Abstract
Liming and N fertilization are common practices for optimizing crop yields in tropical agriculture, but the adequate N rate to ensure crop development, enhance yields and N use efficiency, and improve soil chemical properties has not been established for grass rotation. We assessed the optimal N fertilizer rate for combination with liming in an agricultural system composed of two grasses (maize and rice) in rotation under no-till (NT) conditions. Four N rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N·ha−1) were tested under two liming conditions. Maize (11 Mg·ha−1) and rice (5 Mg·ha−1) yields were highest with lime and 150 kg N·ha−1 applications. At 18 months after liming, lime application increased soil pH. In addition, combining liming with N fertilization further increased SOM content at all N rates. Lime increased available P, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+, and BS at N rates of 0, 50, and 100 kg N·ha−1. Overall, combining liming and N fertilization is beneficial for grass crops under NT conditions, as evidenced by enhanced maize and rice N use efficiency and yields. N fertilization rates of 100 and 150 kg N·ha−1 under lime amendment provided the best improvements in crop yields in this cropping system.
Highlights
agronomic efficiency (AE) and utilization efficiency (UE) decreased as the N rate increased, since the increase in the N rate was not matched by an equivalent increase in grain yield
N inputs directly determined soil organic matter (SOM) by increasing biomass and plant litter in this crop rotation system. In this grass crop rotation system under NT, applying N fertilizer to amended soil resulted in efficient N use and grain production by supplying the continuous N demand
AE and UE decreased as the N rate increased, combining liming with high N
Summary
Soil acidification and soil nutrient depletion generally lead to stagnant crop yields, especially in areas where the soil has low natural fertility, such as South America and Africa [1,2]. In these regions, liming and application of inorganic N fertilizers are common agricultural practices for improving soil acidity, optimizing soil chemical characteristics, and enhancing crop yields [3,4]. By increasing soil pH to offset soil acidity, liming improves soil conditions for crop development, enhances crop nutrient uptake, and mitigates soil acidification due to H+ release from N fertilizer. The effects of liming and N fertilizer on plant uptake are well known [7,8,9], the optimal N rate for amended soil in no-till (NT) systems, especially in grass crop rotation, remains unclear
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