Long-term effect of tillage and manure application on soil organic fractions and crop performance under Sudano-Sahelian conditions

Human-induced degradation of natural resources in general and of soil in particular, is a major problem in many regions, including the Sudano-Sahelian zone. The combined effects of tillage and manure application on Lixisol properties and on crop performance were investigated at Saria, Burkina Faso, to find efficient soil management practices to improve soil fertility. A randomized block design with four treatments (hand hoeing only, hand hoeing+manure, ploughing only, oxen ploughing+manure) in three replications was started in 1990. Ten years later, total soil organic (SOC), particulate organic matter and C mineralization were measured. Initial SOC concentration was 4 mg/g and dropped to 2.1 mg/g soil in ploughed plots without manure and to 2.5 mg/g soil in hoed plots without manure. Manure addition mitigated the decrease of SOC in ploughed plots and even built up SOC in hoed plots, where it increased to 5.8 mg/g soil. Manure had a large effect on the fractions in which SOC was stored. In ploughed plots, a large amount of SOC was stored in physical particles >0.25 mm, while in hand hoed plots the maximum SOC was stored in finer fractions. In the topsoil, hoeing and manure resulted in a higher SOC than ploughing with no manure. However, in the 15–25 cm layer, particularly in September, particulate organic matter was greater in ploughed plots with manure than in hoed plots with manure. Crop yields were highest on ploughed+manure plots and lowest on ploughed plots with no manure. We conclude that applying manure annually mitigates the negative effect of ploughing and hand hoeing on SOC and related properties and therefore can contribute to the sustainability of the agricultural system in the Sudano-Sahelian zone.     

Long-term effects of fallow, tillage and manure application on soil organic matter and nitrogen fractions and on sorghum yield under Sudano-Sahelian conditions

Abstract. Soil organic matter (SOM) controls the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and is a key factor in soil productivity. Data on SOM quantity and quality are therefore important for agricultural sustainability. In 1990, an experiment was set up at Saria, Burkina Faso on a sandy loam Lixisol to evaluate long-term effects of tillage (hand hoeing or oxen ploughing) with or without 10 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of manure and fallowing on SOM and N concentrations and their distribution in particle size fractions. The field was sown annually to sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench). Ten years later, total organic C and total N, SOM fractions and their N concentrations, and sorghum yield were determined. Continuous sorghum cultivation without organic inputs caused significant losses of C and N in the hoed and ploughed plots. However, addition of manure to hoed plots was effective in maintaining similar levels of C and N to fallow plots. Without manure, SOM was mainly stored in the size-fraction <0.053 mm (fine organic matter, FOM). SOM was mainly stored in the size-fraction between 0.053 and 2 mm (particulate organic matter, POM). In plots with manure and in fallow plots, the addition of manure more than doubled POM concentrations, with levels in tilled plots exceeding those of the fallow plots, and the highest levels in manually hoed plots. Nitrogen associated with POM (POM-N) followed a similar trend to POM. Hoeing and ploughing led to a decline in sorghum grain yield. Manure application increased yields by 56% in the hoed plots and 70% in the ploughed plots. Grain yield was not correlated with total SOM but was positively correlated with total POM. This study indicated that POM was greatly affected by long-term soil management options.     

