Soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration following the conversion of cropland to alfalfa forage land in northwest China

Soil C and N contents play a crucial role in sustaining soil quality and environmental quality. The conversion of annually cultivated land to forage grasses has potential to increase C and N sequestration. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term changes in soil organic C (SOC) and N pools after annual crops were converted to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. Algonguin) forage for 4 years. Soil from 24 sets of paired sites, alfalfa field versus adjacent cropland, were sampled at depths of 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm. Total soil organic C and N, particulate organic matter (POM) C and N were determined. Organic C, total N, POM-C, and POM-N contents in the 0–5 cm layer were significantly greater in alfalfa field than in adjacent cropland. However, when the entire 0–20 cm layer was considered, there were significant differences in SOC, POM-C and POM-N but not in total N between alfalfa and crop soils. Also, greater differences in POM-C and POM-N were between the two land-use treatments than in SOC and total N were found. Across all sites, SOC and total N in the 0–20 cm profile averaged 22.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ and 2.3 Mg N ha⁻¹ for alfalfa soils, and 19.8 Mg C ha⁻¹and 2.2 Mg N ha⁻¹ for adjacent crop soils. Estimated C sequestration rate (0–20 cm) following crops to alfalfa conversions averaged 0.57 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Sandy soils have more significant C accumulation than silt loam soils after conversion. The result of this suggests that the soils studied have great C sequestration potential, and the conversion of crops to alfalfa should be widely used to sequester C and improve soil quality in this region.     

Aggregate associated-C and physical protection in a tropical clayey soil under Malagasy conventional and no-tillage systems

Share-ploughed tillage with residue removed (CT-R) is the traditional tillage practice in the Highlands of Madagascar. No-tillage with residue mulching (NT+R) is nowadays often used as an alternative cultivation practice. Soils (0–5 cm layer) were sampled in Spring 2003 from both management systems after 11 years of soybean–maize annual rotation on a clayey Ferralsol. Soil aggregate stability can influence soil organic carbon (SOC) storage by its protection from microbial decomposition. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content was significantly impacted by systems and crop residues derived-carbon represented 64% of the annual benefit in SOC of NT+R system. The carbon associated with soil water stable macro- (200–2000 μm), meso- (20–200 μm) and microaggregates (<20 μm) from both systems, and their physical protection was studied by an incubation experiment of intact vs. crushed aggregates. Results showed macroaggregate content was significantly higher in NT+R than in CT-R system and mesoaggregate content was significantly higher in CT-R than in NT+R. Macroaggregates associated-C were 1.8 time higher in NT+R than in CT-R (31.9 and 17.9 g C g⁻¹ soil, respectively) and made up the largest percentage (>80%) of the difference of SOC content between NT+R and CT-R systems. The amount of mineralized C over 28 days was higher in NT+R than in CT-R, and higher in meso- than in macroaggregates. However, crushing aggregates did not significantly affect the amount of mineralized C in macro- and mesoaggregates for both management systems. The macro- and mesoaggregates protected-C was lower than 54 μg g⁻¹ soil for both NT+R and CT-R systems. Hence, the physical protection of C in aggregate larger than 50 μm was not the main process of C protection in the studied systems. Thus, C protection might occur in aggregates larger or smaller than 50 μm via physico-chemical protection mechanisms by association of organic matter to clay and silt fractions, or by protection due to chemical composition.     

The distribution of volatile isoprenoids in the soil horizons around Pinus halepensis trees

We measured the terpene concentration in pentane and water extracts from soil horizons (litter, organic, top and low mineral) and from roots growing in top and low mineral horizons on a distance gradient from Pinus halepensis L. trees growing alone on a grassland. Terpene concentrations in pentane were higher than in water extracts, although β-caryophyllene showed relatively high solubility in water. The litter and roots were important sources of terpenes in soil. Alpha-pinene dominated in roots growing in both “top” (A1) and “low” (B) mineral horizons (123 ± 36 μg g⁻¹ or 14 ± 5 mg m⁻²) and roots in low mineral horizon (270 ± 91 μg g⁻¹ or 7 ± 2 mg m⁻²). Beta-caryophyllene dominated in litter (1469 ± 331 μg g⁻¹ or 2004 ± 481 mg m⁻²). Terpene concentration in soil decreased with increasing distance to the trunk. This is likely to be related to changes in litter and roots type on the distance gradient from pine to grass and herbs. The relative contributions of all compounds, except α-pinene, were similar in the mineral soils and litter. This suggests that litter of P. halepensis is probably the main source of major terpene compounds. However, long-term emissions of α-pinene from P. halepensis roots might also contribute to α-pinene concentrations in rhizosphere soils.     

Changes in soil organic carbon dynamics in an Eastern Chinese coastal wetland following invasion by a C4 plant Spartina alterniflora

The exotic C₄ grass Spartina alterniflora was intentionally introduced to tidal coastal wetlands in Jiangsu province of China in 1982. Since then it has rapidly replaced the native C₃ plant Suaeda salsa, becoming one of the dominant vegetation types in the coastal wetlands of China. Although plant invasion can change soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, little is known about how plant invasion influences C storage within soil fractions. We investigated how S. alterniflora invasion across an 8, 12 and 14-year chronosequence affected SOC and soil nitrogen (N), using soil fractionation and stable δ¹³C isotope analyses. SOC and N concentrations at 0-10 cm depth in S. alterniflora soil increased during the S. alterniflora invasion chronosequence, ranging from 3.67 to 4.90 g C kg⁻¹ soil, and from 0.307 to 0.391 g N kg⁻¹ soil. These were significantly higher than the values in the Suaeda salsa community, by 27.0-69.6% for SOC, and 21.8-55.2% for total N. The S. alterniflora-derived SOC varied from 0.40 to 0.92 g C kg⁻¹ according to mixing calculations, assuming the two possible SOC sources of S. alterniflora and S. salsa, and accounted for 10.8-18.7% of total SOC in the colonized soils. The estimated accumulative rate of SOC from C₄ (S. alterniflora) was 64.1 C kg⁻¹ soil year⁻¹ and from C₃ sources was 78.1 mg C kg⁻¹. The concentration of S. alterniflora-derived SOC significantly decreased from coarse fraction to fine fraction, and linearly increased as the period of S. alterniflora invasion increased. The highest accumulative rate of SOC from a C₄ source occurred in macroaggregates, while the highest rate from C₃ was in microaggregates. The storage of SOC derived from S. alterniflora in the macroaggregates was 0.27-0.44 g C kg⁻¹ soil, accounting for 43.1-49.1% of the total C₄derived SOC in the soil. Our results suggest that S. alterniflora invasion in coastal wetlands could facilitate SOC storage, because of the high potential for accumulation of the C which has been newly derived from S. alterniflora litter and roots.     

Evolution of soil chemical properties in the past 50 years in the Tai Lake Region, China

The Tai Lake Region (TLR) is traditionally an ecologically sustainable agricultural area due to the intensive application of traditional organic fertilizer. However in the past 50 years, agricultural management practices such as fertilizer usage and cropping systems changed this situation. In order to investigate how these changes affected soil chemical properties and ultimately the sustainability of agriculture production, a case study was conducted in Taicang County in the TLR. It was found that soil organic carbon (SOC) content significantly decreased from 22.8 g kg⁻¹ in 1959 to 12.9 g kg⁻¹ in 1981 while soil total nitrogen (TN) increased significantly from 1.2 g kg⁻¹ in 1959 to 1.6 g kg⁻¹ in 1981 due to the application of mineral fertilizer especially N fertilizer nearly entirely replacing of traditional organic fertilizer, and then both slightly increased to 14.0 g kg⁻¹ and 1.7 g kg⁻¹, respectively in 2004. Soil total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), and available K (AK) contents showed little changes from 1981 to 2004 but soil available P (AP) content increased significantly from 7 mg kg⁻¹ in 1981 to 26 mg kg⁻¹ in 2004. The changes of soil properties from 1959 to 1981 were attributed to the changes of fertilizer usage and the changes of soil properties from 1981 to 2004 were attributed to the changes of cropping systems and fertilizer application, particularly vegetable production which resulted in the significant changes of fertilizer usage.     

Effect of heavy metals contamination on root-derived and organic matter-derived CO2 efflux from soil planted with Zea mays

The CO₂ efflux from loamy Haplic Luvisol and heavy metal (HM) uptake by Zea mays L. were studied under increased HM contamination: Cd, Cu, and Ni up to 20, 1000, and 2500 mg kg⁻¹ soil, respectively. Split-root system with contrasting HM concentrations in both soil halves was used to investigate root-mediated HM translocation in uncontaminated soil zones. To separate root-derived and soil organic matter (SOM)-derived CO₂ efflux from soil, ¹⁴CO₂ pulse labeling of 15-, 25-, and 35-days-old plants was applied. The CO₂ evolution from the bare soil was 10.6 μg C–CO₂ d⁻¹ g⁻¹ (32 kg C–CO₂ d⁻¹ ha⁻¹) and was not affected by HM (except 2500 mg Ni kg⁻¹). The average CO₂ efflux from the soil with maize was about two times higher and amounted for about 22.0 μg C–CO₂ d⁻¹ g⁻¹. Portion of assimilates respired in the rhizosphere decreased with plant development from 6.0 to 7.0% of assimilated C for 25-days-old Zea mays to 0.4–2.0% for 45-days-old maize. The effect of the HM on root-derived ¹⁴CO₂ efflux increased with rising HM content in the following order: Cd < Cu < Ni. In Cu and Ni contaminated soils, shoot and root dry matter decreased to 70% and to 50% of the uncontaminated control, respectively. Plants contained much more HM in the roots than in the shoots. A split-root system with contrasting HM concentrations allowed to trace transport of mobile forms of HM by roots from contaminated soil half into the uncontaminated soil half. The portion of mobile HM forms in the soil (1 M NH₄NO₃ extract) increased with contamination and amounted to 9–16%, 2–6% and 1.5–3.5% for Cd, Cu, and Ni, respectively. Corresponding values for the easily available HM (1 M NH₄OAc extract) were 22–52%, 1–20% and 5–8.5%. Heavy metal availability for plants decreased in the following order: Cd > Cu ≥ Ni. No increase of HM availability in the soil was found after maize cultivation.     

Distribution of light and heavy fractions of soil organic carbon as related to land use and tillage practice

Mass distributions of different soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions are influenced by land use and management. Concentrations of C and N in light- and heavy fractions of bulk soils and aggregates in 0–20 cm were determined to evaluate the role of aggregation in SOC sequestration under conventional tillage (CT), no-till (NT), and forest treatments. Light- and heavy fractions of SOC were separated using 1.85 g mL⁻¹ sodium polytungstate solution. Soils under forest and NT preserved, respectively, 167% and 94% more light fraction than those under CT. The mass of light fraction decreased with an increase in soil depth, but significantly increased with an increase in aggregate size. C concentrations of light fraction in all aggregate classes were significantly higher under NT and forest than under CT. C concentrations in heavy fraction averaged 20, 10, and 8 g kg⁻¹ under forest, NT, and CT, respectively. Of the total SOC pool, heavy fraction C accounted for 76% in CT soils and 63% in forest and NT soils. These data suggest that there is a greater protection of SOC by aggregates in the light fraction of minimally disturbed soils than that of disturbed soil, and the SOC loss following conversion from forest to agriculture is attributed to reduction in C concentrations in both heavy and light fractions. In contrast, the SOC gain upon conversion from CT to NT is primarily attributed to an increase in C concentration in the light fraction.     

Rhizosphere soil microbial index of tree species in a coal mining ecosystem

Microbial characterization of the tree rhizosphere provides important information relating to the screening of tree species for re-vegetation of degraded land. Rhizosphere soil samples collected from a few predominant tree species growing in the coal mining ecosystem of Dhanbad, India, were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC), mineralizable N, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), active microbial biomass carbon (AMBC), basal soil respiration (BSR), and soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, urease, catalase, phenol oxidase, and peroxidase). Among the tree species studied, Aegle marmelos recorded the highest value for MBC (590 mg kg⁻¹), urease (190.5 μg NH₄⁺-N g⁻¹ h⁻¹), catalase (513 μg H₂O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹), dehydrogenase (92.3 μg TPF g⁻¹ h⁻¹), phenol oxidase (0.057 μM g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and BSR/AMBC (0.498 mg CO₂-C mg biomass⁻¹ day⁻¹); Tamarindus indica for mineralizable N (69.5 mg kg⁻¹); Morus alba for catalase (513 μg H₂O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and phenol oxidase (0.058 μM g⁻¹ h⁻¹); Tectona grandis for peroxidase (0.276 μM g⁻¹ h⁻¹), AMBC/MBC (99.4%), and BSR/MBC (0.108 mg CO₂-C mg biomass⁻¹ day⁻¹); Ficus religiosa for AMBC (128.4 mg kg⁻¹) and BSR (12.85 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ day⁻¹); Eugenia jambolana for MBC/SOC (8.03%); Butea monosoperma for AMBC/SOC (1.32%) and Azadirachta indica for BSR/AMBC (0.1134 mg CO₂-C mg biomass⁻¹ day⁻¹). Principal component analysis was employed to derive a rhizosphere soil microbial index (RSMI) and accordingly, dehydrogenase, BSR/MBC, MBC/SOC, EC, phenol oxidase and AMBC were found to be the most critical properties. The observed values for the above properties were converted into a unitless score (0–1.00) and the scores were integrated into RSMI. The tree species could be arranged in decreasing order of the RSMI as: A. marmelos (0.718), A. indica (0.715), Bauhinia bauhinia (0.693), B. monosperma (0.611), E. jambolana (0.601), Moringa oleifera (0.565), Dalbergia sissoo (0.498), T. indica (0.488), Morus alba (0.415), F. religiosa (0.291), Eucalyptus sp. (0.232) and T. grandis (0.181). It was concluded that tree species in coal mining areas had diverse effects on their respective rhizosphere microbial processes, which could directly or indirectly determine the survival and performance of the planted tree species in degraded coal mining areas. Tree species with higher RSMI values could be recommended for re-vegetation of degraded coal mining area.     

Crop cultivation and intensive grazing affect organic C pools and aggregate stability in arid grassland soil

The effects of cultivation and overgrazing on soil quality in arid regions have been rarely addressed. This study investigated the roles of cropping and grazing in soil organic C pools and aggregate stability at 0–20 cm depth by comparing conventional grazing (non-fenced ever), intensive grazing (fenced for 22 years) and cropping (cultivated for 40 years) in the arid Hexi Corridor of northwestern China. Total soil organic C (TOC) under non-fenced grazing was 21.6 g kg⁻¹ (or 52.9 Mg ha⁻¹), which was 19.9% (or 13.2% mass per area) lower than that under fenced grazing, because of lower stable organic C fraction (<0.05 mm) (i.e., 15.2 g kg⁻¹ or 37.4 Mg ha⁻¹ in non-fenced versus 19.2 g kg⁻¹ or 44.5 Mg ha⁻¹ in fenced grazing). Cropping had similar TOC concentration but 15.7% less TOC mass per area compared with non-fenced grazing mainly due to a decrease in coarse organic C (2–0.1 mm) (i.e., 4.1 g kg⁻¹ or 10.1 Mg ha⁻¹ in non-fenced versus 2.9 g kg⁻¹ or 6.0 Mg ha⁻¹ in cropping). Non-fenced grazing produced 1.49, 1.17 and 0.19 g kg⁻¹ of soil carbohydrate C extracted by concentrated acid, diluted acid and hot water, respectively. The three carbohydrate C fractions were increased by 21.5, 14.5 and 15.8% under fenced grazing but lowered by 12.8, 18.8 and 21.1% under cropping, respectively. Soil mineralized C after 51-day incubation was the highest under fenced grazing followed by non-fenced grazing, and the lowest under cropping. Percentage of water-stable aggregates (>0.25 mm) in total aggregates and mean weight diameter were 15% and 0.28 mm under cropping, significantly lower than 65% and 3.11 mm under non-fenced grazing and 65% and 2.84 mm under fenced grazing. The aggregates of >1 mm were almost entirely demolished under cropping when subjected to wet sieving. Reduction of soil carbohydrates under cropping was closely related to the decline in aggregate water-stability. The negative effects of cropping on soil organic C pool and aggregate water-stability may suggest that cropping on this arid grassland is not sustainable unless no-tillage is adopted. In favor of increasing soil carbohydrates and maintaining soil aggregation, fenced-grazing would be a better option than cropping and non-fenced grazing for the management of arid grasslands.     

Carbon sequestration and relationship between carbon addition and storage under rainfed soybean–wheat rotation in a sandy loam soil of the Indian Himalayas

Soil organic matter (SOM) contributes to the productivity and physical properties of soils. Although crop productivity is sustained mainly through the application of organic manure in the Indian Himalayas, no information is available on the effects of long-term manure addition along with mineral fertilizers on C sequestration and the contribution of total C input towards soil organic C (SOC) storage. We analyzed results of a long-term experiment, initiated in 1973 on a sandy loam soil under rainfed conditions to determine the influence of different combinations of NPK fertilizer and fertilizer + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 Mg ha⁻¹ on SOC content and its changes in the 0–45 cm soil depth. Concentration of SOC increased 40 and 70% in the NPK + FYM-treated plots as compared to NPK (43.1 Mg C ha⁻¹) and unfertilized control plots (35.5 Mg C ha⁻¹), respectively. Average annual contribution of C input from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was 29% and that from wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Emend. Flori and Paol) was 24% of the harvestable above-ground biomass yield. Annual gross C input and annual rate of total SOC enrichment were 4852 and 900 kg C ha⁻¹, respectively, for the plots under NPK + FYM. It was estimated that 19% of the gross C input contributed towards the increase in SOC content. C loss from native SOM during 30 years averaged 61 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The estimated quantity of biomass C required to maintain equilibrium SOM content was 321 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The total annual C input by the soybean–wheat rotation in the plots under unfertilized control was 890 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Thus, increase in SOC concentration under long-term (30 years) rainfed soybean–wheat cropping was due to the fact that annual C input by the system was higher than the required amount to maintaining equilibrium SOM content.     

Environmental control of net ecosystem CO2 exchange in a treed, moderately rich fen in northern Alberta

Peatlands cover about 21% of the landscape and contain about 80% of the soil carbon stock in western Canada. However, the current rates of carbon accumulation and the environmental controls on ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration in peatland ecosystems are poorly understood. As part of Fluxnet-Canada, we continuously measured net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange (NEE) using the eddy covariance technique in a treed fen dominated by stunted Picea mariana and Larix laricina trees during August 2003–December 2004. The total carbon stock in the ecosystem was approximately 51,000 g C m⁻², with only 540 g C m⁻² contributed by live above ground vegetation. The NEE measurements were used to parameterize simple physiological models to assess temporal variation in maximum ecosystem photosynthesis (A_max) and ecosystem respiration rate at 10 °C (R₁₀). During mid-summer the ecosystem had a relatively high A_max (approx. 30 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) with relatively low R₁₀ (approx. 4 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). The peak mid-day NEE uptake rate during July and August was 10 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. The ecosystem showed large seasonal variation in photosynthetic and respiratory activity that was correlated with shifts in temperature, with both spring increases and fall decreases in A_max well predicted by the mean daily air temperature averaged over the preceding 21 days. Leaf-level gas exchange and spectral reflectance measurements also suggested that seasonal changes in photosynthetic activity were primarily controlled by shifts in temperature. Ecosystem respiration was strongly correlated with changes in ecosystem photosynthesis during the growing season, suggesting important links between plant activity and mycorrhizae and microbial activity in the shallow layers of the peat. Only very low rates of respiration were observed during the winter months. During 2004, the peatland recorded a net annual gain of 144 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, the result of a difference between gross photosynthesis of 713 and total ecosystem respiration of 569 g C m⁻² year⁻¹.     

Phenylpyrazoles impact on Folsomia candida (Collembola)

Effects of the broad-spectrum insecticide fipronil were investigated on a non-target insect living in the soil, the springtail Folsomia candida Willem. Fipronil induced a significant reduction in juvenile production (PNEC = 250 μg kg⁻¹ dry soil), which seemed to be linked with an impact on the first stages of springtail development: juveniles and 7-day-old adults. These young organisms have a thinner integument, a smaller mass body and a weaker detoxification efficiency and were more sensitive than adults (14 days old) to fipronil and phenylpyrazole derivatives. Contact toxicity for juveniles was measured (LC₅₀(96 h)) giving the following values: fipronil, 450 μg l⁻¹; sulfone-fipronil, 430 μg l⁻¹; sulfide-fipronil, 160 μg l⁻¹. F. candida organisms were able to avoid contaminated food because phenylpyrazoles decreased food appetency. However, F. candida could bioaccumulate fipronil through trans-tegumental penetration (BAF_96 h = 160) and its high biotransformation rate inside springtail bodies (1 ng fipronil metabolized day⁻¹ individual⁻¹) was suspected to increase this process. Under natural conditions, phenylpyrazoles risk assessment on springtails seems to be weak due to their capacity of avoiding high contaminated zones and their biochemical tolerance to this class of insecticides.     

Characterization of soil profiles in a landscape affected by long-term tillage

Soil movement by tillage redistributes soil within the profile and throughout the landscape, resulting in soil removal from convex slope positions and soil accumulation in concave slope positions. Previous investigations of the spatial variability in surface soil properties and crop yield in a glacial till landscape in west central Minnesota indicated that wheat (Triticum aestivum) yields were decreased in upper hillslope positions affected by high soil erosion loss. In the present study, soil cores were collected and characterized to indicate the effects of long-term intensive tillage on soil properties as a function of depth and tillage erosion. This study provides quantitative measures of the chemical and physical properties of soil profiles in a landscape subject to prolonged tillage erosion, and compares the properties of soil profiles in areas of differing rates of tillage erosion and an uncultivated hillslope. These comparisons emphasize the influence of soil translocation within the landscape by tillage on soil profile characteristics. Soil profiles in areas subject to soil loss by tillage erosion >20 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ were characterized by truncated profiles, a shallow depth to the C horizon (mean upper boundary 75 cm from the soil surface), a calcic subsoil and a tilled layer containing 19 g kg⁻¹ of inorganic carbon. In contrast, profiles in areas of soil accumulation by tillage >10 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ exhibited thick sola with low inorganic carbon content (mean 3 g kg⁻¹) and a large depth to the C horizon (usually >1.5 m below the soil surface). When compared to areas of soil accumulation, organic carbon, total nitrogen and Olsen-extractable phosphorus contents measured lower, whereas inorganic carbon content, pH and soil strength measured higher throughout the profile in eroded landscape positions because of the reduced soil organic matter content and the influence of calcic subsoil material. The mean surface soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents in cultivated areas (regardless of erosion status) were less than half that measured in an uncultivated area, indicating that intensive tillage and cropping has significantly depleted the surface soil organic matter in this landscape. Prolonged intensive tillage and cropping at this site has effectively removed at least 20 cm of soil from the upper hillslope positions.     

Carbon and nitrogen distribution in water-stable aggregates under two tillage techniques in Fluvisols of Owerri area, southeastern Nigeria

Organic matter influences soil structure and compactibility by binding soil mineral particles, reducing aggregate wettability, and influencing the mechanical strength of soil aggregates, which is the measure of coherence of inter-particle bonds. This work was carried out to examine how differences in water-stable aggregates influence the distribution of soil organic carbon and soil organic nitrogen under two tillage techniques [minimum tillage (only planting holes were opened) and conventional tillage (raised beds, 30 cm high, prepared manually with traditional hoes)] in soils of a Fluvisol in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria. Three pedons were dug and studied for each of the tillage technique along a soil sequence. Soil organic carbon and soil organic nitrogen distribution in whole soil and in water-stable aggregates under minimum tillage and conventional tillage were determined for the soils. Soil organic carbon contents in water-stable aggregates (WSA) of the pedons varied according to method of tillage. The highest mean values of soil organic carbon were obtained from minimum tillage and in water-stable aggregates 4.75–2.00 mm (16.03 Mg C ha⁻¹), 1.00–0.50 mm (14.06 Mg C ha⁻¹) and water-stable aggregates 2.00–1.00 mm (13.99 Mg C ha⁻¹) whereas under conventional tillage, water-stable aggregates 1.00–0.50 mm with soil organic carbon of 24.6 Mg C ha⁻¹ had the highest soil organic carbon content. Soil organic carbon correlated significantly with mean weight diameter (r = 0.48; P = 0.05; n = 15), water-stable aggregates 4.75–2.00 mm (r = 0.73; P = 0.05; n = 15), water-stable aggregates 2.00–1.00 mm (r = 0.55; P = 0.05, n = 15), water-stable aggregates 1.00–0.50 mm (r = 0.44; P = 0.05; n = 15) whereas no relationship was found between soil organic carbon and water-stable aggregates 0.50–0.25 mm (r = 0.15; P = 0.05; n = 15) and water-stable aggregates <0.25 mm (r = 0.17; P = 0.05; n = 15) in soils under minimum tillage. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.45–0.58; P = 0.05; n = 14) between all water-stable aggregates classes studied and soil organic carbon in soils under conventional tillage. Mean values of soil organic nitrogen were higher in soils under minimum tillage with 4.75–2.00 mm and 2.00–1.00 mm aggregate classes having 1.64 Mg N ha⁻¹ and 1.57 Mg N ha⁻¹ soil organic nitrogen when compared to 1.01 Mg N ha⁻¹ and 1.00 Mg N ha⁻¹ in conventionally tilled soils of the same aggregate classes, respectively. Larger water-stable aggregate classes (4.75–2.00; 2.00–1.00) had slightly more soil organic nitrogen (22–26%) than smaller aggregate classes (1.00–0.50; 0.50–0.25; >0.25) with 14–24% soil organic nitrogen in minimum tilled soils. In soils under conventional tillage, 1.00–0.50 mm, 0.50–0.25 mm and <0.25 mm aggregate classes contributed more soil organic nitrogen (19.66–22.40%) to the soil whereas larger water-stable aggregate classes contributed 19.22% soil organic nitrogen. The proportion of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen retained in soils with higher percentage of water-stable aggregates are less likely to be lost through soil and wind erosion. The higher values of SOC in the whole soil and WSA classes less than 2.00 mm are indications of positive influence of SOC on the stability of these peds.     

Comparison of net ecosystem CO2 exchange in two peatlands in western Canada with contrasting dominant vegetation, Sphagnum and Carex

Net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange was measured in two contrasting peatlands in northern Alberta, Canada using the eddy covariance technique during the growing season (May–October). Sphagnum spp. made up approximately 66% of the total LAI (1.52 m² m⁻²) at the poor fen and the total N content of Sphagnum capitula was 7.8 mg g⁻¹ at the peak of the growing season. In contrast, the dominant plant species at the extreme-rich fen site, the perennial sedge, Carex lasiocarpa, accounted for approximately 60% of the total LAI (1.09 m² m⁻²), and had leaf total N content of 19.3 mg g⁻¹ at peak biomass. In addition, the peak aboveground biomass was higher at the poor fen (230.9 g m⁻²) than at the extreme-rich fen (157.1 g m⁻²). Both sites had maximum daily rates of net CO₂ uptake of approximately 5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, and typical nighttime rates of CO₂ loss of approximately 2 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ during the peak of the growing season. Calculations of maximum photosynthetic and respiratory capacity were consistently higher at the extreme-rich fen. The poor fen was a net sink for CO₂ during 4 of the 6 months (peaking at 44 g C m⁻² in July), while only slight net losses of CO₂ (3 g C m⁻²) occurred in May and September. In contrast, the extreme-rich fen was calculated to be a significant net sink for CO₂ only during 2 months of the growing season (peaking at 30 g C m⁻² in August), while significant net losses of CO₂ occurred in May (8 g C m⁻²) and in October (13 g C m⁻²). The plant species at the poor fen site were active earlier and later in the growing season, while it took longer for C. lasiocarpa to develop leaf tissue, and leaf senescence and reduction in photosynthetic activity occurred earlier in the fall at the extreme-rich fen. When integrated over the 6-month growing season, the poor fen was a net sink (90 g C m⁻²) that was three times larger than the extreme-rich fen (31 g C m⁻²). The ratio of cumulative total ecosystem respiration to gross primary production was 0.7 at the poor fen and 0.9 at the extreme-rich fen.     

