Stratification of soil organic C, N and the C:N ratio as affected by different plastic film mulching modes in a semiarid region of China

Soil Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Ting Wei ◽  
Zhikuan Jia ◽  
Xiaolong Ren
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Plastic Film ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil C ◽  
North West ◽  
Plastic Film Mulching ◽  
Film Mulching ◽  
The Mean

The soil degradation caused by plastic film mulching tillage in rain-fed areas of north-west China is known to affect sustainable and stable crop yields because of major losses of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients. To evaluate the effects of different plastic film mulching modes on SOC and total nitrogen (STN) sequestration capacity in loessic soil, we investigated the effects of different plastic film mulching on SOC, STN, and the soil C:N ratio in semiarid areas of southern Ningxia for a 4-year period (2013–2016). Five treatments were tested: (i) the control, conventional flat planting without mulching (CK); (ii) alternating mulching and bare rows without ridges and planting in mulched rows (P); (iii) furrow planting of maize, separated by consecutive plastic film-mulched ridges (S); (iv) furrow planting of maize, separated by alternating large and small plastic film-mulched ridges (D); and (v) furrow-flat planting of maize with a large plastic film-mulched ridge alternating with a flat plastic film-mulched space (R). In the final experimental year (2016), the results showed that the mean soil bulk density at 0–60 cm depth had decreased with film mulching treatments by 2.82%, 5.90% (P < 0.05), 7.29% (P < 0.05), and 9.46% (P < 0.05) respectively, compared with CK. Film mulching increased the concentration of SOC and STN, which were ranked in order S > R/D > P > CK; however, there was no significant increase with the storage of SOC and STN. The mean soil C:N ratio was higher with mulching treatment, i.e. 2.91% (P > 0.05) higher than CK in 0–60 cm depth. Mulching treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the stratification ratio (SR) of SOC and soil C: N ratio from the surface (0–20 cm) to all depths compared with CK, i.e. the SR of SOC at the 0–20:20–40 cm depth significantly (P < 0.05) increased with D, R, S, and P by 14.81%, 9.47%, 14.18%, and 9.51% respectively, compared with CK.

scholarly journals Film mulching combined with cow manure increases soil C and N

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e1102
Author(s):  
Lixia Zhu ◽  
Jutian Chen ◽  
Yufang Shen ◽  
Shiqing Li
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Spring Maize ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
C And N ◽  
Film Mulching ◽  
Npk Fertilization

Aim of study: A field study was conducted to assess responses of soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) to film mulching and manure, which were important in identifying the changes of SOC and TN.Area of study: A semiarid area in northwestern China.Material and methods: The field (soil classified as CumuliUstic Isohumosol) has been planted with spring maize (Zea mays L.) for years. Three treatments were: 1) NPK fertilization and no film mulching (CK), 2) NPK fertilization and film mulching (PF) and 3) film mulching and NPK fertilization combined with cow manure (OMF).Main results: Compared with CK, OMF significantly increased SOC and TN, while no significant effect was observed under PF. The average increases of SOC storage in OMF were 39.2% in 0-10 cm layer and 34.3% in 10-20 cm layer. The average increases of TN storage were 37.6% in 0-10 cm layer and 31.3% in 10-20 cm layer, relative to CK. Compared with the initial SOC (8.86 g/kg) and TN (0.99 g/kg), CK and PF decreased 1.4% and 6.9% of SOC, and 9.1% and 17.2% of TN, whereas OMF increased SOC and TN. The SOC/TN was not affected by treatments but slight increase was observed since the beginning of experiment. Both PF and OMF significantly increased maize grain yields (on average 45.8% and 75.7%, respectively) compared with CK.Research highlights: Manure combined with film mulching significantly increased soil C and N, ameliorating harmful effects of plastic film mulching, improving soil fertility in the long term and increasing crop yields.

Corrigendum to: Conservation agriculture effects on soil properties and crop productivity in a semiarid region of India

Soil Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Somasundaram ◽  
M. Salikram ◽  
N. K. Sinha ◽  
M. Mohanty ◽  
R. S. Chaudhary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Residue Retention

Conservation agriculture (CA) including reduced or no-tillage and crop residue retention, is known to be a self–sustainable system as well as an alternative to residue burning. The present study evaluated the effect of reduced tillage coupled with residue retention under different cropping systems on soil properties and crop yields in a Vertisol of a semiarid region of central India. Two tillage systems – conventional tillage (CT) with residue removed, and reduced tillage (RT) with residue retained – and six major cropping systems of this region were examined after 3 years of experimentation. Results demonstrated that soil moisture content, mean weight diameter, percent water stable aggregates (>0.25mm) for the 0–15cm soil layer were significantly (Pmoderately labile>less labile. At the 0–15cm depth, the contributions of moderately labile, less labile and non-labile C fractions to total organic C were 39.3%, 10.3% and 50.4% respectively in RT and corresponding values for CT were 38.9%, 11.7% and 49.4%. Significant differences in different C fractions were observed between RT and CT. Soil microbial biomass C concentration was significantly higher in RT than CT at 0–15cm depth. The maize–chickpea cropping system had significantly (P–1 followed by soybean+pigeon pea (2:1) intercropping (3.50 t ha–1) and soybean–wheat cropping systems (2.97 t ha–1). Thus, CA practices could be sustainable management practices for improving soil health and crop yields of rainfed Vertisols in these semiarid regions.

scholarly journals Effects of Irrigation Techniques on Yield, Quality and Water Use Efficiency of Greenhouse Grown Celery (Apium graveolens L.)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenglin Wang ◽  
Chen Luo ◽  
Yue Xie ◽  
Xiaotang Jiang ◽  
Yixin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Furrow Irrigation ◽  
Plastic Film ◽  
Irrigation Amount ◽  
Plastic Film Mulching ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Yield Quality ◽  
Film Mulching

Abstract Background: Traditional irrigation methods in protected vegetable production such as furrow irrigation result in low water use efficiency. New techniques, such as drip irrigation, micro-sprinkling irrigation have been developed for improving water use efficiency. However, these techniques have not been tested in greenhouse celery production. In this study, three different irrigation techniques micro-sprinkler irrigation (MS), furrow irrigation under plastic film mulching (PF) and micro-sprinkler irrigation under the plastic film mulching (MSP) were investigated whether the three techniques can improve the yield, quality and water use efficiency of greenhouse-grown celery, compared to furrow irrigation (FI). Results: The individual plant weight of celery was higher under MS, PF and MSP than under FI in both autumn season crop (AC) and spring season crop (SC), compared to FI. In AC and SC, the economic yield of celery increases under MSP by 54.18% and 49.55%, the economic yield of celery increases under PF by 30.37% and 34.10%. The irrigation amount of MSP was 151.69 and 179.91 m3 667 m-2 in AC and SC, which was 23.13% and 27.27% lower than that of FI. The irrigation amount of PF was 151.69 and 196.78 m3 667 m-2 in AC and SC, which was 23.13% and 20.45% lower than that of FI. PF and MSP reduced the irrigation amount of celery cultivation in greenhouse, and soil evaporation content. Conclusions: In short, MSP and PF promoted the growth and yield of celery in greenhouse with improved quality and water use efficiency.

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