玉米秸秆炭还田对黑土土壤肥力特性和氮素农学效应的影响

【目的】探索玉米秸秆炭对东北黑土土壤肥力特性和氮素农学效应的影响,可为东北玉米集约化生产区秸秆资源利用和培肥土壤提供理论和实际应用基础。【方法】本研究以东北典型黑土区春玉米种植体系为研究对象,通过连续两年的田间原位试验,研究了添加500℃厌氧条件热解的玉米秸秆炭对土壤养分含量、 微生物和酶活性的影响及玉米秸秆炭对作物产量和氮素农学效应的影响。试验设三个处理: 1)PK+4 t/hm2秸秆还田(CK); 2)NPK+4 t/hm2秸秆还田; 3)NPK+4 t/hm2秸秆还田+2 t/hm2秸秆生产秸秆碳,在玉米成熟期取020 cm土壤样品和植株样品,采用常规方法进行相关项目的测定。【结果】 1)土壤养分分析结果。与秸秆还田相比,秸秆炭处理在2013和2014年土壤碱解氮含量(AN)分别提高了10.1%和9.7%,均达到显著水平(P0.05); 土壤速效磷含量(AP)分别提高了13.7%和27.3%,在2014年达到显著水平(P0.05); 土壤微生物量碳含量(SMBC)分别提高了13.5%和26.9%,土壤脲酶活性(URE)分别提高了22.3%和31.8%,2014年SMBC和URE升高均达显著(P0.05)。秸秆炭对土壤有机质(OM)、 全氮(TN)、 速效钾(AK)、 土壤微生物量氮(SMBN)和蔗糖酶活性(SUC)的提升效果在两年试验中均没有达到显著水平, 2)氮素农学效应影响结果。与处理2相比,处理3肥料氮偏因子生产力(PFPN)分别提高了3.3%和9.6%,肥料氮经济效益(EBN)分别提高了12.9%和27.5%,均在2014年表现出显著提高(P0.05); 而两年间处理3的玉米产量分别提高3.3%和9.5%、 肥料氮利用率(UEN)分别提高了3.9%和14.0%、 肥料氮农学效率(AEN)分别提高了11.6%和23.9%,但均未达显著水平。【结论】2年试验初步表明施用玉米秸秆炭可以提高土壤微生物活性和土壤酶活性,调节土壤与作物之间的养分供需,改善土壤养分状况,对提升氮素农学效应有作用。因此,玉米秸秆炭可作为秸秆资源高效利用的有效形式,其长期效果还需进一步试验。     

Chemical and biochemical properties in a silty loam soil under conventional and organic management

To improve soil fertility, efforts need to be made to increase soil organic matter content. Conventional farming practice generally leads to a reduction of soil organic matter. This study compared inorganic and organic fertilisers in a crop rotation system over two cultivation cycles: first crop broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and second crop mixed cropped melon-water melon (Cucumis melo-Citrullus vulgaris) under semi-arid conditions. Total organic carbon (TOC), Kjeldahl-N, available-P, microbial biomass C (Cmic), and N (Nmic), soil respiration and enzymatic activities (protease, urease, and alkaline phosphatase) were determined in soils between the fourth and sixth year of management comparison. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂), the Cmic/Nmic ratio, and the Cmic/TOC ratio were also calculated. Organic management resulted in significant increases in TOC and Kjeldahl-N, available-P, soil respiration, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities compared with those found under conventional management. Crop yield was greater from organic than conventional fertilizer. The qCO₂ showed a progressive increase for both treatments during the study, although qCO₂ was greater with conventional than organic fertilizer. In both treatments, an increase in the Cmic/Nmic ratio from first to second crop cycle was observed, indicating a change in the microbial populations. Biochemical properties were positively correlated (p < 0.01) with TOC and nutrient content. These results indicated that organic management positively affected soil organic matter content, thus improving soil quality and productivity.     

土壤有机碳对沼渣或牛粪施用后温室气体排放潜力的影响—盆栽试验结果

A change in the European Union energy policy has markedly promoted the expansion of biogas production.Consequently,large amounts of nutrient-rich residues are being used as organic fertilizers.In this study,a pot experiment was conducted to simulate the high-risk situation of enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions following organic fertilizer application in energy maize cultivation.We hypothesized that cattle slurry application enhanced CO2 and N2O fluxes compared to biogas digestate because of the overall higher carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) input,and that higher levels of CO2 and N2O emissions could be expected by increasing soil organic C (SOC) and N contents.Biogas digestate and cattle slurry,at a rate of 150 kg NH4+-N ha-1,were incorporated into 3 soil types with low,medium,and high SOC contents (Cambisol,Mollic Gleysol,and Sapric Histosol,termed Clow,Cmedium,and Chigh,respectively).The GHG exchange (CO2,CH4,and N2O) was measured on 5 replicates over a period of 22 d using the closed chamber technique.The application of cattle slurry resulted in significantly higher CO2 and N2O fluxes compared to the application of biogas digestate.No differences were observed in CH4 exchange,which was close to zero for all treatments.Significantly higher CO2 emissions were observed in Chigh compared to the other two soil types,whereas the highest N2O emissions were observed in Cmedium.Thus,the results demonstrate the importance of soil type-adapted fertilization with respect to changing soil physical and environmental conditions.     

Spatial patterns of soil biological and physical properties in a ridge tilled and a ploughed Luvisol

The present study was conducted to determine the spatial heterogeneity of bulk density, soil moisture, inorganic N, microbial biomass C, and microbial biomass N in the ridge tillage system of Turiel compared to conventional mouldboard ploughing on three sampling dates in May, July, and August. The soil sampling was carried out under vegetation representing the ridge in a high spatial resolution down the soil profile. Bulk density increased with depth and ranged from 1.3 g cm⁻³ at 10 cm depth to 1.6 g cm⁻³ at 35 cm in ploughed plots and from 1.0 g m⁻³ at 5 cm to 1.4 g m⁻³ at 35 cm in the ridges. In the ploughed plots, the contents of microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N remained roughly constant at 215 and 33 μg g⁻¹ soil, respectively, throughout the experimental period. The microbial biomass C/N ratio varied in a small range around 6.4. In the ridged plots, the contents of microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N were 5% and 6% higher compared to the ploughed plots. Highest microbial biomass C contents of roughly 300 μg g⁻¹ soil were always measured in the crowns in July. The lowest contents of microbial biomass C of 85–137 μg g⁻¹ soil were measured in the furrows. The ridges showed strong spatial heterogeneity in bulk density, soil water content, inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass.     

Long‐term effects of fertilization on some soil properties under rainfed soybean‐wheat cropping in the Indian Himalayas

This study aims to examine the effects of long‐term fertilization and cropping on some chemical and microbiological properties of the soil in a 32 y old long‐term fertility experiment at Almora (Himalayan region, India) under rainfed soybean‐wheat rotation. Continuous annual application of recommended doses of chemical fertilizer and 10 Mg ha^–1 FYM on fresh‐weight basis (NPK + FYM) to soybean (Glycine max L.) sustained not only higher productivity of soybean and residual wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop, but also resulted in build‐up of total soil organic C (SOC), total soil N, P, and K. Concentration of SOC increased by 40% and 70% in the NPK + FYM–treated plots as compared to NPK (43.1 Mg C ha^–1) and unfertilized control plots (35.5 Mg C ha^–1), respectively. Average annual contribution of C input from soybean was 29% and that from wheat was 24% of the harvestable aboveground biomass yield. Annual gross C input and annual rate of total SOC enrichment from initial soil in the 0–15 cm layer were 4362 and 333 kg C ha^–1, respectively, for the plots under NPK + FYM. It was observed that the soils under the unfertilized control, NK and N + FYM treatments, suffered a net annual loss of 5.1, 5.2, and 15.8 kg P ha^–1, respectively, whereas the soils under NP, NPK, and NPK + FYM had net annual gains of 25.3, 18.8, and 16.4 kg P ha^–1, respectively. There was net negative K balance in all the treatments ranging from 6.9 kg ha^–1 y^–1 in NK to 82.4 kg ha^–1 y^–1 in N + FYM–treated plots. The application of NPK + FYM also recorded the highest levels of soil microbial‐biomass C, soil microbial‐biomass N, populations of viable and culturable soil microbes.     

How different long‐term fertilization strategies influence crop yield and soil properties in a maize field in the North China Plain

The impact of fertilization on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil properties was investigated in a long‐term (> 18 y) experimental field in N China. A completely randomized block design with seven fertilizer treatments and four replications was used. The seven fertilizer treatments were (1) compost (COMP), (2) half compost plus half chemical fertilizer (COMP1/2), (3) balanced NPK fertilizer (NPK), (4–6) unbalanced chemical fertilizers without one of the major elements (NP, PK, and NK), and (7) an unamended control (CK). In addition to maize yield, soil chemical and biological properties were investigated. Compared to the balanced NPK treatment, maize yield from the COMP treatment was 7.9% higher, from the COMP1/2 was similar, but from the NP, PK, NK, and CK treatment were 12.4%, 59.9%, 78.6%, and 75.7% lower. Across the growing season, microbial biomass C and N contents, basal soil respiration, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, dehydrogenase, urease, and invertase activities in the COMP and COMP1/2 treatments were 7%–203% higher than the NPK treatment. Values from all other treatments were up to 60% lower than the NPK treatment. Maize yield is closely related to the soil organic C (OC) and biological properties, and the OC is closely related to various biological properties, indicating that OC is a suitable indicator for soil quality. Our results suggest the most limiting nutrient for improving the yield or soil quality was P, followed by N and K, and balanced fertilization is important in maintaining high crop yield and soil quality. Additionally, increases in OC, N, and biological activities in COMP and COMP1/2 treatments imply that organic compost is superior to the chemical fertilizers tested.     

种植小麦的土壤中微生物生物量的动态变化

A controlled release N fertilizer was developed by the carrier method using natural polysaccharides (PS) and urea. The results showed that mixing of PS and urea led to significant control of urea release. When a cross-linker (boric acid or glutaraldehyde) was added, a better control effect was observed. During a 30 min leaching time the nitrogen release rate from the controlled release fertilizer was nearly constant, which was significantly different from normal urea. One of the controlled release mechanisms was related to space resistance from a large molecular structure. Infrared (IR) analysis indicated that interaction of PS with urea was through a hydrogen bond or a covalent bond. These bonds created an a-helix or high molecular network fertilizer carrier system, which was another reason for a controlled nutrient release. Pot experiment showed that nitrogen use efficiency could increase significantly with a carrier fertilizer.     

玉米秸秆质量和土壤水分对土壤活性有机碳组分和微生物性质的影响

Investigating the effects of residue chemical composition on soil labile organic carbon(LOC) will improve our understanding of soil carbon sequestration.The effects of maize residue chemical composition and soil water content on soil LOC fractions and microbial properties were investigated in a laboratory incubation experiment.Maize shoot and root residues were incorporated into soil at 40%and 70% ?eld capacity.The soils were incubated at 20?C for 150 d and destructive sampling was conducted after 15,75,and 150 d.Respiration,dissolved organic carbon(DOC),hot-water extractable organic carbon(HEOC),and microbial biomass carbon(MBC)were recorded,along with cellulase and β-glucosidase activities and community-level physiological pro?les.The results showed that the cumulative respiration was lower in root-amended soils than in shoot-amended soils,indicating that root amendment may be bene?cial to C retention in soil.No signi?cant differences in the contents of DOC,HEOC and MBC,enzyme activities,and microbial functional diversity were observed between shoot- and root-amended soils.The high soil water content treatment signi?cantly increased the cumulative respiration,DOC and HEOC contents,and enzyme activities compared to the low soil water content treatment.However,the soil water content treatments had little in?uence on the MBC content and microbial functional diversity.There were signi?cantly positive correlations between LOC fractions and soil microbial properties.These results indicated that the chemical composition of maize residues had little in?uence on the DOC,HEOC,and MBC contents,enzyme activities,and microbial functional diversity,while soil water content could signi?cantly in?uence DOC and HEOC contents and enzyme activities.     

Seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass and activity in warm- and cool-season turfgrass systems

Plant growth can be an important factor regulating seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass and activity. We investigated soil microbial biomass, microbial respiration, net N mineralization, and soil enzyme activity in turfgrass systems of three cool-season species (tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L., and creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris L.) and three warm-season species (centipedegrass, Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.) Hack, zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica Steud, and bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.). Microbial biomass and respiration were higher in warm- than the cool-season turfgrass systems, but net N mineralization was generally lower in warm-season turfgrass systems. Soil microbial biomass C and N varied seasonally, being lower in September and higher in May and December, independent of turfgrass physiological types. Seasonal variations in microbial respiration, net N mineralization, and cellulase activity were also similar between warm- and cool-season turfgrass systems. The lower microbial biomass and activity in September were associated with lower soil available N, possibly caused by turfgrass competition for this resource. Microbial biomass and activity (i.e., microbial respiration and net N mineralization determined in a laboratory incubation experiment) increased in soil samples collected during late fall and winter when turfgrasses grew slowly and their competition for soil N was weak. These results suggest that N availability rather than climate is the primary determinant of seasonal dynamics of soil microbial biomass and activity in turfgrass systems, located in the humid and warm region.     

Long-term effects of tillage and fallow-frequency on soil quality attributes in a clay soil in semiarid southwestern saskatchewan

Reduced tillage management is being adopted at an accelerated rate on the Canadian prairies. This may influence soil quality and productivity. A study conducted on a clay soil (Udic Haplustert) in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of fallow frequency [fallow-wheat (F-W) vs. continuous wheat (Cont W)] and tillage [no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional (CT) or minimum tillage (MT)] on yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was sampled after 3, 7 and 11 years to assess changes in selected soil quality attributes. Tillage had no effect on amount of crop residues returned to the land, but the tilled systems had significantly (P<0.05) lower total organic C and N in the 0–7.5 cm soil depth, though not in the 7.5–15 cm depth. Further, these differences were observed after only 3 years and persisted for the entire 11 years of the study. For example, in the 0–7.5 cm depth, organic C in F-W (MT) after 3 years was 10 480 kg ha⁻¹ and in F-W (NT) 13 380 kg ha⁻¹, while in Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT) corresponding values were 11 310 and 13 400 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. After 11 years, values for F-W (MT) and F-W (NT) were 11 440 and 14 960 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, and for Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT), 12 970 and 16 140 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. In contrast to total organic matter, two of the more labile soil quality attributes [i.e., C mineralization (C_min) and N mineralization (N_min)] did not respond to fallow frequency until after 7 years and only in the 0–7.5 cm depth. Microbial biomass (MB) and the ratio of C_min to MB [specific respiratory activity (SRA)], two attributes also regarded as labile, were not influenced by the treatments even after 11 years. After 11 years, only C_min and N_min among the labile soil quality attributes responded to the treatments. Surprisingly, the labile attributes were no more sensitive to the treatments than was total organic C or N. More research is required to determine why responses in this soil differed from those reported elsewhere.     

Microbial and enzyme properties of apple orchard soil as affected by long-term application of copper fungicide

Copper-based fungicides have been applied in apple orchards for a long time, which has resulted in increasing soil Cu concentration. However, the microbial and enzyme properties of the orchard soils remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term application of Cu-based fungicides on soil microbial (microbial biomass carbon (C_mic), C mineralization, and specific respiration rate) and enzyme (urease, acid phosphatase, and invertase activities) properties in apple orchards. Soil samples studied were collected from apple orchards 5, 15, 20, 30, and 45 years old, and one adjacent forest soil as for reference. The mean Cu concentrations of orchard soils significantly increased with increasing orchard ages ranging from 21.8 to 141 mg kg⁻¹, and the CaCl₂-extractable soil Cu concentrations varied from 0.00 to 4.26 mg kg⁻¹. The soil mean C_mic values varied from 43.6 to 116 mg kg⁻¹ in the orchard soils, and were lower than the value of the reference soil (144 mg kg⁻¹). The ratio of soil C_mic to total organic C (C_org) increased from 8.10 to 18.3 mg C_mic g⁻¹ C_org with decreasing orchard ages, and was 26.1 mg C_mic g⁻¹ C_org for the reference soil. A significant correlation was observed between total- or CaCl₂-extractable soil Cu and soil C_mic or C_mic/C_org, suggesting that the soil Cu was responsible for the significant reductions in C_mic and C_mic/C_org. The three enzyme activity assays also showed the similar phenomena, and declined with the increasing orchard ages. The mean soil C mineralization rates were elevated from 110 to 150 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ compared with the reference soil (80 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹), and the mean specific respiration rate of the reference soil (0.63 mg CO₂-C mg⁻¹ biomass C d⁻¹) was significantly smaller than the orchard soils from 1.19 to 3.55 mg CO₂-C mg⁻¹ biomass C d⁻¹. The soil C mineralization rate and the specific respiration rate can be well explained by the CaCl₂-extractable soil Cu. Thus, the long-term application of copper-based fungicides has shown adverse effects on soil microbial and enzyme properties.     

不同有机物料培肥对渭北旱塬土壤微生物学特性及土壤肥力的影响

通过田间试验,研究了施用不同有机物料对渭北旱塬耕地土壤微生物学特性及土壤肥力的影响。结果表明,化肥与不同有机物料配合施用,土壤微生物学特性［微生物量碳（MBC）、微生物量氮（MBN）、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶］以及部分土壤养分状况（全氮、速效磷、速效钾、阳离子交换量）比单施化肥处理均得到进一步改善。化肥配施秸秆堆肥处理效果最明显,其中微生物量碳增加了41.96%,微生物量氮增加了54.55%,脲酶活性增加了19.71%,碱性磷酸酶活性增加了7.35%,速效磷增加了63.12%;而且土壤微生物量碳、氮与速效磷、阳离子交换量呈显著正相关,微生物商（qMB）、脲酶活性、碱性磷酸酶活性与全氮、速效氮、速效钾含量呈显著相关;同时SMBC、SMBN、qMB等与作物产量密切相关（相关系数分别为0.85,0.74,0.82）。因此,化肥配施秸秆堆肥处理在渭北旱地雨热条件下对于全面提升土壤质量具有重要的意义;同时该区域土壤中微生物量碳氮与土壤养分状况、作物产量具有很好的一致性,可以表征土壤肥力状况及生产力水平。     

Microbial properties of soils as affected by cropping and nutrient management practices in several long-term manurial experiments in the semi-arid tropics of India

Microorganisms play a critical role in nutrient transformation, soil health and for sustaining the productivity of soils. Effects of long-term cropping, fertilization, manuring and their integration on microbial community were studied in soil samples from five long-term fertilizer experiments under various rainfed production systems in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of India. Microbial population counts were analyzed by dilution plating and were in turn compared with different parameters such as soil treatments, soil type, soil microbial biomass C, soil organic C, rainfall and soil pH. The counts were high in treatments where combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers were applied compared to control. Vertisols showed larger organic carbon levels than Alfisols. Fungal population was higher in acidic soils and in treatments under continuous inorganic fertilization treatments whereas a high number of bacteria were found in integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. At most of the locations soil organic C and microbial biomass C showed significant positive (p ≤ 0.05) correlation with microbial populations. Thus, results suggest that even under arid and semi-arid tropical conditions, regular addition of nutrients in an integrated manner could improve soil organic carbon and microbial population counts. For each production system, better carbon sequestration management practices were identified.     

Volatile monoterpenes in soil atmosphere under birch and conifers: Effects on soil N transformations

The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence and concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in particular, volatile monoterpenes, in soil atmosphere under silver birch (Betula pendula L.) and two conifers, Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and to determine the effects of the most relevant monoterpenes on transformations of soil N. The study site was a 70-year-old tree species experiment in Kivalo, northern Finland. VOCs were collected using two methods, passive air samplers and a chamber method. In soil atmosphere under spruce and especially under pine, the concentrations of monoterpenes were high, α- and β-pinene, Δ-3-carene and myrcene being the most abundant compounds, whereas concentrations of monoterpenes in soil atmosphere under birch were negligible. Samples of humus layer from the birch stand incubated in vitro and exposed to vapors from monoterpenes typical of coniferous forest soil showed decreased rates of net N mineralization but simultaneously increased rates of C mineralization. The response of soil microbial biomass C and N to different monoterpenes varied, but some monoterpenes considerably decreased soil microbial biomass. Altogether these results suggest that these compounds have negative effects on soil N transformations, but may serve as carbon and energy source for part of soil microbes.     

不同种植方式对北疆绿洲土壤养分和生物学性状的影响

长期种植不同作物对土壤的理化性质与生物学性状有很大影响。本研究针对北疆绿洲灰漠土几种典型作物种植方式,研究了不同作物长期种植对土壤养分、酶活性、微生物量碳氮以及土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明:长期种植不同作物使土壤表层(0～20cm)与亚表层(20～40cm)的土壤肥力性质产生明显分异,表层土壤的肥力水平明显高于亚表层;土壤pH则表层低于亚表层,而不同种植方式对灰漠土pH无显著影响。长期种植不同作物对土壤主要生物过程关键酶活性、土壤呼吸等土壤生物性状有明显影响,磷酸酶、脲酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、多酚氧化酶、纤维素酶在不同种植方式下差异显著,小麦/油葵轮作10年(WSR)方式下上述5种酶活性均较高。土壤微生物量碳氮随棉花连作年限的延长而显著下降,且玉米连作10年(CrM)、小麦连作10年后棉花连作10年(WCtR)、棉花连作15年(CtM)和小麦/油葵轮作10年的土壤微生物量碳氮比分别为6.31、6.02、5.83和3.53。不同种植方式下土壤呼吸在120h内的变化均为先下降后趋于平稳,不同种植方式下的土壤呼吸商之间呈显著性差异,WSR呼吸商最高,平均20.54μg(CO2-C)·mg-1(Bc)·h-1,WCtR最低,平均14.01μg(CO2-C)·mg-1(Bc)·h-1。作物长期连作后与绿肥作物轮作,有利于提高土壤生物活性,是一种较好的种植方式。     

Soil microbiological properties and its stratification ratios for soil quality assessment under different cover crop management systems in a semiarid vineyard

In vineyards in Spain, tillage and semiarid Mediterranean climatic conditions accelerate organic matter loss from the soil. Cover crops are a conservation management practice that can provoke changes in soil quality which requires evaluation. Stratification ratios of soil properties such as soil organic C and labile C fractions have been proposed for the assessment of soil quality under different soil management systems. Our objective was to study the effect of different cover crop management on various soil parameters and their stratification ratios. We evaluated three different soil managements in a Typic Haploxerept from NE Spain: conventional tillage (CT); 5‐y continuous cover crop of resident vegetation (RV); and 4‐y continuous cover crop of Festuca longifolia Thuill., followed by 1‐y Bromus catharticus L. after resowing (BV). We monitored soil organic C, particulate organic C, water soluble C, potentially mineralizable N, microbial biomass C, β‐glucosidase and urease enzymatic activities, and water stable aggregates at 0–2.5, 2.5–5, 5–15, 15–25, and 25–45 cm soil depths. We calculated soil depth stratification ratios of those soil properties. Resident cover crop increased microbiological properties, labile C fractions, and aggregation with respect to conventional tillage at 0–2.5 and 2.5–5 cm soil depths. However, for Bromus cover crop the same soil properties were lower than for the resident cover crop at 0–2.5 cm depth. Stratification ratios of β‐glucosidase and urease enzymatic activities, and particulate organic C showed a higher sensitivity than other soil properties; therefore, they would be the best indicators for soil quality assessment in semiarid Mediterranean vineyards.     

Response of Soil Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activity to Soil Fertilization in an Eroded Farmland of Chinese Mollisols

The aims of this study were to examine interrelationships between microbial biomass and enzyme activities of soil quality and to determine their suitability for differentiating areas. The study included five simulated erosion soil depths (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 cm), which had received contrasting fertilizer treatments over a 5-year period in an eroded black soil of northeastern China. Our results indicated that soil microbial carbon, nitrogen, urease, phosphatase, and invertase activities declined as the erosion depth increased. On the five erosion depths, soil microbial carbon, phosphatase, and invertase variation ranged as follows: 35.4–53.3, 39.8–45.2, and 55.9–67.1%, respectively. In the fertilizer + manure treatment, soil microbial carbon, nitrogen, urease, phosphatase, and invertase activities were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than those of fertilizer treatment in all five different erosion depths. Overall, this study may be considered as the foundation for soil quality evaluation and fertility restoration in northeastern China and similar regions.     

高寒草甸土CO2流通和氮矿化之间的关系以及对外加碳或氮的响应

In nutrient-limited alpine meadows,nitrogen(N) mineralization is prior to soil microbial immobilization;therefore,increased mineral N supply would be most likely immobilized by soil microbes due to nutrient shortage in alpine soils.In addition,low temperature in alpine meadows might be one of the primary factors limiting soil organic matter decomposition and thus N mineralization.A laboratory incubation experiment was performed using an alpine meadow soil from the Tibetan Plateau.Two levels of NH4NO3(N) or glucose(C) were added,with a blank without addition of C or N as the control,before incubation at 5,15,or 25 ℃ for 28 d.CO2 efflux was measured during the 28-d incubation,and the mineral N was measured at the beginning and end of the incubation,in order to test two hypotheses:1) net N mineralization is negatively correlated with CO2 efflux for the control and 2) the external labile N or C supply will shift the negative correlation to positive.The results showed a negative correlation between CO2 efflux and net N immobilization in the control.External inorganic N supply did not change the negative correlation.The external labile C supply shifted the linear correlation from negative to positive under the low C addition level.However,under the high C level,no correlation was found.These suggested that the correlation of CO2 efflux to net N mineralization strongly depend on soil labile C and C:N ratio regardless of temperatures.Further research should focus on the effects of the types and the amount of litter components on interactions of C and N during soil organic matter decomposition.     

施氮水平对黄土旱塬区小麦产量和土壤有机碳、氮的影响

施用氮肥是雨养农业区提高作物产量和土壤有机碳（SOC）、氮[TSN（Total soil N）]含量的重要养分管理措施。利用长期田间试验（1984～2007）,定量评价了常规耕作条件下5个施氮水平N 0（N0）、45（N45）、90（N90）、135（N135）和180（N180）kg/hm2处理下,小麦子粒产量、SOC、TSN和氮肥利用效率的变化。研究了施氮水平对黄土旱塬区旱地小麦产量、SOC和TSN积累的影响。结果表明,1984～2007年期间,N0、N45、N90、N135和N180处理小麦产量的平均值依次为1.2、2.4、2.9、3.2和3.4 t/hm2;N0处理的小麦产量随试验年限而降低,年降低幅度达67 kg/hm2（P0.001）;但增施氮肥后降低趋势得到显著控制,当施氮水平提高到N 90 kg/hm2时,产量随年限呈现出缓慢升高的趋势。随着施氮水平的提高,地上部氮肥利用率由40%（N45处理）降低到28%（N180）。不同施氮水平条件下,SOC含量随年限呈缓慢升高趋势。23年后（2007年）,N0、N45、N90、N135和N180处理下,0—20 cm土层SOC储量依次为16.9、18.2、18.7、19.0和19.1 t/hm2;TSN储量依次为2.03、2.16 、2.24 、2.34和2.37 t/hm2。施氮水平与产量呈显著的抛物线关系（R2＝0.993）。产量与SOC存在着极显著的线性相关关系（R2=0.997）。增施N 1 kg/hm2,小麦产量可提高29 kg/hm2,SOC提高1.2 kg/hm2,TSN提高0.13 kg/hm2。根茬还田量的增加是导致黄土旱塬区SOC和TSN提高的主要因素。     

Productivity,nutrient uptake and post-harvest soil fertility as influenced by cotton-based cropping system with integrated nutrient management practices in semi-arid tropics

Field experiments were conducted on cotton to evaluate the different cotton-based intercropping system along with balanced nutrient management practices on enhancing cotton productivity. Cropping systems have been considered as main plots and nutrient management practices have been considered as subplots. The results showed that cotton + onion system recorded the highest cotton equivalent yield (CEY) of 2052 and 1895 kg ha^?1 which was on par with cotton intercropped with dhaincha, which recorded 2010 and 1894 kg of CEY ha^?1 in both the seasons. Combined application of 100% recommended NPK with bioinoculants (S₅) registered highest CEY in both the seasons. Cotton intercropped with dhaincha (M₂) recorded highest uptake of N, P, and K. Among the nutrient management practices, application of 100% recommended NPK with bioinoculants (S₅) showed highest uptake of N, P, and K. A similar trend was noticed in the post-harvest soil fertility too and it is significantly higher under cotton + dhaincha and application of 100% recommended NPK with bioinoculants treatment compared to 100% recommend NPK alone. It could be concluded from these results that crop productivity can be improved and soil fertility status can be sustained with integrated plant nutrient management practices.