Relationship between Soil Organic Carbon and Wheat Grain Yield as Affected by Soil Clay Content and Salinity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center of Khorasan Razavi

2 Research M.Sc. Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khorasan Razavi

3 Plant Nutrition Supervisor, Jihad-e-Agriculture of Khorasan Razavi

Abstract

Changes in soil characteristics can potentially increase or decrease the accumulation rate of soil organic carbon (SOC). This study was conducted to quantify soil salinity and clay content effects on the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and grain yield (GY) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in low and high yield population. To this end, 202 irrigated wheat fields were selected in all parts of the Khorasan Razavi province (NE Iran). The studied fields were divided into low yield population (LYP, GY< 5 Mg ha-1) and high yield population (HYP, GY ≥ 5 Mg ha-1) categories. The results showed that significant relationships existed between SOC content and wheat GY (R2=0.64, P<0.01). However, the correlation was stronger in LYP (R2adj =0.66, P<0.01) than HYP (R2adj =0.34, P<0.01). Each unit increase in the SOC (1g kg-1) on average could increase wheat yield by 286 kg ha-1. The SOC also exhibited a strong positive correlation with GY for soils with clay content < 150 g kg-1, but, when the soil clay content was ≥150 g kg-1, a weak relationship was obtained. Stronger positive correlation was observed between GY and the SOC for ECe ≥ 6 dS m-1 as compared to that for ECe< 6 dS m-1. The results demonstrate that the adverse effect of low clay content and high soil salinity level on wheat GY can be markedly improved by increase in SOC. Considering the prevailing conditions of SOC in Iran and assuming that results similar to this study will be obtained in other parts of the country, increase in SOC by 1g kg-1 could increase irrigated wheat production of Iran by 7.8%. Nevertheless, the increase in GY depends on SOC content and yield target population. 

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Soil Research
Volume 27, Issue 3
November 2013
Pages 359-371

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