Mineralization and changes in microbial biomass in water-saturated soil amended with some tropical plant residues

An incubation experiment was conducted in the laboratory at 25 and 35°C during 56 d to analyze the mineralization patterns and the changes in microbial biomass in water-saturated soils amended with 6 types of organic materials (O.M.) including residues from 4 tropical plants. C and N mineralization in amended and non-amended soils was influenced by the temperature, A significantly positive correlation was observed between C mineralization and the amount of hexoses of the amended O.M. regardless of the period of incubation. A negative relationship between the N mineralized from amended O.M. and C/N ratios and the amounts of cellulose plus hemicellulose of the added O.M. was observed during the period of maximum mineralization on the 49th day at 25°C. The critical C/N ratio value for N mineralization and immobilization was observed in dhaincha (15.7) and cowpea (22.0).

The pattern of changes in microbial biomass C and N was almost similar at both 25 and 35°C. The amount of biomass C and N gradually increased up to a period of 28 to 42 d and thereafter decreased gradually. A significant increase in the amount of biomass C and N was observed in O.M. amended soils over the control. The contribution of rice straw and cowpea to biomass C formation was significantly larger than that of other O.M. at the end of incubation (56 d). In the case of biomass N, the contribution of rice straw was significantly larger than that of other O.M. except for azolla at 25°C and cowpea at 35°C. The significant contribution of rice straw and cowpea to biomass formation suggests that microbial biomass remaining in soil on the 56th day had been influenced by the combination of a larger amount of cellulose plus hemicellulose and higher C/N ratio in plant residues.     

长期施用化肥和秸秆对水稻土碳氮矿化的影响

以长期定位试验的土壤为供试材料,通过室内培养试验,研究了长期施用化肥和秸秆对水稻土?C、N矿化和微生物生物量的影响。结果表明长期施用化肥和秸秆增加了土壤?C?矿化量,但降低了可矿化?C?在土壤有机?C?中的比例。长期施用化肥能够增加土壤?N?矿化量,而且增加了可矿化?N?在土壤全?N?中的比例,但配施秸秆不能继续增加?N?矿化量。长期施用化肥和秸秆能够显著增加土壤微生物生物量?C、N?含量,但微生物量在土壤中的比例变化不大。     

Mineralization and microbial biomass formation in upland soil amended with some tropical plant residues at different temperatures

A model experiment was carried out at 15, 25, and 35°C to investigate the changes in microbial biomass and the pattern of mineralization in upland soil during 8 weeks following the addition of 8 organic materials including 6 tropical plant residues, ipil ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), azolla (Azolla pinnata), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), dhaincha (Sesbania rostrata), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea). The amounts of CO₂-C evolved and inorganic N produced at 35°C were about 2 times larger than those at 15°C. At any temperature, the flush decomposition of C was observed within the first week and thereafter the rate of mineralization became relatively slow. A negative correlation was observed between inorganic N and C/N ratios of the added organic materials. The relationships between the amounts of cellulose or cellulose plus hemicellulose and the amount of mineralized N of the added organic materials were also negative.

The changes in the microbial biomass were affected by temperatures. The amount of biomass C and N was maximum after 42 d of incubation at 15°C, and after 7 d at 25 and 35°C, and thereafter decreased. The rate of biomass decline was slower at 15°C and faster at 35°C than at 25°C. Regardless of the temperatures, the addition of organic materials enhanced microbial biomass formation throughout the incubation periods.     

添加秸秆对土壤矿质氮量、微生物氮量和氮总矿化速率的影响

采用室内恒温培养法,研究了在乌沙土上添加15N标记秸秆后,秸秆15N在矿质氮、微生物氮和土壤不同组分中的分配情况,并应用氮同位素库稀释法测定了秸秆在乌沙土上的氮总矿化速率。结果表明:将秸秆添加到土壤后,微生物氮量显著增加,而土壤矿质氮量在14天时迅速下降。随着秸秆的分解,秸秆15N进入矿质氮库和微生物氮库,矿质15N在第7 d时最高,占到添加秸秆15N的6.7%,微生物15N在第14 d最高,占到添加秸秆15N的18.1%,随后矿质15N和微生物15N量都下降。56 d时,仍有50.8%的秸秆氮没有分解掉,5.4%的秸秆15N进入土壤53μm~2 mm组分,15.5%进入2~53μm组分,14.6%进入小于2μm组分,有13.6%的秸秆氮损失掉。在培养开始时,乌沙土的氮总矿化速率为2.81 mg kg-1d-1,秸秆在乌沙土上的氮总矿化速率分别为2.50 mg kg-1d-1。     

