Greater humification of belowground than aboveground biomass carbon into particulate soil organic matter in no-till corn and soybean crops

Quantifying the amount of carbon (C) incorporated from decomposing residues into soil organic carbon (C_S) requires knowing the rate of C stabilization (humification rate) into different soil organic matter pools. However, the differential humification rates of C derived from belowground and aboveground biomass into C_S pools has been poorly quantified. We estimated the contribution of aboveground and belowground biomass to the formation of C_S in four agricultural treatments by measuring changes in δ¹³C natural abundance in particulate organic matter (C_POM) associated with manipulations of C₃ and C₄ biomass. The treatments were (1) continuous corn cropping (C₄ plant), (2) continuous soybean cropping (C₃), and two stubble exchange treatments (3 and 4) where the aboveground biomass left after the grain harvest was exchanged between corn and soybean plots, allowing the separation of aboveground and belowground C inputs to C_S based on the different δ¹³C signatures. After two growing seasons, C_POM was primarily derived from belowground C inputs, even though they represented only ∼10% of the total plant C inputs as residues. Belowground biomass contributed from 60% to almost 80% of the total new C present in the C_POM in the top 10 cm of soil. The humification rate of belowground C inputs into C_POM was 24% and 10%, while that of aboveground C inputs was only 0.5% and 1.0% for soybean and corn, respectively. Our results indicate that roots can play a disproportionately important role in the C_POM budget in soils. Keywords Particulate organic matter; root carbon inputs; carbon isotopes; humification rate; corn; soybean.     

Indicators and trade-offs of ecosystem services in agricultural soils along a landscape heterogeneity gradient

Soil functions can be classified as supporting (nutrient cycling) and provisioning (crop production) ecosystem services (ES). These services consist of multiple and dynamic functions and are typically assessed using indicators, e.g. microbial biomass as an indicator of supporting services. Agricultural intensification negatively affects indicators of soil functions and is therefore considered to deplete soil ES. It has been suggested that incorporating leys into crop rotations can enhance soil ES. We examined this by comparing indicators of supporting soil services – organic carbon, nitrogen, water holding capacity and available phosphorous (carbon storage and nutrient retention); net nitrogen mineralisation rate and microbial biomass (nutrient cycling and retention) – in barley fields, leys and permanent pastures along a landscape heterogeneity gradient (100, 500 and 1000 m radii). In addition, barley yields (provisioning service) were analysed against these indicators to identify trade-offs among soil services. Levels of most indicators did not differ between barley and ley fields and were consistently lower than in permanent pastures. Leys supported greater microbial biomass than barley fields. Landscape heterogeneity had no effect on the indicators or microbial community composition. However, landscape heterogeneity correlated negatively with yield and soil pH, suggesting that soils in heterogeneous landscapes are less fertile and therefore have lower yields. No trade-offs were found between increasing barley yield and the soil indicators. The results suggest that soil ES are determined at the field level, with little influence from the surrounding landscape, and that greater crop yields do not necessarily come at the expense of supporting soil services.     

Cross‐linked polyacrylates in post‐mining substrates: persistence and effects on plant growth

Application of hydrophilic polymers composed of cross‐linked polyacrylate can improve soil water‐holding capacity and accelerate the restoration of post‐mining substrates. In this work, we studied the persistence of a polyacrylate polymer incorporated into a soil and its impact on plant nutrients at a reclamation site of former lignite mining in Lusatia (Germany). In contrast to autumn application, the incorporation of the polymer enhanced the sequestration of plant‐derived carbon in the soil, which was reflected by a significant increase in the concentration of a lignin marker. Attenuated total reflexion–Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR‐FTIR) and total elemental contents in the applied polymer suggested an intensive cation exchange between the polymer framework and the soil‐forming substrate. In addition, there was an enrichment of carbonaceous material, which seems to reduce the swelling and thus the water‐holding capacity of the cross‐linked polyacrylate. Conversely, this process protected the polymer structure from rapid decomposition.     

Nitrous oxide emission from a transplanted rice field in alluvial soil as influenced by management of nitrogen fertiliser

We investigated nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from an irrigated rice field over two years to evaluate the management of nitrogenous fertiliser and its effect on reducing emissions. Four forms of nitrogenous fertilisers: NPK at the recommended application rate, starch–urea matrix (SUM) + PK, neem‐coated urea + PK and urea alone (urea without coating) were used. Gas samples were collected from the field at weekly intervals with the static chamber technique. N₂O emissions from different treatments ranged from 11.58 to 215.81 N₂O‐N μg/m²/h, and seasonal N₂O emissions from 2.83 to 3.89 kg N₂O‐N/ha. Compared with other fertilisers, N₂O emissions were greatest after the application of the conventional NPK fertiliser. Moreover, SUM + PK reduced total N₂O emissions by 22.33% (P < 0.05) compared with NPK during the rice‐growing period (P < 0.05). The results indicate a strong correlation between N₂O emissions and soil organic carbon, nitrate, ammonium, above‐ and below‐ground plant biomass and photosynthesis (P < 0.05). The application of SUM + PK in rice fields is suitable as a means of reducing N₂O emissions without affecting grain production.     

呼伦贝尔地区苜蓿人工草地CO_2通量变化特征

试验采用密闭箱技术对呼伦贝尔地区种植的苜蓿人工草地进行碳通量研究,采用反硝化-分解作用模型(DNDC)进行模拟。试验结果表明:对苜蓿人工草地CO2通量24h连续观测发现,CO2通量全天变化的平均值(238.15mg/(m2·h)与11∶00(245.32mg/(m2·h)的通量变化值接近,试验从早上9∶00~11∶00进行温室气体的采集方法合理、可行;在整个生长季变化表明,7、8月CO2通量变化较显著(P0.05),且受到降水的影响较大,伴随降水的发生,CO2通量会发生不同幅度的变化,土壤温度和含水量对CO2通量有一定的影响(r0.45,P0.05);通过DNDC模型的模拟,能较好的反映苜蓿人工草地CO2通量的变化情况,但模拟结果数值普遍有些偏高。     

Managing soil quality for humanity and the planet

Rather than a human-centric, the basic strategy of achieving Sustainable Development Goals must be focused on restoring and sustaining planetary processes. The urgency of meeting the demands of the humanity must be reconciled with the necessity of enhancing the environment. Increasing and restoring soil organic matter content of the degraded and depleted soils is critical to strengthening planetary processes.     

不同叶面肥对狐臭柴叶片生物量和主要生化指标的影响

以三年生狐臭柴为实验材料,设置自然光和遮光两种光照条件,用三种叶面肥进行喷施,分析不同肥料对狐臭柴叶片生物量和主要生化指标的影响。结果表明:喷施氮肥能显著提高狐臭柴叶片生物量,自然光及遮光下分别增加37.30%和15.02%,但果胶的积累减少,分别降低19.78%和17.35%;磷肥能显著提升叶片果胶的含量,分别增加158.08%和239.96%,但叶片生物量显著低于对照,分别降低55.83%和47.40%;复合肥对叶片生物量无明显影响,果胶含量轻微降低。各肥料均使可溶性糖含量降低,且在遮光条件下使叶片内可溶性蛋白含量增加,自然光下使可溶性蛋白含量降低。     

Effects of cover crop growth and decomposition on the distribution of aggregate size fractions and soil microbial carbon dynamics

Although the effects of cover crops (CC) on various soil parameters have been fully investigated, less is known about the impacts at different stages in CC cultivation. The objective of this study was to quantify the influence of CC cultivation stages and residue placement on aggregates and microbial carbon (C_mic). Additionally, the influence of residue location and crop species on CO₂ emissions and leached mineralized nitrogen (N_min) during the plant degradation period was also investigated. Within an incubation experiment, four CC species were sown in soil columns, with additional columns being kept plant‐free. After plant growth, the columns were frozen (as occurs in winter under field conditions) and then incubated with the plant material either incorporated or surface‐applied. With CC, concentrations of large and medium macroaggregates were twice that of the fallow, confirming positive effects of root growth. Freezing led to a decrease in these aggregate size classes. In the subsequent incubation, the large macroaggregates decreased far more in the samples with CC than in the fallow, leading to similar aggregate size distributions. No difference in C_mic concentration was found among the CC cultivation stages. CO₂ emissions were roughly equivalent to the carbon amounts added as plant residues. Comparison of columns with incorporated or surface‐applied residues indicated no consistent pattern of aggregate distribution, CO₂ emission or C_mic and N_min concentrations. Our results suggest that positive effects of CC cultivation are only short term and that a large amount of organic material in the soil could have a greater influence than CC cultivation.     

基质分散萃取-高效液相色谱法对菠菜中噻虫胺残留的检测

研究确立了乙腈为分散萃取溶剂,以羧基化双壁碳纳米管(DWCNTs-COOH)和石墨化碳黑(GCB)为基质分散材料的菠菜(Spinacia oleracea L.)样品中噻虫胺残留基质分散萃取前处理方法,建立并优化了乙腈等度洗脱的HPLC残留样品外标定量方法。结果表明,优化色谱条件下,噻虫胺标准样品的色谱保留时间为6.258 min,在0.05~100 mg/L范围内与对应色谱峰积分面积线性响应良好,回归方程为y=4.948 2x-1.316 9(R~2=0.999 7),噻虫胺在菠菜样品中0.1、0.5和5.0 mg/kg 3个水平的添加回收率均在85%以上,各添加水平的相对标准偏差均小于7%,该色谱条件下仪器检出限为0.052 7μg/L,方法的最低检测量为0.015 mg/kg。表明该残留样本前处理方法和样品检测方法简便、高效、经济、可靠,可满足噻虫胺在菠菜中的残留定量检测要求。