Residual benefits of promiscuous soybean to maize (Zea mays L.) grown on farmers’ fields around Minna in the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by promiscuous cultivars of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in cereal-based cropping systems of Nigeria’s moist savanna zone offers a potential for minimizing the investment made by resource-poor farmers on nitrogen fertilizers. A 3-year trial was conducted on five farmers’ fields in the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria to assess the residual effects of two successive crops of promiscuous soybean cultivars on the yield of a following maize (Zea mays L.) crop. The soybean cultivars, TGX1456-2E (medium maturity) and TGX1660-19F (late maturity), were grown in 1996 and 1997. Treatments, imposed only in the first year of the trial, were: (i) uninoculated, (ii) inoculated with a mixture of two Bradyrhizobium strains, and (iii) fertilized with 60 kg N ha⁻¹. A fourth treatment was a plot left to fallow. In 1998, all the previous soybean and fallow plots were sown to maize without any fertilizer application. Results in 1996 and 1997 showed a soybean response to inoculation in the first year, but differences due to the residual effect of inoculation in the second year were not significant. Both cultivars showed a similar response to inoculation but responses at the five sites were varied. Soybean cultivar 1456-2E fixed 43–52% of its N amounting to 56–70 kg N ha⁻¹ and cultivar 1660-19F derived 39–54% of its N from N₂-fixation which amounted to 51–78 kg N ha⁻¹. Both cultivars had a high N harvest index resulting in a net removal of 52–95 kg N ha⁻¹ when both grain and stover were exported. Even when the stover was returned, there was a depletion of 23–65 kg N ha⁻¹, with 1456-2E removing more N than 1660-19F. Arbuscular-mycorrhizal infection on maize roots was 11–27% and dependent on previous soybean treatments and farmers’ fields. Plant height, shoot biomass, grain yield, and N uptake of maize were significantly greater in plots previously sown to soybean than in the fallow plots. In general, plots sown to the late maturing cultivar 1660-19F exhibited better residual effect, producing larger yield parameters than the plots planted with medium maturing 1456-2E.     

Elemental content of soil,sorghum and wheat on sludge-injected agricultural land

The objective of this research was to determine the uptake of heavy metals by plants grown on sludge-injected soil. The study took place at the sludge farm owned by the Manhattan, Kansas, sewage treatment plant, where sludge has been injected since 1976. Soil and two crops, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.), were sampled in 1980 after a total of 128 t ha^?1 of sludge (dry-weight basis) had been added to the soil (32 t ha^?1 year^?1). The control area, a farm next to the sludge farm, received only inorganic fertilizer. Four non-essential elements were analyzed (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb), as well as nine essential elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn).Soil in sludge-fertilized fields had more N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni than did soil from the control fields. In general, concentrations of essential elements in plants grown on sludge were similar to concentrations of essential elements in plants grown with inorganic fertilizer. Concentrations of non-essential elements were also similar, except for the following five exceptions, in which the sludge-treated plants had a higher concentration of the element than did the control plants: Cd in stems of sorghum; Cr in roots of wheat; Ni in roots and grain of wheat; and Pb in roots of wheat. Nickel in grain of wheat grown with sludge was within normal concentration ranges. Cadmium was at low levels in all plants, which indicated that, when sludge was layered below the surface of the soil, transfer of Cd from the soil to the plants was small. Sludge-injection appeared to be an effective method for fertilizing plants.     

Biogas production from maize and dairy cattle manure—Influence of biomass composition on the methane yield

There is an increasing world wide demand for energy crops and animal manures for biogas production. To meet these demands, this research project aimed at optimising anaerobic digestion of maize and dairy cattle manures. Methane production was measured for 60 days in 1 l eudiometer batch digesters at 38 °C. Manure received from dairy cows with medium milk yield that were fed a well balanced diet produced the highest specific methane yield of 166.3 Nl CH₄ kg VS⁻¹. Thirteen early to late ripening maize varieties were grown on several locations in Austria. Late ripening varieties produced more biomass than medium or early ripening varieties. On fertile locations in Austria more than 30 Mg VS ha⁻¹ can be produced. The methane yield declined as the crop approaches full ripeness. With late ripening maize varieties, yields ranged between 312 and 365 Nl CH₄ kg VS⁻¹ (milk ripeness) and 268–286 Nl CH₄ kg VS⁻¹ (full ripeness). Silaging increased the methane yield by about 25% compared to green, non-conserved maize. Maize (Zea mays L.) is optimally harvested, when the product from specific methane yield and VS yield per hectare reaches a maximum. With early to medium ripening varieties (FAO 240–390), the optimum harvesting time is at the “end of wax ripeness”. Late ripening varieties (FAO ca. 600) may be harvested later, towards “full ripeness”. Maximum methane yield per hectare from late ripening maize varieties ranged between 7100 and 9000 Nm³ CH₄ ha⁻¹. Early and medium ripening varieties yielded 5300–8500 Nm³ CH₄ ha⁻¹ when grown in favourable regions. The highest methane yield per hectare was achieved from digestion of whole maize crops. Digestion of corns only or of corn cob mix resulted in a reduction in methane yield per hectare of 70 and 43%, respectively. From the digestion experiments a multiple linear regression equation, the Methane Energy Value Model, was derived that estimates methane production from the composition of maize. It is a helpful tool to optimise biogas production from energy crops. The Methane Energy Value Model requires further validation and refinement.     

Soil properties as affected by the use of leguminous shrubs for alley cropping with maize

Alley cropping is a crop production system whereby food crops are planted in spaces created by hedgerows of selected leguminous shrubs. The leguminous shrubs supply nitrogen, organic materials and recycle leached nutrients.This study was elaborated to evaluate the effects of prunings of three leguminous shrubs on some soil properties in an alley cropping system.Soil chemical properties were improved in alley cropped sites. Soils under Cassia had the highest content of N,P,K and organic carbon with values of 0.344%, 45.6 ppm, 0.55 meq/100g and 2.32%, respectively, after the second maize crop. Bulk density, mean aggregate diameters and water holding capacity were better in the alley cropped sites, relative to control. Gravimetric moisture content was generally higher in the alley cropped sites and highest under Cassia. Cassia maintained a relatively high soil biomass C, probably because of its slow rate of decomposition. N fertilizer applied at 90 kg ha⁻¹ promoted soil biomass C, essentially through increased shrub and maize dry matter production.     

不同磷石膏添加量与接种菌根对玉米生长及磷、砷、硫吸收的影响

通过盆栽模拟试验研究了不同磷石膏（PG）添加量（0、20、40g·kg-1）和接种3种丛枝菌根真菌（Glomus mosseae（GM）、Glomus aggregatum（GA）、Diversispora spurcum（DS））对玉米生长及其磷、硫、砷吸收的影响.试验结果表明：随磷石膏添加量的提高,土壤有效磷、有效...     

Effects of some eucalypts on growth and yield of Amaranthus caudatus and Abelmoschus esculentus

Abelmoschus esculentus (L) and Amaranthus caudatus (L) were both grown for ten weeks in a savanna grassland (control) and under the effects of decomposing eucalypts' plant parts in an old eucalypts' plantation with a well-lit floor (treatment).Measurements of soil characteristics showed that pH was lower, but organic matter content and water holding capacity were higher in the plantation. Morphological studies showed that the two species growing in the plantation did not behave alike in most properties studied. While shoot height did not vary in A. caudatus in the two sites, in A. esculentus, it was higher in the control. Although total leaf number in the two species was significantly reduced in the plantation, area per leaf in A. caudatus did not vary between plants in the two sites. In A. esculentus, specific leaf area and chlorophyll content did not vary between plants growing in the two sites, but in A. caudatus both parameters were higher in the control.In A. esculentus, total flower abortion was observed after the third week of flower initiation, with fruit number and dimensions being significantly lower in plants growing in the plantation. It is concluded that the two crop species are incompatible with eucalypts in agrosilvicultural practices.     

