Initial decomposition of post-harvest crown and root residues of poplars as affected by N availability and particle size

An incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the impacts of residue particle size and N application on the decomposition of post-harvest residues of fast-growing poplar tree plantations as well as on the microbial biomass. Crown and root residues, differing in their C/N ratios (crown 285, root 94), were ground to two particle sizes and incubated with and without application of inorganic nitrogen (N) for 42 days in a tilled soil layer from a poplar plantation after 1 year of re-conversion to arable land. Carbon and N mineralization of the residues, microbial biomass C and N, ergosterol contents, and recovery of unused substrate as particulate organic matter (POM) were determined. Carbon mineralization of the residues accounted for 26 to 29 % of added C and caused a strong N immobilization, which further increased after N addition. N immobilization in the control soil showed that even 1 year after re-conversion, fine harvest residues still remaining in the soil were a sink for mineral N. Irrespective of the particle size, C mineralization increased only for crown residues after application of N. Nevertheless, the overall decrease in amounts of POM-C and a concurrent decrease of the C/N ratio in the POM demonstrate the mineralization of easily available components of woody residues. Microbial biomass significantly decreased during incubation, but higher cumulative CO₂ respiration after N application suggests an increased microbial turnover. Higher ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratios after residue incorporation points to a higher contribution of saprotrophic fungi in the microbial community, but fungal biomass was lower after N addition.     

长期不同施氮处理玉米根茬的田间分解特性

以7年氮肥定位试验地玉米根茬为研究对象,通过把玉米根茬按2%比例与15 cm和45 cm土层深度的土壤混合后田间埋袋的方法,研究长期不同施氮量处理[分别为0 kg(N)?hm?2、120 kg(N)?hm?2和240 kg(N)?hm?2]的玉米根茬(分别用R0、R120、R240表示),在陕西省长武黑垆土中埋藏分解1 a后对土壤碳、氮组分的影响及根茬有机碳的分解特性。与未添加玉米根茬的对照土壤相比,玉米根茬加入能够显著增加各层土壤的微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳和矿质态氮含量,3种施氮量处理间差异不显著。随着分解时间延长,土壤可溶性有机物中结构相对复杂的芳香类化合物比例逐渐增加。分解1 a后,R0、R120和R240根茬的有机碳残留率在15 cm土层中分别为44.4%、35.3%和34.9%,在45 cm土层中分别为53.3%、44.3%和42.5%。R0根茬的碳残留率显著高于R120和R240;玉米根茬在15 cm土层的碳分解率和分解速率常数显著高于45 cm土层。采用一级动力学方程拟合玉米根茬碳残留率变化结果显示,R0、R120和R240根茬有机碳分解95%所需要的时间在45 cm土层比15cm土层分别长3.2 a、2.3 a和1.9 a。氮肥施用量影响玉米根茬在土壤中的分解特性,在评价农田氮肥施用与土壤固碳时,应考虑不同氮肥用量下残茬养分组成及其在土壤中分解的差异。     

半干旱农田生态系统作物根系和施肥对土壤微生物体氮的影响

盆栽和大田试验表明,作物根系显著影响土壤微生物体氮的含量。在田间试验条件下,根际土壤微生物体氮比非根际土壤平均高出N54.7μg/g;盆栽试验中,根际土壤微生物体氮平均含量为N77.1±13.6μg/g,而非根际土壤为N65.2±17.0μg/g,差异达显著水平,根际微生物体氮含量为非际根际土壤的1.10～2.04倍。施肥能明显增加土壤微生物体氮含量,但影响程度因肥料种类而不同。秸秆和富含有机物质的厩肥对土壤微生物体氮的影响远大于化学肥料,而且土壤微生物体氮含量随秸秆施用量增加而增加。在红油土上进行的20年长期田间定位试验结果表明,对不施肥和施氮磷处理,0—20cm土层的微生物体氮分别是N102.2和110.4μg/g;在施氮磷的基础上,每公顷配施新鲜玉米秸秆9375kg、18750kg、37500kg和厩肥37500kg时,相应土层微生物体氮分别是N147.5、163.2、286.4和265.3μg/g。培养条件下,当有效能源物质缺乏时,微生物对NH4+-N的同化固定能力远大于NO3--N,但在加入有效能源物质葡萄糖后,微生物对2种形态氮的固定量大幅度增加,且对2种形态氮的固定量趋于一致。     

Influence of land use and tillage depth on dynamics of soil microbial properties,soil carbon fractions and crop yield after conversion of short‐rotation coppices

The effect of conversion of short‐rotation coppices (SRCs) to agricultural land on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil microbial properties and crop yield is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of subsequent land use and tillage depth after conversion of SRCs on (i) total SOC (ii) soil C fractions with differentiation of total harvest residues and woody harvest residues from SRC and maize by ¹³C analysis and (iii) dry matter and N yield of grassland and maize. For this purpose, field trials were established after conversion of SRCs at three sites in Germany and cultivated with maize and grassland with shallow (5 cm), medium (15 cm) and deep tillage depth (30 cm). Crops were sampled for 5 yrs, and soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–5, 5–15 and 15–30 cm. Amount of total carbon and soil carbon fractions immediately and 4 yrs after conversion of SRC were compared. Tillage depth had no effect on dry matter yield of maize and grassland. The amount of woody harvest residues decreased over time following conversion at all sites irrespective of land use or tillage depth, but SOC decreased only at one site. Microbial biomass was particularly sensitive to land use, but microorganisms reacted differently to tillage depth depending on the soil conditions. Our results reveal that decomposition of woody harvest residues is rapid and that effects of tillage and land use on different soil C‐pools are site specific.     

Substrate quality affects microbial‐ and enzyme activities in rooted soil

The rhizosphere reflects a sphere of high substrate input by means of rhizodeposits. Active microorganisms and extracellular enzymes are known to be responsible for substrate utilization in soil, especially in rooted soil. We tested for microbial‐ and enzyme activities in arable soil, in order to investigate the effects of continuous input of easily available organics (e.g., root‐exudates) to the microbial community. In a field experiment with maize, rooted and root‐free soil were analyzed and rhizosphere processes were linked to microbial activity indicators such as specific microbial growth rates and kinetics of six hydrolytic extracellular enzymes: β‐glucosidase, β‐cellobiohydrolase, β‐xylosidase, acid phosphatase, leucine‐ and tyrosine‐aminopeptidase. Higher potential activities of leucine‐aminopeptidase (2‐fold) for rooted vs. root‐free soil suggested increased costs of enzyme production, which retarded the specific microbial growth rates. Total microbial biomass determined by the substrate‐induced respiration technique and dsDNA extraction method was 23% and 42% higher in the rooted surface‐layer (0–10 cm) compared to the root‐free soil, respectively. For the rooted soil, potential enzyme activities of β‐glucosidase were reduced by 23% and acid phosphatase by 25%, and increased by 300% for β‐cellobiohydrolase at 10–20 cm depth compared to the surface‐layer. The actively growing microbial biomass increased by the 17‐fold in rooted soil in the 10–20 cm layer compared to the upper 10 cm. Despite the specific microbial growth rates showing no changes in the presence of roots, these rates decreased by 42% at 10–20 cm depth compared to the surface‐layer. This suggests the dominance in abundances of highly active but slower growing microbes with depth, reflecting also their slower turnover. Shifts in microbial growth strategy, upregulation of enzyme production and increased microbial respiration indicate strong root effects in maize planted soil.     

Effects of residue location on soil organic matter turnover: results from an incubation experiment with 15N‐maize

Differences in the mechanisms of storage and decomposition of organic matter (OM) between minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) are generally attributed to differences in the physical impact through tillage, but less is known about the effects of residue location. We conducted an incubation experiment at a water content of 60% of the maximum water‐holding capacity and 15°C with soils from CT (0–25 cm tillage depth) and MT fields (0–5 cm tillage depth) with ¹⁵N‐labeled maize straw incorporated to different depths (CT simulations: 0–15 cm; MT simulations: 0–5 cm) for 28 d in order to determine the effects of the tillage simulation on (1) mineralization of recently added residues, (2) the dynamics of macroaggregate formation and physical protection of OM, and (3) the partitioning of maize‐derived C and N within soil OM fractions. The MT simulations showed lower relative C losses, and the amount of maize‐C mineralized after 28 d of incubation was slightly but significantly lower in the MT simulations with maize added (MT_maize) than in the respective CT (CT_maize) simulations. The formation of new water‐stable macroaggregates occurred during the phase of the highest microbial activity, with a maximum peak 8 d after the start of incubation. The newly formed macroaggregates were an important location for the short‐term stabilization of C and N with a higher importance for MT_maize than for CT_maize simulations. In conclusion, our results suggest that a higher amount of OM in MT surface soils compared with CT surface soils may not only result from decreased macroaggregate destruction under reduced tillage but also from a higher efficiency of C retention due to a more concentrated residue input.     

Soil microbial properties down the profile of a black earth burie by colluvium

The activity and biomass of soil microorganisms were determined in samples at 0—140 cm depth taken from an arable site, where the soil has been developed by erosion and colluvial deposition overlaying a black earth at 70—110 cm depth. The central aim was to get an insight into the breakdown of increasingly old and thus recalcitrant soil organic matter down the profile, effects on the availability of C to microorganisms and the microbial community structure. From 0 to 140 cm depth, microbial biomass C decreased by 96%, biomass N by 97%, the adenylates ATP, ADP, and AMP as well as the basal respiration rate by 89%. No ergosterol was measured at 120—140 cm depth. All soil biological properties decreased in distinct steps after 30 cm and 50 cm depth. At 30—90 cm depth, the amounts of soil organic C and microbial biomass C per hectare of the present colluvium exceeded nearly three‐fold those in undisturbed aeolian loess sediments. The cation exchange significantly affected the relationships between microbial biomass C, biomass N, and the adenylates. As a consequence, none of the ratios between the soil microbial biomass properties revealed constant gradients throughout the profile. The adenylate energy charge (AEC) varied between the different soil layers insignificantly around a mean of 0.71. It was the most stable ratio down the profile showing absolutely no depth gradient, the lowest depth‐to‐depth variation, and also the lowest within depth variability. The other ratios between soil organic C, basal respiration, ergosterol, microbial biomass C and biomass N also did not reveal any marked changes in the microbial community structure.     

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.     

耕作方式和秸秆还田对砂姜黑土碳库及玉米小麦产量的影响

长期秸秆还田免耕覆盖措施导致沿淮区域砂姜黑土耕层变浅、下表层(10～30 cm)容重增加、土壤养分不均衡等问题凸显,限制了小麦-玉米周年生产力的提高。耕作和秸秆还田措施合理的搭配组合是解决这一问题的有效方法。通过8年的小麦-玉米一年两熟田间试验,设置4个处理:1)玉米季免耕-小麦季免耕秸秆不还田(N);2)玉米季深耕-小麦季深耕秸秆不还田(D);3)玉米季秸秆免耕覆盖还田+小麦秸秆免耕覆盖还田(NS);4)玉米季秸秆免耕覆盖还田+小麦季秸秆深耕还田(DS)。通过分析作物收获后不同土壤深度(0～60 cm)总有机碳(TOC)、颗粒态碳(POC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、易氧化态碳(KMnO4-C)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和土壤碳库管理指数(CPMI),并结合小麦-玉米的周年产量变化,以期获得培肥砂姜黑土的最佳模式。研究结果表明:1)相对于长期免耕措施(N),DS处理能够提高0～30 cm土层TOC、POC、MBC、KMnO4-C等组分含量和CPMI;而NS措施仅提高土壤表层(0～10 cm)TOC、活性有机碳组分含量和CPMI;2)DS处理显著提升了小麦-玉米的周年生产力,其麦玉的周年产量均值分别比N、D和NS处理高出14.7%、12.9%和8.5%;3)MBC和KMnO4-C对于耕作和秸秆还田措施都是较为敏感指示因子。总的来说,玉米季小麦秸秆覆盖还田+小麦季玉米秸秆深耕还田(DS)是改善沿淮地区砂姜黑土土壤碳库、提高小麦-玉米周年产量的一种有效农田管理模式。     

