Perspectives on nutrient management in arable farming systems

Abstract. Sustainable nutrient management includes economizing on finite natural resources such as fossil energy and limited phosphorus (P) resources. Arable farms with exclusively crop production are characterized by large nutrient export in farm products. In the long term, nutrient export from soils and losses must be balanced by adequate inputs of fertilizers, biological N₂ fixation or recycled products from the human food system. Critical issues associated in particular with arable systems discussed in this paper include organic matter depletion and lack of synchronization between nitrogen (N) release from organic N pools (such as plant residues and green manures) and crop demand, leading to N losses and/or N deficiency. Further critical issues identified include efficient use of indigenous soil P and applied P fertilizers and, especially in organic systems, risk of depletion of P and K, which if realized reduce soil fertility and limit production. The risk of enrichment of trace elements to levels toxic to soil microbes, plants, animals or man is also discussed. Suggested measures for managing these critical issues include choice of crop rotation, residue and green manure management.     

NUTRIENT BIOAVAILABILITY IN SALT AFFECTED SOILS

Salt affected soils limit crop yields around the world. Knowledge of how nutrient availability is affected in plants growing on salt affected soils is important in adopting appropriate management practices to satisfy plants’ nutritional requirements and improve yields to meet food demands of increasing world populations. In the salt affected environment plants required to absorb essential nutrients from a dilute source in the presence of highly concentrated nonessential nutrients. Nutrient uptake and use efficiency in salt affected soils is low due to salt stress and negative interactions with cations and anions present in high concentrations. Hence, a higher amount of nutrients is necessary in salt affected soils compared to normal soils. Biological nitrogen fixation is also adversely affected in legumes grown on salt affected soils. Salts also reduce activity of many enzymes which supply energy for nutrient uptake. The important soils and plant management practices which can improve nutrient uptake and use efficiency in salt affected soils are use of soil amendments to reduce effect of salts, application of farmyard manures to create favorable plant growth environments, leaching salts from soil profile and planting salt tolerant crop species or genotypes within species. Addition of fertilizers, especially potassium may also help in reducing salinity effects and improving nutrient use efficiency.     

Dolomite Phosphate Rock–Based Slow-Release Fertilizer for Agriculture and Landscapes

Most soils in Florida are very sandy, and water-soluble fertilizers (WSF) are subjected to leaching loss. Alternate fertilization is a promising practice to reduce such loss. Dolomite phosphate rock (DPR), which contains calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, is potentially useful for agricultural production and landscaping plants. In this study, DPR fertilizers were developed from mixing of DPR material and N-viro soil. A typical agricultural soil (Alfisol) in Florida was used for greenhouse studies, and ryegrass and citrus seedlings were tested. The DPR fertilizers appeared superior to WSF for the growth of ryegrass based on dry-matter yield and nutrient concentrations in plant; however, it was not evident in citrus seedlings. DPR fertilizers were effective in raising pH (by 3 units) and electrical conductivity of acidic sandy soils and increasing soil organic matter, total nutrients, and available nutrients. The concentrations of copper, lead, and zinc in the plant tissues were less than toxicity limits.     

Microbial properties of soils as affected by cropping and nutrient management practices in several long-term manurial experiments in the semi-arid tropics of India

Microorganisms play a critical role in nutrient transformation, soil health and for sustaining the productivity of soils. Effects of long-term cropping, fertilization, manuring and their integration on microbial community were studied in soil samples from five long-term fertilizer experiments under various rainfed production systems in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of India. Microbial population counts were analyzed by dilution plating and were in turn compared with different parameters such as soil treatments, soil type, soil microbial biomass C, soil organic C, rainfall and soil pH. The counts were high in treatments where combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers were applied compared to control. Vertisols showed larger organic carbon levels than Alfisols. Fungal population was higher in acidic soils and in treatments under continuous inorganic fertilization treatments whereas a high number of bacteria were found in integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. At most of the locations soil organic C and microbial biomass C showed significant positive (p ≤ 0.05) correlation with microbial populations. Thus, results suggest that even under arid and semi-arid tropical conditions, regular addition of nutrients in an integrated manner could improve soil organic carbon and microbial population counts. For each production system, better carbon sequestration management practices were identified.     

