Effects of potato–grain rotations on soil erosion, carbon dynamics and properties of rangeland sandy soils

The potential for wind erosion in South Central Colorado is greatest in the spring, especially after harvesting of crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) that leave small amounts of crop residue in the surface after harvest. Therefore it is important to implement best management practices that reduce potential wind erosion and that we understand how cropping systems are impacting soil erosion, carbon dynamics, and properties of rangeland sandy soils. We evaluate the effects of cropping systems on soil physical and chemical properties of rangeland sandy soils. The cropping system included a small grain–potato rotation. An uncultivated rangeland site and three fields that two decades ago were converted from rangeland into cultivated center-pivot-irrigation-sprinkler fields were also sampled. Plant and soil samples were collected in the rangeland area and the three adjacent cultivated sites. The soils at these sites were classified as a Gunbarrel loamy sand (Mixed, frigid Typic Psammaquent). We found that for the rangeland site, soil where brush species were growing exhibited C sequestration and increases in soil organic matter (SOM) while the bare soil areas of the rangeland are losing significant amounts of fine particles, nutrients and soil organic carbon (SOM-C) mainly due to wind erosion. When we compared the cultivated sites to the uncultivated rangeland, we found that the SOM-C and soil organic matter nitrogen (SOM-N) increased with increases in crop residue returned into the soils. Our results showed that even with potato crops, which are high intensity cultivated cropping systems, we can maintain the SOM-C with a rotation of two small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop, or potentially increase the average SOM-C with a rotation of four small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop. Erosion losses of fine silt and clay particles were reduced with the inclusion of small grains. Small grains have the potential to contribute to the conservation of SOM and/or sequester SOM-C and SOM-N for these rangeland systems that have very low C content and that are also losing C from their bare soils areas (40%). Cultivation of these rangelands using rotations with at least two small grain crops can reduce erosion and maintain SOM-C and increasing the number of small grain crops grown successfully in rotation above two will potentially contribute to C and N sequestration as SOM and to the sequestration of macro- and micro-nutrients.     

Fate of nitrogen from crop residues as affected by biochemical quality and the microbial biomass

Net mineralization of N from a range of shoot and root materials was determined over a period of 6 months following incorporation into a sandy-loam soil under controlled environment conditions. Biochemical “quality” components of the materials showed better correlation with net N mineralization than did gross measures of the respiration and N content of the soil microbial community during decomposition. The quality components controlling net N mineralization changed during decomposition, with water-soluble phenolic content significantly correlated with net N mineralization at early stages, and water-soluble N, followed by cellulose at later stages. C-to-N and total N were correlated with net N mineralization towards the end of the incubation only. Cumulative microbial respiration during the early stages of decomposition was correlated with net N mineralization measured after 2 months, at which time maximum net N mineralization was recorded for most residues. However, there was no relationship between microbial-N and net N mineralization. Biochemical quality factors controlling the C and N content of the residue remaining at the end of the incubation as light fraction organic matter (LFOM) were also investigated. Both C and N content of LFOM derived from the residues were correlated with residue cellulose content, and the chemical characteristics of LFOM were highly correlated with those of the original plant material. Incorporation of low cellulose, high water-soluble N-containing shoot residues resulted in more N becoming mineralized than had been added in the residues, demonstrating that net mineralization of native soil organic matter had occurred. Large amounts of N were lost from the mineral-N pool during the incubation, which could not be accounted for by microbial immobilization.     

Small grains stubble burning and tillage effects on soil organic C and N, and aggregation in northeastern Saskatchewan

