Response of Microbial Activities in Soil to Various Organic and Mineral Amendments as an Indicator of Soil Quality

The presented paper deals with the analysis of potential differences between organic waste compost (CBD), vermicompost (CVER) and mineral fertilizer (MF; 27% of N) applications affecting the quality of arable soil by influencing microbial activity therein. The selected types of compost represent alternatives to conventional organic fertilizers, which are, however, not available to Czech and Slovak farmers in sufficient amounts. Their mutual comparison and the comparison with organic fertilizers aim to provide farmers further information about their influence on arable land and thus to give them the possibility of deciding on the most suitable amendments. To demonstrate the effect of these amendments, six variants were prepared: one without the addition of fertilizers; two variants with the addition of 40 Mg/ha of CVER and CBD; one variant with the addition of double dosed CVER (80 Mg/ha), and the remaining two variants were fertilized only with MF (0.22 Mg/ha) and with the combination of CVER (0.20 Mg/ha) and MF (0.11 Mg/ha). Substrate induced respiration (SIR), basal respiration (BS), microbial carbon (Cmic) and enzymatic activities (hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate—FDA, dehydrogenase activity—DHA, and phosphatase activity—PA) were used to evaluate the effect of CBD, CVER and MF application on the soil quality. Both organic and mineral amendments affected BS and SIR. The highest BS and SIR rates were found in variants with compost application (CVER and CBD). All variants treated with the mineral fertilizer showed the lowest level of enzyme activities; lower by about 30% in comparison with variants where CVER, CBD and the combination of MF and CVER were applied. We found insignificant differences between the individual types of compost. More importantly, we compared the situation at the beginning of the experiment and after its end. It was found that the application of mineral fertilizers automatically led to the deterioration of all enzymatic parameters, on average by more than 25%, as compared with the situation at the beginning of the experiment. However, when the mineral fertilizer dose was supplemented with organic amendments (CVER), this negative effect was eliminated or significantly reduced. Furthermore, both composts (CVER and CBD) positively affected plant biomass production, which reached a level of production enhanced by the MF. Results clearly showed that the application of both compost types could be used to improve soil quality in agriculture.

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Utilization of manure and green organic composts as alternative fertilizers for cauliflower production

10.31227/osf.io/wunyt ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Marulak Simarmata ◽

Laili Susanti ◽

Nanik Setyowati

Keyword(s):

Cultural Practices ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Cow Manure ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Shoot Fresh Weight ◽

Wedelia Trilobata

Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceavar. botrytis) is a vegetablecrop which isgrown over the world. Cultural practices of vegetables production are always dealing with fertilization technologies either using mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers, or a combination of mineral and organic fertilizers. This study was aimed to determine the effect of reduced the dose of mineral fertilizers and substituted by organic fertilizers from compost ofcow manure and compost of trailing-daisy weeds (Wedelia trilobata).A single factorevaluated was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) as follows: treatment of a mineral fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium applied at10, 20 and 30 days after planting at arecommended dose (T1), compost of trailing-daisy weedsat 20 ton ha-1 (T2), compost of cow manure at 20 ton ha-1(T3), 50% of T1 + compost of trailing-daisy weeds at 20 ton ha-1 (T4), 50% of T1 + compost of trailing-daisy weedsat 10 ton ha-1(T5), 50% of T1 + compost of cow manure at20 ton ha-1 (T6), 50% of T1+ compost of cow manure of 10 ton ha-1 (T7), and without fertilizer as a control (T0). Each treatment was repeated five times so that overall there were 40 plantsin40 polybags. The results showed that thefertilizer combinationswere significantly affectedplant height, shoot fresh weight, dry weight of total plant biomass,and curd yield of cauliflower. The highest plant height and shoot fresh weight were observed in the treatment of 50% of mineral fertilizers combined with compost of trailing-daisy weeds at 10 ton ha-1 (T5), the highest of total dry weight of plants were observed in the treatment of cow manure compost (T3), and the highest curd yield of cauliflowerswas observed inthe treatment of 50% of mineral fertilizers combined with cow manure compostat 20 ton ha-1(T6). In conclusion, organic fertilizers from compost of trailing-daisy weeds (Wedelia trilobata) and from cowmanure can be used as an alternative fertilizer to substitutemineral fertilizers on the cauliflower production.

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Application of organic fertilizers alter the physical and biogeochemical properties of agricultural topsoil and subsoil

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-14247 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anke Neumeier ◽

Julien Guigue ◽

Yaser Ostovari ◽

Andreas Muskolus ◽

Henk Martens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Biogas Digestate ◽

Nitrogen Contents ◽

Soc Stocks

<p>Sustainable agricultural practices aim to ensure the rebuilt of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and to sustain soil fertility. One of the levers is the use of carbon and nutrient inputs in the form of organic amendments, such as farmyard manure, slurry and biogas digestate. These organic fertilizers represent a promising alternative to the mineral fertilizers, which are mainly made from non-renewable resources. The use mineral fertilizers is indeed associated with an excessive use of natural resources and a loss of biodiversity. The effect of organic amendments compared with traditional mineral fertilizers on SOC stocks and soil fertility are uncertain in the longer-term. We aimed at investigating the effects of mineral and organic fertilizers (i.e., manure, pig slurry and biogas digestate) on topsoil and subsoil biogeochemistry, after eight years of application. For this purpose, we sampled soil cores down to a depth of one meter in a randomized field experiment in Germany, running since 2011. A full-profile assessment of the carbon and nitrogen distribution, stability and bioavailability was achieved using a combination of classical bulk physico-chemical analyses (e.g., SOC and nitrogen contents, texture, pH, bulk density) and state-of-the-art imaging techniques. Selected samples were analysed for aggregate size distribution, as well as organic carbon and nitrogen contents and allocation within these aggregates. Further, undisturbed core-samples were scanned using a hyperspectral camera in the Vis-NIR range to reveal hotspots of carbon storage at the soil profile scale. Soil carbon distribution was predicted as a function of spectral response, using a variety of machine learning approaches. The application of organic fertilizers (whatever their nature) resulted in higher SOC contents in the first 10 cm, as compared to the control and the mineral fertilizer treatments. The SOC stocks were + 21-33 % higher in the soil treated with organic fertilizers as compared to the control treatment. The application of mineral fertilizer or digestate, as compared to the control, resulted in higher relative amount of microaggregates (versus macroaggregates) (+ 19-40 %) in the soil down to 80 cm. These results will provide essential information to develop management strategies that increase nutrient recycling as well as SOC stocks.</p>

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Co-application of mineral and organic fertilizers under deficit irrigation improves the fruit quality of the Wonderful pomegranate

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11328 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11328

Author(s):

Khalid F. Almutairi ◽

Mahmoud Abdel-Sattar ◽

Ahmed M. Mahdy ◽

Mohamed A. El-Mahrouky

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

The Individual

Background The aim of this study was to determine the individual and interactive effects of various irrigation regimes and fertilizer treatments on the quality of the Wonderful pomegranate cultivar. Methods Two field experiments were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons (2018 and 2019) to determine the individual and interactive effects of various organic and mineral fertilizer treatments on the fruit quality of the Wonderful pomegranate under various irrigation conditions. A split-plot experimental design was used, in which the main plots included three levels of irrigation (100%, 80%, and 60% of evapotranspiration) while the subplots included five fertilizer treatments with different co-application ratios of mineral and organic fertilizers. Results All tested physicochemical properties of the fruit were significantly affected by the irrigation treatment, with irrigation at 80% of evapotranspiration representing the best strategy for reducing water use and improving fruit quality. Moreover, the co-application of mineral and organic fertilizers had a significant effect on fruit quality, with 75% mineral + 25% organic fertilizer improving all of the physical and chemical properties of the fruit in both experimental seasons. Irrigation and the co-application of mineral and organic fertilizers also had a significant interaction effect on the physicochemical attributes of fruit, which further increased fruit quality. Conclusions The co-application of organic and mineral fertilizers produced better quality pomegranate fruit than mineral fertilizer alone under deficit irrigation conditions. This technique could therefore be applied to improve the fruiting of horticultural trees in arid growing regions.

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Organic versus inorganic fertilizers: Response of soil properties and crop yield

AIMS Geosciences ◽

10.3934/geosci.2021024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 415-439

Author(s):

Teresa Hernandez ◽

◽

José Guillermo Berlanga ◽

Isabel Tormos ◽

Carlos Garcia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Soil Microbial Communities ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Organic C

<abstract> <p>The decrease in soil productivity and quality caused by the continuous and abusive use of mineral fertilizers makes necessary to adopt more sustainable agricultural soil management strategies that help to maintain soil edaphic fertility. In light of these considerations, we have evaluated the effect of organic vs. inorganic fertilization on soil microbial communities, soil quality, and crop yield in a melon crop. The following treatments were tested: i) aerobic sewage sludge from a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using aerobic bacteria (SS); ii) aerobic sewage sludge from a WWTP using a bacteria-microalgae consortium (B); iii) N-P-K mineral fertilizer (M); iv) a treatment in which 50% of the N was contributed by SS and 50% by mineral fertilizer (M + SS); v) a treatment in which 50% of the N was contributed by B and 50% by mineral fertilizer (M + B); and vi) a no-fertilized control soil. Melon yield and fruit quality were determined in addition to several soil physical, chemical, biochemical and microbiological parameters. Organic fertilizers (SS and B) increased the percentage of soil water-stable aggregates (52 and 60% respectively) as well as the content of organic C (18 and 31%), water soluble C (21 and 41%), N (15 and 41%) and available P content (41 and 82%) compared to inorganic fertilization. They also stimulated bacterial and fungal abundance to a greater extent than mineral fertilizers (189 and 242% vs 85%, and 57 and 122% vs 29%, respectively), as well as soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, phosphatase, urease, and glycine aminopectidase activities. The analysis of principal components with parameters linked to soil quality clearly showed that organic fertilizers cause a greater improvement in soil characteristics and microbial community than mineral fertilizers. Results demonstrate that organic and combined fertilization could be used as substitutes for nitrogen mineral fertilizers in melon crop, since these treatments led to similar melon production and quality while improving soil characteristics and microbial population size and activity.</p> </abstract>

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Adaptive technologies for intensification of winter wheat grain production in biologized crop rotation

BIO Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/bioconf/20201700067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 00067

Author(s):

Zakirzhan Bikmukhametov ◽

Rafil Shakirov ◽

Razina Sabirova

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Arable Land ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Balance Sheet ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Experimental Base ◽

Fertilizer System

The studies were conducted at the experimental base of the Tatar Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture in 1996–2014 to adapt fertilizer systems and basic tillage to achieve yields of 3–5 t/ha. The article cited data on winter wheat – the second crop of the third rotation of the eight-field grain-grass-crop rotation for 2013–2014. We studied the effect of organomineral, organic, mineral fertilizer systems on the winter wheat yield using a differentiated approach to their use in combination with different primary tillage systems (dump plowing to the depth of the arable layer, multi-depth loosening and loosening to a depth of 15–16). The organomineral fertilizer system differed with the saturation with organic fertilizers of 7 t/ha of arable land per year + N36P32K60 according to the balance sheet for receiving 4 t/ha of grain with spring fertilizing using ammonium nitrate, where the yield was 4. 03 t/ha, and the saving on mineral fertilizers, depending on crop rotation and soil saturation with organic matter, was 25–35 %. The yield of winter wheat by the water-saving technology amounted to 4.03 t/ha with a planned level of 4.0 t/ha. At the same time, at the purchase price of 7 rubles/kg, the level of profitability rose to 195.85 %, the cost of 1 center of grain amounted to 236.6 rubles.

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Type of organic fertilizer rather than organic amendment per se increases abundance of soil biota

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11204

Author(s):

Maria Viketoft ◽

Laura G.A. Riggi ◽

Riccardo Bommarco ◽

Sara Hallin ◽

Astrid R. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Soil Biota ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Soil Organisms ◽

Wide Range

Addition of organic amendments is a commonly used practice to offset potential loss of soil organic matter from agricultural soils. The aim of the present study was to examine how long-term addition of organic matter affects the abundance of different soil biota across trophic levels and the role that the quality of the organic amendments plays. Here we used a 17-year-old fertilization experiment to investigate soil biota responses to four different organic fertilizers, compared with two mineral nitrogen fertilizers and no fertilization, where the organic fertilizers had similar carbon content but varied in their carbon to nitrogen ratios. We collected soil samples and measured a wide range of organisms belonging to different functional groups and trophic levels of the soil food web. Long-term addition of organic and mineral fertilizers had beneficial effects on the abundances of most soil organisms compared with unfertilized soil, but the responses differed between soil biota. The organic fertilizers generally enhanced bacteria and earthworms. Fungi and nematodes responded positively to certain mineral and organic fertilizers, indicating that multiple factors influenced by the fertilization may affect these heterogeneous groups. Springtails and mites were less affected by fertilization than the other groups, as they were present at relatively high abundances even in the unfertilized treatment. However, soil pH had a great influence on springtail abundance. In summary, the specific fertilizer was more important in determining the numerical and compositional responses of soil biota than whether it was mineral or organic. Overall, biennial organic amendments emerge as insufficient, by themselves, to promote soil organisms in the long run, and would need to be added annually or combined with other practices affecting soil quality, such as no or reduced tillage and other crop rotations, to have a beneficial effect.

