Quincy Fine Sand Research Articles

Effects of Biochar and Biosolid on Adsorption of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in Two Soils

Increasing the retention of nutrients by agricultural soils is of great interest to minimize losses of nutrients by leaching and/or surface runoff. Soil amendments play a role in nutrient retention by increasing the surface area and/or other chemical processes. Biochar (BC) is high carbon-containing by-product of pyrolysis of carbon-rich feedstocks to produce bioenergy. Biosolid is a by-product of wastewater treatment plant. Use of these by-products as amendments to agricultural soils is beneficial to improve soil properties, soil quality, and nutrient retention and enhance carbon sequestration. In this study, the adsorption of NH4-N, P, and K by a sandy soil (Quincy fine sand (QFS)) and a silty clay loam soil (Warden silty loam (WSL)) with BC (0, 22.4, and 44.8 mg ha−1) and biosolid (0 and 22.4 mg ha−1) amendments were investigated. Adsorption of NH4-N by the QFS soil increased with BC application at lower NH4-N concentrations in equilibrium solution. For the WSL soil, NH4-N adsorption peaked at 22.4 mg ha−1 BC rate. Biosolid application increased NH4-N adsorption by the WSL soil while decreased that in the QFS soil. Adsorption of P was greater by the WSL soil as compared to that by the QFS soil. Biosolid amendment significantly increased P adsorption capacity in both soils, while BC amendment had no significant effects. BC and biosolid amendments decreased K adsorption capacity by the WSL soil but had no effects on that by the QFS soil. Ca release with increasing addition of K was greater by the WSL soil as compared to that by the QFS soil. In both the soils, Ca release was not influenced by BC amendment while it increased with addition of biosolid. The fit of adsorption data for NH4-N, P, and K across all treatments and in two soils was better with the Freundlich model than that with the Langmuir model. The nutrients retained by BC or biosolid amended soils are easily released, therefore are readily available for the root uptake in cropped soils.

Effects of water treatment residuals and coal combustion byproduct amendments on properties of a sandy soil and impact on crop production – a pot experiment

The application of byproducts of coal combustion (fly ash: FA), livestock industry (chicken manure: CM), or water treatment residuals (sewage sludge: SS, or incinerated SS: ISS) to agricultural soils is an alternative to stockpiling in landfills, provided this does not lead to negative effects on environmental quality and/or enhances crop yield and/or quality. A pot experiment was conducted with the application of CM (5.6, 11.2 or 22.4 Mg ha−1), SS, ISS, or FA (22.4, 44.8, or 89.6 Mg ha−1) on properties of a Quincy fine sand and growth (130 days) and yield of ‘Russet Burbank’ (RB), and ‘Umatilla Russet’ (UR) potato cultivars. No significant effect was evident on RB cultivar with most of the treatments except yield reduction at 89.6 Mg ha−1 SS. Tuber yield of UR cultivar increased with 11.2 or 89.6 Mg ha−1 of CM or ISS, and decreased with 89.6 Mg ha−1 SS. Sequential fractionation of metals in the soils revealed significant treatment effects on the distribution of different forms (readily soluble, organically bound, precipitated, and residual forms) of Cu and Zn, particularly in respect to various rates of SS and ISS. Concentrations of total, organically bound, or precipitated Cu and Zn increased with increasing rates of SS and ISS.

Mineralization of Nitrogen from Biofuel By-products and Animal Manures Amended to a Sandy Soil

Transformations of nitrogen (N) from poultry litter (PL), dairy manure compost (DMC), anaerobically digested fiber (ADF), Perfect Blend 7–2–2 (PB), a compost/litter mixture (C/L), dried distillers grains from ethanol production (DG), and mustard meal from biodiesel production (MM) applied to a Quincy fine sand were investigated in an incubation experiment over 210 days. The cumulative release totals of available N after 210 days were 61, 61, 56, 44, 29, 2, and –2% for the total N in MM, PB, DG, PL, C/L, DMC, and ADF, respectively. With application of MM and DG, ammonium (NH4-N) accumulated initially in the soil with very little nitrification, possibly because of inhibition of nitrification related to chemical compounds in the amendments. Mineralization of organic N to NH4-N and nitrate (NO3-N) was relatively slow from MM- and DG-amended soils, indicating the potential for using biofuel by-products as slow-release N sources for plants.

