*Corresponding author. E-mail: zacharie.segda@yahoo.fr.  Tel: +226 70 27 04 00.

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The measurement of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) respiration is a means to gauge biological soil fertility. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted for 14 days under controlled conditions (25°C and moisture content 80% of water holding capacity) to study the influence of cropping system on carbon dioxide emission in the Bagré irrigated rice scheme, Burkina Faso, West Africa.. The production of CO2-C were studied from both bulk samples and particle size fractions (F > 50 µm and F < 50 µm) of topsoil from a paddy field under a long-term fertility experiment with different amounts of manure and mineral fertilizers collected at plowing, at early tillering and at rice harvesting. The carbon mineralized as CO2 evolved was measured every day in the first 7 days and every two days in the following days. The CO2-C production rate was higher in the early phase of incubation, decreased rapidly then, and tended to stable afterwards. The cumulative amounts of CO2-C were significantly higher (p < 0.001) at harvest compared to tillering and tillage. A combined application of chemical fertilizers and manure increased significantly the cumulative amounts of CO2-C and the paddy related yield. There were correlation between the total carbon and the fraction F < 50 μm (r = 0.932, p < 0.001) and between the total carbon and the fraction F>50 μm (r = 0.712, p < 0.048). The fine fraction therefore was involved significantly in the process of biodegradation and mineralization of soil organic matter. Thus, rational organic and mineral fertilizer should be undertaken for mitigating the climate change.

Key words: C mineralization, laboratory incubation, paddy soil, particle size fractions, soil fertility management.

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Citation: Zacharie S, Moussa B, Zacharia G, François L, Michel PS (2014). Influence of soil fertility management on organic carbon mineralization in irrigated rice. J. Agric. Crop Res. 2(2): 32-43.