Impact of organic matter addition on pH change of paddy soils

Purpose

The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of initial pH on the decomposition rate of plant residues and the effect of residue type on soil pH change in three different paddy soils.

Materials and methods

Two variable charge paddy soils (Psammaquent soil and Plinthudult soil) and one constant charge paddy soil (Paleudalfs soil) were used to be incubated at 45 % of field capacity for 105 days at 25 °C in the dark after three plant residues (Chinese milk vetch, wheat straw, and rice straw) were separately added at a level of 12 g?kg^?1 soil. Soil pH, CO₂ escaped, DOC, DON, MBC, MBN, NH ₄ ⁺ , and NO ₃ ^? during the incubation period were dynamically determined.

Results and discussion

Addition of the residues increased soil pH by 0.1–0.8 U, and pH reached a maximum in the Psammaquent and Plinthudult soils with low initial pH at day 105 but at day 3 in the Paleudalfs soil with high initial pH. Incorporation of Chinese milk vetch which had higher concentration of alkalinity (excess cations) and nitrogen increased soil pH more as compared with incorporation of rice and wheat straws. Microbial activity was the highest in Chinese milk vetch treatment, which resulted in the highest increase of soil pH as compared with addition of rice and wheat straws. However, nitrification seemed to be inhibited in the variable charge soils of Psammaquent and Plinthudult but not in the constant charge soil of Paleudalfs.

Conclusions

The effectiveness of increasing soil pH after incorporation of the plant materials would be longer in low initial pH soils of Psammaquent and Plinthudult than in high initial pH soil of Paleudalfs. In order to achieve the same degree of pH improvement, higher amounts of plant residues should be applied in constant charge soils than in variable charge soils.     

Modeling aerobic decomposition of rice straw during the off-rice season in an Andisol paddy soil in a cold temperate region of Japan: Effects of soil temperature and moisture

Submerged rice paddies are a major source of methane (CH₄) which is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO₂). Accelerating rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season could help to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in cold temperate regions. For understanding how both temperature and moisture can affect the rate of rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season in the cold temperate region of Tohoku district, Japan, a modeling incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory. Bulk soil and soil mixed with 2% of δ¹³C-labeled rice straw with a full factorial combination of four temperature levels (?5 to 5, 5, 15, 25°C) and two moisture levels (60% and 100% WFPS) were incubated for 24 weeks. The daily change from ?5 to 5°C was used to model the freezing–thawing cycles occurring during the winter season. The rates of rice straw decomposition were calculated by (i) CO₂ production; (ii) change in the soil organic carbon (SOC) content; and (iii) change in the δ¹³C value of SOC. The results indicated that both temperature and moisture affected the rate of rice straw decomposition during the 24-week aerobic incubation period. Rates of rice straw decomposition increased not only with high temperature, but also with high moisture conditions. The rates of rice straw decomposition were more accurately calculated by CO₂ production compared to those calculated by the change in the SOC content, or in its δ¹³C value. Under high moisture at 100% WFPS condition, the rates of rice straw decomposition were 14.0, 22.2, 33.5 and 46.2% at ?5 to 5, 5, 15 and 25°C temperature treatments, respectively. While under low moisture at 60% WFPS condition, these rates were 12.7, 18.3, 31.2 and 38.4%, respectively. The Q₁₀ of rice straw decomposition was higher between ?5 to 5 and 5°C than that between 5 and 15°C and that between 15 and 25°C. Daily freezing–thawing cycles (from ?5 to 5°C) did not stimulate rice straw decomposition compared with low temperature at 5°C. This study implies that to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in the cold temperate regions, enhancing rice straw decomposition during the high temperature period is very important.     

Decomposition of soil organic carbon influenced by soil temperature and moisture in Andisol and Inceptisol paddy soils in a cold temperate region of Japan

Purpose

Understanding the effects of temperature and moisture on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is crucial to predict the cycling of C in terrestrial ecosystems under a changing climate. For single rice cropping system, there are two contrasting phases of SOC decomposition in rice paddy soils: mineralization under aerobic conditions during the off-rice season and fermentation under anaerobic conditions during the growth season. This study aimed to investigate the effects of soil temperature and moisture on SOC decomposition under the aerobic and subsequently anaerobic conditions.

