Abstract
In order to identify the viable option of tillage practices in rice–maize–cowpea cropping system that could cut down soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, sustain grain yield, and maintain better soil quality in tropical low land rice ecology soil respiration in terms of CO2 emission, labile carbon (C) pools, water-stable aggregate C fractions, and enzymatic activities were investigated in a sandy clay loam soil. Soil respiration is the major pathway of gaseous C efflux from terrestrial systems and acts as an important index of ecosystem functioning. The CO2–C emissions were quantified in between plants and rows throughout the year in rice–maize–cowpea cropping sequence both under conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) practices along with soil moisture and temperature. The CO2–C emissions, as a whole, were 24 % higher in between plants than in rows, and were in the range of 23.4–78.1, 37.1–128.1, and 28.6–101.2 mg m−2 h−1 under CT and 10.7–60.3, 17.3–99.1, and 17.2–79.1 mg m−2 h−1 under MT in rice, maize, and cowpea, respectively. The CO2–C emission was found highest under maize (44 %) followed by rice (33 %) and cowpea (23 %) irrespective of CT and MT practices. In CT system, the CO2–C emission increased significantly by 37.1 % with respect to MT on cumulative annual basis including fallow. The CO2–C emission per unit yield was at par in rice and cowpea signifying the beneficial effect of MT in maintaining soil quality and reduction of CO2 emission. The microbial biomass C (MBC), readily mineralizable C (RMC), water-soluble C (WSC), and permanganate-oxidizable C (PMOC) were 19.4, 20.4, 39.5, and 15.1 % higher under MT than CT. The C contents in soil aggregate fraction were significantly higher in MT than CT. Soil enzymatic activities like, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate, and β-glucosidase were significantly higher by 13.8, 15.4, and 27.4 % under MT compared to CT. The soil labile C pools, enzymatic activities, and heterotrophic microbial populations were in the order of maize > cowpea > rice, irrespective of the tillage treatments. Environmental sustainability point of view, minimum tillage practices in rice–maize–cowpea cropping system in tropical low land soil could be adopted to minimize CO2–C emission, sustain yield, and maintain soil health.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adam, G., & Duncan, H. (2001). Development of a sensitive and rapid method for the measurement of total microbial activity using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) in a range of soils. Soil Biol Biochem, 33, 943–951.
Al-Kaisi, M. M., & Yin, X. (2005). Tillage and crop residue effects on soil carbon and carbon dioxide emission in corn-soybean rotation. J Environ Qual, 34, 437–445.
Amos, B., Arkebauer, T. J., & Doran, J. W. (2005). Soil surface fluxes of greenhouse gases in an irrigated maize-based agroecosystem. Soil Sci Soc Am J, 69, 387–395.
Bajracharya, R. M., Lal, R., & Kimble, J. M. (2000). Diurnal and seasonal CO2–C flux from soil as related to erosion phases in central Ohio. Soil Sci Soc Am J, 64, 286–293.
Balabane, M., & Plante, A. F. (2004). Aggregation and carbon storage in silty soil using physical fractionation techniques. Eur J Soil Sci, 55, 415–427.
Barreto, R. C., Madari, B. E., Maddock, J. E. L., Machado, P. L. O. A., Torres, E., Franchini, J., & Costa, A. R. (2009). The impact of soil management on aggregation, carbon stabilization and carbon loss as CO2 in the surface layer of a Rhodic Ferralsol in Southern Brazil. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 132, 243–251.
Bhattacharyya, P., Nayak, A. K., Mohanty, S., Tripathi, R., Shahid, M., Kumar, A., Raja, R., Panda, B. B., Roy, K. S., Neogi, S., Dash, P. K., Shukla, A. K., & Rao, K. S. (2013a). Greenhouse gas emission in relation to labile soil C, N pools and functional microbial diversity as influenced by 39 years long-term fertilizer management in tropical rice. Soil Tillage Res, 129, 93–105.
Bhattacharyya, P., Neogi, S., Roy, K. S., Dash, P. K., Tripathi, R., & Rao, K. S. (2013b). Net ecosystem CO2 exchange and carbon cycling in tropical lowland flooded rice ecosystem. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst, 95, 133–144.
Bhattacharyya, P., Roy, K. S., Neogi, S., Adhya, T. K., Rao, K. S., & Manna, M. C. (2012a). Effects of rice straw and nitrogen fertilization on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage in tropical flooded soil planted with rice. Soil Tillage Res, 124, 119–130.
Bhattacharyya, P., Roy, K. S., Neogi, S., Chakravorti, S. P., Behera, K. S., Das, K. M., Bardhan, S., & Rao, K. S. (2012b). Effect of long term application of organic amendment on C storage in relation to global warming potential and biological activities in tropical flooded soil planted to rice. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst, 94, 273–285.
Blair, G. J., Lefroy, R. D. B., & Lisle, L. (1995). Soil carbon fractions based on their degree of oxidation, and the development of a carbon management index for agricultural systems. Aust J Agric Res, 46, 1459–1466.
Borie, F., Rubio, R., Rouanet, J. L., Morales, A., Borie, G., & Rojas, C. (2006). Effects of tillage systems on soil characteristics, glomalin and mycorrhizal propagules in a Chilean Ultisol. Soil Tillage Res, 88, 253–261.
Bronick, C. J., & Lal, R. (2005). Soil structure and management: a review. Geoderma, 124, 3–22.
Camberdella, C. A., & Elliott, E. T. (1992). Particulate organic matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Sci Soc Am J, 56, 777–783.
Casida, L. E., Klein, D. A., & Santoro, T. (1964). Soil dehydrogenase activity. Soil Sci, 98, 371–376.
Curaqueo, G., Miguel, B. J., Acevedo, E., Rubio, R., Cornejo, P., & Borie, F. (2011). Effects of different tillage system on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal propagules and physical properties in a Mediterranean agroecosystem in central Chile. Soil Tillage Res, 113, 11–18.
Diaz, H. F., & Eischeid, J. K. (2007). Disappearing “alpine tundra” Köppen climatic type in the western United States. Geophysical Research Letter, 34, L18707. doi:10.1029/2007GL031253.
Drijber, R. A., Doran, J. W., Parkhurst, A. M., & Lyon, D. J. (2000). Changes in soil microbial community structure with tillage under long-term wheat-fallow management. Soil Biol Biochem, 32, 1419–1430.
Duiker, S. W., Rhoton, F. E., Torrent, J., Smeck, N. E., & Lal, R. (2003). Iron (hydr)oxide crystallinity effects on soil aggregation. Soil Sci Soc Am J, 67, 606–611.
Duxbury, JM (1995) The significance of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from soil of tropical agroecosystems. In: R. Lal (ed.). Soil management and greenhouse effect. Lewis: Boca Raton, FL. pp. 279–291
Eivazi, F., & Tabatabai, M. A. (1988). Glucosidases and galactosidases in soils. Soil Biol Biochem, 20, 601–606.
Fabrizzi, K. P., Rice, C. W., Amado, T. J. C., Fiorin, J., Barbagelata, P., & Melchiori, R. (2009). Protection of soil organic C and N in temperate and tropical soils: effect of native and agroecosystems. Biogeochemistry, 92, 129–143.
Franzluebbers, A. J. (2002). Soil organic matter stratification ratio as an indicator of soil quality. Soil Tillage Res, 66, 95–106.
Garcla-orenes, F., Guerrero, C., Roldan, A., Mataix-Solera, J., Cerda, A., Campoy, M., Zornoza, R., Barcenas, G., & Caravaca, F. (2010). Soil microbial biomass and activity under different agricultural management systems in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem. Soil Tillage Res, 109, 110–115.
Haynes, R. J., & Swift, R. S. (1990). Stability of soil aggregates in relation to organic constituents and soil water content. J Soil Sci, 41, 73–83.
Helgason, B. L., Walley, F. L., & Germida, J. J. (2010). No-till soil management increases microbial biomass and alters community profiles in soil aggregates. Appl Soil Ecol, 46, 390–397.
Hill, P. W., Marshall, C., Harmens, H., Jones, D. L., & Farrar, J. (2004). Carbon sequestration: do N inputs and elevated atmospheric CO2 alter soil solution chemistry and respiratory C losses? Water Air Soil Pollut, 4, 177–186.
Inubushi, K., Brookes, P. C., & Jenkinson, D. S. (1991). Soil microbial biomass C, N and ninhydrin-N in aerobic and anaerobic soils measured by fumigation-extraction method. Soil Biol Biochem, 23, 737–741.
IPCC. (2007). Climate Change 2007: the physical science basis, contribution of Working Group-I to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Iqbal, J., Hu, R., Lin, S., Hatano, R., Feng, M., Lu, L., Ahamadou, B., & Du, L. (2009). CO2 emission in a subtropical red paddy soil (Ultisol) as affected by straw and N fertilizer applications: a case study in Southern China. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 131, 292–302.
