Peiyuan Qian

Use of Ion-Exchange Membrane to Assess Nitrogen-Supply Power of Soils

ABSTRACT Soil nitrogen-supply power (NSP), including nitrogen (N) mineralized from organic matter, for crop growth is an important criterion in evaluating soil quality. Ion-exchange membranes in the form of plant root simulator (PRS) probes were used to measure ammonium and nitrate release rates as a measure of NSP in 54 Saskatchewan soils with contrasting pedogenic and management histories. Two incubation systems (aerobic and anaerobic), with ion-exchange membrane probes placed in situ, were conducted to predict NSP. The 54 soil samples were also used in two growth-chamber studies to assess patterns in plant N uptake by canola. Soil type had a profound influence on available N-supply rates, with soils of higher organic-matter content due to climatic conditions, slope position, and past management having higher NSP values. Good relationships (R2 = 0.54 and 0.69) between NSP and canola N uptake were observed. The N-supply rate values used as an index of NSP as predicted by two-week aerobic incubation for Brown, Dark Brown, and Black soils in Saskatchewan were 200–550, 550–1100, and > 1100 μg nitrate-N/10cm2/2 wks, respectively, with different management histories producing significant variation within a region.

Soil Properties, Yield, and Landscape Relationships in South-Central Saskatchewan Canada

ABSTRACT Soil water and nutrient availability are major limiting factors for crop production in the Canadian prairies. Most variations in soil properties observed across prairie farm fields are the result of the effect of landscape on water and soil redistribution. The relationships among soil chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and available nutrients), soil water, elevation, and canola seed yield were investigated in a transect across a hummocky, undulating farm field in the Brown soil zone of south-central Saskatchewan. Overall, seed yield was highest in foot slope positions in the landscape where soil organic matter, nutrients, and available water content were higher. Correlations between soil properties and seed yield were highest for pH (R = −0.46, P < 0.01), which was followed by organic C % (R = 0.27, P < 0.05), water content (R = 0.23), extractable potassium (K) (R = 0.18) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply rates to exchange resin membranes (R = 0.15). Extractable N and P were poorly correlated with seed yield (R < 0.1). The landscape region with soil parameters and yield closest to the average for the entire transect was the back slope region, suggesting that in similar landscapes, this region would be most appropriate for selection as a representative benchmark sampling site.

EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL AND CONTROLLED RELEASE PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON CROP EMERGENCE AND GROWTH RESPONSE UNDER CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS

A series of experiments on the effects of form and rate of seed row placed phosphorus (P) fertilizer were carried out under controlled environment conditions using flats of a P-deficient Brown Chernozemic soil from Saskatchewan, Canada. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory and growth chamber using rates of seed row placed granular P fertilizer up to 100 kg P2O5 ha−1. Two forms of monoammonium phosphate fertilizer were compared: 1) conventional MAP granules and 2) controlled release phosphorus (CRP) fertilizer granules (Agrium Inc, Denver, CO, USA.) made with a polymer coating to slow the release of phosphate to soil solution. Six crops were utilized in the study to provide a range of commonly grown cereal, oilseed, pulse and forage crops in Western Canada: wheat (Triticum aestivum), canola (Brassica napus), mustard (Brassica juncea), flax (Linum usitatissimum), yellow pea (Pisum sativum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativum). Parameters measured were percentage of planted seeds that had emerged after two weeks, plant biomass yield, and plant P uptake after four weeks. Most of the crops tested showed no negative impact on emergence with seed row placed conventional P fertilizer at rates up to ∼20 to 30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Pea, flax and mustard tended to be most sensitive to injury from high rates of seed placed MAP while wheat was least sensitive. The controlled release phosphorus fertilizer (CRP) product greatly increased the tolerance of crops to high rates of seed row placed P, with rates of 80 kg P2O5 ha−1 placed in the seed row producing no significant injury for most crops. This effect is attributed to the coating reducing the harmful salt effect that occurs when high rates of fertilizer are placed in the seed row in close proximity to the seed. Generally, a rate of 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 was sufficient to produce maximum early season biomass yield and P uptake for both conventional MAP and CRP fertilizers. Large differences in early P availability were not evident between the conventional P and controlled released P fertilizer products.

Nutrient Availability and Yield of Wheat Following Field Pea and Lentil in Saskatchewan, Canada

ABSTRACT The supply of available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) to spring wheat as influenced by pea or lentil as the previous rotational crop was assessed at two field research sites over two years in Saskatchewan, Canada. Under conditions of low soil fertility, cereals grown on field pea stubble produced higher grain yields and accumulated more N than did cereals grown on lentil stubble. This result corresponded with significantly higher soil-supply rates of nitrate and phosphate measured over eight weeks in the pea-stubble plots using anion-exchange membrane (PRS) probes. However, under conditions where soil N availability was high, cereal crop yields and N uptake on pea and lentil stubble were similar.

