温度和植物残体对紫色母岩发育的水稻土有机碳矿化的影响

培养试验研究了2种温度下紫色水稻土有机碳的矿化特征以及添加不同植物残体对其矿化的影响。结果表明, 62d的培养过程中,有机碳累积矿化量在28℃条件下为C 66.79 mg/g;40℃条件下为C 86.99 mg/g,差异达到极显著水平。用一级动力学方程对植物残体的矿化速率进行拟合表明,28℃条件下,植物残体的分解速率常数（k）为蚕豆秸秆玉米秸秆水稻秸秆,而40℃条件下则为水稻秸秆玉米秸秆蚕豆秸秆。温度状况和植物残体化学组分的差异影响了紫色水稻土中有机碳的动态变化,最终导致了碳累积矿化量的差异。     

添加玉米秸秆重金属污染对水稻土有机碳矿化的影响

为研究重金属污染环境胁迫下新碳的添加对水稻土有机碳矿化的影响,以苏南地区不同程度Cd/Pb污染的水稻土为研究对象,通过室内培养法,研究了添加玉米秸秆(新碳)条件下重金属污染对水稻土有机碳(老碳)矿化的影响。试验通过测定土壤CO_2-C排放动态及其δ~(13)C值、总有机碳和活性碳库组分含量,计算了相对激发效应,探讨了不同程度重金属污染对水稻土新老有机碳矿化的影响。结果表明:新鲜有机碳的添加均提高了土壤有机碳的矿化速率和累计矿化量,添加玉米秸秆后不同程度重金属污染的水稻土有机碳累积矿化量分别提高了120%(轻度污染土壤,P0)、540%(较高程度污染土壤,P1)和360%(高度污染土壤,P2)。添加玉米秸秆同时促进了不同程度重金属污染水稻土中原有有机碳的矿化速率,相对于P0与P1土壤,P2土壤更能促进水稻土老碳的矿化,并降低了可溶性有机碳含量,且在培养的不同阶段P2土壤相对激发效应显著高于P0与P1土壤,在培养第30天时相对激发效应值达到最高,分别为47.3%(P0)、148.2%(P1)、189.2%(P2)。     

可溶性有机碳的含量动态及其与土壤有机碳矿化的关系

采用我国东部地区的黑土、潮土、黄泥土和红壤水稻土,通过室内分析和培育试验,研究了不同水分条件下可溶性有机碳含量及土壤有机碳矿化量的动态变化,分析了淹水导致可溶性有机碳含量的变化程度及其对土壤有机碳矿化量的可能影响.结果表明,可溶性有机碳含量与水土比呈直线相关关系,累计提取量随浸提时间增加,单次提取量随提取次数降低.在8周的培养期内,淹水处理的可溶性有机碳含量均显著高于好气处理,黄泥土一号高46%～117%(p＜0.05),黄泥土二号高112%～285%(p＜0.001),潴育黄泥田高21%～73%(p＜0.05).在培养的前3周(黄泥土一号)或前4周(黄泥土二号),不同水分处理的日均土壤有机碳矿化量有极显著差异(p＜0.01),其后,差异不显著;但在整个培养过程中,淹水处理的累计土壤有机碳矿化量均极显著高于好气处理(p＜0.01).培养过程中,土壤有机碳的矿化速率动态与可溶性有机碳含量的变化趋势相一致,特别是黄泥土二号,可溶性有机碳含量与土壤有机碳日均矿化量达到极显著的相关关系(好气相关系数0.942,淹水相关系数0.975).结果还表明,两种黄泥土有机碳矿化量(包括日均矿化量和累计矿化量)的差异并不与全土有机碳含量相关,而主要是其可溶性有机碳含量明显不同所致.因此,对于原土可溶性有机碳含量较高的土壤,淹水显著提高可溶性有机碳量是导致其土壤有机碳矿化量高于好气处理的主要原因.     

施肥和秸秆还田对红壤水稻土有机碳分布变异及其矿化特性的影响

利用始于1990年的湖南桃园红壤水稻土长期定位试验,研究了长期施肥和秸秆还田对红壤水稻土剖面有机碳含量和δ13C值分布,有机碳密度和变异幅度,以及有机碳矿化特性的影响.结果表明,长期施肥和秸秆还田使红壤稻田土壤表层有机碳含量显著升高,秸秆还田对有机质的累积作用明显优于仅施化肥处理.施肥或秸秆还田使0～25 cm和0～ 50 cm土层的有机碳密度均明显提高,且有机碳变异幅度也明显增大.0～10cm表层土壤δ13C值与对照的差异最大,而施化肥或秸秆还田处理之间的差异不大.各施肥处理土壤有机碳在培养初期的矿化速率较大,并在1～3周内迅速降低且逐渐达到稳定状态.秸秆还田使各处理有机碳矿化速率的提高较明显,各处理的平均矿化速率为CO247.75～31.16 ml/(kg.d),稳定矿化速率为CO240～60ml/(kg·d),12周培养期内累积矿化量大小为CK+C＞NP+C＞N+C＞NPK+C＞NP＞NPK＞N＞NK＞CK.长期施化肥和秸秆还田,均使土壤有机碳的累积矿化量提高,而秸秆还田作用更明显.因此,长期施肥和秸秆还田作为土壤有机碳累积的途径,有利于提高红壤水稻土的养分供应能力,并且能够维持稻田生态系统有机碳库的缓冲性和长期稳定性.     

水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆在好气和厌氧条件下的腐解规律

采用室内模拟培养的方法,研究了水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆在好气和厌氧条件下的腐解规律。结果表明:在0~3个月的培养时间内,水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆腐解较快,腐解率达55%以上。在好气培养条件下,水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆质量减少50%所需要的时间(t_(1/2))分别为59.2 d和52.9 d,而在厌氧培养条件下的t_(1/2)分别为72.6 d和79.9 d。水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆在好气培养条件下的碳释放速率常数k(0.61~0.6月~(-1))高于其在厌氧培养条件下的碳释放速率常数k(0.55~0.57月~(-1))。水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆在好气培养条件下的氮释放速率常数k(0.25~2.36月~(-1))也高于其在厌氧培养条件下的氮释放速率常数k(0.16~2.32月~(-1))。水稻秸秆和玉米秸秆中纤维素、半纤维素和木质素含量在好气培养条件下的减少速率高于其在厌氧培养条件下的减少速率。综上所述,好气培养条件有利于作物秸秆降解和营养物质的释放。     

氧化铁辅助农业固碳减排的技术探索

通过选取水稻秸秆、猪粪、污泥和颗粒有机肥,添加氧化铁后分别进行室内好气培养（25℃）和田间填埋矿化（夏季）,以探索农业固碳减排的技术途径。结果表明,室内好气培养条件下,氧化铁明显降低了水稻秸秆、猪粪、污泥和颗粒有机肥的CO2释放速率,整个培养期间的CO2累积释放量分别由未添加氧化铁的10934．45、5426．12、5288．43和794．90mgCO2-C·kg^-1降低为添加氧化铁的125．47、1535．15、1473．36和498．72mgCO2-C·kg^-1,以水稻秸秆的效果最为显著。田间填埋条件下,除了颗粒有机肥的有机碳降解速率基本未受氧化铁影响外,其余3种有机物料在每一取样阶段的有机碳降解速率均受到了氧化铁的有效抑制。填埋90d后,水稻秸秆、猪粪和污泥的有机碳降解速率分别由未添加氧化铁的34．06％、14．91％和19．90％降低为添加氧化铁的24．25％、9．45％和14．24％,也以水稻秸秆的效果最为显著。可见,无论是室内好气培养还是田间填埋矿化,氧化铁均表现出对有机物料矿化降解的有效抑制作用,具有明显的有机碳固持能力。     

