Straw coverage alleviates seasonal variability of the topsoil microbial biomass and activity

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

LOU, Y.

Inst. of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Chine

Inst. of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, Chine

LIANG, W.

Inst. of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Chine

XU, M.

Inst. of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, Chine

HE, X.

Centre for Ecosystem Management/State Centre of Excellence for Ecohydrology, School of Natural Resources, Edith Cowan Univ., Joondalup, Australie

WANG, Y.

Key Lab. of Water Resources and Environment, Normal Univ., Tianjin, Chine

ZHAO, K.

Center for Agricultural Technology Service, Chaoyang, Chine

Description :
Seasonal variability of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and basal respiration (BR) in surface soil was compared between conventional straw removal (SR) and straw coverage (SC) in a maize field experiment, Northeast China. The straw coverage treatment significantly increased microbial energy, carbon and nutrient sources (soil C and N contents) and improved soil physical environment (moisture and porosity), and thus stimulated MBC and BR across the growth season of maize, as compared to the straw removal treatment. MBC and BR showed similar seasonal trends in soil temperature, with maximum values in summer. In both study years, the straw coverage treatment reduced seasonal variation of soil temperature, therefore it significantly moderated seasonal variability of MBC and BR. These results demonstrate that straw coverage contributes to stabilizing soil microbial characteristics in season.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2011, vol. 86, n°. 2, p. 117-120, nombre de pages : 4, Références bibliographiques : 28 ref.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais