Nitrous oxide, methane emissions and grain yield in rainfed wheat grown under nitrogen enriched biochar and straw in a semiarid environment

Background Soil application of biochar and straw alone or their combinations with nitrogen (N) fertilizer are becoming increasingly common, but little is known about their agronomic and environmental performance in semiarid environments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect(s) of these amendments on soil properties, nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions and grain and biomass yield of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and to produce background dataset that may be used to inform nutrient management guidelines for semiarid environments. Methods The experiment involved the application of biochar, straw or urea (46% nitrogen [N]) alone or their combinations. The treatments were: CN0–control (zero-amendment), CN50 –50 kg ha–1 N, CN100–100 kg ha–1 N, BN0 –15 t ha–1 biochar, BN50–15 t ha–1 biochar + 50 kg ha–1 N, BN100–15 t ha–1 biochar + 100 kg ha–1 N, SN0 –4.5 t ha–1 straw, SN50 –4.5 t ha–1 straw + 50 kg ha–1 N and SN100–4.5 t ha–1 straw + 100 kg ha–1 N. Fluxes of N2O, CH4 and grain yield were monitored over three consecutive cropping seasons between 2014 and 2016 using the static chamber-gas chromatography method. Results On average, BN100reported the highest grain yield (2054 kg ha–1), which was between 25.04% and 38.34% higher than all other treatments. In addition, biomass yield was much higher under biochar treated plots relative to the other treatments. These findings are supported by the increased in soil organic C by 17.14% and 21.65% in biochar amended soils (at 0–10 cm) compared to straw treated soils and soils without carbon respectively. The BN100treatment also improved bulk density and hydraulic properties (P < 0.05), which supported the above results. The greatest N2O emissions and CH4 sink were recorded under the highest rate of N fertilization (100 kg N ha–1). Cumulative N2O emissions were 39.02% and 48.23% lower in BN100 compared with CN0 and CN100, respectively. There was also a ≈ 37.53% reduction in CH4 uptake under BN100compared with CN0–control and CN50. The mean cumulative N2O emission from biochar treated soils had a significant decrease of 10.93% and 38.61% compared to straw treated soils and soils without carbon treatment, respectively. However, differences between mean cumulative N2O emission between straw treated soils and soils without carbon were not significant. These results indicate the dependency of crop yield, N2O and CH4 emissions on soil quality and imply that crop productivity could be increased without compromising on environmental quality when biochar is applied in combination with N-fertilizer. The practice of applying biochar with N fertilizer at 100 kg ha−1 N resulted in increases in crop productivity and reduced N2O and CH4soil emissions under dryland cropping systems.

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Effects of conservation agriculture on productivity and Economics of maize-wheat based cropping systems in midwestern Nepal

SAARC Journal of Agriculture ◽

10.3329/sja.v17i1.42761 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 49-63

Author(s):

K Pariyar ◽

A Chaudhary ◽

P Sapkota ◽

S Sharma ◽

CB Rana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Net Income ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Higher Plant ◽

Equivalent Yield

The effects of two tillage methods (zero tillage and conventional tillage), two residue managements (residue kept and residue removed) and two levels of cropping system (maize + soybean and sole maize) were studied over 3 years (2015-2017) at Dailekh district of Nepal. Arun-2 and Puja were the varieties of maize and soybean used respectively, followed by winter wheat. The results revealed that the maize + soybean system had significantly higher plant population and ear population (34.83 thousands ha-1 and 34.35 thousands ha-1, respectively), grains per row (37.1), ear length (16.6 cm) and 20.5% higher grain yield as compared to sole maize. The highest maize equivalent yield (7.92 t ha-1) was recorded in maize + soybean as compared to the lower grain yield equivalent (7.06 t ha-1) in sole maize. Zero tillage accounted relatively higher benefits (high net income and B:C ratio) as compared to conventional tillage. The residue kept plot resulted significantly higher B:C ratio (2.41) than the residue removed (2.11) and the maize + soybean recorded 82.5% greater B:C ratio compared to sole maize. Net annual income was significantly higher in zero tillage, residue kept and maize + soybean system (NRs. 223072.00, 222958.00 and 269016.00 ha-1 respectively). Such combinations are recommended for Dailekh district of Nepal to have profitable crop productivity. SAARC J. Agri., 17(1): 49-63 (2019)

