O manejo eficiente de fertilizações nitrogenadas em sistemas de exploração a pasto é peça chave para que melhores índices produtivos sejam alcançados. O conhecimento das perdas intrínsecas a esta prática e de fontes nitrogenadas alterntivas às normalmente usadas proporciona a determinação de melhores eficiências e flexibilidade na escolha da forma do nitrogênio aplicado. Assim o presente estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar as perdas por lixiviação de nitrato e volatilização de amônia, juntamente com a recuperação aparente do nitrogênio, em pastagens de capim elefante manejadas sob elevada fertilidade do solo. O experimento foi conduzido em área do depzrtamento de Zootecnia da ESALQ/USP, em Piracicaba. Adotou-se o delineamento experimental blocos ao acaso, com quatro blocos e seis tratamentos, que constaram da aplicação de 100 kg de N.ha-1 por ciclo, sob a forma de uréia, nitrato de amônio, etserco de curral, cama de frango e ajifer. Ao todo foram realizados três ciclos de amostragem, de novembro de 2006 a fevereiro de 2007, totalizando a aplicação de 300 kg de N.ha-1. Todos os resultados foram submetidos ao teste t à 5% de significância para a realização da análise estatística. As médias de produção de foram maiores para os tratamentos adubados com cama de frango e esterco, sendo de 3878,89 kg MSV.ha-1 e 3873,67 kg MSV.ha-1, respectivamente. Não foram observadas diferenças entre as recuperações aparentes do nitrogênio aplicado. As perdas por lixiviação de nitrato foram diferentes somente entre os ciclos, como consequência dos maiores índices de precipitação observados no terceiro ciclo amostrado, que apresentou média de -0,2.10-4 kg de NO3-.ha-1dia-1. Os valores de amônia volatilizada foram diferentes entre os ciclos e entre os tratamentos, sendo que no primeiro ciclo as maiores perdas foram atribuídas ao esterco, com 20,58% do nitrogênio aplicado. A cama de frango apresentou as maiores perdas de volatilização durante o segundo ciclo, com perda de 10,71% do nitrogênio aplicado, enquanto no terceiro ciclo a uréia apresentou a maior perda de nitrogênio, com 22,23% do nitrogênio volatilizado. As perdas por volatilização mais expressivas foram registradas até 60 horas após a aplicação das fontes. / The efficiency of nitrogen fertilization is one of the key elements to grass production. The knowledge of nitrogen losses within this practice associated with the application of alternative nitrogen sources provide efficient use and flexibility in choosing between nitrogen fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate nitrate leaching, ammonium volatilization losses and apparent recovery of the applied nitrogen in elephant-grass pasture managed under high soil fertility. It was conducted at the Animal Science Department of ESALQ/USP, in Piraicaba - S.P. The statistical design was in complete randomized blocks, with four replicates and six treatments, which were the use of 100 kg N.ha-1 as urea, ammonium nitrate, dairy manure, chicken litter and ajifer. There were three cycles of evaluations, from November 2006 to February 2007, resulting in 300 kg N.ha-1 applied during the whole period. The results were statistically analysed by the t test with 5% significance. Chicken litter and dairy manure treatments provided the higher dry matter yields of 3878,89 DM.ha-1 and 3873,67 kg DM.ha-1, for each source respectively. Nitrate leaching losses were significant in the third cycle when -0,2.10-4 kg NO3-.ha-1.day-1 was lost. Ammonia volatilization was different between cycles and sources. In the first cycle the dairy manure resulted in higher losses of 26,42 kg N.ha-1. Chicken litter and urea lost 23,97 and 22,27 kg N.ha-1, respectively. In the second cycle urea presented the higher losses of 22,50, while dairy manure and chicken litter lost 6,01 and 15,88 kg N.ha-1. During the third cycle urea presented higher losses than , with 40,12 kg N.ha-1, dairy manure and chicken , which were 2,71 and 11,93 kg N.ha-1. Higher volatilization losses were observed until 60 hours after fertilization.

付記する学位プログラム名: グローバル生存学大学院連携プログラム / 京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第21465号 / 農博第2308号 / 新制||農||1064(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H31||N5160(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 舟川 晋也, 教授 間藤 徹, 教授 縄田 栄治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Die Freilandhaltung von Schweinen bietet eine interessante Möglichkeit, artgerechte Schweinehaltung wirtschaftlich konkurrenzfähig zu betreiben. Problematisch erscheint bei dieser Haltungsform ihre Umweltverträglichkeit, speziell die vermutlich zu hohen N-Eintragsmengen mit der Gefahr der Stickstoffauswaschung. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, den N-Eintrag zu untersuchen und Möglichkeiten zu finden, ihn zu beeinflussen. Dazu wurde der Nmin-Gehalt des Bodens unter verschiedenen Bedingungen in drei ausgewählten Betrieben und der Versuchsstation der Humboldt-Universität untersucht. Die Untersuchungen erfolgten über einen Zeitraum von zweieinhalb Jahren jeweils vierteljährlich Ende Februar, Ende Mai, Ende August und Ende November. Die Proben wurden nach DIN-Vorschrift in drei Schichten (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm und 60-90 cm Bodentiefe) entnommen und in der LUFA Halle auf ihren Nmin-Gehalt untersucht. Außerdem wurde untersucht, welche Einflußmöglichkeiten für den Betreuer durch geeignete Maßnahmen bestehen, und inwiefern das Verhalten der Tiere selbst ausgenutzt werden kann, um überhöhte N-Einträge zu vermeiden. Nach Auswertung der vorliegenden Untersuchungsergebnisse erscheint es keinesfalls notwendig, die Besatzdichten auf unter 6 Sauen je Hektar zu beschränken. Dies würde auch die Wirtschaftlichkeit der Haltungsform in Frage stellen. Eine durchdachte Gehegegestaltung und kürzere Belegungszeiten mit schnellem Folgefruchtanbau sind entschieden wirksamer als nur sehr niedrige Besatzdichten. Ein Teil der aufgezeigten verfahrenstechnischen Möglichkeiten zur Vermeidung von Stickstoffverlusten wurde bereits während der Untersuchungen erfolgreich in der Praxis erprobt. / Outdoor pig production offers an interesting possibility to operate taking just pig attitude economially competitively. A problem of this posture form seems to be her environment compatibility, special the presumably too high N entry set with the danger of nitrate leaching. It was aim of the work in hand to examine the N entry and to find possibilities to influence him. To this the Nmin content was examined under different conditions in three select farms and in the experiment station of the Humboldt-University. These examinations were carried out via a period of time of 2.5 years respectively quarterly end february, end may, end august and end november. The soil samples became taken after DIN-regulation in three layers (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm and 60-90 cm ground depth) and in the LUFA Halle on hers Nmin salary examines. In addition, you examined to avoid which possibilities excessive N entries pass by the attendant or by useage of the animal behavior. After evaluation of the examinations it seems under no circumstances necessary to demand stocking rates of lower than 6 sows per hectare. This would put the economicalness of the posture form in question. An enclousure lay-out thought through, the occupancy time and fast following fruit cultivation are decided more effectively than only very low edging densities more briefly. A part of the shown method technical possibilities for the avoidance of nitrogen losses was already tested successfully during the examinations in the practice.

No description available.

Zeolites have been used in agriculture since the 1960s, due to the effectiveness of these crystalline microporous solids as soil amendments for plant growth, their cation exchange capacity (CEC) and slow-release fertilizer properties. Most work on slow-release fertilizers has focused on natural Clinoptilolite, Phillipsite and Chabazite. The aim of this study was to synthesize zeolites, study their effectiveness as soil amendments and their ability to act as controlled release fertilizers to decrease nitrate leaching. Nitrate pollution of groundwater is a major agro-environmental concern. The zeolites Phillipsite and Linde-type F were synthesized from aluminosilicate gels; ion exchanged to introduce ammonium and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, both before and after ion exchange. Ammoniumexchanged Phillipsites (natural and synthetic), ammonium-exchanged synthetic Linde-type F (the zeolite having highest affinity towards ammonium) and ammonium exchanged Phillipsites (high crystalline and high aluminium) were compared with conventional NPK fertilizer.Three glasshouse experiments were performed to study the effects of zeolite-amended soils on maize growth. Ion exchanged synthetic and natural Phillipsites were first used as soil amendments (w/w 2, 4, 8% zeolite to soil). Synthetic Phillipsite, at 2% loading, resulted in the most significant improvement in both plant growth and phased ammonium release. The synthetic ammonium-exchanged zeolites Phillipsite and Linde-type F (at w/w 1, 2, 4%) were then compared; synthetic Phillipsite, at 2% loading, again resulted in the most significant plant growth response with an increase (≥15%) in shoot dry weight and a decrease (≥30%) in nitrate leaching. Experiments using unexchanged synthetic Phillipsite (at w/w 2%), but with added NPK fertilizer, showed increased plant growth and decreased nitrate leaching, compared with parallel experiments containing unexchanged synthetic Linde-type F (at w/w 2%) and a conventional fertilizer amended soil. This revealed the beneficial effect of Phillipsite for soil amendment, even without ion exchange to the ammonium form. To study the physico-chemical properties affecting the release of ammonium from the Phillipsite framework; high crystalline/low aluminium and low crystalline/high aluminium forms were synthesized and ion exchanged. Both forms were introduced as soil amendments (at w/w 1 and 2%) and experiments showed that the lower zeolite crystallinity decreased cation exchange and therefore decreased nitrate leaching. Experimental results from the glasshouse experiments and cation exchange capacity (CEC) experiments suggest that synthetic Phillipsite, at lower loadings (1 and 2% w/w zeolite to soil) have most potential as soil amendments for both plant growth and controlled-release applications. This conclusion is supported by soil leachate and shoots dry weight analysis. Furthermore, Phillipsite, synthesized in a low crystalline and low ammonium form, may be an even better soil amendment for controlled release of ammonium, which will thereby further decrease nitrate pollution.

The major land use in New Zealand is pastoral farming of sheep and cattle. In intensively grazed dairy-pasture systems, animals graze on nitrogen (N)-rich legume-based pastures, but do not efficiently utilize the N they ingest. On average only 10.5% of the N in forage-based animal feed is converted into milk and the remainder is excreted in dung and urine. In the pastures, a cow urine patch can typically contain up to 1000 kg N ha-1. Nitrogen input, either in the form of cow urine or fertilizer, often exceeds immediate plant requirements and hence is susceptible to losses as ammonia (NH3) volatilisation and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and removal in drainage water through nitrate (NO3-) leaching. This loss of N from grazed pastures causes detrimental environmental impacts in the form of acidification and eutrophication of the soil and water bodies, global warming, destruction of stratospheric ozone, and NO3- toxicity. Various approaches have been attempted to mitigate the economic and environmental impacts of N losses. One such approach is the use of Urease (UIs) and Nitrification (NIs) inhibitors. There have been extensive studies on the value of UIs in arable farming and NIs in grazed pastures. However, only limited work on the impact of UI and NI alone and in combination in influencing the N dynamics, and thus mitigating N gaseous losses from pastures, has been conducted. This thesis examines the impact of UI (Agrotain; N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) and NI (Dicyandiamide, commonly known as DCD), when applied alone or in combination to cow urine and urea fertiliser, on N losses through NH3 and N2O emissions and NO3- leaching, and on herbage production under glasshouse conditions and a field-plot study. The degradation rate of DCD, and its effect on nitrification and on N2O emissions from four soils varying in their physical and chemical properties was also examined under laboratory incubations. The results from the field-plot study were then used to predict the effect of DCD on N2O emissions reductions from urine by adapting the process-based NZ-DNDC model. Both NH3 and N2O emissions have common sources in agriculture. Therefore, chambers were adapted to measure their emissions simultaneously using active and passive gas sampling. Active sampling involved continuous air flow and the use of acid (0.05 M H2SO4 and 2% H3BO3) traps for NH3 measurements and passive sampling involved collecting three gas samples over a one-hour period from a static chamber used for N2O emissions. The first glasshouse experiment used UI with urine or urea to assess its effect on NH3 and N2O emissions, changes in soil mineral-N and N uptake by pasture plants. The UI treatments also involved two commercial