不同森林植被下土壤有机碳的分解特征及碳库研究

分析了不同森林植被和同一植被不同林龄的人工杉木林下土壤有机碳的分解特征及土壤有机碳中的活性碳库、缓效性碳库和惰效性碳库的大小和周转时间。结果表明:不同森林植被下土壤有机碳的分解速率不同,总的趋势都是:培养前期分解速度快,后期分解速度慢,土壤剖面A层>剖面B层。在剖面A层中:不同森林植被下分解速率的大小顺序为常绿阔叶林>人工杉木林,不同林龄的人工杉木林为成熟林>中龄林>幼龄林;在剖面B层中:分解速率差异不大。不同森林植被下不同土壤剖面上的土壤活性碳库、缓效性碳库和惰效性碳库的库容和分解速率不同,土壤活性碳库碳含量一般占总有机碳的0 99%～2 89%,田间平均驻留时间为10～23天;土壤缓效性碳一般占总有机碳的17 17%～55 46%,田间平均驻留时间为1 6～24 2年;土壤惰效性碳一般占总有机碳的42 05%～80 66%,田间平均驻留时间为假定的1000年。     

长白山森林土壤有机碳库大小及周转研究

主要分析不同森林植被下有机碳的分解动态和土壤碳库各组分大小、周转时间。结果表明：土壤样品培养90天，CO2累计释放量表层大致为1723～5065mg／kg、下层大致为178～642mg／kg。分解速率总的趋势是前期快，后期慢，表层明显大于下层。大小顺序为：冷杉林〉针阔混交林和阔叶林〉针叶林。在不同植被下的表层和下层土壤中，活性碳占总有机碳的0．54％～1．67％，0．45％～5．48％．平均驻留时间为11～56天、60～88天；缓效性碳占总有机碳的23．0％～63．3％，33．2％～72．2％，平均驻留时间为4～70年、24～161年；惰效性碳占总有机碳的35．5％～75．5％．26．0％～65．%。表层土壤的总有机碳、活性碳、缓效性碳和惰效性碳含量都明显大于下层。凋落物的化学组成主要决定活性碳库、缓效性碳库含量，土壤的粘粒含量等性质主要决定惰效性碳库含量。     

几种不同类型土壤有机碳库容大小及周转研究

通过土壤样品的室内培养,运用三库一级动力学理论,分析了沼泽土、草甸土、普通黄棕壤和棕色石灰土4种土壤有机碳库容大小、各碳库平均周转时间及分解动态。结果表明,4种土壤剖面表层和中层有机碳含量分别为8.48~24.53 g/kg,4.02~16.77 g/kg;活性碳占总有机碳含量的0.99%~5.01%,1.31%~1.91%,平均周转时间分别为8.8~14.3 d,10.4~16.5 d;缓效性碳占总有机碳含量的15.88%~59.04%,20.43%~48.36%,平均周转时间分别为1.3~29.1 a,3.6~21.3 a;惰性碳占总有机碳含量的39.97%~79.11%,50.31%~77.66%。不同类型土壤三库有机碳含量均是上层明显大于中层,培养3个月,表层和中层土壤有机碳累计分解量分别达到了165.99~2 429.57 mg/kg,108.04~743.02 mg/kg,4种土壤有机碳分解速率大小顺序:沼泽土>草甸土>棕色石灰土>普通黄棕壤,与活性碳的百分比含量成正相关关系。对培养期间土壤有机碳累计释放量进行拟合,发现三次方程(Y=b0 b1x b2x2 b3x3)能很好地描述其变化趋势,相关性均达到极显著水平(P<0.01)。     

Soil Organic Carbon and Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Along a 30‐year Grassland Restoration Chronosequence in Semi‐arid Regions (China)

