Effect of Cropping System on Physical Properties of Clay Soil Under Intensive Rice Cultivation

Cropping systems are thought to alter soil quality in paddy rice fields. This study was conducted to quantify the long‐term effects of continuous crop production under different cropping systems with different crop rotations on physical properties of alluvial clay soil in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Soil samples were collected from four treatments: (i) traditional intensive rice monoculture with three rice crops per year (R–R–R); (ii) rotation with two rice crops and maize (R–M–R); (iii) rotation with two rice crops and mung bean (R–Mb–R); and (iv) rotation with one rice and two upland crops, mung bean and maize (R–Mb–M). We hypothesized that cropping systems with rotations of upland crops and their temporary beds improve the physical quality of paddy rice soil; hence, they are better options towards sustainable agriculture. Results show an improvement of soil physical quality for systems with two rice crops and one upland crop (R–M–R and R–Mb–R) and those with one rice crop with two upland crops (R–Mb–M) compared with intensive rice monoculture (R–R–R). This was translated in decreased bulk density and soil strength, increased soil organic carbon and total porosity, and higher aggregate stability index, plant‐available water capacity, and Dexter's S index, especially at depths of 10–20 and 20–30 cm. The systems with different upland crops (maize or mung bean) showed similar high physical quality improvement. To maintain soil quality in future seasons, introducing a cropping system with at least one upland crop in rotation with rice is recommended. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inclusion of upland crops in rice‐based rotations affects chemical properties of clay soil

In the Mekong Delta, alluvial clay soils have been used intensively over many generations for rice monoculture. Currently, farmers are confronted by problems of declining land productivity. Rotations comprising rice and upland crops can increase soil quality, but appropriate cropping systems for paddy soils have received relatively little attention. We therefore established a multiyear field experiment to evaluate the long‐term effects of cropping systems with different rotations on soil chemical quality. Systems laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications were as follows: (i) traditional rice monoculture with three rice crops per year (R‐R‐R), (ii) rotation with two rice crops and maize (R‐M‐R), (iii) rotation with two rice crops and mung bean (R‐Mb‐R) and (iv) rotation with one rice crop and two upland crops – mung bean and maize (R‐Mb‐M). We hypothesized that systems with rotations of upland crops and their temporary beds improve chemical quality of paddy rice soil. Soil chemical parameters were determined to better understand and evaluate the sustainability of the cropping systems. Results showed an improvement in soil chemical quality for cropping systems with rotations of rice and mung bean or maize grown on temporary beds (R‐M‐R, R‐Mb‐R and R‐Mb‐M), particularly the content of soil organic carbon and a presumed hydrolysable labile carbon fraction compared with rice monoculture. Less pronounced improvements in EC, CEC and total acidity were also found with inclusion of upland crops. Cropping systems of rice with upland crops improved rice grain and straw yield in subsequent season in contrast with rice monoculture.     

种植方式对玉米不同生长期土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

为探讨玉米不同种植方式下土壤微生物群落功能多样性的差异,进行田间定点试验,采用Biolog方法分别研究了4行轮作、4行连作、8行轮作和8行连作的种植方式对玉米种植前、拔节期、抽穗期和收获期土壤微生物功能多样性的影响。结果表明:4种种植方式的土壤微生物均在种植前代谢活性最弱、功能多样性最低,在玉米抽穗期土壤微生物代谢活性最强,功能多样性最高。在种植玉米前,轮作的土壤微生物代谢活性和功能多样性高于连作,8行轮作和4行轮作土壤微生物的物种多样性指数分别比相应的连作高22.93%和11.42%;4行轮作的土壤微生物物种多样性指数比8行轮作低3.17%,而4行连作比8行连作高6.83%。在玉米拔节期、抽穗期及收获期连作土壤微生物功能多样性略高于轮作,且有4行连作大于8行连作的趋势,但差异均未达显著水平。种植前,4种种植模式的土壤微生物对6大类碳源的利用程度整体上都较低,降解碳水化合物类、羧酸类和聚合物类碳源的微生物是种植方式影响的主要土壤微生物类群;随着玉米的生长,土壤微生物对6大类碳源的利用都逐渐增强,玉米拔节期、抽穗期和收获期之间土壤微生物特征碳源没有较大差异,4种种植方式的土壤微生物对聚合物类碳源利用程度差异都不显著。PLS-EDA分析结果表明种植方式对土壤微生物产生较大影响,种植前8行轮作和4行连作的土壤微生物碳源利用模式具有相似性;种植玉米后4种种植方式的土壤微生物对碳源的利用模式存在较大差异,其中4行连作的土壤微生物在玉米拔节期和收获期对碳源的利用模式与其他3种种植方式差异最大。试验说明作物长期连作栽培会影响土壤微生物群落功能,降低土壤微生物物种多样性,引起土壤微生物群落结构与功能的失调。     

