Separate effects of the biochemical quality and N content of crop residues on C and N dynamics in soil

This study assessed the respective roles of biochemical quality and N content of plant residues on C and N dynamics in a soil. Both ¹⁵N- and ¹³C-labeled oilseed rape residues (roots, seedpod walls) combining different biochemical characteristics and similar N content or the same biochemical characteristics and different N contents were used as amendments. These treatments were combined with two levels of soil inorganic N to ensure that decomposition was not limited by N availability. The soil was incubated under laboratory conditions for 134 days. Soil amended with residues of similar biochemical quality (i.e. the two pod walls) displayed similar C mineralization dynamics when the initial N availability (residue+soil N) ranged from 1.7 to 3.2% of residue dry matter. The roots showed poorer decomposition than the pod walls, lower cumulative C mineralization and greater accumulation of root-derived C in the >50 μm coarse fraction of the soil organic matter. The N content of the residues influenced mineral N accumulation in the soil with a lower net immobilization of residues with low C-to-N ratios. Adding an exogenous source of inorganic N had no effect on C dynamics but modified the remineralization kinetics of the previously immobilized N, suggesting changes in the microbial community involved.     

Mineralisation of C and N from root, stem and leaf residues in soil and role of their biochemical quality

The influence of biochemical characteristics of 15 crop residues on C and N mineralisation in soil was investigated by following the decomposition of roots, stems and leaves of four subtropical species and one temperate species buried into the soil. The C, N and polyphenols contents were measured in different biochemical pools obtained from residues of the different organs. The mineralisation of root C was significantly lower than that of leaves and stems. Chemical analysis showed a higher polyphenol content in the leaves and a higher ligninlike content in the roots. Carbon and N mineralisation were simulated with the STICS decomposition submodel and tested against the data set. The model predicted leaf and stem C mineralisation for all five species fairly accurately, but failed to predict root C mineralisation, indirectly revealing the more complex composition of the root tissue. The results showed the interest of separately considering the different plant parts when studying plant residue decomposition and the need to develop other methods of residue quality characterisation to improve the prediction of residue decomposition.     

长期氮肥施用对玉米根茬矿化分解的影响

通过室内培养和田间分解试验,研究了施氮量为N 0、120和240 kg/hm2处理的玉米根茬(R0、R120、R240)在15和45 cm两个肥力条件不同的土层中有机碳矿化分解特性及其对土壤活性有机碳组分的影响。结果表明,在室内矿化培养条件下,根茬CO2累积释放量和潜在碳矿化量均为R120R240R0;R120和R240根茬碳矿化率在表层土壤(15 cm)和底层土壤(45 cm)中分别较R0提高21.1%、12.7%和45.3%、33.7%。在田间埋藏分解条件下,分解386 d后R0、R120和R240根茬碳残留率在表层土壤中分别为36.3%、25.2%和28.7%,在底层土壤中分别为38.4%、30.6%和31.1%;根茬碳残留率与其C/N、木质素含量以及木质素/N正相关,而与根茬全氮含量呈负相关关系,表明根茬分解率随着其本身全氮含量的增加而提高;添加玉米根茬显著增加土壤微生物量碳含量143%~297%,增加土壤可溶性有机碳含量19.9%~118.2%。综上可见,长期施用氮肥影响作物根系的养分组成,显著提高其全氮含量,在评价土壤碳、氮养分循环时,应注重长期氮肥施用对作物残茬养分累积及其在土壤中分解、转化的影响。     

Decomposition of 15N-labelled catch-crop residues in soil: evaluation of N mineralization and plant-N uptake potentials under controlled conditions