不同有机物料对苏打盐化土有机碳和活性碳组分的影响

【目的】在大同盆地苏打盐化土上,研究不同有机物料对春玉米产量、土壤有机碳及活性碳组分的影响,明确土壤有机碳及活性碳组分与主要盐碱指标的相关关系,为苏打盐化土改良及有机物料资源化利用提供理论支撑。【方法】2016-2017年在山西省北部怀仁县开展田间定位试验,设对照(CK)、风化煤、生物炭、牛粪和秸秆5个处理,各处理有机物料施用量按照每年9000 kg/hm^2等有机碳投入量折算,收获时对春玉米进行测产。2017年春玉米收获后,采集土壤样品测定土壤有机碳总量(SOC)和水溶性有机碳(WSOC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量,分析土壤活性碳组分占有机碳的比例、土壤有机碳及活性碳组分与盐碱指标之间的关系。【结果】与CK相比,生物炭和秸秆处理春玉米产量无明显差异,而风化煤和牛粪处理春玉米产量则分别显著提高30.2%和30.3%。添加有机物料促进了0-20 cm土层SOC累积,其中以风化煤和牛粪处理效果最佳,较CK分别提高47.6%和36.1%。在有机碳组分方面,风化煤和牛粪处理提高WSOC、EOC含量的效果显著高于生物炭、秸秆处理;风化煤、牛粪和秸秆处理的LFOC含量显著高于生物炭处理。四类有机物料处理的WSOC占总有机碳的比例差异不显著,牛粪处理的占比显著高于CK。EOC占总有机碳的比例以牛粪处理最高,风化煤次之,且二者均显著高于CK处理;LFOC占总有机碳的比例则表现为秸秆、牛粪>风化煤、生物炭> CK。此外,添加有机物料能有效降低0-20 cm土层土壤pH、电导率(EC)和碱化度(ESP),其中以风化煤和牛粪处理降幅最大。相关分析表明,土壤SOC与pH、EC和ESP呈显著负相关。【结论】通过有机物料改良效果比较,发现牛粪和风化煤处理能促进苏打盐化土有机碳累积,提高可溶性、易氧化态及轻组有机碳组分在总有机碳中的占比,降低土壤pH、EC和ESP,明显提高春玉米产量。因此,风化煤和牛粪是山西北部苏打盐化土良好的改良剂。     

Long-term effects of straw and farmyard manure on crop yields and soil properties

The effect of cereal straw with added mineral N fertilization on crop yields, N uptake, total organic C content and hot water soluble C content in topsoil and on the relationships between organic C content in topsoil and organic matter balance was evaluated in a long-term field experiment established in 1966. The effect of straw plus mineral N fertilization was similar to the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) in the dry matter yields and also in the N uptake by plants. The effect of straw and mineral N fertilization on the organic C accumulation in soil was inferior to the effect of farmyard manure. Relationships between organic matter balance and total organic C content in the topsoil was positive and statistically significant. A favourable effect of mineral NPK fertilization on the C sequestration to soil was related to the effect of FYM fertilization.     

长期定位施肥对潮土有机氮组分和有机碳的影响

利用河南封丘潮土的13年长期施肥试验,采用Bremner法研究了潮土耕层有机氮组成的变化,分析了长期施肥对土壤有机氮组份和有机碳含量的影响。与不施肥和单施化肥相比,施有机肥或有机肥与化肥配施显著提高了土壤全氮、酸解有机氮、酸解铵态氮、氨基酸态氮、非酸解有机氮和有机碳的含量。有机氮主要由酸解铵态氮和氨基酸态氮组成,其次为酸解未知态氮和非酸解有机氮,氨基糖态氮含量最小。施有机肥尤其利于氨基酸态氮和非酸解有机氮的形成。施肥处理的酸解有机氮占全氮的比例减小,主要是由氨基酸态氮、酸解铵态氮占全氮的比例减小所致。与1989年试验开始时的土壤初始值相比,施有机肥能提高土壤全氮含量和有机质含量。在供应等氮磷钾的情况下,有机无机配施增加了土壤供氮能力、有机质含量和作物产量,是维持土壤肥力和保护环境最优的施肥方式。     

有机肥和化肥长期施用对土壤活性有机氮组分及酶活性的影响

本文以中国农业科学院山东禹城长期定位施肥试验为平台,研究了长期施用有机肥和化肥26年后对土壤活性氮库不同组分［颗粒有机氮（POM-N）、 可溶性有机氮（DON）、 微生物量氮（SMBN）及轻组有机氮（LFOM-N）］及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明,与不施肥相比,长期施肥显著提高了土壤全氮、 颗粒有机氮、 可溶性有机氮、 微生物量氮以及轻组有机氮的含量,长期施有机肥效果好于化肥,施用高量有机肥效果好于施用常量有机肥。常量施用量下,50%有机肥和50%化肥配施处理其土壤全氮和活性有机氮库各组分含量与高量化肥处理的相当。长期施化肥处理土壤全氮及活性有机氮库各组分含量随施肥量的增加而显著增高。POM-N对土壤全氮的贡献率最高,且明显受施肥方式的影响,LFOM-N对土壤全氮的贡献率不随施肥方式的改变而变化。长期施肥处理土壤脲酶、 碱性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性显著增加,它们之间及与土壤全氮、 速效磷及有机碳含量间呈现显著或极显著相关性,脲酶活性与土壤各活性氮组分间也存在显著或极显著相关性; 但长期施肥后土壤过氧化氢酶的活性低于不施肥     

