Soil Phosphorus Fractions Change in Winter in a Corn-Soybean Rotation with Tillage and Phosphorus Fertilization

Determining how agricultural management practices affect soil phosphorus(P) over the winter may further our understanding of the soil P cycle under specific environmental conditions in eastern Canada. This study assessed changes over winter for soil P fractions and other selected chemical properties as affected by tillage and P fertilization. In 1992, a long-term corn(Zea mays L.) and soybean(Glycine max L.) rotational experiment was established in the province of Quebec, Canada. Soil samples(0–15 cm) were collected in fall 2001 and 2007 after a soybean harvest, and in the following spring 2002 and 2008 before corn seeding, in main plots under moldboard plow and no-till managements and selected subplots fertilized with 0, 17.5, or 35 kg P ha-1and 160 kg N ha-1. Soil samples were analyzed for P fractions and other chemical properties to assess changes over winter for 2001–2002 and 2007–2008. Changes over winter of all soil P fractions were significant for the two periods, indicating the occurrence of soil P transformation and movement over winter. The Mehlich-3-extractable Fe, Al, Ca, and Mg decreased during the two studied periods. Tillage had no significant effect on all soil P fractions. The resin-extractable P in 2001–2002 and Na HCO3-extractable inorganic P and Na OH-extractable organic P during the two winters were significantly increased under P fertilization. This study demonstrated that P in cultivated soils changed during winter as a result of changes in labile P fractions possibly due to the solubilization of residual fertilizer P combined with environmental factors.

Environmental and Paddy Soil Organic and Lower Yangtze Anthropogenic Factors Matter： A Case Study River Plain of China Driving Changes in in the Middle

Changes in soil organic matter （SOM） can affect food security, soil and water conservation, and climate change. However, the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils of China are not fully understood because the effects of agricultural management and environmental factors are studied separately. Soil, climate, terrain, and agricultural management data from 6 counties selected based on representative soil types and cropping systems in China were used in correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and cforest modeling to analyze the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain from 1980 to 2011. The aims of this study were to identify the main factors driving the changes in SOM and to quantitatively evaluate their individual impacts. Results showed that the paddy SOM stock in the study area increased by 12.5% at an average rate of 0.023 kg m-2 year-1 over the 31-year study period. As a result of long-term rice planting, agricultural management practices had a greater influence than soil properties, climate, and terrain. Among the major drivers, straw incorporation, the most influential driver, together with fertilization and tillage practices, significantly increased the accumulation of SOM, while an increase in temperature significantly influenced SOM decomposition. Therefore, to confront the challenge of rising temperatures, it is important to strengthen the positive effects of agricultural management. Rational fertilizer use for stabilizing grain production and crop straw incorporation are promising measures for potential carbon sequestration in this region.

Estimation of the Effects of Maize Straw Return on Soil Carbon and Nutrients Using Response Surface Methodology

Straw incorporation is generally considered an effective agricultural management practice that improves nutrient cycling and maintains soil fertility. To study the interactive effects of straw returning factors on soil organic carbon and available nutrients, a17-month(May 6, 2016 to October 6, 2017) experiment was conducted on straw incorporation by using response surface methodology under a three-factor(straw length, amount, and burying depth), five-level quadratic orthogonal rotation experimental design. Weight was assigned to each indicator for soil carbon and nutrients and then a comprehensive indicator was established. Then, a second-order polynomial model of the three straw returning factors was established using response surface methodology. Results indicated that17 months after straw incorporation, straw amount and burying depth had significant effects on the comprehensive indicator of soil carbon and nutrients. Straw length and the interactions of straw amount and burying depth showed no significant effects on the comprehensive indicator of soil carbon and nutrients. It was concluded that 17 months after straw incorporation, the highest value of the comprehensive indicator of soil carbon and nutrients was achieved when the straw length, amount, and burying depth were approximately 17–20 cm, 740–840 g m^(-2), and 9–13 cm, respectively, which can be recommended as the most suitable parameters for use in straw returning in the study area.