scholarly journals Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Kliese ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
W. M. Strong ◽  
N. W. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Aerobic Incubation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Nitrate N

Piggery pond sludge (PPS) was applied, as-collected (Wet PPS) and following stockpiling for 12 months (Stockpiled PPS), to a sandy Sodosol and clay Vertosol at sites on the Darling Downs of Queensland. Laboratory measures of N availability were carried out on unamended and PPS-amended soils to investigate their value in estimating supplementary N needs of crops in Australia’s northern grains region. Cumulative net N mineralised from the long-term (30 weeks) leached aerobic incubation was described by a first-order single exponential model. The mineralisation rate constant (0.057/week) was not significantly different between Control and PPS treatments or across soil types, when the amounts of initial mineral N applied in PPS treatments were excluded. Potentially mineralisable N (No) was significantly increased by the application of Wet PPS, and increased with increasing rate of application. Application of Wet PPS significantly increased the total amount of inorganic N leached compared with the Control treatments. Mineral N applied in Wet PPS contributed as much to the total mineral N status of the soil as did that which mineralised over time from organic N. Rates of CO2 evolution during 30 weeks of aerobic leached incubation indicated that the Stockpiled PPS was more stabilised (19–28% of applied organic C mineralised) than the Wet PPS (35–58% of applied organic C mineralised), due to higher lignin content in the former. Net nitrate-N produced following 12 weeks of aerobic non-leached incubation was highly correlated with net nitrate-N leached during 12 weeks of aerobic incubation (R2 = 0.96), although it was <60% of the latter in both sandy and clayey soils. Anaerobically mineralisable N determined by waterlogged incubation of laboratory PPS-amended soil samples increased with increasing application rate of Wet PPS. Anaerobically mineralisable N from field-moist soil was well correlated with net N mineralised during 30 weeks of aerobic leached incubation (R2 = 0.90 sandy soil; R2 = 0.93 clay soil). In the clay soil, the amount of mineral N produced from all the laboratory incubations was significantly correlated with field-measured nitrate-N in the soil profile (0–1.5 m depth) after 9 months of weed-free fallow following PPS application. In contrast, only anaerobic mineralisable N was significantly correlated with field nitrate-N in the sandy soil. Anaerobic incubation would, therefore, be suitable as a rapid practical test to estimate potentially mineralisable N following applications of different PPS materials in the field.

Corrigendum to: Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1415
Author(s):  
Y. J. Kliese ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
W. M. Strong ◽  
N. W. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Aerobic Incubation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Nitrate N

Piggery pond sludge (PPS) was applied, as-collected (Wet PPS) and following stockpiling for 12 months (Stockpiled PPS), to a sandy Sodosol and clay Vertosol at sites on the Darling Downs of Queensland. Laboratory measures of N availability were carried out on unamended and PPS-amended soils to investigate their value in estimating supplementary N needs of crops in Australia's northern grains region. Cumulative net N mineralised from the long-term (30 weeks) leached aerobic incubation was described by a first-order single exponential model. The mineralisation rate constant (0.057/week) was not significantly different between Control and PPS treatments or across soil types, when the amounts of initial mineral N applied in PPS treatments were excluded. Potentially mineralisable N (No) was significantly increased by the application of Wet PPS, and increased with increasing rate of application. Application of Wet PPS significantly increased the total amount of inorganic N leached compared with the Control treatments. Mineral N applied in Wet PPS contributed as much to the total mineral N status of the soil as did that which mineralised over time from organic N. Rates of CO2 evolution during 30 weeks of aerobic leached incubation indicated that the Stockpiled PPS was more stabilised (19.28% of applied organic C mineralised) than the Wet PPS (35.58% of applied organic C mineralised), due to higher lignin content in the former. Net nitrate-N produced following 12 weeks of aerobic non-leached incubation was highly correlated with net nitrate-N leached during 12 weeks of aerobic incubation (R2 = 0.96), although it was <60% of the latter in both sandy and clayey soils. Anaerobically mineralisable N determined by waterlogged incubation of laboratory PPS-amended soil samples increased with increasing application rate of Wet PPS. Anaerobically mineralisable N from field-moist soil was well correlated with net N mineralised during 30 weeks of aerobic leached incubation (R2 = 0.90 sandy soil; R2 = 0.93 clay soil). In the clay soil, the amount of mineral N produced from all the laboratory incubations was significantly correlated with field-measured nitrate-N in the soil profile (0.1.5 m depth) after 9 months of weed-free fallow following PPS application. In contrast, only anaerobic mineralisable N was significantly correlated with field nitrate-N in the sandy soil. Anaerobic incubation would, therefore, be suitable as a rapid practical test to estimate potentially mineralisable N following applications of different PPS materials in the field.

