Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture

To address soil fertility decline, additions of organic resources and mineral fertilizers are often integrated in sub-Saharan African agroecosystems. Possible benefits to long-term C and N stabilization from this input management practice are, however, largely unknown. Our objectives were (1) to eva...

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Main Authors: Gentile, R, Vanlauwe, Bernard, Kavoo, A, Chivenge, Pauline P., Six, Johan
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2010
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44040
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author Gentile, R
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Kavoo, A
Chivenge, Pauline P.
Six, Johan
author_browse Chivenge, Pauline P.
Gentile, R
Kavoo, A
Six, Johan
Vanlauwe, Bernard
author_facet Gentile, R
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Kavoo, A
Chivenge, Pauline P.
Six, Johan
author_sort Gentile, R
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description To address soil fertility decline, additions of organic resources and mineral fertilizers are often integrated in sub-Saharan African agroecosystems. Possible benefits to long-term C and N stabilization from this input management practice are, however, largely unknown. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the effect of residue quality and mineral N on soil C and N stabilization, (2) to determine how input management and root growth interact to control this stabilization, and (3) to assess how these relationships vary with soil texture. We sampled two field trials in Kenya located at Embu, on a clayey soil, and at Machanga, on a loamy sand soil. The trials were initiated in 2002 with residue inputs of different quality (no input, high quality Tithonia diversifolia, medium quality Calliandra calothyrsus, and low quality Zea mays (maize) stover), incorporated at a rate of 4 Mg C ha?1 year?1 alone and in combination with 120 kg N ha?1 season?1 mineral fertilizer. Maize was grown in the plots each season, and a section of the plots was left uncropped. All aboveground maize residues were removed from the plots. Soil samples (0 15 cm) were collected in March 2005 to assess aggregation and C and N stabilization. The fine-textured soil at Embu was more responsive to inputs than the coarse-textured soil at Machanga. Residue additions increased macroaggregation at Embu, and cropping increased aggregation at Machanga. At Embu adding organic residue, regardless of the quality, and cropping significantly increased total soil C and N. This increase was also observed in the macroaggregate and microaggregate-within-macroaggregate fractions. Input treatments had little effect on C and N contents of the whole soil or specific fractions at Machanga. Nitrogen fertilizer additions did not significantly alter C or N content of the whole soil or specific fractions at either site. We conclude that residue quality does not affect the stabilization of soil organic C and N. Inputs of C and soil stabilization capacity are more important controls on stabilization of soil organic matter.
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spelling CGSpace440402024-08-27T10:36:41Z Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture Gentile, R Vanlauwe, Bernard Kavoo, A Chivenge, Pauline P. Six, Johan To address soil fertility decline, additions of organic resources and mineral fertilizers are often integrated in sub-Saharan African agroecosystems. Possible benefits to long-term C and N stabilization from this input management practice are, however, largely unknown. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the effect of residue quality and mineral N on soil C and N stabilization, (2) to determine how input management and root growth interact to control this stabilization, and (3) to assess how these relationships vary with soil texture. We sampled two field trials in Kenya located at Embu, on a clayey soil, and at Machanga, on a loamy sand soil. The trials were initiated in 2002 with residue inputs of different quality (no input, high quality Tithonia diversifolia, medium quality Calliandra calothyrsus, and low quality Zea mays (maize) stover), incorporated at a rate of 4 Mg C ha?1 year?1 alone and in combination with 120 kg N ha?1 season?1 mineral fertilizer. Maize was grown in the plots each season, and a section of the plots was left uncropped. All aboveground maize residues were removed from the plots. Soil samples (0 15 cm) were collected in March 2005 to assess aggregation and C and N stabilization. The fine-textured soil at Embu was more responsive to inputs than the coarse-textured soil at Machanga. Residue additions increased macroaggregation at Embu, and cropping increased aggregation at Machanga. At Embu adding organic residue, regardless of the quality, and cropping significantly increased total soil C and N. This increase was also observed in the macroaggregate and microaggregate-within-macroaggregate fractions. Input treatments had little effect on C and N contents of the whole soil or specific fractions at Machanga. Nitrogen fertilizer additions did not significantly alter C or N content of the whole soil or specific fractions at either site. We conclude that residue quality does not affect the stabilization of soil organic C and N. Inputs of C and soil stabilization capacity are more important controls on stabilization of soil organic matter. 2010-09 2014-10-02T08:33:08Z 2014-10-02T08:33:08Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44040 en Limited Access Springer
spellingShingle Gentile, R
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Kavoo, A
Chivenge, Pauline P.
Six, Johan
Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
title Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
title_full Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
title_fullStr Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
title_full_unstemmed Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
title_short Residue quality and N fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of C and N in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
title_sort residue quality and n fertilizer do not influence aggregate stabilization of c and n in two tropical soils with contrasting texture
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44040
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AT chivengepaulinep residuequalityandnfertilizerdonotinfluenceaggregatestabilizationofcandnintwotropicalsoilswithcontrastingtexture
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