西湖平原区连续13年定位施肥对麦、稻产量及土壤肥力的影响

以浙江省水网平原水稻主产区土壤为对象,通过定位试验,研究了连续13年的不同施肥处理对麦稻产量、土壤养分状况和物理性状的影响。结果表明,化肥配施有机肥可显著提高麦、稻产量; 不同施肥处理的长期定位试验土壤有机质含量和全氮均呈上升趋势,增幅依次为: 栏肥+NPK秸秆+NPKNPK秸秆栏肥CK处理; 土壤碱解氮和速效磷也呈增加趋势,以栏肥+NPK处理的增幅最为明显。土壤物理性状的分析表明,长期施肥均能明显增加土壤水稳性团粒含量和土壤孔隙度。经土壤养分平衡分析,栏肥+NPK、秸秆+NPK和NPK处理的氮和磷呈现盈余,秸秆和CK处理氮和磷亏缺; 栏肥+NPK和秸秆+NPK处理钾基本平衡,NPK、秸秆、栏肥和CK处理钾严重亏缺。长期定位试验进一步证明有机肥与氮、磷、钾化肥长期配合施用可实现当地农作物持续稳产,农田施肥管理要注意适当减少氮、磷投入,增加钾肥施用量,保持农田土壤养分平衡。     

适宜水分和养分提高土壤中磺酸二甲嘧啶降解率

医疗和养殖过程中抗生素的广泛使用导致了土壤环境中抗生素的污染。为了解进入农田土壤中抗生素的降解规律,该文以养殖业广泛使用的磺胺二甲嘧啶和2种不同养分水平的土壤为试验材料,采用盆栽方法研究了肥料种类(有机肥、NPK肥、N肥、PK肥等)、耕作强度(翻耕、免耕)、水分条件(长期干燥、长期湿润、干湿交替、长期潮湿)及种植作物(种植蔬菜、不种蔬菜)对土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶降解的影响。结果表明,与不施肥处理比较,施用有机肥、NPK肥、N肥可促进土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶在土壤中的降解,并以施用有机肥的效果最为明显;但施用PK肥对土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解影响不明显。翻耕可促进土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解,干湿交替、长期湿润比长期干燥和长期潮湿土壤环境下更有利于磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解。种植蔬菜比不种蔬菜土壤的磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解率高,根际土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解高于总体土壤。高养分土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解一般高于低养分土壤。分析认为,施肥、土壤养分水平、种植蔬菜对土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解的影响可能主要与这些因素改变了土壤微生物活性有关;翻耕可促进土壤中抗生素的光降解强度。研究认为,施肥、耕作和水分管理可以在一定程度上加速土壤中磺胺二甲嘧啶的降解。     

潮土肥力演变与施肥作用的长期定位试验初报

１９８９－１９９４年在河南封丘潮土上,对几种主要肥料的效益。以及不同施肥条件对土壤养分供应能力的影响进行了长期定位试验,试验结果表明;潮土的生产潜力很大,贫瘠的潮土单施Ｎ肥或Ｐ肥收效甚微,只要Ｎ,Ｐ肥配合施用,其交互增产作用极显著,如一旦停止施肥,产量又将急剧下降到很低水平,在富Ｋ的潮土上,连续五年不施Ｋ肥和有机肥,对小麦产量尚不构成影响,然而耕层土壤中的速效Ｋ以每年３．８ｍｇ／ｋｇ的速度下降,已     

Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal – a review

Rapid turnover of organic matter leads to a low efficiency of organic fertilizers applied to increase and sequester C in soils of the humid tropics. Charcoal was reported to be responsible for high soil organic matter contents and soil fertility of anthropogenic soils (Terra Preta) found in central Amazonia. Therefore, we reviewed the available information about the physical and chemical properties of charcoal as affected by different combustion procedures, and the effects of its application in agricultural fields on nutrient retention and crop production. Higher nutrient retention and nutrient availability were found after charcoal additions to soil, related to higher exchange capacity, surface area and direct nutrient additions. Higher charring temperatures generally improved exchange properties and surface area of the charcoal. Additionally, charcoal is relatively recalcitrant and can therefore be used as a long-term sink for atmospheric CO₂. Several aspects of a charcoal management system remain unclear, such as the role of microorganisms in oxidizing charcoal surfaces and releasing nutrients and the possibilities to improve charcoal properties during production under field conditions. Several research needs were identified, such as field testing of charcoal production in tropical agroecosystems, the investigation of surface properties of the carbonized materials in the soil environment, and the evaluation of the agronomic and economic effectiveness of soil management with charcoal.     

Long-term organic farming fosters below and aboveground biota: Implications for soil quality, biological control and productivity

Organic farming may contribute substantially to future agricultural production worldwide by improving soil quality and pest control, thereby reducing environmental impacts of conventional farming. We investigated in a comprehensive way soil chemical, as well as below and aboveground biological parameters of two organic and two conventional wheat farming systems that primarily differed in fertilization and weed management strategies. Contrast analyses identified management related differences between “herbicide-free” bioorganic (BIOORG) and biodynamic (BIODYN) systems and conventional systems with (CONFYM) or without manure (CONMIN) and herbicide application within a long-term agricultural experiment (DOK trial, Switzerland). Soil carbon content was significantly higher in systems receiving farmyard manure and concomitantly microbial biomass (fungi and bacteria) was increased. Microbial activity parameters, such as microbial basal respiration and nitrogen mineralization, showed an opposite pattern, suggesting that soil carbon in the conventional system (CONFYM) was more easily accessible to microorganisms than in organic systems. Bacterivorous nematodes and earthworms were most abundant in systems that received farmyard manure, which is in line with the responses of their potential food sources (microbes and organic matter). Mineral fertilizer application detrimentally affected enchytraeids and Diptera larvae, whereas aphids benefited. Spider abundance was favoured by organic management, most likely a response to increased prey availability from the belowground subsystem or increased weed coverage. In contrast to most soil-based, bottom-up controlled interactions, the twofold higher abundance of this generalist predator group in organic systems likely contributed to the significantly lower abundance of aboveground herbivore pests (aphids) in these systems. Long-term organic farming and the application of farmyard manure promoted soil quality, microbial biomass and fostered natural enemies and ecosystem engineers, suggesting enhanced nutrient cycling and pest control. Mineral fertilizers and herbicide application, in contrast, affected the potential for top-down control of aboveground pests negatively and reduced the organic carbon levels. Our study indicates that the use of synthetic fertilizers and herbicide application changes interactions within and between below and aboveground components, ultimately promoting negative environmental impacts of agriculture by reducing internal biological cycles and pest control. On the contrary, organic farming fosters microbial and faunal decomposers and this propagates into the aboveground system via generalist predators thereby increasing conservation biological control. However, grain and straw yields were 23% higher in systems receiving mineral fertilizers and herbicides reflecting the trade-off between productivity and environmental responsibility.     

蚯蚓粪肥在农业生产中的应用效果及研究进展

蚯蚓粪肥是将经蚯蚓消化有机废物产生的排泄物进行堆肥而制成的有机肥料，故含有丰富的营养物质和有益微生物。近年来，作物生产的应用效果表明，蚯蚓粪肥能改善土壤结构和微生物种群，促进作物生长、提高作物产量和农产品品质，还能增强植物抵抗病虫害能力，降低土壤中有毒重金属对植物危害。本文对蚯蚓粪肥的作用及相关研究进展进行综述，得出了蚯蚓粪肥制备简单、原料来源广，施入土壤后改善土壤生态环境，能促进作物种子萌发、提高作物产量和改善农产品品质，抑制多种病虫害发生的效果的结论。蚯蚓粪肥可直接用作作物栽培的基质，也可与其他物料（如化肥、生物炭、蛭石等）联合应用；与其它物料联合使用可产生叠加效应。因此，蚯蚓粪肥在作物生产上有着良好的应用前景。     

The Humus Content and Soil Biological Properties as a Function of Organic and Mineral Fertilization

There is a growing recognition for the need to develop sensitive indicators of soil quality that reflect the effects of land management on soil and assist land users in promoting sustainability of agro-ecosystems. Three soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, phosphatase and invertase) microbial biomass as biological variables and soil organic matter content (SOM) were investigated relative to fertilization and soil fertility (estimated by crop yield) at a long-term fertilization trial (Keszthely, Hungary). 0-34.7-69.4-104.1t farmyard manure (FYM) ha m 1 5 yr m 1 and the corresponding amount of mineral fertilizers (NPK) were applied in two different crop rotation systems. There were four straw and/or stalk incorporating treatments in the second crop rotation 'B'. Enzyme activities, microbial biomass and the amount of SOM were generally higher in the fertilized soils than in the unfertilized soils. The type of amendments (mineral, FYM or mixed) had significant effects only on the amount of SOM. The correlations among the biological variables and the crop yield were generally low (r < 0.250. The differences in field management resulted only in the invertase activity.     