scholarly journals Available Nitrogen in the Surface Mineral Layer of Natural Meadows

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1483-1492
Author(s):  
Željko S. Dželetović ◽  
Nevena Lj. Mihailović
Keyword(s):  
N Availability ◽  
Aerobic Incubation ◽  
Mineral Layer ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Surface Mineral ◽  
Total Organic C

Based on a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated nitrogen availability in the surface mineral layer of soil under various natural meadow stands by analyzing the following soil characteristics: total organic C, total N, initial content of easily available N inorganic forms, mineralized N content obtained by aerobic and anaerobic incubations and A-value. The experiment was performed on a test plant and through the application of urea enriched with 5.4 % 15N. The investigated soils under natural meadows are characterized with comparatively high mineralization intensity and high N availability indices. Contents of mineral N produced by aerobic incubation and the intensity of the mineralization correlate with the total organic C in the soil and the total N in the soil. Correlation of the availability index of the soil N produced by aerobic incubation with the total organic C and the total N in the soil under natural meadows is almost linear (r = 0.9981 and r = 0.9997, respectively). Contents of mineral N produced by anaerobic incubation, as well as the corresponding N availability and mineralization intensity indices correlate poorly with the mentioned parameters. Efficiency of nitrogen utilization from the applied N-fertilizer by the test crop varies within a wide range of values and correlates with the biomass yields of the test crop.

scholarly journals Management Drives Differences in Nutrient Dynamics in Conventional and Organic Four-Year Crop Rotation Systems

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 764
Author(s):  
Sharon L. Weyers ◽  
David W. Archer ◽  
Jane M.F. Johnson ◽  
Alan R. Wilts
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Environmental Liabilities ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C

Application of exogenous N fertilizers provides agronomic benefits but carries environmental liabilities. Managing benefits and liabilities of N-based fertilizers in conventional (CNV) and organic (ORG) cropping systems might be improved with better knowledge of nutrient dynamics, the generation of intrinsic N, and maintenance of soil organic matter. This study evaluated mineral N dynamics, yields, residue inputs, and change in soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) in strip-tilled, four-year crop rotations [corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.)-wheat under-seeded with alfalfa (Triticum aestivum L./Medicago sativa L.)-alfalfa] over eight years of production under CNV management using mineral-N (NO3NH4) and chemical pesticides or ORG management using organic-N (animal manure) and no chemical treatments. In ORG, N availability increased over time, but did not benefit ORG yields due to poor control of insects and weeds. Corn, soybean, and wheat grain yields were 1.9 to 2.7 times greater in CNV. In general, SOC was lost in CNV but did not change in ORG. Cumulative yield N removals exceeded cumulative fertilizer-N inputs by an average of 78% in CNV and 64% in ORG. These results indicated ORG management supported N availability by generating intrinsic N.

scholarly journals Effect of compaction on microbial activity and carbon and nitrogen transformations in two oxisols with different mineralogy

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 1141-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio Ricardo Silva ◽  
Ivo Ribeiro da Silva ◽  
Nairam Félix de Barros ◽  
Eduardo de Sá Mendonça
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
N Mineralization ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Controlled Conditions