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Soil fertility management in apple orchard with microbial biofertilizers

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202022203020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 222 ◽

pp. 03020

Author(s):

Andrei Kuzin ◽

Alexei Solovchenko ◽

Ludmila Stepantsova ◽

Grigory Pugachev

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Azotobacter Chroococcum ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

High Rate ◽

Mineral Fertilizers

Intensification of horticulture in Russia involves planting of new high-density orchards with drip irrigation and fertigation as well as intensification of the exploitation of traditional orchards. This approach involves an increase in mineral fertilizer application imposing the risk of soil fertility loss. For several reasons, the use of traditional organic fertilizers like manure in orchards is currently marginal. Although bacteria-based biofertilizers cannot substitute mineral fertilizers completely, they can significantly reduce the need for mineral fertilizer application. The effect of microbial biofertilizers of the brands “Azotovit” (Azotobacter chroococcum), “Phosphatovit” (Bacillus mucilaginosus), as well as a mixture of bacteria and the fungus, “Organic” (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Trichoderma harzian) was studied in two field experiments. In the experiment #1, the preparations “Azotovit” and “Phosphatovit” were delivered through a drip irrigation system in various combinations with mineral fertilizers. In experiment #2, the preparation “Organic” was also applied to the soil with irrigation water, also in combination with the mineral fertilizer. When solely applied, none of the studied preparations changed significantly the soil nutrient content and yield as compared with the variant fertilized by the mineral fertilizer at the maximum studied application rate. The combination of the microbial biofertilizer and mineral fertilizers applied at a low rate ensured the yield commensurate to that obtained under high-rate application of the mineral fertilizer.

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Potential of biochar after the biological activation by native soil microflora

Revista Mvz Córdoba ◽

10.21897/rmvz.2219 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. e2219

Author(s):

Helena Dvorackova ◽

Jaroslav Záhora ◽

Lubica Pospíšilová ◽

Vítězslav Vlček

Keyword(s):

Dehydrogenase Activity ◽

Soil Microorganisms ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Statistical Test ◽

Soil Microflora ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Activated Biochar ◽

Native Soil ◽

Negative Effect ◽

And Control

Objective. Dehydrogenase activity after the biological activation of biochar by the native soil microorganisms was studied. The main aim was to improve biochar properties by activation and make it more friendly for the soil microflora. Materials and methods. The activation was reached by aerating with the soil solution for two weeks. No special inoculum of microorganisms was applied. The following treatments in four replicates were prepared: conventional raw biochar (BR), activated biochar (BA), mineral fertilizer DAM 390 (NF), and control (C). A statistical test for comparing treatments means (Fisher p≤0.05; program STATISTICA 12.0; StatSoft software Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA) was used. Results. Statistically significant differences in the dehydrogenase activity between the treatments BR, BA, and C were found. Application of mineral fertilizers had a negative effect and increasing of nitrogen leaching was observed. Conclusions. Activating of biochar is suitable metods for impove soil biota conition compared with convention biochar.

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Influence of vermicompost aftereffect on the efficiency of spring barley cultivation in arid conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine

The Scientific Journal Grain Crops ◽

10.31867/2523-4544/0136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 281-288

Author(s):

O. O. Vinyukov ◽

A. P. Dudkina ◽

T. V. Shevchenko

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Humus Content ◽

Maximum Yield ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Production Costs ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Control Analysis