Contrasted effect of biochar and earthworms on rice growth and resource allocation in different soils

Adding biochar to soils and maintaining high earthworm biomasses are potential ways to increase the fertility of tropical soils and the sustainability of crop production in the spirit of agroecology and ecological engineering. However, a thorough functional assessment of biochar effect on plant growth and resource allocations is so far missing. Moreover, earthworms and biochar increase mineral nutrient availability through an increase in mineralization and nutrient retention respectively and are likely to interact through various other mechanisms. They could thus increase plant growth synergistically. This hypothesis was tested for rice in a greenhouse experiment. Besides, the relative effects of biochar and earthworms were compared in three different soil treatments (a nutrient rich soil, a nutrient poor soil, a nutrient poor soil supplemented with fertilization). Biochar and earthworm effects on rice growth and resource allocation highly depended on soil type and were generally additive (no synergy). In the rich soil, there were both clear positive biochar and earthworm effects, while there were generally only positive earthworm effects in the poor soil, and neither earthworm nor biochar effect in the poor soil with fertilization. The analysis of earthworm and biochar effects on different plant traits and soil mineral nitrogen content, confirmed that they act through an increase in nutrient availability. However it also suggested that another mechanism, such as the release in the soil of molecules recognized as phytohormones by plants, is also involved in earthworm action. This mechanism could for example help explaining how earthworms increase rice resource allocation to roots and influence the allocation to grains.     

Bacterial inoculants for rice: effects on nutrient uptake and growth promotion

Beneficial soil bacteria are able to colonize plant root systems promoting plant growth and increasing crop yield and nutrient uptake through a variety of mechanisms. These bacteria can be an alternative to chemical fertilizers without productivity loss. The objectives of this study were to test bacterial inoculants for their ability to promote nutrient uptake and/or plant growth of rice plants subjected to different rates of chemical fertilizer, and to determine whether inoculants could be an alternative to nitrogen fertilizers. To test the interaction between putatively beneficial bacteria and rice plants, field experiments were conducted with two isolates: AC32 (Herbaspirillum sp.) and UR51 (Rhizobium sp.), and different nitrogen fertilization conditions (0%, 50%, and 100% of urea). Satisfactory results were obtained in relation to the nutrient uptake by plants inoculated with both isolates, principally when the recommended amount of nitrogen fertilizer was 50% reduced. These bacterial strains were unable to increase plant growth and grain yield when plants were subjected to the high level of fertilization. This study indicated that the tested inoculant formulations can provide essential nutrients to plants, especially when the levels of nitrogen fertilizers are reduced.     

不同施肥措施对洞庭湖区旱地肥力及作物产量的影响

应用长期定位试验方法,研究了洞庭湖区非粮食作物棉花-油菜轮作下,农民习惯施肥(TF)、配方施肥(NPK)及有机肥和化肥不同配比模式[有机肥来源氮占配方肥总氮量的50%(50%OM)、30%(30%OM)和10%(10%OM)]的作物产量和土壤养分的变化,以期为相应作物种植制度下的合理施肥提供参考。研究结果表明:在本试验施肥量及有机无机肥配比下,有机肥和化肥配施显著提高了棉花和油菜的产量,且以50%OM处理产量最高,各处理产量的顺序为50%OM30%OM10%OMNPKTFCK(不施肥对照);当有机氮施用量占总氮量的50%时(50%OM处理),棉花和油菜产量分别比NPK处理高24.52%、29.57%,比习惯施肥(TF)处理分别高46.03%和49.07%。同时,施用有机肥各处理作物产量的年际变化均不到20%,明显小于NPK、TF和CK处理,即施用有机肥不仅能促进旱地作物高产,同时也能保证其稳产。有机肥与化肥配施能增加土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮和速效钾含量,且以50%OM处理效果最好,与试验前比较的增加幅度分别达57.5%、38.2%、65.1%和48.1%;土壤有效磷含量有随施入磷素量的增加而增加趋势;而CK处理土壤有机质和养分含量则均呈逐年下降的趋势。各处理土壤有机质和养分含量(Y)随试验年限(X)的变化均可用方程式Y=a X+b来表示。在洞庭湖区肥力较高的旱地土壤中,合理的有机肥和化肥施用比例对保障非粮作物高产稳产和耕地地力提升尤为重要,且本试验条件下当有机肥来源氮占总施氮量的50%时能获得最佳效果。     

