Shallow Disk Research Articles

The influence of agrotechnical measures on the number of melanin-synthesizing microorganisms

In connection with the growing scale of soil dehumification, studies of the patterns of synthesis of the precursors of humus molecules – melanins of bacterial origin – are becoming increasingly relevant. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of the main factors of agricultural production on the spread of melaninsynthesizing microorganisms: the method of basic soil cultivation, mineral fertilizers, and the type of agricultural crop. Research methods: microbiological, laboratory-analytical, statistical, correlational. As a result, the study found for the first time that the main cultivation of the soil affects the number of melaninsynthesizing microorganisms: micromycetes, bacteria, аzotobacter. In the variant without the application of mineral fertilizers (control), the soil was characterized by the minimum amount of melanin-synthesizing bacteria using the No-till technology, 28.8% more – using disking, and 2.4 times more – using ploughing. The number of melaninsynthesizing micromycetes in the variant without fertilizers was also maximum upon ploughing, the average number was observed with No-till technologies, and the minimum number – using shallow disk tillage. Application of mineral fertilizers in a dose of N30P30K65 leads to an increase in the number of melanin-synthesizing bacteria in the ploughing option by 3.58 times, disking by 3.53 times, No-till technology by 2.28 times. An increase in the dose of mineral fertilizers to N150P100K120 contributes to an increase in the number of melanin-synthesizing bacteria by 5.04 times upon ploughing, 5.78 times upon disking, and 2.24 times upon no-till technologies. The medium-significant nature of the relationship between the content of humus and the number of melanin-synthesizing bacteria (r=0.528) and their share in the total number of microorganisms (r=0.470) suggested that in chernozem inherent in growing sunflowers, humus is formed mainly with the participation melanins of bacterial origin. Metabolites of polysaccharide-synthesizing bacteria take part in the formation of the resistance of humus molecules to microbial mineralization, the probability of the formation of colonies of which has a moderately significant relationship with the content of humus (r=0.532). The results of these studies can be used in the development of recommendations for regulating the content of humus in agricultural soils, preventing its excessive mineralization, which will allow preserving and increasing soil fertility

Changes in the physical and chemical properties of typical chernozem soil during intensive agriculture in Forest-Steppe agrolandscapes

Aim. To study the peculiarities of changes in the physicochemical properties of chernozem soil during intensive farming in the agrolandscapes of the Forest-Steppe. Methods. Field experiment, laboratory, analytical, mathematical-statistical, calculation-comparative. Results. The scientific justification of agrotechnological measures to preserve the potential and increase the effective fertility of typical chernozem under the conditions of application of tillage and mineral fertilizer systems is presented. An analysis of the dynamics of physico-chemical properties under the influence of the use of no-till technology, shallow disk cultivation, plowing with the use of various mineral fertilizers for the cultivation of sunflower and corn for grain was carried out. The impact of cultivation systems and mineral fertilization on changes in physicochemical properties is highlighted, the dynamics of humus content is analyzed, the optimal parameters of its reserves are determined, and the methods of achieving a stably high level of different mineral fertilizers using no-till technology, disking and plowing. Conclusions. On the basis of research, the main key questions regarding the regulation of physico-chemical properties indicators for tillage and mineral fertilization systems were considered, and the effectiveness of the use of no-till technology, shallow disc tillage was proven, and the effectiveness of plowing under long-term intensive mineral load for the cultivation of sunflower and corn was substantiated on grain. The yields of sunflower and corn per grain are given on chernozem typical of intensive farming. The types and forms of manifestation, factors of reproduction and regulation of the potential and increase of effective fertility of black soil are highlighted. A set of agrotechnological measures aimed at preventing the degradation of arable black soils and protecting their fertility in agrocenoses under various agrotechnologies of growing agricultural crops is substantiated.