The decomposition of ¹⁵N-labelled catch-crop materials (rape, radish and rye), obtained from field experiments, was studied in a chalky Champagne soil during a 60-week incubation at 28°C. Mineralized N was assumed to come from either labile or recalcitrant fractions of plant residues. The labile fraction represented about one-third of the catch-crop N; its mineralization rate constant varied from 0.06 to 0.12 d^?1. The decomposition rate of the recalcitrant N fraction ranged from 0.03 × 10^?2 to 0.06 × 10^?2 d^?1. Catch-crop species and rate of incorporation had no effect on N residue mineralized at the end of incubation. The decomposition of labelled rye was monitored in the same soil during a 5-month pot experiment to determine the N availability to an Italian ryegrass crop and the effect of plants on the decomposition processes. The ¹⁵N-rye decomposed rapidly both in the presence or absence of Italian ryegrass, but the amounts of N mineralized were influenced by the presence of living roots: 42% of the ¹⁵N in labelled rye was present as inorganic N in the pots without plants after 5 months, compared with only 32% in the ryegrass crop. Comparison of microbial-biomass dynamics in both treatments suggested that there had been preferential utilization by soil micro-organisms of materials released from the living roots than the labelled plant residues.     

接种根瘤菌对白格、大叶合欢和银合欢生长与结瘤的影响

Effects of inoculation of Rhizobium suspension on nodulation and plant growth were examined with Albizzia procera,Albizzia lebbeck and Leucaena leucocephala seedlings grown on sterilized and non-sterilized soil media.Inoculation resulted in nodule number increases of 28.6,29.02and 23.9 times in sterilized soil and 3.4,3.6and 3.27 times in non-sterilized soil for A.procera,A.lebbeck and L.leucocephala seedlings respectively.Total dry mass increased by 127.6%,66.7%and 60.7% in sterilized soil and 100%,95.5%and 52.65% in non-sterilized soil for these three legume trees,respectively,after a period of two months.Significantly high inoculation responses of oot length,root diameter,collar diameter,shoot length,and dry mass of root,shoot,leaves and nodules were also observed in both steilized and non-sterilized soil media as compared to respective control treatments,The response to inoculation was strong in sterilized and modest in non-sterilized soils.The significantly higher response to Rhizobium inoculation over control in all the species tested suggested that application of Rhizobium greatly enhanced plant growth ,nodulation,biomass production and nitrogen-fixing activity of the nodules.     

Carbon mineralization of tree leaf litter and crop residues from poplar-based agroforestry systems in Northeast China: A laboratory study

Tree leaf litter and crop residues (fine roots and straw) of the two main crops (maize and peanut) collected from temperate poplar-based agroforestry systems in Liaoning Province, China, were used in a laboratory decomposition experiment. The objectives were to assess the decomposition dynamics of individual plant residues of varying quality and to examine whether interactive effects between poplar litter and crop residues exist during decomposition. Rates of residue decomposition were measured as CO₂ production. Peanut roots decomposed faster than the other individual residues due to their high N and P concentrations and low C/N ratio. There were additive effects between poplar litter and crop residues during decomposition, even though significant differences existed in the initial nutrient concentrations of residues. Our results suggest that legume crops can produce high quality residues and thus have the potential to promote nutrient cycling. Therefore, legume crops have an advantage over other crops for intercropping in temperate agroforestry systems from the viewpoint of sustaining soil fertility.     

Decomposition of mulched versus incorporated crop residues: Modelling with PASTIS clarifies interactions between residue quality and location

Crop residue management has been shown to significantly affect the decomposition process of plant debris in soil. In previous studies examining this influence, the extrapolation of laboratory data of carbon and/or nitrogen mineralization to field conditions was often limited by a number of interactions that could not be taken into account by a mere experimental approach. Therefore, we demonstrated the interactive effect between crop residue location in soil (mulch vs. incorporation) and its biochemical and physical quality, in repacked soil columns under artificial rain. Decomposition of ¹³C and ¹⁵N labelled rape and rye residues, with associated C and N fluxes, was analysed using the mechanistic model PASTIS, which turned out to be necessary to understand the interacting factors on the C and N fluxes. The influence of soil and residue water content on decomposition and nitrification was evaluated by the moisture limitation factor of PASTIS. This factor strongly depended on residue location and to a smaller extent on physical residue properties, resulting in a lower decomposition rate of about 35% for surface placed compared to incorporated residues. Irrespective of its placement, the biochemical residue quality (e.g. N availability for decomposition, amount of soluble compounds and lignin) was responsible for a faster and more advanced decomposition of about 15% in favour of rye compared to rape, suggesting only a limited interaction between residue quality and its location. Net N mineralization after nine weeks was larger for rye than for rape, equivalent to 59 and 10 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹ with incorporation, and 71 and 34 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹ with mulch, respectively. This net N mineralization in soil resulted from the interaction between soil water content, depending on residue placement, and N availability, which was determined by the biochemical residue quality. Moisture limitation appeared more important than N limitation in the decomposition of mulched residues. Modelling of gross N mineralization and immobilization also revealed that leaving crop residues at the soil surface may increase the risk of nitrate leaching compared to residue incorporation, if (i) soil water content under mulch is larger than with residue incorporation (more gross N mineralization), and (ii) availability to the applied C-source is limited (less gross N immobilization). Scenario analyses with PASTIS confirmed the importance of moisture conditions on the decomposition of mulched residues and the small interaction between biochemical crop residue quality and its location in soil.     

Carbon flow from C-labeled straw and root residues into the phospholipid fatty acids of a soil microbial community under field conditions

To better understand how residue quality and seasonal conditions influence the flow of C from both root and straw residues into the soil microbial community, we followed the incorporation of ¹³C-labeled crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) root and straw residues into the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) of soil microbial biomass. After residue incorporation under field conditions in late summer (September), the ¹³C content of soil PLFA was measured in September, October, and November, 2002, and April and June, 2003. Multivariate non-metric multidimensional scaling techniques showed that the distribution of ¹³C among microbial PLFA differed among the four primary treatments (ryegrass straw and roots, clover straw and roots). Regardless of treatment, some PLFA remained poorly labeled with ¹³C throughout much of the study (16:1ω5, 10Me17:0; 0-5%), whereas other PLFA consistently contained a larger percentage of residue-derived C (16:0; 18:1ω9, 18:2ω6,9; 10-25%). The distribution of residue ¹³C among individual PLFA differed from the relative contributions of individual PLFA (mol%) to total PLFA-C, suggesting that a subset of the soil biomass was primarily responsible for assimilating residue-derived C. The distribution of ¹³C among soil PLFA differed between the sampling times, indicating that residue properties and soil conditions influenced which members of the community were assimilating residue-derived C. Our findings will provide the foundation for further studies to identify the nature of the community members responsible for residue decomposition at different times of the year, and what factors account for the dynamics of the community involved.     

Carbon dynamics of rhizodeposits, root- and shoot-residues in a rice soil

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the fates of plant-derived C during the simulated fallow period in a rice soil. The ¹³C labelled soil and plant materials were used to follow the residue decomposition and its effect on soil organic C (SOC) dynamics under the conditions of either incorporation into soil or intact root systems. The soils were incubated at 15 °C for 240 d and destructive sampling was conducted at 60, 150 and 240 d. To observe the temperature effect, one batch of incubation was shifted from 15 to 25 °C during the last 45 d (between 195 and 240 d). The results showed that the decomposition of the incorporated residues could be divided into two phases: an initial rapid phase followed by a slower phase of decomposition. The decomposition of straw residues was faster than root residues: with 73% of the straw residue being decomposed, compared with 56% of the root residue over 240-d incubation at 15 °C. The water-soluble organic C and microbial biomass C significantly increased after residue incorporation. The total SOC contents, however, slightly decreased, although significant amounts of straw C (14.2%) and root C (8.7%) were found in SOC at the end of incubation, suggesting that the degradation of native SOC occurred concomitantly. Similar to decomposition of the incorporated residues, the organic substances derived from rhizodeposition of the previous season were mineralized rapidly at first and then slowly. The decomposition of the intact root system, however, was extremely slow. This result suggested that the intact root system conserved more organic C in soils compared with the incorporation of fresh residues. Increase of temperature from 15 to 25 °C during the last 45-days of incubation significantly promoted the residue decomposition.     

