秸秆和地膜覆盖对旱作玉米田土壤团聚体及有机碳的影响

利用田间试验研究了不同覆盖条件下黄土高原旱作春玉米田土壤团聚体及其有机碳分布状况。试验设无覆盖(CK)、秸秆覆盖(SM)和地膜覆盖(PM)3个处理。结果表明,与CK处理相比,PM处理提高了0~10 cm土层中0.25 mm粒径机械稳定性团聚体含量;SM处理提高了0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层0.25 mm水稳性大团聚体含量和稳定性,且降低了团聚体的破坏率;SM和PM处理均提高了0~10 cm土层水稳性团聚体的平均重量直径值。在各土层,0.25 mm粒径微团聚体有机碳含量在各粒径团聚体中最低。SM处理较CK处理显著提高了0~10 cm土层总有机碳和土壤团聚体各粒径有机碳含量(0.5~0.25 mm粒径除外),PM处理较CK处理10~20 cm和20~40 cm土层总有机碳和团聚体有机碳有降低趋势。在各土层中,土壤有机碳主要储存在水稳性大团聚体中。SM处理较CK处理提高了0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层大团聚体对土壤总有机碳的贡献率,PM处理作用不显著。总体而言,秸秆覆盖对改善土壤结构及提高固碳作用均具有明显的效果,地膜覆盖仅对土壤团聚体的团聚有促进作用。     

旱地长期覆盖下土壤团聚体有机碳及无机碳的变化规律

[目的] 研究不同覆盖方式对黄土高原土壤团聚体内部有机碳、无机碳分布的影响,为研究覆盖条件下土壤团聚体碳固持机制提供理论依据,推动旱地农田土壤的高效管理。[方法] 依据2012年起实施的长期定位试验,以种植“先玉335”春玉米的耕作土壤为研究对象,设置秸秆覆盖(SM)、地膜覆盖(FM)、无覆盖(CK)3个处理,通过湿筛法分析不同粒径团聚体中碳分布特征及其酶活性。[结果] ①与无覆盖相比,秸秆覆盖显著增加了各个粒径团聚体有机碳含量(p<0.05),增加幅度为4.8%~18.2%;而地膜覆盖则显著降低了各粒径有机碳含量(p<0.05),降低幅度为1.2%~7.1%。同一处理下,团聚体有机碳含量随着粒径的减小先上升后降低。各粒径中有机碳储量在秸秆覆盖下高于地膜覆盖和无覆盖处理。②地膜覆盖相较无覆盖显著增加了团聚体中的无机碳含量(p<0.05),增加幅度为4.3%~5.9%;秸秆覆盖降低了无机碳含量,但差异不显著。同一处理下团聚体各粒径中无机碳含量随着粒径的减小先上升后降低。地膜覆盖显著降低了>2 mm团聚体粒径的无机碳储量,但显著提高了2~0.25 mm粒径的储量(p<0.05)。③秸秆覆盖显著增加了团聚体中的总碳含量,增加幅度为7.1%~12.4%;同时地膜覆盖和秸秆覆盖都显著提高了2~0.25 mm粒径的总碳储量(p<0.05)。④秸秆覆盖提高了团聚体中与碳循环相关酶的活性,地膜覆盖则对其产生降低的影响。相关性分析表明有机碳、总碳含量与碳循环相关的酶活性呈显著正相关关系(p<0.05)。[结论] 秸秆覆盖和地膜覆盖显著影响碳库在团聚体中的变化,其中秸秆覆盖在提升土壤地力,增加土壤碳的固定方面优于地膜覆盖,具有较大优势。     

不同秸秆还田年限对稻麦轮作土壤团聚体和有机碳的影响

为了揭示稻麦轮作不同秸秆还田年限下土壤团聚体稳定性以及有机碳组分的变化特征及其响应机制,采用大田小区试验,考察不同秸秆还田年限(0,3,4,5,6,7,8,9a)对土壤团聚体分布特征和团聚体稳定性指数(平均重量直径MWD、几何平均直径GMD、分形维数D)的影响,并研究其与土壤有机碳组分的相关性。结果表明,秸秆还田条件下土壤大团聚体数量R_(0.25)、MWD和GMD均显著提升,分形维数D则显著降低,随还田年限越长趋势越明显,但短期秸秆还田(5a以内)对土壤MWD和分形维数D的改善效果不显著;长期秸秆还田显著提升了土壤总有机碳TOC,但短期秸秆还田(5a以内)与不还田处理差异不显著,长期和短期秸秆还田均对活性有机碳AC的提升效果显著;多元回归分析显示,相比AC,土壤团聚体结构稳定更能促进TOC的增长,GWD与土壤有机碳组分的拟合度最高,更适合用于揭示团聚体与有机碳组分之间的关系。     

