Tillage and residue management effects on temporal changes in soil organic carbon and fractions of a silty loam soil in the North China Plain

Soil degradation and associated depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) have been major concerns in intensive farming systems because of the subsequent decline in crop yields. We assessed temporal changes in SOC and its fractions under different tillage systems for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – maize (Zea mays L.) cropping in the North China Plain. Four tillage systems were established in 2001: plow tillage (PT), rotary tillage (RT), no‐till (NT), and plow tillage with residues removed (PT0). Concentrations of SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), non‐POC (NPOC), labile organic carbon (LOC), non‐LOC (NLOC), heavy fraction carbon (HFC) and light fraction carbon (LFC) were determined to assess tillage‐induced changes in the top 50 cm. Concentrations of SOC and C fractions declined with soil depth and were significantly affected by tillage over time. The results showed that SOC and its fractions were enhanced under NT and RT from 0 to 10 cm depth compared with values for PT and PT0. Significant decreases were observed below 10 cm depths (P < 0.05) regardless of the tillage system. The SOC concentration under NT for 0–5 cm depth was 18%, 8%, and 10% higher than that under PT0 after 7, 9, and 12 yr of NT adoption, respectively. Apparent stratification of SOC occurred under NT compared with PT and PT0 for depths >10 cm. All parameters were positively correlated (P < 0.01); linear regressions exhibited similar patterns (P < 0.01). Therefore, to maintain and improve SOC levels, residue inputs should be complemented by the adoption of suitable tillage systems.     

Long-term straw mulch effects on crop yields and soil organic carbon fractions at different depths under a no-till system on the Chengdu Plain,China

Proposal

A 12-year field experiment was conducted to assess straw mulch effects on soil organic carbon fractions, the carbon pool management index (CPMI) at different depths, and crop yield under a no-till rice-wheat rotation system on the Chengdu Plain, southwestern China.

Materials and methods

There were two treatments in the experiment: no-till without straw mulch (CK) and no-till with straw mulch (SM). The soil was sampled at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30-cm depths. Soil total organic carbon (TOC), the labile organic carbon fractions, including particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and permanganate-oxidizable carbon (KMnO₄-C), and the CPMI were analyzed. The crop grains were measured between September 2013 and May 2018.

Results and discussion

Between 2013 and 2018, rice and wheat grain yields under SM were comparable to CK, except there were higher rice yields in 2016 and higher wheat yields in 2017 under SM. The soil organic carbon decreased as soil depth increased in both treatments. Soil TOC, POC, and KMnO₄-C concentrations at 0–5 and 5–10 cm, CPMI at 0–5 and 5–10 cm, and DOC at 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20-cm soil depths were significantly greater under SM than under CK, whereas the MBC at 0–5 and 5–10 cm under SM was lower than CK. The POC/TOC, KMnO₄-C/TOC, and DOC/TOC ratios were greater under SM in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm, 0–5 cm, and 5–10 and 10–20-cm layers than CK, respectively, whereas the MBC/TOC ratio decreased under SM at 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20-cm depths.

Conclusions

The results showed that straw mulching should be adopted when a no-till rice-wheat cropping system is used in southwestern China because it leads to effective improvements in SOC sequestration while still maintaining normal crop yields.

     

Depth Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions in Relation to Tillage and Cropping Sequences in Some Dry Lands of Punjab,Pakistan

