Comparison of postharvest practices used for cereal straw decomposition in a clay loam soil

During 2008–2011 model field experiments were carried out at the Joni?k?lis Experimental Station of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry on a clay loam Endocalcaric Endogleyic Cambisol. The study was aimed to establish the comparison of various postharvest practices (mineral nitrogen fertilizer alone or together with a bioactivator Penergetic k, livestock slurry, red clover biomass, and straw incorporation in the soil by a stubble cultivator at a 10 cm depth) on the acceleration of the initial (nine-month period) decomposition of winter wheat straw. During this period straw mass decomposition intensity (DIM) was 20.7–29.1%, carbon (C) concentration decreased by 6.5– 22.8%, while an increase occurred in nitrogen (N) 1.1–2.2 times. The highest straw decomposition rate was recorded when after straw incorporation autumn was warm and humid. That year straw mass C to N ratio (C/N) was 38–46. Under less favourable autumn conditions, the highest decomposition of straw was achieved having applied mineral N (with and without Penergetic) and livestock slurry and having incorporated the straw in the soil (C/N = 40–55). A slower decomposition rate was observed for the straw spread on the soil surface with mineral N addition or on undersown red clover.     

Improving mineral nitrogen control by combining catch crops,fertilisation, and straw management in a clay loam soil

This experiment was conducted on a clay loam Cambisol and set out to determine the effects of combining catch crops, variable fertilisation levels, and straw management on the productivity of a spring barley-catch crop agrosystem, on the enrichment of soil with organic matter and nitrogen (N), and on soil mineral N control. Research was carried out in a spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crop without catch crops, with undersown red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and with post-crop white mustard (Sinapis alba L.). The barley was unfertilised, fertilised at moderate rates or at high rates. Straw was managed by either removing it from the field or chopping and spreading it. The quantity of organic matter and N incorporated into the soil depended on the fertilisation level of the barley crop. Soil mineral N stocks in the spring were reduced when straw was used together with red clover. When white mustard mass was incorporated alone in the autumn during ploughing, soil mineral N was reduced in the spring; however, when it was incorporated with straw, the effect was the opposite. Soil mineral N content is controllable when organic matter components are combined according to their decomposition rates, masses, and incorporation times.     

Leaching of nitrate and phosphorus after autumn and spring application of separated solid animal manures to winter wheat

Animal slurry can be separated into solid and liquid manure fractions to facilitate the transport of nutrients from livestock farms. In Denmark, untreated slurry is normally applied in spring whereas the solid fraction may be applied in autumn, causing increased risk of nitrate and phosphorus (P) leaching. We studied the leaching of nitrate and P in lysimeters with winter wheat crops (Triticum aestivum L.) after autumn incorporation versus spring surface application of solid manure fractions, and we compared also spring applications of mineral N fertilizer and pig slurry. Leaching was compared on a loamy sand and a sandy loam soil. The leaching experiment lasted for 2 yr, and the whole experiment was replicated twice. Nitrate leaching was generally low (19–34 kg N/ha) after spring applications of mineral fertilizer and manures. Nitrate leaching increased significantly after autumn application of the solid manures, and the extra nitrate leached was equivalent to 23–35% of total manure N and corresponded to the ammonium content of the manures. After spring application of solid manures and pig slurry, only a slight rise in N leaching was observed during the following autumn/winter (<5% of total manure N). Total P leaching was 40–165 g P/ha/yr, and the application of solid manure in autumn did not increase P leaching. The nitrogen fertilizer replacement value of solid manure N was similar after autumn and spring application (17–32% of total N). We conclude that from an environmental perspective, solid manure fractions should not be applied to winter wheat on sandy and sandy loam soils under humid North European conditions.     

