Are the links between soil aggregate size class, soil organic matter and respiration rate artefacts of the fractionation procedure?

Our aim was to see how variations in aggregate fractionation procedures influence the chemical and biological properties of different sized soil aggregates. Soil was fractionated using two different physical procedures: (1) slaking to simulate a major wetting stress in the field or (2) shaking to simulate mechanical disruption by tillage followed by wet sieving. In the slaked treatment, macro-aggregates (<250 μm dia) contained about 17% more soil organic C and had about 30% faster rates of respiration. This was in contrast to the shaken treatment where micro-aggregates (<250 μm dia) contained about 12% more soil organic C and had about 14% faster rates of respiration. The biological and chemical properties of different sized aggregates were used to describe two different models. These were the aggregate heirarchy model and one based on maximum biological activity at soil surfaces. Our results suggest that the chemical and biological properties of aggregates depend on the fractionation procedure. On this basis we suggest that the observed relationships between aggregate size and other properties, for example biological activity, must be interpreted in terms of the disruptive mechanisms used to fractionate aggregated soil. Our results suggest that the aggregate hypothesis has serious weaknesses: the aggregates measured being largely an artefact of the chosen method of separation. We therefore suggest that future work should also consider biological activities at soil pore surfaces. It is at the surface of these channels that parameters such as oxygen supply, plant roots, root exudates and fresh organic matter inputs first interact with the soil. Biological processes in this region are therefore likely to be more important than those occurring in the bulk soil.     

Impact of sugarcane cultivation on soil carbon fractions, consistence limits and aggregate stability of a Yellow Latosol in Northeast Brazil

The effects of continuous sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) cropping on the properties of a cohesive Yellow Latosol were studied in the region of the Coastal Tablelands, Northeast Brazil. Four areas were studied at Caeté mill, municipality of São Miguel dos Campos, Alagoas State, involving a native forest (Tn), and sugarcane fields cultivated for periods of 2 years (T2), 18 years (T18) and 25 years (T25). Samples were collected from each area at 0–0.2 and 0.2–0.4 m depth, to determine total organic C, physical fractionation of soil organic matter and consistence limits. Undisturbed samples were collected to determine wet aggregate mean weight–diameter, dry mean weight diameter and aggregate stability. In relation to the soil under native forest, total organic C and particulate organic matter contents were reduced after 2 years of cultivation. Sugarcane cropping for a longer period promoted a recuperation of soil organic matter content. The decrease of total organic C and reduction in aggregate stability and plastic limit after 2 years of sugarcane cultivation rendered the soil more susceptible to compaction.     

施肥对红壤性水稻土颗粒有机物形成及团聚体稳定性的影响

土壤颗粒有机物 (POM)是土壤有机碳库中活动性较大的碳库。POM的形成对提高土壤碳库和缓解大气CO2 的升高具有重要意义。POM的形成与土壤团聚体的形成和性质密切相关 ,且深受土地利用和土壤管理的影响。实验土壤采自江西省红壤研究所无机肥长期定位试验地 ,各施肥处理为 :CK(不施肥 )、NPK(施氮磷钾肥 )、NPK(=) (施双倍氮磷钾肥 )和NPK OM(施氮磷钾肥和猪粪处理 )。研究发现 :施肥显著地增加了水稻土POM的含量 ;随着化肥施肥量和有机肥的增加 ,POM含量增加 ,NPK、NPK(=)和NPK OM处理的POM含量比CK分别增加了 1 1～ 1 3倍、1 2～ 1 4倍和 1 5～ 1 9倍 ;施肥也提高了土壤团聚体稳定性 ,表现为NPK OM >NPK(=) >NPK >CK ;各处理POM含量随土壤团聚体粒级的减小而增加 ,其C/N比为降低趋势 ;团聚体稳定性与POM含量呈极显著关系 (r=0 98,p <0 0 1)。研究结果说明施肥导致POM碳库的增加是因为有机物投入的增加以及水稻土大团聚体的形成     

The influence of organic matter in reducing the destabilization of soil by simulated tillage

Different agricultural practices can result in a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) and a consequent reduction in soil structural stability. Experiments were conducted on soils with a range of SOC values, to quantify the destabilizing effects of increased tillage intensity. Different tillage intensity was simulated with the use of a falling weight, where specific energy levels, similar to those experienced during tillage, were reproduced. The level of destabilization was assessed by the quantity of mechanically dispersed clay (using a turbidimetric technique) and the quantity of water-stable aggregates (WSA) > 0.25 mm remaining after being shaken in water.

The quantity of clay dispersed increased with increasing water content, in the absence of any mechanical pretreatment, the rate of increase rising sharply with declining SOC. Following simulated tillage, and at water contents above the plastic limit, clay dispersion increased in proportion to the energy of disruption, and also increased with decreasing SOC levels. Below the plastic limit all the soils were relatively insensitive to mechanical disruption. A simple empirical model was derived to link clay dispersion to SOC, water content and energy of disruption.

The proportion of WSA declined sharply with decreasing SOC, and to a lesser extent following tillage. The quantity of WSA following simulated intensive tillage (300 J kg⁻¹) of grassland (SOC, 2.8–3.2 g (100 g)⁻¹) was greater than that present, prior to tillage from fallow, arable and arable/ley rotation treatments (SOC 1.1–2.5 g (100 g)⁻¹). Aggregate tensile strength was found to be relatively insensitive to differences in SOC. However, variations of strength within treatments, an indicator of soil friability, increased in proportion with SOC. A turbidity index was derived in which the turbidity of natural and remoulded aggregates was compared. Variation of this index with increasing mechanical energy is used as an indicator of the sensitivity of soils to damage during tillage. A visual representation is constructed to link the sensitivity of soils to damage during tillage with both SOC and water potential. These experiments illustrate that management practices, which lead to a long term reduction in SOC, are responsible for an increase in aggregate strength and reduction in stability plus an increase in sensitivity of soils to structural decline following subsequent tillage.     

Changes in some soil properties in a Vertic Argiudoll under short-term conservation tillage

The purpose of this work was to determine whether some soil physical and chemical properties, and microbial activity were affected by two conservation tillage systems in a Chernozemic clay loam soil (Vertic Argiudoll), after 5 years of trial initiation. Two crop sequences, corn (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and wheat/soybean, under chisel plowing (ChP) and no till (NT) were evaluated. Physical and chemical properties were also analyzed taking the same soil without disturbance as reference. The Hénin instability index (HI) was larger in ChP than in NT in both corn–wheat/soybean (C–W/S) and wheat/soybean (W/S) sequences (P≤0.05). The C–W/S sequence differed from W/S (P≤0.01) in total organic carbon (TOC). As regards organic carbon fractions, no differences were found in labile organic carbon (LOC), while W/S under ChP showed the lowest value (P≤0.01) of humified organic carbon (HOC). No differences were found in microbial respiration either in crop sequences or in tillage systems. Soil physical and chemical properties differentiated crop sequences and tillage treatments from the undisturbed soil when a Student’s t-test was performed. Five years elapsed since the beginning of this trial was time enough to detect changes in some of the soil properties as a consequence of management practices. An important reduction in the soil structural stability was observed as related to the undisturbed soil. However, the C–W/S sequence under NT resulted in lower soil degradation with respect to the other treatments.     

Relationship between soil structure and runoff/soil loss after 24 years of conservation tillage

A better understanding of tillage and stubble management effects on surface soil structure is vital for the development of effective soil conservation practices for the long-term. Relationships between aspects of soil structure and runoff/soil loss were investigated in 24 year old field experiment on an Oxic Paleustalf, in NSW, Australia. Two tillage/stubble management systems were compared, namely direct drilled/stubble retained (DD/SR) versus conventional tillage/stubble burnt (CC/SB). Tillage and stubble burning significantly increased bulk density and decreased the macro-aggregate stability, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD) and total porosity, particularly macroporosity (>60 μm). For the 0–5 cm layer, DD/SR had significantly higher water stability of macro-aggregates >2 mm than CC/SB (165 g/kg versus 78 g/kg), and the volume of pore space of diameter >60 μm at 0–5 cm depth was significantly greater (more than 11%) for DD/SR than for CC/SB. Under simulated rainfall (100 mm/h) and the removal of surface stubble, both runoff and soil loss were significantly higher under CC/SB compared to DD/SR. The infiltration rate at the end of the experiment under DD/SR was 3.7 times that of CC/SB (85 mm/h versus 23 mm/h). There were significant correlations between the proportion of soil particles >0.25 mm measured after wetting by rain and both final infiltration rate (P < 0.001) and soil loss (P < 0.001). It was concluded that 24 years of direct drilling and stubble retained practices significantly reduced runoff and soil erosion hazards, due to a fundamental change in soil structure, viz. higher soil aggregate stability and higher macroporosity of the surface soil.     

Structural stability and carbohydrate contents of an ultisol under different management systems

An understanding of the dynamics of soil carbohydrate pools is necessary for assessing the impact of organic residue management in organic matter build up and structural stability in tropical ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to evaluate temporal changes in aggregate stability and cold water-soluble, hot water-soluble and acid-soluble carbohydrate fractions of a sandy soil under different organic residue management practices. The soil is an Nkpologu sandy clay loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic, typic kandiustult) at Nsukka in southeastern Nigeria. In July 1995, it was incorporated with complete fertiliser (N:P:K = 12:12:17 at 480 kg/ha) (F); rice mill wastes (RW, 10 t/ha); RW+F; poultry manure (PM, 10 t/ha) and RW (5 t/ha)+PM (5 t/ha) up to the 0–20 cm depth. A control, tilled up to the 0–20 cm depth, was also included. Surface soil samples (0–20 cm), collected at 3, 6 and 12 months after residue applications were used to measure changes in aggregate stability by mean weight diameter (MWD), total OC and carbohydrate pools.

In all treatments MWD increased whereas the concentrations of acid-soluble, hot water-soluble and cold water-soluble carbohydrates decreased with sampling time. Also irrespective of the type of amendment, the carbohydrate concentrations at each sampling period varied in the order, acid-soluble>hotwater-soluble>coldwater-soluble. Aggregate stability correlated very poorly with all the carbohydrate fractions and OC. The correlation coefficient values were rather low and did not mean much in the physical interpretation of these results. This shows that these carbohydrate pools were not very effective in stabilizing the soil aggregates.     

Effects of tillage method on soil physical properties, infiltration and yield in an olive orchard

The long-term effects of two different tillage systems, conventional (CT) and no tillage (NT), were studied in an olive orchard in Santaella (Southern Spain) for 15 years. In both tillage systems, two distinct zones developed in the orchard in relation to soil physical properties; one underneath the tree canopy, and the other in the rows between trees. Surface soil organic matter content, bulk density, cone index, macroscopic capillary length and hydraulic conductivity showed significant differences between tillage systems and positions. After 15 years, the NT treatment achieved greater bulk density and cone index values than CT. This compaction reduced the infiltration rate of NT soil with respect to CT, particularly in the rows between trees. Despite that reduction, the NT soil retained a moderate infiltration potential. That may be explained by the high infiltration rates and macroporosity of the zone beneath the tree, the temporary effects of tillage on infiltration and probably by the self-repair of soil structure in the Vertisol studied. Yield was not affected by tillage except in one year with very low precipitation, where NT significantly yielded more than CT. The reduction in infiltration in NT must have been compensated by unknown factors that improve the tree water supply in drought years.     

Impact of perennial pasture and tillage systems on carbon input and soil quality indicators

Soil degradation associated with tillage is a major problem in Uruguayan agriculture. Either rotation of crops with pastures (ROT) or no-till (NT) cropping have been proposed as alternatives to minimize the impact of agriculture on soil quality. The combined impact on soil properties of ROT and NT has not been evaluated. In this study, we report results of the first 12 years of a long-term experiment established on a clay loam soil in western Uruguay. The objective was to determine the influence of conventional tillage (CT) and NT on systems under continuous cropping (CC, two crops per year) or ROT (3.5-year annual crops/2.5-year pastures). Soil samples taken at the beginning of the experiment in 1994 and in 2004 were analyzed for organic carbon (SOC), total organic carbon (TSOC) and total nitrogen content (STN), and for water-stable aggregation (WAS). Soil loss and erodibility indicators were studied using microrain simulator. With 12 years, the cumulative carbon (C) inputs of aboveground biomass were similar between tillage, but C input in CC was 50% higher than ROT. This difference was explained because 84% of the pastures dry matter was consumed by animals. Nevertheless we estimated a higher below ground biomass in ROT compared to CC systems (24.9 Mg ha⁻¹ vs. 10.9 Mg ha⁻¹). NT presented 7% higher SOC than CT (0–18 cm) with no differences between rotation systems. While all treatments declined in STN during 12 years, ROT had 11% and 58% higher STN and WAS than CC systems, with a large impact of the pasture under CT. Runoff and erosion were minimized under NT in both rotations systems. Thus, including pastures in the rotation, or switching from CT to NT improved soil quality properties. The expected benefit of combining NT and ROT will likely require more years for the cumulative effect to be detectable in both C input and soil properties.     

Soil biochemical response to long-term conservation tillage under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions

We studied the effects of long term conservation tillage (CT) versus traditional tillage (TT) on soil biological status of a semi-arid sandy clay loam soil (Xerofluvent). The study was conducted in a wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.)–sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.) crop rotation established in 1991 under rainfed conditions in SW Spain. A fodder pea (Pisum arvense, L.) crop was introduced in the rotation in 2005. Soil biological status was evaluated by measuring the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and some enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase and protease) in autumn of 2004 and in summer of 2005, before and after the fodder pea crop, respectively. Soil analyses were performed in samples collected at three depths (0–5, 5–10 and 10–25 cm). In general and in both samplings, increases in the organic matter content, MBC and enzymatic activities were found in the more superficial layers of soil under CT than under TT. Values of MBC were lower in summer, whereas values of enzyme activities were similar in both samplings. Biological properties showed a pronounced decrease with increasing soil depth. Statistical differences in biochemical properties between soils under the different tillage were not found in the deeper layer (10–25 cm). Enzymatic activities, MBC and organic matter (water-soluble carbon (WSC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents) were strongly correlated (p < 0.01). Conservation tillage improved the quality of soil in the superficial layer by enhancing its organic matter content and, especially, its biological status, as reflected in the values of stratification ratios for MBC and enzymatic activities.     

Soil carbon and nitrogen changes as affected by tillage system and crop biomass in a corn–soybean rotation

A wide range of tillage systems have been used by producers in the Corn-Belt in the United States during the past decade due to their economic and environmental benefits. However, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) and crop responses to these tillage systems are not well documented in a corn–soybean rotation. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems on SOC and SON, residue C and N inputs, and corn and soybean yields across Iowa. The first experiment consisted of no-tillage (NT) and chisel plow (CP) treatments, established in 1994 in Clarion–Nicollet–Webster (CNW), Galva–Primghar–Sac (GPS), Kenyon–Floyd–Clyde (KFC), Marshall (M), and Otley–Mahaska–Taintor (OMT) soil associations. The second experiment consisted of NT, strip-tillage (ST), CP, deep rip (DR), and moldboard plow (MP) treatments, established in 1998 in the CNW soil association. Both corn and soybean yields of NT were statistically comparable to those of CP treatment for each soil association in a corn–soybean rotation during the 7 years of tillage practices. The NT, ST, CP, and DR treatments produced similar corn and soybean yields as MP treatment in a corn–soybean rotation during the 3 years of tillage implementation of the second experiment. Significant increases in SOC of 17.3, 19.5, 6.1, and 19.3% with NT over CP treatment were observed at the top 15-cm soil depth in CNW, KFC, M, and OMT soil associations, respectively, except for the GPS soil association in a corn–soybean rotation at the end of 7 years. The NT and ST resulted in significant increases in SOC of 14.7 and 11.4%, respectively, compared with MP treatment after 3 years. Changes in SON due to tillage were similar to those observed with SOC in both experiments. The increases in SOC and SON in NT treatment were not attributed to the vertical stratification of organic C and N in the soil profile or annual C and N inputs from crop residue, but most likely due to the decrease in soil organic matter mineralization in wet and cold soil conditions. It was concluded that NT and ST are superior to CP and MP in increasing SOC and SON in the top 15 cm in the short-term. The adoption of NT or CP can be an effective strategy in increasing SOC and SON in the Corn-Belt soils without significant adverse impact on corn and soybean yields in a corn–soybean rotation.     

长期增温对西藏高寒草甸土壤团聚体周转和稳定性影响

   近几十年来青藏高原增温显著,但是增温对土壤团聚体的稳定性影响研究较少,温度升高是否通过影响土壤团聚体的周转和稳定性进而影响土壤有机碳变化还有待探明。   研究以10年的长期增温野外试验为依托,采用物理化学联合分组的方法,探明长期增温对西藏高寒草甸土壤团聚体形成、周转和稳定性的影响;同时揭示团聚体物理保护对土壤有机碳变化的影响。   长期增温没有对土壤有机碳含量产生影响。长期增温对 > 2 mm大团聚体的含量无显著影响,但使2 ~ 0.25 mm大团聚体、大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体、大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体外游离的细的颗粒有机质、大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体中的粉粒 + 粘粒的含量分别减少15.4%、25.1%、52.7%和40.5%;0.25 ~ 0.053 mm微团聚体及 < 0.053 mm粉粒 + 粘粒的含量分别增加了14.8%和43.5%。长期增温处理下,土壤团聚体质量分数的变化导致几何平均直径、平均重量直径和大团聚体比重分别减少23.0%、11.1%和19.5%。土壤有机碳主要分布在2 ~ 0.25 mm大团聚体和0.25 ~ 0.053 mm微团聚体中,两者约占全土有机碳的71.6% ~ 83.2%。长期增温使0.25 ~ 0.053mm、< 0.053 mm粉粒 + 粘粒和大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体中的粉粒 + 粘粒的SOC含量分别增加16.8%、61.4%和86.5%,大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体和大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体外游离的细的颗粒有机质的SOC含量分别减少27.4%和20.6%。长期增温后大团聚体内闭蓄态微团聚体外游离的细的颗粒有机质与大团聚体内微团聚体外的粗颗粒有机质的比值显著降低20.6%。   综上,增温增加了富碳的2 ~ 0.25 mm大团聚体的周转速率,降低了团聚体稳定性,长远来看,可能不利于有机碳的物理保护。