Carbon sequestration in two Brazilian Cerrado soils under no-till

A considerable proportion of the 200 million hectares of the Brazilian Cerrado is suitable for annual crops but little is known about the effects of tillage on the C dynamics of Cerrado soils. We evaluated the role of two representative Cerrado Oxisols (350 and 650 g clay kg⁻¹) as sources or sinks of atmospheric C when managed under three tillage systems (conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-till (NT)) in 8- and 5-year long-term experiments. A literature review was also carried out and the mean C sequestration rates in no-till soils of tropical and subtropical regions of Brazil were calculated and compared with values for soils from temperate regions of the world. The original C stocks in 0–20 cm layer of soils under native Cerrado were higher in the clayey (54.0 Mg ha⁻¹) than in the sandy clay loam soil (35.4 Mg ha⁻¹), suggesting a higher physical stability of organic matter associated with variable clay minerals in the clayey Oxisol. The original C stocks of the native Cerrado soils appear not to have decreased after 23 years of conventional tillage in the sandy clay loam Oxisol, except when the soil had been subjected to erosion (15% loss of C), or after 25 years in the clayey Oxisol. Compared to conventionally tilled soil, the C stocks in no-till sandy clay loam Oxisol increased by 2.4 Mg ha⁻¹ (C sequestration rate = 0.30 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and in the clayey Oxisol by 3.0 Mg ha⁻¹ (C sequestration rate = 0.60 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The mean rate of C sequestration in the no-till Brazilian tropical soils was estimated to be 0.35 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, similar to the 0.34 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ reported for soils from temperate regions but lower than the 0.48 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ estimated for southern Brazilian subtropical soils. Considering the large area (about 70 million hectares) of the Cerrado which is currently used and potentially available for cropland, the adoption of no-till systems could turn the Cerrado soils into a significant sink for atmospheric C and contribute to the mitigation of global climate change.     

A scheme for sampling inorganic nitrogen in forest soils

Abstract

An efficient sampling scheme for evaluating seasonal changes of inorganic nitrogen in a forest soil was designed. It was based on variances of ammonium‐ and nitrate‐nitrogen estimated from core samples from each of three horizons (A1, A2, B1) taken from 8 randomly selected sites in a three‐hectare study area. The scheme adopted was: At each sampling time a single composite sample for each horizon was made using 15 cores from randomly‐selected locations; duplicate subsamples from each composite were analyzed for ammonium‐ and nitrate‐nitrogen.     

Pedotransfer function to predict density of forest soils in Switzerland

Soil density is an important soil property, but respective measurements are usually scarce. With data from 559 mineral soil horizons (134 sites) we developed a linear regression pedotransfer function (PTF) for the density of forest soils (sieved to ≤ 2 mm). The field estimate of density was the most important covariate. RMSE of 0.205 Mg m^?3 and R² of 0.67, calculated on independent data (131 horizons), were better than the statistics obtained by published, recalibrated PTF (RMSE 0.271–0.324 Mg m^?3; R² 0.28–0.42).     

Phosphorus fractions in Brazilian Cerrado soils as affected by tillage

No-tillage systems lead to physical, chemical and biological changes in soil. Soil fertility is responsive to changes in tillage as it depends on nutrient status, soil water content and biological characteristics. This work aimed to determine long term changes in phosphorus forms and availability in the profile of two tropical soils under conventional and no-till systems, and to discuss the significance of these changes on plant growth and demand for P fertilizers. Undisturbed soil cores with 20 cm in diameter were collected to a depth of 40 cm, accommodated in PVC tubes and taken to a greenhouse, where the experiment was conducted. Two soils were collected in Central Brazil, in areas under Cerrado. Both soils had been cropped for at least 10 years under conventional tillage and no-till. In the greenhouse, pots received phosphorus fertilization or not at 43.7 kg ha⁻¹, and soybean was grown for 60 days, when soil P fractions were determined. Labile P fractions in the soil profile were not affected by management systems, and there was no accumulation of available P under no-till. A large amount of P added as fertilizer was adsorbed in soil and remained in moderately labile fractions, mainly on uppermost soil layers. Therefore, the phosphate fertilizer has promoted P accumulation on less available fractions in soil, remaining P on the soil after crop harvest. Eventually this phosphorus could migrate to more labile fractions and be available for crops grown in succession.     

Storage effects on the community level physiological profiles of Mediterranean forest soils

Community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) have been implemented in many European soil monitoring programmes as a rapid tool for the assessment of the functional properties of soil microbial communities. However, this technique has not been harmonized among different laboratories. In this experiment, the changes of the CLPPs after storage of three Mediterranean forest soils were characterised for two sampling depths. The methods to store the samples were cooling, freezing and room temperature storage. Data presented in this study provide evidence that substantial changes can occur to the soil microbial community functions, regardless of the kind of storage. Changes in functional diversity and substrate evenness depended on the profile and sampling depth. The rate of consumption of the groups of substrates, however, shifted towards an enhanced utilisation of carboxylic acids, phenols and/or amines after 1 month storage at 4 °C, regardless of the profile or sampling depth. This was attributed to the physical disruption of soil aggregates and exposure of relatively recalcitrant occluded organic matter. These effects levelled out during 1-year storage. The great sensitivity of CLPPs to storage treatment suggests to take care for immediate analysis after sampling. In case fresh samples are not available, freezing is recommended as a convenient alternative; in that case, however, the kinetic approach is required for data analysis.     

Premixed digestion salts for Kjeldahl determination of total nitrogen in selected forest soils

Abstract

Estimates of total soil nitrogen by a standard Kjeldahl procedure and a modified procedure employing packets of premixed digestion salts were closely correlated (r² = 0.983). The modified procedure appears to be as reliable as the standard method for determining total nitrogen in southern alluvial forest soils.     

Relationships between soil properties and feeding activity of soil fauna in acid forest soils

We investigated the relationships between soil chemical properties, humus form, and feeding activity in eight forest sites in Northrhine‐Westphalia, Germany. The study sites varied in forest type (oak, oak‐hornbeam, spruce, and pine). Three study sites were located under the same climatic conditions, and five study sites were distributed all over Northrhine‐Westphalia. We determined humus form, soil chemical properties, and feeding activity in three replication plots per site. We used the bait‐lamina test to determine feeding activity of soil fauna. Independent of forest type, all study sites were very acid with pH(CaCl₂) values in the Ah horizon between 2.8 and 4.0. The three study sites located under the same climatic conditions showed very homogenous soil chemical properties (pH in Ah: 2.9–3.0), whereas the five other sites varied significantly due to their soil chemical parameters (pH in Ah: 2.8–4.0). All single sites presented feeding activities with a very low spatial heterogeneity. Forest types and climatic conditions were not related to activity of soil fauna. Feeding activity and thickness of the O layer were strongly negatively correlated, whereas the activity was strongly positively correlated to soil pH in the five study sites with a wide range of soil chemical parameters. The three extremely acid forest sites presented significant differences in feeding activities that were not related to soil chemical properties.     

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils in the Cerrado region of the Brazilian Amazon

The introduction of crop management practices after conversion of Amazon Cerrado into cropland influences soil C stocks and has direct and indirect consequences on greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The aim of this study was to quantify soil C sequestration, through the evaluation of the changes in C stocks, as well as the GHG fluxes (N₂O and CH₄) during the process of conversion of Cerrado into agricultural land in the southwestern Amazon region, comparing no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. We collected samples from soils and made gas flux measurements in July 2004 (the dry season) and in January 2005 (the wet season) at six areas: Cerrado, CT cultivated with rice for 1 year (1CT) and 2 years (2CT), and NT cultivated with soybean for 1 year (1NT), 2 years (2NT) and 3 years (3NT), in each case after a 2-year period of rice under CT. Soil samples were analyzed in both seasons for total organic C and bulk density. The soil C stocks, corrected for a mass of soil equivalent to the 0–30-cm layer under Cerrado, indicated that soils under NT had generally higher C storage compared to native Cerrado and CT soils. The annual C accumulation rate in the conversion of rice under CT into soybean under NT was 0.38 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Although CO₂ emissions were not used in the C sequestration estimates to avoid double counting, we did include the fluxes of this gas in our discussion. In the wet season, CO₂ emissions were twice as high as in the dry season and the highest N₂O emissions occurred under the NT system. There were no CH₄ emissions to the atmosphere (negative fluxes) and there were no significant seasonal variations. When N₂O and CH₄ emissions in C-equivalent were subtracted (assuming that the measurements made on 4 days were representative of the whole year), the soil C sequestration rate of the conversion of rice under CT into soybean under NT was 0.23 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Although there were positive soil C sequestration rates, our results do not present data regarding the full C balance in soil management changes in the Amazon Cerrado.     

A new evaluation of carbon stocks in British forest soils

Carbon (C) stocks in forest soils were evaluated in the first comprehensive survey of Great Britain, the BioSoil soil survey, using a total of 167 plots (72 in England, 26 in Wales and 69 in Scotland). The average C stock down to 80 cm depth for seven main soil types ranged between 108 and 448 t C/ha with maximum values from 511 to 927 t C/ha. Carbon stock varied with soil depth and type, forest type, and stand age. Stocks within the upper mineral soil (0–20 cm) represented between 29 and 69% of the total 0–80 cm C stock, while those in the top 40 cm comprised 59–100% of the total. Carbon stocks decreased in the order deep peats > peaty gleys > groundwater gleys > surface‐water gleys > podzols and ironpans > brown earths > rankers and rendzinas. Litter and fermentation horizons on average contributed an additional 7.3 and 8.8 t C/ha, respectively, to the overall soil C stock. Measured soil C stocks (0–80 cm) were upscaled by area of main soil and forest types to provide national estimates. Total forest soil stocks for England, Wales and Scotland were upscaled to 163, 46 and 337 Mt C, respectively, with an additional 17, 4 and 21 Mt C within surface organic layers (litter and fermentation horizons). Carbon stocks were larger under conifers compared with broadleaves. Peaty gleys contributed most to the total C stock in Scotland, while brown earths and podzolic soils made the largest contribution in Wales, and brown earths and surface‐water gley soils in England. Estimated total carbon stocks in forest soils in Great Britain, including organic layers, are 589 Mt C in the top 80 cm and 664 Mt C in the top 1 m of soil. The BioSoil soil survey provides the most comprehensive estimate of forest soil C stocks in Great Britain to date and provides a good baseline for assessing future change even though variability in forest soil C stocks is high. However, a relatively small number of additional plots to fill existing gaps in spatial coverage and to increase representation of rendzinas and highly organic soils would significantly reduce the level of uncertainty.     

Potential carbon stock in Japanese forest soils – simulated impact of forest management and climate change using the CENTURY model

Forest management and climate change may have a substantial impact on future soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at the country scale. Potential SOC in Japanese forest soils was regionally estimated under nine forest managements and a climate change scenario using the CENTURY ecosystem model. Three rotations (30, 50, 100 yr) and three thinning regimes were tested: no‐thinning; 30% of the trees cut in the middle of the rotation (e.g. 15 year in a 30‐yr rotation) and thinned trees all left as litter or slash (ThinLef) and the trees from thinning removed from the forest (ThinRem). A climate change scenario was tested (ca. 3 °C increase in air temperature and 9% increase in precipitation). The model was run at 1 km resolution using climate, vegetation and soil databases. The estimated SOC stock ranged from 1600 to 1830 TgC (from 6800 to 7800 gC/m²), and the SOC stock was largest with the longest rotation and was largest under ThinLef with all three rotations. Despite an increase in net primary production, the SOC stock decreased by 5% under the climate change scenario.     

Availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in forest soils in northeastern Tasmania

Summary Rates of N mineralization and of N uptake were measured in situ in three eucalypt forests and a cool-temperate rainforest, and were correlated with productivity. All of the soils had a high capacity for immobilization, and nitrification was insignificant. Changes in both organic and inorganic P fractions during in situ containment of soils were small. While the concentration of inorganic available P was not related to forest productivity, a measure of labile organic P was closely related both to productivity and to P in the microbial biomass. Estimates of inorganic- and organic-N availability were highly correlated with independent estimates of organic-P availability, and the results are discussed in relation to biological control of nutrient availability in the surface horizons of forest soils.     

Upscaling spatio‐temporal patterns of cation fluxes in acid forest soils

One main problem with current research on spatio‐temporal modeling of ion fluxes in forest soils is the separation of space and time effects in the soil‐monitoring concept. This article describes an approach to overcome this weakness. Time trends of point information on soil‐solution data (base‐cation concentrations and fluxes) are scaled by linking them to soil‐chemical data which is available in higher spatial resolution and can be upscaled to an area base. This approach is based on a combined evaluation of bulk soil and soil‐solution data using both statistical and process‐oriented methods. Multiple‐linear‐regression analyses coupled with geostatistics were developed to predict spatial patterns of exchangeable cation percentages. In a second step, empirical ion‐distribution coefficients were adapted according to Gapon using data of suction‐cup plots and bulk‐soil samples. Seasonally adjusted time‐series data of soil‐solution chemistry were then connected with the maps of the predicted exchangeable‐cation percentages by means of the Gapon equations. This evaluation step provided both time‐ and space‐dependent maps of cation concentrations in the soil solution. Finally, using the results of a water‐budget model it was possible to derive spatio‐temporal patterns of soil cation fluxes. Methodological limitations and the results of verification processes are discussed. The methods described can only be used in acidic soils and should not be used in soil layers rich in humus, since adsorption to C compounds differs from adsorption to clay minerals. The time increments of the models should be not shorter than yearly in order to suppress annual periodicity. Although the Gapon equations were not based on laboratory‐determined exchange solutions at quasi‐equilibrium, but rather on field data from the suction‐cup technique, the exchangeable‐cation percentages showed steady functions of selectivity coefficients. The methods tested at a watershed scale may be flexible enough to be applied at other scales as well.     

Carbon limitations to nitrous oxide emissions in a humid tropical forest of the Brazilian Amazon

The availability of labile organic C for microbial metabolic processes could be an important factor regulating N₂O emissions from tropical soils. We explored the effects of labile C on the emissions of N₂O from a forest soil in the State of Rondônia in the southwestern quadrant of the Brazilian Amazon. We measured emissions of N₂O from a forest soil after amendments with solutions containing glucose, water only or NO₃^–. Addition of glucose to the forest soil resulted in very large increases in N₂O emissions whereas the water only and NO₃^– additions did not. These results suggest a strong C limitation on N₂O production in this forest soil in the southwestern Amazon.     

酸雨对土壤有机碳氮潜在矿化的影响

Acid rain is a serious environmental problem worldwide. In this study, a pot experiment using forest soils planted with the seedlings of four woody species was performed with weekly treatments of pH 4.40, 4.00, 3.52, and 3.05 simulated acid rain （SAR） for 42 months compared to a control ofpH 5.00 lake water. The cumulative amounts of C and N mineralization in the five treated soils were determined after incubation at 25 ℃ for 65 d to examine the effects of SAR treatments. For all five treatments, cumulative CO2-C production ranged from 20.24 to 27.81 mg kg^-1 dry soil, net production of available N from 17.37 to 48.95 mg kg^-1 dry soil, and net production of NO3-N from 9.09 to 46.23 mg kg^-1 dry soil. SAR treatments generally enhanced the emission of CO2-C from the soils; however, SAR with pH 3.05 inhibited the emission. SAR treatments decreased the net production of available N and NO3-N. The cumulative CH4 and N2O productions from the soils increased with increasing amount of simulated acid rain. The cumulative CO2-C production and the net production of available N of the soil under Acmena acuminatissima were significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than those under Schima superba and Cryptocarya concinna. The mineralization of soil organic C was related to the contents of soil organic C and N, but was not related to soil pH. However, the overall effect of acid rain on the storage of soil organic matter and the cycling of important nutrients depended on the amount of acid deposition and the types of forests.     

Temporary storage of soil organic matter and acid neutralizing capacity during the process of pedogenetic acidification of forest soils in Kinki District,Japan

Abstract

Pedogenetic acidification processes in forest soils derived from sedimentary rocks under mesic and thermic soil temperature regimes (MSTR and TSTR; corresponding to mean annual soil temperatures of 8–15°C and 15–22°C, respectively) in the Kinki District were investigated based on titratable alkalinity and acidity characteristics and soil solution composition. According to statistical analyses of the soil properties, the titratable alkalinity required to acidify soils to pH 3.0 was considered to be derived from reactions occurring at the surface of amorphous Al oxides, while titratable acidity at a pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.3 results from dissociation of acidic functional groups of soil humus and/or deprotonation of oxide surfaces. These reactions were generally more prevalent in MSTR soils. Based on the soil solution composition and titratable alkalinity and acidity in the soil profiles, two processes were postulated for pedogenetic acidification, that is, eluvi-illuviation of inorganic Al followed by subsequent adsorption of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) onto the precipitates of Al hydroxides and comigration of Al and DOC in the form of organo-mineral complexes. Both processes were conspicuous in MSTR soils and significantly contributed to soil organic matter storage in the subsoil layers. Pedogenetic acidification in forest soils with MSTR was characterized by an accumulation of acidity in the form of amorphous compounds and/or organo-mineral complexes in the B horizon. It seems, to some extent, similar to podzol formation, at least in terms of Al translocation. Amorphous Al hydroxides protect against further acidification through protonation and/or partial monomerization and can, thus, be regarded as a temporary storage of acid neutralizing capacity of the soil, which would be otherwise leached out directly from the soil profile. In contrast, the acid-buffering reactions of TSTR soils seemed to occur, if at all, mostly at or near the soil surface and the contribution of the B-horizon soils was limited.     

A soil quality index based on the equilibrium between soil organic matter and biochemical properties of undisturbed coniferous forest soils of the Pacific Northwest

Recent studies have suggested that the organic matter contents of undisturbed soils (under natural vegetation) are in equilibrium with biological and biochemical properties. Accordingly, we hypothesised that such equilibria should be disrupted when soils are subjected to disturbance or stress, and that measurement of this disruption can be expressed mathematically and used as a soil quality index. In this study, we evaluated these hypotheses in soils from the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon. Both O and A horizons were sampled from nine sites in Spring 2005 and Fall 2006. Soil samples were analyzed for enzyme activities (phosphatase, β-glucosidase, laccase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, protease and urease), and other biological and chemical properties including N-mineralization, respiration, microbial biomass C (MBC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen content. In addition, soil samples from one old-growth site were manipulated in the laboratory to either simulate chemical stresses (Cu addition or pH alteration) or physical disturbances (wet-dry or freeze-thaw cycles). The results showed variation in biological and biochemical soil properties that were closely correlated with SOC. Multiple regression analysis of SOC levels against all soil properties showed that a model containing only MBC and phosphatase activity could account for 97% of the SOC variation among the sites. The model fit was independent of spatial and temporal variations because covariates such as site, stand age, sampling date, and soil horizon were found to be not statistically significant. Although the application of stress/disturbance treatments inconsistently affected most of the individual biochemical properties, in contrast, the ratio of soil C predicted by the model (C_p), and soil C measured (C_m) was consistently reduced in soils submitted to at least one level of stress and disturbance treatments. In addition, C_p/C_m was more affected in soils submitted to wet-dry cycles and Cu contamination than to freeze-thaw cycles or shifts in soil pH. Our results confirm previous evidence of a biochemical balance in high quality undisturbed soils, and that this balance is disrupted when the soil is submitted to disturbances or placed under stress conditions. The C_p/C_m ratio provides a simple reference value against which the degrading effects of pollutants or management practices on soil quality can be assessed.     

Nutrient storage in soil and biomass of native Brazilian Cerrado

The removal or burning of the biomass which frequently includes main roots results in significant nutrient losses from the Brazilian savanna, the Cerrado. To estimate these losses, we quantified above‐ and belowground plant biomass and total nutrient storage in biomass and soil of a typical Cerrado. Dominant tree species in the layer > 2 m were Pouteria torta (MART. ) RADLK ., Ouratea spectabilis (MART .) ENGL ., Roupala montana AUBL ., Byrsonima coccolobifolia H.B. et K., Dalbergia miscolobium BENTH ., Kielmeyera coriacea MART ., and Caryocar brasiliense CAMBESS . which together represented 70 % of the biomass of the > 2 m layer. In the 0.5—2 m tree layer, many different species were found of which Ouratea hexasperma (ST .‐HIL .) BAILL . representing 33 % of the biomass in the 0.5—2 m layer was most abundant. The dominant shrub species were Miconia holosericea DC., Hortia brasiliana VAND . ex DC., Myrcia rostrata DC., Parinari obtusifolia HOOK . f., and Campomanesia velutina BLUME , contributing 93 % to the total shrub biomass. Total aboveground plant biomass was 22.7 Mg ha^—1, total belowground plant biomass was 30.4 Mg ha^—1. The tree layer > 2 m comprised the largest proportion of the aboveground biomass (64.6 %) > grass/herb (13.0 %) > shrub layer (11.6 %) > tree layer 0.5—2 m (10.8 %). Three quarters of the fine root biomass (17.6 Mg ha^—1) were located in the upper 0.3 m of the soil. The element storages (in kg ha^—1) were C: 10900, N: 173 N, P: 20, K: 51, Ca: 66, Mg: 20, S: 25, Fe: 10, Mn: 4.2, Zn: 0.35, and Al: 27 in the aboveground biomass, C: 12900, N: 214 N, P: 14, K: 41, Ca: 52, Mg: 10, S: 33, Fe: 2060, Mn: 2.9, Zn: 0.60, and Al: 648 in the belowground biomass, and C: 55400, N: 3510 N, P: 631, K: 366, Ca: 86, Mg: 75, S: 529, Fe: 159000, Mn: 124, Zn: 49, and Al: 434000 in the soil (0—0.3 m). If the above‐ and belowground biomass was completely removed from the Cerrado ecosystem losses would range from 5 % of the total nutrient storage for P to 58 % for Ca referred to a lower ecosystem boundary at 0.3 m mineral soil depth.     

Effects of silicate weathering and lessivage on K‐content in forest soils derived from Pleistocene sediments

The potassium (K) content of soils developed from Pleistocene calcareous till, glacial sand and loess in NW Germany was investigated in order to characterize stores of K in feldspars (K_feldspar) and mica/illite (K_mica/illite) as well as changes as a function of soil depth. From each horizon, up to seven sand, six silt and three clay fractions were separated. K_feldspar and K_mica/illite were quantified by means of chemical composition and estimation by IR‐spectroscopy. On account of distinct differences in mineralogical composition between different particle size fractions, K‐content of the bulk soil < 2000 μm and the proportion of K_mica/illite and K_feldspar are clearly related to grain size distribution of the sample. Generally, the K‐content of particle size fractions of a soil derived from calcareous till is significantly higher than that of a soil from glacial sands. K_mica/illite of clay and silt fractions increases with depth, reflecting greater mica/illite weathering at the soil surface, whereas K_feldspar shows no noticeable change. Illite accumulates by lessivage in Bt horizons. On a whole‐soil basis, the Bt horizons of Luvisols derived from loess and calcareous till contain more K_mica/illite than either the A or the C horizons. By comparing the K‐content in the different particle size fractions with soil depth, the highest rate of change is found for soils derived from glacial sand. Gains in K in the silt fractions of soils from calcareous till and glacial sand result from weathering of feldspar sand grains. Additionally, decomposition of feldspar‐containing rock fragments of gravel size, and aeolian sedimentation, may also have contributed to these gains.