Depth distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions depends on the efficiency of agro‐technical managements. Information on depth distribution of SOC fractions mostly confined to the plow layer and scant in dry lands of Punjab, Pakistan. Therefore, a field experiment was laid out with moldboard plow (MP) (control), tine cultivator (TC), and minimum tillage (MT) as main plots, and cropping sequences fallow wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), (FW, control), mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) wheat (MW), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) wheat (SW), green manure wheat (GW), and mungbean‐chickpea (MC) (Cicer arietinum L.) as sub‐plots. Treatment effects were assessed for microbial biomass carbon (MBC), potentially mineralizeable carbon (PMC), particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), HCl insoluble carbon (HIC), and stratification ratio (SR) in Rawal series: Udic Haplustalf. Alfisols. The MBC concentration was the highest in MT system, at 15 to 30‐cm depth under MW and PMC concentration was highest under SW with MT at 45–60 cm. MP had higher POC in FW sequence. The highest DOC was at 0 to 15‐cm depth under MC with TC and stock of HIC was more under TC with FW sequence. The highest SR of PMC was under MT with FW at 0–15:15–30 and POC was under TC and MP with FW at depths of 0–15:45–60 cm. The highest SR for DOC was under MP with GW at 0–15:45–60 cm and HCl insoluble C was under MT with SW at 0–15:45–60. In broad‐spectrum, labile organic fractions revealed differential sensitivity, and POC stocks are also a sensitive indicator to detect the short‐management effects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of soil properties and C dynamics to land-use change in the west of Loess Plateau

Land-use change (LUC) is widely considered a major factor that affects soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The impacts of four LUC types on soil properties, SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC) and labile organic carbon (LOC) at the 0–100 cm depth were examined in the west of Loess Plateau, northwest China. Bulk density at the 20–40 cm depth increased significantly after native grassland conversion to cropland, while artificial grassland establishment and abandonment on former cropland caused reverse change. Soil water content in the profile increased 60–230% after cultivation and decreased 32–49% after abandonment (p < 0.01). The particle size distribution also showed a response to LUC. Only artificial grassland establishment caused an SOC sink of 32% at the 0–10 cm depth as well as two labile fractions. SOC tended to increase after cultivation and after abandonment, with 6% and 20% at soil surface, respectively. There were increasing trends in POC and LOC. After afforestation on former native grassland, SOC tended to decrease (23%) at the 0–10 cm depth while POC and LOC tended to increase (33% and 6%, respectively). Principal component analysis was successful in separating LUC through soil property parameters. Carbon sequestration is largely ascribed to increased below-ground production and tillage elimination after perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plantation. Irrigation and fertilization activities contribute to SOC accumulation after cultivation to some extent. The self-restoration dynamic depending on time since abandonment is important to SOC change. A lower proportion of stabilized carbon results in a slow rate of SOC accumulation after afforestation. It is necessary to investigate the long-term dynamic after LUC.     

Effects of tillage,organic resources and nitrogen fertiliser on soil carbon dynamics and crop nitrogen uptake in semi-arid West Africa

Tillage, organic resources and fertiliser effects on soil carbon (C) dynamics were investigated in 2000 and 2001 in Burkina Faso (West Africa). A split plot design with four replications was laid-out on a loamy-sand Ferric Lixisol with till and no-till as main treatments and fertiliser types as sub-treatments. Soil was fractionated physically into coarse (0.250–2 mm), medium (0.053–0.250 mm) and fine fractions (< 0.053 mm). Particulate organic carbon (POC) accounted for 47–53% of total soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) for 30–37% of total soil nitrogen concentration. The POC decreased from 53% of total SOC in 2000 to 47% of total SOC in 2001. Tillage increased the contribution of POC to SOC. No-till led to the lowest loss in SOC in the fine fraction compared to tilled plots. Well-decomposed compost and single urea application in tilled as well as in no-till plots induced loss in POC. Crop N uptake was enhanced in tilled plots and may be up to 226 kg N ha⁻¹ against a maximum of 146 kg N ha⁻¹ in no-till plots. Combining crop residues and urea enhanced incorporation of new organic matter in the coarse fraction and the reduction of soil carbon mineralisation from the fine fraction. The PON and crop N uptake are strongly correlated in both till and no-till plots. Mineral-associated N is more correlated to N uptake by crop in tilled than in no-till plots. Combining recalcitrant organic resources and nitrogen fertiliser is the best option for sustaining crop production and reducing soil carbon decline in the more stabilised soil fraction in the semi-arid West Africa.     

Straw mulching with fertilizer nitrogen: An approach for improving crop yield,soil nutrients and enzyme activities

Field experiments were conducted to study soil properties, soil enzymes activities, water use efficiency (WUE) and crop productivity after six years of soya bean straw mulching in the semi‐arid conditions of China. The experiment included four treatments: CK (Control), N (240 kg N ha^‐1), H (soya bean straw mulching at half rate 700 kg ha^‐1 with 240 kg N ha^‐1) and F (soya bean straw mulching at full rate 1,400 kg ha^‐1 with 240 kg N ha^‐1). Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil labile organic carbon (LOC), soil available N (AN), available P (AP) and enzyme activities were analysed after wheat harvesting in 2016 and 2017. Results show that straw amounts had positive effects on the soil fertility indices being higher for treatment F. The SOC, LOC, AN, AP and enzyme activities (i.e. saccharase, urease and alkaline phosphatase) were in the order of F > H > N > CK. High wheat grain yield and WUE were observed for F treatment. A total of six years mulching along with 240 kg ha^‐1 nitrogen fertilizer application is sufficient for wheat yield stability and improving soil properties except urease activities in the semi‐arid condition of China. However, the straw mulching amount should be further studied with minimum nitrogen fertilizer for an environment‐friendly and effective approach for improving the soil biological properties with adequate crop production on a sustainable basis in the semi‐arid region of China.     

耕作与轮作方式对黑土有机碳和全氮储量的影响

土壤有机碳(SOC)及全氮(TN)对土壤肥力、作物产量、农业可持续发展以及全球碳、氮循环等都具有重要影响。为探索不同耕作和轮作方式对耕层黑土SOC和TN储量的影响,本文以吉林省德惠市进行了8 a的田间定位试验中层黑土为研究对象,对免耕、垄作和秋翻三种耕作方式及玉米-大豆轮作和玉米连作两种轮作方式下SOC和TN在各土层的含量变化进行了分析,并采用等质量土壤有机质储量计算方法,对比分析了不同处理对0～30 cm SOC和TN储量的影响。结果表明,与试验开始前相比,玉米-大豆轮作系统中,秋翻下SOC和TN储量均有所降低;免耕显著增加了0～5 cm SOC及TN含量,但SOC在亚表层亏损,导致其储量并未增加;而垄作处理下SOC及TN含量在0～5、5～10 cm的均显著增加,0～30 cm储量亦分别增加了4.9%和10.7%。玉米连作系统的两种耕作处理(免耕和秋翻)下SOC和TN储量均有所增加,且TN储量增幅均高于玉米-大豆轮作系统,其中免耕下TN储量增幅是玉米-大豆轮作的3.2倍。所有处理下C/N均呈降低趋势,其中垄作0～5 cm C/N由12.05降至11.04,降低幅度分别是免耕和秋翻的3.2和2.8倍。综上可知,对质地黏重排水不良的中层黑土,玉米-大豆轮作系统下免耕并不是促进SOC固定的有效形式,而垄作则促进了黑土SOC和TN的积累,这不仅有利于土壤肥力的改善,而且是使农田黑土由CO2"源"变为"汇"的有效形式之一。与玉米-大豆轮作相比,玉米连作下三种耕作方式都有利于SOC和TN积累。     

Crop rotation with plastic mulching increased soil organic carbon and water sustainability: A field trial on the Loess Plateau

Appropriate crop rotations are beneficial for food security and carbon sequestration. In cool and semiarid rain-fed areas, however, the effect on carbon sequestration in soil and the soil–crop system is not clear. In this study, a crop rotation field experiment was carried out on the Loess Plateau, China, involving (1) wheat continuous cropping (WCC), (2) maize continuous cropping (MCC), (3) potato continuous cropping (PCC) and (4) wheat–maize–potato rotating cropping (RC). All treatments were tilled once, and then, plastic mulched immediately to inhibit evaporation. We found that the rotating cropping system improved water storage in the 0–300 cm soil profile by 65.8 mm through the 6 years, while MCC depleted deep soil moisture. In a drought year, total dry matter (DM) for the rotating cropping was greater by 23.9% and 79.3% and harvested carbon quantity (HCQ) by 0.6 and 1.8 Mg ha⁻¹ compared with WCC and MCC systems, respectively. Total evapotranspiration significantly decreased by 14.5% compared with MCC, with no significant change compared with WCC and PCC. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration at 20–30 cm depth in the rotating cropping system was 36.0%, 28.0% and 30.3% greater than those of WCC, MCC and PCC, respectively. Similarly, the SOC sequestration rate at this depth was higher by 3.8, 3.2 and 3.4 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. The pure carbon accumulation (PCA) of the rotating cropping system significantly increased compared with WCC and PCC, resulting in increased water use efficiency of pure carbon accumulation (WCP) by 11.1, 2.2 and 3.1 Mg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ compared with the WCC, MCC and PCC systems, respectively. Overall, the rotating cropping (RC) system maintained better soil water conditions, sustained crop development and SOC sequestration, especially optimizing the relationship between crop water utilization and SOC sequestration in soil–crop system in the cool semiarid rain-fed area.     

Effect of long-term cropping systems on soil organic carbon pools and soil quality in western plain of hot arid India

Maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) in arid ecosystem is important for soil productivity and restoration of deserted sandy soil in western plain of India. There is a need to understand how the cropping systems changes may alter SOC pools including total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic C (POC), water soluble carbon (WSC), very labile C (VLC), labile C (LC), less labile C (LLC) and non-labile C (NLC) in arid climate. We selected seven major agricultural systems for this study viz., barren, fallow, barley–fallow, mustard–moth bean, chickpea–groundnut, wheat–green gram and wheat–pearl millet. Result revealed that conversion of sandy barren lands to agricultural systems significantly increased available nutrients and SOC pools. Among all studied cropping systems, the highest values of TOC (6.12 g kg^?1), POC (1.53 g kg^?1) and WSC (0.19 g kg^?1) were maintained in pearl millet–wheat system, while the lowest values of carbon pools observed in fallow and barren land. Strong relationships (P < 0.05) were exhibited between VLC and LC with available nutrients. The highest carbon management index (299) indicates that wheat–pearl millet system has greater soil quality for enhancing crop productivity, nutrient availability and carbon sequestration of arid soil.     

陇东黄土高原农田土壤微生物量碳和颗粒有机碳剖面分布特征

采用野外调查采样与室内分析相结合的方法,对陇东黄土高原农田黑垆土微生物量碳（MBC）和颗粒有机碳（POC）的剖面分布特征进行了研究。结果表明:不同剖面土壤微生物量碳和颗粒有机碳含量随土层变化差异显著或极显著,主要集中在0—20 cm和20—40 cm土层,呈明显的表聚现象;0—60 cm土层MBC含量随着土层深度增加而减小;随着海拔高度增加,0—20 cm土层MBC含量整体呈增加趋势,变化范围为180.92～282.53 mg/kg;POC含量在0—20 cm和20—40 cm土层的变化范围分别为1.02～1.68 g/kg和0.25～0.96 g/kg,40 cm以下土层颗粒有机碳含量较低;剖面中不同土层深度微生物量碳、颗粒有机碳占总有机碳（SOC）的比例在 0—20 cm和20—40 cm土层均显著或极显著高于其它土层,MBC/SOC变化范围分别为2.29%～3.70%和1.00%～2.11%,POC/SOC的变化范围分别为13.46%～19.13%和5.08%～16.16%,剖面MBC/SOC与MBC、POC/SOC与POC随土层的变化规律均一致,MBC/SOC和POC/SOC可以作为反映土壤剖面质量变化的指标。     

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil organic and inorganic carbon sequestration and lability: A study from a rice–wheat cropping system on a calcareous soil of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

Increasing soil carbon (C) in arable soils is an important strategy to achieve sustainable yields and mitigate climate change. We investigated changes in soil organic and inorganic carbon (SOC and SIC) under conservation agriculture (CA) in a calcareous soil of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. The treatments were as follows: conventional-till rice and wheat (CT-CT), CT rice and zero-till wheat (CT-ZT), ZT direct seeded rice (DSR) and CT wheat (ZT-CT), ZTDSR and ZT wheat without crop residue retention (ZT-ZT), ZT-ZT with residue (ZT-ZT+R), and DSR and wheat both on permanent beds with residue (PB-PB+R). The ZT-ZT+R had the highest total SOC in both 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers (20% and 40% higher (p < .05) than CT-CT, respectively), whereas total SIC decreased by 11% and 15% in the respective layers under ZT-ZT+R compared with CT-CT. Non-labile SOC was the largest pool, followed by very labile, labile and less labile SOC. The benefits of ZT and residue retention were greatest for very labile SOC, which showed a significant (p < .05) increase (~50%) under ZT-ZT+R compared with CT-CT. The ZT-ZT+R sequestered ~2 Mg ha⁻¹ total SOC in the 0–15 cm soil layer in 6 years, where CT registered significant losses. Thus, the adoption of CA should be recommended in calcareous soils, for C sequestration, and also as a reclamation technique.     

Conservation agriculture practice influences soil organic carbon pools in intensive rice-based systems of the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain

Studies of rice-based systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) have demonstrated the beneficial effects of Conservation Agriculture on soil organic carbon (SOC) status, along with increased soil health and crop productivity. However, it remains unclear as to the time for such treatments to have a positive effect. In this study of lentil-mung bean-rice and wheat-mung-rice rotations in Bangladesh positive effects of strip planting or bed planting, along with residue return, on SOC pools were apparent after 1.5 years, compared with intensive conventional tillage and limited residue return. Conventional tillage resulted in higher CO₂ emission compared with strip planting or bed planting as did high residue return. In the cereal-dominated rotation, the strip planting system sequestered carbon at a rate of 0.24–0.53 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (at 0–0.15 m depth) while conventional tillage was associated with a carbon loss of 0.52–0.82 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. In the legume-dominated rotation, neither practice sequestered SOC. Under strip planting, a minimum annual crop residue input of 1.7 Mg C ha⁻¹ for the cereal-dominated system and 5.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ for the legume-dominated system was required to maintain SOC at equilibrium. We conclude that strip planting with high levels of crop residue return can be an effective and quick strategy in either slowing the loss of SOC or improving C sequestration in the intensive rice-based systems of the Eastern IGP.     

Assessing soil quality indices based on soil organic carbon fractions in different long-term wheat systems under semiarid conditions

The literature shows a great number of soil quality indices (SQ_I) based on organic matter and its fractions. Our objectives were to determine the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon fractions and SQ_I in three production systems based on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The three production systems involved wheat monoculture under conventional tillage and no-tillage (WW_CT and WW_NT, respectively) and traditional management, wheat under conventional tillage and grazing of natural grasses, alternated one year each (WG_CT). In turn, each treatment was divided into N-P-fertilized (f) and non-fertilized (nf). We analysed SOC, labile fractions and their ratios (SQ_I) at 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths. SOC was significantly higher in WW_NT-f than in WW_CT-f and WG_CT-f at 0–5 and 0–20 cm range. Conversely, the lowest concentration was found in WW_NT and WW_CT in non-fertilized plots. Particulate organic C (POC, 105–2,000 μm) was significantly affected by tillage at 0–5 cm with the greatest concentrations found in WW_NT (mean = 3.2 g kg⁻¹) followed by WG_CT and WW_CT (mean = 2.0 g kg⁻¹). Soils under CT showed the lowest lability index (LI) values, whereas the conversion to NT increased it (0.74–1.28). Carbon management index (CMI) increased significantly at the 0–20 cm seven years after NT establishment compared to WW_CT. SQ_I such as LI, CMI and SOC/silt+clay were more sensitive for differentiating production systems, whereas C pool index and C/N were more sensitive for differentiating the fertilizer application effect. Considering improvement in SQ_I and carbon fractions as indicators of better soil quality, adoption of NT improved the soil quality in the semiarid rainfed conditions in the short term.     

