(Japanese Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition)
Vol. 84 (2013)
No. 6 (pp. 437–511)
Original Papers
Nitrogen dynamics in livestock manure applied to fallow paddy fields between crops
Masaya OOYA, Tatsuki WASHIO and Eiji ISHIBASHI
Res. Inst. Agric., Okayama Pref. Tech. Cent. Agric. Forest. Fisher.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 437–446, 2013)
When substituting composted and fresh livestock manure for mineral fertilizer, an understanding of the fate of nitrogen (N) in the applied organic fertilizer is required to plan the application strategy. Organic fertilizer is frequently applied during the fallow period between autumn and spring, and the N dynamics of organic matter applied during this period are not well understood. We quantified the influence of the organic matter type and time after application on N dynamics in organic matter applied during the fallow period. The types of organic matter examined were composted livestock manure (cow, pig, and a mixture of equal parts of the two) and non-composted poultry manure. We conducted both incubation experiments and field experiments to monitor N dynamics in fallow fields.
The N dynamics of added organic fertilizer were explored through the relationship Ninput = Nlost + Nremain + Naccum, where Ninput is the total amount of N contained in the applied organic matter (i.e., 100%); Nlost is the percentage of Ninput lost by leaching, N2 emission, or denitrification; Nremain is the percentage of Ninput remaining that can function as a substitute for mineral fertilizer in the next rice crop; and Naccum is the percentage of Ninput that remains in the soil after harvesting the next rice crop. The results are summarized as follows.
1. Treated soil cores were incubated at 2°C, 10°C, and 25°C, and the amount of N mineralization from added organic matter and nitrification of added ammonium sulfate were analyzed using chemical kinetics. The actual measurements corresponded with the superposition curve when all were adjusted to a 25°C standard temperature. Even at the lowest temperature, the mineralization rate of organic matter and nitrification of the mineralized N increased with increasing N content, and the rate of both processes increased markedly as the temperature exceeded 5°C.
2. Except during the first 10–14 days after application of organic matter during the fallow period, the proportion of Nremain in the soil in inorganic form was low, indicating that most of the mineralized N was quickly converted to Nlost. In southern Okayama, where the average transplanting time is late June, following the application of organic matter between December and April, most of the N mineralized from the organic matter had also undergone nitrification, indicating that loss was predominantly by leaching and denitrification.
3. Nremain decreased rapidly between 10 and 50 days after application of organic matter. Thus, to use manure that is high in N as a substitute for mineral fertilizer, it is necessary to carefully plan the rate and timing of application to account for the N content of the organic matter and the number of days between application of the organic matter and planting so that Nremain can be accurately controlled.
Key words: dynamics, fallow period, nitrogen, organic matter, paddy field
The effects of flooding during the non-irrigation period on soil nitrogen transformations in a paddy plot on an alluvial fan
Hiromi OZAKI, Kimihito NAKAMURA and Shigeto KAWASHIMA
Grad. Sch. Agric., Kyoto Univ.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 447–454, 2013)
The flooding of paddy fields during the winter fallow is gradually becoming common in Japan as an agricultural water management practice that offers environmental advantages such as the creation of temporary wetland habitat, groundwater recharge, and suppression of weed growth. However, on soils with high permeability, such as alluvium, the effects of winter flooding on soil and crop nutrition dynamics are unclear. This study examined soil nitrogen transformations in a winter-flooded paddy plot on an alluvial fan. The concentrations of various forms of nitrogen in the soil were examined at flooded and non-flooded microsites over time. Over the course of the winter flooding period in the flooded microsites, the concentrations of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) in the surface soil increased, whereas that of nitrate nitrogen (NO3–-N) decreased. The temperature of the surface soil was higher in the flooded soil than in the non-flooded soil by up to 1°C. These findings indicate that the increases in soil water content and temperature caused by winter flooding promote the decomposition of particulate organic nitrogen and denitrification but inhibit nitrification. In the non-flooded soil, the concentrations of DON and NH4+-N decreased and NO3–-N increased over the course of the measurement period. These findings indicate that nitrification is more dominant than mineralization in the non-flooded soil during the winter season. Easily decomposable organic nitrogen concentrations were higher in the flooded soil than in the non-flooded soil. Hence, the winter flooding influenced soil nitrogen transformations and increased DON, easily decomposable organic nitrogen, and NH4+-N in the surface soil. However, after the winter flooding period, the concentrations of DON, easily decomposable organic nitrogen, and NH4+-N decreased, and the concentrations of all forms of nitrogen were similar to those in the non-flooded soil just before the first irrigation for rice planting at the end of April.