水分状况对红壤水稻土中有机物料碳分解和分布的影响

以室内模拟的方法研究了好气、淹水和干湿交替3种水分条件下有机物料碳在红壤水稻土中分解和分布的差异。试验结果表明,干湿交替条件下有机物料的分解速率最高,好气条件下次之,淹水条件下较低。好气和淹水条件下添加物料促进土壤原有有机碳的矿化,产生正激发效应,而干湿交替条件显著抑制了土壤原有有机碳的矿化,呈负激发效应,随着培养时间的延长激发效应减弱。干湿交替条件下添加有机物料处理的土壤胡敏酸(Humic acid,HA)色调系数和E4/E6比值显著低于淹水和好气条件,淹水培养使土壤胡敏酸的结构简单化,干湿交替使胡敏酸芳构化和腐殖化程度增加,结构复杂化。有机物料碳在土壤腐殖质组分中的分配比例显示,干湿交替和好气条件促进了胡敏酸的形成,提高了土壤原有富里酸(Fulvic acid,FA)组分的转化和胡敏酸组分的分解;淹水条件下物料碳在富里酸组分中分布比例较高,且抑制了土壤原有胡敏酸组分的分解。有机物料碳在0.053 mm粒级团聚体中分布比例较大,干湿交替和淹水条件下更为明显。     

作物残体与其生物炭配施对土壤有机碳及其自身矿化率的提升

【目的】本研究通过探讨小麦和玉米残体与其生物炭配施对土壤各组分有机碳及其自身有机碳矿化的影响,揭示其在土壤固碳和培肥方面的效应,为农田有机物资源合理利用提供理论支撑。【方法】采用室内恒温培养试验,共设置小麦或玉米残体(根茬、秸秆)和秸秆制成的生物炭单施(WS、WR、WB、MS、MR、MB),配施(WS+WB、WR+WB、MS+MB、MR+MB)以及对照(CK)构成的11个处理,培养期间测定土壤CO2释放量,培养结束后测定土壤总有机碳(TOC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)以及粗细颗粒有机碳含量(CPOC、FPOC)。【结果】添加玉米有机物料对土壤TOC、MBC、POC、CPOC和FPOC含量的增加作用普遍高于添加小麦有机物料。添加小麦或玉米秸秆对土壤TOC、POC、CPOC、FPOC含量的增加作用均高于添加根茬。单独添加生物炭,作物残体与生物炭配施和单独添加作物残体处理分别在培养的第4、8、21 d有机碳矿化速率最大,为有机碳矿化快速期,之后矿化速率减缓并逐渐趋于稳定。单独添加作物残体其有机碳累积矿化率最大,达到30%~46%;与对照相比,添加有机物料的各处理均显著增加了土壤TOC含量,其中添加生物炭处理土壤TOC含量增幅最大;单独添加小麦和玉米生物炭处理,土壤TOC含量分别显著增加34.4%和36.5%,但其有机碳累积矿化率仅为3%左右,土壤FPOC含量及敏感性指数在单独添加生物炭处理最高;小麦和玉米残体与其生物炭配施处理,土壤MBC和CPOC含量分别显著增加80.2%~199.2%,且其有机碳累积矿化率为12%~19%,介于生物炭和残体单施之间,土壤CPOC含量及敏感性指数均表现为配施处理最高。【结论】单独添加作物残体能够较好地补充土壤养分,但CO2释放量显著高于单施生物炭及配施处理;单独添加生物炭其有机碳累积矿化率较低,短期内对土壤养分的补充作用较小。作物残体与其生物炭配施可以较好地克服各自单独施用的弊端,尤其是玉米秸秆与其生物炭配施,在保证作物养分供应的同时能增加土壤碳库储量,对土壤肥力提升效果更好。     

