Long-term fertilization effects on organic carbon fractions in a red soil of China

• Effects of long-term fertilization on SOC fractions in red soils were investigated.
• Physically protected SOC fractions show different responses to management practices.
• Mineral associated organic C was the primary pool of sequestered C in these soils.
• Organic C protected in microaggregates greatly influenced the changes of grain yields.

Long-term fertilization has a significant impact on total soil organic carbon (SOC) stock. However, fertilization impact on physical fractions of SOC is still poorly understood for red soils in southern China. This study assessed the impact of 17 years (1990–2007) of long-term fertilization on the changes in different SOC fractions under an intensive maize (Zea mays L)–wheat (Triticum Aestivium L) cropping system in a red soil of southern China through various treatments: the unfertilized control (CK), the recommended applied rates of N (N), NP (NP), NPK (NPK), NPK + manure (NPKM), NPK + straw (NPKS) and manure only (M), and a 150% recommended applied rate of NPK + manure (1.5NPKM). Soil samples from 0 to 20 cm soil layer taken in September, 2007, were separated into free particulate organic C (fPOC), intra-microaggregate particulate organic C (iPOC), and mineral associated organic C (MOC) with physical fractionation. In comparison with CK, all the C fractions and maize and wheat yields were significantly increased, except for N and NP treatments. The treatments with manure (M, NPKM, and 1.5NPKM) showed higher C sequestration rates in MOC (323–515 kg ha− 1 yr− 1), fPOC (291–408 kg ha− 1 yr− 1) and iPOC (162–179 kg ha− 1 yr− 1). It was estimated that 8.0 to 35.7% of the gross C input from manure and crop residues over a period of seventeen years contributed to the increase of total SOC stock. Both MOC C sequestration efficiency (CES) and C sequestration distribution (CSD) were the highest among the C fractions for all the treatments. Significantly positive linear correlations were observed between accumulated C sequestrations in all fractions with gross C input and both maize and wheat yields. Our result indicated that MOC was the primary fraction of C sequestration in the red soils. The most efficient fertilization practice for sequestering C in each fraction in the red soils was continuous applications of either manure or manure plus mineral fertilizers.