长期不同施氮处理玉米根茬的田间分解特性

以7年氮肥定位试验地玉米根茬为研究对象,通过把玉米根茬按2%比例与15 cm和45 cm土层深度的土壤混合后田间埋袋的方法,研究长期不同施氮量处理[分别为0 kg(N)?hm?2、120 kg(N)?hm?2和240 kg(N)?hm?2]的玉米根茬(分别用R0、R120、R240表示),在陕西省长武黑垆土中埋藏分解1 a后对土壤碳、氮组分的影响及根茬有机碳的分解特性。与未添加玉米根茬的对照土壤相比,玉米根茬加入能够显著增加各层土壤的微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳和矿质态氮含量,3种施氮量处理间差异不显著。随着分解时间延长,土壤可溶性有机物中结构相对复杂的芳香类化合物比例逐渐增加。分解1 a后,R0、R120和R240根茬的有机碳残留率在15 cm土层中分别为44.4%、35.3%和34.9%,在45 cm土层中分别为53.3%、44.3%和42.5%。R0根茬的碳残留率显著高于R120和R240;玉米根茬在15 cm土层的碳分解率和分解速率常数显著高于45 cm土层。采用一级动力学方程拟合玉米根茬碳残留率变化结果显示,R0、R120和R240根茬有机碳分解95%所需要的时间在45 cm土层比15cm土层分别长3.2 a、2.3 a和1.9 a。氮肥施用量影响玉米根茬在土壤中的分解特性,在评价农田氮肥施用与土壤固碳时,应考虑不同氮肥用量下残茬养分组成及其在土壤中分解的差异。     

Impact of plant cell wall network on biodegradation in soil: Role of lignin composition and phenolic acids in roots from 16 maize genotypes

Residue quality is a key factor governing biodegradation and the fate of C in soil. Most investigations of relationships existing between crop residue quality and soil decomposition have been based on determining the relative proportions of soluble, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin components. However, cell wall cohesion is increased by tight interconnections between polysaccharides and lignin that involve cross-linking agents (phenolic acids). The aim of this study was to determine the role of lignin composition and phenolic acids on short- to medium-term decomposition of maize roots in soil. Sixteen maize genotypes, presenting a range of chemical characteristics related to root lignin and phenolic acids, were used. The main components were characterized by Van Soest (VS) extraction and cell wall acid hydrolysis, and the non-condensed Syringyl and Guaicyl lignin monomers, esterified phenolic acids and etherified phenolic acids were determined. Maize roots were then incubated in soil under controlled conditions (15 °C, −80 kPa moisture) for 796 days. Results showed that VS extraction over-estimated the structural hemicellulose content and that VS lignin was more recalcitrant than Klason lignin. The tremendous effect of cell wall chemical characteristics was shown by marked variations (almost two-fold differences in C mineralization), between the 16 maize roots. Decomposition was controlled by soluble residue components in the short term whereas lignin and the interconnections between cell wall polymers were important in the long-term. Notably the cell wall domain rich in non-condensed lignin and esterified phenolic acids was prone to decomposition whereas the presence of etherified ferulic acids seemed to hamper cell wall decomposition.     

Initial decomposition of post-harvest crown and root residues of poplars as affected by N availability and particle size

An incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the impacts of residue particle size and N application on the decomposition of post-harvest residues of fast-growing poplar tree plantations as well as on the microbial biomass. Crown and root residues, differing in their C/N ratios (crown 285, root 94), were ground to two particle sizes and incubated with and without application of inorganic nitrogen (N) for 42 days in a tilled soil layer from a poplar plantation after 1 year of re-conversion to arable land. Carbon and N mineralization of the residues, microbial biomass C and N, ergosterol contents, and recovery of unused substrate as particulate organic matter (POM) were determined. Carbon mineralization of the residues accounted for 26 to 29 % of added C and caused a strong N immobilization, which further increased after N addition. N immobilization in the control soil showed that even 1 year after re-conversion, fine harvest residues still remaining in the soil were a sink for mineral N. Irrespective of the particle size, C mineralization increased only for crown residues after application of N. Nevertheless, the overall decrease in amounts of POM-C and a concurrent decrease of the C/N ratio in the POM demonstrate the mineralization of easily available components of woody residues. Microbial biomass significantly decreased during incubation, but higher cumulative CO₂ respiration after N application suggests an increased microbial turnover. Higher ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratios after residue incorporation points to a higher contribution of saprotrophic fungi in the microbial community, but fungal biomass was lower after N addition.     

Impact of pea growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the decomposition of 15N-labeled maize residues

A pot experiment was carried out (1) to compare C and N yield of different plant parts, nutrient concentrations, and root colonization between the non-mycorrhizal mutant P2 (myc ^?) and the symbiotic isoline Frisson (myc ⁺), (2) to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and growing pea plants on microbial decomposition of ¹⁵N-labeled maize residues, and (3) to follow the distribution of the added substrate over different soil fractions, such as particulate organic matter, soil microbial biomass, and microbial residues. Yields of C in straw, grain, and roots of myc ⁺ peas were significantly higher by 27%, 11%, and 92%, respectively, compared with those of myc ^? peas. The δ¹³ C values in the different plant parts were significantly higher in myc ⁺ than in myc ^? tissue with and without maize. Application of labeled maize residues generally resulted in ¹⁵N enrichment of pea plants. At the end of the experiment, the ergosterol concentration in roots of mature peas did not differ between the two isolines, indicating similar colonization by saprotrophic fungi. The decomposition of added maize residues was significantly reduced by the myc ^? peas, but especially by myc ⁺ peas. The formation of microbial residue C was increased and that of microbial residue N was reduced in the presence of plants. The insufficient N supply to soil microorganisms reduced decomposition of maize residues in the presence of peas, especially myc ⁺ peas.     

Fate of nitrogen from crop residues as affected by biochemical quality and the microbial biomass

Net mineralization of N from a range of shoot and root materials was determined over a period of 6 months following incorporation into a sandy-loam soil under controlled environment conditions. Biochemical “quality” components of the materials showed better correlation with net N mineralization than did gross measures of the respiration and N content of the soil microbial community during decomposition. The quality components controlling net N mineralization changed during decomposition, with water-soluble phenolic content significantly correlated with net N mineralization at early stages, and water-soluble N, followed by cellulose at later stages. C-to-N and total N were correlated with net N mineralization towards the end of the incubation only. Cumulative microbial respiration during the early stages of decomposition was correlated with net N mineralization measured after 2 months, at which time maximum net N mineralization was recorded for most residues. However, there was no relationship between microbial-N and net N mineralization. Biochemical quality factors controlling the C and N content of the residue remaining at the end of the incubation as light fraction organic matter (LFOM) were also investigated. Both C and N content of LFOM derived from the residues were correlated with residue cellulose content, and the chemical characteristics of LFOM were highly correlated with those of the original plant material. Incorporation of low cellulose, high water-soluble N-containing shoot residues resulted in more N becoming mineralized than had been added in the residues, demonstrating that net mineralization of native soil organic matter had occurred. Large amounts of N were lost from the mineral-N pool during the incubation, which could not be accounted for by microbial immobilization.     

An investigation of the impact of Glomus clarum (mycorrhiza) on the growth of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum mill.) on both sterilized and non-sterilized soils

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of Glomus clarum (mycorrhiza) on the growth of tomato seedlings grown in both sterilized and non-sterilized soils. Highest growth parameter values were recorded in tomato plants inoculated with mycorrhiza but grown in sterilized soil, followed by those grown in non-sterilized soil but inoculated with mycorrhiza also. Sterilized but non-inoculated tomato plants also had growth and were closely followed by non-sterilized, non-inoculated tomato plants. There was no significant difference in all the treatments when girth of the tomato plants used was measured in this study. Nutrient uptake (N,P,K) was significantly found highest in the inoculated sterilized tomato plants while it was found lowest in the non-sterilized, non-inoculated tomato plants. Generally, mycorrhizal-inoculated tomato plants (whether sterilized or non-sterilized) showed better growth in all the treatments used.     

Response of a wild-type and modern cowpea cultivars to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in sterilized and non-sterilized soil

Cowpea is an important crop that serves as a legume and vegetable source to many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Soil fertility is a significant limitation to its production thus; inoculation with beneficial soil biota such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could improve its performance. However, plant–AMF interaction could vary based on crop cultivar hence affecting overall crop production. The present study aimed at determining the effect of AMF inoculation and soil sterilization on root colonization and growth of a wild-type and three modern cowpea cultivars grown by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Potted cowpea plants were inoculated with a commercial AMF inoculum comprising of Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus aggregatum and Glomus etunicatum and maintained in a greenhouse for 40 days. After harvesting, mycorrhizal colonization, nodule number and dry weight, root and shoot dry weights, nitrogen (N,) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content were determined. Interestingly, the modern cultivars showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher root colonization, nodulation, shoot P and N compared to the wild-type cultivar. Moreover, a strong positive correlation between AMF root colonization and shoot P (r² = 0.73, 0.90, p < 0.001), AMF root colonization and shoot N (r² = 0.78; 0.89, p < 0.001) was observed in both sterilized and non-sterilized soil, respectively. Soil sterilization affected root colonization and growth parameters with plants grown in non-sterilized soil performing better than those grown in sterilized soil. This study provides major evidence that modern cowpea cultivars are still responsive to mycorrhizal inoculation suggesting that modern breeding programs are not deleterious AMF symbiosis.     

Pythium SPP in roots of wheat and rye-grass in Western Australia and their effect on root rot caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici

Pythium acanthophoron, P. echinulatum, P. irregulare, P. vanterpoolii, P. vexans, P. violae and a Pythium sp. (unidentified) were isolated from wheat and rye-grass roots. Pythium spp were isolated at a higher frequency at seedling and tillering stages than at other stages of sampling. A greater proportion of these were obtained on potato dextrose agar than on the same medium with lactic acid or streptomycin.

P. irregulare, P. violae and P. vanterpoolii were pathogenic to wheat and rye-grass in sterilized and non-sterilized soil, and with the exception of P. vanterpoolii on rye-grass, reduced their fresh shoot and root weights. P. acanthophoron, P. echinulatum, P. vexans and the Pythium sp. were non-pathogenic to wheat and rye-grass. P. vexans and Pythium sp., however, increased the fresh shoot and root weights of wheat and rye-grass in sterilized and non-sterilized soil.

P. irregulare, P. violae and P. vanterpoolii increased the percentage mortality of wheat and rye-grass resulting from infection by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in sterilized and non-sterilized soil, with the exception of P. vanterpoolii on rye-grass. P. vexans, the Pythium sp. and P. echinulatum reduced the percentage mortality of wheat and rye-grass resulting from take-all in both soil treatments.     

玉米大豆根茬混合后的腐解特性

玉米/大豆套作可显著提高粮食产量和养分利用效率。研究间套作作物根茬分解、养分释放规律及其对土壤生物学特性的影响,对阐释该系统中作物养分高效利用具有重要意义。本研究采用室内培养方式,控制根茬总量为2%(2 g根茬+98 g土壤),分别设置单独的大豆根茬(S)和玉米根茬(M)及两种根茬按3∶1、1∶1和1∶3混合(分别表示为SM 3∶1、SM 1∶1和SM 1∶3)共5个不同根茬配比处理和1个不加根茬处理(CK),动态测定根茬矿化速率,碳、氮含量和土壤微生物量碳等指标。研究结果表明:培养前9 d,根茬矿化速率最快,而后矿化速率逐渐降低,到培养60 d后所有处理根茬矿化速率趋于稳定。整个培养周期内玉米根茬CO_2累积释放量显著高于大豆根茬处理,但SM 1∶3处理的CO_2累积释放量始终高于其他处理。培养结束后,SM 1∶3处理的有机碳矿化量显著高于其他处理。根茬总碳含量在前10 d无显著变化,10~60 d时显著降低,后趋于平稳。培养结束后SM 1∶3处理的根茬碳含量相比初始值降低最多,降幅达到24.8%,其次是玉米根茬(M)处理,降幅为21.4%,大豆根茬(S)处理碳含量降低最少,为9.7%。根茬总氮含量在前10 d显著降低,10~100 d总氮含量显著增加。培养结束后大豆根茬(S)总氮含量最高,SM 1∶3处理总氮含量最低。土壤微生物量碳含量在培养周期内呈先增加后降低而后趋于平稳的变化规律。培养结束后与CK相比,SM 1∶3、SM 1∶1、M、S和SM 3∶1处理的土壤微生物量碳含量分别增加89.4%、58.8%、47.1%、41.2%和37.5%。因此,玉米、大豆根茬混合后在土壤中的矿化速率、养分释放速率明显高于单一根茬处理,且有利于土壤微生物的繁殖。在本试验所选的3种配比中,SM 1∶3的配置效果最佳。     

Differential and successive effects of residue quality and soil mineral N on water-stable aggregation during crop residue decomposition

Residue quality has been shown to influence soil water-stable aggregation (WSA) during crop residue decomposition, but there is still little information about its interactive effect with soil mineral N availability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soil mineral N on WSA during the decomposition of two high-C/N crop residues (wheat straw with C/N = 125.6 and miscanthus straw with C/N = 311.3). The two crop residues were combined with three mineral N addition rates (0, 60, and 120 mg N kg⁻¹ dry soil). Respiration, soil mineral N content, and WSA (expressed as mean-weight diameter, MWD) were measured on several dates during a 56-d incubation. The effect of decomposing crop residues on WSA followed two phases. (i) Between 0 and 7 d, the increase in WSA was related to intrinsic residue quality with higher decomposability of the wheat straw resulting in higher WSA. (ii) Thereafter, and until the end of the experiment, mineral N addition rates had a predominant but negative influence on WSA. In this second phase, the average MWD of residue-treated soils was 0.92, 0.55, and 0.44 mm for the 0, 60 and 120 mg N kg⁻¹ dry soil addition rates, respectively. Mineral N addition which did result in higher crop residue decomposition did not lead to higher WSA. WSA during crop residue decomposition is therefore not simply positively related to the induced microbial activity, and changes in microbial community composition with differential effects on WSA must be involved. The impact of high-C/N crop residues inputs on WSA, initially assumed to be low, could actually be strong and long-lasting in situations with low soil mineral N content.     

Residue Decomposition and Fate of Nitrogen‐15 in a Wheat Crop under Different Previous Crops and Tillage Systems

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) management may be improved by a thorough understanding of the nutrient dynamics during previous‐crop residue decomposition and its impact on fertilizer N fate in the soil–plant system. An experiment was conducted in the Argentine Pampas to evaluate the effect of maize and soybean as previouscrops and plow‐till and no‐till methods on N dynamics and ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer uptake during a wheat growing season. Maize and soybean residues released N under both tillage treatments, but N release was faster from soybean residues and when residues were buried by tillage. Net immobilization of N on decomposing residues was not detected. A regression model that accounted for 92% of remaining N variability included time, previous crop, and tillage treatment as independent variables. The rapid residue decomposition with N release was attributed to the high temperatures of the agroecosystem. The recovery of ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer in the wheat crop, soil organic matter, and decomposing residues was not statistically different between previous crop treatments or tillage systems. Crop uptake of fertilizer N averaged 52% across treatments. Forty percent of fertilizer N was removed in grains. Immobilization of labeled N on soil organic matter was substantial, averaging 34% of the ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer retained, but was very small on decomposing residues, averaging 0.2–3.0%. Fertilizer N not accounted for at harvest in the soil–plant system was 12% and was ascribed to losses. Previous crop or tillage system had no impact on wheat yield, but when soybean was the previous crop, N content of grain and straw+roots increased. Discussion is presented on the potential availability of N retained in wheat straw, roots, and soil organic matter for future crops.