土壤团聚体中有机碳研究进展

增加土壤有机碳有助于农业可持续发展, 同时对缓解温室气体增加造成的全球气候变暖等具有重要意义。土壤团聚体是土壤的重要组成部分, 影响土壤的各种物理化学性质。土壤团聚体和有机碳是不可分割的, 前者是后者存在的场所, 后者是前者存在的胶结物质。本文在综合各方面研究的基础上, 阐述了土壤团聚体和有机碳的依存关系, 影响团聚体固碳的几大因素, 团聚体对有机碳的物理保护机制以及目前应用比较广泛的团聚体内有机碳的研究方法, 为以后的研究提供理论和方法上的支持。     

不同土地利用方式下土壤团聚体的分布及其有机碳含量的变化

通过野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法,对耕地、园地、林地和撂荒地土壤团聚体及其有机碳的分布特点进行了研究.结果表明,不同土地利用方式下土壤闭聚体的分布均以＞2.00 mm团聚体为主,其它依次为0.5～1,1～2,＜0.25和0.25～0.5 mm粒径的团聚体.林地和撂荒地土壤有机碳含量随粒径的减小呈递增的变化趋势;耕地在0.25～0.5 mm和＜0.25 mm团聚体中有机碳含量较高,园地则以0.25～0.5mm粒径团聚体中有机碳含量最高.4种土地利用方式下,以＞5 mm团聚体中土壤有机碳含量差异最大,随着团聚体粒径的增加,它们之间的差异逐渐减小;各土地利用方式下表层土壤中,分布在＜0.25 mm和0.25～0.5mm团聚体粒径中有机碳占有机碳总量比例低于2～5,＞5和0.5～1 mm的团聚体.     

不同耕作措施下旱作农田土壤团聚体中有机碳和全氮分布特征

以连续进行12年的保护性耕作长期定位试验为研究对象,探索了传统耕作(T)、传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)、免耕不覆盖(NT)、免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)4种耕作措施对陇中黄土高原旱作农田豌豆-小麦双序列轮作系统的土壤团聚体中有机碳和全氮分布特征的影响。结果表明:各处理均以≥0.25 mm团聚体为优势团聚体,且≥0.25 mm团聚体含量随土层深度增加而增加,而其他粒径团聚体含量随土层深度的变化并无明显规律。较之T处理,TS、NT、NTS处理均可提升≥0.25 mm团聚体含量和平均重量直径,NTS处理提升效果最明显。TS、NT、NTS处理土壤有机碳和全氮含量均高于T处理,其中TS、NTS处理显著高于T处理,NTS处理高于TS处理;各处理土壤有机碳和全氮含量均随土层增加而减小。较之T处理,NT、TS、NTS处理可不同程度提高各粒径团聚体中有机碳和全氮含量,NTS处理的含量最高;各粒径团聚体中有机碳和全氮含量均随土层深度增加而减小;同时,团聚体中有机碳和全氮含量随粒径减小而增加。2~5 mm和0.25~2 mm和≥5 mm团聚体含量与相应粒径团聚体有机碳含量呈极显著正相关、极显著正相关和极显著负相关;0.25~2 mm和≥5 mm团聚体含量与相应级别团聚体全氮含量分别呈极显著正相关和显著负相关。T处理不同粒径团聚体有机碳和全氮贡献率按其大小排序均为(0.25 mm)(≥5 mm)(0.25~2 mm)(2~5 mm),其他3种耕作措施各粒径团聚体有机碳和全氮贡献率在各土层中的排序各有不同,并无明显规律。     

不同土地利用方式对岷江流域土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳的影响

采用湿筛法测量了岷江流域不同土地利用方式下不同土层（0—10,10—20,20—30 cm）土壤大团聚体（> 2 mm）、中间团聚体（0.25~2 mm）、微团聚体（53 μm~0.25 mm）以及粉+黏团聚体（<53 μm）的质量分数及各粒径团聚体中的有机碳含量,并探讨了各粒径土壤团聚体的有机碳储量。结果表明,土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性及其有机碳具有重要影响;土壤养分均呈现出一致性规律,大致表现为撂荒地 > 次生林 > 人工林 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,土壤全磷差异并不显著（p>0.05）;林地的开垦行为会导致大团聚体的破碎化,灌草丛及坡耕地>0.25 mm的大团聚体含量较林地低,土壤结构趋于恶化;而坡耕地闲置为撂荒地后,则会促使粉+黏团聚体向粒径大的微团聚体及中间团聚体转化,使土壤结构趋于改善,在0—30 cm土层内,灌草丛及坡耕地土壤颗粒的MWD（平均质量直径）和GMD（几何平均直径）值均显著低于林地和撂荒地（p<0.05）,坡耕地撂荒后,MWD和GMD值均显著升高（p<0.05）,表明林地开垦为坡耕地导致土壤团聚体的稳定性降低,而坡耕地弃耕撂荒会增强团聚体的稳定性,提高土壤抵抗外力破坏的能力。不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳含量均随土层深度的增加而降低。在0—30 cm土层深度内,不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳储量表现为:大团聚体有机碳储量为林地 > 撂荒地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,中间团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,微团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地;粉+黏团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地。各粒径土壤团聚体内有机碳储量均为林地和撂荒地高于果园和坡耕地,表明将林地开垦为坡耕地后,将导致各团聚体组分内有机碳的损失,而坡耕地撂荒则有助于土壤有机碳的恢复和截存;林地和撂荒地土壤有机碳主要蓄积在中间团聚体内,而坡耕地则主要蓄积在粉+黏团聚体内,表明在土地利用变化过程中,粒径较大的团聚体有机碳不稳定,更容易发生变化。     

土壤团聚体对有机碳物理保护机制研究

提升土壤中有机碳固定量在修复退化土壤,降低土壤CO2释放,增加土壤肥力,提高作物生产力方面具有重要作用。在有机碳固定方面,土壤团聚体对有机碳的物理保护是土壤固碳的重要机制之一。文章从1土壤团聚体形成概念模型;2土壤团聚体对有机碳的物理保护;3土壤团聚体物理性质与有机碳固定三个方面阐述了国内外关于土壤团聚体对有机碳物理保护机制的研究进展,并提出今后可能的研究方向。     

免耕对土壤团聚体特征以及有机碳储量的影响

以实施7年的中国科学院禹城综合试验站冬小麦夏玉米轮作免耕长期定位试验场为对象,研究免耕条件下土壤水稳性团聚体和有机碳储量的变化,为进一步评价免耕措施对黄淮海平原土壤结构和质量的影响提供科学依据。设置免耕(NT)、免耕秸秆不还田(NTRR)、常规耕作(CT)3种处理,分析土壤表层(0~20 cm)及深层(20~60 cm)水稳性团聚体分布特征、土壤有机碳以及团聚体有机碳的变化和相互关系。研究结果表明:由于减少了对土壤的破坏以及增加了秸秆还田和有机肥的施用,与常规耕作相比,NT和NTRR可提高表层土壤有机碳含量和储量、水稳性团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD),以及大团聚体有机碳的含量和储量。其中,秸秆覆盖比施用有机肥对表层土壤有机碳储量和0.25~2 mm团聚体有机碳储量的提高具有更显著的作用。与表层不同,深层土壤有机碳和大团聚体有机碳的含量和储量表现为NT相似文献   

生物炭及秸秆长期施用对紫色土坡耕地土壤团聚体有机碳的影响

依托紫色土坡耕地长期施肥试验观测平台,研究生物炭、秸秆对紫色土坡耕地团聚体有机碳分布的影响。长期施肥试验处理包括不施肥(CK)、无机氮磷钾肥(NPK)、秸秆还田(RSD)、生物炭与无机氮磷钾配施(BCNPK)、秸秆与无机氮磷钾配施(RSDNPK)。利用湿筛法,进行土壤团聚体粒径分组,随后测定各粒径团聚体含量及其有机碳含量,并计算团聚体平均质量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)。结果表明,RSD、RSDNPK和BCNPK处理的表层SOC含量比CK处理增加43.1%～90.5%,SOC储量提高65.1%～74.3%,其中RSDNPK处理、BCNPK处理较NPK处理SOC显著增加25.2%～33.1%(P0.05), SOC储量显著提高23.2%～30.0%(P0.05)。团聚体MWD和GMD均为RSD处理RSDNPK处理BCNPK处理NPK处理CK处理; RSD处理0.25～2 mm的团聚体含量高达45.5%,较CK处理提高57.7%;秸秆和生物炭配施处理(RSDNPK处理和BCNPK处理)0.25～2mm的团聚体含量为41.3%～45.7%,而0.053mm粒径团聚体含量却降低54.1%～55.4%。NPK处理、RSD处理与CK处理的增长趋势相似,呈随团聚体粒径减小,团聚体有机碳含量先增大后减小,继而再增大的趋势;而RSDNPK、BCNPK处理则呈随粒径减小团聚体有机碳含量增加的趋势。生物炭和秸秆的施用能显著提升土壤有机碳含量,增强土壤结构稳定性,但生物碳的施用对提升土壤有机碳含量效果优于秸秆的施用,秸秆的施用对稳定土壤结构效果更优,因此生物炭和秸秆的施用可作为紫色土耕地土壤肥力维持和提升的有效管理措施。     

Soil aggregate stability and aggregate-associated organic carbon under different land use or land cover types

Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an indicator for soil condition and is greatly influenced by land use or land cover (LULC) type and other soil and environmental attributes. This study investigated the soil aggregate-size distribution, SAS, aggregate-associated organic carbon (AAOC) and the relative importance of factors affecting SAS and AAOC. Based on conditioned Latin hypercube sampling, soil aggregate samples were collected from the “A” horizon and wet sieved into large macroaggregates (>2.0 mm), small macroaggregates (0.25–2.0 mm), microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) and mineral fraction (<0.053 mm). The large macroaggregates accounted for 86% to 93% of the total aggregates under all LULC types except under dry land (64%) and paddy land (35%). The SAS under different LULC decreased in the order fir > shrubland > natural grassland > orchard > blue pine > broadleaf > mixed conifer > dry land > paddy land. The AAOC of the large macroaggregates constituted for 76%–90% of the total AAOC under all LULC types except under dry land (65%) and paddy land (38%). While SAS was largely influenced by the AAOC of small macroaggregates, microaggregates and large macroaggregates and LULC type, the AAOC of different aggregate fractions was mostly affected by LULC type, altitude and slope. SAS did not exhibit any significant relationship with the AAOC of different aggregate fractions under the natural LULC types but showed a strong relationship under the agricultural land indicating that AAOC is more critical for SAS under the agricultural land than under the natural LULC.     

不同地表覆盖栽培对旱地土壤有机碳、无机碳和轻质有机碳的影响

通过田间长期定位试验,分层采集冬小麦-休闲种植体系0—40 cm土层的土样,研究了常规、地表覆膜和覆草栽培对土壤有机碳、无机碳和轻质有机碳的影响。结果表明,覆膜或覆草可以显著增加地上部小麦生物量和子粒产量。不同地表覆盖对0—40 cm土层的无机碳含量和分布无显著影响,但与常规栽培相比,地表覆膜使0—5 cm土层的有机碳含量显著降低,0—40 cm各土层轻质有机碳表现出明显降低趋势,平均降低 C 6.1~74.5 mg/kg;地表覆草却表现出明显增加土壤轻质有机碳的趋势,0—5,5—10,10—20 cm土层的轻质有机碳含量分别增加C 235.2、190.0和144.9 mg/kg,相当于常规的38.7%,32.9%和34.5%。同时,覆草栽培还表现出降低0—10 cm土层轻质有机质含碳量的趋势,并使0—20 cm土层轻质有机碳占有机碳的比例显著高于常规栽培和地表覆膜处理。可见,地表长期覆膜不利于旱地土壤有机碳累积,覆草不仅可以增加表层土壤的轻质有机碳累积,还可改善土壤碳氮组成。     

旱作冬小麦施氮肥与地膜栽培的水肥效应

旱作冬小麦施氮与地膜栽培水肥管理试验结果表明，小麦施用氮肥在小麦生育前期连续干旱年中仍有显著增产效果，但小麦地膜栽培未表现良好的增产作用。施用氮肥有利于0-100cm土层土壤水分的保持和改善，明显提高水分生产效率，增加小麦的N素吸收，并促进小麦对P素和K素的吸收总量。地膜栽培在小麦生育前期具有较好的保墒作用，膜际与膜下栽培土壤剖面水分无明显差异，表层土壤湿度的日变化观测表明地膜具有明显的提水保墒作用。     

Investigation of soil surface organic and inorganic carbon contents in a low-intensity farming system using laboratory visible and near-infrared spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

In some regions of Italy, low-intensity farming systems, together with variable climate conditions, have lowered soil organic carbon (SOC) content and soil quality attributes. This work aims to investigate on some aspects of (1) total organic carbon (TOC) prediction using Vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy in combination with partial least squares regression (PLSR); (2) the most appropriate pre-processing techniques of Vis-NIR absorbance spectra; (3) the composition of organic carbon using variable importance of prediction (VIP). The study area was an olive grove, located at Montecorvino Rovella (Salerno, southwestern Italy), characterized by a calcaric soil (Leptic Calcisols) and (Luvic Phaeozem), with a low content of TOC (mean 2.03 g kg^?1), caused by a low-intensity farming. Results of univariate PLSR analyses showed a good agreement between measured and predicted values both for TOC (R²: 0.66) and total carbonate content (R²: 0.93), when pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and absorbance spectra were used as predictors. The best results were obtained using as pre-treatments of the spectral data: 1) standard normal variate (SNV); 2) Savitzky-Golay algorithm; 3) first derivative. Variable Importance for Prediction (VIP) statistics showed to be a good tool to gain insights in TOC composition also when its content is low and influenced by carbonate.     

黄土高原旱地不同种植模式土壤碳特征评价

增强农田土壤碳固持能力、增加碳贮量是减少温室效应气体排放,提高土壤生产力的重要措施。利用黄土高原23 a的定位试验,分层采集休闲、苜蓿连作、玉米连作、小麦连作、豌豆-小麦-小麦-糜子（豆禾）及玉米-小麦-小麦-糜子（禾谷）轮作条件下0～40 cm土层的土样,研究了作物种类和种植模式对土壤不同形态碳的影响。结果表明：与休闲相比,不同作物长期连作或轮作显著提高0～40 cm土层各种形态碳的质量分数,总碳提高35%～74%,有机碳提高47%～139%,无机碳提高20%～26%,轻质有机碳提高的幅度最大,是休闲的     

Soil particulate organic carbon under different land use and management

Abstract. Changes in particulate organic carbon (POC) relative to total organic carbon (TOC) were measured in soils from five agronomic trial sites in New South Wales, Australia. These sites covered a wide range of different land use and management practices. POC made up 42–74% of TOC and tended to be greater under pasture and more conservative management than traditional cropping regimes. It was the form of organic carbon preferentially lost when soils under long-term pasture were brought under cultivation. It was also the dominant form of organic carbon accumulating under more conservative management practices (direct drilling, stubble retained and organic farming). Across all sites, changes in POC accounted for 81.2% (range 69–94%) of the changes in total organic carbon caused by differences in land use and management. Significant differences were found between pasture and cropped soils in the carbon content in the <53 μm fraction, particularly for hardsetting soils. However, even with these, POC was a more sensitive indicator of change caused by land use and management practices than TOC. The current method for measuring POC involves dispersion using sodium hexametaphosphate. The dispersing agent was found to extract 4–19 % of the TOC, leading to a significant under-estimation of POC.     

长期保护性耕作提高土壤大团聚体含量及团聚体有机碳的作用

【目的】团聚体形成被认为是土壤固碳的最重要机制。本文以河南豫西地区长期耕作试验为研究对象,研究了长期保护性耕作对土壤团聚体性质及土壤有机碳(SOC)含量的影响,为探讨土壤固碳机理,优化黄土高原坡耕地区农田耕作管理措施,实现土壤固碳减排、培肥土壤提供理论依据。【方法】长期耕作试验开始于1999年,试验处理有免耕覆盖(NT)、深松覆盖(SM)和翻耕(CT)。利用湿筛法筛分第3年(2002年)和第13年(2011年)0—10cm和10—20 cm土层中,2000、250~2000、53~250和53μm级别的水稳性团聚体,计算团聚体平均质量直径(MWD),并测定了各级别团聚体的有机碳(SOC)含量。【结果】1)连续13年免耕覆盖和深松覆盖显著提高了土壤表层0—10 cm的SOC含量,分别比翻耕增加了33.47%和44.48%。2011年免耕覆盖和深松覆盖SOC含量较2002年上升了1.92%和8.59%,翻耕下降了18.97%。2)与翻耕相比,免耕覆盖和深松覆盖2000μm团聚体含量显著提高了40.71%和106.75%;53~250μm团聚体含量显著降低了19.72%和22.53%;团聚体平均质量直径显著提高了20.55%和39.68%,显示了土壤结构的明显改善。3)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖显著提高了表层土壤所有团聚体有机碳的含量,尤其以2000μm团聚体提升最多。与翻耕相比,2000μm团聚体有机碳分别提高了40.0%和27.6%。4)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖下表层土壤大团聚体有机碳含量随耕作年限增加,微团聚体有机碳随耕作年限降低。2000μm的土壤团聚体有机碳含量2011年较2002年分别升高了23.93%和7.12%,53~250μm微团聚体有机碳含量分别下降了19.58%和13.27%。【结论】长期保护性耕作(包括免耕覆盖和深松覆盖)可显著提高表层土壤大团聚体含量,降低微团聚体含量,提高团聚体的水稳性,改善土壤结构。同时可增加土壤团聚体有机碳含量,提高土壤肥力。长期保护性耕作在河南豫西丘陵地区是一种较为合理的耕作方式。     

