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A Protocol for Collecting and Constructing Soil Core Lysimeters
Published on: June 6, 2016
Impacts of manure application on soil environment, rainfall use efficiency and crop biomass under dryland farming
Xiaojuan Wang1,2, Zhikuan Jia1, Lianyou Liang3
1China Water-saving Agricultural Academy in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China.
Abstract:
Because of inadequate nutrient and water supply, soils are often unproductive in Northwest China. We studied the effects of manure application at low (LM 7.5 t ha(-1)), medium (MM 15 t ha(-1)), and high (HM 22.5 t ha(-1)) rates combined with fixed levels of chemical fertilizers on maize growth and rainfall use efficiency compared with chemical fertilizers (CK) under semi-arid conditions over a three-year period. HM and MM treatments could significantly increase soil water storage (0-120 cm) at tasseling stage of maize compared with LM treatment and CK (P < 0.05). Dry matter accumulation and rainfall use efficiency increased as manure application rate increasing (P < 0.05). HM treatment significantly increased rainfall use efficiency by 6.5-12.7% at big trumpeting - tasseling stage compared with LM and MM treatments. HM and MM treatments increased rainfall use efficiency by 8.6-18.1% at tasseling - grain filling stage compared with CK. There was no significant difference on biomass between HM and MM treatments at grain filling and maturity stages of maize in 2009 and 2010.
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