Effect of N and K Fertilizers on Yield and Quality of Greenhouse Vegetable Crops

doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(08)60040-5

Pedosphere

Volume 18, Issue 4, August 2008, Pages 496-502

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(08)60040-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The application of large amounts of fertilizers, a conventional practice in northern China for the production of vegetable crops, generally leads to substantial accumulation of soil nutrients within a relatively short period of time. A fixed field experiment was designed to study the effects of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers applied to optimize the yield and quality of typical vegetable crops. Application of N and K fertilizers significantly increased the yields of kidney bean. The largest yields were obtained in the first and second years after application of 1 500 kg N and 300 kg K₂O ha⁻¹. In the third year, however, there was a general decline in yields. Maximum yields occurred when intermediate rates of N and K (750 kg N and 300 kg K₂O ha⁻¹) were applied. However, no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of vitamin C (VC) in kidney bean among different years and various rates of fertilizer treatments. Yields of tomato grown in rotation after kidney bean showed significant responses to the application of N and K in the first year. In the second year, the yields of tomato were much lower. This suggested that the application of N fertilizer did not have any effect upon tomato yield, whereas application of K fertilizer did increase the yield. Application of K fertilizer was often associated with increased sugar concentrations.

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Protected vegetables have undergone rapid development in recent decades in China, accompanied by high resource consumption and environmental load. This study adopts emergy synthesis to evaluate the sustainability of protected vegetable production system (PVPS) in China. The emergy input structure and emergy flow of the PVPS were first determined to reveal its unique artificial environment from the perspective of facility structure and internal environment. Then, a new emergy indicator of artificial environment sustainability (EIAS) and conventional emergy-based indicators were proposed to evaluate the regional heterogeneity of PVPS in China's four major producing regions. Finally, six hypothetical scenarios were designed to explore the future development direction and sustainability of the PVPS. The results showed that the total emergy input for PVPS was 3.79E+22 sej in 2018, which mainly depended on non-renewable purchase emergy, such as labor and services (41.67%), artificial environment construction (23.35%), and land cost (10.83%). The provinces with the highest emergy inputs were concentrated in the Huang-Huai-Hai temperate region, followed by the subtropical region of the Yangtze River Basin. The proportion of artificial environment construction input in the northeast temperate region was the largest, while that in the subtropical region of the Yangze River Basin was the smallest. Compared with the baseline scenario, emergy input can be reduced by 1.79%, and sustainability can be improved by 1.96%, by reducing artificial environment construction input by 2030, with a limited optimization effect. Integrated technological improvements, such as advanced farmland management, water-saving irrigation technology, and energy-efficient utilization, can improve the sustainability of PVPS by 5.99% without sacrificing vegetable yield. This study provides a better understanding of the sustainable management of PVPS.
Effects of fertilization on the triafamone photodegradation in aqueous solution: Kinetic, identification of photoproducts and degradation pathway
2020, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Citation Excerpt :
Fertilizers are important in agriculture to produce high yields of grain. Large amounts of chemical and organic fertilizers are applied in farm fields (Lian et al., 2018; Liu et al., 2008; Jiang et al., 2019). Used chemical and organic fertilizers enter surface runoffs through irrigation and precipitation (Liu et al., 2016a,b; Wang et al., 2018a,b), and can thereby affect pesticide degradation in the water environment.
Triafamone is a highly effective, low toxicity sulfonamide herbicide widely used for weeding paddy fields. The triafamone photodegradation in water environment must be explored for its ecological risk assessment. In this work, the effects of chemical fertilizer (urea, diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride, and potassium sulfate), urea metabolites (CO₃²⁻ and HCO₃⁻), and organic fertilizers (unfermented organic fertilizer [UOF] and fermented organic fertilizer [FOF]) on the triafamone photodegradation in aqueous solution under simulated sunlight were evaluated. Results showed that the triafamone photodegradation rate was unaffected by urea. The half-life of triafamone decreased from 106.8 h to 68.4 h with increasing diammonium phosphate concentration. Potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, CO₃²⁻, and HCO₃⁻ could accelerate the triafamone photodegradation at all concentrations, whereas the degradation rate of triafamone decreased when the concentration of potassium sulfate or CO₃²⁻ was 2000 mg/L. Triafamone photodegradation was promoted by 20–200 mg/L UOF and FOF but decreased to 236.6 and 142.3 h when the concentration reached 2000 mg/L. Twenty-three transformation products were isolated and identified from triafamone by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry under simulated sunlight irradiation, and the kinetic evolution of these products was explored. Five possible degradation pathways were inferred, including the cleavage of C–N, C–C, and C–O bonds; CO bond hydrogenation; the cleavage of triazine ring; the cleavage of the sulfonamide bridge; hydroxylation; hydroxyl substitution; methylation; demethylation; amination; and rearrangement. In summary, these results are important for elucidating the environmental fate of triafamone in aquatic systems and further assessing environmental risks.
Specific Responses of Soil Microbial Residue Carbon to Long-Term Mineral Fertilizer Applications to Reddish Paddy Soils
2018, Pedosphere
Mineral nutrient inputs to soil may alter microbial activity and consequently influence the accumulation of microbial residues. In this study, we investigated the effects of application rates and ratios of mineral fertilizers on the microbial residue carbon (MRC) of reddish paddy soils after long-term (15-year) fertilizer applications in southern China. Contents of three soil amino sugars as microbial residue contents were determined and MRC were calculated based on amino sugars. Results showed that three individual amino sugar contents increased as fertilizer application rates increased until maximum values were reached at a rate of 450-59-187 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (N-P-K). The three amino sugar contents then declined significantly under the highest mineral fertilizer application rate of 675-88-280 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (N-P-K). In addition, to enhance the microbial residue contents, it was more beneficial to double P (N:P:K = 1:0.26:0.41) in fertilizers applied to the P-deficient reddish paddy soils than to double either N (N:P:K = 2:0.13:0.41) or K (N:P:K = 1:0.13:0.82). The contents of the three individual amino sugars and microbial residues under different fertilizer application rates and ratios were significantly and positively correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, total P, and pH. Increases in values of the fungal C to bacterial C ratios showed that soil organic matter (SOM) stability increased because of the fertilizer applications over the past 15 years. The contents and ratios of amino sugars can be used as indicators to evaluate the impact of mineral fertilizer applications on SOM dynamics in subtropical paddy soils. The results indicated that fertilizer applications at a rate of 450-59-187 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (N-P-K) may improve crop yields, SOC contents, and SOC stability in subtropical paddy soils.
Assessment and source identification of trace metals in the soils of greenhouse vegetable production in eastern China
2013, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Citation Excerpt :
This accumulation represents serious health risks for human consumption (Khan et al., 2008; Mansour and Gad, 2010). Although some studies have reported the spatial distribution (Liu et al., 2009), temporal variation (Wang et al., 2006) and environmental quality evaluation (Liu et al., 2008a) of trace metals in GVPS of China, many gaps in our knowledge remain. Accumulation rates, pollution levels and sources of trace metals in GVPS are largely unknown.
Worldwide concern about the occurrence of trace metals in greenhouse vegetable production soils (GVPS) is growing. In this study, a total of 385 surface GVPS samples were collected in Shouguang and four vegetable production bases in Nanjing, Eastern China, for the determination of As and Hg using atomic fluorescence spectrometry and Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Geo-accumulation indices and factor analysis were used to investigate the accumulation and sources of the trace metals in soils in Eastern China. The results revealed that greenhouse production practices increased accumulation of the trace metals, particularly Cd, Zn, and Cu in soils and their accumulation became significant with increasing years of cultivation. Accumulation of Cd and Zn was also found in soils from organic greenhouses. The GVPS was generally less polluted or moderately polluted by As, Cu, Zn, and Pb but heavily polluted by Cd and Hg in some locations. Overall, accumulation of Cd, Zn, and Cu in GVPS was primarily associated with anthropogenic activities, particularly, application of manure. The high level of Hg found in some sites was related to historical heavy application of Hg containing pesticides. However, further identification of Hg sources is needed. To reduce accumulation of the trace metals in GVPS, organic fertilizer application should be suggested through development and implementation of reasonable and sustainable strategies.
Analysis of Heavy Metal Sources for Vegetable Soils from Shandong Province, China
2011, Agricultural Sciences in China
Heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils has serious negative influence on human health. Concentrations of Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni in top soils (0-20 cm) of greenhouses and farmlands from four main vegetable production areas Shouguang, Laiyang, Jinxiang, and Zhangqiu in Shandong Province, one of the most rapidly developing regions in China, were measured in this study. Shouguang is mainly occupied by greenhouse vegetables and the other three areas are mainly open field culture. Total of 149 soil samples were collected. The average concentrations of the eight heavy metals of the tested 149 soil samples were all below the threshold values according to “Farmland environmental quality evaluation standards for edible agricultural products (HJ332-2006)” of China. However, most of the studied heavy metals were present at higher concentrations than those of the natural background levels in local agricultural soils. Among the total 149 soil samples, 22 samples were contaminated by Cd, Ni, Cu, or Hg. Comparisons showed that the main pollution element in greenhouse vegetable soils was Cd, while that of open field vegetable soils was Cu. The results of principal components analysis (PCA) suggested that concentrations of Cr, As, and Ni were mainly controlled by parent rocks; Hg and Pb were affected by anthropogenic activities such as vehicle and industrial fumes and waste water irrigation. Meanwhile, concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn were affected mainly by the use of agrochemicals. Most of the heavy metals were positively correlated with each other in concentration. Appropriate measures should be taken to effectively control heavy metal levels in vegetable soils and thus protect human health.
Improvement of nutritional quality of food crops with fertilizer: a global meta-analysis
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¹: Project supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (No. 2006BAD17B07) and the Independent Innovation Program of the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences of China (No. 2007ycx023-01).

