Loading...

Archive

    For Selected: Toggle Thumbnails
    Editorial
    Beyond Biochar - Soil, Plant and Environment: Research Progress and Future Prospects
    LIN Qi-mei
    2014, 13(3): 467-470.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60734-0
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Section 1: Biochar Characters and Impacts
    The Hydrochar Characters of Municipal Sewage Sludge Under Different Hydrothermal Temperatures and Durations
    ZHANG Jin-hong, LIN Qi-mei , ZHAO Xiao-rong
    2014, 13(3): 471-482.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60702-9
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Innovative measure is a urgent requirement for managing the huge volume of municipal sewage sludge. The hydrothermal carbonation (HTC) shows some potential advantages for using hydrochar as a soil conditioner. The aim of this work was to investigate the properties of hydrochars, by means of the HTC of municipal sewage sludge under different temperatures (190 and 260°C) and reaction hours (1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h). The HTC led to the decreases of N, O and H contents by more than 54.6, 37.9 and 10.0%, respectively, and slight changes of C content. The Py-GC-MS analysis showed that a large proportion of fatty acids, in particular hexadecanoic acid, transferred into alkenes, olefins and aromatic compounds. The 13C-NMR and fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) confirmed the transformation and changes in chemical structure in which hydrochar contained lower oxygen-containing organic C of O-alkyl, carboxylic and carbonyl C and aliphaticity, but higher aromatic C and aromaticity. The rich hydrophobic functions induced in high positive charges in the charred sludge. The HTC facilitated the pore structure development, proved by higher specific surface area and specific pore volume, with a maximum of 17.30 and 0.83 cm3 g-1, respectively. The availabilities of N, P and K markedly reduced during HTC treatment. The activities of most heavy metals were depressed though they accumulated in the hydrochar. Further work is required to investigate the values and risk of the charred sludge amended to soil.
    Microscopy Observations of Habitable Space in Biochar for Colonization by Fungal Hyphae From Soil
    Noraini M Jaafar, Peta L Clode , Lynette K Abbott
    2014, 13(3): 483-490.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60703-0
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Biochar is a potential micro-environment for soil microorganisms but evidence to support this suggestion is limited. We explored imaging techniques to visualize and quantify fungal colonization of habitable spaces in a biochar made from a woody feedstock. In addition to characterization of the biochar, it was necessary to optimize preparation and observation methodologies for examining fungal colonization of the biochar. Biochar surfaces and pores were investigated using several microscopy techniques. Biochar particles were compared in soilless media and after deposition in soil. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations and characterization of the biochar demonstrated structural heterogeneity within and among biochar particles. Fungal colonization in and on biochar particles was observed using light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Fluorescent brightener RR 2200 was more effective than Calcofluor White as a hyphal stain. Biochar retrieved from soil and observed using fluorescence microscopy exhibited distinct hyphal networks on external biochar surfaces. The extent of hyphal colonization of biochar incubated in soil was much less than for biochar artificially inoculated with fungi in a soilless medium. The location of fungal hyphae was more clearly visible using SEM than with fluorescence microscopy. Observations of biochar particles colonized by hyphae from soil posed a range of difficulties including obstruction by the presence of soil particles on biochar surfaces and inside pores. Extensive hyphal colonization of the surface of the biochar in the soilless medium contrasted with limited hyphal colonization of pores within the biochar. Both visualization and quantification of hyphal colonization of surfaces and pores of biochar were restricted by two-dimensional imaging associated with uneven biochar surfaces and variable biochar pore structure. There was very little colonization of biochar from hyphae in the agricultural soil used in this study.
    Effects of Rice Straw and Its Biochar Addition on Soil Labile Carbon and Soil Organic Carbon
    YIN Yun-feng, HE Xin-hua, GAO Ren, MA Hong-liang , YANG Yu-sheng
    2014, 13(3): 491-498.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60704-2
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Whether the biochar amendment could affect soil organic matter (SOM) turnover and hence soil carbon (C) stock remains poorly understood. Effects of the addition of 13C-labelled rice straw or its pyrolysed biochar at 250 or 350°C to a sugarcane soil (Ferrosol) on soil labile C (dissolved organic C, DOC; microbial biomass C, MBC; and mineralizable C, MC) and soil organic C (SOC) were investigated after 112 d of laboratory incubation at 25°C. Four treatments were examined as (1) the control soil without amendment (Soil); (2) soil plus 13C-labelled rice straw (Soil+Straw); (3) soil plus 250°C biochar (Soil+B250) and (4) soil plus 350°C biochar (Soil+B350). Compared to un-pyrolysed straw, biochars generally had an increased aryl C, carboxyl C, C and nitrogen concentrations, a decreased O-alkyl C and C:N ratio, but similar alkyl C and d13C (1 742- 1 877 ‰). Among treatments, significant higher DOC, MBC and MC derived from the new C (straw or biochar) ranked as Soil+Straw>Soil+B250>Soil+B350, whilst significant higher SOC from the new C as Soil+B250>Soil+Straw≈Soil+B350. Compared to Soil, DOC and MBC derived from the native soil were decreased under straw or biochar addition, whilst MC from the native soil was increased under straw addition but decreased under biochar addition. Meanwhile, native SOC was similar among the treatments, irrespective of the straw or biochar addition. Compared to Soil, significant higher total DOC and total MBC were under Soil+Straw, but not under Soil+B250 and Soil+B350, whilst significant higher total MC and total SOC were under straw or biochar addition, except for MC under Soil+B350. Our results demonstrated that the application of biochar to soil may be an appropriate management practice for increasing soil C storage.
    Does Biochar Addition Influence the Change Points of Soil Phosphorus Leaching?
    ZHAOXiao-rong , LIDan , KONGJuan , LINQi-mei
    2014, 13(3): 499-506.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60705-4
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Phosphorus change point indicating the threshold related to P leaching, largely depends on soil properties. Increasing data have shown that biochar addition can improve soil retention capacity of ions. However, we have known little about weather biochar amendment influence the change point of P leaching. In this study, two soils added with 0, 5, 10, 20, and 50 g biochar kg-1 were incubated at 25°C for 14 d following adjusting the soil moisture to 50% water-holding capacity (WHC). The soils with different available P values were then obtained by adding a series of KH2PO4 solution (ranging from 0 to 600 mg P kg-1 soil), and subjecting to three cycles of drying and rewetting. The results showed that biochar addition significantly lifted the P change points in the tested soils, together with changes in soil pH, organic C, Olen-P and CaCl2-P but little on exchangeable Ca and Mg, oxalate-extractable Fe and Al. The Olsen-P at the change points ranged from 48.65 to 185.07 mg kg-1 in the alluvial soil and 71.25 to 98.65 mg kg-1 in the red soil, corresponding to CaCl2-P of 0.31-6.49 and 0.18-0.45 mg L-1, respectively. The change points of the alluvial soil were readily changed by adding biochar compared with that of the red soil. The enhancement of change points was likely to be explained as the improvement of phosphate retention ability in the biochar-added soils.
    Effect of Crop-Straw Derived Biochars on Pb(II) Adsorption in Two Variable Charge Soils
    JIANG Tian-yu, XU Ren-kou, GU Tian-xia , JIANG Jun
    2014, 13(3): 507-516.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60706-6
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Two variable charge soils were incubated with biochars derived from straws of peanut, soybean, canola, and rice to investigate the effect of the biochars on their chemical properties and Pb(II) adsorption using batch experiments. The results showed soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH significantly increased after 30 d of incubation with the biochars added. The incorporation of the biochars markedly increased the adsorption of Pb(II), and both the electrostatic and non-electrostatic adsorption mechanisms contributed to Pb(II) adsorption by the variable charge soils. Adsorption isotherms illustrated legume- straw derived biochars more greatly increased Pb(II) adsorption on soils through the non-electrostatic mechanism via the formation of surface complexes between Pb(II) and acid functional groups of the biochars than did non-legume straw biochars. The adsorption capacity of Pb(II) increased, while the desorption amount slightly decreased with the increasing suspension pH for the studied soils, especially in a high suspension pH, indicating that precipitation also plays an important role in immobilizing Pb(II) to the soils.
    Soil Organic Carbon, Black Carbon, and Enzyme Activity Under Long- Term Fertilization
    SHAO Xing-hua , ZHENG Jian-wei
    2014, 13(3): 517-524.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60707-8
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    The present study aims to understand the effects of long-term fertilization on soil organic carbon (SOC), black carbon (BC), enzyme activity, and the relationships among these parameters. Paddy field was continuously fertilized over 30 yr with nine different fertilizer treatments including N, P, K, NP, NK, NPK, 2NPK (two-fold NPK), NPK+manure (NPKM), and CK (no fertilization), N, 90 kg urea-N ha-1 yr-1; P, 45 kg triple superphosphate-P2O5 ha-1 yr-1; K, 75 kg potassium chloride-K2O ha-1 yr-1; and pig manure, 22 500 kg ha-1 yr-1. Soil samples were collected and determined for SOC, BC content, and enzyme activity. The results showed that the SOC in the NPKM treatment was significantly higher than those in the K, P, and CK treatments. The lowest SOC content was found in the CK treatment. SOC content was similar in the N, NP, NK, NPK, 2NPK, and NPKM treatments. There was no significant difference in BC content among different treatments. The BC-to-SOC ratios (BC/SOC) ranged from 0.50 to 0.63, suggesting that BC might originate from the same source. Regarding enzyme activity, NPK treatment had higher urease activity than NPKM treatment. The urease activity of NPKM treatment was significantly higher than that of 2NPK, NP, N, P, K, CK, and NPKM treatment which produced higher activities of acid phosphatase, catalase, and invertase than all other treatments. Our results indicated that long-term fertilization did not significantly affect BC content. Concurrent application of manure and mineral fertilizers increased SOC content and significantly enhanced soil enzyme activities. Correlation analysis showed that catalase activity was significantly associated with invertase activity, but SOC, BC, and enzyme activity levels were not significantly correlated with one another. No significant correlations were observed between BC and soil enzymes. It is unknown whether soil enzymes play a role in the decomposition of BC.
    Section 2: Crop Improvement by iochar Soil Amendment
    Crop Yield and Soil Properties in the First 3 Years After Biochar Application to a Calcareous Soil
    LIANG Feng, LI Gui-tong, LIN Qi-mei , ZHAO Xiao-rong
    2014, 13(3): 525-532.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60708-X
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    It remains unclear whether biochar applications to calcareous soils can improve soil fertility and crop yield. A long-term field experiment was established in 2009 so as to determine the effect of biochar on crop yield and soil properties in a calcareous soil. Five treatments were: 1) straw incorporation; 2) straw incorporation with inorganic fertilizer; 3), 4) and 5) straw incorporation with inorganic fertilizer, and biochar at 30, 60, and 90 t ha-1, respectively. The annual yield of either winter wheat or summer maize was not increased significantly following biochar application, whereas the cumulative yield over the first 4 growing seasons was significantly increased. Soil pH, measured in situ, was increased by a maximum of 0.35 units after 2 yr following biochar application. After 3 yr, soil bulk density significantly decreased while soil water holding capacity increased with adding biochar of 90 t ha-1. Alkaline hydrolysable N decreased but exchangeable K increased due to biochar addition. Olsen-P did not change compared to the treatment without biochar. The results suggested that biochar could be used in calcareous soils without yield loss or significant impacts on nutrient availability.
    Improvement to Maize Growth Caused by Biochars Derived From Six Feedstocks Prepared at Three Different Temperatures
    LUO Yu, JIAO Yu-jie, ZHAO Xiao-rong, LI Gui-tong, ZHAO Li-xin , MENG Hai-bo
    2014, 13(3): 533-540.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60709-1
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Biochar is increasingly proposed as a soil amendment, with reports of benefits to soil physical, chemical and biological properties. In this study, different biochars were produced from 6 feedstocks, including straw and poultry manure, at 3 pyrolysis temperatures (200, 300 and 500°C) and then added separately to a calcareous soil. Their effects on soil properties and maize growth were evaluated in a pot experiment. The biochars derived from crop straw had much higher C but smaller N concentrations than those derived from poultry manure. Carbon concentrations, pH and EC values increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Biochar addition resulted in increases in mean maize dry matter of 12.73% and NPK concentrations of 30, 33 and 283%, respectively. Mean soil pH values were increased by 0.45 units. The biochar-amended soils had 44, 55, 254 and 537% more organic C, total N, Olsen-P and available K, respectively, than the control on average. Both feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature determined the characteristics of the biochar. Biochars with high mineral concentrations may act as mineral nutrient supplements.
    The Influence of Biochar on Growth of Lettuce and Potato
    Kalika P Upadhyay, Doug George, Roger S Swift , Victor Galea
    2014, 13(3): 541-546.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60710-8
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Pot experiments were conducted in a glasshouse to determine the growth pattern of lettuce, true potato seedlings (TPS) and single node cuttings of TPS in response to biochar. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 5 treatments (0, 10, 30, 50 and 100 t ha-1) of biochar from greenwaste with 5 replications in lettuce, 10 in TPS and 5 in single node cuttings of TPS. The observations recorded on growth parameters showed that biochar had significant effect on growth of lettuce but no consistent effect on growth of TPS and single node cuttings. Among the biochar rates, 30 t ha-1 had the greatest influence on overall growth of lettuce. The pH and electrical conductivity increased as the biochar rates increased in all experiments. These results provide an avenue for soil management system by using biochar as an amendment in horticultural crops. However, their verification in the field is important for specific recommendations.
