Jian Liu
Research Scientist
Biography
I am a soil and water researcher working on agricultural effects on the environment. By combining research approaches of experimentation, modeling and data synthesis, I study drivers and processes controlling nutrient losses from land to water (and air) at soil core to catchment scales and explore mitigation measures to reduce the losses both at source and during transport. I have research experience in Norway, Sweden, Canada, USA and China. While my current research activities can be found on this webpage, my past research experience included: (1) water and nutrient transport from both surface and subsurface pathways, (2) climate and management effects on nutrient losses, (3) management of soil nutrient, fertilizer, manure and biochar, including place-based phosphorus management (variable rate applications), for crop production and environmental protection, (4) effects of crop management, including cover crops and crop residues in combination with tillage, on water and nutrient cycling, (5) drainage and irrigation in paddy and horticulture systems, and (6) field and catchment phosphorus modeling. Through collaborations with other researchers, students and stakeholders in many countries, my research has also involved soil health, crop production, greenhouse gas emissions, and generally sustainable agriculture.
Abstract
In agricultural areas dominated by subsurface drainage, leaching of phosphorus (P) from soils is a concern for downstream water quality. Still, the role of chemical processes in subsoils and organic soils in influencing dissolved P leaching needs to be clarified for better predicting the P leaching. In ten mineral and organic soils, we examined a wide range of chemical characteristics including various P pools and sorption–desorption properties at different soil depths and related those characteristics to leaching of dissolved P at the drain depth in an indoor lysimeter experiment. Results showed significant correlations between different P pools (R2-adj = 0.61 to 0.98, p < 0.001) and between sorption capacity measurements (R2-adj = 0.60 to 0.95, p < 0.001). Some organic soils followed the same patterns in P sorption capacity and P lability as sandy soils but some did not, suggesting organic soils differ among themselves possibly due to differences in origin and/or management. Flow-weighted mean concentrations of dissolved reactive P and dissolved organic P depended on both the labile P pools (labile inorganic and organic P pools, respectively) in the topsoil and P sorption and desorption characteristics in the subsoils. Mass-weighted whole-profile degree of P saturation based on the ammonium lactate extraction method (DPS-AL) was an excellent indicator of flow-weighted mean concentration of total dissolved P (FWMC-TDP) (R2-adj = 0.93, p < 0.001). Two profiles, one with organic soils overlaying on sand and the other with sandy soils in all layers, had the greatest FWMC-TDP among all profiles (316 and 230 µg/L versus 33–84 µg/L) due to the same reason, i.e., large labile P pools in the topsoils, low P sorption capacity in the subsoils, and high whole-profile DPS-AL. All results point to the need to include subsoil characteristics for assessing the risks of dissolved P leaching from both mineral and organic soils. Also, the study suggests the need to investigate further the roles of the origin and management of organic matter and organic P in influencing P lability and dissolved organic P (DOP) leaching, as well as the bioavailability of DOP in recipient waters.
Abstract
The substitution of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer with organic fertilizer (organic substitution, OS) is increasingly applied in crop production, due to its environmentally friendly characteristics, low price, and high crop and soil improvement efficacies. Here, we studied the effects of chemical N fertilizer with organic fertilizer treatment at different proportions (no organic substitution (NOS), 20% (OS-20), 40% (OS-40), 60% (OS-60), 100% (OS-100), and 200% (OS-200, double the organic fertilizer application amount of OS-100) on the yield and quality of apples in the Shanxi Province of China. The results revealed that, compared to the NOS, the total apple yields of OS treatments, especially the OS-60 and OS-100 treatments, decreased. However, all OS treatments, except OS-200, increased the yield of large-sized fruits (transverse diameter ≥ 85 mm) and the mean mass of apple fruits, and significantly decreased yield of small-sized fruits (transverse diameter < 75 mm). All OS treatments, especially OS-40, promoted the total sugar and vitamin C (Vc) contents and fruit hardness of apples, and OS-40, OS-60, and OS-200 resulted in significantly decreased titratable acid contents in apples. The influence of organic substitutions on soil quality was further investigated in a two-year field experiment. The results showed that the influence of organic substitution on soil chemical properties differed between the two years. Notably, 40% OS increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) content and the C/N ratio in the upper 20 cm of the soil in both years. Additionally, OS treatments reduced the residual nitrate (NO3−)-N (RN) content in deep soil layers, suggesting that OS has the potential to alleviate N leaching. Moreover, redundancy analysis (RDA) of the soil, fruit yield, and fruit quality parameters revealed that the SOC content in the 0–20 cm soil layer and the RN content in the 0–100 cm soil layer had the greatest impact on the fruit quality and yield variables, respectively. This study showed that the proper substitution (40%) of chemical N fertilizer with organic fertilizer could improve the yield of large-sized fruits, the mean mass and fruit quality of apples, and soil chemical properties. Our study will provide a basis for rational organic substitution in apple orchards.
Abstract
Compared to fluctuating soil water (FW) conditions, stable soil water (SW) can increase plant water use efficiency (WUE) and improve crop growth and aboveground yield. It is unknown, however, how stable and fluctuating soil water affect root vegetables. Here, the effects of SW and FW were studied on cherry radish in a pot experiment, using negative pressure irrigation and conventional irrigation, respectively. The assessed effects included agronomic parameters, physiological indices, yield, quality and WUE of cherry radish. Results showed that under similarly average soil water contents, compared with FW, SW increased plant photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, decreased leaf proline content by 13.7–73.3% and malondialdehyde content by 12.5–40.0%, and increased soluble sugars content by 6.3–22.1%. Cherry radish had greater biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake in SW than in FW. Indeed, SW increased radish output by 34.6–94.1% with no influence on root/shoot ratio or root quality. In conclusion, soil water stability affected directly the water physiological indicators of cherry radish and indirectly its agronomic attributes and nutrient uptake, which in turn influenced the crop biomass and yield, as well as WUE. This study provides a new perspective for improving agronomy of root crops and WUE through managing soil water stability.
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
Nutrient balances and use efficiencies for the Timebekken catchment
Grass-based livestock production is important for economy in Rogaland, but concerns are increasingover soil nutrient surplus that contribute to degraded water quality in downstream water bodies. Inthis project, we will improve the understanding of nutrient balances and use efficiencies in Rogalandby measuring grass yield, nutrient contents in grass and total nutrient removal through cropregistration and nutrient analyses in 15 representative fields over two years in the Timebekkencatchment.
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
Mitigation measures for phosphorus and nitrogen under changing climate: conflicts and synergies
Nutrient concentrations, loads and stoichiometry (i.e., N:P ratio) in agricultural runoff affect the quality of surface waters. In Norway, the reduction of nutrient runoff is challenged by the sloped landscape, variable weather and changing climate with an increasing number of extreme hydrological events. Mitigation measures for reducing nutrient losses are pressingly needed but they do not always work simultaneously or equally for both N and P, due to the differences in their agronomic and biogeochemical characteristics and dominant transport pathways.
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
Climate- and environmentally friendly use of animal manure
There is a need to update knowledge about the utilization and loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from livestock manure in order to assist the authorities and the agricultural industry in meeting climate and environmental targets. There is a major focus on the use of phosphorus, phosphorus content in soil and runoff to waterways in connection with the revision of the fertilizer regulations. The time and method of spreading livestock manure, as well as the total amount of manure used, are important factors that influence the loss. Reduced ammonia volatilization and runoff of nitrogen reduces indirect nitrous oxide losses from livestock manure, but also direct and indirect nitrous oxide emissions through reduced use of mineral fertiliser. The project includes a literature compilation and field measurements to measure the utilization of nutrients at different spreading times for livestock manure in different parts of the country. In the project, field measurements will be made on the effect of different spreading times on the utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus for plant growth. The field measurements are carried out in Rogaland, Vestland and Trøndelag county.
Division of Food Production and Society
ECONUTRI
Innovative concepts and technologies for ECOlogically sustainable NUTRIent management in agriculture aiming to prevent, mitigate and eliminate pollution in soils, water and air
Division of Food Production and Society
Agricultural mitigation measures and the value of water quality improvements
Agriculture is one of the main sources of water pollution in Norway, and an important contributor to GHG emissions.