ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PLANT NUTRITION Dr. Péter Csathó

ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PLANT NUTRITION  1. History of agriculture and soil fertility 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests (30 slides) 3. Principles and methods of plant analysis 4. Types of Plant Nutrition Experiments 5. Principles and method of nutrient balance 6. Plant nutrition and environmental aspects of soil pH and lime status 7. Assessing of organic farming from the aspect of sustainable plant nutrition 8. The environmental aspects of plant nutrition 9. Heavy metal load of agricultural production related to plants nutrition 10. The basics of environmentally sound plant nutrition advisory system : Evaluation of the database of Hungarian long-term field NPK fertilization exeriments 11. The structure of environmentally sound plant nutrition advisory system 12. Comparative evaluation of the environmentally sound plant nutrition advisory system, and its application in case of some farms

THE TOOLS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT Soil tests Plant tests    Manure tests  Isotope technique  Fluid culture, sand culture Pot experiments  Field trials Nutrient Balance

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PLANT NUTRITION

The various soil functions Soils are conditionally renewable natural resources Soil is a reactor and transformer. It integrates the influences of other natural resources, such as solar radiation, atmosphere, surface and subsurface waters, deeper geological strata, and biological resources. Their biogeochemical cycles develop a life medium for microbiological activities, and create ecological environment (standort, landsite) for natural vegetation and cultivated crops. Soil is the basic medium of primary biomass production, it is the primary nutrient source of biosphere. Soils represent a major natural storage capacity of heat, water, plant nutrients and – forced to store – wastes as well. Soil represents a high capacity buffer medium of the biosphere against stress factors that can be natural or occurred by human activity Soil is a powerful filtering and detoxification system of nature Soil is a conservator of geological and historical heritage. Várallyay (1997) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests Soil (ground water) - Plant (atmosphere) - Fertilizer System Improper fertilization can cause serious environmental damage. Society has reservation about the use of fertilizers. From the mid-20th century the soil tests basically contributed to the proper distribution of fertilizers, and they decreased the lack of nutrients (mainly phosphorus and potassium) in soils in the world's developed countries. 2. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Relationship between the soil nutrient supply and the yield. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Soil tests are indispensable tools of modern agriculture. They give basic information on soil nutrient status, nutrient content changes, in the course of a relatively long farming period. They are able to detect originally existed or plant production resulted anomalies in the soils. They can help to assess the fertility of newly consolidated production areas or to choose the appropriate amelioration process. They can protect us applying faulty technologies, etc. Kádár (1992) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

The development and history of soil tests 1850 – Determination of the total nutrient content of soil extracted by strong alkalis, and acids respectively - failure. 1890 - Determination of the "readily soluble" nutrient content by weak bases and acids respectively. - It gave good correlation with fertilizer doses (Dyer, 1894). Soil tests are more or less modeling plant nutrient uptake . Any soil tests are as good as they are calibrated in field fertilization experiments. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Routine methods for the determination of readily soluble soil P content Mineral acids and their salts (‘Sigmond, 1901; Kirszanov, 1931; Bray és Kurtz, 1945) Organic acids and their salts (AL: Egnér et al., 1960; Mehlich, 1984) Alkali and salts producing basic solution (Macsigin, 1952, Olsen, 1954) water and neutral salts (Schachtschabel, 1966; Houba et al., 1986) Other methods (anion-exchange resin , AERM: Amer at al., 1955 ; Saggar et al., 1992; FeO-paper strip: Kuo, 1996) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Routine methods for the determination of readily soluble soil K content Mineral acids and their salts (Kirszanov, 1932; Bray és Kurtz, 1945) Organic acids and their salts (AL: Egnér et al., 1960; Wanasuria et al. 1981; Mehlich, 1984) Alkali and salts producing basic solution (Macsigin ,1952) water and neutral salts (Schachtschabel, 1966; Houba et al., 1986) Other methods (anion-exchange resin, AERM: Amer at al., 1955) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests The suitability of the soil P test depends on the soil characteristics 1. Mineral acidic solvents (Bray1): For neutral and acidic soils. In case of calcareous soils it overestimates the soil P- supplying capacity, since it dissolves the Ca-phosphates as well, which is not available for the plants. Organic acidic solvents (AL, Mehlich3): due to the buffering capacity of dissolving agents they can be used in all soils, but in case of calcareous soils they also overestimate the soil P-supplying capacity, because they also dissolve calcium phosphates which is not available for plants. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests The suitability of the soil P test depends on the soil characteristics 2. Alkaline solvents (Macsigin, Olsen): For neutral and calcareous soils. They do not dissolve calcium phosphates buried in the lime layers , which are hardly soluble and not available for plants. Water and neutral salts (H2O; 0,01 M CaCl2): For intensively fertilized areas (e.g. the Netherlands.). The latter is a multi-element method. Detection limit can be problem. Other (So-called "P-sink") methods (AERMOD, FeO paper strip) in all soils. It indicates the availability of water-soluble P forms (e.g. superphosphate) and citrate soluble P forms (e.g. reactive rock phosphates) as well. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

The most important P tests and their prevalence Bray1: US eastern states. Mehlich3: US eastern states, Slovakia Olsen: Western US states, Australia, Britain, Denmark, Italy, South Africa, etc.). AL: Nordic countries, Benelux, Central and Eastern Europe, Portugal. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

