scholarly journals Effects of two wood-based biochars on the fate of added fertilizer nitrogen—a 15N tracing study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Kalu ◽  
Gboyega Nathaniel Oyekoya ◽  
Per Ambus ◽  
Priit Tammeorg ◽  
Asko Simojoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Application Rates

AbstractA 15N tracing pot experiment was conducted using two types of wood-based biochars: a regular biochar and a Kon-Tiki-produced nutrient-enriched biochar, at two application rates (1% and 5% (w/w)), in addition to a fertilizer only and a control treatment. Ryegrass was sown in pots, all of which except controls received 15N-labelled fertilizer as either 15NH4NO3 or NH415NO3. We quantified the effect of biochar application on soil N2O emissions, as well as the fate of fertilizer-derived ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) in terms of their leaching from the soil, uptake into plant biomass, and recovery in the soil. We found that application of biochars reduced soil mineral N leaching and N2O emissions. Similarly, the higher biochar application rate of 5% significantly increased aboveground ryegrass biomass yield. However, no differences in N2O emissions and ryegrass biomass yields were observed between regular and nutrient-enriched biochar treatments, although mineral N leaching tended to be lower in the nutrient-enriched biochar treatment than in the regular biochar treatment. The 15N analysis revealed that biochar application increased the plant uptake of added nitrate, but reduced the plant uptake of added ammonium compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Thus, the uptake of total N derived from added NH4NO3 fertilizer was not affected by the biochar addition, and cannot explain the increase in plant biomass in biochar treatments. Instead, the increased plant biomass at the higher biochar application rate was attributed to the enhanced uptake of N derived from soil. This suggests that the interactions between biochar and native soil organic N may be important determinants of the availability of soil N to plant growth.

scholarly journals Use of Digestate as Organic Amendment and Source of Nitrogen to Vegetable Crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Carmo Horta ◽  
João Paulo Carneiro
Keyword(s):  
Organic Amendment ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Ni Addition ◽  
Stable Organic Matter

Anaerobic digestion is a valuable process to use livestock effluents to produce green energy and a by-product called digestate with fertilising value. This work aimed at evaluating the fertilising value of the solid fraction (SF) of a digestate as an organic amendment and as a source of nitrogen to crops replacing mineral N. A field experiment was done with two consecutive vegetable crops. The treatments were: a control without fertilisation; Ni85 mineral fertilisation with 85 kg ha−1 of mineral N; fertiliser with digestate at an increasing nitrogen application rate (kg N ha−1): DG-N85 DG-N170, DG-N170+85, DG-N170+170; fertilisation with digestate together with Ni: DG-N85+Ni60, DG-N170+Ni60, DG-N170+Ni25. The results showed a soil organic amendment effect of the SF with a beneficial effect on SOM, soil pH and exchangeable bases. The SF was able to replace part of the mineral N fertilisation. The low mineralisation of the stable organic matter together with some immobilisation of mineral N from SF caused low N availability. The fertilisation planning should consider the SF ratio between the organic N (NO) and total N (TKN). Low NO:TKN ratios (≈0.65) needed lower Ni addition to maintaining the biomass production similar to the mineral fertilisation.

scholarly journals Exploring Suitable Biochar Application Rates with Compost to Improve Upland Field Environment

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1136
Author(s):  
Se-Won Kang ◽  
Jin-Ju Yun ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Park ◽  
Ju-Sik Cho
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Chinese Cabbage ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Treatment Area ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Upland Field

A field experiment was carried out to investigate crop productivity, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and soil quality of an upland field treated with compost and varying rates of biochar (BC) derived from soybean stalks during crop growing periods in a corn and Chinese cabbage rotation system. Compost was supplemented with BC derived from soybean stalks at varying rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1 (BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20, respectively); the control (BC0) area was untreated. Our results reveal that crop productivity and emissions of CO2 and N2O varied significantly with the biochar application rate. Moreover, irrespective of the biochar application rate, crop productivity was improved after BC application as compared to the control treatment area, by 11.2–29.3% (average 17.0 ± 8.3%) for corn cultivation and 10.3–39.7% (average 27.8 ± 12.7%) for Chinese cabbage cultivation. Peak emissions of CO2 and N2O were mainly observed in the early period of crop cultivation, whereas low CO2 and N2O emissions were determined during the fallow period. Compared to the control area, significant differences were obtained for CO2 emissions produced by the different biochar application rates for both crops. During the two cropping periods, the overall N2O emission was significantly decreased with BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20 applications as compared to the control, ranging from 11.1 to 13.6%, 8.7 to 15.4%, 23.1 to 26.0%, and 15.0 to 19.6%, respectively (average 16.9% decrease in the corn crop period and 16.3% in the Chinese cabbage crop period). Soil quality results after the final crop harvest show that bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly improved by biochar application, as compared to the control. Taken together, our results indicate that compost application supplemented with biochar is potentially an appropriate strategy for achieving high crop productivity and improving soil quality in upland field conditions. In conclusion, appropriate application of biochar with compost has the concomitant advantages of enriching soil quality for long-term sustainable agriculture and reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers.

