Abstract
The use of a controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) was studied in a traditional rainfed olive grove in a Mediterranean climate where precipitation is very irregular, particularly in the spring. The objective of the study was to assess whether a CRF can improve the olive tree's performance compared to a conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizer (CF), by supplying N gradually and reducing the risk of potential N loss from leaching. The fertilized treatments showed better plant N nutritional status, which resulted in enhanced net photosynthesis and higher leaf concentrations of total soluble sugars, chlorophylls and soluble proteins which, in turn, increased olive yield by 43% in comparison to the unfertilized control. However, in general, no significant differences were found between fertilized treatments in the performance parameters of the trees evaluated, including olive yield. Somewhat unexpectedly, CRF consistently increased the soil organic carbon (C) (29%), kjeldahl-N (75%) and easily extractable glomalin-related soil proteins (EE-GRSP) (60%) and total GRSP (T-GRSP) (122%) compared to the CF. The result was ascribed to a stimulus on the development of herbaceous vegetation and eventually on the activity of the roots of the trees due to the higher soil inorganic-N availability in the autumn. Thus, some soil inorganic-N in the autumn seems to comprise a low risk of leaching, since weeds act as a catch crop and convert this inorganic N into an organic substrate, with potential benefits in the long-term for the agro-system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adachi S, Nakae T, Uchida M, Soda K, Takai T, Oi T, Yamamoto T, Ookawa T, Miyake H, Yano M, Hirasawa T (2013) The mesophyll anatomy enhancing CO2 diffusion is a key trait for improving rice photosynthesis. J Exp Bot 64:1061–1072. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ers382
Adams PR, Musk R, Blake R (2017) Establishing Eucalyptus nitens plantations using controlled-release fertilisers. Aust For 80:309–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049158.2017.1387995
Arnon DI (1949) Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts polyphenoloxidase in beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol 24:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.24.1.1
Arrobas M, Parada MJ, Magalhães P, Rodrigues MA (2011) Nitrogen-use efficiency and economic efficiency of slow-release N fertilisers applied to irrigated turfs in a Mediterranean environment. Nutr Cycl Agroecosys 89:329–339
Arrobas M, Santos D, Ribeiro A, Pereira E, Rodrigues MA (2019) Soil and foliar nitrogen and boron fertilization of almond trees grown under rainfed conditions. Eur J Agron 106:39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2019.02.014
Baird RB, Eaton AD, Rice EW (2017) Nitrate by ultraviolet spectrophotometric method. In: Baird RB, Eaton AD, Rice EW (eds) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation: Washington, DC.
Boussadia O, Steppe K, Zgallai H, Ben El Hadj S, Braham M, Lemeur R, Van Labeke MC (2010) Effects of nitrogen deficiency on leaf photosynthesis, carbohydrate status and biomass production in two olive cultivars ‘Meski’ and ‘Koroneiki.’ Sci Hortic 123:336–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2009.09.023
Bradford MM (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3
Brito C, Dinis LT, Luzio A, Silva E, Gonçalves E, Meijón M, Escandón M, Arrobas M, Rodrigues MA, Moutinho-Pereira J, Correia CM (2019) Kaolin and salicylic acid alleviate summer stress in rainfed olive orchards by modulation of distinct physiological and biochemical responses. Sci Hortic 246:201–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.10.059
Campos I, Guerra J, Ferreira JG, Schmidt L, Alves F, Vizinho A, Lopes GP (2017) Understanding climate change policy and action in Portuguese municipalities: a survey. Land Use Policy 62:68–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.12.015
Carvalho A, Schmidt L, Santos FD, Delicado A (2014) Climate change research and policy in Portugal. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang 5:199–217. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.258
Chater JM, Merhaut DJ, Preece JE (2020) Diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints in pomegranate. In: Srivastava AK, Hu C (eds) Fruit crops: diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints. Elsevier, The Netherlands, pp 681–691
Chilundo M, Joel A, Wesström I, Brito R, Messing I (2016) Effects of reduced irrigation dose and slow release fertiliser on nitrogen use efficiency and crop yield in a semi-arid loamy sand. Agric Water Manag 168:68–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.02.004
Chu X, Wang X, Zhang D, Wu X, Zhou Z (2019) Responses of Taxus chinensis and Phoebe chekiangensis seedlings to controlled release fertilizer in various formulations and application rates. iForest 12:254–261. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2714-012
Correia C, Rodrigues MA (2020) Alterações climáticas e degradação do solo no interior de Portugal: um cocktail explosivo para as culturas perenes. AGROTEC 36:4–7
Correia CM, Moutinho-Pereira JM, Coutinho JF, Björn LO, Torres-Pereira JMG (2005) Ultraviolet-B radiation and nitrogen affect the photosynthesis of maize: a Mediterranean field study. Eur J Agron 22:337–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2004.05.002
Coyne MS (2008) Biological denitrification. In: Schepers JS, Raun WR (eds) Nitrogen in agricultural Systems, Agron. Monographs 49, ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI, pp 201–253
Ding L, Wang KJ, Jiang GM, Biswas DK, Xu H, Li LF, Li YH (2005) Effects of nitrogen deficiency on photosynthetic traits of maize hybrids released in different years. Ann Bot 96(5):925–930. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci244
EIDT (Estratégia Integrada de Desenvolvimento Territorial) (2015) Estratégia integrada de desenvolvimento territorial – Terras de Trás-os-Montes. Comunidade Intermunicipal, Terras de Trás-os-Montes, Portugal.
Emilsson T, Berndtsson JC, Mattsson JE, Rolf K (2007) Effect of using conventional and controlled release fertilizers on nutrient runoff from various vegetated roof systems. Ecol Eng 29:260–271
Erel R, Dag A, Ben-Gal A, Schwartz A, Yermiyahu U (2008) Flowering and fruit set of olive trees in response to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 133:639–647
Fernández-Escobar R (2017) Fertilization. In: Barranco D, Fernández-Escobar R, Rallo L (eds) El cultivo del olivo, 7th edn. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, Spain, pp 419–460
Ferreira IQ, Arrobas M, Claro AM, Rodrigues MA (2013) Soil management in rainfed olive orchards may result in conflicting effects on olive production and soil fertility. Span J Agric Res 11(2):472–480
Ferreira IQ, Arrobas M, Moutinho-Pereira JM, Correia CM, Rodrigues MA (2020) The effect of nitrogen applications on the growth of young olive trees and nitrogen use efficiency. Turk J Agric For 44:278–289. https://doi.org/10.3906/tar-1905-26
Fraga H, Atauri IGC, Malheiro AC, Moutinho-Pereira J, Santos JA (2017) Viticulture in Portugal: a review of recent trends and climate change projections. OENO One 51(2):61–69
Gispert M, Pardini G, Emran M, Doni S, Masciandaro G (2017) Seasonal evolution of soil organic matter, glomalin and enzymes and potential for C storage after land abandonment and renaturalization processes in soils of NE Spain. CATENA 162:402–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2017.10.019
Gong XY, Chen Q, Lin S, Brueck H, Dittert K, Taube F, Schnyder H (2011) Tradeoffs between nitrogen-and water-use efficiency in dominant species of the semiarid steppe of Inner Mongolia. Plant Soil 340:227–238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0525-9
Guertal EA (2000) Preplant slow-release nitrogen fertilizers produce similar bell pepper yields as split applications of soluble fertilizers. Agron J 92:388–393
Havlin JL, Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD (2014) Soil fertility and fertilizers, an introduction to nutrient management, 8th edn. Pearson, Boston, USA
Houba VJ, van der Lee JJ, Novozamsky I, Walinga I (1997) Soil and plant analysis. In: Part 5. Soil analysis procedure. Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
Irigoyen JJ, Einerich DW, Sanchez-Díaz M (1992) Water stress induced changes in concentrations of proline and total soluble sugars in nodulated alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plants. Physiol Plant 84:55–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054
Ke J, Xing X, Li G, Ding Y, Dou F, Wang S, Liu Z, Tang S, Ding C, Chen L (2017) Effects of different controlled-release nitrogen fertilisers on ammonia volatilisation, nitrogen use efficiency and yield of blanket-seedling machine-transplanted rice. Field Crops Res 205:147–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.12.027
Li F, Kang S, Zhang J, Cohen S (2003) Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment, water status and applied nitrogen on water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies of wheat. Plant Soil 254:279–289. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025521701732
Lichtenthaler HK (2007) Differences in pigment composition, photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll fluorescence images of sun and shade leaves of four tree species. Plant Physiol Biochem 45:577–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2007.04.006
Lisar SYS, Motafakkerazad R, Hossain MM, Rahman IMM (2012) Water Stress in Plants: Causes, Effects and Responses. In Water Stress, Ismail Md. Mofizur Rahman and Hiroshi Hasegawa, IntechOpen, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/39363
Marschner P, Rengel Z (2012) Nutrient availability in soils. In: Marschner P (ed) Marschner’s mineral nutrition of higher plants, 3rd edn. Academic Press (Elsevier), MA, USA, pp 315–330
Mulla DJ, Strock JS (2008) Nitrogen transport processes in soil. In: Schepers JS, Raun WR (eds) Nitrogen in agricultural systems, Agron. Monographs 49, ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI, pp 361–400
Nautiyal P, Rajput R, Pandey D, Arunachalam K, Arunachalam A (2019) Role of glomalin in soil carbon storage and its variation across land uses in temperate Himalayan regime. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 21:101311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101311
Navarro C, Hidalgo J, Campo MG (2017) Sistemas de plantación. In: Barranco D, Fernandez-Escobar R, Rallo L (eds) El cultivo del olivo, 7th edn. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, Spain, pp 289–334
