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Effects of freeze–thaw on aggregate stability and the organic carbon and nitrogen enrichment ratios in aggregate fractions
Author(s) -
Chai Y. J.,
Zeng X. B.,
E S. Z.,
Bai L. Y.,
Su S. M.,
Huang T.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/sum.12153
Subject(s) - nitrogen , fraction (chemistry) , fertilizer , straw , chemistry , zoology , amendment , aggregate (composite) , total organic carbon , carbon fibers , soil carbon , environmental chemistry , soil water , environmental science , chromatography , soil science , materials science , biology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , composite number , political science , law , composite material
Soil samples from the Hexi Corridor located in the arid regions of Northwestern China were collected from a site that had received fertilizer applications for 23 years. Effects of freeze–thaw on aggregate stability and the organic carbon ( OC ) and nitrogen (N) enrichment ratios in water stable aggregate ( WSA ) fractions were investigated. In treatments combining the application of N fertilizer with green manure ( GN ) or straw ( SN ), the percentage of >0.25 mm WSA fraction was not significantly different from the control soil that received no fertilizer or organic amendment. After a freeze–thaw cycle, the percentages of the >0.25 mm WSA fraction in the GN and SN treatments showed no change, but the size of this fraction in the other treatments decreased. In addition, the organic carbon ( OC ) and N enrichment ratios in the >0.25 mm WSA fraction in GN and SN treatments increased after a freeze–thaw cycle. However, in this size fraction, the OC and N enrichment ratios decreased in other treatments. Both the changes of the percentages of the >0.25 mm WSA fraction and the OC and N enrichment ratios in this fraction under freeze–thaw in the GN and SN treatments exhibited the most significant increases compared with other treatments ( P < 0.05). The results indicated that the GN and SN treatments could prevent the damaging effects of freeze–thaw on aggregate stability and protect soil from erosion.