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Li Q, Li L, Du H, Lin X, Hu W, Li Y. Soil conditioners promote the formation of Fe-bound organic carbon and its stability. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 349:119480. [PMID: 37918239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The close association of soil organic carbon (SOC) with Fe oxides is an important stabilization mechanism for soil organic matter (SOM) against biodegradation. Soil conditioners are of great importance in improving soil quality and soil health. Yet it remains unclear how different conditioners would affect the fractionation of SOC, particularly the Fe-bound organic carbon (Fe-OC). Field-based experiments were conducted in farmland to explore the fractionation of organic carbon (OC) and Fe oxides under the effects of three different soil conditioners (mineral, organic, and microbial conditioners). The results showed that all soil conditioners increased the total OC and Fe-OC contents, with the contribution of Fe-OC to total OC increasing from 1.57% to 2.99%. The low OC/Fe molar ratio indicated that surface adsorption played a crucial role in soil Fe-OC accumulation. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results suggested that soil conditioner altered the composition of SOM, accelerating O-alkyl C degradation and increasing recalcitrant alkyl C and aromatic C sequestration. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis indicated that all conditioners promoted the association of OC and Fe oxides. Furthermore, comprehensive analysis of 13C isotope and synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the mineral conditioner enhanced the association of microbial-derived OC and Fe oxides, whereas the organic conditioner increased the association of plant-derived OC with Fe oxides. These findings provide important insights into the potential mechanisms through which soil conditioners regulate the stability of OC and guide agricultural management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer in South Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Farmland Conservation, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Linfeng Li
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer in South Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Farmland Conservation, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Huihui Du
- College of Environment & Ecology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410127, China
| | - Xiaoyang Lin
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer in South Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Farmland Conservation, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Weifang Hu
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer in South Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Farmland Conservation, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yichun Li
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer in South Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Farmland Conservation, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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Shen F, Zhu C, Jiang G, Yang J, Zhu X, Wang S, Wang R, Liu F, Jie X, Liu S. Differentiation in Nitrogen Transformations and Crop Yield as Affected by Tillage Modes in a Fluvo-Aquic Soil. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:783. [PMID: 36840136 PMCID: PMC9965261 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen is a vital element for soil fertility and crop productivity. The transformation of nitrogen is directly affected by tillage practices for the disturbing soil. The characteristics of different nitrogen forms under different tillage modes are still unclear. A 3-year cycle tillage experiment was carried out to assess the combination of rotary tillage (RT), deep tillage (DT), and shallow rotary tillage (SRT) on nitrogen transformation and distribution, wheat yield and nitrogen balance in fluvo-aquic soil from Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China. The results showed the rotation tillage cycle with deep tillage in the first year increased the total nitrogen (TN), and the main nitrogen form content in 0-30 cm compared with continued rotary tillage (RT-RT-RT). Moreover, the nitrate (NO3--N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) content were improved in 20-40 cm by deep tillage practice with the highest value as 39.88 mg kg-1 under DT-SRT-RT. The time, tillage, and depth significantly affected the different nitrogen forms, but there was no effect on dissolved organic carbon (DON) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) by the interaction of time and tillage. Moreover, compared with RT-RT-RT, the rotation tillage promoted the spike number and kernels per spike of wheat, further increasing the wheat yield and nitrogen partial productivity, and with a better effect under DT-SRT-RT. The NO3--N and NH4+-N trended closer and positively correlated with wheat yield in 0-40 cm in 2019. The rotation tillage with deep tillage improved the different forms of nitrogen in 0-30 cm, wheat yield, and nitrogen partial productivity, and decreased the apparent nitrogen loss. It was suggested as the efficiency tillage practice to improve nitrogen use efficiency and crop yield in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Guiying Jiang
- Correspondence: (G.J.); (S.L.); Tel.: +86-0371-68555200 (G.J.); +86-0371-68555200 (S.L.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shiliang Liu
- Correspondence: (G.J.); (S.L.); Tel.: +86-0371-68555200 (G.J.); +86-0371-68555200 (S.L.)
