Effects of Corn Stalks Returning on Soil Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency and Corn Yield in Semi-Arid Cropland

Authors

  • Yue Meng Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Wei Bai Liaoning Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage in Dry Land, Tillage and Cultivation Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Science, Shenyang 110161, China
  • Na Lv Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Lingli Wang Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
  • Zhanbo Wei Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
  • Mei Han Industrial Transformation and Revitalization Service Center of Fuxin, Fuxin 123000, China
  • Zhe Zhang Liaoning Key Laboratory of Conservation Tillage in Dry Land, Tillage and Cultivation Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Science, Shenyang 110161, China
  • Ping Gong Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
  • Kaikuo Wu Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
  • Lili Zhang Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China

Keywords:

Microbial carbon use efficiency, Corn stalks resources, O-labeled water approach, Corn field, Corn biological indicators

Abstract

Soil microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) is a key parameter controlling the short-term carbon (C) cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. The effect of urea application (156 kg N ha-1) and corn stalks returning (9.0 tons ha-1) on soil microbial CUE and corn yield in semi-arid cropland was studied using the 18O-labeled water approach during a one-year experiment. In semi-arid cropland, applying urea reduced soil microbial CUE by 44%, while the soil microbial CUE was increased significantly by 34% after returning corn stalks to the field. The application of urea increased the total nitrogen content of soil by 23%, and corn stalks returning further increased nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) by 45%, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 53%, and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) by 122%. Compared with no fertilization, urea application increased the corn height by 4% and the corn yield by 21%. Corn stalks returning combined with urea reduced the corn stalks by 37% compared with no fertilizer. There was no significant difference in corn yield between corn stalks returning combined with urea and single urea application. Therefore, corn stalks returning combined with urea may be an effective agronomic measure to increase soil carbon sequestration, improve soil fertility, maintain corn yield, restore soil fertility, and improve production capacity.

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Published

2023-11-07 — Updated on 2023-11-08

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Research Article or Brief Communication