The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process

Global warming alters freeze–thaw process frequency and intensity, impacting soil carbon cycles. Four soils from a 12-year straw return experiment were used: S0 (no straw), S1 (low rate of addition), S2 (medium rate), and S3 (high rate). Ten treatments with or without temporary straw addition at dif...

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Main Authors: Mengmeng Zhu, Qiang Ma, Shuailin Li, Zhuqing Xia, Changrui Zhou, Yun Gao, Xinhui Zhang, Siyu An, Xiao Jiang, Wantai Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/2/479
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author Mengmeng Zhu
Qiang Ma
Shuailin Li
Zhuqing Xia
Changrui Zhou
Yun Gao
Xinhui Zhang
Siyu An
Xiao Jiang
Wantai Yu
author_facet Mengmeng Zhu
Qiang Ma
Shuailin Li
Zhuqing Xia
Changrui Zhou
Yun Gao
Xinhui Zhang
Siyu An
Xiao Jiang
Wantai Yu
author_sort Mengmeng Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Global warming alters freeze–thaw process frequency and intensity, impacting soil carbon cycles. Four soils from a 12-year straw return experiment were used: S0 (no straw), S1 (low rate of addition), S2 (medium rate), and S3 (high rate). Ten treatments with or without temporary straw addition at different rates were conducted to explore their effects on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) under laboratory and field freeze–thaw conditions. Compared to constant temperature, the freeze–thaw process under laboratory conditions reduced MBC (5.79%~29.9%), whereas this trend was mitigated or reversed under field conditions. The alleviating effect of straw addition on the decrease in MBC was greater in S0 than in S1, S2, and S3 by an average of 31.7%. Medium rate straw application (S2 8 t/ha) provided appropriate labile C levels, enhancing microbial activity while keeping DOC low and reducing C loss risk. The results revealed discrepancies in freeze–thaw effects on soil labile OC between laboratory and field conditions, the mitigation of freeze–thaw impacts on MBC by straw addition, and the appropriate straw return rate in Liaohe Plain. Therefore, proper nutrient management can maintain and regulate microbial activity and soil labile C in areas with freeze–thaw cycles.
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spelling doaj-art-ee6f9c45251e438a82a8dd82a2bf5db52025-08-20T02:44:55ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-02-0115247910.3390/agronomy15020479The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing ProcessMengmeng Zhu0Qiang Ma1Shuailin Li2Zhuqing Xia3Changrui Zhou4Yun Gao5Xinhui Zhang6Siyu An7Xiao Jiang8Wantai Yu9Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaSchool of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaGlobal warming alters freeze–thaw process frequency and intensity, impacting soil carbon cycles. Four soils from a 12-year straw return experiment were used: S0 (no straw), S1 (low rate of addition), S2 (medium rate), and S3 (high rate). Ten treatments with or without temporary straw addition at different rates were conducted to explore their effects on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) under laboratory and field freeze–thaw conditions. Compared to constant temperature, the freeze–thaw process under laboratory conditions reduced MBC (5.79%~29.9%), whereas this trend was mitigated or reversed under field conditions. The alleviating effect of straw addition on the decrease in MBC was greater in S0 than in S1, S2, and S3 by an average of 31.7%. Medium rate straw application (S2 8 t/ha) provided appropriate labile C levels, enhancing microbial activity while keeping DOC low and reducing C loss risk. The results revealed discrepancies in freeze–thaw effects on soil labile OC between laboratory and field conditions, the mitigation of freeze–thaw impacts on MBC by straw addition, and the appropriate straw return rate in Liaohe Plain. Therefore, proper nutrient management can maintain and regulate microbial activity and soil labile C in areas with freeze–thaw cycles.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/2/479agricultural ecosystemsfreeze–thaw processstraw returnsoil labile carbon
spellingShingle Mengmeng Zhu
Qiang Ma
Shuailin Li
Zhuqing Xia
Changrui Zhou
Yun Gao
Xinhui Zhang
Siyu An
Xiao Jiang
Wantai Yu
The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process
Agronomy
agricultural ecosystems
freeze–thaw process
straw return
soil labile carbon
title The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process
title_full The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process
title_fullStr The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process
title_full_unstemmed The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process
title_short The Addition of Straw Affects the Response of Labile Soil Organic Carbon to the Freezing and Thawing Process
title_sort addition of straw affects the response of labile soil organic carbon to the freezing and thawing process
topic agricultural ecosystems
freeze–thaw process
straw return
soil labile carbon
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/2/479
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