Long-term crop rotation effects on
organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Haplustoll soil fractions
Rosell,
R.A., Galantini, J.A., Suñer, L.G.
Soil
organic matter (SOM) or carbon (SOC) consists of a number of fractions (which
can be separated by granulometric wet sieving) having different properties
among them. Information on fraction nutrient distribution and long-term crop
rotations is lacking for semiarid environments. The objective of this research
was to study the agronomic effects on soil OC, N, and P fractions. The humified
OC was the largest and least variable fraction of the SOC. Soil under
continuous mixed pasture had higher OC contents than under annually tilled
treatments. Similarly, soil total nitrogen under the cropped treatments
decreased from 1.7 g N kg-1 in noncultivated soils (reference plots)
to 1.0, 0.7 an 0.7 g N kg-1 under mixed pasture, pasture-crop, and
wheat-crop respectively, in the fine soil fraction. The reference plots also showed
significantly lower levels of organic phosphorus (Po) in comparison to the
other treatment (from 67.1 μg Po g-1 to greater than 100 μg Po g-1
in the fine fraction of the treatments and years). The noncultivated soil
showed larger values of P(o) and inorganic P in the large-size granulometric
fraction (0.1-2 mm) than in the soil fine fraction (0-01 mm). However, the
rotation treatments had greater concentrations of P in the fine fraction. The Po
from the coarse fraction appears to be the most labile and sensitive fraction
to tillage and environmental conditions, and may be closely related to P
availability.
Keywords:
Inorganic P; Organic P; Soil fractions; Tillage systems, Crop
rotation; Semiarid region; Soil organic carbon; Soil nutrients
Rosell R.A., J.A. Galantini, L.G. Suñer. 2000. Long-term
crop rotation effects on organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Haplustoll
soil fractions. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation 14 (4) 309-315