Residue addition and liming history interactively enhance mineralization of native organic carbon in acid soils

Lime application is the most common method to improve crop production in acid soils and has been shown to change soil organic C content. However, the impact of liming history on the priming effect on soil organic C is not well understood. This study examined the effect of liming history on C priming in response to the addition of crop residues of different qualities. Soils with pH ranging from 4.7 to 7.4 were collected from two adjacent field experiments whereby lime was applied at different rates, 6 and 35 years ago. A 90-day incubation study was conducted by applying ¹³C-labelled wheat (C/N 42) and field-pea (C/N 29) residues at a rate of 5 g kg^?1 soil. Residue application to soils yielded the positive priming effect in all pH levels with the magnitude of C priming being the greatest at initial soil pH 6.6. In comparison, the optimal pH for residue decomposition (7.3) was higher than that for priming. The overall priming effect was about 17% greater with field-pea than wheat residue. However, cumulative decomposition of added field-pea residue was 15% lower than that of wheat residue. Furthermore, C priming was greater in soils from the 35-year-old than the 6-year-old limed plots, indicating that a longer history of liming did not enhance the protection of indigenous C from mineralization. The results suggest that increases in soil pH by liming enhanced native C priming through greater microbial biomass and activity and that the magnitude and dynamics of the priming effect largely depended on residue quality and its consequent nutrient supply to decomposer organisms. The study implies that over-liming would likely have negative impacts on the long-term C sequestration.     

Organic anion-to-acid ratio influences pH change of soils differing in initial pH

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effect of initial soil pH and organic anion-to-acid ratio on changes in soil pH.

Materials and methods

Two soils (Podosol and Tenosol) along with two carboxylic acids (malic and citric acid) and their anions (sodium malate and citrate), commonly found in plant residues, were used in this study. Stock solutions of either malic acid and disodium malate or citric acid and trisodium citrate were added to pre-incubated soils at anion-to-acid ratios of 0:100, 10:90, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 90:10, 100:0 and at 0.25 g C kg^?1 soil. Soils were adjusted to 80 % field capacity and mixed thoroughly, and three replicates of 50 g of each soil were transferred into individual plastic cores and incubated at 25 °C in the dark for 30 days. Soil pH, respiration, NH₄ ⁺, and NO₃ ^? were determined.

Results and discussion

Soil pH increased linearly with increasing organic anion-to-acid ratio. The addition of organic anions to soil resulted in net alkalinisation. However, the addition of organic acids immediately decreased soil pH. During subsequent incubation, soil pH increased when the organic anions were decomposed. Alkalinity generation was lower in the Podosol (initial pH 4.5) than in the Tenosol (initial pH 6.2), and was proportional to anion-to-acid ratio across all the treatments. Cumulative CO₂-C release was approximately three times lower in the Podosol than the Tenosol at day 2 due to lower microbial activity in the low-pH Podosol.

Conclusions

Increasing anion-to-acid ratio of organic compounds increased soil pH. Increases in soil pH were mainly attributed to direct chemical reactions and decomposition of organic anions. Low pH decreased the amount of alkalinity generated by addition of organic compounds due to incomplete decomposition of the added compounds. This study implies that organic anion-to-acid ratio in plant residues plays an important role in soil pH change.     

Effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on soil microbial activity and soil organic carbon build-up under rice in west coast of India

