Cattle manure application for 12 and 17 years enhanced depth distribution of soil organic carbon and X-ray computed tomography-derived pore characteristics.

Long-term fertilizer application in row crops may influence soil pore characteristics, thereby impacting soil aggregation and structure. Therefore, understanding the influences on soil pore characteristics is useful for adopting suitable conservation practices. However, the impact of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer application at varied rates on soil pore characteristics in the soil profile at a microscale level remains limited.

Co-application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer reduced nitrogen losses from soil.

Combined application of biochar and nitrogen (N) fertilizer has the potential to reduce N losses from soil. However, the effectiveness of biochar amendment on N management can vary with biochar types with different physical and chemical properties. This study aimed to assess the effect of two types of hardwood biochar with different ash contents and cation exchange capacity (CEC) on soil N mineralization and nitrous oxide (N2O) production when applied alone and in combination with N fertilizer.

Effects of field-grown transgenic switchgrass carbon inputs on soil organic carbon cycling.

Genetic engineering has been used to decrease the lignin content and to change the lignin composition of switchgrass ( L.) to decrease cell wall recalcitrance to enable more efficient cellulosic biofuel production. Previous greenhouse and field studies showed that downregulation of the gene encoding switchgrass caffeic acid -methyltransferase (COMT) and overexpression of the switchgrass (MYB4) gene effectively improved ethanol yield.