Exploring the Origin of Geoid Low and Topography High in West Antarctica: Insights from Density Anomalies and Mantle Convection Models

The deepest geoid low globally with respect to hydrostatic equilibrium is in the Ross Sea area. Nearby in West Antarctica is a residual topography high. Both are in a region with thin lithosphere, where a mantle plume has been suggested. Hence upper mantle viscosity could be regionally reduced, allowing for faster rebound than elsewhere upon melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, one of the global climate system’s tipping elements. To study possible causes of the geoid low / topography high combination, we compute the effects of disk-shaped density anomalies. With -1% density anomaly and a global average radial viscosity structure, geoid low and topography high can be explained with disk radius about 10° and depth range ~150-650 km. Alternatively, there may be two separate disks somewhat laterally displaced, one just below the lithosphere and mainly causing a dynamic topography high and one below the transition zone causing the geoid low. If viscosity in the uppermost mantle is reduced by a factor 10 (from 50 to 350 km depth) to 100 (from 100 to 220 km), one shallow disk in the depth range 50-350 km would also be sufficient. In order to test the feasibility of such density models, we perform computations of a thermal plume that enters at the base of a cartesian box corresponding to a region in the upper mantle, as well as some whole-mantle thermal plume models, with ASPECT. These plume models have typically a narrow conduit and the plume tends to only become wider as it spreads beneath the lithosphere, typically shallower than ~300 km. These results are most consistent with the shallow disk model with reduced uppermost mantle viscosity, hence providing further support for such low viscosities beneath West Antarctica.

Іnfluence of long-term use of primary tillage systems on weed infestation of agrocenosis

Topicality. The study of the long-term use of different primary tillage systems will allow us to identify, and consequently predict, possible impacts on production from their use. Purpose. To study the impact of long-term use of different systems of primary tillage on weed infestation of fields. Methods. The research was conducted in a ten-field crop rotation of the stationary experiment in 1989–2000, five-field in 2001–2008, four-field in 2009–2016, and four-field in 2017–2022 at the Khmelnytskyi State Agricultural Experi- mental Station of the Institute of Feed Research and Agriculture of Podillia. In the first (1989–2000) and second (2001–2008) periods, seven systems of primary tillage were studied, including1) moldboard tillage for all crops; 2) chisel tillage for all crops; 3) combined system 1 – surface disking under winter crops after annual crops, moldboard tillage for sugar beet, chisel tillage for all other crops; 4) combined system 2 – surface disking for winter crops after annual crops, chisel tillage for sugar beet, moldboard tillage for all other crops; 5) subsurface tillage for all crops; 6) variable-depth ploughing for all crops; 7) surface tillage – surface disking for all crops. Five systems were studied in the third (2009–2016) and fourth (2017–2022) periods: 1) moldboard tillage for all crops; 2) chisel tillage for all crops; 3) subsurface tillage for all crops; 4) disk tillage for all crops; 5) minimum tillage – shallow disk tillage for all crops, and since 2020 – differentiated tillage, which includes moldboard and moldboardless tillage in crop rotation. The crop cultivation technology is generally accepted for the zone, with the exception of the studied variants of the primary tillage systems. Results. The results of studies of the impact of long-term use of different systems of primary tillage on the quantitative and species composition of the weed component of agrocenosis are presented. It was found that the most favourable phytosanitary condition for all crops was observed under the moldboard system, which resulted in the lowest weed infestation, the chisel system being the closest to it. In all moldboardless systems, the number of weeds was 38–110 % higher than in the moldboard system, their vegetative air-dry weight increased by 15–47 %, and the number of species increased by 6–31 %. Conclusions. As a result of long-term use of different systems of primary tillage, it was found that the best phytosanitary condition for all agrocenosis was in the moldboard system, which was characterised by the lowest number and weight of weeds, the closest to it was the chisel system. In general, the number of weeds in moldboardless systems was 38–110 % higher than in moldboard systems, their vegetative air-dry weight increased by 15–47 %, and the number of species increased by 12–29 %. During 33 years, the field agrocenosis was purified from weeds due to all systems of primary tillage with a decrease in the number of weeds by 53–71 %, their vegetative air-dry mass by 52–70 %, and the number of species by 33–58 %, with the simultaneous formation of a small group of resistant species that are present in agrocenosis permanently in all systems. Key words: moldboard tillage, chisel tillage, subsurface tillage, disking, weeds

