scholarly journals Effect of grassland management on the amounts of soil organic N and C.

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hassink ◽  
J.J. Neeteson

The effects of different management systems on soil organic N and C contents were studied on a sandy and loamy soil given various amounts of N fertilizers under rotational grazing, in the Netherlands. Differences in total soil N and C between grazed and mown fields were also investigated. On the loamy soil grazed plots N accumulated at 245 kg/ha per year, irrespective of the rate of applied N. Four years after the experiment was initiated both soil N and C contents were considerably higher under grazing than under mowing. The C/N ratio of soil organic matter was higher without N fertilizer application, especially in the top 5 cm. The amount of N returned to the soil by grazing was 71% and 57% in the sandy and the loamy soil, resp. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Soil Research ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
B. P. Harms ◽  
E. Krull ◽  
W. J. Wang ◽  
N. J. Mathers

Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and open forests occupy about 150 Mha in Australia, and originally occupied 11.2 Mha in Queensland. Substantial areas (1.3 Mha) of the mulga vegetation have been cleared in Queensland, mostly for pasture production, but some areas are also used for cereal cropping. Twenty years after mulga clearing we found a significant loss of total soil organic C (28–35% from the 0–0.05 m depth) and light fraction C (>50% from the 0–1 m depth) from soil under pasture and cropping at a site in southern Queensland. We report here the changes in soil N and labile N pools in a paired-site study following conversion of mulga to buffel pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris) and cereal (mostly wheat) cropping for more than 20 years. Conversion from mulga forest to pasture and cultivation resulted in greater losses of soil N than organic C in the top 0.1 m depths. As a result, C/N ratios in soil under both pasture and cropping were higher than soil under mulga, indicating a decline in soil organic matter quality after mulga clearing. Although land-use change had no significant effect on 15N natural abundance (δ15N) values of total soil N down to a depth of 1 m, δ15N values of wheat tops and roots indicated that the primary source of N under cropping was soil organic N, while that of buffel pasture was a mixed source of soil N and decomposed litter and root N. Light fraction N (<1.6 Mg/m3) declined by 60–70% throughout the 1 m soil profile under pasture and cropping, but it was 15N-enriched in these 2 land-use systems. The δ15N values of mulga phyllodes, twigs, and fine roots, indicated an input of atmospheric fixed N2 that was estimated to be about 25 kg N/ha.year. However, the source and magnitude of this N resource needs to be confirmed. Soil N losses were estimated to be 12 kg N/ha.year under pasture and 17 kg N/ha.year under cropping over a 20-year period. These findings raise the issue of the long-term sustainable use of cleared mulga areas for pasture and/or cropping. The labile C and N pools and N mineralised also declined, which would have an immediate adverse effect on soil fertility and plant productivity of cleared Mulga Lands, as well as reducing their potential as a soil sink for greenhouse gases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Muhammad Arshad Ullah ◽  
Nazir Hussain ◽  
Helge Schmeisky ◽  
Muhammad Rasheed

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of intercropping grass (Panicummaximum) and legumes (Vicia sativa and cowpeas) alone or coupled with inoculation or fertilizer on soilfertility. The study comprised of two field experiments conducted under rain fed conditions for two years(June, 2005 to September, 2007) at National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. In oneexperiment intercropping (33, 50 and 67%) of grass and legumes alone as well as coupled with seedinoculation were studied while, same set of treatments was combined with fertilizer application at the ratesof 25, 75 and 50 kg/ha (N, P2O5 and K2O) in the second experiment. Total soil N increased by 0.008% dueto symbiotic fixation in addition to plant uptake under best treatment when compared with grass alonewhile, soil organic matter increased by 0.19%. After crop harvest soil N content was determined to behigher in all the treatments of the experiment compared with growing grass alone. Legumes caused rhizobialN fixation that caused an increase in soil N. Similarly, intercropping and inoculation increased this soilcharacteristic that was found to be non-significant in the first crop but later on became significant, especiallywhen intercropping of grass with legumes after seed inoculation was investigated or fertilizer wassupplemented to the crops. Thus, not only grass used the symbiotically fixed N by companion legumesbut also enhanced the soil N content. The effect of fertilizer was not measurable statistically in case of soilorganic matter. This parameter, in general, was not affected significantly when assessed after first cropharvest. Nevertheless, legumes alone or intercropped within grass increased this important soil constituent.Inoculation proved further beneficial in this regard but combination of intercropping (especially 67%)either with seed inoculation or application of fertilizer was found as the best technique for increasing soilorganic matter.


1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wolf ◽  
L.H.J.M. Janssen

The changed crop rotation on arable land, the decreasing grassland area and the increase in forest area in the Netherlands resulted in a decrease in C pool size. For the calculation of this C pool a method requiring only three input data (average amount of crop or tree residue rate, soil organic matter decomposition and the humification coefficient) has been applied. However the method can only be applied to situations in equilibrium where all three input data are equal. For a changing land use a new state of equilibrium and rate of change in C pool size can be calculated. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arcângelo Loss ◽  
Marcos Gervasio Pereira ◽  
Adriano Perin ◽  
Fernando Silva Coutinho ◽  
Lúcia Helena Cunha dos Anjos

The combination of the no-till planting system (NTS) and pasture (e.g. brachiaria grass, Urochloa sp.) for livestock production constitutes a crop–livestock integration (CLI) system. CLI systems significantly increase the total organic carbon (TOC) content of soil and the particulate organic carbon (POC) of soil organic matter (SOM). The present study evaluated TOC and the granulometric fractions of SOM under different management systems in a Cerrado area in the state of Goiás. Two areas applying crop rotation were evaluated, one using CLI (corn/brachiaria grass/bean/cotton/soybean planted sequentially) and the other NTS (sunflower/pearl millet/soybean/corn planted sequentially). A third area covered with natural Cerrado vegetation (Cerradão) served as a reference to determine original soil conditions. Soil was randomly sampled at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm. The TOC, POC, and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) were assessed, and POC and MOC stocks calculated. The CLI system resulted in greater TOC levels than NTS (0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm). Compared with the Cerradão, CLI areas exhibited higher stocks of TOC (at 5–10 and 10–20 cm) and POC (at 0–40 cm). Results obtained for TOC and POC fractions show that land management with CLI was more efficient in increasing SOM than NTS. Moreover, when compared with NTS, the CLI system provided better POC stratification.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2419
Author(s):  
Marden Daniel Espinoza Guardiola ◽  
José Frutuoso Vale Júnior ◽  
Edmilson Evangelista da Silva ◽  
Celeste Queiroz Rossi ◽  
Marcos Gervasio Pereira

The crop-livestock integration (CLI) and crop-livestock-forest integration (CLFI) management systems, have been shown to be viable approaches for increasing carbon sequestration in soils, resulting in the improvement of physical and chemical soil attributes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical attributes and organic matter in soils under Natural Forest (NF) converted to different uses and managed differently: rotational pasture area (PAST), crop-livestock integration (CLI), and crop-livestock-forest integration (CLIF). The research was conducted at the São Paulo farm, in Iracema, located in the south-central region of the state of Roraima, Brazil. The studied soil type was classified as Ultisol. Soil samples were taken by opening ditches and examining layers at 0.1-m depth intervals from surface to 0.60-m depth. Total organic carbon (TOC), chemical and granulometric fractionation of soil organic matter (SOM), oxidizable fractions, and light organic matter in water were analyzed. Our results showed low levels of the analyzed chemical elements, a characteristic of a soil with low natural fertility. This matches conditions inherent in source material, weathered by high rainfall, a warm and humid climate, and flat topographic relief. In the 0-0.1 m layer, the PAST and CLI systems had the highest TOC contents relative to the other systems studied. At other depths, there were no statistical differences among TOC levels. The highest concentration of C in the particulate fraction (POC) was noted in the surface layer in all management systems. The pasture system had the highest concentration POC in the top 0.10 m. Our results also showed that the upper 0.10 m of soil in NF contained the lowest content of organic carbon associated with mineral (MOC) relative to the managed agrosystems. In addition, humin provided the largest contribution to SOM in all evaluated management systems. The crop-livestock integration (CLI) and crop-livestock integration forest (CLIF) systems, emerged as a strong alternative to carbon incorporation and subsequently the improvement of physical and chemical soil attributes. The objective of this work to evaluate the chemical attributes and organic matter in soils under Natural forest (NF) converted into different use and management systems: pasture (PAST), crop-livestock Integration (CLI) and crop-livestock Integration forest (CLIF). The research was conducted at São Paulo farm in Iracema, located in the Center-South region of the State of Roraima, Brazil. The soil studied was classified as Argissolo Amarelo Distrófico. The samples were taken by the opening of trenches in layers of 0-0.10, 0.10- 0.20, 0.20- 0.40, and 0.40-0.60 m depth. Total organic carbon (TOC), chemical and granulometric fractionation of soil organic matter (SOM), oxidizable fractions and organic matter in water were analyzed. The results showed low levels of the analyzed chemical elements which characterizes soils with low natural fertility, which matches the conditions of the source material, high rainfall and regional temperature, as well as the flat local relief. In the 0-0.1 m layer, the PAST and CLI systems had the highest TOC contents when compared to the other systems studied, in the other depths there were no statistical differences between the TOC levels. The highest amount of C in the particulate fraction (COp) was verified in the surface layer in all evaluated management systems. The pasture area was the system with the greatest contribution of COp to the depth of 0-0.0 m. In relation to the carbon content associated with minerals (COam), the results showed that the depth of 0-0.05 m NF area presented the lowest levels when compared to the other systems. Regarding the humic substances, there was a larger contribution of humin in all evaluated systems.


1996 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Glendining ◽  
D. S. Powlson ◽  
P. R. Poulton ◽  
N. J. Bradbury ◽  
D. Palazzo ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThe Broadbalk Wheat Experiment at Rothamsted (UK) includes plots given the same annual applications of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer each year since 1852 (48, 96 and 144 kg N/ha, termed N1 N2 and N3 respectively). These very long-term N treatments have increased total soil N content, relative to the plot never receiving fertilizer N (N0), due to the greater return of organic N to the soil in roots, root exudates, stubble, etc (the straw is not incorporated). The application of 144 kg N/ha for 135 years has increased total soil N content by 21%, or 570 kg/ha (0–23 cm). Other plots given smaller applications of N for the same time show smaller increases; these differences were established within 30 years. Increases in total soil N content have been detected after 20 years in the plot given 192 kg N/ha since 1968 (N4).There was a proportionally greater increase in N mineralization. Crop uptake of mineralized N was typically 12–30 kg N/ha greater from the N3 and N4 treatments than the uptake of c. 30 kg N/ha from the N0 treatment. Results from laboratory incubations show the importance of recently added residues (roots, stubble, etc) on N mineralization. In short-term (2–3 week) incubations, with soil sampled at harvest, N mineralization was up to 60% greater from the N3 treatment than from N0. In long-term incubations, or in soil without recently added residues, differences between long-term fertilizer treatments were much less marked. Inputs of organic N to the soil from weeds (principally Equisetum arvense L.) to the N0–N2 plots over the last few years may have partially obscured any underlying differences in mineralization.The long-term fertilizer treatments appeared to have had no effect on soil microbial biomass N or carbon (C) content, but have increased the specific mineralization rate of the biomass (defined as N mineralized per unit of biomass).Greater N mineralization will also increase losses of N from the system, via leaching and gaseous emissions. In December 1988 the N3 and N4 plots contained respectively 14 and 23 kg/ha more inorganic N in the profile (0–100 cm) than the N0 plot, due to greater N mineralization. These small differences are important as it only requires 23 kg N/ha to be leached from Broadbalk to increase the nitrate concentration of percolating water above the 1980 EC Drinking Water Quality Directive limit of 11·3mgN/l.The use of fertilizer N has increased N mineralization due to the build-up of soil organic N. In addition, much of the organic N in Broadbalk topsoil is now derived from fertilizer N. A computer model of N mineralization on Broadbalk estimated that after applying 144 kg N/ha for 140 years, up to half of the N mineralized each year was originally derived from fertilizer N.In the short-term, the amount of fertilizer N applied usually has little direct effect on losses of N over winter. In most years little fertilizer-derived N remains in Broadbalk soil in inorganic form at harvest from applications of up to 192 kg N/ha. However, in two very dry years (1989 and 1990) large inorganic N residues remained at harvest where 144 and 192 kg N/ha had been applied, even though the crop continued to respond to fertilizer N, up to at least 240 kg N/ha.


Author(s):  
Robervone S. de M. P. do Nascimento ◽  
Maria L. G. Ramos ◽  
Cícero C. de Figueiredo ◽  
Antonio M. M. Silva ◽  
Stefany B. Silva ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the stable and labile fractions of soil organic matter and carbon (C) management index in cultivated areas with conservation and conventional management used by Quilombola farmers in the Goiás state, Brazil. The management systems were studied in the areas of Cerradão: Native Cerrado; Pasture; Conventional grain cultivation; Conservation cultivation of perennial crop; and in the sensu stricto Cerrado: Native Cerrado; Natural pasture; Conventional grain cultivation; Conventional cultivation of perennial crop. The study was considered as observational, with five replicates. Total organic C, fractions of humic substances, labile C and C management index were determined. The Cerradão phytophysiognomy had the highest total organic C values and stable soil organic matter fractions. The native areas had low levels of labile C. The conservation cultivation of perennial crop showed the largest accumulation of total organic C in the different fractions of soil organic matter and the highest rates of C management index.


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