Zeolite can effectively regulate the nutrient status in the root zone of crops, thereby increasing nitrogen utilization. However, there has been relatively little research conducted concerning a possible reduction in the frequency of nitrogen application due to the sustained-release properties of...

Effects of zeolite application on grain yield, water use and nitrogen uptake of rice under alternate wetting and drying irrigation

Pot experiment were conducted from 2013 to 2014 to provide solutions for poor water–nitrogen (N) use efficiency with zeolite (Z) in near-surface soil. This article aims to study the influences of different levels of Z (Z1, Z2, Z3, 0, 7500, and 15,000 kg hm⁻²) and N (N1, N2, N3, 0, 78.75, and 157.5 kg hm⁻²) on rice grain yield, soil total N (STN), water productivity (WP), and N recovery efficiency (NRE). Results showed that higher dry matter weight, grain yield, water consumption, N accumulation, and WP were obtained with increasing N rates. There were no significant influences on dry matter weight of stem and leaf, water consumption, and WP with the application of Z. However, Z input could obtain a higher spike and root weight, grain yield, 1000-grain weight, N accumulation, STN, and NRE. Z might alleviate the water used in jointing-booting stage, heading-flowering stage, and milky ripen stage. Overuse of Z and N led to a decrease in NRE. N3Z2 increased rice grain yield by 10.4%, WP by 7.3%, and NRE by 63% compared with conventional fertilization (N3Z1). The way of N3Z2 is recommended to improve rice yield, WP, NRE, and STN comprehensively in coastal region of Northeast China.

Objective of the article was to assess the coupling effects of zeolite (Z0, 0 t ha-1; Z0.9 and Z0.22, 10 t ha-1 in different diameter of 0.45-0.9 mm and 0.17-0.22 mm) and Nitrogen (N0, N52.5, N105, N157.5 kg ha-1) application on N use, leaf area index (LAI) and rice grain yield in 2014 and 2015. Results showed that both Z0.9 and Z0.22 at N105 and N157.5 application rates could greatly enhance the biomass, dry weight of root, LAI and N uptake. However, at initial tillering stage of rice, Z decreased N content in plant for its high absorption capacity and hence lowered biomass and N uptake. The highest value of N recovery efficiency (NRE) and N use efficiency (NUE) was obtained from N105Z0.22. Z input contributed to higher NRE and NUE. At N157.5 application rate, Z0.9 and Z0.22 significantly increased rice grain yield by 14.6% and 15.3%, respectively. However, Z mattered little to rice grain yield at N0 and N52.5. There was no significant difference in rice grain yield between Z0.22 and Z0.9. Z0.22 and Z0.9 clearly increased the 1000-grain weight. N application significantly lowered unfilled grain percentage and 1000-grain weight.

Field experiments were carried out in Western Liaoning Province to investigate the effects of biochar on peanut nitrogen accumulation (NA) and soil properties in aeolian sandy soil and the relationship between NA parameters regulated by biochar and peanut quality. A split-plot design was adopted. Drip irrigation and mulched drip irrigation were used in the main plot, and three biochar application rates of B0 (0 t/ha), B1 (24 t/ha), and B2 (48t/ha) were used in the sub-plots. The results showed that different irrigation methods and biochar application significantly increased NA of peanuts, and NA of peanuts was in line with a logistic growth function (R²༞0.97). In 2020 and 2021, the pod NA of MB1 compared with MB0 treatment increased by 52.28% and 32.58% at pod filling stage, respectively. B2 treatment increased soil organic matter by 109.66%, cation exchange capacity by75.94%, total N content by 5% (P༞0.05), and pH by 15.24% compared with no biochar. The correlation coefficient between soil total N and protein content was 0.73, and that between soil pH and oil was 0.83. Compared with MB2 and DB0, MB1 treatment increased yield by 62.50% and 38.30%, respectively. In conclusion, applying biochar (B1) to a peanut cultivation system in aeolian sandy soil area increased peanut NA, improved soil properties related to peanut quality, broke through environmental barriers and improved peanut quality, which is important for peanut N fixation and improving quality in the semi-arid aeolian sandy soil area of western Liaoning Province.