products, Sustain Yellow (urea coated with Agrotain and elemental S) and Sustain Green (urea coated with Agrotain). The use of UI effectively decreased total NH3 emissions, as well as delaying the time of maximum NH3 emissions from both urea (600 kg N ha-1) and urine (476 kg N ha-1) by 27% and 22%, respectively. The UI-induced decrease in NH3 volatilization ranged from 42-48% when urea was applied @ 100 kg N ha-1. Urease inhibitor was also effective in decreasing N2O emissions significantly from urine and urea applied @ 100 kg N ha-1. The addition of UI increased dry matter yield by 13-19% as compared to the urea-alone treatment. In the second glasshouse study, NI (DCD) was added @ 25 kg ha-1 to urea (@ 25, 50 and 75 kg N ha-1) and urine (@ 144, 290 and 570 kg N ha-1) applied at different rates. Addition of DCD reduced N2O emissions from both urea and urine and NO3- leaching from urine. Dicyandiamide reduced N2O emissions by 34-93% from the added urea and 33-80% from the added urine. However, its use increased the amount of ammonium (NH4+) present in the soil by 3 to 13% both in the urea and urine treatments, and this NH4+ was susceptible to leaching and volatilisation losses. The addition of DCD, however, resulted in a 60-65% reduction in NO3- leaching from urine applied to pasture soil cores. It also caused a significant reduction in NO3- -induced cation leaching. Leaching of K+, Mg+2 and Ca+2 ions was reduced by 36-42%, 33-50% and 72%, respectively, with DCD applied to cattle urine (290 and 570 kg N ha-1). The combined use of UI and NI was more effective in controlling N gaseous losses than using them individually. The combination of UI and NI retarded NH3 emissions by 70% in the urea treatment and by 4% in the urine treatment (field-plot study). It also considerably reduced N2O emissions (50-51%) following the application of urea and urine (field-plot study) to pasture soil. With the combined inhibitors, there was a 14 and 38% increase in herbage yield from added urea and urine (field-plot study), respectively. A laboratory incubation experiment was undertaken to study the effect of soil types and the rate of DCD application on the degradation kinetics of DCD. The rate of degradation of DCD varied among the four soils studied. The degradation was slowest (half-life period of 6 to 11 days) in an allophanic soil with a high concentration of organic matter. The effectiveness of DCD in inhibiting nitrification also varied depending on the nature and amount of soil organic matter and clay content. The maximum inhibition was observed in a soil with low organic matter and high clay content. Finally, 'NZ-DNDC', a process-based model, was adapted and used to simulate the effect of DCD on emissions reduction using DCD inhibition values that vary according to different soil types. This model effectively simulated the effect of DCD on N2O emissions reductions in Tokomaru silt loam following urine application. However, more field data are required from a range of pasture soils with contrasting amount of soil organic matter and clay content under differing climatic conditions to further test this model modification to predict emission-reductions with DCD application in different soil types.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The tobacco production system in Rio Grande do Sul state is mainly developed in small farms, using shallow soils in steep slope. In these areas rivers are born forming small watersheds. The areas are fragilized by use of inappropriate tillage systems causing soil degradation. To compensate this, new areas are included in the production system, after deforestation and not following environmental legislations rules. In order to maintain yield of the degraded areas is needed high fertilization rates and agrochemical application, following a technology package recommended by tobacco industry. Adding to this the fact, that tobacco has a low efficiency of nutrient use. The objective of this study, was monitored the nitrate concentration of soil solution in several soil management and use and in two domestic well used for drinking water. The study was carried out at Arroio Lino watershed, located in Nova Boemia district of Agudo county, state of Rio Grande do Sul. The area of the watershed presents high steepness and it prevails Entisols and mollisols.The soil solution was extracted with tension lysimeters equipped with ceramic porous cup installed at rooting depth (0,15 or 0,2 m) and below this depth (0,3 or 0,5 m), after the main rains happened during the tobacco cycle.The precipitation data were obtained from an automated meteorological station installed at central part of watershed. In 2004/2005 agricultural year, the nitrate concentration was measured in lysimeters