Maize （Zea mays L.） and Cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） Straw Decomposition in Soil: Effect of Straw Placement, Mineral Nitrogen and TillageEnglish Full Text

J. CHILIMA, HUANG CHANGYONG and WU CIFANGCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029 (China)

Abstract: With the present understanding that decomposing straw may not only affect soil properties, but possibly greenhouse gas emissions as well, focus among environmental researchers has gradually expanded to include understanding of decomposition rate and stability of straw of different plants in different soils under different management conditions. Against such a background, a short-term （60 days） greenhouse simulation experiment was carried out to study the effects of straw placement, external mineral N source and tillage on straw decomposition of maize and cotton in two contrasting soils, a red soil （Ferrasol） and a black soil （Acrisol）. The treatments included straw addition only （Tl）; straw addition + mineral N （T2）; and straw addition + tillage （T3）. Straw was either buried in the soil or placed on the surface. Sampling was done every 15 days. Placement, addition of external mineral N sources （urea, 46% N）, straw type, soil type and exposure duration （15, 30, 45 and 60 days） affected straw decomposition. Decomposition was more in buried straw than in surface-placed straw at all sampling dates in red soil. The addition of an external N source significantly increased decomposition. The study could not, however, fully account for the effect of tillage on straw decomposition because of the limited effect of our tillage method due to the artificial barrier to mechanical interference supplied by the mesh bags.

Keywords：

cotton; maize; mineral N; straw decomposition; tillage;

Series：
(D) Agriculture
Subject：
Fundamental Science of Agriculture; Agronomy
Classification Code：
S158

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Maize （Zea mays L.） and Cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） Straw Decomposition in Soil: Effect of Straw Placement, Mineral Nitrogen and TillageEnglish Full Text

J. CHILIMA, HUANG CHANGYONG and WU CIFANGCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029 (China)

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