Microbial Properties of a Loess Soil as Affected by Various Nutrient Management Practices in the Loess Plateau of China

Microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and its relationships with other biological and chemical properties were studied on loess soil with an 11-year long-term fertilization experiment. The results indicated that inorganic fertilizers (F) improved soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), and MBP levels and F plus maize stalk (SNPK) improved MBC and MBN. Manuring markedly increased soil MBC, MBN, and MBP levels. Fertilization decreased the ratios of MBC/MBN, MBC/MBP, and MBN/MBP. Microbial biomass phosphorus was positively and linearly correlated with MBC, MBN, organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorus (TP), water-soluble P, and Olsen P but negatively correlated with soil pH. Microbial biomass phosphorus constituted 2% of TP on control (CK) and inorganic fertilizer treatments and 12% on manure plots. Microbial biomass phosphorus to Olsen P ratios were 50% on CK, F, and SNPK and 80% on manure treatments. Measurements of MBP in soil containing high Olsen P were subject to analytical problems of unknown reasons.     

Long‐Term Tillage and Cropping System Effects on Chemical and Biochemical Characteristics of Soil Organic Matter in a Mediterranean Semiarid Environment

Several studies have reported how tillage and cropping systems affect quantity, quality, and distribution of soil organic matter (SOM) along the profile. However, the effect of soil management on the chemical structure of SOM and on its hydrophobic and hydrophilic components has been little investigated. In this work, the long‐term (19 years) effects of two cropping systems (wheat monoculture and wheat/faba bean rotation) and three tillage managements (conventional, reduced, and no tillage) on some chemical characteristics of SOM and their relationships with labile carbon (C) pools were evaluated. Soil samples were taken from the topsoil (0–15 cm) of a Chromic Haploxerert (central Sicily, Italy). After 19 years of different tillage and cropping systems management, total organic C significantly differed among treatments with the labile organic C pools showing the greater amount in no till and in wheat/faba bean plots. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic components of SOM, determined by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, were mainly affected by cropping system, whereas aromatic components of SOM by tillage. Soil organic matter components and characteristics showed significant correlations with the soil biochemical parameters, confirming the expected synergism between chemical and biochemical properties. This study demonstrated that (i) no tillage and crop rotation improve the chemical and biochemical properties of SOM of Vertisols under semiarid environment; and (ii) tillage management and cropping systems have affected, after 19 years, more the chemical and biochemical properties of SOM than its quantity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tillage effects on soil aggregation,organic carbon fractions and grain yield in Eum‐Orthic Anthrosol of a winter wheat–maize double‐cropping system,Northwest China

Conservation tillage has been applied in vast semi‐arid regions of the Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China. The tillage effects on soil aggregation, organic carbon (OC) stabilization and grain yield on this plain have not been fully elucidated. A 9‐year field experiment was established from 2002 on a silty clay loam soil (Eum‐Orthic Anthrosol) growing winter wheat–maize in a double‐cropping system. Six conservation tillage treatments were applied by different combinations of rotary tillage (RT), subsoiling (SS) and no‐till (NT), with or without finely chopped straw retention. Conventional tillage (CT) acted as the control. Results showed that in the surface (0–10 cm) soil, the proportion of water‐stable aggregates (WSA) <0.05 mm was 18% less while that for WSA >2 mm was 98% more under NT treatments compared with CT. Additionally, the oxidizable OC content in WSA 0.25–2 mm was 27% greater under NT treatments compared with CT. The OC stocks increased under SS by 17%, RT by 16% and NT by 15% relative to CT. Grain yield (wheat + maize) showed similar increasing trends in all the tillage treatments compared with CT. Both OC stocks and grain yield were larger in treatments with than without straw retentions. These results indicate that NT is beneficial for OC accumulation in WSA but is limited in its ability to improve soil structure in this region. SS plus straw retention (fine‐chopped or as a mulch) is an effective practice to improve soil structural stability, OC accumulation and soil productivity of Eum‐Orthic Anthrosols in Northwest China.     

Effects of Land Management on Different Forms of Soil Carbon in Olive Groves in Mediterranean Areas

This study analyses soil organic carbon (SOC) and hot‐water extractable carbon, both measures of soil quality, under different land management—(i) conventional tillage (CT); (ii) CT plus the addition of oil mill waste alperujo (A); (iii) CT plus the addition of oil mill waste olive leaves (L); (iv) no tillage with chipped pruned branches (NT₁); and (v) no tillage with chipped pruned branches and weeds (NT₂)—in a typical Mediterranean agricultural area: the olive groves of Andalusia, southern Spain. SOC values in CT, A, NT₁ and NT₂ decreased with depth, but in NT₂, the surface horizon (0–5 cm) had higher values than the other treatments, 47% more than the average values in the other three soils. In L, SOC also decreased with depth, although there was an increase of 88·5% from the first (0–10 cm) to the second horizon (10–16 cm). Total SOC stock values were very similar under A (101·9 Mg ha⁻¹), CT (101·7 Mg ha⁻¹), NT₁ (105·8 Mg ha⁻¹) and NT₂ (111·3 Mg ha⁻¹, if we consider the same depth of the others). However, SOC under L was significantly higher (p < 0·05) at 250·2 Mg ha⁻¹. Hot‐water extractable carbon decreased with depth in A, CT and NT₁. NT₂ and L followed the same pattern as the other management types but with a higher value in the surface horizon (2·3 and 4·9 mg g⁻¹, respectively). Overall, our results indicate that application of oil mill waste olive leaves under CT (L) is a good management practice to improve SOC and reduce waste. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deep Tillage,Soil Moisture Regime,and Optimizing N Nutrition for Sustaining Soil Health and Sugarcane Yield in Subtropical India

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, with three tillage practices (T₁: Control- two times ploughing with harrow and cultivator, each followed by planking before sugarcane planting; T₂: Deep tillage with disc plough (depth 25–30 cm) before planting followed by harrowing, cultivator, and planking; and T₃: Subsoiling at 45–50 cm and deep tillage with disc plough/moldboard plough (depth 25–30 cm) followed by harrowing, cultivator, and planking before planting, two soil moisture regimes (M₁: 0.5 irrigation water (IW)/cumulative pan evaporation (?CPE) ratio and M₂: 0.75 IW/CPE ratio) at 7.5 cm depth of IW, and four N levels (N₁- 0, N₂- 75, N₃- 150, and N₄-225 kg N ha^?1) in sugarcane plant crop. Deep tillage and subsoiling increased porosity and reduced bulk density in surface/subsurface soil. Further, these physical changes also improved soil biological and chemical properties responsible for higher crop growth and yield. Deep tillage and subsoiling reduced the compaction by 6.12% in 0–15 cm depth in sugarcane plant crop at maximum tillering stage. The highest N uptake (158.5 kg ha^?1) was analyzed with deep tillage and subsoiling compared to all other tillage practices. Maintaining suboptimal moisture regime with deep tillage and subsoiling showed the highest IW use efficiency (157.16 kg cane kg^?1 N applied). Mean soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) in ratoon crop was higher compared to plant crop. During initial tillering stage, ratoon crop showed higher SMBC with application of deep tillage and subsoiling (1209 mg CO₂-C g^?1 soil day^?1) at 0–15 cm depth and 1082.9 mg CO₂-C g^?1 soil day^?1 at 15–30 cm depth. Thus, it could be concluded that besides improving sugarcane yield, soil health could be sustained by adopting subsoiling (45–50 cm depth) and deep tillage (20–25 cm depth), with soil moisture regime of 0.75 IW/CPE and application of 150 kg N ha^?1 in sugarcane (plant crop).     

