Effect of Rotational Tillage on Soil Aggregates, Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in the Loess Plateau Area of China

摘要

In rain-fed semi-arid agroecosystems, continuous conventional tillage can cause serious problems in soil quality and crop production, whereas rotational tillage (no-tillage and subsoiling) could decrease soil bulk density, and increase soil aggregatesand organic carbon in the 0-40 cm soil layer. A 3-year field study was conducted to determine the effect of tillage practices on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), water-stable aggregate size distribution and aggregate C and N sequestrationfrom 0 to 40 cm soil in semi-arid areas of southern Ningxia. Three tillage treatments were tested: no-tillage in year 1, subsoiling in year 2, and no-tillage in year 3 (NT-ST-NT), subsoiling in year 1, no-tillage in year 2, and subsoiling in year 3 (ST-NT-ST); and conventional tillage over years 1-3 (CT). Mean values of soil bulk density in 0-40 cm under NT-ST-NT and ST-NT-ST were significantly decreased by 3.3% and 6.5%, respectively, compared with CT, while soil total porosity was greatly improved. Rotational tillage increased SOC, TN, and water-stable aggregates in the 0-40 cm soil, with the greatest effect under ST-NT-ST. In 0-20 and 20-40 cm soils, the tillage effect was confined to the 2-0.25 mm size fraction of soil aggregates, and rotational tillage treatments obtained significantly higher SOC and TN; contents than conventional tillage. No significant differences were detected in SOC and TN contents in the > 2 mm and < 0.25 mm aggregates among all treatments. In conclusion, rotational tillagepractices could significantly increase SOC and TN levels, due to a fundamental change in soil structure, and maintain agroecosystem sustainability in the Loess Plateau area of China.