Long-Term Effects of Controlled-Release Urea on Crop Yields and Soil Fertility under Wheat-Corn Double Cropping Systems

AbstractOrganic agriculture aims to build soil quality and provide long-term benefits to people and the environment; however, organic practices may reduce crop yields. This long-term study near Mead, NE was conducted to determine differences in soil fertility and crop yields among conventional and organic cropping systems between 1996 and 2007. The conventional system (CR) consisted of corn (Zea maysL.) or sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench)–soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.)–sorghum or corn–soybean, whereas the diversified conventional system (DIR) consisted of corn or sorghum–sorghum or corn–soybean–winter wheat (wheat,Triticum aestivumL.). The animal manure-based organic system (OAM) consisted of soybean–corn or sorghum–soybean–wheat, while the forage-based organic system (OFG) consisted of alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.)–alfalfa–corn or sorghum–wheat. Averaged across sampling years, soil organic matter content (OMC), P, pH, Ca, K, Mg and Zn in the top 15 cm of soil were greatest in the OAM system. However, by 2008 OMC was not different between the two organic systems despite almost two times greater carbon inputs in the OAM system. Corn, sorghum and soybean average annual yields were greatest in either of the two conventional systems (7.65, 6.36 and 2.60 Mg ha−1, respectively), whereas wheat yields were greatest in the OAM system (3.07 Mg ha−1). Relative to the mean of the conventional systems, corn yields were reduced by 13 and 33% in the OAM and OFG systems, respectively. Similarly, sorghum yields in the OAM and OFG systems were reduced by 16 and 27%, respectively. Soybean yields were 20% greater in the conventional systems compared with the OAM system. However, wheat yields were 10% greater in the OAM system compared with the conventional DIR system and 23% greater than yield in the OFG system. Alfalfa in the OFG system yielded an average of 7.41 Mg ha−1annually. Competitive yields of organic wheat and alfalfa along with the soil fertility benefits associated with animal manure and perennial forage suggest that aspects of the two organic systems be combined to maximize the productivity and sustainability of organic cropping systems.

Download Full-text

RESPONSE OF WHEAT–RICE AND MAIZE/MILLET SYSTEMS TO FERTILIZER AND MANURE APPLICATIONS IN THE MID-HILLS OF NEPAL

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479799001052 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

D. P. Sherchan ◽

C. J. Pilbeam ◽

P. J. Gregory

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Organic Materials ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

Grain Yields ◽

Combined Application ◽

Double Cropping

Farmers in the mid-hills of Nepal have a mix of rainfed land on which millet is grown in relay after maize (maize/millet), and irrigated land on which wheat is grown sequentially after rice (wheat–rice). Double cropping is the norm but the diminishing quantities of organic materials, coupled with the trend towards increased use of inorganic fertilizers, have raised questions about the long-term productivity and sustainability of the cropping systems. The aim of this work was to examine the long-term effects (eight years) on grain yield of additions of manure and fertilizer either singly or in combination. Maize/millet and wheat–rice rotations were established on a Dystochrept at Pakhribas Agricultural Centre at about 1450 m altitude. Manure and fertilizer applications were applied to the maize (eight combinations in May) and the wheat (different rates in seven combinations in November) every year with the succeeding crops (millet and rice) utilizing residual nutrients. Yields of maize, millet and rice were greater when manure rather than fertilizer was applied but yields of wheat were less. The combined application of manure and fertilizer significantly increased yields of maize and wheat compared with applications of either manure or fertilizer alone. However, for the subsequent crops (millet and rice) there was either a small residual benefit of the combined application when compared with fertilizer alone, or no benefit when compared with manure alone. Overall, the combined application increased total grain yields by about 35% in the maize/millet rotation and by 16% in the wheat–rice rotation. There was no trend in yields in response to treatment with time.

