Nitrogen Mineralization, Soil Microbial Biomass and Extracellular Enzyme Activities Regulated by Long-Term N Fertilizer Inputs: A Comparison Study from Upland and Paddy Soils in a Red Soil Region of China

Sehrish Ali,Kailou Liu,Lisheng Liu,Waqas Ahmed,Ali Akbar Maitlo,Muhammad Qaswar,Zhang Lu,Christian Kofi Anthonio,Huimin Zhang,Huang Jing

doi:10.3390/agronomy11102057

Abstract

A long-term experiment (38 years) was conducted to elucidate the effects of long-term N addition on the net N mineralization in both paddy and upland soils, based on their initial soil N status, with and in connection with soil microbial biomass and N cycling extracellular enzyme activities. Two treatments without N addition CK (No fertilizer) and K (inorganic potassium fertilizer) and two treatments with N addition (inorganic nitrogen fertilizer) and NK (inorganic nitrogen and potassium fertilizer) were placed in incubation for 90 days. Results showed that the total N and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents were higher in the treatments with N application compared to the treatments without N in both paddy and upland soils. The SOC content of paddy soil was increased relative to upland soil by 56.2%, 45.7%, 61.1% and 62.2% without N (CK, K) and with N (N and NK) treatments, respectively. Site-wise, total N concentration in paddy soil was higher by 0.06, 0.10, 0.57 and 0.60 times under the CK, K, N and NK treatments, respectively, compared with upland soil. In paddy soil, soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) was higher by 39.6%, 2.77%, 29.5% and 31.4%, and microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) was higher by 11.8%, 11.9%, 10.1% and 12.3%, respectively, in CK, K, N and NK treatment, compared with upland soil. Overall, compared to upland soil, the activities of leucine-aminopeptidase (LAP) were increased by 31%, 18%, 20% and 11%, and those of N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were increased by 70%, 21%, 13% and 18% by CK, K, N and NK treatments, respectively, in paddy soil. A significantly linear increase was found in the NO3−-N and NH4+-N concentrations during the 90 days of the incubation period in both soils. NK treatment showed the highest N mineralization potential (No) along with mineralization rate constant, k (NMR) at the end of the incubation. SMBC, SMBN, enzyme activities, NO3−-N and NH4+-N concentrations and the No showed a highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) positive correlation. We concluded that long-term N addition accelerated the net mineralization by increasing soil microbial activities under both soils.

Highlights

Nitrogen (N) mineralization potential (No ) of soil has been described as the extent of soil organic N that is capable of being mineralized [1]
The maximum soil organic carbon (SOC) content was attained under the N treatment, followed by N and K fertilizers (NK), K and CK
SOC content was higher with the N addition in both upland and paddy soils

Summary

Introduction

Nitrogen (N) mineralization potential (No ) of soil has been described as the extent of soil organic N that is capable of being mineralized [1]. Fertilization is a popular recommended practice to improve and sustain the fertility of the arable lands and is assumed to increase the soil’s capacity of the nutrient supply and maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, which helps to sustain higher crop yields [8]. It controls soil microbial activities and the relevant functions which play an important role in soil nutrient cycling and soil organic matter decomposition [9]. Significant impacts of soil-available nutrients on N mineralization have been well documented in several studies [10,11]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion