Soil degradation under cropping and its influence on wheat yield on a weakly structured New Zealand silt loam

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Francis ◽  
F. J. Tabley ◽  
K. M. White
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
N Fertility

Results from the first phase of a long-term experiment showed that, after 6 years under pasture, several soil quality attributes had improved compared with soil cropped annually. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of pasture-induced increases in structural stability and organic matter (N fertility) on wheat grown in 3 successive seasons following pasture cultivation. Growing winter wheat after the ploughing of land that had previously grown perennial grass resulted in gradual reductions in soil organic C and total N. Reductions in soil microbial biomass C and earthworm populations were much more rapid. Soil aggregate stability declined rapidly in the first year after ploughing, but more slowly after that. Soil macroporosity increased after ploughing, mainly due to the relief of compaction caused by sheep treading during grazing. The contrasting soil conditions that existed at the end of the first experimental phase significantly affected the harvest yield of the first and second wheat crops, with yields 2—3 t/ha greater after perennial grasses than after annual crops. Variations in harvest yield and N uptake were explained by differences in soil N fertility and soil structural conditions. Treatment effects on yield were not detected in the third wheat crop. For the structural condition and N fertility of this soil, the extent of improvement during 3 years under perennial pasture was similar to the extent of decline under 3 years of cropping. This suggests that similar lengths of pastoral and arable cropping are needed in crop rotations for the long-term maintenance of these properties in weakly structured silt loam soils in New Zealand.

Long term effects of rotation, tillage and stubble management on wheat production in southern NSW

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Heenan ◽  
AC Taylor ◽  
BR Cullis ◽  
WJ Lill
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
Total N ◽  
Grain Yields

A long term field experiment began in 1979 at Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., to compare the sustainability of a range of rotation, tillage and stubble management systems on a red earth. This paper reports yield, yield components and grain protein of wheat for 1979-90. Rotations considered were alternating lupin-wheat (LW), lupin-wheat-wheat (LWW), continuous wheat (WW) with and without N fertilizer (100 kg N/ha), and alternating sub-clover-wheat (CW). Soil N supply at the start of the experiment was high following many years of sub-clover based pasture. From 1979 to 1983, there was a negative grain yield response to N fertilizer and no response to a legume in rotation except in the drought of 1982 when low yields were recorded from LW. Thereafter, a positive grain yield response was usually produced to N fertilizer in WW rotations, until 1989 and 1990, when these crops displayed aluminium toxicity sym ptoms. Overall, average grain yields from legume rotations were higher than WW with added N fertilizer. Since 1983, LW rotations consistently produced higher mean grain yields than CW, but mean grain protein and total N uptake were lower. Yields and N uptake by the second wheat crop in a LWW rotation indicated little carryover of benefits from the lupins. Slightly higher mean grain yield and harvest index, but lower mean grain protein, were produced by direct drilling, compared with cultivation before sowing, following lupins or sub-clover. However, retaining stubble rather than burning in autumn consistently reduced grain yields. There was no evidence that early burial of wheat stubble following summer rain, rather than incorporation in autumn, improved grain yield or total N uptake. The build-up of giant brome grass and diseases, particularly where stubble was retained and crops direct-drilled, casts some doubt on the long term sustainability of these short term rotations in this environment.

Quality of soil from the nickel mining area of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, engineered using earthworms (Pheretima sp.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2995-3005
Author(s):  
Hasbullah Syaf ◽  
Muhammad Albar Pattah ◽  
Laode Muhammad Harjoni Kilowasid
Keyword(s):  
Tap Water ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Nickel Mining

Earthworms (Pheretima sp.) could survive under abiotic stress soil conditions. Furthermore, their activities as ecosystem engineers allow for the creation of soil biostructures with new characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the abundance of Pheretima sp. on the aggregate size, physicochemistry, and biology of the topsoil from the nickel mining area of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It was carried out by first grouping their abundance into zero, two, four, six, and eight individuals per pot and then carrying out tests. The Pheretima sp. were then released onto the surface of the topsoil and mixed with biochar that was saturated with tap water in the pot overnight. The results showed that the abundance of the species had a significant effect on the size class distribution, and aggregate stability of the soil. Furthermore, the size of the soil aggregates formed was dominated by the size class 2.83 - 4.75 mm under both dry and wet conditions. Under dry conditions, three size classes were found, while under wet conditions, there were five size classes. The results also showed that the highest and lowest stability indexes occurred with zero and eight Pheretima sp., respectively. Furthermore, the abundance had a significant effect on pH, organic C, total N, CEC, and total nematodes. However, it had no significant effect on the total P, C/N ratio, total AMF spores, and flagellate. The highest soil pH occurred with zero Pheretima sp., while with six and two members of the species, the total nematode was at its highest and lowest populations, respectively. Therefore, it could be concluded that the species was able to create novel conditions in the topsoils at the nickel mining area that were suitable for various soil biota.

scholarly journals Field-based investigation of aged biochar coupled with summer legumes effect on wheat yield in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Hafeez Ur Rahim ◽  
Sajjad Ahmad ◽  
Zaid Khan ◽  
Muhammad Ayoub Khan
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Thousand Grain Weight ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Biological Yield ◽  
Soil Fertility Improvement

There is a debate about whether the aged biochar effect can increase the crop yield or not. Herein, a field-based experimental data set and analysis provide the information on the aged biochar effect coupled with summer legumes on the yield of subsequent wheat. Briefly, in summer 2016, three different types of legumes i.e. mungbean, sesbania, and cowpea were grown with the intention of grain for human consumption, green manuring for soil fertility improvement, and fodder for livestock consumption. A fallow was also adjusted in the experiment with the purpose of comparison. Biochar was added to each experimental plot in triplicates at the rate of 0, 5, and 10 tons ha-1. After the harvesting of legumes, the biomass of each sesbania treatment plot was mixed in the field while the biomass of mungbean and cowpea were removed from each respective plot. To investigate the aged biochar effect, the wheat crop was grown on the same field layout and design (randomized complete block) of legumes. The data analysis highlighted that significantly maximum grain yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1); thousand-grain weight (g), and straw yield (kg ha-1) were obtained in the plots mixed with sesbania. Regarding the aged biochar effect, maximum yield was obtained in the plots with 10 tons ha-1treatment dose. Additionally, the interaction of aged biochar coupled with legumes was non-significant. In conclusion, this work could prove that aged biochar coupled with summer legumes enhanced the yield of subsequent wheat on a sustainable basis due to its long-term numerous benefits to the soil-plant system.

Time of Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer to Maize at Samaru, Nigeria

1973 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Rainfall Distribution ◽  
Total N ◽  
Plant Nitrogen ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Time Of Application ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
One Year

SUMMARYMaize was grown for three years at three levels of nitrogen, 56, 112 and 224 kg. N ha.−1, involving altogether nine different timing and splitting treatments. Measurements were made of grain yield, plant nitrogen status and total-N-uptake, and, in one year, movement of nitrate-N in control plot soils. Where only 56 kg. N ha.−1was applied, its time of application made very little difference to yield; at higher rates of nitrogen an unsplit application as late as seven weeks was very inefficient, but only at the highest rate did a split application give any appreciable yield increase over an unsplit application to the seed bed. Consideration of the soil nitrate-N data and the long-term pattern of rainfall distribution leads to the conclusion that leaching is unlikely to be a serious problem in the nitrogen nutrition of early-planted maize.

Grain yield and N benefits to sequential wheat and barley crops from single-year alfalfa, berseem and red clover, chickling vetch and lentil

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Bullied ◽  
M. H. Entz ◽  
S. R. Smith, Jr. ◽  
K. C. Bamford
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
First Year ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
N Content

Single-year hay alfalfas (Medicago sativa L.), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and red clovers (Trifolium pratense L.), chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) were evaluated for rotational yield and N benefits to the following first-year wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and second-year barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops. Field experiments were initiated in 1997 and 1998 on a Riverdale silty clay soil at Winnipeg, Manitoba. Yield and N content of the following wheat crop were increased following legumes compared to wheat following a canola control. Wheat yield and N content averaged 2955 kg ha–1 and 76.1 kg ha–1, respectively, following the chickling vetch and lentil, 2456 kg ha–1 and 56.4 kg ha–1 following single-year hay legumes, compared with 1706 kg ha–1 and 37.9 kg ha–1 following canola. Non-dormant alfalfas (dormancy rating of eight or greater) contributed to larger grain yields than the dormant alfalfas only in the first year of each experiment. The chickling vetch and lentil provided similar or higher subsequent crop yields and N content for 2 yr compared to a canola control or fallow treatment. This study shows that some increase in yield can be achieved by using a single-year alfalfa hay crop instead of fallow; however, exclusive green manuring of chickling vetch and lentil crops can produce the most increase in yield and N uptake in subsequent crops. Key words: Alfalfa (single-year), legumes (annual), green manure, nitrogen, cropping system

