Assessing spatial variability and mapping of soil properties constitute important prerequisites for soil and crop management in agricultural areas. To explore the relationship between soil spatial variability and land...Assessing spatial variability and mapping of soil properties constitute important prerequisites for soil and crop management in agricultural areas. To explore the relationship between soil spatial variability and land management, 256 samples were randomly collected at two depths (surface layer 0–20 cm and subsurface layer 20–40 cm) under different land use types and soil parent materials in Yujiang County, Jiangxi Province, a red soil region of China. The pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation (BS) of the soil samples were examined and mapped. The results indicated that soils in Yujiang were acidified, with an average pH of 4.87 (4.03–6.46) in the surface layer and 4.99 (4.03–6.24) in the subsurface layer. SOM and TN were significantly higher in the surface layer (27.6 and 1.50 g kg–1, respectively) than in the subsurface layer (12.1 and 0.70 g kg–1, respectively), while both CEC and BS were low (9.0 and 8.0 cmol kg–1, 29 and 38% for surface and subsurface layers, respectively). Paddy soil had higher pH (mean 4.99) than upland and forest soils, while soil derived from river alluvial deposits (RAD) had higher pH (mean 5.05) than the other three parent materials in both layers. Geostatistical analysis revealed that the best fit models were exponential for pH and TN, and spherical for BS in both layers, while spherical and Gaussian were the best fitted for SOM and CEC in the surface and subsurface layers. Spatial dependency varied from weak to strong for the different soil properties in both soil layers. The maps produced by selecting the best predictive variables showed that SOM, TN, and CEC had moderate levels in most parts of the study area. This study highlights the importance of site-specific agricultural management and suggests guidelines for appropriate land management decisions.展开更多
To determine appropriate quantities of water and fertilizer required for early growth of hybrid poplar cuttings,we recorded the growth traits of four clones grown under four factors(irrigation and nitrogen,phosphorus,...To determine appropriate quantities of water and fertilizer required for early growth of hybrid poplar cuttings,we recorded the growth traits of four clones grown under four factors(irrigation and nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizers),each with four levels,using an orthogonal experimental design.A logistic model was used to estimate growth in height.The growth curves for tree height were sigmoid,and the model R^2 values were greater than 0.9,which indicated that the fit was highly significant.ANOVA results for tree height and basal diameter indicated that all sources of variance showed significant differences(p<0.001).The average tree height and basal diameter for all the four clones under the different treatments ranged from 155.39 to 235.04 cm,and from 13.71 to 17.42 mm,respectively.A highly positive correlation between the extreme k value and tree height was observed,suggesting that the k value was an accurate estimation of tree height.For model parameters,the earliest average time point for the onset of the rapid growth period of poplar clones was 131 d,and the highest average increment in tree height during the rapid growth period was 138.78 cm.The highest average tree height for all clones under each factor was 219,210.51,200,and 201 cm when treated with either 1200 mL of water applied every third day,3 g of nitrogen,0 g of phosphorus,or 0 g of potassium,respectively.The most suitable treatment for the early growth of hybrid poplar cuttings,as suggested by the developed logistic model,was 1200 mL of water applied every third day and three applications of 1 g nitrogen(in the form of CH4N2O).展开更多
To achieve the purpose of reducing farm non-point source pollution, we integrated site specific nitrogen management precise irrigation, controlled drainage, and wetland eco-repair system in dike area of Taihu basin. D...To achieve the purpose of reducing farm non-point source pollution, we integrated site specific nitrogen management precise irrigation, controlled drainage, and wetland eco-repair system in dike area of Taihu basin. During investigation, it had given prominence for the water and fertilizer coupling effects of precise irrigation and site specific nutrient management, the characteristics of integration on controlled irrigation, controlled drainage and wetland ecosystem non-point source pollution control. Then the water and fertilizer integrated management mode of paddy field was put forward in Taihu basin where the water production efficiency increased to 1.64 kg. m-3, water saved 37.8%, fertilizer use efficiency raised 15,4%, yield raised 10%, and N, P load decreased 26%-72%. The modern agricultural and farmland ecosystems that control and cut down the farm non-point source pollution came into being, which can be a reference by Taihu basin to control its agricultural non-point source pollution and eutrophicated water body.展开更多
Citrus is an important commercial crop in Uganda, especially the Eastern region. However, in spite of the increasing regional demand, citrus productivity is still low, attributed to pest and diseases, soil moisture st...Citrus is an important commercial crop in Uganda, especially the Eastern region. However, in spite of the increasing regional demand, citrus productivity is still low, attributed to pest and diseases, soil moisture stress, and low soil fertility, among others. Efforts to improve soil fertility are limited by inadequate supply of organic fertilizers due to competing demands. In addition, there is inadequate information on inorganic fertilizer requirements for citrus production in Uganda. The objective of this study was to develop optimum fertilizer recommendations for citrus production for Eastern Uganda. The study was conducted in Teso region, Eastern Uganda. Fertilizer (NPK, 17:17:17) was randomly applied to Hamlin, Valencia and Washington varieties with fertilizer and variety factorially arranged for each farm and citrus age range, replicated three times. Fertilizer rates were 0, 139, 278 and 556 kg NPK/ha for the 4 - 7-year old trees, and 0, 278, 556 and 1111 kg NPK/ha for the mature (8 years and above) trees. For a given variety, each fertilizer rate was applied onto three representative trees per farmer, six farmers per district. Results showed that yields and net profits were highest for variety Hamlin, and nearly the same for varieties Washington and Valencia. Fertilizer application increased fruit yield and profits for both the 4 to 7-year and 8 and above-year-old trees, with highest yield and profitability values observed at 556 kg NPK/ha. These results suggest applying 556 kg NPK/ha to citrus per year as an optimum fertilizer rate for citrus production in Teso region. The fertilizer should be applied in smaller splits of 800, 600, and 600 grams per tree, applied in April, June, and August.展开更多
Heavy use of chemical fertilizer causes increasing soil and environmental crisis, and the use of organic fertilizer increases obvious in recent years. In this study,mineral organic fertilizer(MOF) and compound fertili...Heavy use of chemical fertilizer causes increasing soil and environmental crisis, and the use of organic fertilizer increases obvious in recent years. In this study,mineral organic fertilizer(MOF) and compound fertilizer(CF) were applied in amaranth culture to explore the effects of these two kinds of fertilizers on soil quality and the potential function for CO_2 fixation. Some soil parameters were tested, e.g. p H value, organic carbon content, microbial biomass, urease activity, and available potassium content. In addition, some parameters of soil infiltration water were also determined, such as p H and HCO_3^- concentration. Experimental results showed that MOF improved soil quality and amaranth biomass and increased possible soil carbon sink.On the contrary, the utilization of CF worsened soil quality and made the soil acidize. These results suggested that MOF can partially replace CF to improve plant growth, soil quality and possible CO_2 sink.展开更多