Barley is a crop, requires the availability of available nutrients in the soil, especially at the be-ginning of the growing season. The aim of the research was to determine the effectiveness of the aftereffect of using vermicompost when growing spring barley on different backgrounds in the Donetsk region. The studies were carried out according to the methodology of the field experiment of B. A. Dospehova. Research methods: field, supplemented by analytical studies, measurements, calculations and observations. The studies were conducted in 2017–2019 by laboratory-field method in field crop rotation in the experimental sections of the Donetsk SSES NAAS. The repetition in the experiments is 3-fold. The location of the plots is systematic. The soil is alkaline-chernozemic carbonate, having an average supply of mineral nitrogen and mobile phosphorus, low – potassium. The humus content of 4,2 % indicates a high potential soil fertility, but to realize the potential of the culture, additional application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers is necessary. The technology for growing crops is generally accepted for the farms of the region, with the ex- ception of the factors studied. Variety of barley spring Avers. The experience scheme provides for: control (without fertilizers); background – saturation of crop rotation with vermicompost granular 2 t/ha; background + N30P30K30; background + N60P60K60; N30P30K30. The use of organic fertilizers under the predecessor in crop rotation provided improve nutriti-on conditions for plants, which positively affected the growth and development of spring barley plants. So, on the variants with the use of mineral fertilizers, the highest indices of the number of productive stems and the structure of the crop were noted in the background. The variant where N60P60K60 was added in the background produced the largest mass of 1000 grains – 49,8 g, which is 4,6 % higher than the control. Analysis of the study indicates the positive effect of the aftereffect of organic fertilizer (ver-micompost) on the yield of spring barley. The maximum yield of spring barley was obtained against the background of aftereffect of vermicompost 2 t/ha and the application of mineral fertilizers N60P60K60 – 5,05 t/ha, but due to high production costs, the profitability level is 114,9 %. The application of organic fertilizers under the background provides a yield of 3,67 t/ha and the highest level of profitability of 140,6 %. The optimal technological option provides for the introduction of mineral fertilizers in the norm N30P30K30 amid predecessor saturation with vermicompost. This allows increasing the yield up to 4,90 t/ha (by 1,46 t/ha or 42,4 % to the control) and obtaining a profitability level of 136,1 %. The use only of mineral fertilizer N30P30K30 in severely arid weather conditions of the steppe zone allows increasing the yield by 0,70 t/ha compared to the control but, due to the high cost of pro-duction, leads to a low production profitability of 99,6 %. Key words: spring barley, background, vermicompost, mineral fertilizers, yield, economic effici-ency.

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Biochar and Ash Fertilization Alter the Chemical Properties of Basket Willow (Salix viminalis L.) and Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus)

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10050660 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 660

Author(s):

Bogdan Saletnik ◽

Grzegorz Zaguła ◽

Aneta Saletnik ◽

Marcin Bajcar ◽

Czesław Puchalski

Keyword(s):

Plant Biomass ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Salix Viminalis ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Stable Form ◽

Miscanthus X Giganteus ◽

High Quality ◽

Pyrolysis Products ◽

Giant Miscanthus

This article presents the results of a two-year study investigating the effects of the fertilization of soil, with biochar and ash from plant biomass, on selected properties of the pyrolysis products obtained from basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) and giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus). The study was designed to determine whether soil enrichment through the use of organic fertilizers (ash added at the rate of 1.5 t ha−1, biochar added at the rate of 11.5 t ha−1 and a combination of them) in the cultivation of energy crops would affect the quality of pyrolysates obtained from these plants. The research goal was to use biochar and biomass ash to produce high-quality pyrolysates with fertilizing potential. The aboveground parts of the plants were subjected to the pyrolysis process, which was carried out in constant conditions, i.e., a temperature of 500 °C and duration of 10 min. The pyrolysates obtained were examined for their pH value, the content of absorbable forms of phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K2O) and magnesium (Mg), as well as total carbon and the total content of selected macro- and micro-elements. The results of the current study show the beneficial effects of these soil fertilizers, reflected by the high quality and enhanced mineral contents of the biochars obtained. The highest total increase in the contents of absorbable forms of P, K and Mg was found in the pyrolysis products from basket willow fertilized with ash alone, amounting to 21.6% in relation to the pyrolysates from the control sample. As for the pyrolysates from the biomass of giant miscanthus, the greatest total increase in the contents of the elements, amounting to 44.4%, was identified when biochar and ash were used in combination. Soil amendments such as biochar and ash used for growing bioenergy crops can alter the aboveground plant quality. The subsequent pyrolysates created from these plants may be enriched and can be an alternative to mineral fertilizers. Natural amendment, such as high-quality pyrolysates, can be used in the cultivation of many plants. Additionally, conversion of plant biomass into pyrolysates is important for the environment, affecting the balance of carbon in the atmosphere through its capture and storage in a stable form outside the atmosphere, e.g., in soil.

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