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Kan ZR, Liu WX, Liu WS, Lal R, Dang YP, Zhao X, Zhang HL. Mechanisms of soil organic carbon stability and its response to no-till: A global synthesis and perspective. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:693-710. [PMID: 34726342 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization have been widely studied due to their relevance in the global carbon cycle. No-till (NT) has been frequently adopted to sequester SOC; however, limited information is available regarding whether sequestered SOC will be stabilized for long term. Thus, we reviewed the mechanisms affecting SOC stability in NT systems, including the priming effects (PE), molecular structure of SOC, aggregate protection, association with soil minerals, microbial properties, and environmental effects. Although a more steady-state molecular structure of SOC is observed in NT compared with conventional tillage (CT), SOC stability may depend more on physical and chemical protection. On average, NT improves macro-aggregation by 32.7%, and lowers SOC mineralization in macro-aggregates compared with CT. Chemical protection is also important due to the direct adsorption of organic molecules and the enhancement of aggregation by soil minerals. Higher microbial activity in NT could also produce binding agents to promote aggregation and the formation of metal-oxidant organic complexes. Thus, microbial residues could be stabilized in soils over the long term through their attachment to mineral surfaces and entrapment of aggregates under NT. On average, NT reduces SOC mineralization by 18.8% and PE intensities after fresh carbon inputs by 21.0% compared with CT (p < .05). Although higher temperature sensitivity (Q10 ) is observed in NT due to greater Q10 in macro-aggregates, an increase of soil moisture regime in NT could potentially constrain the improvement of Q10 . This review improves process-based understanding of the physical and chemical mechanism of protection that can act, independently or interactively, to enhance SOC preservation. It is concluded that SOC sequestered in NT systems is likely to be stabilized over the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Rong Kan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Xuan Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Sheng Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Rattan Lal
- CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yash Pal Dang
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xin Zhao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Lin Zhang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
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Effect of Zero and Minimum Tillage on Cotton Productivity and Soil Characteristics under Different Nitrogen Application Rates. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132413753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Long-term conservation tillage and straw incorporation are reported to improve the soil health, growth, and yield traits of crops; however, little is known regarding the optimal nitrogen (N) supply under conservation tillage with straw incorporation. The present study evaluated the effects of conservation tillage practices (ZTsas: zero tillage plus wheat straw on the soil surface as such, and MTsi: minimum tillage plus wheat straw incorporated) and different N application rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha−1) on the yield and quality traits of cotton and soil characteristics in a five-year field experiment. The results showed that ZTsas produced a higher number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, 100-seed weight, ginning out-turn (GOT), fiber length, and strength than MTsi. Among different N application rates, the maximum number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, GOT, 100-seed weight, fiber length, strength, and micronaire were recorded at 150 kg N ha−1. Averaged over the years, tillage × N revealed that ZTsas had a higher boll number plant−1, boll weight, 100-seed weight, GOT, fiber length, and strength with N application at 150 kg ha−1, as compared to other tillage systems. Based on the statistical results, there is no significant difference in total soil N and soil organic matter among different N rates. Further, compared to MTsi, ZTsas recorded higher soil organic matter (SOM, 8%), total soil N (TSN, 29%), water-stable aggregates (WSA, 8%), and mean weight diameter (MWD, 28.5%), particularly when the N application of 150 kg ha−1. The fiber fineness showed that ZTsas had no adverse impact on fiber fineness compared with MTsi. These results indicate that ZTsas with 150 kg N ha−1 may be the optimum and most sustainable approach to improve cotton yield and soil quality in the wheat–cotton system.
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Audette Y, Congreves KA, Schneider K, Zaro GC, Nunes ALP, Zhang H, Voroney RP. The effect of agroecosystem management on the distribution of C functional groups in soil organic matter: A review. BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS 2021; 57:881-894. [PMID: 34759437 PMCID: PMC8570350 DOI: 10.1007/s00374-021-01580-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED To improve soil health and to aid in climate change mitigation, the quantity of soil organic matter (SOM) should be maintained or increased over the long run. In doing so, not only the total quantity of SOC but also the stability of SOC must be considered. Stability of SOC increases as a function of resistance to microbial decomposition or microbial substrate use efficiency through chemical, biological, and physical mechanisms including humification, hydrophobic moieties, molecular diversity, and formation of macroaggregates. One of the mechanisms that enhance stability confers changes in the distribution of C functional groups of SOM. To better understand and quantify how these changes are influenced by agricultural management practices, we collected 670 pairwise data from the body of literature that has evaluated changes in the distribution of C functional groups of SOM measured by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. The types of agricultural managements discussed herein include (1) fertilization, (2) tillage, (3) crop rotation, (4) grazing, and (5) liming practices. Our meta-analyses show that these practices modify the distribution of C functional groups of SOM. Fertilization practices were associated with increased O-alkyl groups. Tillage resulted in increases in the SOC consisted of aromatic and carbonyl groups. Crop rotations, especially legume-based rotations, were found to increase the proportion of aromatic groups. Although there are fewer publications on tillage and crop rotation than on fertilization practices, the distribution of C functional groups may be more influenced by crop rotation and tillage practices than fertilization management-and should be a focus of future research. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00374-021-01580-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Audette
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Katelyn A. Congreves
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8 Canada
| | - Kimberley Schneider
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Geovanna C. Zaro
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Amanda L. P. Nunes
- Department of Agronomy, University Pitagoras Unopar, Arapongas, PR Brazil
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1 Canada
| | - R. Paul Voroney
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
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