Field experiments were conducted over 5 years (2000–2004) at two sites (Star City and Birch Hills) in the Saskatchewan Parkland region to determine the effects of tillage and crop residue burning on soil total organic C (TOC), total organic N (TON), light fraction organic matter (LFOM), light fraction organic C (LFOC), light fraction organic N (LFON) and dry aggregation. Two tillage (ZT, zero tillage; CT, conventional tillage, with one tillage in autumn and another in spring) and two burning (B, residue burnt in autumn; NB, residue not burnt and returned to the soil) treatments were combined in a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–canola (Brassica napus L.) rotation. After five crop seasons, the mass of TOC and TON in the 0–15 cm soil tended to be greater, whereas mass of LFOM, LFOC and LFON was significantly greater in NB than B treatments at both sites. Zero tillage resulted in greater TOC, TON, LFOM, LFOC and LFON in soil than CT, in both B and NB treatments. The mass of TOC, TON, LFOM, LFOC and LFON in soil was the highest in the ZT–NB treatment, and lowest in the CT–B treatment. Zero tillage had a lower proportion of fine aggregates (<0.83 mm diameter) and a greater proportion of large aggregates (>6.4 mm diameter) at both sites, but the mean weight diameter (MWD) was greater under ZT than CT only at Birch Hills. Although the tillage × burning interaction was not significant in most cases, the ZT–NB treatment usually had the lowest proportion (22.6%) of fine aggregates and the greatest proportion (47.1%) of large aggregates, compared to the highest (34.9%) and the lowest proportion (35.6%) of these aggregates, respectively, in CT–B treatment. This indicated reduced potential for wind erosion when tillage was omitted (ZT) and crop residues were returned to the soil (NB). Returning crop residue to soil rather than burning usually increased soil organic C and N, and aggregation, but the differences between treatments were of greater magnitude between tillage treatments (ZT versus CT) than between burning treatments (B versus NB). Overall, returning crop residues along with ZT improved soil organic C and N, and aggregation, while burning in combination with CT resulted in the deterioration of these soil properties.     

Soil quality response to tillage and crop residue removal under subarctic conditions

Little is known about the long-term effects of tillage and crop residue management on soil quality and organic matter conservation in subarctic regions. Therefore, we quantified wet aggregate stability, bulk density, pH, total organic C and N, inorganic N, microbial biomass C and N, microbial biomass C:N ratio, microbial quotient, and potential C and N mineralization for a tillage/crop residue management study in central Alaska. Soil from no-till (NT), disked once each spring (DO), and disked twice (DT, spring and fall) treatments was sampled to 20 cm depth in spring and fall of the 16th and 17th years of the study. Crop residues were either retained or removed after harvest each year. Reducing tillage intensity had greater impact on most soil properties than removing crop residues with the most notable effects in the top 10 cm. Bulk density was the only indicator that showed significant differences for the 10–20 cm depth, with values of 0.74 Mg m⁻³ in the surface 10 cm in NT compared to 0.86 in DT and 1.22 Mg m⁻³ in NT compared to 1.31 in DT for the 10–20 cm depth. Wet aggregate stability ranged from 10% in DT to 20% in NT. Use of NT or DO conserved soil organic matter more than DT. Compared to measurements made in the 3rd and 4th years of the study, the DT treatment lost almost 20% of the soil organic matter. Retaining crop residues on the soil conserved about 650 g m⁻² greater C than removing all residues each year. Soil microbial biomass C and mineralizable C were highest in NT, but the microbial C quotient, which averaged only 0.9%, was not affected by tillage or crop residue treatment. Microbial biomass C:N ratio was 11.3 in DT and 14.4 in the NT, indicating an increasing predominance of fungi with decreasing tillage intensity. Barley grain yield, which averaged 1980 kg ha⁻¹ over the entire 17 years of the study, was highest in DO and not significantly different between NT and DT, but weeds were a serious problem in NT. Reduced tillage can improve important soil quality indicators and conserve organic matter, but long-term NT may not be feasible in the subarctic because of weed problems and build up of surface organic matter.     

Transformations and recovery of residue and fertilizer nitrogen-15 in a sandy Lixisol of West Africa

 The fate of ¹⁵N-labeled plant residues from different cover-cropping systems and labeled inorganic N fertilizer in the organic, soil mineral, microbial biomass and soil organic matter (SOM) particle-size fractions was investigated in a sandy Lixisol. Plant residues were from mucuna (legume), lablab (legume), imperata (grass), maize (cereal) and mixtures of mucuna or lablab with imperata or maize, applied as a surface mulch. Inorganic N fertilizer was applied as ¹⁵N-(NH₄)₂SO₄ at two rates (21 and 42 mg N kg^–1 soil). Total N release from mucuna or lablab residues was 2–3 times higher than from the other residues, whereas imperata immobilized N throughout the study period. In contrast, ¹⁵N was mineralized from all the plant residues irrespective of the mineralization–immobilization pattern observed for total N. After 168 days, 69% of soil mineral N in mucuna- or lablab-mulched soils was derived from the added residues, representing 4–8% of residue N, whereas 9–30% of inorganic N was derived from imperata, maize and the mixed residues. At the end of the study, 4–19% of microbial biomass N was derived from the added residue/fertilizer-N, accounting for 1–3% of added residue-N. Averaged across treatments, particulate SOM fractions accounted for less than 1% of the total soil by weight but contained 20% of total soil C and 8% of soil N. Soils amended with mucuna or lablab incorporated more N in the 250–2000 μm SOM pool, whereas soil amended with imperata or the mixed residues incorporated similar proportions of labeled N in the 250–2000 μm and 53–250 μm fractions. In contrast, in soils receiving the maize or inorganic fertilizer-N treatments, higher proportions of labeled N were incorporated into the 53–250 μm than the 250–2000 μm fractions. The relationship between these differences in residue/fertilizer-N partitioning into different SOM particle-size fractions and soil productivity is discussed. Received: 12 March 1999     

无机氮素加入量对玉米秸秆分解过程中棕壤氨基糖含量的影响

作物秸秆还田作为一种调控土壤养分循环、减少氮肥损失、维持和提高土壤有机质水平的有力措施,越来越受到人们的重视[1-2]。还田的秸秆是微生物的碳源和能源,常导致土壤微生物量迅速增加,相应的微生物死亡率和微生物残体积累量也提高[3-4]。根据Appuhn等[5]对微生物细胞壁组分的     

无机氮素加入量对玉米秸秆分解过程中棕壤氨基糖含量的影响

在室内恒温(25℃)培养条件下,通过气相色谱法研究高C/N比玉米秸秆降解过程中微生物来源的氨基糖含量及其占有机质比例的变化及其对无机氮素添加水平(0, 60.3, 167.2, 701.9 mg•N•kg-1土,依次标记为N0, Nlow, Nmed, Nhigh)的响应情况。结果表明：在玉米秸秆分解过程中,土壤中的氨基糖含量及其对有机质贡献的比例随着无机氮素供应水平的增加而增加,即以微生物代谢物形式截获的有机碳/氮相应增多。Nmed和Nhigh处理中氨基糖积累量显著高于Nlow和N0处理。不同微生物来源的氨基糖受外源氮素的影响情况不同,胞壁酸比氨基葡萄糖更易于受到土壤中碳氮供给的影响,具有相对较快的转化速率;而在数量上氨基葡萄糖对土壤有机质的贡献比例显著高于前者;氨基半乳糖在土壤中的积累过程较为缓慢,受外源无机氮素添加水平的影响并不明显。可见,在高C/N比作物残体分解过程中,无机氮素的供应水平是影响土壤中氨基糖积累转化的重要因素之一。但是,过多的无机氮素施入并不能被微生物完全同化利用,因此秸秆还田的土壤中必须要考虑有效氮素的水平问题。     

Soil organic carbon and fractions of a Rhodic Ferralsol under the influence of tillage and crop rotation systems in southern Brazil

Soil organic matter (SOM) and its different pools have key importance in optimizing crop production, minimizing negative environmental impacts, and thus improving soil quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil C and N contents in bulk soil and in different SOM pools (light and heavy fractions) of a clayey Rhodic Ferralsol after 13 years of different tillage and crop rotations in Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from no-tillage (no soil disturbance except for sowing; NT) and conventional tillage (disc plough followed by light disc harrowings; CT) applied to wheat/soybean (W/S) and wheat/soybean–vetch/maize (W/S–V/M) rotations. As reference, soil was sampled from a non-cultivated area adjacent to the field experiment. The greatest soil C and N contents were found in non-cultivated soils in the 0–5 cm depth (45 g C kg⁻¹ soil and 3.6 g N kg⁻¹ soil). Crop cultivation led to a decrease in SOM content which was higher for CT soils (approx. 60% decrease in C and N contents) than NT soils (approx. 43% decrease in C and N contents) at 0–5 cm. Tillage had the greatest impact on soil C and N storage. Soils under NT did not contain higher C and N storage than CT soils below 5 cm depth. Significantly, higher amounts of organic carbon of FLF in CT (0.5–0.7 g C kg⁻¹ soil) than in NT soils (0.2 g C kg⁻¹ soil) at 10–20 cm depth were also observed and the differences in C and N storage between CT and NT soils in the 0–30 cm layer were not significant. Silt and clay fractions contained the largest amount of organic carbon (60–95% of total organic carbon), and free light fraction was the most sensitive pool of organic carbon to detect changes in SOM due to soil tillage and crop rotations.     

