Nitrogen and sulfur dynamics of contrasting grazed pastures

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 1381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Chen ◽  
Graeme Blair ◽  
Jim Scott ◽  
Rod Lefroy
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
15N Recovery ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ecological Feature

The experimental area was located at the Big Ridge 2 site, CSIRO, Chiswick (30°31′S, 151°39′E), 20 km south of Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. The site was established in 1955. In March 1966, phalaris and white clover were sown and pastures were fertilised annually with superphosphate until 1993. There were 3 pasture treatments, each with 2 replicates: degraded pasture (low phalaris content), phalaris dominant, and phalaris–white clover. Each of 6 experimental plots was divided into 3 strata. Two representative areas 1 m by 0.5 m were selected in each stratum of each treatment. The selected areas were labelled with 34S-enriched (90%) elemental sulfur and 15N-enriched (99%) NH4Cl solution. All plots were grazed continuously by sheep. No effect of pasture type on N leaching was apparent in this experiment. Seasonal variation of total soil mineral N in different soil layers, low 15N recovery down to 60 cm soil depth, and low nitrate-N concentrations in drainage water obtained in this experiment suggest that synchronisation of pasture growth with mineralisation and nitrification, together with ammonium domination of the soil N system, is the key ecological feature in preventing N leaching in this environment. Unlike N, potential S leaching was found with evidence of a large amount of sulfate stored deeper in the soil profile and high S concentrations in drainage water. High KCl-40 extractable S concentration in the top 20 cm soil layers was associated with the long history of superphosphate application. Long-term applications of superphosphate (1967–93), together with an increase in sulfate sorption capacity at lower soil depths, resulted in a large amount of sulfate stored at greater depth. However, retention of the 34S applied in 1995 in the top 10 cm soils suggests that sulfate-S movement down the soil profile is slow.

Impact of legume 'break' crops on the yield and grain quality of wheat and relationship with soil mineral N and crop N content

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Evans ◽  
G. Scott ◽  
D. Lemerle ◽  
A. Kaiser ◽  
B. Orchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Manure ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
New South ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
South Wales

The effect of annual 'break' crops on the yield and protein content of wheat was investigated over 3 seasons on a Red Kandasol on the south-western slopes of New South Wales. The 'break' crops included lupin and pea grown for grain, pea and vetch managed for silage, clovers managed for silage or hay, and vetch and clovers managed for green manuring. Wheat was sown for 2 years following the legume year, or canola and wheat followed the legumes. Averaged over 3 experiments the yields of first crop wheat following pea or vetch silage crops were comparable with those after grain pea. Yields following clover forage conservation crops or green manures exceeded those after grain pea by at least 0.41 t/ha; average yield increase after clover green manure was 0.93 t/ha. In one experiment, yields of second crop wheat were greater, by up to 0.37 t/ha, after forage conservation or green manure legume 'breaks' than after grain legumes. In 2 experiments, second crop wheat yields were greater after a first crop of canola than a first crop of wheat. Compared with continuous wheat yield, aggregate mean wheat yield increases were 3.5–4 t/ha following grain legumes, pea, and vetch silage crops, but 5.3–6.3 t/ha following clover forage conservation and green manure crops. However, the relative effects of legume treatments on wheat yield were significantly seasonally dependent. Yield and grain protein variation in wheat after legumes was significantly correlated with variation in mineral N at wheat establishment. However, in one experiment, yield was correlated only with variation in mineral N below the 20-cm soil depth, whereas protein was correlated only with variation in mineral N above the 20 cm soil depth. Yield increases in first crop wheat did not occur at the expense of grain protein.

scholarly journals Minimizing Soil Nitrogen Leaching by Changing Furrow Irrigation into Sprinkler Fertigation in Potato Fields in the Northwestern China Plain

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2229
Author(s):  
Wenzhu Yang ◽  
Yan Jiao ◽  
Mingde Yang ◽  
Huiyang Wen ◽  
Peng Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Nitrogen Loss ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Furrow Irrigation ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Accumulation

