Effects of different green manure treatments on soil apparent N and P balance under a 34-year double-rice cropping system

Purpose

Although green manure rotation is often used to promote soil fertility and crop yield, the effects of this management practice on the nitrogen or phosphorus balance and the relationship between nutrient balance and the increase in soil nutrients have not been systematically studied.

Materials and methods

We investigated the apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balances and their associations with soil nitrogen and phosphorus increases, respectively, in a 34-year-old experimental site with various green manures and rice rotations using linear and logistic models. Cropping treatments included a rice-rice-winter fallow treatment as a control (RRW) and three green manure rotation treatments: rice-rice-ryegrass (RRR), rice-rice-oil rape (RRO), and rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch (RRC).

Results and discussion

We found that apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balances of RRR, RRO, and RRC were 164, 162, and 149 kg hm^?2, which were all significantly lower than 200 kg hm^?2 of RRW (P Conclusions

Our results suggested that long-term rice-rice-green manure rotation could significantly change the apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balance and their association with soil nitrogen and phosphorus content, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of green manure rotation in an agro-ecological environment and soil fertility in a double rice cropping system in red paddy soil.