菜地土壤有机碳分级以及总量变化的动态特征研究

Fertilisers significantly affect crop production and crop biomass inputs to soil organic carbon（SOC）. However, the long-term effects of fertilisers on C associated with aggregates are not yet fully understood. Based on soil aggregate and SOC fractionation analysis, this study investigated the long-term effects of organic manure and inorganic fertilisers on the accumulation and change in SOC and its fractions, including the C concentrations of free light fraction, intra-aggregate particulate organic matter（POM） and intra-aggregate mineral-associated organic matter（MOM）. Long-term manure applications improved SOC and increased the concentrations of some C fractions. Manure also accelerated the decomposition of coarse POM（cPOM） into fine POM（fPOM） and facilitated the transformation of fPOM encrustation into intra-microaggregate POM within macroaggregates. However, the application of inorganic fertilisers was detrimental to the formation of fPOM and to the subsequent encrustation of fPOM with clay particles, thus inhibiting the formation of stable microaggregates within macroaggregates. No significant differences were observed among the inorganic fertiliser treatments in terms of C concentrations of MOM, intra-microaggregate MOM within macroaggregate（imMMOM） and intra-microaggregate MOM（imMOM）. However, the long-term application of manure resulted in large increases in C concentrations of MOM（36.35%）, imMMOM（456.31%） and imMOM（19.33%） compared with control treatment.     

Evaluation of potentially labile soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractionation procedures

Particulate organic matter (POM) and light fraction (LF) organic matter are potentially labile (active) fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) that have been shown to be indicators of short-term changes in soil management practices (e.g. tillage, manure and fertilizer applications, and crop rotation). These two fractions consist mainly of partially decomposed plant residues, microbial residues, seeds, and spores forming organo-mineral complexes with soil mineral particles; however, they cannot be used as synonyms because of their different chemical composition and structure. Particulate-OM is recovered by size-based procedures while LF is generally recovered in two distinct fractions [free-LF (FLF) and occluded-LF (OLF)] using density-based solutions in conjunction with soil-aggregate disruption. Solutions used in these density-based separations have most commonly varied in density from 1.6 to 2.0 g cm⁻³. Sodium iodide (NaI) and sodium polytungstate (SPT) are the chemicals most often used to prepare the density solutions in LF recovery but comparisons of the effectiveness of two solutions have not been conducted. The objectives of this research were: (1) compare the efficiency of similar density solutions of NaI and SPT in recovering FLF; and (2) compare POM, FLF, and OLF as possible sensitive indices of short-term soil changes due to tillage management. Soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth from a cropping system experiment conducted on a silt loam Ultisol. Plots selected for sampling had received either reduced till (RT) or no-till (NT), and cropping was continuous corn silage for a period of 3 years prior to sampling. Solutions of NaI and SPT at densities of 1.6 and 1.8 g cm⁻³ were used to recover FLF, and OLF was recovered with SPT solution at a density of 2.0 g cm⁻³ from the soil pellet remaining after FLF recovery with SPT 1.6 g cm⁻³. The average total soil organic carbon (SOC) content of these samples was of 12.7 g kg⁻¹, and carbon-POM (C-POM), carbon-FLF (C-FLF), and carbon-OLF (C-OLF) represented 22.4, 5.5, and 5.2% of it, respectively. In general, C-FLF and nitrogen-FLF (N-FLF) contents recovered did not differ significantly between chemical solutions (NaI or SPT) adjusted to the same density (1.6 or 1.8 g cm⁻³). Increasing the density within a specific solution (NaI or SPT) resulted in significantly higher C-FLF and N-FLF recovery. For instance, C-FLF recovery averaged 637 and 954 mg kg⁻¹ at 1.6 and 1.8 g cm⁻³, respectively. For both chemicals increasing density from 1.6 to 1.8 g cm⁻³ reduced the variability in recovering C-FLF and N-FLF with coefficient of variation values decreasing from a range of 14.9-19.1% for densities of 1.6 g cm⁻³ to 6.7-10.4% when densities increased to 1.8 g cm⁻³. In the present work, POM and OLF were more sensitive than FLF to changes in tillage management, with significantly greater amounts of the sensitive fractions in RT samples. A better sensitivity of FLF would be expected if treatments dealing with residue input (e.g. crop rotation and cover crop) were evaluated.     

