Leaching of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in sandy soils after cultivating grass-clover swards

Several studies have focused on the formation and losses of dissolved organic matter in forest systems, whereas a limited number have dealt with this aspect in agricultural soils. The purpose of this study was to estimate the leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON), with focus on the period after cultivating grass-clover swards. Grass-clovers were ploughed in the spring prior to sowing cereals followed by either catch crops or bare soil. The concentrations of DOC and DON decreased with soil depth and ranged at 90-cm soil depth between 7 and 21 mg C L⁻¹ and between 1 and 3 mg N L⁻¹, respectively, in a sandy loam soil, and between 16 and 63 mg C L⁻¹ and between 1 and 10 mg N L⁻¹, respectively, in a coarse sandy soil. The resulting DOC/DON ratios were in the range between 2 and 42, with higher values in the coarse sandy soil than in the sandy loam soil. The total percolation was 218 mm in the sandy loam soil and 596–645 mm in the coarse sandy soil, which resulted in an annual leaching of 22–40 kg DOC ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 3–4 kg DON ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the sandy loam soil, and 174–310 kg DOC ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 10–31 kg DON ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the coarse sandy soil. It was shown that higher amounts of DOC were lost by leaching under the catch crops than from bare soil, that losses of DON were higher from bare soil than from soils with catch crops and that DON contributed significantly to the total N loss. Thus, DON needs to be taken into account in N-balance calculations.     

Dissolved organic nitrogen and carbon in pastoral soils: the New Zealand experience

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soils are increasingly recognized as important components of nutrient cycling and biological processes in soil‐plant ecosystems. The aims of this study were to: (i) quantify the pools of DON and DOC in a range of New Zealand pastoral soils; (ii) compare the effects of land use changes on these pools; and (iii) examine the seasonal variability associated with these two components of dissolved organic matter. Soil samples (0–7.5 cm depth) from 93 pastoral sites located in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Otago/Southland, New Zealand, were collected in autumn. Adjacent sites under long‐term arable cropping or native vegetation and forestry land use were also sampled at the same time to estimate the impacts of different land use on DON and DOC in these soils. Twelve dairy and 12 sheep and or beef pastures were sampled in winter, spring, summer and autumn for a 2‐year period to study the seasonal fluctuations of DON and DOC. A field incubation study was also carried out in a grazed pasture to examine fluctuations in the concentrations of and and DON levels in soil. Other soil biological properties, such as microbial biomass‐C, biomass‐N and mineralizable N, were also measured. Pastoral soils contained the greatest amounts of DON (13–93 mg N kg⁻¹ soil, equivalent to 8–55 kg N ha⁻¹) and DOC (73–718 mg C kg⁻¹ soil, equivalent to 44–431 kg C ha⁻¹), followed by cropping and native vegetation and forestry soils. The DON concentration in soils was found to be more seasonally variable than DOC. There was approximately 80% fluctuation in the concentration of DON in winter from the annual mean concentration of DON, while DOC fluctuated between 23 and 28% at the dairy and the sheep and beef monitoring sites. Similar fluctuations in the concentrations of DON were also observed in the field incubation studies. These results indicate that DON is a dynamic pool of N in soils. There was a strong and significant positive correlation between DON and DOC in pastoral soils (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). There were also significant positive correlations between DON and total soil C (r = 0.59, P < 0.01), total soil N (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) and mineralizable N (r = 0.47, P < 0.01). The rather poor correlations between total soil C and N with DOC and DON, suggest other biogeochemical processes may be influencing concentrations of DOC and DON in these soils. Given the size of DON and DOC pools in the pastoral soils, we suggest that these pools of C and N should be taken into account when assessing the impact of pastoral land use on soil C and N enrichment of surface and groundwater.     