Crop rotation complexity regulates the decomposition of high and low quality residues

While many ecosystem processes depend on biodiversity, the relationships between agricultural plant diversity and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics remains controversial. Our objective was to examine how temporal plant diversity (i.e. crop rotation) influences residue decomposition, a key ecosystem function that regulates nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil organic matter formation. We incubated soils from five long-term crop rotations, located at W.K. Kellogg Biological Station LTER in southwestern Michigan, USA, with and without four chemically diverse crop residues. Increasing crop biodiversity increased soil potentially mineralizable C by 125%, increased hydrolytic enzyme activity by 46%, but decreased oxidative enzyme activity by 20% in soils before residue was added. After residue additions, soils from more diverse cropping systems decomposed all residues more rapidly (0.2–8.3% greater mass loss) compared to monoculture corn. The fast-cycling, ‘Active C’ pool and microbial biomass N increased with higher cropping diversity, but the differences among rotations in Active C pools was higher for the most recalcitrant residues. Further, the ratio of the cellulose degrading enzyme (β-glucosidase) to the lignin degrading enzyme (phenol oxidase) was highest in the two most diverse crop rotations regardless of residue additions, providing additional evidence of enhanced microbial activity and substrate acquisition in more diverse rotations. Our study shows that crop diversity over time influences the processing of newly-added residues, microbial dynamics, and nutrient cycling. Diversifying crop rotations has the potential to enhance soil ecosystem functions and is critical to maintaining soil services in agricultural systems.     

不同氮源对中国稻田作物氮素营养的贡献

N availability is one of the most important factors limiting crop yield enhancement. The recovery of applications of ¹⁵N-labeled fertilizer and crop residues in a rice-wheat cropping system was determined for up to 6 consecutive growing seasons. The crop residues from the previous season were either incorporated or removed as two different treatments. Our results showed that 16. 55%-17.79% (17.17% on average) of the fertilizer N was recovered in the crop during the first growing season, suggesting that more than 80% of crop N was not directly from the N fertilizer. When ¹⁵N-labeled residues were applied, 12.01% was recovered in the crop in the first growing season. The average recoveries of fertilizer N and crop residue N in the soil after the first growing season were 33. 46% and 85. 64%, respectively. N from soil organic matter contributed approximately 83% of the N in the crop when ¹⁵N fertilizer was applied or 88% when crop residues were applied. There was a larger difference in the total ¹⁵N recovery in plant and soil between N applications in the forms of fertilizer and crop residues. Incorporation of crop residues following the ¹⁵N fertilizer application did not significantly promote ¹⁵N recovery in the crop or soil. On average, only additional 1.94% of N for the fertilizer-applied field or 5.97% of N for the crop residue-applied field was recovered by the crops during the 2nd and 3rd growing seasons. The total recoveries of ¹⁵N in crop and soil were approximately 64.38% for the fertilizer-applied field after 6 growing seasons and 79.11% for the crop residue-applied field after 5 growing seasons. Although fertilizer N appeared to be more readily available to crops than crop residue N, crop residue N replenished soil N pool, especially N from soil organic matter, much more than fertilizer N. Therefore, crop residue N was a better source for sustaining soil organic matter. Our results suggested that the long-term effect of fertilizer or crop residues on N recovery were different in the crop and soil. However, there was little difference between the practices of crop residue incorporation and residue removal following the N fertilizer application.     

Carbon mineralisation in soil adjacent to plant residues of contrasting biochemical quality

A fraction of the C of residues incorporated into soil diffuses into the adjacent soil where it is eventually mineralised by microorganisms. Our aim was to quantify the contribution of this adjacent soil to the overall mineralisation of residue-C. For this, we incorporated two different residues labelled with ¹³C, with contrasting biochemical characteristics, namely mature wheat straw and young rye leaves, in soil cores. When 15% mineralisation of residue-C was measured for both residues, we separated a particulate fraction (the residues), the adjacent soil (4-5 mm thick) and a distant soil fraction, and incubated them separately for 5 h. We found that 76% of the mineralised wheat straw-C came from the particulate fraction and 23% from the soil adjacent to the residues. For rye leaves, 67% of the evolved CO₂ came from the particulate fraction and 33% from the adjacent soil. It showed that the adjacent soil had a significant role in the mineralisation of carbon from the residues, even if the main source of residue-derived CO₂ was the particulate fraction itself. The functional importance of the soil adjacent to the residues increased with the amount of soluble organic compounds that had been leached from the residue into the adjacent soil, suggesting a strong interaction between the initial quality of the crop residue and the resulting spatial heterogeneity of the decomposing microorganisms and C within the soil.     

Microbial and biochemical soil quality indicators and their potential for differentiating areas under contrasting agricultural management regimes

The aim of this study was to examine interrelationships between functional biochemical and microbial indicators of soil quality, and their suitability to differentiate areas under contrasting agricultural management regimes. The study included five 0.8 ha areas on a sandy-loam soil which had received contrasting fertility and cropping regimes over a 5 year period. These were organically managed vegetable, vegetable-cereal and arable rotations, an organically managed grass clover ley, and a conventional cereal rotation. The organic areas had been converted from conventional cereal production 5 years prior to the start of the study. All of the biochemical analyses, including light fraction organic matter (LFOM) C and N, labile organic N (LON), dissolved organic N and water-soluble carbohydrates showed significant differences between the areas, although the nature of the relationships between the areas varied between the different parameters, and were not related to differences in total soil organic matter content. The clearest differences were seen in LFOM C and N and LON, which were higher in the organic arable area relative to the other areas. In the case of the biological parameters, there were differences between the areas for biomass-N, ATP, chitin content, and the ratios of ATP: biomass and basal respiration: biomass. For these parameters, the precise relationships between the areas varied. However, relative to the conventionally managed area, areas under organic management generally had lower biomass-N and higher ATP contents. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus colonization potential was extremely low in the conventional area relative to the organic areas. Further, metabolic diversity and microbial community level physiological profiles, determined by analysis of microbial community metabolism using Biolog GN plates and the activities of eight key nutrient cycling enzymes, grouped the organic areas together, but separated them from the conventional area. We conclude that microbial parameters are more effective and consistent indicators of management induced changes to soil quality than biochemical parameters, and that a variety of biochemical and microbial analyses should be used when considering the impact of management on soil quality.     

Soil profile distribution of total C content and natural abundance of 13C in two volcanic soils subjected to crop residue burning versus crop residue retention

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a key role in crop productivity and soil quality. Conservation agriculture has a positive effect on SOC accumulation in the surface soil horizons, but little information is available regarding the effect of the removal of crop residues by burning. This study aimed to assess the impact of different types of crop residue management practices on the total C distribution and natural abundance of ¹³C (‰, δ¹³C). Two volcanic soils, located in the Mediterranean temperate zone of Southern Chile, were studied: an Ultisol (Collipulli Series, CPL) and an Andisol (Santa Bárbara Series, SBA). Both soils had been cultivated under direct-drilling and a typical annual crop rotation system for a long period of time. Two different types of crop residue management practices were imposed in both soils: (i) crop residue burning (CPL-B; SBA-B) and (ii) crop residue retention over the soil (CPL-R; SBA-R), corresponding to treatments B and R, respectively. Soil profile distribution of the C content and natural abundance of ¹³C were analysed for bulk soils (down to 100 cm depth) and three particle-size fractions of the soils (down to 20 cm of soil depth): (a) ≤ 53 µm, (b) 53-212 µm and (c) ≥ 212 µm. It was found that the effect of crop residue management can be observed in the variations of C content and δ¹³C in the soil profile in both volcanic soils. Crop residue burning (B treatment) increased the C content in bulk soil and the particle-size fractions. On the other hand, soil organic matter of crop residue retention (R treatment) showed higher natural abundance of ¹³C (δ¹³C) compared with residue burning (B treatment) in the two volcanic soils. R treatment enriched the particle-size fractions (except ≥ 212 µm fraction of CPL soil) with ¹³C. Factors that could account for these findings are also discussed here.     

