Nitrogen availability to maize as affected by fertilizer application and soil type in the Tanzanian highlands

Zheng, Jinsen; Mmari, William N.; Nishigaki, Tomohiro; Kilasara, Method; Funakawa, Shinya

doi:10.1007/s10705-018-9939-1

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Indeed, crops can generally allocate ~21% of their gross primary production belowground (Pausch & Kuzyakov, 2018). Furthermore, fertilizer‐N rates above 100 kg N ha −1 year −1 did not further decrease SOC losses (Figure 4a,c), which matched our previous report showing no further significant increase of biomass or yield with extra N applied above this rate (Zheng, Mmari, et al, 2018). The reduction of SOC loss with N application, because of the increased belowground C input, was also supported by the model simulation (Figure 5a,b).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…To avoid massive N immobilization after C input, residues were applied 2–3 weeks before seed sowing (Table S2). Based on the advice from local extension agent, N application, by broadcasting urea, was split into two times (Zheng, Mmari, et al, 2018). One‐third of the total amount was applied 3 weeks after sowing (three‐ to four‐leaf stage of maize growth).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cropland intensification mediates the radiative balance of greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in maize systems of sub‐Saharan Africa

Zheng

Canarini

Fujii

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) must undertake proper cropland intensification for higher crop yields while minimizing climate impacts. Unfortunately, no studies have simultaneously quantified greenhouse gas (GHG; CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O) emissions and soil organic carbon (SOC) change in SSA croplands, leaving it a blind spot in the accounting of global warming potential (GWP). Here, based on 2-year field monitoring of soil emissions of CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O, as well as SOC changes in two contrasting soil types (sandy vs. clayey), we provided the first, full accounting of GWP for maize systems in response to cropland intensifications (increasing nitrogen rates and in combination with crop residue return) in SSA. To corroborate our field observations on SOC change (i.e., 2-year, a short duration), we implemented a process-oriented model parameterized with field data to simulate SOC dynamic over time. We further tested the generality of our findings by including a literature synthesis of SOC change across maize-based systems in SSA. We found that nitrogen application reduced SOC loss, likely through increased biomass yield and consequently belowground carbon allocation. Residue return switched the direction of SOC change from loss to gain; such a benefit (SOC sequestration) was not compromised by CH 4 emissions (negligible) nor outweighed by the amplified N 2 O emissions, and contributed to negative net GWP.Overall, we show encouraging results that, combining residue and fertilizer-nitrogen input allowed for sequestering 82-284 kg of CO 2 -eq per Mg of maize grain produced across two soils. All analyses pointed to an advantage of sandy over clayey soils in achieving higher SOC sequestration targets, and thus call for a re-evaluation on the potential of sandy soils in SOC sequestration across SSA croplands. Our findings carry important implications for developing viable intensification practices for SSA croplands in mitigating climate change while securing food production.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cropland intensification mediates the radiative balance of greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in maize systems of sub‐Saharan Africa

Zheng

Canarini

Fujii

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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“…In addition to irrigation, fertilization may also show different effects on plant growth and crop yields under different soil physical conditions. For example, in an experiment related to maize production, urea application resulted in higher soil N availability and maize yields at clayey than at sandy soil types [ 19 ]. Moreover, nutrient leaching can also be influenced by soil types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irrigation has more influence than fertilization on leaching water quality and the potential environmental risk in excessively fertilized vegetable soils

Gao

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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Excessive fertilization is a common agricultural practice that often negatively influence soil and environmental quality in intensive vegetable production systems in China. To reduce negative effects of excessive fertilization, current studies generally focused on fertilizer management but not irrigation. In this study, we investigated the effects of fertilization and irrigation on soil properties, leaching water characteristics, plant growth, cucumber yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) in a double cropping system. The treatments included (i) conventional irrigation with conventional N fertilization (IcNc), (ii) optimal irrigation with conventional N fertilization (IoNc), (iii) conventional irrigation with optimal N fertilization (IcNo), and (iv) optimal irrigation with optimal N fertilization (IoNo). In general, fertilization merely influenced concentrations of nitrate (NO3-), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but did not affect most leaching water characteristics. In contrast, irrigation influenced pH, EC and concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and Cu. Cumulative leached amounts of NO3-, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu and Zn were significantly decreased by optimal irrigation as compared to conventional irrigation under same fertilization conditions, but not by optimal fertilization as compared to conventional fertilization under same irrigation conditions. The leachate volume was strongly positively correlated with cumulative leached amounts of all tested elements, and these relationships were obviously influenced by irrigation but not fertilization. The IoNo treatment significantly increased both IWUE and PFPN as compared to the IcNc treatment. However, the IcNo treatment only enhanced PFPN, while the IoNc treatment improved IWUE, when compared to the IcNc treatment. Our results suggested that irrigation has more influence than fertilization on leaching water quality and that the optimal irrigation combined with optimal fertilization was efficient in reducing the potential environmental risk caused by excessive fertilization in intensive vegetable production systems.

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“…where b 0 , b 1 and ε are defined as in equations 1 and 2, Y max is the plateau yield, and X max is the 'join point' (i.e., the critical point after which increase in nutrient rates can no longer increase yields). Zheng et al (2018) applied this function to determine the optimal soil inorganic N availability to maize in Tanzania.…”

Section: Plateau Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dose-response models to guide site-specific nutrient management and lessons for fertiliser trial design in sub-Saharan Africa

Sileshi

2021

Ex. Agric.

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Summary Optimisation of fertiliser use and site-specific nutrient management are increasingly becoming critical because of the growing need to balance agricultural productivity with the growing demand for food and environmental concerns. Trials to determine responses of crops to fertilisers have been widely conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with increasing emphasis on the development of economically optimum rates (EORs). Computation of EORs depends on accurate estimation of both the optimum nutrient rate and the agronomic maximum yield response; however, estimation of nutrient-response parameters and EORs is beset by a number of problems. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were to (1) point out common problems in the development and use of nutrient dose-response models and (2) provide corrective measures to facilitate future trial design and data analysis. This review outlines the underlying assumptions, strengths and limitations of the various response functions in order to facilitate informed choices by practitioners. Using specific examples, it also shows that (1) the commonly used trial designs do not allow examination of interactions between two or more nutrients and (2) trial designs with ≤5 nutrient levels and wide spacing between the levels result in large uncertainty in dose-response parameters. The key recommendations emerging from the review are as follows: (1) factorial designs and response surface models should be used more widely to address interactions between nutrients; (2) a minimum of six carefully spaced nutrient levels should be used to correctly estimate dose-response parameters; and (3) when locating field trials, Reference Soil Groups and cropping history should be carefully considered to produce site-specific EORs.

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Nitrogen availability to maize as affected by fertilizer application and soil type in the Tanzanian highlands

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

Cropland intensification mediates the radiative balance of greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in maize systems of sub‐Saharan Africa

Cropland intensification mediates the radiative balance of greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in maize systems of sub‐Saharan Africa

Irrigation has more influence than fertilization on leaching water quality and the potential environmental risk in excessively fertilized vegetable soils

Dose-response models to guide site-specific nutrient management and lessons for fertiliser trial design in sub-Saharan Africa

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