Effects of Waxy Maize Relay Intercropping and Residue Retention on Rhizosphere Microbial Communities and Vegetable Yield in a Continuous Cropping System

Intercropping and residue retention contribute to high yield and quality of crops. However, their coupled effects on rhizospheric microbial communities under a continuous vegetable cropping system have not been adequately addressed. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects on soil microbial community and yields of waxy maize(Zea mays L.) intercropped with or without residue retention in a continuous broccoli(Brassica oleracea L.) cropping system, i.e., relay intercropping of broccoli and waxy maize(B/M-B), relay intercropping of broccoli and waxy maize with residue retention(B/MR-B), and broccoli monoculture(B-B). The biomass yields of spring and autumn vegetables in B/MR-B were 16.3%–32.5% and 30.1%–46.1% higher than those of B-B,respectively. Autumn vegetable economic yields of B/MR-B were 28.2%–40.3% higher than B-B. The average well color development followed the order: B/MR-B B/M-B B-B. The Shannon index, Simpson index, and Mc Intosh index were higher in B/MR-B than under monoculture. A principal component analysis showed that microbial communities of B/MR-B soils differed from those of B/M-B and B-B soils. Carbon(C) sources utilized by the rhizosphere microorganisms were mainly carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, amino acids, and polymers; however, the C sources for the soil microbial community differed between intercropping and monoculture. The communities from B/MR-B preferred amino acids and polymers. Available nitrogen(N), potassium(K), and phosphorus(P) had an obvious impact on soil microbial community. Additionally, the C source utilization by microorganisms was significantly affected by p H and available K and P. Cropping system diversification through relay intercropping and residue retention effectively improved the functional diversity of the soil microbial communities and increased the yields of vegetables.     

Taxonomic and functional diversity of the soil microbiome recruited from alternative crops in a rotation system

Intensive cropping is considered to contribute to negative effects both on soil physiochemical properties and on long-term grain yield, which can be alleviated by appropriate crop rotations. The soil microbial community can vary with different crop rotations, which in turn affect soil quality and grain yield. Therefore, it is of great significance to elucidate the response of the soil microbial community to crop rotation. In this study, the structural and functional changes of microbial community in different crop rotations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics analysis in a field experiment. The continuous winter wheat-summer maize cropping system was the control, and three crop rotations were established in October 2016 as follows: (1) spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize, (2) winter wheat-summer peanut→winter wheat-summer maize and (3) spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize. Soil samples were collected in September 2021 for soil microbial assessment. The results showed that the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in the soil of spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize was significantly higher (15.2%) than that in the control. The relative abundance of Ascomycota was significantly higher (19.8%–23.2%) in the soil following crop rotation compared with the control. Compared with the control, spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize enriched energy metabolism genes, and spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize reduced the genes related to plant–pathogen interaction. Compared with the control, crop rotation significantly decreased the relative abundance of the inorganic phosphorus solubilization gene (gcd) and the phosphorus transport gene (upgE) and increased the abundance of organic phosphorus mineralization genes (phoA and phyA). Based on these results, we concluded that the composition of the soil microbial community and functional genes can be altered by crop rotation, and spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize and spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize had more significant effects. This study provided a reference for the selection of crop rotations in the North China Plain based on the soil microbial community and its function.     

