Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (9): 1446-1456.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.09.08

• Land and Water Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of conservation tillage on soil nitrogen mineralization in dry wheat fields on the Loess Plateau

PANG Ye(),YUAN Jianyu,YAN Lijuan,DU Mengyin,LI Guang()   

  1. College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
  • Received:2023-04-18 Revised:2023-07-14 Online:2023-09-15 Published:2023-09-28
  • Contact: Guang LI E-mail:3058355336@qq.com;lig@gsau.edu.cn

Abstract:

Soil nitrogen mineralization is an important process in the nitrogen cycle of terrestrial ecosystems and is vital for maintaining soil nitrogen supply capacity and crop growth. The semiarid region of the Loess Plateau in central Gansu is an important grain production area in Northwest China, and realizing efficient nitrogen utilization in local dry farmland is a key research focus. However, little is known about the effects of different tillage measures on soil nitrogen mineralization in dry wheat fields in this region. Therefore, this study focuses on the dryland wheat fields in the Loess Plateau and uses the resin core in situ culture method to monitor the effects of different tillage measures [traditional tillage (T), no-tillage (NT), traditional tillage + straw mulching (TS), and no-tillage+straw mulching (NTS)] on soil nitrogen mineralization during the spring wheat growth period (March-August) in 2021. This study analyzes the effects of these tillage measures on soil nitrogen content and hydrothermal conditions to understand their impact on the soil nitrogen mineralization process. The results indicate the following: (1) Soil nitrogen under T, NT, TS, and NTS treatments showed a net nitrogen fixation state during the early stage of spring wheat growth (presowing-flowering stage) and a net nitrogen mineralization state during the middle and late stages (flowering-maturity stage). There were significant differences in the soil net nitrogen mineralization rate under different tillage measures (NTS>TS>NT>T). (2) Compared with the T treatment, three conservation tillage methods increased soil total nitrogen, NH4+-N content, and moisture during the growth period of spring wheat while reducing soil NO3--N content and temperature accumulation. (3) The correlation analysis showed that soil nitrogen content and soil water and heat were the key factors affecting the soil net nitrogen mineralization rate. However, the influencing factors regulating soil nitrogen mineralization at different incubation stages varied. In conclusion, NTS treatment promotes soil nitrogen mineralization, improves soil nitrogen supply and water retention capacity, and is crucial for maintaining and restoring farmland productivity in the semiarid region of the Loess Plateau.

Key words: spring wheat field, conservation tillage, soil nitrogen mineralization, soil nitrogen components, soil water heat