The Effects of Different Straw-Returning Methods on Soil Organic Carbon Transformation in Rice–Rape Rotation Systems

Lening Hu, Yujiao Ge, Liming Zhou, Zhongyi Li, Anyu Li, Hua Deng and Tieguang He ()
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Lening Hu: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Remediation in Ecologically Fragile Regions, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
Yujiao Ge: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Remediation in Ecologically Fragile Regions, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
Liming Zhou: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Remediation in Ecologically Fragile Regions, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
Zhongyi Li: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation, Agricultural Resources and Environmental Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
Anyu Li: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Remediation in Ecologically Fragile Regions, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
Hua Deng: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Remediation in Ecologically Fragile Regions, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
Tieguang He: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation, Agricultural Resources and Environmental Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: Effective management of straw in rice ( Oryza sativa L.)–rape ( Brassica napus L.) rotation systems is essential for optimising resource efficiency and improving soil quality. This two-year study investigated the impact of seven straw treatment methods on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. The treatments examined were as follows: (1) control (CK); (2) rice straw (SF); (3) rapeseed straw (YF); (4) rice-straw-derived biochar (SB); (5) rapeseed-straw-derived biochar (YB); (6) mixed straw (YSF); (7) mixed biochar (YSB). Soil properties, enzyme activities and carbon fractions were subsequently analysed. During the canola growing season, the application of rice straw biochar increased oxidisable carbon (ROC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 25.7%, 61.7% and 67.2%, respectively, compared to the control. Notably, SB was more effective than unprocessed rice straw (SF) at increasing SOC and ROC. Furthermore, SB demonstrated superior performance in enhancing ROC (56.4%), MBC (36.0%) and DOC (12.2%) compared to hybrid biochar (YSB). SB consistently exhibited a higher carbon accumulation trend than the rapeseed-derived treatments (YF, YB and YSB). The results of the study indicated that applying rice straw biochar during the oilseed rape growing season was effective in increasing variable carbon pools and soil organic carbon accumulation.

Keywords: rice–rape rotation; straw returning; biochar returning; soil organic carbon (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: 2025
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