Effects of different green manure treatments on soil apparent N and P balance under a 34-year double-rice cropping system

Purpose Although green manure rotation is often used to promote soil fertility and crop yield, the effects of this management practice on the nitrogen or phosphorus balance and the relationship between nutrient balance and the increase in soil nutrients have not been systematically studied. Materials and methods We investigated the apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balances and their associations with soil nitrogen and phosphorus increases, respectively, in a 34-year-old experimental site with various green manures and rice rotations using linear and logistic models. Cropping treatments included a rice-rice-winter fallow treatment as a control (RRW) and three green manure rotation treatments: rice-rice-ryegrass (RRR), rice-rice-oil rape (RRO), and rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch (RRC). Results and discussion We found that apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balances of RRR, RRO, and RRC were 164, 162, and 149 kg hm −2 , which were all significantly lower than 200 kg hm −2 of RRW ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the optimal fitted model of the relationship between cumulative nutrient balance and the increase in soil nutrients was different among treatments. Specifically, the correlation coefficients of cumulative nitrogen balance and soil nitrogen increase of RRR, RRO, and RRC in the linear model (0.49, 0.80, and 0.63) were all significantly lower than in the logistic model (0.81, 0.90, and 0.82). The correlation coefficients of cumulative phosphorus balance and increase in soil phosphorus of RRW in the linear model (0.81) were significantly lower than in the logistic model (0.91). Parameter analysis of the optimal fitted model revealed that RRC would increase the storage capacity of soil nitrogen and decrease the rate of soil phosphorus accumulation. Conclusions Our results suggested that long-term rice-rice-green manure rotation could significantly change the apparent nitrogen and phosphorus balance and their association with soil nitrogen and phosphorus content, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of green manure rotation in an agro-ecological environment and soil fertility in a double rice cropping system in red paddy soil.