Effect of biopreparations on the decomposition of plant residues of crops in typical chernozem

Aim. To identify the effect of biological preparations applied with or without nitrogen fertilizers for crop by-product, their incorporation into the soil on the decomposition of plant residues and composition of mobile humus substances in typical slightly eroded chernozem.Materials and Methods. The study was carried out in the field experimental station of Kursk FARC in the cycles of cereal and cereal-row crop rotations in variants with by-product treated with biopreparations; with applied biopreparations + nitrogen fertilizers; with applied nitrogen fertilizers and without biopreparations. To study decomposition the content of unhumified organic matter was determined in the topsoil by the monolith method after by-product incorporation into the soil and 3045 days after their decomposition. Simultaneously the composition of mobile humus substances in the soil was determined.Results. The decomposition of crop by-product and after harvesting and root residues mixed with it in the soil and treated with biopreparations or nitrogen mineral fertilizers was studied for the first time. The peculiarities of the effect of the factors studied on the degree of plant residue decomposition and the composition of mobile humus substances were shown.Conclusion. It was determined that treating the by-product of barley, buckwheat and sunflower with bioproducts, both with applied nitrogen fertilizers and without them, contributed to the increase in the degree of plant residue decomposition as compared with the control and nitrogen mineral fertilizer application. In the years which are favourable according to hydrothermal conditions the improved quality of mobile humus substances of the soil influenced by biopreparations are noted and under extreme conditions the tendency to the improvement of their quality is observed.

Decomposition rate of peat-forming plants at the initial stages of destruction in peat deposits of the oligotrophic bogs “Bakcharskoe” and “Timiryasevskoe”

The research presents quantitative estimates of the decomposition rate of plant residues at the initial stages of the decay of four plant species (Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex rostrata, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum angustifolium) in peat deposits of the oligotrophic bogs in the southern taiga subzone of Western Siberia. We also studied the change in the content of total carbon, nitrogen and ash elements in plant residues and the activity of microflora at the initial stages of decomposition. The studies were conducted in the bogs characterized by various hydrothermal conditions. At the initial stage of the decay of peat-forming plants the maximum losses of mass occur in the first month of the experiment and reach 36-52% of the total loss of organic matter during the growing season. Sphagnum fuscum is the most resistant to decomposition. The most intense decomposition of Sphagnum fuscum at the initial stages of decomposition is characteristic for warmer and less humid conditions of the Timiryazevskoe bog. It was revealed that mass losses of organic matter correlate well with total carbon losses. The most intensive decreasing of the total carbon content as well as mass loss of organic matter are observed after the first month of the experiment. The maximal decline of carbon in plant residues was received for Eriophorum vaginatum. During the decomposition of plant residues, the nitrogen content was decreasing, and the most intense nitrogen losses were characteristic for Sphagnum mosses. Nitrogen loss in peat-forming plants during the first month of decomposition varies depending on the locality conditions, but it becomes equal during the later decomposition stages. At the first stages of decomposition of plant residues, both the accumulation and the loss of ash elements were observed in the samples. Both the Bakcharskoe and Timiryazevskoe bogs were characterized by the accumulation of ash elements in plant samples of Eriophorum vaginatum. Dynamics of mass loss and removal of elements are directly related to the activity of microorganisms. The maximum number of microorganisms was found in July and September. Peat and plant samples located in the peat deposit of the Timiryazevskoe bog are more saturated with microorganisms of the nitrogen cycle, and samples from the Bakcharskoe bog are richer in carbon cycle microorganisms. Microorganisms of the lignocellulosic complex were less active as compared with other groups of microorganisms. The number of microorganisms assimilating the mineral forms of nitrogen are on average 1.5 times less than the number of microorganisms assimilating the organic forms. The positive correlation between the nitrogen content and the number of fungi was found. In addition, correlation between the numbers of denitrifiers and oligotrophs was found. It is explained by trophic relationshipsbetween these groups of microorganisms.

