Title: Effects of Long-Term Fertilization Management Practices on Soil

Microbial Biomass in China’s Cropland: A Meta-Analysis

Authors: Qingping Zhang, Fuhong Miao, Zhennan Wang, Yuying Shen*, and Guoliang Wang

Journal: Agronomy Journal

Impact Factor: 1.464 (农林科学三区,2015)

Abstract: Soil microbial biomass (SMB) plays an important role in enhancing soil aggregation, promoting nutrient cycling, and making a substantial contribution to soil organic matter. Little is known about the underlying mechanism and broad-scale responses of SMB to long-term fertilization practices on a regional scale. The objective of this study is to characterize changes in SMB of predominant cropping systems in China (mainly producing maize [Zea mays L.], wheat [Triticum aestivum L.], rice [Oryza sativa L.], and soybean [Glycine max L.]) under di?erent fertilization regimes using meta-analysis. We integrated data from more than 60 studies conducted in China from 1990 to 2015 and found that application of inorganic fertilizer, straw, straw with
inorganic fertilizer, manure, and manure with inorganic fertilizer increased soil microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) concentration, while nitrogen-only (N) and nitrogen plus manure (NM) decreased soil microbial biomass nitrogen (N_mic) concentration
compared with control (no fertilizer application). Our results indicated greater C_mic and N_mic responses to inorganic N, P, and K-based fertilizers plus manure (NPKM) in the mid-latitude region compared with those in the low- and high-latitude regions of China. The di?erences in means (C_mic or N_mic concentration) among di?erent fertilization treatments decreased with experimental duration, and N_mic concentration decreased with increase in N rate. Our results suggested that long-term (~10 yr) continuous annual fertilization of N provided the greatest SMB, and the optimal rate was about 100 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. The application of NPKM demonstrated the greatest potential for increasing SMB of major cropping systems in China.

链接: https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/aj/abstracts/109/4/1183