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ISSN

2661-3948(Online)

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

US$800

Publication Frequency

Quarterly

PDF

Published

2025-07-16

Issue

Vol 7 No 2 (2025): published

Section

Articles

Effects of Cattle Dung Decomposition on Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, and Enzyme Activities in Pasture during Cold Season in Karst Mountain Areas of Guizhou, China

Xuedong Yang

Guizhou Province Grassland Technology Experiment and Extension Station

, QingDou

Guizhou Province Grassland Technology Experiment and Extension Station/Corn Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University

Bin Luo

Guizhou Province Grassland Technology Experiment and Extension Station

Xianyi Liang

Guizhou Province Grassland Technology Experiment and Extension Station

Li Li

Guizhou Vocational College of Agriculture


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/pest.v7i2.10378


Keywords: Karst; Cattle manure decomposition; Soil carbon and nitrogen; Soil enzyme activity


Abstract

This study investigated beef cattle dung decomposition characteristics and their effects on soil carbon, nitrogen, and enzyme activities in typical pasture of karst mountain areas in Guizhou, during the winter-spring season. The results demonstrated that the degradation rate of dung was faster during 0-30 days than during 30- 100 days. Compared with initial values, both dry matter and fresh weight of dung decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at experimental termination, while soil organic carbon and total nitrogen increased significantly (p < 0.05). Soil nitrate-N content showed an initial decrease followed by an increase. Soil urease and invertase activities exhibited positive correlations with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium-N, and nitrate-N (p < 0.05). In conclusion, beef cattle dung increased soil carbon and nitrogen content while regulating urease and invertase activities in the short term, though these effects varied considerably across experimental sites.


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