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Increased Soil Aggregate Stability by Altering Contents and Chemical Composition of Organic Carbon Fractions via Seven Years of Manure Addition in Mollisols

Author

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  • Meng Zhou

    (State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China)

  • Yang Xiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China)

  • Leilei Xiao

    (Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China)

  • Yansheng Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China)

  • Xingyi Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China)

  • Richard M. Cruse

    (Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 500011, USA)

  • Xiaobing Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China)

Abstract

Mollisols include an abundance of soil organic carbon (SOC) which is easily influenced by fertilization management. Manure addition could enhance soil aggregate stability; however, the dominating factor affecting its stabilization remains controversial. The fertilization practices were initiated in 2012 to investigate the influences of different fertilization managements on the contents and molecular characterization of organic carbon (OC) fractions, and to clarify the underlying mechanism of soil aggregate stability change. NoF (non-fertilizer), CF (only chemical fertilizer), CF + DM (chemical fertilizer plus single dairy manure at 15 t ha −1 ), and CF + 2DM (chemical fertilizer plus double dairy manure at 30 t ha −1 ) treatments were established. This research was aimed at exploring the potential mechanism that affects aggregate stability in Mollisols through the variation of contents and chemical composition of OC fractions, and screening out the appropriate fertilization practice on promoting SOC stabilization and crop yield under 7-year manure addition. Compared to CF, 7-year manure addition significantly enhanced SOC content by 17.4–35.9% at 0–10 cm depth, which was evidenced from the contribution of increased aromatic compounds with 4.3–19.9%. Simultaneously, compared with CF, CF + DM and CF + 2DM both significantly enhanced dissolved organic carbon and easily oxidizable organic carbon contents by 12.5–37.7% at a 0–30 cm soil layer. In regard to soil aggregates, the increased OC content and mass percentage of macroaggregates, and the decreased mass percentage of free microaggregates both improved aggregate stability under manure addition at 0-30 cm soil layer, which was proven to be the increment in mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) values by 17.6–22.1%. Moreover, CF + DM and CF + 2DM raised aromatic compound amounts of POM fractions within macroaggregates [M(c)POM] by 5.6–11.6% and within free microaggregates (Fm-POM) by 4.3–10%. Furthermore, CF + DM and CF + 2DM both significantly increased maize yield by 5.7% and 4.2% compared to CF, but no significant difference was observed between CF + DM and CF + 2DM treatments. Collectively, physical protection through the occlusion within aggregates of POM might be the central mechanism for soil aggregate stability of manure addition in Mollisols. The manure addition of 15 t ha −1 was the effective management method to enhance SOC stabilization and crop yield in Mollisols.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng Zhou & Yang Xiao & Leilei Xiao & Yansheng Li & Xingyi Zhang & Richard M. Cruse & Xiaobing Liu, 2022. "Increased Soil Aggregate Stability by Altering Contents and Chemical Composition of Organic Carbon Fractions via Seven Years of Manure Addition in Mollisols," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2022:i:1:p:88-:d:1018408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johannes Lehmann & Markus Kleber, 2015. "The contentious nature of soil organic matter," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 60-68, December.
    2. Xuejun Liu & Ying Zhang & Wenxuan Han & Aohan Tang & Jianlin Shen & Zhenling Cui & Peter Vitousek & Jan Willem Erisman & Keith Goulding & Peter Christie & Andreas Fangmeier & Fusuo Zhang, 2013. "Enhanced nitrogen deposition over China," Nature, Nature, vol. 494(7438), pages 459-462, February.
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