温度对贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土有机碳矿化、水稻秸秆激发效应和Q10的影响

为定量揭示温度和秸秆还田对贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土土壤有机碳矿化、激发效应和温度敏感性的影响。以贵州喀斯特地区典型黄色石灰土为研究对象,采用¹³C稳定性同位素标记的水稻秸秆和土壤培养试验研究了15,25,35 ℃培养温度下土壤原有有机碳矿化速率、累积矿化量、激发效应和温度系数Q₁₀对水稻秸秆输入和温度的响应。结果表明:15~35 ℃温度范围和0~60天培养时间内,贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土土壤有机碳、总有机碳、水稻秸秆有机碳和土壤原有有机碳矿化速率均培养1天达到峰值,培养1~30天土壤总有机碳、水稻秸秆有机碳和土壤原有有机碳矿化速率快速下降,30~60天逐渐趋于平缓。温度升高显著增加土壤有机碳、水稻秸秆输入土壤总有机碳、土壤原有有机碳和输入的水稻秸秆有机碳的矿化速率和累积矿化量。培养期间水稻秸秆对土壤有机碳矿化均产生显著正激发效应,且正激发效应随温度升高而强化。培养结束时15,25,35 ℃下其对土壤原有有机碳矿化速率激发效应表现为随温度升高激发效应升高、降低、升高和先升高后降低的温度响应规律,因表征方法不同而不同。15,25,35 ℃培养温度下水稻秸秆对土壤总有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量的贡献率均随培养时间延长先减小后增大再减小,但2种表征方法和3个培养温度拐点发生时间不同;培养1天时水稻秸秆对土壤总有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量的贡献率15,25 ℃基本相同且显著高于35 ℃,5天时25,35 ℃基本相当且显著大于15 ℃,其他时间均是25 ℃显著大于35 ℃和35 ℃显著大于15 ℃。15~25 ℃和25~35 ℃ 2个温度体系中水稻秸秆不输入石灰土土壤有机碳矿化速率温度敏感系数Q_10,V分别为1.01~2.60和1.39~3.12,Q_10,F分别为1.50~2.60和1.39~2.17;水稻秸秆输入石灰土土壤总有机碳矿化速率温度敏感系数Q_10,V分别为1.09~2.18和1.05~1.90,Q_10,F分别为1.09~1.73和1.05~1.49;水稻秸秆输入抑制土壤原有有机碳矿化的温度敏感性,水稻秸秆输入导致土壤原有有机碳矿化温度敏感性随温度升高而升高转变为总体上随温度升高而降低在一定程度上可缓冲全球变暖所致的CO₂排放增加。温度对土壤有机碳矿化温度敏感性的影响因表征温度敏感性指标和培养时间长短不同而不同,建立不同培养时间的矿化速率和累积矿化量温度敏感系数的温度函数可精确表征其对温度的响应。研究结果对贵州喀斯特农田土壤秸秆还田、土壤固碳减排、土壤有机碳管理和土壤有机碳库预测等提供参考和借鉴,对丰富土壤有机碳激发效应和温度系数Q₁₀的表征和深入理解具有重要意义。     

耕作制度对紫色水稻土根际与非根际土壤有机碳矿化的影响

以稻田免耕长期定位试验点为平台,研究耕作制度对紫色水稻土根际与非根际土壤有机碳矿化的影响。结果表明,不同耕作制度下稻田土壤有机碳日均矿化量均表现前期快速下降而后逐渐趋于平稳,培养结束时有机碳日均矿化量仅为第1天的3.1%～6.7%;另外,实行稻油轮作可有效降低土壤有机碳矿化速率。垄作免耕(中稻-油菜)处理有机碳日均矿化量、累积矿化量及矿化强度均为根际大于非根际土壤,而其他处理则是根际小于非根际土壤。稻田根际与非根际土壤有机碳平均日均矿化量随培养时间均符合幂函数变化规律,在62d培养期内,除第1天外,非根际土壤平均日均矿化量均大于根际土壤平均日均矿化量,差异变幅范围为67.0%～98.7%。各处理稻田根际与非根际土壤有机碳日均矿化量、累积矿化量和矿化强度均与其相应pH显著相关;根际与非根际土壤间有机碳日均矿化量和累积矿化量差异均与其微生物生物量碳、氮含量显著相关。     

