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Govednik A, Eler K, Mihelič R, Suhadolc M. Mineral and organic fertilisation influence ammonia oxidisers and denitrifiers and nitrous oxide emissions in a long-term tillage experiment. Sci Total Environ 2024; 928:172054. [PMID: 38569950 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from different agricultural systems have been studied extensively to understand the mechanisms underlying their formation. While a number of long-term field experiments have focused on individual agricultural practices in relation to N2O emissions, studies on the combined effects of multiple practices are lacking. This study evaluated the effect of different tillage [no-till (NT) vs. conventional plough tillage (CT)] in combination with fertilisation [mineral (MIN), compost (ORG), and unfertilised control (CON)] on seasonal N2O emissions and the underlying N-cycling microbial community in one maize growing season. Rainfall events after fertilisation, which resulted in increased soil water content, were the main triggers of the observed N2O emission peaks. The highest cumulative emissions were measured in MIN fertilisation, followed by ORG and CON fertilisation. In the period after the first fertilisation CT resulted in higher cumulative emissions than NT, while no significant effect of tillage was observed cumulatively across the entire season. A higher genetic potential for N2O emissions was observed under NT than CT, as indicated by an increased (nirK + nirS)/(nosZI + nosZII) ratio. The mentioned ratio under NT decreased in the order CON > MIN > ORG, indicating a higher N2O consumption potential in the NT-ORG treatment, which was confirmed in terms of cumulative emissions. The AOB/16S ratio was strongly affected by fertilisation and was higher in the MIN than in the ORG and CON treatments, regardless of the tillage system. Multiple regression has revealed that this ratio is one of the most important variables explaining cumulative N2O emissions, possibly reflecting the role of bacterial ammonia oxidisers in minerally fertilised soil. Although the AOB/16S ratio aligned well with the measured N2O emissions in our experimental field, the higher genetic potential for denitrification expressed by the (nirK + nirS)/(nosZI + nosZII) ratio in NT than CT was not realized in the form of increased emissions. Our results suggest that organic fertilisation in combination with NT shows a promising combination for mitigating N2O emissions; however, addressing the yield gap is necessary before incorporating it in recommendations for farmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Govednik
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Agronomy Department, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Klemen Eler
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Agronomy Department, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rok Mihelič
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Agronomy Department, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjetka Suhadolc
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Agronomy Department, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Istenič D, Prosenc F, Zupanc N, Turel M, Holobar A, Milačič R, Marković S, Mihelič R. Composting of recovered rock wool from hydroponics for the production of soil amendment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:29280-29293. [PMID: 38570433 PMCID: PMC11058614 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33041-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Due to its fibrous structure and high water holding capacity, rock mineral wool (RMW) has boosted the development of hydroponics. Consequently, the amount of waste RMW has also increased tremendously, which has stimulated the research and development of RMW reuse options. In this study, composting and degradability of RMW from hydroponics (gRMW) were tested in combination with different ratios of biowaste compost, including physical and chemical properties of the starting and final materials, and potential ecological hazards of the final product. gRMW had high water holding capacity and low organic matter content, which was easily degradable. Limits of toxic elements according to EU regulation were not exceeded. Degraded gRMW mixtures with compost did not exhibit toxicity to plants or aquatic bacteria and showed intermediate or limited habitat function for earthworms, which preferred the sole gRMW not mixed with compost. Overall, degraded gRMW exhibited parameters of safe soil amendment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Istenič
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Franja Prosenc
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- BioResource Systems Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Neva Zupanc
- Knauf Insulation d.o.o, Trata 32, Škofja Loka, Slovenia
| | - Matejka Turel
- ECHO Instruments d.o.o, Zeče 25, Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Holobar
- ECHO Instruments d.o.o, Zeče 25, Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
| | - Radmila Milačič
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stefan Marković
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rok Mihelič
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Kacjan Maršić N, Može KS, Mihelič R, Nečemer M, Hudina M, Jakopič J. Nitrogen and Sulphur Fertilisation for Marketable Yields of Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L. var. Capitata), Leaf Nitrate and Glucosinolates and Nitrogen Losses Studied in a Field Experiment in Central Slovenia. Plants (Basel) 2021; 10:plants10071304. [PMID: 34199139 PMCID: PMC8309008 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
A field trial of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L.) was carried out under the humid temperate climate conditions in Central Slovenia to investigate the effects of calcium ammonium nitrate (0, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1) and gypsum (0 and 40 kg S ha-1) fertilisation on yield, yield quality (nitrate, glucosinolate levels and glucosinolate profile) and nitrogen use efficiency. The highest marketable yield, dry matter yield and nitrogen uptake were obtained at the highest nitrogen fertilisation rate when in combination with sulphur. For this treatment, the nitrogen surplus in the soil after harvesting was lower than for the same nitrogen fertilisation without sulphur application. For the combination N240S40, the sulphur addition significantly increased nitrogen use efficiency, which resulted in reduced nitrate content in the cabbage heads. The chemical forms of glucosinolates showed that 80-85% were aliphatic glucosinolates with the remainder as the indole group. For the aliphatic glucosinolates, significant interactions between nitrogen and sulphur fertilisations were reflected in increased levels of progoitrin and glucoiberin when sulphur was applied at the lower nitrogen fertilisation rates. For the indole group, the levels of glucobrassicin and the indole group itself decreased at higher nitrogen fertilisation rates, independent of sulphur fertilisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kacjan Maršić
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.S.M.); (M.H.); (J.J.)
- Correspondence: (N.K.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Ksenija Sinkovič Može
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.S.M.); (M.H.); (J.J.)
| | - Rok Mihelič
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.S.M.); (M.H.); (J.J.)
- Correspondence: (N.K.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Marijan Nečemer
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Metka Hudina
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.S.M.); (M.H.); (J.J.)
| | - Jerneja Jakopič
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.S.M.); (M.H.); (J.J.)
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Plestenjak G, Eler K, Mihelič R, Ferlan M, Ogrinc N, Krajnc B, Vodnik D. Can additional air supply enhance decomposition processes in sludge treatment reed beds? J Environ Manage 2021; 277:111511. [PMID: 33091784 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This work was designed to investigate the influence of artificial aeration on the sludge decomposition process in mesocosm sludge treatment reed beds (STRBs). In addition to the typical STRB design, where ventilation is mainly provided by a drainage pipe, passive aeration via a "chimney" and active aeration via a blower were introduced. During the entire observation period of 1.5 years, O2 concentrations in the upper part of the filter were significantly higher in the artificially aerated beds. To determine decomposition rates, a study with decomposition bags, measurements of CO2 emissions from the STRB and isotopic partitioning of CO2 emissions were performed. The results indicate an accelerated sludge degradation process in both active and passive beds. However, this effect was limited to part of the season and could not be demonstrated by episodic measurements of CO2 efflux. The CO2 efflux showed a seasonal pattern. Average CO2 efflux was below 3.0 μmol m-2 s-1 in the winter months and reached 43 μmol m-2 s-1 in the warmer months. The low sludge load and drought period in summer 2018 resulted in an extremely low CO2 efflux in August 2018. Isotopic analyses revealed changes in decomposition dynamics for certain parts of the season, differences in contributions of sludge and plant derived CO2 to total CO2 emissions from differently aerated beds. Overall, passive aeration proved to be similarly efficient as active aeration and could therefore be considered for application in a full-scale system.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Plestenjak
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Agronomy, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Limnos d.o.o., Podlimbarskega 31, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - K Eler
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Agronomy, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - R Mihelič
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Agronomy, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - M Ferlan
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna Pot 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - N Ogrinc
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - B Krajnc
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - D Vodnik
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Agronomy, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Cania B, Vestergaard G, Suhadolc M, Mihelič R, Krauss M, Fliessbach A, Mäder P, Szumełda A, Schloter M, Schulz S. Site-Specific Conditions Change the Response of Bacterial Producers of Soil Structure-Stabilizing Agents Such as Exopolysaccharides and Lipopolysaccharides to Tillage Intensity. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:568. [PMID: 32318044 PMCID: PMC7154075 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Agro-ecosystems experience huge losses of land every year due to soil erosion induced by poor agricultural practices such as intensive tillage. Erosion can be minimized by the presence of stable soil aggregates, the formation of which can be promoted by bacteria. Some of these microorganisms have the ability to produce exopolysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides that "glue" soil particles together. However, little is known about the influence of tillage intensity on the bacterial potential to produce these polysaccharides, even though more stable soil aggregates are usually observed under less intense tillage. As the effects of tillage intensity on soil aggregate stability may vary between sites, we hypothesized that the response of polysaccharide-producing bacteria to tillage intensity is also determined by site-specific conditions. To investigate this, we performed a high-throughput shotgun sequencing of DNA extracted from conventionally and reduced tilled soils from three tillage system field trials characterized by different soil parameters. While we confirmed that the impact of tillage intensity on soil aggregates is site-specific, we could connect improved aggregate stability with increased absolute abundance of genes involved in the production of exopolysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides. The potential to produce polysaccharides was generally promoted under reduced tillage due to the increased microbial biomass. We also found that the response of most potential producers of polysaccharides to tillage was site-specific, e.g., Oxalobacteraceae had higher potential to produce polysaccharides under reduced tillage at one site, and showed the opposite response at another site. However, the response of some potential producers of polysaccharides to tillage did not depend on site characteristics, but rather on their taxonomic affiliation, i.e., all members of Actinobacteria that responded to tillage intensity had higher potential for exopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide production specifically under reduced tillage. This could be especially crucial for aggregate stability, as polysaccharides produced by different taxa have different "gluing" efficiency. Overall, our data indicate that tillage intensity could affect aggregate stability by both influencing the absolute abundance of genes involved in the production of exopolysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides, as well as by inducing shifts in the community of potential polysaccharide producers. The effects of tillage intensity depend mostly on site-specific conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Cania
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gisle Vestergaard
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Health Technology, Section for Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Marjetka Suhadolc
- Chair of Soil and Environmental Science, Department of Agronomy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rok Mihelič
- Chair of Soil and Environmental Science, Department of Agronomy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maike Krauss
- Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Fliessbach
- Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland
| | - Paul Mäder
- Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael Schloter
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Soil Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schulz
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
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