耕作措施对土壤水稳性团聚体及有机碳分布的影响

通过9a不同耕作的定位试验,研究了深松、旋耕、免耕和传统耕作4种耕作措施对关中塿土小麦-玉米轮作条件下土壤水稳性团聚体及有机碳垂直分布的影响。结果表明,与传统耕作相比,深松、旋耕、免耕措施均提高了0～40cm土层中〉2mm和0.25～2mm大团聚体含量、团聚体有机碳贡献率和团聚体平均重量直径,而传统耕作相应地增加了0～40cm土层中0.053～0.25mm微团聚体和〈0.053mm粘砂粒含量及其有机碳贡献率。同时深松、旋耕、免耕措施提高了各土层总有机碳和耕层0～10cm所有级别团聚体有机碳含量,相比较而言,深松的作用效果更大。秸秆还田进一步提高了各土壤层次上总有机碳和所有级别团聚体的有机碳含量及大团聚体的形成与稳定。在玉米秸秆不还田的条件下,隔年深松比连年深松更有利于0～30cm大团聚体形成及总有机碳和各级别团聚体有机碳的积累。     

耕作方式对黄绵土水稳定性团聚体形成的影响

研究了不同耕作方式对黄绵土水稳性团聚体形成的影响。结果表明,>0.25mm土壤水稳定性团聚体含量:免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)>免耕(NT)>传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)>传统耕作(T),团聚体稳定率:免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)>免耕(NT)>传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)>传统耕作(T)。水稳定性团聚体数量以及团聚体的水稳定性均与耕作方式有关。免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)、免耕(NT)和传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)有利于土壤水稳定性团聚体的形成。分析结果同时说明,采用适当耕作方式的同时增加土壤有机质更有利于土壤团聚体的形成和稳定性的增加。     

聚乙烯微塑料浓度对黑土团聚体特征及其稳定性的影响

  目的  微塑料会与土壤颗粒及团聚体相互作用而影响土壤的稳定性,探究微塑料浓度对黑土团聚体特征及其稳定性的影响,以期为农田土壤（微）塑料污染及土壤健康评价提供数据基础。  方法  通过大豆盆栽实验,研究自然条件下不同微塑料浓度（0%、0.1%、0.5%、1%、2%、5%）对黑土团聚体组成、团聚体稳定性（大团聚体含量R _{> 0.25}）、土壤团聚体特征指标（平均质量直径MWD、几何均重直径GMD、分形维数FD）的影响。  结果  不同微塑料浓度处理中,< 0.25 mm的机械稳定性团聚体含量比例最小,且 > 2 mm和 < 0.25 mm的团聚体含量比例随着微塑料浓度的增加而增加;> 2 mm的水稳性团聚体含量比例最小,< 0.25 mm的水稳性团聚体含量比例随着微塑料浓度的增加而增加;但在1%浓度时,机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体含量比例均与其他浓度的趋势相反;无植物种植的团聚体变化与种植物的相似。土壤大团聚体（R _{> 0.25}）的含量比例随着微塑料浓度的增加而显著减小,当微塑料浓度为1%时,其含量比例略低于对照试验（CK）。不同采样期,大豆成熟期的土壤机械稳定性团聚体和水稳性团聚体的MWD、GMD均比花期的小,而花期的团聚体分形维数比成熟期高,表明随着大豆生长及微塑料的作用,土壤团聚体稳定性降低。通过相关性分析表明,MWD与GMD呈极显著正相关关系,且二者均与FD值呈极显著负相关,即土壤团聚体MWD和GMD总体显著增大,FD值则显著减小,从而表征土壤颗粒团聚性下降。此外,当土壤中微塑料浓度为1%时,土壤团聚体分形维数最小,即土壤团聚作用增强。  结论  土壤中微塑料累积浓度越高,对土壤团聚体产生的破坏作用越强,导致土壤颗粒间聚合能力减弱,土壤中微塑料浓度为1%是否可作为影响黑土团聚体稳定性变化的阈值还有待后续研究,以期为全面评估微塑料对土壤质量的影响提供依据。     

2种保护性耕作措施对农田土壤团聚体稳定性的影响

在2种保护性耕作措施(秸秆还田和免耕)的长期定位试验(湖北省武穴市和荆州市)基础上,通过湿筛法测定不同土层(0—20cm和20—40cm)的不同粒径(5mm,2~5mm,1~2mm,0.5~1mm,0.25~0.5mm和0.25 mm)水稳性团聚体的含量,并对土壤团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、平均几何直径(GMD)和分形维数(PSD)等进行分析,研究2种保护性耕作措施对农田土壤团聚体稳定性的影响。结果表明:秸秆还田和免耕处理均会影响土壤各级团聚体的分布状况,同时其也会增加农田表层(0—20cm)土壤粒径0.25mm团聚体的百分含量、MWD和GMD值,但是会降低PSD值。其中PSD与粒径0.25mm团聚体的含量呈极显著负相关性(武穴处理相关系数为-0.997,荆州处理相关系数为-0.993),但是MWD和GMD与粒径0.25mm团聚体的含量有显著正相关性。表明秸秆还田和免耕均会增强土壤团聚体的稳定性,有利于改善土壤结构。但秸秆还田处理的土壤粒径0.25mm团聚体百分含量、MWD和GMD值均高于免耕处理,说明秸秆还田改善土壤结构的效果要优于免耕的。秸秆还田和免耕措施相结合,土壤结构改良效果最佳。武穴和荆州两地的保护性耕作措施对于粒径0.25 mm团聚体百分含量、MWD、GMD和PSD的影响基本一致。     

PAM对黄土高原主要土壤类型水稳性团聚体的改良效果及机理研究

通过室内土柱培养,研究PAM对黑垆土、黄绵土、风沙土水稳性团聚体的改良效果,并探讨其作用机理和合理的施用浓度.结果表明,在浓度为0.05%～0.4%,PAM均可促进3种土壤＞0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的形成,并有效降低3种土壤团聚体分形维数,改善土壤结构;方差分析表明,PAM改良3种土壤结构的机理是一致的,将＜1mm的水稳性团聚体聚合为更大粒径的水稳性团聚体,使＞1mm的水稳性团聚体含量增加.PAM改良黑垆土、黄绵土和风沙土土壤水稳性团聚体达到显著水平时的浓度也不相同,其适宜浓度分别为0.2%～0.4%,0.05%,0.05%.3种土壤的黏粒含量和有机质含量的差异,可能是影响PAM对不同土壤的水稳性团聚体的改良效果差异的主要原因.     

天然沸石对黑土团聚体含量及稳定性的影响

通过天然沸石改良黑土试验,采用干筛法、湿筛法分别测定土壤中机械稳定性团聚体和水稳性团聚体含量,分析了不同掺配量天然沸石对土壤平均质量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、团聚体破坏率(PAD0.25)、0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量和0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量(WSA0.25)的影响,结果表明:在黑土中加入天然沸石能够提高黑土湿筛时的MWD和GMD,提高0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量;在天然沸石掺配量为15%时对提高土壤中0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量的效果最好,且主要以增加2~1、1~0.5 mm粒级团聚体为主;改良后土壤团聚体的团聚度提升,结构稳定性增强,说明用天然沸石改良黑土能够提高黑土抗侵蚀能力。     

子午岭林区植被自然恢复下土壤剖面团聚体特征研究

研究了子午岭林区七种植被类型土壤>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量、团聚体破坏率和水稳性团聚体分形维数随植被恢复的变化规律以及这3个指标随土壤有机碳含量增加的变化规律。结果表明:植被恢复对>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量、团聚体破坏率和水稳性团聚体分形维数的影响可以达到70 cm土层;除白羊草群落外,0-70 cm土层上>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量随植被恢复逐渐提高,团聚体破坏率和水稳性团聚体分形维数随植被恢复逐渐减小,土壤结构随植被恢复逐渐改善。>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量、团聚体破坏率和水稳性团聚体分形维数与土壤有机碳之间呈极显著对数相关关系(p=0.01,n=32),当有机碳含量低于18.1 mg/g时,>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量随有机碳含量提高而明显提高、团聚体破坏率和水稳性团聚体分形维数则随有机碳含量提高而明显降低,即土壤结构稳定性明显提高;当有土壤机碳含量高于18.1 mg/g,>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量、团聚体破坏率和水稳性团聚体分形维数渐趋稳定,即在白羊草、虎榛子、山杨和辽东栎阶段的0-5 cm土层土壤结构达到稳定状态。     