Neumann G, Römheld V (2012) Rhizosphere in relation to plant nutrition. In: Marschner P (ed) Marschner’s mineral nutrition of higher plants, 3rd edn. Academic Press (Elsevier), MA, USA, pp 347–368
Notaris C, Rasmussen J, Sorensen P, Olesen JE (2018) Nitrogen leaching: a crop rotation perspective on the effect of N surplus, field management and use of catch crops. Agric Ecosyst Environ 255:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.12.009
Quinteiro P, Rafael S, Vicente B, Marta-Almeida M, Rocha A, Arroja L, Dias AC (2019) Mapping green water scarcity under climate change: a case study of Portugal. Sci Total Environ 696:134024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134024
Rodrigues MA, Arrobas M (2020) Cover cropping for increasing fruit production and farming sustainability. In: Srivastava AK, Hu C (eds) Fruit crops: diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints. Elsevier, The Netherlands, pp 279–295
Rodrigues MA, Coutinho J, Martins F (2002) Efficacy and limitations of triticale as nitrogen catch crop in a Mediterranean environment. Eur J Agron 17:155–160
Rodrigues MA, Pavão F, Lopes JI, Gomes V, Arrobas M, Moutinho-Pereira J, Ruivo S, Cabanas JE, Correia CM (2011) Olive yields and tree nutritional status during a four-year period without nitrogen and boron fertilization. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 42(7):803–814
Rodrigues MA, Santos H, Ruivo S, Arrobas M (2010) Slow-release N fertilisers are not an alternative to urea for fertilisation of autumn-grown tall cabbage. Eur J Agron 32(2):137–143
Rodrigues MA, Torres LdD, Damo L, Raimundo S, Sartor L, Cassol LC, Arrobas M (2021) Nitrogen use efficiency and crop yield in four successive crops following application of biochar and zeolites. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00421-3
Sesták Z, Castky J, Jarvis PG (1971) Plant photosynthetic production: manual of methods. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague, The Netherlands
Trenkel ME (2010) Slow- and controlled-release and stabilized fertilizers. An option for enhancing nutrient use efficiency in agriculture. International Fertilizer Industry Association, Paris, France
Vashisth T, Kadyampakeni D (2020) Diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints in citrus. In: Srivastava AK, Hu C (eds) Fruit crops: diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints. Elsevier, The Netherlands, pp 723–737
von Caemmerer S, Farquhar GD (1981) Some relationships between the biochemistry of photosynthesis and the gas exchange of leaves. Planta 153:376–387. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384257
Wei X, Chen J, Gao B, Wang Z (2020) Role of controlled and slow release fertilizers in fruit crop nutrition. In: Srivastava AK, Hu C (eds) Fruit crops: diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints. Elsevier, The Netherlands, pp 555–566
Wright SF, Upadhyaya A (1998) A survey of soils for aggregate stability and glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 198:97–107
Wu ZZ, Ying YQ, Zhang YB, Bi YF, Wang AK, Du XH (2018) Alleviation of drought stress in Phyllostachys edulis by N and P. Sci Rep 8:228. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18609-y
Yang Y, He C, Huang L, Ban Y, Tang M (2017) The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on glomalin-related soil protein distribution, aggregate stability and their relationships with soil properties at different soil depths in lead-zinc contaminated area. PLoS ONE 12(8):e0182264. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182264
Funding
Doctoral fellowship under the Doctoral Program “Agricultural Production Chains—from fork to farm” (PD/00122/2012) provided by the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology to E. Silva (PD/BD/128274/2017). This research was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and CITAB (UIDB/04033/2020). The research was integrated in the activities of the Operational Group “Novas práticas em olivais de sequeiro: estratégias de mitigação e adaptação às alterações climáticas”, funded by PT2020 and EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Silva, E., Arrobas, M., Gonçalves, A. et al. A controlled-release fertilizer improved soil fertility but not olive tree performance. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 120, 1–15 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-021-10134-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-021-10134-9