Carbon accumulation is an important research topic for grassland restoration. It is requisite to determine the dynamics of the soil carbon pools [soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC)] for understanding regional carbon budgets. In this study, we chose a grassland restoration chronosequence (cropland, 0 years; grasslands restored for 5, 15 and 30 years, i.e. RG5, RG15 and RG30, respectively) to compare the SOC and SIC pools in different soil profiles. Our results showed that SOC stock in the 0‐ to 100‐cm soil layer showed an initial decrease in RG5 and then an increase to net C gains in RG15 and RG30. Because of a decrease in the SIC stock, the percentage of SOC stock in the total soil C pool increased across the chronosequence. The SIC stock decreased at a rate of 0·75 Mg hm⁻² y⁻¹. The change of SOC was higher in the surface (0–10 cm, 0·40 Mg hm⁻² y⁻¹) than in the deeper soil (10–100 cm, 0·33 Mg hm⁻² y⁻¹) in RG5. The accumulation of C commenced >5 years after cropland conversion. Although the SIC content decreased, the SIC stock still represented a larger percentage of the soil C pool. Moreover, the soil total carbon showed an increasing trend during grassland restoration. Our results indicated that the soil C sequestration featured an increase in SOC, offsetting the decrease in SIC at the depth of 0–100 cm in the restored grasslands. Therefore, we suggest that both SOC and SIC should be considered during grassland restoration in semi‐arid regions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The relative impact of land use and soil properties on sizes and turnover rates of soil organic carbon pools in Subtropical China

The dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools determine potential carbon sequestration and soil nutrient improvement. This study investigated the characteristics of SOC pools in five types of cultivated topsoils (0–15 cm) in subtropical China using laboratory incubation experiments under aerobic conditions. The sizes and turnover rates of the active, slow and resistant C pools were simulated using a first‐order kinetic model. The relative influence of soil environmental properties on the dynamics of different SOC pools was evaluated by applying principal component analysis (PCA) and aggregated boosted trees (ABTs) analysis. The results show that there were significantly greater sizes of different SOC pools and lower turnover rates of slow C pool in two types of paddy soils than in upland soils. Land use exerted the most significant influence on the sizes of all SOC pools, followed by clay content and soil pH. The soil C/N ratio and pH were the major determinants for turnover rates of the active and slow C pools, followed by clay content which had more impact on the turnover rates of the active C pool than the slow C pool. It is concluded that soil type exerts a significant impact on the dynamics of SOC.     

农业利用方式对土壤有机碳库大小及周转的影响研究

通过土壤样品的室内培养,运用三库一级动力学理论,以丘陵区红壤为对象,研究了水田、桔园、旱地、水旱轮作4种土地利用方式农田土壤有机碳库大小、各碳库平均周转时间及分解动态,探讨了土地利用变化对土壤有机碳的影响.结果表明,土壤有机碳分快速分解和缓慢分解两个阶段.快速分解阶段的分解速率与活性碳含量和活性碳占有机碳的百分含量相关性不明显;缓慢分解阶段的速率与缓性碳库含量呈正相关.4种土地利用类型表层和中层土壤总有机碳含量分别为4.97～12.40 g/kg,2.58～4.00 g/kg;缓性碳库表层含量的大小顺序为,水田(5.78 g/kg)>旱地(3.77 g/kg)>桔园(3.39 g/kg)>水旱轮作(2.83 g/kg)I惰性碳库表层含量的大小顺序与缓性碳相同,含量分别为6.42,5.43,2.45,2.03 g/kg,水田的缓、惰性碳库含量最高,水田更具有固碳潜力.     

不同土地利用类型对伊犁地区土壤活性有机碳库和碳库管理指数的影响

土壤碳库管理指数（CPMI）可以比较准确地发现人为因素对土地利用的干扰情况。以伊犁河谷不同土地利用类型（耕地、林地、草地和荒地）为研究对象,分析了不同土地利用类型土壤有机碳（SOC）含量、活性有机碳含量及其在SOC中的分配情况,各类有机碳含量之间的相关性、CPMI。研究表明:（1）不同土地利用类型SOC含量和水溶性有机碳（WSOC）含量有显著差异,SOC含量为草地 > 林地 > 耕地 > 荒地;WSOC含量为耕地（最高） > 荒地（最低）;易氧化碳（ROC）含量为草地最低;在0—20 cm和20—40 cm土层,微生物量碳（MBC）含量为草地（最高） > 林地（最低）;ROC含量为荒地高于草地。不同土地利用类型SOC含量均随土层深度增加而降低;ROC含量均随土层深度增加而升高;除林地外,其他样地MBC含量均随土层深度增加呈先升高后降低趋势,而WSOC含量均随土层深度增加而逐渐降低。（2）不同土地利用类型下ROC,MBC和WSOC所占SOC比例各不相同,且碳库的活度主要取决于ROC所占比例,ROC所占比例为荒地 > 耕地 > 林地 > 草地;MBC所占比例为荒地 > 耕地 > 草地 > 林地;WSOC所占比例为耕地 > 林地 > 荒地 > 草地。同一土地利用类型各活性有机碳所占比例情况为ROC > MBC > WSOC。（3）不考虑土层深度影响,耕地ROC含量与MBC含量呈极显著线性负相关;林地SOC含量与ROC含量呈显著线性负相关;荒地SOC含量与WSOC含量呈极显著线性正相关。不同土地利用类型下SOC,ROC,MBC,WSOC含量之间线性相关程度总体偏低。（4）同一土地利用类型,CPMI均随土层深度的加深先增大后减小;0—20 cm土层的CPMI为林地 > 荒地（100） > 耕地 > 草地。土地利用类型由荒地、草地、耕地转变为林地,有利于CPMI的提高,有利于土壤培肥,促进碳循环。     

森林土壤有机碳库组分定量化研究

用一级动力学方程研究了贵州省黎平县森林土壤活性、缓效性和惰效性有机碳库的变化及分解速率,模拟结果表明:各土壤剖面的土壤活性碳库一般占总有机碳的0.5%~7.6%,平均驻留时间(M ean Residue Tim e,MRT)为41~64天;缓效性碳库占总有机碳的45%~71%,平均驻留时间为3~30年;采用酸水解法测定惰效性碳库的库容,一般占总有机碳的20%~50%。活性碳库的变化规律为混交林>阔叶林>针叶林,缓效性碳库中混交林最大,其它两种林分规律不明显;不同林龄的杉木(8年,16年,40年),非活性碳库(缓效性碳库和惰效性碳库之和)的含量变化规律为40年>16年>8年,说明40年生的杉木下土壤固碳能力比8年和16年的强;16年的又比8年的强。     

Soil carbon pools of reclaimed minesoils under grass and forest landuses

Minesoils are characterized by low soil organic matter and poor soil physicochemical environment. Mine soil reclamation process has potential to restore soil fertility and sequester carbon (C) over time. Soil organic C (SOC) pool and associated soil properties were determined for reclaimed minesoils under grass and forest landuses of varied establishment year. Three grassland sites of 30, 9, and 1 years after reclamation (G30, G9, and G1) and two forest sites, 11 years after reclamation (RF) and undisturbed stand of 40 years (UF), were selected within four counties (Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Coshocton) of southeastern Ohio. Soil bulk density (BD) of reclaimed forest (RF) soil was significantly higher than undisturbed forest (UF) soils within 10–40 cm soil depth profile. Reclamation process increased soil pH from slightly acidic to alkaline and decreased the soil EC in both landuses. Among grassland soils, significant changes in SOC and total soil N contents were observed within 0–10 cm soil depth. SOC contents of G30 (29.7 Mg ha⁻¹) and G9 (29.5 Mg ha⁻¹) were significantly higher than G1 soils (9.11 Mg ha⁻¹). Soil N content was increased from G1 (0.95 Mg ha⁻¹) to G9 (2.00 Mg ha⁻¹) site and then the highest value was found under G30 (3.25 Mg ha⁻¹) site within 0–10 cm soil depth. UF soils had significantly higher SOC and total N content than RF soils at 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution of light and heavy fractions of soil organic carbon as related to land use and tillage practice

