Effect of crop rotations on microbial biomass, specific respiratory activity and mineralizable nitrogen in a Black Chernozemic soil

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
V. O. Biederbeck ◽  
A. P. Moulin ◽  
K. E. Bowren ◽  
L. Townley-Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
N Mineralization ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Biochemical Characteristics ◽  
Chernozemic Soil ◽  
Long Term Treatment

The effects of crop rotations, fertilization, cropping frequency, green manuring, and inclusion of grass-legume hay crops in predominantly spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotations, on some biochemical characteristics of a fine-textured Orthic Black Chernozemic soil were determined at Melfort, Saskatchewan. Thirty-one years after establishment of this experiment, soil samples were taken from the upper 7.5 and the 7.5- to 15-cm layers in mid-September, 2 wk after cereal harvest and 2 mo after hay harvest and plow-down. Results showed that fertilizer had no effect on the total amount of CO2-C respired, microbial biomass C (BC), and the specific respiratory activity (ratio of CO2-C/BC), but it decreased microbial biomass N (BN), widened BC/BN ratio, and increased the initial potential rate of N mineralization (Nok). The BN was inversely related to straw yields of the most recent crop grown on these plots. When a legume-grass hay crop was underseeded into wheat grown on stubble in a 6-yr rotation, the young growing forage crop decreased BC but increased CO2-C, BN and CO2-C/BC. Reducing fallow frequency in monoculture wheat systems increased CO2-C/BC and Nok. Sweet clover [Melilotus officinalis (L.)] green manure did not increase yields of the subsequent wheat crop, consequently, this treatment did not influence soil biochemical characteristics. The BC appeared to be less sensitive to crop management effects than BN or CO2-C/BC. The BC/BN ratio was wider for systems that received more fertilizer, those that were being fallowed and for the lower soil depths, indicating a possible change in microbial ecology in these situations. This aspect may require further research. In contrast to our earlier conclusions for this fertile Black Chernozemic soil, our results indicate that there are several soil biochemical characteristics that allow identification of short- and long-term treatment effects on soil organic matter. Key words: N mineralization, microbial biomass, C respiration, legumes, fertilization

Effect of crop rotations and rotation phase on characteristics of soil organic matter in a Dark Brown Chernozemic soil

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
V. O. Biederbeck ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
S. A. Brandt ◽  
M. Schnitzer
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Carbon Mineralization ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Rotation Phase

The influence of five crop rotations and the rotation phases (i.e., rotation-yr) on some soil organic matter characteristics was investigated in a long-term (23 yr) study carried out on an Orthic Dark Brown Chernozemic soil at Scott, Saskatchewan. The cropping systems included different cropping frequencies and crop types (cereals, oilseeds, and legume-hay). Soil samples were taken from the 0- to 7.5- and 7.5- to 15-cm depths in mid-September 1988, 2 wk after harvest of the grain crops (i.e., 2 mo after hay harvest and plowdown). Most effects of rotations, and rotation phases, on soil biological characteristics assessed, were significant primarily in the top 7.5-cm soil depth. Increasing the cropping frequency did not increase soil organic matter. Excessive preseeding tillage of stubble plots may have masked any potential advantage provided by frequent cropping. Including alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay crops in rotation with grain crops decreased soil organic matter in the fallow and grain crop rotation phases of rotations. This was likely due to increased moisture stress depressing associated cereal production in this semiarid environment. As expected, rotation phase did not influence soil organic C, but alfalfa under-seeded into barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) increased soil organic nitrogen. We believe this was due to crop residue inputs from the seedling alfalfa. Microbial biomass C and N, C mineralization, the specific respiratory activity (ratio of CO2-C respired/microbial biomass C) and hydrolyzable amino acids were also greater in the rotation phases in which barley was underseeded with alfalfa. Carbon mineralization and specific respiratory activity were directly related to estimated crop residue-C returned to soil, but not residue-N. However, both were increased by including alfalfa in the rotation. Carbon mineralization and specific respiratory activity were more sensitive indexes of soil organic matter quality than biomass C and N per se. Hydrolyzable amino acids and amino sugars responded to the treatments in a manner similar to total soil organic N. Relative molar distribution of amino acids was unaffected by crop rotation or rotation phase. Potentially mineralizable N in this soil was low compared to other Canadian prairie soils, even though the total soil organic N of the Scott soil was relatively high. We concluded that (i) all soil biochemical characteristics studied are useful for assessing soil quality changes; (ii) when studying soil changes, thin (0- to 7.5-cm) soil slices are more likely to reveal treatment effects than thicker slices; (iii) all rotation phases should be analyzed whenever forage legumes are constituents of crop rotations. Key words: C mineralization; microbial biomass, amino acids, N mineralization, specific respiratory activity