黑土区杨树农田防护林土壤团聚体的稳定性

[目的]探究黑土区不同密度下杨树农田防护林带对林下土壤结构的影响,为合理配置当地农田防护林的栽植密度提供参考。[方法]以黑龙江省拜泉县株行距分别为1.5m×1m,2m×1.5m,3m×1.5m的不同密度杨树农田防护林带为研究对象,弃耕地作为对照,分析不同密度下不同径级团聚体的百分含量、团聚体破坏率(PAD)、平均质量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)以及分形维数(D)。[结果](1)各样地均表现为表层团聚体破坏率(PAD)最低,林带的存在降低了深层土壤的团聚体破坏率(PAD)。随着林带密度的降低,团聚体破坏率(PAD)整体呈现下降趋势。(2)平均质量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)均随密度的降低而降低,随土层深度的增加而降低,各林带与对照之间差异显著(p0.01)。(3)非水稳性团聚体分形维数和水稳性团聚体分形维数在0—20cm土层随密度的减小而减小,在20—60cm土层随密度的减小而增大。[结论]林带下土壤结构总体优于弃耕地,林带增加了土壤黏粒含量,增强了深层土壤稳定性。林带密度越大,对土壤的改良作用越明显,但会增大表层土壤的团聚体破坏度。     

耕作与秸秆还田深度变化对不同土层团聚体稳定性的影响

耕作和秸秆还田可以改变土壤理化性状,影响土壤团聚体的稳定性。采用田间定位试验,研究耕作与秸秆还田深度变化对旱地草甸土不同深度土层水稳性团聚体稳定性的影响,为科学开展秸秆还田培肥土壤提供依据。结果表明：土壤团聚体稳定性受>2000μm粒径大团聚体影响较大,连续5年翻耕显著降低了表层（0～20 cm）土壤>2000μm粒径水稳性大团聚体的占比,增加了53～250μm微团聚体和<53μm黏粉粒的比例。浅翻（ST）和秸秆浅翻还田（STS）与深翻（DT）和秸秆深翻还田（DTS）分别对10～20和20～30 cm土层黏粉粒的增加影响较大,其中,10～20 cm土层ST较免耕（NT）和DT处理分别增加86.21%和14.65%,20～30 cm土层DT较NT和ST处理分别增加113.82%和59.68%,差异显著（P<0.05）;连续翻耕由于对亚耕层（20～40 cm）的频繁扰动,导致250～2000μm粒径团聚体的稳定性降低,DT较NT和ST与DTS处理较覆盖免耕（NTS）和STS处理分别平均降低19.43%与20.57%,且差异显著（P<0.05）。研究结果表明,连...     

不同改良剂对黄绵土水稳性团聚体的改良效果及其机制

通过室内土柱培养,采用聚丙烯酰胺(Polyacrylamide,PAM)、沃特保水剂、β-环糊精、腐殖酸等4种土壤结构改良剂对黄绵土水稳性团聚体进行改良。结果表明:4种改良剂均可促进>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的形成,在浓度0.05%～0.40%范围内,其改良效果表现为PAM>β-环糊精>沃特保水剂>腐殖酸,且黄绵土团聚体分形维数显著降低,尤以PAM改良效果最明显;在低浓度条件下,4种改良剂均可有效地降低土壤密度;土壤粒径分布表明,PAM改良黄绵土水稳性团聚体的机制是使<1 mm粒径的团聚体团聚为更大的团聚体,尤其是团聚为>5 mm的团聚体,PAM在4种改良剂中对黄绵土改良效果最好。阐明不同改良剂对黄绵土水稳性团聚体的改良效果及机制,可为合理利用改良剂改良土壤结构提供理论依据。     

不同耕作方式对中国东北黑土有机碳的短期影响

A tillage experiment, consisting of moldboard plow （MP）, ridge tillage （RT）, and no-tillage （NT）, was performed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates to study the effect of 3-year tillage management on SOC content and its distribution in surface layer （30 cm） of a clay loam soil in northeast China. NT did not lead to significant increase of SOC in topsoil （0-5 cm） compared with MP and RT; however, the SOC content in NT soil was remarkably reduced at a depth of 5-20 cm. Accordingly, short-term （3-year） NT management tended to stratify SOC concentration, but not necessarily increase its storage in the plow layer for the soil.     

