Farmer Practice Treatment Research Articles

Influence of Different Nutrient Management Approaches on Soil Biological Properties under Maize Based Cropping System in Vertisol

An experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Hiriyur with four different nutrient management approaches during 3 consecutive years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. The experiment consists of 4 treatments, viz., T1 – Natural farming - Seed treatment with Beejamrutha + Ghana jeevamrutha @ 1000 kg ha-1 before sowing + Jeevamrutha @ 200 L ha-1 @ 15 days interval + mulching at 30 DAS; T2 – Organic farming - Seed treatment with Rhizobium + PSB + N equivalent basis of vermicompost; T3 – Package of Practice – Recommended dose of N, P2O5, K2O and FYM; T4 – Farmers practice - FYM @ 7 t ha-1 and 45: 115 kg ha-1 N, P2O5, respectively in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 5 replications. The results revealed that the application of organic manures such as vermicompost and FYM and concoctions like jeevamrutha and ghanajeevamruta for 3 years has improved soil biological properties in both seasons. Treatments varied significantly among different nutrient management approaches with respect to dehydrogenase, urease, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activity in the rhizosphere soil of the summer and kharif maize. Significantly higher enzyme activities were noticed in organic farming treatment followed by package of practice and natural farming treatment. The lowest activities were observed in farmers practice treatment. Similarly, microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur were highest in organic farming treatment and lowest in farmers practice treatment.

Response of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Growth, Yield, and Nutrient use Efficiency of Wheat under Irrigated Conditions

To feed Pakistan's rapidly growing population, wheat productivity must be increased through balanced nutrition. Chemical fertilizer prices are rising and there is low nutrient use efficiency, as well as excessive or imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers. Integrated nutrient management treatments -the use of bio-fertilizer plus inorganic fertilizers-is a promising technology that not only increases crop yield, nutrient use efficiency. A field experiment was conducted at Naseerabad (Baluchistan) to assess the effect of (bio-fertilizer, inorganic fertilizers including Zn plus Boric Acid) on wheat crop production and nutrient use efficiency under irrigated conditions. A randomized complete block design was used to arrange the treatments (RCBD). Comprised with four treatments (INM NPK@120:9 0:60 kg/ha-1 Zn 5 kg, Boric acid 1 Kg/ha-1) FP treatment NP@75:50 kg/ha-1RDFtreatment.NPK,100.80.50 kg/ha-1and control treatment. This bio fertilizer plus chemical fertilizer significantly improves wheat growth parameters such as plant height, number of grains spiked, straw, and grain yield. Similarly, integrated nutrient management technology significantly increased N, P, K uptake in wheat grain content while increasing nutrient use efficiency. The highest grain yield was recorded (4.9 t/ha-1) in integrated nutrient management treatments with 120 kg N, 90 kg P, 60 kg K, 5 kg Zn, and 1 kg B ha-1 combined with bio-fertilizer plus farmyard manure. It resulted in a 25% increase over farmer practice (FP) and a 9% increase over the RDF treatment. The use of balance fertilizer in wheat resulted in significantly increased the wheat crop yield also improved agronomic parameters

Responses of soil respiration and microbial community structure to fertilizer and irrigation regimes over 2 years in temperate vineyards in North China

Fertilizer and irrigation regimes can profoundly affect soil carbon (C) emissions, which influence soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. However, information regarding the effects of fertilizer and irrigation management on the components of soil respiration (Rs) and the underlying microbial community characteristics in vineyard ecosystems remains limited. Therefore, a 2-year field experiment was conducted in a wine-grape vineyard (WGV) and a table-grape vineyard (TGV). Each vineyard included two fertilizer and irrigation regimes: farmers' practice (FP) and recommended practice (RP). The trenching method was employed to separate Rs into heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra). Additionally, the SOC storage and soil microbial community structure at 0–20 cm soil depth were determined after the 2-year experiment. The results showed that the fertilizer and irrigation regimes caused no effect on Ra. Compared with the FP treatment in WGV and TGV, the RP treatment significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the average daily Rh by 15.13 % and 17.11 %, which contributed to the annual Rs values at the whole-vineyard scale decreased by 8.93 % and 11.78 %, respectively. Besides, compared with the initial value, the SOC storage under RP treatment were effectively increased by 6.39 % and 6.33 % in WGV and TGV, respectively. Low annual total Rh was partially ascribed to the significant (P < 0.05) decline in Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes relative abundance, thus reducing the decomposition rate of SOC. Compared with WGV, the fertilizer and water input was higher in the TGV, which resulted in the annual total Rs and Rh values at the whole-vineyard scale was increased by 11.53 % and 15.74 %, respectively, while the annual total Ra was decreased by 18.83 % due to the lower grapevine density and more frequent summer pruning. Overall, RP treatment was found to be a suitable strategy for reducing soil C emissions and benefiting SOC storage in vineyards around North China.

