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Land
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Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Soil Organic Carbon: Conservation Agriculture...
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Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Soil Organic Carbon: Conservation Agriculture and Biochar Application on Agricultural Soils

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2023) | Viewed by 13947

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pardon Muchaonyerwa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King Edward Avenue, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
Interests: biochar; carbon stabilization; composting; conservation agriculture; nutrient recovery/cycling; organic wastes; soil quality
Dr. Katharina Prost

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-3 Agrosphere, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
Interests: soil science; soil fertility; organic farming; composting; biochar; geochemistry; geoarchaeology; environmental science; appropriate technology; Ethiopia
Dr. Nikolett Uzinger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Soil Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
Interests: soil chemistry; biowaste usage on soil; contaminated soil
Dr. Márk Rékási

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Soil Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, Centre for Agricultural Research, 1022 Budapest, Herman O. út 15, Budapest, Hungary
Interests: soil chemistry; soil pollution; plant nutrition; waste utilization in agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of soil organic matter through its contribution to essential nutrients and aggregate stability and resistance to soil erosion, cannot be over-emphasized. Storage of soil carbon (C) reduces CO2 emission and increases soil water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, microbial diversity, and nutrient cycling. Approaches that have been used to increase soil organic C include the addition of organic wastes and biochar from these materials and conservation agriculture (CA), where no-till, retention of crop residues, and rotations with cover crops, are combined. There appears to be inconsistencies in the literature on the activity of microorganisms and nutrient availability in soils amended with biochar and the stability of the biochar types, as affected by fertilizer and animal waste slurry addition in soil. While there are efforts to store more C in soils, it is essential to understand whether each soil has a maximum limit (C saturation) beyond which further addition will not increase soil C. A variety of cover crop species, singly or in mixtures, have been shown to increase organic C input and the effects depend on species, soil and climatic conditions, and management. Documenting locally relevant and superior cover crop species, under different conditions, is essential. Higher C sequestration through greater biomass input and slower decomposition rates of some cover crops suggests that the storage of C and nutrient cycling may be competing objectives. Moreover, there is literature that suggests that increasing soil organic C does not always increase aggregate stability, and the explanations are not always clear. Research findings on management practices that sequester C while encouraging nutrient cycling and overall soil health, under local conditions, are essential. The synthesis of recent research on CA and biochar management practices in relation to biotic and abiotic interactions of soil organic C is essential in view of increasing C storage, soil function, and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Pardon Muchaonyerwa
Dr. Katharina Prost
Dr. Nikolett Uzinger
Dr. Márk Rékási
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biochar
  • carbon saturation
  • carbon sequestration
  • conservation agriculture
  • microorganisms
  • nutrient cycling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
A Paradigm Shift towards Beneficial Microbes Enhancing the Efficiency of Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen Sources for a Sustainable Environment
by Haji Muhammad, Shah Fahad, Shah Saud, Shah Hassan, Wajid Nasim, Baber Ali, Hafiz Mohkum Hammad, Hafiz Faiq Bakhat, Muhammad Mubeen, Amir Zaman Khan, Ke Liu, Matthew Tom Harrison, Hamada AbdElgawad and Mostafa A. Abdel-Maksoud
Land 2023, 12(3), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030680 - 14 Mar 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2004
Abstract
The use of beneficial microbes as biofertilizer has become fundamental in the agricultural sector for their potential role in food safety and sustainable crop production. A field trial was conducted to study the influence of beneficial microbes on the efficiency of organic and [...] Read more.