The effect of medium-term (5 years) application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients (as mineral or inorganic fertilizers) on soil organic carbon (SOC), SOC stock, carbon (C) build-up rate, microbial and enzyme activities in flooded rice soils was tested in west coast of India. Compared to the application of vermicompost, glyricidia (Glyricidia maculate) (fresh) and eupatorium (Chromolaena adenophorum) (fresh) and dhaincha (Sesbania rostrata) (fresh), the application of farmyard manure (FYM) and combined application of paddy straw (dry) and water hyacinth (PsWh) (fresh) improved the SOC content significantly (p < 0.05). The lowest (p < 0.05) SOC content (0.81%) was observed in untreated control. The highest (p < 0.05) SOC stock (23.7 Mg C ha^?1) was observed in FYM-treated plots followed by recommended dose of mineral fertilizer (RDF) (23.2 Mg C ha^?1) and it was lowest (16.5 Mg C ha^?1) in untreated control. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C_mb) (246 µg g^?1 soil) and C_mb/SOC (1.92%) were highest (p < 0.05) in FYM-treated plot. The highest (p < 0.05) value of metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was recorded under RDF (19.7 µg CO₂-C g^?1 C_mb h^?1) and untreated control (19.6 µg CO₂-C g^?1 C_mb h^?1). Application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients impacted soil enzyme activities significantly (p < 0.05) with FYM causing highest dehydrogenase (20.5 µg TPF g^?1 day^?1), phosphatase (659 µg PNP g^?1 h^?1) and urease (0.29 µg urea g^?1 h^?1) activities. Application of organic source of nutrients especially FYM improved the microbial and enzyme activities in flooded and transplanted rice soils. Although the grain yield was higher with the application of RDF, but the use of FYM as an organic agricultural practice is more useful when efforts are intended to conserve more SOC and improved microbial activity.     

Effect of liming central European loess soils on soil extractable phosphorus and potassium as determined by electro-ultrafiltration

The benefits of liming acidic or calcium (Ca)-deficient soils for soil structure and fertility are well documented. However, little is known about the effect of liming nearly neutral loess soils – lacking Ca – on interactions between soil nutrients. Over a 2-year period, 62 field trials were conducted in Germany and Austria with three treatments (0, 3 and 12 t CaO ha^?1) on slightly acidic loess soils. Soil samples from the top soil layer were taken 4, 8, 16 and 24 weeks after liming. In addition to the pH_CaCl2, the phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and Ca contents were analysed using electro-ultrafiltration (EUF). The application of lime increased the pH in average from 6.6 up to 7.0 and 7.2, but did not decrease EUF extractable P and K below the level of untreated control. Contrary to our expectations, EUF extractable P increased 4 weeks after liming in the treatment with 3 t CaO ha^?1. At the end of incubation period, 24 weeks after liming, the EUF extractable K in treatment 12 t CaO ha^?1 remained still 1.3 mg K 100 g^?1 soil above the untreated control.     

Changes in soil carbon stock under the wheat-based cropping systems at Vojvodina province of Serbia

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in relation to the carbon (C) input from nine wheat-based cropping systems and untilled grass. The SOC pool ranged from 32.1 to 49.4 Mg ha^?1 at 0–20 cm and from 94 to 171 Mg ha^?1 at 0–100 cm for the arable soil, while in untilled grassland, it was higher (54 and 185 Mg C ha^?1, respectively). SOC stock was observed to be lower at the unfertilized 2-year rotation and higher at the 4-year rotation with manure and mineral fertilization. The study showed a winter wheat yield decrease of 176.8 kg ha^?1 for a 1- Mg ha^?1 SOC stock change in the 0–20-cm soil depth. The estimated C input for SOC stock maintenance was from 266 to 340 g C m^?2 year^?1 for winter wheat and rotations, respectively. Additional C input did not increase the SOC pool, suggesting that arable plots had a limited ability to increase SOC. These results provide guidance for the selection of management practices to improve C sequestration.     

Earthworms and pH affect communities of nematodes and enchytraeids in forest soil

In northern boreal forests the occurrence of endogeic and anecic earthworms is determined by soil pH. Increasing evidence suggests that large detritivorous soil animals such as earthworms can influence the other components of the decomposer community. To study the effects of earthworms and pH on soil nematode and enchytraeid communities, a factorially designed experiment was conducted with Lumbricus rubellus and/or Aporrectodea caliginosa. Earthworms were added to "mesocosms" containing unlimed (pH 4.8) or limed (pH 6.1) coniferous mor humus with their natural biota of micro-organisms. In the absence of earthworms, nematodes were significantly more abundant in limed than in unlimed humus. Earthworms markedly decreased the numbers of nematodes both in unlimed and limed soils. Earthworm activities eliminated enchytraeids in unlimed soil, but liming improved the survival of some species. It was concluded that liming of soil, either alone or mediated by the earthworm populations, is likely to affect soil nematode and enchytraeid community and mineralisation.     

