Abstract

Aims The agronomy of tropical ‘metal crops’ had not yet been tested until a recent pot trial was undertaken to test the growth and nickel (Ni) yield of two promising Ni ‘metal crops’ (Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi and Rinorea cf. bengalensis) from Sabah, Malaysia. The present study investigates the growth and Ni yield in P. rufuschaneyi in response to inorganic and organic fertilisation under field conditions.

Methods

A two-year field experiment was undertaken on an ultramafic Cambisol in Sabah. Two experiments were set up with different types of fertilisers, either organic or inorganic. Ten 9-m² plots were amended with either NPK (370 kg ha⁻¹) or N (120 kg ha⁻¹) fertilisation and were monitored during the first year. Another experiment with 25-m² plots was set up to test three treatments of organic amendment (0, 1 or 2 kg m⁻² of shredded P. rufuschaneyi biomass).

Results

The results show that despite considerable variability, Ni concentration was generally lower in plant shoots amended with N only (i.e. urea). However, treatments showed no statistical effect on plant biomass and Ni yield in the short-term, even though organic treatments had a strong positive effect on the availability of Ni.

Conclusion

The short-term effects of inorganic and organic treatments on Ni yield of the tropical ‘metal crop’ Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi were not apparent (75 kg Ni ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The field trials are ongoing to assess long-term effects. The preliminary results suggest that with appropriate agronomic systems and plant breeding, the Ni yield could be substantially increased.

中文翻译：

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改善热带镍农作物系统：化学和有机施肥对镍产量的影响

摘要

目的尚未对热带“金属作物”的农艺学进行测试，直到最近进行了盆栽试验，以测试沙巴州两种有前景的镍“金属作物”（Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi和Rinorea cf. bengalensis）的生长和镍（Ni）产量，马来西亚。本研究调查了田间条件下响应有机和无机施肥的褐腐假单胞菌的生长和镍产量。

方法

在沙巴的超镁铁质坎比索尔进行了为期两年的现场实验。使用有机或无机不同类型的肥料进行了两个实验。用NPK（370 kg ha ^-1）或N（120 kg ha ^-1）施肥对10个9-m ²地块进行了修正，并在第一年进行了监测。设置了另一个具有25-m ^2样地的实验，以测试三种有机改良剂的处理方法（0、1或2 kg m ^-2切碎的rufuschaneyi生物量）。

结果

结果表明，尽管变异很大，但仅用氮（即尿素）改良的植物芽中的镍浓度通常较低。然而，尽管有机处理对镍的有效性有很强的积极影响，但处理对短期内对植物生物量和镍产量没有统计学影响。

结论

无机和有机处理对热带“金属农作物” Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi的镍产量的短期影响并不明显（75 kg Ni ha ^-1  yr ^-1）。正在进行现场试验以评估长期影响。初步结果表明，通过适当的农艺系统和植物育种，镍产量可以大大提高。