西部地区紫色土近30年来土壤肥力与生产力演变趋势分析

【目的】 紫色土在我国分布范围广泛,面积约1889 × 104 hm2,近年来紫色土面临着土壤肥力和质量下降等问题。本研究以我国西部地区的8个紫色土长期定位试验监测点为对象,对近30年来紫色土的养分和生产力数据进行分析,以期探明农民长期常规施肥管理模式下紫色土肥力的演变特征,为土壤养分的管理和可持续利用提供科学性的指导。 【方法】 利用时间趋势分析和中值分析的方法,分别总结了紫色土土壤有机质 (SOM)、全氮 (TN)、有效磷 (AP)、速效钾 (AK)、pH、碳氮比以及小麦、玉米、甘薯产量在不同监测阶段的演变特征和总体变化趋势,分析了紫色土常规施肥管理模式下土壤养分和作物产量的变化趋势;运用主成分分析和冗余分析方法,分别对上述6个肥力因子和三种作物产量进行分析,探究了紫色土土壤肥力的主要贡献因子和紫色土作物产量的主要影响因子。 【结果】 与初始监测阶段相比,29年常规施肥下紫色土有机质和全氮含量无显著变化,但有效磷和速效钾含量均以不同程度增加。土壤有效磷含量在 2011—2016 监测阶段的平均值为15.34 mg/kg,比初始监测阶段 (6.10 mg/kg) 显著提高了151.4%;土壤速效钾含量在 2011—2016 年的平均值比初始监测阶段 (1988—1992年) 增加了17.23 mg/kg (提高了23.1%)。29年常规施肥管理模式下紫色土pH呈现显著的下降趋势,比初始监测阶段降低了0.24个单位。主成分分析结果表明,紫色土土壤肥力的两个决定因子是土壤有效磷和速效钾,主要障碍因素是较低的土壤全氮和有机质含量。冗余分析结果表明,影响紫色土整体作物产量的主要环境因子分别为土壤pH、有效磷和有机质含量。对小麦产量影响最大的肥力因子为土壤pH,对玉米产量影响最大的肥力因子为土壤有效磷,对甘薯产量影响最大的肥力因子为土壤速效钾。 【结论】 近29年来,在常规施肥管理模式下土壤有效磷和有效钾含量显著上升,一方面提高了玉米、甘薯生产力,但却导致了养分的不平衡,紫色土全氮含量和pH出现了下降,导致小麦产量出现下降风险。紫色土肥力的障碍因子是较低的土壤全氮和有机质含量。所以农民常规施肥不利于紫色土的培肥,应该注重平衡施肥,增施有机肥,在提高土壤磷和钾有效性的同时,保持土壤全氮和有机质的平衡。      

长期施用有机肥对土壤及不同粒级中有机磷含量与分配的影响

通过在黄棕壤上开展的 14年田间定位试验研究稻 -麦水旱轮作下长期施用有机肥对土壤及不同粒级中有机磷的影响。结果表明 :与不施肥的对照和单施化肥相比 ,有机肥与化肥长期配合施用能显著增加土壤有机磷总量 ;就有机磷的形态而言 ,长期施肥主要增加中等活性有机磷的含量。土壤不同粒级中总有机磷的含量顺序为 :0～ 2 μm >2～ 10 μm >5 0～ 10 0 μm >10～ 5 0 μm。从分配系数上看 ,土壤有机磷各形态中以对植物有效性较高的中等活性有机磷占绝对优势 ,对植物有效性最高的活性有机磷仅占 3 %左右。长期施用有机肥后使分配在活性、中等活性组分中有机磷的比例增加 ,而稳定性有机磷中的比例下降。     

有机肥与化肥长期配施对作物产量和灌漠土养分库的影响

根据河西走廊灌漠土上连续27 a的长期定位试验数据,研究了河西绿洲区灌漠土有机肥和化肥长期配施对作物产量和土壤养分库的影响。结果表明,有机肥与化肥长期配施增加了作物产量和产量的稳定性;7种施肥方式(单施氮、NP配施、NPK配施、单施有机肥、有机肥+N、有机肥+NP、有机肥+NPK)中,以有机肥与NP或NPK肥配施效果为最佳。长期有机肥和化肥配施增加了N,P,K养分投入量、养分携出量和盈余量;有机肥与化肥配施21~25 a后,土壤有机质、全氮和全磷含量分别提高了10.0%~16.0%,58.1%~69.0%和13.4%~31.1%,速效氮、速效磷和速效钾含量分别提高了45.7%~79.0%,172.2%~287.8%和21.4%~38.8%,均显著高于对照和单施化肥处理;有机肥与化肥配施处理中,以有机肥与NPK肥配施改善土壤肥力的效果最理想。     

基于JSP的棉花施肥管理决策系统的设计与实现

根据膜下滴灌棉田水肥管理的要求,在建立施肥模型和施肥方案的基础上,综合气候条件、区域土壤肥力状况、棉花需肥规律、土壤供肥性能与施肥模型等众多因素,以新疆兵团农五师81团为系统试行和试验地点,利用JSP+SQL,构建了基于JSP的棉花施肥管理决策系统,实现了条田信息管理、智能化施肥决策和数据信息管理的集成。结果表明本系统可为用户提供科学合理的施肥方案,以较少的投入产生较大的经济效益。     

Role of Soil Organic Matter in Maintaining Sustainability of Cropping Systems

Soil organic matter (SOM) has long been recognized as an important indicator of soil productivity. The SOM refers to the organic fraction of the soil exclusive of undecayed plant and animal residues. It plays a crucial role in maintaining sustainability of cropping systems by improving soil physical (texture, structure, bulk density, and water-holding capacity), chemical (nutrient availability, cation exchange capacity, reduced aluminum toxicity, and allelopathy), and biological (nitrogen mineralization bacteria, dinitrogen fixation, mycorrhizae fungi, and microbial biomass) properties. The preservation of SOM is crucial to ensure long-term sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. Improvement/preservation of soil organic matter can be achieved by adopting appropriate soil and crop management practices. These practices include conservation tillage, crop rotation, use of organic manures, increasing cropping intensity, use of adequate rate of chemical fertilizers, incorporation of crop residues, liming acidic soils, and keeping land under pasture. Organic matter can adsorb heavy metals in the soils, which reduce toxicity of these metals to plants and reduce their escape to ground water. Similarly, SOM also adsorbs herbicides, which may inhibit contamination of surface and ground water. Furthermore, SOM also functions as a sink to organic carbon and mitigates carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas escape to the environment. Globally, soil organic matter contains about three times as much carbon as found in the world's vegetation. Hence, organic matter plays a critical role in the global carbon balance that is thought to be the major factor affecting global warming. Overall, adequate amounts of soil organic matter maintain soil quality, preserve sustainability of cropping systems, and reduce environmental pollution.     

Changes in soil carbon and crop yield over 60 years in the Zurich Organic Fertilization Experiment,following land‐use change from grassland to cropland

Changes in land‐use and agricultural management affect soil organic C (SOC) storage and soil fertility. Grassland to cropland conversion is often accompanied by SOC losses. However, fertilization, crop rotation, and crop residue management can offset some SOC losses or even convert arable soils into C sinks. This paper presents the first assessment of changes in SOC stocks and crop yields in a 60‐year field trial, the Zurich Organic Fertilization Experiment A493 (ZOFE) in Switzerland. The experiment comprises 12 treatments with different organic, inorganic and combined fertilization regimes. Since conversion to arable land use in 1949, all treatments have lost SOC at annual rates of 0.10–0.25 t C ha^?1, with estimated mean annual C inputs from organic fertilizers and aboveground and belowground plant residues of 0.6–2.4 t C ha^?1. In all treatments, SOC losses are still in progress, indicating that a new equilibrium has not yet been reached. Crop yields have responded sensitively to advances in plant breeding and in fertilization. However, in ZOFE high yields can only be ensured when mineral fertilizer is applied at rates typical for modern agriculture, with yields of main crops (winter wheat, maize, potatoes, clover‐grass ley) decreasing by 25–50% when manure without additional mineral fertilizer is applied. ZOFE shows that land‐use change from non‐intensively managed grassland to cropland leads to soil C losses of 15–40%, even in rotations including legumes and intercrops, improved agricultural management and organic fertilizer application.