Intensive fertilization (N, P, K, Ca, and S) decreases organic matter decomposition in paddy soil

authored by: Yuhuai Liu, Huadong Zang, Tida Ge, Jing Bai, Shunbao Lu, Ping Zhou, Peiqing Peng, Olga Shibistova, Zhenke Zhu, Jinshui Wu, Georg Guggenberger
Abstract: Paddy soils have experienced intensive fertilization in recent decades. However, our understanding of the effects of fertilization on the carbon (C) cycle remains incomplete. In the present study, we investigated soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in a 60-day incubation in response to N, P, K, Ca, and S addition to nutrient-limited paddy soil at three low and three high concentrations. High levels of nutrient addition decreased CO₂ emission, qCO₂, and microbial biomass. CO₂ emissions increased (12–17%) owing to low levels of nutrient addition, whereas it decreased (3–21%) in response to high levels of nutrient addition. Microbial biomass and nutrient turnover rates increased after low levels of nutrient addition. Positive priming effect occurs under nutrient-limited conditions owing to the stimulation of microbial biomass production after low amount of exogenous nutrient input. In contrast, high levels of nutrient addition decreased microbial biomass and net N mineralization. This high N, P, K, Ca, and S addition could satisfy the needs of microbial growth, thereby decreasing the dependency of the organisms on the original nutrients from SOM decomposition. Therefore, negative priming was observed after high-level nutrient addition. In conclusion, intensive fertilization (with N, P, K, Ca, and S) reduces SOM decomposition through increased microbial turnover in paddy soils, which might positively affect C sequestration.
Organisation(s): Institute of Soil Science
Section Soil Chemistry
External Organisation(s): Jiangxi Normal University
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
University of Göttingen
Central South University of Forestry & Technology
Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
Type: Article
Journal: Applied soil ecology
Volume: 127
Pages: 51-57
No. of pages: 7
ISSN: 0929-1393
Publication date: 06.2018
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Ecology, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Soil Science
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.02.012 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{7c453e4782eb481092e294a5ee841294,
title = "Intensive fertilization (N, P, K, Ca, and S) decreases organic matter decomposition in paddy soil",
abstract = "Paddy soils have experienced intensive fertilization in recent decades. However, our understanding of the effects of fertilization on the carbon (C) cycle remains incomplete. In the present study, we investigated soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in a 60-day incubation in response to N, P, K, Ca, and S addition to nutrient-limited paddy soil at three low and three high concentrations. High levels of nutrient addition decreased CO2 emission, qCO2, and microbial biomass. CO2 emissions increased (12–17%) owing to low levels of nutrient addition, whereas it decreased (3–21%) in response to high levels of nutrient addition. Microbial biomass and nutrient turnover rates increased after low levels of nutrient addition. Positive priming effect occurs under nutrient-limited conditions owing to the stimulation of microbial biomass production after low amount of exogenous nutrient input. In contrast, high levels of nutrient addition decreased microbial biomass and net N mineralization. This high N, P, K, Ca, and S addition could satisfy the needs of microbial growth, thereby decreasing the dependency of the organisms on the original nutrients from SOM decomposition. Therefore, negative priming was observed after high-level nutrient addition. In conclusion, intensive fertilization (with N, P, K, Ca, and S) reduces SOM decomposition through increased microbial turnover in paddy soils, which might positively affect C sequestration.",
keywords = "Microbial biomass turnover, N mineralization, Nutrient addition, Paddy soil, Priming effect",
author = "Yuhuai Liu and Huadong Zang and Tida Ge and Jing Bai and Shunbao Lu and Ping Zhou and Peiqing Peng and Olga Shibistova and Zhenke Zhu and Jinshui Wu and Georg Guggenberger",
note = "{\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.",
year = "2018",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.02.012",
language = "English",
volume = "127",
pages = "51--57",
journal = "Applied soil ecology",
issn = "0929-1393",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}