Coffee mucilage impact on young coffee seedlings and soil microorganisms

A greenhouse pot experiment was carried out to assess the effects of fermented coffee mucilage applied as mulch together with maize leaves on the growth of young coffee plants of two different varieties and on soil microbial biomass indices. The coffee variety Catuai required 32% more water per g plant biomass than the variety Yellow Caturra, but had a 49% lower leaf area, 34% less shoot and 46% less root biomass. Maize and mucilage amendments did not affect leaf area, shoot and root yield, or the N concentration in shoot and root dry matter. The amendments always reduced the water use efficiency values, but this reduction was only significant in the maize+mucilage‐14 (= 14 g mucilage pot^?1) treatment. Soil pH significantly increased from 4.30 in the control to 4.63 in the maize+mucilage‐14 treatment. Microbial biomass C increased by 18.5 µg g^?1 soil, microbial biomass N by 3.1 µg g^?1 soil, and ergosterol by 0.21 µg g^?1 soil per g mucilage added pot^?1. The presence of mucilage significantly reduced the microbial biomass‐C/N ratio from a mean of 13.4 in the control and maize treatments to 9.3, without addition rate and coffee variety effects. The application of non‐composted mucilage is recommended in areas where drought leads to economic losses and in coffee plantations on low fertility soils like Oxisols, where Al toxicity is a major constraint.     

Effect of grassland harvesting frequency and N-fertilization on stocks and dynamics of soil organic matter in the temperate climate

ABSTRACT

Management of grassland may affect the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). Objectives were to analyze the effect of different harvesting frequencies and nitrogen fertilization regimes on SOC and total N stocks in a field trial on a sandy loam to loamy sand soil of a grassland site near Kiel (Germany). Additionally, effects on microbial biomass C (C_mic) and ergosterol (as proxy for fungi) contents, water-stable aggregate size-classes and density fractions were studied. In the surface soil (0–10 cm), SOC and total N stocks, amounts of large water-stable macroaggregates (> 2000 µm) and contents of C_mic and ergosterol were significantly higher under a five cut regime. C_mic (r_Spearman = 0.61) and ergosterol contents (r_Spearman = 0.67) were correlated with amounts of large water-stable macroaggregates suggesting that fungi and microbial biomass play an important role in binding of small macroaggregates into large macroaggregates. The free light fraction of SOM showed significantly higher C concentrations under three cut compared to five cut at 30–60 cm, presumably related to the C/N ratio and the decomposability of root litter. This study indicates the importance of cutting frequency on SOC and total N stocks, amounts of large macroaggregates and contents of C_mic and ergosterol.     

生物炭配施氮肥改善表层土壤生物化学性状研究

【目的】 探讨生物炭配施氮肥对土壤碳氮、生物学性质及春玉米产量的影响,阐明生物炭配施氮肥后,土壤碳氮含量及生化性质变化规律,旨在为合理培肥、改善土壤环境、增加春玉米产量提供科学依据。 【方法】 在内蒙古西部 (包头) 和东部 (通辽) 2个试验点进行大田试验,设生物炭用量0、8、16、24 t/hm2 4个水平 (分别记作C₀、C₈、C₁₆、C₂₄) ,设施氮量 0、150、300 kg/hm2 3个水平 (分别记作N₀、N₁₅₀、N₃₀₀) ,于成熟期测产,并于收获后分3个土层 (0—10 cm、10—20 cm、20—40 cm) 测定土壤碳氮含量、微生物量及酶活性。 【结果】 生物炭和氮肥对2个试验点0—10 cm、10—20 cm和20—40 cm土层有机碳、碳氮比、微生物量及酶活性均有极显著影响 (P < 0.01) ,且两者交互作用极显著。3个土层有机碳含量以及0—10 cm和10—20 cm土层全氮含量在各施氮水平随生物炭施用量的增加而增加。施加生物炭和氮肥均能显著提高3个土层的微生物量碳、微生物量氮、蔗糖酶活性、脲酶活性以及总体酶活参数,且随炭、氮施入量的增加呈先增后减的趋势;施用生物炭后0—10 cm和10—20 cm土层的微生物量碳、微生物量氮以及蔗糖酶、脲酶活性均显著高于20—40 cm土层。生物炭配施氮肥可显著提高春玉米穗粒数、百粒重及产量,2试验点产量均以C ₈N₁₅₀最大,包头和通辽分别为15.51 t/hm2和16.43 t/hm2。通过相关分析可知,春玉米产量主要与0—10 cm和10—20 cm土层的微生物量及酶活性有关。 【结论】 适量生物炭配施氮肥能够增加土壤碳氮储量、微生物量和酶活性,改善土壤微生态环境。炭氮配施能够提高土壤肥力,减少氮肥用量,本试验中以8 t/hm2生物炭配施150 kg/hm2氮肥为最佳施肥量。      