installed in a soil management experiment, in an Entisol, including tobacco no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT). In 2005/2006 agricultural year, the nitrate concentration was measured in five transects distributed in several places of the watershed, including tobacco plantation, forest and grass field. Two domestic wells located at lower position of landscape were monitored to nitrate concentration. One of those was located at a position which had above it 15 m stripe of forest and after had tobacco plantation, and the other had no tobacco plantation at position above it. At the points of each transect was evaluated bulk density, soil porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil water retention curve. The soil tillage systems experiment showed higher value of nitrate concentration after starter fertilization application and decreased along of plant cycle, with content varying from 8 to 226 mg L-1. The highest concentration was observed at MT and lowest at NT. The average nitrate concentration in the rooting zone (0,2 m) was 75 for PD, 95 for MT and 49 mg L-1 for CT. Below the rooting zone, the average was 58 for NT, 108 for MT and 36 mg L-1 for CT. The soil in the transects presented low bulk density, low water storage, high porosity and high saturated hydraulic conductivity. The nitrate reached depths bellow rooting zone and its concentration was higher at tobacco plantation than at forest and grass field, reaching values as high as 80 mg L-1 in tobacco plantation. The well located below tobacco plantation had higher nitrate concentration, overcoming the critical limit of 10 mg L-1 in some periods. / A fumicultura no Rio Grande do Sul é desenvolvida em propriedades familiares em regiões ecologicamente frágeis, com solos rasos e alta declividade. Nessas regiões nascem rios e ocorre a formação de pequenas bacias hidrográficas. As áreas são fragilizadas por sistemas de manejo do solo impróprios para aquelas condições e, para manter a capacidade produtiva, recebem anualmente altas doses de fertilizantes e agrotóxicos, seguindo-se um pacote tecnológico difundido pelas agroindústrias fumageiras, que desconsidera as condições ambientais e os atributos do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi monitorar a concentração de nitrato na solução do solo, sob diferentes condições de uso e manejo, e na água de duas fontes usadas para o abastecimento doméstico, e relacioná-las com a influência antrópica. O estudo foi conduzido na microbacia hidrografia do Arroio Lino, localizada no distrito de Nova Boêmia, Agudo-RS. A área da microbacia apresenta alta declividade e nela predominam Neossolos e Chernossolos. A solução do solo foi extraída com lisímetros de tensão com cápsulas porosas na região da zona radicular do fumo (0,15 a 0,20 m) e abaixo dessa (0,30 a 0,50 m), logo após as principais chuvas ocorridas durante o ciclo do fumo. Os dados de precipitação foram obtidos de uma micro-estação meteorológica automatizada instalada na microbacia. Na safra de 2004/2005, os lisímetros foram instalados num experimento, sob Neossolo Litólico, com sistemas de manejo para a implantação da cultura do fumo, sendo monitorado o sistema plantio direto (PD), cultivo mínimo (CM) e preparo convencional (PC). Na safra de 2005/2006, os lisímetros foram instalados em cinco transeções distribuídos na paisagem, abrangendo lavouras de fumo, mata e campo nativo. As duas fontes monitoradas estavam localizadas na encosta, sendo que uma delas apresentava uma faixa de 15 m de mata na sua volta e, acima dessa, era cultivado fumo. A outra fonte estava protegida pela mata e não apresentava influência antrópica nas suas proximidades. Nos pontos de cada transeção, avaliaram-se a densidade do solo, porosidade do solo, condutividade hidráulica saturada e curva de retenção de água. Nos sistemas de manejo do solo os teores de nitrato variaram de 8 a 226 mg L-1 e foram maiores após a adubação de base e decresceram ao longo do ciclo. Os níveis mais altos foram obtidos no CM e os menores no PD. Os teores médios de nitrato na zona radicular foram de 75 no PD, 95 no CM e 49 mg L-1 no PC. Abaixo da zona radicular os teores médios foram de 58 no PD, 108 no CM e 36 mg L-1 de nitrato no PC. O solo nas transeções apresentou baixa densidade, baixa capacidade de armazenamento de água, alta porosidade e alta condutividade hidráulica saturada. O nitrato atingiu profundidades abaixo da zona de exploração radicular (0,5m). Os teores de nitrato foram superiores nas lavouras em relação ao campo e à mata nativa, atingindo 80 mg L-1 nas áreas com fumo. A fonte (poço) que se encontrava abaixo das lavouras de fumo teve maiores concentrações de nitrato, superando o limite crítico de 10 mg L-1 em alguns períodos.

