Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen as affected by cropping systems

Moore‐Kucera, Jennifer; Klose, Susanne; Tabatabai, M. A.

doi:10.1007/s003740050646

Cited by 330 publications

(185 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…A similar correlation was also found for each of two sets of exclusively crop trials [15]. MBC as a percentage of SOC calculated on a case-by-case basis for many studies was reported as lower for cropland at 1.6-1.7%, compared to 1.9-2.2% in the combined category of grassland and savanna [11].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Moore et al [15] found slopes of 7.9 (µg g −1 )/(g kg −1 ) for 1996 data and 10.1 (µg g −1 )/(g kg −1 ) for 1997 data in cropland, whereas Carter [14] reported a slope of 13.6 (µg g −1 )/(g kg −1 ) for a graph of 35 crop trials combined with five grassland trials in the same graph. We are not aware of any previously published report of this linear relationship exclusively for grassland systems, shown here to have a slope of 27.2 (µg g −1 )/(g kg −1 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Grasslands and Croplands Have Different Microbial Biomass Carbon Levels per Unit of Soil Organic Carbon

McGonigle

Turner

2017

Agriculture

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Primarily using cropped systems, previous studies have reported a positive linear relationship between microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil organic carbon (SOC). We conducted a meta-analysis to explore this relationship separately for grasslands and croplands using available literature. Studies were limited to those using fumigation-extraction for MBC for field samples. Trials were noted separately where records were distinct in space or time. Grasslands were naturally occurring, restored, or seeded. Cropping systems were typical of the temperate zone. MBC had a positive linear response to increasing SOC that was significant in both grasslands (p < 0.001; r 2 = 0.76) and croplands (p < 0.001; r 2 = 0.48). However, MBC increased 2.5-fold more steeply per unit of increasing SOC for grassland soils, as compared to the corresponding response in cropland soils. Expressing MBC as a proportion of SOC across the regression overall, slopes corresponded to 2.7% for grasslands and 1.1% for croplands. The slope of the linear relationship for grasslands was significantly (p = 0.0013) steeper than for croplands. The difference between the two systems is possibly caused by a greater proportion of SOC in grasslands being active rather than passive, relative to that in croplands, with that active fraction promoting the formation of MBC.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Grasslands and Croplands Have Different Microbial Biomass Carbon Levels per Unit of Soil Organic Carbon

McGonigle

Turner

2017

Agriculture

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“…The soil microbial biomass can enhance nutrient cycling and availability to plants following application of organic materials to soil, due to its key role in organic matter decomposition [43]. It is the most labile pool of organic matter, and is frequently used as a sensitive indicator of changes in soil organic matter content [44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Two Bioenergy Byproducts with Contrasting Carbon Availability to a Prairie Soil: Three-Year Crop Response and Changes in Soil Biological and Chemical Properties

Alotaibi

Schoenau

2016

Agronomy

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Abstract:The bioenergy industry produces a wide range of byproducts varying in their chemical composition depending on type of technology employed. In particular, pyrolysis and transesterification conversion processes generate C-rich byproducts of biochar (BC) and glycerol (GL), respectively, which can be added to soil. These two byproducts vary in their carbon availability, and comparing their effects when added to agricultural soil deserves attention. This study investigated the immediate and residual effects of a single application of BC and GL to a cultivated Brown Chernozem soil from the semi-arid region of southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. In the first season following addition of amendments, BC and GL alone had no significant impact on all measured parameters. However, when combined with 50 kg urea N¨ha´1 (BC + UR), the yields obtained were similar to those with 100 kg urea N¨ha´1 alone. The GL with urea N (GL + UR) treatment had reduced crop yield and N uptake compared to urea alone in the year of application attributed to N immobilization, but had a positive residual effect in the second year due to remineralization. Both GL and GL + UR treatments enhanced dehydrogenase activity compared to other treatments whereas BC + UR tended to decrease microbial biomass C. The crop and soil response to application of biochar was less than observed in previous studies conducted elsewhere. Direct and residual effects of glycerol addition on the crop were more evident. An application rate greater than 2.8 t¨ha´1 and 3.5 t¨ha´1 for BC and GL, respectively, may be required to induce larger responses.

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“…Though farmers use chemical fertilizers, the rates and methods of application are not justified according to either the integrated nutrient management system (INMS) or the integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), and so most of the applied fertilizers are lost through various channels. Determination of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) levels is crucial for the determination of C and N dynamics in rice systems, which regulate the SOC and N availability and loss, particularly in high-input-dependent cropping systems [14]. However, little research has investigated the effects of organic amendments on MBC and MBN in rice cropping systems, particularly in the eastern part of the Gangetic Plains, limiting our ability to generalize about soil C and N dynamics in subtropical cli-matic areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Amendments with Chemical Fertilizers Improve Soil Fertility and Microbial Biomass in Rice-Rice-Rice Triple Crops Cropping Systems

Anik¹,

Rahman²,

Rahman³

et al. 2017

OJSS

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Medium-term changes in the labile nutrient pool of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) resulting from organic manure application in rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based triple cropping systems have been poorly studied.Therefore, the effects of organic materials on the soil physico-chemical properties and microbial biomass in rice fields were investigated at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh, from April 2010 to December 2012. Five treatments (control, cow dung, poultry manure, rice straw, and chemical fertilizer) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The organic residues (2 t C ha −1 ) were applied 7 days before transplanting and were combined with inorganic fertilizers, following integrated plant nutrition systems. This paper presents the results from the last of the five consecutive rice growing seasons. All of the organic residues increased the pH, and organic C, N, P, and K contents of the soil. However, poultry manure was more efficient in increasing soil fertility than cow dung and rice straw, resulting in a significant increase in P from 22 mg·kg −1 to 63 mg·kg −1 at crop harvest. All of the organic residues also increased the soil water holding capacity and decreased bulk density. Furthermore, poultry manure resulted in significantly higher microbial biomass C (432 mg·kg −1 ; P < 0.05) and N (31.60 mg·kg −1 ; P < 0.05) levels in the soil at crop harvest, followed by cow dung and rice straw. These findings indicate that the regular application of organic residues and manures will help to enhance soil fertility and production sustainability.

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Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen as affected by cropping systems

Cited by 330 publications

References 44 publications

Grasslands and Croplands Have Different Microbial Biomass Carbon Levels per Unit of Soil Organic Carbon

Grasslands and Croplands Have Different Microbial Biomass Carbon Levels per Unit of Soil Organic Carbon

Application of Two Bioenergy Byproducts with Contrasting Carbon Availability to a Prairie Soil: Three-Year Crop Response and Changes in Soil Biological and Chemical Properties

Organic Amendments with Chemical Fertilizers Improve Soil Fertility and Microbial Biomass in Rice-Rice-Rice Triple Crops Cropping Systems

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