Моніторинг забур’яненості посівів сої у короткоротаційній сівозміні

Goal. To monitor the species and quantity composition of weeds in soy sowings of short crop rotation. Methods. Field, laboratory, calculation, and comparison. Results. The research was carried out in 2016–2021 in a stationary 2-factor field experiment on typical chornozem in a short crop rotation (spring barley — sunflower — soy — winter wheat), which includes 3 tillage systems (shelf, shallow disk, and no-till technology), and 3 fertilizer systems (without fertilizers, resource-saving minimized, intensive). The given data indicated that in the agrocenosis of soy, the main type of weediness was mixed, and consisted of small-year monocotyledonous-dicotyledonous, and accompanying rhizomes. It was established that late spring species had the largest share (45–55%). The share of early spring weeds was 18–26%, winter and winter weeds — 7.0–24%, and perennial species — 8–18% of the total amount. The lowest number of weeds in soy crops was fixed for shelf tillage. Conclusions. In the conditions of the zone of unstable moisture of the Left Bank Forest Steppe in short crop rotation with the long-term use of various systems of main tillage on typical shallow low-humus chornozem, for growing soy, it was established that the system of main tillage, which was based on shelf tillage, had significant advantages in terms of reducing weediness of soy sowings over the shelf-less cultivation system with disc tools and no-till technology. It was found that under an intensive fertilizer system, Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Roem. et Schult. develop more intensively. Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Polygonum scabrum Moench. spread in the background without the use of fertilizers, while under the resource-saving minimized fertilizer system, their number decreases due to the increase in the competitiveness of the culture. The use of shelf cultivation leads to the spread of dicotyledonous weed species in soy agrocenosis. The number of young monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed species increases during tillage.

Приемы повышения эффективности возделывания нута на черноземных почвах

The results of three-year studies on the effectiveness of cultivating chickpea varieties Privo 1 and Volgogradsky 10 on chernozem soils of the Volgograd region, depending on the methods of basic tillage and growth stimulants, are presented. Factor A was the main tillage: 1. Plowing to a depth of 25-27 cm, selected as a control; 2. Chisel loosening by the working bodies of the RANCH to a depth of 35-37 cm with a 20 cm layer turnover; 3. Shallow disk processing with a disk harrow "Kivon" to a depth of 12-15 cm. Factor B was the biological preparations that were used in the pre-sowing treatment of seeds and carrying out leaf feeding: 1. Control without drugs; 2. Zircon; 3. Polydon bean. On average, for 2019-2021, the maximum yield of chickpeas of the Privo 1 variety was set on a variant of deep chisel processing using the Polydon bean biological preparation and was equal to 2.68 t/ha. The maximum yield of chickpeas of the Volgogradsky 10 variety was established on the variant of deep chisel processing using the Polydon bean biopreparation and on average for 2019-2021 was 3.02 t/ha, that is, it turned out to be 0.34 t/ha more than that of the Privo 1 variety. The estimated profit per hectare of chickpeas of the Privo 1 variety was the highest on the chisel variant deep processing with the use of Polydon bean biopreparation and was equal to 37802 rubles. The estimated profit per hectare of chickpea crops of the Volgogradsky 10 variety was the highest on the variant of chisel deep processing with the use of Polydon bean biopreparation and was equal to 46302 rubles, which turned out to be 8500 rubles more than that of the Privo 1 variety. The level of profitability of cultivating chickpea of the Privo 1 variety was the highest on the variant of deep chisel processing with the use of Polydon bean biopreparation and it was equal to 129%. The level of profitability of cultivating chickpeas of the Volgogradsky 10 variety was the highest on the variant of deep chisel processing using the Polydon bean biological preparation and was equal to 159%, that is, it was 30% more than that of the Privo 1 variety.

Impacts of Low Disturbance Liquid Dairy Manure Incorporation on Alfalfa Yield and Fluxes of Ammonia, Nitrous Oxide, and Methane

Surface applied liquid dairy manure application (i.e., broadcasting) after alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) harvest is a common practice. Low disturbance manure incorporation (LDMI) may offer multiple benefits including lower ammonia (NH3), greenhouse gas (GHG) and hydrologic nutrient losses compared to broadcast. However, few studies have simultaneously quantified LDMI impacts on alfalfa yield, NH3 and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes. We measured NH3, nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) fluxes for liquid dairy manure treatments applied to alfalfa plots for broadcast and LDMI over three seasons (2014 to 2016) in central Wisconsin, USA. There were minor differences in alfalfa yield and nitrogen (N) uptake across treatments and years. Shallow disk injection and aerator/band reduced NH3 loss by 95 and 52% of broadcast, respectively, however both substantially increased N2O fluxes (6 and 4.5 kg ha−1 year−1 versus 3.6 kg ha−1 year−1 for broadcast, respectively). The magnitude and timing of N2O fluxes were related to manure application and precipitation events. Average CH4 fluxes were similar among methods and increased with soil moisture after manure application. Results highlight the importance of quantitatively evaluating agri-environmental tradeoffs of LDMI versus broadcast manure application for dairy farms.

Control of segetal vegetation under adaptive tillage systems in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine

In the results of research are presented the regularities of the formation of cenoses of segetal vegetation in field crops, in particular, corn for grain and soybeans, with adaptive tillage systems in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine in order to develop effective, environmentally safe, resource-and energy-saving agrotechnological measures to control the level of contamination of agricultural land. The research was carried out during 2016-2020 in a stationary two – factor field experiment, which includes 5 alternative tillage systems (plowing, flat – cutting processing, differentiated – chiseling, shallow and surface – disking) and 3 fertilizer systems (without fertilizers; earning in the soil by – products of the predecessor; by-products + mineral fertilizers) in a short-term grain crop rotation (winter wheat-corn for grain-spring barley-soy) on gray large-sawn-light loamy forest soils.It was found that in agrocenoses of corn for grain and soybeans during the growing season, a small-year type of contamination is formed with a predominance of representatives of the Poaceae family, the monocotyledonous class, in particular Echinochloa crus-galli L. and Setaria glauca L.The best results in controlling of the development of segetal vegetation on experimental variants were provided by varieties of deep tillage (plow, flat-cut or chisel) against the background of an organic-mineral fertilizer system with the introduction of by-products of the predecessor into the soil and the introduction of mineral fertilizers. Such fertilizer systems decreased the contamination of crops by 38.9%.When cultivating the soil without turning the soil chunk – flat-cut and disking, against the background without fertilizers, the development of segetal vegetation was poorly controlled.Systems of minimized–shallow and surface disk treatments significantly (up to 88%) increased the abundance and (up to 91%) weight indicators of crop weed contamination in the pre-harvest period compared to multi-depth plowing and differentiated system of basic soil tilling.

A case of dense pigment deposition of the posterior lens capsule

BackgroundPigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) is a well-known entity which can lead to pigmentary glaucoma (PG). This case report presents a rare presentation of PG with bilateral dense pigment deposits of the posterior lens capsule.Case presentationA 72-year-old male came for his first appointment due to an asymmetric worsening of visual acuity. The examination showed unilaterally severely increased intraocular pressure, bilateral dense pigment deposition of the posterior lens capsule, and a shallow unilateral optic disk excavation. Gonioscopy revealed moderate pigmentation of the angle and a concave configuration of the peripheral iris in both eyes. The standard slit lamp examination showed no transillumination defects of either iris. Optical coherence tomography showed retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning in the peripapillary and macular regions. An antiglaucoma medication was prescribed with a good lowering effect.ConclusionPigment deposition of the posterior lens capsule, which has been rarely reported, is a possible important sign of PDS or PG.

