Abstract:
Objective This study investigated the effects of exogenous humic material application on soil fertility in newly reclaimed cropland, aiming to provide technical support for the rapid improvement of cropland quality and productivity enhancement.
Method Newly cultivated land was used as the research area and the method of a field positioning experiment was adopted in the study, including single application of chemical fertilizer control (CK), organic fertilizer (OM), natural humus material (MO1), biological activator (MO2), and combined application of organic fertilizer, natural humus, biological activator materials with gradient amounts ( MT1, MT2, MT3).
Result The contents of soil organic matter in OM, MO1, and MO2 treatments were increased by 1.48, 1.85, and 0.78 g kg−1, respectively. And MT1, MT2, and MT3 treatments have shown the relative higher increase in organic matter contents (by 1.93, 3.37, and 3.00 g kg−1, respectively). The increment in soil organic matter predominantly consists of oxidation-resistant recalcitrant organic fractions, accounting for 51.72% - 71.01% of the total soil organic matter pool. The addition of different types of exogenous organic materials could also significantly increase the CPI index of soil carbon pool. The combined application of organic manure and natural humus material increased soil microbial biomass carbon content but decreased dissolved carbon content, significantly. Path analysis results proved that rice yield under different treatments conditions was not only affected by soil organic matter and dissolved organic carbon contents directly, but also affected by stable organic matter component indirectly.
Conclusion This combined application of natural humic substances with organic manure and bio-stimulants have shown significantly superior soil fertility enhancement compared to singular applications of organic fertilizers or bio-stimulants, while maintaining the stability of native soil organic carbon pool dynamics. That is "similarity enhancement effect"), which can be used as an effective strategy for rapid soil productivity restoration in newly reclaimed farmlands within short-term cultivation practices.