Irrigation water is limiting for crop production in arid areas and application rates of fertilizers often exceed crop requirements, resulting in high accumulation of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) in the soil. Management practices play a significant role in the leaching of NO3−-N. This experiment compares the effects of traditional furrow irrigation and sprinkler fertigation on the soil NO3−-N concentration trend throughout the cropping season in potato fields in China. Two irrigation systems that were fertilized, namely by furrow (NF-FI) and sprinkler fertigation (NF-SI), and two controlling without any fertilizer (C-FI and C-SI) were tested in the same experimental site for three consecutive years. Both the NF-FI soils and NF-SI soils with three replications and fertilizer applications of 273 kg N ha−1 exhibited a different trend of NO3−-N accumulation at different depths of soil profile. However, the magnitude of NO3−-N accumulation was low in the NF-SI soil profile. In NF-SI treatments, higher NO3−-N was observed at 20–40 cm soil layer. In the NF-FI, the concentration of the highest nitrate was observed at the 40–120 cm soil layer. The concentrations of NO3−-N in the fertilized soil were higher than those of the control soil for each irrigation system. Residual levels of NO3−-N in the soil depth of 40–120 cm from NF-FI were 1.54, 3.45 and 5.28 times higher than NF-SI after harvesting potatoes from 2015 to 2017. In NF-FI treatments, apparent nitrogen loss was 234.7, 237.5 and 276.7 kg ha−1 after harvesting potatoes in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Meanwhile, apparent nitrogen loss from NF-SI treatments was only 161.9, 132.1 and 148.9 kg ha−1, which was 31.0%, 44.4% and 46.2% lower than that of NF-FI in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The risk of NO3−-N leaching below the root zone from NF-FI was higher than that from NF-SI. It has been demonstrated that sprinkler fertigation can also be used as a tool for mitigating NO3−-N accumulation and apparent nitrogen loss.

Effective remediation of diazinon from spent sheep dip wash by disposal on land

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Levot
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Disposal Site ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Entire Volume ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Australian Wool ◽  
Pre Treatment

Spent sheep dip wash (about 3500 L) containing 59 mg diazinon/L was evenly distributed onto a 450-m2 grassed, soil-bunded, sloping site near Cumnock in central New South Wales, Australia. The entire volume was contained within the bunded area but surface run-off created ponding in the lowest corner of the site. The mean concentration within the top 7 cm of soil was 2.32 mg/kg a day after application. By day 14, this had dropped to 0.4 mg/kg and by day 56, was below the limit of quantification (0.1 mg/kg). The half-life of diazinon in soil was estimated to be 7 days. Residues in the next 7 cm of soil depth were much lower and were below the limit of quantification in all samples collected at day 28 or later. This suggests that vertical leaching of diazinon within the soil profile did not occur despite more than 95 mm of rain during the trial interval. Throughout the 56-day trial interval, diazinon concentrations in the top 7 cm of soil 3 m downhill of the lowest corner of the dip disposal site were unchanged from background pre-treatment levels. No diazinon was detected in samples at 7–14 cm depth in the soil profile in this area. With neither vertical nor lateral movement of diazinon away from the initial treatment zone, we consider the disposal of spent diazinon sheep dips as described here, to be an acceptable and convenient option for Australian wool producers and dipping contractors. Suitable dip disposal sites should be situated away from sensitive locations in areas that have good grass cover over deep soil and that are contained by an effective bund. Stock and other animals should be excluded from these sensitive locations.

Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian R. Wilson ◽  
Vanessa E. Lonergan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Historical Management

We examined soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration (mg g–1) and total organic carbon (TOC) stock (Mg ha–1 to 30 cm soil depth) in three pasture systems in northern New South Wales: improved pasture, native pasture, and lightly wooded pasture, at two sampling times (2009 and 2011). No significant difference was found in SOC or TOC between sample times, suggesting that under the conditions we examined, neither 2 years nor an intervening significant rainfall event was sufficient to change the quantity or our capacity to detect SOC, and neither represented a barrier to soil carbon accounting. Low fertility, lightly wooded pastures had a slightly but significantly lower SOC concentration, particularly in the surface soil layers. However, no significant differences in TOC were detected between the three pasture systems studied, and from a carbon estimation perspective, they represent one, single dataset. A wide range in TOC values existed within the dataset that could not be explained by environmental factors. The TOC was weakly but significantly correlated with soil nitrogen and phosphorus, but a more significant pattern seemed to be the association of high TOC with proportionally larger subsoil (0.1–0.3 m) organic carbon storage. This we attribute to historical, long-term rather than contemporary management. Of the SOC fractions, particulate organic carbon (POC) dominated in the surface layers but diminished with depth, whereas the proportion of humic carbon (HUM) and resistant organic carbon (ROC) increased with soil depth. The POC did not differ between the pasture systems but native pasture had larger quantities of HUM and ROC, particularly in the surface soil layers, suggesting that this pasture system tends to accumulate organic carbon in more resistant forms, presumably because of litter input quality and historical management.

scholarly journals Afforestation With Tropical N-Fixing Species in The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest: Carbon and Nitrogen in The Soil Profile

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pessanha Siqueira ◽  
Emanuela Forestieri Gama-Rodrigues ◽  
Marcos Vinícius Winckler Caldeira ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Rezende ◽  
Claudio Roberto Marciano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
C And N

Abstract Aims Atlantic Rainforest biome is one of the most threatened in the world by deforestation where afforestation programs are urgently needed. N-fixing species should be prioritized in re-establishing forest covers as they can enhance soil C and N and stimulate cycling of other nutrients. Yet, tropical ecosystems play a key role in global warming and remain underestimated in the global biogeochemical balances. We aimed to investigate the effects of tropical N-fixing species on soil C and N pools after pasture conversionMethods We selected: Plathymenia reticulata, Hymenaea courbaril, and Centrolobium tomentosum 27-year-old monospecific stands. We evaluated soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (STN), and the natural abundance of 13C and 15N in the soil profile up to 100 cm depth. Results SOC was higher for P. reticulata, but an opposite pattern was observed when combining only soil layers up to 30 cm soil depth. Meanwhile, STN was similar across species and d15N values showed enrichment at intermediate soil layers indicating 14N gaseous loss. Most of the SOC originated from the planted trees rather than the former pasture, except beneath C. tomentosum where C4 derived C is decreasing at a slower rate. Conclusion This study presents novel insights in the understanding of tropical N-fixing species effects on soil C and N where specific-species traits appear to mediate SOC retention to the mineral soil rather than the N-fixing ability per se.

scholarly journals Biosolids affect the growth, nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen leaching of barley

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arduini Iduna ◽  
Cardelli Roberto ◽  
Pana Silvia
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Loss ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Vegetative Biomass ◽  
N Remobilization

Biosolids are organic fertilisers derived from treated and stabilised sewage sludge that increase soil fertility and supply nitrogen to crops over a long period, but can also increase the risk of nitrogen (N) leaching. In this work, spring barley was grown in lysimeters filled with soil amended with biosolids, and with and without mineral N fertilisation. Biomass and the N concentration and content of shoots and roots were determined at flowering and maturity, and the N remobilization was calculated during grain filling. Drainage water was collected and analysed for N leaching. Biosolids increased soil porosity and soil nitrate, and positively affected the growth and N uptake of barley. Compared to mineral fertilisers, biosolids produced 18% higher vegetative biomass and 40% higher grain yield. During grain filling, both N uptake and N remobilization were higher with biosolids, which increased the grain N content by 32%. Nitrogen loss in leachates was 1.2% of plant uptake with mineral fertilisers and 1.7% with biosolids. Thus, soil fertilisation with biosolids greatly benefits spring barley, only slightly increasing N leaching.

scholarly journals Nitrogen stocks and flows in an acid sulfate soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 192 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markku Yli-Halla ◽  
Seija Virtanen ◽  
Kristiina Regina ◽  
Peter Österholm ◽  
Betty Ehnvall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Acid Sulfate ◽  
Total N ◽  
Stocks And Flows ◽  
N Loading

AbstractBesides causing acidification, acid sulfate (AS) soils contain large nitrogen (N) stocks and are a potential source of N loading to waters and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. We quantified the stocks and flows of N, including crop yields, N leaching, and N2O emissions, in a cultivated AS soil in western Finland. We also investigated whether controlled drainage (CD) and sub-irrigation (CDI) to keep the sulfidic horizons inundated can alleviate N losses. Total N stock at 0–100 cm (19.5 Mg ha−1) was smaller than at 100–200 cm (26.6 Mg ha−1), and the mineral N stock was largest below 170 cm. Annual N leaching (31–91 kg N ha−1) plus N in harvested grain (74–122 kg N ha−1) was 148% (range 118–189%) of N applied in fertilizers (90–125 kg N ha−1) in 2011–2017, suggesting substantial N supply from soil reserves. Annual emissions of N2O measured during 2 years were 8–28 kg N ha−1. The most probable reasons for high N2O emission rates in AS soils are concomitant large mineral N pools with fluctuating redox conditions and low pH in the oxidized subsoil, all favoring formation of N2O in nitrification and denitrification. Although the groundwater level was higher in CD and CDI than in conventional drainage, N load and crop offtake did not differ between the drainage methods, but there were differences in emissions. Nitrogen flows to the atmosphere and drainage water were clearly larger than those in non-AS mineral soils indicating that AS soils are potential hotspots of environmental impacts.

scholarly journals Biosolids Benefit Yield and Nitrogen Uptake in Winter Cereals without Excess Risk of N Leaching

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1482
Author(s):  
Silvia Pampana ◽  
Alessandro Rossi ◽  
Iduna Arduini
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Turgidum ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Specific Rate ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Winter Cereals

Winter cereals are excellent candidates for biosolid application because their nitrogen (N) requirement is high, they are broadly cultivated, and their deep root system efficiently takes up mineral N. However, potential N leaching from BS application can occur in Mediterranean soils. A two-year study was conducted to determine how biosolids affect biomass and grain yield as well as N uptake and N leaching in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum), and oat (Avena byzantina C. Koch). Cereals were fertilized at rates of 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha−1 dry weight (called B5, B10, and B15, respectively) of biosolids (BS). Mineral-fertilized (MF) and unfertilized (C) controls were included. Overall, results highlight that BS are valuable fertilizers for winter cereals as these showed higher yields with BS as compared to control. Nevertheless, whether 5 Mg ha−1 of biosolids could replace mineral fertilization still depended on the particular cereal due to the different yield physiology of the crops. Moreover, nitrate leaching from B5 was comparable to MF, and B15 increased the risk by less than 30 N-NO3 kg ha−1. We therefore concluded that with specific rate settings, biosolid application can sustain yields of winter cereals without significant additional N leaching as compared to MF.

scholarly journals Effects of two wood-based biochars on the fate of added fertilizer nitrogen—a 15N tracing study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Kalu ◽  
Gboyega Nathaniel Oyekoya ◽  
Per Ambus ◽  
Priit Tammeorg ◽  
Asko Simojoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Application Rates

AbstractA 15N tracing pot experiment was conducted using two types of wood-based biochars: a regular biochar and a Kon-Tiki-produced nutrient-enriched biochar, at two application rates (1% and 5% (w/w)), in addition to a fertilizer only and a control treatment. Ryegrass was sown in pots, all of which except controls received 15N-labelled fertilizer as either 15NH4NO3 or NH415NO3. We quantified the effect of biochar application on soil N2O emissions, as well as the fate of fertilizer-derived ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) in terms of their leaching from the soil, uptake into plant biomass, and recovery in the soil. We found that application of biochars reduced soil mineral N leaching and N2O emissions. Similarly, the higher biochar application rate of 5% significantly increased aboveground ryegrass biomass yield. However, no differences in N2O emissions and ryegrass biomass yields were observed between regular and nutrient-enriched biochar treatments, although mineral N leaching tended to be lower in the nutrient-enriched biochar treatment than in the regular biochar treatment. The 15N analysis revealed that biochar application increased the plant uptake of added nitrate, but reduced the plant uptake of added ammonium compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Thus, the uptake of total N derived from added NH4NO3 fertilizer was not affected by the biochar addition, and cannot explain the increase in plant biomass in biochar treatments. Instead, the increased plant biomass at the higher biochar application rate was attributed to the enhanced uptake of N derived from soil. This suggests that the interactions between biochar and native soil organic N may be important determinants of the availability of soil N to plant growth.

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