Low temperature or low water potential effects on the microbial decomposition of wheat residue

https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(86)90078-7Get rights and content

Abstract

To predict the amount of crop residue remaining on a field at a given time, the rates of residue decomposition under conditions of low temperature or low water potentials need to be known. Laboratory experiments were made in which temperature and moisture were controlled. The amount of CO2 evolved from soils treated with wheat residue was used as a measure of decomposition. After 30 days at 20°C and −33 kPa, 38% of the surface-applied wheat residue was lost as CO2-C. Decomposition decreased as the temperature decreased, the 30 day CO2-C losses were 32.7, 28.6, 21.7 and 17.2% at 15, 10. 5 and 0°C, respectively. When water potential at 20°C was varied, decomposition decreased as the water potential decreased with 35.4, 25.1, 22.1, 17.0 and 10.1% of the residue decomposing at −150 kPa and −1.0, −1.5, −2.5 and −5.0 MPa, respectively. The results obtained with residue incorporated into soil were similar to those with surface-applied residue. Equations for the relationship between the amount of residue decomposition after 30 days and temperature or water potential are presented.

References (35)

  • V.O. Biederbeck et al.

    Influence of simulated fall and spring conditions on the soil system. I. Effect on soil microflora

  • P.L. Brown et al.

    Losses of wheat straw residue under simulated field conditions

  • R.E. Buchanan et al.
  • G.S. Campbell et al.

    Sample changer for thermocouple psychrometers: Construction and some applications

    Agronomy Journal

    (1966)
  • V.L. Cochran et al.

    The production of phytotoxins from surface crop residues

    Soil Science Society of America Journal

    (1977)
  • R.G. Druce et al.

    An ecological study of psychrotrophic bacteria of soil, water, grass, and hay

    Journal of Applied Bacteriology

    (1970)
  • M.H.A. El-Shakweer et al.

    Effects of salts on decomposition of plant residues

  • Cited by (114)

    • Cover crop residue decomposition in no-till cropping systems: Insights from multi-state on-farm litter bag studies

      2022, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
      Citation Excerpt :

      Intrinsic, or environmental, factors include soil and weather. Environmental conditions have a strong influence on residue decomposition, with rates accelerating proportionately with increasing moisture and temperature (Quemada and Cabrera, 1997; Stott et al., 1986; Thapa et al., 2021a). The moisture and temperature of surface CC residue layers in no-till systems are greatly under the influence of weather variables such as the amount and distribution of rainfall, relative humidity of the air (RH), solar radiation, and air temperature (Manstretta and Rossi, 2015; Thapa et al., 2021b).

    • Improved straw management practices promote in situ straw decomposition and nutrient release, and increase crop production

      2020, Journal of Cleaner Production
      Citation Excerpt :

      Relatively higher decomposition rate of wheat straw in the maize growing season, and lower decomposition rate of maize straw in the winter-wheat growing season likely resulted from the different meteorological conditions (Mo et al., 2007), soil temperatures and soil water contents in the two growing seasons (Yadvinder-Singh et al., 2004; Zhou et al., 2008). Generally, decomposition rates decrease as water availability and temperature decrease (Stott et al., 1986). The summer maize-growing season on the NCP is characterized by higher air temperatures (Average 25 °C) and frequent precipitation (Total 326.9 and 356.2 mm in 2013 and 2014, respectively) than in the winter-wheat-growing season (Average temperature 8 °C and 182 and 145 mm of precipitation in 2013 and 2014, respectively).

    • Nutrient availability, soil respiration and microbial biomass after the second residue addition are influenced by the C/N ratio of the first residue added, but not by drying and rewetting between residue amendments

      2016, European Journal of Soil Biology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Sørensen [9] reported that the longer organic material was incubated in soil, the lower its mineralisation during DRW cycles. Nutrient release from plant residues is a complex process influenced by internal factors such as residue C composition, nutrient ratios (e.g. C/N), and external factors, e.g. temperature and soil water content [10]. It is well-known that decomposition and N mineralisation rate are negatively correlated with the residue C/N ratio [11].

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Present address: USDA-ARS, National Soil Erosion Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, U.S.A.

    View full text