Modeling ammonia volatilization following urea and controlled-release urea application to paddy fields

• The WHCNS model performed well in simulating NH 3 flux measured by a continuous ventilation method. • Urea split application reduced the peak of NH 3 flux but increased total NH 3 loss. • Controlled-release urea application significantly reduced NH 3 loss compared to urea. • The controlled-release urea rate was recommended to reduce N loss without reducing yield. Ammonia volatilization, a main pathway of nitrogen (N) loss in paddy fields, can easily lead to environmental problems, such as haze and water eutrophication. Field measurement of ammonia volatilization is time-consuming and expensive. Soil–crop system models can simulate the effect of different fertilizer management practices on NH 3 volatilization and compensate for the limitations of field measurement. Therefore, the WHCNS (soil Water Heat Carbon Nitrogen Simulator) model was used to evaluate the feasibility of simulating NH 3 volatilization in paddy fields under different N fertilizer types and application methods. The field experiment, including four treatments of farmer’s practice (FP), basal application of urea in one dose (SBN), split application of urea in three doses (SPN), and basal application of controlled-release urea in one dose (CRU), was conducted from 2013 to 2014. All treatments were conducted with a fertilizer rate of 165 kg N ha −1 , except for FP with a rate of 210 kg N ha −1 . The measured dry matter weight, grain yield, N uptake, and NH 3 flux were used to test the WHCNS model. The model evaluation indices of Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency ( NSE ) and index of agreement ( d ) were close to 1 for the measured variables, except for NSE of yield (0.16). The normalized root mean square error ( NRMSE ) of NH 3 flux was slightly over 30%, but lower than 30% for the other items. Results showed that the model can successfully simulate rice yield and NH 3 flux of urea and controlled-release urea under different application methods. The simulated annual average cumulative NH 3 losses of FP, SBN, SPN, and CRU accounted for 18.9%, 17.8%, 20.6%, and 10.1% of their N inputs, respectively. Compared with the FP treatment, the ratios of NH 3 losses of the SBN and CRU treatments were decreased by 1.2%-8.8%. Compared with the SBN treatment (the same rate of 165 kg N ha −1 ), SPN reduced the peak of NH 3 flux but increased the cumulated NH 3 losses and CRU significantly reduced the NH 3 flux and cumulative NH 3 losses. The application rate of controlled-release urea could be further optimized by refined model calculations to reduce NH 3 volatilization and total N loss while maintaining yield.

Effects of Management Practices on Agronomic Parameters in Cocoa Agroecosystems at Peripheral Zone of Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region, Cameroon

The study was carried out to assess the effect of management practices on agronomic parameters of cocoa agroecosystems in the peripheral zone of Ebo Forest Reserve. Purposive random sampling was conducted to establish experimental plots on the farms of willing farmers. Demonstration plots were established and agronomic parameters were monitored for “farmers’ practice (FP) and integrated crop pest and disease management (ICPM) practice” using indicators of Cocoa agro-ecosystem analysis (AESA). The FP and ICPM treatments were replicated in ten sites. From AESA records of agronomic parameters, the “observe, learn, decide and act” (OLDA) model was implemented in the ICPM treatments only. The effects of management practices were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means compared using Turkey’s T-test at 5% probability. Results of ANOVA between the two Management practices showed that over 50% of the response variables were statistically significant. Means separated through GLM ANOVA with Tukey pairwise comparisons at α = 0.05 showed that 14 (53.8%) out of 26 response variables monitored were statistically significant between the two management practices. Pruning, shade management, phytosanitary harvest, rational use of pesticides, farm sanitation, pod harvesting, breaking, fermentation of beans and drying were regular in the ICPM treatment and time-bound in the FP treatment. The average total production varied from 385.83 kg/ha in FP treatment to 572.8 kg/ha in the ICPM treatment, still below the average standard of 1000 kg/ha. The OLDA model applied in ICPM treatment following AESA is a relevant tool to enhance sustainability in the management of cocoa agroecosystems. Farmers should be sensitized and trained on appropriate farm management techniques and enhance access to extension services as well as make available improved and grafted planting materials to ensure appropriate productivity levels.

