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: Summary Seedlings from nine families of Pinus radiata were grown in a glasshouse under conditions of high and low nitrate nitrogen availability to investigate effects on anatomical and strength characteristics of stems. Families were classified into groups dependent upon their previously determined susceptibility to stem deformation prevalent in plantations established on fertile ex-pasture. Nitrogen treatments significantly affected seedling form in terms of both branch production and stem slenderness. The high N treatment resulted in shorter seedlings, a proportion of which were obviously stunted. Stem strength of seedlings, physically supported throughout the experiment, was assessed as stem lean at harvest as well as the bending strength of the fresh stem at 50% stem height. These two variables were found not to be correlated. Stem lean at harvest was greatest in families known to be susceptible to stem deformation. These families produced stems that were also more slender than families of low susceptibility. Increased stem lean was associated mostly with increased stem slenderness while elasticity was more influenced by pith diameter, stem density and wood radius.

Notes: Summary Small birch plants (Betula pendula Roth.) were grown in a climate chamber at different, exponentially increasing rates of nitrogen supply and at different photon flux densities. This resulted in treatments with relative growth rate equal to the relative rate of increase in nitrogen supply and with different equilibrium values of plant nitrogen concentration. Nitrogen productivity (rate of dry matter increase per plant nitrogen) was largely independent of nitrogen supply and was greater at higher photon flux density. Leaf weight ratio, average specific leaf area (and thus leaf area ratio) were all greater at better nitrogen supply and at lower values of photon flux density. The dependencies were such that the ratio of total projected leaf area to plant nitrogen at a given photon flux density was similar at all rates of nitrogen supply. The ratio was greater at lower values of photon flux density. At a given value of photon flux density, net assimilation rate and net photosynthetic rate per shoot area (measured at the growth climate) were only slightly greater at better rates of nitrogen supply. Values were greater at higher photon flux densities. Acclimation of the total leaf area to plant nitrogen ratio and of net assimilation rate was such that nitrogen productivity was largely saturated with respect to photon flux density at values greater than 230 μmol m-2 s-1. At higher photon flux densities, any potential gain in nitrogen productivity associated with higher net assimilation rates was apparently offset by lower ratios of total leaf area to plant nitrogen.

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 model that simulates changes in mineral N in the soil and N uptake by crops has been adapted to require as little detailed information as possible so that it is useful as an aid to management. The adapted model, which was developed in the UK, was tested against data from six experiments on winter wheat in the Netherlands. It proved reasonably successful in simulating the amounts of mineral N found in the soil in early spring and the changes that resulted from applying small amounts of fertilizer N in February. It was much less successful in simulating the effects of later, larger applications of N, mainly because the mineral N measured in the soil did not seem to respond to these applications. The uptake of N by the crops and their production of dry matter were simulated very well in some cases and rather less so in others.

Notes: Abstract An overview is provided of the N efficiency research conducted within the West African Fertilizer Management and Evaluation Network (WAFMEN). Factors such as N rate, mode of N fertilizer application and choice of N sources for different agroecological zones of West Africa are discussed in relation to crop yield response. The interactive effects of cropping density and rainfall on N efficiency and yield are examined with particular emphasis on production of millet in Niger. The potential role of new, slow-release fertilizers as well as urea amended with urease inhibitors is mentioned in relation to present and future fertilizer N requirements in West Africa.

Notes: Abstract Two trials inPinus radiata growing on different sites in N.S.W. allowed consideration of fertilizer applications after 2nd or 3rd thinning. The trials included factorial applications of N and P at a single thinning intensity plus a further treatment which allowed assessment of different thinning intensities. The most significant growth responses were obtained by application of N and P in combination. The largest response (additional productivity compared with the unfertilized control) occurred 4 years after application and after 7 years there was no additional absolute response for either of the two sites. The largest fertilizer response was 70 m3 ha−1 over 7 years on one site and 36 m3 ha−1 on the other, indicating differences in absolute responses between sites. It was concluded that in planning treatments the most responsive sites near the end of the rotation should be selected to maximise economic returns. Foliage analyses indicated differences between sites at the commencement of the study. It was concluded that either a single year of foliage analyses at study commencement is of value, or sampling every year of the study should be used to analyse responses, but a single year of analysis during or at the end of the study would not be of value.

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.