Long-Term Application of Manure and Different Mineral Fertilization in Relation to the Soil Organic Matter Quality of Luvisols

Abstract

Long-term field experiments were conducted on luvisol at five sites in the Czech Republic (42–48-year duration). The average total organic carbon content in the soil varied between 9.0 and 14.0 g kg−1. In these trials, seven crops were rotated in the following order: clover, winter wheat, early potato, winter wheat, spring barley, potato, and spring barley with interseeded clover. Five treatments were studied: unfertilized treatment (Con), farmyard manure (F), and combinations of farmyard manure with three mineral fertilization levels (F+M1, F+M2, F+M3). Plant residues were not incorporated into the soil. An amount of 40 t ha−1 of farmyard manure fresh matter was applied twice during crop rotation. Intensive mineral fertilizer (F+M3) increased the average value of the carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) by 12.9% and up to 26.3%. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers at moderate and higher intensities increased the soil organic matter quantity and quality compared to the unfertilized or manure treatment. Data on the glomalin content can be used to study the organic matter quality. We determined a strong correlation between the total glomalin content and the soil organic matter carbon, fulvic acid content, humic acid content, extractable carbon content, and dissolved organic carbon content, as well as the potential wettability index and aromaticity index.