Long-Term Chemical and Organic Fertilization Differently Affect Soil Aggregates and Associated Carbon and Nitrogen in the Loess Plateau of China

Yang, Cheng; Sainju, Upendra M.; Li, Chao; Fu, Xin; Zhao, Fazhu; Wang, Jun

doi:10.3390/agronomy13061466

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Organic C and N turnover and mineralization rates are significantly different in soil aggregates of different particle sizes [7]. It was shown that C and N sequestration in soils was related to the size of aggregates and was mainly influenced by larger aggregates, and the improvement of soil structure was associated with an increase in SOC and TN, which were positively correlated with R 0.25 and MWD [8,9]. Moreover, SOC is more stable in aggregates of <2000 µm in diameter than in those of 2000-6300 µm, while N is more stable in aggregates of 2000-6300 µm than in those of <2000 µm [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of Straw Returning on Soil Aggregates and Its Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Retention under Different Mechanized Tillage Modes in Typical Hilly Regions of Southwest China

Huang,

Huang

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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Tillage modes and straw returning influence soil aggregate stability and the distribution of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in aggregates of different particle sizes. In the typical hilly regions of southwest China, the predominant soil type is purple soil, characterized by heavy texture and high stickiness, with relatively lower soil fertility compared to other soil types. The improper use of fertilizers and field management practices further exacerbates soil compaction. However, abundant straw resources in the region provide an opportunity for comprehensive straw utilization. The effective utilization of straw resources is of significant importance for stabilizing agricultural ecological balance, improving resource utilization efficiency, and alleviating ecological pressure. Previously, most studies have focused on the impact of different mechanized tillage systems on the physical and chemical properties of soil in hilly areas, while research on the preservation of water-stable aggregates’ organic C and N content remains limited. In this study, the soil properties of fields under a winter pea–summer corn rotation for two years were studied with regards to the effects of straw returning on its water-stable aggregate distribution, macroaggregate content (R0.25), mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and the organic C and N content in soil aggregates of different particle sizes and at different depths. The effects of five different tillage modes were assessed, namely rotary tillage with straw mixed retention (RTM), conventional tillage with straw burial retention (CTB), no-tillage with straw covered retention (NTC), subsoiling with straw covered retention (STC), and no-tillage without straw retention (NT). Based on the study results, under different tillage modes, straw returning effectively enhanced the soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) reserves at the plow layer (0–30 cm), SOC increased by 17.2% to 88%, and TN increased by 8.6% to 85.9%. At the same time, the content of 0.25–2 mm aggregates increased under the straw-return treatments under different tillage patterns. The NT treatment had the lowest R0.25 and MWD and GMD values for soil aggregates at different depths, which were significantly different (p < 0.05) from the other treatment modes. The correlation coefficients between SOC and soil aggregate stability indices ranged from 0.68 to 0.90, with most of them showing highly significant positive correlations (p < 0.01). In conclusion, straw returning under different tillage systems has improved soil aggregate stability and promoted soil structure stability. Specifically, the STC treatment has shown more pronounced effects on soil improvement in the upper soil layer of the hilly regions in southwest China, while the RTM treatment is beneficial for improving the lower soil layer. Therefore, the comprehensive experimental results indicate that the combination of STC and RTM treatments represents the most promising mechanized tillage and straw returning practices for the hilly regions in southwest China.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of Straw Returning on Soil Aggregates and Its Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Retention under Different Mechanized Tillage Modes in Typical Hilly Regions of Southwest China

Huang,

Huang

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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“…Soil organic carbon content is also associated with microbial gene abundance, biomass, and biological activity [11]. Increasing soil organic carbon content can effectively promote the formation of organic-inorganic aggregates and thereby reduce the content of gravel in the soil [12]. The increase in soil water-holding capacity and bulk density is conducive to the accumulation of inorganic nutrients and soil organic carbon [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The After-Effect of Organic Fertilizer Varies among Climate Conditions in China: A Meta-Analysis

Wang,

Li,

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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Organic fertilizer is utilized to improve the organic carbon levels in arable soils, which is helpful for soil quality improvement and crop yield increase. However, the after-effect of organic fertilizer varies among regions with different temperature and precipitation conditions, and the extent of the impact remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying temperature and rainfall conditions on the accumulation of soil organic carbon after organic fertilizer application. A meta-analysis of 168 peer-reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2022 involving a total of 464 trials was conducted. The following was discovered: (1) In the major grain-producing areas of China, there was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between latitude and soil organic carbon content. Meanwhile, temperature and precipitation had a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) with soil organic carbon content. (2) The increase in temperature inhibited the increase in soil organic carbon storage. The improvement effect of organic fertilizer application in the low-temperature areas was significantly increased by 60.93% compared with the mid-temperature areas, and by 69.85% compared with the high-temperature areas. The average annual precipitation affected the after-effect of organic fertilizer as follows: 400–800 mm > 400 mm > more than 800 mm. (3) The influence of climatic conditions on the after-effect of organic fertilizer was more significant depending on the specific tillage practice. To increase organic fertilizer use efficiency and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, liquid organic fertilizers with abundant trace nutrients and amino acids, which take advantage of releasing nutrients more swiftly and have a better fertilization effect, could be an alternative to traditional organic fertilizers.

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“…Our previous study demonstrated that with equal total nitrogen inputs, the replacement of 50% to 100% chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers increased survival by 26.47% to 34.16%, yield by 63.2% to 156.6%, and nitrogen utilization rate by 16.5% to 18.5% in watermelon plants, compared to chemical fertilizers alone [11]. Numerous studies have found that organic fertilizers and the long-term application of combined organic and chemical fertilizers can increase soil organic matter content, promote the formation of macroaggregates [12,13], improve microbial biomass and accelerate microbial metabolism and reproduction [14,15], and enhance the activity of various enzymes in the soil and its agglomerates [16,17]. However, variations in soil microbial communities are closely linked to crop species and the soil environment, and the effects of soil physicochemical properties (pH, salinity, carbon content, availability of nutrients, soil type, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the Replacement of Chemical Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers in Different Proportions on Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activities of Soil Aggregates in Gravel-Mulched Field

Tang,

Du,

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Gravel-mulched fields are a unique form of drought-resistant agriculture in the northwest region of China. In recent years, continuous cropping obstacles caused by the perennial cultivation of a single crop have seriously constrained the sustainable development of sand fields. This study aimed to explore the distribution patterns of different particle sizes of aggregates (>2, 1–2, 0.25–1, and <0.25 mm) and the relationships between their microbial biomass and enzyme activities under different organic fertilization and to explore the effective measures for improving soil fertility in a gravel-mulched field with an 8-year positioning test. The results indicate that the mass percentage of soil aggregates of ≥1 mm and their mean weight diameter (MWD), microbial biomass (carbon and nitrogen, bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and total phospholipid fatty acids), and their related enzyme activities (leucine aminopeptidase, LAP; N-acetyl-β-d-glucosidase, NAG; β-glucosidase, BG; and polyphenol oxidase, PPO) in aggregates of different particle sizes increased with the increase in the proportion of organic fertilizers replacing the N fertilizer. Among them, the organic fertilizer replacing more than 50% of chemical nitrogen fertilizers exerted the most significant effect. With the decrease in agglomerate particle size, the contents of microbial carbon and nitrogen showed a decreasing trend, whereas LAP, NAG, and BG activities followed an increasing trend, and the change in microbial biomass was not obvious. The correlation analysis showed highly significant positive correlations between the MWD of soil aggregates, microbial biomass, and the activities of LAP, NAG, BG, and PPO. Therefore, the replacement of more than 50% of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer was observed to be conducive to promoting the formation of large aggregates in sandy soils and increasing the microbial biomass and enzyme activities in different sizes of aggregates.

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Long-Term Chemical and Organic Fertilization Differently Affect Soil Aggregates and Associated Carbon and Nitrogen in the Loess Plateau of China

Cited by 8 publications

References 58 publications

Effects of Straw Returning on Soil Aggregates and Its Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Retention under Different Mechanized Tillage Modes in Typical Hilly Regions of Southwest China

Effects of Straw Returning on Soil Aggregates and Its Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Retention under Different Mechanized Tillage Modes in Typical Hilly Regions of Southwest China

The After-Effect of Organic Fertilizer Varies among Climate Conditions in China: A Meta-Analysis

Effects of the Replacement of Chemical Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers in Different Proportions on Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activities of Soil Aggregates in Gravel-Mulched Field

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