Straw Application Strategy to Optimize Nutrient Release in a Southeastern China Rice Cropland
Weiqi Wang,
Jordi Sardans,
Chun Wang,
Ting Pan,
Congsheng Zeng,
Derrick Y. F. Lai,
Mireia Bartrons,
Josep Peñuelas
Affiliations
Weiqi Wang
Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Jordi Sardans
CSIC, Global Ecology CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Cerdanyola del Valles, 08193 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Chun Wang
Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Ting Pan
Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Congsheng Zeng
Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Derrick Y. F. Lai
Department of Geography and Resource Management, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Mireia Bartrons
CSIC, Global Ecology CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Cerdanyola del Valles, 08193 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Josep Peñuelas
CSIC, Global Ecology CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Cerdanyola del Valles, 08193 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
The management and improvement of paddy soils fertility are key factors for the future capacity of rice production. The return of rice straw to paddy soils is the best alternative to the application of industrial fertilizers for rice production sustainability. The best strategy for applying rice straw to improve soil nutritional capacity during rice growth has not yet been investigated. We compared straw decomposition in the ditches and ridges in paddy fields subjected to a typical crop management in southeastern China. Straw spread on the ridges provided lower residual straw carbon (C) concentration and mass, lower nitrogen:phosphorus ratio N:P, C:N, and C:P ratios, and lower soil salinity, as well as higher temperature, and higher N- and P-release capacity during the rice crop in comparison to the straw spread in the ditches. Therefore, applying rice straw to the ridges is better strategy than applying it to ditches to enhance rice production.