Materials and methods

Two Japanese paddy soils (Andisol and Inceptisol) were firstly incubated under four temperatures (±5, 5, 15, and 25°C) and two moisture levels (60 and 100% water-filled pore space (WFPS)) under aerobic conditions for 24 weeks. Then, these samples were incubated for 4 weeks at 30°C and under anaerobic conditions. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) productions were measured during the two incubation stages to monitor the SOC decomposition dynamics. The temperature sensitivity of SOC was estimated by calculation of the Q₁₀ parameter.

Results and discussion

The total CO₂ production after the 24-week aerobic incubation was significantly higher in both soils for increasing soil temperature and moisture (P < 0.01). During the subsequent anaerobic incubation, total decomposed C (sum of CO₂ and CH₄ productions) was significantly lower in samples that had been aerobically incubated at higher temperatures (15 and 25°C). Moreover, CH₄ production was extremely low in all soil samples. Total decomposed C after the two incubation stages ranged from 256.8 to 1146.1 mg C kg^?1 in the Andisol and from 301.3 to 668.8 mg C kg^?1 in the Inceptisol. However, the ratios of total decomposed C to SOC ranged from 0.29 to 1.29% in the Andisol and from 2.21 to 4.91% in the Inceptisol.

Conclusions

Both aerobic and anaerobic decompositions of SOC in two paddy soils were significantly affected by soil temperature and moisture. Maintaining optimal soil temperature and medium moisture during the off-rice season might be an appropriate agricultural management to mitigate CH₄ emission in the following rice growth season. Although it is high in SOC content, Andisol has less biodegradable components compared to Inceptisol and this could be a probable reason for the distinct difference in temperature sensitivity of SOC decomposition between two paddy soils.

     

Organic carbon mineralization responses to temperature increases in subtropical paddy soils

Purpose

Understanding organic carbon mineralization and its temperature response in subtropical paddy soils is important for the regional carbon balance. There is a growing interest in factors controlling soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization because of the potential for climate change. This study aims to test the hypothesis that soil clay content impedes SOC mineralization in subtropical paddy soils.

Materials and methods

A 160-day laboratory incubation at temperatures from 10 to 30 °C and 90% water content was conducted to examine the dynamics of SOC mineralization and its temperature response in three subtropical paddy soils with different clay contents (sandy loam, clay loam, and silty clay soils). A three-pool SOC model (active, slow, and resistant) was used to fit SOC mineralization.

Results and discussion

Total CO₂ evolved during incubation following the order of clay loam > silty clay > sandy loam. The temperature response coefficients (Q ₁₀) were 1.92?±?0.39, 2.36?±?0.22, and 2.10?±?0.70, respectively, for the sandy loam soil, clay loam soil, and silty clay soil. But the soil clay content followed the order of silty clay > clay loam > sandy loam. The sandy loam soil neither released larger amounts of CO₂ nor showed higher temperature sensitivity, as expected, even though it contains lower soil clay content among the three soils. It seems that soil clay content did not have a dominant effect which results in the difference in SOC mineralization and its temperature response in the selected three paddy soils. However, dissolved organic carbon (DOC; representing substrate availability) had a great effect. The size of the active C pool ranged from 0.11 to 3.55% of initial SOC, and it increased with increasing temperature. The silty clay soil had the smallest active C pool (1.40%) and the largest Q ₁₀ value (6.33) in the active C pool as compared with the other two soils. The mineralizable SOC protected in the silty clay soil, therefore, had even greater temperature sensitivity than the other two soils that had less SOC stabilization.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that SOC mineralization and its temperature response in subtropical paddy soils were probably not dominantly controlled by soil clay content, but the substrate availability (represented as DOC) and the specific stabilization mechanisms of SOC may have great effects.     