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Pedosphere

Abstract

References (24)

Quality of yellow passionfruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) as affected by potassium nutrition

Fruits.

Influence of different levels of potassium fertilizers on growth, yield and ascorbic acid content of tomato fruit grown in non-heated greenhouse

Acta Horticulturae.

Influence of graded level of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the yield and quality of polyhouse grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) hybrids

Indian J. Agr. Sci.

The problems and countermeasures of vegetable fertilization in Beijing

Comparative studies on some components of integrated management on soil borne plant pathogen affecting cucumber, grown under protected agriculture

Acta Horticulturae.

FAO Statistical Yearbook 2004

Yield of greenhouse tomato in response to supplemental nitrogen and potassium

Acta Horticulturae.

Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium application to stock plants on nutrient status of coppice shoots of teak (Tectona grandis Linn f.)

Ann. Forest.

The effect of nitrogen and potassium on tomato quality

Acta Horticulturae.

Dynamics of various nitrogen forms in soils and nitrogen utilization under application urea and different organic materials

J. China Agr. Univ.

Salinization problem in Antalya Region greenhouse soils and recommendations

Acta Horticulturae.

Cited by (29)

Sustainability evaluation of protected vegetables production in China based on emergy analysis

Effects of fertilization on the triafamone photodegradation in aqueous solution: Kinetic, identification of photoproducts and degradation pathway

Specific Responses of Soil Microbial Residue Carbon to Long-Term Mineral Fertilizer Applications to Reddish Paddy Soils

Assessment and source identification of trace metals in the soils of greenhouse vegetable production in eastern China

Analysis of Heavy Metal Sources for Vegetable Soils from Shandong Province, China

Improvement of nutritional quality of food crops with fertilizer: a global meta-analysis

Effect of N and K Fertilizers on Yield and Quality of Greenhouse Vegetable Crops1

Abstract

Quality of yellow passionfruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) as affected by potassium nutrition

Fruits.

Influence of different levels of potassium fertilizers on growth, yield and ascorbic acid content of tomato fruit grown in non-heated greenhouse

Acta Horticulturae.

Influence of graded level of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the yield and quality of polyhouse grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) hybrids

Indian J. Agr. Sci.

The problems and countermeasures of vegetable fertilization in Beijing

Comparative studies on some components of integrated management on soil borne plant pathogen affecting cucumber, grown under protected agriculture

Acta Horticulturae.

FAO Statistical Yearbook 2004

Yield of greenhouse tomato in response to supplemental nitrogen and potassium

Acta Horticulturae.

Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium application to stock plants on nutrient status of coppice shoots of teak (Tectona grandis Linn f.)

Ann. Forest.

The effect of nitrogen and potassium on tomato quality

Acta Horticulturae.

Dynamics of various nitrogen forms in soils and nitrogen utilization under application urea and different organic materials

J. China Agr. Univ.

Salinization problem in Antalya Region greenhouse soils and recommendations

Acta Horticulturae.

Effect of N and K Fertilizers on Yield and Quality of Greenhouse Vegetable Crops¹