The use of beneficial microbes as biofertilizer has become fundamental in the agricultural sector for their potential role in food safety and sustainable crop production. A field trial was conducted to study the influence of beneficial microbes on the efficiency of organic and inorganic sources. The experiment was conducted in two consecutive years (2008–2009 and 2009–2010) in a farmer’s field at Dargai Malakand Division. A randomized complete block design was used with four replications. The results revealed a significantly higher straw and grain nitrogen concentrations for the treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM, followed by the treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM and 120 kg N ha−1 from urea fertilizer, respectively. Comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, an increasing trend in N concentrations in straw and grain was observed with BM. The results revealed the highest grain total nitrogen, straw total nitrogen and total nitrogen uptake by wheat crop for the treatments receiving 120 kg N ha−1 from urea, followed by the treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM + BM and 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM. Moreover, after comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, for the parameters mentioned, an increasing trend in nitrogen uptake was observed. Significantly higher total soil nitrogen was obtained for treatment with 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM, followed by the treatment with 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM or 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM + BM, respectively, as compared to the control treatment plot. Markedly higher soil mineral nitrogen was obtained for the 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM treatment, followed by the treatment with 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM and 50% N treatment from urea + 50% N from PM + BM, compared to the control treatment. Comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, an increasing trend in total soil N (g kg−1 soil) and soil mineral N (mg kg−1 soil) was noted with BM application. From the results, a significant increase in soil organic matter status (g kg−1 soil) due to application of organic and inorganic fertilization was summarized. Significantly higher soil organic matter (g kg−1 soil) was recorded for the treatment receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM compared to untreated control plots. Our study further revealed an increasing trend in soil organic matter status (g kg−1 soil) when comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Soil Organic Carbon: Conservation Agriculture and Biochar Application on Agricultural Soils)
20 pages, 1914 KiB  
Article
Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia
by Zeleke Asaye, Dong-Gill Kim, Fantaw Yimer, Katharina Prost, Oukula Obsa, Menfese Tadesse, Mersha Gebrehiwot and Nicolas Brüggemann
Land 2022, 11(6), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060784 - 26 May 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3999
Abstract
Low nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost application [...] Read more.
Low nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost application in maize (Zey mays L.)—potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems. Yield data were collected from 20 smallholders applying (i) compost and MF at a total rate of 110 kg N ha−1, with 6 Mg compost ha−1 + MF (6CF), 12 Mg compost ha−1 + MF (12CF), and 16 Mg compost ha−1 + MF (16CF; compost on a fresh weight basis), (ii) MF application of 108 kg N ha−1 (F), and (iii) zero fertilization. Soil from 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths was collected from 16 farms using compost and MF. Compost + MF treatments showed significantly lower soil bulk density and iron contents, while pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity were higher compared to F treatments. The 6CF, 12CF, and 16CF showed 22, 43, and 54% higher maize grain yield and 8, 16, and 18% higher potato tuber yield compared to F, respectively. The scarcity of organic material was a major socioeconomic constraint for smallholders for producing and applying compost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Soil Organic Carbon: Conservation Agriculture and Biochar Application on Agricultural Soils)
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16 pages, 1382 KiB  
Article
The Exudation of Surplus Products Links Plant Functional Traits and Plant-Microbial Stoichiometry
by Julian Cardenas, Fernando Santa and Eva Kaštovská
Land 2021, 10(8), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10080840 - 11 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2714
Abstract
The rhizosphere is a hot spot of soil microbial activity and is largely fed by root exudation. The carbon (C) exudation flux, coupled with plant growth, is considered a strategy of plants to facilitate nutrient uptake. C exudation is accompanied by a release [...] Read more.