等高反坡台阶整地对不同耕作系统根土微生态的影响

[目的] 为探究坡耕地等高反坡台阶整地对玉米连作和玉米—芸豆轮作系统根土微生态特征的影响。[方法] 以玉米—芸豆轮作为研究对象,玉米连作为对照,采用野外原位监测采样和室内试验分析相结合的方法,通过GC-MS和高通量测序技术分析作物根系分泌物和土壤微生物群落组成、结构特征,揭示坡耕地等高反坡台阶整地对玉米连作和玉米-芸豆轮作根系分泌物种类、含量和土壤微生物群落组成及多样性的影响。[结果] (1)根系分泌物相对含量变化在CRT措施上更为突出,在轮作模式中更为显著。(2) CRT2处理提高土壤微生物群落数量、丰富度和多样性效果更显著。(3)在根系分泌物与土壤微生物互作下,根系分泌物、土壤微生物、土壤环境因子的两两相关性在CRT2处理下更显著。[结论] 坡耕地等高反坡台阶整地通过改变玉米连作和玉米—芸豆轮作的根系分泌物含量,使作物根土微生态环境发生变化,提高土壤微生物数量、多样性及丰富度,且该措施与玉米—芸豆轮作结合的提升效果更佳,对根土微生态的改善作用更显著。研究结果为坡耕地作物种植、耕作方式选择及改善土壤微环境和水土流失综合治理提供理论基础。     

轮作与连作对烟田土壤微生物区系及多样性的影响

为探讨轮作与连作对烟田根际土壤微生物群落的影响,采用实验室微生物培养联合微生物高通量测序技术,分析了玉米-烤烟轮作和烟叶连作对烟株根际土壤微生物数量、群落结构及其多样性的影响。研究结果表明,轮作烟田根际土壤中可培养细菌和放线菌数量均高于连作烟田根际土壤,但真菌数量低于连作烟田。土壤高通量测序结果表明,轮作烟田根际土壤真菌和细菌群落多样性均高于连作烟田;在烟株的生长过程中,轮作和连作烟田在旺长期和成熟期微生物群落相似度降低。相较于黑胫病/根腐病/根结线虫发病率较高(36. 67%)的连作烟田来说,轮作烟田发病率较低(0%),进一步分析真菌和细菌群落结构发现,轮作烟田根际土壤中拮抗菌如Sphingomonas (鞘脂单胞菌属)、Pseudomonas (假单胞菌属)、Aspergillus (曲霉属)等相对丰度均高于连作烟田,而连作烟田根腐病病菌Pythium (腐霉属)丰度较高。     

Pineapple–banana rotation reduced the amount of Fusarium oxysporum more than maize–banana rotation mainly through modulating fungal communities

Continuous cropping with banana results in an enrichment of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (FOC) in soil, causing the soil-borne disease Fusarium wilt. Crop rotation has been an effective method of controlling various soil-borne diseases. However, no information is currently available concerning variations in soil microbial community structure in banana crop rotations. Thus, the influence of two-year crop rotation systems of pineapple–banana and maize–banana on the population density of FOC and soil microbial community structure was investigated to identify which rotation system is more effective in FOC suppression and differences in microbial community composition among different rotations. Bacterial and fungal communities were interrogated by pyrosequencing of the 16 S RNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The pineapple–banana rotation was more effective than maize–banana in reducing FOC abundances and suppressing Fusarium wilt disease incidence. Allelopathic effects of pineapple root exudates on FOC were not observed. Greater fungal community variations than bacterial were identified between the two rotation systems, suggesting that fungal communities may play a more important role in regulating FOC abundances. Furthermore, in the pineapple–banana rotation, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi phyla, Gp1, Gp2 and Burkholderia bacterial genera increased while the fungal phyla Basidiomycota, (esp. Gymnopilus) increased and Sordariomycetes decreased. Such changes may be important microbial factors in the decrease in FOC.     

Short-term effect of tillage and crop rotation on microbial community structure and enzyme activities of a clay loam soil

A field study was carried out to analyze the short-term (2 years) effect of tillage and crop rotation on microbial community structure and enzyme activities of a clay loam soil. The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement of treatments, consisting of two tillage treatments—ridge tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT)—in combination with two crop rotation treatments—corn (Zea mays L.) monoculture and a 2-year corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were used to assess soil microbial community structure. No-tillage resulted in significantly higher total PLFAs compared to the RT treatment, which was accompanied by higher activities of protease, β-glucosaminidase, and β-glucosidase. This suggests a close link between soil microbial communities and enzyme activities in response to tillage. The increase of total microbial lipid biomass in the NT soils was due to the increase in both fungal and bacterial PLFAs. Crop rotation had little effect on soil bacterial communities and enzyme activities, but it significantly influenced soil fungal communities, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Soils under monoculture corn had higher fungal biomass than soils under corn-soybean rotation regardless of tillage treatment.     

