Changes in soil humus composition and humic acid structural characteristics under different corn straw returning modes
Batande Sinovuyo Ndzelu
A , Sen Dou A B and XiaoWei Zhang A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Resource and Environmental Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, China.
B Corresponding author. Email: dousen1959@126.com
Soil Research 58(5) 452-460 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR20025
Submitted: 25 January 2020 Accepted: 27 March 2020 Published: 21 May 2020
Abstract
Studying changes in soil humus composition and humic acid (HA) structural characteristics caused by agronomic practices provide insights into the pathways of soil organic carbon (C) stabilisation dynamics. This five-year field study evaluated the effects of straw returning modes on humus composition and HA structure. Treatments included (i) corn straw returned on the soil surface (NTS), (ii) corn straw incorporated into soil within 0–10 cm (MTS), (iii) corn straw incorporated into soil within 0–20 cm (CTS) and (iv) no corn straw applied (CT). Soil HA was characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopies. The results demonstrated that corn straw returning improved humus C fractions in this order NTS > MTS > CTS > CT in 0–20 cm depth. The FTIR and fluorescence results demonstrated that corn straw returning enhanced aliphatic, hydroxyl, methoxyl and carboxyl groups and simplified HA molecular structure, indicating regenerated and newly formed HA. Among all treatments, NTS was more conducive in simplifying HA molecular structure and enhancing aliphatic and hydrophobic C. Hydrophobicity in aliphatic C is the driving force in the stabilisation of soil C, which is important for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, we conclude that NTS is the better practice to turn arable lands into a sink for C.
Additional keywords: corn straw retention, fluorescence EEM, FTIR spectra, humic acid structure.
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