The use of machinery in agricultural and forest management activities frequently increases soil compaction, resulting in greater soil density and microporosity, which in turn reduces hydraulic conductivity and O2 and CO2 diffusion rates, among other negative effects. Thus, soil compaction has the potential to affect soil microbial activity and the processes involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. This study was carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effect of soil compaction on microbial activity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. Two Oxisols with different mineralogy were utilized: a clayey oxidic-gibbsitic Typic Acrustox and a clayey kaolinitic Xantic Haplustox (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico - LVA, and Latossolo Amarelo distrófico - LA, respectively, in the Brazil Soil Classification System). Eight treatments (compaction levels) were assessed for each soil type in a complete block design, with six repetitions. The experimental unit consisted of PVC rings (height 6 cm, internal diameter 4.55 cm, volume 97.6 cm³). The PVC rings were filled with enough soil mass to reach a final density of 1.05 and 1.10 kg dm-3, respectively, in the LVA and LA. Then the soil samples were wetted (0.20 kg kg-1 = 80 % of field capacity) and compacted by a hydraulic press at pressures of 0, 60, 120, 240, 360, 540, 720 and 900 kPa. After soil compression the new bulk density was calculated according to the new volume occupied by the soil. Subsequently each PVC ring was placed within a 1 L plastic pot which was then tightly closed. The soils were incubated under aerobic conditions for 35 days and the basal respiration rate (CO2-C production) was estimated in the last two weeks. After the incubation period, the following soil chemical and microbiological properties were detremined: soil microbial biomass C (C MIC), total soil organic C (TOC), total N, and mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3--N). After that, mineral N, organic N and the rate of net N mineralization was calculated. Soil compaction increased NH4+-N and net N mineralization in both, LVA and LA, and NO3--N in the LVA; diminished the rate of TOC loss in both soils and the concentration of NO3--N in the LA and CO2-C in the LVA. It also decreased the C MIC at higher compaction levels in the LA. Thus, soil compaction decreases the TOC turnover probably due to increased physical protection of soil organic matter and lower aerobic microbial activity. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that under controlled conditions, the oxidic-gibbsitic Oxisol (LVA) was more susceptible to the effects of high compaction than the kaolinitic (LA) as far as organic matter cycling is concerned; and compaction pressures above 540 kPa reduced the total and organic nitrogen in the kaolinitic soil (LA), which was attributed to gaseous N losses.

Nitrogen leaching from sheep-, cattle- and deer-grazed pastures in the Lake Taupo catchment in New Zealand

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 416 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Hoogendoorn ◽  
K. Betteridge ◽  
S. F. Ledgard ◽  
D. A. Costall ◽  
Z. A. Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Grazed Pastures ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Ammonium N ◽  
The Impact

A replicated grazing study measuring nitrogen (N) leaching from cattle-, sheep- and deer-grazed pastures was conducted to investigate the impact of different animal species on N leaching in the Lake Taupo catchment in New Zealand. Leaching losses of nitrate N from intensively grazed pastures on a highly porous pumice soil in the catchment averaged 37, 26 and 25 kg N/ha.year for cattle-, sheep- and deer-grazed areas, respectively, over the 3-year study and were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Leaching losses of ammonium N were much lower (3 kg N/ha.year for all three species of grazer; P > 0.05). Amounts of dissolved organic N leached were significantly higher than that of mineral N (nitrate N + ammonium N), and over the 3-year study averaged 44, 43 and 39 kg N/ha.year for cattle-, sheep- and deer-grazed areas, respectively (P > 0.05). On a stock unit equivalence basis (1 stock unit is equivalent to 550 kg DM consumed/year), cattle-grazed areas leached significantly more mineral N than sheep- or deer-grazed areas (5.5, 2.9 and 3.4 g mineral N leached/24 h grazing by 1 stock unit, for cattle, sheep and deer, respectively) (P < 0.001). Likewise, based on the amount of N apparently consumed (estimated by difference in mass of herbage N pre- and post-grazing), cattle-grazed pastures leached more mineral N than sheep- or deer-grazed pastures (123, 75 and 75 g mineral N/kg N apparently consumed for cattle, sheep and deer, respectively) (P < 0.01). This study gives valuable information on mineral N leaching in a high-rainfall environment on this free-draining pumice soil, and provides new data to assist in developing strategies to mitigate mineral N leaching losses from grazed pastures using different animal species.

scholarly journals Use of Digestate as Organic Amendment and Source of Nitrogen to Vegetable Crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Carmo Horta ◽  
João Paulo Carneiro
Keyword(s):  
Organic Amendment ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Ni Addition ◽  
Stable Organic Matter

Anaerobic digestion is a valuable process to use livestock effluents to produce green energy and a by-product called digestate with fertilising value. This work aimed at evaluating the fertilising value of the solid fraction (SF) of a digestate as an organic amendment and as a source of nitrogen to crops replacing mineral N. A field experiment was done with two consecutive vegetable crops. The treatments were: a control without fertilisation; Ni85 mineral fertilisation with 85 kg ha−1 of mineral N; fertiliser with digestate at an increasing nitrogen application rate (kg N ha−1): DG-N85 DG-N170, DG-N170+85, DG-N170+170; fertilisation with digestate together with Ni: DG-N85+Ni60, DG-N170+Ni60, DG-N170+Ni25. The results showed a soil organic amendment effect of the SF with a beneficial effect on SOM, soil pH and exchangeable bases. The SF was able to replace part of the mineral N fertilisation. The low mineralisation of the stable organic matter together with some immobilisation of mineral N from SF caused low N availability. The fertilisation planning should consider the SF ratio between the organic N (NO) and total N (TKN). Low NO:TKN ratios (≈0.65) needed lower Ni addition to maintaining the biomass production similar to the mineral fertilisation.

scholarly journals Modelling the release and loss of nitrogen after vegetable crops

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-86
Author(s):  
A.P. Whitmore
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residues ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Vegetable Crop ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Brussels Sprouts ◽  
Fate Of Nitrogen ◽  
Moisture Conditions ◽  
Winter Losses

A computer model is described that is able to simulate the mineralization-immobilization turnover of nitrogen derived from vegetable crop residues added to soil. Once mineralized, N is subject to loss from soil in the model by leaching and denitrification. That the mineralization part of the model works well is demonstrated with reference to some pot experiments in which residues from Brussels sprouts, leeks, cabbage or spinach were mixed with either a sandy or clay soil and incubated at 20 degrees C under optimal moisture conditions for 48 weeks. The release of mineral N was measured at intervals during the experiment and was strongly dependent upon the amount of N added in the crop residues: spinach (C:N = 6) released most nitrogen and most quickly, the other residues (C:N = 13-15) released N more slowly. With adaptations for field conditions, the model was then used to elucidate the fate of nitrogen remaining after field vegetables. The dynamics of both mineral and organic N remaining in soil were traced with this model. After spinach, much nitrate leaches to groundwater; sprouts, however, appear able to immobilize or denitrify what little mineral N remains at harvest reducing the loading of N in percolating water. The model suggests that during the last 40 years over winter losses of nitrate after cabbage almost always exceeded the EC drinking water limit of 11.3 mg NO3-N/litre: in some years by a factor of four. Since mineral N remaining in soil at harvest is shown to have most influence on leaching losses, measures taken to reduce unused mineral N will probably benefit groundwater quality most.

Comparison of legume-based cropping systems at Warra, Queensland. 1. Soil nitrogen and organic carbon accretion and potentially mineralisable nitrogen

Soil Research ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Hossain ◽  
RC Dalal ◽  
SA Waring ◽  
WM Strong ◽  
EJ Weston
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Organic C

