J. Černý

Soil pH changes in long-term field experiments with different fertilizing systems.

Vasak F., Cerný J., Buraňova S., Kulhanek M., Balik J. (2015): Soil pH changes in long-term field experiments with different fertilizing systems. Soil & Water Res., 10: 19–23. The changes of soil pH in long-term 14-year field experiments with different fertilizing systems are described. The field experiments were located at four sites of the Czech Republic with different soil and climatic conditions (Cervený Ujezd, Hněvceves, Lukavec, and Prague-Suchdol). At each site, the same fertilizing systems and crop rotation (potatoes – winter wheat – spring barley) were established. Six experimental treatments were applied to crop rotation: (1) unfertilized treatments (control); treatments with organic fertilization: (2) farmyard manure (FYM), (3) sewage sludge (SS); treatments with mineral fertilizers: (4) nitrogen (N), (5) nitrogen with straw application (N + straw), and (6) nitrogen with phosphorus and potassium (NPK). The long-term effect of fertilizers significantly depends on soil conditions. At the site Prague-Suchdol minimal differences in the soil pH were observed by all treatments. This is caused by the high buffering capacity of Chernozems against the soil acidification. At Cervený Ujezd (Haplic Luvisol), Hněvceves (Haplic Luvisol), and Lukavec (Stagnic Cambisol) sites, soil pH decreased by all treatments. Only at Hněvceves site the soil pH did not change with N treatment. The highest soil pH decrease in the treatment with NPK (ΔpH –0.89) and N + straw (ΔpH –0.70) was observed at Hněvceves site. By the treatments FYM and SS the highest decrease was registered at Cervený Ujezd (ΔpH of about –0.30 and –0.63, respectively). The highest decrease in control treatment (ΔpH of about –0.63) was observed at Lukavec site. The results showed that to evaluate long-term soil pH changes a whole complex of factors must be examined.

Influence of precipitation amount during grain filling on nitrogen uptake and grain yield of spring barley fertilized by ammonium injection

The aim of this study was to observe the influence of the amount of precipitation during the grain filling period on nitrogen uptake and grain yield of spring barley fertilized by ammonium injection. Conventional nitrogen fertilization before sowing and CULTAN (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) injection fertilization were compared during a 5-year small-plot field experiment under the conditions of Central Europe. In contrast to conventional nitrogen fertilization, with the CULTAN treatment there was observed no significantly negative effect of below-average precipitation during the grain filling period on post-heading (BBCH 51) nitrogen uptake from the soil with applications of 80 and 130 kg N.ha−1, grain yield, nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) and thousand-grain weight with an application of 80 kg N.ha−1, nor there was a significantly positive effect on the contribution of nitrogen translocation to total nitrogen in the grain with an application of 130 kg N.ha−1. CULTANtreated plants achi...

Winter wheat fertilizing using nitrogen–sulphur fertilizer

Precise field experiments were established on two sites with winter wheat under different soil-climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. Four treatments were fertilized with same dose of nitrogen (200 kg N ha−1) and increasing dose of sulphur (0, 10, 20 and 40 kg S ha−1) using nitrogen–sulphur (N–S) fertilizer with calcium sulphate form. Soil and plant aboveground biomass samples were taken in the stages of development BBCH 26–28; 30–32; 37–39; 49–51. The winter wheat grain yield ranged between 7.20 and 10.86 t ha−1 and had an increasing trend with increasing sulphur dose. Although the differences were usually not statistically significant, there were found increasing tendencies of bioavailable sulphur content in soil with increasing S split doses. Soil S content decreased with time probably due to plant uptake. Sulphur dose did not influence the S content in plant aboveground biomass. The total S contents in grain after harvest ranged between 0.09% and 0.14% and were not significantly influenced with the fertilizing treatment. The same statement is valid for the S content in straw, which ranged between 0.03% and 0.11%. Both, S content in winter wheat seeds and straw were strongly influenced by the site conditions.

Nitrogen uptake by winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) depending on fertilizer application

The influence of the injection of nitrogen fertilizers with the CULTAN system (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) on nitrogen uptake by winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was observed at small-plot field experiments under conditions of the Czech Republic (central Europe) during 2007–2013. The CULTAN system consisting in the injection of all the nitrogen in one dose was compared with conventional broadcast surface fertilization which is carried out in three partial nitrogen doses. The total nitrogen dosage was 150 kg N.ha−1. If the CULTAN fertilization was carried out at the beginning of tillering of winter wheat (BBCH 22) instead of at the end of tillering (BBCH 29), the CULTAN-treated winter wheat did not suffer from nitrogen deficiency at the BBCH 45 (boot stage) and BBCH 51 (beginning of heading) growth stages. Nitrogen utilization efficiency and biomass production efficiency were significantly higher with the CULTAN treatment compared to the conventional fertilization whereas nitrogen up...

Influence of nitrogen injection application on zinc and iron uptake by winter wheat and spring barley.

Influence of CULTAN method (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) on the iron and zinc uptake by winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was observed at four-year small-plot field experiments under conditions of the Czech Republic. No significant differences in iron and zinc concentration in grain of winter wheat as well as spring barley between conventional and CULTAN treatment were found. Neither increased supply of nitrogen fertilizer nor sulphur containing fertilizer resulted in significant differences in iron and zinc concentration in grain of winter wheat as well as spring barley at both nitrogen nutrition systems. No significant differences in sulphur concentration in aboveground biomass of winter wheat and spring barley between conventional and CULTAN treatment were recorded. Iron and zinc harvest index were not influenced by the CULTAN system. Because of no significant differences in iron and zinc concentration in grain of winter wheat as well as spring barley between conventional and CULTAN treatment, it can be assumed that nitrogen is taken up by CULTAN-treated plants in nitrate form.

The accumulation of zinc in oat grown in soils treated by incubated sewage sludge with peat and straw

The effect of addition of treated sewage sludge on the accumulation of Zn in plants was tested in pot experiment. The additions of eight months preincubated sewage sludge at temperature of 20°C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with addition of peat and straw were tested. Two different combinations were designed: first consisted of 50% sludge + 35% peat and 15% straw, and second was made of 50% sludge + 5% peat and 45% straw (expressed as dry matter). Three different soils Chernozems, Luvisols, and Fluvisols and three sludges were tested in the experiment. Oat (cv. Pan) was planted as experimental crop. All treatments were fertilized by NPK. Green biomass of oat was harvested and analyzed. At treatments with addition of both composted sludges pH dropped down causing higher mobility of Zn in sewage sludge. Oat grown in these treatments contained higher amount of Zn compared to untreated soils. The application of anaerobically treated sludge led to increased Zn content in biomass compared to aerobically incubated one. Predominant effect on Zn accumulation in plants was determined by tested soil. The highest content was determined in plants grown on Fluvisols. The biomass yield was more affected by source of sewage sludge than by the soil type used. Treatments amended by anaerobically incubated sludge showed tendency to higher biomass production due to their higher content of nitrogen and carbon.

Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Yield Parameters and Quality of Wheat Grain

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate winter wheat grain qualitative and yield parameters after the application of different organic and mineral fertilizers at two sites in the Czech Republic (S1 – Lukavec, S2 – Prague-Suchdol). For the purpose of this paper grain yield (GY, t ha−1), thousand kernel weight (TKW, g), bulk density (BD, g l−1), grain crude protein content (CP, %), and falling number (FN, s) were determined with regard to the CSN 461100-2 (2001) standard for food wheat. Significantly highest values of GY and BD at both sites and of CP at S2 were observed after the use of nitrogen in mineral form. At S1, significantly highest values of FN were obtained after the use of mineral fertilizers in combination with straw. The required limit of BD for food wheat was met for all fertilization treatments, while that of CP only at S2 by treatments with mineral nitrogen fertilizers. At S2, a strong correlation between all evaluated traits was registered. Low correlation was found at S1 between TKW and other evaluated traits.

Evaluating of soil sulfur forms changes under different fertilizing systems during long-term field experiments

The aim of this work was to evaluate the changes of different soil sulfur forms during long-term field experiments supplied with sewage sludge (SS), farmyard manure (FYM) or mineral fertilizers. The experiment was established at three different sites with the crop rotation of potatoes, wheat and barley. Fertilizing system was based on the same nitrogen dose per the whole crop rotation. Soil samples from the beginning of the experiment (1996) and at the end of each crop rotation were analysed after all three crops harvest. Similar tendencies of changes in water extractable (Sw), adsorbed (Sads), 1 mol/L HCl estimated (SHCL) sulfur and their sum of (∑S) related to the fertilizing systems were observed among all studied sites. A decreasing tendency of ∑S in soil was observed during the experiment (except for the year 2005). The biggest decrease was always visible compared to control treatment. Mineral fertilizers (S added with superphosphate) appeared to be the best source of SHCL. Application of SS increased the Sw content in soil samples after potatoes harvest, whereas a decreasing tendency among the following crops was visible.

Comparison of point injection and top-dressing application of nitrogen fertilizers with sulphur addition in winter rape (Brassica napus L.) in the Czech Republic

In this paper, we are analyzing the yield and yield parameters of winter rape, fertilized using CULTAN system (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) in comparison with top-dressing application of nitrogen fertilizers, which were studied on Haplic Luvisol over 5 years. No significant differences in seed yields between the two systems of fertilization were observed in 2008, 2009 and 2011. The effect of sulphur on a higher seed yield was proved in 2010 and 2012. The seed yield was higher by 11.4% in the treatments with sulphur amendment regardless of the system of fertilization in 2010. The seed yield was higher by 18.2 % in the CULTAN treatment with sulphur adittion in comparison to CULTAN treatment with no sulphur added in 2012. Nitrogen supply was ample in the first flowers open growth stage of winter rape in 2009, 2010 and 2012. The plant height was significantly lower after CULTAN method and as well as higher values of 1000 seed weight were recorded in comparison to top-dressing application in 2009. Nitrogen uptake by seed dry matter was the highest in the year 2009, which corresponds to the achieved seed yields this year.