Soil mixing with organic matter amendment improves Albic soil physicochemical properties and crop yield in Heilongjiang province, China

Abstract

Crop productivity in Albic soil is poor, owing to poor soil physicochemical properties. Mixing of Aw layers, representing Albic soil, with B layers, could improve the physicochemical properties of Albic soil, which is characterized by poor humus on the topsoil and high penetration resistance. The objective of the present study conducted in 2015-2016 in an Albic soil region in Heilongjiang province, China, was to explore the effects of different soil mixing strategies on the physicochemical properties of Albic soil and crop yield. There were four soil mixing treatments: conventional subsoiler (CS), three-stage subsoil mixing plough (TSMP), four-stage subsoil mixing plough (FSMP), and three-stage subsoil interval mixing plough (TSIMP). Our results demonstrated that the Aw layer bulk density of Albic soil under TSMP, FSMP, and TSIMP decreased significantly compared to that under CS. In addition, the total porosity of the soil under these treatments increased significantly in 2 years. Compared to the water holding capacity under the CS treatment, other treatments increased significantly in the Aw layer. Furthermore, soil penetration resistance of the Aw layer decreased following Aw and B layer mixing. All three soil mixing treatments also increased soil aggregate stability and cation exchange capacity but reduced soil organic carbon content in the Aw layer. Soil mixing increased soybean and maize seed yield. Overall, Aw and B layer mixing improved Albic soil structure and physiochemical properties and increased crop yield; thus, this mixing is a feasible approach for Albic soil improvement, with optimal improvements observed under the FMSP strategy, which also added organic substances to the Aw layer.

Influence of prolonged agrogenic transformation on soil structure and physicochemical properties of Ukrainian Albic Stagnic Luvisols: a case study from western Ukraine

“…Researchers Meng et al (2020) have attempted to improve Albic soils and increase crop yields primarily by increasing the amount of organic matter in the A-horizon and deeper over the past thirty years. The study showed that mixing horizon A, representing Albic soil, with horizon B improved the physicochemical properties of Albic soil, which has a low humus content in the upper soil horizon and high infiltration resistance.…”

Long-Term Manure Amendment Sustains Black Soil Biodiversity by Mitigating Acidification Induced by Chemical N Fertilization

“…It has been demonstrated that pH strongly drives the community assembly, and that the keystone taxa appeared as Acidobacteria , Actinobacteria , and Nitrospira in the suspension of black soil. Meng et al [ 14 ] reported that an increase in soil organic matter can improve the soil physicochemical properties and crop yield in the black soil region of China. Therefore, we hypothesize that the organic fertilization could shift the keystone taxa, shift the microbial community assembly processes, and subsequently influence the crop yield in black soil regions.…”