Short-term effects of tillage practices on soil aggregate fractions in a Chinese Mollisol

Abstract

Soil aggregate-size distribution and soil aggregate stability are used to characterize soil structure. Quantifying the changes of structural stability of soil is an important element in assessing soil and crop management practices. A 5-year tillage experiment consisting of no till (NT), moldboard plow (MP) and ridge tillage (RT), was used to study soil water-stable aggregate size distribution, aggregate stability and aggregate-associated soil organic carbon (SOC) at four soil depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) of a clay loam soil in northeast China. Nonlinear fractal dimension (D_m) was used to characterize soil aggregate stability. No tillage led to a significantly greater aggregation for >1 mm aggregate and significant SOC changes in this fraction at 0–5 cm depth. There were significant positive relationships between SOC and >1 mm aggregate, SOC in each aggregate fraction, but there was no relationship between soil aggregate parameters (the proportion of soil aggregates, aggregate-associated SOC and soil stability) and soil bulk density. After 5 years, there was no difference in D_m of soil aggregate size distribution among tillage treatments, which suggested that D_m could not be used as an indicator to assess short-term effects of tillage practices on soil aggregation. In the short term, > 1 mm soil aggregate was a better indicator to characterize the impacts of tillage practices on quality of a Chinese Mollisol, particularly in the near-surface layer of the soil.     

Influence of soil tillage systems on aggregate stability and the distribution of C and N in different aggregate fractions

Soil aggregation is influenced by the tillage system used, which in turn affects the amount of C and N in the different aggregate fractions. This study assessed the impact of different tillage systems on soil aggregates by measuring the aggregate stability, the organic carbon (C_org) and the total nitrogen (N_tot) contents within different aggregate fractions, and their release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Soil samples were collected from the top 0 to 10 cm of a long-term tillage experiment at Fuchsenbigl (Marchfeld, Austria) where conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and minimum tillage (MT) treatments were applied to a Chernozem fine sandy loam. The stable aggregates (1000–2000 μm) were subject to dispersion by the soil aggregate stability (SAS or wet sieving) method after Kemper and Rosenau (1986), and the ultrasonic method of Mayer et al. (2002). Chemical analysis of the soil was obtained for the aggregate fractions 630–1000, 250–630 and 63–250 μm gathered from the ultrasonic method. Using the SAS method, CT and RT had the least amounts of stable aggregates (18.2% and 18.9%, respectively), whereas MT had twice as much stable aggregates (37.6%). Using the ultrasonic method, MT also had the highest amount of water stable aggregates in all three fractions (1.5%, 3.7%, and 35%, respectively), followed by RT (1%, 2.3%, 32.3%), and CT (0.8%, 1.7%, 29.1%). For comparison, a reference soil, EUROSOIL 7 (ES-7) was also analysed (40%, 6.7%, and 12.1%). The highest amounts of C_org and N_tot were measured under MT in all three fractions, with 8.9%, 3.8%, and 1.3% for C_org, and 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.1% for N_tot. Apart from the fraction 630–1000 μm, the aggregates of RT and CT contained <50% of the C_org and N_tot values of MT. The C/N ratio was least favourable for CT (42.6) in the aggregate fraction 630–1000 μm. The DOC release from stable aggregates after 10 min of ultrasonic dispersion was highest from MT soil (86.7 mg l⁻¹). The values for RT and CT were 21% and 25% below this value. The results demonstrate that tillage type influences both aggregate stability and aggregate chemical composition. This research confirms that CT interferes more with the natural soil properties than RT and MT. Furthermore, MT has the highest potential to sequester C and N in this agriculturally used soil.     

草甸黑土团聚体稳定性对耕作与炭基肥施用的响应

为了阐明东北草甸黑土典型区域短期耕作深度及炭基肥料施入对土壤团聚体稳定性影响,2016－2018年连续3 a翻耕秸秆全量还田玉米地上,设置深耕（DCF）与旋耕(SCF),配施有机肥(M)和生物炭(C),共6个处理：DCF、DCF+M、DCF+B、SCF、SCF+M、SCF+B。利用干湿筛法获得土壤团聚体6个粒级组,分析了平均重量直径（mean weight diameter,MWD）、水稳性团聚体比例（water-stable aggregate,WSA）、团聚体破坏度（percentage of aggregate destruction,PAD）、水稳性团聚体几何直径（geometric mean diameter,GMD）以及土壤团聚体有机碳组成和游离结晶态铁铝氧化物（FeDCB和AlDCB）、无定性态铁铝氧化物（Feoxa和Aloxa）。结果表明,耕作方式和施肥显著影响土壤团聚体组成,影响程度表现为旋耕＞深耕,增施有机肥＞常规施肥＞增施生物炭。不同形态铁铝氧化物质量分数在0.10～2.45 g/kg之间,游离结晶态铁铝氧化物含量显著高于无定形态铁铝氧化物含量。除FeDCB外,DCF处理铁铝氧化物含量均高于DCF+B处理,SCF处理Aloxa含量显著高于SCF+M、SCF+B处理19.35%和12.12%; Feoxa和Aloxa与>0.25 mm团聚体、WSA相关性大于其他影响因素,Feoxa对变异解释贡献率为61.3%。土壤有机碳含量与<0.25 mm团聚体负相关,而与>0.25 mm团聚体成正相关,其贡献率为33.0%。AlDCB、Aloxa及>0.25 mm团聚体的形成呈正相关关系,二者总贡献率为9.3%;铁铝氧化物及有机碳改变共同解释74.9%土壤团聚体稳定性和粒级分布,铁铝氧化物单独贡献率为7.9%,有机碳组分单独贡献率为9.2%;综上所述,短期耕作与炭基肥料施入对土壤结构稳定性影响显著,SCF+M是比较理想的耕作模式,在草甸黑土改良中具有一定应用价值。     

