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Long‐Term Effects of Urea and Green Manure on Rice Yields and Nitrogen Balance
Author(s) -
Ladha J.K.,
Dawe D.,
Ventura T.S.,
Singh U.,
Ventura W.,
Watanabe I.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2000.6461993x
Subject(s) - sesbania , azolla , agronomy , green manure , oryza sativa , nitrogen balance , urea , cropping system , straw , manure , fertilizer , nitrogen , crop , zoology , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Data from a 14‐yr double‐crop rice ( Oryza sativa L.) experiment allowed comparison of the long‐term effects of N fertilizer from different sources (urea and in situ grown azolla [ Azolla microphylla Kaulf.] and sesbania [ Sesbania rostrata Bremek. & Oberm.]) on N balances, soil N pools (both total and available), and yields. Although data show that plant‐available N was maintained over time in both wet (WS) and dry seasons (DS), yields declined significantly, indicating a decline in physiological N use efficiency. The yield declines were generally similar regardless of N source in both seasons. The WS decline averaged 150 kg ha −1 yr −1 in the three added‐N treatments, while the DS decline averaged 185 kg ha −1 yr −1 . After 27 crops, the cumulative positive N balance was estimated at 1244, 348, 646, and 1039 kg N ha −1 in control, urea, sesbania, and azolla treatments, respectively. There was no significant change in soil total N content in the control and urea treatments, whereas it increased to 344 to 541 kg after 27 crops in the sesbania and azolla treatments. Conservation of the soil N status and positive N balance, in spite of the high amounts of N removed through grain and straw, reflect the N contribution (13–46 kg ha −1 crop −1 ) from nonsymbiotic N 2 fixation. In addition, sesbania and azolla were estimated to add ≈57 to 64 kg ha −1 crop −1 through symbiotic N 2 fixation. These results demonstrate that in rice–rice cropping systems biological N fixation plays a vital role in replenishing the soil N pool. However, continuous application of green manure N (GM‐N) did not increase crop N availability, perhaps because of the presence of a recalcitrant soil organic matter fraction. Residual effects on rice grain yield and N uptake were observed only with GM‐N sources.