Work

Effects of deep tillage combined with organic amendments application on carbon and nitrogen storage within aggregates and wheat yield

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks are key determinants of the productive capacity of agricultural soils. This study aims to elucidate the effects of long-term tillage practices combined with organic amendments on SOC and TN sequestration within soil aggregates and their subsequent relationship with wheat yield. Methods: A six-year field experiment (initiated in 2016) was conducted, evaluating the following treatments: rotary tillage with straw, rotary tillage with manure, rotary tillage with straw plus manure, deep tillage with straw, deep tillage with manure and deep tillage with straw plus manure. Results: Relative single organic amendments, both rotary and deep tillage with straw plus manure significantly enhanced macro-aggregate-associated SOC and TN stocks in the 0-15 cm layer by 7.86-23.29% and 16.36-18.99%, respectively. In the 15-30 cm layer, deep tillage with single organic amendments increased macro-aggregate-associated SOC and TN contents by 7.56-18.81% and 5.29-21.47%, respectively compared with rotary tillage. However, deep tillage also reduced macro-aggregate proportions by 5.36-8.16%, which decreased associated SOC and TN stocks by 6.12-7.87% and 6.99-8.53%, respectively. In contrast, deep tillage with straw plus manure increased macro-aggregate-associated SOC and TN contents (18.42-19.39% and 10.17-12.76%, respectively) without reducing macro-aggregate proportions, thereby enhancing SOC and TN stocks in macro-aggregates by 10.49-26.89% and 9.07-26.32%, respectively. Discussion: These findings indicate that the enrichment of subsoil macro-aggregate-associated SOC and TN strongly correlated with higher wheat yield, demonstrating that deep tillage with straw and manure is an effective practice for improving soil health and sustaining productivity.

Source: Frontiers in Plant Science

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1669580