Relation between soil organic matter and yield levels of nonlegume crops in organic and conventional farming systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between yield levels of nonleguminous crops and soil organic matter (SOM) under the specific conditions of organic and conventional farming, respectively, and to identify implications for SOM management in arable farming considering the farming system (organic vs. conventional). For that purpose, correlations between yield levels of nonlegume crops and actual SOM level (C_org, N_t, C_hwe, N_hwe) as well as SOM‐level development were examined including primary data from selected treatments of seven long‐term field experiments in Germany and Switzerland. Yield levels of nonlegume crops were positively correlated with SOM levels, but the correlation was significant only under conditions of organic farming, and not with conventional farming treatments. While absolute SOM levels had a positive impact on yield levels of nonlegumes, the yield levels of nonlegumes and SOM‐level development over time correlated negatively. Due to an increased demand of N from SOM mineralization, higher yield levels of nonlegumes obviously indicate an increased demand for OM supply to maintain SOM levels. Since this observation is highly significant for farming without mineral‐N fertilization but not for farming with such fertilization, we conclude that the demand of SOM‐level maintenance or enhancement and thus adequate SOM management is highly relevant for crop production in organic farming both from an agronomical and ecological point of view. Under conventional management, the agronomic relevance of SOM with regard to nutrient supply is much lower than under organic management. However, it has to be considered that we excluded other possible benefits of SOM in our survey that may be highly relevant for conventional farming as well.     

长期有机无机肥配施下红壤性稻田水稻产量及土壤有机碳变化特征

利用中国农业科学院红壤实验站红壤稻田长期定位试验,研究了长期有机无机肥配施下双季稻增产潜力和土壤有机碳变化特征。31年的试验结果表明,1）施肥能促进水稻早晚稻稻谷和地上部产量增加,其中,有机肥配施均衡的NPK处理促进作用最大,NPKM处理下稻谷年均产量比NPM、 NKM、 PKM、 M和NPK分别高 5.8%、 10.9%、 16.2%、 15.9%和20.4%。2）施肥能促进水稻土有机碳含量增加,其中,有机肥配施均衡的NPK处理提升效果最为明显, NPKM处理下所测年度土壤有机碳平均含量比NPM、 NKM、 PKM、 M和NPK分别高出2.5%、 3.5%、 2.0%、 0.6%和 32.8%。3）随着试验的进行,单施有机肥对早、 晚稻稻谷和地上部产量的促进效果逐步优于单施化肥氮、 磷、 钾处理（NPK）,对土壤有机碳的提升效果也明显优于单施化肥氮、 磷、 钾。红壤性稻田双季稻生产实践中,有机无机肥配施模式值得推荐,但需均衡配施化肥氮、 磷、 钾。     

种植绿肥与稻秸协同还田对单季稻田土壤有机碳库和酶活性的影响

种植绿肥和秸秆还田是稻田土壤培肥的重要措施。研究江汉平原单季稻田冬闲期种植绿肥及稻秸不同利用模式对土壤有机碳库和土壤酶活性的影响,为合理利用秸秆和土地资源提供科学依据。该研究基于3 a田间定位试验,以稻秸不还田不种绿肥(CK1)和不施肥空白(CK0)为对照,分析了冬闲期稻秸全量覆盖单独还田(RSM)、稻秸原位焚烧还田(RSB)、单种绿肥(GM)以及稻秸全量覆盖与种植绿肥协同还田利用(RSM+GM)等处理模式下土壤有机碳各组分含量、碳库管理指数、酶活性的变化及其与水稻产量的关系。结果表明:与CK1和CK0相比,RSB处理3 a后显著降低了土壤稳态有机碳含量,对土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳含量以及碳库管理指数均无显著影响;而GM、RSM及RSM+GM处理3a后显著提高了土壤活性有机碳含量、碳库指数、碳库活度、碳库活度指数和碳库管理指数,尤其是RSM和RSM+GM处理还可显著提高土壤总有机碳含量,且多数指标均以RSM+GM处理增幅为最大,其次是RSM处理。与CK1相比,RSB处理3a后显著提高了过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性,但对土壤脲酶活性无显著影响;而RSM、GM及RSM+GM处理模式3 a后均可显著增加土壤过氧化氢酶、脲酶和蔗糖酶活性,其中RSM+GM处理模式在1 a后即可显著提高土壤脲酶活性,2 a后显著提高土壤过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性,3 a后土壤过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性增幅均是最大。相比于CK1,RSM和RSB处理模式3 a的稻谷增产效果均不显著,而GM和RSM+GM处理模式连续3 a显著提高了稻谷产量,增幅分别为6.88%～11.67%和6.00%～13.40%。相关性分析表明,土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳、碳库管理指数、土壤酶活性与水稻产量之间均呈极显著正相关关系。综上,在江汉平原单季稻作条件下,冬闲期稻秸全量覆盖还田或种植绿肥均可改善土壤肥力,增加作物产量,但前者更有助于土壤有机碳积累,后者更利于作物产量提升。为了兼顾秸秆资源利用、土壤质量改善和作物增产稳产,稻田冬闲期稻秸全量覆盖与种植绿肥协同还田利用模式是一种较好的选择。     

Long-term effects of NPK fertilizers and organic manures on soil organic carbon and carbon management index under a double-cropping rice system in Southern China

The effects of manure and chemical fertilizer on soil bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), and the role of carbon management index (CMI) in soil quality evaluation were studied under a double-cropping rice system in a long-term experiment. The experiment included five fertilizer treatments: without fertilizer input (CK), chemical fertilizer alone (MF), rice straw residue plus chemical fertilizer (RF), 30% organic matter plus 70% chemical fertilizer (LOM), and 60% organic matter plus 40% chemical fertilizer (HOM). RF, LOM, HOM treatments increased SOC content relative to MF treatment in the paddy fields at 0–20 cm. RF, LOM, HOM treatments were more effective for increasing CMI, lability index, lability of C, and SOC stocks, as compared with MF treatment. Based on rice grain yield and carbon storage, integrated fertilization of chemical fertilizer and organic manure proved to be the most effective practices for improving crop productivity and SOC sequestration.     

Testing a practical indicator for changing soil organic matter

Long-term changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) resulting from management change are documented for many experimental situations, and corresponding trends in the field have been observed by national survey. Since these changes are relevant to atmospheric carbon balance a practical measure to confirm the impact of recent management decisions at any location, without resorting to repeated sampling, is highly attractive but none has previously been tested. This study assessed intra-aggregate C to fulfil the role, based on a temporary deviation from its predictable contribution to total SOC under stable management. A total of 166 surface soil samples (0–15 cm) were analyzed for intra-aggregate C using an established physical fractionation protocol or compatible scaled-up procedure. Soils were arable (or ley-arable) managed by conventional or minimum-tillage, or permanent grassland, and assigned ‘stable’ or ‘changing’ status on the basis of a verbal account of management history. Log-normal populations of intra-aggregate C were compared for soils of stable and changing status using F-tests. Intra-aggregate C shows promise as an indicator of changing SOC in arable soils up to 30% clay content, particularly soils <20% clay. A larger dataset is required to establish its utility in grassland soils. It is not certain that intra-aggregate C is capable of confirming direction of change or trajectory (endpoint), and functions to indicate change, rather than confirm stable status. Supplementary information on the history of soil use and management is therefore essential in the interpretation of such measurements.     

Effects of organic matter addition on phosphorus availability to flooded and nonflooded rice in a P‐deficient tropical soil: a greenhouse study

Addition of organic matter (OM) to flooded soils stimulates reductive dissolution of Fe(III) minerals, thereby mobilizing associated phosphate (P). Hence, OM management has the potential to overcome P deficiency. This study assessed if OM applications increases soil or mineral fertilizer P availability to rice under anaerobic (flooded) condition and if that effect is different relative to that in aerobic (nonflooded) soils. Rice was grown in P‐deficient soil treated with combinations of addition of mineral P (0, 26 mg P/kg), OM (0, ~9 g OM/kg as rice straw + cattle manure) and water treatments (flooded vs nonflooded) in a factorial pot experiment. The OM was either freshly added just before flooding or incubated moist in soil for 6 months prior to flooding; blanket N and K was added in all treatments. Fresh addition of OM promoted reductive dissolution of Fe(III) minerals in flooded soils, whereas no such effect was found when OM had been incubated for 6 months before flooding. Yield and shoot P uptake largely increased with mineral P addition in all soils, whereas OM addition increased yield and P uptake only in flooded soils following fresh OM addition. The combination of mineral P and OM gave the largest yield and P uptake. Addition of OM just prior to soil flooding increased P uptake but was insufficient to overcome P deficiency in the absence of mineral P. Larger applications of OM are unlikely to be more successful in flooded soils due to side effects, such as Fe toxicity.     

长期施肥对黄壤有机碳平衡及玉米产量的影响

基于长期定位试验,以黔中典型黄壤为研究对象,采用单因素方差分析、可持续性指数、稳定性指数等方法对长期定位试验获取的数据进行分析和比较,以探讨长期不同施肥处理对黄壤有机碳含量、有机碳平衡量、玉米产量稳定性、可持续性及其相互关系的影响。结果表明:(1)与施化肥和对照处理相比,施有机肥处理土壤有机碳含量明显升高,按大小排序依次为:MMNPK1/2M+1/2NPK1/4M+3/4NPK;(2)施有机肥处理黄壤有机碳平衡量为正值,且随有机肥施用量增加而增加,相反,施化肥和对照处理均为负值,大小依次为:MNPK、M1/2M+1/2NPK1/4M+3/4NPKNPKNKNPN、CKPK,各处理差异显著;(3)有机肥与化肥配施、有机肥单施及氮磷钾化肥协调施用更有利于提高玉米产量,排序为:MNPK1/4M+3/4NPK、1/2M+1/2NPKNPK、MNPNK、PK、NCK;(4)适量有机肥与化肥配施可提高玉米产量稳定性和可持续性(可持续性指数0.6,变异系数0.3),其中,1/4M+3/4NPK处理玉米产量稳定性和持续性最好;(5)玉米年产量与黄壤有机碳平衡量相关度较高,而玉米可持续性、稳定性则主要受有机碳含量影响。综上,有机肥与化肥配施有利于黄壤有机碳含量提升、玉米维持高产稳产。按适量"减肥"原则,以25%有机肥配施75%氮磷钾化肥效果最佳。     

Effect of long-term application of fertilizers on soil quality and rice yield in a salt-affected coastal region of India

The studied soils were collected from a 24-year long-term fertilizer experiment with rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown on tropical Typic Endoaquepts during monsoon season only. The organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) status of the soils improved with the N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂ treatment than the initial values at the start of the experiment. The available P status of the soils depleted in the N₁₀₀P₁₁K₂₂ and N₀P₀K₀ treatments than the initial value. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and basal soil respiration (BSR), activities of urease, acid and alkaline phosphatases as well as fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity (FDHA) were the highest in the N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂ treatment. The highest percentage of MBC in OC in the N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂ treatment revealed the accumulation of organic matter with an overall improvement in nutrient status of soil, since MBC is a labile pool of plant nutrients. Long-term application of fertilizers (N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂) had no deleterious effect on microbial and biochemical soil quality parameters. Rice grain yields were inconsistent with N₁₀₀P₀K₀ and N₀P₀K₀ while that of N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂, N₁₀₀P₁₁K₂₂ and N₁₀₀P₂₂K₀ increased gradually during the course of the experiment for each block period of six years. The grain yield of rice showed high significant correlation with the microbial and biochemical soil parameters.     

轮耕对土壤物理性状及水稻产量影响的初步研究

针对南方稻田连续免耕存在的主要问题,进行了土壤轮耕效应的初步研究。试验选择双季稻区连续7年免耕稻田,设置免耕、旋耕和翻耕3种耕作处理（即免耕-免耕,免耕-旋耕和免耕-翻耕）,早稻和晚稻采取同-耕作措施。研究结果表明：连续免耕后进行土壤耕作（翻耕、旋耕）可以降低耕作层土壤容重,增加土壤水贮量,尤为翻耕显著,早、晚稻均表现为这-趋势;晚稻收获时,表层0～5cm的毛管孔隙度表现为免耕-翻耕、免耕-旋耕在5％水平上显著高于免耕-免耕,而下层差异不显著;早、晚稻晒田时,表层0～5cm原状土饱和导水率均表现为免耕～翻耕在5％水平上显著高于免耕-免耕和免耕-旋耕,而5～10cm无显著性差异;早、晚稻的实际产量均表现为免耕-旋耕〉免耕-翻耕〉免耕-免耕,起主要作用的构成因素是有效穗数。     

不同生物有机肥用量对土壤活性有机质和酶活性的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了不同有机质含量的土壤中,不同用量生物有机肥对棉花苗期土壤活性有机质和5种酶活性的影响。结果表明,不同土壤随着生物有机肥施用量的增加,其活性有机质及碳库管理指数(CMI)均显著增加。其中高有机质含量土壤施用生物有机肥20 g/kg效果显著,中等有机质含量土壤和低有机质含量土壤施用生物有机肥30、40 g/kg效果显著。5种土壤酶活性施肥处理均高于对照(CK),并且土壤酶活性与施用量成正比。脲酶、蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶在施用生物有机肥10、20 g/kg与其它处理相比变化显著,过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶变化不显著。相关分析表明,有机质与活性有机质和CMI在棉花出苗0 d相关系数分别为0.831**、0.542*;在出苗后60 d相关系数分别为0.928**、0.635**,其中有机质与活性有机质相关性最高。而CMI与有机质和活性有机质在棉花出苗0 d相关系数分别为0.542*、0.896**,在出苗后60 d分别为0.635**、0.842**,说明活性有机质相对于有机质与CMI关系更为密切。蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶与土壤有机质和活性有机质在棉花出苗0 d和出苗后60 d存在显著相关,表明活性有机质与土壤酶活性能够较好的反映肥力水平。     

不同耕作方式对水稻产量和土壤肥力的影响

于2005～2006年在双季稻田研究了不同耕作方式对水稻生长、产量和土壤肥力的影响。结果表明:免耕抛秧水稻根干重低于翻耕移栽稻,根系绝大部分分布在表层土壤,根系活力比翻耕处理的高,分蘖时间比翻耕移栽的早而比翻耕抛秧的迟;每公顷有效穗数略低于翻耕抛秧而高于翻耕移栽,结实率高于翻耕处理。随着免耕次数的增加,各处理产量基本持平;免耕1年有利于土壤物理性质的改善,免耕有利于土壤养分在表层土壤富集。     

Effect of the long-term application of organic matter on soil carbon accumulation and GHG emissions from a rice paddy field in a cool-temperate region,Japan. -I. Comparison of rice straw and rice straw compost -

ABSTRACT

The influence of the long-term combination of rice straw removal and rice straw compost application on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and soil carbon accumulation in rice paddy fields was clarified. In each of the initial and continuous application fields (3 and 39?51 years, respectively), three plots with different applications of organic matter were established, namely, rice straw application (RS), rice straw compost application (SC) and no application (NA) plots, and soil carbon storage (0?15 cm), rice grain yield and CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were measured for three years. The soil carbon sequestration rate by the organic matter application was higher in the SC plot than in the RS plot for both the initial and continuous application fields, and it was lower in the continuous application field than in the initial application field. The rice grain yield in the SC plot was significantly higher than those in the other plots in both the initial and continuous application fields. Cumulative CH₄ emissions followed the order of the NA plot < the SC plot < the RS plot for both the initial and continuous application fields. The effect of the organic matter application on the N₂O emissions was not clear. In both the initial and continuous application fields, the increase in CH₄ emission by the rice straw application exceeded the soil carbon sequestration rate, and the change in the net greenhouse gas (GHG) balance calculated by the difference between them was a positive, indicating a net increase in the GHG emissions. However, the change in the GHG balance by the rice straw compost application showed negative (mitigating GHG emissions) for the initial application field, whereas it showed positive for the continuous application field. Although the mitigation effect on the GHG emissions by the combination of the rice straw removal and rice straw compost application was reduced by 21% after 39 years long-term application, it is suggested that the combination treatment is a sustainable management that can mitigate GHG emissions and improve crop productivity.     

Effects of soil flooding and organic matter addition on plant accessible phosphorus in a tropical paddy soil: an isotope dilution study

Plant growth experiments were conducted to reveal the mechanism by which organic matter (OM) and soil flooding enhance phosphorus (P) bioavailability for rice. It was postulated that reductive dissolution of iron‐(III) [Fe(III)] oxyhydroxides in soil releases occluded phosphate ions (PO₄), i.e., PO₄ that is not isotopically exchangeable in the original soil prior to flooding. Rice was grown in P‐deficient soil treated with factorial combinations of addition of mineral P (0, 50 mg P kg^?1), OM (0, ≈ 20.5 g OM kg^?1 as cattle manure +/– rice straw) and water treatments (flooded vs. non‐flooded). The OM was either freshly added just before flooding or incubated moist in soil for 6 months prior to flooding; nitrogen and potassium were added in all treatments. The soil exchangeable P was labeled with ³³PO₄ prior to flooding. The plant accessible P in soil, the so‐called L‐value, was determined from the ³³P/³¹P ratio in the plants. The L‐values were inconsistently affected by flooding in contrast with the starting hypothesis. The OM and P addition to soil clearly increased the L‐value and, surprisingly, the increase due to OM application was larger than the total P addition to soil. An additional isotope exchange study in a soil extract (E‐value) at the end of the experiment showed that the E‐value increased less than the total P addition with OM. This suggests that plants preferentially take up unlabeled P from the OM in the rhizosphere compared to labeled labile inorganic P. The effects of soil flooding on P bioavailability is unlikely related to an increase of the quantity of bio‐accessible P in soil (L‐value) but is likely explained by differences in P mobility in soil.     

Labile and stable pools of organic matter in soil amended with sewage sludge biochar

One of the main advantages of using biochar for agricultural purposes is its ability to store carbon (C) in soil for a long-term. Studies of labile and stable fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) may be a good indicator of the dynamics of biochar in soils. This study evaluated the effects of applying sewage sludge biochar (SSB) in combination with mineral fertilizer on fractions of SOM. To conduct this evaluation, 15 Mg ha^?1 of SSB combined or not with mineral fertilizer (NPK) was applied to the soil in two cropping seasons. Apart from total organic C (TOC), the labile and stable fractions of SOM were also determined. The combined use of SSB and NPK resulted in higher TOC, a 22% to 40% increase compared to the control and to the NPK treatments, respectively. The SSB produced at a lower temperature increased the labile fractions of SOM, especially the microbial biomass C, showing its capacity to supply nutrients in the short-term. The stable pools of SOM are increased after adding SSB produced at a higher temperature. It was concluded that pyrolysis temperature is a key-factor that determines the potential of SSB to accumulate C in labile and stable fractions of SOM.     

Characteristics of microbial biomass and soil organic matter in newly reclaimed wetland rice soils

Microbial biomass C, N, total organic C, N and mineralizable N were measured in newly reclaimed wetland sandy loam rice soil with a very low nutrient status. Microbial biomass C increased 5.4–10.4 times due to application of barnyard manure, but decreased drastically to 24–27% during rice cultivation. Organic C and N contents also decreased during cultivation, but to a lesser extent to 59–76%. At the tillering stage of the rice plant, microbial biomass N was highly correlated with mineralizable N (r=0.986).     

Soil organic carbon and nutrient content in aggregate‐size fractions of a subtropical rice soil under variable tillage

The effects of tillage on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient content of soil aggregates can vary spatially and temporally, and for different soil types and cropping systems. We assessed SOC and nutrient levels within water‐stable aggregates in ridges with no tillage (RNT) and also under conventional tillage (CT) for a subtropical rice soil in order to determine relationships between tillage, cation concentrations and soil organic matter. Surface soil (0–15 cm) was fractionated into aggregate sizes (>4.76 mm, 4.76–2.00 mm, 2.00–1.00 mm, 1.00–0.25 mm, 0.25–0.053 mm, <0.053 mm) under two tillage regimes. Tillage significantly reduced the proportion of macroaggregate fractions (>2.00 mm) and thus aggregate stability was reduced by 35% compared with RNT, indicating that tillage practices led to soil structural change for this subtropical soil. The patterns in SOC, total N, exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and total exchangeable bases (TEB) were similar between tillage regimes, but concentrations were significantly higher under RNT than CT. This suggests that RNT in subtropical rice soils may be a better way to enhance soil productivity and improve soil C sequestration potential than CT. The highest SOC was in the 1.00–0.25 mm fraction (35.7 and 30.4 mg/kg for RNT and CT, respectively), while the lowest SOC was in microaggregate (<0.025 mm) and silt + clay (<0.053 mm) fractions (19.5 and 15.7 mg/kg for RNT and CT, respectively). Tillage did not influence the patterns in SOC across aggregates but did change the aggregate‐size distribution, indicating that tillage affected soil fertility primarily by changing soil structure.     

