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Chang F, Zhang H, Song J, Yu R, Zhang X, Li H, Wang J, Kan Z, Li Y. Once-middle amount of straw interlayer enhances saline soil quality and sunflower yield in semi-arid regions of China: Evidence from a four-year experiment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 344:118530. [PMID: 37480635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Straw deep returning as an interlayer is a novel practice to enhance soil carbon and nutrients. However, the impact of applying various amounts of straw as an interlayer on soil quality still remain unclear in the saline soil. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out over four years (2015-2018) in Hetao Irrigation District, China. The aim was to evaluate the impact of four straw interlayer rates (i.e., 0, 6, 12, and 18 Mg ha-1) applied at 40 cm depth on soil quality index (SQI) and its relationship to sunflower yield in saline soil. Our results showed that, in comparison to no straw interlayer (CK), straw interlayers applied at rates of 6, 12, and 18 Mg ha-1 improved SQI on average by 2.0, 2.7, and 3.0 times in four years, respectively (p < 0.05). This suggested that straw deep returning as an interlayer improved SQI, especially for middle and high amounts (12 and 18 Mg ha-1). Partial least squares path model (PLSPM) illustrated that the improvement of SQI was due to the high-moisture and low-salt environment created by straw interlayer in the early two years (2015-2016), while the higher soil nutrients released from straw decomposition in the subsequent years (2017-2018). The improvement of SQI contributed to sunflower yield, which was related to the decrease of soil salinity, the increase of soil moisture, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and available nutrients under straw interlayers. The sunflower yield was increased by 8.7-13.4% under straw interlayers (p < 0.05), following the order of 18 = 12 > 6 >0 Mg ha-1. The greater increment of yield was detected during the initial phase of burying straw interlayers, which indicated that straw as an interlayer played a more important role than nutrient supply from straw decomposition. The findings highlighted that appropriate straw return amount (i.e., 12 Mg ha-1) as an interlayer is an economic practice to benefit soil quality and crop yield synchronously in salt-affected soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangdi Chang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Hongyuan Zhang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Jiashen Song
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Ru Yu
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Haoruo Li
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Zhengrong Kan
- College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Yuyi Li
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
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Duanyuan H, Zhou T, He Z, Peng Y, Lei J, Dong J, Wu X, Wang J, Yan W. Effects of Straw Mulching on Soil Properties and Enzyme Activities of Camellia oleifera- Cassia Intercropping Agroforestry Systems. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3046. [PMID: 37687293 PMCID: PMC10490048 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
In order to explore the influences of rice straw mulching on soil fertility in agroforestry systems, the soil C and N contents and enzyme activities were investigated in a C. oleifera-cassia intercropping ecosystem in Central Southern China. Three straw mulching application treatments were set up in this study, in 2021, namely, straw powder mulching (SPM), straw segment mulching (SSM), and non-straw mulching as the control (CK). Soil samples were collected from three soil depths (0-10 cm,10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm) in each treatment on the 90th-day after the treatments. The soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), microbial carbon (MBC), soil enzyme activities (including acid phosphatase (ACP), urease (UE), cellulase (CL), and peroxidase (POD)), and soil water content (SWC) were determined. The results showed that the SOC significantly increased due to the mulching application in SPM and SSM, in the topsoil of 0-10 cm when compared to the CK. The SWC, SOC, TN, and MBC increased by 0.8 and 56.5, 3.5 and 37.5, 21.3 and 61.6, and 5.8% and 76.8% in the SPM and SSM treatments compared to the CK, respectively. The soil enzyme activities of ACP, UE, CE, and POD increased significantly due to straw mulching compared with CK throughout all soil layers. The soil enzyme activities of CL and POD were significantly higher in SSM than in SPM across the soil depth except for ACP. The enzyme activities of ACP were 14,190, 12,732, and 6490 U/g in SSM, SPM, and control, respectively. This indicated that mulching application enhanced the enzyme activity of ACP. Mulching had no significant effects on UE and CL, while the POD decreased significantly in the order of SPM > SSM > CK across all soil layers, being, on average, 6.64% and 3.14% higher in SSM and SPM, respectively, compared to the CK plots. The SOC and MBC were the key nutrient factors affecting the soil enzyme activities at the study site. The results from this study provided Important scientific insights for improving soil physicochemical properties during the management of the C. oleifera intercropping system and for the development of the C. oleifera industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhen Duanyuan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
| | - Ting Zhou
- China International Engineering Consulting Corporation, Ecological Technical Research Institute, Beijing 100085, China;
| | - Zhe He
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
| | - Yuanying Peng
- College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 60446, USA;
| | - Junjie Lei
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
| | - Jieyu Dong
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Xiaohong Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
| | - Jun Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
| | - Wende Yan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology in Forestry and Ecology in South China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (H.D.); (Z.H.); (J.D.); (X.W.)
