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Table 1 Management history of native grassland and cropland plots of different periods of continuous cultivation in Horqin Sandy Land

From: Changes in soil fertility and microbial communities following cultivation of native grassland in Horqin Sandy Land, China: a 60-year chronosequence

Treatment

Cultivation duration (years)

Fertilization (kg ha−1 year−1)

Managements

CUL0

0

No fertilization

Native grassland without grazing

No irrigation and no tillage

No herbicide and pesticide application

70% of the aboveground biomass was mowed once a year for hay feed

CUL5

5

Compound fertilizer (350) and Urea (75)

Zea mays monoculture

Irrigation with 1800 m3 ha−1

Conventional tillage within 25 cm and rotation with 15 cm

Herbicide and pesticide application

No maize stalk aboveground was left in the farmland

CUL15

15

The same as above

The same as above

CUL25

25

Urea (150) and diammonium phosphate (75) before 2005

The same as above

Compound fertilizer (350) and Urea (75) after 2005

CUL35

35

No fertilizer application before 1990

The same as above

Urea (150) and diammonium phosphate (75) and 25 t ha−1 of manure between 1990 and 2005 and compound fertilizer (350) and urea (75) after 2005

CUL60

60

The same as above

The same as above except no herbicide and pesticide application before 1990