碳氮添加对雨养农田土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分的影响

为探明碳氮添加4年后,土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分(可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组和重组有机碳)的变化特征,依托布设于甘肃省定西市安定区李家堡镇的不同碳源配施氮素田间定位试验,涉及秸秆、生物质炭、氮素3个因素,秸秆设置为不施、施用秸秆2水平;生物质炭为不施和施用生物质炭2个水平;氮素设置为不施氮、施纯氮50 kg/hm^2、施纯氮100 kg/hm^2 3个水平,共9个处理。结果表明:不同处理下土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分的含量均随土层的加深而降低。添加生物质炭对土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分均具有不同程度的提升效应。添加秸秆对土壤全氮、有机碳和可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳均具有显著提升效应,仅在0-5 cm土层对重组有机碳有显著提高。添加氮素可显著提升土壤全氮、有机碳和可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳含量。较其他处理,添加生物质炭对土壤全氮、有机碳和重组有机碳的提升效应最高,添加秸秆对可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳的提升效果最优。从提升土壤质量的角度出发,推荐秸秆配施氮素模式,该模式下土壤碳素有效性高、易于被微生物利用,有利于作物生长。从提高土壤固碳角度考虑,推荐生物质炭配施氮素模式,该模式有利于碳的封存。     

Fate of Chinese-fir litter during decomposition as a result of inorganic N additions

We conducted a controlled experiment to evaluate Chinese-fir litter decomposition and its response to the addition of inorganic N. Litter-derived CO₂, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were monitored during an 87-d incubation of a mixed soil–litter substrate using the ¹³C tracer technique. Litter C was mostly converted to CO₂ (47.4% of original mass), followed by MBC (3.6%), and DOC (1.0%), with 48% remaining unaltered in the soil. The litter decomposition rate significantly increased with the addition of inorganic N, although the effect depended on whether N was added as NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻. Soil-derived CO₂, MBC, and DOC also increased following the combined addition of litter and N. The results showed that only a small percentage of litter C was retained as MBC or DOC and that the conversion rate depended, in part, on the form of inorganic N added to the Chinese-fir plantation soil.     

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.     

Responses of methane emissions and rice yield to applications of biochar and straw in a paddy field

Purpose

Directly returning straw back to the paddy field would significantly accelerate methane (CH₄) emission, although it may conserve and sustain soil productivity. The application of biochar (biomass-derived charcoal) in soil has been proposed as a sustainable technology to reduce methane (CH₄) emission and increase crop yield. We compared the effects of either biochar or rice straw addition with a paddy field on CH₄ emission and rice yield.

Materials and methods

A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate a single application of rice straw biochar (SC) and bamboo biochar (BC) (at 22.5 t ha^?1) in paddy soil on CH₄ emission and rice yield as compared with the successive application (6 t ha^?1) of rice straw (RS). Soil chemical properties and methanogenic and CH₄ oxidation activities in response to the amendment of biochar and rice straw were monitored to explain possible mechanism.

Results and discussion

SC was more efficient in reducing CH₄ emission from paddy field than BC. Incorporating SC into paddy field could decrease CH₄ emission during the rice growing cycle by 47.30 %–86.43 % compared with direct return of RS. This was well supported by the significant decrease of methanogenic activity in paddy field with SC. In comparison to a non-significant increase with BC or RS application, rice yield was significantly raised with SC amendment by 13.5 % in 2010 and 6.1 % in 2011. An enhancement of available K and P and an improvement in soil properties with SC amendment might be the main contributors to the increased crop yield.

Conclusions

These results indicated that conversion of RS into biochar instead of directly returning it to the paddy field would be a promising method to reduce CH₄ emission and increase rice yield.     

