Legume Biological Nitrogen Fixation Improves but Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizer Suppresses Soil Nematode Communities in a Camellia Oleifera Plantation
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Academic Unit
College of Arts and Sciences
Publication Date
3-2023
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Legume intercropping by biological nitrogen (N) fixation is supposed as a more sustainable way than chemical N addition to enhance soil N availability in agronomy, however, the effects of the two types of N input on soil food web are scarcely determined. To fill the knowledge gap, we conducted a field experiment with randomized block design in an oil-tea (Camellia oleifera) plantation, which included five N manipulation treatment: legume intercropping (Arachis hypogaea and Cassia tora), chemical N fertilizer application (84 and 168 kg N ha-1 yr-1), and the control (no N addition). The soil nematode communities and physicochemical properties were monitored in the seedling, heading, and mature stages of the legumes respectively. The results showed that the legume intercropping significantly increased the abundances of bacterivores and omnivore-predators compared with the N fertilizations. Weighted nematode fauna analysis showed that N fertilization treatments were mainly located in the degraded plot (quadrat IV), and legume treatments were located in the structure plot (quadrat III). Structural equation model revealed that the legume intercropping positively correlated with the abundance of bacterivores and omnivore-predators while N fertilization rate negatively correlated with the abundance of bacterivores and fungivores. Our results suggest that the legume biological N fixation was more conducive to providing N sources to soil organisms than the chemical N fertilizer, which resulted in an enhanced and a degraded soil food web respectively. Thus, legume intercropping is a more sustainable N management practice for the cultivation of C. oleifera plantations.
Journal Title
Land Degradation & Development
Volume
34
Issue
5
ISSN
ISSN (Print): 1085-3278 ISSN (Electronic): 1099-145X
Beginning Page Number
1403
Last Page Number
1414
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4542
Recommended Citation
Wang, Jia-chen; Wang, Hai-lun; Lin, Qin-qin; Wu, Yuan-qun; He, Xin-xin; Chen, Xiaoyong; Yan, Wende; and Zhao, Jie, "Legume Biological Nitrogen Fixation Improves but Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizer Suppresses Soil Nematode Communities in a Camellia Oleifera Plantation" (2023). Faculty Authors and Creators Reception. 134.
https://opus.govst.edu/fac/134