Changes in soil available-nutrient stores and relationships with nutrient balance and crop productivity in Japan

Abstract

To relate short-term nutrient balances with long-term changes in soil fertility, we compared soil availablenutrient stores with fertilizer application, crop productivity, and nutrient balances. Stores of nitrogen (N: quantity of available N), phosphorus (P: quantity of Truog-P), and potassium (K: quantity of exchangeable K) in the topsoil were calculated five times from 1979 to 2003. In each survey, nutrient inputs by fertilizer, manure, and soil amendment and output by crop removal were calculated. The arithmetic average was calculated for seven crop groups [(paddy rice, Oryza sativa L.), upland crop (wheat, Poaceae triticum L., etc.), vegetables (radish, Raphanus sativus L. etc.), orchards (orange, Malus pumila Mill. etc.), tea (Camelia sinensis L.), forage (Dent corn, Zea mays L. etc.), fodder (timothy, Pheleum pratense L., etc.)] on 16 groups of soils. In spite of large changes in the N balance and in manure N input, available N was relatively constant during the five surveys both within and between crops. On the other hand, the available P and K stores and balances changed greatly during the surveys. The quantities of N, P, and K applied in manure had no consistent effect on the soil available N, P, and K stores. The Truog-P store exceeded guidelines in paddy rice, orchards, and tea. The K store exceeded guidelines in upland crops, vegetables, orchards, and tea. Although the available N store was managed well, the available P and K stores were not. Sustainable agriculture that makes effective use of nutrients and has a low environmental impact requires the use of both nutrient balances and available nutrient stores.

Global Trends of Acidity in Rainfall and Its Impact on Plants and Soil

“…Being dynamic and complex in nature, soil can be easily affected by AR, which results in soil acidification and an increase in the exchange between H + and nutrient cations (Mg, K, and Ca) in the soil and results in leaching (Breemen et al 1984). The growth of plants and soil fertility are affected indirectly by deficiency of these nutrients (Mishima et al 2013). Nutrient deficiency inhibits nodulation in plants by limiting legumes' ability to transmit signals that attract the rhizobia (Sullivan et al 2017) and indirectly inhibits ectomycorrhizal fungal association with plants (Maltz et al 2019), which results in reduced plant vigor and productivity (Fig.…”

Preface to special section ‘Frontline in the rhizosphere research involved in phosphorus: for efficient use of unavailable P in soils (Rhizo-P)’

“…However, the resources for P fertilizer are depleting; it will be reached to peak of production in 2030s (Cordell et al 2009). On the other hand, it is tended to be applied surplus amount of P fertilizer, because of P fixation activity of soils (Mishima et al 2013). As the result of an excess of P fertilization, P is accumulating in cultivated lands (Li et al 2011).…”

Temporal variability of environmental indicators for agriculture in Albania

“…In order to assess soil nutrient balance, four approaches are available in literature including the OECD gross soil surface balance, the net soil surface balance, the livestock balance, and the farm gate balance. Mishima et al (2013) underlined that the combination of short-term soil surface nutrient balance method with the long-term soil nutrient store method is needed to evaluate nutrients status for crop production to reduce environmental degradation.…”