玉米秸秆不同构件混合分解的非加和效应及其对土壤有机碳矿化的影响

[目的]研究玉米秸秆不同构件混合分解的非加和效应及其对黄绵土土壤有机碳矿化的影响,为秸秆还田背景下坡地土壤CO2排放提供理论支撑。[方法]采用室内模拟试验,试验设置无玉米秸秆土壤对照(CK)及4种玉米秸秆添加处理:茎+土壤(CKS)、叶+土壤(CKL)、鞘+土壤(CKLS)、混合玉米秸秆+土壤(CKM)。[结果]培养结束土壤有机碳矿化累积排放量实测值显著高于预测值,且促进作用主要是由培养初期快速分解阶段(1~28d)导致的。培养结束后混合玉米秸秆剩余质量预测值明显高于实测值,且元素含量发生明显改变,其中全氮含量预测值明显低于实测值,C/N预测值明显高于实测值。培养结束后CKS处理土壤微生物碳含量明显高于其他几种处理,其他几种处理差异不显著;添加玉米秸秆处理土壤微生物量氮明显降低,相应的土壤微生物量C/N增大,CKS,CKL和CKM处理与CK处理差异达到显著水平。土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量CKLS和CKM处理明显高于其他3种处理,CKS与CKL处理与对照差异不显著。[结论]玉米秸秆不同构件按比例混合对玉米秸秆分解产生协同促进作用,混合分解过程促进氮累积。     

深松和秸秆还田对旋耕农田土壤有机碳活性组分的影响

土壤有机碳(soil organic carbon,SOC)及其活性组分能够敏感响应耕作方式变化及有机物输入。为对比长期旋耕农田进行深松后土壤有机碳各活性组分及比例变化,该研究基于连续7a的旋耕转变为深松和秸秆管理长期定位试验,对比了旋耕无秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage with straw removal,RT)、旋耕秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage with straw return,RTS)、旋耕转变为深松无秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage conversion to subsoiling with straw removal,RT-DT)、旋耕转变为深松秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage conversion to subsoiling with straw return,RTS-DTS)下土壤有机碳(soil organic carbon,SOC)、颗粒有机碳(particulate organic carbon,POC)、易氧化有机碳(readily oxidizable organic carbon,ROC)、微生物生物量碳(microbial biomass carbon,MBC)、溶解性有机碳(dissolved organic carbon,DOC)、活性有机碳(labile organic carbon,LOC)在土壤有机碳中比例的变化及各组分间的相互关系。研究结果表明,耕作方式从旋耕转变为深松和秸秆还田对SOC及其各活性组分均产生显著影响,耕作方式转变、秸秆还田及两者的交互效应是影响SOC及其活性组分的主要因素。秸秆还田显著提高了RTS处理和RTS-DTS处理的SOC含量,分别比RT和RT-DT处理高6.1%~15.6%和19.1%~32.3%。并且转变耕作方式后RTS-DTS处理比于RTS处理SOC含量提高16.9%~20.0%。同时,RTS-DTS处理的POC含量比RTS处理高13.6%~53.8%;但RT-DT和RTS-DTS处理的土壤ROC含量较RT和RTS处理都呈下降趋势,RTS-DTS处理的ROC含量比RTS处理下降4.6%~10%;MBC含量降低23.8%~30.6%。虽然秸秆还田显著提高了各处理的DOC含量,但RTS转变为RTS-DTS处理后,其3个土层的DOC含量下降了8%~41%。相比于RT和RTS处理,RT-DT和RTS-DTS处理0~30 cm各土层中LOC在SOC中的比例显著下降。相关性分析结果表明,除POC与ROC之间无显著性相关关系外,SOC及各组分间均呈显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)的相关关系。耕作方式转变为深松和秸秆还田提高了SOC含量的同时,显著降低了SOC中的活性有机碳组分,这更有利于SOC的有效积累,促进土壤碳库的稳定固存。     

The effect of rice straw on the priming of soil organic matter and methane production in peat soils

Rice residue management often leads to increased methane (CH₄) emissions but the outcomes of edaphic and management factors are not always predictable. Rice residue can act as a substrate for CH₄ production; however the role it plays in priming (mineralization) of soil organic matter (SOM) to release additional substrates for CH₄ production are not well established. We anaerobically incubated a highly organic soil with ¹³C-enriched rice straw for 3 months to investigate its priming effect (PE) on SOM and source of C for CH₄ production. Anaerobic decomposition of SOM was accompanied by iron (Fe) reduction with minimal CH₄ production when straw was absent. Straw addition enhanced Fe reduction and increased CH₄ production concurrently with a clear succession of microbial community structure and function assessed with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling. The PE on CH₄ production from SOM was strong and positive during the entire experiment. Overall, PE on SOM (CO₂ plus CH₄ production) was slightly positive at the end of the experiment, associated with only a 32% mineralization of the added straw-C (as CO₂ plus CH₄). Straw addition also released large amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from SOM. Our results suggest that straw addition effects on PE of SOM and CH₄ production can last for a long period of time showing that straw will cause non-linear response in CH₄ production and potentially result in significant losses of soil C as DOC by leaching or direct exports in histosols.     

