Jianling Fan

Effect of long-term compost and inorganic fertilizer application on background N2O and fertilizer-induced N2O emissions from an intensively cultivated soil

The influence of inorganic fertilizer and compost on background nitrous oxide (N2O) and fertilizer-induced N2O emissions were examined over a maize-wheat rotation year from June 2008 to May 2009 in a fluvo-aquic soil in Henan Province of China where a field experiment had been established in 1989 to evaluate the long-term effects of manure and fertilizer on soil organic status. The study involved five treatments: compost (OM), fertilizer NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium, NPK), half compost N plus half fertilizer N (HOM), fertilizer NK (NK), and control without any fertilizer (CK). The natural logarithms of the background N2O fluxes were significantly (P<0.05) correlated with soil temperature, but not with soil moisture, during the maize or wheat growing season. The 18-year application of compost alone and inorganic fertilizer not only significantly (P<0.05) increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 152% and 10-43% (respectively), but also increased background N2O emissions by 106% and 48-76% (respectively) compared with the control. Total N in soils was a better indicator for predicting annual background N2O emission than SOC. The estimated emission factor (EF) of mineralized N, calculated by dividing annual N2O emission by mineralized N was 0.13-0.19%, significantly (P<0.05) lower than the EF of added N (0.30-0.39%). The annual N2O emission in the NPK, HOM and OM soils amended with 300 kg ha(-1) organic or inorganic N was 1427, 1325 and 1178 g N ha(-1), respectively. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference between the NPK and OM. The results of this study indicate that soil indigenous N was less efficiently converted into N2O compared with exogenous N. Increasing SOC by compost application, then partially increasing N supply to crops instead of adding inorganic N fertilizer, may be an effective measure to mitigate N2O emissions from arable soils in the North China plain.

Influence of 20–Year Organic and Inorganic Fertilization on Organic Carbon Accumulation and Microbial Community Structure of Aggregates in an Intensively Cultivated Sandy Loam Soil

To evaluate the long–term effect of compost (CM) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK) application on microbial community structure and organic carbon (OC) accumulation at aggregate scale, soils from plots amended with CM, NPK and no fertilizer (control) for 20 years (1989–2009) were collected. Soil was separated into large macroaggregate (>2,000 μm), small macroaggregate (250–2,000 μm), microaggregate (53–250 μm), silt (2–53 μm) and clay fraction (<2 μm) by wet-sieving, and their OC concentration and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were measured. The 20-year application of compost significantly (P<0.05) increased OC by 123–134% and accelerated the formation of macroaggregates, but decreased soil oxygen diffusion coefficient. NPK mainly increased OC in macroaggregates and displayed weaker influence on aggregation. Bacteria distributed in all aggregates, while fungi and actinobacteria were mainly in macroaggregates and microaggregates. The ratio of monounsaturated to branched (M/B) PLFAs, as an indicator for the ratio of aerobic to anaerobic microorganisms, increased inversely with aggregate size. Both NPK and especially CM significantly (P<0.05) decreased M/B ratios in all aggregates except the silt fraction compared with the control. The increased organic C in aggregates significantly (P<0.05) negatively correlated with M/B ratios under CM and NPK. Our study suggested that more efficient OC accumulations in aggregates under CM–treated than under NPK–treated soil was not only due to a more effective decrease of actinobacteria, but also a decrease of monounsaturated PLFAs and an increase of branched PLFAs. Aggregations under CM appear to alter micro-habitats to those more suitable for anaerobes, which in turn boosts OC accumulation.

Thirty-year amendment of horse manure and chemical fertilizer on the availability of micronutrients at the aggregate scale in black soil

PurposeThis study evaluates manure and chemical fertilizer effects on micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) content and availability in crops.MethodsSeven treatments were selected, including three conventional fertilization treatments (NP, horse manure (M), and NP plus M (NPM)), three corresponding double rate fertilization (N2P2, M2, and N2P2M2), and a CK. Soil samples were collected and separated into four aggregates by wet-sieving in September 2009. Corn samples were collected and analyzed simultaneously.ResultsTreatment N2P2 increased DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, and Cu in soil by 732%, 388%, and 42%, whereas M2 decreased the corresponding values by 26%, 22%, and 10%, respectively, compared to CK. DTPA extractable Zn in soil and Zn in corn grain were higher in the M and M2 treatments than in the other treatments, and DTPA Zn was significantly correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC) in large macroaggregate, microaggregate, and silt + clay fractions. The Mn concentrations in corn stalks and grain were significantly correlated with DTPA extractable Mn in bulk soil and microaggregates, and Zn in stalks were significantly correlated with DTPA Zn in bulk soil, microaggregates, and large macroaggregates.ConclusionsLong-term application of horse manure could increase soil Zn availability and uptake by corn, possibly due to its activation by SOC. In contrast, chemical fertilizer application increased DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, and Cu in soil by reducing soil pH. Our results also suggest that Mn uptake by corn originated mainly in microaggregates, whereas Zn in crops was primarily sourced from large macroaggregates and microaggregates.

Thirty-Year Manuring and Fertilization Effects on Heavy Metals in Black Soil and Soil Aggregates in Northeastern China

To evaluate the effects of thirty years of manure and chemical fertilizer applications on metal accumulations in soil and soil aggregates, fresh soils were separated by wet sieving into four aggregate fractions and heavy-metal concentrations in soil and aggregates were determined. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration in microaggregates ranged from 20.2 to 39.6 g carbon (C) kg−1, which was significantly greater than those in the other fractions. The proportion of heavy metals in small macroaggregates and the silt + clay fraction accounted for 45.5 ± 10.6% and 35.8 ± 14.1% of the total amount in soil, respectively, which might be due primarily to their greater mass percentages in soil. Both chemical fertilizer and manure significantly stimulated iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) accumulation; horse manure also increased copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) concentration in bulk soils as compared with the control. The results also indicated that heavy-metal distribution in aggregates was not controlled by SOC but possibly by soil clay.

Soil phosphorus fractions following annual paper mill biosolids and liming materials application

Industrial by-products such as paper mill biosolids (PB) and different liming materials have been used as fertilizers and amendments in agricultural soils for many decades. However, little is known about the effects of their repeated application on soil nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus (P). A 6-yr field study (2000-2005) was conducted in the province of Quebec to investigate the effect of repeated annual applications of different PB and industrial by-products on selected soil chemical properties, especially soil P fractions. Different PB rates (0 to 90 Mg wet ha-1) and several liming products (lime mud, wood ash, calcitic lime, and Mg by-products) were annually applied to field crops after seeding. Soils were sampled before seeding in May 2003 and at harvest in October 2005. Results showed that HCl-P was the largest P pool, accounting for about 64% of the total P fraction, and that the repeated applications of liming products significantly increased this pool and decreased the organic P pool...

Grazing improves C and N cycling in the Northern Great Plains: a meta-analysis

Grazing potentially alters grassland ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage and cycles, however, the overall direction and magnitude of such alterations are poorly understood on the Northern Great Plains (NGP). By synthesizing data from multiple studies on grazed NGP ecosystems, we quantified the response of 30 variables to C and N pools and fluxes to grazing using a comprehensive meta-analysis method. Results showed that grazing enhanced soil C (5.2 ± 4.6% relative) and N (11.3 ± 9.1%) pools in the top layer, stimulated litter decomposition (26.8 ± 18.4%) and soil N mineralization (22.3 ± 18.4%) and enhanced soil NH4+ (51.5 ± 42.9%) and NO3− (47.5 ± 20.7%) concentrations. Our results indicate that the NGP grasslands have sequestered C and N in the past 70 to 80 years, recovering C and N lost during a period of widespread grassland deterioration that occurred in the first half of the 20th century. Sustainable grazing management employed after this deterioration has acted as a critical factor for C and N amelioration of degraded NGP grasslands and about 5.84 Mg C ha−1 CO2-equivalent of anthropogenic CO2 emissions has been offset by these grassland soils.

Effect of application of dairy manure, effluent and inorganic fertilizer on nitrogen leaching in clayey fluvo-aquic soil: A lysimeter study

Dairy farm manure and effluent are applied to cropland in China to provide a source of plant nutrients, but there are concerns over its effect on nitrogen (N) leaching loss and groundwater quality. To investigate the effects of land application of dairy manure and effluent on potential N leaching loss, two lysimeter trials were set up in clayey fluvo-aquic soil in a winter wheat-summer maize rotation cropping system on the North China Plain. The solid dairy manure trial included control without N fertilization (CK), inorganic N fertilizer (SNPK), and fresh (RAW) and composted (COM) dairy manure. The liquid dairy effluent trial consisted of control without N fertilization (CF), inorganic N fertilizer (ENPK), and fresh (FDE) and stored (SDE) dairy effluent. The N application rate was 225kgNha-1 for inorganic N fertilizer, dairy manure, and effluent treatments in both seasons. Annual N leaching loss (ANLL) was highest in SNPK (53.02 and 16.21kgNha-1 in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, respectively), which were 1.65- and 2.04-fold that of COM, and 1.59- and 1.26-fold that of RAW. In the effluent trial (2014/2015), ANLL for ENPK and SDE (16.22 and 16.86kgNha-1, respectively) were significantly higher than CF and FDE (6.3 and 13.21kgNha-1, respectively). NO3- contributed the most (34-92%) to total N leaching loss among all treatments, followed by dissolved organic N (14-57%). COM showed the lowest N leaching loss due to a reduction in NO3- loss. Yield-scaled N leaching in COM (0.35kgNMg-1 silage) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that in the other fertilization treatments. Therefore, the use of composted dairy manure should be increased and that of inorganic fertilizer decreased to reduce N leaching loss while ensuring high crop yield in the North China Plain.

