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Book Nitrogen Fertilization and Cropping Systems Effects on Soil Carbon Pool in an Argiudolls in Westcentral Illinois

Download or read book Nitrogen Fertilization and Cropping Systems Effects on Soil Carbon Pool in an Argiudolls in Westcentral Illinois written by Sindhu Jagadamma and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: The adoption of recommended management practices (RMPs) such as nitrogen (N) fertilization and cropping systems play important role in increasing crop residue production, with attendant increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, agronomic productivity, and soil quality. This study was conducted with the objectives to evaluate the effect of long term N fertilization and cropping systems on: (i) SOC and soil organic nitrogen (SON) concentrations and pools, (ii) SOC sequestration rate (iii) soil quality determinants such as aggregation, total porosity and soil pH, and (iv) agronomic productivity and its relation with SOC pool. Replicated soil samples were obtained from a long-term experiment (23-yrs) at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, IL during Spring, 2004 up to a depth of 90 cm. The soil type is Muscatune silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls). The experimental design was split-split plot within a randomized complete block with three cropping systems [continuous corn (Zea mays) (CCC), and two rotation plots with corn and soybean (Glycine max) grown in alternate years (CSB and SBC respectively)] as the main plot, presence or absence of cover crop [oats (Avena sativa)] as sub plot and five N rates [0 (N0), 70 (N1), 140 (N2), 210 (N3) and 280 (N4) kg N ha−1] in the split-split plot arrangement. Results showed significant increase in both SOC and SON concentrations and pools by the addition of N fertilizers, with SOC pool ranging from 68.4 Mg ha−1 (N0) to 75.8 Mg ha−1 (N4), and SON pool ranging from 6.5 Mg ha−1 (N0) to 6.9 Mg ha−1 (N3) for 0-30 cm depth. The SOC sequestration rate over 23 years of N application ranged from 158 kg ha−1 yr−1 (N2) to 324 kg ha−1 yr−1 (N4) for 0-30 cm depth. Both soil bulk density (Pb) and C:N ratio significantly decreased with increase in the rates of N fertilizer for 0-30 cm depth. Continuous corn system, across all N treatments, sequestered 6 Mg ha−1 more SOC for 0-30 cm depth compared to corn-soybean rotation. Both water stable aggregates (WSA) and mean weight diameter (MWD) increased with increase in the rates of N, with mean WSA values ranging from 47 to 54% and MWD from 0.44 to 0.71 mm. The soils under CCC had more WSA (52.1%), which is 3% higher than that under corn-soybean rotation. The MWD values of cropping system treatments ranged from 0.5 to 0.65 mm, with the highest value corresponding to CCC. Both WSA (R2=0.23) and MWD (R2=0.32) were positively correlated with SOC concentration. The CCC system and increased rates of N fertilization increased corn residue (stover) yield, and thus the amount of biomass returned to the soil. However, N fertilization had no significant influence on soybean residue production. Regression analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between stover yield and SOC pool, but not between soybean residue yield and SOC pool. This study indicated that long-term continuous corn cultivation and judicious N fertilization are desirable management strategies for increasing SOC sequestration, enhancing soil physical quality , and improving sustainability of production systems.

Book Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

Download or read book Journal of Soil and Water Conservation written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 846 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Vol. 25, no. 1 contains the society's Lincoln Chapter's Resource conservation glossary.

Book Linking Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling to Plant soil microbial Interactions at the Field Soil Pedon and Micro scales Within Long term Conventional Low input and Organic Cropping Systems

Download or read book Linking Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling to Plant soil microbial Interactions at the Field Soil Pedon and Micro scales Within Long term Conventional Low input and Organic Cropping Systems written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite the greatly increased productive capacity of current-day cropping systems, the shortcomings associated with conventional, high-intensity cropping systems and the growing threat of global climate change, warrant the identification of crop management practices that promote long-term agricultural sustainability and productivity. Unlike conventional cropping practices, which include synthetic nitrogen and pesticide use, alternative crop management practices, e.g., cover cropping, tillage reduction, organic amendment additions, and reducing or eliminating synthetic fertilizer use, have emerged as integrated and ecologically sound approaches to enhance agroecosystem functioning and services. Yet, mechanisms governing the differences in soil quality and crop yields among alternative cropping systems and conventional systems remain unclear. The aim of this dissertation study was to understand and quantify the mechanisms governing the relationship between carbon and nitrogen cycling and the interactions between plants, soil, and microorganisms within long-term conventional (annual synthetic fertilizer), low-input (alternating synthetic fertilizer and cover crop additions), and organic (annual manure- and cover crop additions) cropping systems, at the field-, soil pedon-, and micro-scales. A multi-scaled approach, including agronomic experiments, stable isotopes (13C and 15N), soil fractionation techniques, and microbiological analyses (e.g., functional gene quantification and phospholipid fatty acid assays), was employed to study mechanisms of soil carbon and nitrogen stabilization and loss and to draw links between microbial populations and carbon and nitrogen processing across different agroecosystems. Data from this research only partly corroborated the global hypothesis: the effects of long-term, low-input crop management enhance microbial-mediated carbon and nitrogen turnover in different soil microenvironments and optimize the balance between carbon and nitrogen stabilization and loss compared to the conventional and organic cropping systems. Only a weak relationship between short-term microbial community structure and long-term carbon and nitrogen sequestration was found across the three cropping systems. The conclusion drawn is that the effects of long-term crop management are dictated by complex trade-offs between soil carbon and nitrogen stabilization, microbial abundance and activity, nitrogen losses, crop productivity, and the quantity and quality of carbon and nitrogen inputs in alternative cropping systems.

Book Plant Diversity and Nitrogen Addition on Belowground Biodiversity and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Biofuel Cropping Systems

Download or read book Plant Diversity and Nitrogen Addition on Belowground Biodiversity and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Biofuel Cropping Systems written by Jennifer Butt and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 45 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Bioenergy production may reduce the emission of CO2 which contributes to climate change, particularly when management strategies are adopted that promote soil carbon (C) sequestration in bioenergy cropping systems. Planting perennial native grasses, such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) may be used as a strategy to enhance soil C accumulation owing to their extensive root systems. Fertilizer use may further promote soil C sequestration, because of its positive impacts on plant production and soil C input. However, the influence of fertilizer addition on soil C accumulation is variable across bioenergy cropping systems, and fertilizer can negatively impact the environment. Increasing plant diversity may be used as a strategy to enhance soil C accumulation while augmenting other ecosystem properties such as soil biodiversity. The present study evaluates how inter- and intra- specific plant community diversity and N addition influence soil C storage and soil biodiversity. Soil was collected from a long-term (9 growing seasons) field experiment located at the Fermilab National Environmental Research Park in Illinois, USA. Treatments included [1] three cultivars of big bluestem and three cultivars of switchgrass cultivars grown in monoculture, [2] plant community diversity manipulated at both the species- and cultivar level, and [3] nitrogen (N) applied annually at two levels (0 and 67 kg ha-1). The soil at the site was dominated by C3 grasses for 30 years before replacement with C4 bioenergy grasses, which enabled quantification of plant-derived C accumulation owing to the natural difference in isotopic signature between C3 and C4 grasses. Soil samples were analyzed for [1] soil C and its delta13C isotopic signature, and [2] nematode and soil bacterial diversity. Our results indicate that both plant diversity and N addition influence soil community structure but not soil C storage or soil nematode biodiversity. However, the addition of big bluestem to the plant species mixes enhanced plant-derived C storage. In summary, our findings suggest that plant species identity can control soil C accumulation in the years following land conversion, and that manipulating plant community structure in bioenergy cropping systems may have a greater positive impact on soil C accumulation than N fertilization."--Boise State University ScholarWorks.

Book Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management

Download or read book Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management written by M J Shaffer and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2019-08-30 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Good management practices for carbon and nitrogen are vital to crop productivity and soil sustainability, as well as to the reduction of global greenhouse gases and environmental pollution. Since the 1950's, mathematical models have advanced our understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling at both the micro- and macro-scales. However, many of the models are scattered in the literature, undergo constant modification, and similar models can have different names. Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management clarifies the confusion by presenting a systematic summary of the various models available. It provides information about strengths and weaknesses, level of complexity, easiness of use, and application range of each model. In nineteen chapters, internationally known model developers and users update you on the current status and future direction of carbon and nitrogen modeling. The book's coverage ranges from theoretical comparison of models to application of models to soil management problems, from laboratory applications to field and watershed scale applications, from short-term simulation to long-term prediction, and from DOS-based computer programs to Object-Oriented and Graphical Interface designs. With this broad scope, Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics for Soil Management provides the tools to manage complex carbon/nitrogen processes effectively.

