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Maize is the dominant crop in northwestern Germany and is mostly cultivated on sandy soils. Additionally, due to intensive livestock husbandry and biogas production, large amounts of liquid manures are produced. The current farm practice leads to high N and P surpluses at field level accompanied by environmental pollution, like nitrate leaching, eutrophication of non-agricultural ecosystems, and N2O emissions. The accruing liquid manures are often used for maize fertilization. Thereby, slurries are mainly broadcast applied using trailing hose applicators followed by incorporation into the topsoil. In addition, a mineral N P starter fertilizer (MSF) is band-applied below the seed-corn at planting to overcome the limited nutrient availability during the early growth stages. Using a slurry injection technique below the maize row before planting might serve a substitute for MSF. Addition of a nitrification inhibitor (NI) into the slurry before injection seems to be an option to further decrease N losses. The objectives of this thesis were to compare the current and novel fertilizing strategies with a special focus on soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) dynamics and plant P, zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) status. For both issues the effect of adding a NI into the slurry was investigated. To characterize the SMN dynamics after slurry injection an appropriate soil sampling strategy had to be developed. Therefore, three consecutive field trials were conducted. The first testing of the new soil sampling approach was implemented in an existing experiment where the slurry was injected at a depth of 12 cm (upper rim) below the soil surface. The soil profile (75 cm wide) centered below the maize row was sampled using a grid-like approach to a depth of 90 cm. Around the injection zone, soil monoliths (SM) were sampled using a purpose-built soil shovel. Below the SMs and in the interrow space (15 and 30 cm distance to the row) a standardized auger procedure was used. The second experiment aimed to improve the sampling strategy with focus on sample homogenization quality and necessary sample sizes per pooled sample. In the third experiment this improved sampling strategy was validated. Results from the first testing of the sampling procedure showed that the strategy is suitable, although some problems occurred. Especially the high spread in values among the replications caused high coefficients of variation (CV; mostly 40 – 60%). The improvement trial revealed that for the SM, which contains the slurry band, an intensive homogenization is required. In addition, suitable sample sizes (twelve auger samples and six soil monolith samples per pooled sample) have to be collected to obtain reliable SMN values. Following this enhanced sampling strategy in the final validation trial, the spread in values was considerably reduced and resulted in CV values of mostly < 20%. The method can be adapted to other fertilizer placement strategies and further row crops. To compare both fertilizing strategies with respect to the spatial and temporal SMN dynamics as well as to the plant nutrient status two field trials were conducted using pig slurry on sandy soils in 2014 and 2015. Four treatments were tested: unfertilized control, broadcast application + MSF, injection, and injection + NI. Soil samples were taken using the new sampling strategy at several dates during the growing season. Plant samples were simultaneously collected to evaluate the plant P, Zn, and Mn status at different growth stages. In 2014, all fertilized N was displaced from the top soil layer of the broadcast treatment until the 6-leaf stage due to heavy rainfall, while N displacement was significantly smaller after slurry injection. The lateral movement of injected slurry N was negligible. In 2015, almost no displacement of fertilized N out of the top soil layer occurred independently of treatments, due to distinctly lower rainfall. The release of slurry N was delayed following broadcast application and large SMN concentrations were detected in the injection zones until the 10-leaf stage. The addition of a NI resulted in significantly increased NH4-N shares in the injection zone throughout the early growth stages (+ 46% in 2014 and + 12% in 2015 at 6-leaf stage). Thus, in 2014 SMN displacement was delayed, and in 2015 increased SMN concentrations were found around the slurry band, most probably due to lower N losses via denitrification. Furthermore, NI addition significantly increased the nutrient uptake by maize during early growth in both years. With P deficiency due to cold weather conditions in 2015, broadcast application showed higher P uptake until the 6-leaf stage (36 – 58%), while it was lower at the 8- (32%) and 10- (19%) leaf stages compared to slurry injection (+ NI). Zn availability was enhanced during early growth after slurry injection (+ NI) and Zn as well as Mn uptake were higher at harvest. Furthermore, dry matter yields were higher (2014) or equal (2015) compared to broadcast application. The P balances were decreased by 10 – 14 kg P ha-1, while Zn and Mn balances were excessive independent of treatments. The field trials showed that after slurry injection, especially when combined with a NI, the applied nitrogen is located in a soil zone with better spatial availability for plant roots compared to broadcast application. Furthermore, the MSF can be substituted without affecting early growth of maize. In conclusion, slurry injection leads to equal (or even higher) yields and enables farmers in northwestern Germany to reduce the P and N surpluses. This would support several goals concerning sustainable land use: Lower pollution of ground and surface waters, reduced emission of NH3, more efficient use of the limited rock P reserves, and less need of transporting organic manures out of regions with intensive animal husbandry and/or biogas production. However, slurry injection enhances the risk of N2O emissions, which contributes to climate change. Thus, for a final evaluation of the environmental impact a life cycle assessment would be worthwhile.