Sulfur-enriched biochar as a potential soil amendment and fertiliser

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjie Zhang ◽  
R. Paul Voroney ◽  
G. W. Price ◽  
Andrew J. White
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Corn Plant ◽  
Greenhouse Study ◽  
Glycine Max L

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic and corrosive contaminant gas co-generated during anaerobic digestion. Studies have shown that biochars have the potential to adsorb H2S and to promote its oxidisation. To date, no studies have investigated the bioavailabilty to plants of the sulfur (S) contained in biochar when used as an S fertiliser. Biochar was packed into the biogas emissions stream to adsorb the H2S being generated. The resulting sulfur-enriched biochar (SulfaChar) and synthetic S fertiliser (control treatment) were amended to potting soils and the growth response of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and nutrient uptake were measured after a 90-day greenhouse study. SulfaChar contained 36.5% S (S element and SO42–), confirming it adsorbed significant amounts of H2S. Compared with the control treatment, SulfaChar amendment significantly increased corn plant biomass, ranging from 31% to 49% but only a slight increase in soybean biomass (4 to 14%). SulfaChar also increased corn plant uptake of S and other macro- (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micro-nutrients (Zn, Mn and B). Our results show that SulfaChar was a source of plant available S, suggesting that SulfaChar is either a supplier of these nutrients or that it promoted their uptake.

scholarly journals Residual effect of clover-rich leys on soil nitrogen and successive grain crops

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. NYKÄNEN ◽  
A. GRANSTEDT ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Clayey Soil ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Biological N Fixation

Legume-based leys form the basis for crop rotations in organic farming as they fix nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere for the succeeding crops. The age, yield, C:N, biological N fixation (BNF) and total N of red clover-grass leys were studied for their influence on yields, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE) of the two sequential cereal crops planted after the leys. Mineral N in deeper soil (30-90 cm) was measured to determine N leaching risk. Altogether, four field experiments were carried out in 1994-1998 at two sites. The age of the ley had no significant effect on the yields and N uptake of the two subsequent cereals. Surprisingly, the residual effect of the leys was negligible, at 0–20 kg N ha-1yr-1. On the other hand, the yield and C:N of previous red clover-grass leys, as well as BNF-N and total-N incorporated into the soil influenced subsequent cereals. NUEs of cereals after ley incorporation were rather high, varying from 30% to 80%. This might indicate that other factors, such as competition from weeds, prevented maximal growth of cereals. The mineral N content deeper in the soil was mostly below 10 kg ha-1 in the sandy soil of Juva, but was 5-25 kg ha-1 in clayey soil of Mietoinen.;

Seasonal Dynamics of Fertilizer-Derived Hydrolysable NH3 in an Arable Soil of Northeast China

2012 ◽  
Vol 496 ◽  
pp. 502-506
Author(s):  
Hui Jie Lü ◽  
Hong Bo He ◽  
Xu Dong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Total N ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Residual Fertilizer N

Fertilizer applications to soil are widely known to be the most important anthropogenic sources to influence soil N turnover in agricultural ecosystems. More information is required on the relationships between soil organic N (SON) forms in order to predict the maintenance, transformation and stability of soil N. Accordingly, 15N-labeled (NH4)2SO4 (totally 200 kg N/ha) was applied to a maize crop throughout the entire growing period to investigate the distribution and the dynamics of fertilizer-derived N in hydrolyzable-NH3 fraction by measuring the labeled N in them. The accumulation of 15N in hydrolyzable-NH3 fraction was time-dependent although the total N concentration changed only slightly. The transformation of the residual fertilizer N to hydrolyzable-NH3-15N was maximal during the silking and grain filling stages, suggesting the fertilizer N was immobilized at an early stage during the growing period. The rapid decrease of 15N in hydrolyzable-NH3 pool indicated that hydrolyzable-NH3-15N was a temporary pool for fertilizer N retention and was able to release fertilizer N for uptake by the current crop