Investigating the impact of apple-dominated areas on nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)losses at a basin scale was essential for the sustainable development of apple industry in China.This study conducted a survey on fertil...Investigating the impact of apple-dominated areas on nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)losses at a basin scale was essential for the sustainable development of apple industry in China.This study conducted a survey on fertilizer application and built a Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT)model to quantita-tively analyze the N and P losses in the Qixia apple-dominated area.Additionally,the decreases in N and P losses through adjusting the fertilizer application modes were evaluated.Results showed that average N and P losses in the Wulong River Basin(WRB)were 44.4 and 0.365 kg ha^(-1)in 2011-2017,respectively,and apple orchards accounted for 733%and 51.4%of the total N and P losses in the basin.Under nine fertilizer scheduling scenarios,three fertilizer schedule scenarios,automatic fertilizer application(S-AUTO),"one shot"mode(S1),and regulated fertilizer application(S-BSD),had the lowest N and P losses in apple orchards.The decreases in N loss ranged from 20.6%to 26.1%at the subbasin scale and 14.8%-30.7%at the basin outlet when applying the S-AUTO,S1,and S-BSD fertilizer application modes in Qixia apple orchards and all apple orchards in the WRB.The reductions in P loss varied from 22.0%to 46.1%at the subbasin scale and 14.6%-25.6%at the basin outlet.In orchard-dominated basin,N and P losses can be effectively reduced by optimizing the orchard fertilizer scheduling strategies.展开更多
The green high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation techniques of integrated management of water and fertilizer for maize under mulch drip irrigation are described from the aspects of high yield target of maize and i...The green high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation techniques of integrated management of water and fertilizer for maize under mulch drip irrigation are described from the aspects of high yield target of maize and its component factor indexes,pre-sowing preparation,sowing,post-sowing management,field management at the seedling stage,integrated management of water and fertilizer for target yield of maize,rational application of micro-fertilizer,comprehensive prevention and control of diseases and pests,timely harvest,etc.,in order to provide a reference for agricultural technicians,maize farmers and maize industry development in northern Xinjiang.展开更多
SCOPE Rice Science is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by China National Rice Research Institute and hosting by Elsevier B V.It publishes original research papers,reviews,experimental technique as well...SCOPE Rice Science is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by China National Rice Research Institute and hosting by Elsevier B V.It publishes original research papers,reviews,experimental technique as well as letters on rice science in English language.Some of the topics that may be included in each issue are:breeding and genetics,biotechnology,germplasm resources,agronomy,pest management,soil and fertilizer management and cereal chemistry.展开更多
SCOPE Rice Science is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by China National Rice Research Institute and hosting by Elsevier B V.It publishes original research papers,reviews,experimental technique as well...SCOPE Rice Science is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by China National Rice Research Institute and hosting by Elsevier B V.It publishes original research papers,reviews,experimental technique as well as letters on rice science in English language.Some of the topics that may be included in each issue are:breeding and genetics,biotechnology,germplasm resources,agronomy,pest management,soil and fertilizer management and cereal chemistry.The full texts of Rice Science are available online at http://www.ricescience.org or http://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/rice-science.展开更多
The delayed nitrogen application technology is a crucial method for achieving high yield and efficiency in wheat cultivation.Specifically,more nitrogen is supplied to the middle and late growth stages of wheat by adju...The delayed nitrogen application technology is a crucial method for achieving high yield and efficiency in wheat cultivation.Specifically,more nitrogen is supplied to the middle and late growth stages of wheat by adjusting the application time and proportion of nitrogen fertilizer.This approach helps improve the tiller-bearing percentage and increase the number of grains per ear and the thousand-grain weight,while also reducing nitrogen loss and enhancing fertilizer use efficiency.This paper systematically elaborated on the high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation technology system with delayed nitrogen application for wheat,covering variety selection,soil management,sowing technology,the principle and implementation methods of delayed nitrogen application,integrated water and fertilizer management,field management,and comprehensive pest and disease control.Considering the ecological characteristics of major wheat-growing regions in China,tailored technical solutions were proposed,and operational key points of critical technological steps were introduced in detail.Through scientific variety distribution,precise nitrogen management,and integrated pest control,wheat yield and quality can be enhanced while achieving cost saving,improved efficiency,and ecological environmental protection.This paper provides systematic theoretical guidance and practical references for promoting thedelayed nitrogen application technology in wheat,thereby supporting the sustainable development of China s wheat industry.展开更多
Improving the yield of maize grain per unit area is needed to meet the growing demand for it in China, where the availability of fertile land is very limited.Modified fertilization management and planting density are ...Improving the yield of maize grain per unit area is needed to meet the growing demand for it in China, where the availability of fertile land is very limited.Modified fertilization management and planting density are efficient methods for increasing crop yield.Field experiments were designed to investigate the influence of modified fertilization management and planting density on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of the popular maize variety Zhengdan 958, in four treatments including local farmer＇s practice（FP）, high-yielding and high efficiency cultivation（HH）, super high-yielding cultivation（SH）, and the control（CK）.Trials were conducted in three locations of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in northern China.Compared with FP, SH was clearly able to promote N absorption and dry matter accumulation in post-anthesis, and achieve high yield and N use efficiency by increasing planting density and postponing the supplementary application of fertilizers.However, with an increase in planting density, the demand of N increased along with grain yield.Due to the input of too much N fertilizer, the efficiency of N use in SH was low.Applying less total N, ameliorating cultivation and cropping management practices should be considered as priority strategies to augment production potential and finally achieve synchronization between high yield and high N efficiency in fertile soils.However, in situations where soil fertility is low, achieving high yield and high N use efficiency in maize will likely depend on increased planting density and appropriate application of supplementary fertilizers postpone to the grain-filling stage.展开更多
Soil fertility management （SFM） has important implications for sustaining agricultural development and food self-sufifciency. Better understanding the determinants of farmers’ SFM can be a great help to the adoptio...Soil fertility management （SFM） has important implications for sustaining agricultural development and food self-sufifciency. Better understanding the determinants of farmers’ SFM can be a great help to the adoption of effective SFM practices. Based on a dataset of 315 plots collected from a typical rice growing area of South China, this study applied statistical method and econometric models to examine the impacts of land characteristics on farmers’ SFM practices at plot scale. Main results showed that in general land characteristics affected SFM behaviors. Securer land tenure arrangements facilitated effective practices of SFM through more diversiifed and more soil-friendly cropping pattern choices. Plot size signiifcantly reduced the intensities of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application. Given other factors, 1 ha increase in plot size might reduce 3.0 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 1.8 kg ha-1 K2O. Plots far from the homestead were paid less attention in terms of both chemical fertilizers and manure applications. Besides, plots with better quality were put more efforts on management by applying more nitrogen and manure, and by planting green manure crops. Signiifcant differences existed in SFM practices between the surveyed villages with different socio-economic conditions. The ifndings are expected to provide important references to the policy-making incentive for improving soil quality and crop productivity.展开更多
By analyzing and extracting the research progress on nitrogen fertilization in wheat, a dynamic knowledge model for management decision-making on total nitrogen rate, ratios of organic to inorganic and of basal to dre...By analyzing and extracting the research progress on nitrogen fertilization in wheat, a dynamic knowledge model for management decision-making on total nitrogen rate, ratios of organic to inorganic and of basal to dressing nitrogen under different environments and cultivars in wheat was developed with principle of nutrient balance and by integrating the quantitative effects of grain yield and quality targets, soil characters, variety traits and water management levels. Case studies on the nitrogen fertilization model with the data sets of different eco-sites, cultivars, soil fertility levels, grain yield and quality targets and water management levels indicate a good performance of the model system in decision-making and wide applicability.展开更多
A study on community soil fertility management concepts and practices was conducted through rapid and participatory method of research in 15 villages of the Gourma region in Eastern part of Burkina Faso. These investi...A study on community soil fertility management concepts and practices was conducted through rapid and participatory method of research in 15 villages of the Gourma region in Eastern part of Burkina Faso. These investigations aimed at determining farmers＇ knowledge on soil resources： local soil taxonomy and indicators of soil degradation, soil fertility management practices, and capacity for adoption of new technologies in soil fertility management. The results of the study showed that the main parameter for soil classification for all the investigated villages was soil texture composition; soil degradation was evaluated according to crops yield decrease and the development Striga sp. in 100% of the investigated villages; the use of organic manure and long term fellow were the main practices for soil fertility management; concerning the villages where modem technologies of soil fertility management were introduced, the lack of tools and capacity building were the main limiting factors of the adoption of these improved practices at small scale farmers＇ level. Even if discordance between scientific and local soil taxonomy were revealed by our investigations; significant similarities between indigenous and scientific indices of soil degradation were noticed. With regard to the actual magnitude of soil degradation; the local techniques of soil fertility management need to be improved and accessible to a big number of farmers.展开更多
Rice‒rape,rice‒wheat and rice‒garlic rotations are common cropping systems in Southwest China,and they have played a significant role in ensuring ecological and economic benefits(EB)and addressing the challenges of Ch...Rice‒rape,rice‒wheat and rice‒garlic rotations are common cropping systems in Southwest China,and they have played a significant role in ensuring ecological and economic benefits(EB)and addressing the challenges of China’s food security in the region.However,the crop yields in these rotation systems are 1.25‒14.73%lower in this region than the national averages.Intelligent decision-making with machine learning can analyze the key factors for obtaining better benefits,but it has rarely been used to enhance the probability of obtaining such benefits from rotations in Southwest China.Thus,we used a data-intensive approach to construct an intelligent decision‒making system with machine learning to provide strategies for improving the benefits of rice-rape,rice-wheat,and rice-garlic rotations in Southwest China.The results show that raising the yield and partial fertilizer productivity(PFP)by increasing seed input under high fertilizer application provided the optimal benefits with a 10%probability in the rice-garlic system.Obtaining high yields and greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions by increasing the N application and reducing the K application provided suboptimal benefits with an 8%probability in the rice-rape system.Reducing N and P to enhance PFP and yield provided optimal benefits with the lowest probability(8%)in the rice‒wheat system.Based on the predictive analysis of a random forest model,the optimal benefits were obtained with fertilization regimes by reducing N by 25%and increasing P and K by 8 and 74%,respectively,in the rice-garlic system,reducing N and K by 54 and by 36%,respectively,and increasing P by 38%in rice-rape system,and reducing N by 4%and increasing P and K by 65 and 23%in rice-wheat system.These strategies could be further optimized by 17‒34%for different benefits,and all of these measures can improve the effectiveness of the crop rotation systems to varying degrees.Overall,these findings provide insights into optimal agricultural inputs for higher benefits through an intelligent decision-making system with machine learning analysis in the rice-rape,rice‒wheat,and rice-garlic systems.展开更多
West Sumatera is one of the largest mangosteen production centers in Indonesia.After the 2019 harvest season,there were variations in fruit production and quality which indicated symptoms of zinc(Zn)deficiency.This stu...West Sumatera is one of the largest mangosteen production centers in Indonesia.After the 2019 harvest season,there were variations in fruit production and quality which indicated symptoms of zinc(Zn)deficiency.This study evaluates the status of Zn for increasing the production and quality of mangosteen fruit Ratu Kamang cv.The study was conducting using the observation method in Lima Puluh Kota,West Sumatera from January to December 2020.This study used ten mangosteen trees aged 23 years in three locations selected purposively.Parameters observed included soil properties,leaf nutrients,number of fruits;fruit,rind,aril and seed weights,percentage of fruit scars(FS)and percentage of fruit contaminated with yellow sap(YSC).The relationship between Zn concentration in leaves and fruit production and quality was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and regression models.The results showed that Zn played a role in increasing the production and quality of man-gosteen fruit at certain concentration ranges in the leaves.Zinc concentrations of 23.45–30.00 mg/kg play a role in increasing production,while Zn concentrations of 26.29–30.29 mg/kg play a role in increasing quality.The lowest incidence of FS and YSC was found in trees with Zn concentration in the leaves between 30.00–32.00 mg/kg.Zinc concentration in the leaves of 30.00 mg/kg was the critical concentration in increasing the production and quality of mangosteen fruit under local cultivation conditions.Zinc has an antagonistic relationship to iron(Fe)and cop-per(Cu)in leaf tissue.展开更多
The creation of controlled-release urea (CRU) is a potent substitute for conventional fertilizers in order to preserve the availability of nitrogen (N) in soil,prevent environmental pollution,and move toward green agr...The creation of controlled-release urea (CRU) is a potent substitute for conventional fertilizers in order to preserve the availability of nitrogen (N) in soil,prevent environmental pollution,and move toward green agriculture.The main objectives of this study were to assess the impacts of CRU’s full application on maize production and to clarify the connection between the nutrient release pattern of CRU and maize nutrient uptake.In order to learn more about the effects of CRU application on maize yields,N uptake,mineral N (N_(min)) dynamics,N balance in soil-crop systems,and economic returns,a series of field experiments were carried out in 2018–2020 in Dalian City,Liaoning Province,China.There were 4 different treatments in the experiments:no N fertilizer input (control,CK);application of common urea at 210 kg ha^(-1)(U),the ideal fertilization management level for the study site;application of polyurethane-coated urea at the same N input rate as U (PCU);and application of PCU at a 20% reduction in N input rate (0.8PCU).Our findings showed that using CRU (i.e.,PCU and 0.8 PCU) may considerably increase maize N absorption,maintain maize yields,and increase N use efficiency (NUE) compared to U.The grain yield showed considerable positive correlations with total N uptake in leaf in U and 0.8 PCU,but negative correlations with that in PCU,indicating that PCU caused excessive maize absorption while 0.8 PCU could achieve a better yield response to N supply.Besides,PCU was able to maintain N fertilizer in the soil profile 0–20 cm away from the fertilization point,and higher N_(min)content was observed in the 0–20 cm soil layer at various growth stages,particularly at the middle and late growing stages,optimizing the temporal and spatial distributions of N_(min).Additionally,compared to that in U,the apparent N loss rate in PCU was reduced by 36.2%,and applying CRU (PCU and 0.8 PCU) increased net profit by 8.5% to 15.2% with less labor and fertilization frequency.It was concluded that using CRU could be an effective N fertilizer management strategy to sustain maize production,improve NUE,and increase economic returns while minimizing environmental risks.展开更多
Hydrolysis of organic phosphorus(P) by soil phosphatases is an important process of P cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, significantly affected by nitrogen(N) and/or P fertilization. However, how soil acid phosphatase...Hydrolysis of organic phosphorus(P) by soil phosphatases is an important process of P cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, significantly affected by nitrogen(N) and/or P fertilization. However, how soil acid phosphatase(ACP) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities respond to N and/or P fertilization and how these responses vary with climatic regions, ecosystem types, and fertilization management remain unclear. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to assess P cycling and availability from a global perspective. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the global patterns of soil ACP and ALP activities in response to N and/or P addition. We also examined how climatic regions(arctic to tropical), ecosystem types(cropland, grassland, and forest), and fertilization management(experiment duration and fertilizer type and application rate) affected changes in soil phosphatases after fertilization. It was shown that N fertilizer resulted in 10.1% ± 2.9% increase in soil ACP activity but a minimal effect on soil ALP activity. In contrast, P fertilizer resulted in 7.7% ± 2.6% decrease in soil ACP activity but a small increase in soil ALP activity. The responses of soil ACP and ALP activities to N and/or P fertilization were largely consistent across climatic regions but varied with ecosystem types and fertilization management, and the effects of ecosystem types and fertilization management were enzyme-dependent. Random forest analysis identified climate(mean annual precipitation and temperature) and change in soil pH as the key factors explaining variations in soil ACP and ALP activities. Therefore, N input and ecosystem types should be explicitly disentangled when assessing terrestrial P cycling.展开更多
The amino acids and the volatile substances in grapes and wines play important roles in their quality,and the concentrations of these substances can be changed by how a vineyard is managed,e.g.,irrigation and fertigat...The amino acids and the volatile substances in grapes and wines play important roles in their quality,and the concentrations of these substances can be changed by how a vineyard is managed,e.g.,irrigation and fertigation regimes.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertilizer and water management on the distribution of amino acids,the volatile component profiles,and the sensory characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines.The results showed that the amino acid concentration in grape berries was the highest under the 100%local fertilizer rate(HF)and 100%water irrigation quota(HW)treatment,and the volatile component concentration in wine was the highest under HF and 80%water irrigation quota(MW)treatment.The effect of irrigation on the amino acid content in grapes was greater than that of fertigation.The synergistic effect of fertilizer and water on arginine,serine,and glutamine in grape berries was significant.The interactive effect of fertigation and irrigation on the volatile substance in grapes was greater than that of fertigation and irrigation alone.The influence of irrigation on volatile substances in wines was greater than that of fertigation.In addition,there was also a correlation between the concentrations of multiple amino acids in grapes and volatile components in wines.Principal component analysis showed that the wine from the HFMW treatment had the best quality among all treatments.展开更多
We compared chemical and biological properties of soils in organically and conventionally fertilized apple orchards in Nagano Prefecture (one of the major apple producing regions in Japan). Five apple orchards with di...We compared chemical and biological properties of soils in organically and conventionally fertilized apple orchards in Nagano Prefecture (one of the major apple producing regions in Japan). Five apple orchards with different fertilizer management systems were used for this study. The total carbon and total nitrogen contents were higher in the organically fertilized orchard, while the total phosphorus and total potassium were at similar levels in both organically and conventionally fertilized orchards. The bacterial biomass did not differ between the two orchards, but the N circulation activity was clearly higher in the organically fertilized orchard from April to December. Total carbon from 50,000 to 60,000 mg/kg, total nitrogen at about 3000 to 4000 mg/kg, and a C/N ratio of 15 - 20 were suggested to be suitable conditions for a high level of apple production under an organic fertilizer management system.展开更多
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41620104006 and 41977104)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund for Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences(1630062018005).We thank the staff from Yujiang Soil and Fertilizer Extension Station,Jiangxi,China for help with soil sampling.