Nutrient Expert for High Yield and Use Efficiency in Rainfed Bt Cotton Hybrids

Low cotton productivity in the rainfed cotton grown in central India is attributed to abiotic (water and nutrients) and biotic (insect pests and diseases) stress. Nutrient stress can be overcome by providing nutrients in right amounts and at the right time when the plant needs the most. Field studies in cereal crops have demonstrated fertilizer recommendations by using the Nutrient Expert® (NE) decision support system to improve crop yields. However, such information in the case of the commercial crop, cotton, is scarce. Therefore, on-farm trials were conducted in three districts of Maharashtra, India during 2018–2020 with the hypothesis that the NE-based fertilizer recommendation would lead to higher cotton productivity and savings in fertilizer. Averaged over two seasons and locations, lint yield was significantly greater in the NE based than the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), soil test crop response (STCR), and farmers' practice (FP). Internal utilization efficiency (IE) did not differ among treatments for N (4.8 to 5.9 kg lint kg−1 nutrient uptake) and K (6.7 to 7.2 kg lint kg−1 nutrient uptake). With regard to the fertilizer P applied, the FP treatment had the least IE (17.0 kg lint kg−1 nutrient uptake) and was significantly lower than the other treatments. Partial nutrient balance (PNB) did not vary among treatments for applied fertilizer N. The FP treatment had PNB &amp;lt; 1 in case of fertilizer P and ~20 in the case of fertilizer K. This indicates farmers applied excess of P fertilizers. On the other hand, farmers in the region applied very small amount of K. Although the NE treatment had the highest cost of cultivation, net returns were the greatest followed by the STCR and RDF treatments. Our studies demonstrate that the NE-based fertilizer recommendation is not only productive, but also profitable.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing environmental cost with long-term nutrient expert management in a summer maize-winter wheat rotation system

Excessive fertilization, poor management, low nitrogen (N) use efficiency and heavy pollution are the current issues that exist in intensively cultivated summer maize-winter wheat rotation system in China. To address these problems, we adopted the Nutrient Expert (NE) decision support system and compared it with the Farmer's Practice (FP). We explored the effects of NE and FP on grain yield, N use efficiency, soil N accumulation, environmental cost, and profitability in the rotation system from 2009 to 2018. The results showed that there was no significant yield difference between the NE (14.4 Mg ha−1) and FP (14.3 Mg ha−1), while reducing N application by 23.1 % in NE. Compared with the FP treatment, the NE increased the apparent recovery efficiency of N (apparent REN), accumulated recovery efficiency of N (accumulated REN), agronomic efficiency of N (AEN) and partial factor productivity of N (PFPN) by 25.0 %, 26.8 %, 31.1 % and 32.1 %, respectively, which also indicated a less N loss achieved by NE. The NE resulted in less N accumulation in the soil profile than FP, with reductions of 32.1 % and 44.2 % in the 0−100 cm and 60−100 cm soil layers, respectively. Moreover, calculations of economic benefit that considered the environmental cost showed that NE had an economic advantage (13.8 % of increase in net income; and 27.2 % of decrease in environmental cost) over FP. This study proved that long-term NE management is a sustainable management approach with advantages in maintaining grain yield, improving N use efficiency and profitability, and reducing environmental cost for the summer maize-winter wheat rotation system.

Sustaining yield and mitigating methane emissions from rice production with plastic film mulching technique

Reducing water use and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are two major challenges faced by paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. Water-saving technologies, including controlled irrigation (CI), plastic film mulching (FM), and straw mulching (SM), have been increasingly adopted to improve rice production efficiency. However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the effects of these practices on grain yield, water consumption, and GHG emissions relative to current farmer’s practice (FP). The objective of this two-year field experiment performed in southwestern China was to quantify the effects of CI, FM, and SM (compared with the FP control) on rice grain yield, irrigation water input, water productivity, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and GHG intensity (GHGI). The FM treatment produced grain yield similar to the FP treatment, but it significantly decreased the irrigation water input by 69.6%, and then markedly increased the water productivity from 5.9 to 7.0 kg ha−1 mm−1 to 12.9–13.1 kg ha−1 mm−1. Furthermore, the FM treatment significantly reduced CH4 emissions (91.0–95.0%), resulting in a great decrease in GWP (36.7–51.4%) and GHGI (36.5–51.9%), although it markedly increased N2O emissions (90.9–206.9%) compared with the FP treatment. The CI and SM treatments also significantly increased water productivity and decreased CH4 emissions by reducing irrigation, but they caused yield reductions (9.5% and 14.5% on average, respectively) and showed no benefit to GHGI mitigation compared with the FP treatment. These results suggest that there is still great potential to further optimize the current FP practice, and FM is a preferable management option to save irrigation water and mitigate GHG emissions while maintaining grain yield in rice production.