玉米间作大豆、萝卜对红壤不同粒径水稳性团聚体碳氮分布的影响

为了探讨不同种植模式对红壤水稳性团聚体粒径分布以及不同粒级团聚体中有机碳、氮含量,土壤微生物量碳、氮含量的影响,选择大豆、萝卜与玉米间作及3种作物的单作进行田间试验,在作物成熟期采样,进行样品测定。结果表明:在玉米-大豆(玉//豆)、玉米-萝卜(玉//萝)、玉米单作(玉单)、大豆单作(豆单)、萝卜单作(萝单)处理中,大团聚体(> 0.25 mm)的百分含量明显高于微团聚体(<0.25 mm),其中以大团聚体中粒径为0.25~2 mm的百分含量最高且显著高于其余两种粒径,大团聚体百分含量表现为:玉//豆>玉//萝>玉单>萝单>豆单,微团聚体则与其相反。团聚体粒径中的有机碳含量表现为0.25~2 mm粒径最高、<0.25 mm粒径次之、>2 mm粒径含量最少、玉米大豆间作含量最高、玉米单作含量最低。团聚体粒级中全氮含量与有机碳分布一致,但单作的全氮含量高于间作。有机碳与全氮的C/N为间作高于单作,>2 mm粒径C/N高于其余两种粒径。微生物量碳、氮在团聚体粒径中的分布趋势一致,都表现为间作模式高于单作模式,大团聚体中的含量高于微团聚体。微生物量碳、氮的C/N为单作模式高于间作模式,微团聚体大于大团聚体。与单作相比,间作能提高土壤中水稳性大团聚体的含量,增加大团聚体粒径内的有机碳、氮及微生物量碳、氮的含量。     

环境因子对山西太岳山土壤微生物量的影响

本文以山西太岳山两个林型(华北落叶松人工林、灌木林)下阴坡和阳坡的土壤样品为研究对象,研究了不同坡向下土壤微生物量碳、氮、土壤理化性质、土壤微生物碳氮比值的变化特征。研究结果表明:土壤有机碳、全氮、微生物量碳、氮含量在0~10 cm土层均显著高于10~20 cm土层。在华北落叶松人工林和灌木林下,土壤微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳及两者之和在阳坡均显著高于阴坡;土壤微生物量碳占两者之和的比例约为81%~87%,在不同坡向下没有显著性差异。土壤微生物量碳氮比在灌木林阳坡下为6.5~7.2,阴坡为7.3~9.9;在华北落叶松人工林阳坡下为7.3~8.6,阴坡为8.2~8.6。两种林型下土壤微生物熵在阳坡均高于阴坡。相关性分析结果表明,土壤微生物量碳、氮与土壤pH值、可溶性有机碳呈显著正相关,土壤有机碳与土壤全氮、微生物量碳、pH值和含水率均有显著正相关性。总的来说,不同坡向对土壤微生物量产生重要影响,进而使土壤微生物熵不同,阴坡土壤有机碳活性较小,碳库的稳定性较好。本文从土壤微生物量及其与环境因子相互关系的角度探讨了土壤环境对土壤微生物的影响,以期为更好的理解该地区土壤碳周转和植被恢复生态效应提供参考。     

水土保持耕作下陇东玉米-小麦-大豆轮作系统产量、土壤易氧化有机碳动态

在陇东黄土高原定位研究了玉米－冬小麦－大豆轮作系统中4种耕作处理：传统耕作（T1）、耕作覆草（T2）、免耕（T3）和免耕覆草（T4）对作物产量和表层土壤有机碳的影响。结果表明，2001年至2004年，经过2个轮作周期后，4个处理下作物产量无显著差异；免耕＋秸秆还田下土壤易氧化有机碳比传统耕作处理下显著增加2.44g／kg，易氧化有机碳与土壤全氮和水稳性团粒结构有显著的正相关关系，说职水土保持耕作对改善土壤理化性质有积极促进作用。易氧化有机碳组分可指示轻壤质地土壤对耕作措施的响应，水土保持耕作对产量增加的效应滞后于其对土壤理化性质产生的良好效应。     

地膜覆盖对黄土高原旱作春玉米田土壤碳氮组分的影响

基于2年田间试验,研究了地膜覆盖对旱作春玉米田土壤有机碳、全氮及其组分的影响,试验包括地膜覆盖玉米田、无覆盖玉米田和裸地休闲3个处理,分层测定了0—40cm土层有机碳、全氮、颗粒有机碳氮、潜在矿化碳氮和微生物量碳氮含量。结果表明:在0—40cm土层,各处理间土壤有机碳和全氮含量均无显著差异。与不覆盖相比,地膜覆盖处理0—40cm土层颗粒有机碳氮及其所占比例分别降低了29.0%,33.3%,29.9%,35.7%;0—10cm土层潜在可矿化碳及其所占比例分别降低了17.8%和16.1%,潜在可矿化氮和微生物量碳及其所占比例无显著差异,但在0—10cm土层地膜覆盖微生物量氮含量及其所占比例分别较不覆盖处理提高了10.6%和10.5%(p0.05)。与裸地休闲相比,无覆盖处理0—40cm土层潜在可矿化碳氮分别提高了12.8%和14.7%,地膜覆盖处理则分别提高了7.8%和6.5%(p0.05),但种植玉米降低了微生物量碳氮含量及其所占比例。在0—40cm土层覆盖与否对潜在可矿化碳氮和微生物量碳氮影响不显著。总体来看,地膜覆盖能够在一定程度上提高表土微生物量氮组分及其所占比例,但显著降低了中活性碳氮组分含量及其比例,不利于长期的土壤碳氮固定。     

Particulate and Mineral-Associated Organic Carbon in Aggregates as Affected by Biowaste Compost Applications in a Mediterranean Vegetables Cropping System

This study was conducted to assess the influence of biowaste compost on soil aggregation and soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization, in a conventional tillage agro-ecosystem. Four treatments were involved: biowaste compost (Com), fertilizers nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) (Min), biowaste compost plus mineral N (ComN) and unfertilized control (Cnt). Compared to the control, after four years, the amount of macroaggregates decreased by 23% and 69% for Com and ComN, while SOC stock increased by 17% and 10%, respectively. Most part of the SOC increases were stored in free-microaggregates and were made up for more than 70% by mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC), while no significant variation of particulate organic C (POC) was observed. Therefore, the biowaste compost application rates and time that were practiced in the studied agro-ecosystem were effective for C sequestration, but not enough to improve the macroaggregation and the POC protection.     

Soil organic carbon stock for reclaimed minesoils in northeastern Ohio

Reclamation of disturbed soils is done with the primary objective of restoring the land for agronomic or forestry land use. Reclamation followed by sustainable management can restore the depleted soil organic carbon (SOC) stock over time. This study was designed to assess SOC stocks of reclaimed and undisturbed minesoils under different cropping systems in Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio (40°32·33′ N and 81°33·86′ W). Prior to reclamation, the soil was classified as Bethesda Soil Series (loamy‐skeletal, mixed, acid, mesic Typic Udorthent). The reclaimed and unmined sites were located side by side and were under forage (fescue—Festuca arundinacea Schreb. and alfa grass—Stipa tenacissima L.), and corn (Zea mays L.)—soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation. All fields were chisel plowed annually except unmined forage, and fertilized only when planted to corn. The manure was mostly applied on unmined fields planted to corn, and reclaimed fields planted to forage and corn. The variability in soil properties (i.e., soil bulk density, pH and soil organic carbon stock) ranged from moderate to low across all land uses in both reclaimed and unmined fields for 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths. The soil nitrogen stock ranged from low to moderate for unmined fields and moderate to high in some reclaimed fields. Soil pH was always less than 6·7 in both reclaimed and unmined fields. The mean soil bulk density was consistently lower in unmined (1·27 mg m⁻³ and 1·22 mg m⁻³) than reclaimed fields (1·39 mg m⁻³ and 1·34 mg m⁻³) planted to forage and corn, respectively. The SOC and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were higher for reclaimed forage (33·30 g kg⁻¹; 3·23 g kg⁻¹) and cornfields (21·22 g kg⁻¹; 3·66 g kg⁻¹) than unmined forage (17·47 g kg⁻¹; 1·98 g kg⁻¹) and cornfield (17·70 g kg⁻¹; 2·76 g kg⁻¹). The SOC stocks in unmined soils did not differ among forage, corn or soybean fields but did so in reclaimed soils for 0–10 cm depth. The SOC stock for reclaimed forage (39·6 mg ha⁻¹ for 0–10 cm and 28·6 mg ha⁻¹ for 10–20 cm depths) and cornfields (28·3 mg ha⁻¹; 32·2 mg ha⁻¹) were higher than that for the unmined forage (22·7 mg ha⁻¹; 17·6 mg ha⁻¹) and corn (21·5 mg ha⁻¹; 26·8 mg ha⁻¹) fields for both depths. These results showed that the manure application increased SOC stocks in soil. Overall this study showed that if the reclamation is done properly, there is a large potential for SOC sequestration in reclaimed soils. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Effects of Long‐term Fertiliser Applications on Soil Organic Carbon and Hydraulic Properties of a Loess Soil in China