Impact on C and N dynamics of simultaneous application of pig slurry and wheat straw, as affected by their initial locations in soil

The joint management of animal manures and plant biomass as straw on agricultural soils may be a viable option for reducing the environmental impacts associated with livestock production and recycling nutrients efficiently. To investigate this option, an incubation in controlled conditions examined how the simultaneous addition of ¹⁵N-labeled pig slurry and ¹³C-labeled wheat straw, either on the soil surface or incorporated into the soil, affected the mineralization of C from the organic materials and the soil N dynamics. Samples from a typic hapludalf were incubated for 95 days at 25°C with eight treatments: unamended soil (S), wheat straw left on the soil surface (Ws), wheat straw incorporated in the soil (Wi), pig slurry on the soil surface (Ps), pig slurry incorporated in the soil (Pi) and three combinations of the two amendments: Pi?+?Ws, Pi?+?Wi, and Ws?+?Ps. Carbon dioxide and ¹³CO₂ emissions and soil N content were measured throughout the incubation. Pig slurry stimulated the decomposition of straw C only when wheat straw and pig slurry were left together on the soil surface. Incorporation of both wheat straw and pig slurry did not modify straw C mineralization when compared to straw incorporation alone but this promoted a higher rate of N immobilization. The results suggest that when pig slurry is used in field under no-till conditions, the best strategy to preserve environmental quality with regard to CO₂ emissions would be to apply pig slurry underneath the crop residues.     

不同有机物及其堆肥与化肥配施对小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响

采用15N示踪技术,选用水稻土和灰潮土在宜兴进行小麦盆栽试验,研究了稻草、猪粪及其堆肥与化肥配施对作物生长及氮素吸收的影响。结果表明,在水稻土和灰潮土上,不同有机物及其堆肥与化肥配施分别比单施化肥增产4.46%～24.82%和1.01%～20.53%,稻草堆肥和猪粪堆肥配施化肥处理籽粒产量分别高于稻草和猪粪直接与化肥配施处理。稻草和猪粪堆肥后更利于作物吸收氮素,增加植物体内15N累积。两种土壤上15N回收率表现为相同配比的堆肥处理未堆肥处理单施化肥处理。随着小麦生育期的推进,土壤微生物量氮和矿质态氮含量均呈下降趋势,稻草和猪粪处理的微生量氮含量始终高于稻草堆肥和猪粪堆肥处理。有机无机肥配施处理土壤矿质态氮在小麦生育前期低于单施化肥,成熟期则高于单施化肥。整个生育期中,稻草堆肥和猪粪堆肥处理土壤矿质态氮含量分别高于稻草和猪粪处理。因此,有机物堆肥后与化肥配施更有利于提高产量,促进作物对氮素的吸收利用。     

Decadal Nitrogen Fertilization Decreases Mineral‐Associated and Subsoil Carbon: A 32‐Year Study

Crop residues and manure are important sources of carbon (C) for soil organic matter (SOM) formation. Crop residue return increases by nitrogen (N) fertilization because of higher plant productivity, but this often results only in minor increases of SOM. In our study, we show how N fertilization and organic C additions affected SOM and its fractions within a 32‐year‐long field‐experiment at Puch, Germany. Five organic additions, no‐addition (control), manure, slurry, straw and straw + slurry, were combined with three mineral N fertilization rates (no, medium and high fertilization), which resulted in 1·17–4·86 Mg C‐input ha^‐1 y^‐1. Topsoil (0–25 cm) SOM content increased with N fertilization, mainly because of the C in free light fraction (f‐LF). In contrast, subsoil (25–60 cm) SOM decreased with N fertilization, probably because of roots' relocation in Ap horizon with N fertilization at the surface. Despite high inputs, straw contributed little to f‐LF but prevented C losses from the mineral‐associated SOM fraction (ρ > 1·6 g cm^‐3) with N fertilization, which was observed without straw addition. Above (straw) and belowground (roots) residues had opposite effects on SOM fractions. Root C retained longer in the light‐fractions and was responsible for SOM increase with N fertilization. Straw decomposed rapidly (from f‐LF) and fueled the mineral‐associated SOM fraction. We conclude that SOM content and composition depended not only on residue quantity, which can be managed by the additions and N fertilization, but also on the quality of organics. This should be considered for maintaining the SOM level, C sequestration, and soil fertility. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Animal manure slurries as a source of nitrogen for cereals; effect of application time on efficiency