Ecological and economic efficiency of green manure in crop rotation on irrigated lands in the south of Ukraine

One of the ways to solve the problem of preserving soil fertility is the use of special soil protection measures and scientifically proven technologies. The main measures to increase crop productivity, preserve soil fertility and improve ecological state of the environment are the primary tillage and fertilization systems in modern high-intensity farming systems with scientifically proven methods, techniques, and depth of loosening, as well as doses of mineral and organic fertilizers. The article presents the results of experimental studies of changes in the humus reserves in the arable layer of the soil under the influence of longterm use of differentiated systems of primary tillage, in which different methods and depth of the primary tillage alternate during crop rotation, different depth (23–25 cm and 28–30 cm) subsurface chisel tillage, single-depth shallow (12–14 cm) disk and zero tillage, against the background of the fertilizer system using post-harvest green manure. The research was conducted during 2015–2019 on the irrigated lands of the Askaniya State Agricultural Research Station of the Institute of Irrigated Agriculture of NAAS, in the area of the Kakhovka irrigation system, in a fourfield row crop rotation with successive crop rotation of the following: soybean, winter wheat + mustard (postharvest for green manure), corn for grain, winter barley + mustard (postharvest for green manure). The soil of the experimental field is dark chestnut, slightly saline, medium loamy. Based on data from field, laboratory and analytical studies, it is established that in short-term row crops rotation on irrigated lands of southern Ukraine an effective measure to increase the fertility of dark chestnut soils is organic-mineral fertilizer systems with a mineral fertilizer dose of N120P40 (per hectare of crop rotation area), the use of spring mustard as fertilizer in post-harvest crops as well as the use of all by-products of crop rotation. Differentiated and different-depth subsurface systems of primary tillage against the background of organicmineral fertilization system provide productivity of short-term crop rotation at the level of 7.77 and 8.09 t/ha of grain units respectively, increase of humus by 1.25 and 1.33 t/ha, and total ecological economic efficiency of crop rotation operation by 61.50 and 64.63 thousand UAH/ha.

Manure injection and rye double cropping increased nutrient recovery and forage production

AbstractDouble cropping forage cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) with corn (Zea mays L.) and injecting liquid dairy cow (Bos taurus L.) manure in the fall may increase manure nutrient utilization and total forage production. Although potentially economically and environmentally beneficial, these practices have not been widely adopted by Northeastern U.S. farmers. This 2‐yr full‐factorial experiment conducted in Pennsylvania quantified the effects of (a) rye management (RyeM; early terminated cover crop, CC vs. double crop harvested approximately 1 wk later, DC) and (b) manure application method (ManM; unincorporated broadcasted manure, BM vs. shallow disk injected manure, IM) on rye biomass, rye apparent manure nitrogen and phosphorus recovery (ANR and APR, respectively), subsequent corn silage yield, and total forage production (DC + summer corn silage) and the effect of ManM on DC forage nutritive value. Double cropping increased rye biomass 143%, ANR 119%, APR 126%, and total forage production 29–44% compared to CC. While IM did not increase net returns on rye silage production compared to BM, IM improved rye forage nutritive value by increasing ANR by 84%, rye crude protein by 29%, net energy of lactation by 10%, and reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by 10%. Injecting manure also increased summer corn yield 21% and total forage 13% when rye was harvested as DC compared to DC with BM. Farmers adopting DC can increase total forage production and nutrient recovery and, when combined with IM, forage production and rye quality can potentially be improved.

Runoff water quality after low-disturbance manure application in an alfalfa-grass hay crop forage system.