Based on a 28‐year in situ experiment, this paper investigated the impacts of organic and inorganic fertiliser applications on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and soil hydraulic properties of the silt loam (Eumorthic Anthrosols) soils derived from loess soil in the Guanzhong Plain of China. There were two crop (winter wheat and summer maize) rotations with conventional tillage. The treatments included control without fertiliser application, organic manure application (M), chemical fertiliser application (NP), and the application of organic manure with chemical fertiliser (MNP). The results showed that the 28‐year organic manure applications (M and MNP) significantly (p < 0·05) increased SOC content at surface layer (0–10 cm), but the effect of chemical fertilisers alone on SOC was not significant. Organic manure treatments (M and MNP) apparently improved soil hydraulic properties. Compared with control, field capacity and total porosity significantly (p < 0·05) increased while soil bulk density significantly (p < 0·05) decreased for organic manure applications. The M and MNP treatments increased soil water retentions by 3·2–10·8%, which was dependent of suction tensions. However, the NP treatment had no significantly impact on soil water retention compared with control. Neither organic nor inorganic fertiliser applications significantly changed saturated hydraulic conductivity. However, a clear difference was observed for unsaturated hydraulic conductivity between the M and the control at 0–5 cm. Overall, long‐term applications of organic manuring increased SOC content and amended soil hydraulic properties. However, the effects of chemical fertilisers on these soil properties were limited. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Dynamics of Soil Moisture,pH, Organic Carbon,and Nitrogen Under Switchgrass Cropping in a Semiarid Sandy Wasteland

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial biofuel crop with a high production potential and suitable for growth on marginal land. This study investigates the long-term planting effect of switchgrass on the dynamics of soil moisture, pH, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^–-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) for soils to a depth of 90-cm in a sandy wasteland, Inner Mongolia, China. After crop harvesting in 2015, soil samples were collected from under switchgrass stands established in 2006, 2008, and 2009, native mixture, and a control that was virgin sand. Averaged across six layers, soil moisture and pH was significantly higher under the native mixture than switchgrass or virgin sand. However, SOC and TN were significantly higher under the 2006 switchgrass stand when compared with all other vegetation treatments and the control. The SOC and TN increased from 2.37 and 0.26 g kg^?1, respectively, for 2009 switchgrass stand, and to 3.21 and 0.42 g kg^?1, respectively, for 2006 switchgrass stand. Meanwhile, SOC and TN contents were 2.51 and 0.27 g kg^?1, respectively, under the native mixture. The soil beneath switchgrass and native mixture showed the highest NO₃^–-N and NH₄⁺-N, respectively. The soil moisture increased with depth while SOC, TN, and NO₃^–-N decreased. An obvious trend of increasing moisture, SOC, TN, and mineral N was observed with increasing switchgrass stand age. Thus, growing switchgrass on sandy soils can enhance SOC and TN, improve the availability of mineral N, and generate more appropriate pH conditions for this energy cropping system.     

Bio-organic Amendment of Udic Ustochrept Soil for Minimizing Yield Decline in Sugarcane Ratoon Crops under Subtropical Conditions

The effects of subsequent sugarcane ratooning on soil quality and the crop yields under four treatments [an absolute control (T0), application of recommended dose of nitrogen (N)–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) (T1), application of sulfitation press mud (SPM), a sugar factory by-product (T2), and SPM along with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd, T3)] were evaluated for 7 years. In the control (T0) and NPK-fertilized (T1) plots, an increase in soil compaction (5.4%), decrease in infiltration rate (6.04%), lower microbial activities, and increased soil phenolic contents (72.4%) rendered the nutrients unavailable, leading to significant declines in the crop yields at the rate of 5.47 Mg ha^?1 y^?1 and 4.67 Mg ha^?1 y^?1, respectively. The crop yield declined from 53 kg ha^?1 in plant crop to 18 kg ha^?1 in the sixth ratoon crop under the absolute control. The rates of yield decline, however, were minimized in SPM (T2) and SPM + Gd (T3) plots to 3.54 and 3.51 Mg ha^?1 y^?1.     

长期定位施肥对黄绵土酶活性及土壤养分状况的影响

本研究以25年的肥料长期定位试验为平台,探讨了长期不同施肥处理对土壤活性有机质、氮磷养分及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:长期施肥土壤活性有机质、全氮、碱解氮及速效磷含量显著提高,土壤转化酶和碱性磷酸酶活性增强,其中有机肥化肥配施(NPM)的作用明显大于施用化肥(N、NP);长期施肥不能增强土壤过氧化氢酶活性。相关分析表明,土壤脲酶、转化酶及碱性磷酸酶活性与土壤活性有机质、氮磷养分含量呈显著正相关,且三种酶活性间呈极显著正相关关系。综合土壤养分与土壤主要酶活性的密切关系,认为将土壤酶与土壤养分相结合进行土壤肥力研究,对该区培肥土壤具有重要的指导意义。     

耕作方式对双季稻田土壤有机碳储量的影响

Tillage practices can potentially afect soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation in agricultural soils. A 4-year experiment was conducted to identify the influence of tillage practices on SOC sequestration in a double-cropped rice (Oryza sativa L.) field in Hunan Province of China. Three tillage treatments, no-till (NT), conventional plow tillage(PT), and rotary tillage(RT), were laid in a randomized complete block design. Concentrations of SOC and bulk density(BD) of the 0-80 cm soil layer were measured, and SOC stocks of the 0-20 and 0-80 cm soil layers were calculated on an equivalent soil mass(ESM) basis and fixed depth (FD) basis.Soil carbon budget(SCB) under diferent tillage systems were assessed on the basis of emissions of methane(CH4) and CO2 and the amount of carbon (C) removed by the rice harvest. After four years of experiment, the NT treatment sequestrated more SOC than the other treatments. The SOC stocks in the 0-80 cm layer under NT (on an ESM basis) was as high as 129.32 Mg C ha 1,significantly higher than those under PT and RT (P < 0.05). The order of SOC stocks in the 0-80 cm soil layer was NT > PT > RT,and the same order was observed for SCB; however, in the 0-20 cm soil layer, the RT treatment had a higher SOC stock than the PT treatment. Therefore, when comparing SOC stocks, only considering the top 20 cm of soil would lead to an incomplete evaluation for the tillage-induced efects on SOC stocks and SOC sequestrated in the subsoil layers should also be taken into consideration. The estimation of SOC stocks using the ESM instead of FD method would better reflect the actual changes in SOC stocks in the paddy filed, as the FD method amplified the tillage efects on SOC stocks. This study also indicated that NT plus straw retention on the soil surface was a viable option to increase SOC stocks in paddy soils.     

