Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Micro-morphological Features in Purple Soil

[Objective] The study aimed to better understand the effect of different fertilizer treatments on micro-morphological characteristics of a purple soil at the 0-20 cm topsoil in a long-term fertilizer experiment. [Method] Soil micro-morphology was observed and analyzed under a single polarizing microscope. [Result] For the CK （no fertilizer） treatment, soil structure was dense with little porosity developed. Its soil microstructure was poor, sandy fabric-granular fabric. After continuously applied chemical fertilizers only for more than two decades, the soil particles did not evolve into soil structures and formed little porosity. The microstructures of soil in N, NP and NPK treatments were porphyroskelic fabric-fine sandy granular fabric, better than that of the soil in CK treatment. Adding manure obviously improved the quantity of groundmass and endowed the soil a loose structure and plenty porosity, enriched animal and plant residues, and well-formed iron-manganese nodules and humus ma- terials, all resulting in better micro-aggregates development. The type of soil microstructures in MNPK treatment was pectized-compacted takyric fabric-intertextic fabric, the best among all the treatments. [Conclusion] Combined application of both or- ganic and inorganic fertilizers can significantly improve the structure of the purple soil, enhance soil fertility and achieve soil sustainable development.

Crop Yield and Soil Responses to Long-Term Fertilization on a Red Soil in Southern China

A 15-year fertilization experiment with different applications of inorganic N,P and K fertilizers and farmyard manure (M)was conducted to study the yield and soil responses to long-term fertilization at Qiyang,Hunan Province,China. Average grain yields of wheat and corn(1 672 and 5 111 kg ha-1,respectively)for the treatment NPKM were significantly higher than those(405 and 310 kg ha-1)of the unfertilized control and single inorganic fertilizer treatments.Compared with the corresponding initial values of the experiment,all treatments showed a yield decline of 9 to 111 kg ha-1 year-1 in wheat and 35 to 260 kg ha-1 year-1 in corn,respectively,and a significant pH decline of 0.07 to 0.12 pH year?1,except for the treatments PK and NPKM.After long-term fertilization,the soil organic C,soil available P,exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+and available Cu2+and Zn2+contents were higher in the treatment NPKM than in the treatments applied with inorganic fertilizer only.Compared to the treatment NPK,the treatment NPKM,where manure partially replaced inorganic N,had a positive impact on arresting the decline of soil pH.This improved grain yields of wheat and corn, suggesting that application of NPK fertilizer in combination with farmyard manure is important to maintain soil fertility and buffering capacity in red soil.

Phosphorus Changes and Sorption Characteristics in a Calcareous Soil Under Long-Term Fertilization

Knowledge of phosphorus （P） behavior in long-term fertilized soils is essential for programming fertilization practices and for sustaining environmental quality. The long-term （1984-1997） effects of various fertilization treatments on P changes and sorption isotherms as well as the relationship of soil properties to P sorption and P forms were evaluated in an Ustic Isohumisol, a calcareous soil, on the Loess Plateau, China. Compared to 1984, after 13 years of crop production, total soil P in the no-P treatments （control and N treatment） decreased by 5%-7%, but in the phosphorus fertilizer alone （P）, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers in combination （NP）, manure alone （M）, and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and manure in combination （NPM） treatments, it increased by 22%, 19%, 28%, and 58%, respectively. Residual fertilizer P was found mainly in NH4Ac-soluble P （Cas-P）, followed by NaHCO3-soluble P （NaHCO3-P）, and NH4F-soluble P （Al-P）. Phosphorus sorption in the soils with different fertilization practices fit the Langmuir equations. Phosphorus sorption capacity in the no-P treatments increased, whereas it decreased in the P-included treatments （P, NP, and NPM treatments）. Phosphorus sorption maximum （Qm） was significantly and negatively correlated to inorganic P including NaHCO3-P, Cas-P, NaOH-Na2CO3-soluble P （Fe-P）, and Al-P （P ≤ 0.01）. Moreover, long-term fertilization increased soil organic carbon in the NP, M, and NPM treatments and decreased pH in the NP and NPM treatments. Thus, the ability of the soil to release sorbed P to the environment increased under long-term P fertilization.

