Enhancing phosphorus availability,soil organic carbon,maize productivity and farm profitability through biochar and organic–inorganic fertilizers in an irrigated maize agroecosystem under semi‐arid climate

Biochar amendments offer promising potential to improve soil fertility, soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields; however, a limited research has explored these benefits of biochar in the arid and semi‐arid regions. This two‐year field study investigated the effects of Acacia tree biomass‐derived biochar, applied at 0 and 10 t ha^?1 rates with farmyard manure (FYM) or poultry manure (PM) and mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizer combinations (100 kg P ha^‐1), on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity, P use efficiency (PUE) and farm profitability. The application of biochar with organic–inorganic P fertilizers significantly increased soil P and SOC contents than the sole organic or inorganic P fertilizers. Addition of biochar and PM as 100% P source resulted in the highest soil P (104% increase over control) and SOC contents (203% higher than control). However, maize productivity and PUE were significantly higher under balanced P fertilizer (50% organic + 50% mineral fertilizer) with biochar and the increase was 110%, 94% and 170% than 100%‐FYM, 100%‐PM and 100% mineral fertilizer, respectively. Maize productivity and yield correlated significantly positively with soil P and SOC contents These positive effects were possibly due to the ability of biochar to improve soil properties, P availability from organic–inorganic fertilizers and SOC which resulted in higher PUE and maize productivity. Despite the significant positive relationship of PUE with net economic returns, biochar incorporation with PM and mineral fertilizer combination was economically profitable, whereas FYM along biochar was not profitable due to short duration of the field experiments.     

Biochar combined with nitrogen fertilizer affects soil properties and wheat yield in medium-low-yield farmland

Biochar combined with fertilizer as a soil amendment benefits to improving soil fertility, especially soil organic carbon and crop yield. However, the effect of biochar on the improvement of soil properties and crop yield was varied from soil properties and limited for medium–low-yield farmland in the North China. During the completely randomized field experiment, SIX treatments (biochar applied as 0, 15 and 30 t·ha^-1, under 240 and 300 kg N ha^-1 nitrogen fertilizer) were applied in wheat season and examined to reveal changes in the SOC and other properties of 0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm soil layers. The results showed that two years after the application of biochar, a significant increase in the SOC was observed, ranging from 19.52% to 97.50% (p < 0.05) in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing amount of biochar applied under the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer. The content of soil available potassium increased significantly under 30 t·ha^-1 biochar application (p < 0.05). Both biochar and nitrogen fertilizer application could increase wheat yield, and the effect of biochar application for increasing wheat yield was better than that of nitrogen fertilizer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer at the same amount of biochar application. The principal component analysis results showed that biochar input, SOC, available potassium and total nitrogen were the key factors affecting wheat yield. Biochar application is a fast and effective measure to improve SOC and wheat yield in medium- and low-yield farmlands.     

Soil carbon sequestration and crop yield in response to application of chemical fertilizer combined with cattle manure to an artificially eroded Phaeozem

Organic manure application is a feasible approach to alleviate the deterioration of soil erosion on soil organic carbon (SOC). However, to what extent manure application can restore carbon contents in SOC fractions in the eroded Phaeozems remains unknown. A 5-year field experiment was conducted in an artificially eroded Phaeozem with up to 30 cm of topsoil being removed. Chemical fertiliser, or chemical fertiliser plus cattle manure was applied. The contents of SOC were 23.6, 21.6 and 15.1 g C kg^?1 soil for non-soil removal control, 10 and 30 cm of topsoil removal, respectively. Compared with the chemical fertiliser-only treatment, the chemical fertiliser plus manure application markedly increased SOC contents by 30–45% and C sequestration rates by 7.1–9.0-fold, especially in the fraction of 53–250 μm particulate organic carbon. However, with manure applied, SOC content in the fraction of mineral associated organic carbon in the 30 cm topsoil-removed soil was 2.9 g kg^?1, 14.7% less than control (3.4 g kg^?1). The combination of chemical fertliser and manure application effectively restored SOC in the eroded Phaeozems mainly through increasing the size of 53–250 μm particulate organic C fraction, but did not improve the SOC stability in severely eroded Phaeozems.     

Biochar has little effect on soil dissolved organic carbon pool 5 years after biochar application under field condition

Biochar application can improve soil properties, such as increasing soil organic carbon content, soil pH and water content. These properties are important to soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC); however, the effects of biochar on DOC concentration and composition have received little research attention, especially several years after biochar application under field conditions. This study was conducted in a long‐term experimental field where the biochar was only applied once in 2009. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of different biochar application rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 t ha^?1) on the dynamics of soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC compositions (reducing sugar, soluble phenol and aromatics) over nine samplings during a 12‐month period in 2014. Our results showed that soil water content and DOC concentration varied from 7.1% to 14.5% and 59 to 230 mg C kg^?1 soil during the 12 months, respectively. However, the biochar application rates did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC composition at the same sampling period. The DOC concentration across the biochar treatments was positively correlated to soil water content. Moreover, the DOC composition (reducing sugar, soluble phenol or aromatics) and their concentrations were positively correlated to the total DOC concentration. In addition, biochar did not affect soil bulk density, pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity and crop yields. The results indicated that some benefits of biochar to soil may not persist 5 years after the application of biochar under a field condition.     

The effect of biochar with biogas digestate or mineral fertilizer on fertility,aggregation and organic carbon content of a sandy soil: Results of a temperate field experiment

Substitution of mineral fertilizers with organic soil amendments is postulated to improve productivity‐relevant soil properties such as aggregation and organic matter (OM) content. However, there is a lack of studies analyzing the effects of biochar and biogas digestate versus mineral fertilizer on soil aggregation and OM dynamics under temperate field conditions. To address this research gap, a field experiment was sampled four years after establishment on a sandy Cambisol in Germany where mineral fertilizer or liquid biogas digestate was applied with or without 3 or 40 Mg biochar ha^?1 (produced at 650°C). Soil samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC) content, pH, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, water‐holding capacity, microbial biomass, aggregate size class distribution, and the SOC content associated with these size classes. 40 Mg biochar ha^?1 significantly increased SOC content in all fractions, especially free particulate OM and the 2–0.25 mm fraction. The yield of small macroaggregates (2–0.25 mm) was increased by biochar, but cation exchange capacity, water‐holding capacity, and pH were not consistently improved. Thus, high‐temperature biochar applied to a sandy soil under temperate conditions is primarily recommended to increase SOC content, which could contribute to climate change mitigation if this C remains sequestered over the long‐term. Fertilizer type did not significantly affect SOC content or other measured properties of the sandy Cambisol, suggesting that replacement of mineral fertilizer with digestate has a neutral effect on soil fertility. Co‐application of biochar with digestate provided no advantages for soil properties compared to co‐application with mineral fertilizer. Thus, independent utilization of these organic amendments is equally suitable.     

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil organic and inorganic carbon sequestration and lability: A study from a rice–wheat cropping system on a calcareous soil of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

Increasing soil carbon (C) in arable soils is an important strategy to achieve sustainable yields and mitigate climate change. We investigated changes in soil organic and inorganic carbon (SOC and SIC) under conservation agriculture (CA) in a calcareous soil of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. The treatments were as follows: conventional-till rice and wheat (CT-CT), CT rice and zero-till wheat (CT-ZT), ZT direct seeded rice (DSR) and CT wheat (ZT-CT), ZTDSR and ZT wheat without crop residue retention (ZT-ZT), ZT-ZT with residue (ZT-ZT+R), and DSR and wheat both on permanent beds with residue (PB-PB+R). The ZT-ZT+R had the highest total SOC in both 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers (20% and 40% higher (p < .05) than CT-CT, respectively), whereas total SIC decreased by 11% and 15% in the respective layers under ZT-ZT+R compared with CT-CT. Non-labile SOC was the largest pool, followed by very labile, labile and less labile SOC. The benefits of ZT and residue retention were greatest for very labile SOC, which showed a significant (p < .05) increase (~50%) under ZT-ZT+R compared with CT-CT. The ZT-ZT+R sequestered ~2 Mg ha⁻¹ total SOC in the 0–15 cm soil layer in 6 years, where CT registered significant losses. Thus, the adoption of CA should be recommended in calcareous soils, for C sequestration, and also as a reclamation technique.     

Biochar‐compost substrates in short‐rotation coppice: Effects on soil and trees in a three‐year field experiment

Both biochar and compost may improve carbon sequestration and soil fertility; hence, it has been recommended to use a mixture of both for sustainable land management. Here, we evaluated the effects of biochar–compost substrates on soil properties and plant growth in short rotation coppice plantations (SRC). For this purpose, we planted the tree species poplar, willow, and alder in a no‐till field experiment, each of them amended in triplicate with 0 (= control) or 30 Mg ha^?1 compost or biochar–compost substrates containing 15% vol. (TPS15) and 30% vol. biochar (TPS30). For three years running, we analyzed plant growth as well as soil pH, potential cation exchange capacity (CEC), stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, and plant‐available phosphate and potassium oxide.Biochar‐compost substrates affected most soil properties only in the topsoil and for a limited period of time. The CEC and total stocks of SOC were consistently elevated relative to the control. After three years the C gain of up to 6.4 Mg SOC ha^?1 in the TPS30 plots was lower than the added C amount. Especially in the case of TPS30 treatment, C input was characterized by the greatest losses after application, although the black carbon of the biochar was not degraded in soil. Additionally, tree growth and woody biomass yield did not respond at all to the treatments. Overall, there were few if any indications that biochar–compost substrates improve the performance of SRC under temperate soil and climate conditions. Therefore, the use of biochar for such systems is not recommended.     

Soil Organic Carbon and Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Along a 30‐year Grassland Restoration Chronosequence in Semi‐arid Regions (China)

Carbon accumulation is an important research topic for grassland restoration. It is requisite to determine the dynamics of the soil carbon pools [soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC)] for understanding regional carbon budgets. In this study, we chose a grassland restoration chronosequence (cropland, 0 years; grasslands restored for 5, 15 and 30 years, i.e. RG5, RG15 and RG30, respectively) to compare the SOC and SIC pools in different soil profiles. Our results showed that SOC stock in the 0‐ to 100‐cm soil layer showed an initial decrease in RG5 and then an increase to net C gains in RG15 and RG30. Because of a decrease in the SIC stock, the percentage of SOC stock in the total soil C pool increased across the chronosequence. The SIC stock decreased at a rate of 0·75 Mg hm⁻² y⁻¹. The change of SOC was higher in the surface (0–10 cm, 0·40 Mg hm⁻² y⁻¹) than in the deeper soil (10–100 cm, 0·33 Mg hm⁻² y⁻¹) in RG5. The accumulation of C commenced >5 years after cropland conversion. Although the SIC content decreased, the SIC stock still represented a larger percentage of the soil C pool. Moreover, the soil total carbon showed an increasing trend during grassland restoration. Our results indicated that the soil C sequestration featured an increase in SOC, offsetting the decrease in SIC at the depth of 0–100 cm in the restored grasslands. Therefore, we suggest that both SOC and SIC should be considered during grassland restoration in semi‐arid regions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

