Soil carbon and nitrogen, crop yield, and nitrogen-use efficiency in response to crop rotation sequence
摘要
The effect of long-term no-till dryland crop rotations in sequestering C and N in the soil to enhance soil health and environmental quality and crop yields in arid and semiarid regions needs further exploration. We studied the effect of no-till dryland crop rotations and sequence of crops in the rotation on crop residue C and N inputs and soil total C (STC), soil total N (STN), and NH4-N and NO3-N contents at the 0–120 cm depth as well as crop yields and N-use efficiency (NUE) from 2012 to 2022 in the US northern Great Plains. Crop rotations and sequences included durum (Triticum turgidum L., D) with camelina (Camelina ceantz L., C), pea (Pisum sativum L., P), napus (Brassica napus L., N), and safflower (Carthamaus tinctorius L., S) as well as continuous durum. Residue C was 10–34% greater for DN, DNP, DPS, and DSP; residue N was 19–50% greater for DNP; and residue C/N ratio was 11–20% greater for D than other crop rotations. The STC at 0–15 cm was 10–20% greater for D, DN, and DSP, and at 90–120 and 0–120 cm was 8–19% greater for DS than other crop rotations. The STN at 0–15 cm was 16–19% greater for D and DN than other crop rotations. Soil NH4-N content at 60–120 cm and NO3-N content at 30–60 and 0–120 cm varied with crop rotations and year. Sequence of crops in the rotation did not affect soil C and N. Residue C/N ratio correlated with STC and STN. Crop yield was 5–36% greater for DN, DNP, DPS, and DSP and NUE was 7–103% greater for DP than other crop rotations. Increased residue C and N inputs and higher C/N ratio increased STC and STN at the surface soil and crop yield for D, DN, and DSP, but continuous N fertilization and inefficient N uptake by camelina and napus increased NO3-N content at surface and subsurface soils for DPN and DC, reducing NUE.