长期施肥对栗褐土有机碳含量及其组分的影响

【目的】作为土壤质量的重要指标,土壤有机碳及其组分在耕地生产力和作物产量方面发挥着重要作用。本文以25年长期定位施肥试验为依托,分析了不同施肥处理对栗褐土有机碳含量及其组分的影响,为调控农田土壤肥力及栗褐土有机碳库的管理提供科学依据。【方法】田间试验开始于1988年,设置8个施肥处理为不施肥(CK);单施氮肥(N);氮磷肥合施(NP);单施低量有机肥(M1);低量有机肥与氮肥合施(M1N);低量有机肥与氮磷肥合施(M1NP);高量有机肥与氮肥合施(M2N);高量有机肥与氮磷肥合施(M2NP)。于第25年玉米播种前,采集以上处理的耕层(0—20 cm)土壤样品。借助有机碳物理分组方法和化学分析方法,测定了土壤总有机碳和有机碳各组分的含量。【结果】长期施用不同肥料不同程度地提高了栗褐土总有机碳、游离态颗粒有机碳以及闭蓄态颗粒有机碳含量,其中有机肥与化肥配施尤其是高量有机肥与化肥配施的作用更加明显。与不施肥相比,高量有机肥与无机肥配施(M2N、M2NP)总有机碳含量增加了121.1%、166.8%,游离态颗粒有机碳增加了239.2%、359.2%,闭蓄态颗粒有机碳增加了288.4%、289.9%。单施氮肥(N)及有机肥与氮磷肥配施(M1NP、M2NP)可显著提高矿物结合态有机碳含量,增幅分别为27.8%、34.8%、33.3%。不施肥条件下,栗褐土有机碳中颗粒有机碳与矿物结合态有机碳所占的比例相当,长期施肥提高了颗粒有机碳特别是闭蓄态颗粒有机碳的比例,降低矿物结合态有机碳所占的比例,闭蓄态颗粒有机碳成为栗褐土有机碳的主要贮存库。相关分析表明,长期施肥条件下栗褐土游离态、闭蓄态颗粒有机碳含量之间及其与总有机碳含量之间均呈极显著正相关,矿物结合态有机碳含量与总有机碳及其他组分的有机碳之间均无明显相关。【结论】化肥、有机肥以及有机肥与化肥配施能够提高栗褐土游离态颗粒有机碳、闭蓄态颗粒有机碳以及总有机碳含量。高量有机肥与化肥配施更有助于栗褐土游离态、闭蓄态颗粒有机碳的积累,有利于土壤养分有效性的提高和有机碳品质的改善。氮肥单施、有机肥与氮磷肥配施则是提高矿物结合态有机碳含量的有效措施。     

Long-term organic phosphorus mineralization in Spodosols under forests and its relation to carbon and nitrogen mineralization

In forest soils where a large fraction of total phosphorus (P) is in organic forms, soil micro-organisms play a major role in the P cycle and plant availability since they mediate organic P transformations. However, the correct assessment of organic P mineralization is usually a challenging task because mineralized P is rapidly sorbed and most mineralization fluxes are very weak. The objectives of the present work were to quantify in five forest Spodosols at soil depths of 0-15 cm net mineralization of total organic P and the resulting increase in plant available inorganic P and to verify whether net or gross P mineralization could be estimated using the C or N mineralization rates. Net mineralization of total organic P was derived from the net changes in microbial P and gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter. We studied very low P-sorbing soils enabling us to use lower extractants to assess the change in total inorganic P as a result of gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter. In addition, to enable detection of gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter, a long-term incubation (517 days) experiment was carried out. At the beginning of the experiment, total P contents of the soils were very low (19-51 μg g⁻¹) and were essentially present as organic P (17-44 μg g⁻¹, 85-91%) or microbial P (6-14 μg g⁻¹; 24-39%). Conversely, the initial contents of inorganic P were low (2-7 μg g⁻¹; 9-15%). The net changes in the pool size of microbial P during the 517 days of incubation (4-8 μg g⁻¹) and the amounts of P resulting from gross mineralization of dead soil organic matter (0.001-0.018 μg g⁻¹ day⁻¹; 0.4-9.5 μg g⁻¹ for the entire incubation period) were considerable compared to the initial amounts of organic P and also when compared to the initial diffusive iP fraction (<0.3 μg g⁻¹). Diffusive iP corresponds to the phosphate ions that can be transferred from the solid constituents to the soil solution under a gradient of concentration. Net mineralization of organic P induced an important increase in iP in soil solution (0.6-10 μg g⁻¹; 600-5000% increase) and lower increases in diffusive iP fractions (0.3-5 μg g⁻¹; 300-2000% increase), soil solid constituents having an extremely low reactivity relative to iP. Therefore, soil micro-organisms and organic P transformations play a major role in the bioavailability of P in these forest soils. In our study, the dead soil organic matter was defined as a recalcitrant organic fraction. Probably because gross mineralization of P from this recalcitrant organic fraction was mainly driven by the micro-organisms’ needs for energy, the rates of gross mineralization of C, N and P in the recalcitrant organic fraction were similar. Indirect estimation of gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter using the gross C mineralization rate seems thus an alternative method for the studied soils. However, additional studies are needed to verify this alternative method in other soils. No relationships were found between microbial P release and microbial C and N releases.     

不同有机厩肥输入量对土壤团聚体有机碳组分的影响

土壤是重要的有机碳库,其微小变化可能引起大气CO2浓度水平的较大变异。土壤团聚体对土壤有机碳具有物理保护作用。有机厩肥的输入既可以提高土壤有机碳含量,又可以促进土壤团聚体的形成,对土壤有机碳的截获和保持有重要意义。本实验采用湿筛的方法分离土壤团聚体,并对团聚体进行有机碳组分分离。通过对连续8年施加不同量有机厩肥试验的研究发现:适量的有机厩肥施用可以显著地提高土壤的平均质量直径(MWD),改善土壤结构;过量施用有机厩肥则明显降低了>2 000μm团聚体含量。潮棕壤有机碳主要分布在250～53μm和2 000～250μm团聚体中,两者相加约占有机碳全量的73.7%～78.5%。并且随着有机碳输入量的增加,土壤有机碳主要贮存在2 000～250μm团聚体中。有机厩肥的施加明显地加快了>2 000μm团聚体的更新速率。土壤轻组分有机碳含量也随有机厩肥输入量的增加而不断增加,高量有机厩肥下占全量的22.1%。土壤固定有机碳的能力有限,存在明显的等级饱和现象。因此,在有机质匮乏的土壤施用有机肥意义重大,应尽量减少向高有机质土壤输入有机碳。     

长期有机培肥模式下黑土碳与氮变化及氮素矿化特征

土壤氮的矿化是土壤氮素肥力的重要指标,是影响作物产量至关重要的因素。本研究依托黑土长期定位试验,通过取样分析研究了32 a不同培肥模式下黑土碳、 氮及主要活性组分的变化,采用淹水培养法研究了不同施肥模式下黑土氮素的矿化特征。结果表明,施肥显著提高黑土可溶性碳（DOC）、 氮（DON）的含量及其比例。在氮、 磷、 钾化肥的基础上配施有机肥,显著降低了土壤微生物量氮（SMBN）占土壤总氮的比例,提高了土壤微生物量的C/N比值（SMBC/SMBN）,促进了土壤氮的生物固持。施肥32 a后,单施常量和高量有机肥处理的土壤氮的矿化量（Nt）显著提高,分别相当于不施肥的8.2倍和10.2倍,而单施氮或氮磷钾化肥对黑土氮素矿化量无明显影响。施用有机肥显著提高了土壤氮素的矿化率（Nt/TN）,但有机肥配施化肥（氮或氮磷钾）的处理与单施有机肥相比,黑土氮的矿化率显著降低,降低幅度分别为23.5%~32.1% 和14.1%~17.8%。土壤氮素矿化量与土壤有机质、 全氮储量、 活性碳、 氮组分均呈极显著线性相关,但氮素的矿化率随着有机质和全氮含量的提高而提高至0.4% 后基本稳定。表明尽管土壤氮的矿化与有机质的含量直接相关,但土壤有机质的品质同样决定着土壤氮素的矿化能力。施有机氮是提高土壤供氮能力的重要途径。     

