Full substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic manure decreases soil N O emissions driven by ammonia oxidizers and gross nitrogen transformations.

Replacing synthetic fertilizer by organic manure has been shown to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide (N O), but the specific roles of ammonia oxidizing microorganisms and gross nitrogen (N) transformation in regulating N O remain unclear. Here, we examined the effect of completely replacing chemical fertilizer with organic manure on N O emissions, ammonia oxidizers, gross N transformation rates using a 13-year field manipulation experiment. Our results showed that organic manure reduced cumulative N O emissions by 16.

Mixed cropping with duck co-culture: an agroecological system to improve grain quality and farm profitability.

Background: Previous studies found that mixed cropping combined with duck co-culture (MCDC) system could improve the efficiency of grain production and positively affect soil nutrient contents. However, the effects on grain quality, and profitable income have not been evaluated yet. In this study, a field experiment with four combinations of different rice varieties and ducks was conducted during both the early and late rice growing seasons.

Mix-cropping of rice and water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea Lour.) increases rice photosynthetic efficiency, yield, grain quality and soil available nutrients.

Background: Cereal cultivation with legumes plays an important role in improving biodiversity and productivity. However, there are limited references concerning rice/legume mix-cropping in paddy fields. An aquatic leguminous plant, water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea Lour.

Water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea Lour.) can fix and transfer nitrogen to rice in their intercropping system.

Background: Cereal-legume intercropping systems are an environmentally friendly practice in sustainable agriculture. However, research on the interspecific interaction of nitrogen (N) between rice and aquatic legumes has rarely been undertaken. To address this issue, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate N utilization and the N interaction between rice and water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea Lour.

Effects of the integration of mixed-cropping and rice-duck co-culture on rice yield and soil nutrients in southern China.

Background: Biodiversity-based agricultural systems can improve production efficiency and sustainability, with fewer negative environmental impacts and lower use of external inputs. Mixed-cropping and rice-duck co-culture have been shown to produce ecological benefits and to have positive effects on paddy soil. However, the effects of a combination of mixed cropping with different rice cultivars and duck co-culture on soil nutrients availability and grain yields have not been evaluated.