Recovery of 15N-labelled fertilizers applied to barley on two artificially eroded soils in north-central Alberta

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pradhan ◽  
R. C. Izaurralde ◽  
S. S. Malhi ◽  
M. Nyborg
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
N Losses ◽  
North Central ◽  
Major Mechanism ◽  
Erosion Level ◽  
N Management

Soil erosion induces variability in soil properties which may influence nutrient use efficiency. A 2-yr field study was conducted with the following objectives: (1) to determine the recovery of 15N-labelled fertilizers applied to barley growing on artificially eroded soil, and (2) to compare N losses from nitrate- and ammonia-based N fertilizers. Field experiments were conducted in north-central Alberta in 1991 and 1992 on an Orthic Gray Luvisol (Site 1) and on an Eluviated Black Chernozem (Site 2) soil. At each site, a factorial experiment of three levels of artificial erosion (0, 10 and 20 cm) and three N sources (KNO3, urea, and control) was laid out as a split-plot design with four replications. The 15N-labelled fertilizers (5.63 atom % abundance) were banded in June 1991 at 150 kg N ha−1 within 46-cm by 46-cm steel frame microplots. The proportion of added N recovered by barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was not affected by erosion level. Periodical water saturation and NO3− availability suggested denitrification as a major mechanism of N loss. The N losses ranged from 12 to 51 g N ha−1 in 1991 and 20 to 80 kg N ha−1 over the 2-yr period, but the N losses did not relate to erosion level. The N losses after 2 yr were greater from KNO3 than from urea at Site 1. Most of the added 15N was found in the surface 0- to 15-cm layer, but amounts of 15N were detected in the 15- to 30-cm or 30- to 45-cm layers. The results call for continued development of N management techniques geared to optimize crop growth and minimize losses from fields. Key words: Artificial erosion, barley, fate of applied N, 15N-labelled fertilizers, N immobilization, N loss

scholarly journals The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N2O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Schwenke ◽  
B. M. Haigh
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The Impact

Summer crop production on slow-draining Vertosols in a sub-tropical climate has the potential for large emissions of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) from denitrification of applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser. While it is well established that applying N fertiliser will increase N2O emissions above background levels, previous research in temperate climates has shown that increasing N fertiliser rates can increase N2O emissions linearly, exponentially or not at all. Little such data exists for summer cropping in sub-tropical regions. In four field experiments at two locations across two summers, we assessed the impact of increasing N fertiliser rate on both soil N2O emissions and crop yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Vertosols of sub-tropical Australia. Rates of N fertiliser, applied as urea at sowing, included a nil application, an optimum N rate and a double-optimum rate. Daily N2O fluxes ranged from –3.8 to 2734g N2O-Nha–1day–1 and cumulative N2O emissions ranged from 96 to 6659g N2O-Nha–1 during crop growth. Emissions of N2O increased with increased N fertiliser rates at all experimental sites, but the rate of N loss was five times greater in wetter-than-average seasons than in drier conditions. For two of the four experiments, periods of intense rainfall resulted in N2O emission factors (EF, percent of applied N emitted) in the range of 1.2–3.2%. In contrast, the EFs for the two drier experiments were 0.41–0.56% with no effect of N fertiliser rate. Additional 15N mini-plots aimed to determine whether N fertiliser rate affected total N lost from the soil–plant system between sowing and harvest. Total 15N unaccounted was in the range of 28–45% of applied N and was presumed to be emitted as N2O+N2. At the drier site, the ratio of N2 (estimated by difference)to N2O (measured) lost was a constant 43%, whereas the ratio declined from 29% to 12% with increased N fertiliser rate for the wetter experiment. Choosing an N fertiliser rate aimed at optimum crop production mitigates potentially high environmental (N2O) and agronomic (N2+N2O) gaseous N losses from over-application, particularly in seasons with high intensity rainfall occurring soon after fertiliser application.

scholarly journals Extent and Variation of Nitrogen Losses from Non-legume Field Crops of Conterminous United States

Nitrogen ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-51
Author(s):  
Amitava Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Field Crops ◽  
N Application Rate ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
N Management

Nitrogen (N) losses from field crops have raised environmental concerns. This manuscript accompanies a database of N loss studies from non-legume field crops conducted across the conterminous United States. Cumulative N losses through nitrous oxide-denitrification (CN2O), ammonia volatilization (CNH3), and nitrate leaching (CNO3−) during the growing season and associated crop, soil, and water management information were gathered to determine the extent and controls of these losses. This database consisted of 404, 26, and 358 observations of CN2O, CNH3, and CNO3− losses, respectively, from sixty-two peer-reviewed manuscripts. Corn (Zea mays) dominated the N loss studies. Losses ranged between −0.04 to 16.9, 2.50 to 50.9, and 0 to 257 kg N ha−1 for CN2O, CNH3 and CNO3−, respectively. Most CN2O and CNO3− observations were reported from Colorado (n = 100) and Iowa (n = 176), respectively. The highest values of CN2O, and CNO3− were reported from Illinois and Minnesota states, and corn and potato (Solanum tuberosum), respectively. The application of anhydrous NH3 had the highest value of CN2O loss, and ammonium nitrate had the highest CNO3− loss. Among the different placement methods, the injection of fertilizer-N had the highest CN2O loss, whereas the banding of fertilizer-N had the highest CNO3− loss. The maximum CNO3− loss was higher for chisel than no-tillage practice. Both CN2O and CNO3− were positively correlated with fertilizer N application rate and the amount of water input (irrigation and rainfall). Fertilizer-N management strategies to control N loss should consider the spatio-temporal variability of interactions among climate, crop-and soil types.

RECOVERY OF 15N-LABELLED UREA AS INFLUENCED BY STRAW ADDITION AND METHOD OF PLACEMENT

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. MALHI ◽  
M. NYBORG ◽  
E. D. SOLBERG
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Band Placement ◽  
N Losses ◽  
North Central ◽  
Nest Placement ◽  
Method Of Placement ◽  
N Incorporation ◽  
Fall Application

Field experiments were conducted during 1982–1983 at two locations (Rimbey and Ellerslie) in north-central Alberta to determine the influence of date of application (mid-October, late October and spring), method of placement (incorporation, banding and nesting) and straw (0 and 3.4 t ha−1) on the recovery of 15N-labelled urea in plants and soil at harvest. The rate of N was 50 kg N ha−1. The recovery of 15N in mature barley plants at both locations was greater with spring application as compared to fall application, and greater with banding or nesting compared to incorporation. At Rimbey, the average recovery, in plants plus soil, of incorporated urea N was lower with October applications (43% for mid and 55% for late) as compared to spring application (89%). Banding or nesting increased the N recovery of October applications. With spring application, there was more immobilization of applied N when incorporated into soil as compared to band or nest placement. Also there was more immobilization of applied N when straw was added to the soil, but banding or nesting tended to overcome the immobilization effect of straw so that the plant N recovery was greater with banding or nesting as compared to incorporation. At the Ellerslie location, there was heavy rain with consequent saturated topsoil in late June and early July. Recovery of fall-applied N in plants was low, and even with nesting the recovery was only 13%. There was substantial immobilization of applied N at Ellerslie. With spring application, nesting overcame the large immobilization effect and produced normal recovery of applied N in the plants. Addition of straw resulted in more immobilization of applied urea N, particularly when urea was incorporated. The 15N recovery in plants plus soil of spring-applied N indicated N losses during the growing season and the losses were much greater at Ellerslie than at Rimbey. Key words: Band placement, fall application, immobilization of N, incorporation, 15N, N losses, nest placement, spring application

scholarly journals Evaluation of In-Season Nitrogen Management for Summer Maize in North Central China

ISRN Agronomy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-C. Zhao ◽  
P. He ◽  
Z.-M. Sha ◽  
S.-L. Xing ◽  
K.-J. Li
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Central China ◽  
Summer Maize ◽  
North Central ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Maize Growth ◽  
N Supply ◽  
N Management ◽  
N Rates

We conducted field experiments in which nitrogen (N) was applied to summer maize at different rates and different basal/topdressing ratios. The experiments were carried out in 2009 in Hengshui and Xinji, Hebei province, China. The results showed that basal application of N was necessary for maize growth in early summer and for high grain yields. For the Hengshui and Xinji sites, 30 and 57 kg N ha−1, respectively, would meet the N demands of maize before 7-leaf stage. The total rates of 120 and 180 kg N ha−1, respectively, would maximize grain yields, and in-season N management based on crop N demands and soil N supply could reduce N inputs by more than 50% in Hengshui and 25% in Xinji, respectively, in one maize growth season, compared with farmers' practice, but the sustainability of the optimum N rates for maximum grain yield of next seasons crop needs to be further studied. Optimum N management should take into account the existing nutrient conditions at each site, soil fertility and texture, and crop demands.

scholarly journals Effects of Changing Fertilization since the 1980s on Nitrogen Runoff and Leaching in Rice–Wheat Rotation Systems, Taihu Lake Basin

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 886
Author(s):  
Yaqin Diao ◽  
Hengpeng Li ◽  
Sanyuan Jiang ◽  
Xinyan Li
Keyword(s):  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Taihu Lake ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N

The nitrogen (N) loss associated with intensive agricultural activities is a significant cause of eutrophication and algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems. Taihu Lake has experienced serious surface water quality deterioration and eutrophication problems since the 1980s. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of fertilization changes since the 1980s on the N loss with runoff and leaching in the rice–wheat cropping rotation system. According to the results published in the literature since the 1980s, we set up four fertilization scenarios—N1980s: a fertilization rate of 350 kg N·ha−1·year−1 with 30% in manure fertilization to simulate fertilization in the 1980s; NA1990s: a fertilization rate of 500 kg N·ha−1·year−1 with 10% in manure fertilization to simulate fertilization in the early 1990s; NL1990s: fertilization rate of 600 kg N·ha−1·year−1 with 10% in manure fertilization to simulate fertilization in the late 1990s; and N2000s: fertilization rate of 550 kg N·ha−1·year−1 with all chemicals to simulate fertilization in the 2000s. Then, we calibrated and validated the DNDC (denitrification–decomposition) model through field experiments in two rice–wheat rotation seasons from November 2011 to October 2013 and simulated the N loss with runoff and leaching since the 1980s. The results show that N losses with leaching in the four periods (N 1980s, NA1990s, NL1990s, and N2000s) were 5.2 ± 2.1, 9.4 ± 3.2, 14.4 ± 4.6 and 13.5 ± 4.6 kg N·ha−1·year−1, respectively. N losses with surface runoff were 7.9 ± 3.9, 18.3 ± 7.2, 25.4 ± 10.2, and 26.5 ± 10.6 kg N·ha−1·year−1, respectively. The total N loss through runoff and leaching showed an increasing trend from 1980 to the late 1990s, when it reached its peak. The increase in N export to water due to fertilizer application occurs mainly during the rainy season from March to August, and especially from June to August, when rainfall events and intensive rice fertilization activities are frequent. After the 1990s, when the fertilizer rate was above 500 kg N·ha−1·year−1, the crop yields no longer increased significantly, which indicates that the optimized fertilization rate to balance crop yields and N loss to water is lower than 500 kg N·ha−1·year−1. The increase in fertilizer use has been unnecessary since the early 1990s, and at least about 30% of the N loss could have been prevented without reducing crop yields.

scholarly journals Use of Controlled-Release Urea to Improve Yield, Nitrogen Utilization, and Economic Return and Reduce Nitrogen Loss in Wheat-Maize Crop Rotations

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 723
Author(s):  
Xinpeng Xu ◽  
Ping He ◽  
Jianlin Wei ◽  
Rongzong Cui ◽  
Jingxia Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Central China ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Summer Maize ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
North Central ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Net Benefits ◽  
Controlled Release Urea

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer input has become a common phenomenon among most farmers in the winter wheat–summer maize rotation system of north-central China, and has resulted in low nutrient use efficiency and environmental pollution. Controlled-release urea (CRU) is proposed as a solution to excessive fertilization because CRU achieves high yields and reduces N losses. Therefore, CRU mixed with normal urea at rates based on the Nutrient Expert (NE) system was used as fertilizer in a 4-year field experiment to test the preference in crop yields, economic benefits, nitrogen use efficiencies, and N losses. The following fertilizer treatments were established: local farmers’ practices (FP); normal urea fertilizer at the rate recommended by the NE system (NE); mixed CRU and normal urea at ratios of 60:40 (CRU1) and 75:25 (CRU2) based on the NE system; and 80% of the recommended N rate of the NE, CRU1 and CRU2 treatments (80%NE, 80%CRU1 and 80%CRU2). The results showed that, compared with the NE treatment at the same application rate of N, mixed CRU and urea increased yields and net benefits while reducing N loss. The application of CRU at 60% for maize and 75% for wheat had the best overall effects. Compared with FP, the average grain yield, recovery efficiency of N fertilizer and net benefits increased by 8.5%, 10.9% and 11.3%, respectively, for maize with CRU1, and increased by 4.5%, 15.1% and 10.3%, respectively, for wheat with CRU2. Furthermore, mixed CRU and urea at the recommended N rate significantly reduced N loss from 38.5% to 40.3% but increased soil NO3−-N and NH4+-N contents at 0–30 cm, although opposite results (NO3−-N) were observed deeper in the soil (30–90 cm). In the treatments 80%CRU1 and 80%CRU2, the maize yield and overall economic benefits were equivalent to those in the FP treatment, but apparent N loss was significantly reduced. Thus, these results confirmed that the combination of the CRU and the NE system for winter wheat–summer maize in north-central China is efficient and valuable, and has the potential to improve yield, nitrogen use efficiency and net benefit with low N losses.

Yield and N uptake of barley on two artificially eroded soils in north-central Alberta

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-322
Author(s):  
R. Pradhan ◽  
R. C. Izaurralde ◽  
M. Nyborg ◽  
S. S. Malhi
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Potassium Nitrate ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
North Central ◽  
Fertilizer Use Efficiency ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Topsoil Removal

Topsoil depth is an indirect indicator of soil quality and crop productivity. A 2-yr field study was conducted in north-central Alberta with the following objectives: (1) to determine aboveground barley dry matter yield, N uptake, and fertilizer-use efficiency (FUE) in two artificially eroded soils of contrasting properties, and (2) to assess the effectiveness of KNO3 and urea in compensating for lost productivity. Field experiments were conducted on an Orthic Gray Luvisol (Site 1) and on an Eluviated Black Chernozem (Site 2) in 1991 and 1992. The treatments consisted of three depths of topsoil removal (0, 10 and 20 cm) and three N fertilizers (KNO3 and urea at 150 kg N ha−1, and the control). The plots were sown to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Yields and N uptake of aboveground barley dry matter decreased with each increment of topsoil removal and were lowest in the 20-cm topsoil removal. Fertilizer N improved yields and N uptake at each depth of erosion. In most of the erosion treatments barley yields and N uptake tended to be greater with KNO3 than with urea. The effectiveness of each N source, however, varied with site. At the 20-cm depth of erosion, KNO3 was more effective than urea. The trend in fertilizer-use efficiency increased with depth of erosion at Site 1 but decreased at Site 2. Key words: Artificial erosion, barley, fertilizer-use efficiency, potassium nitrate, urea

EFFECT OF DATE OF APPLICATION ON THE FATE OF 15N-LABELLED UREA AND POTASSIUM NITRATE

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. NYBORG ◽  
S.S. MALHI ◽  
E.D. SOLBERG
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Potassium Nitrate ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total Recovery

