Changes in Chemical and Physical Properties of Pine Tree Substrate and Pine Bark During Long-term Nursery Crop Production

The objective of this study was to evaluate a pine tree substrate (PTS) for decomposition, changes in physical and chemical properties, and substrate carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux (microbial activity) during a long-term production cycle under outdoor nursery conditions. Substrates used in this study were PTS constructed using a 4.76-mm hammer mill screen and aged pine bark (PB). Plastic nursery containers were filled with each substrate and amended with either 4.2 or 8.4 kg·m−3 Osmocote Plus fertilizer and planted with Cotoneaster horizontalis or left fallow. Substrate solution chemical properties and nutrient concentrations were determined each month during the summers of 2006 and 2007 in addition to measuring substrate CO2 efflux (μmol CO2/m−2·s−1) as an assessment of microbial activity. Substrate breakdown (decomposition) was determined with particle size analysis and physical property determination on substrates at the conclusion of the study (70 weeks). Substrate solution pH was higher in PTS than in PB at both fertilizer rates in 2006, but pH levels decreased over time and were lower in PTS at both fertilizer rates in 2007. Substrate solution electrical conductivity levels, nitrate, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations were all generally higher in PB than in PTS at both fertilizer rates through both years. Pine tree substrate decomposition was higher when plants were present in the containers [evident by an increase in fine substrate particles (less than 0.5 mm) after 70 weeks], but breakdown was equal at both fertilizer rates. Shrinkage of PTS in the presence of plants was equal to the shrinkage observed in PB with plants, but shrinkage was higher in fallow PTS containers than PTS with plants. Substrate air apace (AS) was highest in PTS and container capacity (CC) was equal in PB and PTS at potting. Substrate AS decreased and CC increased in both substrates after 70 weeks but remained in acceptable ranges for container substrates. Substrate CO2 efflux rates were higher in PTS compared with PB at both fertilizer rates indicating higher microbial activity, thereby increasing the potential for nutrient immobilization and substrate breakdown. This work provides evidence that PTS decomposition is unaffected by fertilizer rate and that substrate shrinkage in containers with plants is similar to PB after two growing seasons (70 weeks), which addresses two major concerns about the use and performance of PTS for long-term nursery crop production. This work also shows that the higher microbial activity in PTS increases the potential of microbial nutrient immobilization, which is likely the reason for the lower substrate nutrient levels reported for PTS compared with PB over 70 weeks.

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Comparison of Fertilizer Nitrogen Availability, Nitrogen Immobilization, Substrate Carbon Dioxide Efflux, and Nutrient Leaching in Peat-lite, Pine Bark, and Pine Tree Substrates

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.44.3.781 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 781-790 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Brian E. Jackson ◽

Robert D. Wright ◽

Mark M. Alley

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Crop Production ◽

Nitrogen Immobilization ◽

N Immobilization ◽

Medium Term ◽

Pine Tree ◽

Fertilizer Rates ◽

Over Time

The objective of this study was to compare substrate solution nitrogen (N) availability, N immobilization, and nutrient leaching in a pine tree substrate (PTS), peat-lite (PL), and aged pine bark (PB) over time under greenhouse conditions. Pine tree substrate was produced from loblolly pine logs (Pinus taeda L.) that were chipped and hammer-milled to a desired particle size. Substrates used in this study were PTS ground through a 2.38-mm hammer mill screen, PL, and aged PB. A short-term (28-d) N immobilization study was conducted on substrates fertilized with 150 or 300 mg·L−1 NO3-N. Substrates were incubated for 4 days after fertilizing and NO3-N levels were determined initially and at the end of the incubation. A second medium-term study (10-week) was also conducted to evaluate the amount of N immobilized in each substrate when fertilized with 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg·L−1 N. In addition to determining the amounts of N immobilized, substrate carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux (μmol CO2/m−2·s−1) was also measured as an assessment of microbial activity, which can be an indication of N immobilization. A leaching study on all three substrates was also conducted to determine the amount of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), phosphorus, and potassium leached over 14 weeks under greenhouse conditions. Nitrogen immobilization was highest in PTS followed by PB and PL in both the short- and medium-term studies. Nitrogen immobilization increased as fertilizer rate increased from 100 mg·L−1 N to 200 mg·L−1 N in PL and from 100 mg·L−1 N to 300 mg·L−1 N for PB and PTS followed by a reduction or no further increase in immobilization when fertilizer rates increased beyond these levels. Nitrogen immobilization was generally highest in all substrates 2 weeks after potting, after which immobilization tended to decrease over the course of several weeks with less of a decrease for PTS compared with PL and PB. Substrate CO2 efflux levels were highest in PTS followed by PB and PL at each measurement in both the short- and medium-term studies. Patterns of substrate CO2 efflux levels (estimate of microbial populations/activity) at both fertilizer rates and over time were positively correlated to N immobilization occurrence during the studies. Nitrate leaching over 14 weeks was lower in PTS than in PB or PL through 14 weeks. This work provides evidence of increased microbial activity and N immobilization in PTS compared with PB and PL. Increased N immobilization in PTS explains the lower nutrient (primarily N) levels observed in PTS during crop production and justifies the additional fertilizer required for comparable plant growth to PL and PB. This work also provides evidence of less NO3-N leaching in PTS compared with PL or PB during greenhouse crop production despite the higher fertilizer rates required for optimal plant growth in PTS.