Temperature and soil moisture effects on dissolved organic matter release from a moorland Podzol O horizon under field and controlled laboratory conditions

Organic upland soils store large amounts of humified organic matter. The mechanisms controlling the leaching of this C pool are not completely understood. To examine the effects of temperature and microbial cycling on C leaching, we incubated five unvegetated soil cores from a Podzol O horizon (from NE Scotland), over a simulated natural temperature cycle for 1 year, whilst maintaining a constant soil moisture content. Soil cores were leached with artificial rain (177 mm each, monthly) and the leachates analysed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and their specific C‐normalized UV absorbance determined (SUVA, 285 nm). Monthly values of respiration of the incubated soils were determined as CO₂ efflux. To examine the effects of vegetation C inputs and soil moisture, in addition to temperature, we sampled O horizon pore waters in situ and collected five additional field soil cores every month. The field cores were leached under controlled laboratory conditions. Hysteresis in the monthly amount of DOC leached from field cores resulted in greater DOC on the rising, than falling temperature phases. This hysteresis suggested that photosynthetic C stimulated greater DOC losses in early summer, whereas limitations in the availability of soil moisture in late summer suppressed microbial decomposition and DOC loss. Greater DOC concentrations of in‐situ pore waters than for any core leachates were attributed to the effects of soil drying and physico‐chemical processes in the field. Variation in the respiration rates for the incubated soils was related to temperature, and respiration provided a greater pathway of C loss (44 g C m⁻² year⁻¹) than DOC (7.2 g C m⁻² year⁻¹). Changes in SUVA over spring and summer observed in all experimental systems were related to the period of increased temperature. During this time, DOC became less aromatic, which suggests that lower molecular weight labile compounds were not completely mineralized. The ultimate DOC source appears to be the incomplete microbial decomposition of recalcitrant humified C. In warmer periods, any labile C that is not respired is leached, but in autumn either labile C production ceases, or it is sequestered in soil biomass.     

Potassium leaching from cut grassland and from urine patches

In grassland farming, especially on coarse‐textured soils, K can be a critical element. On these soils, the actual K management as well as fertilizer history to a large extent determine the leaching of K. The effects of four fertilizer regimes on the nutrient balances and leaching of K from grassland grown on a sandy soil were investigated. The swards differed in the source and level of N input and K fertilizer: no fertilizer N + 166 kg K ha^?1 year^?1 (Control), 320 kg inorganic N ha^?1 + 300 kg K ha^?1 year^?1 (MIN 320), 320 kg N + 425 kg K ha^?1 year^?1 in form of cattle slurry (SLR 320) and a grass–clover sward + 166 kg K ha^?1 year^?1 (WCL 0) without any inorganic N input. In a second experimental phase, cores from these swards were used in a mini‐lysimeter study on the fate of K from urine patches. On cut grassland after 6 years K input minus removal in herbage resulted in average K surpluses per year of 47, 39, 56 and 159 kg K ha^?1 for the Control, MIN 320, WCL 0 and SLR 320, respectively. Related leaching losses per year averaged 7.5, 5, 15 and 25 kg K ha^?1. Losses of urinary‐K through leaching were 2.2–4.5 and 5.7–8.4% of the K supplied in summer and autumn applications, respectively. Plant and soil were the major sinks for K from fertilizer or urine. High levels of exchangeable K in the soil and/or large and late fertilizer or urine applications stimulated leaching of K.     

Abiotic solubilization of soil organic matter,a less-seen aspect of dissolved organic matter production

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a small but reactive pool of the soil organic matter (SOM) that contributes to soil dynamics including the intermediary pool spanning labile to resistant SOM fractions. The solubilization of SOM (DOM production) is commonly attributed to both microbially driven and physico-chemically mediated processes, yet the extent to which these processes control DOM production is highly debated. We conducted a series of experiments using ¹³C-ryegrass residue or its extract (¹³C-ryegrass-DOM) separately under sterile and non-sterile conditions to demonstrate the importance of DOM production from microbial and physico-chemical processes. Soils with similar properties but differing in parent material were used to test the influence of mineralogy on DOM production. To test the role of the source of C for DOM production, one set of soils was leached frequently with ¹³C-ryegrass-DOM and in the other set of soils ¹³C-ryegrass residue was incorporated at the beginning of the experiment into the soil and soils were leached frequently with 0.01 mol L⁻¹ CaCl₂ solution. Leaching events for both treatments occurred at 12-d intervals over a 90-day period. The amount of dissolved organic C and N (DOC and DON) leached from residue-amended soils were consistently more than 3 times higher in sterile than non-sterile soils, decreasing with the time. Despite changes in the concentration of DOC and DON and the production of CO₂, the proportion of DOC derived from the ¹³C-ryegrass residue was largely constant during the experiment (regardless of microbial activity), with the majority (about 70%) of the DOM originating from native SOM. In ¹³C-residue-DOM treatments, after successive leaching events and regardless of the sterility conditions i) the native SOM consistently supplied at least 10% of the total leached DOM, and ii) the contribution of native SOM to DOM was 2–2.9 times greater in ¹³C-residue-DOM amended soils than control soils, suggesting the role of desorption and exchange reactions in DOM production in presence of fresh DOM input. The contribution of the native SOM to DOM resulted in higher aromaticity and humification index. Our results suggest that physico-chemical processes (e.g. exchange or dissolution reactions) can primarily control DOM production. However, microbial activity affects SOM solubilization indirectly through DOM turnover.     