Mass distributions of different soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions are influenced by land use and management. Concentrations of C and N in light- and heavy fractions of bulk soils and aggregates in 0–20 cm were determined to evaluate the role of aggregation in SOC sequestration under conventional tillage (CT), no-till (NT), and forest treatments. Light- and heavy fractions of SOC were separated using 1.85 g mL⁻¹ sodium polytungstate solution. Soils under forest and NT preserved, respectively, 167% and 94% more light fraction than those under CT. The mass of light fraction decreased with an increase in soil depth, but significantly increased with an increase in aggregate size. C concentrations of light fraction in all aggregate classes were significantly higher under NT and forest than under CT. C concentrations in heavy fraction averaged 20, 10, and 8 g kg⁻¹ under forest, NT, and CT, respectively. Of the total SOC pool, heavy fraction C accounted for 76% in CT soils and 63% in forest and NT soils. These data suggest that there is a greater protection of SOC by aggregates in the light fraction of minimally disturbed soils than that of disturbed soil, and the SOC loss following conversion from forest to agriculture is attributed to reduction in C concentrations in both heavy and light fractions. In contrast, the SOC gain upon conversion from CT to NT is primarily attributed to an increase in C concentration in the light fraction.     

缙云山5种植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库变化特征

为揭示重庆市缙云山不同植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库分配特征,以该地区5种植被类型:阔叶林、针叶林、混交林、竹林和荒草地为研究对象,分析不同植被类型下各土层土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化有机碳(ROC)含量及其土壤碳库的变化特征.结果表明:SOC和各活性有机碳组分含量及分配比...     

Organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in reed meadow soils converted to alfalfa fields

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen are key elements of sustainable agriculture. Converting forest land and grassland to arable land is known to decrease the content of soil organic carbon (SOC), whereas converting land under annual crops into perennial grasslands has the potential to increase organic C and N sequestration, an assumption tested in this study. Compared to the levels in reed meadows, SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks in the top layer of 2489 Mg soil ha⁻¹ (about 0–15 cm depth) significantly increased 3 years after the conversion, despite a slight decrease numerically in the first year following the conversion. And the mass of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), total extractable carbon (TEC), humic acid carbon (HAC), and fulvic acid carbon (FAC) stocks all decreased significantly in the first year in the top layer but recovered after 3 years. In the deeper layer of 2549 Mg soil ha⁻¹ (about 15–30 cm depth), however, the levels of SOC and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) stocks began increasing from the first year itself. During the period of 1–10 years after the conversion, the degree of humification rate (HR) for the deeper layer were consistent, averaging 30%, whereas the same parameters in the top layer stabilized after 3 years at 33%. After 10 years of conversion, the soil recorded higher levels of SOC and TN stocks, used as indicators in this study, than those that had prevailed in the reed meadows, demonstrating the positive combined effects of the conversion on the retention of atmospheric C-CO₂ in the soil. This study suggests that proper management of alfalfa fields can maintain or even improve chemical and physical quality of converted reed meadows soils.     

Conversion of cropland into grassland: Implications for soil organic‐carbon stocks in two soils with different texture

Soil organic‐carbon (SOC) stocks are expected to increase after conversion of cropland into grassland. Two adjacent cropland and grassland sites—one with a Vertisol with 23 y after conversion and one with an Arenosol 29 y after conversion—were sampled down to 60 cm depth. Concentrations of SOC and total nitrogen (N_tot) were measured before and after density fractionation in two light fractions and a mineral‐associated fraction with C adsorbed on mineral surfaces. For the soil profiles, SOC stocks and radiocarbon (¹⁴C) concentrations of mineral associated C were determined. Carbon stocks and mineral‐associated SOC concentrations were increased in the upper 10 cm of the grassland soil compared to the cropland. This corresponded to the root‐biomass distribution, with 59% and 86% of the total root biomass at 0–5 cm soil depth of the grasslands. However, at the Arenosol site, at 10–20 cm depth, C in the mineral‐associated fraction was lost 29 y after the conversion into grassland. Over all, SOC stocks were not significantly different between grassland and cropland at both sites when the whole profile was taken into account. At the Arenosol site, the impact of land‐use conversion on SOC accumulation was limited by low total clay surface area available for C stabilization. Subsoil C (30–50 cm) at cropland of the Vertisol site comprised 32% of the total SOC stocks with high ¹⁴C concentrations below the plowing horizon. We concluded that fresh C was effectively translocated into the subsoil. Thus, subsoil C has to be taken into account when land‐use change effects on SOC are assessed.     

