Carbon Budget and Aggregate Stability of Paddy Soil under Continuous Organic Amendment

Abstract

ABSTRACTDamage to soil structures and depletions of soil carbon under paddy cultivation are concerns for the sustenance of food security in Bangladesh. Long-term organic amendment in paddy field plays an important role in improving soil properties and crop productivity, but no such study has yet been conducted under rice-fallow-rice. A field experiment was carried out with or without the addition of cow dung (CD) and poultry manure (PM) as integrated plant nutrient systems (IPNS) to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) budget, net ecosystem carbon stock, and aggregate stability. The experiment was established in 2009 and continued until 2016 under the rice-fallow-rice system. Soil bulk density reduced from 1.39 to 1.37 g cm−3 and soil aggregate size increased from 6.78 to 7.05 mm with organic amendments. Both carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents increased with the addition of CD and PM, which varied with aggregate size. The highest C (1.6–2.15%) and N (0.11–0.24%) contents were observed in 0.30 mm aggregate than other fractions. Soil organic C contents showed polynomial relationships with aggregate size and organic amendment. The SOC sequestration ranged from 94 to 168 kg ha−1 depending on organic materials used. The C balances were negative for control (−99 to −201 kg ha−1) and chemical fertilizers alone (−58 to −91 kg ha−1). In comparison to control treatment, grain yield of rice increased significantly with the addition of organic substances. Balanced application of CD and PM with IPNS-based inorganic fertilizers was the best management option for yield and sustainable soil health.