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Tillage-Induced Fragmentation of Large Soil Macroaggregates Increases Nitrogen Leaching in a Subtropical Karst Region

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  • Shuangshuang Xiao

    (Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
    Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Xiajiao Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Wei Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China)

  • Yingying Ye

    (College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410125, China)

  • Wurong Chen

    (Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China)

  • Kelin Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China)

Abstract

Tillage leads to rapid loss of soil nitrogen (N) over a short period of time in karst areas. N leaching is the primary pathway of soil N loss and therefore is key to understanding the mechanisms of N loss induced by tillage. However, the factors affecting N leaching under tillage are not fully understood. Effects of tillage at various frequencies on leached N were examined in a one-year in situ simulation experiment using five tillage treatments: no tillage (T0), semiannual tillage (T1), and tillage every four months (T2), two months (T3), and monthly (T4). Concentration and amount of leached N had peaks in dry–rewetting months. Tillage significantly increased total amounts of leached N during the one-year experiment, and the largest amount of leached N was under tillage at the highest frequency. The primary form of N in leachate was NO 3 ¯ (88.49–91.11%), followed by DON (7.80–9.87%), and then NH 4 + with the lowest amount (1.09–2.10%). Tillage increased the amount of leached NO 3 ¯ and DON, but had no significant effect on leached NH 4 + . Additionally, the amount of leached N had significantly negative correlations with 5–8 mm soil aggregate, NO 3 ¯, DON, and sand content, and positive correlations with 2–5 and 0.25–2 mm. Soil 5–8 mm aggregate and DON were the main factors explaining the variation in leached N according to the RDA analysis. Tillage increased the breakdown of large aggregates, appearing to have increased the mineralization of organic matter, which resulted in increased N leaching. Our results emphasize the importance of reducing or eliminating physical disturbance indued by tillage and maintenance of large soil aggregates for decreasing N leachate in lime soil of karst regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuangshuang Xiao & Xiajiao Liu & Wei Zhang & Yingying Ye & Wurong Chen & Kelin Wang, 2022. "Tillage-Induced Fragmentation of Large Soil Macroaggregates Increases Nitrogen Leaching in a Subtropical Karst Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:10:p:1648-:d:923890
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lu, Jie & Bai, Zhaohai & Velthof, Gerard L. & Wu, Zhiguo & Chadwick, David & Ma, Lin, 2019. "Accumulation and leaching of nitrate in soils in wheat-maize production in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 407-415.
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