The most important K tests and their prevalence (Their suitability depends on the soil properties less than P tests.) Bray1, Mehlich3: US eastern states. Neutral ammonium acetate-western states of the US, Western Europe, etc.). AL: Nordic countries, Benelux, Central and Eastern Europe, Estonia, Portugal. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Relationships between certain soil PK tests 1. Relationship between soil AL-P2O5 and Olsen-P content (A). Relationship between adjusted AL-P2O5 and Olsen-P content (B) . Hungarian Long term fertilization experiments (OMTK A1727 )1994. (Csathó, 2004) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Relationships between certain soil PK tests 2. Relationship between soil AL-P2O5 and Mehlich3-P content (A). Relationship between adjusted AL-P2O5 and Mehlich3-P content (B) . Hungarian Long term fertilization experiments (OMTK A1727 )1994. (Csathó, 2004) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Relationships between certain soil PK tests 3 Relationship between soil AL-P2O5 and AERM-P content (A). Relationship between adjusted AL-P2O5 and AERM-P content (B) . Hungarian Long term fertilization experiments (OMTK A1727 )1994. (Csathó, 2004) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Adjusting AL-P model proposed by Sarkadi y = x1ε . x2α . /x3 + δ/β . x4γ + φ, where [1] y = P uptake of plant mg; x1 = AL-P2O5 mg/kg; x2 = pHKCl; x3 = CaCO3%; x4 = KA; és α, β, γ, δ, ε, and φ are function parameters The constants of the equaition are the following: α = - 0.65; β= - 0.09; γ = 0.52, δ = 0.13, és ε = 0.63. 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Relationships between certain soil PK tests 4.. Relationship between soil NH4OAc- and AL- K content . Hungarian Long term fertilization experiments (OMTK A1727 ), 9 sites 1994. (Csathó, 2004) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

The requirements for chemical soil tests  To be well reproduced To show a strong correlation to the degree of nutrient impacts  To be calibrated in a large number of fertilization experiments, so that their critical values can be determined To be as far as possible less dependent on other soil properties (texture, pH, CaCO3 etc.).   2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests We summarizes the limitations of current nutrients routine tests according to Bergmann (1968), Sarkadi (1975), Baker et Amacher (1981), Kadar (1986), etc. 1. To determine the total amounts of nutrients alone may be insufficient because of the different soil nutrient supplying capacity of soils. The measured values ​​are hard to calibrate for the actual availability. (A mennyiségi tényező helyett teljes tápanyagtartalmat fordítottam, nem tudom jól értelmeztem-e így) 2. We can only estimate the availability factors. The actual availability forms during the growing season under the influence of a number of external factors. 3. We do not measure directly the soil buffering capacity or factors such as air/water ratio in the soil, or the soil biological activity. 4. In general, we ignore the spatial variability of soil parameters in the soil profile or in time (during the growing season). 5. In principle, soil tests are unable to take into account outside factors such as plant species and varieties, agricultural technology impact, climate and other environmental factors. 6. The plant nutrient uptake is created as a result of the quantity and quality of the crop, the interactions between organisms and their environment. The chemical analysis of the soil is only likely to be predictive of certain nutrients conditions in the soil.   2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Rules of soil sampling (Kádár, 1992; Kalocsai, 2007; www.fvm.hu): A representative sample can characterize maximum 5 ha area. If the plot area exceeds 5 hectares, the parcel has to be split into 5 ha, preferably homogeneous areas In case of a representative sample we collect subsamples from random spots within the defined area then mix them together into one soil samples (Ezt előre hoznám, hogy egyértelmű legyen. Az átlagminta, a tükör fordítás „average sample” nem használatos ugyanis) The determination of sampling points should be based on 1: 10,000 scale map. Failing that, we can use individual copies of block maps as well. We have to  fix the sampling locations on the map and well as the identification number of the collected samples . Soil physical appearance, texture, color, slope, drainage, and past management should be similar throughout the area.  The sampling depth and the method should be also the same For arable crops we collect one-one representative sample from the cultivated layers (0-25 cm) per plot, the maximum size of the area is 5 hectare . Although it is better , if we collect two duplicated representative samples per 10 hectares. In case of meadows and grassland culture we collect one sample from 2-20 cm depth per plot up to 5 hectares , but better yet, if collect duplicate samples per 10 hectares. In case of fruit trees or grapes we collect one representative samples from 0-30 and 30-60 cm, and in case of hips from 0-20 and 20-40 cm - 2. A talajvizsgálatok alapelvei és módszerei

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests The more subsamples put together the representative sample, the more accurate the results expected. In case of meadows and pasture samples should be taken from minimum of 30 spots, in case of field crops at least from 20 plots. We take the same mass in each replication. We take sub-sample along zigzag line, or along the two diagonals to characterize the area the best possible way (see figure). - Before starting the sampling we have to remove crop residues from the soil surface 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests Method of soil sampling We have to collect separate sample from the homogeneous spots within the area 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests - DO NOT TAKE SAMPLES - At the edge of the area in 20 meter band in case of arable crops - At the site of forgó? (ezt a szót nem találom sajnos) At the site of haystacks - At Fertilizers, soil conditioners and organic fertilizer depots place or at resting place for animals OPTIMAL date of sampling is after harvesting, even before the period of fertilization WE CAN GET SAMPLE - From areas fertilized at fall, if we take the sample next year minimum 100 days after the fertilization. - From areas fertilized in spring, if we take sample after harvest minimum 100 days after the fertilization. - From areas treated with organic manure, if we take sample minimum 6 months after the treatment - 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests Distribution of NO3-N (kg/ha) in depth of 0-600 cm in a long term experiment. (Németh és Kádár 1991) 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Phosphorous adsorption versus soil pH 2.

Potassium forms in the soil Inkább ezt az ábrát javasolnám Source: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/nutrient-management/potassium/potassium-for-crop-production/ 2. Basic principles and methods of soil tests

Potassium forms in the soil 2. A talajvizsgálatok alapelvei és módszerei

Number of soil tests in Hungary 1981-2010

2. A talajvizsgálatok alapelvei és módszerei