JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2017, Vol. 60 ›› Issue (01): 89-95.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.2017.01.014

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Effects of mulching on soil property and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen

NI Xue1,2, ZHANG Huanchao3,YANG Xiulian1,WANG Lianggui1*   

  1. 1.College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
    2. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243000, China;
    3.College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
  • Online:2017-02-18 Published:2017-02-18

Abstract: 【Objective】 This research was aimed at comparing the effects of mulching on soil properties at 0-5 cm and ≥5-10 cm depths to provide better treatments on Osmanthus fragrans L. ‘Rixianggui’ planting. 【Method】The experiment was conducted for over a period of 12 months. Three replicates of five treatments, inorganic(round gravel(G), clay pellets(C)), organic(wood chips(W)), living(Zoysia matrella L. ‘Manila’ turf, a type of the cold-season sod(T))mulching and unmulched control(CK)treatment, were arranged in a randomized block design. The characters of soil were analyzed, including pH, total nitrogen,available nitrogen,total phosphorus,available phosphorus,MBC,MBN.【Result】Mulching did not affect soil bulk density, or total nitrogen content, but consistently improved soil organic matter. At 0-5 cm depth, T and W treatments decreased pH, while G and C treatments increased it. T and W treatments were effective for enhancing available nitrogen, soil urease activity, soil phosphatase activity and microbial biomass compared to G and C treatments, and W treatments is more effective in increasing soil microbial biomass compared to T. At ≥5-10 cm depth, mulching increased pH. G and C treatments did not promote soil properties. Furthermore, T and W treatments were still advantageous for improving soil urease activity, soil phosphatase activity and microbial biomass, but not significantly. 【Conclusion】Thus, our findings suggest that T and W treatments, improved the soil environment at 0-5 cm and ≥5-10 cm depths. Considering the effect of mulching on soil available nitrogen and microbial biomass,wood chips appear to be a better choice than others in ‘Rixianggui’ nurseries.

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