A DGGE analysis shows that crop rotation systems influence the bacterial and fungal communities in soils

A better understanding of the relationships among different cropping systems, their effects on soil microbial ecology, and their effects on crop health and productivity is necessary for the development of more efficient, sustainable crop production systems. We used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to determine the impacts of crop rotations and crop types on bacterial and fungal communities in the soil. The communities of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal 18S rRNA genes were analyzed in experimental field plots that were kept under 4 different crop rotation systems from 1999 to 2008 (continuous cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), cabbage–lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) rotation, cabbage–radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. longipinnatus L.H. Bailey) rotation, and a 3-year crop rotation). A principal component analysis (PCA) and a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that both the bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soils were influenced by the crop rotation systems. However, the primary factors influencing each community differed: bacterial communities were most affected by soil properties (especially carbon content), while fungal communities were influenced most strongly by rotation times. To elucidate factors that may cause differences in crop rhizosphere microbial communities, the microbial communities in the harvested cabbage rhizospheres were also analyzed. The results suggest that the fungal communities in bulk soil are related to the rhizosphere fungal communities. Our present study indicates that the microbial communities in bulk and rhizosphere soils could be managed by crop rotation systems.     

持续施用生物有机肥对花生产量和根际细菌群落的影响

我国红壤旱地花生连作现象普遍，化肥施用量大，花生产量却逐年降低。为了揭示集约化经营制度下施用生物有机肥对花生连作障碍的调控，采集旱地红壤进行了连续5年的盆栽实验，实验处理包括花生-玉米轮作、施用化肥的花生连作和施用生物有机肥的花生连作，探究持续施用生物有机肥防控花生连作障碍的根际微生态机制。结果显示，相比于轮作，施用化肥的连作花生产量显著降低；相比于连作花生施用化肥，持续施用生物有机肥可以显著缓解连作花生产量降低的问题，在施用有机肥第5季荚果干重提高27%。与施用化肥的连作处理相比，持续施用生物有机肥显著增加了花生根际细菌多样性和丰富度，与轮作花生处理无显著差异。持续施用生物有机肥显著提高了连作花生根际变形菌门和拟杆菌门的相对丰度，降低了厚壁菌门的相对丰度。属水平上，花生根际促生菌Rhizobium，Mesorhizobium和Bradyrhizobium的相对丰度较化肥处理分别提高了295%、89%和40%，而Leifsonia和Burkholderia的相对丰度分别降低了67%和47%。冗余分析进一步发现，土壤有机质和pH值是根际细菌群落结构改善的重要理化因素。这表明持续施用生物有机肥可以改良红壤理化环境（如pH值和有机质含量），进而优化连作花生根际细菌群落结构并提高根际抗病性能，实现花生稳定增产的目标。     

Improving soil organic carbon pools through inclusion of summer mungbean in cereal-cereal cropping systems in Indo-Gangetic plain

Long-term effect of mungbean inclusion in lowland rice-wheat and upland maize-wheat systems on soil carbon (C) pools, particulate organic C (POC), and C-stabilization was envisaged in organic, inorganic and without nutrient management practices. In both lowland and upland systems, mungbean inclusion increased very-labile C (Cfrac₁) and labile C (Cfrac₂) in surface soil (0–0.2 m). Mungbean inclusion in cereal-cereal cropping systems improved POC, being higher in lowland (107.4%). Lowland rice-based system had higher passive C-pool (11.1 Mg C ha^?1) over upland maize-based system (6.6 Mg C ha^?1) indicating that rice ecology facilitates the stabilization of passive C-pool, which has longer persistence in soil. Organic nutrient management (farmyard manure + full crop residue + biofertilizers) increased Cfrac₁ and carbon management index (CMI) over inorganic treatment. In surface soil, higher CMI values were evident in mungbean included cropping systems in both lowland and upland conditions. Mungbean inclusion increased grain yield of cereal crops, and yield improvement followed the order of maize (23.7–31.3%) > rice (16.9–27.0%) > wheat (lowland 7.0–10.7%; upland 5.4–16.6%). Thus, the inclusion of summer mungbean in cereal-cereal cropping systems could be a long-term strategy to enrich soil organic C and to ensure sustainability of cereal-cereal cropping systems.     

马铃薯||玉米间作对土壤细菌多样性的影响

为探明连续马铃薯、玉米单作及间作种植对土壤细菌群落组成的影响,利用IonS5~(TM)XL高通量测序平台,分析了单作玉米(M)、单作马铃薯(P)、马铃薯||玉米间作(PM)下,土壤细菌群落组成以及多样性间的差异。结果表明:与单作相比,马铃薯||玉米间作土壤有机质含量显著升高(P0.05),但土壤全氮、碱解氮、全磷、速效钾、土壤pH等没有显著变化。所获得的56 787个土壤细菌可操作分类单元(OTUs)共分为46门、55纲、114目、208科、455属。土壤变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)细菌占总相对丰度的57.68%～65.11%,为优势菌门;间作对土壤细菌群落多样性(香农指数、辛普森指数)、丰富度(ACE指数和Chao1指数)无显著影响,但改变了基于门、属水平上的细菌群落组成。与单作马铃薯相比,间作显著降低了土壤变形菌门(Proteobacteria)相对丰度(P=0.023),提高了浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)的相对丰度(P=0.043)。在属水平上,相对丰度较低的芽单胞菌属(Gemmatimonas)、Candidatus Solibacter属更易受到种植方式的影响;间作提高了节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)、芽球菌属(Blastococcus)和芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)的相对丰度。随细菌群落结构变化,细菌群落功能上出现差异,通过KEGG功能预测共得到7个一级功能层, 35个二级功能层,表现出功能上的丰富性,土壤细菌群落在代谢、遗传信息处理和细胞过程方面功能活跃。7个一级功能层中的代谢功能组在马铃薯||玉米间作与马铃薯单作间有显著差异。利用前向选择,经蒙特卡罗检验表明,连续马铃薯、玉米单作及间作栽培5年后的土壤各理化性状指标与土壤细菌群落组成、多样性间的相关性均不显著。连续马铃薯||玉米间作及单作5年条件下土壤细菌群落组成的变化是由马铃薯||玉米间作作物种间互利和竞争关系而驱动的。     

Legume–barley intercropping stimulates soil N supply and crop yield in the succeeding durum wheat in a rotation under rainfed conditions

Legume–cereal intercropping is increasingly being appreciated in dryland areas, where severe climatic conditions and intensive agricultural practices, generally dominated by continuous cereal cultivation, determine depletion of soil nutrient resources and decline of soil fertility. This research aimed to assess whether and to what extent a newly introduced legume-based intercropping system is able to ameliorate the biological fertility status of an arable soil in a way that is still noticeable during the succeeding durum wheat cropping season in terms of changes in bacterial community structure, soil C and N pools, and crop yield. A field experiment was carried out under rainfed conditions in Southern Italy on a sandy clay loam soil cultivated with durum wheat following in the rotation a recently established grain legume (pea, faba bean)–barley intercropping. Soil chemical, biochemical and eco-physiological variables together with compositional shifts in the bacterial community structure by LH-PCR fingerprinting were determined at four sampling times during the durum wheat cropping season. Soil fertility was estimated by using a revised version of the biological fertility index. Results showed that even though the microbial biomass was significantly altered, the preceding legume intercrops stimulated C-related functional variables thus leading to an increased release of mineral N, which was larger in crop treatments succeeding pea-based than faba bean-based intercropping. The increased N made available in soil enabled the succeeding durum wheat to achieve an adequate grain yield with a reduced N-fertilizer use. Soil type and environmental conditions rather than crop treatments were major determinants of bacterial community structure. The biological fertility status was not varied, suggesting that in intensively managed rainfed areas long-term crop rotations with intercropped legumes are needed to consistently ameliorate it.     

Nutrient Uptake and Apparent Balances for Rice-Wheat Sequences. III. Potassium

ABSTRACT

Potassium (K) nutrition of rice-wheat (RW) systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) of South Asia is important because of its role in productivity and the large quantities of this macronutrient that are extracted by such intensive cropping systems. Field experiments on the RW cropping sequence were conducted at three locations in Bangladesh with three soil types. Two fertilizer doses—farmers' practice (FP) and soil-test based (STB)—of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), K and other nutrients were combined with mungbean or maize as a third crop. The objective of the experiments was to detect K deficiency, if any, in rice, wheat, mungbean, and maize, and to compare the FP- and STB-based sequences in terms of the K nutrition of those crops and the apparent K balance in soil. Frequent K deficiency was observed in rice and wheat at all sites, especially at Ishwordi, while maize was less affected and mungbean not deficient. There was a significant effect of fertilizer on K uptake by maize, mungbean, and rice, but little effect of the retention of mungbean residue on K uptake by crops at any site. Mean annual system-level K uptake was greatest at Ishwordi (126–239 kg ha^?1) and least at Joydebpur (64–116 kg ha^?1). The majority of K uptake was in straw and the proportion in grain varied little across sites (range: 11%–29%). There were large negative apparent K balances in all treatments at all sites (range: ?25–212 kg ha^?1), with the greatest at Ishwordi and the smallest at Joydebpur. Soil K balance responded differently to the retention of residues across soils, and positive effects could be observed on clayey soils. Long-term experiments will be required to monitor soil and plant K dynamics under various fertilizer and residue management of crops in RW systems of the IGP.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil aggregation in a no‐tillage system with crop rotation

