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Impact of crops and fertilizers on soil respiration in a long-term field experiment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2025

Olga Sukhoveeva Open the ORCID record for Olga Sukhoveeva [Opens in a new window] ,
Alexander Ryzhov ,
Alexander Pochikalov ,
Tatiana Lebedeva ,
Dmitry Karelin  and
Igor Zavertkin
Olga Sukhoveeva*
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow, Russia
Alexander Ryzhov
Affiliation:
Center of Forest Ecology and Productivity, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Alexander Pochikalov
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow, Russia
Tatiana Lebedeva
Affiliation:
Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
Dmitry Karelin
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow, Russia
Igor Zavertkin
Affiliation:
Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia
*
Corresponding author: Olga Sukhoveeva; Email: olgasukhoveeva@gmail.com
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Abstract

Field experiments enable researchers to investigate the impacts of both natural and anthropogenic crop production factors on soil respiration (SR), the largest contributor of CO2 emissions from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere. The hypothesis of this study was that the influence of two key anthropogenic factors – applied fertilizers and cultivated crops – on the respiration rate of arable soils could be separated in a field experiment. The objective was therefore to quantify the influence of these factors on SR and assess its dependence on soil characteristics. The study was conducted on the territory of the long-term field experiment at the Timiryazev Academy (Moscow, Russia), where the use of plots of crop rotation involving rye, barley, potatoes and fallow, with liming and various fertilizer types applied, was considered. Measurements were taken using the closed chamber technique and a portable infrared gas analyser from May 2023 to November 2024. During the vegetation periods, SR varied significantly and was not statistically different for most plots (0.063–0.276 g C/(m2·h)), except for the NPK + manure variant (0.371–0.430 g C/(m2·h)). During the bare soil period, SR was similar between fertilizer variants and 10–20 times lower under snow cover than during the vegetation period (0.006–0.018 g C/(m2·h)). A direct dependence of respiration on soil organic carbon and particulate organic matter content was observed (R = 0.552–0.650). Two-way PERMANOVA revealed significant effects of fertilizers (17.2–24.0% of the variance) and crops (6.5–7.1%) on SR, although their interaction was insignificant. Our research could form the basis for developing carbon sequestration compensation measures in response to specific fertilizer doses.

Keywords

nonparametric analysisparticulate organic matterPERMANOVAsoil CО2 emissionsoil organic carbon

Information

Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , First View , pp. 1 - 11
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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