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Optimal Nitrogen Application Rates of One-Time Root Zone Fertilization and the Effect of Reducing Nitrogen Application on Summer Maize

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11102979 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2979 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chaoqiang Jiang ◽

Xuexiang Ren ◽

Huoyan Wang ◽

Dianjun Lu ◽

Chaolong Zu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Root Zone ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Anhui Province ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Nitrogen Application ◽

Summer Maize ◽

N Application ◽

Application Methods

Improvement in fertilization methods, including the optimal matching of nutrient supply and root nutrient absorption by applying nitrogen (N) in the root zone of crop, is necessary to improve N use efficiency (NUE), maintain high stable yield cultivation of maize, and contribute toward future environmental protection. The current practice of split surface broadcasting (SSB) of N is labor-intensive and the surface broadcasting causes a large amount of N to leach into the environment, yet it does not substantially increase maize yield. Root zone fertilization (RZF) has been identified as an efficient way to solve such problems. However, information on the appropriate amount of N fertilizer under RZF for summer maize remains limited. Therefore, in this study, a two-year consecutive field experiment was conducted during 2015–2016 in Anhui province, China, to investigate the effect of N rate and application method on grain yield, nutrient uptake, and NUE of summer maize. The method chosen is not only important to increase grain yield but also critical for reducing N rate and potential loss in the maize cropping system. The experiment comprised six N rates (90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 360 kg N hm−2) and two N application methods in both 2015 and 2016. The two N application methods included SSB and one-time RZF. Results showed that grain yield of summer maize increased first and then decreased with the increase of N rate; however, when the N rate increased to 270 kg hm−2, the grain yield increased slowly or even decreased. Compared with SSB, RZF increased grain yield by 4%, and the effect of N on grain yield was mainly related to the number of kernels per ear and 1000-seed weight. One-time RZF increased N apparent recovery efficiency by 18% (7.2 percentage points) compared with SSB and also improved the N agronomic efficiency, N physiological efficiency, and N partial factor productivity. In the comprehensive consideration of yield target, NUE, and soil N balance, the optimal N rate for summer maize in the vertisol soil of Anhui province was 180–225 kg hm−2 for one-time RZF, which reduced N fertilizer by 14% compared with the SSB. Overall, one-time RZF has great potential for green and sustainable agriculture, and thus fertilization machines are worthy of development and application in maize cropping systems.

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Long-term effects of manure application on grain yield under different cropping systems and ecological conditions in China

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859608008265 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 147 (1) ◽

pp. 31-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

H. ZHANG ◽

M. XU ◽

F. ZHANG

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Manure Application ◽

Organic C ◽

Wide Range ◽

Long Term Experiments ◽

Continuous Maize ◽

Yield Trends

SUMMARYRice (Oryza sativaL.), wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) and maize (Zea maysL.) are the main crops grown in China. Applying organic manures is an important practice in sustaining soil fertility and agricultural productivity in these cropping systems. The current paper presents the effects of manure application on grain yields in nine long-term experiments that consist of one continuous maize, four wheat–maize and four rice-based cropping systems across a wide range of agro-ecological regions in China. The study shows that regular manure application can increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and grain yield across all the sites. Overall, regular use of manure results in larger increases in SOC in the maize and wheat–maize systems than in the rice-based systems. Application of manure tends to increase the grain yield in the maize and wheat–maize systems during the final years, but increases the grain yield in the rice-based systems during the initial years of the long-term experiments. There is only one site that shows significant improvement in the yield trend in association with the application of manure. The effects of manure on yield trends are probably determined by the initial yield and/or the ‘organic C effect’ that may cause gradual improvements in SOC and soil physical properties.

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Optimum Planting Density Improves Resource Use Efficiency and Yield Stability of Rainfed Maize in Semiarid Climate

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.752606 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yuanhong Zhang ◽

Zonggui Xu ◽

Jun Li ◽

Rui Wang

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Resource Use ◽

Photosynthetic Capacity ◽

Canopy Structure ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Yield Stability ◽

Planting Density ◽

Resource Use Efficiency ◽

Semiarid Environments ◽

Use Efficiency

Increasing planting density is an effective strategy for improving maize productivity, but grain yield does not increase linearly with the increase in plant density, especially in semiarid environments. However, how planting density regulates the integrated utilization of key input resources (i.e., radiation, water, and nutrients) to affect maize production is not clear. To evaluate the effects of planting density and cultivar on maize canopy structure, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and resource use efficiency, we conducted a successive field experiment from 2013 to 2018 in Heyang County (Shaanxi Province, China) using three different cultivars [i.e., Yuyu22 (C1), Zhengdan958 (C2), and Xianyu335 (C3)] at four planting densities [i.e., 52,500 (D1), 67,500 (D2), 82,500 (D3), and 97,500 (D4) plants ha–1]. Increasing planting density significantly increased the leaf area index (LAI) and the amount of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR), thereby promoting plant growth and crop productivity. However, increased planting density reduced plant photosynthetic capacity [net photosynthetic rate (Pn)], stomatal conductance (Gc), and leaf chlorophyll content. These alterations constitute key mechanisms underlying the decline in crop productivity and yield stability at high planting density. Although improved planting density increased IPAR, it did not promote higher resource use efficiency. Compared with the D1 treatment, the grain yield, precipitation use efficiency (PUE), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) increased by 5.6–12.5%, 2.8–7.1%, and −2.1 to 1.6% in D2, D3, and D4 treatments, respectively. These showed that pursuing too high planting density is not a desirable strategy in the rainfed farming system of semiarid environments. In addition, density-tolerant cultivars (C2 and C3) showed better canopy structure and photosynthetic capacity and recorded higher yield stability and resource use efficiency. Together, these results suggest that growing density-tolerant cultivars at moderate planting density could serve as a promising approach for stabilizing grain yield and realizing the sustainable development of agriculture in semiarid regions.

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Impact of continuous organic manuring on mechanisms and processes of the stabilisation of soil organic C under rice–wheat cropping system

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr19014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 73

Author(s):

T. J. Purakayastha ◽

Ruma Das ◽

Savita Kumari ◽

Y. S. Shivay ◽

Sunanda Biswas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Management ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Ammonium Oxalate ◽

Cropping System ◽

Reduced Form ◽

Organic C ◽

Blue Green Algae

Understanding the mechanism of soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilisation may help in developing management strategies for SOC storage. A long-term organically managed rice−wheat cropping system was used for SOC stabilisation study. Soil samples were collected from control, FYM (farmyard manure to rice and wheat), GM (green manure; Sesbania aculeata to rice and Leucaena leucocephala to wheat), GB (GM with biofertiliser; blue green algae to rice and Azotobacter sp. to wheat), GF (GM with FYM), GFB (GM with FYM and biofertiliser). Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)-resistant C correlated significantly with ammonium oxalate and dithionate extractable Fe, Al and Si in soil. The GFB showed the highest enrichment of SOC (32%) as well as NaOCl-resistant C (22%) at 0–15 cm soil depth. At higher soil depth, GM alone showed the highest enrichment of SOC (39% at 15–30 cm, 84% at 30–60 cm). The NaOCl-resistant C was higher in FYM and GFB treatments at 15–30 and 30–60 cm depths respectively. The proportion of NaOCl-resistant C to SOC increased down the profile and was highest (30–52%) in 30–60 cm soil depth. A multiple regression model developed between ammonium oxalate extractable Fe, Al and Si and SOC could well predict the stable SOC content. There was a substantial improvement in prediction when extractable Fe, Al and Si were combined together. Among the organic treatments, GFB showed the highest humification and aromaticity in humic acid with least polarity and more reduced form. The combination of all the organic sources (GFB) could be a promising nutrient management strategy for enhancing the stability of SOC in rice–wheat cropping systems of semiarid subtropical India.

