Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of crop rotation, fertilisation and tillage on main soil properties and its water extractable organic matter

Francesco De Mastro A , Gennaro Brunetti https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3904-0742 A B , Andreina Traversa A and Claudio Cocozza A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università di Bari, Via Amendola 165/A 70126-Bari, Italy.

B Corresponding author. Email: gennaro.brunetti@uniba.it

Soil Research 57(4) 365-373 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR18297
Submitted: 4 October 2018  Accepted: 18 February 2019   Published: 15 March 2019

Abstract

The excessive use of fertilisers and frequent and deep tillage are not considered good agricultural practices because they increase production costs and reduce soil fertility. Water extractable organic matter (WEOM) is the fraction of soil organic matter responsible for nutrient transport and bioavailability. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of a 2-year rotation of faba bean–wheat, cultivated for a decade, and the agricultural practices (conventional vs no tillage, and fertilisation vs no fertilisation) on selected soil parameters and WEOM quality. Results showed that the soil organic carbon (SOC) and the total nitrogen (TN) content increased after the wheat and faba bean, respectively. Plots managed with conventional tillage showed WEOM with higher OC content with respect to no-tillage plots. A higher WEOM OC content was observed also in the fertilised plots. The WEOM of fertilised and faba bean plots was derived from decomposition of native SOC, but the microbial community decomposition was the main origin of WEOM after wheat.

Additional keywords: conventional tillage, faba bean, no tillage, WEOM, wheat.


References

Barbera V, Poma I, Gristina L, Novara A, Egli M (2012 ) Long-term cropping systems and tillage management effects on soil organic carbon stock and steady state level of C sequestration rates in a semiarid environment. Land Degradation & Development 23, 82–91.
Long-term cropping systems and tillage management effects on soil organic carbon stock and steady state level of C sequestration rates in a semiarid environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell CA, Lafond GP, Biederbeck VO, Wen G, Schoenau J, Hahn D (1999 ) Seasonal trends in soil biochemical attributes: effects of crop management on a Black Chernozem. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 79, 85–97.
Seasonal trends in soil biochemical attributes: effects of crop management on a Black Chernozem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chantigny MH (2003 ) Dissolved and water-extractable organic matter in soils: a review on the influence of land use and management practices. Geoderma 113, 357–380.
Dissolved and water-extractable organic matter in soils: a review on the influence of land use and management practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chantigny MH, Angers DA, Prevost D, Simard RR, Chalifour F-P (1999 ) Dynamics of soluble organic C and C mineralization in cultivated soils with varying N fertilization. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 31, 543–550.
Dynamics of soluble organic C and C mineralization in cultivated soils with varying N fertilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chen Y, Senesi N, Schnitzer M (1977 ) Information provided on humic substances by E4/E6 ratios. Soil Science Society of America Journal 41, 352–358.
Information provided on humic substances by E4/E6 ratios.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Conrad K, Dalal RC, Fujinuma R, Menzies NW (2018 ) Soil organic carbon and nitrogen sequestration and turnover in aggregates under subtropical leucaena–grass pastures. Soil Research 56, 632–647.
Soil organic carbon and nitrogen sequestration and turnover in aggregates under subtropical leucaena–grass pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Delprat L, Chassin P, Linéres M, Jambert C (1997 ) Characterization of dissolved organic carbon in cleared forest soils converted to maize cultivation. Development in Crop Science 25, 257–266.
Characterization of dissolved organic carbon in cleared forest soils converted to maize cultivation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dolan MS, Clapp CE, Allmaras RR, Baker JM, Molina JAE (2006 ) Soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a Minnesota soil as related to tillage, residue and nitrogen management. Soil & Tillage Research 89, 221–231.
Soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a Minnesota soil as related to tillage, residue and nitrogen management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Du Preez CC, Steyn JT, Kotze E (2001 ) Long-term effects of wheat residue management on some fertility indicators on a semi-arid Plinthosol. Soil & Tillage Research 63, 25–33.
Long-term effects of wheat residue management on some fertility indicators on a semi-arid Plinthosol.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Embacher A, Zsolnay A, Gattinger A, Munch JC (2008 ) Dynamics of water extractable organic matter (WEOM) in common arable topsoils: II. Influence of mineral and combined mineral and manure fertilization in a Haplic Chernozem. Geoderma 148, 63–69.
Dynamics of water extractable organic matter (WEOM) in common arable topsoils: II. Influence of mineral and combined mineral and manure fertilization in a Haplic Chernozem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gathala MK, Ladha JK, Saharawat YS, Kumar V, Sharma PK (2011 ) Effect of tillage and crop establishment methods on physical properties of a medium-textured soil under a seven-year rice-wheat rotation. Soil Science Society of America Journal 75, 1851–1862.
Effect of tillage and crop establishment methods on physical properties of a medium-textured soil under a seven-year rice-wheat rotation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gregorich EG, Liang BC, Drury CF, Mackenzie AF, McGill WB (2000 ) Elucidation of the source and turnover of water soluble and microbial biomass carbon in agricultural soils. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32, 581–587.
Elucidation of the source and turnover of water soluble and microbial biomass carbon in agricultural soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Guo LJ, Zhang ZS, Wang DD, Li CF, Cao CG (2015 ) Effects of short-term conservation management practices on soil organic carbon fractions and microbial community composition under a rice-wheat rotation system. Biology and Fertility of Soils 51, 65–75.
Effects of short-term conservation management practices on soil organic carbon fractions and microbial community composition under a rice-wheat rotation system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Haynes RJ (2005 ) Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: an overview. Advances in Agronomy 85, 221–268.
Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: an overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

He Z, Wu F (2015) ‘Labile organic matter: chemical compositions, function, and significance in soil and the environment.’ (SSSA: Madison, WI, USA)

Huang M, Liang T, Wang L, Zhou C (2015 ) Effects of no-tillage systems on soil physical properties and carbon sequestration under long-term wheat–maize double cropping system. Catena 128, 195–202.
Effects of no-tillage systems on soil physical properties and carbon sequestration under long-term wheat–maize double cropping system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnson DW, Cheng W, Ball JT (2000 ) Effects of [CO2] and nitrogen fertilization on soil planted with Ponderosa pine. Plant and Soil 224, 99–113.
Effects of [CO2] and nitrogen fertilization on soil planted with Ponderosa pine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kouselou M, Hashemi S, Eskandari I, McKenzie BM, Karimi E, Rezaei A, Rahmati M (2018 ) Quantifying soil displacement and tillage erosion rate by different tillage systems in dryland northwestern Iran. Soil Use and Management 34, 48–59.
Quantifying soil displacement and tillage erosion rate by different tillage systems in dryland northwestern Iran.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kumar A, Yadav DS (2001 ) Long-term effects of fertilizers on the soil fertility and productivity of a rice–wheat system. Journal Agronomy & Crop Science 186, 47–54.
Long-term effects of fertilizers on the soil fertility and productivity of a rice–wheat system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kuzyakov Y (2002 ) Review: factors affecting rhizosphere priming effects. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 165, 382–396.
Review: factors affecting rhizosphere priming effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Limousin G, Tessier D (2007 ) Effects of no-tillage on chemical gradients and topsoil acidification. Soil & Tillage Research 92, 167–174.
Effects of no-tillage on chemical gradients and topsoil acidification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

López-Garrido R, Madejón E, Murillo JM, Moreno F (2011 ) Short and long-term distribution with depth of soil organic carbon and nutrients under traditional and conservation tillage in a Mediterranean environment (southwest Spain). Soil Use and Management 27, 177–185.
Short and long-term distribution with depth of soil organic carbon and nutrients under traditional and conservation tillage in a Mediterranean environment (southwest Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lozano-García B, Parras-Alcántara L (2014 ) Changes in soil properties and soil solution nutrients due to conservation versus conventional tillage in Vertisols. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 60, 1429–1444.
Changes in soil properties and soil solution nutrients due to conservation versus conventional tillage in Vertisols.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lucas RW, Klaminder J, Futter MN, Bishop KH, Egnell G, Laudon H, Högberg P (2011 ) A meta-analysis of the effects of nitrogen additions on base cations: implications for plants, soils, and streams. Forest Ecology and Management 262, 95–104.
A meta-analysis of the effects of nitrogen additions on base cations: implications for plants, soils, and streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Madejón E, Moreno F, Murillo JM, Pelegrín F (2007 ) Soil biochemical response to long-term conservation tillage under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. Soil & Tillage Research 94, 346–352.
Soil biochemical response to long-term conservation tillage under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marx M, Buegger F, Gattinger A, Zsolnay A, Munch JC (2010 ) Determination of the fate of regularly applied 13C-labeled-artificial-exudates C in two agricultural soils. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 173, 80–87.
Determination of the fate of regularly applied 13C-labeled-artificial-exudates C in two agricultural soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mazzarino MJ, Szott L, Jimenez M (1993 ) Dynamics of soil total C and N, microbial biomass, and water-soluble C in tropical agroecosystems. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 25, 205–214.
Dynamics of soil total C and N, microbial biomass, and water-soluble C in tropical agroecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McTiernan KB, Jarvis SC, Scholefield D, Hayes MHB (2001 ) Dissolved organic carbon losses from grazed grasslands under different management regimes. Water Research 35, 2565–2569.
Dissolved organic carbon losses from grazed grasslands under different management regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11394792PubMed |

Nunes MR, van Es HM, Schindelbeck R, Ristow AJ, Ryan M (2018 ) No-till and cropping system diversification improve soil health and crop yield. Geoderma 328, 30–43.
No-till and cropping system diversification improve soil health and crop yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ohno T (2002 ) Fluorescence inner-filtering correction for determining the humification index of dissolved organic matter. Environmental Science & Technology 36, 742–746.
Fluorescence inner-filtering correction for determining the humification index of dissolved organic matter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ohno T, He Z, Tazisong IA, Senwo ZN (2009 ) Influence of tillage, cropping, and nitrogen source on the chemical characteristics of humic acid, fulvic acid, and water-soluble soil organic matter fractions of a long-term cropping system study. Soil Science 174, 652–660.
Influence of tillage, cropping, and nitrogen source on the chemical characteristics of humic acid, fulvic acid, and water-soluble soil organic matter fractions of a long-term cropping system study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Omidi H, Tahmasebi Z, Torabic H, Miransari M (2008 ) Soil enzymatic activities and available P and Zn as affected by tillage practices, canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars and planting dates. European Journal of Soil Biology 44, 443–450.
Soil enzymatic activities and available P and Zn as affected by tillage practices, canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars and planting dates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Poeplau C, Reiter L, Berti A, Kätterer T (2017 ) Qualitative and quantitative response of soil organic carbon to 40 years of crop residue incorporation under contrasting nitrogen fertilisation regimes. Soil Research 55, 1–9.
Qualitative and quantitative response of soil organic carbon to 40 years of crop residue incorporation under contrasting nitrogen fertilisation regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rochette P, Gregorich EG (1998 ) Dynamics of soil microbial biomass C, soluble organic C and CO2 evolution after three years of manure application. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 78, 283–290.
Dynamics of soil microbial biomass C, soluble organic C and CO2 evolution after three years of manure application.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sainju UM, Senwo ZN, Nyakatawa EZ, Tazisong IA, Reddy KC (2008 ) Tillage, cropping systems, and nitrogen fertilizer source effects on soil carbon sequestration and fractions. Journal of Environmental Quality 37, 880–888.
Tillage, cropping systems, and nitrogen fertilizer source effects on soil carbon sequestration and fractions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18453410PubMed |

Schlüter S, Großmann C, Diel J, Wu G-M, Tischer S, Deubel A, Rücknagel J (2018 ) Long-term effects of conventional and reduced tillage on soil structure, soil ecological and soil hydraulic properties. Geoderma 332, 10–19.
Long-term effects of conventional and reduced tillage on soil structure, soil ecological and soil hydraulic properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Senesi N, Miano TM, Provenzano MR, Brunetti G (1991 ) Characterization, differentiation, and classification of humic substances by fluorescence spectroscopy. Soil Science 152, 259–271.
Characterization, differentiation, and classification of humic substances by fluorescence spectroscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sun L, Chang SX, Feng YS, Dyck MF, Puurveen D (2015 ) Nitrogen fertilization and tillage reversal affected water-extractable organic carbon and nitrogen differentially in a Black Chernozem and a Gray Luvisol. Soil & Tillage Research 146, 253–260.
Nitrogen fertilization and tillage reversal affected water-extractable organic carbon and nitrogen differentially in a Black Chernozem and a Gray Luvisol.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Swift RS (1996) Method of soil analysis: part 3. Chemical methods. In ‘SSSA Book Series No. 5. ASA and SSSA’. (Eds DL Sparks, AL Page, PA Helmke, RH Loeppert, PN Soltanpour, MA Tabatabai, CT Johnston, ME Sumner) pp. 1011–1069. (SSSA: Madison, WI, USA)

Wright AL, Hons RM, Lemon RG, McFarland ML, Nicholas RL (2007 ) Stratification of nutrients in soil for different tillage regimes and cotton rotations. Soil & Tillage Research 96, 19–27.
Stratification of nutrients in soil for different tillage regimes and cotton rotations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Xu JG, Juma NG (1993 ) Above- and below-ground transformation of photosynthetically fixed carbon by two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars in a Typic Cryoboroll. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 25, 1263–1272.
Above- and below-ground transformation of photosynthetically fixed carbon by two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars in a Typic Cryoboroll.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yang XM, Drury CF, Reynolds WD, Tan CS (2008 ) Impacts of long-term and recently imposed tillage practices on the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon. Soil & Tillage Research 100, 120–124.
Impacts of long-term and recently imposed tillage practices on the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zsolnay A (1996) Dissolved humus in soil waters. In ‘Humic substances in terrestrial ecosystems’. (Ed. A Piccolo) pp. 171–223. (Elsevier: Amsterdam).

Zsolnay AH, Görlitz H (1994 ) Water extractable organic matter in arable soils: effects of drought and long-term fertilization. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 26, 1257–1261.
Water extractable organic matter in arable soils: effects of drought and long-term fertilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zsolnay A, Baigar E, Jimenez M, Steinweg B, Saccomandi F (1999 ) Differentiating with fluorescence spectroscopy the sources of dissolved organic matter in soils subjected to drying. Chemosphere 38, 45–50.
Differentiating with fluorescence spectroscopy the sources of dissolved organic matter in soils subjected to drying.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10903090PubMed |