    Effect of Biochar on Relieving Cadmium Stress and Reducing Accumulation in Super japonica Rice
    ZHANG Zhen-yu, MENG Jun, DANG Shu , CHEN Wen-fu
    2014, 13(3): 547-553.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60711-X
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    It is of great importance to solve the threats induced by cadmium pollution on crops. This paper examined the effect of biochar on cadmium accumulation in japonica rice and revealed the mechanism underlying the response of protective enzyme system to cadmium stress. Biochar derived from rice straw was applied at two application rates under three cadmium concentrations. Shennong 265, super japonica rice variety, was selected as the test crop. The results indicated that cadmium content in above-ground biomass of rice increased with increasing soil cadmium concentrations, but the biochar application could suppress the accumulation of cadmium to some extent. Under high concentrations of cadmium, content of free proline and MDA (malondialdehyde) were high, so did the SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase) and CAT (catalase) activity in the flag leaf of rice. However, the protective enzyme activities remained at low level when biochar was added.
    Section 3: Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in
    Changes in Organic Carbon Index of Grey Desert Soil in Northwest China After Long-Term Fertilization
    XU Yong-mei, LIU Hua, WANG Xi-he, XU Ming-gang, ZHANG Wen-ju , JIANG Gui-ying
    2014, 13(3): 554-561.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60712-1
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and SMBC quotient (SMBC/SOC, qSMBC) are key indexes of soil biological fertility because of the relationship to soil nutrition supply capacity. Yet it remains unknown how these three indexes change, which limits our understanding about how soil respond to different fertilization practices. Based on a 22-yr (1990-2011) long-term fertilization experiment in northwest China, we investigated the dynamics of SMBC and qSMBC during the growing period of winter wheat, the relationships between the SMBC, qSMBC, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations, the carbon input and grain yield of wheat as well. Fertilization treatments were 1) nonfertilization (control); 2) chemical nitrogen plus phosphate plus potassium (NPK); 3) NPK plus animal manure (NPKM); 4) double NPKM (hNPKM) and 5) NPK plus straw (NPKS). Results showed that the SMBC and qSMBC were significantly different among returning, jointing, flowering and harvest stages of wheat under long-term fertilization. And the largest values were observed in the flowering stage. Values for SMBC and qSMBC ranged from 37.5 to 106.0 mg kg-1 and 0.41 to 0.61%, respectively. The mean value rank of SMBC during the whole growing period of wheat was hNPKM>NPKM>NPKS>CK>NPK. But there were no statistically significant differences between hNPKM and NPKM, or between CK and NPK. The order for qSMBC was NPKS>NPKM>CK>hNPKM>NPK. These results indicated that NPKS significantly increased the ratio of SMBC to SOC, i.e., qSMBC, compared with NPK fertilizer or other two NPKM fertilizations. Significant linear relationships were observed between the annual carbon input and SOC (P<0.01) or SMBC (P<0.05), and between the relative grain yield of wheat and the SOC content as well (P<0.05). But the qSMBC was not correlated with the annual carbon input. It is thus obvious that the combination of manure, straw with mineral fertilizer may be benefit to increase SOC and improve soil quality than using only mineral fertilizer.
    Carbon Sequestration in Soil Humic Substances Under Long-Term Fertilization in a Wheat-Maize System from North China
    SONG Xiang-yun, LIU Shu-tang, LIU Qing-hua, ZHANG Wen-ju , HU Chun-guang
    2014, 13(3): 562-569.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60713-3
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    The changes in humic substances (HS) is fundamental in detecting soil carbon sequestration mechanisms in natural and cultivated environments. Based on a long-term trial, the amounts of water dissolved substances (WSS), humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and humin (HU) were determined to explore the impact of long-term fertilization on HS. Increases in the amounts of WSS, HA, FA and HU were significant different among the treatments with manure. A significant correlation was found between the increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and HS (R2=0.98, P<0.01). The change in the E4/E6 ratio was significantly correlated with the increased SOC (R2=0.88, P<0.01), HA (R2=0.91, P<0.01), FA (R2=0.91, P<0.01) and HU (R2=0.88, P<0.01). The cluster was mainly divided into two parts as manure fertilization and inorganic fertilization, based on the increases in HA, FA and HU. These results suggest that long term fertilization with manure favours carbon sequestration in HS and is mainly stabilized as HU, while the HA becomes more aliphatic. We conclude that increases in SOC can be linked to changes in the molecular characteristics of HS fractions under long term fertilization.
    Effects of Long-Term Organic Amendments on Soil Organic Carbon in a Paddy Field: A Case Study on Red Soil
    HUANG Qing-hai, LI Da-ming, LIU Kai-lou, YU Xi-chu, YE Hui-cai, HU Hui-wen, XU Xiao-lin
    2014, 13(3): 570-576.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60714-5
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the main carbon reservoirs in the terrestrial ecosystem. It is important to study SOC dynamics and effects of organic carbon amendments in paddy fields because of their vest expansion in south China. A study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the SOC content and organic carbon input under various organic amendments at a long-term fertilization experiment that was established on a red soil under a double rice cropping system in 1981. The treatments included non-fertilization (CK), nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilization in early rice only (NPK), green manure (Astragalus sinicus L.) in early rice only (OM1), high rate of green manure in early rice only (OM2), combined green manure in early rice and farmyard manure in late rice (OM3), combined green manure in early rice, farmyard manure in late rice and rice straw mulching in winter (OM4), combined green manure in early rice and rice straw mulching in winter (OM5). Our data showed that the SOC content was the highest under OM3 and OM4, followed by OM1, OM2 and OM5, then NPK fertilization, and the lowest under non-fertilization. However, our analyses in SOC stock indicated a significant difference between OM3 (33.9 t ha-1) and OM4 (31.8 t ha-1), but no difference between NPK fertilization (27 t ha-1) and nonfertilization (28.1 t ha-1). There was a significant linear increase in SOC over time for all treatments, and the slop of linear equation was greater in organic manure treatments (0.276-0.344 g kg-1 yr-1) than in chemical fertilizer (0.216 g kg-1 yr-1) and no fertilizer (0.127 g kg-1 yr-1).
    Basic Soil Productivity of Spring Maize in Black Soil Under Long-Term Fertilization Based on DSSAT Model
    ZHA Yan, WU Xue-ping , HE Xin-hua, ZHANG Hui-min, GONG Fu-fei, CAI Dian-xiong, ZHU
    2014, 13(3): 577-587.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60715-7
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Increasing basic farmland soil productivity has significance in reducing fertilizer application and maintaining high yield of crops. In this study, we defined that the basic soil productivity (BSP) is the production capacity of a farmland soil with its own physical and chemical properties for a specific crop season under local environment and field management. Based on 22-yr (1990-2011) long-term experimental data on black soil (Typic hapludoll) in Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, Northeast China, the decision support system for an agro-technology transfer (DSSAT)-CERES-Maize model was applied to simulate the yield by BSP of spring maize (Zea mays L.) to examine the effects of long-term fertilization on changes of BSP and explore the mechanisms of BSP increasing. Five treatments were examined: (1) no-fertilization control (control); (2) chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK); (3) NPK plus farmyard manure (NPKM); (4) 1.5 time of NPKM (1.5NPKM) and (5) NPK plus straw (NPKS). Results showed that after 22-yr fertilization, the yield by BSP of spring maize significantly increased 78.0, 101.2, and 69.4% under the NPKM, 1.5NPKM and NPKS, respectively, compared to the initial value (in 1992), but not significant under NPK (26.9% increase) and the control (8.9% decrease). The contribution percentage of BSP showed a significant rising trend (P<0.05) under 1.5NPKM. The average contribution percentage of BSP among fertilizations ranged from 74.4 to 84.7%, and ranked as 1.5NPKM>NPKM>NPK≈NPKS, indicating that organic manure combined with chemical fertilizers (1.5NPKM and NPKM) could more effectively increase BSP compared with the inorganic fertilizer application alone (NPK) in the black soil. This study showed that soil organic matter (SOM) was the key factor among various fertility factors that could affect BSP in the black soil, and total N, total P and/or available P also played important role in BSP increasing. Compared with the chemical fertilization, a balanced chemical plus manure or straw fertilization (NPKM or NPKS) not only increased the concentrations of soil nutrient, but also improved the soil physical properties, and structure and diversity of soil microbial population, resulting in an iincrease of BSP. We recommend that a balanced chemical plus manure or straw fertilization (NPKM or NPKS) should be the fertilization practices to enhance spring maize yield and improve BSP in the black soil of Northeast China.
    Nitrogen Use Efficiency as Affected by Phosphorus and Potassium in Long-Term Rice and Wheat Experiments
    DUAN Ying-hua, SHI Xiao-jun, LI Shuang-lai, SUN Xi-fa , HE Xin-hua
    2014, 13(3): 588-596.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60716-9
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and decreasing N loss are critical to sustainable agriculture. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of various fertilization regimes on yield, NUE, N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N loss in long-term (16- or 24-yr) experiments carried out at three rice-wheat rotation sites (Chongqing, Suining and Wuchang) in subtropical China. Three treatments were examined: sole chemical N, N+phosphorus (NP), and NP+potassium (NPK) fertilizations. Grain yields at three sites were significantly increased by 9.3-81.6% (rice) and 54.5-93.8% (wheat) under NP compared with N alone, 1.7-9.8% (rice) and 0-17.6% (wheat) with NPK compared with NP. Compared to NP, NUE significantly increased for wheat at Chongqing (9.3%) and Wuchang (11.8%), but not at Suining, China. No changes in NUE were observed in rice between NP and NPK at all three sites. The rice-wheat rotation’s NAE was 3.3 kg kg-1 higher under NPK than under NP at Chongqing, while NAE was similar for NP and NPK at Suining and Wuchang. We estimated that an uptake increase of 1.0 kg N ha-1 would increase 40 kg rice and 30 kg wheat ha-1. Nitrogen loss/input ratios were ~60, ~40 or ~30% under N, NP or NPK at three sites, indicating significant decrease of N loss by P or PK additions. We attribute part of the increase in NUE soil N accumulation which significantly increased by 25-55 kg ha-1 yr-1 under NPK at three sites, whereas by 35 kg ha-1 yr-1 under NP at Chongqing only. This paper illustrates that apply P and K to wheat, and reduce K application to rice is an effective nutrient management strategy for both the NUE improvement and N losses reduction in China.
    Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation Increases Percentage of Soil Olsen-P to Total P at Two 15-Year Mono-Cropping Systems in Northern China
    SHEN Pu, HE Xin-hua, XU Ming-gang, ZHANG Hui-min, PENG Chang, GAO Hong-jun, LIU
    2014, 13(3): 597-603.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60717-0
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil Olsen-P are key soil fertility indexes but information on their relationships is limited particularly under long-term fertilization. We investigated the relationships between SOC and the percentage of soil Olsen-P to total P (PSOPTP) under six different 15-yr (1990-2004) long-term fertilizations at two cropping systems in northern China. These fertilization treatments were (1) unfertilized control (control); (2) chemical nitrogen (N); (3) N plus chemical P (NP); (4) NP plus chemical potassium (NPK); (5) NPK plus animal manure (NPKM) and (6) high NPKM (hNPKM). Compared with their initial values in 1989 at both sites, during the 11th to 15th fertilization years annual mean SOC contents were significantly increased by 39.4-47.0% and 58.9-93.9% at Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, and Urumqi, Xinjiang, China, under the two NPKM fertilizations, respectively, while no significant changes under the no-P or chemical P fertilization. During the 11th to 15th fertilization years, annual mean PSOPTP was respectively increased by 2.6-4.2 and 5.8-14.1 times over the initial values under the two chemical P fertilizations and the two NPKM fertilizations, but was unchanged in their initial levels under the two no-P fertilizations at both sites. Over the 15-yr long-term fertilization SOC significantly positively correlated with PSOPTP (r2=0.55-0.79, P<0.01). We concluded that the combination of chemical P plus manure is an effective way to promote SOC accumulation and the percentage of soil Olsen-P to total P at the two mono-cropping system sites in northern China.
    Section 4: Soil Organic Carbon and Green-
    Soil CO2 and N2O Emissions in Maize Growing Season Under Different Fertilizer Regimes in an Upland Red Soil Region of South China
    ZHANG Xu-bo, WU Lian-hai, SUN Nan, DING Xue-shan, LI Jian-wei, WANG Bo-ren , LI Dong-chu
    2014, 13(3): 604-614.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60718-2
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Upland red soils have been identified as major CO2 and N2O sources induced by human activities such as fertilization. To monitor characteristics of soil surface CO2 and N2O fluxes in cropland ecosystems after continuous fertilizer applications over decades and to separate the respective contributions of root and heterotrophic respiration to the total soil CO2 and N2O fluxes, the measurements of soil surface CO2 and N2O fluxes throughout the maize growing season in 2009 were carried out based on a fertilization experiment (from 1990) through of the maize (Zea mays L.) growing season in red soil in southern China. Five fertilization treatments were chosen from the experiment for study: zero-fertilizer application (CK), nitrogen-phosphorus- potassium (NPK) fertilizer application only, pig manure (M), NPK plus pig manure (NPKM) and NPK with straw (NPKS). Six chambers were installed in each plot. Three of them are in the inter-row soil (NR) and the others are in the soil within the row (R). Each fertilizer treatment received the same amount of N (300 kg ha-1 yr-1). Results showed that cumulative soil CO2 fluxes in NR or R were both following the order: NPKS>M, NPKM>NPK>CK. The contributions of root respiration to soil CO2 fluxes was 40, 44, 50, 47 and 35% in CK, NPK, NPKM, M and NPKS treatments, respectively, with the mean value of 43%. Cumulative soil N2O fluxes in NR or R were both following the order: NPKS, NPKM>M>NPK>CK, and soil N2O fluxes in R were 18, 20 and 30% higher than that in NR in NPKM, M and NPKS treatments, respectively, but with no difference between NR and R in NPK treatment. Furthermore, combine with soil temperature at -5 cm depth and soil moisture (0-20 cm) together could explain 55-70% and 42-59% of soil CO2 and N2O emissions with root interference and 62- 78% and 44-63% of that without root interference, respectively. In addition, soil CO2 and N2O fluxes per unit yield in NPKM (0.55 and 0.10 kg C t-1) and M (0.65 and 0.13 g N t-1) treatments were lower than those in other treatments. Therefore, manure application could be a preferred fertilization strategy in red soils in South China.
    Soil CO2 Emissions as Affected by 20-Year Continuous Cropping in Mollisols
    YOU Meng-yang, YUAN Ya-ru, LI Lu-jun, XU Yan-li , HAN Xiao-zeng
    2014, 13(3): 615-623.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60719-4
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Long-term continuous cropping of soybean (Glycine max), spring wheat (Triticum aesativum) and maize (Zea mays) is widely practiced by local farmers in northeast China. A field experiment (started in 1991) was used to investigate the differences in soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under continuous cropping of the three major crops and to evaluate the relationships between CO2 fluxes and soil temperature and moisture for Mollisols in northeast China. Soil CO2 emissions were measured using a closed-chamber method during the growing season in 2011. No remarkable differences in soil organic carbon were found among the cropping systems (P>0.05). However, significant differences in CO2 emissions from soils were observed among the three cropping systems (P<0.05). Over the course of the entire growing season, cumulative soil CO2 emissions under different cropping systems were in the following order: continuous maize ((829±10) g CO2 m-2)>continuous wheat ((629±22) g CO2 m-2)>continuous soybean ((474±30) g CO2 m-2). Soil temperature explained 42-65% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux, with a Q10 between 1.63 and 2.31; water-filled pore space explained 25-47% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux. A multiple regression model including both soil temperature (T, °C) and water-filled pore space (W, %), log(f)=a+bT log(W), was established, accounting for 51-66% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux. The results suggest that soil CO2 emissions and their Q10 values under a continuous cropping system largely depend on crop types in Mollisols of Northeast China.
    Effects of Rest Grazing on Organic Carbon Storage in Stipa grandis Steppe in Inner Mongolia, China
    LI Yu-jie1, 2 , ZHU Yan1, ZHAO Jian-ning1, LI Gang1, WANG Hui1, LAI Xin1 and YANG Dian-lin1, 2
    2014, 13(3): 624-634.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60720-0
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    This study was aimed to evaluate the potential effects of rest grazing on organic carbon storage in Stipa grandis steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Using potassium dichromate heating method, we analyzed the organic carbon storage of plant and soil in Stipa grandis steppe after rest grazing for 3, 6, and 9 yr. The results indicated that as the rest grazing ages prolonged, the biomass of aboveground parts, litter and belowground plant parts (roots) of the plant communities all increased, meanwhile the C content of the biomass increased with the rest grazing ages prolonging. For RG0, RG3a, RG6a, and RG9a, C storage in aboveground vegetation were 60.7, 76.9, 82.8 and 122.2 g C m-2, respectively; C storage of litter were 5.1, 5.8, 20.4 and 25.5 g C m-2, respectively; C storage of belowground roots (0-100 cm) were 475.2, 663.0, 1 115.0 and 1 867.3 g C m-2, respectively; C storage in 0-100 cm soil were 13.97, 15.76, 18.60 and 32.41 kg C m-2, respectively. As the rest grazing ages prolonged, the organic C storage in plant communities and soil increased. The C storage of belowground roots and soil organic C was mainly concentrated in 0-40 cm soil body. The increased soil organic C for RG3a accounted for 89.8% of the increased carbon in vegetation-soil system, 87.2% for RG6a, and 92.6% for RG9a. From the perspective of C sequestration cost, total cost for RG3a, RG6a, and RG9a were 2 903.4, 5 806.8 and 8 710.2 CNY ha-1, respectively. The cost reduced with the extension of rest grazing ages, 0.15 CNY kg-1 C for RG3a, 0.11 CNY kg-1 C for RG6a and 0.04 CNY kg-1 C for RG9a. From the growth characteristics of grassland plants, the spring was one of the two avoided grazing periods, timely rest grazing could effectively restore and update grassland vegetation, and was beneficial to the sustainable use of grassland. Organic C storage for RG9a was the highest, while the cost of C sequestration was the lowest. Therefore, spring rest grazing should be encouraged because it was proved to be a very efficient grassland use pattern.
