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To achieve high economic benefits, reapplying fertilizers has been a common business measure taken for harvesting Moso bamboo shoots and timber in the past decades in subtropical China. Applying compound and organic fertilizers is an effective measure to enhance soil fertility and promote plant production. To demonstrate how compound fertilizer (CF) decrement and application of silkworm excrement organic fertilizer (SEOF) effect on soil quality, bamboo shoot yield and quality of Moso bamboo plantations, six CF decrement treatments (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % SEOF substitution, and no fertilization) were examined in our study. Soil nutrients, enzyme activities, bacterial community structures, bamboo shoot yield and quality were determined, and their relationships were analyzed. The results showed that adding SEOF improved soil quality and bamboo shoot yield. Compared with CF, the combined CF-SEOF treatments increased soil pH, soil organic carbon, N and P availability, and the activities of enzymes related to C, N, and P cycling. SEOF substitution significantly changed the soil bacterial community structure and increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Higher proportions of organic fertilizer substitution (OF75, OF) enhanced the bamboo shoot yield (by 20.23 % and 16.55 %, respectively) and their total flavonoid and vitamin C content, compared to CF ( p< 0.05). Moreover, the soil quality index of OF75 and OF50 was significantly higher than that of OF and OF25 in the 0–40 cm soil layer ( p< 0.05). Pearson’s correlation tests showed that bamboo shoot yield was positively related with soil nutrients ( p< 0.05). In addition, SEM revealed that fertilization affected soil enzyme activities through soil microorganisms, thereby affecting soil nutrient availability and promoting SQI and bamboo shoot yield. In conclusion, our study revealed that SEOF production is advisable for improving soil quality and bamboo shoot yield, providing evidence that soil nutrients and bacteria contribute to shoot yield and promote the sustainable management of soil and Moso bamboo forests.

PurposeUrease inhibitors provide a simple solution to mitigate ammonia loss from fertilized soil. Consumption of bulk blend fertilizers and compound fertilizers were increased in recent year and its enhanced efficiency and stabilized techniques were urgently required. However, it is essentially unknown if and how the efficacy of urease inhibitors is influenced by the inclusion of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers with urea.Materials and methodsA laboratory study was therefore conducted to assess the impact of P and K (bulk blend scenario: combing urea with di-ammonium phosphate (DAP); compound fertilizer scenario: nitrogen (N)-P-K proportion as 16-16-16 (CN16) or 32-0-6 (CN32)) and additionally the impact of fertilizer storage duration and temperature on the efficacy of two different urease inhibitors NBPT and Limus® in reducing ammonia volatilization following application to soil.Results and discussionBoth urease inhibitors significantly reduced ammonia loss from urea regardless of storage temperature and time. However, mixed storage of urea and DAP with urease inhibitors significantly decreased the efficacy of NBPT and Limus® in reducing ammonia loss. Ammonia loss increased exponentially with DAP addition rate and with storage time of the mixture. Storage at a higher temperature (30 °C compared with 20 °C) also reduced the efficacy of the inhibitors. Adding magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to urea plus Limus® significantly mitigated the negative effect of DAP mixed storage on the efficacy of Limus® regardless of storage temperature and time. The urease inhibitors did not significantly reduce ammonia loss from CN16, but were effective for reducing ammonia loss from CN32.ConclusionsThe efficacy of urease inhibitors was compromised by P fertilizer. Urease inhibitor inclusion in the production of CN32, urea, and its blends (DAP + MgSO4) are recommended as an effective means of reducing the environmental cost causing by intensive agricultural production.

Biochar compound fertilisers (BCFs) are an emerging technology that combine biochar with nutrients, clays and minerals and can be formulated to address specific issues in soil-plant systems. However, knowledge of BCF performance over consecutive crops and without re-application is limited. This study aims to assess the residual effect of organic BCFs soil-plant nutrient cycling 2 years after application and without additional fertiliser inputs. We applied BCFs and biochar with organic fertiliser amendments and established a crop of ginger and a second crop of turmeric ( Curcuma longa) without re-application or additional fertilisation. All treatment formulations included bamboo-biochar and organic fertiliser amendments; however, two novel BCFs were formulated to promote agronomic response in an intensive cropping system. We report here on the effect of treatments on soil and plant macronutrient and micronutrient cycling and turmeric growth, biomass and yield at harvest. Both BCFs (enriched (10 t ha −1 ) and organo-mineral biochar (8.6 t ha −1 ) increased foliar K (+155% and +120%) and decreased foliar Mg (−20% and −19%) concentration compared with all other treatments, suggesting antagonism between K and Mg. Plants were limited for K, P and B at harvest but not N, Ca or Mg. Foliar K was dependent on the biochar formulation rather than the rate of application. Biochar-clay aggregates increased K retention and cycling in the soil solution 2 years after application. Clay blended BCFs reduced K limitation in turmeric compared to biochar co-applied with organic amendments, suggesting these blends can be used to manage organic K nutrition. All formulations and rates of biochar increased leaf biomass and shoot-to-root ratio. Novel BCFs should be considered as an alternative to co-applying biochar with organic fertiliser amendments to decrease application rates and increase economic feasibility for farmers. Applying BCFs without re-application or supplementary fertiliser did not provide sufficient K or P reserves in the second year for consecutive cropping. Therefore, supplementary fertilisation is recommended to avoid nutrient deficiency and reduced yield for consecutive organic rhizome crops.

The extracted residue of Polygonum cuspidatum (a valuable medicinal plant) rhizome is discarded as waste, while it is unclear whether returning this residue to the field would be beneficial for the growth and its active component production of P . cuspidatum . This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying P . cuspidatum residues (PRs) to the field on plant growth, photosynthetic activities, root indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) levels, active component (polydatin, resveratrol, and emodin) contents, and the expression of resveratrol-associated genes ( PcRS and PcPKS1 ) in P . cuspidatum plants. The experiment comprised four treatments, namely, the application of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg/667 m 2 and the application of PRs at rates of 1500 kg/667 m 2 (PR1500), 2500 kg/667 m 2 (PR2500), and 4000 kg/667 m 2 (PR4000), along with a control (CK) receiving no additional substances. Two years later, the application of both the compound fertilizer and PR treatments led to substantial increases in plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, number of nodes on main stems, and aboveground (leaf, branch, and main stem) and root biomass production, depending on used doses of PRs applied. Among them, the PR2500 treatment exhibited the superior performance. Additionally, these treatments significantly boosted root IAA (11.0−41.7%) and ZR (17.8−46.0%) levels, with the PR2500 treatment demonstrating the highest efficacy. Root IAA and ZR levels were significantly ( p < 0.01) positively correlated with root biomass. All treatments, except for PR4000, significantly elevated SPAD values, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO 2 concentration in leaves, with PR2500 showing the most pronounced improvements. Fertilization and PR treatments significantly boosted root polydatin (6.6−22.0%), emodin (12.1−43.3%), and resveratrol (17.8−69.3%, except for PR4000) levels, along with a significant up-regulation of PcRS expression and a significant down-regulation of PcPKS1 expression in roots. In short, organic amendments like PRs, particularly at a rate of 2500 kg/667 m 2 , can be a viable alternative to traditional fertilizers for enhancing the plant growth and its active component levels of P . cuspidatum , making them a cornerstone of eco-friendly farming practices and sustainable agriculture.

The purpose of this study was to obtain a package of compound fertilization on a double row system on growth, cane yield, sugar content, and sugar yield on first ratoon cane (RC1) in dry land. The research was conducted from January to October 2016 at Asembagus Research Station, Situbondo, East Java. Six treatments of fertilizer packages were arranged in a Randomized Block Design with four replications, consisting of standard fertilizer packages for a single row (6 quintal compound fertilizer NPK (15-15-15) + 5 quintals ZA) per ha, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 times the standard fertilizer package. The results showed that the highest RC1 sugarcane yield (138.57 t/ha) was achieved by fertilizing 8.4 compound fertilizer + 7 ZA (quintal/ha) or 1.4 times the standard dose, resulting in a 25.52% increase in sugarcane yield compared to standard fertilizer (110.40 t/ha). The sugar content did not differ among the treatments ranging from 9.2 to 10%. The highest sugar yield was 12.97 t/ha in line with sugarcane yield. This finding suggested the recommendation of a fertilizer package for a double row system in sugarcane.

High-ash coal slime is difficult to utilise as a boiler fuel, and its accumulation results in environmental pollution. In this study, we describe a new method for the preparation of high-ash coal slime silica compound fertiliser (HASF) using CaO–KOH mixed hydrothermal method to optimize the utilization of this industrial waste and relieve the pressure on the fertiliser industry. The coal slime (D0) used in this study and its dry basis ash content by 1 mol/L and 4 mol/L sulfuric acid pre-activation (D1, D4) were greater than 85%. The effective silicon content of D0, D1, and D4 silica compound fertilisers reached 30.24%, 31.24%, and 17.35%, respectively, and the sums of effective silica-calcium-potassium oxides were 57.28%, 58.87%, and 48.16%, respectively, under the optimal reaction conditions of 230 °C, 15 h, and 1 mol/L KOH, which met the market requirements, as determined using single-factor experiments. We used XRD, FTIR, and SEM–EDS analysis techniques to demonstrate that tobermorite and leucite were the main mineral phases of the compound fertiliser, and activated coal slime D4, which contains only quartz single crystals, required more demanding reaction conditions in the synthesis reaction. Subsequently, the cumulative release pattern of HASF silica was well described by the power function equation via repeated extraction and dissolution experiments, with the dissolution rate following D4 > D1 ≈ D0. Furthermore, 4 mol/L sulfuric acid pre-activation resulted in the enrichment of HASF combined with organic matter and increased the slow-release rate of HASF silica. Thus, the synthesized HASF could have potential application prospects in soil improvement and fertilisation.

Agricultural soil contaminated with mercury (Hg) poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. Although adding an appropriate amount of selenium (Se) can reduce the toxicity and mobility of Hg in soil, Se alone is prone to leaching into groundwater through soil runoff. Therefore, Se-enriched compound fertilizers were developed, and their remediation effect on Hg-contaminated agricultural soil was determined. The Se-enriched compound fertilizers were prepared by combining an organic fertilizer (vinegar residue, biochar, and potassium humate), inorganic fertilizer (urea, KH2PO4, ZnSO4, and Na2SeO3), and a binder (attapulgite and bentonite). A material proportioning experiment showed that the optimal granulation rate, organic matter content, and compressive strength were achieved when using 15% attapulgite (Formulation 1) and 10% bentonite (Formulation 2). An analysis of Se-enriched compound fertilizer particles showed that the two Se-enriched compound fertilizers complied with the standard for organic–inorganic compound fertilizers (China GB 18877-2002). Compared with the control, Formulation 1 and Formulation 2 significantly reduced the Hg content in bulk and rhizosphere soil following diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction by 40.1–47.3% and 53.8–56.0%, respectively. They also significantly reduced the Hg content in maize seedling roots and shoots by 26.4–29.0% and 57.3–58.7%, respectively, effectively limiting Hg uptake, transport, and enrichment. Under the Formulation 1 and Formulation 2 treatments, the total and DTPA-extractable Se contents in soil and maize seedlings were significantly increased. This study demonstrated that Se-enriched compound fertilizer effectively remediates Hg-contaminated agricultural soil and can promote the uptake of Se by maize. The results of this study are expected to positively contribute to the sustainable development of the agro-ecological environment.

Due to the development of urbanization and industrialization, a large amount of cultivated land resources has been occupied, while new reclamation land could expand the supply of usable land for food security. Organic fertilizers, such as crop residues, biosolids, sheep manure, mushroom residue, and biogas liquid, have been considered as an effective amendment in immature soil to improve its quality. Recently, two kinds of commercial organic fertilizers, pig manure and mushroom residue organic fertilizer (PMMR-OF), and sheep manure organic fertilizer (SM-OF), have been more regularly applied in agriculture production. However, the information available on effect of the two kinds of fertilizers on plant growth and rhizosphere soil properties in immature field is very limited. In order to evaluate PMMR-OF and SM-OF on immature soil, the soil quality and microbial community structure of corn rhizosphere soil samples under the two kinds of organic fertilizers at different concentrations was investigated. The results revealed a significant difference between commercial organic fertilizers (especially SM-OF) and chemical compound fertilizers (CCF) in soil properties and microbial community structure. Indeed, compared with the control based on16S and ITS amplicon sequencing of soil microflora, SM-OF caused a 10.79–19.52%, 4.33–4.39%,and 14.58–29.29% increase in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Ascomycota, but a 5.82–20.58%, 0.53–24.06%, 10.87–16.79%, 2.69–10.50%, 44.90–59.24%, 8.88–10.98%, and 2.31–21.98% reduction in Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Chytridiomycota, respectively. CCF caused a 24.11%, 23.28%, 38.87%, 19.88%, 18.28%, and 13.89% reduction in Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, but a 22.77%, 41.28%, 7.88%, and 19.39% increase in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Ascomycota, and Mortierellomycota, respectively. Furthermore, redundancy discriminant analysis of microbial communities and soil properties of PMMR-OF, SM-OF, CCF, and the control treatments indicated that the main variables of bacterial and fungal communities included organic matter content, available P, and available K. Overall, the results of this study revealed significant changes under different fertilizer conditions (PMMR-OF, SM-OF, CCF, under different concentrations) in microbiota and chemical properties of corn soil. Commercial organic fertilizers, particularly SM-OF, can be used as a good amendment for the new reclamation land.

Rocky desertification, a severe form of land degradation in tropical and subtropical regions driven by vegetation loss and soil erosion, poses significant ecological and economic challenges. Field trials in Fengshan County, Guangxi, China, evaluated the efficacy of NPK compound fertilizers, slow-release fertilizers, and bio-organic fertilizers on soil rehabilitation, microbial diversity, and the growth of Mahonia fortunei, a key species for ecological restoration and understory cash crop cultivation. The results demonstrated the bio-organic fertilizer’s superiority in soil regeneration, increasing organic matter by 30.4% (Bolin), 15.73% (Longlai), and 21.83% (Longlei) compared to NPK compound fertilizers, alongside elevating the total nitrogen (reaching 19.4 g/kg in Bolin) and phosphorus (85.45% higher in Bolin). Bio-organic fertilizer increased enzyme activities by 27–202% and enhanced microbial diversity, notably Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Slow-release fertilizers maximized micronutrient availability (e.g., Cu increased by 151.65% in Bolin) and improved plant growth, achieving peak Mahonia fortunei (Lindl.) Fedde height (3.62 cm, increasing 9.04%) and ground diameter (4.5 cm, increasing 18.42%) in Longlei compared to NPK compound fertilizers. Regional variability highlighted the bio-organic fertilizer’s dominance in soil fertility metrics, while slow-release formulations excelled in micronutrient enrichment and plant performance. NPK compound fertilizers exhibited the lowest efficacy, potentially exacerbating soil degradation. This study advocates integrating bio-organic fertilizers for soil regeneration with targeted slow-release applications for crop productivity, particularly in understory cash crop systems. Such a dual approach bridges ecological restoration with economic resilience in karst ecosystems, offering scalable solutions for global rocky desertification mitigation.

To address the problem that granular compound fertilizer 1s prone to agglomeration during mechanized direct seeding of oilseed rape in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which causes clogging of the fertilizer discharger and leads to a reduction in the uniformity and stability of fertilizer discharge, research on the crushing mechanism of caking compound fertilizer was performed. Considering that it is difficult to measure the bonding force between caking fertilizer particles directly, a simulation model of caking composite fertilizer was established with the bonding model in EDEM discrete element software. To decrease error between the simulation and physical test results, the normal contact stiffness, tangential contact stiffness, critical normal stress, critical tangential stress, bonding radius, and other parameters of the bonding model of caking composite fertilizer were calibrated. The three-dimensional structure of the caking composite fertilizer was obtained via three-dimensional scanning, the critical crushing displacement and critical crushing force of the caking composite fertilizer were measured via compression testing with a mass spectrometer, and the optimal parameter combination of the bonding model was determined via EDEM discrete element simulation of the Plackett-Burman test, steepest ascent test, and Box-Behnken test. The results of the simulated compression tests under the optimal parameter combination show that the relative errors of the critical crushing displacement and critical crushing force with respect to the physical test results were 0.296% and 0.343%, respectively. Using the crushing rate of caking compound fertilizer as an evaluation index, the feasibility of the calibrated parameters was verified for a four-head spiral two-row fertilizer discharger installed in a direct seeding machine for oilseed rape. The results show that the relative errors of the caking fertilizer crushing rates from the simulation relative to those of the bench and field tests were 5.81% and 5.06%, respectively, indicating that the calibration parameters of the discrete element model were accurate and could be used for parameter analysis of caking fertilizer with a discrete element model. These results can provide a reference for the structural optimization of fertilizer discharger crushing of caking fertilizer of direct seeding machine for oilseed rape.