Wheat Grain Yield and Yield Stability in a Long-Term Fertilization Experiment on the Loess Plateau

To provide a scientific basis for sustainable land management, a 20-year fertility experiment was conducted in Changwu County, Shaanxi Province, China to investigate the effects of long-term application of chemical fertilizers on wheat grain yield and yield stability on the Loess Plateau using regression and stability analysis. The experiment consisted of 17 fertilizer treatments, containing the combinations of different N and P levels, with three replications arranged in a randomized complete block design. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied as urea, and P was applied as calcium superphosphate. Fertilizer rates had a large effect on the response of wheat yield to fertilization. Phosphorus, combined with N, increased yield significantly （P 〈 0.01）. In the unfertilized control and the N or P sole application treatments, wheat yield had a declining trend although it was not statistically significant. Stability analysis combined with the trend analysis indicated that integrated use of fertilizer N and P was better than their sole application in increasing and sustaining the productivity of rainfed winter wheat.

Basic Soil Productivity of Spring Maize in Black Soil Under Long-Term Fertilization Based on DSSAT Model

Increasing basic farmland soil productivity has significance in reducing fertilizer application and maintaining high yield of crops. In this study, we defined that the basic soil productivity （BSP） is the production capacity of a farmland soil with its own physical and chemical properties for a specific crop season under local environment and field management. Based on 22-yr （1990-2011） long-term experimental data on black soil （Typic hapludoll） in Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, Northeast China, the decision support system for an agro-technology transfer （DSSAT）-CERES-Maize model was applied to simulate the yield by BSP of spring maize （Zea mays L.） to examine the effects of long-term fertilization on changes of BSP and explore the mechanisms of BSP increasing. Five treatments were examined： （1） no-fertilization control （control）; （2） chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium （NPK）; （3） NPK plus farmyard manure （NPKM）; （4） 1.5 time of NPKM （1.5NPKM） and （5） NPK plus straw （NPKS）. Results showed that after 22-yr fertilization, the yield by BSP of spring maize significantly increased 78.0, 101.2, and 69.4% under the NPKM, 1.5NPKM and NPKS, respectively, compared to the initial value （in 1992）, but not significant under NPK （26.9% increase） and the control （8.9% decrease）. The contribution percentage of BSP showed a significant rising trend （P〈0.05） under 1.5NPKM. The average contribution percentage of BSP among fertilizations ranged from 74.4 to 84.7%, and ranked as 1.5NPKM〉NPKM〉NPK〉NPKS, indicating that organic manure combined with chemical fertilizers （I.5NPKM and NPKM） could more effectively increase BSP compared with the inorganic fertilizer application alone （NPK） in the black soil. This study showed that soil organic matter （SOM） was the key factor among various fertility factors that could affect BSP in the black soil, and total N, total P and/or available P also played important role in BSP increasing. Compared with the chemical fertilization, a balanced chemical plus manure or straw fertilization （NPKM or NPKS） not only increased the concentrations of soil nutrient, but also improved the soil physical properties, and structure and diversity of soil microbial population, resulting in an iincrease of BSP. We recommend that a balanced chemical plus manure or straw fertilization （NPKM or NPKS） should be the fertilization practices to enhance spring maize yield and improve BSP in the black soil of Northeast China.

Impact of Long-Term Fertilization on Phosphorus Status in Black Soil

A twelve-year field trial was carried out to determine the impact of long-term fertilization on phosphorus (P) distribu- tion in the soil profile, P balance, and the transformation and availability of soil P in a black soil (Phaeozem, FAO). Under a wheat-soybean-corn rotation, during twelve years where no fertilizer was applied, crops removed 60 and 81 mg P kg-1 soil in the control and NK treatment, respectively. About one third of the P absorbed by crops was originated from organic P. Ca2-P, Cag-P, Al-P and Fe-P were the main forms of inorganic P absorbed by crops. The surplus P from fertilization remained in the 0-20 cm soil layer and increased with the application rate of P. The combined application of NP or NPK increased available P to a lesser extent than the combined application of PK. Fertilizer P had mainly transformed to the Al-P, Fe-P, Ca2-P, and Cas-P forms. By using the P budget (X), changes in total P (Y1) and available P (Y2) in soils under the current cropping system could be predicted by the equations: Y1 = 0.02 + 1.01X and Y2 = 2.08 + 0.15X.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Organic Nitrogen Forms in a Calcareous Alluvial Soil on the North China Plain

In order to illustrate the change of nitrogen （N） supply capacity after long-term application of manure and chemical fertilizer, as well as to properly manage soil fertility through fertilizer application under the soil-climatic conditions of the North China Plain, organic N forms were quantified in the topsoil with different manure and chemical fertilizer treatments in a 15-year fertilizer experiment in a Chinese calcareous alluvial soil. Soil total N （TN） and various organic N forms were significantly influenced by long-term application of chemical fertilizer and manure. TN, total hydrolysable N, acid-lnsoluble N, amino acid N and ammonium N in the soil increased significantly （P 〈 0.05） with increasing manure and fertilizer N rates, but were not influenced by increasing P rates. Also, application of manure or N fertilizer or P fertilizer did not significantly influence either the quantity of amino sugar N or its proportion of TN. Application of manure significantly increased （P 〈 0.05） hydrolysable unknown N, but adding N or P did not. In addition, application of manure or N fertilizer or P fertilizer did not significantly influence the proportions of different soil organic N forms.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Soil Productivity and Nitrate Accumulation in Gansu Oasis

A long-term （1982-2001） field experiment was conducted in a calcareous soil under wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）-wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）-maize （Zea mays L.） rotation system at Zhangye, Gansu Province, China to determine the effects of long-term fertilization on crop yield, nutrients interactions, content and accumulation of nitrate-N in soil profiles. Twenty- four plots in a split-plot factorial with a combination of eight treatments （from nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P）, potassium （K） and farmyard manure （M） applications） and 3 replications were selected. Main treatments were M and without M, and the sub-treatments were no-fertilizer （CK）, N, NP and NPK. When P and K fertilizers were part of treatments, their ratio to N was 1N：0.22P：0.42K. All M, P and K fertilizers were applied as the basal dressing. The grain yield was harvested each experimental period and straw yield for the period from 1988 to 1997. After crop harvest in 2000, the soil was sampled from the 0-20, 20-60, 60-100, 100-140 and 140-180 cm depths to determine NO3^--N content. Maize yield of CK in 2000 was only 28.2% of that in 1984, and wheat in 2001 was 25.7% of that observed in 1982. Average impact of fertilizers on grain yield decreased in the order of N 〉 M 〉 P 〉 K. Yield response to N and P fertilizers increased with progress of the experiment. The impact of K fertilizer showed no increase in grain yield during the initial 6 years （1982-1987）, moderate increase in the next 5 years （1988-1992）, and considerable increase in the last 9 years （1993-2001）. The straw yield trend was similar to grain yield. Accumulation and distribution of NO3^--N in soil was significantly affected by annual fertilizations. Mineral fertilizers （NP and NPK） led to NO3^- -N accumulation in most subsoil layers, with major impact in the 20-140 cm depth. The combination of mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure （MNP and MNPK） reduced soil NO3^--N accumulation in comparison to mineral fertilizers, It can be argued that long-term fertilization significantly enhanced grain and straw yield in this rotation scheme. The findings of this research suggest that it is important to balance application of mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure in order to protect soil and underground water from potential NO3^--N pollution while sustaining high productivity in the oasis agro-ecosystem.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization on Soil Enzyme Activities Under Different Hydrothermal Conditions in Northeast China

