0–10 and 10–20 cm were 8–27% greater with HSM and LSM than FSM and CK. Both SOC and POC at 0–10 cm increased at 0.32 and 0.27 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 with HSM and at 0.40 and 0.30 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1 with LSM, respectively, from 2009 to 2017. Winter wheat grain yield was lower with HSM and LSM, but total aboveground biomass was greater with HSM than other treatments. All C fractions at most depths were correlated with the estimated wheat root residue returned to the soil and PCM at 0–10 and 0–20 cm was correlated with wheat grain yield. Wheat straw mulching during the growing season increased soil C sequestration and microbial biomass and activity compared with mulching during the fallow period or no mulching, regardless of mulching rate, due to increased C input, although it reduced wheat grain yield. Continuous application of straw mulching over time can increase soil C sequestration by increasing nonlabile C fractions while decreasing labile fractions. Straw mulching at higher rate and mulching during the summer fallow period had no additional benefits in soil C sequestration.     

Changes in soil carbon stock under the wheat-based cropping systems at Vojvodina province of Serbia

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in relation to the carbon (C) input from nine wheat-based cropping systems and untilled grass. The SOC pool ranged from 32.1 to 49.4 Mg ha^?1 at 0–20 cm and from 94 to 171 Mg ha^?1 at 0–100 cm for the arable soil, while in untilled grassland, it was higher (54 and 185 Mg C ha^?1, respectively). SOC stock was observed to be lower at the unfertilized 2-year rotation and higher at the 4-year rotation with manure and mineral fertilization. The study showed a winter wheat yield decrease of 176.8 kg ha^?1 for a 1- Mg ha^?1 SOC stock change in the 0–20-cm soil depth. The estimated C input for SOC stock maintenance was from 266 to 340 g C m^?2 year^?1 for winter wheat and rotations, respectively. Additional C input did not increase the SOC pool, suggesting that arable plots had a limited ability to increase SOC. These results provide guidance for the selection of management practices to improve C sequestration.     

13C abundance shows effective soil carbon sequestration in Miscanthus and giant reed compared to arable crops under Mediterranean climate

Many studies on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in perennial biomass crops are available for Atlantic and continental environments of North Central Europe, while there is insufficient information for Southern Europe. Therefore, we assessed SOC turnover under Mediterranean climate, after a 9-year-old conversion from two annual crop systems, continuous wheat and maize/wheat rotation, to Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis?×?giganteus) and giant reed (Arundo donax), respectively. The naturally occurring ¹³C signature down to 0.60 m was used to evaluate the total amount of SOC in annual vs perennial species and to determine the portion of SOC derived from perennial species. Soil organic C was significantly higher under perennial (average, 91 Mg C ha^?1) than annual species (average, 56 Mg C ha^?1), with a stronger accumulation in the topsoil (0–0.15 m). This difference was consistent with reduced soil disturbance associated with perennial crop management. After 9 years of Miscanthus plantation, the amount of C₄-derived C was 18.7 Mg ha^?1, mostly stored at 0–0.15 m, whereas the amount of C₃-derived C under giant reed was 34.7 Mg ha^?1 and was more evenly distributed through soil depths, probably due to its deeper root apparatus. It is suggested that both Miscanthus and giant reed have a remarkable potential for SOC sequestration also under Mediterranean conditions, while supporting the growing bioenergy sector with biomass supply.     

Impact of mineral and organic fertilization on yield,C content in the soil,as well as on C,N and energy balances in a long-term field experiment

Data from a 49-year-long organic–mineral fertilization field experiment with a potato–maize–maize–wheat–wheat crop rotation were used to analyse the impact of different fertilizer variations on yield ability, soil organic carbon content (SOC), N and C balances, as well as on some characteristic energy balance parameters. Among the treatments, the fertilization variant with 87 kg ha^?1 year^?1 N proved to be economically optimal (94% of the maximum). Approximately 40 years after initiation of the experiment, supposed steady-state SOC content has been reached, with a value of 0.81% in the upper soil layer of the unfertilized control plot. Farmyard manure (FYM) treatments resulted in 10% higher SOC content compared with equivalent NPK fertilizer doses. The best C balances were obtained with exclusive mineral fertilization variants (?3.8 and ?3.7 t ha^?1 year^?1, respectively). N uptake in the unfertilized control plot suggested an airborne N input of 48 kg ha^?1 year^?1. The optimum fertilizer variant (70 t ha^?1 FYM-equivalent NPK) proved favourable with a view to energy. The energy gain by exclusive FYM treatments was lower than with sole NPK fertilization. Best energy intensity values were obtained with lower mineral fertilization and FYM variants. The order of energy conversion according to the different crops was maize, wheat and potato.     

Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Long-Term Application of Manures Prepared from Trianthema portulacastrurm Linn

ABSTRACT

A 6-year field experiment was conducted at Maharashtra, India, from 2011 to 2017 on a silty clay soil, to study the impact of organic manure prepared from common weed Trianthema portulacastrurm Linn. on soybean-fodder maize crop system and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Organic manures were prepared from Trianthema as compost, vermicompost, dry leaf powder and were compared with application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM), chemical fertilizer treatment (NPK), and control. All treatments were repeated to same earlier treated plots every year for subsequent 6 years. Soil samples were analyzed before experiment and after harvesting of crops at the end of 6 years. All organic manures prepared from Trianthema and FYM increased SOC, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in the soil as compared to chemical fertilizer treatment and control. The overall increase in SOC content in the 0–60-cm soil depth in vermicompost treatment was 3.51 Mg C ha^?1 as compared to control at the end of this 6 years experiment at the carbon sequestration rate of 585 kg ha^?1 year^?1. Preparation and use of different manures from Trianthema will increase the carbon sequestration in soil, a measure to mitigate global warming.     

Content of organic carbon and total nitrogen inStagnic Albeluvisols depending on fertilization

Abstract

The content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N_tot) was studied in a long-term field experiment with a three-field crop rotation (potato – spring wheat – spring barley) set up on arable sandy loam Stagnic Albeluvisol at Eerika, Tartu, Estonia. The studied factors were: (A) organic fertilizers with three treatments: (i) without organic fertilizer, (ii) farmyard manure (60 t ha^?1) used in every third year, and (iii) different organic (alternative) fertilizers (beet leaves + straw; pure beet leaves; slurry + straw; cereal straw) and (B) mineral nitrogen fertilizer with the rates: N-0; N-40; N-80; N-120 and N-160 kg ha^?1. The study years were 1993, 1996 and 1999. The average content of SOC (1.03%) was significantly influenced by the use of organic fertilizers. Only N_tot (mean value 0.110%) was influenced also by fertilization with mineral nitrogen. The C/N ratio (mean value 9.5) reflected changes in the content of SOC and N_tot     

Influence of Long-term Tillage,Straw, and N Fertilizer Management on Crop Yield,N Uptake,and N Balance Sheet in Two Contrasting Soil Types

Field experiments (established in autumn 1979, with monoculture barley from 1980 to 1990 and barley/wheat–canola–triticale–pea rotation from 1991 to 2008) were conducted on two contrasting soil types (Gray Luvisol [Typic Haplocryalf] loam soil at Breton; Black Chernozem [Albic Agricryoll] silty clay loam soil at Ellerslie) in north-central Alberta, Canada, to determine the influence of tillage (zero tillage and conventional tillage), straw management (straw removed [S_Rem] and straw retained [S_Ret]), and N fertilizer rate (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha^?1in S_Ret, and only 0 kg N ha^?1in S_Rem plots) on seed yield, straw yield, total N uptake in seed + straw (1991–2008), and N balance sheet (1980–2008). The N fertilizer urea was midrow-banded under both tillage systems in the 1991 to 2008 period. There was a considerable increase in seed yield, straw yield, and total N uptake in seed + straw with increasing N rate up to 100 kg N ha^?1 under both tillage systems. On the average, conventional tillage produced greater seed yield (by 279 kg ha^?1), straw yield (by 252 kg ha^?1), and total N uptake in seed + straw (by 6.0 kg N ha^?1) than zero tillage, but the differences were greater at Breton than Ellerslie. Compared to straw removal treatment, seed yield, straw yield, and total N uptake in seed + straw tended to be greater with straw retained at the zero-N rate used in the study. The amounts of applied N unaccounted for over the 1980 to 2008 period ranged from 1114 to 1846 kg N ha^?1 at Breton and 845 to 1665 kg N ha^?1 at Ellerslie, suggesting a great potential for N loss from the soil-plant system through denitrification, and N immobilization from the soil mineral N pool. In conclusion, crop yield and N uptake were lower under zero tillage than conventional, and long-term retention of straw suggests some gradual improvement in soil productivity.     

Effect of rates and sources of nitrogen on rice yield,nitrogen efficiency,and methane emission from irrigated rice cultivation

The agronomic benefits of manure application to increase rice production have been recognized, but the impact on global change has always been a controversial topic. This study was designed to determine the separate and combined effects of cattle manure (CM) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on rice yield, N efficiency, and methane (CH₄) emissions from rice cultivation. A pot-scale experiment was conducted with four levels (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha^?1) of N from urea and two levels (120 and 180 kg ha^?1) of N from combination of urea and CM (Urea:CM = 60:60 and 60:120). Rice yield and physiological N efficiency were obtained using agronomic measurements. To determine the global warming potential (GWP) of each treatment, CH₄ emissions were measured throughout the rice-growing period. Grain yield (GY) was not significantly different between the treatments of 120 and 180 kg ha^?1 regardless of N source. However, both rates of CM treatments enhanced CH₄ emission and differences in GWP were significant. In conclusion, urea applied at 120 kg N ha^?1 was optimal for rice productivity and environmental impact (EI) despite CM played a crucial role in improving the N efficiency and total N in the soil after harvest.     

Organic Farming Affects C and N in Soils Under Olive Groves in Mediterranean Areas

Under semiarid climatic conditions, intensive tillage increases soil organic matter losses, reduces soil quality, and contributes to climate change due to increased CO₂ emissions. There is a need for an agricultural management increasing soil organic matter. This paper presents the organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) stocks, C:N ratio and stratification ratios (SRs) of these properties for olive groves soils under long‐term organic farming (OF), and conventional tillage (CT) in Los Pedroches valley, southern Spain. The results show that OF increased C and N stocks. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was 73·6 Mg ha⁻¹ in OF and 54·4 Mg ha⁻¹ in CT; and the total nitrogen (TN) stock was 7·1 Mg ha⁻¹ and 5·8 Mg ha⁻¹ for OF and CT, respectively. In the surface horizon (A: 0–16·9 cm in OF and Ap: 0–21·8 cm in CT) and Bw horizon (16·9–49·6 cm in OF and 21·8–56 cm in CT), SOC and TN concentrations and C:N ratios were higher in OF than in CT. Soil properties stratification in depth, expressed as a ratio, indicates the soil quality under different soil management systems. The SR of SOC ranged from 2·2 to 3·1 in OF and from 2·1 to 2·2 in CT. However, only SR2 (defined by Ap‐A/C) showed significant differences between CT and OF. The SR of TN showed similar trends to that of the SR of SOC. Organic farming contributes to a better soil quality and to increased carbon sequestration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depth dynamics of soil N contents and natural abundances of 15N after 43 years of long-term fertilization and liming in sub-tropical Alfisol

The aim of this study was to understand impacts of long-term (43 years) fertilization on soil aggregation, N accumulation rates and δ¹⁵N in surface and deep layers in an Alfisol. Soil samples from seven treatments were analysed for N stocks, aggregate-associated N in 0–30 cm and the changes in δ¹⁵N in 0–90 cm depths. The treatments were: unfertilized control (control); recommended N dose (N); recommended N and phosphorus doses (NP); recommended N, P and potassium doses (NPK); 150% of recommended N, P and K doses (150% NPK); NPK + 10 Mg FYM ha^?1 (NPK + FYM) and NPK + 0.4 Mg lime ha^?1 (NPK + L). Results revealed that plots under NPK + FYM had ~39% higher total N concentrations than NPK + L in 0–30 cm soil layers. In NPK + L, macro-aggregates had 35 and 11% and microaggregates had 20 and 9% lower δ¹⁵N values than NPK + FYM in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers, respectively. However, plots receiving NPK + FYM had ~39% greater deep soil (30–90 cm) N accumulation than NPK + L. These results would help understanding N supplying capacity by long-term fertilization and assist devising N management strategies in sub-tropical acidic Alfisols.     

Long-Term Tillage,Straw Management,and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Organic Matter and Mineralizable Carbon and Nitrogen in a Black Chernozem Soil

Soil, crop, and fertilizer management practices may affect quality of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil. A long-term field experiment (growing barley, wheat, or canola)was conducted on a Black Chernozem (Albic Argicryoll) loam at Ellerslie, Alberta, Canada, to determine the influence of 19 years (1980 to 1998) of tillage [zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT)], straw management [straw removed (S_Rem) and straw retained (S_Ret)], and N fertilizer rate (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha^?1 in S_Ret and 0 kg N ha^?1 in S_Rem plots) on macro-organic matter C (MOM-C) and N (MOM-N), microbial biomass C (MB-C), and mineralizable C (C_min) and N (N_min) in the 0- to 7.5-cm and 7.5- to 15-cm soil layers. Treatments with N fertilizer and S_Ret generally had a greater mass of MOM-C (by 201 kg C ha^?1 with 100 kg N ha^?1 rate and by 254 kg C ha^?1 with S_Ret), MOM-N (by 12.4 kg N ha^?1 with 100 kg N ha^?1 rate and by 8.0 kg N ha^?1 with S_Ret), C_min(by 146 kg C ha^?1 with 100 kg N ha^?1 rate and by 44 kg C ha^?1 with S_Ret), and N_min(by 7.9 kg N ha^?1 with 100 kg N ha^?1 rate and by 9.0 kg N ha^?1 with S_Ret)in soil than the corresponding zero-N and S_Rem treatments. Tillage, straw, and N fertilizer had no consistent effect on MB-C in soil. Correlations between these dynamic soil organic C or N fractions were strong and significant in most cases, except for MB-C, which had no significant correlation with MOM-C and MOM-N. Linear regressions between crop residue C input and mass of MOM-C, MOM-N, C_min, and N_min in soil were significant, but it was not significant for MB-C. The effects of management practices on dynamic soil organic C and N fractions were more pronounced in the 0- to 7.5-cm surface soil layer than in the 7.5- to 15-cm subsoil layer. In conclusion, the findings suggest that application of N fertilizer and retention of straw would improve soil quality by increasing macro-organic matter and N-supplying power of soil.     