文摘Assessing spatial variability and mapping of soil properties constitute important prerequisites for soil and crop management in agricultural areas. To explore the relationship between soil spatial variability and land management, 256 samples were randomly collected at two depths (surface layer 0–20 cm and subsurface layer 20–40 cm) under different land use types and soil parent materials in Yujiang County, Jiangxi Province, a red soil region of China. The pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation (BS) of the soil samples were examined and mapped. The results indicated that soils in Yujiang were acidified, with an average pH of 4.87 (4.03–6.46) in the surface layer and 4.99 (4.03–6.24) in the subsurface layer. SOM and TN were significantly higher in the surface layer (27.6 and 1.50 g kg–1, respectively) than in the subsurface layer (12.1 and 0.70 g kg–1, respectively), while both CEC and BS were low (9.0 and 8.0 cmol kg–1, 29 and 38% for surface and subsurface layers, respectively). Paddy soil had higher pH (mean 4.99) than upland and forest soils, while soil derived from river alluvial deposits (RAD) had higher pH (mean 5.05) than the other three parent materials in both layers. Geostatistical analysis revealed that the best fit models were exponential for pH and TN, and spherical for BS in both layers, while spherical and Gaussian were the best fitted for SOM and CEC in the surface and subsurface layers. Spatial dependency varied from weak to strong for the different soil properties in both soil layers. The maps produced by selecting the best predictive variables showed that SOM, TN, and CEC had moderate levels in most parts of the study area. This study highlights the importance of site-specific agricultural management and suggests guidelines for appropriate land management decisions.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFD0600404)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572017DA02)
文摘To determine appropriate quantities of water and fertilizer required for early growth of hybrid poplar cuttings,we recorded the growth traits of four clones grown under four factors(irrigation and nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizers),each with four levels,using an orthogonal experimental design.A logistic model was used to estimate growth in height.The growth curves for tree height were sigmoid,and the model R^2 values were greater than 0.9,which indicated that the fit was highly significant.ANOVA results for tree height and basal diameter indicated that all sources of variance showed significant differences(p<0.001).The average tree height and basal diameter for all the four clones under the different treatments ranged from 155.39 to 235.04 cm,and from 13.71 to 17.42 mm,respectively.A highly positive correlation between the extreme k value and tree height was observed,suggesting that the k value was an accurate estimation of tree height.For model parameters,the earliest average time point for the onset of the rapid growth period of poplar clones was 131 d,and the highest average increment in tree height during the rapid growth period was 138.78 cm.The highest average tree height for all clones under each factor was 219,210.51,200,and 201 cm when treated with either 1200 mL of water applied every third day,3 g of nitrogen,0 g of phosphorus,or 0 g of potassium,respectively.The most suitable treatment for the early growth of hybrid poplar cuttings,as suggested by the developed logistic model,was 1200 mL of water applied every third day and three applications of 1 g nitrogen(in the form of CH4N2O).
基金Supported by NSFC (50839002)Society Development Program of Jiangsu Province (BS2007139)
文摘To achieve the purpose of reducing farm non-point source pollution, we integrated site specific nitrogen management precise irrigation, controlled drainage, and wetland eco-repair system in dike area of Taihu basin. During investigation, it had given prominence for the water and fertilizer coupling effects of precise irrigation and site specific nutrient management, the characteristics of integration on controlled irrigation, controlled drainage and wetland ecosystem non-point source pollution control. Then the water and fertilizer integrated management mode of paddy field was put forward in Taihu basin where the water production efficiency increased to 1.64 kg. m-3, water saved 37.8%, fertilizer use efficiency raised 15,4%, yield raised 10%, and N, P load decreased 26%-72%. The modern agricultural and farmland ecosystems that control and cut down the farm non-point source pollution came into being, which can be a reference by Taihu basin to control its agricultural non-point source pollution and eutrophicated water body.
文摘Citrus is an important commercial crop in Uganda, especially the Eastern region. However, in spite of the increasing regional demand, citrus productivity is still low, attributed to pest and diseases, soil moisture stress, and low soil fertility, among others. Efforts to improve soil fertility are limited by inadequate supply of organic fertilizers due to competing demands. In addition, there is inadequate information on inorganic fertilizer requirements for citrus production in Uganda. The objective of this study was to develop optimum fertilizer recommendations for citrus production for Eastern Uganda. The study was conducted in Teso region, Eastern Uganda. Fertilizer (NPK, 17:17:17) was randomly applied to Hamlin, Valencia and Washington varieties with fertilizer and variety factorially arranged for each farm and citrus age range, replicated three times. Fertilizer rates were 0, 139, 278 and 556 kg NPK/ha for the 4 - 7-year old trees, and 0, 278, 556 and 1111 kg NPK/ha for the mature (8 years and above) trees. For a given variety, each fertilizer rate was applied onto three representative trees per farmer, six farmers per district. Results showed that yields and net profits were highest for variety Hamlin, and nearly the same for varieties Washington and Valencia. Fertilizer application increased fruit yield and profits for both the 4 to 7-year and 8 and above-year-old trees, with highest yield and profitability values observed at 556 kg NPK/ha. These results suggest applying 556 kg NPK/ha to citrus per year as an optimum fertilizer rate for citrus production in Teso region. The fertilizer should be applied in smaller splits of 800, 600, and 600 grams per tree, applied in April, June, and August.
基金provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.41373078)the National Key Basic Research Program of China (Grant No.2013CB956702)+1 种基金the Key Project of Natural Science Research in Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province (Grant No.16KJA180003)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant No.ZR2016DQ12)
文摘Heavy use of chemical fertilizer causes increasing soil and environmental crisis, and the use of organic fertilizer increases obvious in recent years. In this study,mineral organic fertilizer(MOF) and compound fertilizer(CF) were applied in amaranth culture to explore the effects of these two kinds of fertilizers on soil quality and the potential function for CO_2 fixation. Some soil parameters were tested, e.g. p H value, organic carbon content, microbial biomass, urease activity, and available potassium content. In addition, some parameters of soil infiltration water were also determined, such as p H and HCO_3^- concentration. Experimental results showed that MOF improved soil quality and amaranth biomass and increased possible soil carbon sink.On the contrary, the utilization of CF worsened soil quality and made the soil acidize. These results suggested that MOF can partially replace CF to improve plant growth, soil quality and possible CO_2 sink.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFD0201202,No.2016YFD030080101,No.2022YFD1500701)supported by the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund under award numbers 1191-15051002,1191-10092004,and 1191-31051204.
文摘Investigating the impact of apple-dominated areas on nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)losses at a basin scale was essential for the sustainable development of apple industry in China.This study conducted a survey on fertilizer application and built a Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT)model to quantita-tively analyze the N and P losses in the Qixia apple-dominated area.Additionally,the decreases in N and P losses through adjusting the fertilizer application modes were evaluated.Results showed that average N and P losses in the Wulong River Basin(WRB)were 44.4 and 0.365 kg ha^(-1)in 2011-2017,respectively,and apple orchards accounted for 733%and 51.4%of the total N and P losses in the basin.Under nine fertilizer scheduling scenarios,three fertilizer schedule scenarios,automatic fertilizer application(S-AUTO),"one shot"mode(S1),and regulated fertilizer application(S-BSD),had the lowest N and P losses in apple orchards.The decreases in N loss ranged from 20.6%to 26.1%at the subbasin scale and 14.8%-30.7%at the basin outlet when applying the S-AUTO,S1,and S-BSD fertilizer application modes in Qixia apple orchards and all apple orchards in the WRB.The reductions in P loss varied from 22.0%to 46.1%at the subbasin scale and 14.6%-25.6%at the basin outlet.In orchard-dominated basin,N and P losses can be effectively reduced by optimizing the orchard fertilizer scheduling strategies.
文摘The green high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation techniques of integrated management of water and fertilizer for maize under mulch drip irrigation are described from the aspects of high yield target of maize and its component factor indexes,pre-sowing preparation,sowing,post-sowing management,field management at the seedling stage,integrated management of water and fertilizer for target yield of maize,rational application of micro-fertilizer,comprehensive prevention and control of diseases and pests,timely harvest,etc.,in order to provide a reference for agricultural technicians,maize farmers and maize industry development in northern Xinjiang.
文摘SCOPE Rice Science is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by China National Rice Research Institute and hosting by Elsevier B V.It publishes original research papers,reviews,experimental technique as well as letters on rice science in English language.Some of the topics that may be included in each issue are:breeding and genetics,biotechnology,germplasm resources,agronomy,pest management,soil and fertilizer management and cereal chemistry.
文摘SCOPE Rice Science is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by China National Rice Research Institute and hosting by Elsevier B V.It publishes original research papers,reviews,experimental technique as well as letters on rice science in English language.Some of the topics that may be included in each issue are:breeding and genetics,biotechnology,germplasm resources,agronomy,pest management,soil and fertilizer management and cereal chemistry.The full texts of Rice Science are available online at http://www.ricescience.org or http://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/rice-science.
基金Supported by The Key Science and Technology Project of Shangqiu City(2024056).
文摘The delayed nitrogen application technology is a crucial method for achieving high yield and efficiency in wheat cultivation.Specifically,more nitrogen is supplied to the middle and late growth stages of wheat by adjusting the application time and proportion of nitrogen fertilizer.This approach helps improve the tiller-bearing percentage and increase the number of grains per ear and the thousand-grain weight,while also reducing nitrogen loss and enhancing fertilizer use efficiency.This paper systematically elaborated on the high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation technology system with delayed nitrogen application for wheat,covering variety selection,soil management,sowing technology,the principle and implementation methods of delayed nitrogen application,integrated water and fertilizer management,field management,and comprehensive pest and disease control.Considering the ecological characteristics of major wheat-growing regions in China,tailored technical solutions were proposed,and operational key points of critical technological steps were introduced in detail.Through scientific variety distribution,precise nitrogen management,and integrated pest control,wheat yield and quality can be enhanced while achieving cost saving,improved efficiency,and ecological environmental protection.This paper provides systematic theoretical guidance and practical references for promoting thedelayed nitrogen application technology in wheat,thereby supporting the sustainable development of China s wheat industry.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31371576,31071358,31301274)the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme(NUE-CROPS 222645)+1 种基金the National Key Technology Support Program of China(2011BAD16B14,2012BAD04B05-2)the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest of China(HY12031100,HY1203096)
文摘Improving the yield of maize grain per unit area is needed to meet the growing demand for it in China, where the availability of fertile land is very limited.Modified fertilization management and planting density are efficient methods for increasing crop yield.Field experiments were designed to investigate the influence of modified fertilization management and planting density on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of the popular maize variety Zhengdan 958, in four treatments including local farmer＇s practice（FP）, high-yielding and high efficiency cultivation（HH）, super high-yielding cultivation（SH）, and the control（CK）.Trials were conducted in three locations of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in northern China.Compared with FP, SH was clearly able to promote N absorption and dry matter accumulation in post-anthesis, and achieve high yield and N use efficiency by increasing planting density and postponing the supplementary application of fertilizers.However, with an increase in planting density, the demand of N increased along with grain yield.Due to the input of too much N fertilizer, the efficiency of N use in SH was low.Applying less total N, ameliorating cultivation and cropping management practices should be considered as priority strategies to augment production potential and finally achieve synchronization between high yield and high N efficiency in fertile soils.However, in situations where soil fertility is low, achieving high yield and high N use efficiency in maize will likely depend on increased planting density and appropriate application of supplementary fertilizers postpone to the grain-filling stage.
基金partly funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71273268)
文摘Soil fertility management （SFM） has important implications for sustaining agricultural development and food self-sufifciency. Better understanding the determinants of farmers’ SFM can be a great help to the adoption of effective SFM practices. Based on a dataset of 315 plots collected from a typical rice growing area of South China, this study applied statistical method and econometric models to examine the impacts of land characteristics on farmers’ SFM practices at plot scale. Main results showed that in general land characteristics affected SFM behaviors. Securer land tenure arrangements facilitated effective practices of SFM through more diversiifed and more soil-friendly cropping pattern choices. Plot size signiifcantly reduced the intensities of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application. Given other factors, 1 ha increase in plot size might reduce 3.0 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 1.8 kg ha-1 K2O. Plots far from the homestead were paid less attention in terms of both chemical fertilizers and manure applications. Besides, plots with better quality were put more efforts on management by applying more nitrogen and manure, and by planting green manure crops. Signiifcant differences existed in SFM practices between the surveyed villages with different socio-economic conditions. The ifndings are expected to provide important references to the policy-making incentive for improving soil quality and crop productivity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30030090)National High Tech R&D Program(863 Program)of China(2001AA245041,2001AA115420).
文摘By analyzing and extracting the research progress on nitrogen fertilization in wheat, a dynamic knowledge model for management decision-making on total nitrogen rate, ratios of organic to inorganic and of basal to dressing nitrogen under different environments and cultivars in wheat was developed with principle of nutrient balance and by integrating the quantitative effects of grain yield and quality targets, soil characters, variety traits and water management levels. Case studies on the nitrogen fertilization model with the data sets of different eco-sites, cultivars, soil fertility levels, grain yield and quality targets and water management levels indicate a good performance of the model system in decision-making and wide applicability.
文摘A study on community soil fertility management concepts and practices was conducted through rapid and participatory method of research in 15 villages of the Gourma region in Eastern part of Burkina Faso. These investigations aimed at determining farmers＇ knowledge on soil resources： local soil taxonomy and indicators of soil degradation, soil fertility management practices, and capacity for adoption of new technologies in soil fertility management. The results of the study showed that the main parameter for soil classification for all the investigated villages was soil texture composition; soil degradation was evaluated according to crops yield decrease and the development Striga sp. in 100% of the investigated villages; the use of organic manure and long term fellow were the main practices for soil fertility management; concerning the villages where modem technologies of soil fertility management were introduced, the lack of tools and capacity building were the main limiting factors of the adoption of these improved practices at small scale farmers＇ level. Even if discordance between scientific and local soil taxonomy were revealed by our investigations; significant similarities between indigenous and scientific indices of soil degradation were noticed. With regard to the actual magnitude of soil degradation; the local techniques of soil fertility management need to be improved and accessible to a big number of farmers.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M722301)the Sichuan Province Innovative Talent Funding Project for Postdoctoral Fellows,China(BX202207)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province,China(2023NSFC0014 and 2024NSFSC1225).
文摘Rice‒rape,rice‒wheat and rice‒garlic rotations are common cropping systems in Southwest China,and they have played a significant role in ensuring ecological and economic benefits(EB)and addressing the challenges of China’s food security in the region.However,the crop yields in these rotation systems are 1.25‒14.73%lower in this region than the national averages.Intelligent decision-making with machine learning can analyze the key factors for obtaining better benefits,but it has rarely been used to enhance the probability of obtaining such benefits from rotations in Southwest China.Thus,we used a data-intensive approach to construct an intelligent decision‒making system with machine learning to provide strategies for improving the benefits of rice-rape,rice-wheat,and rice-garlic rotations in Southwest China.The results show that raising the yield and partial fertilizer productivity(PFP)by increasing seed input under high fertilizer application provided the optimal benefits with a 10%probability in the rice-garlic system.Obtaining high yields and greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions by increasing the N application and reducing the K application provided suboptimal benefits with an 8%probability in the rice-rape system.Reducing N and P to enhance PFP and yield provided optimal benefits with the lowest probability(8%)in the rice‒wheat system.Based on the predictive analysis of a random forest model,the optimal benefits were obtained with fertilization regimes by reducing N by 25%and increasing P and K by 8 and 74%,respectively,in the rice-garlic system,reducing N and K by 54 and by 36%,respectively,and increasing P by 38%in rice-rape system,and reducing N by 4%and increasing P and K by 65 and 23%in rice-wheat system.These strategies could be further optimized by 17‒34%for different benefits,and all of these measures can improve the effectiveness of the crop rotation systems to varying degrees.Overall,these findings provide insights into optimal agricultural inputs for higher benefits through an intelligent decision-making system with machine learning analysis in the rice-rape,rice‒wheat,and rice-garlic systems.
基金The research funded by Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development through the Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute,West Sumatera Indonesia for this work through a research project entitled Technology and Innovation for Increasing Production of Horticultural Plants,grant number SP DIPA-018.09.2.412050/2020.