Liming Effects on Extractable Boron in Six Acidic Soils

A laboratory incubation study was conducted to study the influence of liming on extractable boron (B) in acidic soil. Six soils, three each from the Inceptisols and Alfisols, were incubated for 30 days with combinations of lime and B. The soils were acutely deficient in plant-available B (0.09–0.21 mg kg^?1). Only <50 percent of applied B was recovered from the soils in available form. Such recovery was lower in Alfisols than that in Inceptisols due to adsorption of a greater amount of added B with iron (Fe^?) and aluminium (Al^?) oxides in the former soil group. Required dose of lime showed an increase in availability of native soil B, particularly in Inceptisols (26 percent), and a net decrease in recovery of added B (32.5 percent) as compared to no lime control (41.6 percent). The results thus suggest that liming to acidic soils increases extractable B.     

Boron fertilization and liming for Eucalyptus urograndis cropped on sandy arenosol of Brazilian pampa

Boron (B) requirement and its interaction with liming for eucalyptus plantations in sandy soils of Brazilian Pampa are poorly understood. Aiming to diminish this gap, seedlings of Eucalyptus urograndis were grown in pots with Arenosol fertilized with B at rates 0.0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg B dm^?3, with and without liming. Results of shoot and root dry matter and stem diameter did not evidence the necessity of B fertilization. With the exception of the 1.0 mg B dm^?3+lime, all other B-fertilized treatments promoted visual symptoms of toxicity, which were partially mitigated by liming. Liming exacerbated the B loss by leaching, but after five months, limed soils had higher content of available B and their plants had higher B concentration in shoots and roots. For our conditions, application of ≥2.5 mg B dm^?3 can cause serious toxic injuries to plants and enlarge dramatically the B losses leaching.     

Evaluating the effect of liming on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O fluxes from denitrification in an Andosol using the acetylene inhibition and <Superscript>15</Superscript>N isotope tracer methods

We assessed the effect of liming on (1) N₂O production by denitrification under aerobic conditions using the ¹⁵N tracer method (experiment 1); and (2) the reduction of N₂O to N₂ under anaerobic conditions using the acetylene inhibition method (experiment 2). A Mollic Andosol with three lime treatments (unlimed soil, 4 and 20 mg CaCO₃ kg^?1) was incubated at 15 and 25 °C for 22 days at 50% and then 80% WFPS with or without 200 mg N kg^?1 added as ¹⁵N enriched KNO₃ in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the limed and unlimed soils were incubated under completely anaerobic conditions for 44 h (with or without 100 mg N kg^?1 as KNO₃). In experiment 1, limed treatments increased N₂O fluxes at 50% WFPS but decreased these fluxes at 80% WFPS. At 25 °C, cumulative N₂O and ¹⁵N₂O emissions in the high lime treatment were the lowest (with at least 30% less ¹⁵N₂O and total N₂O than the unlimed soil). Under anaerobic conditions, the high lime treatment showed at least 50% less N₂O than the unlimed treatment at both temperatures with or without KNO₃ addition but showed enhanced N₂ production. Our results suggest that the positive effect of liming on the mitigation of N₂O evolution from soil was influenced by soil temperature and moisture conditions.     

Effects of Goat Manure and Lime Addition on Phosphate Sorption by Two Soils from the Transkei Region,South Africa

More than 40% of soils in the Transkei region, South Africa, have high phosphorous (P) fixation capacities that necessitate application of high P fertilizer rates. This incubation study compared the effectiveness of goat manure (GM) and lime to minimize P sorption in two such soils. Manure application reduced P sorption in both soils, which was partly attributed to the liming effect of GM that resulted in marked reductions of exchangeable aluminum (Al). The liming effect of GM rates followed the order 20 t GM ha^?1 > 10 t GM ha^?1 > 5 t GM ha^?1. Therefore, GM can be cost‐effectively used to lime acid soils in the region and reduce their Al toxicity potential and P fertilizer requirements. Liming reduced P sorption on the Chevy Chase soil soon after application, but P sorption was reduced after 2 months on the Flagstaff soil, suggesting that the timing of liming for improved P availability could be critical for some soils.     

Liming and Boron in a Teak Crop Established during Early Stages in an Acid Soil

Cultivation of a teak crop in acid soils needs adequate agronomic management of these characteristics of high acidity and low nutrient supply to obtain high yields in wood. This work evaluated the effect of liming and application of boron in teak plants during early stage of growth in acid soils from Córdoba, Colombia. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse and soils laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences by using acid soil limed with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and fertilized with boron. The treatments were chosen according to the Box Bernard augmented matrix 3, with dosages of Ca(OH)₂ from 300 to 5700 kg ha^?1 and boron from 0.3 to 5.225 kg ha^?1, using three repetitions per treatment. Data obtained on boron in the soils (Bs) and in the plant (Bp), foliar area (AF), leaf dry mass (MSH), and roots (MSR) were analyzed through means tests and regressions from response surfaces (p ≤ 0.05). The results indicated increased pH and in the soil’s exchangeable calcium (Ca). To reach the maximal AF, the dosages of 2.26 kg ha^?1 of boron (B) and 4522.6 kg ha^?1 of Ca(OH)₂ were estimated; for MSH, stem, and roots boron, dosages ranged between 2.02 and 5.225, with the dosage of 5700 kg ha^?1 of Ca(OH)₂ in all the variables evaluated. Application of calcium hydroxide also showed positive effect in leaf, stem, and MSR gain of teak seedlings during early growth stages. Fertilization with boron (B) did not show significant effect upon growth of dry masses of the parts evaluated.     

Soil organic matter dynamics in lands continuously cultivated with maize and soybean in Heilongjiang Province,Northeast China: Estimation from natural 13C abundance

Abstract

Northeast China is the main production area of maize and soybean in China. In the present study, the rates of decomposition and replacement of soil organic carbon (SOC) were estimated using the soil inventory collected since 1991 from long-term maize and soybean cultivation plots in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, to evaluate the sustainability of the present cultivation system. The total carbon (C) content in soil was stable without any significant changes in the plots (approximately 28.5 g C kg^?1). The δ¹³C value of soil organic matter under continuous maize cultivation increased linearly with an annual increment of 0.07 from ?23.9 in 1991, which indicated that approximately 13% of the initial SOC was decomposed during the 13-year period of maize cultivation, with a half-life of 65 years. Slow decomposition of SOC was considered to result from the low annual mean temperature (1.5°C) and long freezing period (170–180 days year^?1) in the study area. In contrast, the amount of organic C derived from maize increased in the soil with a very slow annual increment of 0.17 g C kg^?1, probably because of the removal of all the plant residues from the plots. Based on the soil organic matter dynamics observed in the study plots, intentional recycling/maintenance of plant residues was proposed as a way of increasing soil fertility in maize or soybean cultivation.     

浙江中部红壤施用石灰对土壤交换性钙、镁及土壤酸度的影响

为了确定红壤施用石灰后钙、镁移动和土壤酸化速率,监测了耕层（10～20ｃｍ）和底土（20～60ｃｍ）的ｐＨ和交换性Ca2+、Mg2+、Al2+的长期变化。结果表明,耕层交换性Ca2+在施用石灰后的一年半时间达到最高值,此后随着时间的推移而急剧减少;而底土的交换性Ca2+随石灰用量的增加和施用石灰后时间的推移而增加。镁在土壤剖面中的移动比钙快;施用石灰后耕层和底土酸度的降低与交换性Ca2+的增加基本同步。在本试验条件下,不论施用石灰与否都存在着复酸化过程,但施用石灰后复酸化作用更强。     

