Some Observations on the Decomposition of Organic Matter in Soils1

Starkey, Robert L.

doi:10.1097/00010694-192404000-00002

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Th e assertion has often been made that synthetic N fertilization maintains or increases soil organic C (SOC) by enhancing the production of crop residues (e.g., Melsted, 1954;Odell et al, 1984;Mitchell et al, 1991;Havlin et al, 2005). Yet the opposite eff ect was reported long before the modern era of chemical-based N management (White, 1927;Albrecht, 1938), which is fully consistent with evidence that mineral N enhances microbial decomposition of plant residues (e.g., Starkey, 1924;Waksman and Tenney, 1928;Tóth, 1977;Reinertsen et al, 1984;Schnürer et al, 1985;Green et al, 1995;Recous et al, 1995;Neff et al, 2002;Mack et al, 2004;Conde et al, 2005;Pikul et al, 2008;Poirier et al, 2009). Such evidence is likewise consistent with the decline of SOC we previously reported in a paper by Khan et al (2007) that documented this trend for numerous baseline data sets involving nitrogen-phosphoruspotassium (NPK) fertilization and a wide variety of geographic regions, cropping systems, and tillage practices.…”

supporting

confidence: 77%

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers Deplete Soil Nitrogen: A Global Dilemma for Sustainable Cereal Production

2009

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supporting

confidence: 77%

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers Deplete Soil Nitrogen: A Global Dilemma for Sustainable Cereal Production

2009

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“…There iss development into microbial 6. Most of t a soil in which to decompose such as the i composing cell e as soon as the organisms die and are in their ed, as shown by Starkey (1924). Studies on the ellulose decomposition under aerobic and anaeroand on the bacteria concerned in this process pic conditions will be published in detail later.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microörganisms Concerned in the Decomposition of Celluloses in the Soil

Waksman¹,

Skinner²

1926

J Bacteriol

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The decomposition of celluloses is carried on in the soil, and in nature in general, by a large number of different organisms. These belong morphologically to the bacteria, the fungi, and the actinomycetes. The organisms decomposing cellulose, especially the bacteria, vary not only in their morphological, but also in their physiological characteristics. The ability to decompose cellulose seems to be widespread among the fungi and actinomycetes, although some fungi are unable to decompose cellulose at all, while others can readily utilize celluloses as the only source of energy. The growth of actinomycetes, even in the case of those forms which are capable of breaking down celluloses in the absence of other sources of energy, is so limited and the transformation of the cellulose is so small that one might venture the suggestion that they play a rather limited r6le in this process. The bacteria capable of decomposing cellulose fall, however, into a few phy~iologically distinct groups. Physiologically they have been classified as (a) aerobic, (b) anaerobic, (c) thermophilic and (d) denitrifying forms. Morphologically they are (a) sporeforming rods, (b) non-spore forming rods, (c) spirochaetes and vibrios. A few, like the Spirochaeta cytophaga Hutchinson and Clayton, can grow only on cellulose media, while others, like the organisms isolated by Kellerman, McBeth and their associates, seem 1o be able to grow also on other media free from IPaper No. 250 of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations, Departme nt of Soil Chemistry and Bacteriology.

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“…Th is disparity would be expected if fertilizer N enhances the activities of heterotrophic soil microorganisms in using C derived from crop residues or SOM. Such an eff ect was recognized long before the modern era of synthetic N fertilizers (e.g., Starkey, 1924;White, 1927;Waksman and Tenney, 1928) and has been verifi ed more recently in several laboratory and fi eld investigations (Gusser, 1970;Tóth, 1977;Reinertsen et al, 1984;Janzen and Kucey, 1988;Green et al, 1995;Vigil and Sparks, 1995;Soon and Arshad, 2002;Fierer et al, 2003;Conde et al, 2005).…”

Section: Evidence From the Morrow Plotsmentioning

confidence: 95%

The Myth of Nitrogen Fertilization for Soil Carbon Sequestration

et al. 2007

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Intensive use of N fertilizer, in modern agricultue is motivated by the economic value of high grain yields and is generally perceived to sequester soil organic C by increasing the input of crop residues. This perception is at odds with a century of soil organic C data reported herein for the Morrow Plots, the world's oldest experimental site under continuous corn (Zea mays L.).After 40 to 50 yr of synthetic fertilization that exceeded grain N removal by 60 to 190%, a net decline occurred in soil C despite increasingly massive residue C incorporation, the decline being more extensive for a corn-soybean (Glycine mwv L. Merr.) or corn-oats (Avena sativa L)-hay rotation than for continuous corn and of greater intensity for the profile (0-46 cm) than the surface soil. TIhese findings implicate fertilizer N in promoting the decomposition of crop residues and soil organic matter and are consistent with data from numerous cropping experiments involving synthetic N fertilization in the USA Corn Belt and elsewhere, although not with the interpretation usually provided. There are imporrant implications for soil C sequestration because the yield-based input of fertilizer N has commonly exceeded grain N removal for corn production on fertile soils since the 1960s. To mitigate the ongoing consequences of soil deterioration, atmospheric CO 2 enrichment, and NO,-pollution of ground and surface waters,,N fertilization should be managed by site-specific assessment of soilN availability. Current fertilizer N managemrent practices, if combined with corn stover removal for bioenergy production, exacerbate soil C loss.

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Some Observations on the Decomposition of Organic Matter in Soils1

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers Deplete Soil Nitrogen: A Global Dilemma for Sustainable Cereal Production

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers Deplete Soil Nitrogen: A Global Dilemma for Sustainable Cereal Production

Microörganisms Concerned in the Decomposition of Celluloses in the Soil

The Myth of Nitrogen Fertilization for Soil Carbon Sequestration

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