Abstract
Soil structure represents a basis for soil water retention and fertiliser availability. Here, we performed a micromorphological analysis of thin soil sections to evaluate the effects of 10 years of organic planting (OPP), pollution-free planting (PFP), and conventional planting (CPP) on greenhouse soil structure in the North China Plain. We also analysed soil bulk density, soil organic matter (SOM), and wet aggregate stability. The CPP soil microstructure included weakly separated angular block or plate forms and weak development of soil pores (fissured or simply accumulated pores) with the highest bulk density (1.33 g cm−3) and lowest SOM (26.76 g kg−1). Unlike CPP, the OPP soil microstructure was characterised by highly separated granular and aggregated structures and an abundance of plant and animal remains. OPP was associated with the highest total porosity (55.4%), lowest bulk density (1.17 g cm−3), and highest SOM (54.81 g kg−1) in the soil surface layer. OPP also improved the ventilation pore content (proportion of pores >0.1 mm, 44.09%). OPP aggregates showed different hierarchies of crumb microstructure and higher mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter values than did CPP. These results confirm the benefits of long-term OPP for soil structure and quality in the greenhouse.
Highlights
Soil is a porous medium formed by the connection of solid components and pores in different sizes and shapes, representing the most complex biological material on the earth
The evolution of soil micromorphology characteristics can reflect the relationship between soil formation and development and the environment, which can better inform the role of human factors in changing soil structure[10,11,12]
We compared the long-term effects of different planting patterns on soil micromorphology, soil physicochemical properties, the evolution of soil quality, and typical greenhouse soil structure in the North China Plain in order to provide a theoretical basis for improving soil structure and soil quality in the region
Summary
Soil is a porous medium formed by the connection of solid components and pores in different sizes and shapes, representing the most complex biological material on the earth. The sustainable cultivation of soils in the North China Plain is very important, yet few studies have compared the characteristics of greenhouse soil microstructure and physicochemical properties under different planting patterns from a micromorphological perspective. The long-term study of different planting patterns is important for studying soil quality and structural evolution, and can be used to systematically identify issues and trends in soil quality and structure as well as nutrient cycling and balance[23]. We compared the long-term effects of different planting patterns on soil micromorphology, soil physicochemical properties, the evolution of soil quality, and typical greenhouse soil structure in the North China Plain in order to provide a theoretical basis for improving soil structure and soil quality in the region
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