Variations of Soil Organic Carbon Following Land Use Change on Deep‐Loess Hillsopes in China

Land use change is a key factor driving changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) around the world. However, the changes in SOC following land use changes have not been fully elucidated, especially for deep soils (>100 cm). Thus, we investigated the variations of SOC under different land uses (cropland, jujube orchard, 7‐year‐old grassland and 30‐year‐old grassland) on hillslopes in the Yuanzegou watershed of the Loess Plateau in China based on soil datasets related to soils within the 0–100 cm. Furthermore, we quantified the contribution of deep‐layer SOC (200–1,800 cm) to that of whole soil profiles based on soil datasets within the 0–1,800 cm. The results showed that in shallow profiles (0–100 cm), land uses significantly (p  < 0·05) influenced the distribution of SOC contents and stocks in surface layer (0–20 cm) but not subsurface layers (20–100 cm). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that soil texture fractions and total N were significantly (p  < 0·05 or 0·01) correlated with SOC content, which may have masked effects of land use change on SOC. In deep profiles (0–1,800 cm), SOC stock generally decreased with soil depth. But deep soils showed high SOC sequestration capacity. The SOC accumulated in the 100–1,800 m equalled 90·6%, 91·6%, 87·5% and 88·6% of amounts in the top 100 cm under cropland, 7‐year‐old grassland, 30‐year‐old grassland and jujube orchard, respectively. The results provide insights into SOC dynamics following land use changes and stressed the importance of deep‐layer SOC in estimating SOC inventory in deep loess soils. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

陇东黄土丘陵区坡改梯田土壤有机碳累积动态

采用时空互代法,以不同年限坡改梯田为研究对象,分析了陇东黄土丘陵区梯田土壤有机碳（SOC）的时空分布特征。结果表明,1）陇东黄土丘陵区黄绵土在坡改梯后近50 a内,农田060 cm土层土壤有机碳处于持续累积状态,2040 cm与4060 cm土层SOC较坡耕地的增幅分别为54.6%和52.4%,大于表层增幅 （33.7%）（P0.05）;各土层SOC随梯田年限的变化趋势基本一致,在修建初期（0~8 a）累积较快并超过坡耕地SOC水平（P0.01）,24 a 后有了显著提高（P0.05）,后期SOC累积变化不显著。2）不同土壤类型及地形下SOC含量及累积速率有所差异,020 cm 土层的SOC在黄绵土中累积最为明显,2040 cm与4060 cm 两个土层SOC在红粘土中的累积量最为显著（P0.05）;阴坡表层SOC大于阳坡,梯田修建25 a 后阴坡平均SOC较阳坡高22.1%。3）梯田土壤有机碳的时空变异受土壤类型的影响最大,其贡献率达62.0%,海拔和坡向影响次之,两者可解释20.4%的有机碳的变异;梯田年限和施用有机肥可分别解释11.7%和5.8%的变异。陇东黄土丘陵区坡改梯田土壤在当前经营状况下表现出较弱的碳汇效应。     

Soil organic carbon stock assessment for the different cropland land uses in Italy

The aim of this work was to quantify the soil organic C (SOC) stock in the top 30 cm of mineral soil for the whole Italian territory, according to the different land use types of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) cropland category (arable land, agroforestry, vineyards, olive groves, orchards and rice fields), as a basis for future land use scenarios and to address mitigation policy at country level. A database for SOC stock was created with the data from the national project denominated SIAS and partly from regional map reports. All data were referred to the year 2000 since they were derived from surveys conducted from 1995 to 2005. The data were stratified according to the Italian climatic regions, the landscape position and the IPCC cropland subcategories. Taking into account the uncertainty in the estimate, the mean SOC stock values of the different subcategories show significant differences (p < 0.05) among climatic regions and landscapes, ranging from 41.9 ± 15.9 Mg C ha⁻¹ in the vineyards to 63.3 ± 27.9 Mg C ha⁻¹ in the rice fields. Generally, a small decrease of the SOC stock from the temperate regions toward the Mediterranean ones is observed. Taking into account the mean value of each subcategory and the country area they occupied in 2000, the total C stored in the upper 30 cm of soil was estimated at 490.0 ± 121.7 Tg C. The resulting estimate represents the 17% of the value reported by another study for the soil of the whole country down to 50 cm depth, suggesting the importance of preserving this large C pool. Considering the cropland category as a whole, the estimated mean SOC stock is 52.1 ± 17.4 Mg C ha⁻¹, similar to that reported for other European countries, 50–60 Mg C ha⁻¹. In conclusion, the assessment of the mean SOC stock of the different cropland land uses, landscape position and climate regions could notably help when assessing the impact of different agricultural practices and future stock change evaluation.     

Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in Abandoned Croplands on the Loess Plateau

The Grain to Green Program in China which began in 1999 led to the conversion of 0.64 million ha of cropland to grassland on steep sloping landscapes. However, the pattern of natural vegetation succession following cropland has not been well represented in previous regional syntheses of land use change effects on soil organic carbon (SOC). A chronosequence study focusing on the vegetation succession and soil carbon stocks was conducted in the center of the Loess Plateau. The chronosequence included fields of 0, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 25 years of self‐restoration after cropland abandonment, as well as a natural grassland reference. Plant coverage, species richness and plant biomass increased significantly with time of cropland abandonment. Over time, the species composition more nearly resembled a natural grasslands community. Cropland abandonment replenished SOC stocks by 3.6 kg C m⁻² during the 25‐year self‐restoration, but the SOC accumulation was restricted to the upper soil profiles (0–60 cm). SOC accumulation rate was 88 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ in 0–30 cm and 55 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ in 30–60 cm soil depth, respectively. These carbon stocks were still significantly lower than those found in the natural grassland soil. Our results suggest that the recovery of plant communities and SOC stocks appears to be slow in this semiarid environment without revegetation effort along with appropriate field management, although the post‐agricultural soils have a high potential for carbon sequestration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Land Use and Soil Organic Carbon in China’s Village Landscapes

Village landscapes, which integrate small-scale agriculture with housing, forestry, and a host of other land use practices, cover more than 2 million square kilometers across China. Village lands tend to be managed at very fine spatial scales (≤ 30 m), with managers both adapting their practices to existing variation in soils and terrain (e.g., fertile plains vs. infertile slopes) and also altering soil fertility and even terrain by terracing, irrigation, fertilizing, and other land use practices. Relationships between fine-scale land management patterns and soil organic carbon (SOC) in the top 30 cm of village soils were studied by sampling soils within fine-scale landscape features using a regionally weighted landscape sampling design across five environmentally distinct sites in China. SOC stocks across China’s village regions (5 Pg C in the top 30 cm of 2 × 10 6 km 2 ) represent roughly 4% of the total SOC stocks in global croplands. Although macroclimate varied from temperate to tropical in this study, SOC density did not vary significantly with climate, though it was negatively correlated with regional mean elevation. The highest SOC densities within landscapes were found in agricultural lands, especially paddy, the lowest SOC densities were found in nonproductive lands, and forest lands tended toward moderate SOC densities. Due to the high SOC densities of agricultural lands and their predominance in village landscapes, most village SOC was found in agricultural land, except in the tropical hilly region, where forestry accounted for about 45% of the SOC stocks. A surprisingly large portion of village SOC was associated with built structures and with the disturbed lands surrounding these structures, ranging from 18% in the North China Plain to about 9% in the tropical hilly region. These results confirmed that local land use practices, combined with local and regional variation in terrain, were associated with most of the SOC variation within and across China’s village landscapes and may be an important cause of regional variation in SOC.     

Changes in carbon and nitrogen of Chernozem soil along a cultivation chronosequence in a semi‐arid grassland

Changes in the carbon (C) stock of grassland soil in response to land use change will increase atmospheric CO₂, and consequently affect the climate. In this study we investigated the effects of land use change on soil organic C (SOC) and nitrogen (N) along a cultivation chronosequence in the Xilin River Basin, China. The chronosequence consisted of an undisturbed meadow steppe, a 28‐year‐old cropland and a 42‐year‐old cropland (abbreviated as Steppe, Crop‐28 Y and Crop‐42Y, respectively). Crop‐28Y and Crop‐42Y were originally created on the meadow steppe in 1972 and 1958, respectively. The soil samples, in ten replications from three depth increments (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm), were collected, respectively, in the two cropland fields and the adjacent undisturbed steppe. Bulk density, SOC, total N and 2 m KCl‐extractable mineral N including ammonium and nitrate were measured. Our results showed that the greatest changes in the measurements occurred in the 0–10 cm soil depth. The SOC stock in the upper 30‐cm soil decreased by 9.83 Mg C ha⁻¹ in Crop‐28Y and 21.87 Mg C ha⁻¹ in Crop‐42Y, which indicated that approximately 10 and 25% of the original SOC of the steppe had been emitted over 28 and 42 years, respectively. Similarly, the total N lost was 0.66 Mg N ha⁻¹ and 1.18 Mg N ha⁻¹, corresponding to approximately 9% and 16%, respectively, of the original N at the same depth and cropping duration as those noted for SOC. The mineral N concentration in the soil of both the two croplands was greater than that in the steppe soil, and the ammonium‐N was less affected by cultivation than the nitrate‐N. The extent of these changes depended on soil depth and cropland age. These effects of cultivation were much greater in the top 10 cm of soil than in deeper soil, and also greater in Crop‐42Y than in Crop‐28Y. The findings are significant for assessing the C and N sequestration potential of the land use changes associated with grassland conversion, and suggest that improved management practices are needed to sequester SOC and total N in the cropped soil in a semi‐arid grassland.     

Carbon sequestration in secondary pasture soils: a chronosequence study in the South African Highveld

Soil restoration is a means of combating desertification in semi‐arid and arid parts of the world. There, vast areas of the cropped soil degrade, particularly because of the loss of organic matter. One approach to reverse this loss is the conversion of cropland into permanent grassland for use as pasture. This study was designed to evaluate how fast and to what degree degraded cropland may re‐sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) when converted into permanent secondary pasture. Topsoil samples (0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm) were taken from chronosequences of secondary pastures (1 to 31 years old) at three agro‐ecosystems in the semi‐arid Highveld of South Africa. Long‐term croplands and primary grassland used as pastures served as the controls. In bulk soil samples (<2 mm) and their clay (<2 µm), silt (2–20 µm), fine sand (20–250 µm) and coarse sand (250–2000 µm) fractions, the contents of carbon (C) and nitrogen were determined. In all three agro‐ecosystems, using a mono‐exponential model, the SOC stocks increased exponentially until a maximum was reached 10–95 years after land conversion. This gain in SOC was clearly pronounced for the top 0–5 cm of soil, but hardly detectable at 10–20‐cm depth. The sand fractions recovered organic C more rapidly but less completely than did the finer size separates. Overall, between 9.0 and 15.3 t of SOC were sequestered in the 0–20 cm of surface soil by this land conversion. Thus, the SOC recovery in the secondary pastures resulted in SOC stocks that were 29.6–93.9% greater than those in the arable land. Yet, in no agro‐ecosystem, at any soil depth, nor in any soil fraction, did the measured SOC content reach that of the primary grassland. In part this can be attributed to a slightly finer texture of the primary grassland that had not lost silt through wind erosion or had never been used as arable land because of slightly elevated clay contents. Overall it appears, however, that previous losses of SOM cannot easily be rectified, suggesting that the native primary grassland soils are only partially resilient to land‐use change.     

Reclamation of desert land to continuous cotton cropping affects soil properties and microbial communities in the desert-oasis ecotone of Xinjiang,China

Purpose

A large area of desert land in the desert-oasis ecotone in northwestern China is being reclaimed for continuous cotton production for several decades. However, little is known about the possible effect of reclamation and long-term monocultural cotton cultivation on soil properties and microbial communities in the desert-oasis ecotone area.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected from the 0–20-cm mineral soil from croplands that had been continuously planted cotton for 5, 25, and 50 years after reclamation, as well as a desert land (t?=?0, before reclamation, used as the control). Soil physical and chemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial and fungal community diversities were determined.

Results and discussion

Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and enzyme activities increased up to 25 years after reclamation, and further monocultural cotton cropping was not beneficial to improve soil quality. Soil urease, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase activities increased by 121~205%, 100~167%, and 206~719% in croplands as compared with the desert land, respectively, after reclamation with the highest value at 25 years of cotton cultivation. Bacterial richness and diversity increased from desert land to the 5-year-old cropland and then remained stable after 5 years of cotton cropping, and soil fungal richness and diversity were not affected by reclamation and cropping years.

Conclusions

Crop rotation or fallow should be considered to maintain or improve soil quality over the long-term monocultural cropping.

     

中国农田表土有机碳含量变化特征——基于国家耕地土壤监测数据

通过对299个国家级耕地土壤监测点20余年数据的统计分析,评价了我国农田表土有机碳含量变化情况和固碳潜力。结果表明,全国约80％试验点有机碳年平均相对增长率（Average relative annual increment,ARAI）在-1．5％～7．5％。中国农田表土有机碳含量整体呈上升趋势。东北、华北等6个地理区域分析得出,华北、华东、西南农田表土有机碳含量显著增加;华东地区有机碳增加的农田面积占全国农田比例最大,东北最小。旱地和水田有机碳含量增加显著;水田有机碳增加的试验点所占比例大于旱地;对ARAI与初始有机碳含量进行相关分析得出,我国旱地和水田有机碳潜在储存能力估计值分别为17．2和27．7g·kg^-1。农田土壤类型中水稻土和褐土有机碳含量增加显著;黑土有机碳含量下降样本所占比例最高。对我国各典型种植制度分析得出,双季稻、麦-稻、麦-玉、单季小麦种植制度下农田有机碳有了显著增加;麦玉轮作较其他种植制度的农田有机碳年平均相对增长率高。     

Estimation of soil organic carbon stock and its spatial distribution in the Republic of Ireland

Data scarcity often prevents the estimate of regional (or national) scale soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and its spatial distribution. This study attempts to overcome the data limitations by combining two existing Irish soil databases [SoilC and national soil database (NSD)] at the national scale, to create an improved estimate of the national SOC stock. Representative regression models between the near‐surface SOC concentration and those of deeper depths, and between SOC concentration and bulk density (BD) were developed based on the SoilC database. These regression models were then applied to the NSD derived SOC concentration map, resulting in an improved SOC stock and spatial distribution map for the top 10 cm, 30 cm and 50 cm depths. Western Ireland, particularly coastal areas, was found to have higher SOC densities than eastern Ireland, corresponding to the spatial distribution of peatland. We estimated the national SOC stock at 383 ± 38 Tg for the near‐surface of 0–10 cm depth; 1016 ± 118 Tg for 0–30 cm depth; and 1474 ± 181 Tg for 0–50 cm depth.     

中国农田表土有机碳含量变化探讨——基于中文期刊网论文资料的统计分析

检索获取了中国期刊网收录的1980-2009年间土壤研究文献,提取了其中研究样品的有机质含量信息并形成数据库,统计评价了我国农田表土有机碳含量变化情况。结果表明：1985年以前文献土壤样品有机碳含量平均为（12．88±7．86）g·kg^-1,1985—1992年则为（11．26±6．30）g·kg^-1,1993-2002年为（11．67±5．11）g·kg^-1,而2003-2009年为（11.72±7．15）g·kg^-1;显示,1985年以来农田表土有机碳含量呈现总体上升趋势,支持了我们对土壤监测资料的分析结果。土地利用方式显著影响土壤样品的有机碳含量水平,水田总是高于旱地（P〈0．05）,不随时间变化而改变;旱地土壤样品的有机碳含量以1985年前为最高,而水田样品2003-2009年期间含量高于1985年前水平。同时分析表明,旱地农田表土有机碳含量区域差异明显,近30年来,旱地农田表土有机碳含量在华北、华东、西北增加显著（P〈0．05）;而在东北显著降低（P〈0．05）;华南、西南有机碳含量变化不明显（P〉0．05）。这些结果支持了已有的土壤监测资料和调查资料研究中中国土壤固碳趋势及其地理区域分异的认识。     

黄土区退果还耕对黑垆土硝态氮积累和迁移的影响

在黄土高原沟壑区王东沟小流域,针对塬面、梁地和坡地三种地形,分别选取了盛果期果园、老果园和退果还耕地等,研究了退果还耕条件下,三种地貌类型土壤剖面中水分含量变化及NO3--N、NH4+-N积累和迁移规律。结果表明,无论塬面、梁地或者坡地上,果园土壤水分含量显著降低（10%～14%）;果园退耕后,土壤水分开始缓慢恢复。盛果期,塬面NO3--N峰值主要处于100—200 cm之间,退果还耕后,100 cm以上土层中NO3--N含量降低,100 cm以下NO3--N积累量在增加,并且峰值不断向下移动。盛果期果园NO3--N积累量为631～3032 kg/hm2;退果还耕地、老果园NO3--N积累量都显著高于盛果期果园。盛果期40%以上的NO3--N积累在100—200 cm土层,但退果还耕地上50%左右集中分布在200—300 cm土层。土地利用与管理方式的变化对NH4+-N分布特征的影响并不明显。     

Grassland soil organic carbon and the effects of irrigated cropping in Alberta,Canada

High heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in grasslands causes uncertainty in estimating its content and storage. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of SOC content and storage in the prairies of southern Alberta, Canada, and how it is affected by land use such as irrigated cropping and other environmental conditions such as cattle grazing, slope landscape position and dominant plant species. The mean SOC content was determined to be 11.5 g kg^–1 (range: 8.9 to 22.4 g kg^–1) in the 0–10 cm layer and 6.8 g kg^–1 (range: 4.0 to 13.3 g kg^–1) in the 10–30 cm layer; mean SOC storage was 1.59 kg C m^–2 (range: 1.23 to 2.78 kg C m^–2) in the 0–10 cm layer and 2.07 kg C m^–2 (range: 1.21 to 3.62 kg C m^–2) in the 10–30 cm layer. The SOC content was significantly affected by slope position in both the 0–10 and 10–30 cm layers, in the following order: bottom >middle > top position. Moreover, SOC storage was higher in sites dominated by shrubs than graminoid/forb communities. Thus, SOC content and storage had distinctly clustered spatial patterns throughout the study area and were significant differences between the 0–10 and 10–30 cm soil layers. Prior land-use change from arid grassland to irrigated cropland increased SOC content and storage in bulk soils.     

黑土区垄作方式对坡耕地土壤侵蚀的调控效果

[目的]分析黑土区不同垄作方式对坡耕地土壤侵蚀的调控效果,为该区土壤侵蚀防治提供科学指导。[方法]在5°和10°坡耕地开展人工模拟降雨试验,降雨强度为50,100 mm/h,垄作方式包括：横坡垄作、垄向区田、顺垄+底部横垄和横垄+排水沟,对照处理为传统顺坡垄作。[结果]试验条件下,与顺坡垄作处理相比,横坡垄作、垄向区田、顺垄+底部横垄和横垄+排水沟处理均可有效调节径流、降低土壤侵蚀量,但不同垄作方式对径流和侵蚀的调控效果随着降雨强度和坡度的增加而减小。在5°坡耕地,横坡垄作方式对径流和侵蚀的调控效果最佳,产流率和土壤侵蚀速率分别稳定在15.0 mm/h和0.2 kg/(m~2·h)以下。在50,100 mm/h降雨强度下,与顺坡垄作处理相比,其径流量分别降低92.3%和83.9%,土壤侵蚀量分别降低96.8%和94.6%;而垄向区田方式对径流和侵蚀的调控效果略大于顺垄+底部横垄处理。在10°坡耕地,横坡垄作方式在降雨前期具有较好的蓄水保土作用,但在降雨后期垄体易损坏,造成土壤侵蚀量剧增;横垄+排水沟方式在降雨前期能够蓄水保土,在降雨后期能够较好地进行排水。[结论]在坡度平缓的坡耕地,应...     

不同地形条件下青藏高原农田土壤有机碳的分布特征

西北高寒地区农田土壤有机碳（SOC）储量的变化研究,可为东部农田SOC对气候和管理措施的响应提供预警信息。针对西部高原县域尺度上典型的地貌类型和土壤类型,对其耕层和剖面SOC进行了分析。结果表明, 青海省乐都县农田耕层（020 cm）SOC的变化范围为4.38 g/kg~20.81 g/kg,均值为11.29 g/kg,且不同土壤类型上表现出黑钙土（16.15 g/kg）＞栗钙土（10.53 g/kg）＞灰钙土（9.50 g/kg）的趋势。地形对耕层（020 cm）SOC含量没有显著影响,但深层（20100 cm）SOC因地形存在显著差异,在峁坡上,黑钙土、 栗钙土和灰钙土的深层（20100 cm）SOC分别比同种土壤类型的谷底深层土壤提高了111.5%、 62.5%和66.3%。农田SOC的垂直分布也因地形存在差异,同一种土壤类型在谷底其耕层（020 cm）SOC含量均比深层（20100 cm）高,峁坡上其深层（20100 cm）比耕层（020 cm）高,黑钙土、 栗钙土和灰钙土在谷底其耕层（020 cm）SOC含量分别比同一土壤类型的深层（20100 cm）土壤提高18.7%、 24.3%和153.5%,黑钙土、 栗钙土和灰钙土在峁坡上其深层（20100 cm）SOC含量分别比同一土壤类型耕层（020 cm）提高46.9%、 8.0%和1.0%。这一结果可为准确估算青藏高原农田SOC的变化提供参考。     

Soil Aggregate and Organic Carbon Stability under Different Land Uses in the North China Plain

Soil aggregates and organic matter are considered to be important indicators of soil quality. The objective of this study was to determine land-use effects on the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) associated with aggregate-size fractions. Bulk soil samples were collected from incremental soil depths (0–10, 10–20 20–40, 40–70, and 70–100 cm) under three land-use types: fruit tree orchards established in 1987, cropland, and forage field. Soil samples collected from these plots were analyzed for aggregate stability after wet sieving into four aggregate-size classes (>2000, 250–2000, 53–250, and <53 μm), and the concentration of SOC was determined in each size fraction. Cropland and forage field soils were significantly more alkaline than the fruit tree soil. Bulk densities were greater in cropland and forage field (1.40–1.52 g cm^?3) than in fruit tree orchards (1.33–1.37 g cm^?3). The total weight of soil aggregates varied in the order of forage field > cropland > fruit tree orchard. Aggregate stability was greater in cropland and forage field than under fruit tree orchards. Soil organic C decreased with increasing soil depth but was greater under fruit tree orchards than others and was mainly concentrated in the topsoil layer (0–20 cm). Sieved fraction (<53 μm) had a greater SOC concentration, regardless of soil depth or land use. Our data supported the hypothesis that perennial vegetation (fruit tree orchard) and the proportion of aggregates with diameter <53 μm are suitable indicators of SOC accumulation and may therefore have a greater potential for SOC sequestration than the cropland.     

Coupled variations of soil temperature and moisture in reclaimed fields filled with coal gangue of different grain size distributions

Purpose

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of different reclamation modes on coupled variations of soil temperature and moisture.

Materials and methods

An experimental field was established, which consists of three plots (plots I, II, and III) filled with coal gangue of different grain size distributions (coarse grain, middle-coarse grain, and fine grain) and covered with the same thickness (50 cm) of soil. Temperature and moisture at four depths (10, 25, 50, and 65 cm) in three plots were monitored and analyzed.

Results and discussion

The study reveals that both in winter and summer soil temperature at each depth was highest in plot III and lowest in plot I. Although plot III performed better in heat preservation in winter, soil temperature of which was too high in summer for crop growth. The results also indicate that annual average of soil moisture at the depth of 10 cm and 25 cm was highest in plot II, namely plot II performed best in water holding in the tillage layer for the whole year.

Conclusions

Soil temperature and moisture in plot II were more conducive to crop growth on the whole, and it is recommended to adopt the reclamation mode of plot II for land reclamation in coal mining subsidence areas with high ground water table.

     

Land use and climate change impacts on soil organic carbon stocks in semi-arid Spain

Purpose

The sensitivity of soil organic carbon to global change drivers, according to the depth profile, is receiving increasing attention because of its importance in the global carbon cycle and its potential feedback to climate change. A better knowledge of the vertical distribution of SOC and its controlling factors—the aim of this study—will help scientists predict the consequences of global change.