Book Nitrogen and Organic Carbon of Soils As Influenced by Cropping Systems and Soil Treatments

Download or read book Nitrogen and Organic Carbon of Soils As Influenced by Cropping Systems and Soil Treatments written by Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and published by . This book was released on 1939 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Soil Carbon and Nitrogen and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Affected by Sheep Grazing Under Dryland Cropping Systems

Download or read book Soil Carbon and Nitrogen and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Affected by Sheep Grazing Under Dryland Cropping Systems written by Joy Lynn Barsotti and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sheep grazing to control weeds during fallow may influence soil C and N and greenhouse gas emissions by consuming crop residue and returning feces and urine to the soil. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of sheep grazing compared to tillage and herbicide application for weed control on soil total C, total N, NH 4-N, and NO 3-N contents at the 0-120 cm depth from 2009 to 2011 and greenhouse gas (CO 2, N 2O, and CH 4) emissions from May to October, 2010 and 2011 under dryland cropping systems in western Montana. Treatments were three fallow management practices (sheep grazing [GRAZ), herbicide application [CHEM], and tillage [MECH]) and three cropping sequences (continuous alfalfa [CA], continuous spring wheat [CSW], and spring wheatpea/barley hay-fallow [W-P/B-F]). Soil samples were collected with a hydraulic probe after crop harvest and greenhouse gas samples at 3 to 14 d intervals with a static chamber. Soil total C was greater in CSW and W-P/B-F than in CA at 5-30 cm but was greater in CA and CSW than in W-P/B-F at 60-90 cm. Soil total N and NO 3-N contents were greater in CSW and W-P/B-F than in CA at 5-120 cm. Soil NH 4-N content varied with treatments and years. Soil temperature and water content at 0-15 cm were greater in CHEM with W-P/B-F and GRAZ with CA than in other treatments. Greenhouse gas fluxes peaked immediately following substantial precipitation (>12 mm) and/or N fertilization, regardless of treatments. Total CO 2 flux from May to October was greater in GRAZ with CA but N 2O flux was greater in CHEM and GRAZ with CSW than in other treatments in 2010 and 2011. Total CH 4 flux was greater in CA than in CSW and W-P/BF in 2011. Net global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity were greater in CHEM with CSW than in other treatments. Continuous spring wheat increased soil C and N storage and available N at subsurface layers compared to other cropping sequences. Because of higher N 2O emissions and lower C sequestration rate, global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity increased under continuous spring wheat with herbicide application for weed control.

Book Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Fractions Enzyme Activities and Microbial Diversity in Temperate Alley Cropping Systems

Download or read book Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Fractions Enzyme Activities and Microbial Diversity in Temperate Alley Cropping Systems written by Nancy Wangari Mungai and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental concerns over the effects of global warming and the long-term sustainability of conventional agricultural production has stimulated the search for alternative agroecosystems, such as alley cropping, which may lead to greater carbon sequestration and improved soil fertility. Differences in litter composition between crop and tree litter, and microclimate modifications in alley cropping systems may introduce spatial variation in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) fractions and soil microbial properties. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the effects of litter quality, soil properties and microclimate differences on soil C and N mineralization in established alley cropping systems; (2) to determine the spatial variability of soil C and N fractions in these systems; and (3) to evaluate the effects of these systems on spatial differences in soil microbial activity and functional diversity. To address the first objective, microcosm and litterbag experiments were conducted in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Bulk soils were collected from the 0-20 cm depth at three sites: a 21-yr old pecan (Carya illinoinensis)/bluegrass (Poa trivials) intercrop (Pecan site) in north-central Missouri, a 12-yr old silver maple (Acer saccharinum)/soybean (Glycine max) - maize (Zea mays) rotation (Maple site) in northeastern Missouri and a warm season grass restored prairie (MDC site) in southwestern Missouri. Seven litters with varying composition were collected including pecan, silver maple, chestnut and walnut leaf litter (tree litter) and maize, soybean and bluegrass hay residues (crop litter). Aerobic microcosm incubations were maintained at 25°C and a soil water potential of -47 kPa. Crop litter had a narrow C: N ratio (