Changes in soil–biological quality indices after long‐term addition of shredded shrubs and biogenic waste compost

Long‐term effects on soil chemical and soil biological properties were analyzed after an 8 y period with addition of biogenic household‐waste compost and shredded shrubs with and without N fertilization to an arable field. The addition of compost and shredded shrubs to soil increased significantly all soil organic matter–related properties. The effects of compost addition on soil chemical properties were in most cases stronger than those of adding shredded shrubs, especially the effects on total N, 0.5 M K₂SO₄‐extractable C_org and 0.5 M NaHCO₃‐extractable phosphate. In the shredded‐shrubs treatments, basal respiration and the contents of soil microbial‐biomass C, biomass N, and fungal ergosterol were significantly increased by 40%, 45%, 67%, and 90%, respectively. In the compost treatment, only microbial‐biomass C and biomass N were significantly increased by 25% and 38%, respectively. Microbial‐biomass P remained unaffected by both organic‐amendment treatments. Nitrogen fertilization had significantly negative effects on the NaHCO₃‐extractable P fraction (–22%) and on the basal respiration (–31%), but positive effects on the ergosterol content (+17%).     

Soil microbial biomass and activities in a Japanese Andisol as affected by controlled release and application depth of urea

This experiment was conducted in maize field plots to study the effects of controlled release and application depth of urea on soil microbial biomass and activities at two depths of surface soil of a Japanese Andisol from June to September, 2001. Three N amendment treatments and a Control were included in this experiment: deep application (8 cm) of controlled release urea; deep application (8 cm) of conventional urea; surface application of conventional urea; Control, without N application. Prior to this experiment, the field plots received the same N fertilizer treatments for two consecutive years under maize/barley rotation. Soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase and nitrification activities exhibited great vertical and temporal variations during the maize growth season, and the microbial biomass was significantly correlated to soil water-filled pore space (p<0.01). N fertilization did not significantly affect the microbial biomass, but greatly increased the dehydrogenase and nitrification activities. The increase in the microbial activities following N fertilization was not attributed to the increase in microbial biomass but to the increase in intrinsic microbial activities. Controlled release urea was found to continuously affect the dehydrogenase activity over a shorter distance, while conventional urea could greatly increase the enzyme activity for a shorter period of time. Both controlled release and deep application of urea had potentials to reduce the nitrification activity and suggested that the nitrate production might be decreased in 0–10 cm surface soil. Deep application of urea increased aboveground N uptake by maize and then the recovery rate of N fertilizer, whereas controlled release of urea greatly increased grain yield and N uptake by grain.     

Long-term fertilization and residue return affect soil stoichiometry characteristics and labile soil organic matter fractions

Ecological stoichiometry provides the possibility for linking microbial dynamics with soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) metabolisms in response to agricultural nutrient management. To determine the roles of fertilization and residue return with respect to ecological stoichiometry, we collected soil samples from a 30-year field experiment on residue return (maize straw) at rates of 0, 2.5, and 5.0 Mg ha^-1 in combination with 8 fertilization treatments:no fertilizer (F0), N fertilizer, P fertilizer, potassium (K) fertilizer, N and P (NP) fertilizers, N and K (NK) fertilizers, P and K (PK) fertilizers, and N, P, and K (NPK) fertilizers. We measured soil organic C (SOC), total N and P, microbial biomass C, N, and P, water-soluble organic C and N, KMnO₄-oxidizable C (KMnO₄-C), and carbon management index (CMI). Compared with the control (F0 treatment without residue return), fertilization and residue return significantly increased the KMnO₄-C content and CMI. Furthermore, compared with the control, residue return significantly increased the SOC content. Moreover, the NPK treatment with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 significantly enhanced the C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios in the soil, whereas it significantly decreased the C:N and C:P ratios in soil microbial biomass. Therefore, NPK fertilizer application combined with residue return at 5.0 Mg ha^-1 could enhance the SOC content through the stoichiometric plasticity of microorganisms. Residue return and fertilization increased the soil C pools by directly modifying the microbial stoichiometry of the biomass that was C limited.     

Seasonal variation of microbial biomass, activity, and community structure in soil under different tillage and phosphorus management practices

No-tillage systems contribute to physical, chemical and biological changes in the soil. The effects of different tillage practices and phosphorus (P) fertilization on soil microbial biomass, activity, and community structure were studied during the maize growing season in a maize–soybean rotation established for 18 years in eastern Canada. Soil samples were collected at two depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm) under mouldboard plow (MP) and no-till (NT) management and fertilized with 0, 17.5, and 35 kg P ha^?1. Results show that the duration of the growing season had a greater effect on soil microbiota properties than soil tillage or P fertilization at both soil depths. Seasonal fluctuations in soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB-C) and nitrogen (SMB-N), in dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities, and in total phospholipids fatty acid (PLFA) level, were greater under NT than MP management. The PLFA biomarkers separated treatments primarily by sampling date and secondly by tillage management, but were not significantly affected by P fertilization. The abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; C16:1ω5) and fungi (C18:2ω6,9) was lower under NT than MP at the 10–20-cm soil depth in July. Phosphorus fertilization increased soil microbial biomass phosphorus (SMB-P) and Mehlich-3 extractable P, but had a limited impact on the other soil properties. In conclusion, soil environmental factors and tillage had a greater effect on microorganisms (biomass and activity) and community structure than P fertilization.     

Carbon dioxide flux and soil carbon stock as affected by crop residue management and soil texture in semi‐arid maize croplands in Tanzania

Crop residue management strategies must be adapted for improving carbon (C) balance and soil C stock in agroecosystems in sub‐Saharan Africa with consideration of the crop residue availability and site‐specific soil characteristics. We conducted field experiments to determine the effects of crop residue application method (incorporation/mulching) and quality (maize/cowpea) and N fertilizer application on the soil respiration rate and soil C stock in the surface soil layer (0–15 cm) in maize croplands with contrasting soil textures (clay/sandy) over 2 years from 2012 to 2014 in Tanzania. At the clay site, the incorporation of maize residues showed a 38% increase in CO₂ flux compared to mulching, whereas, at the sandy site, mulching showed a 16% increase compared to the incorporation. At the sandy site, mulching practice retained soil moisture content and apparently enhanced the decomposition of the original soil organic C in the surface layer. It is, therefore, suggested that mulching practice may accelerate a long‐term depletion of soil C stock at the sandy site. The cowpea residue incorporation led to rapid decomposition because of its high biodegradability at both sites. The N fertilizer application stimulated the decomposition of labile soil organic matter. The soil C stock in the surface layer did not significantly change after the 2‐year experiment, irrespective of crop residue treatment and soil type. In conclusion, adequate crop residue management in terms of suppressing CO₂ flux during a cropping season depends on soil type, but the long‐term effect on soil C stock is unclear.     

Influence of mouldboard plough and rotary harrow tillage on microbial biomass and nutrient stocks in two long-term experiments on loess derived Luvisols

The nutrient-specific effects of tillage on microbial activity (basal respiration), microbial biomass (C, N, P, S) indices and the fungal cell-membrane component ergosterol were examined in two long-term experiments on loess derived Luvisols. A mouldboard plough (30 cm tillage depth) treatment was compared with a rotary harrow (8 cm tillage depth) treatment over a period of approximately 40 years. The rotary harrow treatment led to a significant 8% increase in the mean stocks of soil organic C, 6% of total N and 4% of total P at 0–30 cm depth compared with the plough treatment, but had no main effect on the stocks of total S. The tillage effects were identical at both sites, but the differences between the sites of the two experiments were usually stronger than those between the two tillage treatments. The rotary harrow treatment led to a significant increase in the mean stocks of microbial biomass C (+18%), N (+25%), and P (+32%) and to a significant decrease in the stocks of ergosterol (−26%) at 0–30 cm depth, but had no main effect on the stocks of microbial biomass S or on the mean basal respiration rate. The mean microbial biomass C/N (6.4) and C/P (25) ratios were not affected by the tillage treatments. In contrast, the microbial biomass C/S ratio was significantly increased from 34 to 43 and the ergosterol-to-microbial biomass C ratio significantly decreased from 0.20% to 0.13% in the rotary harrow in comparison with the plough treatment. The microbial biomass C-to-soil organic C ratio varied around 2.1% in the plough treatment and declined from 2.6% at 0–10 cm depth to 2.0 at 20–30 cm depth in the rotary harrow treatment. The metabolic quotient qCO₂ revealed exactly the inverse relationships with depth and treatment to the microbial biomass C-to-soil organic C ratio. Rotary harrow management caused a reduction in the microbial turnover in combination with an improved microbial substrate use efficiency and a lower contribution of saprotrophic fungi to the soil microbial community. This contrasts the view reported elsewhere and points to the need for more information on tillage-induced shifts within the fungal community in arable soils.     

Impact of agricultural practices on the size and activity of the microbial biomass in a long-term field experiment

The Dehérain long-term field experiment was initiated in 1875 to study the impact of fertilization on a wheat-sugarbeet rotation. In 1987, the rotation was stopped to be replaced by continuous maize. Crop residues were soil-incorporated and the mineral fertilization was doubled in some plots. The impact of those changes on the microbial biomass and activity are presented. In spring 1987, the soil was still in a steady-state condition corresponding to the rotation. The microbial biomass was correlated with total organic C and decreased in the order farmyard manure>mineral NPK>unfertilized control. Microbial specific respiratory activity was higher in the unfertilized treatments. The soil biomass was closely related to soil N plant uptake. In 1989, after 2 years of maize and crop residue incorporation, the steady-state condition corresponding to the previous agricultural practices disappeared. So did the relationship between the biomass and total organic C, and the soil N plant uptake. Biomass specific respiratory activity increased because of low efficiency in the use of maize residues by microbes under N stress.     

长期不同培肥措施下玉米产量稳定性及棕壤氮素累积分布特征

  【目的】  研究长期不同培肥措施下玉米产量的稳定性、可持续性和土壤矿质氮累积分布、微生物量氮含量特征,为制定合理的施肥措施和保证东北棕壤地区农业的可持续绿色发展提供理论依据。  【方法】  棕壤肥料长期定位试验始于1979年。选取其中的12个处理:不施肥对照(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷肥配施(NP)、氮磷钾肥配施(NPK)、低量有机肥(M1)及其与化肥配施(M1N、M1NP和M1NPK)、高量有机肥(M2)及其与化肥配施(M2N、M2NP和M2NPK),分析长期施肥下玉米产量的变化,并于2018年在玉米收获期采集植株和土壤样品,阐明玉米地上部吸氮量变化,0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮分布、累积及微生物量氮含量的差异。  【结果】  长期不同施肥下玉米产量呈波动变化,且在1979—1998年内玉米产量变化趋势较平稳,1999—2018年内变幅较大。M1NPK、M2NPK处理玉米平均产量最高,在试验前20年较NPK处理分别提高了10.3%、11.7%,后20年分别提高了17.1%、19.4%。随着试验年限增加,玉米产量的稳定性和可持续性增加,有机肥配施化肥各处理高于单施化肥处理,在试验前20年和后20年玉米产量的可持续性指数(SYI)介于0.43～0.58和0.50～0.67,低量有机肥配施处理高于高量有机肥配施处理。配施有机肥各处理肥料贡献率高于单施化肥处理,且试验后20年M1NPK处理肥料贡献率最高,达54%。施肥40年后(2018年)玉米地上部吸氮量以M1NPK处理最高(302 kg/hm2),与M2NPK处理差异不显著。配施低量有机肥玉米收获期80—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮含量较低,M1NPK处理 0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量为127 kg/hm2,显著低于M1N和M1NP处理。而高量有机肥配施各处理0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量较化肥试区和低量有机肥试区分别增加了324.5%和172.9%,增加了氮素损失风险。此外,长期配施有机肥处理0—40 cm土层土壤微生物量氮含量增加,但低量和高量有机肥试区各处理间差异不显著。  【结论】  长期不同培肥措施会影响玉米产量的稳定性和可持续性,改变土壤氮素分布和累积,进而影响玉米氮素吸收。低量有机肥(13.5 t/hm2)配施氮磷钾化肥可促进玉米生长和氮素吸收,降低0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量,降低氮素损失风险,增加微生物量氮含量,较高的微生物量氮又可作为有机氮库来增加土壤供氮并固持易损失的矿质氮和肥料氮,以保证玉米的高产稳产和环境友好。