Impact of cultivation on soil organic carbon and carbon sequestration potential in semiarid regions of China

Dynamic changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) have become a popular topic in global research on organic carbon as part of the increasing attention being paid to food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, the semiarid regions of China were selected as a research focus, and SOC data from 1980 to 2015 were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0 software. SOC in farmland varied according to cultivated land type, mulching material type and planting method in the studied regions. The SOC content is 10.3–10.8 g kg⁻¹ in supplementally irrigated land and flat dry land, 7.1–8.7 g kg⁻¹ in terraced dry land and river beach land, and 6.2–6.4 g kg⁻¹ in sloping dry land. The SOC content increased to 16.1–17.4 g kg⁻¹ when crop stalks were used as mulch. The increase was only 11.5–13.5 g kg⁻¹ in soils mulched with film or sandstone. The SOC value in wheat, maize and potatoes sown on single or double ridges was 2.4%–3.2%, 35.7%–36.4% and 4.4%–4.8%, respectively, which are higher than the values for wheat, maize and potatoes sown using the flat planting method. The SOC sequestering potential also varied according to the previously noted factors and was improved from 224.1% to 383.8% depending on cultivated land type, from 96.5% to 182.3% depending on mulching material type and from 96.1% to 191.3% depending on planting method. The SOC sequestering potential can be improved by 453.2%–757.4% with the integration of the optimal cultivated land type, mulching material type and planting method. Thus, there is substantial soil carbon sequestration potential in China's semiarid regions.     

Soil organic C stabilization and thresholds in C saturation

When building soil organic matter (SOM) contents in agricultural production systems, stabilization of both pre-existing as well as added C is important. A laboratory mineralization experiment was conducted over 374 days to evaluate the effect of pre-existing SOM on soil C mineralization after addition of organic matter (OM) using sugar cane. The SOM gradient used here stretched from 21 to 106 g C kg⁻¹ soil and was a result of different periods of continuous cultivation of 5, 20, 35 and 105 years in comparison to a forest soil. The rate of organic C mineralization was found to be dependent on the status of pre-existing soil organic C (SOC). Highly degraded soil which had been under continuous cultivation for 35 years and more showed the highest rate of C mineralization per unit SOC (117.9 mg C g⁻¹ C) while forest soil had the lowest amount of C mineralized per unit SOC (73.5 mg C g⁻¹ C). Forest soil had the highest amount of increased C mineralization as a result of organic matter (OM) additions (8.0 mg C g⁻¹ soil) followed by the highly degraded soil that had been under cultivation for 105 years (5.5 mg C g⁻¹ soil). Additional mineralized C as a function of time after forest conversion declined progressively within the first 20 years of continuous soil use. Soil which had been under continuous cultivation for 20 years had the lowest amount of additional mineralized C (4.0 mg C g⁻¹ soil). SOM stabilization efficiency in the studied soils appears to be highest with intermediate cultivation history of about 20 years. These soils that have been recently converted to cultivation also appear to have a greater ability to stabilize added OM than the most degraded soils investigated in this study. It is thus advisable to provide intervention strategies to reverse SOM decline for farming communities at an intermediate stage before the soils are highly depleted of SOC.     

Changes in soil organic carbon, nutrients and aggregation after conversion of native desert soil into irrigated arable land

This study aimed at investigating the effects of agricultural exploitation on desert soil organic C, N and P, and soil aggregation. Four land uses were assessed: (1) 5-year wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) + 5-year maize (Zea mays L.); (2) 5-year wheat/barley + 5-year alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); (3) 6-year wheat/barley + 4-year acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and (4) uncultivated desert soil. The desert soil contained total organic C (TOC) of 3.1, 3.7 and 4.2 g kg⁻¹ and particulate organic C (POC) of 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8 g kg⁻¹ at 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths, respectively. The soil TOC concentration was increased by 32–68% under wheat–maize rotation and by 27–136% under wheat–acacia at 0–20 cm depth, and by 48% under wheat–alfalfa only at 0–10 cm depth. This contrasted with an increase in the soil POC concentration by 143–167% at depth 0–20 cm under wheat–maize and by 217%, 550% at depth 0–10 cm under wheat–alfalfa and wheat–acacia, respectively. The desert soil had 13 Mg ha⁻¹ TOC stock and 2 Mg ha⁻¹ POC stock at depth 0–30 cm, whereas crop rotations increased the soil TOC stock by 30–65% and POC stock by 200–350%. Over the 10-year period, the rates of TOC accumulation were 0.6, 0.3, 0.8 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and the rates of POC accumulation were 0.4, 0.4 and 0.7 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ under wheat–maize, wheat–alfalfa and wheat–acacia rotations, respectively. At 0–30 cm depth, total soil N was increased by 61–64% under wheat–maize and wheat–acacia, but total soil P was reduced by 38% under wheat–alfalfa. A significant improvement in clay stability but not in aggregate water-stability was observed in cultivated soils. The results showed a significant increase in soil organic C pool but unimproved macro-aggregation of the desert soil after 10 years of cultivation.     

Improved legume tree fallows and tillage effects on structural stability and infiltration rates of a kaolinitic sandy soil from central Zimbabwe

Improved legume tree fallows have great potential to increase soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability and soil infiltration rates during the fallowing phase. However, persistence of the residual effects of improved fallowing on SOC, aggregate stability and infiltration rates, under different tillage systems in Zimbabwe is not well documented. The relationships between SOC, aggregate stability and infiltration in fallow-maize rotation systems are also not well documented. We therefore evaluated effects of tillage on SOC, aggregate stability and infiltration rates of a kaolinitic sandy soil during the cropping phase of an improved fallow-maize rotation system. Plots that were under legume tree fallows (Sesbania sesban; Acacia angustissima), natural fallow (NF) and under continuous maize during the previous 2 years were divided into conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) subplots soon after fallow termination, and maize was cropped in all plots during the following two seasons. Aggregate stability was investigated using water stable macroaggregation index (I_ma), water dispersible clay (WDC) and using the mean weight diameter (MWD) after different wetting procedures. Infiltration rates were determined using simulated rainfall at intensity of 35 mm h⁻¹ on 1 m² plots. Soil organic carbon was significantly higher (P < 0.05) under fallows than continuous maize. For the 0–5 cm depth SOC was 11.0, 10.0, 9.4 and 6.6 g kg⁻¹ for A. angustissima, S. sesban, NF and continuous maize, respectively, at fallow termination. After 2 years of cropping SOC was 8.0, 7.0, 6.1 and 5.9 g kg⁻¹ under CT and 9.1, 9.0, 8.0 and 6.0 g kg⁻¹ under NT for A. angustissima, S. sesban, NF and continuous maize, respectively. Aggregate stability was significantly greater (P < 0.05) under fallows than under continuous maize and also higher under NT than under CT. The macroaggregation index (I_ma) for the 0–5 cm depth was 466, 416, 515 and 301 for A. angustissima, S. sesban, NF and continuous maize, respectively at fallow termination, decreasing to 385, 274, 286 and 255 under CT and 438, 300, 325 and 270 under NT, for A. angustissima, S. sesban, NF and continuous maize, respectively, after 2 years of cropping. Percent WDC was also significantly lower (P < 0.05) in fallows than in continuous maize, and for the 0–5 cm it was 11, 10, 8 and 17 for A. angustissima, S. sesban, NF and continuous maize, respectively at fallow termination. After 2 years of cropping WDC (%) was 12, 14, 15 and 17 under CT and 10, 12, 12 and 16 under NT for A. angustissima, S. sesban, NF and continuous maize, respectively. MWD also showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) aggregate stability in fallows than in continuous maize. Water infiltration rates were significantly greater under fallows than continuous maize but these declined significantly during the cropping phase in plots that had been fallowed. In October 2000, infiltration rates in the A. angustissima and NF plots were above 35 mm h⁻¹ as no runoff was observed. Steady-state infiltration rates were 24 mm h⁻¹ in S. sesban and 5 mm h⁻¹ for continuous maize after 30 min of rainfall simulations. After 2 years of cropping infiltration rates remained above 35 mm h⁻¹ in A. angustissima plots, but declined to 18 and 8 mm h⁻¹ for NF, CT and NT respectively and 12 mm h⁻¹ for S. sesban, CT and NT. It is concluded that legume tree fallows improved SOC, aggregate stability and infiltration rates, but these benefits accrued during fallowing decreased significantly after 2 years of cropping following the termination of fallows. The decrease in SOC and aggregate stability was higher under CT than NT. Coppicing fallows of A. angustissima were the best long-term fallow species when integrated with NT as improved soil physical properties were maintained beyond 2 years of post-fallow cropping.     

土法炼锌区大气沉降Pb、Zn、Cd及其对土壤质量的影响

Dust emissions from smelters, as a major contributor to heavy metal contamination in soils, could severely influence soil quality. Downwind surface soils within 1.5 km of a zinc smelter, which was active for 10 years but ceased in 2000, in Magu Town, Guizhou Province, China were selected to examine Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations and their fractionation along a distance gradient from a zinc smelter, and to study the possible effects of Pb, Zn, and Cd accumulation on soil microorganisms by comparing with a reference soil located at a downwind distance of 10 km from the zinc smelter. Soils within 1.5 km of the zinc smelter accumulated high levels of heavy metals Zn (508 mg kg-1), Pb (95.6 mg kg-1), and Cd (5.98 mg kg-1) with low ratios of Zn/Cd (59.1--115) and Pb/Cd (12.4--23.4). Composite pollution indices (CPIs) of surface soils (2.52--15.2) were 3 to 13 times higher than the reference soils. In metal accumulated soils, exchangeable plus carbonate-bound fractions accounted for more than 10% of the total Zn, Pb, and Cd. The saturation degree of metals (SDM) in soils within 1.5 km of the smelter (averaging 1.25) was six times higher than that of the reference soils (0.209). A smaller soil microbial biomass was found more frequently in metal accumulated soils (85.1--438 μg C g-1) than in reference soils (497 μg C g-1), and a negative correlation (P < 0.01) of soil microbial biomass carbon to organic carbon ratio (Cmic/Corg) with SDM was observed. Microbial consumption of carbon sources was more rapid in contaminated soils than in reference soils, and a shift in the substrate utilization pattern was apparent and was negatively correlated with SDM (R = -0.773, P < 0.01). Consequently, dust deposited Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils from zinc smelting were readily mobilized, and weredetrimental to soil quality mainly in respect of microbial biomass.