Abstract:
Objective The decomposition and fixation of straw-derived carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil were affected by cultivation measures including (plastic film mulching, PFM) and fertilization. However, the distribution and fixation characteristics of straw-derived C and N in aggregates under PFM and fertilization are still unclear.
Methods The topsoil (0-20 cm) was mixed with 13C15N double-labeled straw and in situ incubation was carried out in the field for 150 days. The contents of straw-derived C (13C-SOC) and N (15N-TN) in soil aggregates were analyzed.
Results Fertilizer application, cultivation measures and their interaction significantly affected organic C content in > 0.25 mm aggregates and organic C and N contents in < 0.053 mm aggregates (P < 0.05). Under the cultivation without PFM, N fertilizer treatment (N4) had increased the 13C-SOC content in > 0.25 mm aggregate by 36.36% and 20.69% compared with the treatment of manure combined with N fertilizer (M2N2) and no fertilizer (CK). Under the cultivation with PFM, compared with other treatments (M2N2 and CK), the content of 13C-SOC in N4 aggregates increased by 22.87%-53.37%. Compared with CK without PFM, the contents of 13C-SOC in 0.25 - 0.053 mm and < 0.053 mm aggregate were significantly increased (P < 0.05) by 16.00% and 46.15%. Under the cultivation without PFM, CK and M2N2 compared with N4, the content of 15N-TN in 0.25-0.053 mm aggregate increased by 44.85% and 28.60%, respectively. Under the same fertilization treatment, the contribution percentage of straw-derived C and N to organic C and N of < 0.053 mm aggregates in no-PFM were 55.06% and 21.35% higher than those in PFM cultivation, respectively. The distribution percentage of straw-derived C and N in aggregate increased with the increase of aggregate sizes, and the proportions of straw-derived C and N in aggregates > 0.25 mm were 22.22% and 42.14%, respectively.
Conclusion After adding straw to soil, straw-derived C and N were mainly fixed in > 0.25 mm aggregate and N fertilizer application alone promoted the C retention of straw in aggregates, the C and N regeneration in < 0.053 mm aggregate was facilitated in no-PFM cultivation.