Influence of tillage, crop rotation and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic matter and nitrogen under rain-fed Mediterranean conditions

The long-term effects of cropping systems and management practices on soil properties provide essential information for assessing sustainability and environmental impact. Field experiments were undertaken in southern Spain to evaluate the long-term effects of tillage, crop rotation and nitrogen (N) fertilization on the organic matter (OM) and mineral nitrogen (N_min) contents of soil in a rain-fed Mediterranean agricultural system over a 6-year period. Tillage treatments included no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), crop rotations were of 2 yr with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) (WS), wheat-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) (WP), wheat-faba bean (Vicia faba L.) (WB), wheat-fallow (WF), and in addition, continuous wheat (CW). Nitrogen fertilizer rates were 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha⁻¹. A split-split plot design with four replications was used. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 90 cm at the beginning of the experiment and 6 yr later. Soil samples were also collected from a depth of 30 cm after 4 yr. These samples, like those obtained at the beginning of the experiment, were subjected to comprehensive physico-chemical analyses. The soil samples that were collected 6 yr later were analyzed for OM, NH₄⁺---N and NO₃⁻---N at the 0–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm soil depths. The tillage method did not influence the OM or N_min contents of the soil, nor did legume rotations increase the OM content of soil relative to CW. A longer period may have been required for differences between treatments to be observed owing to the small amount of crop residue that is returned to soil under rain-fed conditions of semi-arid climates. The WF rotation did not raise the N_min content of the soil relative to the other rotations. The consistent significant interaction between tillage and crop rotation testifies to the differential effect of the management system on the OM content and N status of the soil. The ammonium levels clearly exceeded those of NO₃⁻---N throughout the soil profile. The high N_min content of the soils reveals the presence of abundant N resources that should be borne in mind in establishing N fertilization schemes for crops under highly variable climatic conditions including scant rainfall such as those of the Mediterranean region.     

N mineralization and nitrate leaching from vegetable crop residues under field conditions: a model evaluation

Six different vegetable crop residues were incorporated in the field and N mineralization from the residues and from an unamended plot was followed over 4 months by periodically monitoring mineral N contents of the soil. The crop residues were also fractionated according to a modified Stevenson chemical fractionation. Nitrogen mineralization parameters of the first order kinetic model N(t)=N_A(1−e^−kt) were derived from the chemical fractionation data. The first order model was used in combination with a model describing the temperature dependence of N mineralization and a simple leaching model to predict N mineralization rates and nitrate redistribution after crop residue incorporation under field conditions. Comparison of predicted and measured mineral N contents in the upper soil layer (0–30 cm) before the start of leaching showed that the model was able to predict N mineralization from both soil organic matter and crop residues under field conditions. From the onset of leaching, mineral N contents were slightly overestimated in the upper layer and underestimated in the lower soil layers. Although the Burns leaching model underestimated the leaching rate, the general pattern of nitrate movement was simulated satisfactorily. Statistical analysis using the variance ratio test yielded small but significant F values, indicating that the model can still be improved. The modelling efficiency was rather high and the coefficient of residual mass very close to zero. Linear regression between measured and simulated nitrate contents over the whole profile (0–120 cm) for all samplings yielded Y=9.6+0.876X (r=0.94***) with all deviations smaller than 25 kg N ha⁻¹. Total N mineralization ranged from 48 kg N ha⁻¹ for the control plot to 136 kg N ha⁻¹ for the plots with cauliflower residues and cumulative leaching losses from 26–66 kg N ha⁻¹, with most of the mineral N left in the 60–120 cm layer. These results show that N losses by leaching in winter can be high when vegetable crop residues are incorporated, even when there is little mineral N in the soil at the time of incorporation.     

Microbiological parameters as indicators of soil quality under various soil management and crop rotation systems in southern Brazil

The objective of this work was to identify soil parameters potentially useful to monitor soil quality under different soil management and crop rotation systems. Microbiological and chemical parameters were evaluated in a field experiment in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil, in response to soil management [no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT)] and crop rotation [including grain (soybean, S; maize, M; wheat, W) and legume (lupin, L.) and non-legume (oat, O) covers] systems. Three crop rotation systems were evaluated: (1) (O/M/O/S/W/S/L/M/O/S), (2) (O/S/L/M/O/S/W/S/L/M), and (3) (O/S/W/S/L/M/O/M/W/M), and soil parameters were monitored after the fifth year. Before ploughing, CO₂-emission rates were similar in NT and CT soils, but plough increased it by an average of 57%. Carbon dioxide emission was 13% higher with lupin residues than with wheat straw; decomposition rates were rapid with both soil management systems. Amounts of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MB-C and MB-N, respectively) were 80 and 104% higher in NT than in CT, respectively; however, in general these parameters were not affected by crop rotation. Efficiency of the microbial community was significantly higher in NT: metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was 55% lower than in CT. Soluble C and N levels were 37 and 24% greater in NT than in CT, respectively, with no effects of crop rotation. Furthermore, ratios of soluble C and N contents to MB-C and MB-N were consistently lower in NT, indicating higher immobilization of C and N per unit of MB. The decrease in qCO₂ and the increase in MB-C under NT allowed enhancements in soil C stocks, such that in the 0–40 cm profile, a gain of 2500 kg of C ha⁻¹ was observed in relation to CT. Carbon stocks also varied with crop rotation, with net changes at 0–40 cm of 726, 1167 and −394 kg C ha⁻¹ year, in rotations 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Similar results were obtained for the N stocks, with 410 kg N ha⁻¹ gained in NT, while crop rotations 1, 2 and 3 accumulated 71, 137 and 37 kg of N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. On average, microbial biomass corresponded to 2.4 and 1.7% of the total soil C, and 5.2 and 3.2% of the N in NT and CT systems, respectively. Soil management was the main factor affecting soil C and N levels, but enhancement also resulted from the ratios of legumes and non-legumes in the rotations. The results emphasize the importance of microorganisms as reservoirs of C and N in tropical soils. Furthermore, the parameters associated with microbiological activity were more responsive to soil management and crop rotation effects than were total stocks of C and N, demonstrating their usefulness as indicators of soil quality in the tropics.     

Soil microbial biomass and nitrogen supply in an irrigated lowland rice soil as affected by crop rotation and residue management

 Processes that govern the soil nitrogen (N) supply in irrigated lowland rice systems are poorly understood. The objectives of this paper were to investigate the effects of crop rotation and management on soil N dynamics, microbial biomass C (C_BIO) and microbial biomass N (N_BIO) in relation to rice N uptake and yield. A maize-rice (M-R) rotation was compared with a rice-rice (R-R) double-cropping system over a 2-year period with four cropping seasons. In the M-R system, maize (Zea mays L.) was grown in aerated soil during the dry season (DS) followed by rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in flooded soil during the wet season (WS). In the R-R system, rice was grown in flooded soil in both the DS and WS. Three fertilizer N rates (0, 50 or 100 kg urea-N ha^–1 in WS) were assigned to subplots within the cropping system main plots. Early versus late crop residue incorporation following DS maize or rice were established as additional treatments in sub-subplots in the second year. In the R-R system, the time of residue incorporation had a large effect on NO₃ ^–-N accumulation during the fallow period and also on extractable NH₄ ⁺-N, rice N uptake and yield in the subsequent cropping period. In contrast, time of residue incorporation had little influence on extractable N in both the fallow and rice-cropping periods of the M-R system, and no detectable effects on rice N uptake or yield. In both cropping systems, C_BIO and N_BIO were not sensitive to residue incorporation despite differences of 2- to 3-fold increase in the amount of incorporated residue C and N, and were relatively insensitive to N fertilizer application. Extractable organic N was consistently greater after mid-tillering in M-R compared to the R-R system across N rate and residue incorporation treatments, and much of this organic N was α-amino N. We conclude that N mineralization-immobilization dynamics in lowland rice systems are sensitive to soil aeration as influenced by residue management in the fallow period and crop rotation, and that these factors have agronomically significant effects on rice N uptake and yield. Microbial biomass measurements, however, were a poor indicator of these dynamics. Received: 31 October 1997     

