Factors controlling mineralization of soil organic matter in the Eurasian steppe

To understand the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) in the Eurasian steppe, several soil and meteorological properties were tested in order to estimate the amounts of potentially mineralizable organic carbon (PMC) and nitrogen (PMN). Total 41 surface soil samples were collected in Ukraine and Kazakhstan from cropland, forest, grassland, and desert ecosystems. The fresh soils were incubated for 133 days under constant temperature and moisture conditions, and the CO₂ emissions and the mineral N from the soils were monitored. PMC and PMN were determined by fitting models to the cumulative curves of the CO₂ and the mineral N. Tested soil properties included soil pH, sand, silt and clay contents, carbon and nitrogen contents of light fraction (LF, <1.6 g cm^?3) and heavy fraction (HF), and C/N ratio of LF and HF. The meteorological properties considered were mean annual temperature and precipitation. Using multiple regression analysis with the stepwise method, PMC was well estimated by carbon content of LF (LFC) and clay content, compared to the simple correlation with organic carbon (OC). Similarly, PMN was better determined by nitrogen content of LF (LFN) and clay content. These results suggest the partially labile nature of clay-associating OM and of LFC and LFN. The higher PMC and PMN in the forest and grassland sites would be attributed to the higher LFC and LFN, while the lower LFC and LFN in cropland sites would suggest the relatively higher contribution of clay-associating OM to PMC and PMN.     

Factors controlling potentially mineralizable and recalcitrant soil organic matter in humid Asia

To understand the dynamics of soil organic matter in humid regions in Asia, several soil and meteorological properties were tested to estimate the amounts of potentially mineralizable organic carbon (PMC) and nitrogen (PMN) as well as recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC) and nitrogen (RON). Eighty-nine surface soil samples were collected in Thailand, Indonesia and Japan from cropland and forest ecosystems. The fresh soils were incubated for 133 days under constant temperature and moisture conditions, and CO₂ emissions and mineral N from the soils were monitored. The PMC and PMN were determined by fitting models to the cumulative curves of the CO₂ and mineral N. The ROC and RON were determined by subtracting PMC and PMN from total C and total N, respectively. The soil properties tested included soil pH, sand, silt and clay contents, amounts of the acid oxalate soluble Si, Al and Fe, carbon and nitrogen contents of the light fraction ([LF] < 1.6 g cm⁻³) and heavy fraction (HF), and the C/N ratio of the LF and HF. The meteorological properties considered were mean annual temperature and precipitation. Using multiple regression analysis and a stepwise method, PMC and PMN was well estimated by the carbon and nitrogen content of LF (LFC and LFN) and the clay content. This suggests the partially labile nature of clay-associating organic matter as well as LFC and LFN. The PMC and PMN were well estimated by LFC and LFN in forest soils and clay contents in cropland soils. Major factors controlling ROC and RON were light fraction-organic matter, amorphous materials and clay content, suggesting the importance of parent materials in estimating the amount of recalcitrant organic matter in humid Asia.     

Soil organic matter dynamics under grain farming in Northern Kazakhstan

Because of their ability to store a high amount of soil organic matter (SOM), Chernozem soils are one of the most important resources from both agricultural and environmental viewpoints. This study was carried out to determine the SOM budget under grain farming in the Chernozem soil of northern Kazakhstan through the analysis of in situ soil respiration and soil environmental factors such as soil temperature as well as moisture content. Five experimental plots including one fallow field were established at the experimental farm of Barayev Kazakh Research and Production Center of Grain Farming, Shortandy, northern Kazakhstan (mean annual precipitation and average year temperature are 323 mm and 1.6°C, respectively). Mean daily soil temperature increased to above O°C in early April, remaining at above 20°C from mid-June to mid-August, and then sharply decreased to below 5°C at the end of September. Most of the biological activities were considered to be limited from April to September. On the other hand, the soil moisture content remained high after thawing until mid-June and then continuously decreased in the cropped plots except during the rainfall events. The soil respiration rate recorded the highest values from late June to early July and overall fluctuations were similar to those of the soil temperature, unlike the fluctuations of soil microbial C and N contents, which exhibited similar patterns to those of the soil moisture content. In order to represent the daily soil respiration rates using the soil environmental factors, the following relationship was introduced as a model function: Cem = aM ^pbexp(-E/RT). The coefficients, a, b, and E (activation energy in Arrhenius equation), were determined by stepwise multiple regression after logarithm transformation using the measured data, Cem (daily soil respiration rate), M (volumetric soil moisture content), and T (absolute soil temperature). As a result, a significant relationship was always obtained between the soil respiration rate and the activation energy, E, while the contribution of the soil moisture content to the soil respiration rate was uncertain. Using the regression equations and monitored data of soil temperature and moisture content, cumulative soil respiration throughout the cropping period was calculated to be in the range of 2.5 to 3.2 Mg C ha^p-1 On the other hand, the amounts of crop residues in the cropped plots that were expected to be incorporated into the soils ranged from 1.6 to 4.4 Mg C ha^p-1 Except for the plot planted with oats (higher amounts of residues than for wheat), the SOIL budget was slightly negative in this year, that is, the soils lost their organic matter stock. Although it is difficult to generalize the C budget in different years because of the large variations in crop growth due to fluctuating water resources, the disadvantage of summer fallow (no residues) was obvious in terms of SOM budget. The net soil respiration rate in the fallow plot, 2.9 Mg C ha^p-1 was approximately equivalent to 4% of the total SOM stock in the plow layer (30 cm) (70 to 80 Mg C ha^p-1 To reduce further loss of SOM, at least evenly extensive use of summer fallow should be reconsidered.     

Total and labile soil organic nitrogen as influenced by crop rotations and tillage in Canadian prairie soils

Crop rotations and tillage practices influence the quantity and quality of soil organic N (SON). We evaluated the impact of crop rotations and tillage practices on SON and mineralizable N at a depth of 0–15 cm in six field experiments, varying in duration over 8–25 years, that were being conducted in three Chernozemic soil zones in Saskatchewan, Canada. In a Brown Chernozem, continuous wheat increased SON at 0–15 cm by 7–17 kg N ha^–1year^–1 more than fallow/wheat. In a Dark Brown Chernozem, continuous cropping increased SON by 30 kg N ha^–1year^–1, compared with cropping systems containing fallow once every 3 years; and, in a Rego Black Chernozem, the increase in SON was 29 kg N ha^–1 year^–1, compared with cropping systems containing fallow once every 4 years. The increase in SON due to increased cropping frequency was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of mineralizable SON in the Brown Chernozem, but not in the Dark Brown and Black Chernozems. In the Brown Chernozemic soil zone, no-tillage management increased SON, compared with conventional tillage, varying from 16 kg N ha^–1year^–1 to 28 kg N ha^–1year^–1. In the Dark Brown Chernozemic soil zone, it increased SON by 35 kg N ha^–1year^–1 and, in the Black Chernozemic soil zone, by about 40 kg N ha^–1year^–1. Increases in SON at a depth of 0–7.5 cm due to no-tillage management was accompanied by a greater increase in the mineralizable N for Hatton fine sandy loam, Melfort silty clay and Indian Head clay than for other soils, indicating that the material responsible for the increased SON due to no-tillage was more labile than the soil humus N. However, the increased SON under no-till in Swinton loam, Sceptre clay and Elstow clay loam was not associated with an increase in the mineralizable N, indicating that this increased SON was no more susceptible to decomposition than the soil humus N. Therefore, increases in SON under improved management practices, such as conservation tillage and extended crop rotations, do not necessarily increase the potential soil N availability.     

Influence of tillage and rotation systems on distribution of organic carbon associated with particle-size fractions in Chernozemic soils of Saskatchewan, Canada