Effects on soil nitrogen accretion and potentially mineralisable nitrogen were studied as part of a long-term field experiment established in 1986 to test alternative legume-based systems for restoring fertility in a Vertisol. Organic C accretion was also measured to ascertain the changes in organic matter content. The systems, which were studied only during 1989 and 1990, were a grass+legume ley (purple pigeon grass, Rhodes grass, lucerne, annual medics) of 4 years duration followed by wheat; a 2-year rotation of wheat (lucerne undersown) and lucerne; a 2-year rotation of wheat (medic undersown) and medic; a 2-year rotation of chickpea and wheat; and continuous wheat as control. Soil total N and organic C significantly increased in the 0–10 cm soil layer only under the grass+legume ley. There was no significant change in the soil C/N ratio. Plant residues contained from 52 to 104 kg N/ha in 1990 at the end of the legume phase, with high values for root N in the grass+legume ley. A comparison of N accretion versus fixation at the end of the legume-based systems in 1990 showed that net accumulation of N exceeded fixation in soil under lucerne and grass+legume leys; in the latter, net accumulation of 779 kg N/ha over 3.75 years was measured compared with 384 kg N/ha for N2 fixation. Part of the accumulation of N may have been due to uptake of NH4-N from the deep subsoil. Although values for soil mineral N (0–120 cm) were low at the end of all the legume-based systems, a deep subsoil (120–300 cm) accumulation of NH4-N was found in all treatments. The nitrogen mineralisation potentials (No) for 0–10 cm depth samples taken at the end of the legume phase in 1989 were higher in all the legume-based systems (105–182 mg N/kg) than the wheat control (57 mg N/kg). The rapid biological tests of N availability, both waterlogged and aerobic incubation, were more sensitive to treatment differences than No, in the surface and subsoil (range 12–78 mg N/kg for 0–10 cm soil for the waterlogged procedure). The rapid chemical tests, hot KCl extraction and the autoclave index, showed small treatment effects and did not appear to be useful availability indices. The pasture management (graced v. mown and removed) had no significant effect on total N, organic C and N availability indices in this alkaline Vertisol during the study period.

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops 2. Assay of wet and stockpiled piggery pond sludge by successive cereal crops or direct measurement of soil available N

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Kliese ◽  
W. M. Strong ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
N. W. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Total N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Variation Explained ◽  
Crop N Uptake

The appropriate use of wastes is a significant issue for the pig industry due to increasing pressure from regulatory authorities to protect the environment from pollution. Nitrogen contained in piggery pond sludge (PPS) is a potential source of supplementary nutrient for crop production. Nitrogen contribution following the application of PPS to soil was obtained from 2 field experiments on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland on contrasting soil types, a cracking clay (Vertosol) and a hardsetting sandy loam (Sodosol), and related to potentially mineralisable N from laboratory incubations conducted under controlled conditions and NO3– accumulation in the field. Piggery pond sludge was applied as-collected (wet PPS) and following stockpiling to dry (stockpiled PPS). Soil NO3– levels increased with increased application rates of wet and stockpiled PPS. Supplementary N supply from PPS estimated by fertiliser equivalence was generally unsatisfactory due to poor precision with this method, and also due to a high level of NO3– in the clay soil before the first assay crop. Also low recoveries of N by subsequent sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) assay crops at the 2 sites due to low in-crop rainfall in 1999 resulted in low apparent N availability. Over all, 29% (range 12–47%) of total N from the wet PPS and 19% (range 0–50%) from the stockpiled PPS were estimated to be plant-available N during the assay period. The high concentration of NO3- for the wet PPS application on sandy soil after the first assay crop (1998 barley, Hordeum vulgare) suggests that leaching of NO3– could be of concern when high rates of wet PPS are applied before infrequent periods of high precipitation, due primarily to the mineral N contained in wet PPS. Low yields, grain protein concentrations, and crop N uptake of the sorghum crop following the barley crop grown on the clay soil demonstrated a low residual value of N applied in PPS. NO3– in the sandy soil before sowing accounted for 79% of the variation in plant N uptake and was a better index than anaerobically mineralisable N (19% of variation explained). In clay soil, better prediction of crop N uptake was obtained when both anaerobically mineralisable N (39% of variation explained) and soil profile NO3– were used in combination (R2 = 0.49).

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