EFFECT OF SOIL AMENDMENT WITH THIN STILLAGE AND GLYCEROL ON PLANT GROWTH AND SOIL PROPERTIES

Controlled environment experiments were set up in 2007 and 2008 to evaluate the potential of using by-products of the biofuel industry as soil amendments to improve fertility and plant growth in Saskatchewan soils. Trials were run with thin stillage (a by-product of ethanol production) and glycerol (by-product of biodiesel production). Canola (B. napus L.) and wheat (T. aestivum) were grown as the test crop in amended pots. Plant yield, composition, and soil properties were measured after five weeks. The stillage was found to be an effective soil amendment for increasing plant biomass yield. Per unit of nitrogen (N) added, canola yields were less than that of urea when nitrogen was the only limitation, due to only a portion of the nitrogen in the thin stillage becoming available over the five week period. However, when nutrients other than nitrogen were limiting, canola dry matter yields with thin stillage amendment approached or exceeded that of urea, due to the ability of the amendments to supply other nutrients such as phosphorus in addition to nitrogen. Glycerol, an amendment that only contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, was effective in increasing soil organic carbon content, but required supplemental fertilizer to account for nutrient tie-up by microorganisms during decomposition in the soil. The amendments did not have any biologically significant effects on other soil chemical parameters measured, including soluble metals, pH or salinity.

Effect of swine manure and urea on soil phosphorus supply to canola

Abstract Limited information exists as to the effect of liquid swine manure on soil phosphorus (P) availability in Western Canadian soil. Swine manure is most often applied to meet additional requirements for nitrogen (N) and research to date has emphasized N effects. The effect of swine manure and urea on P supply to canola was investigated under controlled environment condition. Canola (Brassica napus) was grown in pots with manure or urea added to two Saskatchewan soils (sandy loam and clay loam) at 0 and 100 mg N kg‐1. Plants were grown to maturity, and yield and nutrient content were determined. Phosphorus supply rates in soils were measured in the pots using anion exchange resin membrane probes. Additions of swine manure and urea enhanced canola P accumulation and led to a higher proportion of P in seeds. This response was more evident in the manure treatment than with urea. Soil amended with manure significantly increased N and P supply rates in soils as the manure contains N and P. On the contrary, application of urea significantly increased N supply rate, but led to a slight decrease in the measured soil supply rate of available P. Despite the apparent decrease in soil supply of available P in urea treatment, canola maintained its N:P ratio by increasing P absorption, possibly due to a greater root mass.

EFFECT OF SOIL AMENDMENT WITH ALFALFA POWDERS AND DISTILLERS GRAINS ON NUTRITION AND GROWTH OF CANOLA

Two pot experiments were carried out under controlled environment conditions in the growth chamber to assess the potential use of alfalfa powders and distiller grains as organic fertilizers. Two types of dehydrated alfalfa powders (one with canola meal protein extraction by-product and one without) and two types of distiller grains (dried distillers grain with distillation solubles added and wet distillers grain without solubles) from wheat-based ethanol production were evaluated. Four different nitrogen (N)-based amendment application rates (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg N ha−1) were used along with urea applications made at the same N rates to a Brown Chernozem (Aridic Haploboroll) loamy textured soil collected from south-central Saskatchewan, Canada. Canola biomass yield, N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) uptake were measured along with soil properties including pH, salinity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus and extractable nutrients and cadmium before and after canola growth in each of the treatments. Application of alfalfa powder and distiller grain amendments resulted in significant canola biomass yield increases along with increased N, P, and K uptake compared to the unfertilized control. However, only a portion of the N added (∼30% to 50%) in the organic amendments was rendered available over the five week duration of the experiments. Amendments that had higher N content and lower carbon (C):N ratios such as dried distillers grain with solubles resulted in greater canola N uptake. Reduced germination and emergence of canola seedlings was observed at high rates of addition of distillers grain (400 kg N ha−1), the reason for which is unclear but may be due to a localized salt or toxicity effect of the amendment. The amendment with alfalfa powders and distiller grains resulted in small increases in residual soil nutrients. Effects on pH, salinity, organic carbon and extractable metals tended to be small and often not significant. Alfalfa powders and distillers grains appear to be quite effective in supplying nutrients, especially N, for plant growth over the short-term.

Early Supplies of Available Nitrogen to Seed‐Row of a Canola Crop as Affected by Fertilizer Placement

Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Star City (legal location SW6‐45‐16‐W2); Saskatchewan, Canada from May 2000 to June 2000, to measure nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply rates from fertilizer bands to the seed‐row of canola crop. Ion exchange resin membrane probes (PRSTM) were used to measure N and P supply rates in four treatments [80 kg N ha−1 of urea as side‐row band, 80 kg N ha−1 of urea as mid‐row band, check/no N (side‐row)/P side‐row, check/no N (mid‐row)/seed placed P]. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Two anion and cation exchange resin probes (PRSTM) were placed in each plot in the seed‐row immediately after seeding and fertilizing. The probes were allowed to remain in the field for 2 days and replaced with another set of probes every 4 days for a total of 14 days until canola emerged. Ammonium‐N, nitrate‐N and P supply rates were calculated based on the ion accumulated on the probes. Urea side‐row band treatments (fertilizer N 2.5 cm to side of every seed‐row) had significantly higher cumulative available N supply rates than mid‐row band placement in which fertilizer N was placed 10 cm from the seed‐row in between every second seed‐row. No significant differences were observed in P supply rates. The higher N rates (120 kg N ha−1) resulted in lower grain yield in side‐row banding than mid‐row banding possibly due to seedling damage. However, the earlier fluxes of N into the seed‐row observed with side‐row banding may be an advantage at lower N rates in N deficient soils.