Crop rotation adoption in no‐tillage systems (NTS) has been recommended to increase the biological activity and soil aggregation, suppress soil and plant pathogens, and increase the productivity aiming at the sustainability of agricultural areas. In this context, this study aimed to assess the effect of crop rotation on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community and soil aggregation in a soil cultivated for nine years under NTS. Treatments consisted of combinations of three summer crop sequences and seven winter crops. Summer crop sequences consisted of corn (Zea mays L.) monoculture, soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) monoculture, and soybean–corn rotation. Winter crops consisted of corn, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.), and millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke). Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–0.10 m for analyses of soil chemical, physical, and biological attributes. Spore abundance, total glomalin, and soil aggregate stability index were higher in the soil under corn monoculture. The highest values of aggregate mean weight diameter were observed in the soybean–corn rotation (3.78 mm) and corn monoculture (3.70 mm), both differing from soybean monoculture (3.15 mm), while winter crops showed significant differences only between sorghum (3.96 mm) and pigeon pea (3.25 mm). Two processes were identified in the soil under summer crop sequences. The first process was observed in PC1 (spore abundance, total glomalin, easily extractable glomalin, pH, P, and Mg²⁺) and was related to AMF; the second process occurred in PC2 (aggregate mean weight diameter, soil aggregate stability index, K⁺, and organic matter) and was related to soil aggregation. The nine‐year no‐tillage system under the same crop rotation adoption influenced AMF abundance in the soil, especially with corn cultivation in the summer crop sequence, which promoted an increased total external mycelium length and number of spores of AMF. In addition, it favored an increased soil organic matter content, which is directly related to the formation and stability of soil aggregates in these managements.     

Nutrient Uptake and Apparent Balances for Rice-Wheat Sequences. II. Phosphorus

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus (P) nutrition of the rice-wheat (RW) systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of South Asia has become important due to the alternate flooding and drying cycles of this crop rotation. Field experiments on the RW cropping sequence were conducted at three locations of Bangladesh on three soil types. Two fertilizer doses—farmers' practice (FP) and soil-test based (STB), containing recommended amounts of P, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and other nutrients—were compared with mungbean or maize as a third crop. The objective of the experiments was to detect P deficiency, if any, in rice, wheat, mungbean, and maize, and to compare the FP and STB doses of fertilizers in rice-wheat-mungbean and rice-wheat-maize sequences under two mungbean management practices (residue removed or retained) and one maize management practice (residue removed) in terms of P nutrition of those crops and annual system-level P removal and apparent P balance in the soil. The apparent P balance was negative with the FP dose (?1 to ?9 kg ha^?1 for mungbean sequences at Joydebpur and Nashipur) and there was soil P accumulation under both the STB dose (9–49 kg ha^?1) and zero N control (13–50 kg ha^?1) across sites. The effect of maize or mungbean as the pre-rice crop on the apparent P balance of various RW sequences was not significant. Phosphorus deficiency occurred at all sites in wheat and maize, and at Ishwordi in rice, suggesting that P fertilizer recommendations need to be revised for RW systems in Bangladesh. The results also suggest that long-term monitoring for P concentration, uptake, and balance would be necessary for improving not only the productivity and sustainability of this system but also the fertilizer P-use efficiency.     

Perennial energy cropping systems affect soil enzyme activities and bacterial community structure in a South European agricultural area