Long-term effect of chemical fertilizer,straw, and manure on labile organic matter fractions in a paddy soil

To assess the effect of long-term fertilization on labile organic matter fractions, we analyzed the C and N mineralization and C and N content in soil, particulate organic matter (POM), light fraction organic matter (LFOM), and microbial biomass. Results showed that fertilizer N decreased or did not affect the C and N amounts in soil fractions, except N mineralization and soil total N. The C and N amounts in soil and its fractions increased with the application of fertilizer PK and rice straw. Generally, there was no significant difference between fertilizer PK and rice straw. Furthermore, application of manure was most effective in maintaining soil organic matter and labile organic matter fractions. Soils treated with manure alone had the highest microbial biomass C and C and N mineralization. A significant correlation was observed between the C content and N content in soil, POM, LFOM, microbial biomass, or the readily mineralized organic matter. The amounts of POM–N, LFOM–N, POM–C, and LFOM–C closely correlated with soil organic C or total N content. Microbial biomass N was closely related to the amounts of POM–N, LFOM–N, POM–C, and LFOM–C, while microbial biomass C was closely related to the amounts of POM–N, POM–C, and soil total N. These results suggested that microbial biomass C and N closely correlated with POM rather than SOM. Carbon mineralization was closely related to the amounts of POM–N, POM–C, microbial biomass C, and soil organic C, but no significant correlation was detected between N mineralization with C or N amounts in soil and its fractions.     

施用预处理稻秆的土壤供氮特征及对冬小麦氮吸收的影响

采用盆栽试验方法,研究了经过预处理的水稻秸秆(预处理稻秆)施入土壤后对土壤的供氮特征及小麦氮营养的影响。研究结果表明,稻秆经过预处理后,纤维素、半纤维素以及二氧化硅比原始稻秆都有所降低,而可溶性物质增加;施用时配施无机氮肥,小麦全生育期内土壤微生物量N和矿质态N平均分别比对照(纯土壤)提高232.3%和66.0%,小麦干物重和吸收总氮量分别比对照高56.3%和124.3%,并优于未经处理的原始秸秆及单施尿素处理。可见处理秸秆配施尿素能够显著改善土壤的供氮状况,促进小麦对氮素的吸收,增加小麦产量,提高化学肥料氮的利用率。     

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.     

秸秆还田对土壤氮素转化的影响

利用原状土柱田间培养法 ,测定了冬小麦、夏玉米农田土壤氮 (N)素的年净矿化量 ;利用氯仿熏蒸浸提茚三酮反应氮法测定了土壤微生物量氮的数量 ;利用连续流动分析仪测定了土壤表层无机氮的含量。结果表明 ,在冬小麦秸秆覆盖、夏玉米秸秆翻埋的土壤中 ,第 1年土壤氮净矿化量为N 210kg/hm2,第 2年为 179kg/hm2,2年的净矿化量均基本与同期施氮量相当。在秸秆不还田的土壤中 ,第 1年土壤氮净矿化量为N 164kg/hm2,第 2年为248kg/hm2,年际变化较大。翻埋玉米秸秆导致小麦季土壤表层无机氮数量增加 ,引发土壤氮矿化的正激发效应 ;表层覆盖小麦秸秆对玉米季土壤表层无机氮的影响不明显。秸秆还田后 ,每个生育期开始时 ,土壤微生物量氮比不还田土壤的增加 72 %～ 2.34% ,每个生育期结束时增加 34%～ 72%。在实施秸秆还田的最初 2年内 ,土壤微生物量但氮处于动态调整阶段 ,尚未达到新的稳定状态     

Variations in soil microbial biomass and crop roots due to differing resource quality inputs in a tropical dryland agroecosystem

