Continuous wheat in semiarid regions: Long-term effects on stock and quality
of soil organic carbon
Juan A. Galantini, Matias E. Duval, Julio O. Iglesias and Hugo Kruger
Continuous
wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping
in semiarid regions results in variable dry matter production. As a consequence,
the balance of soil organic carbon (SOC) may vary over time. The aim of this
research was to assess the dynamics and long-term changes of physically and
chemically extracted SOC fractions. Soil samples (0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm depths) from continuous
wheat, with (f) and without (nf) fertilizer (N+P) under conventional- (CT, for 25
y) and no-tillage (NT, for 6 y) were taken during the experiment. Mineral-associated
(MOC, 0-0.053 mm), fine particulate (POCf, 0.053-0.100 mm) and
coarse particulate (POCc, 0.1-2.0 mm) SOC and humic substances were
obtained. SOC variability was depending on water availability during fallow periods
(SOC decomposition) or crop cycles (dry matter production). The mean wheat
yields were 1.33 (nf) and 2.09 (f) Mg grain ha-1, with an estimated
carbon input of 1.64 (nf) and 2.20 (f) Mg C ha-1 yr-1. Losses
from the initial level were higher in labile fractions, POCc (-75%)
and POCf (-53%), than in MOC (-15%). Humic acids present
slight differences in their structure and quantity as a result of long-term cropping.
Conversion from CT to NT resulted in contrasting results. For an equivalent
soil mass, fertilizer application increased SOC by 4.31 Mg ha-1 (under
CT) and 7.29 Mg ha-1 (under NT). The SOC turned out to be
higher under NT with fertilizer use and lower without application. No-tillage does not increase
SOC content by itself; it must be combined with other agricultural practices, such
as fertilization and/or crop rotation.
Keywords:
Fertilization, Tillage system, Physical organic carbon fractions, Humic
substances
Galantini
Juan A., Matias E. Duval, Julio O. Iglesias and Hugo Kruger. Continuous wheat
in semiarid regions: Long-term effects on stock and quality of soil organic
carbon. Soil Science (In press)