Un dispositif en sol nu comprenant trois parcelles (90 m²) et six cases lysimétriques (4 m²) instrumentées a permis d’étudier l’influence d’apports répétés d’une boue de station d’épuration (BOUE) et de la même boue compostée avec des déchets verts (DVB) sur (i) les modifications des propriétés physico-chimiques et hydriques du sol ; (ii) le transport des ions bromures ; (iii) la dynamique de minéralisation du carbone et de l’azote organiques dans le sol. Finalement, le calage des paramètres hydrodynamiques et de décomposition de la matière organique dans le sol, propres à chaque horizon des profils de sols instrumentés, a permis une description satisfaisante de la dynamique hydrique et du transport des ions bromures et nitrates observés expérimentalement. Ces résultats aideront à l’adaptation de scénarios agronomiques sur le long terme pour répondre plus efficacement aux problématiques liées aux nouvelles exigences de recyclage des déchets et de protection de l’environnement. / An instrumented experimental bare soil site including three plots (90 m²) and six lysimeters (4 m²) has enabled to study the influence of repeated sewage sludge (SS) applications, as well as the same sewage sludge composted with green waste (SGW), on (i) the soil physicochemical and hydric properties ; (ii) the transport of bromide ions ; (iii) the organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization dynamics in soil. Finally, fitting the governing hydraulic parameters and the organic matter decomposition parameters in each soil horizon allowed a satisfying description of the experimentally observed water and bromide and nitrate ions transport in soil. These results will help conceive long-term agronomical scenarios aimed at providing more efficient answers to the new requirements of environmental protection and waste recycling policies.

The expansion of livestock husbandry and biogas production in large parts of northwestern Germany during the last two decades increased the amount of accruing manure, as well as the demand for maize as fodder crop and substrate for biogas plants. To overcome phosphorus deficiency symptoms during early growth of maize, farmers commonly apply mineral starter fertilizers containing ammonium-nitrogen and phosphorus on top of the usual manure applications required to meet crop nutrient demand. This practice typically leads to overfertilization of N and P and the excess nutrients are then prone to be lost into the environment. Recent developments of agricultural machinery allow for the injection of slurry bands into the soil prior to maize planting. Due to high concentrations of ammonium and phosphorus in the manure band, chemical transformation and translocation of these nutrients is reduced. When the bands are placed near the seeds, even the radicles can access the applied nutrients. Hence, application of mineral starter fertilizers might be obviated. Earlier investigations showed insufficient knowledge of nutrient transformations in manure bands and their consequences on crop growth. To resolve these problems a research project at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück was conducted in close cooperation with the local agricultural extension services, machinery producers and farmers. In a series of field trials, broadcasting of liquid manure was compared to injection with and without a nitrification inhibitor in three consecutive growing seasons (2013 to 2015). The trials were conducted in a split-plot design, where all liquid manure treatments were divided in subplots with and without a mineral starter fertilizer. Biomass samplings at eight leaves stage and harvest gave insight into the performance of the treatments. Compared to broadcast application with starter fertilizer, manure injection showed slightly retarded early growth in some trials. However, yields and nitrogen uptake at harvest were similar. When a nitrification inhibitor was added to the injected manure, early growth was not retarded, yields were alike broadcast and injection treatments, but nitrogen uptake was higher in all seasons (on average ~7%). To further investigate nitrogen dynamics and crop growth, another field trial was conducted on a sandy soil close to Osnabrück in 2014 and 2015. Manure injection with and without a nitrification inhibitor was compared to broadcast application with mineral starter fertilizer and an unfertilized control treatment. Plant samplings were taken at regular intervals. Major precipitation events in May and June 2014 led to significant nitrate leaching, especially in the broadcast treatment. Manure injection delayed the nitrification of slurry ammonium and consequently the translocation out of the root zone. Thus, plants in injection treatments could accumulate more nitrogen in their biomass and showed less nitrogen deficiency symptoms. This led to increased yield (+16.5%) and nitrogen uptake (+9.6%) for injection treatment with nitrification inhibitor compared to broadcast treatment. In 2015, low temperatures impaired seminal root growth and phosphorus availability. The mineral starter fertilizer in the broadcast treatment led to better early growth than injected slurry. When a nitrification inhibitor was added to the injected manure, less P deficiency symptoms were observed, and the crop growth was only slightly retarded. Due to the high compensation potential of silage maize, these differences were equalized until harvest. Nevertheless, the mean apparent nitrogen recovery efficiency of both seasons was higher in injection treatments with and without nitrification inhibitor, compared to broadcast with mineral starter fertilizer (48%, 56% and 43%, respectively). To ease the handling of field trial series by decreasing the number of tissue samplings, the use of a handheld sensor was tested during vegetative growth of maize. In the series of field trials with the local extension service, the derived vegetation index showed significant correlations to biomass and nitrogen uptake at eight leaves stage. Measurements of the vegetative growth observed during the nitrogen dynamics trial showed that the sensor needs sufficient leaf area to deliver precise data, but also tends to saturate when maize tassels evolve. The best estimates were found between six and ten leaves. Thus, the sensor can be a valuable tool to reduce numbers of tissue samples and, thus, time and effort needed in fertilization trials. Altogether, these results should encourage farmers to obviate mineral starter fertilizers by using manure injection when cropping maize on sandy soils. The advantages that come along with manure injection based on the present research indicate higher shares of manure nutrients find their way into the plants due to delayed biochemical transformations. These nutrients are consequently not lost into the environment. Nitrification inhibitors have shown a positive effect on crop performance and led to a further reduction of nitrogen losses. However, further knowledge of their decomposition with special regard to the ecological impact of their compounds and metabolites need to be thoroughly evaluated.