Optimising yield and resource utilisation of summer maize under the conditions of increasing density and reducing nitrogen fertilization

The inefficient use of resources always poses risks of maize (Zea mays L.) yield reduction in China. We performed this research to monitor the effects of increasing plant density and reducing nitrogen (N) rate on radiation-use efficiency (RUE), N efficiency traits, grain yield (GY) and their inter-relationships. Besides, whether GY and resource-use efficiency can both be maximized was examined. Hence, a 2-year field experiment was conducted using a widely grown variety “Denghai 618” in Shandong, China. Treatments contained two different plant densities [67,500 (D₁) and 97,500 (D₂) plant ha^?1] and three N levels [0 (N_?2), 180 (N_?1), 360 (N_ck) kg ha^?1], set D₁N_ck as control. Significant increases in grain yield, biomass, RUE, above-ground N uptake (AGN) and N efficiency were observed when density increased from D₁ to D₂. Declining N application was accompanied by reductions in yield, RUE and AGN especially under high density, yet an obvious improvement in N recovery efficiency (NRE), agronomic N efficiency and N partial factor productivity. The increased GY was positive related with population biomass (r = 0.895**), RUE (r = 0.769**) and AGN (r = 0.923**), whereas it has no significant correlation with N efficiency. In this study, D₂N_ck obtained 18.8, 17.9, 24.8 and 29.7% higher grain yield, RUE, AGN and NRE respectively, compared to control, optimizing both yield and the efficiencies of radiation and N use. Furthermore, higher yield and RUE with more desirable N efficiency may be possible via optimizing density and N rate combination.     

Effects of manure and chemical fertilizers on insect pest populations on collards

Advocates of organic agriculture often assert that plants supplied exclusively with nutrient from biological materials are more resistant to insects than those grown using chemical fertilizer. This proposition was examined using collards grown in five treatments: two with fresh manure at two levels (12 and 220 ha⁻¹); one with ‘sheet composted’ manure at 220 ha⁻¹; a chemical fertilizer treatment (785 kg ha⁻¹ of 13:13:13 NPK); and a control treatment with no added nutrients. Population densities of two flea beetles and two lepidopteran pests were monitored weekly during a growing season. Plant size and foliar levels of reduced nitrogen (N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), water and total glucosinolates were also measured four times during the season. During population peaks, flea beetle densities were significantly higher on plants receiving chemical fertilizers than on plants receiving similar amounts of macronutrients from manure. Flea beetle, imported cabbage worm and diamondback moth densities were significantly higher on untreated plants than on plants receiving any added nutrients. Flea beetle densities were also significantly higher on plants grown with ‘sheet composted’ manure than on those grown with fres manure. The nutrient treatments affected plant size, reduced N, NO₃⁻-N, water and glucosinolate content. These differences were not clearly associated with differences in insect population sizes but some patterns in the data are discussed. Although the potential exists for manipulating soil amendment regimes to affect pest insect populations in collards, an understanding of the mechanisms involved will require further investigation.     

Growth,yield and system performance simulation of a sugarcane–eucalyptus interface in a sub-tropical region of Brazil

The sugarcane (Sacharum officinarum) monocropping has had a great socio-economic and environmental impact in Brazil, and agroforestry (AFs) has been considered as an alternative to its sustainable production. However, there is a lack of field experiments results under such conditions. Therefore, yield measurement across transect in the tree–crop interface in on-farm conditions, as well as the use of simulation models, may allow the evaluation of biophysical interactions between trees and crops and system productivity. In this work, plant growth and yield in a sugarcane–eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis) on-farm interface were evaluated. The experimental site had a Chromic Ferralsol soil and it is located in a sub-tropical region of Brazil. Availability of solar radiation for the crop along the transect was estimated and its effect on sugarcane dry matter production was evaluated. Using such relations, two sugarcane–eucalyptus AFs cycles were simulated to estimate system productivity. The field results showed that the trees presented a higher growth in the AFs, while the crop growth and yield were inversely proportional to their distance from the trees. The eucalyptus wood volume increased from 0.15 to 0.29 m³ per tree from monocropping to AFs. The sugarcane dry matter decreased from 35.1 to 8.70 t ha⁻¹ from the furthest to the closest position from tree along the transect. Simulations suggested that light was the main cause of the crop yield reduction, but the importance of competition for water and nutrients increased inversely according to tree distance. However, both simulated AFs provided land equivalent ratio (LER) similar to one (1). Field measurements and simulations indicate that agroforestry systems are a sound alternative for sugarcane cultivation in the studied region. Combination of on-farm studies and simulation models provided conditions to understand tree–crop interactions and to extrapolate field results so that the performance of a new system could be estimated.     