The influence of exogenous organic inputs on soil microbial biomass dynamics and crop root biomass was studied through two annual cycles in rice-barley rotation in a tropical dryland agroecosystem. The treatments involved addition of equivalent amount of N (80 kg N ha⁻¹) through chemical fertilizer and three organic inputs at the beginning of each annual cycle: Sesbania shoot (high-quality resource, C:N 16, lignin:N 3.2, polyphenol+lignin:N 4.2), wheat straw (low-quality resource, C:N 82, lignin:N 34.8, polyphenol+lignin:N 36.8) and Sesbania+wheat straw (high-and low-quality resources combined), besides control. The decomposition rates of various inputs and crop roots were determined in field conditions by mass loss method. Sesbania (decay constant, k=0.028) decomposed much faster than wheat straw (k=0.0025); decomposition rate of Sesbania+wheat straw was twice as fast compared to wheat straw. On average, soil microbial biomass levels were: rice period, Sesbania?Sesbania+wheat straw>wheat straw?fertilizer; barley period, Sesbania+wheat straw>Sesbania?wheat straw?fertilizer; summer fallow, Sesbania+wheat straw>Sesbania>wheat straw?fertilizer. Soil microbial biomass increased through rice and barley crop periods to summer fallow; however, in Sesbania shoot application a strong peak was obtained during rice crop period. In both crops soil microbial biomass C and N decreased distinctly from seedling to grain-forming stages, and then increased to the maximum at crop maturity. Crop roots, however, showed reverse trend through the cropping period, suggesting strong competition between microbial biomass and crop roots for available nutrients. It is concluded that both resource quality and crop roots had distinct effect on soil microbial biomass and combined application of Sesbania shoot and wheat straw was most effective in sustained build up of microbial biomass through the annual cycle.     

Biotic and abiotic processes of nitrogen immobilization in the soil-residue interface

The interface between decaying plant residues and soil is a hotspot for microbial immobilization of soil inorganic N. Recent studies on forest and grassland soils have demonstrated that rapid abiotic immobilization of inorganic N is also induced by the presence of plant residues. We, therefore, examined (1) how N immobilization varies with distance from the soil-residue interface and (2) whether abiotic immobilization occurs in agricultural soils. Spatiotemporal changes of N immobilization in the soil-residue interface were evaluated using a box that enabled soil to be sampled in 2 mm increments from a 4 mm-thick residue compartment (RC). The RC was filled with paddy soil containing ground plant residue (rice bran, rice straw or beech leaves) uniformly at a rate of 50 g dry matter kg⁻¹. Soil in the surrounding compartments contained no residue. After aerobic incubation for 5, 15 and 30 days at 25 °C, soils in each compartment were analyzed. After 5 days, significant depletion of inorganic N occurred throughout a volume of soil extending at least 10 mm from the RC in all residue treatments, suggesting extensive diffusion of inorganic N towards the RC. The depletion within 10 mm of the RC amounted to 5.0, 4.3 and 3.4 mg for rice bran, rice straw and beech leaf treatment, respectively. On the other hand, microbial N had increased significantly in the RC of the rice bran and rice straw treatments (11 mg and 5.5 mg, respectively) and insignificantly in the RC of the beech leaf treatment (0.06 mg). This increase amounted to 221% (rice bran), 129% (rice straw) and 1.7% (beech leaves) of the decrease in inorganic N within 10 mm of each RC. Thereafter the rate of N mineralization exceeded that of immobilization, and inorganic N levels had recovered almost to their original level by 15 days (rice bran) and 30 days (rice straw and beech leaves). These results suggested the predominance of biotic immobilization in soil near rice bran and rice straw and of abiotic immobilization in soil near beech leaves. No significant increase in both microbial and soluble organic N in the vicinity of beech leaves after incubation for 5 days further suggested that the abiotic process was responsible for the transformation of inorganic N into the insoluble organic N.     

添加莠去津的土壤中微生物生物量碳、氮、磷对外源有机无机物质的动态响应

研究了添加有机、无机营养物质对外加除草剂莠去津土壤(每1g土中含莠去津10mg/)中微生物生物量碳、氮和磷的动态变化过程。研究结果表明,在整个培养过程中,仅加莠去津的土壤中微生物生物量碳、氮、磷的含量均显著降低,与对照相比,分别平均降低了13.5%,10.1%,20.0%。但是,施用有机、无机营养物质的处理,土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷的含量均显著增加。不同处理对微生物生物量碳、氮的含量影响程度依次为:腐熟猪粪>紫云英>水稻秸秆腐熟猪粪>N、P肥配施>单施N肥>单施P肥。而对微生物生物量磷含量的影响则为:腐熟猪粪>N、P肥配施>紫云英>单施N肥>单施P肥>水稻秸秆。     

有机物料对植烟土壤氮素矿化及微生物性质的影响

采用稻草、油菜、黑麦草和菜籽饼等4种有机物料,采集高有机质含量(68.2 g·kg^–1)烟-稻轮作土壤和低有机质含量(17.2 g·kg^-1)旱地植烟土壤,在等氮(100 mg·kg^-1)投入条件下通过室内培育实验,分析了不同培育时段土壤无机氮(NO3-、NH4+)矿化动态、土壤酶活性以及微生物功能多样性的变化。结果表明:植烟土壤矿化氮动态特征与施用有机物料碳氮比(C/N)密切相关,高有机质植烟土壤中添加稻草、油菜和黑麦草显著降低土壤净矿化氮水平,而低C/N的菜籽饼添加显著促进了土壤净矿化速率,引起土壤无机氮积累。在低有机质植烟土壤添加各有机物料明显提升了土壤硝化速率,但稻草和油菜添加显著降低了培养前期土壤无机氮浓度;而菜籽饼添加显著促进了土壤的净矿化速率,在短期培养内(7 d)土壤铵态氮浓度较对照土壤增加了3.3倍~3.7倍。施入高C/N的有机物料显著提升了土壤微生物功能多样性,引起土壤酶活性增高;但不同物料添加下土壤微生物群落变异不同,诱导了对碳源利用类型不同的微生物种群变化。因此,烟-稻轮作区的高有机质植烟土壤上合理施用稻草是改善烤烟品质重要措施,而对旱地植烟土壤应更加重视高氮源有机肥料的施用,以实现不同植烟区提质增效的目标。     

无机氮对土壤中有机碳矿化影响的探讨

采用1 4 C同位素示踪恒温密闭培养法 ,研究了秸秆和化肥配合施用体系中 ,无机氮对1 4 C秸秆碳矿化的影响 ,培养期一年。结果表明 ,在非石灰性土壤中 ,无机氮的施用促进了1 4 C秸秆碳的矿化 ,相对增加了土壤固有碳 ( 1 2 C)的固持 ,两者间的互补显示无机氮对土壤总碳矿化的影响不大 ;淹水土壤中的1 4 C秸秆碳年矿化率比旱地高 ,发现无机氮对1 4 C秸秆碳年矿化率的增加不论在旱地或水田状况是近似的。在石灰性土壤中 ,无机氮对1 4 C秸秆碳、土壤固有碳的矿化均起到抑制作用 ,没有发现无机氮对有机碳矿化的促进。对有机肥和无机肥配合施用体系中 ,化学氮肥对土壤有机碳转化影响 ,以及化学氮肥在土壤有机碳内循环中的作用功能等 ,提出了一些新的见解     

Nitrogen immobilization and mineralization during initial decomposition of15N-labelled pea and barley residues

The immobilization and mineralization of N following plant residue incorporation were studied in a sandy loam soil using¹⁵N-labelled field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw. Both crop residues caused a net immobilization of soil-derived inorganic N during the complete incubation period of 84 days. The maximum rate of N immobilization was found to 12 and 18 mg soil-derived N g^–1 added C after incorporation of pea and barley residues, respectively. After 7 days of incubation, 21% of the pea and 17% of the barley residue N were assimilated by the soil microbial biomass. A comparison of the¹⁵N enrichments of the soil organic N and the newly formed biomass N pools indicated that either residue N may have been assimilated directly by the microbial biomass without entering the soil inorganic N pool or the biomass had a higher preference for mineralized ammonium than for soil-derived nitrate already present in the soil. In the barley residue treatment, the microbial biomass N was apparently stabilized to a higher degree than the biomass N in the pea residue treatment, which declined during the incubation period. This was probably due to N-deficiency delaying the decomposition of the barley residue. The net mineralization of residue-derived N was 2% in the barley and 22% in the pea residue treatment after 84 days of incubation. The results demonstrated that even if crop residues have a relative low C/N ratio (15), transient immobilization of soil N in the microbial biomass may contribute to improved conservation of soil N sources.     

Nitrogen immobilization and mineralization during initial decomposition of15N-labelled pea and barley residues

The immobilization and mineralization of N following plant residue incorporation were studied in a sandy loam soil using¹⁵N-labelled field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw. Both crop residues caused a net immobilization of soil-derived inorganic N during the complete incubation period of 84 days. The maximum rate of N immobilization was found to 12 and 18 mg soil-derived N g^?1 added C after incorporation of pea and barley residues, respectively. After 7 days of incubation, 21% of the pea and 17% of the barley residue N were assimilated by the soil microbial biomass. A comparison of the¹⁵N enrichments of the soil organic N and the newly formed biomass N pools indicated that either residue N may have been assimilated directly by the microbial biomass without entering the soil inorganic N pool or the biomass had a higher preference for mineralized ammonium than for soil-derived nitrate already present in the soil. In the barley residue treatment, the microbial biomass N was apparently stabilized to a higher degree than the biomass N in the pea residue treatment, which declined during the incubation period. This was probably due to N-deficiency delaying the decomposition of the barley residue. The net mineralization of residue-derived N was 2% in the barley and 22% in the pea residue treatment after 84 days of incubation. The results demonstrated that even if crop residues have a relative low C/N ratio (15), transient immobilization of soil N in the microbial biomass may contribute to improved conservation of soil N sources.     

Linking dynamics of soil microbial phospholipid fatty acids to carbon mineralization in a C natural abundance experiment: Impact of heavy metals and acid rain

A ¹³C natural abundance experiment including GC-c-IRMS analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) was conducted to assess the temporal dynamics of the soil microbial community and carbon incorporation during the mineralization of plant residues under the impact of heavy metals and acid rain. Maize straw was incorporated into (i) control soil, (ii) soil irrigated with acid rain, (iii) soil amended with heavy metal-polluted filter dust and (iv) soil with both, heavy metal and acid rain treatment, over a period of 74 weeks. The mineralization of maize straw carbon was significantly reduced by heavy metal impact. Reduced mineralization rate of the added carbon likely resulted from a reduction of the microbial biomass due to heavy metal stress, while the efficiency of ¹³C incorporation into microbial PLFAs was hardly affected. Since acid rain did not significantly change soil pH, little impact on soil microorganisms and mineralization rate was found. Temporal dynamics of labelling of microbial PLFAs were different between bacterial and fungal PLFA biomarkers. Utilization of maize straw by bacterial PLFAs peaked immediately after the application (2 weeks), while labelling of the fungal biomarker 18:2ω6,9 was most pronounced 5 weeks after the application. In general, ¹³C labelling of microbial PLFAs was closely linked to the amounts of maize carbon present in the soil. The distinct higher labelling of microbial PLFAs in the heavy metal-polluted soils 74 weeks after application indicated a large fraction of available maize straw carbon still present in the soil.     

配施不同腐秆剂对还稻田麦秸腐解和水稻产量的影响

为阐明沿淮地区秸秆还田配施不同腐秆剂在秸秆腐解和水稻产量方面的差异,遴选出适合该区域使用的腐秆剂.本研究通过安徽省霍邱县的麦秆促腐还田定位试验,深入分析了秸秆还田和氮磷钾优化平衡施肥后不施腐秆剂(SF)、施腐秆剂1号(SFD1)、施腐秆剂2号(SFD2)和施腐秆剂3号(SFD3)等处理连续两年在秸秆腐解和水稻产量等方面...     

秸秆还田提高水稻-油菜轮作土壤固氮能力及作物产量

为探讨西南山区水稻-油菜轮作模式下秸秆还田对作物产量和土壤氮素固持能力的影响,于2013-2015年在洱海流域稻油轮作农田中设置空白处理(CK)、单施化肥(CF)、化肥+玉米秸秆(CFMS)以及化肥+蚕豆秸秆(CFBS)4个处理,测定分析了作物产量、土壤微生物量及土壤理化性质等关键指标。结果表明,与CF处理相比,秸秆还田提高水稻、油菜产量及其地上部含氮量,增加氮素有效输出。不同处理土壤微生物量碳、氮质量分数存在差异,其大小顺序为:CFMSCFBSCFCK。与土壤碳氮比相比,土壤微生物熵和微生物量C/N对秸秆还田做出快速响应,秸秆还田提高土壤微生物熵,降低微生物量C/N。此外,秸秆还田显著降低油菜收获后的土壤硝态氮残留(P0.05),与CF相比,玉米秸秆和蚕豆秸秆还田分别使土壤硝态氮残留量减少11.6%~55.0%和13.7%~52.3%。可见,中国西南山区稻油轮作模式下秸秆还田能提高作物产量和含氮量,增强土壤微生物氮素固持能力,有效降低土壤氮素流失风险,且玉米秸秆在增产、固氮方面的作用优于蚕豆秸秆。结果可为提高西南山区水稻、油菜产量,增强土壤氮素固持能力,降低土壤氮素流失风险提供参考。     

Short-term effects of earthworm activity and straw amendment on the microbial C and N turnover in a remoistened arable soil after summer drought

Short-term effects of actively burrowing Octolasion lacteum (Örl.) (Lumbricidae) on the microbial C and N turnover in an arable soil with a high clay content were studied in a microcosm experiment throughout a 16 day incubation. Treatments with or without amendment of winter wheat straw were compared under conditions of a moistening period after summer drought. The use of ¹⁴C labeled straw allowed for analyzing the microbial use of different C components. Microbial biomass C, biomass N and ergosterol were only slightly affected by rewetting and not by O. lacteum in both cases. Increased values of soil microbial biomass were determined in the straw treatments even after 24 h of incubation. This extra biomass corresponded to the initial microbial colonization of the added straw. O. lacteum significantly increased CO₂ production from soil organic matter and from the ¹⁴C-labeled straw. Higher release rates of ¹⁴C-CO₂ were recorded shortly after insertion of earthworms. This effect remained until the end of the experiment. O. lacteum enhanced N mineralization. Earthworms significantly increased both mineral N content of soil and N leaching in the treatments without straw addition. Moreover, earthworms slightly reduced N immobilization in the treatments with straw addition. The immediate increase in microbial activity suggests that perturbation of soil is more important than substrate consumption for the effect of earthworms on C and N turnover in moistening periods after drought.     

Changes in the soil C and N contents,C decomposition and N mineralization potentials in a rice paddy after long-term application of inorganic fertilizers and organic matter

A long-term experiment on combined inorganic fertilizers and organic matter in paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation began in May 1982 in Yamagata, northeastern Japan. In 2012, after the 31^st harvest, soil samples were collected from five fertilizer treatments [(1) PK, (2) NPK, (3) NPK + 6 Mg ha^?1 rice straw (RS), (4) NPK + 10 Mg ha^?1 rice straw compost (CM1), and (5) NPK + 30 Mg ha^?1 rice straw compost (CM3)], at five soil depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20 and 20–25 cm), to assess the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) content and carbon (C) decomposition potential, total nitrogen (TN) content and nitrogen (N) mineralization potential resulting from long-term organic matter addition. The C decomposition potential was assessed based on the methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced, while the N mineralization potential was determined from the potassium chloride (KCl)-extractable ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of anaerobic incubation at 30°C in the laboratory. Compared to NPK treatment, SOC in the total 0–25 cm layer increased by 67.3, 21.0 and10.8%, and TN increased by 64.2, 19.7 and 10.6%, in CM3, RS and CM1, respectively, and SOC and TN showed a slight reduction in the PK treatment by 5.2 and 5.7%, respectively. Applying rice straw compost (10 Mg ha^?1) instead of rice straw (6 Mg ha^?1) to rice paddies reduced methane production by about 19% after the soils were measured under 8 weeks of anaerobic incubation at 30°C. Soil carbon decomposition potential (Co) and nitrogen mineralization potential (No) were highly correlated with the SOC and TN contents. The mean ratio of Co/No was 4.49, lower than the mean ratio of SOC/TN (13.49) for all treatments, which indicated that the easily decomposed organic matter was from soil microbial biomass and soil proteins.