Dynamic of different C and N fractions in a Cambisol under five year succession fallow in Saxony (Germany)

The dynamic of different soil C and N fractions in a Cambisol under succession fallow was investigated from June 1996 until May 2001. Mineral soil samples (0 – 10 and 10 – 30 cm) were analyzed for their concentrations of organic C (C_org), total N (N_t), hot water extractable C and N (HWC and HWN), and KCl extractable C and N (C_org(KCl), N_org(KCl), NH₄⁺‐N, NO₃^–‐N). The values of all C and N fractions revealed a distinct depth gradient. While the concentrations of C_org increased after set aside significantly from 7.7 to 8.9 g kg^–1 at 0 – 10 cm, those at 10 – 30 cm depth decreased from 7.2 to 6.1 g kg^–1. N_t remained rather constant throughout the whole observation period. The HWC concentrations increased from 0.33 to 0.49 g kg^–1, while HWN decreased slightly at 0 – 10 cm with time. In contrast, both HWC and HWN increased at 10 – 30 cm soil depth. HWC showed close significant correlations to C_org, and HWN to N_t as well as to NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^–‐N, respectively. In comparison to hot water‐extractable C and N, C_org(KCl) and N_org(KCl) accounted only about one tenth of those and showed a decreasing trend with time of succession. C : N ratio of the KCl fraction was in the same order of magnitude as the HWC : HWN ratio, except the last phase of the experiment where hot water extract values increased above 10.     

Contribution of dissolved organic nitrogen to N leaching from four German agricultural soils

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) substantially contributes to N leaching from forest ecosystems. However, little is known about the role of DON for N leaching from agricultural soils. Therefore, the aim of our study was to quantify the contribution of DON to total N leaching from four agricultural soils. Concentrations and fluxes of DON and mineral N were monitored at two cropped sites (Plaggic Anthrosols) and two fallow plots (Plaggic Anthrosol and Gleyic Podzol) from November 1999 till May 2001 by means of glass suction plates. The experimental sites were located near the city of Münster, NW Germany. Median DON concentrations in 90 cm depth were 2.3 mg l^—1 and 2.0 mg l^—1 at the cropped sites and 1.6 mg l^—1 and 1.3 mg l^—1 at the fallow sites. There was only a slight (Anthrosols) or no (Gleyic Podzol) decrease in median DON concentrations with increasing depth. Total N seepage was between 19 kg N ha^—1 yr^—1 and 46 kg N ha^—1 yr^—1 at the fallow sites and 16—159 kg N ha^—1 yr^—1 at the cropped sites. For the fallow plots, DON seepage contributed 10—21 % to the total N flux (4—5 kg DON ha^—1 yr^—1), at the cropped sites DON seepage was 6—21 % of the total N flux (6—10 kg DON ha^—1 yr^—1). Thus, even in highly fertilized agricultural soils, DON is a considerable N carrier in seepage that should be considered in detailed soil N budgets.     