Nitrogen mineralization and availability of mixed leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop residues in soil

Whereas non-leguminous cover crops such as cereal rye (Secale cereale) or annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium) are capable of reducing nitrogen (N) leaching during wet seasons, leguminous cover crops such as hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) improve soil N fertility for succeeding crops. With mixtures of grasses and legumes as cover crop, the goal of reducing N leaching while increasing soil N availability for crop production could be attainable. This study examined net N mineralization of soil treated with hairy vetch residues mixed with either cereal rye or annual ryegrass and the effect of these mixtures on growth and N uptake by cereal rye. Both cereal rye and annual ryegrass contained low total N, but high water-soluble carbon and carbohydrate, compared with hairy vetch. Decreasing the proportion of hairy vetch in the mixed residues decreased net N mineralization, rye plant growth and N uptake, but increased the crossover time (the time when the amount of net N mineralized in the residue-amended soil equalled that of the non-amended control) required for net N mineralization to occur. When the hairy vetch content was decreased to 40% or lower, net N immobilization in the first week of incubation increased markedly. Residue N was significantly correlated with rye biomass (r=0.81, P<0.01) and N uptake (r=0.83, P<0.001), although the correlation was much higher between residue N and the potential initial N mineralization rate for rye biomass (r=0.93, P<0.001) and N uptake (r=0.99, P<0.001). Judging from the effects of the mixed residues on rye N Concentration and N uptake, the proportion of rye or annual ryegrass when mixed with residues of hairy vetch should not exceed 60% if the residues are to increase N availability. Further study is needed to examine the influence of various mixtures of hairy vetch and rye or annual ryegrass on N leaching in soil. Received: 10 March 1997     

Microbial community composition and substrate use in a highly weathered soil as affected by crop rotation and P fertilization

A better understanding of soil microbial processes is required to improve the synchrony between nutrient release from plant residues and crop demand. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis was used to investigate the effect of two crop rotations (continuous maize and maize-crotalaria rotation) and P fertilization (0 and 50 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, applied as triple superphosphate) on microbial community composition in a highly weathered soil from western Kenya. Microbial substrate use in soils from the field experiment was compared in incubation experiments. Higher levels of soil organic matter and microbial biomass in the maize-crotalaria rotation were connected with higher total amounts of phospholipid fatty acids and an increase in the relative abundances of indicators for fungi and gram-negative bacteria. P fertilization changed the community profile only within the continuous maize treatment. The decomposition of glucose, cellulose and three plant residues (all added at 2.5 g C kg⁻¹ soil) proceeded faster in soil from the maize-crotalaria rotation, but differences were mostly transient. Microbial P and N uptake within one week increased with the water-soluble carbon content of added plant residues. More P and N were taken up by the greater microbial biomass in soil from the maize-crotalaria rotation than from continuous maize. Re-mineralization of nutrients during the decline of the microbial biomass increased also with the initial biological activity of the soil, but occurred only for a high quality plant residue within the half year incubation period. Compared to the effect of crop rotation, P fertilization had a minor effect on microbial community composition and substrate use.     

Influence of soil compaction on carbon and nitrogen mineralization of soil organic matter and crop residues

 We studied the influence of soil compaction in a loamy sand soil on C and N mineralization and nitrification of soil organic matter and added crop residues. Samples of unamended soil, and soil amended with leek residues, at six bulk densities ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 Mg m^–3 and 75% field capacity, were incubated. In the unamended soil, bulk density within the range studied did not influence any measure of microbial activity significantly. A small (but insignificant) decrease in nitrification rate at the highest bulk density was the only evidence for possible effects of compaction on microbial activity. In the amended soil the amounts of mineralized N at the end of the incubation were equal at all bulk densities, but first-order N mineralization rates tended to increase with increasing compaction, although the increase was not significant. Nitrification in the amended soils was more affected by compaction, and NO₃ ^–-N contents after 3 weeks of incubation at bulk densities of 1.5 and 1.6 Mg m^–3 were significantly lower (by about 8% and 16% of total added N, respectively), than those of the less compacted treatments. The C mineralization rate was strongly depressed at a bulk density of 1.6 Mg m^–3, compared with the other treatments. The depression of C mineralization in compacted soils can lead to higher organic matter accumulation. Since N mineralization was not affected by compaction (within the range used here) the accumulated organic matter would have had higher C : N ratios than in the uncompacted soils, and hence would have been of a lower quality. In general, increasing soil compaction in this soil, starting at a bulk density of 1.5 Mg m^–3, will affect some microbially driven processes. Received: 10 June 1999     

Water retention and hydraulic conductivity of a loamy sand soil as influenced by crop rotation and fertilization

Measurements are reported of soil organic carbon content, dry bulk density, water retention characteristics, and saturated hydraulic conductivity of a sandy loam soil with two different crop rotations and two levels of fertilization. The water retention characteristics were fitted to the van Genuchten equation. Values of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were estimated by calculation. It was found that crop rotation has much larger effects on these soil physical properties than fertilization. Water retention and hydraulic conductivity are greater when mustard, and clover with grass are included in the crop rotation, but only at water contents greater than 0,10 and 0, 13 kg kg^?1respectívely.     

Mineralisation of crop residues on the soil surface or incorporated in the soil under controlled conditions

In the present work, we compare the effect of mature crop residues mixed into a ferralitic soil or placed as a single layer on soil surface on the mineralisation of C and N over 55 days. As residues, we used dry stems of rice, soybean, sorghum, brachiaria and wheat. There were no significant effects of residue placement on C mineralisation kinetics. Decomposition of the residues on the soil surface slightly increased net N mineralisation for residues having the smallest C/N ratio.     

Sclerotium rolfsii dynamics in soil as affected by crop sequences

Crop rotation has been used for the management of soilborne diseases for centuries, but has not often been planned based on scientific knowledge. Our objective was to generate information on Sclerotium rolfsii dynamics under different crop or intercrop activities, and design and test a research approach where simple experiments and the use of models are combined to explore crop sequences that minimize Southern blight incidence.The effect of seventeen green manure (GM) amendments on sclerotia dynamics was analyzed in greenhouse and field plot experiments during two years. The relative densities of viable sclerotia 90 days after winter GM (WGM) incorporation were generally lower than after summer GM (SGM) incorporation, with average recovery values of 60% and 61% for WGM in the field, 66% and 43% for WGM in the greenhouse, and 162% to 91% for SGM in the greenhouse, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Sclerotia survival on day d after GM amendment was described by the model S_f = S_i × exp(−b × d), relating initial (S_i) and final (S_f) sclerotia densities. Relative decay rates of the sclerotia (b) in SGM amended soil were largest for alfalfa (0.0077 ± 0.0031 day⁻¹) and sudangrass (0.0072 ± 0.0030 day⁻¹). In WGM amended soil, the largest b values were for oat (0.0096 ± 0.0024 day⁻¹), wheat (0.0090 ± 0.0024 day⁻¹) and alfalfa (0.0087 ± 0.0023 day⁻¹).The effect of three cropping sequences (sweet pepper–fallow, sweet pepper–black oat and sweet pepper–onion) on sclerotia dynamics was analyzed in microplot experiments, and the data were used to calibrate the model P_f = P_i/(α + βP_i), relating initial (P_i) and final (P_f) sclerotia densities. Median values for the relative rate of population increase at low P_i (1/α, dimension less) and the asymptote (1/β, number of viable sclerotia in 100 g of dry soil) were 8.22 and 4.17 for black oat (BO), 1.13 and 8.64 for onion (O), and 6.26 and 17.93 for sweet pepper (SwP).By concatenating the two models, sclerotia population dynamics under several crop sequences were simulated. At steady state, the sequence SwP–O–Fallow–BO resulted in the lowest long-term sclerotia density (7.09 sclerotia/100 g soil), and SwP–Fallow in the highest (17.89 sclerotia/100 g soil). The developed methodology facilitates the selection of a limited number of rotation options to be tested in farmers’ fields.     

Decomposition and nitrogen mineralization from legume and non-legume crop residues in a subarctic agricultural soil

An understanding of the C and N dynamics of crop residues is important for efficient nutrient management. The present experiment was conducted to determine the rate of mass and N loss from alfalfa, faba bean, barley, and rape crop residues in a subarctic agricultural soil. Mass, C, and N losses were measured from residues contained in mesh bags and placed on the soil surface or buried 15 cm below the surface. The mass loss from October, 1988, to May, 1989, was the same for surface and buried alfalfa, barley, and rape residues, averaging 40, 20, and 61%, respectively, while surface and buried faba bean residue sustained 30 and 40% mass loss, respectively. The mass loss of the buried residues continued over the summer but not of those placed on the soil surface, resulting in an average 23% greater mass loss of the buried materials after 1 year. The N loss from October to May was similar from the surface and from the buried placements for the alfalfa, faba bean, and rape residues, averaging 11.3, 10.3 and 38.4 g N kg^-1 residue, respectively, while the surface and buried barley lost 2.9 and 4.2 g N kg^-1, respectively. The C:N ratio of all of the residues increased during the winter. These data indicate that the rate of decomposition and N mineralization from crop residues in subarctic environments can equal that measured in temperate climates. Furthermore, the concurrent loss of mass and N combined with an increase in the C:N ratio of the residues suggests that physical rather than biological processes were functioning during the winter. Most of the mass and N loss from these residues occurred during the winter, out of phase with crop demand, thereby creating the potential for N loss from the system and inefficient use of crop residue N.     

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff,soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray,Northern Ethiopia

The aim of conservation agriculture (CA) is to improve soil quality and crop yield whilst reducing runoff and topsoil erosion. An experiment was carried out in a rainfed field using a permanent raised bed planting system for 3 yr (2005–2007) in Adigudem, northern Ethiopia in order to evaluate the effect of CA on runoff, soil loss and crop yield. CA practices were introduced in fields with Vertisols in a randomized complete block design on permanent 5 × 19 m plots. Three treatments were evaluated: (1) conventional tillage (CT) with a minimum of three tillage operations and removal of crop residues, (2) terwah (TER) that was similar to CT except that contour furrows were included at 1.5 m intervals, and (3) derdero+ (DER+), which consists of permanent raised beds with a furrow and bed system, retention of 30% of standing crop residues and zero tillage on the top of the bed. All ploughing as well as the maintenance of the furrows of the permanent raised beds was done using a local ard plough called maresha. Results from monitoring over 3 yr showed that soil loss and runoff were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CT followed by TER and DER+. Average soil losses of 5.2, 20.1 and 24.2 t/ha were recorded from DER+, TER and CT, respectively. Runoff was 46.3, 76.3 and 98.1 mm from DER+, TER and CT, respectively. Grain yield was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in DER+ under teff in 2006, probably due to the high sensitivity of teff to weeds. The yield of wheat in 2007 was significantly higher in DER+ followed by TER. The terwah system is recommended as a first measure for wider adoption to reduce runoff and soil loss and to increase crop yield. The long‐term goal is to achieve a derdero+ system, i.e. a permanent raised bed planting system along with the application of crop residues.     