Previous work in north-central Alberta showed large losses of fall-applied 15N-labelled N fertilizers over the winter, but determination was not made for the summer season. The objective of the present study was to discover the amount of 15N loss during both the non-cropped winter season and during the following cropped season. Field experiments were conducted at two sites with 15N-labelled urea and potassium nitrate (KNO3) applied in early October, late October, late winter and in the spring. The 15N-labelled fertilizers at 50 kg N ha−1 were incorporated into the soil. Plots were sown to barley in spring and harvested when mature. Recovery of 15N in soil samples taken before sowing in spring indicated over-winter N losses from October-applied N at both locations and especially with KNO3. At the Breton site spring recovery of 15N in soil from the October application was 69% with urea and only 30% with KNO3. The mechanism of N loss was primarily denitrification. The amount of 15N immobilized in the soil was greater with urea than KNO3 for both sites. The total recovery of October- or late winter-applied 15N fertilizer at harvest (plants plus soil) was low, with a range of 7–71%. The recovery from spring application was near-complete at the Innisfail site (≥ 84%) but at Breton, which had heavy rain and saturated soil in late June, recovery was low with urea (56%) and especially low with KNO3 (10%). It was estimated that 8 of 45 site-years had sufficient precipitation during June to cause prolonged soil saturation and consequent N loss. In all, major losses of 15N occurred in the non-cropped over-winter period at both sites, and occurred in the cropped season at one site. Key words: Denitrification, fall application of N, leaching, 15N, 15N balance, N fertilizer, N losses, winter application of N

EFFECT OF WHEAT STRAW INCORPORATION ON DENITRIFICATION OF N UNDER ANAEROBIC AND AEROBIC CONDITIONS

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. AULAKH ◽  
D. A. RENNIE
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total Period ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Key Words Denitrification ◽  
Straw Incorporation ◽  
Water Saturated

The effects of wheat straw incorporation on denitrification, immobilization of N, and C mineralization were investigated at H2O contents of 60, 90 and 120% saturation. Incorporation of increasing levels of straw consistently increased the rate of denitrification for the first 4–8 d, followed by negligible N losses thereafter. In a total period of 96 d, the addition of 1.0% straw increased N losses from 2.5 to 10.1, and from 61.6 to 83.9 μg g−1 in the 60 and 120% water saturation treatments, respectively. The pattern of CO2-C evolved was practically identical to that of the denitrification rate for the initial period when sufficient [Formula: see text] was present. This study has confirmed that in flooded soils, high rates of denitrification will persist only when C is supplied by native or applied organic C sources, provided adequate [Formula: see text] is present. When [Formula: see text] was low, denitrification rates rapidly decreased, even with a sufficient supply of C. Immobilization of fertilizer N (50 μg N g−1 as K15NO3) was very rapid. Around 90% of the total immobilization of applied N occurred within 4 d. Incorporation of 1.0% straw increased the immobilization of fertilizer N from 8.4 to 42.8, and from 1.0 to 7.6% in the 60 and 120% water-saturated treatments, respectively. Remineralization of recently immobilized fertilizer N was observed after 32 d in the 60% saturation treatments only. Key words: Denitrification, wheat straw, mineralization of N

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SOIL ACIDITY PROBLEM IN ALBERTA AND NORTHEASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. PENNEY ◽  
M. NYBORG ◽  
P. B. HOYT ◽  
W. A. RICE ◽  
B. SIEMENS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Crop Species

The amount of cultivated acid soil in Alberta and northeastern British Columbia was estimated from pH values of farm samples analyzed by the Alberta Soil Testing Laboratory, and the effect of soil acidity on crops was assessed from field experiments on 28 typical acid soils. The field experiments consisted of two cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and one cultivar each of rapeseed (Brassica campestris L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown with and without lime for 2 yr. There are about 30,000 ha of soils with a pH of 5.0 or less where soil acidity seriously restricts yields of all four crop species. There are approximately 300,000 ha with a soil pH of 5.1–5.5 where liming will on the average increase yields of alfalfa by 100%, yields of barley by 10–15%, and yields of rapeseed and red clover by 5–10%. There are a further 1,600,000 ha where soil pH ranges from 5.6 to 6.0 and liming will increase yields of alfalfa by approximately 50% and yields of barley, rapeseed and red clover by at least 4–5%.

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