长期不同施肥潮土活性有机氮库组分与酶活性对外源牛粪的响应

【目的】研究不同施肥制度下潮土中活性有机氮库及酶活性对新添加有机物料的响应机制,可深入理解不同施肥制度培肥土壤、提高土壤基础地力的机理。【方法】供试土壤采集于从1986年开始的长期定位试验处理,包括CK (不施肥)、OF (常量有机肥)、CF (常量化肥)、OCF (常量有机无机配施) 4个处理。通过室内恒温培养试验,研究添加等氮量牛粪后长期不同施肥潮土有机氮库组分(微生物量氮、可溶性有机氮和颗粒有机氮)含量及土壤酶(α-葡萄糖苷酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、β-木糖苷酶、纤维二糖水解酶、磷酸酶、过氧化物酶和酚氧化酶)活性的变化特征。【结果】首先,无论添加牛粪与否,土壤全氮、可溶性有机氮和颗粒有机氮含量均随培养时间呈上升趋势或与初始时期差异不显著;添加牛粪的长期不施肥与施化肥处理土壤微生物量氮含量显著低于相同处理不添加牛粪的土壤微生物量氮含量。其次,培养结束后,添加牛粪增加了长期不同施肥潮土全氮、可溶性有机氮和颗粒有机氮含量,分别提高了5.43%~15.49%、5.83%~69.42%及9.75%~42.29%,却降低了土壤微生物量氮含量16.91%~62.10%。另外,施肥、添加牛粪及其交互作用对土壤酶活性具有显著影响(P <0.05);无论添加牛粪与否,不同施肥处理土壤氧化酶(过氧化物酶和酚氧化酶)活性显著低于不施肥处理,不同施肥处理的土壤水解酶活性却呈现不同的变化趋势。不添加牛粪情况下,长期施肥显著提高了除β-葡萄糖苷酶以外的土壤水解酶活性;其中与长期不施肥处理相比,长期施用化肥土壤β-木糖苷酶和β-纤维素酶分别提高了208.74%和180.75%。添加牛粪情况下长期施用有机肥土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶和β-纤维素酶比不施肥分别提高了201.40%和308.04%;冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)显示,添加与不添加牛粪条件下土壤酶活性的关键环境驱动因子不同,在不添加牛粪时为可溶性有机氮,添加后其关键驱动因子为全氮和可溶性有机氮。【结论】不同施肥制度下土壤微生物量氮、可溶性有机氮、颗粒有机氮与土壤全氮之间呈显著正相关;室内好气培养条件下,添加牛粪显著提高了长期不同施肥潮土的全氮、可溶性有机氮、颗粒有机氮含量,却显著降低了土壤微生物量氮含量;不同施肥制度下土壤酶活性差异显著,牛粪的添加改变了影响长期不同施肥潮土酶活性的关键环境因子。     

Long-term fertilization, manure and liming effects on soil organic matter and crop yields

Yield decline or stagnation and its relationship with soil organic matter fractions in soybean (Glycine max L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system under long-term fertilizer use are not well understood. To understand this phenomenon, soil organic matter fractions and soil aggregate size distribution were studied in an Alfisol (Typic Haplustalf) at a long-term experiment at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, India. For 30 years, the following fertilizer treatments were compared with undisturbed fallow plots (without crop and fertilizer management): unfertilized (control), 100% recommended rate of N, NP, NPK, NPK+ farmyard manure (FYM) and NPK + lime. Yield declined with time for soybean in control (30 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and NP (21 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) treatments and for wheat in control (46 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and N (25 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) treatments. However, yield increased with time for NPK + FYM and NPK + lime treatments in wheat. At a depth of 0–15 cm, small macroaggregates (0.25–2 mm) dominated soil (43–61%) followed by microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) with 13–28%. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), nitrogen (SMBN) and acid hydrolysable carbohydrates (HCH) were greater in NPK + FYM and NPK + lime as compared to other treatments. With three decades of cultivation, C and N mineralization were greater in microaggregates than in small macroaggregates and relatively resistant mineral associated organic matter (silt + clay fraction). Particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) decreased significantly in control, N and NP application over fallow. Results suggest that continuous use of NPK + FYM or NPK + lime would sustain yield in a soybean–wheat system without deteriorating soil quality.     

Long-term manure amendments enhance neutral sugar accumulation in bulk soil and particulate organic matter in a Mollisol

Manure application generally increases soil organic matter (SOM) and particulate organic matter (POM) content in soil. Free and occluded POM (fPOM and oPOM) can be quantified by combining density and ultrasonic dispersion approaches, but it remains unclear which fraction of POM is more responsive to manure application, and whether manure treated soils have a more pronounced effect on POM content than unmanured soils (no or chemical fertilizer treated soils). Because neutral sugars in POM can be attributed to either plant- or microbial-derived compounds, we analyzed the pattern and ratio of different neutral sugars to clarify effects of different fertilizations on quality of POM in a study over two decades. Soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from six fertilization treatments in a 25-year long fertilization experiment including no fertilizer (CK), low manure (M1), high manure (M2), chemical nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers (NPK), and combined manure and chemical fertilizers (M1NPK, M2NPK). Our results showed that manure application generally led to higher organic carbon concentrations in bulk soil (M2NPK > M2 > M1NPK > M1 > CK > NPK), fPOM (M2NPK > M2 > M1 > M1NPK > NPK > CK) and oPOM (M1 > M2 > M1NPK > M2NPK > NPK > CK), respectively. As compared with unmanured treatments, manure amendments induced 48, 21 and 107% greater increases on average in neutral sugar concentrations in bulk soil, fPOM and oPOM, respectively. More plant-derived organic compounds were enriched in fPOM than oPOM and bulk soil, and the enrichment was more pronounced in manure treated soils than the unmanured soils. This study suggests that long-term use of manure enhanced microbial routing of specific monosaccharides into different POM fractions. Clearly, manure amendments improved labile SOM content and SOM quality in the Mollisol thus maintaining soil productivity over decades.     

Long-term fertilization and residue return affect soil stoichiometry characteristics and labile soil organic matter fractions

Ecological stoichiometry provides the possibility for linking microbial dynamics with soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) metabolisms in response to agricultural nutrient management. To determine the roles of fertilization and residue return with respect to ecological stoichiometry, we collected soil samples from a 30-year field experiment on residue return (maize straw) at rates of 0, 2.5, and 5.0 Mg ha^-1 in combination with 8 fertilization treatments:no fertilizer (F0), N fertilizer, P fertilizer, potassium (K) fertilizer, N and P (NP) fertilizers, N and K (NK) fertilizers, P and K (PK) fertilizers, and N, P, and K (NPK) fertilizers. We measured soil organic C (SOC), total N and P, microbial biomass C, N, and P, water-soluble organic C and N, KMnO₄-oxidizable C (KMnO₄-C), and carbon management index (CMI). Compared with the control (F0 treatment without residue return), fertilization and residue return significantly increased the KMnO₄-C content and CMI. Furthermore, compared with the control, residue return significantly increased the SOC content. Moreover, the NPK treatment with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 significantly enhanced the C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios in the soil, whereas it significantly decreased the C:N and C:P ratios in soil microbial biomass. Therefore, NPK fertilizer application combined with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 could enhance the SOC content through the stoichiometric plasticity of microorganisms. Residue return and fertilization increased the soil C pools by directly modifying the microbial stoichiometry of the biomass that was C limited.     

Predicting soil N mineralization: Relevance of organic matter fractions and soil properties

Distinct extractable organic matter (EOM) fractions have been used to assess the capacity of soils to supply nitrogen (N). However, substantial uncertainty exists on their role in the N cycle and their functional dependency on soil properties. We therefore examined the variation in mineralizable N and its relationship with EOM fractions, soil physical and chemical properties across 98 agricultural soils with contrasting inherent properties and management histories. Mineralizable N was determined by aerobic incubation at 20 °C and optimum moisture content for 20 weeks. We used multivariate statistical modelling to account for multi-collinearity, an issue generally overlooked in studies evaluating the predictive value of EOM fractions. Mineralization of N was primarily related to the size of OM pools and fractions present; they explained 78% of the variation in mineralizable N whereas other soil variables could explain maximally 8%. Both total and extractable OM expressed the same soil characteristic from a mineralization perspective; they were positively related to mineralizable N and explained a similar percentage of the variation in mineralizable N. Inclusion of mineralizable N in fertilizer recommendation systems should be based on at least one OM variable. The most appropriate EOM fraction can only be identified when the underlying mechanisms are known; regression techniques are not suitable for this purpose. Combination of single EOM fractions is not likely to improve the prediction of mineralizable N due to high multi-collinearity. Inclusion of texture-related soil variables or variables reflecting soil organic matter quality may be neglected due to their limited power to improve the prediction of mineralizable N.     

Changes of soil organic carbon and its fractions in relation to soil physical properties in a long-term fertilized paddy

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has an important role in improving soil quality and sustainable production. A long-term fertilization study was conducted to investigate changes in SOC and its relation to soil physical properties in a rice paddy soil. The paddy soils analyzed were subjected to different fertilization practices: continuous application of inorganic fertilizers (NPK, N–P–K = 120–34.9–66.7 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ during 1967–1972 and 150–43.7–83.3 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ from 1973 to 2007), straw based compost (Compost, 10 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), a combination of NPK + Compost, and no fertilization (control). Soil physical properties were investigated at rice harvesting stage in the 41st year for analyzing the relationship with SOC fraction. Continuous compost application increased the total SOC concentration in plough layers and improved soil physical properties. In contrast, inorganic or no fertilization markedly decreased SOC concentration resulting to a deterioration of soil physical health. Most of the SOC was the organo-mineral fraction (<0.053 mm size), accounting for over 70% of total SOC. Macro-aggregate SOC fraction (2–0.25 mm size), which is used as an indicator of soil quality rather than total SOC, covered 8–17% of total SOC. These two SOC fractions accumulated with the same tendency as the total SOC changes. Comparatively, micro-aggregate SOC (0.25–0.053 mm size), which has high correlation with physical properties, significantly decreased with time, irrespective of the inorganic fertilizers or compost application, but the mechanism of decrease is not clear. Conclusively, compost increased total SOC content and effective SOC fraction, thereby improving soil physical properties and sustaining production.     

Precipitation of enzymes and organic matter by aluminum—Impacts on carbon mineralization

The precipitation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by aluminum (Al) results in a stable soil organic matter (OM) fraction. Extracellular enzymes can also be removed from soil solution by sorption or precipitation, but whether this affects their activity and their importance for carbon (C) mineralization is largely unknown. We studied the activity of eight extracellular enzymes, precipitated by Al together with DOM, in relation to C mineralization of the precipitated OM. Dissolved OM was obtained from the Oi and Oa horizon of two forest soils and precipitated at different Al : C ratios and pH values to achieve a large variation in composition and C mineralization of precipitated OM. All eight enzymes were present in a functional state in precipitated OM. On average 53% of DOM was precipitated, containing on average 17%–41% of the enzyme activity (EA) involved in C degradation (chitinase, cellobiohydrolase, β‐glucosidase, glucuronidase, lacasse, and xylosidase) previously present in soil solution. In contrast, on average only 4%–7% of leucine‐aminopeptidase and acid‐phosphatase activity was found in precipitated OM. The EA found in precipitates significantly increased the percentage of C mineralized of precipitated OM, with a stronger influence of C‐degrading enzymes than enzymes involved in N and P cycling. However, after 8 weeks of incubation the correlations between EA and C mineralization disappeared, despite substantial EA being still present and only 0.5%–7.7% of C mineralized. Thus, degradation of precipitated OM seems to be governed by EA during the first degradation phase, but the long‐term stability of precipitated OM is probably related to its chemical properties.     

Assessment of soil organic matter mineralization under various management practices

ABSTRACT

Mineralization is the main organic matter conversion process, which leads not only to preservation of organic matter in the soil but also to its sequestration. Soil organic matter has equal value as mineral part if we want to improve soil quality or increase the yield. Because of intensive farming, irresponsible use of mineral fertilizers and natural factors, soil organic matter is decreasing. To counteract this process, different soil-friendly management practices and techniques, such as shallow tillage, no-tillage or direct drilling and application of additional organic matter are used. The objective of the present study was to assess the changes in the intensity of soil organic matter mineralization as influenced by primary soil tillage of different intensity in combination with organic matter incorporation. Long-term studies showed that land management practices differentiated the soil into two layers: upper (0–10?cm) layer containing more moisture and nutrients and lower (10–20?cm) layer comprising less moisture and nutrients. The conditions of aeration in the arable soil layer did not change under the effect of ploughing. In this soil, the rate of mineralization was lower than that in the ploughless tillage treatment. The most active mineralization of soil organic matter in the ploughless tillage treatment occurred in the autumn period, when high level of rainfall promoted the loss of nutrients from the topsoil layer.