Nitrogen mineralization of legume residues: interactions between species, temperature and placement in soil

  • Miguel Oliveira Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real
  • Dragan Rebac University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb
  • João Coutinho Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Chemistry Centre, Dept. Soil Science, Apdo. 1013, 5001-801 Vila Real
  • Luís Ferreira Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real
  • Henrique Trindade Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real
Keywords: cowpea, faba bean, pea, residue management, microcosm, incubation

Abstract

Aim of study: To assess the interactive effects of legume species, residue placement and temperature on the net nitrogen (N) mineralization dynamics in a sandy loam soil.

Area of study: Northern Portugal

Material and methods: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) residues were incorporated or applied to the soil surface at typical field yields in Europe and incubated in aerobic conditions for up to 240 days, either at 10ºC or 20ºC. Initial chemical characteristics of the soil and residues were determined. Net N mineralization was estimated at eight time intervals.

Main results: Cowpea residues caused no negative changes in soil mineral N contents and were able to release the equivalent of 21-45 kg N ha-1 in 240 days. Net N immobilization (up to 17 kg N ha-1) was observed throughout most of the trial in soil with faba bean and pea residues. Differences in mineralization patterns could be attributed to the higher quality (lower carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratios) of cowpea. Surface placement increased net N mineralized by as much as 18 kg N ha-1. The sensitivity of N mineralization to changes in temperature and residue placement varied with legume species, likely due to effects associated with differences in C:N ratios.

Research highlights: Adding cowpea residues to soil is suitable when high N availability is immediately required. Faba bean or pea residues are better suited for conservation of soil N for later release.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abiven S, Recous S, 2007. Mineralisation of crop residues on the soil surface or incorporated in the soil under controlled conditions. Biol Fertil Soils 43: 849-852. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-007-0165-2

Badagliacca G, Ruisi P, Rees RM, Saia S, 2017. An assessment of factors controlling N2O and CO2 emissions from crop residues using different measurement approaches. Biol Fertil Soils 53: 547-561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-017-1195-z

Balesdent J, Chenu C, Balabane M, 2000. Relationship of soil organic matter dynamics to physical protection and tillage. Soil Till Res 53: 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(99)00107-5

Bhatnagar JM, Peay KG, Treseder KK, 2018. Litter chemistry influences decomposition through activity of specific microbial functional guilds. Ecol Monogr 0: 1-16.

Castro-Huerta RA, Falco LB, Sandler RV, Coviella CE, 2015. Differential contribution of soil biota groups to plant litter decomposition as mediated by soil use. Peer J 3: 1-14. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.826

Chen B, Liu E, Tian Q, Yan C, Zhang Y, 2014. Soil nitrogen dynamics and crop residues. A review. Agron Sustain Dev 34: 429-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-014-0207-8

Chen D, Wang S, Xiong B, Cao B, Deng X, 2015. Carbon/nitrogen imbalance associated with drought-induced leaf senescence in sorghum bicolor. PLoS One 10: 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137026

Coppens F, Garnier P, De Gryze S, Merckx R, Recous S, 2006. Soil moisture, carbon and nitrogen dynamics following incorporation and surface application of labelled crop residues in soil columns. Eur J Soil Sci 57: 894-905. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2006.00783.x

Coppens F, Garnier P, Findeling A, Merckx R, Recous S, 2007. Decomposition of mulched versus incorporated crop residues: Modelling with PASTIS clarifies interactions between residue quality and location. Soil Biol Biochem 39: 2339-2350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2007.04.005

Corbeels M, Connell AMO, Grove TS, Mendham DS, Rance SJ, 2003. Nitrogen release from eucalypt leaves and legume residues as influenced by their biochemical quality and degree of contact with soil. Plant Soil 250: 15-28. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022899212115

Corre-Hellou G, Crozat Y, 2005. N2 fixation and N supply in organic pea (Pisum sativum L.) cropping systems as affected by weeds and peaweevil (Sitona lineatus L.). Eur J Agron 22: 449-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2004.05.005

Daryanto S, Wang L, Jacinthe P, 2015. Global synthesis of drought effects on food legume production. PLoS One 10: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127401

Engström L, Lindén B, 2012. Temporal course of net N mineralization and immobilization in topsoil following incorporation of crop residues of winter oilseed rape, peas and oats in a northern climate. Soil Use Manag 28: 436-447. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12004

Franzluebbers K, Juo ASR, Manu A, 1994. Decomposition of cowpea and millet amendments to a sandy Alfisol in Niger. Plant Soil 167: 255-265. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007952

Frei M, 2013. Lignin: characterization of a multifaceted crop component. Sci World J 2013: 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/436517

Georgopoulos K, Bartzokas A, 2018. Α study on soil temperature in Ioannina, NW Greece; relation with other meteorological parameters and atmospheric circulation. 14th Int Conf Meteorol Climatol Atmos Phys, pp: 911-916.

Giacomini SJ, Recous S, Mary B, Aita C, 2007. Simulating the effects of N availability, straw particle size and location in soil on C and N mineralization. Plant Soil 301: 289-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9448-5

Goering HK, Van Soest PJ, 1970. Forage fiber analysis (apparatus, reagents, procedures, and some applications). USDA, Washington, DC.

Hadas A, Kautsky L, Goek M, Kara EE, 2004. Rates of decomposition of plant residues and available nitrogen in soil, related to residue composition through simulation of carbon and nitrogen turnover. Soil Biol Biochem 36: 255-266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2003.09.012

IUSS Working Group WRB, 2015.World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106, Rome.

Jensen ES, Peoples MB, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, 2010. Faba bean in cropping systems. F Crop Res 115: 203-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2009.10.008

Kumar K, Goh KM, 2002. Management practices of antecedent leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues in relation to winter wheat yields, nitrogen uptake, soil nitrogen mineralization and simple nitrogen balance. Eur J Agron 16: 295-308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(01)00133-2

Kwapata M, Hall A, 1990. Determinants of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seed yield at extremely high plant density. F Crop Res 24: 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(90)90019-8

Li L, Han X, You M, Yuan Y, Ding X, Qiao Y, 2013. Carbon and nitrogen mineralization patterns of two contrasting crop residues in a Mollisol: Effects of residue type and placement in soils. Eur J Soil Biol 54: 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2012.11.002

Monti M, Pellicanò A, Santonoceto C, Preiti G, Pristeri A, 2016. Yield components and nitrogen use in cereal-pea intercrops in Mediterranean environment. F Crop Res 196: 379-388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.07.017

Mulvaney MJ, Balkcom KS, Wood CW, Jordan D, 2017. Peanut residue carbon and nitrogen mineralization under simulated conventional and conservation tillage. Agron J 109: 696-705. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2016.04.0190

Nishigaki T, Sugihara S, Kilasara M, Funakawa S, 2017. Soil nitrogen dynamics under different quality and application methods of crop residues in maize croplands with contrasting soil textures in Tanzania. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 63: 288-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2017.1332454

Oliveira M, Barré P, Trindade H, Virto I, 2019. Different efficiencies of grain legumes in crop rotations to improve soil aggregation and organic carbon in the short-term in a sandy Cambisol. Soil Till Res 186: 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.10.003

Pauly M, Keegstra K, 2008. Cell-wall carbohydrates and their modification as a resource for biofuels. Plant J 54: 559-568. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03463.x

Peoples MB, Brockwell J, Herridge DF, Rochester IJ, Alves BJR, Urquiaga S, Boddey RM, Dakora FD, Bhattarai S, Maskey SL et al., 2009. The contributions of nitrogen-fixing crop legumes to the productivity of agricultural systems. Symbiosis 48: 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179980

Recous S, Robin D, Darwis D, Mary B, 1995. Soil inorganic N availability: effect on maize residue decomposition. Soil Biol Biochem 27: 1529-1538. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(95)00096-W

Roberts BA, Fritschi FB, Horwath WR, Bardhan S, 2015. Nitrogen mineralization potential as influenced by microbial biomass, cotton residues and temperature. J Plant Nutr 38: 311-324. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2013.868486

Sierra J, 2002. Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a tropical soil: effects of fluctuating temperature conditions. Soil Biol Biochem 34: 1219-1226. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(02)00058-5

Siles JA, Cajthaml T, Frouz J, Margesin R, 2019. Assessment of soil microbial communities involved in cellulose utilization at two contrasting Alpine forest sites. Soil Biol Biochem 129: 13-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.11.004

Trinsoutrot I, Recous S, Bentz B, Linères M, Chèneby D, Nicolardot B, 2000. Biochemical quality of crop residues and carbon and nitrogen mineralization kinetics under nonlimiting nitrogen conditions. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64: 918. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2000.643918x

Vahdat E, Nourbakhsh F, Basiri M, 2011. Lignin content of range plant residues controls N mineralization in soil. Eur J Soil Biol 47: 243-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2011.05.001

Volpi I, Antichi D, Lennart P, Bonari E, Nassi N, Bosco S, 2018. Minimum tillage mitigated soil N2O emissions and maximized crop yield in faba bean in a Mediterranean environment. Soil Till Res 178: 11-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2017.12.016

Wang X, Butterly CR, Baldock JA, Tang C, 2017. Long-term stabilization of crop residues and soil organic carbon affected by residue quality and initial soil pH. Sci Total Environ 2017: 587-588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.199

Xiao K, Xu J, Tang C, Zhang J, Brookes PC, 2013. Differences in carbon and nitrogen mineralization in soils of differing initial pH induced by electrokinesis and receiving crop residue amendments. Soil Biol Biochem 67: 70-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.08.012

Published
2020-04-22
How to Cite
Oliveira, M., Rebac, D., Coutinho, J., Ferreira, L., & Trindade, H. (2020). Nitrogen mineralization of legume residues: interactions between species, temperature and placement in soil. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 18(1), e1101. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2020181-15174
Section
Soil science