Dynamics of carbon and nitrogen in a long-term cropping system and permanent pasture system

Abstract

On the brigalow lands of south-east Queensland, productivity of sown perennial grasses is severely limited by N availability, whereas annual crops grown on the same soil are N-sufficient. The dynamics of C and N were compared under in these soils under permanent green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume cv. Petrie ) pasture and continuous cropping with grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Although the sorghum system was more productive, it contained 18% less N and 29% less C. Annual flows of C and N through the soil microbial biomass were, respectively, 4500 and 240 kg ha-1 under sorghum, and 4050 and 60 kg ha-1 under pasture. Over 80% of C and N inputs to the sorghum system occurred after harvest. Under pasture, the continuous supply of residues of high C/N ratio (50-75) enabled the development of a large and active microbial biomass, which competed with the pasture plant for N, resulting in slow net mineralization of N and low levels of inorganic soil N. Under sorghum, the size of the microbial biomass was limited by C availability during the growing season. The sorghum residues had slightly lower C/N ratios (36-46), and their rapid decomposition and net mineralization of N were promoted by the fallow period and soil cultivation. Estimated annual C turnover through the soil microbial biomass was slightly faster under sorghum, and annual N turnover was around seven times faster under sorghum than under green panic. The productivity of these soils under the two management systems was controlled by the amount, quality and timing of organic matter inputs. These in turn controlled the size of the soil microbial biomass and its C and N supply, and hence the balance between immobilization and mineralization of N.