Human activities have altered weather patterns by causing an increase in greenhouse gas. The effects of climate change have been studied, including effects on some ecosystems throughout the world. There are many studies on changes in the soil due to climate change, but much of them did not extend their research to soil enzyme that integrates information on soil microbial status and soil physical-chemical conditions. Meanwhile, there are lots of experimental fields established to study effects of long-term fertilization on soil enzyme activities, but many did not compare the difference of soil enzyme activities and did not analyze the effect of climatic factors on soil enzyme activities with long-term fertilization under different hydrothermal conditions. In this study, we compared soil enzyme activities of three long-fertilization stations which had different hydrothermal conditions in Northeast China, and analyzed the relationship of hydrothermal condition, soil chemical properties with soil enzyme activities. Hydrothermal conditions （annual temperature and total rainfall） decreased in order of Gongzhuling （Jilin Province, China ） Harbin （Heilongjiang Province, China） Heihe （Heilongjiang Province, China） over the course of the long-term fertilization experiment. Sunshine hours showed the longest in Gongzhuling, the second in Heihe, and the last in Harbin. However, the order of soil enzymes was not in agreement with hydrothermal conditions. Overall, the order of soil enzymes for the same treatment among three stations was consistent in 2008 with in 2009. Correlation analysis demonstrated that different soil enzymes achieved the different affected levels by climatic factors under different fertilization treatments. Urease activity showed a significant relationship with sunshine hours in no fertilizer （CK） treatment （R=-0.91, P0.01） and relative humidity in mineral fertilizers plus manure （MNPK） treatment （R=0.82, P0.05）. Phosphatase activity exhibited a negative correlation with annual mean temperature, annual mean maximum temperature and annual mean minimum temperature, and their correlation coefficients were separately -0.83, -0.79, and -0.83 at P0.05 in CK treatment. Invertase activity was highly and positively correlated with sunshine hours in CK treatment （R=0.94, P0.01）. Catalase activity showed significant negative correlations with minimum relative humidity in CK treatment （R=-0.81, P0.05）, and positive correlations with sunshine hours in M treatment （R=0.83, P0.05）. There were no climatic factors which strongly affected on dehydrogenase in all treatments. Soil enzyme activities were closely related to the soil chemical properties. Soil urease activity was positively correlated with available P （P0.05）. With exception of correlation between invertase and total P at P0.05, phosphase, invertase, catalase, and dehydrogenase showed significant positive correlations with soil chemical properties （P0.01）. It was a comprehensive process that biologic and abiotic factors were effect on soil enzyme activities under different fertilization treatments. To sum up, the variation of hydrothermal conditions in different climate zones and soil chemical properties affect integrally metabolic activity and metabolic finger print of microbial communities in black soil.

Changes in Organic Carbon Index of Grey Desert Soil in Northwest China After Long-Term Fertilization

Soil organic carbon （SOC）, soil microbial biomass carbon （SMBC） and SMBC quotient （SMBC/SOC, qSMBC） are key indexes of soil biological fertility because of the relationship to soil nutrition supply capacity. Yet it remains unknown how these three indexes change, which limits our understanding about how soil respond to different fertilization practices. Based on a 22-yr （1990-2011） long-term fertilization experiment in northwest China, we investigated the dynamics of SMBC and qSMBC during the growing period of winter wheat, the relationships between the SMBC, qSMBC, soil organic carbon （SOC） concentrations, the carbon input and grain yield of wheat as well. Fertilization treatments were 1） nonfertilization （control）; 2） chemical nitrogen plus phosphate plus potassium （NPK）; 3） NPK plus animal manure （NPKM）; 4） double NPKM （hNPKM） and 5） NPK plus straw （NPKS）. Results showed that the SMBC and qSMBC were significantly different among returning, jointing, flowering and harvest stages of wheat under long-term fertilization. And the largest values were observed in the flowering stage. Values for SMBC and qSMBC ranged from 37.5 to 106.0 mg kg1 and 0.41 to 0.61%, respectively. The mean value rank of SMBC during the whole growing period of wheat was hNPKM〉NPK_M〉NPKS〉CK〉NPK. But there were no statistically significant differences between hNPKM and NPKM, or between CK and NPK. The order for qSMBC was NPKS〉NPKM〉CK〉hNPKM〉NPK. These results indicated that NPKS significantly increased the ratio of SMBC to SOC, i.e., qSMBC, compared with NPK fertilizer or other two NPKM fertilizations. Significant linear relationships were observed between the annual carbon input and SOC （P〈0.01） or SMBC （P〈0.05）, and between the relative grain yield of wheat and the SOC content as well （P〈0.05）. But the qSMBC was not correlated with the annual carbon input. It is thus obvious that the combination of manure, straw with mineral fertilizer may be benefit to increase SOC and improve soil quality than using only mineral fertilizer.

