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Combined applications of plant residues and nitrogen (N) fertilizer in agroecosystems may increase N immobilization and reduce N loss through microbial propagation using fresh organic matter (FOM)....

Enhancing crop production by maintaining a proper synchrony between soil nitrogen (N) and crop N demand remains a challenge, especially in under-studied tropical soils of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). For two consecutive cropping seasons (2013–2015), we monitored the fluctuation of soil inorganic N and its availability to maize in the Tanzanian highlands. Different urea-N rates (0–150 kg N ha−1; split into two dressings) were applied to two soil types (TZi, sandy Alfisols; and TZm, clayey Andisols). In the early growing season, soil mineralized N was exposed to the leaching risk due to small crop N demand. In the second N application (major N supply accounting for two-thirds of the total N), applied urea was more efficient in increasing soil inorganic N availability at TZm than at TZi. Such effect of soil type could be the main contributor to the higher yield at TZm (up to 4.4 Mg ha−1) than that at TZi (up to 2.6 Mg ha−1) under the same N rate. The best-fitted linear-plateau model indicated that the soil inorganic N availability (0–0.3 m) at the tasseling stage largely accounted for the final yield. Further, yields at TZi were still limited by N availability at the tasseling stage due to fast depletion of applied-N, whereas yields plateaued at TZm once N availability was above 67 kg N ha−1. Our results provided a valuable reference for designing the N management to increase yield, while minimizing the potentially adverse losses of N to the environment, in different agro-ecological zones in SSA.

Use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is underway to increase in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The effect of increasing N rates on ammonia (NH3) volatilization—a main pathway of applied-N loss in cropping systems—has not been evaluated in this region. In two soils (Alfisols, ALF; and Andisols, AND) with maize crop in the East African highlands, we measured NH3 volatilization following urea broadcast at six rates (0–150 kg N ha−1) for 17 days, using a semi-open static chamber method. Immediate irrigation and urea deep placement were tested as mitigation treatments. The underlying mechanism was assessed by monitoring soil pH and mineral N (NH4+ and NO3−) concentrations. More cumulative NH3-N was volatilized in ALF than in AND at the same urea-N rate. Generally, higher urea-N rates increased proportional NH3-N loss (percent of applied N loss as NH3-N). Based on well-fitted sigmoid models, simple surface urea application is not recommended for ALF, while up to 60 kg N ha−1 could be adopted for AND soils. The susceptibility of ALF to NH3 loss mainly resulted from its low pH buffering capacity, low cation exchange capacity, and high urease activity. Both mitigation treatments were effective. The inhibited rise of soil pH but not NH4+ concentration was the main reason for the mitigated NH3-N losses, although nitrification in the irrigation treatment might also have contributed. Our results showed that in acidic soils common to SSA croplands, proportional NH3-N loss can be substantial even at a low urea-N rate; and that the design of mitigation treatments should consider the soil’s inherent capacity to buffer NH3 loss.

Soil moisture and its spatial pattern are important for understanding various hydrological, pedological, ecological and agricultural processes. In this study, data of rainfall and soil moisture contents at different depths (10 cm, 20 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm) in forestland and vegetable plot in the Taihu Lake Basin, China were monitored and analyzed for characteristics of soil moisture variation and its response to several typical rainfall events. The following results were observed. First, great temporal variation of soil moisture was observed in the surface layer than in deeper layer in vegetable plot. In contrast, in forestland, soil moisture had similar variation pattern at different depths. Second, initial soil moisture was an important factor influencing the vertical movement of soil water during rainfall events. In vegetable plot, simultaneous response of soil moisture to rainfall was observed at 10- and 20-cm depths due to fast infiltration when initial soil was relatively dry. However, traditional downward response order occurred when initial soil was relatively wet. Third, critical soil horizon interface was an active zone of soil water accumulation and lateral movement. A less permeable W-B soil horizon interface (40-cm depth) in vegetable plot can create perched water table above it and elevate the soil water content at the corresponding depth. Fourth, the land cover was an effective control factor of soil moisture during small and moderate rainfall events. In the forestland, moderate and small rainfall events had tiny influences on soil moisture due to canopy and surface O horizon interception. Fifth, preferential flow and lateral subsurface interflow were important paths of soil water movement. During large and long duration rainfall events, lateral subsurface flow and preferential flow through surface crack or soil pipe occurred, which recharged the deep soil. However, in more concentrated large storm, surface crack or soil pipe connected by soil macropores was the main contributor to the occurrence of preferential flow. Findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for sustainable water and fertilizer management and land use planning in the Taihu Lake Basin.

Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) have routinely been used to estimate the soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) from easily measurable soil properties, such as particle-size distribution, organic matter content and bulk density. However, different PTFs often yielded different prediction results. In order to deal with the PTF selection problem, this study used multimodel ensemble approaches to simulate forest soil moisture based on the modelling results of different PTFs. A total of 300 days of observed soil moisture data at four depths (10-, 20-, 40- and 60-cm) were adopted to calibrate the Richards equation and obtain the SHPs by using the inverse option in HYDRUS-1D. Six published PTFs were selected to predict the SHPs, which were used to predict soil moisture temporal variations at these four different depths. Two multimodel ensemble methods, including the simple model average (SMA) and the multiple linear regression (MLR)-based superensemble, were used in this study. Under different selections of training periods (i.e. 50, 100 and 150 days), performances of these multimodel ensemble approaches were compared with those of the best single PTF model. The SMA always had worse performance than the best single model. However, the performances of the superensemble approach were better than those of the best single model, and even comparable to those of the calibrated soil water flow model. Results show that given the relatively long training period (>50 days), it is worthwhile to consider the superensemble method to simulate soil moisture contents in forestland.

Nitrate (NO3−) leaching from agriculture is a growing environmental concern, but little attention has been given to the cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa, where efforts are underway to increase fertilizer (especially nitrogen, N) use to secure food production. During 2015–2017, we monitored NO3− leaching from the critical root zone of maize in the tropical highlands of Tanzania using repacked soil monolith lysimeters. Four urea-N rates (0–150 kg N ha−1) and in combination with maize straw (∼2 Mg C ha−1; C:N ≥ 60) were evaluated in two soil types (sandy Alfisols and clayey Andisols). The soil rewetting process, particularly at the onset of the rainy season and following N applications, was a critical driver of NO3− flux. Nitrate leaching increased exponentially with increasing N rates, yet inter-annual variation was observed. Relating cumulative NO3− flux to maize yield under increasing N rates revealed a tipping point—occurrence depending on season—above which yield increments were accompanied by substantial NO3− leaching. Such a tipping point occurred at the N rate of 62 and 50 kg N ha−1 at the sandy and clayey site, respectively, in the second season. Straw incorporation induced net N immobilization in the early growing season, and reduced NO3− leaching by 3.3–6.3 kg N ha−1, but no effect was observed on the cumulative NO3− fluxes or maize yields. The NO3− leaching reductions (equivalent to 1.2–2.7 kg N Mg−1 C) were far below the net N immobilization potential of the incorporated straw (18.0–38.1 kg N Mg−1 C; for C:N ratios of 60–206). This was likely caused by large pieces of straw (∼0.15 m) used in the field, which reduced the surface area exposed to soil and microbes; consequently, only limited N in the decomposition microsites could be immobilized. Our results showed the potential to enhance maize yield without inducing substantial N leaching by adopting the proper N rate in the tropical highlands of Tanzania, and highlighted that temporary immobilization of leachable N by using large pieces of straw in the field was inefficient for the improvement of N synchrony and benefits to yield.