Alfalfa-grass biomass, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen under different management approaches in an irrigated agroecosystem

Background and aims

Management approach may influence forage production as well as soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) accrued beneath perennial grass-legume components of irrigated crop rotations. This study aimed to evaluate effects of conventional, certified organic, and reduced-tillage management approaches on above- and belowground biomass production and C and N content in alfalfa-grass mixture, and their relationships with SOC and STN.

Methods

An alfalfa-grass mixture was established in 2009 on four replications under a sprinkler irrigation system. Soil characteristics were analyzed at planting time in 2009. Aboveground biomass production, coarse and fine roots, SOC, STN, aboveground biomass C and N, and coarse- and fine-root C and N were quantified in samples collected during 2009–2011.

Results

Conventional management produced more aboveground biomass than reduced-tillage and organic, but production under organic matched conventional and exceeded reduced-tillage in the last two harvests of the study. Root production was constant under the three approaches, but resulted in more SOC accrued under reduced-tillage than under the other two approaches.

Conclusions

Biomass production was favored by conventional seedbed preparation and soil fertility management while SOC accrual was favored by minimum soil disturbance. In addition, aboveground biomass was influenced by seasonal air temperature, precipitation, and nutrient mineralization from the previous season, so above-/belowground allocation changed seasonally.     

The Effects of Crop Rotation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Chemical and Microbial Properties in a Guinea Savanna Alfisol of Nigeria

The impacts of crop rotation and inorganic nitrogen fertilization on soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN) and water-soluble organic C (WSOC) were studied in a Guinea savanna Alfisol of Nigeria. In 2001, fields of grain legumes (soybean and cowpea), herbaceous legume (Centrosema pascuorum) and a natural fallow were established. In 2002, maize was planted with N fertilizer rates of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹ in a split-plot arrangement fitted to a randomized complete block design with legumes and fallow as main plots and N fertilizer levels as subplots. Surface soil samples were taken at 4 weeks after planting and tasselling stage of the maize. Inorganic N fertilization had no significant (P>0.05) effect on SMBC, SMBN and WSOC, while crop rotation significantly (P<0.0001) affected both SMBC and WSOC. These results demonstrate that crop rotation do not necessarily influence the gross soil microbial biomass, but may affect physiologically distinct subcomponent of the microbial biomass. The soils under the various rotations had a predominance of fungi community as indicated by their wide biomass C/N ratio ranging from 9.2 to 20.9 suggesting fungi to be mainly responsible for decomposition in these soils. Soil microbial biomass and WSOC showed significant (P<0.05) correlation with both soil pH and organic carbon but no relationship with total N. Based on these results, it appears that the soil pH and organic carbon determined the flux of the soil microbial biomass and amount of WSOC in these soils.     

Simulation of management and soil interactions impacting SOC dynamics in sugarcane using the CENTURY Model

Newer methods of management and harvesting of sugarcane are being considered to improve soil and water conservation in Brazil. Our aim in this study was to evaluate soil C dynamics under sugarcane cultivation as influenced by the use of conservation management, using measurements from four different management systems and land use histories, i.e. conventional management with preharvest burning, no burning with residue retention and two systems without burning plus additional organic amendments. Field sites also differed in terms of soil texture. We compared field measurements of soil C stocks, ¹³C and microbial biomass with simulated results from the Century ecosystem model for each of the sites and management histories. We also did long-term simulations of the management treatments and sites to approximate steady-state SOC levels, to explore potential management-induced differences in SOC stocks and interactions with soil texture. The model accurately represented treatment and site differences for total SOC stocks, in which SOC stocks were strongly affected by both rates of organic matter input to soil and soil clay content. However, the model tended to underestimate the relative contribution of sugarcane-derived C to total SOC for sites with high residue and external organic matter amendments. Measured microbial biomass C across the sites was closely aligned with relative amounts of organic matter input but did not appear to be strongly affected by soil texture, whereas the model predicted that both texture and organic matter input rate would impact microbial biomass C. Long-term simulations of the conservation management alternatives suggested that SOC stocks could be maintained at or above levels in the original native Cerradão vegetation, whereas conventional practices using residue burning would result in a reduction of SOC to ca. 60% of native levels. Our results support the use of the CENTURY model as an aid to assess the impacts of different soil management practices on SOC stocks under sugarcane in Brazil.     

Assessing long-term impacts of cover crops on soil organic carbon in the central US Midwestern agroecosystems

Cover crops have been reported as one of the most effective practices to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) for agroecosystems. Impacts of cover crops on SOC change vary depending on soil properties, climate, and management practices, but it remains unclear how these control factors affect SOC benefits from cover crops, as well as which management practices can maximize SOC benefits. To address these questions, we used an advanced process-based agroecosystem model, ecosys, to assess the impacts of winter cover cropping on SOC accumulation under different environmental and management conditions. We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent do cover crops benefit SOC accumulation, and how do SOC benefits from cover crops vary with different factors (i.e., initial soil properties, cover crop types, climate during the cover crop growth period, and cover crop planting and terminating time)? (2) How can we enhance SOC benefits from cover crops under different cover crop management options? Specifically, we first calibrated and validated the ecosys model at two long-term field experiment sites with SOC measurements in Illinois. We then applied the ecosys model to six cover crop field experiment sites spanning across Illinois to assess the impacts of different factors on SOC accumulation. Our modeling results revealed the following findings: (1) Growing cover crops can bring SOC benefits by 0.33 ± 0.06 MgC ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in six cover crop field experiment sites across Illinois, and the SOC benefits are species specific to legume and non-legume cover crops. (2) Initial SOC stocks and clay contents had overall small influences on SOC benefits from cover crops. During the cover crop growth period (i.e., winter and spring in the US Midwest), high temperature increased SOC benefits from cover crops, while the impacts from larger precipitation on SOC benefits varied field by field. (3) The SOC benefits from cover crops can be maximized by optimizing cover crop management practices (e.g., selecting cover crop types and controlling cover crop growth period) for the US Midwestern maize–soybean rotation system. Finally, we discussed the economic and policy implications of adopting cover crops in the US Midwest, including that current economic incentives to grow cover crops may not be sufficient to cover costs. This study systematically assessed cover crop impacts for SOC change in the US Midwest context, while also demonstrating that the ecosys model, with rigorous validation using field experiment data, can be an effective tool to guide the adaptive management of cover crops and quantify SOC benefits from cover crops. The study thus provides practical tools and insights for practitioners and policy-makers to design cover crop related government agricultural policies and incentive programs for farmers and agri-food related industries.     

干旱区绿洲农田不同种植模式和秸秆管理下土壤质量评价

研究干旱区绿洲农田不同种植模式和秸秆管理下土壤有机碳及其酶活性的变化,揭示农业管理措施对土壤质量的影响,以期为干旱区农业资源高效利用及可持续发展提供理论依据.在作物种植规划区,选择新疆主要农作物棉花、小麦、玉米,设计长期连作及轮作试验.结果表明:轮作处理土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物生物量碳、易氧化有机碳、水溶性有机碳、热水溶性有机碳含量较连作处理分别提高了3.6%~9.9%、41.8%~98.9%、3.3%~17.0%、11.1%~32.4%、4.6%~27.5%;秸秆还田处理较秸秆不还田处理分别提高了12%~35.9%、22.4%~49.7%、30.7%~51.0%、10.6%~31.9%、41.0%~96.4%.轮作处理土壤过氧化氢酶、脱氢酶、β-葡萄糖核苷酶、蔗糖酶、纤维素酶活性较连作处理分别提高了6.4%~10.9%、6.6%~18.8%、5.9%~15.3%、10.0%~27.4%、28.1%~37.5%;秸秆还田处理较-秸秆不还田处理分别提高了31.4%~47.5%、19.9%~46.6%、13.8%~20.7%、19.8%~55.6%、54.1%~70.9%.相关性分析表明,SOC及其活性组分与土壤酶活性之间有极显著的正相关关系,利用土壤活性有机碳组分和酶活性变化可有效表征农田SOC和土壤质量变化.通过因子分析综合评价得知,在干旱区农业生产中,短期连作棉花兼实施秸秆还田可提高SOC及其活性组分含量和酶活性,合理轮作可有效缓解连作障碍,使土壤质量得到进一步改善,有利于农田土壤的可持续利用.     

