Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T14:44:42.080Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Least limiting water range and soil pore-size distribution related to soil organic carbon dynamics following zero and conventional tillage of a black soil in Northeast China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2014

X. W. CHEN ,
X. H. SHI ,
A. Z. LIANG ,
X. P. ZHANG ,
S. X. JIA ,
R. Q. FAN  and
S. C. WEI
X. W. CHEN
Affiliation:
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, People's Republic of China
X. H. SHI
Affiliation:
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering, Beijing 100125, People's Republic of China
A. Z. LIANG*
Affiliation:
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, People's Republic of China
X. P. ZHANG
Affiliation:
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, People's Republic of China
S. X. JIA
Affiliation:
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, People's Republic of China
R. Q. FAN
Affiliation:
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, People's Republic of China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
S. C. WEI
Affiliation:
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, People's Republic of China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The present work built on a previous study of tillage trials, which found the effectiveness of least limiting water range (LLWR) as an indicator of soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization under different tillage practices in a black soil of Northeast China in 2009. To improve the understanding of soil structure controls over SOC dynamics, a study was conducted to explore the relationship between LLWR, which was calculated based on soil bulk density and soil pore-size distribution, and the effects of LLWR, which was calculated based on soil bulk density and soil pore-size distribution on SOC mineralization following no tillage (NT) and mouldboard ploughing (MP). In contrast to MP, NT had a significantly greater volume of large macropores (>100 μm) at depths of 0–0·05 and 0·2–0·3 m, but a significantly lower volume of small macropores (30–100 μm) at depths of 0–0·05, 0·05–0·1, 0·1–0·2 and 0·2–0·3 m. The volume of meso- (0·2–30 μm) and micro-pores (<0·2 μm) at different depths under the two tillage practices were similar. Tillage-induced changes in soil bulk density and pore-size volumes affected the ability of soil to fulfil essential soil functions in relation to organic matter turnover. Soil pore-size distribution, especially small macropores greatly affected LLWR and there was a significant correlation between LLWR, which was calculated based on soil bulk density, and the proportion of small macropores. The proportion of small macropores were used to calculate LLWR instead of soil bulk density and the values for NT and MP soils ranged from 0·073 to 0·148 m3 water/m3 soil. Using the proportion of small macropores rather than bulk density in the calculation of LLWR resulted in more sensitive indications of SOC mineralization. Variation in the proportion of small macropores can help characterize the impacts of tillage practices on dynamics of LLWR and SOC sequestration.

Type
Crops and Soils Research Papers
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 153 , Issue 2 , March 2015 , pp. 270 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alaoui, A., Lipiec, J. & Gerke, H. H. (2011). A review of the changes in the soil pore system due to soil deformation: a hydrodynamic perspective. Soil and Tillage Research 115–116, 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balota, E. L., Filho, A. C., Andrade, D. S. & Dick, R. P. (2004). Long-term tillage and crop rotation effects on microbial biomass and C and N mineralization in a Brazilian Oxisol. Soil and Tillage Research 77, 137–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benjamin, J. G. (1993). Tillage effects on near-surface soil hydraulic properties. Soil and Tillage Research 26, 277–288.Google Scholar
Benjamin, J. G., Nielsen, D. C. & Vigil, M. F. (2003). Quantifying effects of soil conditions on plant growth and crop production. Geoderma 116, 137–148.Google Scholar