不同有机物料投入下黄河故道土壤有机碳积累特征的研究

潮土有机质含量低、结构差是限制黄河故道区作物优质高产的主要原因.通过连续施用不同种类及用量有机物料,探究有机物料投入下,黄河故道区土壤有机质的积累特征,为该区土壤快速固碳提供理论依据和参考方案.试验采用随机区组设计,设置7个处理:单施氮磷钾肥作为对照(CK),其他处理在单施氮磷钾肥的基础上增施有机肥6 000 kg/h...     

Interaction of biochemical quality and particle size of crop residues and its effect on the microbial biomass and nitrogen dynamics following incorporation into soil

 Mineralization of N from organic materials added to soil depends on the quality of the substrate as a carbon, energy and nutrient source for the saprophytic microflora. Quality reflects a combination of biochemical and physical attributes. We investigated how biochemical composition interacts with particle size to affect the soil microflora and N dynamics following incorporation of crop residues into soil. Four fresh shoot and root crop residues were cut into coarse and fine particle sizes, and incorporated into sandy-loam soil which was incubated under controlled environment conditions for 6 months. In the case of the highest biochemical quality material, potato shoot (C/N ratio of 10 : 1), particle size had no effect on microbial respiration or net N mineralization. For lower biochemical quality Brussels sprout shoot (C/N ratio of 15 : 1), reducing particle size caused microbial respiration to peak earlier and increased net mineralization of N during the early stages of decomposition, but reduced net N mineralization at later stages. However, for the lowest biochemical quality residues, rye grass roots (C/N ratio of 38 : 1) and straw (C/N ratio of 91 : 1) reducing particle size caused microbial respiration to peak later and increased net immobilization of N. For Brussels sprout shoot, reducing particle size decreased the C content and the C/N ratio of residue-derived light fraction organic matter (LFOM) 2 months following incorporation. However C and N content of LFOM derived from the other materials was not affected by particle size. For materials of all qualities, particle size had little effect on biomass N. We conclude that the impact of particle size on soil microbial activities, and the protection of senescent microbial tissues from microbial attack, is dependant on the biochemical quality of the substrate. Received: 3 July 1998     

Turnover of grain legume N rhizodeposits and effect of rhizodeposition on the turnover of crop residues

The turnover of N derived from rhizodeposition of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) and the effects of the rhizodeposition on the subsequent C and N turnover of its crop residues were investigated in an incubation experiment (168 days, 15 °C). A sandy loam soil for the experiment was either stored at 6 °C or planted with the respective grain legume in pots. Legumes were in situ ¹⁵N stem labelled during growth and visible roots were removed at maturity. The remaining plant-derived N in soil was defined as N rhizodeposition. In the experiment the turnover of C and N was compared in soils with and without previous growth of three legumes and with and without incorporation of crop residues. After 168 days, 21% (lupin), 26% (faba bean) and 27% (pea) of rhizodeposition N was mineralised in the treatments without crop residues. A smaller amount of 15–17% was present as microbial biomass and between 30 and 55% of mineralised rhizodeposition N was present as microbial residue pool, which consists of microbial exoenzymes, mucous substances and dead microbial biomass. The effect of rhizodeposition on the C and N turnover of crop residues was inconsistent. Rhizodeposition increased the crop residue C mineralisation only in the lupin treatment; a similar pattern was found for microbial C, whereas the microbial N was increased by rhizodeposition in all treatments. The recovery of residual ¹⁵N in the microbial and mineral N pool was similar between the treatments containing only labelled crop residues and labelled crop residues + labelled rhizodeposits. This indicates a similar decomposability of both rhizodeposition N and crop residue N and may be attributable to an immobilisation of both N sources (rhizodeposits and crop residues) as microbial residues and a subsequent remineralisation mainly from this pool.Abbreviations C or N_dec C or N decomposed from residues - C or N_mic microbial C or N - C or N_micres microbial residue C or N - C or N_min mineralised C or N - C or N_input added C or N as crop residues and/or rhizodeposits - dfr derived from residues - dfR derived from rhizodeposition - Ndfr N derived from residues - NdfR N derived from rhizodeposition - N_loss losses of N derived from residues - SOM soil organic matter - WHC water holding capacity     

N-utilization by maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by crop rotation and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) residue management

Abstract. A five year field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of crop rotation and field pea residue incorporation into the soil on maize yield. The data indicated a 30% increase in maize yield grown in rotation with field pea compared to when it was grown after wheat and a further increase of 35% when field pea residues were incorporated into the soil. The effect of field pea and residue incorporation was greater in the presence of fertilizer nitrogen indicating the enhanced capacity of the crop to utilize N from the residue. Legume residue management in sub-tropical regions of the world, having coarse textured soils low in organic matter, could help to increase the yield of cereals besides saving some of the expensive fertilizer input.     

Soil C and N changes under tillage and cropping systems in semi-arid Pacific Northwest agriculture

Soils in semi-arid regions are highly susceptible to soil organic matter (SOM) loss when cultivated because of erratic yield, removal of crop residue for feed or fuel, uncontrolled soil erosion, and frequent fallowing to increase water storage. It is important to quantify the effect of each factor to be able to identify agoecosystems that are sustainable and recognize the management practices that best sequester C in soil. We identified changes in SOM in long-term experiments, some dating from the early 1900s, by evaluating tillage and crop rotation effects at several locations in semi-arid regions of the US Pacific Northwest. The major factors influencing changes in organic C and N were the frequency of summer-fallow and the amount of C input by crop residue. Soil erosion was low in long-term studies, but even limited soil loss can have a substantial impact on C and N levels if allowed over many years. Yearly crop production is recommended because any cropping system that included summer-fallow lost SOM over time without large applications of manure. We conclude that most of the SOM loss was due to high biological oxidation and absence of C input during the fallow year rather than resulting from erosion. Decreasing tillage intensity reduced SOM loss, but the effect was not as dramatic as eliminating summer-fallow. Crop management practices such as N fertilization increased residue production and improved C and N levels in soil. SOM can be maintained or increased in most semi-arid soils if they are cropped every year, crop residues are returned to soil, and erosion is kept to a minimum. SOM loss may be more intense in the Pacific Northwest because fallowing keeps the soil moist during the summer months when it would normally be dry. Our experiments identify two primary deficiencies of long-term studies to measure C sequestering capability: (1) soil C loss can be partitioned between erosion and biological oxidation only by estimation, and (2) C changes occurring below 30 cm in grassland soils cannot be quantified in many instances because samples were not collected.     

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions and water‐stable aggregation as affected by cropping and grassland reclamation in an arid sub‐alpine soil

This paper investigates effects of cropping abandonment and perennial grass growing on soil organic C and N pools and aggregate stability, by comparing soils under native grassland, crop cultivation, perennial grass growing and cropping abandonment, in degraded cropland at a sub‐alpine site in north‐western China. The pools of total and particulate organic C (115 and 37 Mg ha⁻¹) in the 0–30 cm soil layer of native grassland were reduced by 31 and 54% after 30 years of crop cultivation. After 4 years of conversion from cropland to perennial grass growing total and particulate organic C pools were increased by 29 and 56%, whereas 4 year cropping abandonment increased particulate organic C by 36%. Rapid increases in total and particulate N were also found in perennial grass growing and cropping abandonment soils. The native grassland soil and soils of cropping abandonment and perennial grass growing had higher carbohydrate C concentrations in the 0–10 cm layer than the cropped soil. The rapid recovery of particulate organic fraction and carbohydrates in the re‐vegetated soils were probably due to higher plant biomass inputs and lower organic matter decomposition compared with those in the cropped soil. Aggregate stability of the 0–30 cm soil layer was significantly decreased by crop cultivation but showed a good recovery after 4 year re‐vegetations. This study suggests that reduction of soil organic matter and aggregate stability under crop cultivation may be remedied by cropping abandonment or perennial grass growing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

作物残茬翻埋对土壤性质的影响

Chemical transformation, nutrient release and changes in the energy content of decomposing rape, sunflower and soybean residues confined in buried fiberglass bags were assessed in a laboratory study during a 340-day incubation period. The organic C decreased by about 70% while total N, after initial decay, remained almost constant for each type of residue. The NH₄⁺-N was progressively oxidized and, consequently, the NO₃^--N increased. The C/N ratio narrowed with loss of C. Hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin decreased with different trends for each crop residue. The energy content, was reduced to about 25% in rape, 30% in sunflower and 20% in soybean residues. Total P, K, Ca and Mg contents decreased for each type of residue. The results suggest that the three residues could improve the nutrient pool of the soil.