Soil & Water Res., 2020, 15(3):181-190 | DOI: 10.17221/31/2019-SWR

The decomposition of standardised organic materials in loam and clay loam arable soils during a non-vegetation periodOriginal Paper

Monika Toleikiene*,1, Ausra Arlauskiene2, Andreas Fliessbach3, Rashid Iqbal4, Lina Sarunaite1, Zydre Kadziuliene1
1 Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Akademija, Lithuania
2 Joniąkélis Experimental Station, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Joniąkélis, Lithuania
3 Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, Frick, Switzerland
4 Department of Agronomy, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

The decomposition of plant organic materials in the soil during the non-vegetation period in a cool temperate climate is associated with nutrient loss and asynchrony in nutrient supply for subsequent crops. Therefore, it is important to select sustainable management tools to regulate the decomposition rate of organic material during the non-vegetation period. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of soil type (loam vs. clay loam), green manuring (wheat straw vs. wheat straw + red clover), and incorporation depth of organic materials (4-7 vs. 14-17 cm) on mass loss, decomposition rate and stabilization of standardised organic material in the organically managed arable soils. A Tea Bag Index method was used in the field experiments with standardised organic plant materials of green and rooibos tea. In addition, litter-bags of locally grown red clover were investigated. The findings of this study suggested that of the three management factors investigated soil type had a significant and longest effect. The mass loss and decomposition rate of the standardised organic materials were significantly (P < 0.5) higher and stabilization significantly lower in the loam soil than in the clay loam soil. During the non-vegetation period, green tea lost 46.3% of its initial mass, rooibos tea lost 19.7% and red clover lost 66%. The study showed that decomposition of fast-decomposing materials could be slowed down during the non-vegetation period by choosing soils with a higher clay content, shallow organic material incorporation depth and manuring soil with N-rich plant residues.

Keywords: organic agriculture; red clover; soil texture; tea bag index (TBI); tea bag method

Published: September 30, 2020  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Toleikiene M, Arlauskiene A, Fliessbach A, Iqbal R, Sarunaite L, Kadziuliene Z. The decomposition of standardised organic materials in loam and clay loam arable soils during a non-vegetation period. Soil & Water Res. 2020;15(3):181-190. doi: 10.17221/31/2019-SWR.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Alsafran M.H.S.A., Sarneel J., Alatalo J.M. (2017): Variation in plant litter decomposition rates across extreme dry environments in Qatar. The Arab World Geographer, 20: 252-260.
    2. Bradford M.A., Berg B., Maynard D.S., Wieder W.R., Wood S.A. (2016): Understanding the dominant controls on litter decomposition. Journal of Ecology, 104: 229-238. Go to original source...
    3. Brock C., Franko U., Oberholzer H.-R., Kuka K., Leithold G., Kolbe H., Reinhold J. (2013): Humus balancing in Central Europe concepts, state of the art, and perspectives. Review article. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 176: 3-11. Go to original source...
    4. Buchholz J., Querner P., Paredes D., Bauer T., Strauss P., Guernion M., Scimia J., Cluzeau D., Burel F., Kratschmer S., Winter S., Potthoff M., Zaller J.G. (2017). Soil biota in vineyards are more influenced by plants and soil quality than by tillage intensity or the surrounding landscape. Scientific Reports, 7: 1-12. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. Chatterjee A., Acharya U. (2019): Controls of carbon and nitrogen releases during crops' residue decomposition in the Red River Valley, USA. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2019.1630732 Go to original source...
    6. Cleveland C.C., Reed S.C., Keller A.B., Nemergut D.R., O'Neill S.P., Ostertag R., Vitousek P.M. (2014): Litter quality versus soil microbial community controls over decomposition: a quantitative analysis. Ecosystem Ecology, 174: 283-294. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Cornwell W.K., Cornelissen J.H.C., Amatangelo K., Dorrepaal E., Eviner V.T., Godoy O. (2008): Plant species traits are the predominant control on litter decomposition rates within biomes worldwide. Ecology Letters, 11: 1065-1071. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. De Notaris C., Rasmussen J., Sørensen P., Olesen J.E. (2018): Nitrogen leaching: a crop rotation perspective on the effect of N surplus, field management and use of catch crops. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 255: 1-11. Go to original source...
    9. Didion M., Repo A., Liski J., Forsius M., Bierbaumer M., Djukic I. (2016): Towards harmonizing leaf litter decomposition studies using standard tea bags - a field study and model application. Forests, 7: 1-12. Go to original source...
    10. Frøseth R.B., Bleken M.A. (2014): Effect of low temperature and soil type on the decomposition rate of soil organic carbon and clover leaves, and related priming effect. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 80: 156-166. Go to original source...
    11. Gaudin A.C.M., Westra S., Loucks C.E.S., Janovicek K., Martin R.C., Deen W. (2013): Improving resilience of northern field crop systems using inter-seeded red clover: a review. Agronomy, 3: 148-180. Go to original source...
    12. Gao J., Han H., Kang F. (2019): Factors controlling decomposition rates of needle litter across a chronosequence of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) forests. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 28: 91-102. Go to original source...
    13. Hassink J., Bouwman L.A., Zwart K.B., Bloem J., Brussaard L. (1993): Relationships between soil texture, physical protection of organic matter, soil biota, and C and N mineralization in grassland soils. Geoderma, 57: 105-128. Go to original source...
    14. Helsen K., Smith S.W., Brunet J., Cousins S.A.O., Frenne P.D., Kimberley A., Kolb A., Lenoir J., Ma S., Michaelis J., Plue J., Verheyen K., Speed J.D.M., Graae B.J. (2018): Impact of an invasive alien plant on litter decomposition along a latitudinal gradient. Ecosphere, 9: 1-15. Go to original source...
    15. Jensen E.S. (1994): Mineralization-immobilization of nitrogen in soil amended with low C:N ratio plant residues with different particle sizes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 26: 519-521. Go to original source...
    16. Kaspari M., Garcia M.N., Harms K.E., Santana M., Wright S.J., Yavitt J.B. (2008). Multiple nutrients limit litterfall and decomposition in a tropical forest. Ecology Letters, 11: 35-43. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Keuskamp J.A., Dingemans B.J.J., Lehtinen T., Sarneel J.M., Hefting M.M. (2013): Tea Bag Index: a novel approach to collect uniform decomposition data across ecosystems. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 4: 1070-1075. Go to original source...
    18. Køgel-Knabner I. (2002): The macromolecular organic composition of plant and microbial residues as inputs to soil organic matter. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 34: 139-162. Go to original source...
    19. Kriauciuniene Z., Velicka R., Raudonius S. (2012): The influence of crop residues type on their decomposition rate in the soil: a litterbag study. Zemdirbyste (Agriculture), 99: 227-236.
    20. Liu G., Cornwell W.K., Pan X., Ye D., Liu F., Huang Z., Dong M., Cornelissen J.H. (2015): Decomposition of 51 semidesert species from wide ranging phylogeny is faster in standing and sand-buried than in surface leaf litters: implications for carbon and nutrient dynamics. Plant and Soil, 396: 175-187. Go to original source...
    21. Lützow M., Køgel-Knabner I., Ludwig B., Matzner E., Flessa H., Ekschmitt K., Guggenberger G., Marschner B., Kalbitz K. (2008): Stabilization mechanisms of organic matter in four temperate soils: Development and application of a conceptual model. Journal of Plant Nutrition of Soil Science, 171: 111-124. Go to original source...
    22. Masauskas V., Antanaitis S., Lazauskas S., Masauskiene A. (2006): Content of nitrates in drainage and groundwater from permanent pasture, grassland and arable crop rotation soil. Ekologija, 4: 83-88.
    23. McKenna P., Cannon N., Conway J., Dooley J. (2018): The use of red clover (Trifolium pratense) in soil fertilitybuilding: a review. Field Crops Research, 221: 38-49. Go to original source...
    24. Miatto R.C., Batalha M.A. (2016): Leaf chemistry of woody species in the Brazilian cerrado and seasonal forest: response to soil and taxonomy and effects on decomposition rates. Plant Ecology, 217: 1467-1479. Go to original source...
    25. Mikola J., Virtanen T., Linkosalmi M., Vaha E., Nyman E., Postanogova O., Rasanen A., Kotze D.J., Laurila T., Juutinen S., Kondratyev V., Aurela M. (2018): Spatial variation and linkages of soil and vegetation in the Siberian Arctic tundra - coupling field observations with remote sensing data. Biogeosciences, 15: 2781-2801. Go to original source...
    26. Möller K. (2018): Soil fertility status and nutrient input-output flows of specialised organic cropping systems: a review. Nutrient Cycling of Agroecosystems, 112: 147-164. Go to original source...
    27. Mueller P., Schile-Beers L.M., Mozdzer T.J., Chmura G.L., Dinter T., Kuzyakov Y. (2018): Global-change effects on early-stage decomposition processes in tidal wetlands - implications from a global survey using standardized litter. Biogeosciences, 15: 3189-3202. Go to original source...
    28. Opheusden A.H.M., Burgt G.J.H. M., Rietberg P.I. (2012): Decomposition Rate of Organic Fertilizers: Effect on Yield, Nitrogen Availability and Nitrogen Stock in the Soil. Driebergen, Louis Bolk Institute.
    29. Parton W., Silver W.L., Burke I.C., Grassens L., Harmon M.E., Currie W.S., King J.Y., Adair E.C., Brandt L.A., Hart S.C. (2007): Global scale similarities in nitrogen release patterns during long-term decomposition. Science, 315: 361-364. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Poeplau Ch., Katterer Th., Bolinder M.A., Borjesson G., Berti A., Lugato E. (2015): Low stabilization of aboveground crop residue carbon in sandy soils of Swedish long-term experiments. Geoderma, 237: 246-255. Go to original source...
    31. Raich J.W., Russell A.E., Kitayama K., Parton W.J., Vitousek P.M. (2006). Temperature influences carbon accumulation in moist tropical forests. Ecology, 87: 76-87. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    32. Salamanca E.F., Kaneko N., Katagiri Sh. (2003): Rainfall manipulation effects on litter decomposition and the microbial biomass of the forest floor. Applied Soil Ecology, 22: 271-281. Go to original source...
    33. Sarunaite L., Kadziuliene Z., Deveikyte I., Kadziulis L. (2013): Effect of legume biological nitrogen on cereals grain yield and soil nitrogen budget in double-cropping system. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, 11: 528-533.
    34. Shahbaz M., Kuzyakov Y., Heitkamp F. (2017): Decrease of soil organic matter stabilization with increasing inputs: Mechanisms and controls. Geoderma, 304: 76-82. Go to original source...
    35. Sorensen J.N., Thorup-Kristensen K. (2011): Plant-based fertilizers for organic vegetable production. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 174: 321-332. Go to original source...
    36. Toth Z., Hornung E., Dombos M. (2017): Tea bag method: a new possibility to assess impacts of agri-environmental measures on soil functioning. Hungarian Agricultural Research, 2: 1-26.
    37. Toth Z., Hornung E., Baldi A. (2018): Effects of set-aside management on certain elements of soil biota and early stage organic matter decomposition in a High Nature Value Area, Hungary. Nature Conservation, 29: 1-26. Go to original source...
    38. Tripolskaja L., ©idlauskas G. (2010): The influence of catch crops for green manure and straw on the infiltration of atmospheric precipitation and nitrogen leaching. Zemdirbyste (Agriculture), 97: 83-92.
    39. Valkama E., Lemola R., Kankanen H., Turtola E. (2015): Meta-analysis of the effects of undersown catch crops on nitrogen leaching loss and grain yields in the Nordic countries. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 203: 93-101. Go to original source...
    40. Van Hoesel W., Tiefenbacher A., König N., Dorn V.M., Hagenguth J.F., Prah U., Widhalm T., Wiklicky V., Bonkowski M., Lagerlöf J., Ratzenböck A., Zaller J.G. (2015): Single and combined effects of pesticide dressings and herbicides on earthworms, soil microorganisms, and litter decomposition. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8: 215. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    41. Vilkiene M., Ambrazaitiene D., Karcauskiene D., Dabkevicius Z. (2016): Assessment of soil organic matter mineralization under various management practices. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science, 66: 641-646. Go to original source...
    42. Volungevičius J., Eidukevičienė M., Amalevičiūtė-Volungė K., Vaisvalavičius R., Povilaitis V., Velykis A., Liaudansienė I., Gregorauskienė V. (2018): The Peculiarities of Soil Cover in the Lowlands of Northern Lithuania. Akad­ emija, ASU: 23-28. (in Lithuanian)
    43. Wieder R.K., Lang, G.E. (1982): A critique of the analytical methods used in examining decomposition data obtained from litter bags. Ecology, 63: 1636-1642. Go to original source...
    44. Zhang D., Hui D., Luo Y., Zhou G. (2008): Rates of litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems: global patterns and controlling factors. Journal of Plant Ecology, 1: 85-93. Go to original source...
    45. ®ydelis R., Weiherműller L., Herbst M., Klosterhalfen A., Lazauskas S. (2018): A model study on the effect of water and cold stress on maize development under nemoral climate. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 263: 169-179. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content