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Separate effects of the biochemical quality and N content of crop residues on C and N dynamics in soil

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Abstract

This study assessed the respective roles of biochemical quality and N content of plant residues on C and N dynamics in a soil. Both 15N- and 13C-labeled oilseed rape residues (roots, seedpod walls) combining different biochemical characteristics and similar N content or the same biochemical characteristics and different N contents were used as amendments. These treatments were combined with two levels of soil inorganic N to ensure that decomposition was not limited by N availability. The soil was incubated under laboratory conditions for 134 days. Soil amended with residues of similar biochemical quality (i.e. the two pod walls) displayed similar C mineralization dynamics when the initial N availability (residue+soil N) ranged from 1.7 to 3.2% of residue dry matter. The roots showed poorer decomposition than the pod walls, lower cumulative C mineralization and greater accumulation of root-derived C in the >50 μm coarse fraction of the soil organic matter. The N content of the residues influenced mineral N accumulation in the soil with a lower net immobilization of residues with low C-to-N ratios. Adding an exogenous source of inorganic N had no effect on C dynamics but modified the remineralization kinetics of the previously immobilized N, suggesting changes in the microbial community involved.

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Acknowledgement

We are grateful for the technical assistance from G. Alavoine, S. Millon, M.J. Herre, F. Barrois and O. Delfosse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRD, UR083, Laboratoire d’Ecologie Microbienne des Sols Tropicaux-IBIS, Centre ISRA–IRD Bel Air, Dakar, Senegal

    S. Sall & J. L. Chotte

  2. UR1158 Agronomie Laon-Reims-Mons, INRA, 2 Esplanade Roland Garros, F-51686, Reims, France

    I. Bertrand & S. Recous

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  1. S. Sall
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  2. I. Bertrand
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  3. J. L. Chotte
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  4. S. Recous
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Correspondence to S. Recous.

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Sall, S., Bertrand, I., Chotte, J.L. et al. Separate effects of the biochemical quality and N content of crop residues on C and N dynamics in soil. Biol Fertil Soils 43, 797–804 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-007-0169-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-007-0169-y

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