Crop management effects on soil carbon sequestration on selected farmers’ fields in northeastern Ohio

Soil organic carbon (SOC) pool is the largest among terrestrial pools. The restoration of SOC pool in arable lands represents a potential sink for atmospheric CO₂. Restorative management of SOC includes using organic manures, adopting legume-based crop rotations, and converting plow till to a conservation till system. A field study was conducted to analyze soil properties on two farms located in Geauga and Stark Counties in northeastern Ohio, USA. Soil bulk density decreased with increase in SOC pool for a wide range of management systems. In comparison with wooded control, agricultural fields had a lower SOC pool in the 0–30 cm depth. In Geauga County, the SOC pool decreased by 34% in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in a complex rotation with manuring and 51% in unmanured continuous corn (Zea mays L.). In Stark County, the SOC pool decreased by 32% in a field systematically amended with poultry manure and 40% in the field receiving only chemical fertilizers. In comparison with continuous corn, the rate of SOC sequestration in Geauga County was 379 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in no-till corn (2 years) previously in hay (12 years), 760 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in a complex crop rotation receiving manure and chemical fertilizers, and 355 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ without manuring. The rate of SOC sequestration was 392 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ on manured field in Stark County.     

花椒林在喀斯特石漠化治理中的碳汇效益

[目的]评价石漠化地区花椒林的碳汇功能,为石漠化治理工程的碳汇效益提供技术示范与参考。[方法]以贵州省花江喀斯特石漠化治理示范区生态环境综合治理模式下顶坛花椒(Zanthoxylum planispinum)为研究对象,依据当地的石漠化现状,通过测定强度、中度和轻度石漠化和不同龄级的花椒林生物量、土壤深度和持土量,对花椒林碳汇量进行估算。[结果]石漠化程度越高,花椒林碳汇量越低,反之,石漠化程度越低,花椒林碳汇量越大,其中轻度石漠化花椒林碳密度为3.24t/hm2,中度石漠化为3.12t/hm~2,强度石漠化为2.81t/hm~2,轻度中度强度;随着土壤深度和持土量的增加,花椒林碳汇量也呈现增加的趋势。[结论]花椒林的平均碳密度为3.06t/hm~2,花椒林的综合最优碳汇经济效益为1.92×10~4~2.56×10~4元/hm~2。     

控制条件下水肥耦合对黄泥田还田秸秆腐解及土壤碳转化的影响

【目的】研究秸秆还田后不同水温和肥剂管理措施下土壤碳素转化特征。【方法】以华中双季稻区低产水稻土黄泥田为供试材料,模拟早稻和晚稻秸秆还田的田间环境,在实验室控制条件下,开展了两种温度环境中(15℃、35℃)不同水分(40%和100%最大田间持水量,即40%WHC、100%WHC)、配施氮肥类型(尿素、猪粪即U、M)、以及促腐菌剂添加对秸秆腐解效果及其过程中土壤碳素转化影响的研究。对水稻秸秆腐解过程中土壤CO2释放量、以及土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)和总有机碳(TOC)含量在105天培养周期内变化特征进行动态监测分析。【结果】两种温度环境中整个培养周期内,各处理的CO2释放速率和释放总量通常表现为100%WHC-M100%WHC-U40%WHC-M40%WHC-U,即猪粪优于尿素的规律,而不论配施何种氮肥都存在100%WHC40%WHC(P0.01)的现象,同时40%WHC条件下辅施菌剂可显著提升CO2释放量;与此相反,两种温度环境下DOC含量都表现为40%WHC-M40%WHC-U100%WHC-M100%WHC-U(后两者差异小),即40%WHC条件下DOC含量显著高于100%WHC(P0.05),且配施猪粪处理优于配施尿素处理,但这两种氮肥处理间差异随培养时间延长而减小;以CO2-C释放量计算0 7 d、0 28 d、0 105 d内物料分解率,结果表明,35℃时100%WHC-U的处理中物料分解最快,15℃时40%WHC-M的处理中物料分解最慢。与之对应,105 d内TOC含量和净增量则在35℃时100%WHC-U的处理中最小(P0.01),而在15℃时40%WHC-M的处理中最大(P0.01);TOC的净增量和净损失量在相同温度条件下,尤其试验前期不同水分(P0.01)、氮素(P0.05)间均存在显著差异,且促腐菌剂添加普遍减小TOC含量;培养周期内所有处理的CO2释放速率与DOC含量间存在显著相关(P0.05)。【结论】水分状况对碳素的转化存在极大影响,其次是氮肥类型,且氮肥的影响作用随秸秆还田时间的延长而减弱;高湿条件更利于促进秸秆腐解,但导致土壤DOC含量较低,TOC的固持量也较少,而配施猪粪则可促进土壤DOC含量的提升及TOC的固持;促腐菌剂添加可促进秸秆腐解,但由于40%WHC条件下显著激发了CO2的释放而不利于土壤固碳。因此在华中低产黄泥田双季轮作稻区,早稻还田时由于气温高周期短,建议保持100%WHC、辅施适量尿素、并配合添加秸秆腐解菌剂,侧重秸秆快腐;而晚稻还田时气温低周期长,建议保持40%WHC并辅施缓效猪粪,侧重土壤固碳。     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentration on rhizodeposition from Lolium perenne grown on soil exposed to 9 years of CO2 enrichment

