Aggregation stability and microbial activity of China's black soils under different long‐term fertilisation regimes

摘要

Abstract Black soils (Mollisols) are distributed in the Songnen Plain in the north‐east of China and underpin a large agricultural production base. Over the years, these highly fertile and productive soils have suffered a deterioration of properties under intensive cultivation, including a loss of soil organic carbon, which has reduced their yield potential. To develop a more sustainable agriculture and to help maintain continuing high grain yields, a long‐term fertilisation experiment was conducted at the Key Observation Station of the Harbin Black Soil Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture, Heilongjiang province, China. Four simple fertiliser treatments have been maintained for 28 years (since 1979), these being: no fertiliser (CK), simple chemical fertiliser (NPK), simple organic fertiliser (M), and chemical plus organic fertiliser (NPKM). These treatments were investigated for their effects on soil aggregation stability and microbial activity. Organic fertiliser application (NPKM and M) increased organic c...