Effects of plastic mulch and nitrogen fertilizer on the soil microbial community, enzymatic activity and yield performance in a dryland maize cropping system.

Autor:	Wang, Xiukang, Wang, Ge, Guo, Tao, Xing, Yingying, Mo, Fei, Wang, Haidong, Fan, Junliang, Zhang, Fucang
Předmět:	PLASTIC mulching NITROGEN fertilizers CROPPING systems MICROBIAL communities NITROGEN in soils EXTRACELLULAR enzymes GRAIN
Zdroj:	European Journal of Soil Science; Jan2021, Vol. 72 Issue 1, p400-412, 13p
Abstrakt:	Farming practices that integrate plastic film mulching and nitrogen (N) fertilization have been extensively used to enhance crop productivity. However, the interactive effects of mulching and N application on soil microbial properties and crop yields have received little attention. A 2‐year field experiment was carried out in the Loess Plateau to investigate the independent and combined effects of plastic mulch and N application rate on the soil microbial population, enzymatic activity and grain yield. From 2016 to 2017, two mulching patterns (i.e., plastic mulching and no mulching) were exposed to five different N application rates (0 (N0), 80 (N80), 160 (N160), 200 (N200) and 240 (N240) kg N ha−1). N application significantly affected the soil microbial community composition, as suggested by significant increases in soil total bacteria, cellulose‐decomposing bacteria and the bacterial‐to‐fungal ratio with N rates. In contrast, the mulching pattern significantly affected soil extracellular enzyme production. Furthermore, there were significant effects of mulching, N application and their interaction on grain yield. The highest grain yield (11,728 kg N ha−1 in 2016 and 12,350 kg N ha−1 in 2017) in both growing seasons was consistently obtained under plastic mulching with a N level of 200 kg N ha−1. Our study showed that plastic mulching significantly affected extracellular enzyme production, and N fertilizer application significantly affected the composition of the soil microbial community. Highlights: Independent and coupled effects of mulching and N application on soil biological properties and grain performance were explored.N application significantly influenced soil microbial community composition.Mulching pattern rather than N application independently and significantly affected soil extracellular enzyme productionThe combined application of plastic mulching with 200 kg N ha−1 should be seem as an optimum crop production pattern in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze:	Complementary Index
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