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Composted Cotton Stalks and Cotton Gin Trash Substrate Amendments and Irrigation/Ground Cover Management I. Effect on Physical and Chemical Properties of Pine Bark and Pine Tree Substrates

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898.32.3.133 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 133-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E.D. Riley ◽

H.T. Kraus ◽

T.E. Bilderback ◽

B.E. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Chemical Properties ◽

Pine Bark ◽

Physical And Chemical Properties ◽

Substrate Solution ◽

Pine Tree ◽

N Source ◽

Cotton Stalks ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

And Chemical Properties ◽

Cotton Gin

This project evaluated two cotton waste products (cotton stalks and cotton gin trash) as amendments to pine bark (PB) and pine tree (PT) substrates for their impact on substrate physical and chemical properties. PB or PT substrates were amended (v/v) with cotton stalks composted with a N source (CSN), cotton stalks composted without an N source (CS), or aged cotton gin trash (CGT) at 4:1 PB:CS (PB:CS), 4:1 PB:CSN (PB:CSN), 9:1 PB:CGT (PB:CGT), 1:1 PT:CS (PT:CS), 1:1 PT:CSN (PT:CSN) and 4:1 PT:CGT (PT:CGT) (by vol). In 2010, PB-amended substrates had larger percentages of coarse (> 2.0 mm) and fine (< 0.5 mm) particles while PT-amended substrates had larger percentages of medium (0.5–2.0 mm) particles. In 2011, PB-amended substrates again had larger percentages of coarse particles, while PT-amended substrates had more medium and fine particles. Generally, most physical properties were within adequate ranges and were better than or comparable to the 100% PB control. Substrate solution pH was generally higher in the PT- than the PB-based substrates. Electrical conductivity (EC) of the substrate solution was also generally higher in the PT-based substrates compared to the PB-based substrates. Inorganic nitrogen (NH4 + NO3 + NO2), urea, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in all substrate solutions, regardless of compost addition, were all below the recommended ranges by the last sample time (October 4, 2011) for the study indicating that nutrients supplied by the composts were depleted or below detection limits. However, CGT increased substrate solution P concentrations in both PB- and PT-based substrates with both overhead, sprinkler irrigation with black geotextile weed fabric covering the ground (OH) and low-volume, spray stake irrigation with gravel covering the ground (LV).

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Nutrient cycling differs between cropped soils with century-old and recently pyrolyzed biochar

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-15676 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Burgeon ◽

Julien Fouché ◽

Sarah Garré ◽

Ramin Heidarian-Dehkordi ◽

Gilles Colinet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Cycling ◽

Soil Solution ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Soil Productivity ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation

The amendment of biochar to soils is often considered for its potential as a climate change mitigation and adaptation tool through agriculture. Its presence in tropical agroecosystems has been reported to positively impact soil productivity whilst successfully storing C on the short&#8201;and long-term. In temperate systems, recent research showed limited to no effect on productivity following recent biochar addition to soils. Its long-term effects on productivity and nutrient cycling have, however, been overlooked yet are essential before the use of biochar can be generalized.Our study was set up in a conventionally cropped field, containing relict charcoal kiln sites used as a model for century old biochar (CoBC, ~220 years old). These sites were compared to soils amended with recently pyrolyzed biochar (YBC) and biochar free soils (REF) to study nutrient dynamics in the soil-water-plant system. Our research focused on soil chemical properties, crop nutrient uptake and soil solution nutrient concentrations. Crop plant samples were collected over three consecutive land occupations (chicory, winter wheat and a cover crop) and soil solutions gathered through the use of suctions cups inserted in different horizons of the studied Luvisol throughout the field.Our results showed that YBC mainly influenced the soil solution composition whereas CoBC mainly impacted the total and plant available soil nutrient content. In soils with YBC, our results showed lower nitrate and potassium concentrations in subsoil horizons, suggesting a decreased leaching, and higher phosphate concentrations in topsoil horizons. With time and the oxidation of biochar particles, our results reported higher total soil N, available K and Ca in the topsoil horizon when compared to REF, whereas available P was significantly smaller. Although significant changes occurred in terms of plant available nutrient contents and soil solution nutrient concentrations, this did not transcend in variations in crop productivity between soils for neither of the studied crops. Overall, our study highlights that young or aged biochar behave as two distinct products in terms of nutrient cycling in soils. As such the sustainability of these soils differ and their management must therefore evolve with time.

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Mid storage seed hardening: a mechanical method to maintain seed viability during long term jute seed preservation

Plant Science Today ◽

10.14719/pst.2021.8.1.916 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 79-88

Author(s):

Md. Nasir Uddin ◽

S. M. Mahbub Ali ◽

Md. Abu Sadat ◽

Md Amazed Hossain Chowdhury ◽

Israt Jahan Mumu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Seed Viability ◽

Early Period ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Seed Storage ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Oil Degradation ◽

Hardening Treatment

Seed plays an important role in agricultural sector for both production and consumption purpose. Availability of vigour seed is one of the major constraints for maximizing crop production. However, healthy seed can also lose its viability during seed storage by changing different physio-chemical properties. Influence of environmental factors and seed containers during storage leading to seed deterioration. In this research, mid storage seed hardening treatment was applied in different aged seeds of jute species (C. Capsularis & C. olitorius) with two types of storage bags. Seed hardening treatment showed the less moisture content with better germination percentage compared to the untreated species of jute seeds. Seed packing in polythene bags during both short and long term seed storages had higher viable seeds compared to the cloth packing seeds. The effect of seed hardening treatment on seed oil content and pattern of oil degradation is distinct in early period of storage. The faster rate of oil degradation, soluble protein and free amino acids was found in seeds of un-treated stored seeds in cloth bag. Contrary, very slow rate of oil degradation was observed in harden seed and stored in polythene bag which indicated better storability of harden seeds.

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Nutrients Leaching in Response to Long-Term Fertigation and Broadcast Nitrogen in Blueberry Production

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9111530 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1530

Author(s):

Aimé J. Messiga ◽

Kathryn Dyck ◽

Kiera Ronda ◽

Kolden van Baar ◽

Dennis Haak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ammonium Sulfate ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Principal Component ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

N Leaching ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Property Changes ◽

Fertilizer Rates

Nutrient leaching losses from horticultural production threaten the quality of groundwater and freshwater systems worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (a) assess the effects of annual applications of ammonium sulfate fertilizer through fertigation (FERT) and broadcast (BROAD) on nutrient leaching losses and (b) determine the links among chemical property changes in leachates and soil with berry yields after 9 and 11 years of blueberry production. The long-term blueberry site was established in 2008 using seven combinations of treatments including an unfertilized control (CONT) and three N fertilizer rates (100%, 150%, 200% of recommended rates) using BROAD and FERT methods. Nutrients concentrations (NO3−-N, NH4+-N and SO42−-S) and chemical properties (pH and electrical conductivity (EC)) of leachate, sawdust and soil and berries were assessed. All FERT methods resulted in concentrations of NO3−-N in the leachates > 100 mg L−1 with a maximum of 200 mg L−1 for FERT-200 during the growing season due to the easy transport of dissolved nutrients with the irrigation water. All BROAD methods resulted into concentrations of NO3−-N in the leachates >10 mg L−1 with a maximum of 35 mg L−1 for BROAD-200 between April and July, as well as between November and April, indicating two periods of NO3−-N leaching losses. The pattern observed with BROAD indicates that irrigation water in the summer and heavy rainfall in the winter contribute to NO3−-N leaching losses. Concentrations of NH4+-N in the leachates >1 mg L−1 were measured under FERT with a peak at 64.78 mg L−1 for FERT-200, during the period April to August, due to NH4+’s ability to quickly move through the sawdust layer with irrigation water. Principal component analysis linked berry yield decrease with ammonium sulfate applications above recommended rates (FERT and BROAD) and with changes in soil pH and EC. Our results demonstrated that excess fertilizer applications above recommended rates using FERT and BROAD can threaten the sustainability of blueberry production by enhancing nutrient leaching losses and reducing berry yield.

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The Pour-Through Procedure for Monitoring Container Substrate Chemical Properties: A Review

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7120536 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 536

Author(s):

James E. Altland

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Concentration ◽

Extraction Procedure ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Nondestructive Method ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Horticultural Crop ◽

Substrate Solution ◽

The Past ◽

Saturated Media ◽

Substrate Ph

The pour-through procedure is a nondestructive method commonly used by horticultural crop producers and research scientists to measure chemical properties and nutrient availability in container substrates. It is a method that uses water as a displacement solution to push the substrate solution out of the bottom of the container so it can be analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient concentrations. The method was first introduced in the early 1980s. Since then, research has been conducted to determine factors that affect the results of the pour-through including volume, nature and timing of application of the displacement solution, container size, and substrate stratification. It has also been validated against other common methods for determining container substrate pH, EC, and nutrient concentration, most notably the saturated media extraction procedure. Over the past 40 years, the method has been proven to be simple, robust, and consistent in providing crop producers and researchers valuable information on substrate chemical properties from which management decisions and experimental inferences can be made.

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Storage Procedures Affect pH, Electrical Conductivity, and Nutrient Concentrations of Pour-through Leachate from Pine Bark and Peat-based Substrates

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci15232-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (10) ◽

pp. 1597-1604

Author(s):

Andrea C. Landaverde ◽

Jacob H. Shreckhise ◽

James E. Altland

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Storage Time ◽

Storage Temperature ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Pine Bark ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Nutrient Analysis ◽

Preservation Methods ◽

Total Dissolved Nitrogen

The pour-through (PT) method is used in greenhouse and nursery production to monitor nutrient availability in soilless substrates. Efficacy of this method is based on the assumption that chemical properties of extracted solutions remain stable from the moment of collection until analysis. Extracted substrate solution can be analyzed directly in the greenhouse or sent to laboratories for complete nutritional analysis; thus, proper sample preservation methods (e.g., filtration and low temperatures) are critical for reducing sample contamination or degradation during storage. However, evidence of how these preservation methods affect chemical characteristics of PT samples is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of storage time, storage temperature, and filtration of PT samples on pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrient concentrations from pine bark– and peat-based substrates. PT extracts were obtained from liquid-fertilized fallow pots of either 100% milled pine bark (Expt. 1) or a 4 sphagnum peat: 1 perlite (by volume) substrate (Expt. 2). Aliquots of PT extract were either filtered or nonfiltered and then stored in plastic bottles at −22, 4, or 20 °C. EC, pH, and nutrient concentrations were analyzed at 0, 1, 7, and 30 days after PT sample collection. EC and pH in PT extracts of peat and pine bark, respectively, changed 1 day after collection. Storage time had the greatest effect on nutrient concentrations of samples stored at 20 °C. However, at day 30, nutrient concentrations had also changed in samples stored at 4 and −22 °C. Analytes that fluctuated most in both experiments and across all preservation treatments were dissolved organic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, NO3−-N, and PO43−-P, whereas Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42−-S were more stable in PT samples. This research suggests EC and pH should be analyzed immediately, whereas samples requiring nutrient analysis should be filtered immediately after collection, stored at 4 or −22 °C (preferably −22 °C), and analyzed within 7 days of collection.

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Effect of Long Term Fertilization on Content and Uptake of Macro Nutrients in Sorghum-Wheat Cropping Sequence - A Review

10.31220/osf.io/unqk3 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Jayalakshmi Mitnala

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Central India ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Npk Fertilizers ◽

Intensive Farming ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Food Grain ◽

High Yielding Varieties

Sorghum and wheat are the premier food grain crops of the peninsular central India and in particular of Maharashtra. There has been a phenomenal increase in its production after mid sixties with the introduction of high yielding varieties. Increase in production was achieved through increase in area as well as productivity. Inputs like improved seeds, irrigation, fertilizers etc. has given a boost to productivity. Continuous addition of chemical fertilizers poses problems like toxicity due to high amounts of salts as residues of fertilizer and deterioration of the physico-chemical properties. Organic manure ameliorates this problem as organic matter helps in increasing adsorptive power of soil for cations and anions particularly phosphate and nitrate. Long term manuring and fertilizer experiments conducted in India showed declining trend in productivity even with the application of NPK fertilizers under modern intensive farming. Neither organic source alone nor inorganic fertilizers can achieve sustainability in crop production under intensive agriculture, where nutrient turnover in soil-plant system is much higher. However, their combined use appeared promising in enhanced crop productivity besides improving soil fertility.

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Effect of Fertilizer Rate on Growth of Azalea and Holly in Pine Bark and Pine Tree Substrates

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.43.5.1561 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

pp. 1561-1568 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Brian E. Jackson ◽

Robert D. Wright ◽

Jake F. Browder ◽

J. Roger Harris ◽

Alex X. Niemiera

Keyword(s):

Loblolly Pine ◽

Crop Production ◽

Shoot Growth ◽

Pine Bark ◽

Hammer Mill ◽

Flux Chamber ◽

Fertilizer Rate ◽

Delaware Valley ◽

Pine Tree ◽

Pine Trees

Recent interest in the use of wood substrates in horticulture crop production has justified the need for determining fertilizer requirements in these substrates compared with traditional pine bark (PB) and peatmoss substrates. The objective was to determine the response of japanese holly (Ilex crenata Thunb. ‘Compacta’) and azalea (Rhododendron obtusum Planck. ‘Delaware Valley’) grown in a pine tree substrate (PTS) (trade name WoodGro™) or milled PB to fertilizer rate. Pine tree substrate is produced from freshly harvested loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda L.) that are delimbed, chipped, and ground in a hammer mill to a desired particle size. Japanese holly plants were grown in 2.8-L containers in the fall of 2005 and again in the spring of 2007 with the addition of azalea. Plants grown in PTS or PB were fertilized by incorporating Osmocote Plus fertilizer (15N–3.9P–10K) at rates of 3.5, 5.9, 8.3 or 10.6 kg·m−3 for japanese holly and 1.2, 3.5, 5.9, or 8.3 kg·m−3 for azalea. After 3 months, shoot dry weights were determined for japanese holly and azalea. Japanese holly root dry weights were determined for both experiments, and substrate CO2 efflux (μmol CO2 m−2·s−1) was measured on the treatments at the end of the experiment using a LI-6400 soil CO2 flux chamber. In 2005, japanese holly shoot dry weights of PTS-grown plants were comparable to plants grown in PB at the 8.3 kg·m−3 fertility rate, and shoot dry weights of PTS-grown plants were higher than PB at the 10.6 kg·m−3 rate. In 2007, japanese holly and azalea shoot dry weights of PTS-grown plants were comparable to PB plants at the 5.9 kg·m−3 fertilizer rate. Both japanese holly and azalea achieved shoot growth in PTS comparable to shoot growth in PB with ≈2.4 kg·m−3 additional fertilizer for PTS. Substrate CO2 efflux rates were higher in PTS compared with PB indicating higher microbial activity, thereby increasing the potential for nutrient immobilization in PTS.

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Irrigation of maize (Zea mays L.) in relation to fertilization in a long-term field experiment

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.53.2005.1.5 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 41-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. Megyes ◽

J. Nagy ◽

T. Rátonyi ◽

L. Huzsvai

Keyword(s):

Field Experiment ◽

Crop Production ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Production Factors ◽

Maize Yields ◽

Set Up ◽

Fertilizer Rates ◽

Term Field

The objectives of this study were to examine the correlation between factors of great significance for crop production, especially between irrigation and fertilization, and to evaluate the effects of irrigation and fertilization on maize yields over four growing seasons (2001-2004) in a long-term field experiment set up at the Látókép Experimental Station of the Centre for Agricultural Sciences of Debrecen University. The results showed that irrigation and fertilization were strongly correlated with the yield. The effect of irrigation depended on the natural water and nutrient supplies of the soil, and on the specific fertilizer rates. The results indicated that both fertilization and irrigation had a significant effect on the yield. The correlation between the year and the crop production factors was also significant. The yield-increasing effect of irrigation and fertilization differed significantly in the experimental years.

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