Nursery‐Box Total Fertilization Technology (NBTF) Application for Increasing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Chinese Irrigated Riceland: N–Soil Interactions

High N fertilizer and flooding irrigation applied to rice in anthropogenic‐alluvial soil often result in N leaching and low use efficiency of applied fertilizer N from the rice field in Ningxia irrigation region in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. Sound N management practices need to be established to improve N use efficiency while sustaining high grain yield levels and minimize fertilizer N loss to the environment. We investigated the effects of Nursery Box Total Fertilization technology (NBTF) on N leaching at different rice growing stages, N use efficiency and rice yield in 2010 and 2011. The four fertilizer N treatments were 300 kg N ha⁻¹ (CU, Conventional treatment of urea at 300 kg N ha⁻¹), 120 kg N ha⁻¹ (NBTF120, NBTF treatment of controlled‐release N fertilizer at 120 kg N ha⁻¹), 80 kgN ha⁻¹ (NBTF80, NBTF treatment of controlled‐release N fertilizer at 80 kg N ha⁻¹) and no N fertilizer application treatment (CK). The results showed that the NBTF120 treatment increased N use efficiency, maintained crop yields and substantially reduced N losses to the environment. Under the CU treatment, the rice yield was 9634 and 7098 kg ha⁻¹, the N use efficiency was 31·6% and 34·8% and the leaching losses of TN were 44·51 and 39·89 kg ha⁻¹; NH₄⁺‐N was 5·26 and 5·49 kg ha⁻¹, and NO₃⁻‐N was 27·94 and 26·22 kg ha⁻¹ during the rice whole growing period in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Compared with CU, NBTF120 significantly increased the N use efficiency and decreased the N losses from the paddy field. Under NBTF120, the N use efficiency was 56·3% and 51·4%, which was 24·7% and 16·6% higher than that of CU, and the conventional fertilizer application rate could be reduced by 60% without lowering the rice yield while decreasing the leaching losses of TN by 16·27 and 14·36 kg ha⁻¹, NH₄⁺‐N by 0·90 and 1·84 kg ha⁻¹, NO₃⁻‐N by 110·6 and 10·14 kg ha⁻¹ in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Our results indicate that the CU treatment resulted in relatively high N leaching losses, and that alternative practice of NBTF which synchronized fertilizer application with crop demand substantially reduced these losses. We therefore suggest the NBTF120 be a fertilizer application alternative which leads to high food production but low environmental impact. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrogen cycling in organic farming systems with rotational grass–clover and arable crops

Organic farming is considered an effective means of reducing nitrogen losses compared with more intensive conventional farming systems. However, under certain conditions, organic farming may also be susceptible to large nitrogen (N) losses. This is especially the case for organic dairy farms on sandy soils that use grazed grass–clover in rotation with cereals. A study was conducted on two commercial organic farms on sand and loamy sand soils in Denmark. On each farm, a 3‐year‐old grass–clover field was selected. Half of the field was ploughed the first year and the other half was ploughed the following year. Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was sown after ploughing in spring. Measurements showed moderate N leaching during the pasture period (9–64 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) but large amounts of leaching in the first (63–216 kg N ha^?1) and second (61–235 kg N ha^?1) year after ploughing. There was a small yield response to manure application on the sandy soil in both the first and second year after ploughing. To investigate the underlying processes affecting the residual effects of pasture and N leaching, the dynamic whole farm model farm assessment tool (FASSET) was used to simulate the treatments on both farms. The simulations agreed with the observed barley N‐uptake. However, for the sandy soil, the simulation of nitrate leaching and mineral nitrogen in the soil deviated considerably from the measurements. Three scenarios with changes in model parameters were constructed to investigate this discrepancy. These scenarios suggested that the organic matter turnover model should include an intermediate pool with a half‐life of about 2–3 years. There might also be a need to include effects of soil disturbance (tillage) on the soil organic matter turnover.     

Changes in carbon stocks of Danish agricultural mineral soils between 1986 and 2009

To establish a national inventory of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and their change over time, soil was sampled in 1986, 1997 and 2009 in a Danish nation‐wide 7‐km grid and analysed for SOC content. The average SOC stock in 0–100‐cm depth soil was 142 t C ha^?1, with 63, 41 and 38 t C ha^?1 in the 0–25, 25–50 and 50–100 cm depths, respectively. Changes at 0–25 cm were small. During 1986–97, SOC in the 25–50‐cm layer increased in sandy soils while SOC decreased in loam soils. In the subsequent period (1997–2009), most soils showed significant losses of SOC. From 1986 to 2009, SOC at 0–100 cm decreased in loam soils and tended to increase in sandy soils. This trend is ascribed to dairy farms with grass leys being abundant on sandy soils while cereal cropping dominates on loamy soils. A statistical model including soil type, land use and management was applied separately to 0–25, 25–50 and 50–100 cm depths to pinpoint drivers for SOC change. In the 0–25 cm layer, grass leys added 0.95 t C ha^?1 year^?1 and autumn‐sown crops with straw incorporation added 0.40 t C ha^?1 year^?1. Cattle manure added 0.21 t C ha^?1 year^?1. Most interestingly, grass leys contributed 0.58 t C ha^?1 year^?1 at 25–50 cm, confirming that inventories based only on top‐soils are incomplete. We found no significant effects in 50–100 cm. Our study indicates a small annual loss of 0.2 t C ha^?1 from the 0–100 cm soil layer between 1986 and 2009.     