Dissolved and Soil Organic Carbon after Long‐Term Conventional and No‐Tillage Sorghum Cropping

Abstract

Distribution of dissolved (DOC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) with depth may indicate soil and crop‐management effects on subsurface soil C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to investigate impacts of conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), and cropping sequence on the depth distribution of DOC, SOC, and total nitrogen (N) for a silty clay loam soil after 20 years of continuous sorghum cropping. Conventional tillage consisted of disking, chiseling, ridging, and residue incorporation into soil, while residues remained on the soil surface for NT. Soil was sampled from six depth intervals ranging from 0 to 105 cm. Tillage effects on DOC and total N were primarily observed at 0–5 cm, whereas cropping sequence effects were observed to 55 cm. Soil organic carbon (C) was higher under NT than CT at 0–5 cm but higher under CT for subsurface soils. Dissolved organic C, SOC, and total N were 37, 36, and 66%, respectively, greater under NT than CT at 0–5 cm, and 171, 659, and 837% greater at 0–5 than 80–105 cm. The DOC decreased with each depth increment and averaged 18% higher under a sorghum–wheat–soybean rotation than a continuous sorghum monoculture. Both SOC and total N were higher for sorghum–wheat–soybean than continuous sorghum from 0–55 cm. Conventional tillage increased SOC and DOC in subsurface soils for intensive crop rotations, indicating that assessment of C in subsurface soils may be important for determining effects of tillage practices and crop rotations on soil C sequestration.     

Double mulching improves soil properties and productivity of maize-based cropping system in eastern Indian Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years at North Eastern Indian Himalayan region to assess the effect of soil moisture conservation measures on soil and water productivity of different rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) - based cropping sequences. Results revealed that double mulching with in-situ maize stover mulch (MSM) + fresh biomass of white hoary pea (WHP-Tephrosia candida) and MSM + fresh biomass of ragweed (RW- Ambrosia artemisiifolia) improved soil moisture content (SMC) and leaf relative water content of crops during dry season. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stocks under MSM + WHP and MSM + RW mulches were significantly higher than that under no mulch at 0–15 cm depth. The soil microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity were maximum under MSM + WHP/RW. The highest system productivity was obtained from maize-French bean (Pole type-PT) sequence under MSM + RW followed by MSM + WHP. The water productivity was the highest under MSM + WHP. While SOC content was the highest under maize-French bean (PT), the maximum plant available nitrogen and phosphorus were obtained under maize-black gram sequence.Thus, double mulching technology involving MSM and RW (available in plenty) is a viable option for improving soil, crop and water productivity under rainfed hill ecosystems of eastern Indian Himalayas.     

Contributions from carbon and nitrogen in roots to closing the yield gap between conventional and organic cropping systems

This study investigates the effect of different crop rotation systems on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in root biomass as well as on soil organic carbon (SOC ). Soils under spring barley and spring barley/pea mixture were sampled both in organic and conventional crop rotations. The amounts of root biomass and SOC in fine (250–253 μ m), medium (425–250 μ m) and coarse (>425 μ m) soil particulate organic matter (POM ) were determined. Grain dry matter (DM ) and the amount of N in harvested grain were also quantified. Organic systems with varying use of manure and catch crops had lower spring barley grain DM yield compared to those in conventional systems, whereas barley/pea showed no differences. The largest benefits were observed for grain N yields and grain DM yields for spring barley, where grain N yield was positively correlated with root N. The inclusion of catch crops in organic rotations resulted in higher root N and SOC (g C/m²) in fine POM in soils under barley/pea. Our results suggest that manure application and inclusion of catch crops improve crop N supply and reduce the yield gap between conventional and organic rotations. The observed positive correlation between root N and grain N imply that management practices aimed at increasing grain N could also increase root N and thus enhance N supply for subsequent crops.     