The effects of enriched CO₂ atmosphere on partitioning of recently assimilated carbon were investigated in a plant-soil-microorganism system in which Lolium perenne seedlings were planted into cores inserted into the resident soil within a sward that had been treated with elevated CO₂ for 9 consecutive years, under two N fertilisation levels (Swiss FACE experiment). The planted cores were excavated from the ambient (35 Pa pCO₂) and enriched (60 Pa pCO₂) rings at two dates, in spring and autumn, during the growing season. The cores were brought back to the laboratory for ¹⁴C labelling of shoots in order to trace the transfer of recently assimilated C both within the plant and to the soil and microbial biomass. At the spring sampling, high N supply stimulated shoot and total dry matter production. Consistently, high N enhanced the allocation of recently fixed C to shoots, and reduced it to belowground compartments. Elevated CO₂ had no consequences for DM or the pattern of C allocation. At the autumn sampling, at high N plot, yield of L. perenne was stimulated by elevated CO₂. Consistently, ¹⁴C was preferentially allocated aboveground and, consequently belowground recent C allocation was depressed and rhizodeposition reduced. At both experimental periods, total soil C content was similar in all treatments, providing no evidence for soil carbon sequestration in the Swiss Free Air CO₂ Enrichment experiment (FACE) after 9 years of enrichment. Recently assimilated C and soil C were mineralised faster in soils from enriched rings, suggesting a CO₂-induced shift in the microbial biomass characteristics (structure, diversity, activity) and/or in the quality of the root-released organic compounds.     

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.     

The potential for soil carbon sequestration in three tropical dryland farming systems of Africa and Latin America: A modelling approach

Historically, agriculturally induced CO₂ release from soils has contributed to rising levels in the atmosphere. However, by using appropriate management, soils can be turned into carbon sinks. Many of the dryland regions of the world are characterised by degraded soils, a high incidence of poverty and a low capacity to invest in agriculture. Two well-proven soil organic matter models (CENTURY 4.0 and RothC-26 3) were used two explore the effects of modifying agricultural practices to increase soil carbon stocks. The changes to land management were chosen to avoid any significant increase in energy input whilst using technologies that would be available without radically altering the current agricultural methodology. Case studies were selected from dryland farming systems in Nigeria, Sudan and Argentina. Modelling showed that it would be possible to make alterations within the structure of the current farming systems to convert these soils from carbon sources to net sinks. Annual rates of carbon sequestration in the range 0.08–0.17 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ averaged over the next 50 years could be obtained. The most effective practices were those that maximised the input of organic matter, particularly farmyard manure (up to 0.09 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), maintaining trees (up to 0.15 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and adopting zero tillage (up to 0.04 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Verification of these predictions will require experimental data collected from field studies.     

