Off-campus UNL users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your NU ID and password. When you are done browsing please remember to return to this page and log out.

Non-UNL users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.

The impact of maize and soybean cropping systems on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in soil organic matter

Felipe de Jesus Legorreta-Padilla, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) reservoir comprising a continuum of overlapping pools of different sizes, composition, turnover times and levels of significance to C and N cycling in terrestrial systems. The mineralization of SOM provides C, N and energy to microorganisms and N to plants. Soil C and N dynamics are linked to each other and N is usually the limiting substrate for C microbial turnover. Soil C and N demand increase with higher crop yields and risks of depletion of soil reserves arise when removals are larger than inputs. Assessing the C and N dynamics in sensitive SOM pools is a key to measure changes in soil quality under intensive agriculture. Short-term (18-month) C and N dynamics was studied using stable isotopes ( 15N and 13C) in four SOM pools under maize-soybean cropping systems. Temporal changes in total soil C (TSC) and N (TSN) were related to the amount of C and N inputs and removals each cycle. The LF and MHA were the most labile fractions with greater sensitivity to C and N of residue inputs. The LF displayed the largest seasonal fluctuation in C and N gains and removals. The change in 13C and 15N enrichment revealed the sequence of C and N turnover as LF > MHA > CaHA > Humin. Biological activity dominates the C and N turnover in the LF and MHA due to their simpler chemical composition and reduced protection by minerals while the turnover of CaHA and Humin suggest that abiotic processes dominate turnover. The contribution of individual fractions to TSN follows Humin-N > CaHA-N > MHA-N > LF-N. Manipulation of C and N cycling in agricultural ecosystems depends on the rate and timing of C and N additions to soil, the removals at harvest and the changes in the physical environment. TSC gains were measured only in systems attaining high crop productivity.

Subject Area

Soil sciences|Agronomy

Recommended Citation

Legorreta-Padilla, Felipe de Jesus, "The impact of maize and soybean cropping systems on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in soil organic matter" (2005). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI3190665.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI3190665

Share

COinS