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Yield maximization of maize through nutrient management

Progressive Agriculture ◽

10.3329/pa.v27i4.32122 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 428-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

NU Mahamood ◽

Z Ferdous ◽

M Anwar ◽

R Ali ◽

M Sultana

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Health ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Gross Margin ◽

Maize Production ◽

Negative Impacts

Unbalanced use of chemical fertilizer is a problem in the intensive cropping systems on the Northern part of Bangladesh. Proper nutrient management is essential to maximize maize production and sustain agricultural production while minimizing negative impacts on the soil fertility. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutrient dynamics, maize yields and soil fertility in response to balanced fertilization. A field experiment (20092010) was conducted at FSRD site Lahirirhat, OFRD, Rangpur during rabi season 2009-2010 to evaluate Maximizing maize production through nutrient management. Five treatments viz.T1= N300P50K150S30, T2=P50K150S30, T3= N300K150S30, T4= N300P50S30 and T5= N300P50K150were evaluated for this purpose. The result indicated that the highest grain yield (8.37 t/ha) was found from T1= N300P50K150S30 treatment. The lowest grain yield (7.33 t/ha) was obtained from T2=P50K150S30 treatment. The gross return (Tk.100107/ha) and gross margin (Tk.44951/ha) was higher with T1 and T3 treated plot. It may be concluded that proper nutrient management may be the good alternatives for maximizing maize yield and management of soil health at Rangpur region in Bangladesh.Progressive Agriculture 27 (4): 428-434, 2016

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Effects of maize residue and mineral nitrogen applications on maize yield in conservation-agriculture-based cropping systems of Southern Africa

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s174217051900005x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 322-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

W. Mupangwa ◽

C. Thierfelder ◽

S. Cheesman ◽

I. Nyagumbo ◽

T. Muoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Residue Level ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Residue Biomass ◽

Residue Levels

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) and no-till (NT)-based cropping systems could address soil degradation and fertility decline in southern Africa. A multi-location and multi-year experiment was carried out between 2008 and 2014 to assess the effects of different levels of maize residue biomass (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 t ha−1) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0, 30, 90 kg ha−1) on maize performance under no-tillage. In some sites, different (N) fertilizer levels were superimposed to test their effects on maize grain yield and leaf chlorophyll content under different maize residue biomass levels. The different residue levels had no significant effect on maize yield in most growing seasons. Maize residue cover increased grain yield in eight out of 39 site-years across the sites used. However, in some sites, maize yield decreased with increases in residue level in cropping seasons that had average to above average rainfall. At a few sites maize yield increased with increase in residue level. Seasonal rainfall pattern influenced the effect of different residue levels on grain yield at most sites. Nitrogen fertilizer increased maize yield regardless of the residue level applied. This study demonstrates that mulching with maize residues in CA/NT systems results in limited maize yield gains – at least within the first 6 years in different agro-ecological conditions of southern Africa.

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Integrated Nutrient Management in Rice–Wheat Cropping System: An Evidence on Sustainability in the Indian Subcontinent through Meta-Analysis

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9020071 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 71 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sheetal Sharma ◽

Rajeev Padbhushan ◽

Upendra Kumar

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Indian Subcontinent ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cropping System ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Integrated Nutrient Management ◽