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Li J, Otero-Gonzalez L, Lens PNL, Ferrer I, Du Laing G. Assessment of selenium and zinc enriched sludge and duckweed as slow-release micronutrient biofertilizers for Phaseolus vulgaris growth. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 324:116397. [PMID: 36208519 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients that are often lacking in the diet of humans and animals. Application of mineral Se and Zn fertilizers into soils may lead to a waste of Se and Zn due to the fast leaching and low utilization by plants. Slow-release Se and Zn biofertilizer may therefore be beneficial. This study aims to assess the potential of SeZn-enriched duckweed and sludge produced from wastewater as slow-release Se and Zn biofertilizers. Pot experiments with green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and sampling of Rhizon soil pore water were conducted to evaluate the bioavailability of Se and Zn in sandy and loamy soils mixed with SeZn-enriched duckweed and sludge. Both the Se and Zn concentrations in the soil pore water increased upon amending the two biomaterials. The concentration of Se released from SeZn-enriched duckweed rapidly decreased in the first 21 days and slowly declined afterwards, while it remained stable during the entire experiment upon application of SeZn-enriched sludge. The Zn content in the soil pore water gradually increased over time. The application of SeZn-enriched duckweed and sludge significantly increased the Se concentrations in plant tissues, in particular in the form of organic Se-methionine in seeds, without a negative impact on plant growth when an appropriate dose was applied (1 mg Se/kg soil). While, it did not increase Zn concentrations in plant seeds. The results indicate that the SeZn-enriched duckweed and sludge could be only used as organic Se biofertilizers for Se-deficient soils. Particularly, the SeZn-enriched sludge dominated with elemental nano-Se was an effective Se source and slow-release Se biofertilizer. These results could offer a theoretical reference to choose an alternative to chemical Se fertilizers for biofortification, avoiding the problem of Se losses by leaching from mineral Se fertilizers while recovering resources from wastewater. This could contribute to the driver for a future circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium; GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034, Barcelona, Spain; Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China.
| | - Lila Otero-Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piet N L Lens
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, 2601, DA, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Ivet Ferrer
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gijs Du Laing
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Chen L, Sun S, Yao B, Peng Y, Gao C, Qin T, Zhou Y, Sun C, Quan W. Effects of straw return and straw biochar on soil properties and crop growth: A review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:986763. [PMID: 36237511 PMCID: PMC9552067 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.986763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Straw return is an effective method for disposing agricultural residues. It not only utilizes agricultural waste but also improves soil. In the current review, different crop straw and its characteristics were highlighted, and patterns of straw return were explored (including straw return, straw biochar return, and their combined with fertilizer return), as well as their environmental impacts were outlined. In addition, the effects of straw return and straw biochar amendment on soil properties [e.g., pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrogen (N)/phosphorus (P)/potassium (K), soil enzyme activities, and soil microbes] were discussed. Information collected from this review proposed that straw return and straw biochar return or in combination with fertilizer is an applicable way for improving soil fertility and enhancing crop production. Straw return is beneficial to soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial features. The rice straw has positive impacts on crop growth. However, there are different climate types, soil types and crops in China, meaning that the future research need long-term experiment to assess the complex interactions among straw, soil, and plant eco-systems. Accordingly, this review aims to provide available information on the application of straw return in terms of different patterns of its to justify and to expand their effective promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limei Chen
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Songlin Sun
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Yao
- School of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Yao, ; Chaoran Sun,
| | - Yutao Peng
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chongfeng Gao
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Tian Qin
- School of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaoyu Zhou
- School of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Chaoran Sun
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Yao, ; Chaoran Sun,
| | - Wei Quan
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
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