Early in 1962 the Forest Research Institute of the New Zealand Forest Service became aware that stands of second crop Pinus radiata (D. Don) on some areas of the Moutere Gravel formation were showing slow growth and had a chlorotic appearance (Fig. 1.1). The second crop followed clear felling of mature P. radiata trees and were aged from 0 to 15 years (stone and Will, 1965). It was felt that the apparent reduced growth of the second generation had much in common with similar productivity decline reported especially in European forestry literature. Stone and Will (1965) postulated that the immediate cause o£ the decline was a deficiency of nitrogen highlighted by the low levels of nitrogen in the leaves of the second crop trees, especially those growing on ridge sites. Numerous field trials have been laid out but many of the trials were poorly designed and consequently could not provide statistically sound results. However, some indication of nutrient deficiencies which occur on the Moutere Gravels were obtained. Even before these trials were laid down nutrient deficiencies had been highlighted by early attempts at farming. It was the partial failure of these crops that initially led to the planting of exotic pines, in the belief that these trees thrived on a limited supply of nutrients. The first crop of pines generally fulfilled expectations but nutrient deficiencies started to appear in extensive areas of the second crop. Accordingly, the Forest Research Institute made available three scholarships to study different aspects of the problem. Work was started on a study of the soil sequence across the Moutere Gravels to determine if there was a general decline in fertility of tho soil with the age of the soil and the environmental factors, such as climate which differs in the high inland areas and the low seaside areas of the Moutere Gravels, rather than a particular decline in fertility induced by the first crop of P. radiata. In another study the major weed species Ulex europaeus and Cytisus scoparius was studied to see if its value as a nitrogen fixer would outweigh its disadvantages as a silvicultural weed. Thirdly, a study of the microbial ecology of the soils was undertaken. Whyte (1966) reported that the second rotation trees started to increase their growth rate after approximately five years to a level paralleling the estimated growth rate of the first crop. It was postulated that the residues (needles, roots and branches) remaining after clear felling could cause an increase in microbial numbers and activity with a consequent immobilization of mineral nutrients which were not initially very plentiful. For this reason an area in Tasman Forest was selected in which mature trees and regeneration up to nine years old were found together to study microbial activity and numbers, energy dissipation and nitrogen dynamics to determine if immobilization of nutrients was causing the apparent declines.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T16:24:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Rogerio Gomes Pereira.pdf: 1311913 bytes, checksum: 594d4803b27bb1b817ac16d754681cbb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-14 / The average national rice yield was 11,3 million tones, with a harvested area of about 2,7 million hectares (IBGE 2010). Part of this comes from upland production systems in savannas that have high acidity, low fertility, with low phosphorus and potassium levels, low cation exchange capacity and high aluminum saturation. Upland rice in the Brazilian savannas (Cerrados) experiences multiple abiotic stresses and is characterized by high levels of uncertainty caused by rainfall variability. The increasing consumption of plant biomass to generate energy has produced products and by-products with high potential for agricultural use. Among these products is charcoal, that, due to its physical-chemical and molecular properties, have beneficial effects for the physical, chemical and biological soil characteristics. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of charcoal on soil chemical properties and on the development of upland rice, and on the transpiration rate response of upland rice as an alternative to decrease the effect of drought on its growth and development. Two pot experiments were carried out using a random split-plot experimental design. The main treatments (plots) were water stress (WS) and no-water stress (NWS) and the sub treatments (subplots) were different biochar doses, 0% or control (T1), 6% (T2), 12% (T3) and 24% (T4) in growing medium (sand). The plastic pots were randomized within the sub plots with six replications. The total transpirable soil water (TTSW), the p factor, defined as the average fraction of TTSW that can be depleted from the root zone before reduction in transpiration occurs and the normalized transpiration rate (NTR) were determined. Charcoal significantly increased dry matter accumulation and leaf area of rice plants in both experiments and positively affected the chemical and physical soil properties such as water retention and nitrate availability to the plants. Biochar addition increased TTSW, p factor and reduced NTR. Consequently, biochar addition was able to change the moisture threshold (p factor) of the growing medium, up to a maximum concentration of 12%, hence delaying the point where transpiration declines and affects yield. / A safra nacional de arroz foi de 11,3 milhões de toneladas, com uma área colhida de aproximadamente 2,7 milhões hectares (IBGE 2010). Parte desta produção é cultivada em sistema de sequeiro sob solos de cerrados que é caracterizado por apresentar elevada acidez e baixa fertilidade natural, com baixos teores de fósforo, potássio, capacidade de troca catiônica e elevada saturação por alumínio. O arroz de terras altas cultivado no Brasil Central (Cerrados) experimenta múltiplos estresses abióticos e sua produtividade é caracterizada pela incerteza devido à variabilidade na precipitação. O crescente consumo de biomassa vegetal para a geração de energia tem disponibilizado subprodutos com alto potencial para o uso agrícola. Dentre esses subprodutos, destaca-se o carvão vegetal, que devido as suas características físico-químicas e moleculares, tem-se mostrado benéfico para as propriedades físicas, químicas e biológicas do solo. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os efeitos de diferentes doses de carvão vegetal de eucalipto na produção de matéria seca na cultura do arroz de terras altas e nas características físico-químicas e hídricas em substrato areia, e na resposta da taxa de transpiração do arroz de terras altas como uma alternativa para minimizar os efeitos da seca no seu desenvolvimento e crescimento. Dois experimentos em vasos foram realizados por meio do delineamento em parcela sub-dividida. A parcela principal foi constituída pelo tratamento deficiência hídrica (WS) e não deficiência hídrica (NWS) e as sub-parcelas pelas diferentes doses de carvão; 0% (controle, T1), 6% (T2), 12% (T3) e 24% (T4) adicionadas no substrato (areia). Os vasos foram inteiramente casualizados nas sub-parcelas com seis repetições por dose de carvão. A quantidade de água transpirável no solo (TTSW), o fator de depleção (p), definido como a fração de água disponível no solo que pode ser retirada da zona radicular antes de ocorrer a redução da taxa de transpiração, e a taxa de transpiração normalizada (NTR) foram determinadas. A adição de carvão ao substrato proporcionou um aumento significativo na produção de matéria seca e área foliar das plantas de arroz em ambos os experimentos. Nos tratamentos T2, T3 e T4, a adição de carvão vegetal alterou significativamente as características químicas e físico-hídricas do solo, aumentando a retenção de água e a disponibilidade de nitrato para as plantas. A adição de carvão aumentou a TTSW, o fator p e reduziu a NTR. Conseqüentemente, o carvão foi responsável por modificar o fator p, até uma concentração máxima de 12% e retardar o ponto no qual o declínio da transpiração afeta o rendimento.

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