The effects of several dominant tillage and rotation systems on soil organic C content of different particle-size fractions were studied in Chernozemic soils from southwestern and east-central Saskatchewan, Canada. In an Orthic Brown Chernozem in southwestern Saskatchewan, 7 years of no-till cereal–fallow, imposed on a long-term tillage fallow–wheat rotation soil, resulted in 0.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ more organic C mass in the sand + organic matter (OM) fraction of the 0- to 5-cm layer, whereas organic C associated with coarse silt (CS), fine silt (FS), coarse clay, and fine clay of 0- to 5- and 5- to 10-cm layers was less than that of the comparable tilled cereal–fallow system. Conversion of tilled fallow–wheat rotation soil to continuous cropping had a slight effect, whereas the organic C mass in all the size fractions was significantly increased in both 0- to 5- and 5- to 10-cm layers after alfalfa was introduced on tilled fallow–wheat as perennial forage for 10 years. In an Orthic Black Chernozem in east-central Saskatchewan that was cultivated and tilled using a cereal–fallow rotation for 62 years, organic C mass decreased in sand + OM, CS, and FS of 0- to 10-cm depth. Conversion of the tilled cereal–fallow cropland soil back to seeded grassland resulted in significantly more soil organic C in sand + OM fraction after 12 years of grass seed-down. The sand + OM fraction appears to be the size fraction pool initially most sensitive to adoption of management practices that are liable to sequester carbon in the soil.     

Soil nitrogen availability as affected by fallow-maize systems on two soils in Kenya

Simple methods for the measurement of nitrogen (N) availability are needed to assess the effect of low-input, organically based land management systems on the N supply of tropical soils. Our objectives were to determine the effect of contrasting land-use systems (LUS) on soil N availability and to identify measures of N availability that correlated with maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield. The LUS at the two sites in Kenya involved growth of a maize crop following 17 months of either: (1) Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. tree growth (sesbania fallow), (2) natural regrowth of vegetation without cultivation (natural fallow), (3) three crops of unfertilized maize (maize monoculture), or (4) bare uncultivated soil (bare fallow). Soil was collected before the post-fallow maize crop was sown. The LUS had no effect on total soil N or amount of N in the heavy fraction soil organic matter (SOM) (>150 μm, >1.37 Mg m^–3). Sesbania and natural fallows, as compared to maize monoculture, increased the N in light fraction SOM (>150 μm, <1.13Mgm^–3), N in intermediate fraction SOM (>150 μm, 1.13 to 1.37 Mg m^–3), ammonium-N and aerobic N mineralization at a depth of 0–15 cm. Maize yields were highest following the sesbania fallow. Nitrate-N, inorganic-N (ammonium plus nitrate) and anaerobic N mineralization correlated with maize grain yield at both sites. The relationship between maize yield and pre-season nitrate-N improved when the depth of soil sampling was increased to 1 m at one site (an Alfisol), but did not improve at the site with anion adsorption in the subsoil (an Oxisol). The sesbania fallow was more effective than the natural fallow in increasing available soil N. Maize yield was better related to pre-season nitrate than N in size-density fractions of SOM. Received: 5 May 1997     

Evaluating biodegradability of soil organic matter by its thermal stability and chemical composition

The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) as it relates to resistance to microbial degradation has important implications for nutrient cycling, emission of greenhouse gases, and C sequestration. Hence, there is interest in developing new ways to quantify and characterise the labile and stable forms of SOM. Our objective in this study was to evaluate SOM under widely contrasting management regimes to determine whether the variation in chemical composition and resistance to pyrolysis observed for various constituent C fractions could be related to their resistance to decomposition. Samples from the same soil under permanent pasture, an arable cropping rotation, and chemical fallow were physically fractionated (sand: 2000-50 μm; silt: 50-5 μm, and clay: <5 μm). Biodegradability of the SOM in size fractions and whole soils was assessed in a laboratory mineralization study. Thermal stability was determined by analytical pyrolysis using a Rock-Eval pyrolyser, and chemical composition was characterized by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the C and N K-edges. Relative to the pasture soil, SOM in the arable and fallow soils declined by 30% and 40%, respectively. The mineralization bioassay showed that SOM in whole soil and soil fractions under fallow was less susceptible to biodegradation than that in other management practices. The SOM in the sand fraction was significantly more biodegradable than that in the silt or clay fractions. Analysis by XANES showed a proportional increase in carboxylates and a reduction in amides (protein) and aromatics in the fallow whole soil compared to the pasture and arable soils. Moreover, protein depletion was greatest in the sand fraction of the fallow soil. Sand fractions in fallow and arable soils were, however, relatively enriched in plant-derived phenols, aromatics, and carboxylates compared to the sand fraction of pasture soils. Analytical pyrolysis showed distinct differences in the thermal stability of SOM among the whole soil and their size fractions; it also showed that the loss of SOM generally involved preferential degradation of H-rich compounds. The temperature at which half of the C was pyrolyzed was strongly correlated with mineralizable C, providing good evidence for a link between the biological and thermal stability of SOM.     

