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Influence of Moisture on Rice Straw Decomposition in Soils
Author(s) -
Pal D.,
Broadbent F. E.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1975.03615995003900010018x
Subject(s) - straw , incubation , moisture , soil water , chemistry , decomposition , water content , nitrogen , agronomy , zoology , soil science , environmental science , biology , inorganic chemistry , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted for 4 months at 22 ± 0.5C with two fine‐textured soils amended with doubly tagged ( 13 C and 15 N) rice straw ( Oryza sativa L.) under different moisture regimes. The moisture levels were 30, 60, and 150% of water‐holding capacity, (WHC). The extent of straw decomposition was found to be a power function of time. Differential equations were derived to give rate functions for each moisture level. Native soil organic carbon loss was depressed by added energy materials when either moisture or oxygen supply limited decomposition. At 30% WHC, priming ratios were < 1.0 initially, and increased with time of incubation but did not reach unity within 4 months incubation. At 60% WHC, the ratios were > 1.0 and decreased with time of incubation but remained above 1.0 throughout incubation. At 150% WHC, priming ratios were < 1.0 and did not vary much during the entire decomposition period. The net release of straw‐N at 60% WHC was higher than at 30% WHC. At 150% WHC, straw‐N released during decomposition was lost from the system, presumably by denitrification. Soil inorganic nitrogen changes followed trends similar to net release of straw‐N. The influence of moisture variables on soil organic nitrogen transformations was more pronounced than the influence of decomposing straw.