The Effects of Manure and Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in a High-Input Cropping System

With the goal of improving N fertilizer management to maximize soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and minimize N losses in high-intensity cropping system, a 6-years greenhouse vegetable experiment was conducted from 2004 to 2010 in Shouguang, northern China. Treatment tested the effects of organic manure and N fertilizer on SOC, total N (TN) pool and annual apparent N losses. The results demonstrated that SOC and TN concentrations in the 0-10cm soil layer decreased significantly without organic manure and mineral N applications, primarily because of the decomposition of stable C. Increasing C inputs through wheat straw and chicken manure incorporation couldn't increase SOC pools over the 4 year duration of the experiment. In contrast to the organic manure treatment, the SOC and TN pools were not increased with the combination of organic manure and N fertilizer. However, the soil labile carbon fractions increased significantly when both chicken manure and N fertilizer were applied together. Additionally, lower optimized N fertilizer inputs did not decrease SOC and TN accumulation compared with conventional N applications. Despite the annual apparent N losses for the optimized N treatment were significantly lower than that for the conventional N treatment, the unchanged SOC over the past 6 years might limit N storage in the soil and more surplus N were lost to the environment. Consequently, optimized N fertilizer inputs according to root-zone N management did not influence the accumulation of SOC and TN in soil; but beneficial in reducing apparent N losses. N fertilizer management in a greenhouse cropping system should not only identify how to reduce N fertilizer input but should also be more attentive to improving soil fertility with better management of organic manure.

[1]  M. Paré,et al.  Soil organic matter quality influences mineralization and GHG emissions in cryosols: a field‐based study of sub‐ to high Arctic , 2013, Global change biology.

[2]  Bernd Huwe,et al.  Short‐term effect of biochar and compost on soil fertility and water status of a Dystric Cambisol in NE Germany under field conditions , 2012 .

[3]  Jiang Zhi-kuan,et al.  [Effects of organic manure application on dry land soil organic matter and water stable aggregates]. , 2012, Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology.

[4]  Yiqi Luo,et al.  Carbon and nitrogen dynamics during forest stand development: a global synthesis. , 2011, The New phytologist.

[5]  J. W. Groenigen,et al.  NITROUS OXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS DURING INITIAL DECOMPOSITION OF ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS APPLIED AS FERTILISERS TO SOILS , 2010 .

[6]  J. Six,et al.  Conversion of Wheat-Maize to Vegetable Cropping Systems Changes Soil Organic Matter Characteristics , 2010 .

[7]  Lingli Liu,et al.  A global perspective on belowground carbon dynamics under nitrogen enrichment. , 2010, Ecology letters.

[8]  Tao Ren,et al.  Root zone soil nitrogen management to maintain high tomato yields and minimum nitrogen losses to the environment. , 2010 .

[9]  B. Mary,et al.  Effects of catch crops, no till and reduced nitrogen fertilization on nitrogen leaching and balance in three long-term experiments , 2010 .

[10]  Ming Liu,et al.  Effects of long-term chemical fertilization and organic amendments on dynamics of soil organic C and total N in paddy soil derived from barren land in subtropical China , 2010 .

[11]  Brian Grant,et al.  Crop residue removal and fertilizer N: Effects on soil organic carbon in a long-term crop rotation experiment on a Udic Boroll , 2010 .

[12]  Qing Chen,et al.  Nitrous oxide emissions from an intensively managed greenhouse vegetable cropping system in Northern China. , 2009, Environmental pollution.

[13]  Chang-xing Zhao,et al.  Study of nitrate leaching and nitrogen fate under intensive vegetable production pattern in northern China. , 2009, Comptes rendus biologies.

[14]  Zeng Xi.  The status and changes of organic matter,nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium under different soil using styles of Shouguang of Shangdong Province , 2009 .

[15]  J. Six,et al.  Fertilizer and residue quality effects on organic matter stabilization in soil aggregates [Approved article] , 2009 .

[16]  Michael D. Dukes,et al.  Tomato yield, biomass accumulation, root distribution and irrigation water use efficiency on a sandy soil, as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation scheduling , 2009 .

[17]  Yiqi Luo,et al.  inor stimulation of soil carbon storage by nitrogen addition : A meta-analysis , 2011 .

[18]  Y. Kuzyakov,et al.  Mechanisms of real and apparent priming effects and their dependence on soil microbial biomass and community structure: critical review , 2008, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[19]  Fusuo Zhang,et al.  Influence of root zone nitrogen management and a summer catch crop on cucumber yield and soil mineral nitrogen dynamics in intensive production systems , 2008, Plant and Soil.

[20]  Gan Yan-dong.  Changes of soil carbon and nitrogen in Shouguang intensive vegetable production fields and their impacts on soil properties , 2008 .

[21]  R. Lal,et al.  Nitrogen fertilization and cropping systems effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen pools under chisel-plow tillage in Illinois , 2007 .

[22]  R. Lal,et al.  Nitrogen Management Affects Carbon Sequestration in North American Cropland Soils , 2007 .

[23]  F. Adani,et al.  Modification of soil humic matter after 4 years of compost application. , 2007, Waste management.

[24]  Xin-ping Chen,et al.  Yield and Nitrogen Balance of Greenhouse Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) with Conventional and Site-specific Nitrogen Management in Northern China , 2007, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems.

[25]  P. Poulton,et al.  Long-term management impacts on soil C, N and physical fertility: Part I: Broadbalk experiment , 2006 .

[26]  Fusuo Zhang,et al.  Nitrogen balance and groundwater nitrate contamination: comparison among three intensive cropping systems on the North China Plain. , 2006, Environmental pollution.

[27]  R. Allmaras,et al.  Soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a Minnesota soil as related to tillage, residue and nitrogen management , 2006 .

[28]  Henning Kage,et al.  N balance as an indicator of N leaching in an oilseed rape - winter wheat - winter barley rotation , 2006 .

[29]  D. Murphy,et al.  The contribution of soil organic matter fractions to carbon and nitrogen mineralization and microbial community size and structure , 2005 .

[30]  M. Gerzabek,et al.  Long-term effects of cropped vs. fallow and fertilizer amendments on soil organic matter I. Organic carbon , 2005 .

[31]  Garcia-Gil,et al.  Effects of pig slurry application on soil chemical properties under semiarid conditions , 2005 .

[32]  G. Hofman,et al.  Gross N transformation rates and net N mineralisation rates related to the C and N contents of soil organic matter fractions in grassland soils of different age , 2004 .

[33]  R. Spaccini,et al.  Sequestration of a Biologically Labile Organic Carbon in Soils by Humified Organic Matter , 2004 .

[34]  F. Chapin,et al.  Ecosystem carbon storage in arctic tundra reduced by long-term nutrient fertilization , 2004, Nature.

[35]  S. Hobbie,et al.  Comparison of labile soil organic matter fractionation techniques , 2004 .

[36]  P. Sollins,et al.  Long-term effects of elevated nitrogen on forest soil organic matter stability , 2004 .

[37]  Peter Christie,et al.  Evaluation of current fertilizer practice and soil fertility in vegetable production in the Beijing region , 2004, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems.

[38]  D. Edmeades,et al.  The long-term effects of manures and fertilisers on soil productivity and quality: a review , 2003, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems.

[39]  S. Malhi,et al.  Total and light fraction organic C in a thin Black Chernozemic grassland soil as affected by 27 annual applications of six rates of fertilizer N , 2003, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems.

[40]  K. Paustian,et al.  Stabilization mechanisms of soil organic matter: Implications for C-saturation of soils , 2002, Plant and Soil.

[41]  J. Hassink,et al.  The capacity of soils to preserve organic C and N by their association with clay and silt particles , 1997, Plant and Soil.

[42]  H. Ajwa,et al.  Decomposition of different organic materials in soils , 1994, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[43]  Theodor Echtermeyer Weg.  NMIN TARGET VALUES FOR FIELD VEGETABLES , 2004 .

[44]  F. Hagedorn,et al.  Increased N deposition retards mineralization of old soil organic matter , 2003 .

[45]  Ingrid Öborn,et al.  Element balances as a tool for sustainable nutrient management: a critical appraisal of their merits and limitations within an agronomic and environmental context , 2003 .

[46]  Xinyuan Wang,et al.  Effects of deficit irrigation on yield and water use of greenhouse grown cucumber in the North China Plain , 2003 .

[47]  W. Bowman,et al.  Variable effects of nitrogen additions on the stability and turnover of soil carbon , 2002, Nature.

[48]  J. Compton,et al.  Soil nitrogen transformations and the role of light fraction organic matter in forest soils , 2002 .

[49]  W. Horwath,et al.  Nitrogen Dynamics in Humic Fractions under Alternative Straw Management in Temperate Rice , 2002 .

[50]  K. Paustian,et al.  Soil structure and organic matter: I. Distribution of aggregate-size classes and aggregate-associated carbon. , 2000 .

[51]  L. Schipper,et al.  Decreases in organic C reserves in soils can reduce the catabolic diversity of soil microbial communities , 2000 .

[52]  W. Vries,et al.  Nitrate leaching in forest ecosystems is related to forest floor C/N ratios , 1998 .

[53]  G. Blair,et al.  Soil Carbon Fractions Based on their Degree of Oxidation, and the Development of a Carbon Management Index for Agricultural Systems , 1995 .

[54]  D. Schimel.  Carbon and nitrogen turnover in adjacent grassland and cropland ecosystems , 1986 .

[55]  L. J. Lund,et al.  Nature and Extent of Directly Measured Denitrification Losses from Some Irrigated Vegetable Crop Production Units , 1980 .