Increase in soil carbon sequestration using rice husk charcoal without stimulating CH4 and N2O emissions in an Andosol paddy field in Japan

Abstract

Biochar application has been recognized as an effective option for promoting carbon (C) sequestration, but it may also affect the production and consumption of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) in soil. A 1-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of rice husk charcoal application on rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity and the balance of greenhouse gas exchanges in an Andosol paddy field. The experiment compared the treatments of rice husk charcoal applied at 10, 20 and 40 Mg ha^?1 (RC10, RC20 and RC40, respectively), rice husk applied at 20 Mg ha^?1 (RH20), and the control (CONT). Rice straw and grain yields did not significantly differ among the treatments. The seasonal cumulative CH₄ emissions were 38–47% higher from RC10, RC20 and RC40 than from the CONT. However, the increases were not in proportion to the application rates of rice husk charcoal, and their values did not significantly differ from the CONT. On the contrary, the RH20 treatment significantly increased the cumulative CH₄ emission by 227% compared to the CONT. The N₂O emissions during the measurement were not affected by the treatments. As a result, the combined global warming potential (GWP) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions was significantly higher in RH20 than in the other treatments. There was a positive linear correlation between C storage in the top 10 cm of soil and the application rate of rice husk charcoal. The increases in soil C contents compared to the CONT corresponded to 98–149% of the C amounts added as rice husk charcoal and 41% of the C added as rice husk. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes in the off season were not significantly different among RC10, RC20, RC40 and CONT, indicating that C added as rice husk charcoal remained in the soil during the fallow period. The CO₂ equivalent balance between soil C sequestration and the combined GWP indicates that the rice husk charcoal treatments stored more C in soil than the CONT, whereas the RH20 emitted more C than the CONT. These results suggest that rice husk charcoal application will contribute to mitigating global warming without sacrificing rice yields.     

Petiole N,P, K Concentrations and Yield of the Potato Cultivar Molli from Certified Organic Amendments and Fertilizer Formulations

This study evaluated the petiole uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur (N, P, K, and S) by the potato from two seed meals, mint compost, and five commercially available organic fertilizers under an irrigated certified organic production system. Available soil nitrate (NO₃-N) and ammonium (NH₄-N) from each amendment averaged 115 kg N ha^?1 at application and 25 kg N ha^?1 30 d after planting through harvest, with minor differences between fertilizers. Petiole N declined from an average of 25,000 mg N kg^?1, 4 wk after emergence to 3,000 mg N kg^?1 prior to harvest. Petiole P and K concentrations were maintained above 4,000 mg P kg^?1, 10,000 mg K kg^?1, and 2,000 mg S kg^?1 tissue, respectively, throughout the growing season in all treatments. Tuber yields were not different between fertilized treatments averaging 53 Mg ha^?1. This study provides organic potato growers baseline information on the performance of a diverse array of organic fertilizers and amendments.     

Long-term effects of fertilization and manuring on productivity and soil biological properties under rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) sequence in Mollisols