Soil ecosystem engineering by the train millipede Parafontaria laminata in a Japanese larch forest

Periodic swarming by adult train millipedes Parafontaria laminata (Attems, 1909) occurs in central Japan on an 8-year cycle, and the emergence of new adults is highly predictable. Millipede biomass reaches a maximum and feeding habits change upon the emergence of adults. Larvae are geophagous while adults feed on both litter and soil. We hypothesized that the shift in the developmental stages of P. laminata influenced the carbon dynamics in the soil and conducted a field mesocosm experiment in a larch plantation forest over 2 years (1999 and 2000) using three developmental stages: sixth- and seventh-instar larvae and adults. By experimentally manipulating millipede density at four levels, we obtained the following results: larvae were geophagous, while adults consumed both litter and soil (mixed-feeding) and consequently showed stronger density effects on litter decomposition rates than larvae; adult activities in the high-density treatment increased soil microbial biomass but not at low adult densities or at the larval stages; and adults increased the carbon accumulation in soil layers especially at high densities due to their mixed-feeding on litter and soil. We determined that due to synchronized postembryonic development with high densities and changes in feeding habits, the train millipede periodically sequestered carbon in this forest.     

有机无机肥配施对麦-稻轮作系统土壤微生物学特性的影响

采用盆栽试验研究了不同比例有机无机肥配施对连续4茬麦-稻轮作后土壤微生物学特性的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,单施化肥处理促进了土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物熵的增加,提高了土壤蔗糖酶、蛋白酶、脲酶活性,降低了过氧化氢酶活性,提高了放线菌的数量,但对土壤细菌、真菌数量的影响不明显;有机无机肥配施处理的土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物熵、土壤酶活性及3大类土壤微生物数量显著高于单施化肥及对照处理;土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物熵和3大类微生物数量随着有机肥配施比例的提高而增加,以配施30%有机肥处理的最高;土壤酶活性综合指数以配施20%有机肥处理的最高。可见,化肥配施有机肥特别是配施中高量有机肥更有利于改善土壤微生物学特性,提高土壤生产能力。     

Labile soil organic carbon,soil fertility,and crop productivity as influenced by manure and mineral fertilizers in the tropics

In recent years, organic agriculture has been receiving greater attention because of the various problems like deterioration in soil health and environmental quality under conventional chemical‐intensive agriculture. However, little information is available on the comparative study related to the impact of use of mineral fertilizers and organic manures on the soil quality and productivity. A long‐term field experiment was initiated in 2001 to monitor some of the important soil‐quality parameters and productivity under soybean–wheat crop rotation. The treatments consisted of 0, 30, and 45 kg N ha^–1 for soybean and of 0, 120, and 180 kg N ha^–1 for wheat. The entire amount of N was supplied to both the crops through urea and farmyard manure (FYM) alone or in combination at 1:1 ratio. Results indicated that Walkley‐and‐Black C (WBC; chromic acid–oxidizable) exhibited a marginal increase under only organic treatments as compared to control treatment (without fertilizers and manure) after completion of five cropping cycles. In case of labile‐C (KMnO₄‐oxidizable) content in soil, relatively larger positive changes were recorded under organic, mixed inputs (integrated) and mineral fertilizers as compared to WBC. Maximum improvement in the values of C‐management index (CMI), a measure of soil quality was recorded under organic (348–362), followed by mixed inputs (268–322) and mineral fertilizers (198–199) as compared to the control treatment after completion of five cropping cycles. Similarly there was a substantial increase in KCl‐extractable N; in Olsen‐P; as well as in DTPA‐extractable Zn, Fe, and Mn under organic treatments. Although labile soil C positively contributed to the available N, P, K, Zn, Fe, and Mn contents in soil, it did not show any relationship with the grain yield of wheat. After completion of the sixth cropping cycle, organic treatments produced 23% and 39% lower grain yield of wheat as compared to that under urea‐treated plots. Relatively higher amount of mineral N in soil at critical growth stages and elevated N content in plant under mineral‐fertilizer treatments compared to FYM treatments were responsible for higher yield of wheat under mineral fertilizers.