A Crop Simulation Model for Predicting Yield and Fate of Nitrogen in Irrigated Potato Rotation Cropping System

Simulation models are valuable tools to evaluate soil processes, crop growth, and production responses under varied agroclimatic and input-management production conditions. In this study, an upgraded potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop growth simulation model (CSPotato) was integrated with a multi-year, multi-crop simulation model (CropSystVB). The integrated CropSystVB-CSPotato model facilitated prediction of soil processes, and growth and yields of different crops in a potato rotation system under center pivot irrigation. The integrated model was validated using two years (2001-2002) of field data on ‘Ranger Russet’ cultivar grown in a Quincy fine sand in the Pacific Northwest Columbia Basin production region under different nitrogen-management practices. This study showed good agreement between the measured and predicted yields as well as N uptake across different N management practices in both years. The predicted water as well as nitrogen drainage below the potato rooting depth (0.6 m) was greater in 2002 than that in 2001. This study demonstrated that the upgraded potato model integrated with CropSystVB can be used as a valuable decision tool to predict the crop yields, fate, and transport of N in irrigated potato rotation cropping systems.

Effects of Various Preplant and In‐Season Nitrogen Management Practices for Potatoes on Plant and Soil Nitrogen Status

Adequate availability of nitrogen (N) to satisfy potato crop N requirement is critical for production of optimal tuber yields with high processing qualities, which will contribute to maximum net returns. The agroclimatic conditions in the Columbia Basin region in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) supports high potato tuber yields with high processing qualities. Best management of N fertilization is important to increase N uptake efficiency and to minimize N losses. Monitoring soil and petiole N provides a basis to evaluate available N in the soil and N status in the plants. This study was conducted on a Quincy fine sand (mixed, mesic Xeric Torripsamments; >95% sand) using ‘Ranger Russet’ potato cultivar. Potato followed by 2 years of sweet corn rotation was adapted in this study. Treatments included the following preplant (PP) + in‐season (IS) N rates in kg ha−1: (i) 56 + 280, (ii) 112 + 224, or (iii) 112 + 336 in 2004 or 112 + 112 in 2005. The IS N was applied in five equally divided doses at 2‐week intervals, 3 weeks after seedling emergence. An additional treatment was included with treatment (ii) N rates, except that IS N was delivered in 10 weekly applications. Total tuber yield ranged from 54 to 64 and 78 to 90 Mg ha−1, respectively, in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, during the first 65 days after emergence (DAE), petiole nitrate (NO3) concentration was lower in the treatment (i) than that in the other treatments. This difference was not evident in 2005. The petiole NO3 concentrations were lower in 2005 than that in 2004, particularly during latter part of the growing period. Soil available N [nitrate NO3‐N + ammonium (NH4) N in the top 30 cm] concentrations were also greater in 2004 than those in 2005. Soil N appeared to increase toward the end of the growing season in 2004, which has negative effects on tuber yield and quality. Across all treatments, total tuber yield and that of >340‐g grade tubers were greater in 2005 than that in 2004.

Effects of Pre-Plant and In-Season Nitrogen Management Practices on Tuber Yield and Quality of Two Potato Cultivars

ABSTRACT A good balance in pre-plant and in-season nitrogen (N) application is important for optimal production of high quality potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers in coarse texture soils, to improve N uptake efficiency, and minimize N losses. Field experiments were conducted in a Quincy fine sand (mixed, mesic Xeric Torripsamments) in the Columbia Basin region in the Pacific Northwest under center pivot irrigation. In the first year (2000), ‘Russet Burbank’ and ‘Umatilla Russet’ cultivars were grown with 112 kg·ha− of N as pre-plant soil application. In-season fertigation was done with 224 kg·ha− of N in either 2, 5, 10, or 20 doses starting three weeks after emergence. In-season N frequency had no significant effects on the tuber yield (60 Mg-ha−) or quality of both the cultivars. The second year (2001) ‘Ranger Russet’ and ‘Umatilla Russet’ cultivars were grown with either 56, 112, or 168 kg·ha− pre-plant N treatment (including the soil residual N content). The total N over the entire growing period wa...

Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from an Irrigated Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.)–Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Rotation