Influence of land use and tillage depth on dynamics of soil microbial properties,soil carbon fractions and crop yield after conversion of short‐rotation coppices

The effect of conversion of short‐rotation coppices (SRCs) to agricultural land on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil microbial properties and crop yield is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of subsequent land use and tillage depth after conversion of SRCs on (i) total SOC (ii) soil C fractions with differentiation of total harvest residues and woody harvest residues from SRC and maize by ¹³C analysis and (iii) dry matter and N yield of grassland and maize. For this purpose, field trials were established after conversion of SRCs at three sites in Germany and cultivated with maize and grassland with shallow (5 cm), medium (15 cm) and deep tillage depth (30 cm). Crops were sampled for 5 yrs, and soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–5, 5–15 and 15–30 cm. Amount of total carbon and soil carbon fractions immediately and 4 yrs after conversion of SRC were compared. Tillage depth had no effect on dry matter yield of maize and grassland. The amount of woody harvest residues decreased over time following conversion at all sites irrespective of land use or tillage depth, but SOC decreased only at one site. Microbial biomass was particularly sensitive to land use, but microorganisms reacted differently to tillage depth depending on the soil conditions. Our results reveal that decomposition of woody harvest residues is rapid and that effects of tillage and land use on different soil C‐pools are site specific.     

Long‐term effects of tillage,nutrient application and crop rotation on soil organic matter quality assessed by NMR spectroscopy

Crop and land management practices affect both the quality and quantity of soil organic matter (SOM) and hence are driving forces for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The objective of this study was to assess the long‐term effects of tillage, fertilizer application and crop rotation on SOC in an agricultural area of southern Norway, where a soil fertility and crop rotation experiment was initiated in 1953 and a second experiment on tillage practices was initiated in 1983. The first experiment comprised 6‐yr crop rotations with cereals only and 2‐yr cereal and 4‐yr grass rotations with recommended (base) and more than the recommended (above base) fertilizer application rates; the second experiment dealt with autumn‐ploughed (conventional‐till) plots and direct‐drilled plots (no‐till). Soil samples at 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths were collected in autumn 2009 and analysed for their C and N contents. The quality of SOM in the top layer was determined by ¹³C solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The SOC stock did not differ significantly because of rotation or fertilizer application types, even after 56 yr. However, the no‐till system showed a significantly higher SOC stock than the conventional‐till system at the 0–10 cm depth after the 26 yr of experiment, but it was not significantly different at the 10–30 cm depth. In terms of quality, SOM was found to differ by tillage type, rate of fertilizer application and crop rotation. The no‐till system showed an abundance of O‐alkyl C, while conventional‐till system indicated an apparently indirect enrichment in alkyl C, suggesting a more advanced stage of SOM decomposition. The long‐term quantitative and qualitative effects on SOM suggest that adopting a no‐tillage system and including grass in crop rotation and farmyard manure in fertilizer application may contribute to preserve soil fertility and mitigate climate change.     