稻草还田条件下水田和旱地土壤有机碳矿化特征与差异

采用14C示踪技术,通过100 d的原状土柱室内模拟试验,得出以下研究结果:培养100 d后,有34.74%(水田覆盖)、17.85%(水田翻埋)、35.68%(旱地覆盖)和36.06%(旱地翻埋)的稻草碳被矿化,水田和旱地土壤分别有0.99%～1.17%和2.25%～2.53%的原有有机碳被矿化。土地利用和稻草还田方式及两因素的交互作用,对添加稻草碳的矿化速率和累积矿化率均有显著影响(p<0.01),但对于土壤原有有机碳的矿化速率和累积矿化量,只有土地利用方式对其有显著影响(p<0.01);添加稻草后,土壤总累积矿化量没有发生显著变化(旱地翻埋除外),因为稻草还田抑制了土壤原有有机碳的降解,使100 d的累积矿化量相对于各自对照减少了13.95%(水田覆盖)、15.68%(水田翻埋)、11.04%(旱地覆盖)和3.34%(旱地翻埋)。水田翻埋和旱地覆盖是稻草资源合理利用的较好方式,更有利于土壤有机碳的积累;添加的稻草碳和土壤原有有机碳在水田的矿化速率均显著低于旱地,是水田有机碳含量通常高于同一景观单元旱地的主要原因之一。     

添加黏土及植物残体混合物对沙质土壤中呼吸作用和微生物量碳、氮有效性的影响

Crop yields in sandy soils can be increased by addition of clay-rich soil, but little is known about the effect of clay addition on nutrient availability after addition of plant residues with different C/N ratios. A loamy sandy soil(7% clay) was amended with a clay-rich subsoil(73% clay) at low to high rates to achieve soil mixtures of 12%, 22%, and 30% clay, as compared to a control(sandy soil alone) with no clay addition. The sandy-clay soil mixtures were amended with finely ground plant residues at 10 g kg~(-1): mature wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) straw with a C/N ratio of 68, mature faba bean(Vicia faba L.) straw with a C/N ratio of 39, or their mixtures with different proportions(0%–100%, weight percentage) of each straw. Soil respiration was measured over days 0–45 and microbial biomass C(MBC), available N, and p H on days 0, 15, 30, and 45. Cumulative respiration was not clearly related to the C/N ratio of the residues or their mixtures, but C use efficiency(cumulative respiration per unit of MBC on day 15) was greater with faba bean than with wheat and the differences among the residue mixtures were smaller at the highest clay addition rate. The MBC concentration was lowest in sole wheat and higher in residue mixtures with 50% of wheat and faba bean in the mixture or more faba bean. Soil N availability and soil p H were lower for the soil mixtures of 22% and 30% clay compared to the sandy soil alone. It could be concluded that soil cumulative respiration and MBC concentration were mainly influenced by residue addition, whereas available N and p H were influenced by clay addition to the sandy soil studied.     

蚕豆根分泌物对紫色土有效养分及微生物数量的影响

为培育紫色土肥力和合理利用蚕豆资源,本研究首先通过溶液培养法收集到蚕豆根系分泌物后,并通过真空旋转蒸发仪得到浓缩液,然后通过室内土壤培养试验,即分别在3种60 g紫色土(酸性紫色土、碱性紫色土和中性紫色土)添加2个水平[6 m L(低量)和12 m L(高量)]的蚕豆根系分泌物浓缩液,并置于25℃恒温箱中黑暗培养15 d,从而探索蚕豆根系分泌物对不同紫色土有效养分和微生物数量的影响。结果表明:在3种紫色土上,与对照相比,添加低量和高量蚕豆根系分泌物浓缩液后,土壤碱解氮含量和p H均显著降低;而土壤有效磷、速效钾、有效铁、有效锌含量和微生物数量均显著增加,且此趋势随根系分泌物浓缩液添加量增加而增强。与其他两种紫色土相比,酸性紫色土添加蚕豆根系分泌物浓缩液对于土壤碱解氮含量和p H的降低效应最明显,对土壤中细菌和真菌数量增加效应更为显著,与对照相比,增幅分别为-32.00%、-4.51%、3.51倍和9.00倍。与其他两种紫色土相比,碱性紫色土添加高量蚕豆根系分泌物浓缩液对土壤有效磷、速效钾、有效锌和有效铁含量活化效应最强,分别是对照的4.48倍、2.04倍、147.10%和128.00%。在中性紫色土上,添加高量蚕豆根系分泌物浓缩液对以上土壤有效养分和土壤微生物数量的影响介于酸性紫色土和碱性紫色土之间。总之,蚕豆根系分泌物对不同紫色土土壤有效养分(土壤碱解氮和p H除外)和土壤微生物活性有不同促进效应,这对于紫色土肥力培育有深远影响。     

Amelioration of an acid ultisol by agricultural by‐products

Ultisols are widely distributed in the subtropical regions of China as well as in the world. High acidity of Ultisols limits plant growth and reduces crop yields. Amelioration of an acid Ultisol was investigated by incorporating the residues of canola (Brassica campestris L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum) and Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) shoots after incubation of the agricultural by‐products for a maximum of 75 days, soil pH was increased by each of the plant materials. The degree of amelioration of the soil acidity by the plant materials was found to depend on the ash alkalinity and N content of the materials; the legumes of higher ash alkalinities and lower N contents, such as peanut straw and faba bean straw, led to the largest increases in soil pH, while the legumes of higher N contents showed less amelioration of the acidity to a certain degree, because of the release of protons during nitrification of NH from mineralisation of organic N. The non‐leguminous materials have medium amelioration effects and increased soil pH by 0·42–0·56 units at the end of incubation. The incorporation of the plant materials also increased exchangeable base status and reduced exchangeable Al, and thus decreased the toxicity of Al in the soil. This study demonstrates that plant materials, especially crop residues, can be used as amendments for acidic soils to restore degraded land in subtropical regions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nodulation and N2 fixation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) after soil amendment with crop residues

The effect of prior soil amendment with different N sources at 50 mg N (kg soil)^—1 on nodulation and N₂ fixation of faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Troy) using wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Star) as reference crop was assessed in a pot experiment. Four treatments viz legume manure (LEGM) as clover shoots, cereal manure (CEREM) as barley straw, N fertilizer (FERT‐N) as Ca(NO₃)₂, and no‐manure control (NOMAN) were investigated consecutively at 45, 70, and 90 days after sowing (DAS). Faba bean nodulated profusely, with an increase on average from 629 nodules per pot at 45 DAS to nearly 2.3‐ and 3.3‐fold at 70 and 90 DAS, respectively. Low nodule numbers and nodule dry matter occurred under FERT‐N and CEREM, whereas high values were found for NOMAN and LEGM. Soil amendment affected percent N₂ fixation in relation to N source and plant age. Highest percent N₂ fixation (≥ 90 %) was found under the lowest N‐supplying amendments, no‐manure, and cereal manure, respectively. FERT‐N depressed N₂ fixation particularly at 45 DAS when N₂ fixation was reduced to as low as 23 %. The rise in N₂ fixation thereafter suggests that faba bean adjusted after depletion of mineral N in the soil. N₂ fixation was also decreased after cereal straw application, even though N concentration in faba bean plants was high. The results indicate that plant residues, both with high and low N concentration, applied to soil to raise its fertility may interfere with N₂ fixation of faba bean.     

Decomposition and nitrogen mineralization from legume and non-legume crop residues in a subarctic agricultural soil