Medium‐ and short‐term available organic matter,microbial biomass,and enzyme activities in soils under Pinus sylvestris L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. in a sandy soil in NE Saxony,Germany

Total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in a sandy soil under pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) stands were investigated in a field study near Riesa, NE Germany. Samples of the organic layers (Oi and Oe‐Oa) and the mineral soil (0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 10–30 cm) were taken in fall 1999 and analyzed for their contents of organic C and total N, hot‐water‐extractable organic C and N (HWC and HWN), KCl‐extractable organic C and N (C_org(KCl) and N_org(KCl)), NH ‐N and NO ‐N, microbial‐biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With exception of the HWC, all investigated C and N pools showed a clear response to tilling, which was most pronounced in the Oi horizon. Compared to soils under pine, those under black locust had higher contents of medium‐ and short‐term available C (HWC, C_org(KCl)) and N (HWN, N_org(KCl)), mineral N (NH ‐N, NO ‐N), microbial‐biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost horizons of the soil. The strong depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under black locust. Microbial‐biomass C and N and enzyme activities were closely related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (HWC and C_org(KCl)). However, the presented results implicate a faster C and N turnover in the top‐soil layers under black locust caused by higher N‐input rates by symbiotic N₂ fixation.     

Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in precipitation,throughfall, soil solution,and stream water of the tropical highlands in northern Thailand

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is important for the cycling and transport of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil. In temperate forest soils, dissolved organic N (DON) partly escapes mineralization and is mobile, promoting loss of N via leaching. Little information is available comparing DOC and DON dynamics under tropical conditions. Here, mineralization is more rapid, and the demand of the vegetation for nutrients is larger, thus, leaching of DON could be small. We studied concentrations of DOC and DON during the rainy seasons 1998–2001 in precipitation, canopy throughfall, pore water in the mineral soil at 5, 15, 30, and 80 cm depth, and stream water under different land‐use systems representative of the highlands of northern Thailand. In addition, we determined the distribution of organic C (OC) and N (ON) between two operationally defined fractions of DOM. Samples were collected in small water catchments including a cultivated cabbage field, a pine plantation, a secondary forest, and a primary forest. The mean concentrations of DOC and DON in bulk precipitation were 1.7 ± 0.2 and 0.2 ± 0.1 mg L^–1, respectively, dominated by the hydrophilic fraction. The throughfall of the three forest sites became enriched up to three times in DOC in the hydrophobic fraction, but not in DON. Maximum concentrations of DOC and DON (7.9–13.9 mg C L^–1 and 0.9–1.2 mg N L^–1, respectively) were found in samples from lysimeters at 5 cm soil depth. Hydrophobic OC and hydrophilic ON compounds were released from the O layer and the upper mineral soil. Concentrations of OC and ON in mineral‐soil solutions under the cabbage cultivation were elevated when compared with those under the forests. Similar to most temperate soils, the concentrations in the soil solution decreased with soil depth. The reduction of OC with depth was mainly due to the decrease of hydrophobic compounds. The changes in OC indicated the release of hydrophobic compounds poor in N in the forest canopy and the organic layers. These substances were removed from solution during passage through the mineral soil. In contrast, organic N related more to labile microbial‐derived hydrophilic compounds. At least at the cabbage‐cultivation site, mineralization seemed to contribute largely to the decrease of DOC and DON with depth, possibly because of increased microbial activity stimulated by the inorganic‐N fertilization. Similar concentrations and compositions of OC and ON in subsoils and streams draining the forested catchments suggest soil control on stream DOM. The contribution of DON to total dissolved N in those streams ranged between 50% and 73%, underscoring the importance of DOM for the leaching of nutrients from forested areas. In summary, OC and ON showed differences in their dynamics in forest as well as in agricultural ecosystems. This was mainly due to the differing distribution of OC and ON between the more immobile hydrophobic and the more easily degradable hydrophilic fraction.     