Jackson, L., Calderson, F. J., Scow, K. L., Steenwerth, K. M., & Rolston, D. E. (2003). Responses of soil microbial processes and community structure to tillage events and implications for soil quality. Geoderma, 114, 305–317.
La Scala, N., Bolonhezi, D., & Pereira, G. T. (2006). Short-term soil CO2 emission after conventional and reduced tillage of a no-till sugarcane area in southern Brazil. Soil Tillage Res, 96, 244–248.
Lal, R. (2004). Soil carbon sequestration impacts on global climate change and food security. Science, 304, 1623–1627.
Manna, M. C., Swarup, A., Wanjari, R. H., Ravankar, H. N., Mishra, B., & Saha, M. N. (2005). Long-term effect of fertilizer and manure application on soil organic carbon storage, soil quality and yield sustainability under sub-humid and semi-arid tropical India. Field Crop Res, 93, 264–280.
Parkin, T. B., & Kasper, T. C. (2003). Temperature controls on diurnal carbon dioxide flux: implication for estimating soil carbon loss. Soil Sci Soc Am J, 67, 1763–1772.
Paustian, K., Six, J., Elliott, E. T., & Hunt, H. W. (2000). Management options for reducing CO2 emissions from agricultural soils. Biogeochemistry, 48, 147–163.
Rand, M. C., Greenberg, A. E., Taras, M. J., & Franson, M. A. (1975). Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water. Washington: American Public Health Association.
Reicosky, D. C., Lindstrom, M. J., Schumacher, T. E., Lobb, D. E., & Malo, D. D. (2005). Tillage-induced CO2 loss across and eroded landscape. Soil Tillage Res, 81, 183–194.
Sainju, U. M., Whitehead, W. F., & Singh, B. P. (2005). Biculture legume-cereal cover crops for enhanced biomass yield and carbon and nitrogen. Agron J, 97, 1403–1412.
Six, J., Elliott, E. T., & Paustian, K. (2000). Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture. Soil Biol Biochem, 32, 2099–2103.
Six, J., Feller, C., Denef, K., Ogle, S. M., Sa, J. C. D., & Albrecht, A. (2002). Soil organic matter, biota and aggregation in temperate and tropical soils—effects of no-tillage. Agronomie, 22, 755–775.
Smith, K. A., Ball, T., Conen, F., Dobbie, K. E., Massheder, J., & Rey, A. (2003). Exchange of greenhouse gases between soil and atmosphere: interactions of soil physical factors and biological processes. Eur J Soil Sci, 54, 779–791.
Vance, E. D., Brookes, P. C., & Jenkinson, D. S. (1987). An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass carbon. Soil Biol Biochem, 19, 703–707.
Von Lutzow, M., Kogel-Knabner, I., Ekschmitt, K., Matzner, E., Guggenberger, G., Marschner, B., & Flessa, H. (2006). Stabilization of organic matter in temperate soils: mechanisms and their relevance under different soil conditions—a review. Eur J Soil Sci, 57, 426–445.
Witt, C., Gaunt, J. L., Galicia, C. C., Ottow, J. C. G., & Neue, H. U. (2000). A rapid chloroform fumigation–extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in flooded rice soils. Biol Fertil Soils, 30, 510–519.
Zhang, H., Wang, X., Feng, Z., Pang, J., Lu, F., Ouyang, Z., Zheng, H., Liu, W., & Hui, D. (2011). Soil temperature and moisture sensitivities of soil CO2 efflux before and after tillage in a wheat field of Loess Plateau, China. J Environ Sci, 23, 79–86.
Zhang, S., Li, Q., Zhang, X., Wei, K., Chen, L., & Liang, W. (2012). Effects of conservation tillage on soil aggregation and aggregate binding agents in black soil of Northeast China. Soil Tillage Res, 124, 196–202.
Acknowledgments
The work has been partially supported by the grant of ICAR-NAIP, Component-4 (2031), “Soil organic carbon dynamics vis-à-vis anticipatory climatic changes and crop adaptation strategies”, NICRA and CRRI. Part of the findings is the Ph.D. work of Mr. S. Neogi. The valuable guidance of Dr. D.C. Uprety, Dr. V.R. Rao, Dr. S.N. Singh, Dr. Sudhir Kochhar, and Dr. T.K. Adhya is acknowledged. Technical support was provided by the technical staff of the division of Crop Production CRRI.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Neogi, S., Bhattacharyya, P., Roy, K.S. et al. Soil respiration, labile carbon pools, and enzyme activities as affected by tillage practices in a tropical rice–maize–cowpea cropping system. Environ Monit Assess 186, 4223–4236 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3693-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3693-x