Nitrogen fertilization and cropping systems effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen pools under chisel-plow tillage in Illinois

Agricultural soils can be a major sink for atmospheric carbon (C) with adoption of recommended management practices (RMPs). Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and cropping systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN) concentrations and pools. Replicated soil samples were collected in May 2004 to 90 cm depth from a 23-year-old experiment at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, IL. The SOC and TN concentrations and pools, soil bulk density (ρ_b) and soil C:N ratio were measured for five N rates [0 (N₀), 70 (N₁), 140 (N₂), 210 (N₃) and 280 (N₄) kg N ha⁻¹] and two cropping systems [continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CC), and corn–soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation (CS)]. Long-term N fertilization and cropping systems significantly influenced SOC concentrations and pools to 30 cm depth. The SOC pool in 0–30 cm depth ranged from 68.4 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₀ to 75.8 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₄. Across all N treatments, the SOC pool in 0–30 cm depth for CC was 4.7 Mg ha⁻¹ greater than for CS. Similarly, TN concentrations and pools were also significantly affected by N rates. The TN pool for 0–30 cm depth ranged from 5.36 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₀ to 6.14 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₄. In relation to cropping systems, the TN pool for 0–20 cm depth for CC was 0.4 Mg ha⁻¹ greater than for CS. The increase in SOC and TN pools with higher N rates is attributed to the increased amount of biomass production in CC and CS systems. Increasing N rates significantly decreased ρ_b for 0–30 cm and decreased the soil C:N ratio for 0–10 cm soil depth. However, none of the measured soil properties were significantly correlated with N rates and cropping systems below 30 cm soil depth. We conclude that in the context of developing productive and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems on a site and soil specific basis, the results from this study is helpful to strengthening the database of management effects on SOC storage in the Mollisols of Midwestern U.S.     

深松和秸秆还田对旋耕农田土壤有机碳活性组分的影响

土壤有机碳(soil organic carbon,SOC)及其活性组分能够敏感响应耕作方式变化及有机物输入。为对比长期旋耕农田进行深松后土壤有机碳各活性组分及比例变化,该研究基于连续7a的旋耕转变为深松和秸秆管理长期定位试验,对比了旋耕无秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage with straw removal,RT)、旋耕秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage with straw return,RTS)、旋耕转变为深松无秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage conversion to subsoiling with straw removal,RT-DT)、旋耕转变为深松秸秆还田处理(rotary tillage conversion to subsoiling with straw return,RTS-DTS)下土壤有机碳(soil organic carbon,SOC)、颗粒有机碳(particulate organic carbon,POC)、易氧化有机碳(readily oxidizable organic carbon,ROC)、微生物生物量碳(microbial biomass carbon,MBC)、溶解性有机碳(dissolved organic carbon,DOC)、活性有机碳(labile organic carbon,LOC)在土壤有机碳中比例的变化及各组分间的相互关系。研究结果表明,耕作方式从旋耕转变为深松和秸秆还田对SOC及其各活性组分均产生显著影响,耕作方式转变、秸秆还田及两者的交互效应是影响SOC及其活性组分的主要因素。秸秆还田显著提高了RTS处理和RTS-DTS处理的SOC含量,分别比RT和RT-DT处理高6.1%~15.6%和19.1%~32.3%。并且转变耕作方式后RTS-DTS处理比于RTS处理SOC含量提高16.9%~20.0%。同时,RTS-DTS处理的POC含量比RTS处理高13.6%~53.8%;但RT-DT和RTS-DTS处理的土壤ROC含量较RT和RTS处理都呈下降趋势,RTS-DTS处理的ROC含量比RTS处理下降4.6%~10%;MBC含量降低23.8%~30.6%。虽然秸秆还田显著提高了各处理的DOC含量,但RTS转变为RTS-DTS处理后,其3个土层的DOC含量下降了8%~41%。相比于RT和RTS处理,RT-DT和RTS-DTS处理0~30 cm各土层中LOC在SOC中的比例显著下降。相关性分析结果表明,除POC与ROC之间无显著性相关关系外,SOC及各组分间均呈显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)的相关关系。耕作方式转变为深松和秸秆还田提高了SOC含量的同时,显著降低了SOC中的活性有机碳组分,这更有利于SOC的有效积累,促进土壤碳库的稳定固存。