Management Options ◽

The Impact

Over years of intensive cultivation and imbalanced fertilizer use, the soils of the Indiansubcontinent have become deficient in several nutrients and are impoverished in organic matter.Recently, this region has started emphasizing a shift from inorganic to organic farming to managesoil health. However, owing to the steadily increasing demands for food by the overgrowingpopulations of this region, a complete shift to an organic farming system is not possible. The rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) is in crisis because of falling or static yields. The nations of thisregion have already recognized this problem and have modified farming systems towardintegrated nutrient management (INM) practices. The INM concept aims to design farmingsystems to ensure sustainability by improving soil health, while securing food for the populationby improving crop productivity. Therefore, this paper was synthesized to quantify the impact androle of INM in improving crop productivity and sustainability of the RWCS in the context of theIndian subcontinent through meta-analysis using 338 paired data during the period of 1989–2016.The meta-analysis of the whole data for rice and wheat showed a positive increase in the grainyield of both crops with the use of INM over inorganic fertilizers only (IORA), organic fertilizersonly (ORA), and control (no fertilizers; CO) treatments. The increase in grain yield was significantat p < 0.05 for rice in INM over ORA and CO treatments. For wheat, the increase in grain yield wassignificant at p < 0.05 in INM over IORA, ORA, and CO treatments. The yield differences in theINM treatment over IORA were 0.05 and 0.13 Mg ha−1, respectively, in rice and wheat crops. Thepercent yield increases in INM treatment over IORA, ORA, and CO treatments were 2.52, 29.2, and90.9, respectively, in loamy soil and 0.60, 24.9, and 93.7, respectively, in clayey soil. The net returnsincreased by 121% (INM vs. CO) in rice, and 9.34% (INM vs. IORA) and 127% (INM vs. CO) inwheat crop. Use of integrated nutrient management had a positive effect on soil properties ascompared to other nutrient management options. Overall, the yield gain and maintenance of soilhealth due to INM practices over other nutrient management practices in RWCS can be a viablenutrient management option in the Indian subcontinent.

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ON-FARM EXPERIMENTS ON INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN RICE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEMS

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479701001077 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 99-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

R. L. YADAV

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Organic C ◽

High Productivity ◽

Net Returns ◽

Long Term Experiment ◽

On Farm

On-farm experiments were conducted between 1990–91 and 1996–97 in the Indian districts of Jalandhar (Punjab) and Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh), on rice-wheat cropping systems. The aim was to compare yields and net returns from three treatments: (i) farmers' nutrient management practices; (ii) integrated use of organic manures and fertilizer; and (iii) NPK fertilizer inputs alone. Productivity of the rice-wheat systems, in terms of grain yield per unit area, was greater in Jalandhar district than in Ghazipur district. In Jalandhar, a high productivity zone, greatest yields were achieved with integrated use of green manure and fertilizer NPK inputs, while in Ghazipur, a low productivity zone, yields were highest with inputs of fertilizer NPK alone. Increases in yield due to these improved practices, over farmers' practice, were 6.98% in Jalandhar and 46.6% in Ghazipur. At both locations, net returns were greater with the use of fertilizer NPK alone. However, benefits from NPK alone over farmers' practice were 6.96% in Jalandhar and 79.6% in Ghazipur. After 11 years of a long-term experiment, at Ludhiana (Punjab) and Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh) soil organic-C and available phosphorus contents have increased, and available potassium content decreased compared with the initial levels.

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A soil health scoring framework for arable cropping systems in Saskatchewan Canada

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.1139/cjss-2021-0045 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Qianyi Wu ◽

Kate A. Congreves

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Health ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Scoring Functions ◽

Total N ◽

Organic C ◽

Soil C ◽

Weighting Factors ◽

The Individual

Farmers are looking for appropriate tools for assessing and interpreting the health status of their soils; however, there is no standardized and prairie-based soil health scoring framework. As such, we focused on developing one for arable cropping systems in Saskatchewan. In 2018, soil samples (0-15, 15-30, and 30-60 cm depths) were collected from 55 arable fields across Saskatchewan, along with native prairie samples. Various soil chemical, physical, and biological attributes were measured (23 attributes in total). Based on the data distribution for each attribute, we developed scoring functions. The results from multivariate analyses were used to determine the weighting factors needed to integrate the individual scores from each soil attribute into a single Saskatchewan Assessment of Soil Health (SASH) score. Soil C and N indices (soil organic C, active C, total N, and soil protein) and total P produced the highest weighting factors. We also tested if there were linkages between the soil health and crop productivity by assessing the cereal yields for the past 10 years as reported from the same rural municipalities where the soil samples were collected. A positive relationship between soil health and yields was most apparent during dry years; thus, we recommend further research to explore this linkage at a finer-scale. Overall, this research forms the foundation of a promising framework that can be built upon, and in due course, lead to the development of a tool for producers who are interested in tracking soil health and using the results to inform management.

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