Long-term effects of chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) in rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system were monitored for two consecutive years after 38 and 39 years on productivity and soil biological properties of Mollisols. The study encompasses varying chemical fertilizer levels of optimum fertilizer rate (120, 26 and 37 kg ha^?1 N, P and K, respectively) for both the crops. The treatments were application of 50% NPK, 100% NPK, 150% NPK, 100% NPK + hand weeding (HW), 100% NPK + Zn, 100% NP, 100% N, 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1, 100% NPK(-S) and unfertilized control. The rice and wheat yields were highest with 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1. This treatment also gave maximum and significantly more counts of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in soil than all the other treatments after crop harvest. The soil microbial biomass C (410.0 and 407.5 µg g^?1) and N (44.53 and 48.30 µg g^?1) after rice and wheat, respectively, were highest with 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1, which were significantly higher over all the other treatments. The activities of soil enzymes like dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulphatase and urease and CO₂ evolution rate with 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1 were also found significantly higher over the other treatments. Fertilizer treatments with 100% NPK and 150% NPK were comparable and significantly better than application of 50% NPK, 100% N, 100% NP and 100% NPK(-S) in various studied soil biological properties. Integrated use of 100% NPK with FYM sustained the higher yields and soil biological properties under rice–wheat cropping system in Mollisols. Application of Zn and hand weeding with 100% NPK were found better over 100% NPK alone in rice and wheat productivity. Imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers had the harmful effect on soil biological health.     

Carbon sequestration dynamic,trend and efficiency as affected by 22‐year fertilization under a rice–wheat cropping system

The maintenance and accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural systems is critical to food security and climate change, but information about the dynamic trend and efficiency of SOC sequestration is still limited, particularly under long‐term fertilizations. In a typical Purpli‐Udic Cambosols soil under subtropical monsoon climate in southwestern China this study thus estimated the dynamic, trend and efficiency of SOC sequestration after 22‐year (1991–2013) long‐term inorganic and/or organic fertilizations. Nine fertilizations under a rice–wheat system were examined: control (no fertilization), N, NP, NK, PK, NPK, NPKM (NPK plus manure), NPKS (NPK plus straw), and 1.5NPKS (150% NPK plus straw). Averagely, after 22‐years SOC contents were significantly increased by 4.2–25.3% and 10.2–32.5% under these fertilizations than under control conditions with the greatest increase under NPKS. The simulation of SOC dynamic change with an exponential growth equation to maximum over the whole fertilization period predicted the SOC level in a steady state as 18.1 g kg^?1 for NPKS, 17.4 g kg^?1 for 1.5NPKS, and 14.5–14.9 g kg^?1 for NK, NP, NPK, and NPKM, respectively. Either inorganic, organic or their combined fertilization significantly increased crop productivity and C inputs that were incorporated into soil ranging from 0.91 to 4.63 t (ha · y)^?1. The C sequestration efficiency was lower under NPKM, NPKS, and 1.5NPKS (13.2%, 9.0%, and 10.1%) than under NP and NPK (17.0% and 14.4%). The increase of SOC was asymptotical to a maximum with increasing C inputs that were variedly enhanced by different fertilizations, indicating an existence of SOC saturation and a declined marginal efficiency of SOC sequestration. Taken all these results together, the combined NPK plus straw return is a suitable fertilizer management strategy to simultaneously achieve high crop productivity and soil C sequestration potential particularly in crop rotation systems.     

Modeling Soil Organic Carbon with DNDC and RothC Models in Different Wheat-Based Cropping Systems in North-Western India

ABSTRACT

The performance of DNDC (DeNitrification-DeComposition) and RothC (Rothamsted Carbon model) in simulating soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in soils under rice (Oryza sativa L.) – wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays L.) – wheat and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) – wheat cropping systems was evaluated on field and regional scale. Field experiments consisted of N, NP, NK, PK, NPK, FYM, N + FYM, NPK + FYM, and control (UF) treatments. DNDC and RothC over-estimated SOC storage by 0.35–1.16 Mg C ha^?1 (6–21%) in surface layer with manure application, compared with inorganic fertilizer treatments by 1.01–1.16 Mg C ha^?1 (14–18%). Although RothC only slightly over-estimated SOC stocks, DNDC provided a better match for measured versus simulated SOC stocks (R ² = 0.783*, DNDC; 0.669*, RothC, p < .05). Model validation on independent datasets from long-term studies on rice–wheat (R ² = 0.935**, DNDC; R ² = 0.920**, RothC, p < .01) and maize–wheat (R ² = 0.895** for DNDC and R ² = 0.967** for RothC, p < .01) systems showed excellent agreement between measured and simulated SOC stocks. On a regional scale, change in SOC storage under Scenario 1 (NPK) was significant up to 8 years of simulation, with no change thereafter. In Scenario 2 (NPK + FYM), DNDC simulated SOC storage after 10 years was 2.0, 0.4, and 1.4 Mg C ha^?1 in three systems, respectively. Amount of C sequestered in silt + clay fraction varied between 0.31 and 0.97 kg C 10 years^?1 (Mg silt + clay)^?1 under Scenario 1, and between 0.78 and 2.67 kg C 10 years^?1 (Mg silt + clay)^?1 under Scenario 2.