Application effects of fertilizer recommendation by Nutrient Expert System on radish

A field experiment was conducted for two seasons to evaluate the application effects of a decision support system named Nutrient Expert on radish based on yield response and agronomic efficiency, to provide theoretical and technical support for convenient and quick recommendation on fertilization management. There were seven treatments: farmer's practice treatment (FP), recommended fertilization treatment based on Nutrient Expert (TE), recommended fertilization treatment based on soil testing (TS), treatment of replacing 30% nitrogen fertilizer with organic fertilizer based on TE (TE+OM), and corresponding nitrogen omission treatment (TE-N), phosphorus omission treatment (TE-P), and potassium omission treatment (TE-K). We measured and compared the effects of different fertilization managements on radish yield, nutrient uptake, fertilizer utilization and fertilization benefit. The results showed that the N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizer applications based on Nutrient Expert were 200, 132 and 215 kg·hm-2 in the first half of the year, and 171, 204 and 251 kg·hm-2 in the second half of the year, respectively. The Nutrient Expert recommended fertilization adjusted the application amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer. Compared with FP treatment, the economic yield of radish in the two-season experiments increased by 14.8% and 18.4%, and the profit of fertilization increased by 20115 and 14905 yuan·hm-2, respectively. Compared with the TS treatment, the economic yield of radish over the two seasons increased by 9.8% and 16.8%, and the profit of fertilization increased by 9076 and 9987 yuan·hm-2, respectively. The Nutrient Expert recommended fertilization improved the agronomic efficiency and nutrient recovery efficiency of radish, and promoted the efficient utilization of nutrients. The reasonable proportion of organic fertilizer in radish production could promote the transfer of plant nutrients to roots to a certain extent. In general, the application of Nutrient Expert on radish was feasible. This method could make full use of the indigenous nutrients of soil, consider the balance and sustainable supply, and reasonably regulate the supply of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and finally result in high yield, high efficiency and sustainable development of radish production.

Weeding Frequency to Increase Productivity of Sorghum in Gumara -Maksegnit Watershed

In the Amhara region, Ethiopia, sorghum production took 655,671 hectares of land, of which North Gondar zone accounts for one-third of it, 204, 686 ha. But its productivity is low, around 1.9 tons per hectare. Sorghum production has so many constraints, insect pest, disease, and weed infestation are the most known among them. Farmers in the Northwestern Ethiopia, Gumara-maksegnit watershed have no weeding habit of their sorghum at the right time and frequency because they believe that weed-free crops at the early stage of the crop will be infested with stalk borer damage and after at the beginning of September they start to weed their land and used the weed as a feed for their animal. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the weeding frequency of sorghum in Gumara-maksegnit watershed, North Western Ethiopia in order to increase its productivity. The experiment was conducted in the Gumara- maksegnit watershed for two cropping seasons (2014-2015) in the main season at three sites. The experimental design was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments like weed-free, unweeded, and farmers practice treatments, hand weeding once, two times hand weeding, three times hand weeding, and Shelshalo were studied. According to the combined analysis of variance of the two-year data showed that weed-free treatments gave the highest yield (3314 kg/ha) followed by two times and three times hand weeding. However, there was no significant difference between weed-free and two times hand weeding. Therefore, two times hand weeding is recommended for Gondar Zuria and similar agroecological areas.&#x0D;

Cutting carbon footprints of vegetable production with integrated soil - crop system management: A case study of greenhouse pepper production

In China there is an urgent need to improve the sustainability of vegetable production by increasing yields and reducing the environmental losses. However, whilst various single nutrient management measures have proved successful at reducing environmental losses, they have not simultaneously increased yield. Here, we report on a three-year field experiment that used an integrated soil - crop system management (ISSM) approach, to improve crop (pepper) yield and to cut carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) footprints of greenhouse vegetable production in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Treatments included farmers’ practice (FP) for nutrient inputs, soil and crop management; soil remediation (SR), as a single factor approach to optimize soil management, including control of soil borne pathogens and reduced nutrient input by organic resources; and ISSM, as a systematic integrated approach, which includes the combined optimization of factors, including soil remediation, reduced planting density, and improved timing of inorganic fertilizer applications (rate and form). Measurements of pepper yield and N concentrations were used to calculate N offtake, and the C and N footprints were then calculated using life cycle assessment. The three-year continuous field experiment indicated that the mean pepper yield (fresh weight) from the ISSM treatments were 48 t ha−1, 17% and 10% greater than that of the FP and SR treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. The reactive nitrogen (Nr) losses from the FP, SR, and ISSM treatments were 82, 52 and 59 kg N ha−1, respectively. The greenhouse gas emissions of FP, SR, and ISSM treatments were 7061, 5279 and 5728 kg CO2-eq ha−1, respectively. The N and C footprints of the ISSM treatment were significantly lower than the FP treatment by 39% and 30%, respectively, as a result of both a 46% reduction in N inputs (especially an 80% reduction in organic N inputs) and a greater yield. The yield increase contributed to 26% and 37% the reduction of N and C footprints in ISSM treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, there were no significant difference in the N and C footprints between SR and ISSM. This study highlights that the ISSM strategy can produce greater pepper yields with lower environmental costs, and can contribute to sustainable greenhouse vegetable production, and that SR, whilst being a single factor strategy, is a useful first step towards ISSM.

Substituting ecological intensification of agriculture for conventional agricultural practices increased yield and decreased nitrogen losses in North China

There is global concern about the adverse impacts of conventional agricultural practices on the environment. Recent evidence has shown that ecological intensification (EI) of agriculture can safeguard the environment from negative impacts of agricultural practices and simultaneously produce substantially higher crop productivity. Here, we employed the concept of EI and compared it with conventional agriculture or farmer’s practice (FP). We explored the effects of EI and FP treatments on maize yield, N losses via potential nitrification activity (PNA), potential denitrification activity (PDA), N2O emissions, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and nitrogen (N) cycling microbial populations associated with nitrification and denitrification in fluvo-aquic soil and black soil of North China. There were four treatments, i.e., EI N-, FP N-, EI N+, FP N + at each site, - and + indicate no N addition and N addition, respectively. The results revealed that across the two soils, N addition increased PNA and PDA; however, compared with the FP N + treatment, lower PNA and PDA were observed in the EI N + treatment. Similarly, the abundance of N cycling genes, including AOA amoA and AOB amoA, for nitrification and nirS, nirK, and nosZ for denitrification were significantly increased under N addition, and compared with the FP N + treatment, reduced abundance was noted in the EI N + treatment. N2O and GHG emissions were quantified, and it was observed that, in comparison to the FP treatment, reduced N2O and GHG emissions occurred in EI treatments in the two locations. EI with best management practices also increased crop yield relative to FP. Owing to higher N rates in FP treatments, substantial soil acidification was noted in FP plots but not in EI plots. In addition, PNA and PDA were significantly positively linked with soil nitrifying and denitrifying communities, particularly in the black soil. Moreover, the N availability pathway rather than soil acidification mainly regulated N cycling microbial communities. Our results suggest that EI could be a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach due to higher crop productivity and lower N losses via PNA, PDA, N2O, and GHG emissions, thus preventing the negative impact of agricultural practices, especially N fertilization, on the environment.

Reducing Nutrient and Irrigation Rates in Solar Greenhouse without Compromising Tomato Yield

Overapplication of nutrients and water is common in intensive greenhouse systems. A 2-year experiment (2011–13) was conducted to study the effect of different nutrient and water treatments on the growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) and on soil nutrient accumulations in solar greenhouses in South Loess Plateau, China. The treatments included 1) current fertilizer and water practices (FW), 2) formula fertilizer and water 1 (FW1), 3) formula fertilizer and water 2 (FW2), and 4) farmer’s practice (FP). Compared with FW, FW1 and FW2 had yields not significantly different from grower control treatments; however, they saved 35% to 46% of the nitrogen (N) fertilizer, 40% to 54% of the phosphorus (P2O5) fertilizer, 19% to 35% of the potassium (K2O) fertilizer, and 15% to 21% of irrigation water. The economic profits of FW1 and FW2 were greater than those of the FW and FP treatments. The two formula treatments also reduced soil electrical conductivity (EC) and the accumulation of nitrate, available P, and available K in soil. However, the soil nutrients are still above optimal levels. Obvious N surplus in the greenhouse was observed in different treatments, mainly because of high N input from manures. This study revealed there is great potential to reduce nutrient and water use while maintaining the same yield in a greenhouse system.

Effect of reducing N and regulated fertilization on N loss from wheat-maize rotation system of farmland in Chao soil region of North China Plain

The application of large amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizer can result in soil N accumulation and consequently N loss. To address these problems in a wheat-maize rotation area of the North China Plain, a two-year field experiment (2016-2017) was conducted to examine the effects of three different N fertilizer strategies on crop yield, N uptake, N loss and soil inorganic N content. The treatments were: controlled-release fertilizer, microbial fertilizer, nitrification inhibitor and farmer's practice (control). The results showed that the wheat yield from the microbial fertilizer treatment in 2016 was significantly lower than that from the controlled-release fertilizer treatment and the nitrification inhibitor treatment, but was not significantly different from conventional farmer fertilization. The N uptake of wheat and annual crops in the microbial fertilizer treatment was significantly reduced. There was no significant difference in crop yield and N uptake among the treatments in 2017. Soil fertility of the tillage layer was maintained or improved in all three treatments compared with the control, and the contents of alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available potassium and organic matter increased with the increase of plant growth period in the microbial fertilizer treatment. Microbial fertilizer and nitrification inhibitor reduced the inorganic N content in the 40-100 cm soil profile, while controlled-release fertilizer increased the inorganic N content in the 0-40 cm soil layer. N loss through ammonia volatilization was higher than that through leaching, which was greater than the loss through N2O emission. Runoff loss was negligible. Among the treatments, N loss in farmer's practice treatment was the highest. Microbial fertilizer significantly reduced N loss through ammonia volatilization, but the loss through leaching was larger. In conclusion, with reduced N application compared with the farmer's practice, controlled release fertilizer and nitrification inhibitor could maintain crop yield and N uptake, and microbial fertilizer could ensure crop yield and N uptake for a longer plant growth period. The results suggested that inorganic N content in the 40-100 cm soil layer could be reduced in the soil by adding microbial fertilizer and nitrification inhibitors, and the amount of inorganic N was not reduced significantly by application of controlled release fertilizer. Several N reduction measures could reduce N loss. The microbial fertilizer treatment needed to be modified to reduce N leaching.

Year-round film mulching system with monitored fertilization management improve grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies of winter wheat in the dryland of the Loess Plateau, China.

Year-round film mulching in winter wheat field facilitates rainwater storage in summer fallow period and reduces water evaporation in growing reason, and then increases water use efficiency in the dryland of the Loess Plateau, China. Optimized fertilization further promotes fertilizer utilization efficiencies. In this study, plastic film mulching was extended from plant growth season to summer fallow, and fertilizers were applied by monitoring soil nutrient availability. Field trials were conducted in the dryland of the Loess Plateau over 4years by using four types of cultivation to investigate the effects of year-round plastic film mulching with monitored fertilization on utilization efficiencies of rainwater and nitrogen (N), and winter wheat yield. The four types of cultivation were farmer practice (FP), ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching system plus conventional fertilization(RPCF), ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching system plus monitored fertilization (RPFM), and flat soil surface with plastic film mulching system plus monitored fertilization (FPFM). Our results indicate that the average yield of winter wheat in RPFM and FPFM treatments was 4491kgha-1. Compared with FP treatment, the combined effects of monitored fertilization and film mulching(RPFM and FPFM treatments) could increase grain yield in the range of 24.7 to 42.1%. The film mulching extended to the fallow season increased the water storage in 2m depth of soil profile, and the amount of soil water storage in the summer fallow period increased by 27 to 30% in FPFM treatment than FP treatment. After 4-year consecutive planting of wheat, the accumulation of nitrate-N in 2m soil reached 277kg·ha-1 in the FP treatment, which is 87.7% higher than of the level at the beginning of the experiment. Seventy-five percent of nitrate-N was distributed in the soil layer of 0-120cm. In addition, the residual nitrate-N showed downward leaching with rainfall during the experiment. The RPFM and FPFM treatments reduced the apparent loss and residual levels of soil N, whereas increased its apparent mineralization compared with FP treatment. The FPFM treatment exhibited a greater utilization of residual nitrate-N from previous years and showed a higher amount of the mineralized N from soil organic matter, therefore leading to a relatively high apparent utilization rate of N (56.7%). Considering both grain yield production and utilization efficiencies of water and N, FPFM with year-round mulching was the most effective cultivation measure for winter wheat in the Loess Plateau.