An understanding of the C and N dynamics of crop residues is important for efficient nutrient management. The present experiment was conducted to determine the rate of mass and N loss from alfalfa, faba bean, barley, and rape crop residues in a subarctic agricultural soil. Mass, C, and N losses were measured from residues contained in mesh bags and placed on the soil surface or buried 15 cm below the surface. The mass loss from October, 1988, to May, 1989, was the same for surface and buried alfalfa, barley, and rape residues, averaging 40, 20, and 61%, respectively, while surface and buried faba bean residue sustained 30 and 40% mass loss, respectively. The mass loss of the buried residues continued over the summer but not of those placed on the soil surface, resulting in an average 23% greater mass loss of the buried materials after 1 year. The N loss from October to May was similar from the surface and from the buried placements for the alfalfa, faba bean, and rape residues, averaging 11.3, 10.3 and 38.4 g N kg^-1 residue, respectively, while the surface and buried barley lost 2.9 and 4.2 g N kg^-1, respectively. The C:N ratio of all of the residues increased during the winter. These data indicate that the rate of decomposition and N mineralization from crop residues in subarctic environments can equal that measured in temperate climates. Furthermore, the concurrent loss of mass and N combined with an increase in the C:N ratio of the residues suggests that physical rather than biological processes were functioning during the winter. Most of the mass and N loss from these residues occurred during the winter, out of phase with crop demand, thereby creating the potential for N loss from the system and inefficient use of crop residue N.     

Wheat response to N2 fixed by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as affected by sulfur fertilization and rhizobial inoculation in semi‐arid Northern Ethiopia

Nitrogen fixation in faba bean (Vicia faba cv. Mesay) as affected by sulfur (S) fertilization (30 kg S ha^–1) and inoculation under the semi‐arid conditions of Ethiopia was studied using the ¹⁵N‐isotope dilution method. The effect of faba bean–fixed nitrogen (N) on yield of the subsequent wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) was also assessed. Sulfur fertilization and inoculation significantly (p < 0.05) affected nodulation at late flowering stage for both 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons. The nodule number and nodule fresh weighs were increased by 53% and 95%, relative to the control. Similarly, both treatments (S fertilization and inoculants) significantly improved biomass and grain yield of faba bean on average by 2.2 and 1.2 Mg ha^–1. This corresponds to 37% and 50% increases, respectively, relative to the control. Total N and S uptake of grains was significantly higher by 59.6 and 3.3 kg ha^–1, which are 76% and 66% increases, respectively. Sulfur and inoculation enhanced the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere in the whole plant of faba bean from 51% to 73%. This corresponds to N₂ fixation varying from 49 to 147 kg N ha^–1. The percentage of N derived from fertilizer (%Ndff) and soil (%Ndfs) of faba bean varied from 4.3% to 2.8 %, and from 45.1% to 24.0%, corresponding to the average values of 5.1 and 47.9 kg N ha^–1. Similarly, the %Ndff and %Ndfs of the reference crop, barley, varied from 8.5 % to 10.8% and from 91.5% to 89.2%, with average N yields of 9.2 and 84.3 kg N ha^–1. Soil N balance after faba bean ranged from 13 to 52 kg N ha^–1. Beneficial effects of faba bean on yield of a wheat crop grown after faba bean were highly significant, increasing the average grain and N yields of this crop by 1.11 Mg ha^–1 and 30 kg ha^–1, relative to the yield of wheat grown after the reference crop, barley. Thus, it can be concluded that faba bean can be grown as an alternative crop to fallow, benefiting farmers economically and increasing the soil fertility.     

Grain legume effects on soil nitrogen mineralization potential and wheat productivity in a Mediterranean environment

The objective of this work was to provide evidence on the effects of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) on the dynamics of soil N availability and yield parameters of wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) in a legume–wheat rotation in comparison with the effects of the more extensively studied common vetch (Vicia sativa L.). Soil samples were taken from field plots just before wheat sowing and incubated in the laboratory to assess N mineralization potential, soil respiration and N immobilization after incorporation of legume residues. Soil after vetch cultivation showed the highest residual N and mineralization potential (120 mg N kg^?1 soil), the greatest CO₂ release and the smallest N immobilization. Smaller mineral N release (80 mg N kg^?1 soil) was shown by soil after faba bean cultivation, which, however, would be capable to support an average wheat production without fertilization. Soil after chickpea and wheat cultivation manifested no differences in residual N and mineralization or immobilization potential. Laboratory results were well correlated with grain yield and N uptake during the second season of rotation in the field. All legumes resulted in significant yield surpluses and provided N credit to the following unfertilized wheat.