Bhattacharyya, R., Prakash, V., Kundu, S. & Gupta, H. S. (2006). Effect of tillage and crop rotations on pore size distribution and soil hydraulic conductivity in sandy clay loam soil of the Indian Himalayas. Soil and Tillage Research 86, 129–140.Google Scholar
Blagodatsky, S. & Smith, P. (2012). Soil physics meets soil biology: towards better mechanistic prediction of greenhouse gas emissions from soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 47, 78–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buczko, U., Bens, O. & Huttl, R. F. (2006). Tillage effects on hydraulic properties and macroporosity in silty and sandy soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70, 1998–2007.Google Scholar
Busscher, W. J. (1990). Adjustment of flat-tipped penetrometer resistance data to a common water content. Transactions of the ASAE 33, 519–524.Google Scholar
Chen, X. W., Shi, X. H., Zhang, X. P., Liang, A. Z., Jia, S. X., Fan, R. Q. & Wei, S. C. (2011). No tillage impacts on soil organic carbon in a black soil in Northeast China. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 20, 3199–3205.Google Scholar
Chen, X. W., Wang, N., Shi, X. H., Zhang, X. P., Liang, A. Z., Jia, S. X., Fan, R. Q. & Wei, S. C. (2013). Evaluating tillage practices impacts on soil organic carbon based on least limiting water range. Acta Ecologica Sinica 33, 2676–2683 (in Chinese with English summary).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Y., Cavers, C., Tessier, S., Monero, F. & Lobb, D. (2005). Short-term tillage effects on soil cone index and plant development in a poorly drained, heavy clay soil. Soil and Tillage Research 82, 161–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Da Silva, A. P., Kay, B. D. & Perfect, E. (1994). Characterization of the least limiting water range of soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58, 1775–1781.Google Scholar
Da Silva, A. P. & Kay, B. D. (1997). Estimating the least limiting water range of soils from properties and management. Soil Science Society of America Journal 61, 877–883.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drury, C. F., Zhang, T. Q. & Kay, B. D. (2003). The non-limiting and least limiting water ranges for soil nitrogen mineralization. Soil Science Society of America Journal 67, 1388–1404.Google Scholar
Fernández-Ugalde, O., Virto, I., Bescansa, P., Imaz, M. J., Enrique, A. & Karlen, D. L. (2009). No-tillage improvement of soil physical quality in calcareous, degradation-prone, semiarid soils. Soil and Tillage Research 106, 29–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franzluebbers, A. J., Hons, F. M. & Zuberer, D. A. (1995). Tillage induced seasonal changes in soil physical properties affecting soil CO2 evolution under intensive cropping. Soil and Tillage Research 34, 41–60.Google Scholar
Franzluebbers, A. J., Schomberg, H. H. & Endale, D. M. (2007). Surface-soil responses to paraplowing of long-term no-tillage cropland in the Southern Piedmont USA. Soil and Tillage Research 96, 303–315.Google Scholar
Grable, A. R. & Siemer, E. G. (1968). Effects of bulk density, aggregate size, and soil water suction on oxygen diffusion, redox potentials, and elongation of corn roots. Soil Science Society of America Journal 32, 180–186.Google Scholar
Gregorich, E. G., Reynolds, W. D., Culley, J. L. B., Mcgovern, M. A. & Curnoe, W. E. (1993). Changes in soil physical properties with depth in a conventionally tilled soil after no tillage. Soil and Tillage Research 26, 289–299.Google Scholar
Haise, H. R., Haas, H. J. & Jensen, L. R. (1955). Soil moisture studies of some great plains soils: II. field capacity as related to 1/3-atmosphere percentage, and ‘minimum point’ as related to 15- and 26-atmosphere percentages. Soil Science Society of America Journal 19, 20–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayashi, Y., Ken'ichirou, K. & Mizuyama, T. (2006). Changes in pore size distribution and hydraulic properties of forest soil resulting from structural development. Journal of Hydrology 331, 85–102.Google Scholar
