Seven years of repeated cattle manure addition to eroded Chinese Mollisols increase low-molecular-weight organic acids in soil solution

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 369; no. 1/2; pp. 577 - 584
• Main Authors: Miao, Shu-jie, Shi, Hai, Wang, Guang-hua, Jin, Jian, Liu, Ju-dong, Zhou, Ke-qin, Sui, Yu-yue, Liu, Xiao-bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid soils; Acids; Agricultural soils; Agrochemicals; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biogeochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biological properties; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cattle; Cattle manure; Corn; Ecology; Environmental aspects; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Glycine max; Life Sciences; Manures; Organic acids; Organic soils; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Regular Article; Rhizosphere; Soil amendment; Soil biochemistry; Soil erosion; Soil erosion, conservation, land management and development; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil solution; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soybean; Soybeans; Topsoil; Vegetables; Water and solute dynamics; Zea mays; China; China, People's Rep; Simulated soil erosion; Mollisols; Fertilizer and cattle manure; Low-molecular-weight organic acids; Chemical solution; Acid soil; Soil erosion; Property of soil; Soil quality; Organic fertilization; Mineral soils; Organic fertilizer; Organic acids; Low molecular weight; Simulation; Soil plant relation; Soil solution; Cattle manure; Molecular mass; Organic compounds; Organic amendment
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1594-3

Background and aims Organic amendments are an option in enhancing soil biological productivity. Limited research exists on the effects of long-term cattle manure addition on low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) concentrations in corn (Zea mays L) and soybean (Glycine max L.) fields in the region of soil erosion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential influence of cattle manure on the LMWOAs concentration in erosion soil. Methods A field experiment was established in Hailun city, Northeast China to determine the impact of longterm cattle manure addition on the total amounts of main LMWOAs in eroded Mollisol fields. There were three levels of simulated-erosion, which removed 0, 10 and 30 cm of topsoil. Two soil amendments were: (1) chemical fertilizer at the rate normally used by farmers in the region and (2) chemical fertilizer plus 15,000 kgha⁻¹ (dry weight basis) of cattle manure. Main LMWOAs in soil were assessed at the flowering stage of soybean and the jointing stage of corn. Principle results Compared to chemical fertilizer alone, 7-years of repeated cattle manure addition significantly increased total amounts of main LMWOAs in rhizosphere about 9-70 times and bulk soil about 6-62 times. The magnitude of increase by cattle manure was in the order of oxalate> malate>malonate>lactate>maleate in corn plots, and oxalate>malate>malonate>lactate in soybean plots. In comparison, cattle manure and topsoil removal had larger effect on LMWOAs concentrations in corn plot than soybean plot. The addition of cattle manure application and top soil removal had significant independent influence on main LMWOAs concentration in soil solution. Conclusion This study suggested that addition of cattle manure would be an effective approach in modifying soil biological properties through the increases in low-molecular-weight organic acids to eroded Chinese Mollisols.