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Soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon under organic and conventional vegetable cropping systems in an Alfisol and a Vertisol
Citation
Bajgai, Y and Kristiansen, P and Hulugalle, N and McHenry, M and McCorkell, B, Soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon under organic and conventional vegetable cropping systems in an Alfisol and a Vertisol, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 101, (1) pp. 1-15. ISSN 1385-1314 (2015) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
DOI: doi:10.1007/s10705-014-9656-3
Abstract
Despite scant crop residue input, tillage to control weeds in vegetable systems reduces soil organic carbon (SOC) levels. We hypothesized that vegetable production systems could be made more resistant to the negative effects of tillage on SOC by including a high-residue crop in rotation. Effect of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa) residue incorporation in a corn–cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) rotation in two soil management systems (SMS) (organic or conventional) in two soil types [a Chromosol (Alfisol) and a Vertosol (Vertisol)] on SOC and microbial biomass C (MBC) levels was tested for 2 years. Confounded factors (weed management and fertilisers) in the field experiment were separated in a multi-factorial laboratory experiment. In the field, total organic C (TOC) concentration was increased by 6.5 % in the 0–0.1 m depth by incorporating residue; however SMS exhibited inconsistent results. Organic fertilisers increased TOC whilst simulated tillage decreased it in laboratory. Soil MBC data showed that the biological fertility of soil can be improved by incorporating residues or by combining residue with organic fertiliser. In field residue incorporation in soil increased TOC, but organic fertilisers behaved inconsistently. However, in a laboratory microcosm, both residue and organic fertilisers individually mitigated tillage-induced loss of TOC.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | residue incorporation, tillage, atrazine, simulated tillage, fertiliser |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Environmental management |
Research Field: | Environmental management |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | McHenry, M (Dr Melinda McHenry) |
ID Code: | 115161 |
Year Published: | 2015 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 7 |
Deposited By: | Geography and Spatial Science |
Deposited On: | 2017-03-08 |
Last Modified: | 2017-10-31 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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