The rhizosphere is a hot spot of soil microbial activity and is largely fed by root exudation. The carbon (C) exudation flux, coupled with plant growth, is considered a strategy of plants to facilitate nutrient uptake. C exudation is accompanied by a release of nutrients. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) co-limit the productivity of the plant-microbial system. Therefore, the C:N:P stoichiometry of exudates should be linked to plant nutrient economies, plant functional traits (PFT) and soil nutrient availability. We aimed to identify the strongest links in C:N:P stoichiometry among all rhizosphere components. A total of eight grass species (from conservative to exploitative) were grown in pots under two different soil C:nutrient conditions for a month. As a result, a wide gradient of plant–microbial–soil interactions were created. A total of 43 variables of plants, exudates, microbial and soil C:N:P stoichiometry, and PFTs were evaluated. The variables were merged into four groups in a network analysis, allowing us to identify the strongest connections among the variables and the biological meaning of these groups. The plant–soil interactions were shaped by soil N availability. Faster-growing plants were associated with lower amounts of mineral N (and P) in the soil solution, inducing a stronger competition for N with microorganisms in the rhizosphere compared to slower-growing plants. The plants responded by enhancing their N use efficiency and root:shoot ratio, and they reduced N losses via exudation. Root growth was supported either by reallocated foliar reserves or by enhanced ammonium uptake, which connected the specific leaf area (SLA) to the mineral N availability in the soil. Rapid plant growth enhanced the exudation flux. The exudates were rich in C and P relative to N compounds and served to release surplus metabolic products. The exudate C:N:P stoichiometry and soil N availability combined to shape the microbial stoichiometry, and N and P mining. In conclusion, the exudate flux and its C:N:P stoichiometry reflected the plant growth rate and nutrient constraints with a high degree of reliability. Furthermore, it mediated the plant–microbial interactions in the rhizosphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Soil Organic Carbon: Conservation Agriculture and Biochar Application on Agricultural Soils)
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20 pages, 2515 KiB  
Article
Comparing Biochar-Swine Manure Mixture to Conventional Manure Impact on Soil Nutrient Availability and Plant Uptake—A Greenhouse Study
by Chumki Banik, Jacek A. Koziel, Darcy Bonds, Asheesh K. Singh and Mark A. Licht
Land 2021, 10(4), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10040372 - 3 Apr 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3526
Abstract
The use of swine manure as a source of plant nutrients is one alternative to synthetic fertilizers. However, conventional manure application with >90% water and a low C:N ratio results in soil C loss to the atmosphere. Our hypothesis was to use biochar [...] Read more.
The use of swine manure as a source of plant nutrients is one alternative to synthetic fertilizers. However, conventional manure application with >90% water and a low C:N ratio results in soil C loss to the atmosphere. Our hypothesis was to use biochar as a manure nutrient stabilizer that would slowly release nutrients to plants upon biochar-swine manure mixture application to soil. The objectives were to evaluate the impact of biochar-treated swine manure on soil total C, N, and plant-available macro- and micronutrients in greenhouse-cultivated corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Neutral pH red oak (RO), highly alkaline autothermal corn stover (HAP), and mild acidic Fe-treated autothermal corn stover (HAPE) biomass were pyrolyzed to prepare biochars. Each biochar was surface-applied to swine manure at a 1:4 (biochar wt/manure wt) ratio to generate mixtures of manure and respective biochars (MRO, MHAP, and MHAPE). Conventional manure (M) control and manure-biochar mixtures were then applied to the soil at a recommended rate. Corn and soybean were grown under these controls and treatments (S, M, MRO, MHAP, and MHAPE) to evaluate the manure-biochar impact on soil quality, plant biomass yield, and nutrient uptake. Soil organic matter significantly (<0.05) increased in all manure-biochar treatments; however, no change in soil pH or total N was observed under any treatment. No difference in soil ammonium between treatments was identified. There was a significant decrease in soil Mehlich3 (M3) P and KCl extractable soil NO3− for all manure-biochar treatments compared to the conventional M. However, the plant biomass nutrient concentrations were not significantly different from control manure. Moreover, an increasing trend of plant total N and decreasing trend of P in the plant under all biochar-manure treatments than the controls were noted. This observation suggests that the presence of biochar is capable of influencing the soil N and P in such a way as not to lose those nutrients at the early growth stages of the plant. In general, no statistical difference in corn or soybean biomass yield and plant nutrient uptake for N, P, and K was observed. Interestingly, manure-biochar application to soil significantly diluted the M3 extractable soil Cu and Zn concentrations. The results attribute that manure-biochar has the potential to be a better soil amendment than conventional manure application to the soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Soil Organic Carbon: Conservation Agriculture and Biochar Application on Agricultural Soils)
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