Biological and chemical assays to estimate nitrogen supplying power of soils with contrasting management histories

Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Curtin ◽  
F. M. McCallum
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
N Mineralisation ◽  
Aerobic Incubation ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Mineralisation Potential ◽  
N Fertility

Nitrogen (N) mineralised from soil organic matter can be an important source of N for crop uptake, particularly following cultivation of pastures. Difficulty in predicting the contribution of mineralisation continues to be a serious obstacle to implementating best management practices for fertiliser N. We evaluated biological tests (i.e. net N mineralised in a 28-day aerobic incubation and anaerobically mineralisable N, AMN) and chemical tests (ammonium-N hydrolysis in hot 2 m KCl) as predictors of N supply to a glasshouse-grown oat (Avena sativa L.) crop. The oat plants were grown to maturity without added N on 30 soils representing a range of management histories, including soils collected from long-term pastures and intensive arable cropping sites. The majority (average 83%) of the N accumulated in grain and straw was mineralised N. Plant N derived from mineralisation (PNDM), estimated by subtracting soil mineral N at sowing from N uptake, was generally higher for long-term pasture soils (mean 82 mg/kg, n = 9) than for long-term arable soils (mean 48 mg/kg, n = 9). The 2 measures of N mineralisation were not closely related [R2 = 0.11 (0.37*** when one outlying observation was omitted)], indicating that aerobic and anaerobic assays can give quite different N fertility rankings. Aerobically mineralisable N was the best predictor of PNDM (R2 = 0.79***). The ratio of CO2-C evolved to net N mineralised in the aerobic incubation was highly variable (e.g. mean of 13.6 for pasture soils v. 7.5 for long-term arable soils), likely due to differences in N immobilisation. The correlations of AMN (R2 = 0.32**) and hot KCl N (R2 = 0.24**) with PNDM were not much better than that between total soil N and PNDM (R2 = 0.16*), suggesting that these tests would not provide reliable estimates of N mineralisation potential in soils with diverse management histories.

EPIC estimates of soil water, nitrogen and carbon under semiarid temperate conditions

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Roloff ◽  
R. de jong ◽  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
V. M. Benson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Support Tool

The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model is an important support tool for environmental management. Previous tests of the model have determined that it is suitable for long-term yield estimation, but it is less precise in assessing annual yield variability. To determine the reasons for the discrepancies between estimated and measured yields, we tested the ability of EPIC version 5300 to predict soil water and soil nitrogen dynamics, using data from a long-term spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation experiment in the semiarid prairie region of Canada. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) estimates varied among methods tested: Priestley-Taylor and Penman-Monteith methods resulted in PET means that were about twice those obtained with the Hargreaves and Baier-Robertson methods. The higher PET means were associated with an excessive estimation of net radiation. We used the Baier-Robertson method to generate the other estimates reported herein. EPIC generally overestimated total soil water, but it still allowed clear differentiation among rotation phases and times of the year, and provided adequate estimates of water during the critical shot-blade stage. Water estimates by soil layer were also generally overpredicted, especially at depths from 0.15 to 0.60 m, but we were able to differentiate among rotation phases and times of the year. Precision of these latter estimates was generally low, accounting at most for 27% of the variability, and varied by soil layer, rotation phase and time of the year. Nitrate-N estimates tended to be lower than measured values, especially at depths below 0.3 m and during vegetative growth phases. However, the estimates also allowed us to distinguish among the rotation phases and times of the year. Total N and organic C were satisfactorily estimated by EPIC. In general, EPIC provided adequate long-term estimates of the environmental quality indicators tested. Key words: Environmental quality, environmental modelling, sustainability, spring wheat, fallow, potential evapotranspiration methods

Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona A. Robertson ◽  
Peter J. Thorburn
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N

The Australian sugar industry is moving away from the practice of burning the crop before harvest to a system of green cane trash blanketing (GCTB). Since the residues that would have been lost in the fire are returned to the soil, nutrients and organic matter may be accumulating under trash blanketing. There is a need to know if this is the case, to better manage fertiliser inputs and maintain soil fertility. The objective of this work was to determine whether conversion from a burning to a GCTB trash management system is likely to affect soil fertility in terms of C and N. Indicators of short- and long-term soil C and N cycling were measured in 5 field experiments in contrasting climatic conditions. The effects of GCTB varied among experiments. Experiments that had been running for 1–2 years (Harwood) showed no significant trash management effects. In experiments that had been running for 3–6 years (Mackay and Tully), soil organic C and total N were up to 21% greater under trash blanketing than under burning, to 0.10 or 0.25 m depth (most of this effect being in the top 50 mm). Soil microbial activity (CO2 production) and soil microbial biomass also increased under GCTB, presumably as a consequence of the improved C availability. Most of the trash C was respired by the microbial biomass and lost from the system as CO2. The stimulation of microbial activity in these relatively short-term GCTB systems was not accompanied by increased net mineralisation of soil N, probably because of the greatly increased net immobilisation of N. It was calculated that, with standard fertiliser applications, the entire trash blanket could be decomposed without compromising the supply of N to the crop. Calculations of possible long-term effects of converting from a burnt to a GCTB production system suggested that, at the sites studied, soil organic C could increase by 8–15%, total soil N could increase by 9–24%, and inorganic soil N could increase by 37 kg/ha.year, and that it would take 20–30 years for the soils to approach this new equilibrium. The results suggest that fertiliser N application should not be reduced in the first 6 years after adoption of GCTB, but small reductions may be possible in the longer term (>15 years).

Wheat response after temperate crop legumes in south-eastern Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Evans ◽  
NA Fettell ◽  
DR Coventry ◽  
GE O'Connor ◽  
DN Walsgott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia

At 15 sites in the cereal belt of New South Wales and Victoria, wheat after lupin or pea produced more biomass and had a greater nitrogen (N) content than wheat after wheat or barley; on average these crops assimilated 36 kg N/ha more. The improved wheat yield after lupin averaged 0 . 9 t/ha and after pea 0.7 t/ha, increases of 44 and 32% respectively. The responses were variable with site, year and legume. Soil available N was increased by both lupin and pea and the levels of surface inorganic N measured at the maturity of first year crops was often related to N in wheat grown in the following year. Of two possible sources of additional N for wheat after legumes, namely mineral N conserved in soil by lupin or pea (up to 60 kg N/ha) and the total N added in the residues of these legumes (up to 152 kg N/ha), both were considered significant to the growth of a following wheat crop. Their relative contribution to explaining variance in wheat N is analysed, and it is suggested wheat may acquire up to 40 kg N/ha from legume stubbles. Non-legume break crops also increased subsequent wheat yield but this effect was not as great as the combined effect of added N and disease break attained with crop legumes.

scholarly journals Assessing Wheat Response to N Fertilization in a Wheat–Maize–Soybean Long-Term Rotation through NUE Measurements

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 941
Author(s):  
Roxana Vidican ◽  
Anamaria Mălinaș ◽  
Ioan Rotar ◽  
Rozalia Kadar ◽  
Valeria Deac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Wheat Variety ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

Nitrogen fertilization is indispensable in increasing wheat crop productivity but, in order to achieve maximum profitable production and minimum negative environmental impact, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) should be considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in a long-term wheat–maize–soybean rotation system with the final purpose of increasing the overall performance of the wheat cropping system. Research was undertaken at the Agricultural Research Development Station Turda (ARDS Turda), located in Western Transylvania Plain, Romania. The experimental field was carried out at a fixed place during seven wheat vegetation seasons. The plant material consisted of a wheat variety created by the ARDS Turda (Andrada), one variety of maize (Turda 332) and one variety of soybean (Felix). The experiment covered two planting patterns: wheat after maize and wheat after soybean and five levels of nitrogen fertilization (control-unfertilized, fertilization with 0—control plot, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha−1 y−1). The following indices were assessed: NUE (nitrogen use efficiency), N uptake and PFP (partial factor productivity). The results of the present study suggest that reduced N-fertilization doses could improve N uptake and utilization for both planting patterns.

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