生物炭还田对植烟土壤活性有机碳及酶活性的影响

为探索不同来源的生物炭及其还田方式对连作植烟土壤的改良效果,以四川盐源红壤为研究对象,通过田间试验研究了不同生物炭类型(玉米秸秆生物炭YM、油菜秸秆生物炭YC)配合不同还田方式(条施、穴施、条施+穴施)下,土壤有机碳组分和土壤酶活性在烤烟不同生育期的变化特征。结果表明,生物炭类型和还田方式显著改变了土壤总有机碳(TOC)含量,与CK(不添加生物炭)相比,生物炭处理的土壤TOC含量增加了6.9%~39.7%,其中油菜生物炭穴施还田的效果最佳。生物炭提高了土壤活性有机碳库和颗粒态有机碳含量,其中油菜生物炭处理的活性有机碳平均含量显著高于玉米生物炭,颗粒态有机碳含量则相反;与CK相比,玉米生物炭和油菜生物炭穴施还田提高了土壤可溶性有机碳含量,分别显著增加了25.3%~36.4%和33.3%~51.3%;油菜生物炭穴施还田的烤烟旺长期土壤微生物量碳、易氧化有机碳和颗粒态有机碳含量最高,较CK分别增加了34.6%、28.9%和38.3%。土壤蔗糖酶、蛋白酶活性总体受生物炭类型和还田方式的显著影响,与CK相比,油菜生物炭穴施还田的土壤蔗糖酶活性显著提高了24.1%~30.6%;玉米生物炭对烤烟现蕾期和成熟期土壤脲酶、蛋白酶活性提升效果总体优于油菜生物炭。综上,生物炭还田总体增加了植烟土壤有机碳库含量和酶活性,其中油菜生物炭穴施还田方式对土壤活性有机碳库、蔗糖酶活性的提升效果较佳。本研究结果为植烟土壤保育技术和生物炭在烟草生产的应用提供了科学依据和指导实践。     

荒漠草原沙漠化对土壤无机碳和有机碳的影响

以空间代替时间的方法,通过对宁夏荒漠草原不同沙漠化阶段土壤有机碳(SOC)和无机碳(SIC)的研究,探讨荒漠草原沙漠化对土壤SIC、SOC及不同粒径组分土壤SIC、SOC分布特征的影响。结果表明:(1)随着荒漠草原沙漠化程度的加剧,0—10cm土层各粒径组分土壤SIC和SOC含量呈下降趋势。半固定沙地和流动沙地各粒径组分土壤SIC含量均表现为黏粉粒无机碳(CSIC)>细砂粒无机碳(FIC)>粗砂粒无机碳(CIC),而SOC含量均表现为细砂粒有机碳(FOC)>粗砂粒有机碳(COC)>黏粉粒有机碳(CSOC)。(2)随着荒漠草原沙漠化程度的加剧,0—30cm土层土壤无机碳(SICD)、土壤有机碳(SOCD)和土壤总碳(STCD)密度均表现为荒漠草原>固定沙地>半固定沙地>流动沙地。固定沙地、半固定沙地和流动沙地土壤SOCD、SICD分别比荒漠草原降低了18.5%,57.7%,60.5%和6.7%,35.9%,47.0%。(3)0—10cm土层各粒径组分土壤SOC和SIC含量、全土SOC含量与0—30cm土层SOC和SIC均呈显著正相关关系,其中土壤粗砂粒有机碳和粗砂粒无机碳对SOC影响最大,而土壤黏粉粒有机碳和黏粉粒无机碳与全土SIC含量呈显著负相关关系。因此,沙漠化防治对于减少荒漠草原土壤碳损失极为重要。     

碳氮添加对雨养农田土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分的影响

为探明碳氮添加4年后,土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分(可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组和重组有机碳)的变化特征,依托布设于甘肃省定西市安定区李家堡镇的不同碳源配施氮素田间定位试验,涉及秸秆、生物质炭、氮素3个因素,秸秆设置为不施、施用秸秆2水平;生物质炭为不施和施用生物质炭2个水平;氮素设置为不施氮、施纯氮50 kg/hm^2、施纯氮100 kg/hm^2 3个水平,共9个处理。结果表明:不同处理下土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分的含量均随土层的加深而降低。添加生物质炭对土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分均具有不同程度的提升效应。添加秸秆对土壤全氮、有机碳和可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳均具有显著提升效应,仅在0-5 cm土层对重组有机碳有显著提高。添加氮素可显著提升土壤全氮、有机碳和可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳含量。较其他处理,添加生物质炭对土壤全氮、有机碳和重组有机碳的提升效应最高,添加秸秆对可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳的提升效果最优。从提升土壤质量的角度出发,推荐秸秆配施氮素模式,该模式下土壤碳素有效性高、易于被微生物利用,有利于作物生长。从提高土壤固碳角度考虑,推荐生物质炭配施氮素模式,该模式有利于碳的封存。     

秸秆及其生物炭对土壤碳库管理指数及有机碳矿化的影响

以河南省粮食主产区壤质潮土和砂土为研究对象,通过盆栽试验和室内恒温培养试验,研究了生物炭与不同腐殖化程度的传统有机物料(秸秆和腐熟鸡粪)单施及配施对壤质潮土和砂土有机碳储量、活性及碳库管理指数的影响,并进一步比较了小麦秸秆直接还田和制炭还田对土壤有机碳矿化的影响,以及生物炭对土壤原有有机碳矿化的调控作用。结果表明:相同添加量下,生物炭对土壤有机碳含量的提升效果优于秸秆和腐熟鸡粪,在壤质潮土和砂土上分别较对照提升了63.15%和115.62%。另外,生物炭显著增加了土壤稳态碳含量和土壤碳库指数(CPI),但降低了土壤碳素有效率(SC)和碳库活度指数(AI),对土壤易氧化有机碳(POXC)和碳库管理指数(CMPI)无显著影响,添加秸秆显著增加了2种土壤POXC含量、基础呼吸和CPMI。进一步通过室内恒温培养试验发现,秸秆可在培养前期(0～37天)大幅度提升2种类型土壤有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量,秸秆制炭还田对土壤有机碳矿化无显著影响。此外生物炭对土壤原有有机碳矿化的调控作用受其施用量、外源活性有机碳输入和土壤类型的影响,高量生物炭(2%)对非秸秆还田土壤有机碳矿化表现出较强的负激发效应,而低量生物炭(0.55%)对秸秆还田土壤有机碳矿化表现出较明显的负激发效应。因此,从"固碳减排"角度考虑,秸秆制炭还田是更合理的利用方式,且应根据土壤施肥管理措施和土壤类型考虑生物炭的施用量,添加质量比为2%的生物炭可显著抑制土壤原有有机碳矿化,降低CO_2排放,但应避开秸秆快速腐解期施用。     

Soil organic carbon dynamics at the regional scale as influenced by land use history: a case study in forest soils from southern Belgium

Land use change (LUC) is known to have a large impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, at a regional scale, our ability to explain SOC dynamics is limited due to the variability generated by inconsistent initial conditions between sample points, poor spatial information on previous land use/land management history and scarce SOC inventories. This study combines the resampling in 2003–2006 of an extensive soil survey in 1950–1960 with exhaustive historical data on LUC (1868–2006) to explain observed changes in the SOC stocks of temperate forest soils in the Belgian Ardennes. Results from resampling showed a significant loss of SOC between the two surveys, associated with a decrease in variability. The mean carbon content decreased from 40.4 to 34.5 g C kg^?1 (10.6 to 9.6 kg C m^?2), with a mean rate of C change (ΔSOC) of ?0.15 g C kg^?1 year^?1 (?0.023 kg C m^?2 year^?1). Soils with high SOC content tended to loose carbon while conversely soils with low SOC tended to gain carbon. Land use change history explained a significant part of past and current SOC stocks as well as ΔSOC during the last 50 years. We show that the use of spatially explicit historical data can help to quantitatively explain changes in SOC content at the regional scale.     

不同有机物料对苏打盐化土有机碳和活性碳组分的影响

【目的】在大同盆地苏打盐化土上,研究不同有机物料对春玉米产量、土壤有机碳及活性碳组分的影响,明确土壤有机碳及活性碳组分与主要盐碱指标的相关关系,为苏打盐化土改良及有机物料资源化利用提供理论支撑。【方法】2016-2017年在山西省北部怀仁县开展田间定位试验,设对照(CK)、风化煤、生物炭、牛粪和秸秆5个处理,各处理有机物料施用量按照每年9000 kg/hm^2等有机碳投入量折算,收获时对春玉米进行测产。2017年春玉米收获后,采集土壤样品测定土壤有机碳总量(SOC)和水溶性有机碳(WSOC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量,分析土壤活性碳组分占有机碳的比例、土壤有机碳及活性碳组分与盐碱指标之间的关系。【结果】与CK相比,生物炭和秸秆处理春玉米产量无明显差异,而风化煤和牛粪处理春玉米产量则分别显著提高30.2%和30.3%。添加有机物料促进了0-20 cm土层SOC累积,其中以风化煤和牛粪处理效果最佳,较CK分别提高47.6%和36.1%。在有机碳组分方面,风化煤和牛粪处理提高WSOC、EOC含量的效果显著高于生物炭、秸秆处理;风化煤、牛粪和秸秆处理的LFOC含量显著高于生物炭处理。四类有机物料处理的WSOC占总有机碳的比例差异不显著,牛粪处理的占比显著高于CK。EOC占总有机碳的比例以牛粪处理最高,风化煤次之,且二者均显著高于CK处理;LFOC占总有机碳的比例则表现为秸秆、牛粪>风化煤、生物炭> CK。此外,添加有机物料能有效降低0-20 cm土层土壤pH、电导率(EC)和碱化度(ESP),其中以风化煤和牛粪处理降幅最大。相关分析表明,土壤SOC与pH、EC和ESP呈显著负相关。【结论】通过有机物料改良效果比较,发现牛粪和风化煤处理能促进苏打盐化土有机碳累积,提高可溶性、易氧化态及轻组有机碳组分在总有机碳中的占比,降低土壤pH、EC和ESP,明显提高春玉米产量。因此,风化煤和牛粪是山西北部苏打盐化土良好的改良剂。     

Nitrogen deposition impacts on the amount and stability of soil organic matter in an alpine meadow ecosystem depend on the form and rate of applied nitrogen

The effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems are controversial. Therefore, it is important to evaluate accurately the effects of applied N levels and forms on the amount and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, a multi‐form, small‐input N addition experiment was conducted at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station from 2007 to 2011. Three N fertilizers, NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and KNO₃, were applied at four rates: 0, 10, 20 and 40 kg N ha^?1 year^?1. One hundred and eight soil samples were collected at 10‐cm intervals to a depth of 30 cm in 2011. Contents and δ¹³C values of bulk SOC were measured, as well as three particle‐size fractions: macroparticulate organic C (MacroPOC, > 250 µm), microparticulate organic C (MicroPOC, 53–250 µm) and mineral‐associated organic C (MAOC, < 53 µm). The results show that 5 years of N addition changed SOC contents, δ¹³C values of the bulk soils and various particle‐size fractions in the surface 10‐cm layer, and that they were dependent on the amounts and forms of N application. Ammonium‐N addition had more significant effects on SOC content than nitrate‐N addition. For the entire soil profile, small additions of N increased SOC stock by 4.5% (0.43 kg C m^?2), while medium and large inputs of N decreased SOC stock by 5.4% (0.52 kg C m^?2) and 8.8% (0.85 kg C m^?2), respectively. The critical load of N deposition appears to be about 20 kg N ha^?1 year^?1. The newly formed C in the small‐input N treatment remained mostly in the > 250 µm soil MacroPOC, and the C lost in the medium or large N treatments was from the > 53 µm POC fraction. Five years of ammonium‐N addition increased significantly the surface soil POC:MAOC ratio and increased the instability of soil organic matter (SOM). These results suggest that exogenous N input within the critical load level will benefit C sequestration in the alpine meadow soils on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau over the short term.     

Landuse impacts on soil organic carbon fractions in different rainfall areas of a subtropical dryland

Landuse can alter soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions by affecting carbon inflows and outflows. This study evaluated changes in SOC fractions in response to different landuses under variable rainfalls. We compared cropland, grassland and forest soils in high rainfall (Islamabad ~1142 mm) and low rainfall (Chakwal ~667 mm) areas of Pothwar dryland, Pakistan. Forest soils in both rainfall areas had highest SOC (11.32 g kg^?1), particulate organic carbon (POC, 1.70 g kg^?1), mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC, 7.17 g kg^?1) and aggregate-associated organic carbon (AOC, 7.86 g kg^?1). However, in rangeland and cropland soils, these varied with rainfall. Under high rainfall, SOC and MOC were 12% and 17% higher in rangeland than in cropland while POC and AOC were equal. Under low rainfall, SOC and MOC were higher in rangeland than in cropland by 7.21 and 1.79 g kg^?1 at 0–15 cm and equal at 15–30 cm depth. POC and AOC were higher in rangeland than in cropland, in both depths. Averagely, SOC, POC, MOC and AOC were 26%, 68%, 76% and 30% higher in high rainfall than in low rainfall soils. Sensitivity of SOC fractions to landuses observed under different rainfalls could provide useful information for soil management in subtropical drylands.     

岩溶山地不同土地利用方式土壤颗粒有机碳和矿物结合态有机碳的分布特征

对重庆中梁山岩溶山地不同土地利用方式下0-40cm土壤颗粒有机碳和矿物结合态有机碳的含量和分布特征进行了研究.结果表明:不同土地利用方式土壤有机碳含量平均值表现为:林地>菜地>草地>橘园地>弃耕地.除橘园地外,其它各土地利用类型土壤细颗粒有机碳(FPOC)含量大于粗颗粒有机碳(CPOC).不同利用方式土壤颗粒有机碳含量在剖面层次中表现不同.0-20cm表层土壤CPOC含量表现为:橘园地>草地>菜地>林地>弃耕地,差异较大.土壤FPOC含量表现为:林地>草地>菜地>橘园地>弃耕地;20-40cm土壤CPOC和FPOC最高值出现在菜地,最低值出现在弃耕地.不同土地利用方式土壤矿物结合态有机碳(MOC)含量和土壤有机碳含量分布特征一致.除橘园地外土壤各组分有机碳分配比例大致表现为:MOC/SOC>CPOC/SOC>FPOC/SOC.相关分析表明,不同土地利用方式土壤SOC和POC呈正相关,相关性不一致.林地和草地呈极显著相关(P<0.01),弃耕地呈显著相关(P<0.05),菜地和橘园地相关性不显著.表明人为干扰和耕作措施会影响POC对SOC的贡献.     

How do hedgerows influence soil organic carbon stock in livestock‐grazed pasture?

Hedgerows have the potential to influence ecosystem function in livestock‐grazed pasture. Despite this, they are often ignored when quantifying farmland ecosystem service delivery. In this study, we assess the contribution of hedgerows to the ecosystem function of carbon (C) storage, with a particular emphasis on soil organic carbon (SOC). We measured SOC stock (kg C m^?2), on an equivalent soil mass basis, at 0–0.15 m depth in pasture adjacent to 38 hedgerows (biotic) and 16 stone walls or fences (abiotic controls) across ten farms in the county of Conwy, Wales, UK. Pasture SOC stock (~7 kg C m^?2) was similar adjacent to biotic and abiotic field boundaries, positively associated with soil moisture and negatively with soil bulk density (BD). For biotic boundaries, two further variables were significantly associated with SOC stock, distance from hedgerow (decrease in SOC stock) and slope orientation (upslope SOC stock greater than downslope). For pasture adjacent to hedgerows, a model combining the aforementioned variables (BD, soil moisture, distance from hedgerow, slope orientation) explained 78% of variation in SOC stock. This study demonstrates that whilst hedgerows do have subtle positive effects on SOC stock in adjacent pasture, SOC storage adjacent to field boundaries is influenced more by soil moisture content and BD than field boundary type.     

The Warrumbungle Post‐Fire Recovery Project—raising the profile of soils

The impacts of a wildfire and subsequent rainfall event in 2013 in the Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales, Australia were examined in a project designed to provide information on post‐fire recovery expectations and options to land managers. A coherent suite of sub‐projects was implemented, including soil mapping, and studies on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N), erosion rates, groundcover recovery and stream responses. It was found that the loss of SOC and N increased with fire severity, with the greatest losses from severely burnt sandstone ridges. Approximately 2.4 million t of SOC and ~74,000 t of N were lost from soil to a depth of 10 cm across the 56,290 ha affected. Soil loss from slopes during the subsequent rainfall event was modelled up to 25 t ha^?1, compared to a long‐term mean annual soil loss of 1.06 t ha^?1 year^?1. Groundcover averages generally increased after the fire until spring 2015, by which time rates of soil loss returned to near pre‐fire levels. Streams were filled with sand to bank full levels after the fire and rainfall. Rainfall events in 2015–2016 shifted creek systems into a major erosive phase, with incision through the post‐fire sandy bedload deposits, an erosive phase likely related to loss of topsoils over much of the catchment. The effectiveness of the research was secured by a close engagement with park managers in issue identification and a communications programme. Management outcomes flowing from the research included installation of erosion control works, redesign of access and monitoring of key mass movement hazard areas.     

Carbon sequestration dynamic,trend and efficiency as affected by 22‐year fertilization under a rice–wheat cropping system

The maintenance and accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural systems is critical to food security and climate change, but information about the dynamic trend and efficiency of SOC sequestration is still limited, particularly under long‐term fertilizations. In a typical Purpli‐Udic Cambosols soil under subtropical monsoon climate in southwestern China this study thus estimated the dynamic, trend and efficiency of SOC sequestration after 22‐year (1991–2013) long‐term inorganic and/or organic fertilizations. Nine fertilizations under a rice–wheat system were examined: control (no fertilization), N, NP, NK, PK, NPK, NPKM (NPK plus manure), NPKS (NPK plus straw), and 1.5NPKS (150% NPK plus straw). Averagely, after 22‐years SOC contents were significantly increased by 4.2–25.3% and 10.2–32.5% under these fertilizations than under control conditions with the greatest increase under NPKS. The simulation of SOC dynamic change with an exponential growth equation to maximum over the whole fertilization period predicted the SOC level in a steady state as 18.1 g kg^?1 for NPKS, 17.4 g kg^?1 for 1.5NPKS, and 14.5–14.9 g kg^?1 for NK, NP, NPK, and NPKM, respectively. Either inorganic, organic or their combined fertilization significantly increased crop productivity and C inputs that were incorporated into soil ranging from 0.91 to 4.63 t (ha · y)^?1. The C sequestration efficiency was lower under NPKM, NPKS, and 1.5NPKS (13.2%, 9.0%, and 10.1%) than under NP and NPK (17.0% and 14.4%). The increase of SOC was asymptotical to a maximum with increasing C inputs that were variedly enhanced by different fertilizations, indicating an existence of SOC saturation and a declined marginal efficiency of SOC sequestration. Taken all these results together, the combined NPK plus straw return is a suitable fertilizer management strategy to simultaneously achieve high crop productivity and soil C sequestration potential particularly in crop rotation systems.