Field testing of the effectiveness of bacterial fertilizer in Nepal

In Nepal, where fertilizer is badly needed to replenish the severely eroded soil, nitrogen-fixing bacterial inocula were tested in field trial studies in various localities. Inocula of Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter chroococcum were prepared in carrier mixtures of soil and cattle manure. Field trials using these bacterial fertilizers were performed on rice, wheat, and maize over a period of 3 years.Azospirillum inoculum on rice seedlings increased yield by an average of 29.4%, from about 2.1–2.8 Mt ha⁻¹, statistically significant at the 1% level. The effects of Azospirillum on wheat and Azotobacter on maize were not statistically significant at the 5% level, nor were the effects of other compared treatments, namely, urea, compost and green manure. Since the coefficients of variation were high and the sample sizes were small, more trials and replications should be done to establish reliable conclusions.     

Rice mill waste as organic manure on a degraded Alfisol

In much of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the lack of organic soil amendments constitutes one of the principal causes for declining soil fertility in intensifying farming systems. The challenge, therefore, remains to increase the availability of organic inputs and to develop recommendations for their combination with inorganic fertilizers. An on-farm experiment was conducted in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria to evaluate the fertilizer effect of rice (Oryza sativa L.) mill waste (RMW) on a degraded Alfisol. The decomposition and nutrient (N and P) release patterns of RMW were studied using the litterbag technique, and the effect on maize yield and soil properties was determined. The RMW was applied at rates of 0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg DM ha⁻¹ and was applied either unburnt or burnt (farmers’ practice). In both years, compound fertilizer was broadcast during land preparation on all plots at rates of 40 kg N ha⁻¹, 17 kg P ha⁻¹, and 33 kg K ha⁻¹.Results obtained in the litterbag study showed that, at maize harvest, more than 90% of the P had been released from the decomposing RMW. However, around 60% of the organic C and 45% of the N still remained. Compared to the control treatment (0 Mg ha⁻¹ RMW), which yielded 0.55 Mg ha⁻¹, maize (Zea mays L.) grain yields were increased by 95% when 10 Mg ha⁻¹ of unburnt RMW was applied, and by 147% with 15 Mg ha⁻¹ (mean of 2 years). In contrast, burnt RMW did not result in significant yield increases. The cumulative application of 30 Mg ha⁻¹ of unburnt RMW significantly increased the soil organic carbon in the surface soil from 0.7% (0 Mg ha⁻¹ RMW) to 1.3%.The results of this investigation indicate that RMW constitutes a valuable organic input in the Guinea savanna if applied unburnt at rates of 10–15 Mg ha⁻¹ in combination with inorganic fertilizer. The repeated application of unburnt RMW may contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded soils through the buildup of soil organic matter.     

Effects of road dust on the growth characteristics of Sophora japonica L. seedlings

Road dust is one of the most common pollutants and causes a series of negative effects on plant physiology. Dust's impacts on plants can be regarded as a combination of load,composition and grain size impacts on plants; however, there is a lack of integrated dust effect studies involving these three aspects. In our study, Sophora japonica seedlings were artificially dusted with road dust collected from the road surface of Beijing so that we could study the impacts of this dust on nitrogen/carbon allocation, biomass allocation and photosynthetic pigments from the three aspects of composition, load and grain size. The results showed that the growth characteristics of S. japonica seedlings were mostly influenced by dust composition and load. Leaf N, root–shoot ratio and chlorophyll a/b were significantly affected by dust composition and load; leaf C/N, shoot biomass, total chlorophyll and carotenoid were significantly affected by dust load; stem N and stem C/N were significantly affected by dust composition; while the dust grain size alone did not affect any of the growth characteristics. Road dust did influence the growth characteristics more extensively than loam. Therefore, a higher dust load could increase the differences between road dust and loam treatments. The elements in dust are well correlated to the shoot N, shoot C/N, and root–shoot ratio of S. japonica seedlings. This knowledge could benefit the management of urban green spaces.     

Diagnosis on the sustainability of an upland cropping system of southern Haiti

An impact assessment of current upland cropping systems in Haiti was carried out using a combined experimental and agronomic survey approach on fields that were chosen as being representative of the diversity of land use practices and intensities. These cropping systems were mostly developed on ferralsols with differing degrees of weathering owing to the varying depths to the limestone bedrock. Three soil types for which the CEC of the mineral fraction was less than 3, 4–7, or 11–18 cmol₍₊₎ kg⁻¹ were distinguished. The study shows that apart from phosphorus, soil cation availability (K, Mg) is the most limiting factor for a successful bean crop. With the insertion of a fertilized cabbage crop into the rotation, the soil bioavailable P at the sowing of the bean–maize intercrop (BMI) did not significantly increase, whereas the exchangeable K content of the soils increased from 0.22 to 0.38 and led to a significant increase in the bean yield from 654 to 1079 kg ha⁻¹. It is clear that the trend of the cropping systems towards a shorter fallow period, increasing frequency of the BMI and introduction of N–P–K fertilizers, may all increase crop production in the short term. However, these changes are unlikely to lead to sustained benefits. One of the potential risks is the soil Mg depletion due to K fertilization as revealed by a microlysimeter experiment. Another risk is the increased proportion of plants with bean root diseases, due to the shortening of the BMI rotation interval. The proportion of plants with bean root diseases increased from 7 to 22% in 1989 and from 10 to 39% in 1990, when the bean rotation interval was reduced from 3 to 1 years. Another risk is the spatial spread of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) from the plots covered with residues of a preceding maize crop, to the neighboring plots recently sown with maize. Future research should therefore focus on optimizing the K:Mg ratio of fertilizer, breeding bean varieties resistant to Fusarium disease, diversifying the range of crops cultivated, and management of the maize residues. The evolution of the cropping systems in the last 10 years is somewhat consistent with the diagnosis made about 15 years earlier.     

Deposition and forest canopy interactions of airborne sulfur: Results from the integrated forest study

The Integrated Forest Study (IFS) was a long-term research project designed to determine the effects of atmospheric deposition on forest nutrient cycles. Concentrations and fluxes of airborne sulfur compounds were determined for several years at the 13 IFS research forests in North America and Europe using a standard set of protocols. Annual mean air concentrations of sulfur ranged from ∼1.5 to 8 μgSm⁻³ and were generally dominated by SO₂ (∼60% of total sulfur on the average). Atmospheric deposition of sulfate at these forests was highest at the high elevation (∼ 1000–2000 eq ha⁻¹yr⁻¹) and at the southeastern U.S. sites (∼800–1000 eq ha⁻¹yr⁻¹), and lowest in the Pacific northwest (∼300 eq ha⁻¹yr⁻¹). Cloud water contributed significantly to the sulfur flux at the mountain sites (45–50%), and dry deposition was comparable to wet at the drier southeastern sites (>40% of total). Deposited sulfur appeared to behave more or less conservatively in these canopies, showing little net uptake (ofSO₂) and minor foliar leaching (of soil-derived, internal SO₄²⁻) relative to the total atmospheric flux. The estimated fluxes in total deposition were generally within 15% of the measured fluxes in throughfall plus stemflow, indicating that useful estimates of total atmospheric deposition of sulfur can be derived from measurements of throughfall.     

Decontamination of anaerobically digested slurry in a paddy field ecosystem in Jiaxing region of China

Anaerobic digestion has become increasing popular for managing biowastes in rural China as it has the advantage of generating biogas, a renewable energy. A new challenge, however, is minimizing the environmental pollution resulting from the anaerobically digested slurry (ADS). The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a paddy field to remediate ADS while simultaneously cultivating rice. A field experiment was trialed using six treatments based on varying nitrogen loadings over the period of a rice-growing season. These treatments were adjusted to the content of the N within the ADS and had loadings of 270, 405, 540 and 1080 kg N ha⁻¹. These treatments were compared to a negative control (no fertilizer) and a positive control (chemical fertilizer) that consisted of urea applied at 270 kg N ha⁻¹. The effects of these N sources and slurry remediation were monitored using standard methods to measure water quality, soil properties and changes in rice production. Rice grain yields were generally higher for all ADS treatments than for the urea N treatment. Standing water quality in the field could reach national discharge standards for all treatments within 7-8 days after each ADS irrigation. Groundwater quality and heavy metal concentrations in both soil and the rice grain were not affected by the ADS treatments. We suggest that the quantities of ADS irrigated in 867-1734 m³ ha⁻¹ was not only safe for food quality (rice grain) and the receiving environment (water and soil), but also beneficial to soil fertility and rice grain yield.     

Effects of hydrogen fluoride on susceptibility of soybeans to Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea

Ten 14-day-old soybean plants, cv. ‘Williams 82’ were exposed continuously to hydrogen fluoride (HF) at 2 μg F m⁻³ in a controlled-environment chamber. After 1 week, the plants were transplanted into a potting mix infested with Rhizoctonia solani (Rs) or Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea (Pmg), and again exposed to HF for 1 week. Immediately after transplanting, plants inoculated with Pmg and uninoculated plants were flooded for 48 h, whereas plants with Rs and uninoculated checks were not flooded. One week after inoculation, hypocotyl lesions induced by Rs and Pmg were significantly larger on plants exposed to HF. Total root length infected was increased by exposure to HF, but this effect was not significant. Dry weights of individual plant parts were not affected by HF, but shoot:root ratios were higher after exposure to fluoride in experiments with Pmg. Fluoride concentrations in the leaf blades were positively correlated with root lesion length of plants inoculated with Pmg but not in those of plants inoculated with Rs.     

Source-specific risk assessment for cadmium in wheat and maize: Towards an enrichment model for China

Cadmium (Cd) pollution of agricultural soil is of public concern due to its high potential toxicity and mobility. This study aimed to reveal the risk of Cd accumulation in soil and wheat/maize systems, with a specific focus on the source-specific ecological risk, human health risk and Cd enrichment model. For this we investigated more than 6100 paired soil and grain samples with 216 datasets including soil Cd contents, soil pH and grain Cd contents of 85 sites from China. The results showed that mining activities, sewage irrigation, industrial activities and agricultural practices were the critical factors causing Cd accumulation in wheat and maize cultivated sites. Thereinto, mining activities contributed to a higher Cd accumulation risk in the southwest China and Middle Yellow River regions; sewage irrigation influenced the Cd accumulation in the North China Plain. In addition, the investigated sites were classified into different categories by comparing their soil and grain Cd contents with the Chinese soil screening values and food safety values, respectively. Cd enrichment models were developed to predict the Cd levels in wheat and maize grains. The results showed that the models exhibited a good performance for predicting the grain Cd contents among safe and warning sites of wheat (R² = 0.61 and 0.72, respectively); while the well-fitted model for maize was prone to the overestimated sites (R² = 0.77). This study will provide national viewpoints for the risk assessments and prediction of Cd accumulation in soil and wheat/maize systems.     

Competition between maize and pigeonpea in semi-arid Tanzania: Effect on yields and nutrition of crops

Productivity of maize–pigeonpea cropping systems is dependent on facilitative and competitive interactive effects on resource availability. Controlling these interactions may benefit farmers through increased productivity associated with optimized crop yields. Previous research on maize–pigeonpea culture in Sub-Saharan Africa has focused on yield and soil fertility, but provided inadequate information on the mechanisms of possible interspecific competition. We employed a factorial field experiment to examine yield and nutritional responses of maize and pigeonpea to cropping systems (sole maize, intercropping, and improved fallow), N and P fertilizer additions, and cattle manure additions in Dodoma, Tanzania. The study objectives were to assess competition between crops and to determine how manure or fertilizer inputs may mitigate such interactions to improve yields. Intercropping enhanced maize yield over sole maize only when fertilized, reflecting probable nutrient competition. Improved fallows alone or with fertilizers (1.2–1.6 Mg ha⁻¹) increased maize yields over sole maize (0.6 Mg ha⁻¹). These increases were attributed to pigeonpea facilitation through soil nutrient replenishment, reduced competition associated with sequential cropping arrangements, and added nutrients from fertilization. Combined fertilizer and manure applications also improved maize and pigeonpea yields. Plant nutrient diagnosis indicated primary and secondary P and Ca deficiencies, respectively associated with P-fixation and leaching of cations due to high soil acidity and exchangeable Al. Maize competed strongly in mixture suppressing biomass and grain yields of the unfertilized pigeonpea by 60% and 33%, respectively due to limited soil nutrients and/or moisture. These yield reductions suggest that the intercropped pigeonpea did not recover from competition after maize harvesting that reduced competition. Optimizing yields of both maize and pigeonpea would require the addition of prescribed fertilizer when intercropped, but applications can be reduced by half under the improved fallow system due to alleviating interspecific competition.     