    Effect of Biogas Digested Liquid on CH4 and N2O Flux in Paddy Ecosystem
    Ankit Singla , Kazuyuki Inubushi
    2014, 13(3): 635-640.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60721-2
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Biogas production generates digested slurry as a byproduct. It can be used as a fertilizer especially after its conversion into digested liquid. A pot based study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of the application of digested liquid on CH4 and N2O flux, and plant biomass in paddy. Analysis revealed that digested liquid treated soils released more CH4 compared to ammonium sulphate and the control. Ammonium sulphate treated soil emitted the highest N2O whereas digested liquid application decreased its emission significantly. Further, the cumulative emission over 101 d of the experiment was found to be higher for CH4 (16.9 to 29.9 g m-2) compared to N2O (-49.3 to 18.9 mg m-2) for all treatments. Digested liquid application had positive impact on plant variables such as panicle number and weight of panicles. This study suggests that digested liquid application significantly decrease N2O emission and increase CH4 emission possibly due to affecting the availability of organic C in the soil to microbial activity for methanogenesis. Another possibility for enhancing CH4 emission by following biogas digested liquid could be attributed to the increase in plant biomass.
    Effect of Different Rice-Crab Coculture Modes on Soil Carbohydrates
    YAN Ying, LIU Ming-da, YANG Dan, ZHANG Wei, AN Hui, WANG Yao-jing, XIE Hong-tu
    2014, 13(3): 641-647.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60722-4
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security. Rice-crab coculture (RC) is an important eco-agricultural process in rice production in northern China. Recognizing the soil fertility in RC may help develop novel sustainable agriculture. Soil carbohydrates are important factors in determining soil fertility in different culture modes. In this study, soil carbohydrates were analyzed under three different culture modes including rice monoculture (RM), conventional rice-crab coculture (CRC) and organic rice-crab coculture (ORC). Results showed that the contents of soil organic carbon and carbohydrates were significantly higher in the ORC than those in RM. The increasing effect was greater with increased organic manure. Similar tendency was found in CRC, but the overall effect was less pronounced compared with ORC. Carbohydrates were more sensitive to RC mode and manure amendment than soil organic carbon. Compare to RM, the (Gal+Man)/(Ara+Xyl) ratio decreased in all the RC modes, indicating a relative enrichment in plant-derived carbohydrates due to the input of crab feed and manure. While the increasing (Gal+Man)/(Ara+Xyl) ratio in ORC modes with increased organic manure suggested that crab activity and metabolism induced microbially derived carbohydrates accumulation. The lower GluN/MurA ratio in ORC indicated an enhancement of bacteria contribution to SOM turnover in a short term. The findings reveal that the ORC mode could improve the quantity and composition of soil carbohydrates, effectively, to ensure a sustainable use of paddy soil.
    Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Typical Plants and Soil Profiles in Yanqi Basin of Northwest China
    ZHANG Juan, WANG Xiu-jun, WANG Jia-ping, WANG Wei-xia
    2014, 13(3): 648-656.  DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60723-6
    Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect  
    Carbon and nitrogen are the most important elements in the terrestrial ecosystem. Studying carbon and nitrogen distributions in plant and soil is important for our understanding of the ecosystem dynamics and carbon cycle on arid lands. A study was conducted in a typical arid area, the Yanqi Basin, Northwest China. Carbon and nitrogen distributions in plant tissues and soil profiles were determined at 21 sites with typical native plants and crops. Our results indicated that carbon content was similar between crops and native plants, and the average carbon contents in aboveground (42.4%) and belowground (42.8%) tissues were almost the same. Average nitrogen contents in crops were nearly the same (~0.7%) in aboveground and belowground tissues whereas mean nitrogen content was approximately 100% higher in aboveground (2.2%) than in belowground (1.2%) tissues for native species. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in cropland (9.4 and 0.9 g kg-1) were significantly higher than those in native land (6.2 and 0.7 g kg-1). Multiple regression analyses indicated that carbon content in belowground tissue and nitrogen content in aboveground tissue were key factors connecting plant and soil in native land. However, there was no significant relationship for carbon or nitrogen between soil and crop, which might reflect human disturbance, such as plowing and applications of various organic materials.