Effects of different tillage and fertilization management practices on soil organic carbon and aggregates under the rice–wheat rotation system.

• The application of reduced tillage plus organic manure promoted soil aggregation. • SOC and its active fractions were preferentially fixed in macroaggregates. • Reduced tillage plus organic manure improved the quantity and quality of SOC. Studying the impact of tillage and fertilization on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and aggregate is essential to define better strategies for improving soil structure and SOC sequestration. A field experiment was conducted for 9 years to investigate effects of different tillage and fertilization management practices on SOC and its active fractions [labile organic carbon (LOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC)] within the bulk soil and in soil aggregates under rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems. Five treatments were included: conventional tillage with no fertilizer (CT), conventional tillage with chemical fertilizer (CTFR), reduced tillage with chemical fertilizer (RTFR), conventional tillage with organic manure (CTOM), and reduced tillage with organic manure (RTOM). The results showed that the organic manured plots (CTOM and RTOM) significantly increased the concentrations of SOC and active carbon fractions (LOC, DOC and MBC) within the bulk soil and soil macroaggregates, and increased the mass proportion of macroaggregates (>250 μm) compared with chemical fertilizer treatments (CTFR and RTFR) or CT. The highest SOC concentration and macroaggregates (>250 μm) were observed in CTOM. The increased SOC, especially active carbon fractions, was mainly concentrated in soil macroaggregates (>250 μm). Soil aggregates were dominated by macroaggregates (>250 μm), which had higher MBC and lower PAOC (the percentage of slow plus passive carbon fractions) after 9 years of RTOM treatment than after CT or CRFR treatment. The results indicated that RTOM played a positive role in promoting the formation of the soil macroaggregate structure. By studying the responses of SOC and water-stable aggregate contents to different tillage and fertilization managements, the continual application of organic manure may be feasible and the periodic organic manure addition may be combined with reduced tillage practice to produce an integrated soil management strategy for the paddy–upland rotation region in Middle China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]