• Authors:
    • Sa, M.
    • Arf, O.
    • Buzetti,S.
    • Andreotti, M.
    • Teixeira Filho, M.
    • Souza, J.
  • Source: Bragantia
  • Volume: 70
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The second corn crop is an important economical alternative for agriculture. As this crop removes great amounts of N, it is necessary an appropriate nitrogen fertilization management for obtaining high yields. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of sources, doses and times of nitrogen application on agronomic characteristics and productivity of corn grains in an irrigated second crop. The experiment was accomplished in Selviria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, in a red dystrophic Latosol irrigated by sprinkle and conducted under no till, in 2007 and 2008. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete blocks design, with 4 repetitions, disposed in a factorial scheme 5*3*2, being: five doses of N (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha -1), three sources of N (ammonium sulfonitrate with nitrification inhibitor, ammonium sulfate and urea) applied at sowing or totally at sidedressing in the stage of 6 leaves. The N sources provided similar grain yield. The nitrogen application at sowing was viable, as well as the traditional application of N at sidedressing. The increment of N doses increased the leaf N content, the number of grains per line and per ear and consequently the grain yield. The N doses increased the grain yield of the second crop up to 150 kg ha -1 of N, independently of application time or N sources.
  • Authors:
    • Maul, J. E.
    • Meisinger, J. J.
    • Cavigelli, M. A.
    • Spargo, J. T.
    • Mirsky, S. B.
  • Source: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
  • Volume: 90
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Sustainable soil fertility management depends on long-term integrated strategies that build and maintain soil organic matter and mineralizable soil N levels. These strategies increase the portion of crop N needs met by soil N and reduce dependence on external N inputs required for crop production. To better understand the impact of management on soil N dynamics, we conducted field and laboratory research on five diverse management systems at a long-term study in Maryland, the USDA- Agricultural Research Service Beltsville Farming Systems Project (FSP). The FSP is comprised of a conventional no-till corn ( Zea mays L.)-soybean ( Glycine max L.)-wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)/double-crop soybean rotation (NT), a conventional chisel-till corn-soybean-wheat/soybean rotation (CT), a 2 year organic corn-soybean rotation (Org2), a 3 year organic corn-soybean-wheat rotation (Org3), and a 6 year organic corn-soybean-wheat-alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) (3 years) rotation (Org6). We found that total potentially mineralizable N in organic systems (average 315 kg N ha -1) was significantly greater than the conventional systems (average 235 kg N ha -1). Particulate organic matter (POM)-C and -N also tended to be greater in organic than conventional cropping systems. Average corn yield and N uptake from unamended (minus N) field microplots were 40 and 48%, respectively, greater in organic than conventional grain cropping systems. Among the three organic systems, all measures of N availability tended to increase with increasing frequency of manure application and crop rotation length (Org2 < Org3 ≤ Org6) while most measures were similar between NT and CT. Our results demonstrate that organic soil fertility management increases soil N availability by increasing labile soil organic matter. Relatively high levels of mineralizable soil N must be considered when developing soil fertility management plans for organic systems.
  • Authors:
    • Stavi,I.
    • Lal,R.
    • Owens,L. B.
  • Source: Agronomy for Sustainable Development
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Contrary to earlier studies, this study suggests that even one year of tillage within a long-term no-till agroecosystem adversely affected the soil quality, with possible negative impact on crop yields. Worldwide interest in conservation tillage is increasing, because conventional tillage adversely impacts the long-term quality of the soil and its vulnerability to erosion. No-till agriculture minimizes adverse impacts of an intensive arable land use. In some cases, occasional tillage is used as a means of weed or pathogen control. Therefore, this study was conducted in eastern Ohio to examine soil quality as affected by occasional tillage, i.e. disk plowed every 3-4 years, within a long-term no-till agroecosystem. The study compared the soil characteristics between two fields, both under corn ( Zea mays L.) at the time of the study. Soil properties were studied for three depths of 0-6, 6-12, and 12-18 cm. Compared with the continuous no-till field, the field under occasional tillage had significantly higher bulk density of 1.45 versus 1.31 gcm -3, and somewhat higher soil penetration resistance of 1.77 versus 1.56 MPa. Also, compared with the no-till field, the field under occasional tillage had significantly lower water stable aggregate of 475 versus 834 gkg -1, mean weight diameter of 1.4 versus 3.4 mm, field moisture capacity of 293 versus 360 gkg -1, equilibrium infiltration rate of 2.0 versus 6.7 mm min -1, and cumulative infiltration of 353.4 versus 1,211.8 mm. The field under occasional tillage had somewhat lower soil organic carbon of 16.0 versus 19.2 gkg -1, soil water sorptivity of 16.3 versus 36.5 mm min -0.5, and transmissivity of 2.1 versus 4.9 mm min -1. The occasional tillage had no effect on the soil shear strength. In general, the effect of tillage on soil properties decreased with increase in soil depth. Also corn yields were compared between the two agroecosystems. Compared with the no-till field, the field under occasional tillage had significantly lower grain moisture content of 22.4 versus 28.2%, and somewhat lower wet stover biomass of 14.6 versus 20.2 Mg ha -1, wet corn ear yield of 10.0 versus 11.4 Mg ha -1, and dry grain yield of 8.2 versus 9.4 Mg ha -1. As contrasted with earlier studies which were conducted under controlled research plots, this study was conducted under on-farm conditions.
  • Authors:
    • Shah, Z.
    • Stromberger, M. E.
    • Westfall, D. G.
  • Source: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The need to identify microbial community parameters that predict microbial activity is becoming more urgent, due to the desire to manage microbial communities for ecosystem services as well as the desire to incorporate microbial community parameters within ecosystem models. In dryland agroecosystems, microbial biomass C (MBC) can be increased by adopting alternative management strategies that increase crop residue retention, nutrient reserves, improve soil structure and result in greater water retention. Changes in MBC could subsequently affect microbial activities related to decomposition, C stabilization and sequestration. We hypothesized that MBC and potential microbial activities that broadly relate to decomposition (basal and substrate-induced respiration, N mineralization, and beta-glucosidase and arylsulfatase enzyme activities) would be similarly affected by no-till, dryland winter wheat rotations distributed along a potential evapotranspiration (PET) gradient in eastern Colorado. Microbial biomass was smaller in March 2004 than in November 2003 (417 vs. 231 g g -1 soil), and consistently smaller in soils from the high PET soil (191 g g -1) than in the medium and low PET soils (379 and 398 g g -1, respectively). Among treatments, MBC was largest under perennial grass (398 g g -1). Potential microbial activities did not consistently follow the same trends as MBC, and the only activities significantly correlated with MBC were beta-glucosidase ( r=0.61) and substrate-induced respiration ( r=0.27). In contrast to MBC, specific microbial activities (expressed on a per MBC basis) were greatest in the high PET soils. Specific but not total activities were correlated with microbial community structure, which was determined in a previous study. High specific activity in low biomass, high PET soils may be due to higher microbial maintenance requirements, as well as to the unique microbial community structure (lower bacterial-to-fungal fatty acid ratio and lower 17:0 cy-to-16:1omega7c stress ratio) associated with these soils. In conclusion, microbial biomass should not be utilized as the sole predictor of microbial activity when comparing soils with different community structures and levels of physiological stress, due to the influence of these factors on specific activity.
  • Authors:
    • Kravchenko, A. N.
    • Mokma, D. L.
    • Corbin, A. T.
    • Syswerda, S. P.
    • Robertson, G. P.
  • Source: Soil Science Society of America Journal
  • Volume: 75
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Soil C sequestration research has historically focused on the top 0 to 30 cm of the soil profile, ignoring deeper portions that might also respond to management. In this study we sampled soils along a 10-treatment management intensity gradient to a 1-m depth to test the hypothesis that C gains in surface soils are offset by losses lower in the profile. Treatments included four annual cropping systems in a corn ( Zea mays)-soybean ( Glycine max)-wheat ( Triticum aestivum) rotation, perennial alfalfa ( Medicago sativa) and poplar ( Populus * euramericana), and four unmanaged successional systems. The annual grain systems included conventionally tilled, no-tillage, reduced-input, and organic systems. Unmanaged treatments included a 12-yr-old early successional community, two 50-yr-old mid-successional communities, and a mature forest never cleared for agriculture. All treatments were replicated three to six times and all cropping systems were 12 yr post-establishment when sampled. Surface soil C concentrations and total C pools were significantly greater under no-till, organic, early successional, never-tilled mid-successional, and deciduous forest systems than in the conventionally managed cropping system ( p≤0.05, n=3-6 replicate sites). We found no consistent differences in soil C at depth, despite intensive sampling (30-60 deep soil cores per treatment). Carbon concentrations in the B/Bt and Bt2/C horizons were lower and two and three times more variable, respectively, than in surface soils. We found no evidence for C gains in the surface soils of no-till and other treatments to be either offset or magnified by carbon change at depth.
  • Authors:
    • Zahoor, A.
    • Fujimaki, H.
    • Andry, H.
    • Inoue, M.
    • Uzoma, K. C.
    • Nishihara, E.
  • Source: Soil Use and Management
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In this study, we performed a greenhouse experiment to investigate the effect of cow manure biochar on maize yield, nutrient uptake and physico-chemical properties of a dryland sandy soil. Biochar was derived from dry cow manure pyrolysed at 500 degrees C. Cow manure biochar was mixed with a sandy soil at the rate equivalent to 0, 10, 15 and 20 t biochar per hectare. Maize was used as a test crop. Results of the study indicated that cow manure biochar contains some important plant nutrients which significantly affected the maize crop growth. Maize yield and nutrient uptake were significantly improved with increasing the biochar mixing rate. Application of biochar at 15 and 20 t/ha mixing rates significantly increased maize grain yield by 150 and 98% as compared with the control, respectively. Maize net water use efficiency (WUE) increased by 6, 139 and 91% as compared with the control, with the 10, 15 and 20 t/ha mixing rate, respectively. Nutrient uptake by maize grain was significantly increased with higher biochar applications. Application of cow manure biochar improved the field-saturated hydraulic conductivity of the sandy soil, as a result net WUE also increased. Results of the soil analysis after the harvesting indicated significant increase in the pH, total C, total N, Oslen-P, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity. The results of this study indicated that application of cow manure biochar to sandy soil is not only beneficial for crop growth but it also significantly improved the physico-chemical properties of the coarse soil.
  • Authors:
    • Andreotti, M.
    • Benett, C. G. S.
    • Buzetti, S.
    • Valderrama, M.
    • Teixeira Filho, M. C. M.
  • Source: Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Coated fertilizers can provide lower losses and higher soil nutrients availability, which can be absorbed by plants, when we consider their gradual release. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of doses and sources of N, P, and K on maize grain components and yield, under no-till system, in the Brazilian savannah. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with 4 top-dressed doses (0 kg ha -1, 40 kg ha -1, 80 kg ha -1, and 120 kg ha -1) and 2 sources (urea and coated urea), for N; 4 doses (0 kg ha -1, 50 kg ha -1, 100 kg ha -1, and 150 kg ha -1) and 2 sources (triple superphosphate and coated triple superphosphate), for P; and 4 doses (0 kg ha -1, 40 kg ha -1, 80 kg ha -1, and 120 kg ha -1) and 2 sources (potassium chloride and coated potassium chloride), for K, with 4 replications. The fertilizers coated with polymers (urea, triple superphosphate, and potassium chloride) were not efficient under the soil and climate conditions studied, because they provided results similar to the same conventional fertilizers, for the N, P, and K foliar contents, and irrigated maize grain components and yield. The increment of N doses increased linearly the N leaf content, number of ears per hectare and maize grains yield. The application of K 2O and P 2O 5 doses did not influence grain yield.
  • Authors:
    • Wilhelm, W. W.
    • Varvel, G. E.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 114
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Emphasis and interest in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage (sequestration) in soils has greatly increased in the last few years, especially C with its' potential to help alleviate or offset some of the negative effects of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Several questions still exist with regard to what management practices optimize C storage in the soil profile. A long-term rainfed study conducted in eastern Nebraska provided the opportunity to determine both the effects of different tillage treatments and cropping systems on soil N and soil organic C (SOC) levels throughout the soil profile. The study included six primary tillage systems (chisel, disk, plow, no-till, ridge-till, and subtill) with three cropping systems [continuous corn (CC), continuous soybean (CSB), and soybean-corn (SB-C)]. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 150-cm in depth increments of 0-15-, 15-30-, 15-30-, 30-60-, 60-90-, 90-120-, and 120-150-cm increments and composited by depth in the fall of 1999 after harvest and analyzed for total N and SOC. Significant differences in total N and SOC levels were obtained between tillage treatments and cropping systems in both surface depths of 0-15-, 15-30-cm, but also in the 30-60-cm depth. Total N and SOC accumulations throughout the profile (both calculated by depth and for equivalent masses of soil) were significantly affected by both tillage treatment and cropping system, with those in no-till the greatest among tillage treatments and those in CC the greatest among cropping systems. Soil N and SOC levels were increased at deeper depths in the profile, especially in those tillage systems with the least amount of soil disturbance. Most significant was the fact that soil N and SOC was sequestered deeper in the profile, which would strongly suggest that N and C at these depths would be less likely to be lost if the soil was tilled.
  • Authors:
    • Holan, S. H.
    • Goyne, K. W.
    • Veum, K. S.
    • Motavalli, P. P.
  • Source: Geoderma
  • Volume: 167-168
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Conservation management practices including upland vegetative filter strips (VFS) and no-till cultivation have the potential to enhance soil carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in agroecosystems. A modified two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) with subsamples was used to compare SOC and TN on a concentration, soil volume and soil mass basis in claypan soils planted to different conservation management practices and as a function of landscape position. The three conservation management practices (no-till cultivation, grass VFS and agroforestry VFS) and four landscape positions (summit, shoulder, backslope and footslope) investigated were compared 10 years after VFS establishment in a no-till system planted to maize ( Zea mays. L.)-soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation. Two soil depth increments (0-5 cm and 5-13 cm) were modeled separately to test for treatment effects. In the surface layer, mean SOC concentration was significantly greater in the VFS soils compared to no-till. On a soil volume or mass basis, no significant differences in SOC stocks were found among treatment means. Concentration and mass based TN values were significantly greater in the grass VFS relative to no-till in the surface layer. A rapid slaking stability test, developed to separate particulate, adsorbed and occluded organic carbon (PAO-C) and nitrogen (PAO-N), showed that VFS soils had significantly greater mean PAO-C and PAO-N concentrations, soil volume and soil mass based stocks than no-till. In addition, comparison of SOC:TN and PAO-C:PAO-N ratios suggest reduced decomposition and mineralization of SOC in the PAO fraction. No significant treatment effects were detected in total or PAO soil fractions in the subsurface layer or among landscape position in either depth increment. Study results emphasize the need to compare soil carbon and nitrogen stocks on a soil volume and/or soil mass basis using bulk density measurements. Additionally, the rapid PAO separation technique was found to be a good indicator of early changes in SOC and TN in the systems studied. Overall, this research indicates that grass VFS may sequester TN more rapidly than agroforestry VFS and that a greater proportion of SOC and TN may be stabilized in VFS soils compared to no-till.
  • Authors:
    • Mielniczuk, J.
    • Vezzani, F. M.
  • Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIA DO SOLO
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Soil functions and quality are closely linked to soil structure. The effect of management practices on the recovery of the aggregation of a physically degraded soil was studied based on the distribution of water-stable aggregates and single particles (diameter classes 9.51-4.76, 4.76-2.00, 2.00-0.25, 0.25-0.053, <0.053 mm) and carbon stock (C) in the surface layer (0-7.5 cm) of a Paleudult in the Central Depression region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, under different management systems. The following systems were evaluated in experimental plots after 17 years: soil without plants and without tillage (fallow); no-till Lablab purpureus and maize ( Zea mays) (Lablab/m); no-till Cajanus cajan (pea/m) and maize; perennial pasture of Digitaria decumbens (Pangola grass). The following systems were evaluated after 15 years: conventional tillage and no-till Avena strigosa and maize (CT a/m and NT a/m, respectively) Avena strigosa+ Vicia sativa and maize+ Vigna unguiculata (CT av/μ and NT av/mu, respectively). A conventionally tilled area was also evaluated after 30 years of grain cultivation (crop) and native grassland (NGr), representing the degraded state and the native ecosystem of this soil, respectively. Undisturbed soil samples collected in two seasons (September 1999 to September 2000) were evaluated in six replications per management system. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%) to detect differences between management systems. In the NGr, 76.4% of the soil aggregates consisted of 63.8% macroaggregates and of 23.6% of single particles, and a C stock of 20.0 Mg ha -1. The agricultural use with intense soil tillage and low residue application (crop) reduced the proportion of soil aggregates to 49.9% and raised single particles to 50.1%, while the C stock decreased to 11.8 Mg ha -1. From this condition, 15 years of the untilled system with greater diversity of plant species and high residue application (NT av/mc) raised the proportion of soil aggregates to 70.7% and of macroaggregates to 53.5%. Perennial pasture (Pangola) increased the proportion of soil aggregates to 74.1% and of macroaggregates to 61.8%, equaling NGr. The systems NT av/mc, pea/m and Lablab/m recovered C stocks to the level of NGr. Although Pangola had the highest soil aggregation rates, the C stock was lower than in the said systems, emphasizing the positive action of a dense root system in the recovery of soil aggregation.