Intensive agriculture and increased N fertilizer use have contributed to elevated emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO(2)), methane (CH(4)), and nitrous oxide (N(2)O). In this study, the exchange of CO(2), N(2)O, and CH(4) between a Quincy fine sand (mixed, mesic Xeric Torripsamments) soil and atmosphere was measured in a sweet corn (Zea mays L.)-sweet corn-potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) rotation during the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons under irrigation in eastern Washington. Gas samples were collected using static chambers installed in the second-year sweet corn and potato plots under conventional tillage or reduced tillage. Total emissions of CO(2)-C from sweet corn integrated over the season were 2071 and 1684 kg CO(2)-C ha(-1) for the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons, respectively. For the same period, CO(2) emissions from potato plots were 1571 and 1256 kg of CO(2)-C ha(-1). Cumulative CO(2) fluxes from sweet corn and potato fields were 17 and 13 times higher, respectively, than adjacent non-irrigated, native shrub steppe vegetation (NV). Nitrous oxide losses accounted for 0.5% (0.55 kg N ha(-1)) of the applied fertilizer (112 kg N ha(-1)) in corn and 0.3% (0.59 kg N ha(-1)) of the 224 kg N ha(-1) applied fertilizer. Sweet corn and potato plots, on average, absorbed 1.7 g CH(4)-C ha(-1) d(-1) and 2.3 g CH(4)-C ha(-1) d(-1), respectively. The global warming potential contributions from NV, corn, and potato fields were 459, 7843, and 6028 kg CO(2)-equivalents ha(-1), respectively, for the 2005 growing season and were 14% lower in 2006.

Setpoints for Potato Irrigation in Sandy Soils Using Real-Time, Continuous Monitoring of Soil-Water Content in Soil Profile

ABSTRACT Adequate availability of water during the potato-growing season is critical for production of high yields of premium processing quality tubers. Real-time, continuous monitoring of soil water content in the soil profile can be used to optimize irrigation. In this study, capacitance probes were used for automated measurement of soil water content at 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 cm depth in a Center Pivot irrigated potato (cv. Ranger Russet) field in a Quincy fine sand (mixed, mesic, Xeric Torripsamments). Depth integrated soil water content was calculated within the rooting depth (0–60 cm) and below the rooting depth (60–120 cm). Irrigation was scheduled to replenish either full evapotranspiration (ET), or 70% of ET (deficit irrigation). The soil water content at the 10 and 30 cm depth, as well as depth integrated soil water content in the 0–60 cm depth soil responded to each irrigation event. The “Full Point” and “Refill Point” for the soil within potato root zone (0–60 cm depth) were estimated to represent the maximum water holding capacity, and the soil water content at which irrigation is to be scheduled to avoid water stress, respectively. Depth integrated soil water content in the 0–60 cm-depth soil profile remained mostly above the Full Point during most of the growing season in the Full ET irrigation treatment, but remained within the Full Point and Refill Point for the deficit irrigation treatment.

Temperature Quotients of Ammonia Emission of Different Nitrogen Sources Applied to Four Agricultural Soils

Emission of N as NH3 is the primary gaseous loss of N from N sources applied to soils. Knowledge of NH3 volatilization, however, in relation to temperature is incomplete. Soils used in this study were a Biscayne marl soil (BMS) and Krome gravelly loam (KGL) from Florida, and Quincy fine sand (QFS) and Warden silt loam (WSL) soils from Washington. These soils were amended with either KNO3, NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, or urea, and incubated at 11, 20, or 29°C under 20 or 80% field capacity (FC) soil water regimes. A change in the rate of NH3 emission corresponding to a 9°C change in temperature is expressed as the temperature quotient (Q9), which describes the temperature effect on rates of NH3 volatilization. At 20°C, the cumulative NH3 emission at 20% FC was up to 8.1‐fold greater than that at 80% FC. The Q9 values of NH3 emission from the WSL soil were up to 10‐fold greater than those from the other three soils amended with either (NH4)2SO4 or NH4NO3 The Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) was about 188 J mol−1 for the WSL soil but ≤42 J mol−1 for the other soils. Volatilization from the WSL soil was highly temperature dependent. These results indicate that Q9 and Ea could be used as indices for N management for crop production to minimize NH3 emissions. Further research is needed, however, to verify the above relationships across a wide range of soils and agroclimatic regions.

High Water Regime Can Reduce Ammonia Volatilization from Soils under Potato Production

This research was conducted with Biscayne marl soil and Krome gravelly loam from Florida and Quincy fine sand and Warden silt loam from Washington to determine ammonia (NH3) volatilization at various temperature and soil water regimes. Potassium nitrate (KNO3), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4], or urea were applied to the soil at a rate of 75 kg N ha−1. Soil water regime was maintained at either 20% or 80% of field capacity (FC) and incubated at 11, 20, or 29°C, which represented the minimum, average, and maximum temperatures, respectively, during the potato growing season in Washington. Results indicated that the ammonia volatilization rate at 20% FC soil water regime was two‐ to three‐fold greater than that at 80% FC. The cumulative volatilization loss over 28 days was up to 25.7%. Results of this study demonstrated that ammonia volatilization was accelerated at low soil water regimes.

Moisture Quotients for Ammonia Volatilization from Four Soils in Potato Production Regions

Ammonia (NH3) emission from nitrogen (N) fertilizers used in agriculture decreases N uptake by the crop and negatively impacts air quality. In order to better understand the factors influencing NH3 emission from agriculture, this research was conducted with four major soils used for potato production: Biscayne Marl Soil (BMS, pH 7.27), and Krome Gravelly Loam (KGL, pH 7.69) from Florida; and Quincy Fine Sand (QFS, pH 6.65), and Warden Silt Loam (WSL, pH 6.46) from Washington. Potassium nitrate (KNO3), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) or urea ((NH)2CO) sources were evaluated for ammonia volatilization at 75 kg N ha−1 rate. The soil water regime was maintained at either 20 or 80% of field capacity (FC), and incubated at 11, 20 or 29°C. Results indicated that NH3 volatilization rate at 20% FC was 2 to 3-fold greater than that at 80% FC. The cumulative volatilization loss over 28 days ranged from 0.21% of N applied as NH4NO3 to 25.7% as (NH4)2SO4. Results of this study demonstrate that NH3 volatilization was accelerated at the low soil water regime. Moisture quotient (Q) is defined as a ratio of NH3 emission rate at 20% FC to that at 80% FC both at the same temperature. The peak Q values of NH3 volatilization were up to 20.8 for the BMS soil at 20°C, 112.9 for the KGL soil at 29°C, 19.0 for the QFS soil at 20°C, and 74.1 for the WSL soil at 29°C, respectively. Thus, maintaining a suitable soil water regime is important to minimize N-loss via NH3 volatilization and to improve N uptake efficiency and air quality.

Petiole and Soil Nitrogen Concentrations during the Growing Season of Two Potato Cultivars as Influenced by Different Nitrogen‐Management Practices

Fine‐tuning potato nitrogen (N) management for irrigated sandy soils is a desirable goal to optimize the production and minimize negative impacts on the environment. Effects of different rates of preplant N (PP‐N) applications and different rates and frequencies of in‐season N (IS‐N) for two potato cultivars were evaluated for 2 years (2001 and 2002) in a Quincy fine sand (mixed, mesic, Xeric Torripsamments) in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). In the 2001 experiment, the petiole nitrate (NO3‐N) concentrations in both the cultivars were in the optimum range in the samples taken 22 days after emergence (DAE). In the subsequent sampling, the petiole NO3‐N concentrations showed a wide range proportional to the rates of IS‐N. In the 2002 experiment, the petiole NO3‐N concentrations were in the excess range in most treatments until about 51 DAE in both the cultivars, followed by a decline in concentrations to the low range. The petiole phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations were mostly above the excess range in both the cultivars over the entire sampling period. The soil N data showed that the transformation of urea N was quite rapid and that the extractable ammonium (NH4‐N) and NO3‐N concentrations in the soil returned to the background levels within 90 days after the PP‐N application. The results of this study demonstrate a rapid transformation of preplant applied urea N into NH4‐N and NO3‐N and depletion of the available N in the top 120 cm of soil. This, in turn, supports the need for IS‐N applications to meet the crop N requirement during the later growing period.

Sustainable Nutrient Management in Sandy Soils–Fate and Transport of Nutrients from Animal Manure versus Inorganic Sources

ABSTRACT Sustainable agricultural production practices contribute to minimize the potential negative effects on the environment including reduction in non-point source pollution of groundwater, in addition to various other environmentally sustainable goals. Understanding nutrient leaching patterns from different nutrient sources in a sandy soil is important to develop management alternatives to minimize nutrient leaching, improve nutrient uptake efficiency, thus to make the system sustainable as well as economically attractive. Leaching column experiment was conducted using Quincy fine sand packed to simulate the natural soil profile of 120 cm depth. The treatments included (1) unamended; (2) 100 kg N ha−1 as urea; (3) 100 kg ha−1 each of N and P as urea and KH2PO4; and (4) 200 kg N ha−1 as manure. All columns received uniform bromide (Br−) applications at 112 kg ha−1, as KBr and leached with 5 pore volumes (PV; 45 L) of water. The Br was leached entirely in the second PV of leachate, and Br retention in the soil was negligible. Leaching of NH4-N was considerably lower than that of NO3-N. Leaching of PO4-P was negligible in the first 3 PV, but increased rapidly during the subsequent leaching. The amount of P leached was much greater from the soil amended with urea plus KH2PO4 than that with the manure. The residual soil N after the completion of leaching of 5 PV of water showed NH4-N concentrations ≤ 1.5 mg kg−1 through the entire depth of the soil column, across all treatments.

Effects of Tuber Depth and Soil Moisture on Infection of Potato Tubers in Soil by Phytophthora infestans.

The effects of tuber depth, soil type, and soil moisture on potato tuber infection due to Phytophthora infestans were assessed under greenhouse conditions in soil contained in large pots. Healthy tubers were used to assess infection and were either hand buried in soil at specific depths or naturally formed from potato plants growing in the soil. A spore suspension of P. infestans was chilled to induce zoospore formation and a suspension of resulting zoospores and sporangia were applied to the soil. Soil depth at which tubers became infected was used to determine the extent of spore movement in the soils. Tuber infection significantly decreased with increasing soil depth. Most infected tubers were found at the surface of soil; infection was rare on tubers at 5 cm or deeper in the soil. Amount of tuber infection varied among soil types. Significantly less tuber infection occurred in a Shano silt loam than in medium and fine sands. Only tubers on the soil surface were infected in the Shano silt loam. Depth in soil at which tubers became infected did not differ significantly among Quincy fine sand, Quincy loamy fine sand, and Quincy medium sand. Increased soil moisture did not significantly increase the soil depth at which tuber infection occurred, regardless of the soil type.

CORN, WHEAT, AND POTATO CROP RESIDUE DECOMPOSITION AND NITROGEN MINERALIZATION IN SANDY SOILS UNDER AN IRRIGATED POTATO ROTATION

Transformation of organic nitrogen (N) from both soil organic matter and from crop residues into inorganic forms is an important process which determines the pool of available N for the subsequent crop. This study was conducted in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) on an irrigated Quincy fine sand where potato (Solanum tuberosum) was grown in three or four year rotations with either corn (Zea mays L.) or wheat (Triticum sativa L.). The decomposition of crop residue and the mineralization of nitrogen (N) provides a source of plant available N to the next crop. An in-situ column incubation technique was used to determine the N mineralized during January through September 2000 from corn, wheat, and potato crop residues. The soil was sieved to determine the amount of crop residues present in the soil which contributes to N mineralization. The dry weight of the crop residue in January soil samples, taken at the top 30 cm depth, ranged from 8.4 for potato to 26.5 Mg ha−1 for corn, but decreased to 4.6 for potato and 12.7 Mg ha−1 for corn in March. Total N content in the crop residue was used to estimate potentially mineralizable N (PMN) at the time of sampling. The PMN in the top 30 cm soil depth, on the basis of residues sampled in January, were 398, 378, and 121 kg ha−1 for the corn, wheat, and potato crop residues, respectively, but decreased to 189, 114, and 68 kg ha−1, respectively, in March samples. Cumulative N mineralized in the top 30 cm depth of soil during January through September was 172, 128, and 72 kg ha−1 for corn, wheat, and potato residues, respectively. Cumulative N mineralized during January through May accounted for 53 percent of the total N mineralized from January through September. The fate of the mineralized N early in the cropping season is uncertain, since this period represents minimal N uptake by crops.

DRY MATTER AND NITROGEN ACCUMULATIONS AND PARTITIONING IN TWO POTATO CULTIVARS

ABSTRACT Potato plant dry matter and nutrient accumulation and partitioning patterns into various parts of the plant are important to fine tune management practices that optimize the nutrient uptake efficiency and tuber production-dates printpubdate="07/01/2002". Accumulation and partitioning of dry matter and nitrogen (N) during the growing period were evaluated in this four year study for two potato cultivars in high yielding production-dates printpubdate="07/01/2002" conditions in the Columbia Basin production-dates printpubdate="07/01/2002" region in Washington, under irrigated farming. Studies were conducted on a Quincy fine sand, which represents a typical potato production-dates printpubdate="07/01/2002" soil in this region. A full season indeterminate potato cultivar (Russet Burbank) and an early maturing determinate cultivar (Hilite Russet) were used in this study. Partitioning of assimilates into the tuber was similar for both cultivars. The tuber weight accounted for 76 to 87% of total plant weight, while that of stem and leaf weight accounted for 3 to 11, and 9 to 13%, respectively. Tuber weight increased rapidly during 60 to 100 days after planting. Nitrogen content in the tuber, in relation to the total N in the plant, accounted for 81 to 86, and 83 to 89%, for the Hilite Russet and Russet Burbank cultivars, respectively. Nitrogen in the leaves comprised 6 to 18%, and in the stem 3 to 5% of the total plant N. Prior to senescence of the vines, total N in the plants (excluding roots) accounted for up to 350 kg ha−1. At this growth stage, the N in tubers, leaves, and stems represented 68.6, 19.4, and 12.0%, respectively. The above information is useful for N management with the knowledge of soil residual N and availability of N from mineralization of crop residue during the crop growing season.