Extreme rainfall and snowfall alter responses of soil respiration to nitrogen fertilization : a 3-year field experiment

Abstract Extreme precipitation is predicted to be more frequent and intense accompanying global warming and may have profound impacts on soil respiration (Rs) and its components, that is, autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) respiration. However, how natural extreme rainfall or snowfall events affect these fluxes are still lacking, especially under nitrogen (N) fertilization. In this study, extreme rainfall and snowfall events occurred during a 3‐year field experiment, allowing us to examine their effects on the response of Rs, Rh, and Ra to N supply. In normal rainfall years of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, N fertilization significantly stimulated Rs by 23.9% and 10.9%, respectively. This stimulation was mainly due to the increase of Ra because of N‐induced increase in plant biomass. In the record wet year of 2013/2014, however, Rs was independent on N supply because of the inhibition effect of the extreme rainfall event. Compared with those in other years, Rh and Ra were reduced by 36.8% and 59.1%, respectively, which were likely related to the anoxic stress on soil microbes and decreased photosynthates supply. Although N supply did not affect annual Rh, the response ratio (RR) of Rh flux to N fertilization decreased firstly during growing season, increased in nongrowing season and peaked during spring thaw in each year. Nongrowing season Rs and Rh contributed 5.5–16.4% to their annual fluxes and were higher in 2012/2013 than other years due to the extreme snowfall inducing higher soil moisture during spring thaw. The RR of nongrowing season Rs and Rh decreased in years with extreme snowfall or rainfall compared to those in normal years. Overall, our results highlight the significant effects of extreme precipitation on responses of Rs and its components to N fertilization, which should be incorporated into models to improve the prediction of carbon‐climate feedbacks. &NA; In normal rainfall years, N fertilization stimulated total soil respiration by increased autotrophic respiration. Soil respiration was unresponsive to N fertilization in a record wet year due to reduction in both autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration by extreme rainfall. Extreme snowfall stimulated nongrowing season soil respiration but reduced its response to N fertilization. Figure. No caption available.

Hexachlorobenzene accumulation in rice plants as affected by farm manure and urea applications in dissimilar soils

Liu, C. Y., Jiang, X., Fan, J. L. and Ziadi, N. 2013. Hexachlorobenzene accumulation in rice plants as affected by farm manure and urea applications in dissimilar soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 631-638. The key issue of the environmental effects of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in soil is its bioavailability. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the bioavailability of HCB to roots, shoots and grains of rice (Oryza sativa L.), and to determine the effect of farm manure and urea applications on HCB accumulation in rice plants. Two soils, Hydragric Acrisols (Ac) and Gleyi-Stagnic Anthrosols (An), were used. The HCB concentrations in roots were 12 to 17 and 35 to 48 times those in shoots and grains, respectively. The application of 1 and 2% farm manure to both Ac and An decreased the bioconcentration factor of HCB for rice roots, suggesting that farm manure supply decreased HCB bioavailability. The application of 0.03 and 0.06% urea in both tested soils decreased HCB concentrations in rice shoots and roots; these decreases were attributed to the acceleration of HCB degradation by urea supplies. The effect of farm manure and urea supplies on rice grain uptake of HCB was negligible, owing to the small amount of HCB translocation from roots to grains. Because of the higher HCB degradation rate for An, HCB accumulation amounts in rice plants were lower for An than for Ac. In contrast, the bioconcentration factor of HCB was higher for An, suggesting that HCB bioavailability was higher in An than in Ac. The results show that HCB translocation from rice roots to grains was difficult, and that farm manure, urea and soil type all play important roles in HCB accumulation in rice plants.

Responses of manure decomposition to nitrogen addition: Role of chemical composition

Understanding the interactions among organic manure chemical composition, decomposition and nitrogen (N) fertilization is critical for sustainable agriculture management. Six organic manures were incubated in a cultivated black soil with or without N addition for one year, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from these organic manures were monitored. Chemical compositions of the organic manures were determined by elemental analysis, proximate chemical analysis, and carbon (C)-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and evaluated after cupric-oxide oxidation for lignin biomarkers. During the experimental period, 19-44% of manure C was decomposed without N addition, which decreased to 17-35% with N addition, except for the composted furfural residue with rice dregs. However, during different decomposition stages, N effect changed from stimulation to inhibition, or behaved as increasing inhibition. During stage 1 (days 0-100) when N stimulation effect reached a maximum, CO2 emissions from manure had positive relationships with labile C fraction indicators, including total sugars, soluble polyphenols, and lignin cinnamyl/vanillyl ratio regardless of N addition. N effect on manure decomposition was related to the C/N ratio and labile organic C content. During stage 2 (days 101-267), N effect shifted to inhibition, with CO2 emissions from manure negatively related to lignin vanillyl-units content. The magnitude of N inhibition increased linearly with the aromaticity of dissolved organic C, and was strengthened by nitrate in manure. Finally, N inhibition effect reached a maximum during stage 3 (days 268-365), increasing with higher aromatic C in manure. Critical factors for manure decomposition shifted from total sugars, soluble polyphenols, and lignin cinnamyl-units to recalcitrant lignin vanillyl-units and aromatic C fraction, which mediated the type and magnitude of N effect on decomposition. Our results suggested that the potential for enhancing soil C sequestration with organic manures would magnify under combined application with N fertilizer in the long term.