Book Management Effects on Labile Organic Carbon Pools in a Texas Cotton cropping System

Download or read book Management Effects on Labile Organic Carbon Pools in a Texas Cotton cropping System written by Scott Michael Kolodziej and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is well documented that increases in soil organic matter (SOM) improve soil physical properties and increase the overall fertility and sustainability of the soil. Research in SOM storage has recently amplified following the proposal that agricultural soils may provide a significant carbon (C) sink that may aid in the mitigation of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Observed differences in lint yield and nitrogen response from a cotton performance study at the Texas A & M University Experimental Farm near College Station, TX prompted us to examine the effects of tillage and rotation on soil organic C (SOC), soil microbial biomass C (SMBC), 38-day cumulative C mineralization (38-day CMIN), hot-water extractable organic C (hot-WEOC), carbohydrate C, and total glomalin. The treatments examined included conventional-till continuous cotton (CT), reduced-till continuous cotton (RT), and conventional-till cotton after corn rotation (CC) treatments. In pre-plant soil samples, SOC, SMBC, and 38-day CMIN in the top 5 cm were 33, 58, and 79 % greater in RT and 29, 32, and 36 % greater in CC vs. CT. Comparable differences were observed for hot-WEOC and carbohydrate C. Little seasonal variation was observed for labile-C pools throughout the growing season, suggesting minimal C input from cotton roots. Water-stable aggregation was not significantly affected by management, and did not correlate with labile-C pools or total glomalin. Labile-C pools were generally more responsive to management vs. SOC and were strongly correlated with one another. Carbohydrate C of hot-water extracts exhibited the strongest relationships with SMBC and 38-day CMIN, even though it comprised only 3 and 5 % of these pools, respectively. Our data suggest that increasing SOC in Texas cotton-cropping systems through conservation management is possible. Long-term data are still needed to fully address SOC storage potentials in Texas, but increases in labile-C pools resulting from conservation management are attainable and have the potential to positively impact soil fertility.

Book Impacts of Cover Crops on Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Flux from a Row Crop Agricultural Field in Central Illinois

Download or read book Impacts of Cover Crops on Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Flux from a Row Crop Agricultural Field in Central Illinois written by Joshua Smith and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the United States, there is renewed interest in incorporating cover crops into agricultural systems to provide a variety of potential benefits related to soil quality, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. This study focused on assessing whether cover crops influence N 2 O and CO2 emissions in a central Illinois agricultural research field over two years (2011-2013) of cover crop growing seasons. Three winter cover crop systems, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), cereal rye (Secale cereale), and a cereal rye (2011)/ hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) (2012) rotation were planted after fall 2011 and 2012 harvests. The field included a total of eight main plots, two of each treatment, and two no cover crop control plots. Soil carbon dioxide (CO 2) and nitrous oxide (N2 O) fluxes were measured from the plots in a single corn (Zea mays) - soybean (Glycine max) system for two cover crop growing seasons. Fluxes of CO 2 and CO2 were measured in March 2012, August 2012, and February 2013. The CO2 flux measurements were performed by using an infrared gas analyzer. The N2 O fluxes were analyzed from samples collected at 0, 10, 20, 30 min intervals from the same closed dynamic chamber system. Both CO2 and N2 O fluxes were computed from respective gas concentrations over time. Data were analyzed with a repeated measures mixed model procedure. N2 O fluxes from the cereal rye/hairy vetch plots were greater than the no cover control and annual ryegrass plots, suggesting that cover crops may not decrease N2 O fluxes immediately after being incorporated into a cropping system. In contrast, CO2 fluxes did not significantly differ among the treatments, but the cereal rye/hairy vetch plot sequestered ~100 kg C ha-1 of soil organic carbon (SOC). Overall, it was observed that some cover crop plots can have higher N2 O fluxes than plots without cover crops, but cover crops have the long-term potential to sequester C in croplands demonstrating that their use should still be considered a sustainable agriculture practice.

Book Carbon and Nitrogen in Catch Crop Systems

Download or read book Carbon and Nitrogen in Catch Crop Systems written by Karin Blombäck and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: