Soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration following the conversion of cropland to alfalfa forage land in northwest China

Soil C and N contents play a crucial role in sustaining soil quality and environmental quality. The conversion of annually cultivated land to forage grasses has potential to increase C and N sequestration. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term changes in soil organic C (SOC) and N pools after annual crops were converted to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. Algonguin) forage for 4 years. Soil from 24 sets of paired sites, alfalfa field versus adjacent cropland, were sampled at depths of 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm. Total soil organic C and N, particulate organic matter (POM) C and N were determined. Organic C, total N, POM-C, and POM-N contents in the 0–5 cm layer were significantly greater in alfalfa field than in adjacent cropland. However, when the entire 0–20 cm layer was considered, there were significant differences in SOC, POM-C and POM-N but not in total N between alfalfa and crop soils. Also, greater differences in POM-C and POM-N were between the two land-use treatments than in SOC and total N were found. Across all sites, SOC and total N in the 0–20 cm profile averaged 22.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ and 2.3 Mg N ha⁻¹ for alfalfa soils, and 19.8 Mg C ha⁻¹and 2.2 Mg N ha⁻¹ for adjacent crop soils. Estimated C sequestration rate (0–20 cm) following crops to alfalfa conversions averaged 0.57 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Sandy soils have more significant C accumulation than silt loam soils after conversion. The result of this suggests that the soils studied have great C sequestration potential, and the conversion of crops to alfalfa should be widely used to sequester C and improve soil quality in this region.     

Effects of different land use on soil chemical properties, decomposition rate and earthworm communities in tropical Mexico

The effects of land use on soil chemical properties were evaluated, and earthworm communities and the decomposition rate of three typical land use systems in tropical Mexico, namely banana plantations (B), agroforestry systems (AF) and a successional forest (S) were compared.The study was carried out from November 2005 to April 2006. A completely randomized sampling design was established in six sites (B1, B2, AF1, AF2, S1 and S2). Soil properties and chemical characteristics (texture, pH, organic carbon (Corg), nutrients, and available Zn and Mn), earthworm communities and the decomposition of Bravaisia integerrima and Musa acuminata litter were analyzed over a period of 8 weeks.All soils were loamy clays with a medium to high content of nutrients. Three principal clusters were generated with the soil chemical properties: a first cluster for forest soils with high Corg and Ntot and low available Zn content, a second cluster for AF1 and a third cluster for B1, B2 and A2.The decomposition of B. integerrima litter was significantly faster (half-life time: 1.8 (AF2)–3.1 (B1) weeks) than that of M. acuminata (4.1 (AF2)–5.8 (S2) weeks). However, the decomposition rates did not differ significantly among the different sites.The greatest earthworm diversities were observed in AF2 and B1. Native species were dominant in the forest soils, whereas exotic species dominated in AF and in the banana plantations. The abundance and biomass of certain earthworm species were correlated to physical and chemical soil parameters. However, litter decomposition rates were not correlated with any of the soil physical–chemical parameters.While none of the land use systems studied led to a decrease in nutrient status, earthworm biodiversity and abundance, or in litter decomposition rate, they did result in a change in earthworm species composition.     

不同土地利用方式下土壤动物对凋落物的分解作用及影响因素

土壤动物通过掘穴、取食等活动对凋落物分解起着重要作用。除凋落物本身质量外,气候因子是影响土壤动物对凋落物分解的重要外界因素。然而,目前尚不清楚不同土地利用方式下土壤动物在凋落物分解中的贡献大小是否具有差异,以及气候因子对这一过程的调控作用是否相同。本文运用Meta分析方法,量化土壤动物群对凋落物分解率的影响大小,提取了中国地理范围内56篇文献的308条研究（检索论文发表时间截至2021年5月31日）,研究气候因子调控不同土地利用方式下土壤动物对凋落物分解速率的影响。结果表明,土壤动物平均增加了8.10%凋落物的分解。在林地、草地和耕地等不同土地利用方式间,土壤动物对凋落物分解的促进作用均达显著水平（P <0.01）,其中在耕地的促进作用最强（12.36%）。土壤动物对凋落物分解的效应值与温度、降水量、海拔、凋落物袋尺寸、试验时长等因素相关。在林地,土壤动物的效应值随低温月（1月）、高温月（7月）平均温度及年均温的增加显著增加（P <0.01）;在草地,土壤动物效应值与低温月、高温月平均温度及年均温的相关关系均不显著（P> 0.05）,但却表现出随低温月、高温月平均温度...     

Carbon and nitrogen sequestration and soil aggregation under sorghum cropping sequences

Management practices, such as no tillage (NT) and intensive cropping, have potential to increase C and N sequestration in agricultural soils. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impacts of conventional tillage (CT), NT, and cropping intensity on soil organic C (SOC) and N (SON) sequestration and on distribution within aggregate-size fractions in a central Texas soil after 20 years of treatment imposition. Tillage regime and cropping sequence significantly impacted both SOC and SON sequestration. At 0–5 cm, NT increased SOC storage compared to CT by 33% and 97% and SON storage by 25% and 117% for a sorghum/wheat/soybean (SWS) rotation and a continuous sorghum monoculture, respectively. Total SOC and SON storage at both 0–5 and 5–15 cm was greater for SWS than continuous sorghum regardless of tillage regime. The majority of SOC and SON storage at 0–5 cm was observed in 250-m to 2-mm aggregates, and at 5–15 cm, in the >2-mm and 250-m to 2-mm fractions. Averaged across cropping sequences at 0–5 cm, NT increased SOC storage compared to CT by 212%, 96%, 0%, and 31%, and SON storage by 122%, 92%, 0%, and 37% in >2-mm, 250-m to 2-mm, 53- to 250-m, and <53-m aggregate-size fractions. No tillage and increased cropping intensity improved soil fertility by increasing soil organic matter levels and potential nutrient supply to crops.     

Long-term management impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics of grazed bermudagrass pastures

Managed pastures have potential for C and N sequestration in addition to providing forage for livestock. Our objectives were to investigate changes in soil organic C (SOC) and soil organic N (SON) concentrations and mineralizable C and N in cattle (Bos indicus) grazed bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pastures up to 32 y after establishment. Management included low- and high-grazing intensity, fertilization, and winter overseeding with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and clover (Trifolium sp.). Soil (0-15 cm) was sampled 7, 15, 26, and 32 y after establishment of Coastal and common bermudagrass pastures. No significant differences in SOC or SON concentrations were observed between Coastal and common bermudagrass pastures. Grazing strategies played important roles in C and N sequestration, as high-grazing intensity resulted in a lower increase in SOC and SON concentrations over time compared to low-grazing intensity. Increases in SOC were observed up to 26 y, while increases in SON were observed up to 32 y after establishment of bermudagrass pastures. Soil organic C increased 67 and 39% from 7 to 26 y at low-grazing intensity for bermudagrass+ryegrass and bermudagrass+clover pastures, respectively. SOC and SON concentrations did not increase beyond 15 y after bermudagrass establishment at high-grazing intensity. An exception was the Coastal bermudagrass+ryegrass pastures, which exhibited higher SON at 32 y than at 7 y at both grazing intensities. By 32 y, SON increased 83 and 45% in Coastal bermudagrass+ryegrass pastures at low- and high-grazing intensity, respectively, compared to 7 y. The introduction of clover to pastures decreased SOC and SON relative to ryegrass at high- but not at low-grazing intensity. Potentially mineralizable C increased from 7 to 15 y, while mineralizable N increased from 7 to 32 y. Potentially mineralizable N was also greater for bermudagrass+clover than bermudagrass+ryegrass pastures. Long-term increases in SOC and SON concentrations suggest that managed and grazed pastures have strong potential for C and N sequestration.     

Decomposition dynamics of plant materials in relation to nitrogen availability and biochemistry determined by NMR and wet-chemical analysis

Improved understanding of the interactive relationships of plant material decomposition kinetics to biochemical characteristics and nitrogen availability is required for terrestrial C accounting and sustainable land management. In this study, 15 typical and/or native Australian plant materials were finely ground and incubated with a sandy soil at 25 °C and 55% water holding capacity without nitrogen (−N) or with nitrogen (+N) addition (77 mg N kg⁻¹ soil as KNO₃). The C mineralisation dynamics were monitored for 356 days and the initial biochemical characteristics of the plant materials were determined by NMR and wet-chemical analyses.Under the −N treatment, C mineralisation rates of the plant materials were positively correlated with their initial N contents during the first several weeks, and then negatively correlated with lignin and polyphenols contents during the late stages of incubation. Thus the ratios of lignin/N, polyphenols/N and (lignin+polyphenols)/N had more consistent correlation with the cumulative amounts of C mineralised throughout the incubation than did any single component. In terms of the C types determined by NMR analysis, the C mineralisation rates were initially related positively to carbonyl C contents, and then negatively to aryl and O-aryl C contents from day 3 onwards.Addition of NO₃⁻-N accelerated C mineralisation during the early stages, but resulted in lower cumulative C mineralisation at the end of the incubation for most plant materials. Under the +N treatment, the decomposition rates were correlated with the contents of lignin and the sum of cellulose+acid detergent-extractable non-phenolic compounds, or with aryl, O-aryl and N-alkyl+methoxyl C contents. Regardless of the N treatment, the ratios of aryl/carbonyl, O-aryl/carbonyl and (aryl+O-aryl)/carbonyl C had the closest and most consistent correlations with the cumulative C mineralisation among all biochemical indices examined.A double exponential model with defined mineralisation rate constants for the active and slow pools was used to describe the C mineralisation dynamics. The biological meanings of the kinetically estimated active and slow pool sizes are interpreted and their relationships to the initial chemical/biochemical composition of the plant materials are explored.     

中国农田土壤中有机物料腐解特征的整合分析

整合1980年—2013年中国农田土壤有机物料腐解试验的相关文献,分析了华南、华北、西北和东北等典型农业区不同类型有机物料腐解一年后的残留率(h1)及其驱动因子。结果表明,中国不同有机物料h1平均为0.335 g g-1,受到物料类型、区域以及二者交互作用等因素的显著影响。总体上,h1在物料类型上呈绿肥秸秆根茬≈有机肥,在区域上呈华南≈华北西北≈东北。但h1的区域差异因物料类型而异。其中,绿肥、秸秆和根茬的h1均呈华北华南和东北,而有机肥的h1在各区域间差异不显著。同时,h1的物料类型差异也因区域而异。在湿润半湿润的华南、华北和东北地区,h1均呈根茬秸秆和绿肥;而在干旱半干旱的西北地区,受水分条件的限制,各物料类型间h1差异不显著。逐步回归结果显示,木质素与氮素含量之比(lignin∶N)是绿肥、秸秆和根茬腐解的首要影响因子,而年均温和干燥指数居于其次,表明农田土壤中植物性有机物料的腐解,物料性质较气候因子占主导。但对于腐解或半腐解状态的有机肥,其腐解已不受气候和物料性质的显著影响。此外,单一气候因子或物料性质对h1变异性的解释率往往不超过15%,气候和物料性质的综合解释率尚低于40%,表明要准确预测农田土壤有机物料的腐解过程,需要更多地重视区域或点位特征(例如,土壤理化和生物学性质等)的影响。     

Analysis of leaf and needle litter decomposition by differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermogravimetry

Summary Changes in the physicochemical properties of three kinds of litter (Prunus serotina leaves, Carpinus betulus leaves, and Pinus sylvestris needles) were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermogravimetry after decomposition for 12 to 27 months under field conditions. As expected, holocellulose was always decomposed to a larger extent than the corresponding lignin components, leading to an enrichment of lignin in the residue. These lignins were more or less modified depending on the plant species. Moreover, the results suggest that energy-rich crystalline cellulose accumulates during decomposition at the expense of easier degradable amorphous cellulose and hemicelluloses. The quotient Q, from the corresponding calorimetry and thermogravimetry values, was introduced to estimate the specific energy content as a measure for the decomposition of litter components.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. W. Kühnelt     

