High-Energy-Density Organic Amendments Enhance Soil Health

Feifan Shi, Xinyue Zhao, Qilu Cheng, Hui Lin, Huabao Zheng () and Qifa Zhou ()
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Feifan Shi: College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xinyue Zhao: College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Qilu Cheng: Institute of Environment Resources Soil and Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Hui Lin: Institute of Environment Resources Soil and Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Huabao Zheng: Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Qifa Zhou: College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: Soil microbial biomass (SMB) and soil microbial communities (SMCs) are the key factors in soil health and agricultural sustainability. We hypothesized that low bioavailable carbon (C) and energy were the key limiting factors influencing soil microbial growth and developed a new fertilization system to address this: the simultaneous application of mineral fertilizers and high-energy-density organic amendments (HED-OAs). A microcosm soil incubation experiment and a Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis pot culture experiment were used to test the effects of this new system. Compared to mineral fertilizer application alone, the simultaneous input of fertilizers and vegetable oil (SIFVO) achieved a bacterial abundance, fungal abundance, and fungal:bacterial ratio that were two orders of magnitude higher, significantly higher organic C and nitrogen (N) content, significantly lower N loss, and nearly net-zero N 2 O emissions. We proposed an energy and nutrient threshold theory to explain the observed bacterial and fungal growth characteristics, challenging the previously established C:N ratio determination theory. Furthermore, SIFVO led to microbial community improvements (an increased fungal:bacterial ratio, enriched rhizosphere bacteria and fungi, and reduced N-transformation bacteria) that were beneficial for agricultural sustainability. A low vegetable oil rate (5 g/kg) significantly promoted Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis growth and decreased the shoot N content by 35%, while a high rate caused severe N deficiency and significantly inhibited growth of the crop, confirming the exceptionally high microbial abundance and indicating severe microbe–crop competition for nutrients in the soil.

Keywords: high-energy-density organic amendments; microbial growth; bacterial:fungal ratio; microbial community; microbe–crop competition; soil health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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