Nitrogen Availability Level Controlling the Translocation and Stabilization of Maize Residue Nitrogen in Soil Matrix

Shuzhe Liu, Sicong Ma, Fangbo Deng, Feng Zhou, Xiaona Liang, Lei Yuan, Huijie Lü, Xueli Ding, Hongbo He () and Xudong Zhang
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Shuzhe Liu: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250061, China
Sicong Ma: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Fangbo Deng: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Feng Zhou: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Xiaona Liang: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Lei Yuan: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Huijie Lü: Bayin Guoleng Vocational and Technical College, School of Biotechnology, Korla 841000, China
Xueli Ding: School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Hongbo He: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Xudong Zhang: Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage and Ecological Agriculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Crop residue returning to field inputs considerable nitrogen (N) into soils, which greatly influences the function and sustainability of the agricultural system. However, little is known about the transformation and physical stabilization of maize residue-derived N in soil matrix in response to changing N availability. To explore the distinct regulation of organo-mineral complexes on maize residue N translocation, a 38-week microcosm incubation was carried out amended with 15 N-labeled maize residue in a Mollisols sampled from Gonghzuling, Northeast of China. Unlabeled inorganic N was added at different levels (0, 60.3 mg N kg −1 soil (low level), 167 mg N kg −1 soil (medium level), and 702 mg N kg −1 soil (high level)). 15 N enrichment in bulk soil and the separated particle size fractions were determined periodically in the bulk soils and the subsamples were analyzed. At the early stage of the incubation, the maize residue N concentration declined significantly in the sand fraction and increased in the silt and clay fractions. Temporally, the 15 N enrichment in the silt fraction changed slightly after 4 weeks but that in the clay fraction increased continuously until the 18th week. These results indicated that the decomposing process controlled maize residue N translocation hierarchically from coarser into finer fractions. From the aspect of functional differentiation, the pass-in of the maize residue N into the silt fraction was apt to be balanced by the pass-out, while the absorption of clay particles was essential for the stabilization of the decomposed maize residue N. The inorganic N level critically controlled both the decomposition and translocation of maize residue in soil. High and medium inorganic N addition facilitated maize residue N decomposition compared to the low-level N addition. Furthermore, medium N availability is more favorable for maize residue N transportation and stabilization in the clay fraction. Comparatively, high-level inorganic N supply could possibly impede the interaction of maize residue N and clay minerals due to the competition of ammonium sorption/fixation on the active site of clay. This research highlighted the functional coupling of organic–inorganic N during soil N accumulation and stabilization, and such findings could present a theoretical perspective on optimal management of crop residue resources and chemical fertilizers in field practices.

Keywords: maize residue; 15 N isotope labeling; soil particle size fractionation; translocation; stabilization; inorganic N input (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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