title: Spatial variation in carbon and nitrogen in cultivated soils in Henan Province, China: potential effect on crop yield.
abstract: Improved management of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in agro-ecosystems represents an important strategy for ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural development in China. Accurate estimates of the distribution of soil C and N stores and their relationship to crop yield are crucial to developing appropriate cropland management policies. The current study examined the spatial variation of soil organic C (SOC), total soil N (TSN), and associated variables in the surface layer (0-40 cm) of soils from intensive agricultural systems in 19 counties within Henan Province, China, and compared these patterns with crop yield. Mean soil C and N concentrations were 14.9 g kg(-1) and 1.37 g kg(-1), respectively, whereas soil C and N stores were 4.1 kg m(-2) and 0.4 kg m(-2), respectively. Total crop production of each county was significantly, positively related to SOC, TSN, soil C and N store, and soil C and N stock. Soil C and N were positively correlated with soil bulk density but negatively correlated with soil porosity. These results indicate that variations in soil C could regulate crop yield in intensive agricultural systems, and that spatial patterns of C and N levels in soils may be regulated by both climatic factors and agro-ecosystem management. When developing suitable management programs, the importance of soil C and N stores and their effects on crop yield should be considered.
authors.affiliation: The Incubation Base of the National Key Laboratory for Physiological Ecology and Genetic Improvement of Food Crops in Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Agronomy College of Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xuelin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Incubation Base of the National Key Laboratory for Physiological Ecology and Genetic Improvement of Food Crops in Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Agronomy College of Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Frank S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Gilliam
authors.affiliation: The Incubation Base of the National Key Laboratory for Physiological Ecology and Genetic Improvement of Food Crops in Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Agronomy College of Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yilun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Meteorological Bureau of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Feina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: The Incubation Base of the National Key Laboratory for Physiological Ecology and Genetic Improvement of Food Crops in Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Agronomy College of Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chaohai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen