Manure application increased crop yields by promoting nitrogen use efficiency in the soils of 40-year soybean-maize rotation

Abstract

It is great of importance to better understand the effects of the long-term fertilization on crop yields, soil properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency in a rotation cropping cultivation system under the conditions of frequent soil disturbance. Therefore, a long-term field experiment of 40 years under soybean-maize rotation was performed in a brown soil to investigate the effects of inorganic and organic fertilizers on crop yields, soil properties and nitrogen use efficiency. Equal amounts of 15N-labelled urea with 20.8% of atom were used and uniformly applied into the micro-plots of the treatments with N, NPK, M1NPK, M2NPK before soybean sowing, respectively. Analyses showed that a total of 18.3–32.5% of applied N fertilizer was taken up by crops in the first soybean growing season, and that the application of manure combining with chemical fertilizer M2NPK demonstrated the highest rate of 15N recovery and increased soil organic matter (SOM) and Olsen phosphorus (Olsen P), thereby sustaining a higher crop yield and alleviating soil acidification. Data also showed that no significant difference was observed in the 15N recovery from residue N in the second maize season plant despite of showing a lower 15N recovery compared with the first soybean season. The recovery rates of 15N in soils were ranged from 38.2 to 49.7% by the end of the second cropping season, and the residuals of 15N distribution in soil layers revealed significant differences. The M2NPK treatment demonstrated the highest residual amounts of 15N, and a total of 50% residual 15N were distributed in a soil layer of 0–20 cm. Our results showed that long-term application of organic fertilizers could effectively promote N use efficiency by increasing SOM and improving soil fertility, and thus leading to an increase in crop yields. This study will provide a scientific reference and guidance for improving soil sustainable productivity by manure application.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms and Nitrification in Brown Soil of Northeast China

“…This 38 years fertilization experiment was established in 1979; the field soil properties and block design were described by Hua et al (2020) . The field experiment was conducted under a rotation of maize–maize–soybean.…”

Agronomic Efficiency of Animal-Derived Organic Fertilizers and Their Effects on Biology and Fertility of Soil: A Review

“…According to Jackson and Smith [103], while studying the effects of fertilizer application rate and time on grain yields, noted that animal manures are a potential source of N for cereal crops. Sradnick and Feller [104] established that commercially available organic fertilizers obtained from plant and animal sources generally contained a higher amount of N than P. Moreover, Hua et al [105] showed that animal manure application increased crop productivity enhancing N use efficiency in the soils of a 40-year soybean-maize rotation. Based on the above discussion, we also realize that agronomic efficiency of animal-derived fertilizers is highly dependent on its N availability.…”

Biogas and bio-fertilizer production potential of abattoir waste: implication in sustainable waste management in Shashemene City, Ethiopia

“…The reduction in GHGs caused by the production of biogas from abattoir waste was determined using the IPCC-developed mathematical computational method (B-sustain, 2013;Hua et al, 2020;JGCRI, 2018;Tolera and Alemu, 2020), demonstrated as GHG reduction potential of AD equivalent to the approximate of GHG emissions from dumpsites minus the approximate of GHG emissions from AD:…”