Summary
This two-season pot experiment in China investigated whether moderate reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser (up to 24%) combined with multiple soybean green manure cropping could sustain wheat yields whilst improving soil health and carbon sequestration. A 12% fertiliser reduction (RF12) maintained wheat yield equivalent to conventional fertiliser application whilst increasing soil alkaline nitrogen by 22.3%, available phosphorus by 30.7%, high-labile organic carbon by 34.5%, and soil organic carbon by 12.4%. The findings suggest that leguminous green manure integration offers a practical pathway to reduce chemical fertiliser dependency without yield penalty, whilst enhancing long-term soil fertility and carbon stocks.
Regional applicability
The wheat-soybean rotation system and soil conditions tested are not directly analogous to UK cereal systems, though the principle of integrating leguminous green manure to reduce inorganic nitrogen inputs is relevant to UK sustainable intensification policy. UK practitioners should note that the magnitude of fertiliser reduction tolerable (12%) and the benefits achieved may differ under cooler, wetter conditions and on different soil types.
Key measures
Wheat grain yield, soil alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus, high-labile organic carbon (H-LOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil organic carbon content
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil fertility indicators, organic carbon fractions, microbial biomass carbon, and wheat grain yield across two growing seasons under varying nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser reduction scenarios combined with soybean green manure incorporation.
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