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FACTORS AFFECTING THE C: N RATIO IN POST-HARVEST RESIDUES AND THEIR PRACTICAL IMPACT
Abstract
C:N ratio in after-harvest residues (including straw) decides on speed and intensity of decomposition. In one-year field small-plot experiment, there were included these variants: (1) monoculture of winter wheat fertilized with 140 kg N/ha; (2) monoculture of winter pea not fertilized with nitrogen; (3) mixed culture of both these crops in 1:1 ratio fertilized with 112 kg N/ha; (4) mixed culture of the crops in 1:1 ratio fertilized with 70 kg N/ha; (5) mixed culture of both crops in 1:1 ratio not fertilized with nitrogen. After harvest, C:N ratio in straw ranged in the variants as following: (1) 49:1; (2) 25:1; (3) 39:1; (4) 51:1; (5) 41:1. Thus, decisive factors of C:N ratio are botanical composition of the stand, the level of nitrogen fertilization, and also influence of the year (especially precipitation). Sufficiency of water is necessary either for nutrients uptake (nitrogen) from soil, and either for their transport from roots to stems, leaves and grain. Within wide C:N level in cereal straws (80-100:1), the recommended application dose is 10 kg N/1 t of straw in order to decrease it to optimum C:N of 20-30:1 (from the point of successful decomposition). With knowledge of the C: N ratio, a farmer can avoid both, nitrogen overdosing or its deficiency which has economic and environmental impacts. In particular, the N over-fertilization leads to rapid decomposition (mineralization) of the primary organic matter (straw) and subsequently to releasing ammonium N, after nitrification, and easily leachable nitrate N. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out an analysis of the post-harvest residues (straw) to determine total C and N content prior to their application into the soil in order to adjust the dose of the applied N.
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