Phosphorus acquisition and cycling in crop and pasture systems in low fertility tropical soils

Soil-plant processes which enhance P acquisition and cycling in low-P Oxisols were investigated in a crop rotations and ley pasture systems experiment on the Colombian eastern plains. Comparison of rooting patterns indicated that, despite low available P at depth, there are important differences in root size and distribution among native savanna, introduced forage and crop species which affect their ability to acquire P from these soils. Differences in crop/forage residue decomposition and P release rates suggest that managing the interaction of residue with soil may help slow P fixation reactions. Despite these differences, soil P fractionation measurements indicate that applied P moves preferentially into labile inorganic P pools, and then only slowly via biomass production and microbes into organic P pools under both pastures and crop rotations.     

Microbial necromass in cropland soils: A global meta-analysis of management effects

Microbial necromass is a large and persistent component of soil organic carbon (SOC), especially under croplands. The effects of cropland management on microbial necromass accumulation and its contribution to SOC have been measured in individual studies but have not yet been summarized on the global scale. We conducted a meta-analysis of 481-paired measurements from cropland soils to examine the management effects on microbial necromass and identify the optimal conditions for its accumulation. Nitrogen fertilization increased total microbial necromass C by 12%, cover crops by 14%, no or reduced tillage (NT/RT) by 20%, manure by 21%, and straw amendment by 21%. Microbial necromass accumulation was independent of biochar addition. NT/RT and straw amendment increased fungal necromass and its contribution to SOC more than bacterial necromass. Manure increased bacterial necromass higher than fungal, leading to decreased ratio of fungal-to-bacterial necromass. Greater microbial necromass increases after straw amendments were common under semi-arid and in cool climates in soils with pH <8, and were proportional to the amount of straw input. In contrast, NT/RT increased microbial necromass mainly under warm and humid climates. Manure application increased microbial necromass irrespective of soil properties and climate. Management effects were especially strong when applied during medium (3–10 years) to long (10+ years) periods to soils with larger initial SOC contents, but were absent in sandy soils. Close positive links between microbial biomass, necromass and SOC indicate the important role of stabilized microbial products for C accrual. Microbial necromass contribution to SOC increment (accumulation efficiency) under NT/RT, cover crops, manure and straw amendment ranged from 45% to 52%, which was 9%–16% larger than under N fertilization. In summary, long-term cropland management increases SOC by enhancing microbial necromass accumulation, and optimizing microbial necromass accumulation and its contribution to SOC sequestration requires site-specific management.     

Increasing Crop Diversity Mitigates Weather Variations and Improves Yield Stability

Cropping sequence diversification provides a systems approach to reduce yield variations and improve resilience to multiple environmental stresses. Yield advantages of more diverse crop rotations and their synergistic effects with reduced tillage are well documented, but few studies have quantified the impact of these management practices on yields and their stability when soil moisture is limiting or in excess. Using yield and weather data obtained from a 31-year long term rotation and tillage trial in Ontario, we tested whether crop rotation diversity is associated with greater yield stability when abnormal weather conditions occur. We used parametric and non-parametric approaches to quantify the impact of rotation diversity (monocrop, 2-crops, 3-crops without or with one or two legume cover crops) and tillage (conventional or reduced tillage) on yield probabilities and the benefits of crop diversity under different soil moisture and temperature scenarios. Although the magnitude of rotation benefits varied with crops, weather patterns and tillage, yield stability significantly increased when corn and soybean were integrated into more diverse rotations. Introducing small grains into short corn-soybean rotation was enough to provide substantial benefits on long-term soybean yields and their stability while the effects on corn were mostly associated with the temporal niche provided by small grains for underseeded red clover or alfalfa. Crop diversification strategies increased the probability of harnessing favorable growing conditions while decreasing the risk of crop failure. In hot and dry years, diversification of corn-soybean rotations and reduced tillage increased yield by 7% and 22% for corn and soybean respectively. Given the additional advantages associated with cropping system diversification, such a strategy provides a more comprehensive approach to lowering yield variability and improving the resilience of cropping systems to multiple environmental stresses. This could help to sustain future yield levels in challenging production environments.     

Soil microbial biomass and enzyme kinetics for the assessment of temporal diversification in agroecosystems

In agroecosystems, temporal diversification creates a sequence of short-lived habitats through time. Crop species as well as the diversity of crops grown in sequence might affect soil biodiversity and nutrient cycling processes. In the present study, we focused on a long-term crop rotation established in 2006 in Lower Saxony, Germany on a Luvisol. Winter wheat (WW) and silage maize (SM) were grown in continuous cultivation as well as in rotations. WW rotations span up to six years (including silage maize, sugar beet, winter rape and/or grain pea). Over two years, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) as well as kinetics (Michaelis-Menten V_max and K_m) of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes (β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) and acid phosphomonoesterase (AP)) were measured in topsoil (0–10 cm depth) three times during the growing season. Continuous wheat increased soil microbial parameters compared to continuous maize as indicated by the higher microbial biomass to soil organic carbon ratio and higher potential enzymes activities involved in the C- and N-cycles (V_max of BG and NAG). The efficiency of these enzymes was lowest in continuous maize (highest K_m of BG and NAG). Maize and sugar beet as preceding crop of WW significantly decreased MBC in the 1^st year but not in the 2^nd year WW. Sugar beet decreased BG activity as well as its substrate affinity (increased K_m). The effect of sugar beet on MBC and enzyme kinetics depended on the preceding crop and lessened with grain pea as the preceding crop. Soil microorganisms in the wheat phase benefited from winter rape as the preceding crop, shown by an increased biomass and efficiency to turn over chitin and peptidoglycan (decreased K_m of NAG). Differences between cultivated crops, cropping history and fluctuations within the year in soil microbial biomass and enzyme kinetics are shown.     

冬季作物对稻田土壤微生物量碳、氮和微生物熵的短期影响

研究不同的冬季作物马铃薯、黑麦草、紫云英、油菜在"冬季作物-双季稻"轮作种植制度下短期内对稻田土壤微生物碳、氮和微生物熵的影响,在湖南省土壤肥料研究所的实验网室内设置了小区试验.试验结果表明:几种冬季作物均提高了稻田土壤微生物碳、氮含量,黑麦草明显提高了土壤微生物量碳和微生物熵,紫云英明显提高了土壤微生物量氮.冬季作物对土壤微生物量碳和土壤微生物量氮的季节性影响变化趋势基本一致,紫云英、马铃薯处理的土壤微生物量C、N含量均在水稻生育期间8月中旬达到最大值.     

Sustainable Approaches to the Management of Plant-parasitic Nematodes and Disease Complexes

Physical, chemical, and biological factors of soil may reduce damage caused by plant-parasitic nematodes. Suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes is particularly challenging in soils in which there are short crop sequences, sequential susceptible host crops, or infestations of multiple nematode species. In southern Indiana, a watermelon production system involving rotations with soybean and corn does not suppress Meloidogyne incognita, but several aspects of such systems can be modified to reduce nematode damage in an integrated management approach. Cash crops with resistance to M. incognita can be used to reduce population densities of M. incognita. Small grains as cover crops can be replaced by cover crops with resistance to M. incognita or by crops with biofumigation potential. Mycorrhizal fungal inoculations of potting mixes during transplanting production of watermelon seedlings may improve early crop establishment. Other approaches to nematode management utilize soil suppressiveness. One-year rotations of soybean with corn neither reduced the soil-borne complex of sudden death syndrome (SDS) nor improved soybean root health over that in soybean monoculture. Reduced tillage combined with crop rotation may reduce the activity of soil-borne pathogens in some soils. For example in a long-term trial, numbers of Heterodera glycines and severity of foliar SDS symptoms were reduced under minimum tillage. Thus, sustainable management strategies require holistic approaches that consider entire production systems rather than focus on a single crop in its year of production.     

The functional significance of the microbial biomass in organic and conventionally managed soils

In order to achieve sustainability in managed ecosystems we must understand management impacts on soil processes and clarify the regulatory role of the microbial community on these processes. Crop rotation and organic management practices are thought to have positive impacts on the microbial biomass; however, the specific impacts of crop rotation organic management on soil microbial ecology are largely unknown. The effect of organic management on soil microbial ecology was investigated using soils collected from the Rodale Institute Research Center's long-term Farming Systems Trial (FST) experiment. The FST, begun in 1981, included a manured and a cover cropped organic rotation and a conventionally managed grain based rotation. Soil respiration rates and¹³C-isotope fate in a companion study suggest that the biomass characteristics of the FST treatment soils were different in November 1991. However, direct measurement of the microbial community at this time using Phospholipid Fatty Acid Analysis (PLFA) did not identify statistically significant treatment based differences in soil biomass characteristics. Variability among the PLFA profiles of treatment replicates was as great as variability between farming systems. Treatment based trends were observed among selected PLFAs, particularly those present in large amounts, that were consistent with indirect biomass and biomass-dependent measures. Overall, PLFA profiles, soil respiration rates and¹³C-cycling suggested that the organic cover cropped soil had the Largest and most heterogeneous microbial population while the biomass of the organic-manure amended soil was the least heterogeneous, and the most metabolically active. Present address: University of Illinois, 11025. Goodwin ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA     

The impacts of four potential bioenergy crops on soil carbon dynamics as shown by biomarker analyses and DRIFT spectroscopy

Perennial bioenergy crops accumulate carbon (C) in soils through minimally disturbing management practices and large root inputs, but the mechanisms of microbial control over C dynamics under bioenergy crops have not been clarified. Root‐derived C inputs affect both soil microbial contribution to and degradation of soil organic matter resulting in differing soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations, storage, and stabilities under different vegetation regimes. Here, we measured biomarker amino sugars and neutral sugars and used diffuse reflectance mid‐infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to explore microbial C contributions, degradation ability, and SOC stability, respectively, under four potential bioenergy crops, M.×giganteus (Miscanthus × giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a mixed prairie, and a maize (Zea mays L.)–maize–soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) (MMS) rotation over six growing seasons. Our results showed that SOC concentration (g/kg) increased by 10.6% in mixed prairie over the duration of this experiment and SOC storage (Mg/ha) increased by 17.0% and 15.6% in switchgrass and mixed prairie, respectively. Conversion of row crops to perennial grasses maintained SOC stability and increased bacterial residue contribution to SOC in M.×giganteus and switchgrass by 20.0% and 15.0%, respectively, after 6 years. Degradation of microbe‐derived labile SOC was increased in M.×giganteus, and degradation of both labile and stable SOC increased in MMS rotation. These results demonstrate that microbial communities under perennial grasses maintained SOC quality, while SOC quantity increased under switchgrass and mixed prairie. Annual MMS rotation displayed decreases in aspects of SOC quality without changes in SOC quantity. These findings have implications for understanding microbial control over soil C quantity and quality under land‐use shift from annual to perennial bioenergy cropping systems.     

Soil microbiological indicators of soil quality in four rice rotations systems

Rice may have negative effects on the soil due to intensive levelling tasks required for flood irrigation. Therefore, rotations including rice influence soil physical, chemical and biological properties differently. In our study, the effects of rotations with rice on biological properties were evaluated and associated with the capacity of the soil to supply N to crops. Furthermore, the relationships among the variables were studied and those most sensitive to detect the resulting changes were determined. The study was conducted on four crop sequences over a 4-year period: rice monoculture (RR), rice–soybean (RS), rice–soybean–maize–soybean (RSMS) and rice–pasture (RP). The four rotations evaluated had a strong effect on soil properties. Principal components analysis showed that RR and the RP rotation were discriminated clearly, while RSMS and RS were in the middle of the biplot, forming two different groups. Microbial biomass N (MBN), potential of N mineralization measured by anaerobic incubations (PMN-AI) and the microbial biomass C to N ratio were the variables that differed most the studied rotations. The PMN-AI variable was positively associated with MBN, microbial biomass C, organic C, total N, urease, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA) variables. The potential of N mineralization measured with hot KCl neither evidenced differences among the evaluated situations nor was associated to the other variables. This is why it is assumed this is not a good soil quality indicator. The differences found in microbial analysis indicate that microbiological variables (MBC, MBN), nitrogen availability index (PNM-AI), and biochemical variables (FDA) were sensitive variables to evaluate soil rotations’ effects and they might be used as good soil quality indicators once their critical values have been determined for different conditions.     

Dryland residue and soil organic matter as influenced by tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice

Novel management practices are needed to increase dryland soil organic matter and crop yields that have been declining due to long-term conventional tillage with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow system in the northern Great Plains, USA. The effects of tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice were evaluated on dryland crop biomass (stems + leaves) yield, surface residue, and soil organic C (SOC) and total N (STN) at the 0?C20?cm depth in a Williams loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid, Typic Argiustolls) from 2004 to 2007 in eastern Montana, USA. Treatments were two tillage practices [no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT)], four crop rotations [continuous spring wheat (CW), spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (W-P), spring wheat-barley (Hordeum vulgaris L.) hay-pea (W-B-P), and spring wheat-barley hay-corn (Zea mays L.)-pea (W-B-C-P)], and two cultural practices [regular (conventional seed rates and plant spacing, conventional planting date, broadcast N fertilization, and reduced stubble height) and ecological (variable seed rates and plant spacing, delayed planting, banded N fertilization, and increased stubble height)]. Crop biomass and N content were 4 to 44% greater in W-B-C-P than in CW in 2004 and 2005 and greater in ecological than in regular cultural practice in CT. Soil surface residue amount and C and N contents were greater in NT than in CT, greater in CW, W-P, and W-B-C-P than in W-B-P, and greater in 2006 and 2007 than in 2004 and 2005. The SOC and STN concentrations at 0?C5?cm were 4 to 6% greater in CW than in W-P or W-B-P in NT and CT from 2005 and 2007. In 2007, SOC content at 10?C20?cm was greater in W-P and W-B-P than in W-B-C-P in CT but STN was greater in W-B-P and W-B-C-P than in CW in NT. From 2004 to 2007, SOC and STN concentrations varied at 0?C5?cm but increased at 5?C20?cm. Diversified crop rotation and delayed planting with higher seed rates and banded N fertilization increased the amount of crop biomass returned to the soil and surface residue C and N. Although no-tillage increased surface residue C and N, continuous nonlegume cropping increased soil C and N levels at the surface layer compared with other crop rotations. Continued return of crop residue from 2004 to 2007 may increase soil C and N levels but long-term studies are needed to better evaluate the effect of management practices on soil C and N levels under dryland cropping systems in the northern Great Plains.     

不同轮作制度对淮北白浆土团聚体及其有机碳的积累与分布的影响

淮北白浆土是苏鲁交界地区主要低产土壤 ,同时也是我国黄淮地区商品粮生产基地的重要土壤资源。该土壤除了剖面发生分异强烈、土壤理化性质不良外 ,有机碳匮乏是其主要肥力限制因子 [1]。土壤有机碳不但是维持和培育土壤质量的关键组成成分 ,而全球土壤有机碳每年分解释放大气 CO2 而且达到 0 .1～ 5.4C Pg·年 -1,土壤碳 0 .1 %的变化将导致大气圈 CO2 浓度 1 mg· L - 1的变化。因而其存储和释放的变化与大气 CO2 动态有密切的关系 [9,10 ] 。农业土壤对大气 CO2 的截存贡献是研究陆地系统对大气 CO2 的汇效应 (sink effect)的焦点 …     

Meeting the demand for crop production: the challenge of yield decline in crops grown in short rotations

There is a trend world‐wide to grow crops in short rotation or in monoculture, particularly in conventional agriculture. This practice is becoming more prevalent due to a range of factors including economic market trends, technological advances, government incentives, and retailer and consumer demands. Land‐use intensity will have to increase further in future in order to meet the demands of growing crops for both bioenergy and food production, and long rotations may not be considered viable or practical. However, evidence indicates that crops grown in short rotations or monoculture often suffer from yield decline compared to those grown in longer rotations or for the first time. Numerous factors have been hypothesised as contributing to yield decline, including biotic factors such as plant pathogens, deleterious rhizosphere microorganisms, mycorrhizas acting as pathogens, and allelopathy or autotoxicity of the crop, as well as abiotic factors such as land management practices and nutrient availability. In many cases, soil microorganisms have been implicated either directly or indirectly in yield decline. Although individual factors may be responsible for yield decline in some cases, it is more likely that combinations of factors interact to cause the problem. However, evidence confirming the precise role of these various factors is often lacking in field studies due to the complex nature of cropping systems and the numerous interactions that take place within them. Despite long‐term knowledge of the yield‐decline phenomenon, there are few tools to counteract it apart from reverting to longer crop rotations or break crops. Alternative cropping and management practices such as double‐cropping or inter‐cropping, tillage and organic amendments may prove valuable for combating some of the negative effects seen when crops are grown in short rotation. Plant breeding continues to be important, although this does require a specific breeding target to be identified. This review identifies gaps in our understanding of yield decline, particularly with respect to the complex interactions occurring between the different components of agro‐ecosystems, which may well influence food security in the 21^st Century.     

Integrated management systems and N fertilization: effect on soil organic matter in rice-rapeseed rotation

Aims

Understanding the effects of long-term crop management on soil organic matter (SOM) is necessary to improve the soil quality and sustainability of agroecosystems.

Method

The present 7-year long-term field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of integrated management systems and N fertilization on SOM fractions and carbon management index (CMI). Two integrated soil-crop system management (ISSM-1 and ISSM-2, combined with improved cultivation pattern, water management and no-tillage) were compared with a traditional farming system at three nitrogen (N) fertilization rates (0, 150 and 225 kg N ha^?1).

Results

Management systems had greater effects on SOM and its fractions than did N fertilization. Compared with traditional farming practice, the integrated management systems increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 13 % and total nitrogen (TN) by 10 % (averaged over N levels) after 7 years. Integrated management systems were more effective in increasing labile SOM fractions and CMI as compared to traditional farming practice. SOC, TN and dissolved organic matter in nitrogen increased with N fertilization rates. Nonetheless, N addition decreased other labile fractions: particulate organic matter, dissolved organic matter in carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and potassium permanganate-oxidizable carbon.

Conclusions

We conclude that integrated management systems increased total SOM, labile fractions and CMI, effectively improved soil quality in rice-rapeseed rotations. Appropriate N fertilization (N150) resulted in higher SOC and TN. Though N application increased dissolved organic matter in nitrogen, it was prone to decrease most of the other labile SOM fractions, especially under higher N rate (N250), implying the decline of SOM quality.     

Energy cover crops for biogas production increase soil organic carbon stocks: A modeling approach

Energy cover crops for biogas production through anaerobic digestion (AD) are inserted between two primary crops. They replace either bare soil or nonharvested cover crops, and their management is usually intensified to produce more biomass. They allow the production of renewable energy as well as digestate, used as an organic fertilizer, without directly competing with food production. Because of the increased biomass production and export and of the return of a digested biomass to the soil, the impact of energy cover crops on soil organic carbon (SOC) is questioned. The objective of this paper was to study the difference in SOC stocks induced by the introduction of energy cover crops for AD coupled with the application of the resulting amount of digestate. We used the AD model Sys-Metha combined with the soil C model AMG to simulate SOC stocks for 13 case studies in France, with scenarios comparing different intercrop management practices, with or without cover crops, harvested or not. Our results indicated that the higher biomass production of energy cover crops (from 6.7 to 11.1 t DM ha⁻¹) in comparison with nonharvested cover crops (2 t DM ha⁻¹) or bare soil led to higher humified C input (belowground input and digestate), despite the high C fraction exported in AD. This resulted in an increase in SOC stocks in comparison with nonharvested cover crops or bare soil (from 0.01 to 0.12 t C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ over 30 years). The uncertainties in the model parameters did not modify these results. However, in the case of equal biomass production between energy cover crops and nonharvested cover crops, SOC stocks would be lower with energy cover crops.     

不同施肥管理措施对农田土壤中植物和微生物残留组分的影响

在农田生态系统中,施肥是维持和提高土壤有机碳(SOC)水平的重要管理措施。微生物代谢和植物组分存留共同控制着有机碳的截获过程。本研究利用肥料与肥力长期(30年)定位试验,以氨基糖和木质素分别作为微生物和植物残留组分标识物,探讨长期不同施肥处理对黑土农田中微生物和植物残体组分积累及有机碳库的影响。结果表明: 与未施肥处理相比,施用无机肥(单施氮肥或有机无机肥配施)可增加作物生物量和土壤氨基糖的积累,但对木质素和SOC含量无显著影响,说明无机肥施入刺激了微生物底物同化,加速了有机碳和木质素在耕层的周转。与无机肥相比,长期施用有机肥促进了SOC的累积(增幅38.3%),但是氨基糖在土壤有机碳中所占的比例并未发生显著变化,说明微生物残留物对SOC积累的贡献具有饱和性;而有机肥施入增加了木质素在SOC中的比例,即增加了植物残体对SOC长期积累的贡献。与单施有机肥相比,有机无机肥配施增加了微生物残留物对SOC的积累。因此,长期施肥可以调节微生物残留物和植物残留组分的不同积累过程,从而影响SOC的积累和稳定机制。