开垦年限对松嫩碱化草地土壤碳库的影响

采用等质量计算土壤碳储量的方法,研究了不同开垦年限对碱化草地0~100 cm土层土壤有机碳、无机碳和总碳储量的影响。结果表明:开垦24年后,耕地与天然草地相比0~100 cm土层土壤平均有机碳含量下降了11.22%,无机碳含量上升了27.47%;草地开垦以后,0~100 cm土层土壤有机碳储量以0.88 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)的速率下降,土壤无机碳储量以8.18 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)的速率增加;无机碳储量的增加弥补了有机碳储量的下降,从而使得0~100 cm土层土壤总碳储量以7.30 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)的速率增加。与等体积法得到的结果相比,应用等质量法估算得到的结果提高了土壤的碳库储量,使得0~100 cm土层土壤有机碳储量的损失速率降低了2.75 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1),而土壤无机碳储量的截获速率则提高了7.65 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)。以上结果表明,在估算富含无机碳的土壤碳库时应将土壤无机碳库考虑在内,而且在土地利用方式改变后,将土壤容重考虑在内的等质量法估算土壤碳库储量可能比等体积法更合适。     

植被重建下露天煤矿排土场边坡土壤碳储量变化

植被重建是治理排土场边坡水土流失最直接也是最有效的生物措施,研究不同植被重建模式下土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)含量的空间分布规律是筛选适宜排土场边坡生长的植被模式的重要条件。选取内蒙古黑岱沟露天煤矿治理15年的排土场边坡中4种植被重建模式(自然恢复地、草地、灌木林、乔木林),采集270个土壤剖面(0~100 cm)样品,研究不同重建模式下SOC储量的变化。结果表明:(1)植被重建模式显著影响剖面SOC、TN含量及分布(p0.05),0~10 cm和10~20 cm SOC、TN均呈草地灌木乔木自然恢复地,20 cm以下各土层SOC、TN虽然也表现相似的特征,但差异随土层深度增加越来越小。(2)剖面SOC密度和储量表现为原地貌区治理排土场新建排土场。经15年植被重建后,排土场边坡表现出巨大的固碳能力,1 m深度的林地和草地碳储量分别增加了5.38、11.85 t hm-2,但仅原地貌水平的1/2和3/5。(3)林地和草地的固碳速率分别为35.87、79.01 g m-2a-1,草地的固碳速率是林地的2.2倍,从土壤固碳及水土流失防治的角度考虑,建议矿区排土场边坡植被重建优先选择草地,其次灌木。     

玉米秸秆覆盖与深翻两种还田方式对黑土有机碳固持的影响

秸秆还田是实现东北黑土肥力提升与保障区域生态环境安全的有效措施。明确玉米秸秆覆盖与深翻还田下土壤有机碳(SOC, Soil Organic Carbon)的变化及其在团聚体中的固持特征,对于揭示秸秆还田后黑土有机碳的稳定机制与固碳潜力具有重要意义。该研究基于黑土区中部6 a定位试验,选择常规种植(CK)、秸秆覆盖还田(SM, Stovers Mulching)和秸秆深翻还田(SI, Stovers Incorporation)3个处理,对0～10、10～20、20～30及30～40 cm土层SOC含量、容重、水稳性团聚体分布及团聚体中有机碳(OC, Organic Carbon)含量进行了分析与测定,并对各处理年均碳投入量、SOC储量与土壤固碳速率等进行了估算。与CK相比,SM处理显著增加了0～10 cm土层SOC含量,增幅为22.4%,但对10～40cm土层SOC含量无显著影响;SI处理显著增加了0～40cm土层SOC含量,增幅为18.1%～41.5%,以20～30cm的增幅最突出。与SM处理相比,SI处理0～10 cm土层SOC储量显著低于前者,而20～30 cm土层SOC储量反之。6 a间,SM处理耕层(0～20 cm)与亚耕层(20～40 cm)土壤固碳速率分别为1.34和0.77 Mg/(hm2·a),SI处理为0.85和1.74 Mg/(hm2·a)。秸秆不同还田方式显著改变了0～40 cm土层团聚体分布及其中OC含量。与CK相比,SM显著增加了耕层大团聚体(0.25 mm)比例与平均质量直径(MWD, Mean Weight Diameter),SI显著提高了0～40 cm土层团聚体MWD,且对10～40 cm土层团聚结构的改善作用优于SM;SM处理显著增加了0～10 cm土层2和0.053 mm粒级团聚体OC含量,SI处理不仅增加了0～10 cm土层2 mm粒级团聚体OC含量,也显著提高了10～40 cm土层各粒级团聚体OC含量。在黑土区,秸秆覆盖还田对SOC的提升主要集中于表层,秸秆深翻还田促进了0～40cm土层SOC积累与土壤团聚结构的改善。     