In recent decades, perennial rhizomatous grasses have been introduced in the Po Valley (Northern Italy), not only to produce bioenergy, but also to face the loss of soil organic carbon due to intensive crop management. Given the dual purpose of perennial energy crops, this work was intended to evaluate changes induced by the introduction of these crops on soil microbial community structure and on soil functionality. We compared a 9 year-old land conversion to two perennial energy crops, giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis × giganteus) and giant reed (Arundo donax L.), with two 40-year old annual arable systems, continuous wheat and maize/wheat rotation. The structure of the bacterial community was studied by the fingerprinting method of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) amplifying 16S rRNA fragments, while the functional aspects of soil were investigated through the determination of three soil enzyme activities involved in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous cycles (β-glucosidase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase, respectively). Introduction of perennial energy crops positively stimulated the three soil enzymes, especially in the shallow soil layer (0–0.15 m), where accumulation of carbon and nitrogen was stronger. Enzyme activities were also positively correlated with organic carbon, apart from β-glucosidase. A significant but weaker correlation was also observed between enzyme activities and total nitrogen. The DGGE profiles revealed the relationship between crop types and soil microbial communities. Community richness was higher in perennial than in annual crops, but no effect of soil depth was observed. In opposition, Shannon index of diversity was not influenced by crop type, but only by soil depth with a 32% increase in the shallow layer. We conclude that the introduction of perennial energy crops in a South European soil increases both soil biochemical activity and microbial diversity, related to the ability of these crops to stabilize organic matter in soil. It is thereby evidenced that perennial rhizomatous grasses for energy uses could represent a sustainable choice for the recovery of soils depleted by intensive agricultural management.     

马铃薯与玉米复合种植对土壤化感物质及土壤细菌群落结构的影响

为探究马铃薯与玉米复合种植对化感物质积累与细菌群落结构的影响,分析轮作、间作缓解连作障碍的机制,本研究以马铃薯连作、玉米连作、马铃薯||玉米间作、马铃薯-玉米轮作第8年的土壤为对象,利用GC-MS测定土壤中化感物质含量,并采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术对土壤细菌16Sr DNA V4-V5区域进行测序,分析土壤中细菌多样性和群落结构的变化,并对化感物质和优势菌属进行相关性分析。结果表明:玉米连作和马铃薯连作会导致化感物质的积累,玉米连作土壤积累了更多的油酸、亚油酸、花生酸、木焦油酸等脂肪酸,马铃薯连作土壤积累了更多的硬脂醇、二十烷醇等脂肪醇类物质。轮作降低了大部分化感物质的积累,间作降低的化感物质种类相对轮作较少。不同种植方式下土壤细菌群落结构发生了显著变化,相对于连作,间作和轮作Ace指数和Chao指数显著升高。在门水平上,轮作土壤放线菌丰度显著高于马铃薯连作土壤,间作土壤拟杆菌门丰度显著低于玉米连作土壤,两种连作土壤中酸杆菌门丰度都较轮作显著升高。在属水平上,一些有益细菌如节杆菌属、溶杆菌属等在复合种植土壤中相对丰度更高。通过相关性分析发现土微菌属、小梨形菌属与脂肪醇类物质呈显著正相关,黄杆菌属、溶杆菌属、微杆菌属等与脂肪酸类物质呈显著负相关。马铃薯与玉米复合种植降低了化感物质在土壤中的积累,从而抑制了土壤细菌丰度的降低,提高了有益菌属丰度,消减了连作障碍。     

Soil microbial biomass,crop yields,and bacterial community structure as affected by long-term fertilizer treatments under wheat-rice cropping

Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and nitrogen (SMBN), soil microbial community structure, and crop yields were studied in a long-term (1982–2004) fertilization experiment carried out in Suining, Sichuan province of PR China. Eight treatments included three chemical fertilizer (CF) treatments (N, NP, NPK), three CF + farmyard manure (M) treatments (NM, NPM, NPKM), M alone and no fertilizer (CK) as control. The results showed that the soil microbial biomass was higher in soil treated with CFM than in soil treated with CF alone, and that NPKM gave the highest rice and wheat yields. The SMBC and SMBN were higher after rice than those after wheat cropping. SMBC correlated closely with soil organic matter. Average yields of wheat and rice for 22 years were higher and more stable in the fertilized plots than in control plots. Bacterial community structure was analyzed by PCR-DGGE targeting eubacterial 16S rRNA genes. A higher diversity of the soil bacterial community was found in soil amended with CFM than in other fertilizer treatments. Some specific band emerged in the soil amended with M. The highest diversity of bacterial communities was found in the NPKM treated soil. The bacterial community structures differed in rice and wheat plots. Sequencing of PCR products separated in DGGE showed that some of the common and dominant bands were closely related to Aquicella lusitana and to Acidobacteria. This study demonstrated that mixed application of N, P, and K with additional M amendment increased soil microbial biomass, diversified the bacterial communities and maintained the crop production in the Calcareous Purplish Paddy soil.