ALBERT

Notes: Summary Although denitrification has long been considered a major loss mechanism for N fertilizer applied to lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) soils, direct field measurements of denitrification losses from puddled rice soils in the tropics have only been made recently. This paper summarizes the results of direct measurement and indirect estimation of denitrification losses from puddled rice fields and reviews the status of research methodology for measurement of denitrification in rice fields. The direct recovery of (N2+N2O)-15N from 15N-enriched urea has recently been measured at sites in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. In all 12 studies, recoveries of (N2+N2O)-15N ranged from less than 0.1 to 2.2% of the applied N. Total gaseous N losses, estimated by the 15N-balance technique, were much greater, ranging from 10 to 56% of the applied urea-N. Denitrification was limited by the nitrate supply rather than by available C, as indicated by the values for water-soluble soil organic C, floodwater (nitrate+nitrite)-N, and evolved (N2+N2O)-15N from added nitrate. In the absence of runoff and leaching losses, the amount of (N2+N2O)-15N evolved from 15N-labeled nitrate was consistently less than the unrecovered 15N in 15N balances with labeled nitrate, which presumably represented total denitrification losses. This finding indicates that the measured recoveries of (N2+N2O)-15N had underestimated the denitrification losses from urea. Even with a probable two-or threefold underestimation, direct measurements of (N2+N2O)-15N failed to confirm the appreciable denitrification losses often estimated by the indirect difference method. This method, which determines denitrification losses by the difference between total 15N loss and determined ammonia loss, is prone to high variability. Measurements of nitrate disappearance and 15N-balance studies suggest that nitrification-denitrification occurs under alternate soil drying and wetting conditions both during the rice cropping period and between rice crops. Research is needed to determine the magnitude of denitrification losses when soils are flooded and puddled for production of rice.

Notes: Summary The influence of the enchytraeid species Cognettia sphagnetorum on N mineralization in homogenized mor humus was examined in a laboratory study. The mor humus was incubated in containers (150 ml) for 8 months at various temperatures and with different moisture levels. Two series were used, one with C. sphagnetorum and one without. The presence of enchytraeids in the cultures increased the level of NH4 + and NO3 - by about 18% compared with the cultures without enchytraeids. Almost 40% of this difference was explained by the decomposition of dead enchytraeids. Temperature and soil moisture were the most important factors controlling the mineralization rate. The optimum moisture for N mineralization was between pF 1.6 and 1.1.

Notes: Abstract Asian agriculture has made enormous gains in food production despite rapid population growth and a shortage of land. This paper reviews the role of fertilizer in agricultural production and the results of recent research on fertilizers and plant nutrition in the region. Fertilizer use has contributed greatly to the increase in food production which has occurred largely in the high potential areas. In these areas research has shown that losses reduce the efficiency of broadcast urea and that the use of high analysis fertilizers is inducing sulfur deficiency in some areas. In upland areas, research has highlighted a major problem of boron deficiency in Thailand. Research progress is being made in understanding the magnitude of nitrogen fixation inputs and the role of shrub legumes in upland systems.