东北黑土区典型坡面耕作侵蚀定量分析

东北黑土区水土流失主要集中在坡耕地,以往研究多关注水蚀而忽略了耕作侵蚀的存在。为印证并定量描述黑土耕作侵蚀,该文采用物理示踪法,测定了典型坡耕地耕作位移量及其分布格局。结果表明:铧式犁耕作后示踪剂沿耕作方向发生扩散,上坡耕作示踪剂集中分布在0~20 cm范围,而下坡耕作示踪剂集中分布在0~20和50~150 cm。一次耕作引起的耕作位移量为32.68~134.14 kg/m,耕作迁移系数234 kg/m。坡度是影响耕作位移的重要因素,二者呈显著的正相关关系,且对上坡耕作的影响大于下坡耕作。研究区耕作年侵蚀速率0.4~11.0 Mg/(hm2·a),凸起的坡背、坡肩处及坡度较大的位置侵蚀严重。虽然黑土区坡度较小,但由于耕作深度大,速度快,耕作侵蚀严重,应引起足够重视。     

基于耕作指数评价耕作措施对东北风沙土耕层土壤质量的影响

为准确评价构建风沙土合理耕层的土壤质量特征,采用聚类分析方法建立了东北风沙土耕层质量诊断最小数据集(MDS),利用最小数据集的耕作指数(TI-MDS)定量评价了耕作措施对东北风沙土农田耕层土壤质量的影响,旨在为科学选择风沙土区耕作措施提供依据。试验始于2017年,在黑龙江省杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县第一粮种场,设化肥、秸秆还田和有机肥3种施肥模式,常规、旋耕、翻耕、深翻和超深翻5种耕作方式,共15个处理。测定了玉米收获期0～20 cm耕层土壤pH值、有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾、全氮、全磷、全钾、阳离子交换量(CEC)、团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、容重、硬度、含水量、田间持水量、孔隙度和渗透速率16项评价指标。结果表明,全量耕作指数(TI-TDS)与TI-MDS的相关系数r为0.928,Nash有效系数Ef为0.761,偏差系数Er为0.079,TI-MDS取值范围为0.26～0.85,与玉米产量呈显著正相关(r=0.767),故TI-MDS可作为定量评价土壤质量的指标。施有机肥处理土壤耕作指数达到Ⅱ级水平;秸秆还田耕作指数达到Ⅲ级水平;施化肥耕作指数达到Ⅲ级水平,这表明风沙土区施用有机肥是构建合理耕层有效培肥方式,秸秆还田对合理耕层构建效果不明显。翻耕施用有机肥耕作指数最大,为0.85,达到I级;深翻+秸秆还田和超深翻+化肥措施土壤质量严重下降,降为Ⅳ级。在风沙土区应用翻耕+有机肥措施是构建合理耕层的有效措施。     

前期含水量对机械压实后黑土团聚体特征的影响

以东北典型黑土区耕地土壤为研究对象,通过对不同前期含水量下机械碾压处理后土壤干筛团聚体和水稳性团聚体粒级分布、破坏率(PAD0.25)、分形维数(D)、平均重量直径(MWD)、平均重量比表面积(MWSSA)等特征指标的测定和分析,对比研究了干湿处理条件下模拟机械作业过程中土壤团聚体特征的变化。结果表明:黑土耕作区0～30 cm范围内团聚体组成上干筛团聚体以>2 mm粒级的团聚体比例最高,而水稳性团聚体则随着粒级的减小,比例逐渐增加。不同前期土壤含水量能够对机械压实黑土的团聚体组成分布、分形等特征产生影响,低含水量时,机械碾压在一定程度上能够促进土壤团聚体的团聚,但同等负荷下多次积累压实会削弱土壤的水稳定性和机械稳定性;而在高含水量时,机械碾压相对更易对黑土团聚体产生负效应,加剧破坏、抑制团聚,降低其水稳定性和机械稳定性。同时发现,MWSSA与其他常用团聚体特征值PA0.25、MWD、D、PAD0.25的线性关系达到了极显著水平,说明MWSSA同样可以作为分析和研究土壤团聚体特征的有效指标。研究结果可为科学指导大机械作业提供理论依据。     

保护性耕作对丘陵区水稻土团聚体稳定性的影响

长期保护性耕作通过增加土壤有机碳而成为稻田土壤结构改良的一项有效措施,而保护性耕作对土壤团聚体稳定机制的影响尚未完全清楚。本文供试土样采自耕作制定位试验水旱轮作、冬水免耕、垄作免耕和厢作免耕耕层（0～ 20 cm）土壤,土样经过糊化作用、湿润作用和再次糊化作用等预处理,用以阐明稻田土壤团聚体的破碎机制。研究结果表明：糊化作用和湿润作用后紫色水稻土团聚体稳定性差异不明显,而保护性耕作显著影响团聚体的稳定性。糊化作用后团聚体水稳性强弱顺序为：垄作免耕＞厢作免耕＞冬水免耕＞水旱轮作,湿润作用后团聚体水稳性强弱顺序为：厢作免耕＞垄作免耕＞冬水免耕＞水旱轮作。糊化作用下团聚体稳定性与有机碳浓度相关性不显著（r＝0.432,p＞0.05）,湿润作用下团聚体稳定性与有机碳浓度呈极显著正相关（r＝0.626,p＜0.01）。因此,研究结果说明保护性耕作有利于紫色水稻土大团聚体有机碳含量提高,进而增强团聚体的水稳性。     

Short-term effects of tillage on mineralization of nitrogen and carbon in soil

Tillage is known to decrease soil organic nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) pools with negative consequences for soil quality. This decrease is thought partly to be caused by exposure of protected organic matter to microbial degradation by the disturbance of soil structure. Little is known, however, about the short-term effects of tillage on mineralization of N and C, and microbial activity. We studied the short-term effects of two types of tillage (conventional plough- and a non-inverting-tillage) on mineralization and microbial N and C pools in a sandy loam under organic plough-tillage management. The release of active and protected (inactive) N by tillage was further studied in the laboratory by use of ¹⁵N labelling of the active pool of soil N followed by simulation of tillage by sieving through a 2 mm sieve. Results showed that the two types of tillage as well as the simulation of tillage had very few effects on mineralization and microbial pools. The simulation of tillage caused, however, a small release of N from a pool which was otherwise protected against microbial degradation. The use of soil crushing for disruption of larger macroaggregates (>425 μm) and chloroform fumigation for perturbation of the microbial biomass increased the release from both active and protected N pools. The relative contribution from the protected N pool was, however, similar in the three treatments (22-27%), thus the pools subjected to mineralization were characterised by similar degree of protection. On the basis of isotopic composition the pools of N mineralised were indistinguishable. This suggests that the released N originated from the same pool, that is the soil microbial biomass. The study points to the microbial pool as the main source of labile N which may be released by tillage, and thus to its importance for sustained soil fertility in agricultural systems.     

Short-term effects of tillage systems on active soil microbial biomass

 Conservation tillage, and especially no-tillage, induce changes in the distribution of organic pools in the soil profile. In long-term field experiments, marked stratification of the total soil microbial biomass and its activity have been observed as consequence of the application of no-tillage to previously tilled soils. Our objective was to study the evolution of the total and active soil microbial biomass and mineralized C in vitro during the first crop after the introduction of no-tillage to an agricultural soil. The experiment was performed on a Typic Hapludoll from the Argentinean Pampa. Remaining plant residues, total and active microbial biomass and mineralized C were determined at 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depths, at three sampling times: wheat tilling, silking and maturity. The introduction of no-tillage produced an accumulation of plant residues in the soil surface layer (0–5 cm), showing stratification with depth at all sampling dates. Active microbial biomass and C mineralization were higher under no-tillage than under conventional tillage in the top 5 cm of the profile. The total soil microbial biomass did not differ between treatments. The active soil biomass was highly and positive correlated with plant residues (r ²=0.617;P<0.01) and with mineralized C (r ²=0.732;P<0.01). Consequently, the active microbial biomass and mineralized C reflected immediately the changes in residue management, whereas the total microbial biomass seemed not to be an early indicator of the introduction of a new form of soil management in our experiment. Received: 23 February 1999