C and N accumulation in arable soils of West Germany and its influence on the environment — Developments 1970 to 1998

During the last three decades, large amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) and associated nutrients have been accumulated in arable soils of Western Germany (former FRG) due to deepening of the plough layers (from < 25 to > 35 cm) and to fertilizer application rates which have exceeded the amounts of nutrients removed in harvested crops. Organic carbon and total nitrogen balances (1970—1998) on 120 plots from 16 farms in southern Lower Saxony yielded a cumulative increase of up to 16 t C ha⁻¹ and 1 t N ha⁻¹ in loess soils used for cash crop production and up to 26 t C ha⁻¹ and 2.4 t N ha⁻¹ in sandy soils under livestock production. The buffering capacity for reactive compounds, particularly of C, N, S and P and of other (organic or inorganic) pollutants will reach its limits in the near future, after organic matter ”︁equilibria” have been re‐established. An immediate adaptation of the current fertilizer application rates to the nutrient export by field crops is therefore urgently needed.     

Seasonal nitrogen dynamics in lowland rice cropping systems in inland valleys of northern Ghana

Farmers in the inland valleys of northern Ghana are challenged with nitrogen (N) deficiency as a major production constraint of rainfed lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.). With extremely low use of external inputs, there is a need to efficiently use the systems' internal resources such as native soil N. Largest soil nitrate‐N losses are expected to occur during the transition between the dry and wet season (DWT) when the soil aeration status changes from aerobic to anaerobic conditions. Technical options avoiding the build‐up of nitrate are expected to reduce N losses and may thus enhance the yield of rice. A field study in the moist savanna zone of Ghana assessed the in situ mineralization of native soil N, the contribution of nitrate to the valley bottom by sub‐surface flow from adjacent slopes, and the effects of crop and land management options during DWT on seasonal soil N_min dynamics and the yield of lowland rice. Large amounts of nitrate accumulated during DWT with a peak of 58 kg ha⁻¹ in lowland soils, of which 32 kg ha⁻¹ were contributed from the adjacent upland slope. Most of this nitrate disappeared at the onset of the wet season, possibly by leaching and denitrification upon soil flooding. While the incorporation of rice straw (temporary immobilization of soil N in the microbial biomass) had little effect on soil N conservation, growing a crop during DWT conserved 22–27 kg of soil N ha⁻¹ in the biomass and Crotalaria juncea supplied an additional 43 kg N ha⁻¹ from biological N₂ fixation. Farmers' practice of bare fallow during DWT resulted in the lowest rice grain yield that increased from 1.3 (2.2) to 3.9 t ha⁻¹ in case of the transition‐season legume. Growing a pre‐rice legume during DWT appears a promising option to manage N and increase lowland rice yields in the inland valleys of northern Ghana.     

Tillage Effects on Soil Quality Indicators and Nematode Abundance in Loessial Soil under Long‐Term No‐Till Production

Abstract: Soil quality indicators and nematode abundance were characterized in a loessial soil under long‐term conservation tillage to evaluate the effects of no‐till, double‐disk, chisel, and moldboard plow treatments. Indicators included soil electrical conductivity (EC), soil texture, soil organic matter (SOM), and total particulate organic matter (tPOM). Nematode abundance was positively correlated with EC, silt content, and total POM and negatively correlated with clay content. Clay content was the main source of variation among soil quality indicators and was negatively correlated with nematode abundance and most indicators. The gain in SOM in the no‐till system amounted to 10887 kg over the 24 years or 454 kg ha^?1 year^?1, about half of this difference (45%) resulting from soil erosion in plowed soils. The balance of gain in SOM with no till (249 kg ha^?1 year^?1) was due to SOM sequestration with no till. No‐till management reduced soil erosion, increased SOM, and enhanced soil physical characteristics.     

Physico-chemical and biological controls on dissolved organic matter in peat aggregate columns

We investigated the importance of physico‐chemical mechanisms responsible for the release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from a peaty soil. Columns containing peat aggregates (embedded within a sand matrix) provided an experimental system in which both convective and diffusive processes contributed to DOM leaching. The use of aggregated peat avoided the problems associated with traditional batch equilibration experiments in which soil structure is destroyed. Biotic and abiotic processes operating in the columns were manipulated by working with two unsterilized columns (at 5°C and 22°C) and one gamma irradiation‐sterilized column (5°C). Continuous solute flows (< 80 hours) and periods of flow interruption (five interruptions of 6 hours to 384 hours) were applied to the columns (using a 1‐mm NaCl electrolyte) to investigate mechanisms of diffusion‐controlled release of DOM. For all columns, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC and DON) effluent concentrations increased after resumption of flow and the maximum concentrations increased with increased flow‐interruption duration. Measurements of effluent UV absorbance (λ= 285 nm) showed that the DOM leached immediately after the flow interruptions contained fewer aromatic moieties of lower molecular weight than the DOM leached after periods of steady flow. The sterilized column had larger DOC and DON effluent concentration spikes than those from the unsterilized column at 5°C (38 mg C dm⁻³ and 6.5 mg N dm⁻³ versus 13 mg C dm⁻³ and 6.5 mg N dm⁻³ after the 384 hours flow interruption). This result suggested that the concentrations of DOM resulting from physico‐chemical release mechanisms (sterilized column) were attenuated by biological activity (unsterilized columns). Our results indicate that the peat’s microporous structure provides reservoirs of DOM that interact with solute in transport pores via abiotic, rate‐controlled mass transport. Hence, diffusion can influence the quantity and composition of DOM leached from peat in the field depending on intensity and duration of rainfall.     

Nitrogen leaching and herbage production on intensively managed grass and grass-clover pastures on sandy soil in Finland

The main aim of this study was to compare the N leaching from grass fertilized with 220 kg N ha⁻¹ and grass‐clover pastures receiving no fertilization during three grazing years and a renewal year, in a 4‐year ley rotation. The other aim was to compare the herbage and milk production of these pastures. The study was conducted on a lysimeter field; five lysimeters (size 10 × 10 m) were assigned to each treatment. Automated drinking water outlets for the cows were located on one of the lysimeters on each treatment. The amount of leachate was recorded and composite samples were analysed for total N, NO₃‐N, NH₄‐N and soluble organic N (SON). The number of grazing cows was adjusted according to the herbage mass production. The amount of milk was measured. The total input of N to the area was 290 and 215 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for grass and grass‐clover treatments, respectively. The total N leaching during grazing years was 17 and 9 kg N ha⁻¹ from grass and grass‐clover treatments, respectively. Renewal of the sward increased N leaching in both treatments, up to 60 and 40 kg total N ha⁻¹ in grass and grass‐clover treatments, respectively. During the grazing years 96% of the leached N was in the form of NO₃‐N, but during the renewal year the proportion of NO₃‐N was lowered to 89% and the rest was in the form of SON. The total amount of N in the surface runoff was 3–5 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. As high N fertilizer rates per application are a common practice in Finland, short‐term grass‐clover pastures can be considered environmentally beneficial when compared with intensively fertilized grass pastures in comparable circumstances.     

Changes in total and labile carbon and nitrogen contents in a sandy soil after the conversion of a succession fallow to cultivated land