丛枝菌根真菌对铈污染土壤上玉米生长和铈吸收的影响

采用温室盆栽试验的方法,模拟不同程度的铈(Ce)污染土壤(100、500、1 000 mg·kg~(-1)),研究接种丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)真菌Glomus aggregatum(GA)和Funneliformis mosseae(FM)对玉米(Zea mays L.)菌根侵染率、生物量、营养元素吸收、C:N:P生态化学计量比和稀土元素Ce吸收、转运的影响,旨在为稀土污染土壤的治理提供基础数据和技术支持.结果表明,GA和FM均与玉米成功建立了互惠共生关系,平均菌根侵染率为7.12%~74.47%;随着土壤Ce污染程度的增加,玉米菌根侵染率、地上部和根部的生物量、营养元素N、P、K的吸收量以及Ce从根到叶的转运率均显著降低,而玉米植株的C:P和N:P、地上部和根部Ce含量显著升高.接种AM真菌不同程度地促进了玉米的生长,在重度Ce污染土壤接种FM对玉米生长的促进作用显著高于GA,而在轻度和中度Ce污染土壤二者之间无显著性差异;接种显著改善了玉米的营养状况,一定程度上显著降低了玉米植株的C:N:P在轻度和中度Ce污染土壤GA对营养元素吸收的促进作用要显著高于FM,而在重度Ce污染土壤则反之;接种也显著增加了轻度Ce污染土壤玉米地上部和根部Ce含量,而对中度和重度Ce污染土壤上玉米Ce的吸收无显著影响,促进了Ce从根部到地上部分的转运.试验初步证明,AM真菌能够减轻稀土元素Ce对植物的毒害作用,在稀土污染土壤的植物修复中具有潜在的应用价值.     

Linking spatio-temporal variation of crop response with sediment deposition along paddy rice terraces

In tropical mountainous regions of South East Asia, intensive cultivation of annual crops on steep slopes makes the area prone to erosion resulting in decreasing soil fertility. Sediment deposition in the valleys, however, can enhance soil fertility, depending on the quality of the sediments, and influence crop productivity. The aim of the study was to assess (i) the spatio-temporal variation in grain yield along two rice terrace cascades in the uplands of northern Viet Nam, (ii) possible linkage of sediment deposition with the observed variation in grain yield, and (iii) whether spatial variation in soil water or nitrogen availability influenced the obtained yields masking the effect of inherent soil fertility using carbon isotope (¹³C) discrimination and ¹⁵N natural abundance techniques. In order to evaluate the impact of seasonal conditions, fertilizer use and sediment quality on rice performance, ¹⁵N and ¹³C stable isotope compositions of rice leaves and grains taken after harvest were examined and combined with soil fertility information and rice performance using multivariate statistics. The observed grain yields for the non-fertilized fields, averaged over both cascades, accounted for 4.0 ± 1.4 Mg ha^?1 and 6.6 ± 2.5 Mg ha^?1 in the spring and summer crop, respectively, while for the fertilized fields, grain yields of 6.5 ± 2.1 Mg ha^?1 and 6.9 ± 2.1 Mg ha^?1 were obtained. In general, the spatial variation of rice grain yield was strongly and significantly linked to sediment induced soil fertility and textural changes, such as soil organic carbon (r 0.34/0.77 for Cascades 1 and 2, respectively) and sand fraction (r ?0.88/?0.34). However, the observed seasonal alteration in topsoil quality, due to sediment deposition over two cropping cycles, was not sufficient to fully account for spatial variability in rice productivity. Spatial variability in soil water availability, assessed through ¹³C discrimination, was mainly present in the spring crop and was linearly related to the distance from the irrigation channel, and overshadowed in Cascade 2 the expected yield trends based on sediment deposition. Although δ¹⁵N signatures in plants indicated sufficient N uptake, grain yields were not found to be always significantly influenced by fertilizer application. These results showed the importance of integrating sediment enrichment in paddy fields within soil fertility analysis. Furthermore, where the effect of inherent soil fertility on rice productivity is masked by soil water or nitrogen availability, the use of ¹³C and ¹⁵N stable isotopes and its integration with conventional techniques showed potential to enhance the understanding of the influence of erosion – sedimentation and nutrient fluxes on crop productivity, at toposequence level.