文摘West Sumatera is one of the largest mangosteen production centers in Indonesia.After the 2019 harvest season,there were variations in fruit production and quality which indicated symptoms of zinc(Zn)deficiency.This study evaluates the status of Zn for increasing the production and quality of mangosteen fruit Ratu Kamang cv.The study was conducting using the observation method in Lima Puluh Kota,West Sumatera from January to December 2020.This study used ten mangosteen trees aged 23 years in three locations selected purposively.Parameters observed included soil properties,leaf nutrients,number of fruits;fruit,rind,aril and seed weights,percentage of fruit scars(FS)and percentage of fruit contaminated with yellow sap(YSC).The relationship between Zn concentration in leaves and fruit production and quality was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and regression models.The results showed that Zn played a role in increasing the production and quality of man-gosteen fruit at certain concentration ranges in the leaves.Zinc concentrations of 23.45–30.00 mg/kg play a role in increasing production,while Zn concentrations of 26.29–30.29 mg/kg play a role in increasing quality.The lowest incidence of FS and YSC was found in trees with Zn concentration in the leaves between 30.00–32.00 mg/kg.Zinc concentration in the leaves of 30.00 mg/kg was the critical concentration in increasing the production and quality of mangosteen fruit under local cultivation conditions.Zinc has an antagonistic relationship to iron(Fe)and cop-per(Cu)in leaf tissue.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFD1700605)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31872177 and31972511)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non-profit Scientific Institution,China(No.1610132-023005)。
文摘The creation of controlled-release urea (CRU) is a potent substitute for conventional fertilizers in order to preserve the availability of nitrogen (N) in soil,prevent environmental pollution,and move toward green agriculture.The main objectives of this study were to assess the impacts of CRU’s full application on maize production and to clarify the connection between the nutrient release pattern of CRU and maize nutrient uptake.In order to learn more about the effects of CRU application on maize yields,N uptake,mineral N (N_(min)) dynamics,N balance in soil-crop systems,and economic returns,a series of field experiments were carried out in 2018–2020 in Dalian City,Liaoning Province,China.There were 4 different treatments in the experiments:no N fertilizer input (control,CK);application of common urea at 210 kg ha^(-1)(U),the ideal fertilization management level for the study site;application of polyurethane-coated urea at the same N input rate as U (PCU);and application of PCU at a 20% reduction in N input rate (0.8PCU).Our findings showed that using CRU (i.e.,PCU and 0.8 PCU) may considerably increase maize N absorption,maintain maize yields,and increase N use efficiency (NUE) compared to U.The grain yield showed considerable positive correlations with total N uptake in leaf in U and 0.8 PCU,but negative correlations with that in PCU,indicating that PCU caused excessive maize absorption while 0.8 PCU could achieve a better yield response to N supply.Besides,PCU was able to maintain N fertilizer in the soil profile 0–20 cm away from the fertilization point,and higher N_(min)content was observed in the 0–20 cm soil layer at various growth stages,particularly at the middle and late growing stages,optimizing the temporal and spatial distributions of N_(min).Additionally,compared to that in U,the apparent N loss rate in PCU was reduced by 36.2%,and applying CRU (PCU and 0.8 PCU) increased net profit by 8.5% to 15.2% with less labor and fertilization frequency.It was concluded that using CRU could be an effective N fertilizer management strategy to sustain maize production,improve NUE,and increase economic returns while minimizing environmental risks.
基金financial support from the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.XDA23070202 and XDB40020000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41977068 and 41977105)the Programs of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.QYZDB-SSW-DQC039)。
文摘Hydrolysis of organic phosphorus(P) by soil phosphatases is an important process of P cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, significantly affected by nitrogen(N) and/or P fertilization. However, how soil acid phosphatase(ACP) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities respond to N and/or P fertilization and how these responses vary with climatic regions, ecosystem types, and fertilization management remain unclear. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to assess P cycling and availability from a global perspective. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the global patterns of soil ACP and ALP activities in response to N and/or P addition. We also examined how climatic regions(arctic to tropical), ecosystem types(cropland, grassland, and forest), and fertilization management(experiment duration and fertilizer type and application rate) affected changes in soil phosphatases after fertilization. It was shown that N fertilizer resulted in 10.1% ± 2.9% increase in soil ACP activity but a minimal effect on soil ALP activity. In contrast, P fertilizer resulted in 7.7% ± 2.6% decrease in soil ACP activity but a small increase in soil ALP activity. The responses of soil ACP and ALP activities to N and/or P fertilization were largely consistent across climatic regions but varied with ecosystem types and fertilization management, and the effects of ecosystem types and fertilization management were enzyme-dependent. Random forest analysis identified climate(mean annual precipitation and temperature) and change in soil pH as the key factors explaining variations in soil ACP and ALP activities. Therefore, N input and ecosystem types should be explicitly disentangled when assessing terrestrial P cycling.
基金the S&T Program of Hebei,China(Grant No.20327001D)the leading Talent Project of Science and Technology Innovation in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region(Grant No.2022GKLRLX07).
文摘The amino acids and the volatile substances in grapes and wines play important roles in their quality,and the concentrations of these substances can be changed by how a vineyard is managed,e.g.,irrigation and fertigation regimes.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertilizer and water management on the distribution of amino acids,the volatile component profiles,and the sensory characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines.The results showed that the amino acid concentration in grape berries was the highest under the 100%local fertilizer rate(HF)and 100%water irrigation quota(HW)treatment,and the volatile component concentration in wine was the highest under HF and 80%water irrigation quota(MW)treatment.The effect of irrigation on the amino acid content in grapes was greater than that of fertigation.The synergistic effect of fertilizer and water on arginine,serine,and glutamine in grape berries was significant.The interactive effect of fertigation and irrigation on the volatile substance in grapes was greater than that of fertigation and irrigation alone.The influence of irrigation on volatile substances in wines was greater than that of fertigation.In addition,there was also a correlation between the concentrations of multiple amino acids in grapes and volatile components in wines.Principal component analysis showed that the wine from the HFMW treatment had the best quality among all treatments.
文摘We compared chemical and biological properties of soils in organically and conventionally fertilized apple orchards in Nagano Prefecture (one of the major apple producing regions in Japan). Five apple orchards with different fertilizer management systems were used for this study. The total carbon and total nitrogen contents were higher in the organically fertilized orchard, while the total phosphorus and total potassium were at similar levels in both organically and conventionally fertilized orchards. The bacterial biomass did not differ between the two orchards, but the N circulation activity was clearly higher in the organically fertilized orchard from April to December. Total carbon from 50,000 to 60,000 mg/kg, total nitrogen at about 3000 to 4000 mg/kg, and a C/N ratio of 15 - 20 were suggested to be suitable conditions for a high level of apple production under an organic fertilizer management system.