Ilstedt, U., Nordgren, A. & Malmer, A. (2000). Optimum soil water for soil respiration before and after amendment with glucose in humid tropical acrisols and a boreal mor layer. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 32, 1591–1599.Google Scholar
Jia, S. G., Yang, X. M., Wang, S. P., Qiu, J. & Ju, S. (1995). Design and application of a new hand-operated and verticle-pressured undisturbed soil sampler. Acta Pedologica Sinica 32, 108–111 (in Chinese with English summary).Google Scholar
Kay, B. D. (1990). Rates of change in soil structure under difficult cropping systems. Advances in Soil Science 12, 1–52.Google Scholar
Kay, B. D. & VandenBygaart, A. J. (2002). Conservation tillage and depth stratification of porosity and soil organic matter. Soil and Tillage Research 66, 107–118.Google Scholar
Lapen, D. R., Topp, G. C., Gregorich, E. G. & Curnoe, W. E. (2004). Least limiting water range indicators of soil quality and corn production, eastern Ontario, Canada. Soil and Tillage Research 78, 151–170.Google Scholar
Leão, T. P., Da Silva, A. P., Macedo, M. C. M., Imhoff, S. & Euclides, V. P. B. (2006). Least limiting water range: a potential indicator of changes in near-surface soil physical quality after the conversion of Brazilian Savanna into pasture. Soil and Tillage Research 88, 279–285.Google Scholar
Liang, A. Z., Zhang, X. P., Fang, H. J., Yang, X. M. & Drury, C. F. (2007). Short-term effects of tillage practices on organic carbon in clay loam soil of Northeast China. Pedosphere 17, 619–623.Google Scholar
Liu, X. B., Herbert, S. J., Hashemi, A. M., Zhang, X. Y. & Ding, G. W. (2006). Effects of agricultural management on soil organic matter and carbon transformation-a review. Plant, Soil and Environment 52, 531–543.Google Scholar
Lugato, E., Morari, F., Nardi, S., Berti, A. & Giardini, L. (2009). Relationship between aggregate pore size distribution and organic-humic carbon in contrasting soils. Soil and Tillage Research 103, 153–157.Google Scholar
Lützow, M. V., Kögel-Knabner, I. K., Ekschmitt, K., Matzner, E., Guggenberger, G., Marschner, B. & Flessa, H. (2006). Stabilization of organic matter in temperate soils: mechanisms and their relevance under different soil conditions-a review. European Journal of Soil Science 57, 426–445.Google Scholar
Medeiros, J. C., Da Silva, A. P., Cerri, C. E. P., Giarola, N. F. B., Figueiredo, G. C. & Fracetto, F. J. C. (2011). Linking physical quality and CO2 emissions under long-term no-till and conventional-till in a subtropical soil in Brazil. Plant and Soil 338, 5–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oorts, K., Nicolardot, B., Merckx, R., Richard, G. & Boizard, H. (2006). C and N mineralization of undisrupted and disrupted soil from different structural zones of conventional tillage and no-tillage systems in Northern France. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38, 2576–2586.Google Scholar
Pengthamkeerati, P., Motavalli, P. P., Kremer, R. J. & Anderson, S. H. (2005). Soil carbon dioxide efflux from a claypan soil affected by surface compaction and applications of poultry litter. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 109, 75–86.Google Scholar
Richards, L. A. & Weaver, L. R. (1943). Fifteen-atmosphere percentage as related to the permanent wilting percentage. Soil Science 56, 331–340.Google Scholar
Ross, P. J., Williams, J. & Bristow, K. L. (1991). Equation for extending water-retention curves to dryness. Soil Science Society of America Journal 55, 923–927.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sas Institute Inc. (1991). SAS/STAT Procedure Guide for Personal Computers. Cary, NC, USA: SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Sasal, M. C., Andriulo, A. E. & Taboada, M. A. (2006). Soil porosity characteristics and water movement under zero tillage in silty soils in Argentinian Pampas. Soil and Tillage Research 87, 9–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simmons, S. R. & Jones, R. J. (1985). Contributions of pre-silking assimilate to grain yield in maize. Crop Science 25, 1004–1006.Google Scholar
Sleutel, S., Bouckaert, L., Buchan, D., Van Loo, D., Cornelis, W. M. & Sanga, H. G. (2012). Manipulation of the soil pore and microbial community structure in soil mesocosm incubation studies. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 45, 40–48.Google Scholar
Soil Science Society Of China. (2000). Soil Agrochemical Analysis. Beijing: Chinese Agriculture Science and Technology Press. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Stockdale, E. A. & Brookes, P. C. (2006). Detection and quantification of the soil microbial biomass-impacts on the management of agricultural soils. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 144, 285–302.Google Scholar
Strong, D. T., De Wever, H., Merckx, R. & Recous, S. (2004). Spatial location of carbon decomposition in the soil pore system. European Journal of Soil Science 55, 739–750.Google Scholar
Strudley, M. W., Green, T. R. & Ascough, J. C. II (2008). Tillage effects on soil hydraulic properties in space and time: state of the science. Soil and Tillage Research 99, 4–48.Google Scholar
Taylor, H. M., Roberson, G. M. & Parker, J. J. J. (1966). Soil strength-root penetration relations for medium- to coarse-textured soil materials. Soil Science 102, 18–22.Google Scholar
Thomsen, I. K., Schjønning, P. & Christensen, B. T. (2003). Mineralization of 15N-labelled sheep manure in soils of different texture and water contents. Biology and Fertility of Soils 37, 295–301.Google Scholar
VandenBygaart, A. J., Protz, R. & Tomlin, A. D. (1999). Changes in pore structure in a no-till chronosequence of silt loam soils, southern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 79, 149–160.Google Scholar
Wahl, N. A., Bens, O., Buczko, U., Hangen, E. & Hüttl, R. F. (2004). Effects of conventional and conservation tillage on soil hydraulic properties of a silty-loamy soil. Physical and Chemistry of the Earth 29, 821–829.Google Scholar
Wairiu, M. & Lal, R. (2006). Tillage and land use effects on soil microporosity in Ohio, USA and Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. Soil and Tillage Research 88, 80–84.Google Scholar
Wander, M. M., Bidart, M. G. & Aref, S. (1998). Tillage impacts on depth distribution of total and particulate organic matter in three Illinois soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62, 1704–1711.Google Scholar
Wang, H. B., Chen, L. M., Zhao, L. P., Liu, H. Q. & Wang, Y. (2009). Influence of present farming system of maize belt on fertility degradation in Jilin Province. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering 25, 301–305 (in Chinese with English summary).Google Scholar
Williams, J., Ross, P. & Bristow, K. (1992). Prediction of the Campbell water retention function from texture, structure, and organic matter. In Indirect Methods for Estimating the Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated Soils (Eds Van Genuchten, M. T., Leij, F. J. & Lund, L. J.), pp. 427–441. Riverside, CA, USA: University of California.Google Scholar
Wu, L. S., Feng, G. L., Letey, J., Ferguson, L., Mitchell, J., Mccullough-Sanden, B. & Markegard, G. (2003). Soil management effects on the nonlimiting water range. Geoderma 114, 401–414.Google Scholar
Yao, S. H., Zhang, B. & Hu, F. (2011). Soil biophysical controls over rice straw decomposition and sequestration in soil: the effects of drying intensity and frequency of drying and wetting cycles. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43, 590–599.Google Scholar
Yoo, G. & Wander, M. M. (2006). Influence of tillage practices on soil structural controls over carbon mineralization. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70, 651–659.Google Scholar
Yoo, G., Nissen, T. M. & Wander, M. M. (2006). Use of physical properties to predict the effects of tillage practices on organic matter dynamics in three Illinois soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 35, 1576–1583.Google Scholar
Zhao, L. P., Wang, H. B., Liu, H. Q., Wang, Y. L., Liu, S. X. & Wang, Y. (2006). Mechanism of fertility degradation of black soil in corn belt of Songliao Plain. Acta Pedologica Sinica 43, 79–84 (in Chinese with English summary).Google Scholar
Zou, C., Sands, R., Buchan, G. & Hudson, I. (2000). Least limiting water range: a potential indicator of physical quality of forest soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 947–958.Google Scholar