Nutrient Source and Tillage Effects on Maize: II. Yield, Soil Carbon, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Core Ideas Industrial biotechnology waste as a soil amendment approximates farmer practice yields. Applying waste amendments significantly increased soil organic C compared with farmer practice. Using waste nutrients for agriculture and soil organic matter improves sustainability. Reuse of industrial biotechnology by‐products has become an important component of circular bio‐economies whereby nutrient‐rich wastes are returned to agricultural land to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. Heat‐inactivated spent microbial biomass (SMB) from the production of 1,3‐propanediol is an industrial fermentation by‐product with nutrients that could replace or supplement conventional fertilizers. Our objectives were to determine if SMB utilization as a soil amendment in agriculture could generate environmental benefits while meeting farmer yield expectations and assess the impact of SMB application on CO2 emissions. This study examined the replacement of typical farmer fertilizer practices with the application of SMB. In addition to yellow dent maize (Zea mays L. var. indentata) grain yield and aboveground biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured. The eddy covariance (EC) micrometeorological method was used to measure CO2 flux. Overall maize yields were positively correlated with increasing application rates of SMB. After two SMB applications, SOC increased by 45% on the SMB plot as compared with an increase of 11% on the farmer practice plot. The SMB‐treated plot also emitted more CO2 (794 g CO2 m−2 yr−1) compared with the farmer practice treatment (274 g CO2 m−2 yr−1). Results from this study provide information on the efficacy of waste product nutrient cycling in the soil–plant ecosystem that could improve productivity and sustainability.

Nutrient Expert Improves Nitrogen Efficiency and Environmental Benefits for Winter Wheat in China

Core Ideas Nutrient Expert is a new nutrient management approach and is confirmed for use in north‐central China.The continual feasibility of Nutrient Expert was evaluated through multiple‐point field experiments.This is the first report of Nutrient Expert on improving environmental benefits of winter wheat. Over application of N and P and poor nutrient management have become a common practice on the North China Plain, and lead to low nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and serious environmental problems. Thus, nutrient management for crops must be improved. In this study, 315 field experiments were conducted from 2011 to 2014 in major winter wheat domains in north‐central China to validate the continual feasibility of the Nutrient Expert (NE) system for improving NUE and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The NE system significantly increased grain yield, profitability, and NUE, and decreased GHG emission. Compared with farmers’ practice (FP), the NE treatment reduced N and P inputs by 41.4 and 30.1% (115 kg N ha−1 and 36 kg P2O5 ha−1), respectively, and increased K input by 51.5% (25 kg K2O ha−1). Compared with the FP and soil testing (ST) treatments, the NE treatment increased agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN) by 70.0 and 13.3%, recovery efficiency of nitrogen (REN) by 73.8 and 13.3%, and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) by 58.5 and 22.2%, respectively. Compared with the FP and ST treatments, the NE treatment reduced total N2O emissions by 54.8 and 26.3%, total GHG emissions by 44.8 and 22.9%, and GHG emission intensity by 45.8 and 22.0%, respectively. These results confirmed that NE is an effective method to make fertilizer recommendations for wheat in north‐central China and has the potential to improve yield, NUE, and profitability, with low environmental pollution.

Effect of nutrient management on soil organic carbon sequestration, fertility, and productivity under rice-wheat cropping system in semi-reclaimed sodic soils of North India.

The ever shrinking agricultural land availability and the swelling demand of food for the growing population fetch our attention towards utilizing partially reclaimed sodic soils for cultivation. In the present investigation, we compared six treatments, like control (T1), existing farmers' practice (T2), balanced inorganic fertilization (T3) and combined application of green gram (Vigna radiate) with inorganic NPK (T4), green manure (Sesbania aculeate) with inorganic NPK (T5), and farmyard manure with inorganic NPK (T6), to study the influence of nutrient management on soil organic carbon sequestration and soil fertility under long-term rice-wheat cropping system along with its productivity in gypsum-amended partially reclaimed sodic soils of semi-arid sub-tropical Indian climate. On an average, combined application of organics along with fertilizer NPK (T4, T5, and T6) decreased soil pH, ESP, and BD by 3.5, 13.0, and 6.7% than FP (T2) and 3.7, 12.5, and 6.7%, than balanced inorganic fertilizer application (T3), respectively, in surface (0-20cm). These treatments (T4, T5, and T6) also increased 14.1% N and 19.5% P availability in soil over the usual farmers' practice (FP) with an additional saving of 44.4 and 27.3% fertilizer N and P, respectively. Long-term (6years) incorporation of organics (T4, T5, and T6) sequestered 1.5 and 2.0 times higher soil organic carbon as compared to the balanced inorganic (T3) and FP (T2) treatments, respectively. The allocation of soil organic carbon into active and passive pools determines its relative susceptibility towards oxidation. The lower active to passive ratio (1.63) in FYM-treated plots along with its potentiality of higher soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration compared to the initial stock proved its acceptability for long-term sustenance under intensive cropping even in partially reclaimed sodic soils. Among all the treatments, T4 yielded the maximum from second year onwards. Moreover, after 6years of continuous cultivation, the observed EWY (2011-2012) was found to be 41.9 and 33.1% higher in T4 as compared to FP (T2) and T3, respectively. Thus, for maintaining higher yield coupled with improved SOC sequestration and nutrient availability, T4 followed by T6 treatments would be the suitable options for long-term intensive rice-wheat system in partially reclaimed sodic soils of northern India.

Nutrient Expert Improves Nitrogen Efficiency and Environmental Benefits for Summer Maize in China

Core Ideas Nutrient expert is a nutrient decision support tool and this study confirmed that it could be used in north‐central China. The continual performance of nutrient expert was evaluated through multiple‐point field experiments. This is the first report of nutrient expert on improving environmental benefits of summer maize. Modern agriculture needs environmentally friendly approaches to increase production, improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and promote ecologically sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted from 2010 to 2014 in 389 farmers’ fields across major summer maize growing regions in north‐central China to evaluate the continual performance of the nutrient expert (NE) system for improving NUE and environmental benefits. Results indicated that NE significantly increased grain yield and profitability by reducing N fertilizer rate by 35.1% (84.6 kg N ha−1), increasing the K rate by 68.1% (25.8 kg K2O ha−1), and keeping the P rate the same as the farmers’ practice (FP). On average, NUE achieved in the NE treatment was significantly higher than for FP and fertilizer recommendation based on soil testing (OPTS). The NE increased agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN) by 50.8 and 17.3%, recovery efficiency of nitrogen (REN) by 67.7 and 15.9%, and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) by 43.8 and 21.2% compared with FP and OPTS, respectively. Furthermore, the calculated total N2O emission, total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and GHG emission intensity were 35.1 and 17.5%, 35.2 and 18.4%, and 37.3 and 17.4% lower in the NE treatment when compared with FP and OPTS, respectively. The differences in yield, economic benefits, NUE, and GHG emission among NE, FP, and OPTS treatments confirmed that NE is a promising nutrient decision support tool and has the potential to improve NUE and environmental benefits for summer maize (Zea mays L.) in north‐central China.

Nitrogen Dynamics and Nitrate Leaching in Intensive Vegetable Rotations in Highlands of Central Java, Indonesia

High rainfall intensity is major factor governing leaching process, where leaching is often the most important process of N loss from the field and lead to agricultural environmental pollution. In order to measure the movement of mineral-N in soil profile, a field research had been conducted in two sites of center vegetable farming area with six farmer cooperators in Central Java, Indonesia. Regular soil sampling was done from Improve Practice (IP) and Farmer Practice (FP) treatment for three planting seasons during 2007. Almost all treatments FP applied higher rate of N fertilizer compare to IP, but it was not reflected in N profile. Comparison of predicted and measured mineral N content was simulated using Burns α model, then the closeness of the estimation and measured calculated using Coefficient of Residual Mass (CRM) calculation as an indicator with 0 as ideal value. Out of 9 measurements of IP and FP treatment, eight and seven measurements had negative CRM representinga slight overestimation. The NO3-N loss estimated using the Burns α model for IP and FP was in average of 67% for IP and 71% for FP of total N fertilizer added or 67% for IP and 76% for FP of total-N surplus, respectively. The calculation of potential nitrate concentration (PNC) at 1 m soil depth at the end of the third season showed a high concentration with significant different of IP and FP having mean value of 59.8 and 82.5 mg N L-1. From the gathered data it was obvious that over N fertilization had negative effect to agricultural environment.