Materials and methods

The study area was the Murcia Province (S.E. Spain) under semiarid Mediterranean conditions. The database used consists of 312 soil profiles collected in a systematic grid, each 12 km² covering a total area of 11,004 km². Statistical analysis to study the relationships between SOC concentration and control factors in different soil use scenarios was conducted at fixed depths of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 cm.

Results and discussion

SOC concentration in the top 40 cm ranged between 6.1 and 31.5 g?kg^?1, with significant differences according to land use, soil type and lithology, while below this depth, no differences were observed (SOC concentration 2.1–6.8 g?kg^?1). The ANOVA showed that land use was the most important factor controlling SOC concentration in the 0–40 cm depth. Significant differences were found in the relative importance of environmental and textural factors according to land use and soil depth. In forestland, mean annual precipitation and texture were the main predictors of SOC, while in cropland and shrubland, the main predictors were mean annual temperature and lithology. Total SOC stored in the top 1 m in the region was about 79 Tg with a low mean density of 7.18 kg?Cm^?3. The vertical distribution of SOC was shallower in forestland and deeper in cropland. A reduction in rainfall would lead to SOC decrease in forestland and shrubland, and an increase of mean annual temperature would adversely affect SOC in croplands and shrubland. With increasing depth, the relative importance of climatic factors decreases and texture becomes more important in controlling SOC in all land uses.

Conclusions

Due to climate change, impacts will be much greater in surface SOC, the strategies for C sequestration should be focused on subsoil sequestration, which was hindered in forestland due to bedrock limitations to soil depth. In these conditions, sequestration in cropland through appropriate management practices is recommended.     

Number of soil profiles needed to give a reliable overall estimate of soil organic carbon storage using profile carbon density data

Abstract

Soil profile data are the basis for estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and any changes in SOC storage, which are of great significance in terms of global climate change. Estimates based on various profile data have been made for SOC storage in China. Modeling studies have given contrasting results on changes in SOC storage in Chinese croplands. A certain number of measured soil profile data are needed to validate the modeled results. In the present study, we examined the relationships between sample size, population variance and detection limit using the central limit theorem and the statistical properties of the normal distribution. Based on the profile dataset from the Second National Soil Survey in China, we calculated that to derive a reliable estimate of the overall mean SOC density for all the soils of China, a sample size of 4,000 soil profiles is needed. In this case, a reliable estimate is defined as having a 95% confidence interval and allowing a ±5% detection limit of SOC. The necessary sample size for cropland soils is 1,250. Our results indicate that approximately 100 samples only are needed to validate a modeled SOC loss of 20–30% in cropland soils in China. By aggregating the soil profiles in the dataset into soil orders and calculating the variance of each soil order, we show that the sample sizes in the dataset are insufficient to give reliable estimates on the carbon densities of most soil orders; thus, we conclude that there is considerable uncertainty in the SOC distribution maps resulting from the Second National Soil Survey.     

Impacts of land use and salinization on soil inorganic and organic carbon in the middle-lower Yellow River Delta

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) is an important reservoir of carbon (C) in arid, semi-arid, and semi-humid regions. However, knowledge is incomplete on the dynamics of SIC and its relationship with soil organic C (SOC) under different land use types in the semi-humid region, particularly in coastal zones impacted by soil salinization. We collected 170 soil samples from 34 profiles across various land use types (maize-wheat, cotton, paddy, and reed) in the middle-lower Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. We measured soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water-soluble salts, and SOC and SIC contents. Our results showed significant differences in both SOC and SIC among land use types. The dry cropland (maize-wheat and cotton) soils had significantly higher SOC and SIC densities (4.71 and 15.46 kg C m^-2, respectively) than the paddy soils (3.28 and 14.09 kg C m^-2, respectively) in the 0–100 cm layer. Compared with paddy soils, reed soils contained significantly higher SOC (4.68 kg C m^-2) and similar SIC (15.02 kg C m^-2) densities. There was a significant positive correlation between SOC and SIC densities over a 0–100 cm soil depth in dry cropland soils, but a negative relationship in the paddy soils. On average, SOC and SIC densities under maize-wheat cropping were 15% and 4% lower, respectively, in the salt-affected soils in the middle-lower YRD than the upper YRD. This study indicated that land use types had great influences on both SOC and SIC and their relationship, and salinization had adverse effect on soil C storage in the YRD.