The influence of 12 years of tillage and crop rotation on total and labile organic carbon in a sandy loam soil

Information on which management practices can enhance soil organic matter (SOM) content and quality can be useful for developing sustainable crop production systems. We tested the influence of 12 years of no-till (NT) versus conventional tillage (CT), and four crop sequences on the organic C pools of a Grey Luvisolic sandy loam soil in northwestern Alberta, Canada. The crop sequences were: continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.)–wheat–canola (Brassica rapa L.)–wheat, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) green manure–wheat–canola–wheat/red clover and fallow–wheat–canola–wheat. Soil samples from 1992, when the study was initiated, and 1996, 2000 and 2004 were analyzed for total organic C (TOC), the light fraction (LF) and its C content, and water-soluble and mineralizable C. Total organic C in the top 15 cm of soil was higher in the red clover rotation than either the pea or fallow rotation by 1996. The tillage effect became significant only in 2004 with NT having a higher TOC than CT. The LF dry matter (DM) increased from 6.9 g kg⁻¹ soil in 1992 to a range of 10–13 g kg⁻¹ in 2000 and 2004. It was higher under NT than CT in 2 of 3 years and in the red clover rotation than the pea or fallow rotation in 1 of 3 years. The LF C content exhibited a similar trend as LF DM. The water-soluble and mineralizable C pools were not affected by tillage but decreased with time. Among crop rotations, the red clover rotation tended to result in higher levels of hot water-soluble and mineralizable C. It is concluded that tillage had a greater influence than crop rotation on the LF DM and LF C (as indicators of C storage), whereas the converse effect applied to mineralizable C and, to a lesser degree, hot water-soluble C (as indicators of SOM quality).     

The effects of compost in a rice–wheat cropping system on aggregate size,carbon and nitrogen content of the size–density fraction and chemical composition of soil organic matter,as shown by 13C CP NMR spectroscopy

We investigated whether the long‐term application of compost from agricultural waste improved soil physical structure, fertility and soil organic matter (SOM) storage. In 2006, we began a long‐term field experiment based on a rice–wheat rotation cropping system, having a control without fertilizer (NF) and three treatments: chemical fertilizers (CF), pig manure compost (PMC) and a prilled mixture of PMC and inorganic fertilizers (OICF). Following the harvest of wheat in 2010, the mean‐weight diameter (MWD) of water‐stable aggregates and the concentration of C and N in bulk soil (0–20 cm; <2 mm fraction) were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in PMC and NF plots than in CF or OICF plots. Pig manure compost significantly increased the proportion of >5‐mm aggregates, whereas CF significantly increased the proportion of 0.45‐ to 1‐mm aggregates. The C and N contents of all density fractions were greater in PMC than in other treatments with levels decreasing in the following order: free particulate organic matter (fPOM) >occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) > mineral‐combined SOM (mineral–SOM). Solid‐state ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectra showed that alkyl C/O‐alkyl C ratios and aromatic component levels of SOM were smaller in PMC and OICF plots than in CF plots, suggesting that SOM in PMC and OICF plots was less degraded than that in CF plots. Nevertheless, yields of wheat in PMC and NF plots were smaller than those in CF and OICF plots, indicating that conditions for producing large grain yields did not maintain soil fertility.     

Tillage and cropping effects on soil quality indicators in the northern Great Plains