Impact of Long-Term Fertilization on Community Structure of Ammonia Oxidizing and Denitrifying Bacteria Based on amoA and nirK Genes in a Rice Paddy from Tai Lake Region,China

Ammonia oxidizing （AOB） and denitrifying bacteria （DNB） play an important role in soil nitrogen transformation in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Effects of long-term fertilization on abundance and community composition of AOB and DNB were studied with targeting ammonia monooxygenase （amoA） and nitrite reductase （nirK） genes using polymerase chain reaction- denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （PCR-DGGE） and real-time PCR, respectively. A field trial with different fertilization treatments in a rice paddy from Tai Lake region, centre East China was used in this study, including no fertilizer application （NF）, balanced chemical fertilizers （CF）, combined organic/inorganic fertilizer of balanced chemical fertilizers plus pig manure （CFM）, and plus rice straw return （CFS）. The abundances and riehnesses of amoA and nirK were increased in CF, CFM and CFS compared to NF. Principle component analysis of DGGE profiles showed significant difference in nirK and amoA genes composition between organic amended （CFS and CFM） and the non-organic amended （CF and NF） plots. Number of amoA copies was significantly positively correlated with normalized soil nutrient richness （NSNR） of soil organic carbon （SOC） and total nitrogen （T-N）, and that of nirK copies was with NSNR of SOC, T-N plus total phosphorus. Moreover, nitrification potential showed a positive correlation with SOC content, while a significantly lower denitrification potential was found under CFM compared to under CFS. Therefore, SOC accumulation accompanied with soil nutrient richness under long-term balanced and organic/inorganic combined fertilization promoted abundance and diversity of AOB and DNB in the rice paddy.

Long-Term Fertilization Effect on Fertility of Salt-Affected Soils

The long-term effects of annual fertilizer applications on the fertility of salt-affected soils under the rotation system of wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） and maize （Zea mays L.） are not well documented. In 1984, research plots were established to test the effects of annual applications of different rates of nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） fertilizers on the fertility of a salt-affected soil （Typic Ustochrept） at the Quzhou Experimental Station, Quzhou County, Hebei Province, China. In October 2001, composite soil samples （0-20 and 20 40 cm） were collected from each plot and analyzed for soil fertility indices. Seventeen years of N and P fertilizer applications increased the soil organic matter （SOM） in the surface layer. With combined N, 270 （N1） and 540 （N2） kg N ha^-1 year^-1, and P, 67.5 （P1） and 135 （P2） kg P205 ha^-1 year^-1, fertilizer applications, total soil N mostly significantly decreased （P〈0.05）. Soil total P in the 0-20 cm layer of the P2 treatment significantly （P （0.05） increased as compared to those of the other treatments. Rapidly available P （RP） in the 0-20 cm layer of the N1P2 treatment was significantly higher than those in the other treatments except the P2 treatment; and RP in the 0-20 cm layer of the P2 treatment significantly increased as compared to those of the other treatments except the P1 and N1P2 treatments. RP in the subsurface soil layer （20-40 cm） of the P2 treatment （4.2 mg P kg^-1） was significantly （P〈0.05） higher than those in the other treatments. Nevertheless, long-term N fertilization did not significantly increase the alkali-hydrolyzable N in the soil. However, in the salt-affected surface soils the application of combined N and P fertilizers over 17 years significantly （P〈0.05） decreased rapidly available potassium （K）. The results suggested that while under long-term fertilizer applications some soil fertility parameters could be maintained or enhanced, careful monitoring of soil fertility was necessary as other nutrients such as K could become depleted.

Effects of long-term fertilization on oxidizable organic carbon fractions on the Loess Plateau,China

The effects of long-term fertilization on pools of soil organic carbon （SOC） have been well studied, but limited information is available on the oxidizable organic carbon （OOC） fractions, especially for the Loess Plateau in China. We evaluated the effects of a 15-year fertilization on the OOC fractions （F1, F2, F3 and F4） in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers in flat farmland under nine treatments （N （nitrogen, urea）, P （phosphorus, monocalcium phosphate）, M （organic fertilizer, composted sheep manure）, N＋P （NP）, M＋N （MN）, M＋P （MP）, M＋N＋P （MNP）, CK （control, no fertilizer） and bare land （BL, no crops or fertilizer））. SOC content increased more markedly in the treatment containing manure than in those with inorganic fertilizers alone. F1, F2, F4 and F3 accounted for 47%, 27%, 18% and 8% of total organic carbon, respectively. F1 was a more sensitive index than the other C fractions in the sensitivity index （SI） analysis. F1 and F2 were highly correlated with total nitrogen （TN） and available nitrogen （AN）, F3 was negatively correlated with pH and F4 was correlated with TN. A cluster analysis showed that the treatments containing manure formed one group, and the other treatments formed another group, which indicated the different effects of fertilization on soil properties. Long-term fertilization with inorganic fertilizer increased the F4 fraction while manure fertilizer not only increased labile fractions （F1） in a short time, but also increased passive fraction （F4） over a longer term. The mixed fertilizer mainly affected F3 fraction. The study demonstrated that manure fertilizer was recommended to use in the farmland on the Loess Plateau for the long-term sustainability of agriculture.

Interaction of soil microbial communities and phosphorus fractions under long-term fertilization in paddy soil

Understanding the impact of biological activities on the soil phosphorus(P)distribution under long-term fertilizer application can facilitate better soil P fertility management.Therefore,the primary objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of long-term(since 1981)fertilizer application on the soil P fractions and microbial community and to evaluate correlations between the microbial community structure and P distribution.The following treatments were implemented in a long-term field trial:no fertilization(CK),inorganic N and K(NK),inorganic P and K(PK),inorganic N,P and K(NPK)and manure+NPK(MNPK)fertilization.The study showed that the soil pH,soil organic carbon and total and available N and P concentrations were considerably higher in the MNPK treatment than in the CK treatment.The soil microbial biomass C,N and P concentrations were also significantly higher in the MNPK treatment than in the CK treatment.Among fertilization treatments,theβ-1,4-glucosidase,α-1,4-glucosidase,urease,acid phosphatase and phosphodiesterase activities were the highest in the MNPK treatment.Compared to inorganic fertilization,the MNPK treatment increased the labile soil P fractions and decreased the residual soil P concentration.Continuous fertilization significantly affected the soil microbial composition.The total phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA)concentrations in the NK,PK,NPK and MNPK treatments were 23.3,43.1,48.7 and 87.7%higher,respectively,than in the CK treatment.A significant correlation was observed between the microbial community and soil P fractions.Moreover,the aggregated boosted tree(ABT)model showed that among the various soil biochemical properties,the total PLFA concentration was the factor that most influenced the active P pool,accounting for 35.4%of the relative influence of all soil biochemical properties examined.These findings reveal that combined manure and inorganic fertilizer application is a better approach than applying inorganic fertilizer alone for sustaining long-term P fertility by mediating soil biological activity.

Effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates and their implications

Application of fertilizer has been found to significantly affect soil N cycling. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates is still lacking. We compiled data of observations from 10 long-term fertilization experiments and conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil gross N transformation rates. The results showed that if chemical fertilizers of N, P and K were applied in balance, soil p H decreased very slightly. There was a significantly positive effect of long-term fertilization, either chemical or organic fertilizers or their combinations, on gross N mineralization rate compared to the control treatment（the mean effect size ranged from 1.21 to 1.25 at 95% confidence intervals（CI） with a mean of 1.23）, mainly due to the increasing soil total N content. The long-term application of organic fertilizer alone and combining organic and chemical fertilizer could increase the mineralization-immobilization turnover, thus enhance available N for plant while reduce N losses potential compared to the control treatment. However, long-term chemical fertilizer application did not significantly affect the gross NH4＋ immobilization rate, but accelerated gross nitrification rate（1.19; 95% CI： 1.08 to 1.31）. Thus, long-term chemical fertilizer alone would probably induce higher N losses potential through NO3– leaching and runoff than organic fertilizer application compared to the control treatment. Therefore, in the view of the effects of long-term fertilization on gross N transformation rates, it also supports that organic fertilizer alone or combination of organic and chemical fertilizer could not only improve crop yield, but also increase soil fertility and reduce the N losses potential.

Organic matter fractions within macroaggregates in response to long-term fertilization in calcareous soil after reclamation

Soil organic carbon(SOC)plays a key role in improving soil quality and optimizing crop yield.Yet little is known about the fate of macroaggregates(>0.25 mm)under long-term fertilization and their relative importance in SOC sequestration in reclaimed calcareous soil.Therefore,the effects of mineral fertilizers and organic manure on the mechanisms of organic carbon(OC)stabilization in macroaggregates were investigated in this study.Four treatments were used:unfertilized control(CK),mineral fertilizer(NPK),compost chicken manure alone(M),and mineral fertilizers plus manure(MNPK).Samples from the 0–20 cm layer of soil receiving 11-year-long fertilization were separated into four fractions based on the macroaggregates present(unprotected coarse and fine particulate organic matter,cPOM and fPOM;physically protected intra-microaggregate POM,i POM;and biochemically protected mineral associated OM,MOM)by the physical fractionation method.Compared with the control,the long-term application of NPK had little effect on SOC content,total nitrogen(TN)content,and OC and TN contents of macroaggregate fractions.In contrast,incorporation of organic manure(MNPK)significantly increased SOC(45.7%)and TN(24.3%)contents.Application of MNPK increased OC contents within macroaggregate-extracted fractions of cPOM(292.2%),fPOM(136.0%)and iPOM(124.0%),and TN contents within cPOM(607.1%),fPOM(242.5%)and iPOM(127.6%),but not the mineral associated organic carbon(MOM-C)and nitrogen(MOM-N)contents.Unprotected C fractions were more strongly and positively correlated with SOC increase than protected C fractions,especially for cPOM-C,indicating that SOC sequestration mainly occurred via cPOM-C in the studied calcareous soil.In conclusion,MNPK increased the quantity and stability of SOC by increasing the contents of cPOM-C and cPOM-N,suggesting that this management practice(MNPK)is an effective strategy to develop sustainable agriculture.

Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Fertility of Lateritic Red Loam Paddy

The change rules of the fertility of red soil paddy under the long-term different fertilization were investigated, and the reasonable fertilization mode to improve the fertility of red soil paddy was discussed. There were eight treatments in the experiment, which were CK （no fertilizer）, N1 （N of 60 kg/hm2）, N2 （N of 120 kg/hm2）, N1P1 （P2O5 of 30 kg/hm2）, N2P1 and N2P2 （P2O5 of 60 kg/hm2）, N2P2K1 （K2O of 45 kg/hm2） and N2P2K2 （K2O of 90 kg/hm2）. All treatments were applied with composted cow dung as the base fertilizer, and each season 50% of the straws were returned to the field. The content of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in red soil paddy was observed continuously for ten years and their correlation was also analyzed. Under cow manure and straw return to field, organic matter content of different treatments was positively correlated to year. After ten years, organic matter content of surface soil rose by 2.5 g/kg averagely with an annual increase of 0.25 g/kg. Total nitrogen content and organic matter content of different treatments presented similar variation trend. Total nitrogen content rose by 0.35 g/kg averagely with an annual increase of 0.035 g/kg. Among all the treatments, N2P2K1 and N2P2K2 showed the biggest increase, which went up by 0.052 and 0.48 g/kg, respectively. Phosphorous-free treatments （CK, N1, N2） had steady phosphorous content with irregular changes of different years. Total phosphorous content of phosphorous treatments increased year by year. Total phosphorous content of N1P1 and N2P1 rose by 0.008 g/kg every year. The increment range of total phosphorous content of N2P2, N2P2K1 and N2P2K2 was 0.012 -0.013 g/kg annually. Available phosphorous content varied vastly among different treatments. Available phosphorous content of organic fertilizer treatments basically remained stable with irregular changes of different years. Available phosphorous content of organic fertilizer with phosphate fertilizer treatments rose year by year. Available phosphorous content of N1P1 and N2P1 rose approximately by 0.8 mg/kg. Available phosphorous content of N2P2, N2P2K1 and N2P2K2 rose approximately by 1.4 -1.6 mg/kg annually. Potassium fertilizer amount greatly affected total potassium content. Total potassium content of no-potassium treatments （CK, N1, N2, N1P1, N2P1 and N2P2） remained the same. Total potassium content of N2P2K markedly increased year by year, which was 0.014 g/kg annually. Rapid available potassium content of no-potassium treatments （CK, N1, N2, N1P1, N2P1 and N2P2） showed a decreasing trend. With phosphate fertilizer, rapid available potassium content of N2P2K1 and N2P2K2 remained the same or increased year by year. The change trend of slow available potassium content and rapid available potassium content resembled. Rational allocation of organic fertilizer, nitrogenous fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer can significantly improve soil fertility and economic benefits. Balanced fertilization is an effective measure for soil fertility improvement as it＇s shown that nutrients of surface soil accumulate annually.

Crop yields and soil organic carbon dynamics in a long-term fertilization experiment in an extremely arid region of northern Xinjiang, China

A long-term fertilization experiment was set up in northern Xinjiang, China to evaluate the dynamics of crop production and soil organic carbon （SOC） from 1990 to 2012 with seven fertilization treatments. The seven treatments included an unfertilized control （CK） and six different combinations of phosphorus （P）, potassium （K）, nitrogen （N）, straw （S） and animal manure （M）. The balanced fertilization treatments had significantly （P〈0.05） higher average yields than the unbalanced ones. The treatment with 2/3 N from potassium sulfate （NPK） and 1/3 N from farmyard manure （NPKM） had a higher average yield than the other treatments. The average yields （over the 23 years） in the treatments of NPK, and urea, calcium superphosphate （NP） did not differ significantly （P〉0.05） but were higher than that in the treatment with urea and potassium sulfate （NK; P〈0.05）. The results also show that the highest increases in SOC （P〈0.05） occurred in NPKM with a potential increase of 1.2 t C/（hm2.a）. The increase in SOC was only 0.31, 0.30 and 0.12 t C/（hm2.a） for NPKS （9/10 N from NPK and 1/10 N from straw）, NPK and NP, respectively; and the SOC in the NP, NK and CK treatments were approaching equilibrium and so did not rise or fall significantly over the 23-year experiment. A complete NPK plus manure fertilization program is recommended for this extremely arid region to maximize both yields and carbon sequestration.

Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Phosphorus Accumulation and Migration in Purple Soil

Based on a long-term location test lasting for 20 years, the accumulation and migration of phosphorus in purple soil was studied. The results showed that P2Os input in paddy-upland rotation was 120.0 kg/（ hm2 · a） （a conventional level of phosphorus application）, and P had a surplus of 53.9 kg/（hm2 · a）. Phosphorus accumulating in soil increased available phosphorus （Olsen-P） content, and the positive correlation between P changing balance and Olsen-P change in wheat-rice rotation was extremely significant. The mixed application of organic fertilizer and chemical P fertilizer can speed up accumulation of available phosphorus in soil. Olsen-P content in all treatments with P fertilizer was higher in 0 -60 cm soil than that of treatments without P fertilizer, and Phosphorus applied in surface soil moved to soil at a depth of 60 cm, increasing risk of P leakage and loss. The migration of phosphorus in soil is affected by P input, type of organic fertilizer and planting method. The quantities of phosphorus moving down increased with the increase of P input, and the application of pig manure can lead to migration of phosphorus in soil more easily compared with straw. The migration of phosphorus from soil to water mainly occurred in the first ten days after rice was transplanted, and paddy field drainage should not be conducted in the first 30 days after rice was transplanted.

Effects of Long-Term Fertilization on Different Nitrogen Forms in Paddy along Soil Depth Gradient

The combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer is an effective measure to increase nutrient content of soil plough layer, which must have a profound impact on the deep soil nutrients, especially the contents of nitrogen forms. The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of soil nitrogen forms in plough layer and along depth gradient in different fertilization treatments, so as to evaluate the soil quality in spatial dimension, further providing a theoretical basis for scientific fertilization and improvement of paddy soil fertility. Here, a 34-year field experiment was conducted with three treatments: without any fertilizer (CK), pure chemical fertilizer (NPK) and chemical fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer (NPKM). We analyzed the content of nitrogen forms in 0 - 100 cm soil depth and their ratios to total nitrogen (TN), and discussed the correlation between nitrogen forms contents and pH, CEC. Results showed that, compared with CK, both NPK and NPKM significantly increased the contents of nitrogen forms in topsoil (soil layer of 0 - 20 cm), especially nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) content increased by 70% (NPK) and 111% (NPKM), respectively. Although the contents of different nitrogen forms decreased gradually along soil depth gradient, NPKS slowed down the decline rate of TN and alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen (AN) in 0 - 60 cm soil layer, compared to CK. Compared to NPK, NPKM significantly increased the NO3--N/TN ratio in 0 - 20 cm soil layer, but also decreased the content of -N in 20 - 40 cm, which was beneficial to reduce the risk of nitrogen leaching caused by nitrate leaching into deep layer. The increase of soil pH in NPKM treatment obviously alleviated the problem of soil acidification caused by long-term application of chemical fertilizer. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between soil nitrogen forms and cation exchange capacity (CEC), but no significant correlation with soil pH. In conclusion, NPKM ensured the nutrients of soil plough layer (0 - 20 cm), also reduced the risk of nitrogen infiltration and nitrogen loss, thus ensuring the fertility of soil profile.