Decomposition of Rapeseed Green Manure and Its Effect on Soil under Two Residue Return Levels

Abstract

The overuse of chemical fertilizers has caused various ecological problems in China, necessitating the development of organic alternative fertilizers. There are few studies on the rapidly emerging organic fertilizer rapeseed green manure, despite the importance of understanding its decomposition efficiency and impact on soil. In this study, using plant residue from 14 rapeseed cultivars, we examined the 30-day decomposition changes under conditions A and B (150 and 300 g of plant residue returned, respectively) and detected the effects of their decomposition on soil nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microorganisms. Under condition B, the 30-day cumulative decomposition and nutrient release rates of rapeseed were higher than those under condition A, and the rapeseed decomposition rate exceeded 50% under both conditions, which is similar to results in legume green fertilizers. Moreover, the decomposition of rapeseed green manure significantly increased the soil nutrient content and effectively improved the soil bacterial community structure and diversity relative to the original soil, especially under condition B. Thiobacillus, Azotobacter, and Pseudomonas are bacteria that responded to plant decomposition, and the abundance of the three bacterial genera after plant decomposition was significantly correlated with the plant decomposition traits and soil nutrient content. In conclusion, rapeseed green manure has potential to offset the use of chemical fertilizers, promoting sustainable agricultural development, and this study provides a reference for such green fertilization measures.