Effects of different paddy-upland multiple cropping patterns on soil aggregates, carbon and nitrogen in paddy fields

Objective To investigate a paddy-upland multiple cropping model that is more conducive to the sustainable development of paddy fields in the southern region.

Method A comparative field trial was conducted at the Science and Technology Park of Jiangxi Agricultural University to compare the paddy-upland multiple cropping models, including milk vetch-early rice-late rice (CK), milk vetch-early rice-late corn‖late soybean (CRI), rape-early rice- late corn‖late soybean (RRI), and rape-early rice-late rice (RRR).

Result The levels of soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen content were both in the order of CK>RRR>CRI>RRI. In addition, The R_0.25 (aggregate content with diameter > 0.25 mm) in planting milk vetch modes were higher than those in planting rape mode, suggesting that the soil structure of planting milk vetch mode were more stable. Furthermore, the early rice yield in CRI was the highest among four treatments.

Conclusion Consequently, adopting CRI mode in the southern region is beneficial for the sustainable development of agriculture.