Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 33912 |
| Journal | Scientific reports |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Sept 2025 |
Abstract
Understanding soil organic carbon fractions in southern India is crucial for enhancing soil health, crop productivity, and sustainable land management. It is majorly affected by cropping systems, nitrogen levels, irrigation management, etc. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen doses [N1: No nitrogen, N2:100% of recommended dose of N (RDN), and N3: 200% RDN] and different cropping systems (fieldbean, finger millet, and maize) on aggregate-associated soil organic carbon and its fractions, as well as their impact on aggregate stability under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Aggregates were separated into different classes and analyzed for organic carbon and its fractions (dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, potassium permanganate oxidizable carbon, and non-labile organic carbon). Applying 200% RDN enhanced total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions. Conversely, aggregate stability was not influenced by N levels as determined by mean weight diameter and tensile strength. Macroaggregates (> 250 μm) had higher total organic carbon and their fractions than microaggregates (< 250 μm). The effect of the cropping systems was significant and the maize cropping system had the highest content of TOC and other fractions, followed by fieldbean and finger millet cropping systems. Mean weight diameter (MWD) was significantly higher in finger millet-grown soils. The impact of nitrogen fertilizer and cropping systems on aggregate-associated organic carbon was more pronounced in irrigated than rainfed conditions, indicating the potential for carbon sequestration under irrigated conditions. Thus, the optimum level of nitrogen and the type of cropping system adopted influence the distribution pattern of aggregate-associated organic carbon, along with its fractions that play a pivotal role in carbon accumulation and stabilization.
Keywords
- Field bean, Finger millet, Irrigated, Maize, Rainfed, Soil aggregates, Soil organic carbon fractions, Tensile strength
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Scientific reports, Vol. 15, No. 1, 33912, 30.09.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of nitrogen fertilization and cropping systems on aggregate-bound soil organic carbon fractions in Southern India
AU - Kumari, Usha
AU - Sathish, A.
AU - Raj, Dev
AU - Rani, Pooja
AU - Sheoran, Seema
AU - Tanwar, Kavita
AU - Rani, Sarita
AU - Kamboj, Nidhi
AU - Jakhar, Ritambhara
AU - Garg, Rajbir
AU - Peth, Stephan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/9/30
Y1 - 2025/9/30
N2 - Understanding soil organic carbon fractions in southern India is crucial for enhancing soil health, crop productivity, and sustainable land management. It is majorly affected by cropping systems, nitrogen levels, irrigation management, etc. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen doses [N1: No nitrogen, N2:100% of recommended dose of N (RDN), and N3: 200% RDN] and different cropping systems (fieldbean, finger millet, and maize) on aggregate-associated soil organic carbon and its fractions, as well as their impact on aggregate stability under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Aggregates were separated into different classes and analyzed for organic carbon and its fractions (dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, potassium permanganate oxidizable carbon, and non-labile organic carbon). Applying 200% RDN enhanced total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions. Conversely, aggregate stability was not influenced by N levels as determined by mean weight diameter and tensile strength. Macroaggregates (> 250 μm) had higher total organic carbon and their fractions than microaggregates (< 250 μm). The effect of the cropping systems was significant and the maize cropping system had the highest content of TOC and other fractions, followed by fieldbean and finger millet cropping systems. Mean weight diameter (MWD) was significantly higher in finger millet-grown soils. The impact of nitrogen fertilizer and cropping systems on aggregate-associated organic carbon was more pronounced in irrigated than rainfed conditions, indicating the potential for carbon sequestration under irrigated conditions. Thus, the optimum level of nitrogen and the type of cropping system adopted influence the distribution pattern of aggregate-associated organic carbon, along with its fractions that play a pivotal role in carbon accumulation and stabilization.
AB - Understanding soil organic carbon fractions in southern India is crucial for enhancing soil health, crop productivity, and sustainable land management. It is majorly affected by cropping systems, nitrogen levels, irrigation management, etc. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen doses [N1: No nitrogen, N2:100% of recommended dose of N (RDN), and N3: 200% RDN] and different cropping systems (fieldbean, finger millet, and maize) on aggregate-associated soil organic carbon and its fractions, as well as their impact on aggregate stability under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Aggregates were separated into different classes and analyzed for organic carbon and its fractions (dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, potassium permanganate oxidizable carbon, and non-labile organic carbon). Applying 200% RDN enhanced total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions. Conversely, aggregate stability was not influenced by N levels as determined by mean weight diameter and tensile strength. Macroaggregates (> 250 μm) had higher total organic carbon and their fractions than microaggregates (< 250 μm). The effect of the cropping systems was significant and the maize cropping system had the highest content of TOC and other fractions, followed by fieldbean and finger millet cropping systems. Mean weight diameter (MWD) was significantly higher in finger millet-grown soils. The impact of nitrogen fertilizer and cropping systems on aggregate-associated organic carbon was more pronounced in irrigated than rainfed conditions, indicating the potential for carbon sequestration under irrigated conditions. Thus, the optimum level of nitrogen and the type of cropping system adopted influence the distribution pattern of aggregate-associated organic carbon, along with its fractions that play a pivotal role in carbon accumulation and stabilization.
KW - Field bean
KW - Finger millet
KW - Irrigated
KW - Maize
KW - Rainfed
KW - Soil aggregates
KW - Soil organic carbon fractions
KW - Tensile strength
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105017597612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-09036-5
DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-09036-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 41028879
AN - SCOPUS:105017597612
VL - 15
JO - Scientific reports
JF - Scientific reports
SN - 2045-2322
IS - 1
M1 - 33912
ER -