Dynamics of Exchangeable Magnesium of Soil in Long-term Fertilization Experiment

Abstract

Monitoring of soil fertility by long-term application of fertilizers is necessary to improve the fertility of soil and the productivity of crop. The objective of this study was conducted to investigate the changes of exchangeable Mg by continuous application of fertilizers from 1969 to 2014. The treatments were no fertilization (No fert.) and fertilization (NPK, NPK+C, NPK+S, and NPK+CS). The concentration of exchangeable Mg in No fert., NPK+C, and NPK+S treatments tended to increase from 1965 to 1975, but decrease gradually from 1976 to 1987, and increase again after 1988. Based on these, the changes of exchangeable Mg were divided into period I (’69 ~’75), period II (’76~’87), and period III (’88~’14). Especially, exchangeable Mg decreased in the period II. This was presumed that a significant amount of Mg from topsoil were leached into subsoil by break of plow pan and some of subsoil was incorporated into topsoil according to change of plowing depth by replacement of tillage machinery. It could be possible that exchangeable Mg in NPK, NPK+S, and NPK+CS was accumulated in the depth of 15~20 cm. For the period III, exchangeable Mg in No fert., NPK, NPK+C, NPK+S, and NPK+CS treatments increased at rates of 0.013, 0.018, 0.015, 0.023, and 0.024 cmol c kg -1 ·yr -1 respectively. Exchangeable Mg level in NPK+S was lower than the other treatments in the period I and period II, but higher than in the period III. This result was attributed to replacement of silicate fertilizer type from wollastonite (Mg 0.3%) to silicate fertilizer (Mg 3%). Also, exchangeable Mg level of No fert. treatment increased, which showed that Mg concentration of irrigated water had the greatest impact on Mg accumulation of soil. Recently, Mg level of irrigated water tended to increase, indicating that Mg concentration of water will affect greatly the concentration of exchangeable Mg of soil in the future. Like these, the changes of exchangeable Mg were greatly influenced by agricultural environment such as plowing depth, plow pan, content of fertilizer, and quality of irrigated water. Considering these agricultural environment, the proper management of soil is needed for the improvement of soil fertility and crop productivity.