Quantitative and qualitative changes of organic matter in an Ando soil induced by mineral fertilizer and cattle manure applications for 20 years

The effects of continuous application of cattle manure on the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (OM) were investigated in an Ando soil (Melanudand). Surface soil samples were periodically taken from NPK and NPK + manure (80, 160, and 320 Mg ha(-1) y(-1)) plots over a period of 20 y. Particulate (> 53 mum) and mineral-associated (< 53 mum) OM fractions were separated from the soil samples by sieving after mechanical dispersion. For the NPK treatment, both the organic C and total N concentrations Of the whole soil continued to decrease, the reduction reaching about 10% after 20 y. Manure application at the rate of 80 Mg ha(-1) y(-1) did not lead to an increase in the amounts of organic C and total N in the whole soil. In contrast, both the organic C and total N concentrations increased by the application of 160 and 320 Mg ha(-1) y(-1) manure. Manure application at the rate of 320 Rig ha(-1) y(-1) increased the organic C concentration by 30% and total N concentration by 48% after 20 y. The decrease in the organic C and total N concentrations in soil with NPK fertilization was attributed to a decrease in the amount of mineral-associated OM. Manure application increased significantly the amount of particulate OM, while it did not affect the amount of mineral-associated OM. It also resulted in a decrease in the C/N ratio of soil (OM, especially of the particulate OM. The analysis of humic acids showed that manure application induced a decrease in the degree of humification and an accumulation of high molecular weight components. The quantitative and qualitative changes of OM in the Ando soil upon manure application were mainly due to the accumulation of manure-derived articulate OM.