scholarly journals Nitrogen efficiency by soil quality and management regimes on Malawi farms: Can fertilizer use remain profitable?

2022 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 105792
Author(s):  
William J. Burke ◽  
Thom S. Jayne ◽  
Sieglinde S. Snapp
Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
Xiangning Ren ◽  
Feixiang Chen ◽  
Tao Ma ◽  
Yueming Hu

This study was conducted to elucidate how changes in critical soil quality characteristics relate to continuous rice cultivation and changes in cropping systems and fertilization in South China over the time span 1980 to 2017. Soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP) and potassium (AK) were determined for the samples taken in 2017 and compared to results from the paired samples collected in 1980 by grouping all samples into four cropping systems: continuous paddy fields, new paddy fields developed from uplands, continuous uplands, and new uplands developed from paddy soils. The results show a significant increase in soil pH, AP and AK in all cropping systems, which was, however, coupled with low fertilizer use efficiency. Additionally, a significant increase in SOM came with new paddy soils, whereas a little SOM accumulation and a significantly weakened correlation of TN to SOM occurred in continuous paddy soils. Both low fertilizer use efficiency and deteriorated soil C sequestration function imply a sub-health status of continuous paddy soils. The changes in cropping systems and fertilization, which essentially resulted from expeditious economic growth, should be responsible for the dynamics of C and N and the consequences to soil quality. More experimental studies on balanced fertilization vs. local commonly used fertilization are suggested to probe the mechanisms underlying the C and N dynamics in paddy soils.


2010 ◽  
pp. 87-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fan ◽  
P. Christie ◽  
W. Zhang ◽  
F. Zhang

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sutheera Pruksakorn ◽  
Somboon Kiratiprayoon ◽  
Somkit Uttaranakorn ◽  
Orathai Sukreeyapongse ◽  
Pongchai Dumrongrojwatthana

Background. Many Thai farmers who live in national parks farmlands lack a formal education. They usually lack of knowledge on soil quality improvement and proper use of fertilizer. They illegally trespass in forest areas because of soil deterioration in their own limited expanses of farmland. Consequently, most of them are arrested, creating individual and family problems. Aim. This “soil analysis and appropriate fertilizer use game” (SAAFU game) was designed for farmers having low-formal education to realize the soil analysis before planting and improve the appropriate chemical fertilizer usage. Method.This quasi-experiential research used pre- and post-tests to evaluate the game session processes and learning of the players. The important steps were: 1) analysis of soil in the land box; 2) making decisions to buy fertilizer; 3) calculating, harvesting and selling products. Debriefing was also used to discuss and exchange their knowledge and experiences. Follow up process was also performed. Results. The pre- and post-test score showed the better understanding of appropriate fertilizer use of the players. Soon after the gaming sessions, players went to their fields and collected 31 soil samples for soil nutrient analysis. Players also disseminated knowledge to their relatives and neighbors. As a result, non-players of Dongbak(22), Wangmon(9) and Chaimongkol(2) collected soil samples for soil nutrient analysis. Moreover, they grouping together to buy quicklime and fertilizers to get cheaper price. Conclusion. This simple game can be used effectively with farmers having low-formal education. After the game and simulation, most of them realized how important of soil nutrients and soil analysis before planting and were able to teach their relatives and neighbours about soil collecting. This indicated the successful of this game.


Author(s):  
S.M. Thomas ◽  
M.H.Beare C.D. Ford ◽  
V. Rietveld

Humping/hollowing and flipping are land development practices widely used on the West Coast to overcome waterlogging constraints to pasture production. However, there is very limited information about how the resulting "new" soils function and how their properties change over time following these extreme modifications. We hypothesised that soil quality will improve in response to organic matter inputs from plants and excreta, which will in turn increase nutrient availability. We tested this hypothesis by quantifying the soil organic matter and nutrient content of soils at different stages of development after modification. We observed improvements in soil quality with increasing time following soil modification under both land development practices. Total soil C and N values were very low following flipping, but over 8 years these values had increased nearly five-fold. Other indicators of organic matter quality such as hot water extractable C (HWC) and anaerobically mineralisable N (AMN) showed similar increases. With large capital applications of superphosphate fertiliser to flipped soils in the first year and regular applications of maintenance fertiliser, Olsen P levels also increased from values


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