封育与放牧对黄土高原天然草地土壤化学计量特征的影响

为揭示封育与放牧2种草地利用方式下土壤化学计量特征及其驱动因素,以宁夏固原云雾山封育草地和放牧草地为研究对象,定量分析了0—30 cm土壤化学计量特征及其影响因子。结果表明:(1)封育降低了土壤紧实度、容重和含水率,土壤孔隙度略有上升。(2)封育草地0—10 cm土层以0.25 mm水稳性团聚体为主,其中5 mm团聚体达到了46%,平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GWD)分别为3.78,1.70,显著高于放牧草地(P0.05),但两者分形维数并无差异,封育草地土壤团聚体稳定性有所提高。(3)封育草地0—10 cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)分别为17.714,2.018,0.659 g/kg,均高于放牧草地,其中土壤TN含量达到显著水平(P0.05)。(4)封育草地0—20 cm土层碳氮比(C/N)、碳磷比(C/P)、氮磷比(N/P)均高于放牧草地。(5)封育草地土壤SOC、TN、C/P和N/P与土壤容重和分形维数呈显著性负相关(P0.05),并且SOC和TN与MWD和GWD呈显著性正相关(P0.05),放牧草地土壤化学计量特征与物理特性相关性低于封育草地。封育与放牧相比,改善了土壤物理特性和团聚体结构,土壤养分有所提升,土壤化学计量特征与土壤物理特性密切相关,土壤物理结构可能是影响土壤化学计量特征的主控因子。     

不同封育管理措施对沙质草地土壤轻组及全土碳氮储量的影响

通过地面调查研究不同封育管理措施对甘肃景泰绿洲边缘沙质草地土壤轻组及全土碳氮储量的影响。结果表明,在天然封育和人工抚育措施实施后,研究区沙质草地0-40cm层土壤轻组及全土碳氮含量、单位面积有机碳和全氮储量都明显增加(P<0.05)。(1)和流动沙地相比,封育19年(人工抚育19年)、封育19年(人工抚育5年)、封育10年(自然恢复)沙质草地0-40cm层土壤轻组干物质量分别增加170.8%,150.0%,129.2%,0-40cm层土壤有机碳和全氮平均含量分别增加372.7%和266.7%,190.9%和183.3%,136.4%和91.7%,土壤轻组干物质量与全土有机碳和氮含量呈高度正相关(r=0.95**)。(2)和流动沙地相比,封育19年(人工抚育19年)、封育19年(人工抚育5年)、封育10年(自然恢复)沙质草地0-40cm层土壤轻组碳和氮储量分别比流动沙地增加422.7%和280.7%,345.7%和232.1%,244.4%和152.1%;全土碳和氮储量分别比流动沙地增加了261g/m2和20g/m2,143g/m2和15g/m2,101g/m2和7g/m2。(3)土壤轻组碳(氮)占全土碳(氮)储量的比例以封育沙质草地高于流动沙地;各封育沙质草地和流动沙地中轻组碳占全土碳的比例都高于轻组氮占全土氮的比例。(4)天然封育+人工抚育措施对沙质草地的影响和改善程度高于纯天然封育措施,它是促进我国北方退化沙质草地恢复的适宜方法。     

东北三省典型春玉米种植区土壤剖面碳库变化特征

【目的】 农田土壤碳储量及变化影响着农田肥力、生产力以及地力的可持续性。本文研究了东北三省典型春玉米种植区在0—90 cm土层土壤碳库的变化特征,分析了东北三省典型春玉米种植区农民习惯施肥措施下土壤的碳贮存情况。 【方法】 于2012年春玉米全生育期定点跟踪了黑龙江、吉林和辽宁省各17户,总计51户农民习惯施肥处理,测定了0—30、30—60、60—90 cm土层中全碳 (TC)、有机碳 (SOC)、无机碳 (IC)、颗粒有机碳 (POC)、微生物生物量碳 (SMBC) 以及可溶性有机碳 (DOC)含量。 【结果】 黑龙江、吉林、辽宁省典型春玉米种植区0—90 cm土层全碳储量分别为159.8、128.5、108.1 t/hm2,有机碳储量分别为141.7、120.5、90.2 t/hm2,无机碳储量分别为18.2、8.0、17.9 t/hm2。三个省份间0—90 cm土层SOC储量差异均达显著性水平 (P < 0.05),黑龙江的储量显著高于吉林的,吉林的储量又显著高于辽宁的。关于0—30 cm土壤TC、SOC储量,黑龙江、吉林、辽宁三省间差异均达显著水平 ( P < 0.05),在30—60 cm、60—90 cm土层,黑龙江的TC、SOC储量显著高于吉林和辽宁的 ( P < 0.05),吉林和辽宁间差异不显著;土壤剖面TC、SOC储量表现为 0—30 cm > 30—60 cm > 60—90 cm深。在土壤活性碳库方面,0—30 cm土层中,随着纬度的降低,黑龙江、吉林、辽宁省内POC、POC/SOC、SMBC/SOC、DOC/SOC呈增加趋势,而SMBC则呈降低趋势,三省间POC/SOC、SMBC、DOC/SOC平均含量差异均达显著性水平 ( P < 0.05),黑龙江POC平均含量显著低于吉林、辽宁的 ( P < 0.05),吉林的DOC平均含量显著高于黑龙江、辽宁的 ( P < 0.05);30—60 cm土层,黑龙江、吉林、辽宁省内POC、POC/SOC、DOC/SOC随着纬度的升高而降低,且三省间POC/SOC平均值差异达显著性水平,黑龙江POC、DOC/SOC显著低于吉林、辽宁的 ( P < 0.05),但SMBC含量黑龙江显著高于吉林、辽宁的 ( P < 0.05);在60—90 cm土层,黑龙江土壤的POC、POC/SOC、DOC/SOC、SMBC/SOC含量平均值显著低于吉林、辽宁的 ( P < 0.05),吉林的SMBC显著高于辽宁的 ( P < 0.05)。随着土壤剖面深度的增加,各省土壤TC、SOC、IC及活性碳库呈降低趋势,而土壤IC/TC呈增加趋势。 【结论】 在东北三省典型春玉米种植区,0—90 cm土层以黑龙江的有机碳贮存最大,三省由于气温、土壤母质和施肥的影响,土壤活性碳库变化规律并不完全一致,随着土层深度增加土壤无机碳对全碳贡献增加,因此,下一步研究需重视无机碳库和剖面碳库在碳贮存中的作用。      

春季休牧对内蒙古羊草草原有机碳储量的影响

为了揭示休牧对羊草草原有机碳储量的影响,以休牧3年（RG3a）、6年（RG6a）和9年（RG9a）的羊草草原为对象,采用重铬酸一浓硫酸外加热法,研究了不同休牧年限草原植物群落和土壤的有机碳储量变化。结果表明,地上植被生物量、凋落物量和根系生物量随着休牧年限的延长而逐渐增加。与长期自由放牧草地相比,植物群落和土壤有机碳储量均随休牧年限的延长而增多。长期自由放牧草地（RG0）、休牧3年、休牧6年和休牧9年植物群落地上部有机碳储量为65．17～98．69gC·m^-2,地表凋落物有机碳储量为3．07～10．84gC·m^-2;植物群落0～100cm地下根系有机碳储量为397．13～1480．28gC·m^-2,0～100cm土壤有机碳储量为28306．39～38372．46gC·m^-2。从固碳成本角度,总固碳成本随着休牧年限的延长而增加,最高为8710．20元·hm^-2,固碳成本分别为0．09、0．11、0．08元·kg^-1C。从现有数据显示,休牧9年的固碳量最高,固碳成本最低。春季休牧可以使草地植被得到有效的恢复与更新,有利于草地的可持续利用;随休牧年限的增加,草地有机碳储量增加,固碳成本基本呈现降低趋势。因此,综合现有指标的测定数据,春季休牧是一个非常好的草地利用措施,在休牧过程中草地是一个碳汇,应该鼓励持续进行。     

红壤丘陵区典型植被群落根系生物量及碳储量研究

采用标准地法和"WinRhizo根系分析系统"平面扫描,研究了红壤丘陵区六种典型植被群落的根系特征、生物量、固碳量及土壤碳储量.结果表明:(1)根系特征值随土壤深度增加呈递减趋势,马尾松、杉木混交林和马尾松、木荷混交林土壤表层根系分布密集,特征值较大,马尾松低效林根系分布稀疏,特征值最小;(2)不同植被群落,0-40 cm土层的根系生物量所占比例在58.89%～84.88%.0-20 cm土层的土壤碳储量所占比例在35.89%～48.67%;(3)该区乔木混交林的根系生物量大于纯林和火烧迹地,植被群落的灌草覆盖度是影响根系生物量的主要因素.马尾松、木荷混交林根系净生产力最大,为6.74 t/(hm~2·a),马尾松低效林最小,为1.28t/(hm~2·a);(4)马尾松、木荷混交林的根系固碳量和土壤碳储量最大,分别为60.66 t/hm~2和9086.32 t/hm~2,马尾松低效林最小,分别为15.97 t/hm~2和1 683.75 t/hm~2,根系固碳量只占土壤碳储量的极少部分,但根系通过改良土壤结构,对增强碳源汇集和贮存、积累碳素具有重要的影响.     

内蒙农牧交错带地区土地利用方式和施肥对土壤碳库的影响

内蒙武川是我国典型的内蒙农牧交错带地区,土地利用方式转变和施肥是影响该地区农业生产和土壤碳储量的重要人类活动。选取内蒙武川地区,针对不同土地利用方式(耕地、退耕还林/还草)和施肥措施(化肥、有机肥)的长期定位试验土壤,分析土壤有机碳(SOC)、土壤无机碳(SIC)和全氮(TN)含量和储量,结合13C和15N稳定同位素方法,研究土地利用方式和施肥措施对于该地区土壤碳氮转化的影响规律。研究表明,退耕还灌/还草后,SOC储量较耕地均有显著提高(提高幅度0.60~0.98 Mg hm-2 a-1),SIC储量也增加或保持相同水平(柠条地除外)。相比不施肥处理,施用有机肥能显著增加SOC(1.08~1.19 Mg hm-2 a-1),施化肥处理则会降低SIC(0.06~0.16 Mg hm-2 a-1),且主要影响次生碳酸盐。施肥SIC中原生碳酸盐比例(0~23%)低于自然土壤(3%~29%)。施肥措施对于土壤碳氮的转化强度远大于土地利用方式的改变。对于内蒙等干旱半干旱地区土壤,土地利用和施肥措施对于土壤有机和无机碳的影响应该在区域固碳管理中给予全面考虑。     

封育对天然草地深层土壤粒径分形特征的影响

为了明确长期封育对天然草地土壤粒径分形的影响,采用空间序列代替时间序列的方法,试验对比研究了黄土高原宁夏固原云雾山自然保护区封育30年草地和放牧草地的深层土壤粒径分形特征。结果表明:(1)封育30年草地土壤中粉粒含量显著低于放牧草地(p0.05),分别为21.1%和28.1%。(2)封育30年草地的土壤粒径分形维数明显高于放牧草地(p0.01),在140—500cm的土层中表现尤为显著。(3)土壤粒径分形维数与粉粒和极细沙粒含量呈极显著正相关(p0.01),而与细沙粒、中沙粒、粗沙粒呈极显著负相关(p0.01)。因此,长期封育草地土壤粒径趋于变大,中细颗粒土壤积累减少,同时长期封育影响深层土壤结构,深层土壤物理结构信息不容忽视。     

Organic carbon in soils of Germany: Status quo and the need for new data to evaluate potentials and trends of soil carbon sequestration

Uncertainties in estimates of soil carbon (C) stocks and sequestration result from major gaps in knowledge of C storage in soils, land‐use history, the variability of field measurements, and different analytical approaches applied. In addition, there is a lack of long‐term datasets from relevant land‐use systems. As in many European countries, a national database on soil organic carbon (SOC) including all relevant information for the determination of soil C stocks is likewise missing in Germany. In this paper, we summarize and evaluate the present state of knowledge on organic‐C contents/pools in soils of Germany and discuss the need for the acquisition and access to new data on soil organic carbon. Despite the number of agricultural sites under permanent soil monitoring, regional surveys on SOC, comprehensive ecosystem studies, and long‐term field experiments, there is a striking lack of data in Germany particularly with regard to agricultural soils. Apart from a missing standardization of methods and homogeneous baseline values, the implementation of a periodic, nation‐wide soil inventory on agricultural soils is required in order to simultaneously record information on land use, land‐use change, and agricultural practice. In contrast, the existing national inventory of forest soils provides information on C‐stock changes in forest soils, although there is some concern with regard to the representativeness of the sampling design to adequately address the problem of spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability. It is concluded that the lack of comprehensiveness, completeness, actuality, data harmonization, and standardized sampling procedures will further prevent the establishment of a SOC database in Germany with regard to the monitoring of trends in soil C pools and fluxes and the assessment of long‐term C‐sequestration potentials of soils under different land use. A future soil inventory should represent the heterogeneity of organic matter through functionally different SOC pools, topsoil characteristics as well as content, pool, and flux data for the deeper mineral‐soil compartments.     

沙漠化土壤有机碳研究进展

阐释沙漠化现状及沙漠化土壤有机碳特别是与粉粘土结合有机碳的变化;分析土壤有机碳损失的主要因素为风蚀、土地利用方式和气候因子;基于以上分析提出以改变管理方式为主,结合创新技术,并辅以政策导向的固碳措施;针对研究现状存在的不足,对今后的研究提出展望。     

Invasion of Praxelis clematidea increases the chemically non-labile rather than labile soil organic carbon in a tropical savanna

Soil organic carbon (SOC) consists of various classes of organic substances that can be pooled as labile and non-labile fractions. Previous studies have suggested that plant invasion increases SOC content, but whether invasion consistently alters SOC fractions remains unclear. Consequently, the present study was conducted to observe the effects of Praxelis clematidea invasion on SOC fractions in a tropical savanna of southern China. Soil samples were collected in two surface soil layers (0–10 and 10–20 cm) from non-, slightly and severely invaded plots to analyse the total SOC, readily oxidizable SOC (ROC), and non-readily oxidizable SOC (NROC) content. The results showed that severe P. clematidea invasion significantly increased the SOC content by 47% in the surface soil (p < 0.001). The increase in SOC content largely originated from the accumulation of NROC (the non-labile fraction), rather than ROC which typically is regarded as the labile OC fraction. This change may be beneficial to long-term soil C stabilization because chemical recalcitrance is an important pathway to prevent SOC from decomposition. Although the mechanisms for NROC accumulation have not been thoroughly elucidated to date, our results suggest that P. clematidea invasion may facilitate soil C sequestration in this tropical savanna.     

Effect of straw amendment modes on soil organic carbon,nitrogen sequestration and crop yield on the North‐Central Plain of China

We quantified the effects of different straw return modes on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen content (TN) and C:N ratios in a wheat/maize double‐cropping agricultural system by analysing their content in different soil aggregate sizes and density fractions under four modes of straw return: (a) no return/retention of wheat and maize straw (Control); (b) retention of long wheat stubble only (Wheat Stubble); (c) retention of long wheat stubble and return of chopped maize straw (Mixed); and (d) return of chopped wheat and maize straw (Both Chopped). The Mixed and Both Chopped straw return modes produced the highest crop yields. Relative to the Control, SOC stock was 9.6% greater with the Mixed treatment and 14.5% greater with the Both Chopped treatment, whereas the Wheat Stubble treatment had no effect on SOC. Mixed and Both Chopped significantly enhanced TN stock relative to the Wheat Stubble and Control treatments. Compared with the Control, the Mixed and Both Chopped treatments increased the mass proportions of large macroaggregates and reduced the silt plus clay fraction; Mixed and Both Chopped caused a significant increase in SOC and TN in large and small macroaggregates; the Mixed treatment significantly increased SOC content in the coarse and fine intra‐aggregate particulate organic matter (iPOM) density fractions of large macroaggregates, whereas Both Chopped increased SOC in the coarse iPOM, fine iPOM and mineral‐associated organic matter (mSOM) density fractions of both large and small macroaggregates; and Mixed and Both Chopped enhanced TN content in coarse iPOM and fine iPOM within small macroaggregates. Although the Mixed treatment was slightly less effective at improving C sequestration in agricultural fields than the Both Chopped treatment, the Mixed treatment may nonetheless be the optimal plant residue management mode in terms of minimizing time and labour due to its ability to improve soil structure, maintain organic carbon levels and provide a means of sustainable crop production in intensive wheat/maize double‐cropping systems.     

Effects of part and whole straw returning on soil carbon sequestration in C3–C4 rotation cropland

Long‐term no‐tillage management and crop residue amendments to soil were identified as an effective measure to increase soil organic carbon (SOC). The SOC content, SOC stock (SOCs), soil carbon sequestration rate (CSR), and carbon pool management index (CPMI) were measured. A stable isotopic approach was used to evaluate the contributions of wheat and maize residues to SOC at a long‐term experimental site. We hypothesized that under no‐tillage conditions, straw retention quantity would affect soil carbon sequestration differently in surface and deep soil, and the contribution of C3 and C4 crops to soil carbon sequestration would be different. This study involved four maize straw returning treatments, which included no maize straw returning (NT‐0), 0.5 m (from the soil surface) maize straw returning (NT‐0.5), 1 m maize straw returning (NT‐1), and whole maize straw returning (NT‐W). The results showed that in the 0–20 cm soil layer, the SOC content, SOCs, CSR and CPMI of the NT‐W were highest after 14 years of no‐tillage management, and there were obvious differences among the four treatments. However, the SOC, SOCs, and CSR of the NT‐0.5 and NT‐W were the highest and lowest in 20–100 cm, respectively. The value of δ¹³C showed an obviously vertical variability that ranged from –22.01‰ (NT‐1) in the 0–20 cm layer to –18.27‰ (NT‐0.5) in the 60–80 cm layer, with enriched δ¹³C in the 60–80 cm (NT‐0.5 and NT‐1) and 80–100 cm (NT‐0 and NT‐W) layers. The contributions of the wheat and maize‐derived SOC of the NT‐0.5, NT‐1 and NT‐W increased by 11.4, 29.5 and 56.3% and by 10.7, 15.1 and 40.1%, relative to those in the NT‐0 treatment in the 0–20 cm soil layer, respectively. In conclusion, there was no apparent difference in total SOC sequestration between the NT‐0.5, NT‐1, and NT‐W treatments in the 0–100 cm soil layer. The contribution of wheat‐derived SOC was higher than that of maize‐derived SOC.     

Effect of optimal irrigation,different fertilization,and reduced tillage on soil organic carbon storage and crop yields in the North China Plain