有机物料与化肥配施提高黄泥田水稻产量和土壤肥力

农业有机物料具有资源化再利用的特点,与化肥配施既可以保证作物产量,也可以提升地力。为了建立最适宜的南方低产黄泥田培肥模式,该文在浙江金衢盆地开展3年田间试验研究化肥与不同有机物料(菇渣、紫云英、牛粪和秸秆)配施对水稻产量和土壤肥力的影响。结果表明:1)有机物料与化肥配施可以显著提高水稻产量,化肥+菇渣、化肥+紫云英、化肥+牛粪和化肥+秸秆处理下,水稻三年的平均产量分别比单施化肥提高了9.7%、9.5%、12.3%和9.5%;2)有机物料与化肥配合施用,土壤有机质、土壤养分(全氮、有效磷、速效钾和CEC)及土壤容重较单施化肥处理有一定程度的改善,其中,化肥+牛粪效果最明显,有机质质量分数提高了12.5%,土壤有效磷质量分数提高了37.7%,CEC提高了16.1%;3)与单施化肥相比,化肥+菇渣、化肥+牛粪处理下5 mm机械稳定性大团聚体分别提高了10.4%和6.7%,各配施处理均显著降低了团聚体破坏率。总得来讲,连续三年有机物料与化肥配施较单施化肥处理提高了水稻产量、改善了土壤肥力状况、增加了土壤团聚体稳定性,其中又以牛粪与化肥配合施用效果最佳。     

Modeling a long-term effect of rice straw incorporation on SOC content and grain yield in rice field

ABSTRACT

The long-term effects of rice straw incorporation on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and rice yield were evaluated from rice cultivation with different treatments: no rice straw (control), rice straw (RS), and rice straw compost (RSC) as a main-plots; five levels of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application: 0, 100, 150, 200, and 250 of N (kg ha^?1) as a sub-plots. The denitrification and decomposition (DNDC) model was employed to simulate changes in SOC content and rice grain yield over 35 years. Additionally, scenario analysis on continuous or discontinuous RS incorporation in rice fields was conducted using the DNDC model. The long-term results indicated that RS and RSC treatments played a crucial role in increasing grain yields by 9% and 11% due to the increased SOC contents compared to control treatment. The validated DNDC model on SOC contents and yields showed a good agreement between the observed and simulated values based on the normalized root mean square errors. The model predicted a rapid decline of SOC contents without RS incorporation. Results suggested that incorporating rice straw or amending manure to paddy soils is a preferred practice for maintaining SOC contents.     

Effect of no-tillage with straw mulch and conventional tillage on soil organic carbon pools in Northern China

The dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) is imperative for maintaining soil quality. Our objective was to investigate the effects of tillage practices on SOC and its fractions at the depth (0–60 cm) of Chromic Cambisol profile in northern China. The experiment including no-tillage with straw mulch (NTSM) and conventional tillage (CT). Our results indicated that differences in SOC concentration and stock were primarily evident in the 0–10 cm layer. The particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) levels in the top layers (0–10 cm) under the NTSM treatment were 28.5, 26.1 and 51.0% higher than CT. A positive correlation was observed between these labile C fractions and the SOC, and POM-C was the much more sensitive indicator of SOC quality than MBC and DOC. NTSM was unable to sustain the greater yields, and from 2006 to 2011, the mean maize yield for NTSM was significantly lower than that for CT (P < 0.05). NTSM resulted in higher SOC content and stocks in dryland farming systems but lower crop yields is a concern which needs to be addressed in order to make these systems acceptable to the farming community.     

Biochar combined with nitrogen fertilizer affects soil properties and wheat yield in medium-low-yield farmland

Biochar combined with fertilizer as a soil amendment benefits to improving soil fertility, especially soil organic carbon and crop yield. However, the effect of biochar on the improvement of soil properties and crop yield was varied from soil properties and limited for medium–low-yield farmland in the North China. During the completely randomized field experiment, SIX treatments (biochar applied as 0, 15 and 30 t·ha^-1, under 240 and 300 kg N ha^-1 nitrogen fertilizer) were applied in wheat season and examined to reveal changes in the SOC and other properties of 0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm soil layers. The results showed that two years after the application of biochar, a significant increase in the SOC was observed, ranging from 19.52% to 97.50% (p < 0.05) in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing amount of biochar applied under the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer. The content of soil available potassium increased significantly under 30 t·ha^-1 biochar application (p < 0.05). Both biochar and nitrogen fertilizer application could increase wheat yield, and the effect of biochar application for increasing wheat yield was better than that of nitrogen fertilizer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer at the same amount of biochar application. The principal component analysis results showed that biochar input, SOC, available potassium and total nitrogen were the key factors affecting wheat yield. Biochar application is a fast and effective measure to improve SOC and wheat yield in medium- and low-yield farmlands.