Soil biological properties following additions of bmr mutant grain sorghum

Soil carbon (C) sequestration may be a viable technology to reduce increases in greenhouse gas emissions until cleaner fuel technology is available. Crop plants with increased lignin levels may lead to increased soil C sequestration. Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) exhibiting lower lignin due to the naturally occurring brown midrib mutation (bmr) may allow an assessment of the potential of biotechnology to affect soil C sequestration by manipulating plant lignin levels. A 194-d laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted to investigate the mineralization of bmr and normal plant residue from four sorghum hybrids. Cross-polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance of the residue agreed with chemical analysis that the bmr residue contained altered lignin and less lignin per mass weight. Ground bmr or normal grain sorghum residue was added to soil, with or without an inorganic nitrogen (N) amendment. Initial C mineralization from microcosms receiving bmr residue was higher than from microcosms receiving normal residue, but the differences were not maintained through the 194-d experiment. Total residue C mineralization was not different between bmr or normal isolines, and accounted for only 26% of the originally added residue C. Greater variability was observed between sorghum lines than between bmr or normal isolines. The addition of N to soil resulted in increased soil C mineralization. With no added N, however, microcosm C mineralization was most strongly correlated with the lignin/N ratio. With added N, microcosm C mineralization was most strongly correlated with hemicellulose content. The soil microbial community, as assessed by phospholipid and neutral-lipid fatty acid analysis, was not affected by bmr or normal genotype, but the addition of N resulted in significant changes to the soil microbial community, most notably changes to the soil fungi. Results indicate that potential does exist to modify plant residue chemistry to increase soil C sequestration, but soil fertility and microbial community dynamics are important considerations and may further enhance C sequestration potential.     

Reciprocal transfer of carbon and nitrogen by decomposer fungi at the soil-litter interface

We have investigated whether decomposer fungi translocate litter-derived C into the underlying soil while simultaneously translocating soil-derived inorganic N up into the litter layer. We also located and quantified where the translocated C is deposited within the soil aggregate structure. When ¹³C-labeled wheat straw was decomposed on the surface of soil amended with ¹⁵N-labeled inorganic N, we found that C and N were reciprocally transferred by fungi, with a significant quantity (121-151 μg C g⁻¹ whole soil) of litter-derived C being deposited into newly formed macroaggregates (>250 μm sized aggregates). Fungal inhibition reduced fungal biomass and the bidirectional C and N flux by approximately 50%. The amount of litter-derived C found in macroaggregates was positively correlated with litter-associated fungal biomass. This fungal-mediated litter-to-soil C transfer, which to our knowledge has not been demonstrated before for saprophytic fungi, may represent an important mechanism by which litter C enters the soil and becomes stabilized as soil organic matter within the macroaggregate structure.     

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a Minnesota soil as related to tillage, residue and nitrogen management

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) are directly influenced by tillage, residue return and N fertilization management practices. Soil samples for SOC and N analyses, obtained from a 23-year field experiment, provided an assessment of near-equilibrium SOC and N conditions. Crops included corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max L. (Merrill)]. Treatments of conventional and conservation tillage, residue stover (returned or harvested) and two N fertilization rates were imposed on a Waukegan silt loam (fine-silty over skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludoll) at Rosemount, MN. The surface (0–20 cm) soils with no-tillage (NT) had greater than 30% more SOC and N than moldboard plow (MB) and chisel plow (CH) tillage treatments. The trend was reversed at 20–25 cm soil depths, where significantly more SOC and N were found in MB treatments (26 and 1.5 Mg SOC and N ha⁻¹, respectively) than with NT (13 and 1.2 Mg SOC and N ha⁻¹, respectively), possibly due to residues buried by inversion. The summation of soil SOC over depth to 50 cm did not vary among tillage treatments; N by summation was higher in NT than MB treatments. Returned residue plots generally stored more SOC and N than in plots where residue was harvested. Nitrogen fertilization generally did not influence SOC or N at most soil depths. These results have significant implications on how specific management practices maximize SOC storage and minimize potential N losses. Our results further suggest different sampling protocols may lead to different and confusing conclusions regarding the impact of tillage systems on C sequestration.