Key words: alluvial fan, decomposition, nitrogen mineralization, non-irrigation period, winter-flooding
Growth of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) after pre-transplanting phosphorus application
Tohru MURAYAMA1 and Kae MIYAZAWA1,2
1NARO Tohoku Agric. Res. Cent.,
2Present address: Grad. Sch. Agric. Life Sci., Univ. Tokyo
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 455–461, 2013)
Pre-transplanting phosphorus application (PTPA) is a method of fertilization that involves immersion of seedlings in a solution containing phosphorus (P) immediately prior to transplanting. It has been shown to reduce plant P demand, and thus the need for P application to fields. From 2009 to 2011, we investigated the effects of PTPA and the amount of P fertilizer applied on the growth, yield, and P uptake of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.). Seedlings of A. fistulosum grown in chain pots were either subjected to PTPA by being immersed in potassium phosphate solution (0.5% P) or were not immersed, which served as a control. The seedlings were then transplanted to the field arranged into four P fertilization treatments (P2O5 at 21 g m–2 as 100%, and its 75%, 50%, and 0%). PTPA enhanced early growth remarkably and increased plant P content in 2009. Although this early benefit diminished with time, plant weight and the amount of P absorbed by plants at harvest still increased significantly by PTPA. The marketable weight of PTPA-treated plants was also higher than that of non-treated plants in 2010 and 2011. There was no significant effect of field application of P fertilizer on plant weight, marketable yield, or plant P content. These results showed that it may be possible to increase productivity and bring forward harvesting by means of PTPA without P fertilizer field application in Welsh onion culture.
Key words: andosol, growth promotion, potassium phosphate, pre-transplanting phosphorus application, reduction of phosphorus fertilizer
Influence of different soil management methods during the non-irrigation period on annual greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies
Hiroyuki HASUKAWA1, Yuki TAKAHASHI1, Satoshi TORITSUKA1, Shigeto SUDO2 and Kazuya NISHINA2,3
1Shiga Pref. Agric. Tech. Promotion Cent., 2Natl. Inst. Agro-Environ. Sci., 3Cent. Global Environ. Res., Natl. Inst. Environ. Studies
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 462–472, 2013)
Management methods such as winter flooding and winter moistening are expected to reduce nitrogen loads in the runoff from paddy fields, but they are also considered to increase greenhouse gas emissions. We quantified the annual methane and nitrous oxide emissions from lysimeters in paddy fields under winter flooding, winter moistening, and conventional no-flooding management, and investigated the effects of soil management under winter flooding treatment during the spring fallow period (just before the cropping season) on greenhouse gas emissions and soil fertility.
Annual global warming potential (i.e., the combined emissions of methane and nitrous oxide) did not differ significantly among the different forms of soil management. This was attributed to the influence of drainage management in the fallow period before transplanting. In this season, the soil moisture content under winter flooding and moistening treatments decreased to values similar to those found under conventional management. This decrease in soil moisture should contribute to a decrease in methane emissions from soils under winter flooding and moistening treatments during the spring fallow period and early growing season.
The potential soil nitrogen mineralization rates of paddy soils during the growing period were similar and did not differ significantly among the treatments, regardless of soil management during the fallow period. Rice yields and their quality were also similar. Moreover, water drainage in late March resulted in no decline in soil fertility in paddy fields under winter flooding and winter moistening management.
Key words: greenhouse gases, non-irrigation period, soil management, winter flooding, rice
Notes
Physico-chemical properties of paddy soils suspended in agricultural drainage water flowing into Lake Inawashiro during the period between puddling and transplanting
Norio SATO1, Koichi HOSHINO2, Kazutoshi OSAWA2 and Hideaki HIRAI2
1United Grad. Sch. Agric. Sci., Tokyo Univ. Agric. Tech., 2Fac. Agric. Utsunomiya Univ.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 473–477, 2013)
Current Topics
Volunteer potato management by soil frost control in the Tokachi region, Hokkaido, Japan
Tomotsugu YAZAKI1,2, Tomoyoshi HIROTA3 and Yukiyoshi IWATA1,4
1NARO, Hokkaido Agric. Res. Cent., Crop Breeding Res. Division, 2Present address: Wetlands Res. Cent., 3NARO, Hokkaido Agric. Res. Cent., Dairy Production Res. Division, 4Present address: NARO, Natl. Inst. Rural Engineering
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 478–481, 2013)
Reduction of cadmium level in brown rice by large applications of alkalinity for paddy fields
Tetsushi OSHIO1, Minoru MATSUYAMA1, Takeo KUWANA1 and Shigeyuki ARAI2
1Hyogo Pref. Tech. Cent. Agric., Forest. Fish., 2Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, General Affairs Dept. Environment Management Dept., Environ. Tech. Res. Cent.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 482–486, 2013)
Lectures
A new framework for study of irrigated paddy rice and upland crops rotation farming and its relation to soil and plant nutrition science. 4. The decline of soil fertility of drained paddy fields under crops rotation and its fertility management
Rikiya NIRA
NARO, Natl. Agric. Res. Cent.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 487–492, 2013)
Miscellaneous
Long-term change in the quality of ground and river water in Isehara city, Kanagawa
Masaaki YOSIBA, Yuuji KOBAYASI, Eitaro MIWA and Tosiaki TADANO
Tokyo Univ. Agric.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 493–502, 2013)
Report on the XVII International Plant Nutrition Colloquium and Boron Satellite Meeting
Shinji WAKUTA1 and Sumana LEAUNGTHITIKANCHANA2
1Sch. Agric., Grad. Sch. Agric., Res. Fac. Agric., Hokkaido Univ.,2 Grad. Sch. Agric. Life Sci., Univ. Tokyo
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 503, 2013)
Participation report of the 21st International Symposium on Environmental Biogeochemistry
Yong GUO1,2
1United Grad. Sch. Agric. Sci., Tokyo Univ. Agric. Tech., 2College Agric., Ibaraki Univ.
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 504, 2013)
Abstracts of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Vol. 59, No. 5 (2013)
(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 84, 505–509, 2013)