Solubilization of Araxá natural phosphate and decomposition of plant residues by bacterial isolates

ABSTRACT Brazil imports most of the phosphate fertilizers used in agriculture, however, it has national deposits in its territory that can supply part of the domestic market demand. In order of these to be used effectively, it is necessary to identify techniques to accelerate the release of phosphorus (P) from these rocks. The objective was to evaluate the influence of inoculation with phosphate solubilizing bacterial isolates (PSB) and decomposition of different plant residues in the solubilization of Araxá natural phosphate (ANP). Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with four replicates. The first experiment evaluated the solubilization of ANP by PSB in culture medium with four different sources of carbon: glucose, saccharose, cellulose, and pectin. The treatments were incubated for seven days and then were analyzed the P concentration and pH values. In the second experiment, the ANP was applied in 300 cm3 of soil, placed in incubation chambers, with six grams of dry and crushed plant material of white oat, brachiaria, crotalaria, lupine, and the inoculation of PSB. Decomposition was evaluated weekly by quantifying the carbon of the CO2-C released and, after 42 days was analyzed the concentration of P in the soil. It was observed that the carbon source directly influences the solubilization of ANP by PSB, especially the genus Burkholderia. Treatments containing crotalaria and lupine residues showed higher CO2-C values, and the ones containing plant residues associated with BSF inoculation obtained the highest levels of P in the soil.

The Organic Matter Pool, Composition and Transformation in Soils of Middle Siberia

The structure and agrogenic transformation of organic substance in chernozems of Middle Siberia are considered (within Krasnoyarsk Krai, Khakassia and Tuva). The comparative-geographic, comparative-analytical and stationary observation methods are used in this work. These investigations are based on ideas of academician I.V. Tyurin, who had a Krasnoyarsk period in his creative work. All of the forms of humic compounds of chernozem type are presented in the studied soils. The mineralized (transformed) pool of organic matter in chernozems (19-28 t C/ha) is characterized by set of the plant residues, microbial biomass and a mobile humus. The entrance of plant residues into the soil of a graminae-fallow-hoed crop rotation makes 3.32 t C/ha per year, graminae-grass - 3.89 C/ha per year. The contribution of living roots reaches 40-70% of year stocks of the plant residues. The entrance of additional portions of "fresh" plant material with straw and green manure increases the mineralized pool of the organic matter and its decomposition intensity. The amount of microbial biomass in an arable layer of chernozems fluctuates from 1.5 to 3.0 t C/ha. The decomposition of plant residues occurs at k = 0.37-0.44. The share of a mobile humus (water- and alkaline-soluble compounds) as a part of the mineralized chernozems OM reaches 69-77%. The seasonal variability of mobile humus concentration is determined by the unequal rate of plants death, the entrance into the soil and decomposition of plant residues, different intensity of their transformation in neoformed humic substances. Losses of humus mobile compounds in soils of Krasnoyarsk Krai (0.23 t C/ha per year) contain about 7% of his expenses on the forming of net primary production and are compensated here by a neoformed humus at 91%, in soils of Khakassia - at 34%, Tuva - only at 16%.

CORRELATION OF METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF MICROORGANISMS AND MICROARTHROPODS IN THE PROCESS OF DESTRUCTION OF PLANT RESIDUES

On the basis of instrumental studies the contribution of microorganisms and small arthropods to the metabolism of soil biota in the decomposition of plant residues was estimated numerically. The dependence of metabolism of biological degradation agents on their biomass was shown.

Weeds Cause Losses in Field Crops through Allelopathy

A large number of weeds are known to be associated with crops and causing economic losses. Weeds interfere with crops through competition and allelopathy. They produce secondary metabolites known as allelochemicals, which belong to numerous chemical classes such as phenolics, alkaloids, fatty acids, indoles, terpens etc. However, phenolics are the predominant class of allelochemicals. The allelochemicals release from weed plants takes place through leaf leachates, decomposition of plant residues, volatilization and root exudates. Weeds leave huge quantities of their residues in field and affect the associated, as well as succeeding crops, in various cropping systems. Liberation of allelochemicals from weeds affects the germination, stand establishment, growth, yield and physiology of crop plants. They cause substantial reduction in germination and growth of the crop plants by altering various physiological processes such as enzyme activity, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, respiration, cell division and enlargement, which ultimately leads to a significant reduction in crop yield. In crux, allelopathic weeds represent a potential threat for crop plants and cause economic losses.