The extreme climate of the northern Great Plains of North America requires cropping systems to possess a resilient soil resource in order to be sustainable. This paper summarizes the interactive effects of tillage, crop sequence, and cropping intensity on soil quality indicators for two long-term cropping system experiments in the northern Great Plains. The experiments, located in central North Dakota, were established in 1984 and 1993 on a Wilton silt loam (FAO: Calcic Siltic Chernozem; USDA¹: fine-silty, mixed, superactive frigid Pachic Haplustoll). Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties considered as indicators of soil quality were evaluated in spring 2001 in both experiments at depths of 0–7.5, 7.5–15, and 15–30 cm. Management effects on soil properties were largely limited to the surface 7.5 cm in both experiments. For the experiment established in 1984, differences in soil condition between a continuous crop, no-till system and a crop–fallow, conventional tillage system were substantial. Within the surface 7.5 cm, the continuous crop, no-till system possessed significantly more soil organic C (by 7.28 Mg ha⁻¹), particulate organic matter C (POM-C) (by 4.98 Mg ha⁻¹), potentially mineralizable N (PMN) (by 32.4 kg ha⁻¹), and microbial biomass C (by 586 kg ha⁻¹), as well as greater aggregate stability (by 33.4%) and faster infiltration rates (by 55.6 cm h⁻¹) relative to the crop–fallow, conventional tillage system. Thus, soil from the continuous crop, no-till system was improved with respect to its ability to provide a source for plant nutrients, withstand erosion, and facilitate water transfer. Soil properties were affected less by management practices in the experiment established in 1993, although organic matter related properties tended to be greater under continuous cropping or minimum tillage than crop sequences with fallow or no-till. In particular, PMN and microbial biomass C were greatest in continuous spring wheat (with residue removed) (22.5 kg ha⁻¹ for PMN; 792 kg ha⁻¹ for microbial biomass C) as compared with sequences with fallow (SW–S–F and SW–F) (Average=15.9 kg ha⁻¹ for PMN; 577 kg ha⁻¹ for microbial biomass C). Results from both experiments confirm that farmers in the northern Great Plains of North America can improve soil quality and agricultural sustainability by adopting production systems that employ intensive cropping practices with reduced tillage management.     

Long-term effects of fallow, tillage and manure application on soil organic matter and nitrogen fractions and on sorghum yield under Sudano-Sahelian conditions

Abstract. Soil organic matter (SOM) controls the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and is a key factor in soil productivity. Data on SOM quantity and quality are therefore important for agricultural sustainability. In 1990, an experiment was set up at Saria, Burkina Faso on a sandy loam Lixisol to evaluate long-term effects of tillage (hand hoeing or oxen ploughing) with or without 10 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of manure and fallowing on SOM and N concentrations and their distribution in particle size fractions. The field was sown annually to sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench). Ten years later, total organic C and total N, SOM fractions and their N concentrations, and sorghum yield were determined. Continuous sorghum cultivation without organic inputs caused significant losses of C and N in the hoed and ploughed plots. However, addition of manure to hoed plots was effective in maintaining similar levels of C and N to fallow plots. Without manure, SOM was mainly stored in the size-fraction <0.053 mm (fine organic matter, FOM). SOM was mainly stored in the size-fraction between 0.053 and 2 mm (particulate organic matter, POM). In plots with manure and in fallow plots, the addition of manure more than doubled POM concentrations, with levels in tilled plots exceeding those of the fallow plots, and the highest levels in manually hoed plots. Nitrogen associated with POM (POM-N) followed a similar trend to POM. Hoeing and ploughing led to a decline in sorghum grain yield. Manure application increased yields by 56% in the hoed plots and 70% in the ploughed plots. Grain yield was not correlated with total SOM but was positively correlated with total POM. This study indicated that POM was greatly affected by long-term soil management options.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by maize as affected by particulate organic matter quality, soil characteristics, and land-use history for soils from the West African moist savanna zone

 The impact of land use (unfertilized continuous maize cropping, unfertilized and fertilized alley cropping with maize, Gliricidia sepium tree fallow, natural fallow) on the soil organic matter (SOM) status and general soil fertility characteristics were investigated for a series of soils representative for the West African moist savanna zone. Three soils from the humid forest zone were also included. In an associated pot experiment, relationships between maize N and P uptake and SOM and general soil characteristics were developed. Soils under natural fallow contained the highest amount of organic C (1.72%), total N (0.158%), and had the highest effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) [8.9 mEq 100 g^–1 dry soil], while the Olsen P content was highest in the fertilized alley cropping plots (13.7 mg kg^–1) and lowest under natural fallow (6.3 mg kg^–1). The N concentration of the particulate organic matter (POM) was highest in the unfertilized alley cropping plots (2.4%), while the total POM N content was highest under natural fallow (370 mg N kg^–1) and lowest in continuously cropped plots (107 mg N kg^–1). After addition of all nutrients except N, a highly significant linear relationship (R ²=0.91) was observed between the total N uptake in the shoots and roots of 7-week-old maize and the POM N content for the savanna soils. POM in the humid forest soils was presumably protected from decomposition due to its higher silt and clay content. After addition of all nutrients except P, the total maize P uptake was linearly related to the Olsen P content. R ² increased from 0.56 to 0.67 in a multiple linear regression analysis including the Olsen P content and clay content (which explained 11% of the variation in P uptake). Both the SOM status and N availability were shown to be improved in land-use systems with organic matter additions, while only the addition of P fertilizer could improve P availability. Received: 9 April 1999     

Carbon mineralization and microbial activity in a field site trial used for 14C turnover experiments over a period of 30 years

 Long-term experiments on different crop management systems provide essential information about turnover of soil organic matter and changes in microbial properties over a period of time. A long-term field site trial, which was established in 1967 near Vienna, Austria, to document the fate of ¹⁴C-labelled manure (straw and farmyard) under different crop management systems (crop rotation, spring wheat and bare fallow), was investigated. Soil samples were taken in 1997 and separated into size fractions (>250 μm, 250–63 μm, 63–2 μm, 2–0.1 μm and <0.1 μm) after aggregate dispersion using low-energy sonication. Organic C, total N and ¹⁴C content were measured in the bulk soil and the size fractions and microbial properties were analysed in the bulk soil. Additionally, C mineralization in bulk soil samples was monitored at 20 °C over a period of 28 days, and subsequently ¹⁴C-CO₂ content was analysed. The distribution of organic C and N within the size fractions was similar between crop rotation and spring wheat; the highest amounts of organic C and N were found in the clay-sized fraction. The amounts of C and N were significantly smaller in the bare fallow, which was depleted of organic matter in the coarse-sized fractions. ¹⁴C distribution differed significantly from unlabelled C distribution, labelled C was accumulated in the silt-sized fraction, indicating weak humification of the applied manure C. The highest rate of C mineralization was measured in the crop rotation and spring wheat, whereas the emission rate of the bare fallow was about 40% lower. The higher ¹⁴C:C ratio of the bulk soil in comparison to the emitted CO₂ indicated that labelled C compounds still remained mineralizable after a period of 30 years. Microbial properties showed a great difference between crop management systems and bare fallow, particularly regarding urease and xylanase activity. Received: 31 May 1999     

Changes in amount of organic and inorganic fractions of nitrogen in an Eutrochrept soil after long‐term cropping with different fertilizer and organic manure inputs

The influence of 30 years of cropping with different fertilizer and farmyard manure (FYM) inputs on the contents and depth distribution of organic C, total N (N_t), soil mineralizable N, and organic and inorganic N fractions was investigated in an Eutrochrept. Continuous application of 100 %NPK(+S), 150 %NPK(+S), and 100 %NPK(+S)+FYM led to a marked increase in organic C, total N, hydrolyzable N (viz., amino acid N, hydrolyzable NH₄‐N, hexose amine N, and unidentified hydrolyzable N), and nonhydrolyzable N as compared to an adjacent fallow. The contents of the various organic N fractions were largest in surface soil and thereafter decreased with the depth. However, at 30 – 45 cm depth the content of organic C was not affected by the different treatments except 100 %NPK(+S)+FYM. On the other hand, continuous cropping without fertilization resulted in a depletion of total hydrolyzable N in control over fallow by 27.2 % (0–15 cm), 19.6 % (15–30 cm), and 4.7 % (30–45 cm). The incorporation of FYM with 100 %NPK(+S) resulted in greater contents of soil mineralizable N as compared to 100 %NPK(+S) (0–15, 15–30 cm). The proportion of hydrolyzable N (57–76 % of N_t) decreased and that of nonhydrolyzable N (22–40 % of N_t) increased with depth. The proportion of amino acid N (19–26 % of N_t), hexose amine N (2.1–3.5 % of N_t) and unidentified hydrolyzable N (17–27 % of N_t) decreased with depth. All organic soil N fractions including even nonhydrolyzable N in surface and subsurface soils were highly significantly correlated with soil mineralizable N derived from incubations under waterlogged and aerobic conditions. The best correlation to mineralizable N was found for amino acid N and the least significant correlation for nonhydrolyzable N.     