Second-generation biofuels could provide renewable energy while reducing the globaleconomy dependence on oil and mitigating climate change. However, their greenhouse gasemission balances, as well as their energy and environmental balances, are discussed,especially when they are produced from agricultural feedstock. The use of agriculturalfeedstock for energy purposes also raises the issue of competition with food production. Inthis context, this work contributes to the assessment of the sustainability of Miscanthus xgiganteus, a perennial C4 crop candidate to the production of second-generation ethanol. Theobjectives of this work are (i) to achieve a multicriteria evaluation of cropping systems basedon M. Giganteus using data collected in farmers’ fields and (ii) to compare these croppingsystems with cropping systems including other resources Agricultural candidates for biofuelproduction. The main contributions of this work are (i) the study of the variability of yieldsand winter nitrate losses in a network of commercial fields located in Burgundy (France), (ii)the characterization by modeling of M. giganteus long-term yield evolution and (iii) theintegration of these findings in a process of cropping systems design and assessment aimingat comparing M. giganteus with other feedstock candidate to the production of bioethanol.The study of M. giganteus in farmers’ fields shows that the high variability of yields andnitrate losses is linked to (i) crop age, (ii) soil type and (iii) the type of field (i.e. culturalhistory, size, shape, and environment). Contrasting yield scenarios, built by combining datacollected in commercial fields with a long-term yield evolution model, show that thesensitivity of assessment results regarding yields depends on the assessment field. Theinsertion of M. giganteus in a cropping system can significantly improve the greenhouse gasemission balance as well as the environmental balance, compared with a cropping systembased on a short cropping sequence. Economic results depend strongly on M. giganteus yield.Other agricultural feedstocks are also interesting, especially on soils where the yield potentialof M. giganteus is low: this is particularly the case of alfalfa stems, which can be used forsecond-generation ethanol production. / Second-generation biofuels could provide renewable energy while reducing the globaleconomy dependence on oil and mitigating climate change. However, their greenhouse gasemission balances, as well as their energy and environmental balances, are discussed,especially when they are produced from agricultural feedstock. The use of agriculturalfeedstock for energy purposes also raises the issue of competition with food production. Inthis context, this work contributes to the assessment of the sustainability of Miscanthus xgiganteus, a perennial C4 crop candidate to the production of second-generation ethanol. Theobjectives of this work are (i) to achieve a multicriteria evaluation of cropping systems basedon M. Giganteus using data collected in farmers’ fields and (ii) to compare these croppingsystems with cropping systems including other resources Agricultural candidates for biofuelproduction. The main contributions of this work are (i) the study of the variability of yieldsand winter nitrate losses in a network of commercial fields located in Burgundy (France), (ii)the characterization by modeling of M. giganteus long-term yield evolution and (iii) theintegration of these findings in a process of cropping systems design and assessment aimingat comparing M. giganteus with other feedstock candidate to the production of bioethanol.The study of M. giganteus in farmers’ fields shows that the high variability of yields andnitrate losses is linked to (i) crop age, (ii) soil type and (iii) the type of field (i.e. culturalhistory, size, shape, and environment). Contrasting yield scenarios, built by combining datacollected in commercial fields with a long-term yield evolution model, show that thesensitivity of assessment results regarding yields depends on the assessment field. Theinsertion of M. giganteus in a cropping system can significantly improve the greenhouse gasemission balance as well as the environmental balance, compared with a cropping systembased on a short cropping sequence. Economic results depend strongly on M. giganteus yield.Other agricultural feedstocks are also interesting, especially on soils where the yield potentialof M. giganteus is low: this is particularly the case of alfalfa stems, which can be used forsecond-generation ethanol production.