Impacts of Soil and Temperature On Decomposition of Plant Residues.

Two types of cover crop residue, legume and non-legume were applied to the surface of soil either the Krome gravelly loam soil or the Quincy fine sandy soil to study their decomposition rates under different temperatures. The temperatures and other associated environmental factors were controlled in growth chambers to continuously monitor the decomposition of plant residues and soil mineralization rates for a whole year. Both legume and non-legume cover crops showed the same patter for decomposition but legume residues seems decomposed more quickly than those of non-legume. A significant quantity of residues remained in the soil after a whole year for both types, which implies potential and prospects using cover crops to sequester atmospheric carbon for mitigation climate change.