Surface Liming and Zinc Availability in a Long‐Term Experiment under No‐Till System

No‐till (NT) system with crop rotation is one of the most effective strategies to improve agricultural sustainability in tropical and subtropical regions. To control soil acidity in NT, lime is broadcast on the surface without incorporation. The increase in soil pH due to surface liming may decrease zinc (Zn) availability and its uptake by crops. A field experiment was performed in Paraná State, Brazil, on a loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludox to evaluate Zn bioavailability in a NT system after surface liming and re‐liming. Dolomitic lime was surface applied on the main plots in July 1993 at the rates of 0, 2, 4, and 6 Mg ha^?1. In June 2000, the main plots were divided in two subplots to study of the effect of surface re‐liming at the rates of 0 and 3 Mg ha^?1. The cropping sequence was soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] (2001–2 and 2002–3), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (2003), soybean (2003–4), corn (Zea mays L.) (2004–5), and soybean (2005–6). Soil samples were collected at the following depths: 0–0.05, 0.05–0.10, and 0.10–0.20 m, 10 years after surface liming and 3 years after surface re‐liming. Soil Zn levels were extracted by four extractants: (i) 0.005 mol L^?1 diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) + 0.1 mol L^?1 triethanolamine (TEA) + 0.01 mol L^?1 calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution at pH 7.3 (DTPA–TEA), (ii) 0.1 mol L^?1 hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution, (iii) Mehlich 1 solution, and (iv) Mehlich 3 solution. Zinc concentrations in leaves and grains of soybean, wheat, and corn were also determined. Soil pH (0.01 mol L^?1 CaCl₂ suspension) varied from 4.4 to 6.1, at the 0‐ to 0.05‐m depth, from 4.2 to 5.3 at the 0.05‐ to 0.10‐m depth, and from 4.2 to 4.8 at the 0.10‐ to 0.20‐m depth, after liming and re‐liming. Zinc concentrations evaluated by DTPA–TEA, 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl, Mehlich 1, and Mehlich 3 solutions were not changed as a result of lime rate application. Re‐liming increased Zn concentrations extracted by 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl at 0–0.05 m deep and by DTPA–TEA at 0.05–0.10 m deep. Surface‐applied lime promoted a decrease in Zn concentrations of the crops, mainly in grains, because of increased soil pH at the surface layers. Regardless of the liming treatments, levels of Zn were sufficient to soybean, wheat, and corn nutrition under NT.     

Contribution and stability of forest-derived soil organic carbon during woody encroachment in a tropical savanna. A case study in Gabon

In this study, we quantified the contribution of forest-derived carbon (FDC) to the soil organic C (SOC) pool along a natural succession from savanna (S) to mixed Marantaceae forest (MMF) in the Lopè National Park, Gabon. Four 1-ha plots, corresponding to different stages along the natural succession, were used to determine the SOC stock and soil C isotope composition (δ¹³C) to derive the FDC contribution in different soil layers down to 1 m depth. Besides, to investigate changes in SOC stability, we determined the ¹⁴C concentration of SOC to 30 cm depth and derived turnover time (TT). Results indicated that SOC increased only at the end of the succession in the MMF stage, which stored 46% more SOC (41 Mg C ha^?1) in the 0–30 cm depth than the S stage (28.8 Mg C ha^?1). The FDC contribution increased along forest succession affecting mainly the top layers of the initial successional stages to 15 cm depth and reaching 70 cm depth in the MMF stage. The TT suggests a small increase in stability in the 0–5 cm layer from S (146 years) to MMF (157 years) stages. Below 5 cm, the increase in stability was high, suggesting that FDC can remain in soils for a much longer time than savanna-derived C. In conclusion, the natural succession toward Marantaceae forests can positively impact climate change resulting in large SOC stocks, which can be removed from the atmosphere and stored for a much longer time in forest soils compared to savanna soils.     

Changing pH shifts the microbial sourceas well as the magnitude of N2O emission from soil

Here, we examine the effect of long-term pH differences and short-term pH change on N₂O emissions from soil, and the microbial source (ammonia oxidation versus denitrification) of ¹⁵N-N₂O emissions. ¹⁵N-fertiliser (20 g N m^?2; 10 atom% excess ¹⁵N) was applied to (1) a silt loam soil of pH 7 held at 50% and 65% water-filled pore space (WFPS) (experiment 1) and (2) a loamy sand soil maintained at pH 4.5 and pH 7 for over 40 years (experiment 2). Soils were limed with CaCO₃ or acidified with H₂SO₄, and comparisons were made with unadjusted soils. Ammonia oxidation was the main microbial source of ¹⁵N-N₂O in soils limed to pH 7.0–8.1, unadjusted pH 7.1 (Experiment 1) and long-term pH 7 (experiment 2) soils. Eighty percent of ¹⁵N-N₂O from the long-term pH 4.5 soil (experiment 2) was derived from denitrification suggesting a possible inhibition of N₂O reduction. Short-term acidification to pH 5.6 or 4.3 lowered N₂O emissions. Liming of the pH 4.5 soil resulted in over four times greater N₂O emission (11 mg ¹⁴⁺¹⁵N-N₂O m^?2 over 41 days) than from the long-term pH 7.0 soil (experiment 2), with an associated increase in ammonia oxidiser-N₂O and decrease in denitrifier-N₂O production. This is the first report of a pH-induced change in microbial source of N₂O. Our results highlight the importance of distinguishing between short- and long-term effects of pH management when predicting N₂O emissions from soil, as they exhibit predominance of different microbial groups in N₂O production, with likely adaptation of the microbial community.     

Effects of organic material amendment and water content on NO, N2O, and N2 emissions in a nitrate-rich vegetable soil

Amending vegetable soils with organic materials is increasingly recommended as an agroecosystems management option to improve soil quality. However, the amounts of NO, N₂O, and N₂ emissions from vegetable soils treated with organic materials and frequent irrigation are not known. In laboratory-based experiments, soil from a NO ₃ ^? -rich (340 mg N?kg^?1) vegetable field was incubated at 30°C for 30 days, with and without 10 % C₂H₂, at 50, 70, or 90 % water-holding capacity (WHC) and was amended at 1.19 g?C kg^?1 (equivalent to 2.5 t?C ha^?1) as Chinese milk vetch (CMV), ryegrass (RG), or wheat straw (WS); a soil not amended with organic material was used as a control (CK). At 50 % WHC, cumulative N₂ production (398–524 μg N?kg^?1) was significantly higher than N₂O (84.6–190 μg N?kg^?1) and NO (196–224 μg N?kg^?1) production, suggesting the occurrence of denitrification under unsaturated conditions. Organic materials and soil water content significantly influenced NO emissions, but the effect was relatively weak since the cumulative NO production ranged from 124 to 261 μg N?kg^?1. At 50–90 % WHC, the added organic materials did not affect the accumulated NO ₃ ^? in vegetable soil but enhanced N₂O emissions, and the effect was greater by increasing soil water content. At 90 % WHC, N₂O production reached 13,645–45,224 μg N?kg^?1 from soil and could be ranked as RG?>?CMV?>?WS?>?CK. These results suggest the importance of preventing excess water in soil while simultaneously taking into account the quality of organic materials applied to vegetable soils.     

Liming Influences Forms of Acidity in Soils Belonging to Different Orders under Subtropical India

A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of liming on changes in different forms of acidity in relation to soil properties. Thirty-six surface (0–15 cm deep) soil samples were collected from different soil orders, namely Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Entisols of coastal saline zone of West Bengal, India, and incubated for 21 days with three doses of lime [i.e., no lime (L₀), half lime (L_1/2), and full lime (L₁)]. Results of analysis of soil showed that there were significant increases in pH in water (pH_w) and pH in 0.02 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (pH_Ca) (1.3 and 1.5 units) and decrease in total acidity, hydrolytic acidity, exchange acidity, electrostatically bound aluminium (EBAl³⁺), and electrostatically bound hydrogen (EBH⁺) upon liming being from 1.53 to 0.57, 1.40 to 0.54, 0.13 to 0.03, 0.08 to 0.01, and 0.06 to 0.02 cmol (p⁺) kg^?1, respectively. The decrease in values of all the forms of acidity was greater in L₁ than in L_1/2 treatment under Entisols of the terai zone, followed by Entisols of coastal saline zone, Inceptisols, and Alfisols. The forms of acidity showed significant positive correlation with each other but negative correlation with pH_w and pH_Ca, except for EBH⁺.     

Land-use effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in a typical plateau lakeshore wetland of China

Wetland soils (WS) can store a significant amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN). Surface soils (0–20 cm) were sampled in WS, 20-yr-old conventionally tilled soils (CTS20), 2-yr-old abandoned tilled soils (ATS2), and 6-yr-old abandoned tilled soils (ATS6) to estimate changes in SOC and TN contents due to cultivation and abandonment. Our results showed that SOC and TN contents were significantly higher in WS than those in CTS20, ATS2, and ATS6. As a result of 20-yr cultivation, SOC and TN contents decreased from 43.75 to 24.06 g kg^?1 and from 4.96 to 2.32 g kg^?1, respectively. However, after the abandonment of cultivated wetlands, SOC and TN contents showed a slow increase but the change was not significant among CTS20 and ATS2. The findings of this study suggest that SOC and TN contents in top 20 cm soils of wetlands can be reduced significantly by cultivation, but they are restored slowly after abandonment.     

Manganese Deficiency in Canola Induced by Liming to Ameliorate Soil Acidity

Applying lime to ameliorate soil acidity has been observed to induce manganese (Mn) deficiency in canola (Brassica napus L.) crops grown on acid sandy soils near Albany and gravelly acid sands of the Great Southern Districts of southwestern Australia. These soils were often Mn-deficient in patches for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production when they were newly cleared for agriculture requiring application of Mn fertilizer to ensure grain yields were not reduced by the deficiency. Since then, these soils have acidified and in the 1990s, canola started to be grown on these soils in rotation with wheat and lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.). These limed soils may now have become marginal to deficient in Mn for canola production. The effect of liming may change the effectiveness of fertilizer Mn. In addition, the effect of liming on the residual value of Mn fertilizer applied to these soils for canola production is unknown. Therefore, a glasshouse experiment was conducted using Mn deficient sand. Three levels of finely-powdered calcium carbonate were added and incubated in moist soil for 42 days at 22±2°C to produce 3 soils with different pH values [1:5 soil:0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂)]: 4.9 (original soil), 6.3, and 7.5. Five Mn levels, as solutions of Mn sulfate, were then added and incubated in moist soil for 0, 50, and 100 days before sowing canola. To estimate the residual value (RV) of incubated Mn for canola production, the effectiveness of the incubated Mn was calculated relative to the effectiveness of Mn applied just before sowing canola (freshly-applied Mn). The RV of the incubated Mn was determined using yield of dried canola shoots, the Mn application level required to produce 90% of the maximum shoot yield, and Mn content in dried shoots (Mn concentration in shoots multiplied by yield of dried shoots). As measured using both yield of dried shoots and Mn content of dried shoots, the residual value of Mn decreased with increasing soil pH and with increasing period of incubation of Mn with moist soil. The critical Mn concentration, for 90% of the total yield of dried canola shoots, was (mg Mn kg^?1) ～17 in youngest mature growth (apex and youngest emerged leaf, YMG), and ～22 for the rest of dried shoots. These values were similar to current critical values for un-limed soils suggesting critical Mn concentrations remain the same for limed soils. Plant testing of canola is recommended if soils are to be limed to ameliorate soil acidity. When plant tests indicate a high likelihood of Mn deficiency, foliar Mn sprays need to be applied to that crop to ensure Mn deficiency does not reduce grain production that year, and fertilizer Mn needs to be re-applied to the soil when sowing the next crop to reduce the likelihood of Mn deficiency for subsequent crops.