Natural 13C Abundance and Chemical Structure of Organic Matter of Haplic Chernozem under Contrasting Land Uses

Eurasian Soil Science - Natural 13C abundance and chemical structure of different organic matter (OM) pools of Haplic Chernozem in contrasting land use variants (steppe and long-term bare fallow)...     

The role of mineralization of the organic matter of soddy-podzolic and peat bog soils in the accumulation of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs by plants

The role of mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) in the mobilization of ¹³⁷Cs was estimated on the basis of data on the biokinetic fractionation of the organic matter of soddy-podzolic sandy-loam and peat bog soils and on the coefficients of the soil-to-plant transfer of radiocesium under field conditions. The peat bog soils were richer than the soddy-podzolic soils in the total organic carbon (by 7.9–23.8 times), the potentially mineralizable carbon (by 2.4–6.5 times), and the carbon of the microbial biomass (by 2.9–4.6 times). The agricultural use of the soddy-podzolic and peat bog soils led to a decrease in the SOM mineralization capacity by 1.1–1.8 and 1.4–2.0 times, respectively. Simultaneously, the portions of the easily, moderately, and difficultly mineralizable fraction of the SOM active pool changed. The coefficients of the ¹³⁷Cs transfer from the peat bog soils to plants were 3.3–17.6 times higher than those for the soddy-podzolic soils. The content of ¹³⁷Cs in plants grown on the peat bog soils was 2–65 times higher than that in the mobile (salt-extractable) soil pool by the beginning of the growing season. Strong positive linear correlations were found between the coefficients of the soil-to-plant transfer of ¹³⁷Cs and the total content of the SOM, the content of the microbial biomass, the content of the potentially mineralizable carbon, and the intensity of its mineralization. It was concluded that the decisive factors controlling the intensity of the ¹³⁷Cs transfer from mineral and organic soils into plants are the SOM content and its mineralization potential. The mineralization of the SOM is accompanied by the release of both ¹³⁷Cs and mineral nitrogen; the latter facilitates the transfer of radiocesium into plants.     

Changes in total, mineralizable and light fraction soil organic matter with cropping and tillage intensities in semiarid southern Alberta, Canada

There has been a trend toward increased cropping intensity and decreased tillage intensity in the semiarid region of the Canadian prairies. The impact of these changes on sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ in soil organic carbon (C) is uncertain. Our objective was to quantify the changes in total, mineralizable and light fraction organic C and nitrogen (N) due to the adoption of continuous cropping and conservation tillage practices. We sampled three individual long-term experiments at Lethbridge, Alberta, in September 1992: a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow tillage study, a continuous spring wheat tillage study and a winter wheat rotation-tillage study. Treatments had been in place for 3–16 years. In the spring wheat-fallow study, different intensities (one-way disc > heavy-duty cultivator > blade cultivator) of conventional tillage (CT) were compared with minimum tillage (MT) and zero tillage (ZT). After 16 years, total organic C was 2.2 Mg ha⁻¹ lower in more intensively worked CT treatments (one-way disc, heavy-duty cultivator) than in the least-intensive CT treatment (blade cultivator). The CT with the blade cultivator and ZT treatments had similar levels of organic C. The CT treatments with the one-way disc and heavy-duty cultivator had light fraction C and N and mineralizable N amounts that were about 13–18% lower than the CT with the blade cultivator, MT or ZT treatments. In the continuous spring wheat study, 8 years of ZT increased total organic C by 2 Mg ha⁻¹, and increased mineralizable and light fraction C and N by 15–27%, compared with CT with a heavy-duty cultivator prior to planting. In the winter wheat rotation-tillage study, total organic C was 2 Mg ha⁻¹ higher in a continuous winter wheat (WW) rotation compared with that in a winter wheat-fallow rotation. The lack of an organic C response to ZT on the WW rotation may have been due to moldboard plowing of the ZT treatment in 1989 (6 years after establishment and 3 years before soil sampling), in an effort to control a severe infestation of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.). Our results suggest that although relative increases in soil organic matter were small, increases due to adoption of ZT were greater and occurred much faster in continuously cropped than in fallow-based rotations. Hence intensification of cropping practices, by elimination of fallow and moving toward continuous cropping, is the first step toward increased C sequestration. Reducing tillage intensity, by the adoption of ZT, enhances the cropping intensity effect.     

Long-term effects of mineral and organic fertilization on soil organic matter fractions and sorghum yield under Sudano-Sahelian conditions

Abstract. Knowledge of changes in soil organic matter (SOM) fractions resulting from agricultural practice is important for decision‐making at farm level because of the contrasting effects of different SOM fractions on soils. A long‐term trial sited under Sudano‐Sahelian conditions was used to assess the effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on SOM fractions and sorghum performance. Sorghum straw and kraal manure were applied annually at 10 t ha^?1, with and without urea at 60 kg N ha^?1. The other treatments included fallowing, a control (no fertilization), and inorganic fertilization only (urea, 60 kg N ha^?1). Fallowing gave significantly larger soil organic carbon and nitrogen (N) levels than any other treatment. Total soil SOM and N concentrations increased in the following order: urea only < straw < control < straw+urea < manure with or without urea < fallow. Farming had an adverse effect on SOM and N status; however, this mostly affected the fraction of SOM >0.053 mm (particulate organic matter, POM). The POM concentrations in the control, straw and urea‐only treatments were about one‐half of the POM concentrations in the fallow treatment. POM concentrations increased in the following order: urea only < control < straw with or without urea < manure with or without urea < fallow. The fraction of SOM <0.053 mm (fine organic matter, FOM) was greater than POM in all plots except in fallow and manure+urea plots. Total N concentration followed the same trend as SOM, but cultivation led to a decline in both POM‐N and FOM‐N. Crop yield was greatest in the manure plots and lowest in the straw, control and urea‐only plots. Results indicate that under Sudano‐Sahelian conditions, SOM, POM and FOM fractions and crop performance were better maintained using organic materials with a low C/N ratio (manure) than with organic material with a high C/N ratio (straw). Urea improved the effect of straw on crop yield and SOM concentration.     

What are the primary factors controlling the light fraction and particulate soil organic matter content of agricultural soils?

Particulate organic matter (POM) and light fraction organic matter (LFOM) are the fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) considered most active in terms of nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure. They respond quickly to changes in management and may offer insights into the long-term effect of management on SOM. However, the literature provides contradictory evidence regarding the factors which influence the amount of POM and LFOM, and there is little evidence to differentiate the relative importance of factors. Utilising data from over 150 experiments reported in the literature, we employed multiple regression to produce separate models quantifying the effect of management factors and environmental variables on POM, LFOM and total SOM; 29.3 % of the variance in the response variables was explained for POM, 28.3 % for LFOM, and 29.3 % for total SOM. Climate, organic amendments and inclusion of fallow periods were significant terms for all fractions. Climate had a larger influence on total SOM than POM or LFOM, whilst POM and LFOM were more strongly influenced by factors related to the recent history of organic matter addition; organic amendments and inclusion of fallows. Factors that were not significant variables for any of the fractions included tillage and application of N fertiliser, whilst soil texture was only a significant factor for SOM. General agreement between the total SOM, POM and LFOM models on the most important factors supports the idea that both POM and LFOM are good predictors of long-term changes to total SOM.     

Organic Matter and Mineralizable Nitrogen Relationships in Wetland Rice Soils

Abstract

Soil nitrogen (N) supply plays a dominant role in the N nutrition of wetland rice. Organic matter has been proposed as an index of soil N availability to wetland rice. This is based on the finding that mineralizable N produced under waterlogged conditions is related to soil organic carbon (C) and total N. The relationship between organic matter and mineralizable N is a prerequisite for determining the N requirement of wetland rice. However, no critical analysis of recent literature on organic matter–mineralizable N relationships has been made. This article evaluates current literature on the relationships of mineralizable N or ammonium N production with soil organic C in wetland rice soils. A number of studies with diverse wetland rice soils demonstrate a close relationship of N mineralized (ammonium‐N) under anaerobic conditions with organic C or total N. However, a few recent studies made on sites under long‐term intensive wetland rice cropping showed that strong positive relationships of mineralizable N with organic C or total N do not hold. Clearly, both quantity and quality of organic matter affect N mineralization in wetland rice soils. Future research is needed to clarify the role of quality of organic matter, especially its chemistry, as modified by the chemical environment of submerged soils, on the mineralization of organic N in wetland rice soils.