两种轮作模式下秸秆还田对土壤呼吸及其温度敏感性的影响

通过分析不同作物轮作模式下秸秆还田对土壤呼吸及其温度敏感性的影响,为深入探究关中地区农田生态系统碳循环提供理论依据。试验设置于陕西省杨凌地区,在2012年10月至2014年9月期间以冬小麦-夏玉米轮作模式和冬小麦-夏大豆轮作模式作为研究对象,分别设置秸秆还田(SM)和秸秆不还田(NS)两个处理,测定分析不同处理下土壤呼吸、土壤温度及土壤含水量的变化趋势和差异,并估算土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q_(10))。结果表明:土壤呼吸存在明显的季节变化,在作物生育期大部分时间内,SM处理的土壤呼吸速率均显著高于NS处理(P0.05),且SM处理的作物生育期土壤呼吸平均速率及土壤呼吸累计排放量也极显著高于NS处理(P0.01);不同作物生育期土壤呼吸平均速率依次为夏玉米夏大豆冬小麦,土壤呼吸总量表现为冬小麦夏玉米夏大豆、冬小麦-夏玉米轮作冬小麦-夏大豆轮作。冬小麦-夏玉米轮作与冬小麦-大豆轮作的土壤温度间存在差异;其中,在冬小麦生育前期,冬小麦-夏玉米轮作的土壤温度显著高于冬小麦-大豆轮作;第2季夏玉米生育期内5 cm深度的土壤温度显著低于同季的夏大豆;相比NS处理,SM处理能提高冬季土壤的温度,并降低春季和夏季的土壤温度;在高温少雨的时期内,SM处理能够提高0~30 cm土壤的平均含水量,不同的前茬作物引起两种轮作模式中冬小麦耕作层土壤含水量间明显的差异,夏玉米耕作层土壤含水量显著高于夏大豆。相关分析表明,土壤呼吸与5 cm和10 cm土壤温度均存在极显著的正相关性,且与5 cm土壤温度的相关性更好;但土壤呼吸与0~30 cm的土壤平均含水量无显著相关性。5 cm和10 cm土壤温度变化能够分别解释土壤呼吸变化的64.6%~67.3%和51.5%~59.6%。整个研究周期内,温度敏感性(Q_(10))为1.70~2.01,冬小麦-夏玉米轮作的温度敏感性显著高于冬小麦-大豆轮作,且同一轮作模式下SM处理的温度敏感性显著低于NS处理。因此,秸秆还田能够提高农田的土壤呼吸作用,降低土壤呼吸的温度敏感性,同时能够调节土壤的水热状况。     

Effect of tillage intensity on N mineralization of different crop residues in a temperate climate

To evaluate the effect of tillage intensity on the N mineralization pattern of winter wheat residues, sugar beet residues, Italian ryegrass and maize residues undisturbed soil samples were taken from six sites under different tillage management. Site NT_K had been managed for 10 years under reduced tillage (RT), whereby the last 4 years the crops were sown using direct seeding (NT). Site RT_CSE had been managed for 20 years under reduced tillage (RT) and site RT_H for 3 years. For each site under RT a nearby site under conventional tillage (CT) was selected (CT_K, CT_CSE and CT_H). On site NT_K and site RT_CSE a significantly higher amount of SOC in the 0–10 cm was accumulated compared to the respective CT sites. Between site RT_H and site CT_H no such significant difference was found. However, the content of microbial biomass C (MB-C) and the β-glucosidase and urease activities were higher on all RT sites compared to the respective CT sites. This indicates that these microbiological and biochemical parameters seem to be very sensitive for alterations in management intensity. After 98 days, more N was immobilized under NT_K than under CT_K by adding winter wheat residues (expressed as kg ha⁻¹ and as % of total added N). This higher immobilization potential can be explained by a higher microbial activity and a change in microbial population. Under RT_CSE and RT_H net N immobilization of the winter wheat residues was found, but the pattern was less pronounced than for NT_K. However, when expressed as % of total N added, N immobilization of winter wheat residues was higher under CT than under RT, which indicates that high C:N residues when incorporated, decompose more slowly under RT than under CT. Similar results were found comparing the N mineralization pattern of maize residues under RT_H and CT_H. The residues of sugar beet and Italian ryegrass at site CT_H released N more rapidly and to a higher extent, 74.1% and 66.2%, respectively (expressed as % of total N added) than under RT_H at the end of the incubation. The slower mineralization of N rich crop residues under RT compared to CT means that there is less potential risk for nitrate leaching to occur, which may result in a higher N efficiency in RT compared to CT.     

Yield and N uptake as affected by soil tillage and catch crop

Two field trials with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were conducted at two locations in Denmark in order to evaluate the effects of tillage and growth of a catch crop on yield parameters under temperate coastal climate conditions. Ploughing in autumn or spring in combination with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a catch crop was evaluated on a coarse sand (Orthic Haplohumod) from 1987 to 1992 at three rates of N fertiliser application (60, 90 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Rotovating and direct drilling were also included as additional tillage practices. The experiment was conducted on a 19-year-old field trial with continuous production of spring barley. Ploughing in autumn or spring in combination with stubble cultivation and a catch crop, in addition to minimum tillage, was evaluated in a newly established field trial on a sandy loam (Typic Agrudalf) from 1988 to 1992. Yield parameters and N concentrations in grain and straw were determined. On the coarse sand, N uptake in the grain in ploughed plots without a catch crop was significantly greater when spring ploughed as opposed to autumn ploughed, but grain and straw yields did not differ significantly. Grain yield, straw yield and total N uptake did not differ significantly between direct drilled and autumn ploughed plots, but the trend was for grain yield to be lower with direct drilling. After 19 years of catch crop use, yield parameters in ploughed plots were greater than in plots without catch crops. This was most pronounced in the autumn ploughed plots. Rotovating the catch crop in the spring decreased grain yield compared with underploughing the catch crop in autumn or spring. No significant interactions were found between tillage and N rates. On the sandy loam, grain as well as straw yield and total N uptake were not significantly affected by catch crop or time of ploughing. Grain yield was significantly lower with reduced tillage (stubble cultivation in autumn) than in all other treatments.     

Manipulating N mineralization from high N crop residues using on- and off-farm organic materials

We have studied the possibilities of manipulating N mineralization from high N vegetable crop residues by the addition of organic materials, with the aim of initially immobilizing the mineralized residue N with a view to stimulating remineralization at a later stage. Residues of leek (Allium porrum) were incubated with soil, alone and in combination with straw, two types of green waste compost (with contrasting C:N ratios) and tannic acid. Evolution of mineral N was monitored by destructive sampling. After 15 weeks, molasses was added to part of the samples in each treatment, and incubation continued for another 12 weeks. All materials added during the first incubation stage, except the low C:N compost, resulted in significant immobilization of the residue N. The immobilization with the high C:N compost (41.4 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) was significantly larger than with tannic acid and straw (both immobilized about 26 mg N kg⁻¹ soil). In the straw treatment, remineralization started in the first stage of incubation from day 50 onwards. The addition of molasses caused a strong and significant remineralization in the second stage (equivalent to 73% of the N initially immobilized) in the treatment with the high C:N ratio compost. In the case of tannic acid, there was no consistent effect on mineralization from addition of molasses. This was attributed to the fact that the immobilization observed was due to chemical rather than biological fixation of the residue N. A number of non-toxic organic wastes could be considered for use in mediating release of immobilized N from high N crop residue materials in an attempt to synchronize residue N availability with crop N demand.     

氮磷配合对土壤氮素径流流失的影响

大田试验研究结果表明 :增施N、P均能增加作物的产量和减少水土流失 ;当N、P用量分别达到 5 5 .2kgN/hm2 和 90kgP2 O5/hm2 时 ,泥沙有机质和全氮流失最少 ,流失量分别为 2 0 89和 1 75kg/km2 ;当N、P用量分别为 5 5 .2kgN/hm2 和 4 5kgP2 O5/hm2 时 ,土壤矿质氮流失最小 ,其流失量仅为 2 7.9kg/km2 ;作物对土壤氮素的吸收 ,可减少土壤氮素的流失 .     

Dynamics of dissolved and extractable organic nitrogen upon soil amendment with crop residues

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is increasingly recognized as a pivotal pool in the soil nitrogen (N) cycle. Numerous devices and sampling procedures have been used to estimate its size, varying from in situ collection of soil solution to extraction of dried soil with salt solutions. Extractable organic N (EON) not only consists of DON but contains also compounds released from soil biomass and desorbed organic matter. There is no consensus whether DON or EON primarily regulates N mineralisation in soil, and their contribution to N mineralisation has not been quantified simultaneously. We evaluated three sampling procedures on their ability to determine the dynamic of dissolved organic N pools. The three procedures were the determination of DON in 1) soil solution collected by centrifugation, and the determination of EON in 2) a 0.01 M CaCl₂ extract of field moist or 3) dried soil. We added unlabeled leek and ¹⁵N-labeled ryegrass residues to a loamy sandy soil to create a temporarily increase in DON and EON, to stimulate microbial activity, and to test whether the source and dynamics of the three pools differ. We also tested whether the flow of N through DON or EON was associated with the production of inorganic N using ¹⁵N isotope tracing. Sampling procedures significantly affected the amount, but not the dynamics and origin of the three organic N pools. DON and EON (determined on field-moist and dried soils) showed all a significant increase upon crop amendment and returned to their background concentrations within 10 to 30 days. The fraction of DON and EON originating from the crop residue slightly decreased over 138 days and was not different for DON and EON. Field moist extraction of a loamy sandy soil with 0.01 M CaCl₂ gave a reliable estimate of the concentration of in situ dissolved organic N. In contrast, extraction of dried soil significantly increased EON compared to DON. The agreement in dynamics, ¹⁵N enrichment and C-to-N ratio’s indicate that dissolved and extracted organic N have a similar role in N mineralisation. Our results also suggest that they make a minor contribution to N mineralisation; changes in the turnover rate of EON were not associated with changes in the net N mineralisation rate.     

Impact of tillage and crop rotation on light fraction and intra-aggregate soil organic matter in two Oxisols

It is well known that no-tillage (NT) practices can promote greater stocks of soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil surface layer compared to conventional tillage (CT) by enhancing the physical protection of aggregate-associated C in temperate soils. However, this link between tillage, aggregation and SOM is less well established for tropical soils, such as Oxisols. The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of SOM stabilization in Oxisols as affected by different crop rotations and tillage regimes at two sites in southern Brazil. Soils were sampled from two agricultural experiment sites (Passo Fundo and Londrina) in southern Brazil, with treatments comparing different crop rotations under NT and CT management, and a reference soil under native vegetation (NV). Free light fraction (LF) and intra-aggregate particulate organic matter (iPOM) were isolated from slaking-resistant aggregates. Of the total C associated with aggregates, 79–90% was found in the mineral fraction, but there were no differences between NT and CT. In contrast, tillage drastically decreased LF-C concentrations in the 0–5 cm depth layer at both sites. In the same depth layer of NT systems at Londrina, the concentrations of iPOM-C were greater when a legume cover crop was included in the rotation. At Londrina, the order of total iPOM-C levels was generally NV > NT > CT in the 0–5 cm depth interval, but the difference between NT and CT was much less than in Passo Fundo. At Passo Fundo, the greatest concentrations and differences in concentrations across tillage treatments were found in the fine (53–250 μm) iPOM fractions occluded within microaggregates. In conclusion, even though no aggregate hierarchy exists in these Oxisols, our results corroborate the concept of a stabilization of POM-C within microaggregates in no-tillage systems, especially when green manures are included in the rotation.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus transformations as affected by crop residue management practices and their influence on crop yield

Abstract. A 15-year field experiment investigated crop residue management practices, with crop residue removal, burning and incorporation as the main treatments and nitrogen levels as subtreatments. The effects of crop residue management practices on rice and wheat yield were measured for 11 years. Surface soil samples were taken to study nitrogen and phosphorus immobilization/adsorption and their release under laboratory conditions. The field experiment indicated that residue burning and residue removal resulted in greater grain yields of rice (5.57 and 5.53 t/ha, respectively) and wheat (4.12 and 4.02 t/ha, respectively) than residue incorporation (4.51 t/ha rice and 3.72 t/ha wheat). Laboratory experiments indicated that by the addition of crop residues nitrogen and phosphorus were converted to unavailable forms through immobilization and adsorption, respectively.
Crop residue management practices were discontinued after 13 years and wheat and maize crops were grown in sequence. There were significantly greater yields of wheat (3.57 t/ha in 1992–93 and 3.6 t/ha in 1993–94) and of maize (2.1 t/ha in 1993) in plots where the residues had previously been incorporated than where the residues were previously either removed or burned. This is attributed to release of nitrogen and phosphorus from the incorporated residues.