Notes: Abstract Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, their relationship to each other (DIN/DIP) as predisposing (nutrient) factors, as well as prevailing weather as a triggering factor all work together to induce the primary production and hence the eutrophication (hypertrophication) process in surface waters. Sulfate likewise is a decisive predisposing factor influencing the eutrophication process by reducing N availability but increasing P availability and thus acting towards an N limitation of the primary production. This is one of the reasons why marine (coastal) waters and estuaries often exhibit N limitation with respect to primary production, while freshwater ecosystems often tend to exhibit P limitation. Within the N and P balance of agriculture of some countries of Western Europe (Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, FRG, UK and Sweden for N, resp. Netherlands, FRG and GDR for P) more the level than the efficiency of the N and P applications indicates the extent of the nutrient surplus. Despite 59–73% N utilization in plant production, the rate of 13–23% for agriculture as a whole equals to the 12–21% efficiency of N use in animal production. The varying N surplus in agriculture in the separate countries of 124 to 465 kg N ha−1 a−1 is determined almost exclusively by the level of the N application and not by its efficiency. The situation is similar for P: In spite of P utilization in plant production of 59–76%, P utilization in total agriculture is only 11–38%, or comparable to the P efficiency within animal production of 10–34%. The differing P excess balance of 55 to 88 kg P2O5 ha−1 a−1 is influenced by the level of the P application. The N and P efficacy of total agriculture hence is determined almost completely by that of animal production, since 83–95% (N basis) and 76–94% (P basis) of the total plant production (on top of the nationally varying levels of N and P use via imported feeds) are fed to animals — with the low N and P utilization cited above. Agriculture's share of the N and P emissions into surface water of several countries/regions in Western Europe (FRG, Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway) ranges from 37 to 82% resp. 27 to 38%. Its share in the flus into the North Sea catchment basin will be about 60% for N and 25% for P related only to the anthropogenic material carried by the rivers. Agriculture's share in the atmospheric N emissions into the North and Baltic Seas can be estimated at about 65% or 55%, resp. while the remaining approx. 35% or 45%, resp. are traceable primarily to anthropogenic burning processes. For agriculture the priority lies in limiting N emissions into surface water caused by leaching, erosion and NH3 emissions, and reducing P emissions mainly through soil conservation (protection against erosion) and water protection. As regards N this means a demand for comprehensive protection of groundwater and atmosphere differentiated according to the potential for losses or the risk of losses on a site, also outside the protection zones. As regards P only those areas can be included in the demand for reduction of emissions that are actually threatened by erosion or surface runoff. Plenty of short-term and long-term measures are available to agriculture to reduce N and P emissions. Especially the long-range measures (such as creating nutrient balances on farms and fields, the integration of animal and plant production, maintaining maximum livestock densities according to the ability of areas to absorb nutrients, altered feeding programs in animal nutrition, changes in livestock keeping (slurry→deep litter), increasing the internal and external recycling of N and P) are capable of bringing about a satisfactory degree of success within the next 20 to 30 years.

Notes: Abstract A concise model is described for calculating day-to-day increments in nitrogen uptake and dry matter of crops grown with different levels of N-fertilizer. Inputs are the initial distribution of inorganic-N down the profile, the maximum yield, the maximum depth of rooting, and the mineralization rate. The validity of the model was tested against measurements of the %N and total dry weights of storage roots and foliage in nine N-fertilizer trials with sugar beet, six of which included both irrigated and unirrigated treatments. Agreement between the model and experiment was good except in one experiment severely attacked by virus yellows. Simulation studies with the model indicated that no simple correlation would be expected between N fertilizer requirement and any single indicator of N availability for crops grown under a wide range of conditions in the UK.

Notes: Summary Urea (U) and ammonium nitrate (AN) had been applied to a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in northern Sweden for 18 consecutive years at four doses resulting in total N applications ranging from 0 to 1980 kg ha−1. The 15N abundance (δ 15N) of the grass Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin. increased linearly (from −0.7 to 11.0‰) with application rate in the case of U. The response to AN was in the same direction but smaller. While others have shown that the initial response of nitrogen-limited systems to additions of N is a change of 15N abundance towards that of added N, this study shows that further and excessive additions leads to a retention of 15N. Monitoring 15N abundance over time in dose-response trials of this type thus opens new possibilities to estimate “critical loads” of N and the point of “nitrogen saturation”.

Notes: Summary We studied interactions among collards, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) and its parasitoid Diadegma insulare (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) by manipulating plant nitrogen (N) concentrations in field and laboratory experiments. Parasitoid abundance strongly reflected DBM abundance and was related to total leaf N. Parasitism rates were high (70.7%) and density-independent. Wasp sex ratios varied markedly (3–93% female) in response to the herbivores, the plants, or both. Higher proportions of female wasps emerged from DBM larvae on plants with high leaf N than on unfertilized plants. More female wasps also emerged from larvae parasitized as larger instars. We suggest that wasps have the potential to control DBM populations through long-term numerical responses mediated by variable sex ratios.

Notes: Summary The dwarf shrub Indigofera spinosa Forsk. (Papilionacea), a native forage species of arid Northwest Kenya, was propogated from seed, grown in a controlled environment, and subjected to three treatments of defoliation and watering frequencies in a factorial experimental design. Biomass production and nitrogen accumulation in tissue components were measured to determine defoliation responses in a water-limited environment. We hypothesized that plants would maintain biomass and nitrogen flows despite removal of aboveground meristems and tissues by defoliation. Principal experimental results included a slight reduction (11%; P=0.08) of total biomass production by clipping ca. 1/3 or 2/3 of new leaves and stems and all apical meristems every month. Total aboveground production was not affected by clipping, while final root biomass was reduced 17% by the 2/3 clipping. The least water stressed plants were affected most negatively by defoliation, and the unclipped plants responded more negatively to greater water limitation. Plants achieved partial biomass compensation through alterations in shoot activity and continued allocation of photosynthate to roots. A smaller fraction of leaf production was directed to litter in clipped plants although clipping only removed the youngest tissues, suggesting that clipping increased leaf longevity. In turn, each leaf probably contributed a greater total quantity of photosynthate. Photosynthetic rates were also likely to have been increased by clipping water-stressed plants. In contrast to biomass, plants overcompensated for nitrogen lost to defoliation. Total nitrogen uptake by individual plants was stimulated by defoliation, as there was more total nitrogen in leaves and stems. Increased nitrogen uptake was achieved by clipping stimulation of total uptake per unit of root rather than of total root mass.

Notes: Summary Cottonwood saplings were exposed to ozone or charcoal-filtered air in a closed chamber. After leaf abscission, decomposition of individual leaf discs was measured in containers of stream water. Exposure of plants to 200 ppb ozone for 5 h caused early leaf abscission and changes in the chemical composition of leaves at time of abscission. Early-abscised leaves from O3-exposed plants had higher nitrogen, but decomposed more slowly than leaves from control plants. Leaves from O3-exposed plants that abscised at the normal time had lower nitrogen content and lower specific leaf mass than control leaves, but decomposed at the same rate as leaves from control plants. The results imply that O3 exposure can alter fundamental processes important to the functioning of detritus-based aquatic ecosystems.

Notes: Summary The scale insect, Toumeyella sp., feeds exclusively on the subtropical hammock tree lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum L.). The combined effects of scale herbivory and shading on leaf gas exchange characteristics and growth of lignum vitae trees were studied using a factorial design. Trees grown in full sun or in 75% shade were manually infested with scale or left noninfested. Beginning 4 weeks after infestation, net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal partial pressure of CO2, and water-use efficiency were determined on single-leaves at 4-week intervals for trees in each treatment. At the end of the experiment, net CO2 assimilation was determined for whole plants. Total leaf area, leaf, stem, and root dry weights, and leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations were also determined. Scale infested trees generally had lower net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates as well as less leaf area, and root, stem, and leaf dry weights than noninfested trees. Twenty four weeks after the shade treatment was imposed, sun-grown trees had approximately twice the leaf area of shade-grown trees. Shade-grown trees compensated for the reduced leaf area by increasing their photosynthetic efficiency. This resulted in no difference in light saturated net CO2 assimilation on a whole plant basis between sun-grown and shade-grown trees. Chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations per unit leaf area were greater in leaves of shade-grown trees than in leaves of sun-grown trees. Shading and herbivory by Toumeyella sp. each resulted in decreased growth of Guaiacum sanctum. Scale insect herbivory did not result in greater detrimental effects on leaf gas exchange characteristics for shade-grown than for sun-grown trees. Herbivory by Toumeyella resulted in a greater decrease in tree growth for sun-grown than for shade-grown trees.