Abstract. Field experiments undertaken at 14 sites, on a range of soil types, in lowland England, during the cropping years 1989–1993, tested the effectiveness of cattle or pig slurry as a source of nitrogen for cereal cropping. Slurry was applied in autumn, winter and spring, to autumn and spring sown cereal crops. Assessments included slurry nitrogen efficiency relative to N in spring applied fertilizer in terms of both grain yield and grain protein production, apparent crop recovery and content of mineral nitrogen in soil profiles. Crop response to nitrogen was poor at seven sites where high residues of soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) were present. On the seven responsive sites, spring slurry applications proved more efficient (mean 40%) as a source of N than autumn (mean 24%) or winter applications (mean 32%). These differences were smaller than reported in a number of other studies, probably as a result of relatively low excess winter rainfall, resulting in less nitrate leaching during the period of the investigation. Rapid incorporation into the topsoil of slurry applied in autumn, increased (28 kgN/ha) the SMN of samples taken early in the winter. However this increase did not lead to a consistent improvement in crop N uptake. Slurry dressings, whenever applied, can be expected to make a significant contribution to the N requirement of the succeeding crop and need to be taken into account when calculating the appropriate spring fertilizer application.     

Yields of wheat and soil carbon and nitrogen contents following long-term incorporation of barley straw and ryegrass catch crops

Abstract. Three successive crops of winter wheat were grown on a sandy loam to test the residual effect of long‐term annual incorporation of spring barley straw at rates of 0, 4, 8 and 12 t ha^?1, and ryegrass catch crops with or without additions of pig slurry. Soil receiving 4, 8 and 12 t ha^?1 of straw annually for 18 years contained 12, 21 and 30% more carbon (C), respectively, than soil with straw removal, and soil C and nitrogen (N) contents increased linearly with straw rate. The soil retained 14% of the straw C and 37% of the straw N. Ryegrass catch‐cropping for 10 years also increased soil C and N concentrations, whereas the effect of pig slurry was insignificant. Grain yield in the first wheat crop showed an average dry matter (DM) increase of 0.7 t ha^?1 after treatment with 8 and 12 t straw ha^?1. In the two subsequent wheat crops, grain yield increased by 0.2–0.3 t DM ha^?1 after 8 and 12 t straw ha^?1. No grain yield increases were found after 4 t straw ha^?1 in any of the three years. Previous ryegrass catch crops increased yields of wheat grain, but effects in the third wheat crop were significant only where ryegrass had been combined with pig slurry. Straw incorporation increased the N offtake in the first wheat crop. In the second crop, only 8 and 12 t straw ha^?1 improved wheat N offtake, while the N offtake in the third wheat crop was unaffected. Ryegrass catch crops increased N offtake in the first and second wheat crop. Again, a positive effect in the third crop was seen only when ryegrass was combined with slurry. Long‐term, annual incorporation of straw and ryegrass catch crops provided a clear and relatively persistent increase in soil organic matter levels, whereas the positive effects on the yield of subsequent wheat crops were modest and transient.     

The effects of pure and undersowing green manures on yields of succeeding spring cereals

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2004–2006 to investigate the effect of green manure treatments on the yield of oats and spring barley. In the experiment, different green manure crops with undersowing and pure sowing were compared for amounts of N, C, and organic matter driven into soil and their effect on cereal yield. The spring barley field had a total of 41.7–62.4 kg N ha^?1 and 1.75–2.81 Mg C ha^?1 added to the soil with straw, weed, and roots, depending on the level of fertilisation; with red clover, and both common and hybrid lucerne undersowing, with barley straw and roots, the values were 3.45–3.96 Mg C ha^?1 and 139.9–184.9 kg N ha^?1. Pure sowings of these three leguminous green manure crops had total applications of 3.37–4.14 Mg C ha^?1 and 219.7–236.8 kg N ha^?1. The mixed and pure sowing of bird's-foot trefoil provided considerably less nitrogen and carbon to the soil with the biomass than with the other leguminous crops. Application of biomass with a high C/N ratio reduced the yield of the succeeding spring cereals. Of the green manures, the most effective were red clover and both common and hybrid lucerne, either as undersowing or as pure sowing. Undersowings with barley significantly increased the N supply for the succeeding crop without yield loss of the main crop compared with the unfertilised variant. Compared with ploughing-in of green manure in autumn, spring ploughing gave a 0.2–0.57 Mg ha^?1 larger grain yield.     

Carbon mineralization, fungal and bacterial growth, and enzyme activities as affected by contact between crop residues and soil

The degree of contact between crop residues and the soil matrix, as determined by the method of residue incorporation, affects decomposition dynamics both under natural and experimental conditions. In microcosm experiments we tested the hypothesis that poor residue-soil contact reduces the decomposition of structural plant constituents through delayed colonization by microorganisms degrading cellulose and hemicellulose. Barley straw or red clover foliage was either confined in buried mesh bags or homogeneously mixed into a loamy topsoil or a silty subsoil to create poor or intimate residue-soil contact in microbiologically rich and less rich environments, respectively. Soil type had no effect on decomposition of the easily degradable clover residues, but cumulative mineralization of barley straw C after 52 days at 15°C was less in the subsoil than in the topsoil by 12% of initial C. For clover material, poor soil contact increased cumulative C mineralization by 5% of initial C in the loamy topsoil but had no effect in the silty subsoil. For the more slowly degradable, cellulose- and hemicellulose-rich straw, on the other hand, poor soil contact reduced C mineralization by 6% of initial C. The results from the loamy topsoil were confirmed in a second experiment in a sandy topsoil. The reduced decomposition of straw with poor soil contact could not be explained by less favourable abiotic conditions, N deficiency nor exclusion of larger animals by mesh bags. Reduced straw-soil contact delayed measured increases in fungal ergosterol concentration, ratio of fungal to bacterial substrate-induced respiration, number of cellulase-producing, colony-forming bacterial units and activity of cellulases and hemicellulase on the residues. Thus, the results supported our hypothesis and underscore the importance of ensuring representative conditions for the soil microflora when decomposition dynamics are studied in microcosms experiments designed to mimic field conditions.     

Straw incorporation and immobilization of spring-applied nitrogen

Abstract. The effect of rate and timing of autumn/winter straw incorporation on the immobilization of spring-applied N-fertilizer are studied. The immobilization of ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer by straw was determined in pot trials with a sandy loam soil (Wick series) collected from two field experiments. In experiment 1, straw was incorporated at four different rates in the autumn; experiment 2 had a fixed rate of straw (7.5 t/ha) incorporated at monthly intervals from September to March. Immobilization in spring was not enhanced when only stubble was incorporated in autumn. However, autumn incorporation of 7.5 t/ha straw resulted in a significant increase in the immobilization of spring-applied N, equivalent to 10 kg/ha; when 15 t/ha straw was incorporated, immobilization increased to 18 kg/ha. The enhancement of immobilization, immediately following fertilizer application, was dependent on the extent of straw decomposition prior to N application. Thus immobilization was related to cumulative thermal time (day °C above 0°C; Tsum between the date of straw incorporation and fertilizer application). Straw which had been incorporated for Tsum > 1200 no longer caused appreciable immobilization of spring fertilizer.     

