Mineralization dynamics and biochemical properties during initial decomposition of plant and animal residues in soil
The use of organic residues as soil amendments or fertilisers may represent a valuable recycling strategy. In this study, a series of laboratory assays was performed to study the effects of the application of organic residues on C and N mineralization and biochemical properties in a Mediterranean ag...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2009, Vol.41 (1), p.118-127 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | The use of organic residues as soil amendments or fertilisers may represent a valuable recycling strategy. In this study, a series of laboratory assays was performed to study the effects of the application of organic residues on C and N mineralization and biochemical properties in a Mediterranean agricultural soil. Two crop residues (straw and cotton) and two animal by-products (meat bone meal and blood meal) were added at three rates (5, 10 and 20
mg
g
−1 on dry weight basis) to a moist (40% water holding capacity) sandy soil and incubated at 20
°C for 28 days. Each residue underwent a different mineralization pattern depending on the nature and complexity of its chemical constituents. In all cases, the addition of the waste produced, after a short lag-phase, an exponential increase in the soil respiration rate, reflecting the growth of microbial biomass. The amount of total extra CO
2-C evolved after 28 days, expressed as % in respect to added C, differed significantly (
P
<
0.005) among application doses: 5
>
10
>
20
mg
g
−1 and residue type: meat bone meal
>
blood meal
>
cotton cardings
>
wheat straw. Plant residues led to a rapid immobilisation of N that affected microbial size and activity and further mineralization. Animal by-products produced an immediate and remarkable increase of mineral N in the soil. However, the large amounts of NH
4
+ released in the soil at high rates of animal residues led, in some cases, to temporary adverse effects on microbial biomass growth and nitrification. All residues produced a significant increase in soil microbial biomass size and activity, being the intensity of the response related to their chemical properties. |
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ISSN: | 0929-1393 1873-0272 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.apsoil.2008.10.001 |