长期培肥下红壤有机碳组成与团聚体稳定性的关系

为研究培肥措施对红壤有机碳组成和团聚体稳定性的影响,以及有机碳与团聚体稳定性的关系,通过长期定位实验,选取不同施肥措施(未培肥CK、化肥NPK、化肥+秸秆NPKS和粪肥AM)下的典型红壤为研究对象,分析土壤有机碳组成和团聚体稳定性差异,揭示3种施肥措施下不同层次的有机碳组成和团聚体稳定性的变化规律.结果表明,3种施肥措施均可以提高土壤表层(0 ～25 cm)有机碳质量分数(尤其是颗粒有机碳),其中AM效果最显著,NPKS次之.不同施肥措施下红壤不同层次的团聚体稳定性顺序为AM＞ NPKS＞ NPK＞ CK.与CK相比,AM处理对表下层(5～15 cm)土壤的总有机碳和团聚体稳定性的提高效果最显著.回归分析表明,颗粒有机碳(POC)与湿筛法平均质量直径以及快速湿润(FW)、慢速湿润(SW)、预湿润震荡(WS)3种处理的平均质量直径的相关性最好(R2 =0.79、0.80、0.66、0.81),说明相对于其他组分,颗粒有机碳更有利于降低消散作用以及抵抗机械破碎进而增强团聚体稳定性,是间接评价土壤团聚体稳定性的良好指标.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity in organic tomato farming systems: Effects of organic inputs and straw mulching

Organic farming is rapidly expanding worldwide. Plant growth in organic systems greatly depends on the functions performed by soil microbes, particularly in nutrient supply. However, the linkages between soil microbes and nutrient availability in organically managed soils are not well understood. We conducted a long-term field experiment to examine microbial biomass and activity, and nutrient availability under four management regimes with different organic inputs. The experiment was initiated in 1997 by employing different practices of organic farming in a coastal sandy soil in Clinton, NC, USA. Organic practices were designed by applying organic substrates with different C and N availability, either in the presence or absence of wheat-straw mulch. The organic substrates used included composted cotton gin trash (CGT), animal manure (AM) and rye/vetch green manure (RV). A commercial synthetic fertilizer (SF) was used as a conventional control. Results obtained in both 2001 and 2002 showed that microbial biomass and microbial activity were generally higher in organically than conventionally managed soils with CGT being most effective. The CGT additions increased soil microbial biomass C and activity by 103-151% and 88-170% over a period of two years, respectively, leading to a 182-285% increase in potentially mineralizable N, compared to the SF control. Straw mulching further enhanced microbial biomass, activity, and potential N availability by 42, 64, and 30%, respectively, relative to non-mulched soils, likely via improving C and water availability for soil microbes. The findings that microbial properties and N availability for plants differed under different organic input regimes suggest the need for effective residue managements in organic tomato farming systems.     

Soil aggregation,aggregate stability,organic carbon and nitrogen in different soil aggregate fractions under forest and shrub vegetation on the Loess Plateau,China

Revegetation has been reported as one of the most effective counter measures to reduce soil and water erosion on the Loess plateau in China. Soil aggregate stability and the distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in different aggregate fractions would be affected by different plant communities. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the effects of different plant communities on soil aggregate stability and the distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in different aggregate fractions in order to prove that the different plant covers enhance soil aggregate stability.