Catch Crop and Animal Slurry in Spring Barley Grown with Straw Incorporation

Abstract

Four rates of straw (0, 4, 8 and 12 t ha^?1 yr^?1) were incorporated in a field experiment with continuous spring barley. The experiment was conducted on a sandy soil (5.5% clay) and a sandy loam soil (11.2% clay). After eight years, the straw incorporation was combined with catch-crop growing with and without winter application of animal slurry and also spring fertilization with mineral fertilizer (0, 50, 100 or 125 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1). The combined experiment was conducted for three lyears on the sandy soil and for four years on the sandy loam soil. The effects on barley dry matter yield and N uptake are presented together with the long-term effects of the straw incorporations on crop growth and soil C and N. Grain yield on the sandy loam was unaffected by straw incorporation. On the sandy soil the highest straw application rates reduced grain yield in the unfertilized barley. When the barley received mineral fertilizer at recommended levels (100 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1), grain yield on this soil was also unaffected by the high straw rates. Including a catch crop had a positive effect on the grain yield of barley on both soils. The total N uptake in grain and straw generally increased with straw application up to 8 t ha^?1 yr^?1. With the highest straw application rate (12 t ha^?1 yr^?1), the total N uptake decreased but still exceeded N uptake in barley grown with straw removal. The barley accumulated higher amounts of N when a catch crop was included. The total N uptake in the barley was significantly higher after animal slurry application. The extra N uptake, however, was much lower than the amounts of N applied with the slurry. Incorporation of straw had only a small influence on N uptake after slurry application. The straw, therefore, was not able to store the applied N during winter. In the two four-year periods before the combined experiment, grain yield on the sandy loam was generally negatively affected by straw incorporations. In the second period, N uptake began to show a positive effect of the straw. On the sandy soil, grain yield and N uptake during the whole period were generally positively affected by the straw incorporations except for the highest straw rate (12 t ha^?1 yr^?1). The sandy loam soil showed higher increases in C and N content after the repeated straw incorporations and catch-crop growing than the sandy soil. When application of animal slurry was combined with the catch crop, no further increases in soil C and N were found relative to soil where a catch crop was grown without slurry application. Large amounts of the N applied with the slurry may therefore have been lost by denitrification or nitrate leaching.     

东北黑土区不同种类有机物料腐解特征及驱动因素分析

有机物料高效还田是培肥黑土的重要途径,有机物料自身性质和腐解过程中的温度是影响有机物料腐解的关键要素。寒地黑土区不同种类有机物料的动态腐解过程及腐解影响因素的研究还较少。该研究通过在东北黑土区不同积温地点布设不同种类有机物料腐解田间联网试验,研究有机物料的动态腐解特征及主要影响因素。结果表明：1）有机物料自身性质存在明显差异,其中秸秆的碳氮比最高,有机肥最低,腐解指数变化趋势与碳氮比相反。2）经过720 d的腐解,6种有机物料的累积腐解率和累积释碳率具有明显的季节性和地带性变化规律。在积温较高的夏、秋季节累积腐解率和累积释碳率高于积温较低的春、冬季节;试验地点积温越高,累积腐解率和累积释碳率越大,从积温最低的黑河到积温最高的昌图,累积腐解率和累积释碳率分别增加了15.8%～41.0%和47.8%～114.0%。不同有机物料的累积腐解率表现为作物秸秆＞菌糠＞畜禽粪便,累积释碳率与之相反。3）有机物料腐解的同时发生碳释放和氮富集过程,除海伦和黑河地区玉米和水稻秸秆经过720 d的腐解后碳氮比未降至25以下外,其余处理碳氮比均低于25,腐解效果较好。腐解残留率衰减方程可较好的拟合了有机物料的腐解过程,作物秸秆的腐解速率常数k（0.23～0.25）显著高于木耳菌糠（0.15）和畜禽粪便（0.08～0.13）（P<0.05）。结构方程模型表明,有机物料自身性质对腐解特征的贡献率高于试验地点的积温、腐解时间和土壤性质,是影响有机物料腐解最主要的驱动因素。     

Effect of incorporation depth and soil climate on straw decomposition rate in a loamy Podzoluvisol

Several studies on the decomposition of straw using the mesh bag technique were carried out under field conditions in south Estonia. Straw of spring and winter cereals (Hordeum vulgare L., Secale cereale L., Triticum aestivum L.) was compared over different periods and at two depths (5 and 20 cm). Calculation of straw decomposition was based on the ash-free organic matter weight loss. Depending on experimental and climatic conditions the decomposition rate fluctuated from 42% to 75% during the 1st year. The three experimental factors incorporation period, incorporation depth and straw species all had a significant effect on the decomposition of straw. The decaying processes proceeded more rapidly in the upper layer and during the initial months; later there were no differences in decomposition rate between the two depths. During the period without vegetation, i.e. from freezing (December) to thawing (April) of the soil, the decomposition rate was 6–7% and during autumn it was about 10%. Greater loss of straw occurred early in the growing season and in the upper layer. The release of nitrogen from straw was slow and N quantity in straw increased due to microbiological immobilization during the 1st year.     

