Carbon and nitrogen contents of different-sized light fraction organic matter as influenced by tillage and residue management

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y K Soon ◽  
A Haq ◽  
M A Arshad

The light fraction (LF) has a variable elemental content because it comprises a pool of soil organic matter that is in transition between fresh residues and stable, humified organic matter. Our aim was to assess the influence of time, tillage (CT vs. NT) and straw management (removed or retained) practices on the C and N contents of two particle sizes of LF materials from a Gray Luvisol in Alberta. The LF C and N concentrations were not affected by tillage and straw treatments. The C concentration was higher in LF > 1 mm (coarse LF) than in the < 1 mm LF (fine LF), while the converse was observed for N concentration, resulting in C:N ratios of 45-59 in the coarse fraction and 18-19 for the finer materials. The C concentration of the fine LF decreased and the N concentration increased with time. After 4 yr, LF C and N stocks were higher under NT than under CT mainly because of faster decomposition of litter under CT. Retaining straw resulted in bigger increases in C and N stocks in the coarse LF compared with straw removal; with the fine LF, the C stock decreased more quickly and the N stock increased less rapidly with straw removal. Our results show that time strongly affected the LF C and N stocks and concentrations, and that separating the fraction by size can lead to a more meaningful interpretation of those data.Key words: Light fraction, carbon, nitrogen, tillage, crop residue, straw management

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y K Soon

An earlier study indicated that cereal straw may be removed after harvest without affecting crop production, soil organic matter and microbial biomass. Further measurements of early indicators of changes in soil organic matter, viz., the light fraction and mineralizable C and N, confirm that straw removal is superior to straw incorporation with moldboard ploughing, and comparable to straw incorporation by disking, in C and N retention and turnover. Key words: Carbon, light fraction, mineralization, nitrogen, straw management


Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina B. Brandani ◽  
Thalita F. Abbruzzini ◽  
Richard T. Conant ◽  
Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri

Brazilian sugar cane production has undergone changes in residue management. To better understand the dynamics of soil C and N in soil organic matter (SOM) fractions resulting from sugar cane management practices, we determined: the effects of different sugar cane management on the C and N content of SOM fractions; the effects of crop management, soil texture, depth and different organic matter additions on changes in 13C/12C and 15N/14N isotope composition; and the amount of SOC derived from different sources. Physical fractionation of SOM was performed for soils cultivated under four sugar cane managements, namely straw burning(SB), green cane (GC) and organic systems consisting of sugar cane grown under GC harvesting with high inputs of organic residues for 4 and 12 years (O-4 and O-12 respectively), as well as from a native vegetation (NV) area (Goianésia, Brazil). Ultrasonic dispersion of soil samples from 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 90–100-cm depths resulted in three organomineral fractions (<53, 75–53 and 2000–75µm) and one organic fraction denoted as light fraction (2000–75µm). C and N concentrations, 13C and 15N natural abundance and the proportion of C derived from C4 sugar cane plant residues (C-C4) were determined for each fraction. The C management index (CMI), derived from the total C pool and C lability, is useful in evaluating the capacity of management systems to improve soil quality and was calculated using the NV as the reference. Highest C and N concentrations were found for O-12 and O-4, mainly for the <53-µm organomineral fraction at 0–5cm depth. The 13C and C-C4 values indicated a greater accumulation of C-C4 in SOM fractions in organic compared with burned and unburned systems. GC combined with organic management is a strategy for long-term storage of total C and N in the SOM fraction associated with <53-µm fraction and light fraction. In addition, the highest CMI and its positive relationship with C-C4 in O-12 suggest the role of this system to foster soil quality improvement. The results allow infer regarding the potential of management practices on C accumulation in SOM fractions, which, in turn, can be used as indicators of the effects of land management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 341
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Santos Moreira ◽  
Marcio Koiti Chiba ◽  
Isabella Clerici De Maria ◽  
Caio César Zito Siqueira ◽  
Aildson Pereira Duarte ◽  
...  

Soil organic matter is considered a key attribute for a sustainable agricultural production and is influenced by the quantity and quality of the crop residue deposited on the soil surface. Therefore, different crop rotations could change the soil organic matter pools. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the soil carbon pools obtained by chemical and physical fractionation methods and the humification index under different crop rotations in a no-till system. We test the following hypothesis: a) the distribution of C and N among the soil organic matter fractions depends on plant species rotation schemes and; b) labile fractions are more sensitive to the input of crop residues and therefore, more suitable for evaluating the impact of different crop rotations in the soil organic matter quality. We evaluated four crop sequences (corn/corn/corn; corn/wheat/corn; soybean/wheat/corn and soybean/corn/corn) in a no-till system. A five-year reforested area was used as reference. We determined the total C and N contents, the mineral-associated C and N, the light fraction of C and N, the labile carbon extracted with KMnO4 and the soil organic matter humification index. We found narrow differences between the crop rotation systems in the total C and N levels, the mineral-associated C and N fractions and the labile C extracted with KMnO4. The diversification of the agricultural system with soybean in crop rotation favored the accumulation of light fraction C and N in the soil that were more efficient to provide information about the changes in the soil organic matter quality.


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Curtin ◽  
P. M. Fraser

In New Zealand, cereal straw has traditionally been burned to facilitate seedbed preparation for the succeeding crop. Because of concerns over the decline of organic matter and the associated deterioration in soil structure, farmers are interested in incorporating crop residues as a means of maintaining organic matter levels. In a 6-year trial on a Wakanui silt loam on the Canterbury Plains, we evaluated the effects of 3 straw management practices (i.e. straw incorporation, burning of straw, and straw removal) on total and labile soil organic matter. A fourth treatment was included to evaluate the local practice of including seed crops (grass and clover) in cereal rotations. The seed crops were grown every second year, the crop sequence being cereal–ryegrass–cereal–clover–cereal–clover. The rate of straw (wheat) decomposition was determined using a litter bag technique, with the bags being buried at a depth of 15 cm for intervals of up to 19 months. In the straw-incorporated treatment, about 25 t/ha of straw (~11 t C/ha) was returned to the soil during the trial. However, there was no significant effect (P > 0.05) of straw management treatments on total soil C (or N), or on labile organic matter pools, although there was a tendency for higher levels of mineralisable C and N where straw was incorporated. Measured straw decomposition rates were consistent with predictions of the Douglas-Rickman residue decomposition model. Under the relatively warm conditions of the Canterbury Plains (thermal time typically >4000 degree-days per year, calculated as the sum of daily degree-days above a base temperature of 0�C), about three-quarters of incorporated straw decomposed within a year. Of the 11 t C/ha of straw-C incorporated, we estimated that only about 1 t C/ha would remain in the soil at the time of sampling. An increase in soil C by this amount would not be detectable (total soil C was about 55 t/ha in the upper 15 cm). Growing seed crops every second year increased several of the labile organic pools (mineralisable C and N, light fraction C and N, microbial biomass) in the 0–7.5 and 7.5 cm soil layers and this may have beneficial effects (e.g. improved N supply) on the succeeding cereal crop. However, the seed crops did not significantly increase total soil organic matter within the 6 years.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
黄桥明,吕茂奎,聂阳意,任寅榜,熊小玲,谢锦升 HUANG Qiaoming

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Plante ◽  
C. E. Stewart ◽  
R. T. Conant ◽  
K. Paustian ◽  
J. Six

Agricultural management affects soil organic matter, which is important for sustainable crop production and as a greenhouse gas sink. Our objective was to determine how tillage, residue management and N fertilization affect organic C in unprotected, and physically, chemically and biochemically protected soil C pools. Samples from Breton, Alberta were fractionated and analysed for organic C content. As in previous reports, N fertilization had a positive effect, tillage had a minimal effect, and straw management had no effect on whole-soil organic C. Tillage and straw management did not alter organic C concentrations in the isolated C pools, while N fertilization increased C concentrations in all pools. Compared with a woodlot soil, the cultivated plots had lower total organic C, and the C was redistributed among isolated pools. The free light fraction and coarse particulate organic matter responded positively to C inputs, suggesting that much of the accumulated organic C occurred in an unprotected pool. The easily dispersed silt-sized fraction was the mineral-associated pool most responsive to changes in C inputs, whereas the microaggregate-derived silt-sized fraction best preserved C upon cultivation. These findings suggest that the silt-sized fraction is important for the long-term stabilization of organic matter through both physical occlusion in microaggregates and chemical protection by mineral association. Key words: Soil organic C, tillage, residue management, N fertilization, silt, clay


Soil Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Conrad ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
D. E. Allen ◽  
R. Fujinuma ◽  
Neal W. Menzies

Quantifying the size and turnover of physically uncomplexed soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for the understanding of nutrient cycling and storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the C and nitrogen (N) dynamics of SOM fractions in leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala)–grass pastures remains unclear. We assessed the potential of leucaena to sequester labile, free light fraction (fLF) C and N in soil by estimating the origin, quantity and vertical distribution of physically unprotected SOM. The soil from a chronosequence of seasonally grazed leucaena stands (0–40 years) was sampled to a depth of 0.2m and soil and fLF were analysed for organic C, N and δ13C and δ15N. On average, the fLF formed 20% of SOC and 14% of total N stocks in the upper 0.1m of soil from leucaena rows and showed a peak of fLF-C and fLF-N stocks in the 22-year-stand. The fLF δ13C and fLF δ15N values indicated that leucaena produced 37% of fLF-C and 28% of fLF-N in the upper 0.1m of soil from leucaena rows. Irrespective of pasture type or soil depth, the majority of fLF-C originated from the accompanying C4 pasture-grass species. This study suggests that fLF-C and fLF-N, the labile SOM, can form a significant portion of total SOM, especially in leucaena–grass pastures.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengrui Wang ◽  
Wenli Yi ◽  
Suwen Yang ◽  
Xiangcan Jin ◽  
Guodong Wang ◽  
...  

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