The objective was to evaluate the effect of different agricultural managements on soil organic C (SOC) storage and crop yields in the North China Plain (NCP). The study was conducted at five experimental stations. Different agricultural managements were designed, including optimal (OPT) and conventional (CON) irrigation and fertilization treatments, different amounts of fertilization application and residue‐return treatments, and different tillage practices. Compared to the CON treatment, SOC storage in the 1 m soil profile under the OPT treatment increased by 2 t ha^–1, 8 t ha^–1, and 4 t ha^–1 at Quzhou, Wuqiao, and Dongbeiwang sites, respectively. The annual increasing rate of SOC storages in the topsoil (0–30 cm) under the OPT treatments at Wuqiao (0.88 t ha^–1 y^–1), Quzhou (0.93 t ha^–1 y^–1), and Dongbeiwang (1.86 t ha^–1 y^–1) were higher than those in the CON treatments at Wuqiao (0.15 t ha^–1 y^–1), Quzhou (0.54 t ha^–1 y^–1), and Dongbeiwang (0.28 t ha^–1 y^–1), but the difference of grain yields between the two treatments was not significant. The SOC storage in 1 m soil profile in the no‐tillage treatment with standing residue return (NT1) at Luancheng increased by 5 t ha^–1 and 7 t ha^–1 compared with rotary‐tillage (RT) and conventional‐tillage (CT) treatments, respectively, but the crop yield under no‐tillage treatment was the lowest. While at Quzhou site, it increased by 3 t ha^–1 in the top 40 cm soil under the NT treatment compared to the CT treatment. The annual increasing rate of SOC storage in the top 30 cm under NT treatment was also the highest (1.08 t ha^–1 y^–1 at Luancheng, 1.86 t ha^–1 y^–1 at Quzhou), compared to the other tillage treatments. At Henghsui site, the combination of the highest fertilization application and highest residue‐return treatments got the highest SOC storage and the highest crop yields. We concluded that the agricultural management practices, such as optimal irrigation and fertilization treatment, the higher fertilization, residue return and RT, has significant impact on the SOC storage and agricultural sustainability in the NCP.     

Long‐Term Durum Wheat‐Based Cropping Systems Result in the Rapid Saturation of Soil Carbon in the Mediterranean Semi‐arid Environment

Climate, soil physical–chemical characteristics, land management, and carbon (C) input from crop residues greatly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. According to the concept of SOC saturation, the ability of SOC to increase with C input decreases as SOC increases and approaches a SOC saturation level. In a 12‐year experiment, six semi‐arid cropping systems characterized by different rates of C input to soil were compared for ability to sequester SOC, SOC saturation level, and the time necessary to reach the SOC saturation level. SOC stocks, soil aggregate sizes, and C inputs were measured in durum wheat monocropping with (Ws) and without (W) return of aboveground residue to the soil and in the following cropping systems without return of aboveground residue to soil: durum wheat/fallow (Wfall), durum wheat/berseem clover, durum wheat/barley/faba bean, and durum wheat/Hedysarum coronarium. The C sequestration rate and SOC content were lowest in Wfall plots but did not differ among the other cropping systems. The C sequestration rate ranged from 0.47 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in Ws plots to 0.66 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in W plots but was negative (−0.06 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) in Wfall plots. Increases in SOC were related to C input up to a SOC saturation value; over this value, further C inputs did not lead to SOC increase. Across all cropping systems, the C saturation value for the experimental soil was 57.7 Mg ha⁻¹, which was reached with a cumulative C input of 15 Mg ha⁻¹. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Is thermal oxidation at different temperatures suitable to isolate soil organic carbon fractions with different turnover?

Findings of previous studies suggest that there are relations between thermal stability of soil organic matter (SOM), organo‐mineral associations, and stability of SOM against microbial decay. We aimed to test whether thermal oxidation at various temperatures (200°C, 225°C, 275°C, 300°C, 400°C, or 500°C) is capable of isolating SOM fractions with increasing stability against microbial degradation. The investigation was carried out on soils (Phaeozem and Luvisol) under different land‐use regimes (field, grassland, forest). The stability of the obtained soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions was determined using the natural‐¹³C approach for continuously maize‐cropped soils and radiocarbon dating. In the Luvisol, thermal oxidation with increasing temperatures did not yield residual SOC fractions of increasing microbial stability. Even the SOC fraction resistant to thermal oxidation at 300°C contained considerable amounts of young, maize‐derived C. In the Phaeozem, the mean ¹⁴C age increased considerably (from 3473 y BP in the mineral‐associated SOC fraction to 9116 y BP in the residual SOC fraction after thermal oxidation at 300°C). An increasing proportion of fossil C (calculated based on ¹⁴C data) in residual SOC fractions after thermal oxidation with increasing temperatures indicated that this was mainly due to the relative accumulation of thermally stable fossil C. We conclude that thermal oxidation with increasing temperature was not generally suitable to isolate mineral‐associated SOC fractions of increasing microbial stability.     

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.