Download Full-text

Soil Fertility Management in Westsik’s Crop Rotation Experiment

Acta Agraria Debreceniensis ◽

10.34101/actaagrar/1/3606 ◽

2001 ◽

pp. 34-39

Author(s):

János Lazányi

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Continuous Production ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Data Sets ◽

Soil Fertility Management

The crop rotation experiment, established by Vilmos Westsik in 1929, is the best known and most remarkable example of continuous production in Hungary. It is still used to study the effects of organic manure treatment, develop models and predict the likely effects of different cropping systems on soil properties and crop yields. Westsik’s crop rotation experiment provides data of immediate value to farmers concerning the applications of fertilisers, green, straw and farmyard manure. The experiment also provides a resource of yield, plant and soil data sets for scientific research into the soil and plant processes which control soil fertility, and into the sustainability of production without environmental deterioration. The maintenance of Westsik’s crop rotation experiment can be used to illustrate the value of long-term field experiments.

Download Full-text

Long-Term Effects of Fertilizers on the Soil Fertility and Productivity of a Rice-Wheat System

Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science ◽

10.1046/j.1439-037x.2001.00452.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 186 (1) ◽

pp. 47-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

A. Kumar ◽

D. S. Yadav

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Long Term Effects

Download Full-text

Long-term effects of lime application on soil acidity and crop yields on a red soil in Central Zhejiang

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-005-8941-y ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 265 (1-2) ◽

pp. 101-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Meng Cifu ◽

Lu Xiaonan ◽

Cao Zhihong ◽

Hu Zhengyi ◽

Ma Wanzhu

Keyword(s):

Soil Acidity ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Red Soil ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Lime Application

Download Full-text

Crop Yield and Soil Fertility Status of Long-Term Rice-Rice-Wheat Cropping Systems

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology ◽

10.3126/ijasbt.v5i1.17001 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 42-50

Author(s):

Nabin Rawal ◽

Rajan Ghimire ◽

Devraj Chalise

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Oryza Sativa L ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Nutrient Supply ◽

Available Phosphorus

Balanced nutrient supply is important for the sustainable crop production. We evaluated the effects of nutrient management practices on soil properties and crop yields in rice (Oryza sativa L.) - rice - wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in a long-term experiment established at National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Bhairahawa, Nepal. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block experiment with nine treatments and three replications. Treatments were applied as: T1- no nutrients added, T2- N added; T3- N and P added; T4- N and K added; T5- NPK added at recommended rate for all crops. Similarly, T6- only N added in rice and NPK in wheat at recommended rate; T7- half N; T8- half NP of recommended rate for both crops; and T9- farmyard manure (FYM) @10 Mg ha-1 for all crops in rotation. Results of the study revealed that rice and wheat yields were significantly greater under FYM than all other treatments. Treatments that did not receive P (T2, T3, T7, T8) and K (T2, T4) had considerably low wheat yield than treatments that received NPK (T5) and FYM (T9). The FYM lowered soil pH and improved soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), and exchangeable potassium (K) contents than other treatments. Management practices that ensure nutrient supply can increase crop yield and improve soil fertility status.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(1): 42-50

Download Full-text

Outcomes of Long-Term Conservation Tillage Research in Northern China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12031062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 1062 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Francis Azumah Chimsah ◽

Liqun Cai ◽

Jun Wu ◽

Renzhi Zhang

Keyword(s):

Crop Yields ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Arable Land ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Northern China ◽

Total N

Sustainable food production has long been a priority for mankind and this is being challenged by limited arable land, challenged landscapes, and higher human population growth. China started conservation farming around the 1950’s. However, main Conservation Tillage (CT) research started in 1992. Using a systematic meta-analysis approach, this review aims at examining China’s approach to CT and to characterize the main outcomes of long-term CT research across northern China. Data from organizations in charge of CT research in China showed an improvement in crop yield of at least 4% under double cropping systems and 6% under single cropping systems in dry areas of northern China. Furthermore, long-term CT practices were reported to have improved soil physical properties (soil structure, bulk density, pore size, and aggregate stability), soil nutrient levels, and reduction in greenhouse gas emission. Other benefits include significant increase in income levels and protection of the environment. Limitations to CT practice highlighted in this study include occasional reduction in crop yields during initial years of cropping, significant reduction in total N of soils, increase in N2O emission, and the need for customized machinery for its implementation. Outcomes of CT practice are ecologically and economically beneficial though its limitations are worth cogitating.

Download Full-text