Response of Soil Environment and Microbial Community Structure to Different Ratios of Long-Term Straw Return and Nitrogen Fertilizer in Wheat–Maize System

Man Yu, Qingxia Wang, Yao Su, Hui Xi, Yuying Qiao, Zhanlin Guo, Yunlong Wang and Alin Shen ()
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Man Yu: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Qingxia Wang: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Yao Su: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Hui Xi: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Yuying Qiao: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Zhanlin Guo: Institute of Plant nutrient, Environment and Resource, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yunlong Wang: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Alin Shen: Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: To determine the reasonable rate of straw return and nitrogen (N) fertilizer use which may maintain soil ecosystem health, we analyzed their soil microbial biomass and composition in a 10-year field experiment with different rates of straw return (50%, 100%) and N fertilizer (270, 360, 450, 540 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and high-throughput sequencing. A rate of 50% straw return combined with 450 or 540 kg N ha −1 yr −1 effectively increased the soil available nutrient contents mainly for total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus. Total PLFAs indicated that straw return combined with N fertilizer promoted soil microbial growth and increased biomass. A rate of 100% straw return with 450 kg N ha −1 yr −1 was not conducive to the stability of the soil ecosystem according to the ratio of fungi to bacteria (F:B). The similar rate of straw returning and the similar level of nitrogen fertilizer application will be divided into the same cluster using a heatmap analysis. Some saprophytic fungi or pathogens became the dominant fungi genera, such as Gibberella , Sarocladium, Pseudallescheria , and Mycosphaerella , in the treatments with 100% straw returning combining higher N fertilizer (>450 kg ha −1 yr −1 yr −1 added). The relative abundances of some heavy metal-tolerant bacteria, such as those in Proteobacteria and Chlorobi, increased in the soils in the 100% straw return treatments. Therefore, the combined application of 100% straw returning and higher N fertilizer (>450 kg ha −1 yr −1 ) added long-term was not appropriate for soil health, which will lead to the risk of disease and pollution in soil.

Keywords: straw return; nitrogen fertilizer; phospholipid fatty acids; high-throughput sequencing; soil health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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