The content of soil organic matter (SOM) can be considered as an important factor for evaluating soil fertility, crop yields, and environmental effects. Sensitive measurements for the assessment of quantitative changes in SOM shortly after the conversion of the management practice would be helpful to understand the SOM‐transformation cycle in more detail. Changes in SOM are reflected in modifications of total organic‐carbon (TOC) and total organic‐nitrogen (TON) contents. They are initially detectable in the readily decomposable fraction. We used hot water–extractable carbon (HWC) and nitrogen (HWN) as measurement of labile pools of SOM and aimed to quantify changes in contents of these C and N fractions in a sandy soil already few years after changing management strategy. In this context, we examined the impact of the conversion of a succession fallow (F) to organic (O) and intensive (I) agriculture on TOC, total N (TN), HWC, and HWN. The conversion of succession fallow to cultivated land resulted in a significant decrease of TOC, TN, and HWC at 0–10 cm soil depth. On average, TOC decreased approx. 0.70 g C kg^–1 (approx. 9% of initial TOC), TN decreased approx. 0.13 g N kg^–1 (approx. 17% of initial TN), and HWC decreased approx. 0.05 g C kg^–1 (approx. 12% of initial HWC) within 3 years. Relatively rapid changes in TOC and TN contents indicated comparatively high proportions of decomposable C and N. These were reflected in comparable high HWC (ranging from 0.37 to 0.59 g C kg^–1 at 0–30 cm soil depth) and HWN (ranging from 0.04 to 0.10 g N kg^–1 at 0–30 cm) contents. These high contents as well as the high HWC : TOC and organic hot water–extractable N (HWN_org) : TN ratios (both between 5% and 7%) implied that the soil investigated has a high ability to provide short‐term available organic C and N compounds. Long‐lasting applications of high quantities of organic fertilizer in the past and high quantities of rhizodepositions were assumed as reasons for the high capability of soil to provide short‐term to medium‐term available C and N. Changes in the HWN content due to the fertilization or crop rotation were mainly based on changes in its inorganic part. This ranged between 10% and 30% of HWN. By discriminant function analysis, it could be shown that the HWN represents a suitably sensitive measurement for the determination of management‐specific impacts in terms of the N, but also of the C cycle. In combination with other C and particularly with other N parameters, the HWN allowed a statistically significant separation of comparable sites varying in management practice already 2 years after the conversion of the management system.     

Effects of humus content,farmyard manuring,and mineral‐N fertilization on yields and soil properties in a long‐term trial

Investigations carried out at Field F3 of the Halle long‐term fertilization trials using data from 1974 to 1983 showed that with adequate supply of mineral N‐fertilizer soil organic matter (SOM) had no significant effects of yield. Similarly enhanced SOM did not justify a reduction of mineral N (Stumpe et al., 2000). The studies presented here examine the effects of the SOM differences existing after the termination of those trials in 1986 up until 1997 (then mainly differences of hardly decomposable SOM) in comparison to farmyard manuring with enhanced mineral N application (3‐factor‐experiment). As with total SOM, hardly decomposable SOM did not directly affect yields. The effects of FYM treatment observed at lower mineral‐N levels were compensated for by enhanced mineral‐N supply. The direct effect of FYM (40 t ha^—1) corresponded to a mineral‐N supply of about 60 kg ha^—1 and the residual effect to about 20 kg ha^—1. The differences of the C‐content in the soil at the beginning of the present studies continued throughout the experimental period of 12 years. In addition, significant differentiation has been caused by FYM and N fertilization in comparison to unfertilized treatments. The major finding is that differences in SOM content do not lead to yield differences on physically good soils (chernozem‐like soils) if appropriate compensation by mineral‐N fertilization takes place.     

N2O emissions from an irrigated and non‐irrigated organic soil in eastern Canada as influenced by N fertilizer addition

Drainage and cultivation of organic soils often result in large nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on N₂O emissions from a cultivated organic soil located south of Montréal, QC, Canada, drained in 1930 and used since then for vegetable production. Fluxes of N₂O were measured weekly from May 2004 to November 2005 when snow cover was absent in irrigated and non‐irrigated plots receiving 0, 100 or 150 kg N ha⁻¹ as NH₄NO₃. Soil mineral N content, gas concentrations, temperature, water table height and water content were also measured to help explain variations in N₂O emissions. Annual emissions during the experiment were large, ranging from 3.6 to 40.2 kg N₂O‐N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The N₂O emissions were decreased by N fertilizer addition in the non‐irrigated site but not in the irrigated site. The absence of a positive influence of soil mineral N content on N₂O emissions was probably in part because up to 571 kg N ha⁻¹ were mineralized during the snow‐free season. Emissions of N₂O were positively correlated to soil CO₂ emissions and to variables associated with the extent of soil aeration such as soil oxygen concentration, precipitation and soil water table height, thereby indicating that soil moisture/aeration and carbon bioavailability were the main controls of N₂O emission. The large N₂O emissions observed in this study indicate that drained cultivated organic soils in eastern Canada have a potential for N₂O‐N losses similar to, or greater than, organic soils located in northern Europe.