Effect of crop rotations and cultural practices on soil organic matter, microbial biomass and respiration in a thin Black Chernozem

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
V. O. Biederbeck ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
G. P. Lafond
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C And N

The effects of crop rotations and various cultural practices on soil organic matter quantity and quality in a Rego, Black Chernozem with a thin A horizon were determined in a long-term study at Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Variables examined included: fertilization, cropping frequency, green manuring, and inclusion of grass-legume hay crop in predominantly spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production systems. Generally, fertilizer increased soil organic C and microbial biomass in continuous wheat cropping but not in fallow-wheat or fallow-wheat-wheat rotations. Soil organic C, C mineralization (respiration) and microbial biomass C and N increased (especially in the 7.5- to 15-cm depth) with increasing frequency of cropping and with the inclusion of legumes as green manure or hay crop in the rotation. The influence of treatments on soil microbial biomass C (BC) was less pronounced than on microbial biomass N. Carbon mineralization was a good index for delineating treatment effects. Analysis of the microbial biomass C/N ratio indicated that the microbial suite may have been modified by the treatments that increased soil organic matter significantly. The treatments had no effect on specific respiratory activity (CO2-C/BC). However, it appeared that the microbial activity, in terms of respiration, was greater for systems with smaller microbial biomass. Changes in amount and quality of the soil organic matter were associated with estimated amount and C and N content of plant residues returned to the soil. Key words: Specific respiratory activity, crop residues, soil quality, crop rotations

Tillage and fallow frequency effects on selected soil quality attributes in a coarse-textured Brown Chernozem

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
V. O. Biederbeck ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
S. Tessier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Quality Attributes ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Frequency Effects

An 11-yr study was conducted on a coarse-textured Brown Chernozemic soil in the semiarid prairie of southwestern Saskatchewan. Soil was sampled after 3, 7 and 11 yr, and the results were used to assess the influence of fallow frequency and tillage on selected soil quality attributes [e.g., total soil organic C and N, microbial biomass C (MB-C) and microbial biomass N (MB-N), C mineralization (Cmin) and N mineralization (Nmin), and specific respiratory activity (SRA)] in the 0- to 7.5-cm and 7.5- to 15-cm depths. Although it took 11 yr before we observed significant treatment effects on total organic C or N, effects on Cmin and Nmin were observed in 7 yr in the 0- to 7.5-cm depth and by 11 yr, MB and SRA also showed significant treatment effects in this depth. Generally, soil quality attributes were greater in no-tillage (NT) systems than in conventional mechanical tillage (CT) or minimum tillage (MT), and greater in continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Cont W) than in fallow-wheat (F-W) systems. With time, the labile constituents tended to increase under the Cont W cropping, but to decrease when F-W was coupled with MT. After 11 yr there was a strong, direct association between the labile attributes (viz., Cmin, Nmin and MB-C) in the 0- to 7.5-cm depth and the mean annual straw produced (kg ha−1yr−1) in the four cropping systems tested. Of the soil quality attributes tested, Cmin and Nmin were the most sensitive indices to tillage and fallow frequency effects. Key words: Mineralizable C, mineralizable N, microbial biomass, specific respiratory activity, crop residues

scholarly journals Nitrogen Immobilisation and Microbial Biomass Build-Up Induced by Miscanthus x giganteus L. Based Fertilisers

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1386
Author(s):  
Michael Stotter ◽  
Florian Wichern ◽  
Ralf Pude ◽  
Martin Hamer
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Miscanthus X Giganteus ◽  
Organic Fertilisers ◽  
Biomass N ◽  
Set Up

Cultivation of Miscanthus x giganteus L. (Mis) with annual harvest of biomass could provide an additional C source for farmers. To test the potential of Mis-C for immobilizing inorganic N from slurry or manure and as a C source for soil organic matter build-up in comparison to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw (WS), a greenhouse experiment was performed. Pot experiments with ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were set up to investigate the N dynamics of two organic fertilisers based on Mis at Campus Klein-Altendorf, Germany. The two fertilisers, a mixture of cattle slurry and Mis as well as cattle manure from Mis-bedding material resulted in a slightly higher N immobilisation. Especially at the 1st and 2nd harvest, they were partly significantly different compared with the WS treatments. The fertilisers based on Mis resulted in a slightly higher microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N and thus can be identified as an additional C source to prevent nitrogen losses and for the build-up of soil organic matter (SOM) in the long-term.

Short‐term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer applications on soil microbial properties

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-207
Author(s):  
N. Ewusi‐Mensah ◽  
V. Logah ◽  
J. O. Fening
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Biomass N

This paper reports the short Ã¢â‚¬Â term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizerapplications on the culturable resident bacterial and fungal properties of aFerric Acrisol in the semi Ã¢â‚¬Âdeciduous forest zone of Ghana after three continuouscropping seasons. The treatments were two compost types (i.e. 1:1compost comprising 1 part made up of Chromolaena, Stylosanthes, maizestover mixture and 1 part of cattle manure, 2:1 compost comprising 2 partsof Chromolaena, Stylosanthes, maize stover mixture and 1 part of cattle manure),cowdung, 100% NPK and a control replicated three times in a randomizedcomplete block design. The results showed that total microbial load on alogarithmic scale ranged from 4.6 cfu/g in the control to 5.4 on cowdungtreated plots. Bacterial counts on 2:1 compost applied at 5 t/ha treatedplots recorded 5% more bacteria than the 1:1 compost applied at 5 t/ha.Fungal counts in the control and inorganic treated plots were higher than theorganically amended plots. The highest and lowest microbial biomass C contentswere recorded on cowdung and 1:1 compost at 5 t/ha treated plotsrespectively. Microbial biomass N content ranged from 1.4 Ã¢â‚¬Â 8.2 mg N kg‐1soil with a mean value of 6.2 mg N kg Ã¢â‚¬Â1 soil. Microbial biomass P contentranged from 3.6 Ã¢â‚¬Â 6.3 mg P kg‐1 soil with a mean value of 5 mg P kg‐1 soil.Microbial biomass carbon to organic carbon ratio varied from 18.37 to 85.63.

scholarly journals Effects of liming on the microbial biomass and its activities in soils long-term contaminated by toxic elements

2011 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Mühlbachová ◽  
P. Tlustoš
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Lead Smelter ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Hydrogen Carbonates

The effects of liming by CaO and CaCO<sub>3</sub> on soil microbial characteristics were studied during laboratory incubation of long-term contaminated arable and grassland soils from the vicinity of lead smelter near Př&iacute;bram (Czech Republic). The CaO treatment showed significant negative effects on soil microbial biomass C and its respiratory activity in both studied soils, despite the fact that microbial biomass C in the grassland soil increased sharply during the first day of incubation. The metabolic quotient (qCO<sub>2</sub>) in soils amended by CaO showed greater values than the control from the second day of incubation, indicating a possible stress of soil microbial pool. The vulnerability of organic matter to CaO could be indicated by the availability of K<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>-extractable carbon that increased sharply, particularly at the beginning of the experiment. The amendment of soils by CaCO<sub>3 </sub>moderately increased the soil microbial biomass. The respiratory activity and qCO<sub>2</sub> increased sharply during the first day of incubation, however it is not possible to ascribe them only to microbial activities, but also to CaCO<sub>3</sub> decomposition in hydrogen carbonates, water and CO<sub>2</sub>. The pH values increased more sharply under CaO treatment in comparison to CaCO<sub>3</sub> treatment. The improvement of soil pH by CaCO<sub>3</sub> could be therefore more convenient for soil microbial communities.

Productivity, economics and soil fertility of soybean - safflower croppingsystem in response to nutrient management practices

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Padmavathi ◽  
I. Y.L.N Murthy ◽  
M. Suresh
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Mineral N

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nutrient management practices on the performance of soybean - safflower sequence in Vertisols. The safflower equivalent yield (2418 kg/ha-1); gross returns (Rs. 53196/ha-1); net returns (Rs 33734/ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.8) were significantly superior either with the application of NPK to the system + 5 t FYM/ha to safflower; or NPK to the system + soybean residues to safflower; or NPK to the system + both crop residues. Similar trend was also observed with respect to soil health indicators viz., soil respiration (108 mg C/g soil/10 days), microbial biomass C (284 mg C/g soil), microbial biomass N (41.9 mg N/g soil), mineral N (13.8 mg N/g soil) and net N mineralization (5.4 mg N/g soil/ 10 days). Significant improvement was observed in terms of PGPR and Trichoderma sp were found when NPK + crop residues were applied to the system.

scholarly journals A comparative account of the microbial biomass-N and N-mineralization of soils under natural forest, grassland and crop field from dry tropical region, India

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Singh Jay ◽  
D.P. Singh ◽  
A.K. Kashyap
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
N Mineralization ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Biomass N

This study investigated microbial biomass-N (MB-N) and N-mineralization in soils of four different vegetation systems including forest (sal), mixed forest, savanna and cropland ecosystems in the Vindhyan region, India. A change was noted in the above region due to physiographic differences and anthropogenic disturbances. Annually the soil moisture (SM) content across the different study sites ranged from 7.5 to 24.3% being maximum in forest sites compared to savanna and cropland sites. The NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N, NO <sup>-</sup><sub>3</sub> -N and MB-N concentrations varied from 4.3 to 10.2 &mu;g/g, 1.1 to 5.8 &mu;g/g and 21.3 to 90.2 &mu;g/g dry soil, respectively, with minimum values in the wet and maximum values in the dry season. The trend of seasonal variation in net N-mineralization was similar to that of moisture content but counter to the concentrations of inorganic-N and MB-N. The net N-mineralization rates at different investigated sites ranged from 4.5 to 37.6 &mu;g/g month. Cultivation reduced the N-mineralization and MB-N by 58.5% and 63.5%, respectively. Experiments showed that the percentage contribution of MB-N to total-N was 8.01 to 19.15%. MB-N was positively correlated with the inorganic-N (<i>n</i> = 180,<i>r</i>.80,<i>P</I> < 0.001) but negatively with soil moisture (<i>n</i> = 180, <i>r</i> = 0.79, <i>P</I> < 0.001) and net N-mineralization rates (<i>n</i> = 180, <i>r</i> = 0.92, <i>P</I> < 0.0001). The higher N-mineralization and MB-N in the soil of forest ecosystem was reported compared to savanna and cropland and the order of soil MB-N levels and net N-mineralization followed the sequence: forest (sal) > mixed forest > savanna > cropland.

scholarly journals Repeated short-term organic amendments effects on physical and biological properties of a San Antón soil

1969 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-140
Author(s):  
Ian C. Pagán-Roig ◽  
Joaquín A. Chong ◽  
José A. Dumas ◽  
Consuelo Estévez de Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Humic Acid ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Biomass N

The objective of this work was to measure the effects of repeated short-term organic amendments that we termed soil treatment management cycles (STMC) on physical and biological properties of a San Antón series soil. Each STMC lasted 60 days and consisted of incorporating 5% organic matter from coffee pulp compost; the planting, growth and incorporation of an intercrop of four green manure species; and the application of mycorrhizae and compost tea. The treatments were labeled: CL0, CL1, CL2 and CL3; where CL0 was the control, CL1 received one STMC, CL2 and CL3 received two and three STMC, respectively. The STMC intended to mimic the overall effect of a sustainable agricultural system, not to measure the individual effects of the practices. All treatments (CL1, CL2, CL3) showed an increase in soil organic matter (p≤0.05). When compared to the CL0 control, saturated hydraulic conductivity increased and bulk density decreased in all soils. Soil macroporosity was significantly increased by CL2 and CL3. Soil aggregate stability increased in CL1, CL2 and CL3 plots. Microbial biomass C increased in treatment CL3, and microbial biomass N increased in CL2 and CL3. The production of stable aggregates was correlated to humic acid content and positively influenced all other physical parameters assessed in this study. The STMC had a positive impact on soil properties by increasing the soil organic matter as well as the humic acid fraction. Soil macroporosity, defined as porosity with radius > 38 µm, was significantly increased by treatments CL2 and CL3. All of the organic matter fractions, including total organic matter, humic acid content, microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N were significantly increased by one or more STMC.

scholarly journals Changes in Soil Labile Organic Matter as Affected by 50 Years of Fertilization with Increasing Amounts of Nitrogen

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2026
Author(s):  
Nikola Koković ◽  
Elmira Saljnikov ◽  
Frank Eulenstein ◽  
Dragan Čakmak ◽  
Aneta Buntić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Light Fraction ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Biomass N ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Labile Organic Matter ◽  
C And N

Microbially mediated soil organic matter is an extremely sensitive pool that indicates subtle changes in the quality parameters responsible for the soil’s ecological and productive functions. Fifty years of mineral fertilization of a wheat-corn cropping system has a strong impact on soil quality parameters. The goal of the research was to study the dynamics and quality of soil biological parameters affected by increasing amounts of mineral nitrogen. Soil respiration, potentially mineralizable C and N, microbial biomass C and N and light-fraction OM on Cambisol were analyzed in the following treatments: (1) Control (without fertilization); (2) NPK (60/51/67); (3) NPK (90/51/67); (4) NPK (120/51/67); (5) NPK (150/51/67 kg ha−1). The parameters studied were significantly affected by the long-term application of mineral fertilizer compared with both the control and the adjacent native soil. The highest amounts of nitrogen (N150) did not significantly differ from N120 and N90 for most of the parameters studied. Potentially mineralizable C represented the largest labile carbon pool, while microbial biomass N was the largest labile nitrogen pool. The mineralization rates for C and N were oppositely distributed over the seasons. The sensitivity index correlated with the amount of light-fraction OM. The results give a deeper insight into the behavior and distribution of different pools of labile SOM in the agro-landscapes and can serve as a reliable basis for further research focused on zero soil degradation.

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