The impacts of low-disturbance manure application (LDMA) on runoff water quality in hay crop forages are not well known. Our objective in this study was to determine surface runoff losses of total nitrogen (TN), ammonium N (NH4 -N), nitrate N (NO3 -N), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and suspended sediment from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-grass plots in central Wisconsin after surface broadcasting manure and LDMA compared with no application. Treatments were (a) surface banding (BAND), (b) surface banding with aeration (A/B), (c) shallow disk injection (INJECT), (d) surface broadcast (BCAST), and (e) a no-manure control (CONT). Runoff events were generated (n=7) from replicated plots following a standardized rainfall simulation protocol. Although runoff was variable across plots and within treatments, mean runoff concentrations of TN (P=.03), NH4 -N (P=.03), TP (P=.001), and DRP (P<.0001) were lower for incorporated (INJECT and A/B) vs. unincorporated (BCAST and BAND) treatments. INJECT had lower mean DRP concentration (P=.02) than A/B and was similar to CONT and had lower cumulative TN (P=.05), TP (P=.07), and DRP (P=.01) loads than A/B. Additionally, TP, TN, DRP, and NH4 -N loads and concentrations were strongly related with soil surface manure coverage extent (R2 = 0.50-0.84; P<.0001), suggesting that manure was a main source of N and P losses. Although INJECT appeared to be the most effective in mitigating nutrient loss in surface runoff, more research is needed to determine LDMA impacts on farm economics, soil properties, and runoff water quality.

Формування гумусного стану та поживного режиму ґрунту під кукурудзу на зерно в сівозміні на зрошенні

The purpose. To determine directions of formation of humus state, nutritive regimen of dark-chestnut soil and productivity of corn for grain at use as fertilizer of collateral products of cultures of crop rotation on the background of different ways, depths of basic cultivation and doses of application of fertilizers in crop rotation at irrigation. Methods. Field, quantitatively-weight, visual, laboratory, calculative-comparative and mathematical-statistical with the use of conventional in Ukraine techniques and methodical recommendations. Results. It is established that after harvesting soya bean (predecessor of corn for grain) on not fertilized background (on alternatives of basic cultivation for soya bean) the mass of collateral products on surface of soil made 2,71–3,05 t/hectare. Calculated indexes of formation of humus testifies to negative balance of humus on not fertilized background in all alternatives of systems of basic soil cultivation with the highest index (– 0,58 t/hectare) at one-deep-seated shallow subsoil cultivation. At use of fertilizers the negative balance of humus also is fixed. The maximum productivity of grain of corn (14,82 t/hectare) is gained in alternative of shallow disk cultivation with slit planting on depth of 38–40 cm in system of differentiated-1 soil cultivation for crop rotation on the background of dose of fertilizers N180P60. On the average for 3 years on the background without importation of fertilizers the level of productivity on alternatives of ways and depths of basic cultivation oscillated from 3,05 t/hectare at subsoil shallow disk cultivation on the background of its long use in crop rotation up to 4,46 t/hectare at system of differentiated-1 soil cultivation with one slit planting on depth of 38–40 cm for crop rotation. Conclusions. At growing corn for grain in crop rotation at irrigation it is expedient to apply disk cultivation on depth of 8–10 cm in system of differentiated cultivation with one slit planting on depth of 38–40 cm during rotation, to use as fertilizer of cormophyte and rooted masses with importation of fertilizers at dose of N180P60.

Ефективність агроекологічних заходів у сівозмінах на зрошуваних землях півдня України

Ефективність агроекологічних заходів у сівозмінах на зрошуваних землях півдня України

Land use in agricultural landscapes with chernozems contaminated after Chernobyl accident: Can we be confident in radioecological safety of plant foodstuff?

Agricultural land use in the area of the post-Chernobyl Plavsk radioactive hotspot (Tula region, Central Russia) has raised a problem of radioecological safety of obtained plant foodstuff. Verification of 137Cs activities and inventories in components of “soil-plant” systems of the territory has been conducted in 2014–2017 in 10 agrosystems and 2 semi-natural meadows. It was revealed that density of 137Cs contamination of arable chernozems and alluvial calcareous soils nowadays varies in a range 140–220 kBq/m2 and exceeds radiation safety standard by ˜ 3.5–6 times. Deep plowing of the arable soils up to 30-cm in 1986–1987 resulted in decreasing of 137Cs inventories in rooting zone by ≈ 70% for crops cultivated with shallow disk plowing (wheat, barley), and by ≈ 35% for crops cultivated with middle plowing (buckwheat, amaranth, white mustard). The investigated plants and their compartments can be grouped on the basis of transfer factor values as follows: maize (stems and leaves) > amaranth > bromegrass > vegetation of dry meadow, galega, sunflower (seeds), vegetation of wet meadow > maize (grain), soybean (pods), barley (grain), buckwheat (grain), potatoes (tubers) > white mustard (seeds), wheat (grain). It is noticeable that generative plant compartments are characterized by less 137Cs activities in comparison with stems and leaves; and that 137Cs root uptake is not coincide with total flux of mineral nutrients in “soil-plant” systems. In sum, 137Cs soil-to-plant transfer in the area of the Plavsk radioactive hotspot is characterized by considerable discrimination, so 137Cs activities in plants are completely in accordance with national standards.

Nitrogen cycling trade-offs with broadcasting and injecting dairy manure

Understanding the fate of nutrients in land-applied manure is key to improving the efficiency of their use in crop production. We developed nitrogen (N) budgets for 2 years of continuously cropped corn fertilized by dairy manure via broadcast application or shallow disk injection. Major pathways and pools of N loss were monitored on 12, 0.04 ha field lysimeters in central Pennsylvania, USA to estimate the impact of manure application method on N fate: gas emissions, off-site runoff (overland and subsurface flow), crop uptake, and, soil storage. The budgets illuminated trade-offs in N cycling with each management strategy. Crop removal accounted for the largest portions of manure N applied in both budgets (16–43%). Injection manure N balances were more difficult to close because balances included a large proportion of ‘unaccounted’ N (49% and 68% of applied N for two accounting periods). Even so, results point to cumulative differences in nutrient use efficiencies that can be attributed to the greater conservation of ammonia-N with manure injection. There was an apparent build-up of soil N with manure injection that was not observed with broadcast application (in pre sidedress nitrogen test measurements). However, these trends were preliminary; over the two growing seasons covered by this study, these findings did not result in significant differences in corn yield or crop N removal.

Varying Influence of Dairy Manure Injection on Phosphorus Loss in Runoff over Four Years.

Surface application of manure on no-till farms can exacerbate P losses in runoff, contributing to the eutrophication of surface waters. We monitored 12 400-m field plots over 4 yr to compare P losses in surface runoff and lateral subsurface flow with shallow disk injection and broadcast application of dairy manure. Given the substantial variability in annual P losses, as well as a gradual, annual buildup of residual soil test P, significant differences in runoff P losses were detected in only 1 of 4 yr: in 2014, total P losses in runoff were 68% greater from broadcast manure plots than injected manure plots. Dissolved and particulate P were roughly even in their contribution to runoff. Even so, there were significant relationships between annual dissolved P losses and P in the soil surface, which pointed to soils as a regular source of P in runoff. Overall, results confirm the potential for injection to reduce P loss in runoff relative to broadcast application, but because in a few sampling dates injection resulted in greater losses, this study also highlights the importance of assessing mitigation benefits of manure application practices over longer timeframes.

Вплив систем основного обробітку та удобрення на гумусовий стан ґрунту і продуктивність сорго зернового у сівозміні на зрошенні