Gross rates of soil N2O emission and uptake and denitrification gene abundance in temperate cropland agroforestry and monoculture systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Luo ◽  
Lukas Beule ◽  
Guodong Shao ◽  
Edzo Veldkamp ◽  
Marife D. Corre
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Gene Abundance ◽  
Denitrification Gene

<p>Monoculture croplands are considered as major sources of the greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O). The conversion of monoculture croplands to agroforestry systems, e.g., integrating trees within croplands, is an essential climate-smart management system through extra C sequestration and can potentially mitigate N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. So far, no study has systematically compared gross rates of N<sub>2</sub>O emission and uptake between cropland agroforestry and monoculture. In this study, we used an in-situ <sup>15</sup>N<sub>2</sub>O pool dilution technique to simultaneously measure gross N<sub>2</sub>O emission and uptake over two consecutive growing seasons (2018 - 2019) at three sites in Germany: two sites were on Phaeozem and Cambisol soils with each site having a pair of cropland agroforestry and monoculture systems, and an additional site with only monoculture on an Arenosol soil prone to high nitrate leaching. Our results showed that cropland agroforestry had lower gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and higher gross N<sub>2</sub>O uptake than in monoculture at the site with Phaeozem soil (P ≤ 0.018 – 0.025) and did not differ in gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and uptake with cropland monoculture at the site with Cambisol soil (P ≥ 0.36). Gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were positively correlated with soil mineral N and heterotrophic respiration which, in turn, were correlated with soil temperature, and with water-filled pore space (WFPS) (r = 0.24 ‒ 0.54, P < 0.01). Gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were also negatively correlated with nosZ clade I gene abundance (involved in N<sub>2</sub>O-to-N<sub>2</sub> reduction, r = -0.20, P < 0.05). These findings showed that across sites and management systems changes in gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were driven by changes in substrate availability and aeration condition (i.e., soil mineral N, C availability, and WFPS), which also influenced denitrification gene abundance. The strong regression values between gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and net N<sub>2</sub>O emissions (R<sup>2 </sup>≥ 0.96, P < 0.001) indicated that gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions largely drove net soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Across sites and management systems, annual soil gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and uptake were controlled by clay contents which, in turn, correlated with indices of soil fertility (i.e., effective cation exchange capacity, total N, and C/N ratio) (Spearman rank’s rho = -0.76 – 0.86, P ≤ 0.05). The lower gross N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from the agroforestry tree rows at two sites indicated the potential of agroforestry in reducing soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, supporting the need for temperate cropland agroforestry to be considered in greenhouse gas mitigation policies.</p>

scholarly journals Foliar Zn Spraying Simultaneously Improved Concentrations and Bioavailability of Zn and Fe in Maize Grains Irrespective of Foliar Sucrose Supply

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyong Xia ◽  
Weilin Kong ◽  
Lan Wang ◽  
Yanhui Xue ◽  
Wenlong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Deionized Water ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
N Application ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
N Application Rate ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Sucrose Supply

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global nutritional problem that is reduced through agronomic biofortification. In the current study, the effects of foliar spraying of exogenous ZnSO4·7H2O (0.2% in Quzhou and 0.3% in Licheng, w/v) and/or sucrose (10.0%, w/v) on maize (Zea mays L.) agronomic traits; concentrations of Zn, iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), total phosphorus (P), phytic acid (PA) P, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N); C/N ratios; and Zn and Fe bioavailability (as evaluated by molar ratios of PA/Zn, PA × Ca/Zn, PA/Fe and PA × Ca/Fe) in maize grains were studied under field conditions for two years at two experimental locations. The results confirmed that there were no significant differences in maize agronomic traits following the various foliar treatments. Compared with the control treatment of foliar spraying with deionized water, foliar applications of Zn alone or combined with sucrose significantly increased maize grain Zn concentrations by 29.2–58.3% in Quzhou (from 18.4–19.9 to 25.2–29.6 mg/kg) and by 39.8–47.8% in Licheng (from 24.9 to 34.8–36.8 mg/kg), as well as its bioavailability. No significant differences were found between the foliar spraying of deionized water and sucrose, and between Zn-only and “sucrose + Zn” at each N application rate and across different N application rates and experimental sites. Similar results were observed for maize grain Fe concentrations and bioavailability, but the Fe concentration increased to a smaller extent than Zn. Foliar Zn spraying alone or with sucrose increased maize grain Fe concentrations by 4.7–28.4% in Quzhou (from 13.4–17.1 to 15.2–18.5 mg/kg) and by 15.4–25.0% in Licheng (from 24.0 to 27.7–30.0 mg/kg). Iron concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with Zn at each N application rate and across different N application rates and experimental locations, indicating that foliar Zn spraying facilitated the transport of endogenous Fe to maize grains. Therefore, foliar Zn spraying increased the Zn concentration and bioavailability in maize grains irrespective of foliar sucrose supply while also improving Fe concentrations and bioavailability to some extent. This is a promising agricultural practice for simultaneous Zn and Fe biofortification in maize grains, i.e., “killing two birds with one stone”.

The influence of the soil matrix on nitrogen mineralisation and nitrification. I. Spatial variation and a hierarchy of soil properties

Soil Research ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Strong ◽  
P. W. G. Sale ◽  
K. R. Helyar
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Small Field ◽  
N Mineralisation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Conceptual Tool ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Total N ◽  
Soil Variables

Natural heterogeneity of soil properties was used to explore their influence on nitrogen (N) mineralisation and nitrification in undisturbed small soil volumes (soil cells; c. 1 · 7 cm3 ) sampled from a small field plot (2 m by 3 m). Soil cells (840) were randomly ascribed to 1 of 6 treatments in which soils were retained continuously moist (M10 and M30 treatments) and amended with organic N from clover (Cl10 and Cl30 treatments), dried and rewetted (DW10), or treated with urea (Ur10) (subscripts indicate soil incubation at matric potential - 10 or - 30 kPa). After 20 days of incubation at 24C, each soil cell was analysed for NO-3 -N, NH + 4 -N, pH, bulk density (BD), volumetric water content (θv), water content at - 490 kPa (θv490), and pH buffer capacity (pHBC). On 25 soil cells from each treatment, % clay, % silt, % sand, total N (% N), organic carbon (% C), and 7 cations and anions were also determined. Net N mineralisation and net nitrification occurred in all treatments, and the total mineral N at the end of the incubation was 497, 81, 73, 31, 27, and 31 µg N/g in the Ur10 Cl10, Cl30, M10, M30, and DW10 treatments, respectively. Net N mineralisation in the M30 treatment was 84% of that in the M10 treatment, and net N mineralisation in the Cl30 treatment was 86% of that in the Cl10 treatment. Fluctuations in soil pH varied markedly between treatments and over time, and it was apparent that alkaline processes were occurring in all soil cells. The heterogeneity between soil samples was substantial for all of the soil variables. Soil variables were classified in a hierarchy from the least to the most fundamental based on their stability through time. This ranking provides a conceptual tool for understanding interrelationships between soil properties and for interpreting results of regression analyses. The sampling approach adopted in this study was designed to harness the natural heterogeneity of soil properties in the small field site while keeping other properties and environmental factors, that usually vary over larger distances, constant. Both the extent of heterogeneity of soil properties and the nature of their correlations with NO-3 -N suggested that this technique would be useful in the exploration of how soil properties influence N mineralisation and nitrification.

scholarly journals Cyclic Sprinkler Irrigation and Pre-irrigation Substrate Water Content Affect Water and N Leaching from Containers

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-202
Author(s):  
Nabila S. Karam ◽  
Alexander X. Niemiera
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Water Application ◽  
Total N ◽  
Continuous Irrigation ◽  
Continuous Application

Abstract A series of sprinkler irrigation experiments were conducted to determine the influences of water application rate (WAR), pre-irrigation substrate water content (PSWC), and cyclic irrigation on water and N leaching from container-grown plants. Prior to experiments, Marigold (Tagetes erecta L. ‘Apollo’), were glass house-grown in pine bark-filled 3.8 liter (1 gal) containers. Prior to treatment, substrate was dried via evapotranspiration (ET) to targeted PSWCs. A simulated overhead irrigation system applied the daily water allotment in a single continuous application or cyclically (multiple applications); in most cases the respective ET volumes were applied to the substrate. Water application efficiency (WAE; water vol retained in substrate + water vol applied to substrate) was determined, and in some experiments, leachates were analyzed for EC, NO3-N and NH4-N. A negative linear relationship existed between WAR and WAE. Leachate NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were unaffected by WAR, however, total N leached increased with increasing WAR. WAE of cyclic irrigation was 4% higher (absolute basis) than with continuous irrigation; WAE increased as the time interval between cyclic applications increased from 20 to 60 min. Regardless of how water was applied, WAE was inversely related to PSWC and application volume. These experiments showed that the most effective method to increase WAE is to irrigate at relatively low PSWCs; if irrigation occurs at relatively high PSWCs, then relatively low volumes should be applied.

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