| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4382872 | Applied Soil Ecology | 2009 | 11 Pages |
In view of the significance of agricultural soils in affecting global C balance, the impact of manipulation of the quality of exogenous inputs on soil CO2–C flux was studied in rice–barley annual rotation tropical dryland agroecosystem. Chemical fertilizer, Sesbania shoot (high quality resources), wheat straw (low quality resource) and Sesbania + wheat straw (high + low quality), all carrying equivalent recommended dose of N, were added to soil. A distinct seasonal variation in CO2–C flux was recorded in all treatments, flux being higher during rice period, and much reduced during barley and summer fallow periods. During rice period the mean CO2–C flux was greater in wheat straw (161% increase over control) and Sesbania + wheat straw (+129%) treatments; however, during barley and summer fallow periods differences among treatments were small. CO2–C flux was more influenced by seasonal variations in water-filled pore space compared to soil temperature. In contrast, the role of microbial biomass and live crop roots in regulating soil CO2–C flux was highly limited. Wheat straw input showed smaller microbial biomass with a tendency of rapid turnover rate resulting in highest cumulative CO2–C flux. The Sesbania input exhibited larger microbial biomass with slower turnover rate, leading to lower cumulative CO2–C flux. Addition of Sesbania to wheat straw showed higher cumulative CO2–C flux yet supported highest microbial biomass with lowest turnover rate indicating stabilization of microbial biomass. Although single application of wheat straw or Sesbania showed comparable net change in soil C (18% and 15% relative to control, respectively) and crop productivity (32% and 38%), yet they differed significantly in soil C balance (374 and −3 g C m−2 y−1 respectively), a response influenced by the recalcitrant and labile nature of the inputs. Combining the two inputs resulted in significant increment in net change in soil C (33% over control) and crop yield (49%) in addition to high C balance (152 g C m−2 y−1). It is suggested that appropriate mixing of high and low quality inputs may contribute to improved crop productivity and soil fertility in terms of soil C sequestration.
