Effects of Cow-Dung Vermicomposting on Soil Carbon Mineralization and Temperature Sensitivity in Camellia oleifera Forest

Huaiyuan Wu, Shuangshuang Chu, Xiuqin Ouyang, Zhonghua Zou, Huanhuan Fu, Yaohui Liu, Xueyun Shi, Yunyu Zhang, Kun Ouyang, Ling Zhang () and Dongnan Hu ()
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Huaiyuan Wu: College of Forest, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Shuangshuang Chu: College of Forest, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Xiuqin Ouyang: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Zhonghua Zou: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Huanhuan Fu: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Yaohui Liu: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Xueyun Shi: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Yunyu Zhang: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Kun Ouyang: Xinyu Forestry Bureau, Xinyu 338000, China
Ling Zhang: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Resources Cultivation, Nanchang 330045, China
Dongnan Hu: College of Forest, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Soil carbon mineralization plays an important role in the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. When it comes to the soil carbon cycle, however, research on how carbon mineralization characteristics of fertilized Camellia oleifera forest soil respond to temperature changes remains limited. This study used an indoor constant temperature incubation method to examine the effects of the vermicomposting of cow dung by applying it at three different quantities (A: 0.8 kg earthworm + 62.5 kg cow dung/ Camellia oleifera ; B: 1.6 kg earthworm + 125 kg cow dung/ Camellia oleifera ; C: 2.4 kg earthworm + 187.5 kg cow dung/ Camellia oleifera ) and set a control group with Camellia oleifera forest not being fertilized (CK). This research was conducted with incubators set at 5 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C, and with continuous monitoring of soil carbon mineralization characteristics and temperature sensitivity of organic carbon mineralization. The results showed significant increases in soil MBC, MBN, DOC, DON, NO 3 − -N, and NH 4 + -N in groups with applications of cow-dung vermicomposting compared to CK. Except at 35 °C, soil respiration in the Camellia oleifera of Group A was consistently the strongest. The maximum soil carbon emission (C 0 ) was determined through a simulation of potential carbon emissions, with all correlation coefficients exceeding 0.95. The contents of TC and TN were positively correlated with MBC and MBN ( p <0.001), while the C: N micro was negatively correlated with TN, AN, MBN, and inorganic nitrogen. Based on temperature sensitivity (Q 10 ), the influence of temperature on soil mineralization rate was observed. The vermicomposting of cow dung had a noticeable effect, as Group B showed significantly stronger enzyme activity compared to other groups. These results indicate that changes in MBC can impact the stability of soil carbon mineralization. The roles of soil moisture and microorganisms should be considered when predicting dynamic changes in the soil carbon pool of Camellia oleifera when applying fertilizers and improving its soil carbon sequestration capacity.

Keywords: Camellia oleifera; soluble organic carbon; soluble organic nitrogen; soil respiration; cow-dung vermicomposting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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