Results of the long-term field experiment IOSDV Jable at the beginning of the 21st century

The impact of organic fertilization and the level of mineral nitrogen fertilization on organic nitrogen and humus balance was studied in a long-term field experiment IOSDV Jable in central Slovenia (sub-Alpine climate, average annual precipitations 1345 mm, average annual temperature 9.5°C, heavy hydromorphic silty loam, umbric Planosols). During the period 1993–2010, precipitation increased significantly at an average rate of 19 mm a^?1; over the same period, average annual temperature increased by 0.025°C (l.f.). The increase in annual precipitation had a negative impact on the yield of all crops (maize, wheat and oats). Increases in mineral N rate led to increased yields. At the highest mineral nitrogen rate, farmyard manure (FYM) did not have a positive impact on yield in the investigated crops, although there was a positive effect of straw incorporation on the yield of maize and oats, and a negative impact on the yield of winter wheat. The organic carbon (Corg) level in the soil increased for all treatments, including FYM or straw and mineral N fertilization. The N content in the soil decreased in the treatment with no organic fertilization and no mineral N, and in the treatment with straw and no mineral N. Corg was increased in treatments with organic fertilization and the highest N rates and remained the same in treatments with moderate N fertilization. All C balances were negative.     

Effects of repeated straw incorporation on crop fertilizer nitrogen requirements, soil mineral nitrogen and nitrate leaching losses

Abstract. The effects of straw disposal by burning and incorporation on soil and crop nitrogen (N) supply, were investigated on two light textured soils in central (ADAS Gleadthorpe) and eastern England (Morley Research Centre) over the period 1984 to 1995. Nitrogen balance calculations showed that after 11 years of contrasting straw incorporation versus burn treatments, the cumulative N returns in straw were c . 570kg/ha at Gleadthorpe and c . 330 kg/ha at Morley However, these N returns via straw incorporation were not reflected in increased total soil N levels in autumn 1994. There were no differences ( P > 0.05) between straw disposal treatments in autumn soil mineral N supply, readily mineralizable N or organic carbon. Similarly, there were no consistent differences between the treatments in terms of crop yield, crop N uptake or optimum fertilizer N rates. Fertilizer N applications of 200 kg N/ha/y increased topsoil organic carbon from 1.18 to 1.28% and total N content from 0.091 to 0.102% on the loamy sand textured soil at ADAS Gleadthorpe, but not at Morley. Previous fertilizer N applications increased the quantity of nitrate-N leached in drainage water by c . 20 kg/ha at Gleadthorpe and c . 60 kg/ha at Morley overwinter 1994/95, and by 10–20 kg/ha at both sites overwinter 1995/96. There was some indication overwinter 1994/95 that straw incorporation reduced nitrate-N leaching by 10–25 kg/ha, but there were no differences between treatments overwinter 1995/96.     

不同还田方式对玉米秸秆腐解及土壤养分含量的影响

通过土壤耕作和秸秆还田试验,以玉米秸秆为研究对象,探讨东北棕壤土区适宜的秸秆还田方式,为秸秆资源的高效利用提供理论依据。在辽宁沈阳设置连续两年（2014-2015年）的田间定位试验,采用尼龙网袋法研究免耕覆盖（NTS）、旋耕还田（RTS）和翻耕还田（PTS）3种秸秆还田方式下秸秆腐解率和碳氮磷钾养分释放率,分析秸秆还田方式对耕层土壤养分含量的影响。结果表明,RTS和PTS秸秆腐解速率均表现为前期快、后期慢,秸秆养分释放率均表现为钾 > 磷 > 碳 > 氮。NTS、RTS和PTS处理秸秆两年平均腐解率分别为38.8%、78.0%、65.9%,两年平均碳释放率分别为56.5%、78.8%、69.4%,氮释放率为16.7%、53.5%、38.8%,磷释放率为81.3%、92.5%、89.8%,钾释放率为92.0%、99.4%、98.9%。NTS处理秸秆腐解率及碳氮释放率与还田时间符合逻辑斯蒂曲线方程,RTS和PTS处理秸秆腐解率、碳氮释放率及3种还田方式秸秆磷钾释放率随还田时间变化符合米氏方程。秸秆还田有助于提高耕层土壤有机碳和全氮含量,RTS处理土壤全磷含量显著高于PTS处理（P<0.05）,与NTS处理全磷含量差异不显著,3种还田方式土壤全钾含量差异不显著。综合分析秸秆腐解和耕层土壤培肥效果,东北棕壤土区建议玉米秸秆还田方式为旋耕秸秆还田。     

稻草易地还土对丘陵红壤团聚体碳氮分布的影响

利用新垦坡地、熟化旱地两个定位试验的典型处理(不施肥、化肥、稻草 NP),研究稻草易地还土对丘陵红壤水稳定性大团聚体(>0.25 mm)内碳、氮分布的影响。结果表明,稻草易地还土提高了土壤大团聚体含量;团聚体粒径越大,有机碳和全氮的含量越高;与对照相比,稻草易地还土提高大团聚体内的有机碳含量10.1%~78.5%、全氮含量9.4%~63.6%(p<0.05),同时也显著提高二者在较大粒径(1~2 mm,2~5 mm)团聚体内的分配比例;与化肥处理相比,稻草易地还土提高>0.5 mm各粒级大团聚体内的有机碳含量6.5%~46.1%,也提高了0.5~1 mm,1~2 mm,2~5 mm团聚体内的全氮含量8.7%~16.1%(p<0.05)。水稳定性大团聚体对土壤碳、氮具有强富集和物理保护作用;稻草易地还土提高水稳定性大团聚体内碳、氮的含量和分配比例,是改良丘陵红壤结构、提高并协调土壤肥力的有效保育措施。     

秸秆投放、矿物氮施用及翻耕措施对玉米(Zea mays L.)和棉花(Gossypium hirsutum L.)秸秆分解的影响

With the present understanding that decomposing straw may not only affect soil properties,but possibly greenhouse gas emissions as well,focus among cnvironmental researchers has gradually expanded to include understanding of decomposition rate and stability of straw of different plants in different soils under different management conditions.Against such a background,a short-term(60 days)greenhouse simulation experiment was carried out to study the effects of straw placement,external mineral N source and tillage on straw decomposition of maize and cotton in two contrasting soils,a red soil(Ferrasol)and a black soil(Acrisol).The treatments included straw addition only(T1);straw addition mineral N(T2);and straw addition tillage(T3).Straw was either buried in the soil or placed on the surface.Sampling was done every 15 days.Placement,addition of external mineral N sources(Urea,46% N),straw type,soil type and exposure duration(15,30,45 and 60 dyas)affected straw decomposition.Decomposition was more in buried straw than in surface-placed straw at all sampling dates in red soil.The addition of an external N source significantly increased decomposition.The study could not,however,fully account for the effect of tillage on straw decomposition because of the limited effect of our tillage method due to the artificial barrier to mechanical iaterference supplicd by the mesh bags.     

Fate of carbon and nitrogen in water-stable aggregates during decomposition of 13C15N-labelled wheat straw in situ

When incorporated in soil, plant residues and their decomposition products are in close contact with mineral particles with which they can be bound to form aggregates. We measured the incorporation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) derived from crop residues in water-stable aggregate fractions of a silty soil in a field experiment in Northern France using ¹³C¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.). Soil samples were taken seven times for 18 months and separated into slaking-resistant aggregate size fractions which were analysed for total C and N contents, and ¹³C and ¹⁵N enrichments. During the early stages of decomposition (approximately 200 days), the enrichment of ¹³C increased rapidly in the macro aggregates (> 250 pm) but decreased thereafter. The macro aggregates represented only < 20% of the soil mass and at any one time, they accounted for <25% of the residual ¹³C in the soil. The proportion of ¹³C recovered in the <50-μm and 50–250-μm fractions increased during decomposition of the residues; at day 574, the 50–250-μm fraction accounted for close to 50% of the residual ¹³C. A greater proportion of ¹⁵N than ¹³C was recovered in the <50-μm fraction. The results indicate that during decomposition in soil, C and N from crop residues become rapidly associated with stable aggregates. In this silty soil the 50–250-μm stable aggregates appear to be involved in the storage and stabilization of C from residues.