У статті представлено результати дослідження впливу різних доз внесення мінеральних добрив із загортанням листостеблової маси сільськогосподарських культур сівозміни у ґрунт знаряддями із різною конструкцією робочих органів на гумусовий стан, поживний режим ґрунту й продуктивність сорго зернового. Дослідження проводили у стаціонарному досліді відділу зрошуваного землеробства ІЗЗ НААН України впродовж 2016 – 2018 рр. У сівозміні досліджували п’ять систем основного обробітку ґрунту із різними способами і глибиною розпушування на фоні трьох органо-мінеральних систем удобрення. Встановлено, що під час вирощуванні сорго зернового в умовах Південного Степу України в зернопросапній сівозміні на зрошенні доцільно застосовувати комбінований обробіток (диференційована-1 система обробітку), який поєднує мілке (12–14 см) дискове розпушування із щілюванням на 38–40 см та використовувати на добриво післяжнивні рештки попередника (пшениці озимої) на фоні внесення мінеральних добрив дозою N 90 P 60 , що створює сприятливий поживний режим і формує урожайність зерна, залежно від гідротермічних умов років досліджень, в межах 6,27–8,54 т/га, рівень рентабельності – 210–218 %. Використання на добриво післяжнивних решток (листостеблових і кореневих) сорго зернового (10,27 т/га) у варіанті диференційованої-1 системи основного обробітку забезпечило середньорічний розрахунковий приріст гумусу +1,11 т/га та накопичення у шарі ґрунту 0–40 см N – 49,2 кг/га, P 2 О 5 – 24,6, K 2 О – 59 кг/га.

Making up of productivity of sunflower depending on expedients of the cultural operations and fertilization

The results of researches on the influence of fertilizer system and main cultivation of soil on the formation of sunflower productivity in the conditions of the left-bank forest-steppe of Ukraine are presented. The soil on which the research was conducted is typical of the Left Bank Forest Steppe. Weather conditions during the period of research were marked by significant fluctuations in comparison with the average long-term indicators, which made it possible to establish the reaction of sunflower to the agro-ecological factors of cultivation. The research methods used are classical and standardized, which allowed for objective results.&#x0D; The dependence of productive indicators on the application of mineral fertilizers on the background of different methods of basic soil cultivation is shown. It is established that the yield of crops decreases in the direction from plowing to zero tillage of the soil. For sunflower, the best option for the main cultivation of the soil was plowing compared with the shallow disk treatment and technology of «direct» sowing.&#x0D; As a result, during the research period, the highest yield of sunflower was obtained for the introduction of N150 P110 K180 against the background of classical soil cultivation – 3,94 tons/ha. The variance analysis confirmed the significant influence of mineral fertilizers and methods of basic soil cultivation on the formation of sunflower seed yield.&#x0D; Optimization of the methods of basic tillage and fertilization significantly influenced the quality of sunflower seeds. The highest content of oil in the seed was in the variant without fertilizers for «zero» cultivation of soil. Output of oil per unit area was directly proportional to the level of crop yield. A higher oil yield per 1 hectare of crop (1,77 tons/ha) was obtained in a variant with a maximum dose of mineral fertilizers N150 P110 K180 on the background of classical soil cultivation.&#x0D; Under conditions of energy saving, it is expedient to have small and zero tillage.

Relative role of transport and source-limited controls for estrogen, TDP, and DOC export for two manure application methods

Abstract Developing successful mitigation strategies for emerging contaminants can be difficult due to incomplete understanding of factors controlling their fate and transport. A variety of data analysis techniques can be used to assess the fate and transport behavior of pollutants in runoff water. Here, we use concentration-discharge, load-discharge, and coefficient of variation relationships to examine how two methods of dairy manure application (surface broadcast and shallow disk injection) affect the transport dynamics of estrogens, total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Nine surface runoff events were sampled from Oct 2014–June 2015 from 12 research plots (six with each application method) in Central Pennsylvania after fall application. The plots received inorganic fertilizer for 15 years, but only four manure applications since 2012. Both TDP and DOC exhibited similar transport behavior under both manure application methods that indicate transport-limited control of export, potentially due to legacy sources in soils. However, estrogen loads exhibited dilution responses, a sign of source-limited controls. The strength of the dilution response for estrogens was greater for surface applied manure relative to the injected manure, suggesting that manure application methods can be used to control the mobilization potential of estrogens. Additionally, results suggest the longer-term application history of inorganic fertilizer led to the transport-limited dynamics exhibited by TDP, while the short-term application history of manure caused estrogen transport to be source-limited. Our findings provide insight into how anthropogenic drivers (application type, method, and history) and natural drivers (hydrology, biogeochemistry) are interconnected in agricultural fields, and point to opportunities for protecting downstream water quality.