Modeling a long-term effect of rice straw incorporation on SOC content and grain yield in rice field

ABSTRACT

The long-term effects of rice straw incorporation on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and rice yield were evaluated from rice cultivation with different treatments: no rice straw (control), rice straw (RS), and rice straw compost (RSC) as a main-plots; five levels of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application: 0, 100, 150, 200, and 250 of N (kg ha^?1) as a sub-plots. The denitrification and decomposition (DNDC) model was employed to simulate changes in SOC content and rice grain yield over 35 years. Additionally, scenario analysis on continuous or discontinuous RS incorporation in rice fields was conducted using the DNDC model. The long-term results indicated that RS and RSC treatments played a crucial role in increasing grain yields by 9% and 11% due to the increased SOC contents compared to control treatment. The validated DNDC model on SOC contents and yields showed a good agreement between the observed and simulated values based on the normalized root mean square errors. The model predicted a rapid decline of SOC contents without RS incorporation. Results suggested that incorporating rice straw or amending manure to paddy soils is a preferred practice for maintaining SOC contents.     

Soil carbon dioxide emission from intensively cultivated black soil in Northeast China: nitrogen fertilization effect

Purpose

The aim of this study was to understand the effect of nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration and native soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition and to identify the key factor affecting soil respiration in a cultivated black soil.

Materials and methods

A field experiment was conducted at the Harbin State Key Agroecological Experimental Station, China. The study consisted of four treatments: unplanted and N-unfertilized soil (U0), unplanted soil treated with 225?kg?N?ha^?1 (UN), maize planted and N-unfertilized soil (P0), and planted soil fertilized with 225?kg?N?ha^?1 (PN). Soil CO₂ and N₂O fluxes were measured using the static closed chamber method.

Results and discussion

Cumulative CO₂ emissions during the maize growing season with the U0, UN, P0, and PN treatments were 1.29, 1.04, 2.30 and 2.27?Mg?C?ha^?1, respectively, indicating that N fertilization significantly reduced the decomposition of native SOC. However, no marked effect on soil respiration in planted soil was observed because the increase of rhizosphere respiration caused by N addition was counteracted by the reduction of native SOC decomposition. Soil CO₂ fluxes were significantly affected by soil temperature but not by soil moisture. The temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) of soil respiration was 2.16?C2.47 for unplanted soil but increased to 3.16?C3.44 in planted soil. N addition reduced the Q ₁₀ of native SOC decomposition possibly due to low labile organic C but increased the Q ₁₀ of soil respiration due to the stimulation of maize growth. The estimated annual CO₂ emission in N-fertilized soil was 1.28?Mg?C?ha^?1 and was replenished by the residual stubble, roots, and exudates. In contrast, the lost C (1.53?Mg?C?ha^?1) in N-unfertilized soil was not completely supplemented by maize residues, resulting in a reduction of SOC. Although N fertilization significantly increased N₂O emissions, the global warming potential of N₂O and CO₂ emissions in N-fertilized soil was significantly lower than in N-unfertilized soil.

Conclusions

The stimulatory or inhibitory effect of N fertilization on soil respiration and basal respiration may depend on labile organic C concentration in soil. The inhibitory effect of N fertilization on native SOC decomposition was mainly associated with low labile organic C in tested black soil. N application could reduce the global warming potential of CO₂ and N₂O emissions in black soil.     

控制条件下水肥耦合对黄泥田还田秸秆腐解及土壤碳转化的影响

【目的】研究秸秆还田后不同水温和肥剂管理措施下土壤碳素转化特征。【方法】以华中双季稻区低产水稻土黄泥田为供试材料,模拟早稻和晚稻秸秆还田的田间环境,在实验室控制条件下,开展了两种温度环境中(15℃、35℃)不同水分(40%和100%最大田间持水量,即40%WHC、100%WHC)、配施氮肥类型(尿素、猪粪即U、M)、以及促腐菌剂添加对秸秆腐解效果及其过程中土壤碳素转化影响的研究。对水稻秸秆腐解过程中土壤CO2释放量、以及土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)和总有机碳(TOC)含量在105天培养周期内变化特征进行动态监测分析。【结果】两种温度环境中整个培养周期内,各处理的CO2释放速率和释放总量通常表现为100%WHC-M100%WHC-U40%WHC-M40%WHC-U,即猪粪优于尿素的规律,而不论配施何种氮肥都存在100%WHC40%WHC(P0.01)的现象,同时40%WHC条件下辅施菌剂可显著提升CO2释放量;与此相反,两种温度环境下DOC含量都表现为40%WHC-M40%WHC-U100%WHC-M100%WHC-U(后两者差异小),即40%WHC条件下DOC含量显著高于100%WHC(P0.05),且配施猪粪处理优于配施尿素处理,但这两种氮肥处理间差异随培养时间延长而减小;以CO2-C释放量计算0 7 d、0 28 d、0 105 d内物料分解率,结果表明,35℃时100%WHC-U的处理中物料分解最快,15℃时40%WHC-M的处理中物料分解最慢。与之对应,105 d内TOC含量和净增量则在35℃时100%WHC-U的处理中最小(P0.01),而在15℃时40%WHC-M的处理中最大(P0.01);TOC的净增量和净损失量在相同温度条件下,尤其试验前期不同水分(P0.01)、氮素(P0.05)间均存在显著差异,且促腐菌剂添加普遍减小TOC含量;培养周期内所有处理的CO2释放速率与DOC含量间存在显著相关(P0.05)。【结论】水分状况对碳素的转化存在极大影响,其次是氮肥类型,且氮肥的影响作用随秸秆还田时间的延长而减弱;高湿条件更利于促进秸秆腐解,但导致土壤DOC含量较低,TOC的固持量也较少,而配施猪粪则可促进土壤DOC含量的提升及TOC的固持;促腐菌剂添加可促进秸秆腐解,但由于40%WHC条件下显著激发了CO2的释放而不利于土壤固碳。因此在华中低产黄泥田双季轮作稻区,早稻还田时由于气温高周期短,建议保持100%WHC、辅施适量尿素、并配合添加秸秆腐解菌剂,侧重秸秆快腐;而晚稻还田时气温低周期长,建议保持40%WHC并辅施缓效猪粪,侧重土壤固碳。     

Effects of cultivation and abandonment on soil carbon content of subalpine meadows, northwest China

Purpose

Land use changes have a significant impact on soil carbon emission and sequestration worldwide. Accurate evaluation of the effect of land use change (cultivation and abandonment) on soil carbon content of subalpine meadows is required to monitor the soil carbon dynamics of rangeland ecosystems in China.

Materials and methods

Based on collection of soil cores and vegetation, investigations of four types of land use (undisturbed natural meadow, land cultivated for 20?years, land abandoned for 3?years following cultivation, and land abandoned for 10?years following cultivation) were undertaken in the headwater area of the Heihe River in northwest China. Three soil carbon fractions [soil organic carbon (SOC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), and microorganism biomass carbon (MBC)] were determined in the laboratory, and the relative abundances of LFOC/SOC and MBC/SOC were calculated.

Results and discussion

Repeated cultivation by ploughing reduced the carbon content of the top soil layer, resulting in more uniform vertical distribution of soil organic matter. Ten years after cessation of cultivation, the organic carbon content within the top 10-cm soil layer (0?C10?cm) had reached 90?% of the content in native meadows, equivalent to a mean annual sequestration rate of 1.73?t?C?ha^?1. The rate of LFOC restoration was faster than that of SOC restoration. The variation in the ratio of MBC to SOC (0.91?C1.07?%) was small.

Conclusions

The activity of cultivation reduced all indicators of soil carbon status, which were not completely restored to the level of natural meadow, even after abandonment of cultivation for 10?years. Nevertheless, abandonment of cultivation is a practical, even if long-term, means of improving carbon sequestration in subalpine meadow of China.     

Long-term straw mulch effects on crop yields and soil organic carbon fractions at different depths under a no-till system on the Chengdu Plain,China

Proposal

A 12-year field experiment was conducted to assess straw mulch effects on soil organic carbon fractions, the carbon pool management index (CPMI) at different depths, and crop yield under a no-till rice-wheat rotation system on the Chengdu Plain, southwestern China.

Materials and methods

There were two treatments in the experiment: no-till without straw mulch (CK) and no-till with straw mulch (SM). The soil was sampled at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30-cm depths. Soil total organic carbon (TOC), the labile organic carbon fractions, including particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and permanganate-oxidizable carbon (KMnO₄-C), and the CPMI were analyzed. The crop grains were measured between September 2013 and May 2018.

Results and discussion

Between 2013 and 2018, rice and wheat grain yields under SM were comparable to CK, except there were higher rice yields in 2016 and higher wheat yields in 2017 under SM. The soil organic carbon decreased as soil depth increased in both treatments. Soil TOC, POC, and KMnO₄-C concentrations at 0–5 and 5–10 cm, CPMI at 0–5 and 5–10 cm, and DOC at 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20-cm soil depths were significantly greater under SM than under CK, whereas the MBC at 0–5 and 5–10 cm under SM was lower than CK. The POC/TOC, KMnO₄-C/TOC, and DOC/TOC ratios were greater under SM in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm, 0–5 cm, and 5–10 and 10–20-cm layers than CK, respectively, whereas the MBC/TOC ratio decreased under SM at 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20-cm depths.

Conclusions

The results showed that straw mulching should be adopted when a no-till rice-wheat cropping system is used in southwestern China because it leads to effective improvements in SOC sequestration while still maintaining normal crop yields.

     

小麦和玉米秸秆腐解特点及对土壤中碳、氮含量的影响

通过室内模拟培养试验,揭示了不同水分条件下小麦和玉米秸秆在土壤中的腐解特点及对土壤碳、氮含量的影响。结果表明,1)水分条件对有机物质腐解的影响较大,在32 d的培养期间,相对含水量为60%(M60)时,土壤CO2释放速率始终低于含水量80%(M80)的处理。M60条件下释放的CO2-C量占秸秆腐解过程中释放碳总量的40.1%,而M80条件下达到51.5%;M60条件下,添加秸秆土壤中有机碳含量平均提高2.24 g/kg,显著高于M80条件下的1.43 g/kg。2)添加玉米秸秆的土壤,在培养期内CO2释放速率始终高于小麦秸秆处理,CO2-C累积释放量和有机碳净增量分别为408.35 mg/pot和2.12 g/kg;而小麦秸秆处理分别仅为378.94 mg/pot和1.56 g/kg,两种秸秆混合的处理介于二者之间。3)与未添加秸秆相比,土壤中添加小麦或玉米秸秆后,土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮和微生物量氮含量均显著提高,且数量上总体趋势表现为:玉米秸秆两种秸秆混合小麦秸秆。可见,适宜水分条件有利于秸秆腐解过程中秸秆中碳向无机碳方向转化,而不利于向土壤有机碳方向转化;且玉米秸秆比小麦秸秆更易腐解。秸秆在土壤中腐解对补充土壤碳、氮作用很大,可改善土壤微生物生存条件,提高土壤质量。     

Co-incorporation of rice straw and leguminous green manure can increase soil available nitrogen (N) and reduce carbon and N losses: An incubation study

Returning rice straw and leguminous green manure alone or in combination to soil is effective in improving soil fertility in South China. Despite the popularity of this practice, our understanding of the underlying processes for straw and manure combined application is relatively poor. In this study, rice straw (carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) ratio of 63), green manure (hairy vetch, C/N ratio of 14), and their mixtures (C/N ratio of 25 and 35) were added into a paddy soil, and their effects on soil N availability and C or N loss under waterlogged conditions were evaluated in a 100-d incubation experiment. All plant residue treatments significantly enhanced CO₂ and CH₄ emissions, but decreased N₂O emission. Dissolved organic C (DOC) and N (DON) and microbial biomass C in soil and water-soluble organic C and N and mineral N in the upper aqueous layer above soil were also enhanced by all the plant residue treatments except the rice straw treatment, and soil microbial biomass N and mineral N were lower in the rice straw treatment than in the other treatments. Changes in plant residue C/N ratio, DOC/DON ratio, and cellulose content significantly affected greenhouse gas emissions and active C and N concentrations in soil. Additionally, the treatment with green manure alone yielded the largest C and N losses, and incorporation of the plant residue mixture with a C/N ratio of 35 caused the largest net global warming potential (nGWP) among the amended treatments. In conclusion, the co-incorporation of rice straw and green manure can alleviate the limitation resulting from only applying rice straw (N immobilization) or the sole application of leguminous green manure (high C and N losses), and the residue mixture with a C/N ratio of 25 is a better option because of lower nGWP.     

外源添加作物秸秆对PAHs污染土壤有机碳矿化和污染物降解的影响

本文通过土壤腐解试验研究外源添加水稻或玉米秸秆对多环芳烃（PAHs）污染土壤CO2-C释放和污染物去除率的影响，同时清晰秸秆腐解中间产物溶解性有机碳（DOC）与土壤PAHs降解的关系。结果表明：秸秆添加处理促进了PAHs污染土壤CO2-C的释放，以玉米秸秆提升效果较好。外源添加秸秆显著增加了土壤DOC含量，且增加幅度随秸秆添加量的增加而增大；水稻秸秆对土壤DOC含量的提升幅度较大。与对照相比，秸秆添加处理下土壤菲、芘残留量均显著降低，菲、芘去除率显著增加，去除效果：玉米＞水稻，高量＞低量，菲＞芘；与对照相比，添加高量玉米秸秆处理（PY15）对土壤菲、芘去除率的增加幅度分别为91.7%和182%。此外，在一定范围内土壤DOC含量与PAHs去除率呈正相关关系。可见，农作物秸秆，尤其是玉米秸秆添加可提升PAHs污染土壤有机碳矿化，亦可在提升土壤DOC含量的同时促进污染土壤PAHs的降解。     

Soil microbial community responses to Bt transgenic rice residue decomposition in a paddy field

Purpose

Genetic modifications (GM) of commercial crops offer many benefits. However, microbial-mediated decomposition might be affected by GM crop residues in agricultural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the possible impacts of cry1Ab gene transformation of rice on soil microbial community composition associated with residue decomposition in the paddy field under intensive rice cultivation.

Materials and methods

A 276-day field trial was set up as a completely randomized design for two types of rice residues, KMD (Bt) and Xiushui 11 (non-Bt parental variety) in triplicate by conventional intensive rice cropping system. The litterbag method was used in the rice residue decomposition and a total of 120 straw and root litterbags were either placed on the soil surface or buried at 10 cm depth in the field on Dec. 24, 2005. The litterbags were sampled periodically and their soil bacterial and fungal communities were determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The additive main effects with multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model were performed for the analysis of T-RFLP on binary variables of peak presence (presence/absence). The analysis of variance and linear regressions were performed for analysis of AMMI data.

Results and discussion

Total AMMI model analysis revealed that microbial community composition in the litterbags was affected by temporal and spatial factors. Compared with the non-Bt rice residue treatment, Bt rice straw had no significant effects on the soil bacterial and fungal community composition during the study period, regardless of the litterbags being placed on the surface or buried in the soil. There were no significant differences in the bacterial community composition profiles in root decomposition between Bt transgenic and non-Bt varieties. However, significant differences in soil fungal community composition between the buried Bt and non-Bt rice roots were observed in soils sampled on days 31, 68, and 137, indicating that Bt roots incorporated into paddy soil may affect soil fungal community during the initial stage of their decomposition.

Conclusions

There were some significant differences in fungal community composition between Bt rice root and non-Bt root treatments at the early stage of root decomposition in the paddy field. It is important that, before Bt rice is released for commercial production, more research should be conducted to evaluate the ecological effects of the Bt rice residues returned to paddy field upon grain harvesting.