Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Biological Indicators in Typical Farmland Soils

Long Kang, Rui Zhao, Kening Wu (), Zhe Feng, Huafu Zhao and Sicheng Zhang
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Long Kang: School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Rui Zhao: School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Kening Wu: School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Zhe Feng: School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Huafu Zhao: School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Sicheng Zhang: School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Soil biodiversity drives soil-based ecosystem services and is an important indicator of soil health. To understand the responses of important soil biological indicators to different farmland use contexts, 72 fields in three agricultural regions of China were used as research objects. The distribution characteristics and the factors influencing six indicators (carbon and nitrogen contents of soil microbial biomass (MBC, MBN, respectively), soil respiration (SR), soil catalase activity (CAT), soil acid phosphomonoesterase activity (APA), and soil earthworms) were investigated using field monitoring and indoor analysis. The MBC, SR, CAT, and APA indicators showed significant differences among the regions ( p < 0.05). Correlation and redundancy analyses indicated that the important factors affecting MBC, MBN, and soil respiration were cation exchange capacity, total N, organic matter, hydrolytic N, and soil bulk density, whereas the important factors affecting APA and earthworms were total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and available potassium. None of these factors had a significant effect on CAT. Climatic conditions, soil types, and farmland practices all have complex impacts on soil biodiversity. The results showed that attention should be paid to improving the physical conditions of the soil and to increasing soil fertility levels when establishing sustainable farm management patterns.

Keywords: farmland; soil biodiversity; statistical analysis; soil health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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