Carbon sequestration and saving potential associated with changes to the management of agricultural soils in England

Abstract. The potential for soil organic carbon sequestration, energy savings and the reduction of the emission of greenhouse gases were investigated for a range of changes in the management of tilled land and managed grassland. These parameters were modelled on a regional basis, according to local soils and crop rotations in England, and avoided the use of soil related indices. The largest carbon sequestration and saving contribution possible comes from an increase in the proportion of permanent woodland, such that a 10% change in land use could amount to 9 Mt C yr⁻¹ in the initial years (arable and grassland). Changes in arable management could make a significant contribution to an abatement strategy if carried out in concert with greater use of permanent conservation field margins, increased returns of crop residues and reduced tillage systems, contributing 1.3 Mt C yr⁻¹ in the initial years. It should be noted, however, that true soil carbon sequestration would be only a minor component of this (125 kt C yr⁻¹), the main part being savings on CO₂ emissions from reduced energy use, and lower N₂O emissions from reduced use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer.     

Carbon and nitrogen stocks in the soils of Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks are presented for Central and Eastern Europe. The study uses the soil geographic and attribute data held in a 1:2 500 000 scale Soil and Terrain (SOTER) database, covering Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation (west of the Urals), Slovakia, and Ukraine. Means and coefficients of variation for soil organic carbon and total nitrogen are presented for each major FAO soil grouping. The mean content of organic carbon, to a depth of 1 m, ranges from 3.9 kg C m^–2 for coarse textured Arenosols to 72.9 kg C m^–2 for poorly drained Histosols. Mean carbon content for the mineral soils, excluding Arenosols, is 15.8 kg C m^–2. The top 1 m of soil holds 110 Pg C (Pg=10¹⁵ g), which corresponds to about 7% of the global stock of soil organic carbon. About 44% of this carbon pool is held in the top 0.3 m of the soil, the layer that is most prone to be changed by changes in soil use and management. About 166 million ha in Central and Eastern Europe have been degraded by compaction, erosion of topsoil, fertility decline and crusting. The achievable level of carbon sequestration for these soils, upon adoption of 'best' management practices or restorative measures, is estimated.     

Optimization of Farmyard Manure to Substitute Mineral Fertilizer for Sustainable Productivity and Higher Carbon Sequestration Potential and Profitability under Gardenpea-French Bean Cropping System in the Indian Himalayas

Carbon sequestration potential (CSP) and sustainability of gardenpea-french bean cropping system was assessed with farmyard manure (FYM) application vis-à-vis mineral fertilization as recommended NPK (NPK) and integrated nutrient management practices (INM) after six years’ cropping in Indian Himalayas. Application of 20 tons FYM ha^?1 provided highest CSP (0.527 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1) in soil and sustainability index. With the help of quadratic equations, it was estimated that maximum profit (optimum yield) and turn over of invested money could be achieved with application of 20.0 and 15.6 t FYM ha^?1, respectively. Application of 5.9 and 8.9 tons FYM ha^?1 would substitute NPK and INM, respectively. Pod number plant^?1 was the most important yield-contributing attribute as found from principal component analysis. Pod yield could be modelled through multiple linear equation with help of yield attributes.     

Comparing aboveground carbon sequestration between moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forests based on the allometric model

The purpose of this study was to compare carbon sequestration between moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forests. The study site was located in the lower mountain area of central Taiwan, where both moso bamboo and China fir were rich. In addition, moso bamboo and China fir forests were surveyed on 12 and 19 plantations, respectively. We predicted carbon sequestration based on the allometric model for moso bamboo and China fir forests and compared the relationships between characteristics of bamboo forests and elevation. The results showed that mean diameter at breast height (DBH), culms per hectare and aboveground biomass were not clearly affected by elevation, whereas a negative correlation (R = −0.600, p = 0.039) between mean DBH and stand density was found for moso bamboo forests. Moreover, the aboveground carbon storage was higher for China fir forests than for moso bamboo (99.5 vs. 40.6 Mg ha⁻¹). However, moso bamboo is an uneven-aged stand which is only composed of 1-5-year-old culms, while China fir is an even-aged stand and the age range is from 15 to 54 years, such that, per year, the mean aboveground carbon sequestration is 8.13 ± 2.15 and 3.35 ± 2.02 Mg ha⁻¹ for moso bamboo and China fir, respectively. On the other hand, the mean carbon sequestration of China fir decreases with increasing the age class. Furthermore, the ratio of moso bamboo to China fir is 2.39 and a T-test showed that the aboveground carbon levels were significantly different between these two species; thus, moso bamboo is a species with high potential for carbon sequestration.