Priming effect and its regulating factors for fast and slow soil organic carbon pools: A meta-analysis

The priming effect (PE) plays a critical role in the control of soil carbon (C) cycling and influences the alteration of soil organic C (SOC) decomposition by fresh C input.However,drivers of PE for the fast and slow SOC pools remain unclear because of the varying results from individual studies.Using meta-analysis in combination with boosted regression tree (BRT) analysis,we evaluated the relative contribution of multiple drivers of PE with substrate and their patterns across each driver gradient.The results showed that the variability of PE was larger for the fast SOC pool than for the slow SOC pool.Based on the BRT analysis,67%and 34%of the variation in PE were explained for the fast and slow SOC pools,respectively.There were seven determinants of PE for the fast SOC pool,with soil total nitrogen (N) content being the most important,followed by,in a descending order,substrate C:N ratio,soil moisture,soil clay content,soil pH,substrate addition rate,and SOC content.The directions of PE were negative when soil total N content and substrate C:N ratio were below 2 g kg~(-1)and 20,respectively,but the directions changed from negative to positive with increasing levels of this two factors.Soils with optimal water content (50%–70%of the water-holding capacity) or moderately low pH (5–6) were prone to producing a greater PE.For the slow SOC pool,soil p H and soil total N content substantially explained the variation in PE.The magnitude of PE was likely to decrease with increasing soil pH for the slow SOC pool.In addition,the magnitude of PE slightly fluctuated with soil N content for the slow SOC pool.Overall,this meta-analysis provided new insights into the distinctive PEs for different SOC pools and indicated knowledge gaps between PE and its regulating factors for the slow SOC pool.     

岩溶区不同土地利用方式对土壤有机碳碳库及周转时间的影响

通过土壤样品的室内培养,运用三库一级动力学理论,分析桂林毛村典型岩溶区旱地、灌丛、果园、林地4种不同土地利用类型下石灰土有机碳库容大小、各碳库平均周转时间及其影响因素。结果表明:4种土地利用类型土壤有机碳含量分别为15.41～20.10g/kg,13.07～31.16g/kg,9.38～14.74g/kg,30.82～37.52g/kg。活性有机碳占总有机碳的比例最小,分别为0.61%～0.93%,0.95%～1.24%,0.77%～1.00%,1.49%～1.66%。缓效性有机碳库分别占总有机碳含量的21.13%～30.18%,13.58%～23.46%,29.54%～46.58%,30.39%～33.84%。平均周转时间分别为7,8,7,12年。惰性有机碳占总有机碳的比例最高,分别为69.18%～78.26%,75.27%～85.47%,56.63%～69.70%,64.64%～68.12%。延长缓效性碳库驻留时间在一定程度上是提高土壤有机碳库的关键因素。相关分析表明,土壤有机碳总量、土壤碳酸钙含量、总钙量、土壤pH值、全氮含量、C/N与土壤有机碳各库库容及周转时间存在显著的正相关,腐殖质含量与土壤有机碳库及周转时间呈极显著正相关,土壤过氧化氢酶及脲酶活性显著影响土壤有机碳库含量及周转时间。     

Contribution of sorption,DOC transport and microbial interactions to the 14C age of a soil organic carbon profile: Insights from a calibrated process model

Profiles of soil organic carbon (SOC) are often characterized by a steep increase of ¹⁴C age with depth, often leading to subsoil ¹⁴C ages of more than 1000 years. These observations have generally been reproduced in SOC models by introducing a SOC pool that decomposes on the time-scale of millennia. The overemphasis of chemical recalcitrance as the major factor for the persistence of SOC was able to provide a mechanistic justification for these very low decomposition rates. The emerging view on SOC persistence, however, stresses that apart from molecular structure a multitude of mechanisms can lead to the long-term persistence of organic carbon in soils. These mechanisms, however, have not been incorporated into most models. Consequently, we developed the SOC profile model COMISSION which simulates vertically resolved SOC concentrations based on representations of microbial interactions, sorption to minerals, and vertical transport. We calibrated COMISSION using published concentrations of SOC, microbial biomass and mineral-associated OC (MOC), and in addition, ¹⁴C contents of SOC and MOC of a Haplic Podzol profile in North-Eastern Bavaria, Germany. In order to elucidate the contribution of the implemented processes to the ¹⁴C age in different parts of the profile, we performed model-experiments in which we switched off the limitation of SOC decomposition by microbes, sorptive stabilization on soil minerals, and dissolved OC (DOC) transport. By splitting all model pools into directly litter-derived carbon and microbe-derived organic carbon, we investigated the contribution of repeated microbial recycling to ¹⁴C ages throughout the profile. The model-experiments for this site lead to the following implications: Without rejuvenation by DOC transport, SOC in the subsoil would be on average 1700 ¹⁴C years older. Across the profile, SOC from microbial recycling is on average 1400 ¹⁴C years older than litter-derived SOC. Without microbial limitation of depolymerization, SOC in the subsoil would be on average 610 ¹⁴C years younger. Sorptive stabilization is responsible for relatively high ¹⁴C ages in the topsoil. The model-experiments further indicate that the high SOC concentrations in the Bh horizon are caused by the interplay between sorptive stabilization and microbial dynamics. Overall, the model-experiments demonstrate that the high ¹⁴C ages are not solely caused by slow turnover of a single pool, but that the increase of ¹⁴C ages along a soil profile up to ages >1000 years is the result of different mechanisms contributing to the overall persistence of SOC. The dominant reasons for the persistence of SOC are stabilization processes, followed by repeated microbial processing of SOC.     

荒漠草原沙漠化对土壤无机碳和有机碳的影响

以空间代替时间的方法,通过对宁夏荒漠草原不同沙漠化阶段土壤有机碳(SOC)和无机碳(SIC)的研究,探讨荒漠草原沙漠化对土壤SIC、SOC及不同粒径组分土壤SIC、SOC分布特征的影响。结果表明:(1)随着荒漠草原沙漠化程度的加剧,0—10cm土层各粒径组分土壤SIC和SOC含量呈下降趋势。半固定沙地和流动沙地各粒径组分土壤SIC含量均表现为黏粉粒无机碳(CSIC)>细砂粒无机碳(FIC)>粗砂粒无机碳(CIC),而SOC含量均表现为细砂粒有机碳(FOC)>粗砂粒有机碳(COC)>黏粉粒有机碳(CSOC)。(2)随着荒漠草原沙漠化程度的加剧,0—30cm土层土壤无机碳(SICD)、土壤有机碳(SOCD)和土壤总碳(STCD)密度均表现为荒漠草原>固定沙地>半固定沙地>流动沙地。固定沙地、半固定沙地和流动沙地土壤SOCD、SICD分别比荒漠草原降低了18.5%,57.7%,60.5%和6.7%,35.9%,47.0%。(3)0—10cm土层各粒径组分土壤SOC和SIC含量、全土SOC含量与0—30cm土层SOC和SIC均呈显著正相关关系,其中土壤粗砂粒有机碳和粗砂粒无机碳对SOC影响最大,而土壤黏粉粒有机碳和黏粉粒无机碳与全土SIC含量呈显著负相关关系。因此,沙漠化防治对于减少荒漠草原土壤碳损失极为重要。     

Soil organic carbon pools in ploughed and no‐till Alfisols of central Ohio

No‐till (NT) farming can restore the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool of agricultural soils, but the SOC pool size and retention rate can vary with soil type and duration of NT. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of NT and soil drainage characteristics on SOC accumulation across a series of NT fields on Alfisols in Ohio, USA. Sites under NT for 9 (NT9), 13 (NT13), 36 (NT36), 48 (NT48) and 49 (NT49) years were selected for the study. Soil was somewhat poorly drained at the NT48 site but moderately well drained at the other sites. The NT48 and NT49 on‐station sites were under continuous corn (Zea mays), while the other sites were farmers' fields in a corn–soybean (Glycine max) rotation. At each location, the SOC pool (0–30 cm) in the NT field was compared to that of an adjacent plough‐till (PT) and woodlot (WL). At the NT36, NT48 and NT49 sites, the retention rate of corn‐derived C was determined using stable C isotope (¹³C) techniques. In the 0‐ to 10‐cm soil layer, SOC concentration was significantly larger under NT than PT, but a tillage effect was rarely detected below that depth. Across sites, the SOC pool in that layer averaged 36.4, 20 and 40.8 Mg C/ha at the NT, PT and WL sites, respectively. For the 0‐ to 30‐cm layer, the SOC pool for NT (83.4 Mg C/ha) was still 57% greater than under PT. However, there was no consistent trend in the SOC pool with NT duration probably due to the legacy of past management practices and SOC content differences that may have existed among the study sites prior to their conversion to NT. The retention rate of corn‐derived C was 524, 263 and 203 kg C/ha/yr at the NT36, NT48 and NT49 sites. In contrast, the retention rate of corn‐C under PT averaged 25 and 153 kg C/ha/yr at the NT49 (moderately well‐drained) and NT48 (somewhat poorly drained) sites, respectively. The conversion from PT to NT resulted in greater retention of corn‐derived C. Thus, adoption of NT would be beneficial to SOC sequestration in agricultural soils of the region.     

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil organic and inorganic carbon sequestration and lability: A study from a rice–wheat cropping system on a calcareous soil of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

Increasing soil carbon (C) in arable soils is an important strategy to achieve sustainable yields and mitigate climate change. We investigated changes in soil organic and inorganic carbon (SOC and SIC) under conservation agriculture (CA) in a calcareous soil of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. The treatments were as follows: conventional-till rice and wheat (CT-CT), CT rice and zero-till wheat (CT-ZT), ZT direct seeded rice (DSR) and CT wheat (ZT-CT), ZTDSR and ZT wheat without crop residue retention (ZT-ZT), ZT-ZT with residue (ZT-ZT+R), and DSR and wheat both on permanent beds with residue (PB-PB+R). The ZT-ZT+R had the highest total SOC in both 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers (20% and 40% higher (p < .05) than CT-CT, respectively), whereas total SIC decreased by 11% and 15% in the respective layers under ZT-ZT+R compared with CT-CT. Non-labile SOC was the largest pool, followed by very labile, labile and less labile SOC. The benefits of ZT and residue retention were greatest for very labile SOC, which showed a significant (p < .05) increase (~50%) under ZT-ZT+R compared with CT-CT. The ZT-ZT+R sequestered ~2 Mg ha⁻¹ total SOC in the 0–15 cm soil layer in 6 years, where CT registered significant losses. Thus, the adoption of CA should be recommended in calcareous soils, for C sequestration, and also as a reclamation technique.     

Organic Carbon Dynamics in Different Soil Types After Conversion of Forest to Agriculture

State‐of‐the‐art predictive models of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics associated with land use changes are unable to reflect the diversity of tropical soil types as the knowledge of contrasting site‐specific factors in mediating the response of the SOC pool is sparse. This paper examines the influence of soil type and management on SOC dynamics following the conversion of forests to annual cropping in Ghana. Soil from primary forests and from areas with short (2–7 years) and long (20 years) histories of maize cultivation was sampled from a Vertisol dominated by smectite and Ultisol dominated by kaolinite. Wet sieving was used to separate soil fractions below and above 250 µm. SOC concentrations and δ¹³C signatures of SOC in soil fractions and bulk soil were determined. SOC stocks were calculated by the commonly used fixed depth approach and by the equivalent soil mass approach. After 20 years of cultivation of the Vertisol, the total SOC content was 40 per cent lower than under forest, and about 95 per cent of the forest‐derived SOC had been lost. After 20 years of cultivation of the Ultisol, total SOC content was only about 20 per cent lower than under forest and merely 30 per cent of the forest‐derived SOC had been lost. Both soil types were managed as they would typically be in small scale farming systems, thus the higher SOC losses and the substantial loss of forest‐derived SOC from the Vertisol question the conventional concept of smectite having a higher SOC‐stabilizing potential than kaolinite under field conditions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.