Soil organic matter: Distribution,genesis, and management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

In this paper we describe the accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) during pedogenesis and the processes that can lead to the emission of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) to the atmosphere via SOM decomposition and denitrification. We discuss the role of management on SOM accumulation and loss, and the potential for controlling emission or comsumption of greenhouse gases by soils. We conclude that under current climate conditions there are global scale opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soils and increase the indirect sequestration of greenhouse gases in soils through improved soil management.     

Conservation tillage systems: a review of its consequences for greenhouse gas emissions

Conservation tillage (CT) is an umbrella term encompassing many types of tillage and residue management systems that aim to achieve sustainable and profitable agriculture. Through a global review of CT research, the objective of this paper was to investigate the impacts of CT on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Based on the analysis presented, CT should be developed within the context of specific climates and soils. A number of potential disadvantages in adopting CT practices were identified, relating mainly to enhanced nitrous oxide emissions, together with a number of advantages that would justify its wider adoption. Almost all studies examined showed that the adoption of CT practices reduced carbon dioxide emissions, while also contributing to increases in soil organic carbon and improvements in soil structure.     

Soil fungi influence the distribution of microbial functional groups that mediate forest greenhouse gas emissions

The distribution of microbial functional groups in soil may be governed by the interaction between the soil environment and the presence of other microbial competitors or facilitators. In forest soils, one of the most important groups of organisms are fungi, which are vital to many ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and decomposition, and can form direct connections to primary producers. Nevertheless, the overall effect of soil fungi on the structure and distribution of the other soil microbial functional groups has not been thoroughly investigated. We hypothesized that by altering the soil environment, fungi create favorable conditions for Archaea, methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and denitrifying bacteria (DNB), thereby potentially influencing the ability of forest soils to produce or consume greenhouse gases. To test these hypotheses, we studied the distribution of microbial functional groups and fungi in forest soil using molecular methods and related that distribution to soil environment and extracellular enzyme activity as a measure of microbial activity and metabolic effort. Non-metric multidimensional scaling of terminal restriction fragment length (TRFLP) profiles found that DNB and MOB largely separated within ordination space, suggesting little overlap of these bacteria in soil cores. In addition, DNB were significantly positively correlated with fungal biomass and with chitinase activity while MOB were negatively correlated with both. Most archaeal TRFs were also negatively correlated with fungal biomass, suggesting that forest Archaea and MOB have similar relationships to fungal biomass. Soil chemistry including soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and bicarbonate extractable phosphorus (P) were not significantly correlated with DNB, MOB or Archaea. Our results suggest that soil fungi might influence the spatial distribution of important prokaryotic groups in forests, including some groups that mediate the production and consumption of important greenhouse gases.     

Agricultural production,greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potential

During the next three decades, Asia will remain the largest food consumer (increasing from 40 to 55% of the global consumption between 2000 and 2015) and the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) from agriculture (about 50% of the total emissions). The growth of food demand in Africa and South America will cause substantial increase in GHG emissions by the agri-food sector, unless improved management systems are adopted. The higher food consumption rate (kJ person⁻¹ day⁻¹) around the world is primarily a result of improved crop production and higher percentage of animal products in diet. The latter will, however, result in more CH₄ emissions. The growing use of N fertilizers is also a concern. The part not taken up by crops (more than 50%) is either lost through leaching or released to the atmosphere as N gases including nitrous oxide. Between 2000 and 2030, the total GHG emissions are expected to increase by about 50%, with further impact on weather and climate. Mitigation techniques such as improved feed quality for a better digestibility, improved manure management, greater N use efficiency, better water management of rice paddies and/or by increasing the role of agro-forestry in agriculture, have to be considered in order to minimize the impact of agriculture on climate.     

Sugarcane bagasse biochars impact respiration and greenhouse gas emissions from a latosol

Purpose

A paucity in knowledge remains on the influence of biochar production temperature and the rate of application on greenhouse gas emissions from soil. The objective of this column experiment was to evaluate a biochar thermosequence by doses on CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ emissions from a latosol following nitrogen fertilizer application following a pre-incubation period.

Materials and methods

Biochar was produced from sugarcane bagasse pyrolyzed at 300, 500, and 700 °C (BC 300, BC 500, and BC 700, respectively). Biochars were added to air-dried latosol columns at rates of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 % (w/w), and the water content was brought to 95 % of water-filled pore space (WFPS). The emissions from columns were tested on days 1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 following a 30-day pre-incubation.

Results and discussion

All treatments showed a decrease in respiration across the study period. The higher doses of biochar of BC 300 and BC 700 resulted in significantly higher respiration than controls on days 15 and 30. Neither biochar dose nor temperature had a significant effect on CH₄ emissions during the study period. Application of all biochars suppressed the emissions of N₂O at all doses on days 1 and 3, compared to the control. N₂O emissions from higher temperature biochar-amended soil at 2, 5, 10, and 15 % were greater than that from corresponding treatments of lower-temperature biochar-amended soil on days 15 and 30.

Conclusions

Soil respiration and overall greenhouse gas emission from latosol increased with biochar dose and pyrolysis temperature in the 30-day study period due to increasing water retention facilitated by biochar. Careful consideration is needed when applying bagasse biochar as it changes N cycling and soil physical properties.

     

蚯蚓辅助堆肥处理蔬菜废弃物及其温室气体减排效果

蚯蚓辅助堆肥是近年兴起的处理有机废物的有效方法,为探明蚯蚓辅助堆肥法处理蔬菜废弃物的效果及其温室气体排放规律,该文以牛粪和新鲜番茄秧作为原料,在蚯蚓养殖场分别设置蚯蚓辅助堆肥和常规堆肥处理,对比研究了腐熟度指标变化和温室气体排放规律。结果表明:蚯蚓辅助堆肥堆垛温度较低,达不到无害化温度标准(50～55℃以上持续5～7d),但可满足蚯蚓生存需求,蚯蚓生物量在堆肥前期(0～10d)较低,为14.6×103～20.8×103条/m3,其后随着堆体温度的降低逐渐增长,至堆肥结束时达到90.2×103条/m3。综合pH值、电导率(EC)、碳氮比(C/N)、发芽率指数(GI)等腐熟度指标分析,蚯蚓辅助堆肥处理的腐熟度优于常规堆肥处理,并提前达到腐熟,堆肥周期缩短;蚯蚓辅助堆肥氮素损失较常规堆肥减少30.8%,CH4、NH3和N2O排放比常规堆肥分别减少12.8%、17.4%和46.1%,温室气体总量减排35.9%,因此蚯蚓辅助堆肥可有效降低堆肥过程中的氮素损失和温室气体排放量。研究结果可为有机固体废弃物循环利用和温室气体减排控制提供参考。     

Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from soils: Scientific basis and modeling approach

Abstract

Global climate change is one of the most important issues of contemporary environmental safety. A scientific consensus is forming that the emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, from anthropogenic activities may play a key role in elevating the global temperatures. Quantifying soil greenhouse gas emissions is an essential task for understanding the atmospheric impacts of anthropogenic activities in terrestrial ecosystems. In most soils, production or consumption of the three major greenhouse gases is regulated by interactions among soil redox potential, carbon source and electron acceptors. Two classical formulas, the Nernst equation and the Michaelis–Menten equation, describe the microorganism-mediated redox reactions from aspects of thermodynamics and reaction kinetics, respectively. The two equations are functions of a series of environmental factors (e.g. temperature, moisture, pH, Eh) that are regulated by a few ecological drivers, such as climate, soil properties, vegetation and anthropogenic activity. Given the complexity of greenhouse gas production in soils, process-based models are required to interpret, integrate and predict the intricate relationships among the gas emissions, the environmental factors and the ecological drivers. This paper reviews the scientific basis underlying the modeling of greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial soils. A case study is reported to demonstrate how a biogeochemical model can be used to predict the impacts of alternative management practices on greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies.     

规模化奶牛场温室气体排放量评估

为了对组织层次上温室气体排放进行量化,为企业选择最有效的减排措施提供依据。该文以河北保定一规模化奶牛场为案例,利用气候变化框架公约（UNFCCC）清洁发展机制理事会批准的相关方法学、IPCC排放系数法及相关文献,在组织层次上量化了该奶牛场运行过程中的温室气体的排放与清除。案例研究结果表明,采用规模化运行管理方式及粪便管理系统时,该2 300头存栏的奶牛场年排放温室气体为11 333.2 t CO2-e或者说每头存栏奶牛年排放温室气体 4.9 t CO2-e,并提出了组织温室气体的减排建议。这对同类牛场温室气体排放量的评估具有参考意义。     

Effects of biochar application in forest ecosystems on soil properties and greenhouse gas emissions: a review

Purpose

Forests play a critical role in terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling and the mitigation of global climate change. Intensive forest management and global climate change have had negative impacts on the quality of forest soils via soil acidification, reduction of soil organic carbon content, deterioration of soil biological properties, and reduction of soil biodiversity. The role of biochar in improving soil properties and the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has been extensively documented in agricultural soils, while the effect of biochar application on forest soils remains poorly understood. Here, we review and summarize the available literature on the effects of biochar on soil properties and GHG emissions in forest soils.

Materials and methods

This review focuses on (1) the effect of biochar application on soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties in forest ecosystems; (2) the effect of biochar application on soil GHG emissions in forest ecosystems; and (3) knowledge gaps concerning the effect of biochar application on biogeochemical and ecological processes in forest soils.

Results and discussion

Biochar application to forests generally increases soil porosity, soil moisture retention, and aggregate stability while reducing soil bulk density. In addition, it typically enhances soil chemical properties including pH, organic carbon stock, cation exchange capacity, and the concentration of available phosphorous and potassium. Further, biochar application alters microbial community structure in forest soils, while the increase of soil microbial biomass is only a short-term effect of biochar application. Biochar effects on GHG emissions have been shown to be variable as reflected in significantly decreasing soil N₂O emissions, increasing soil CH₄ uptake, and complex (negative, positive, or negligible) changes of soil CO₂ emissions. Moreover, all of the aforementioned effects are biochar-, soil-, and plant-specific.

Conclusions

The application of biochars to forest soils generally results in the improvement of soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties while also mitigating soil GHG emissions. Therefore, we propose that the application of biochar in forest soils has considerable advantages, and this is especially true for plantation soils with low fertility.

     

中国农业源温室气体排放与减排技术对策

农业是重要的温室气体排放源。该文通过对文献资料和大量研究结果进行分析,得出中国农业活动产生的甲烷和氧化亚氮分别占全国甲烷和氧化亚氮排放量的50.15%和92.47%,农业源占全国温室气体排放总量的17%;通过改善反刍动物营养可降低单个肉牛甲烷排放15%～30%;推广稻田间歇灌溉可减少单位面积稻田甲烷排放30%;一个户用沼气每年最大可减少温室气体2.0～4.1 t二氧化碳当量;推行缓释肥、长效肥料可减少单位面积农田氧化亚氮50%～70%。该文建议尽快开展减排技术示范,对减排技术的适应性和经济性进行评价。     

深耕对土壤温室气体排放影响研究进展

深耕作为农业耕作措施的同时,也是重要的土壤污染修复方法,然而,其对土壤温室气体排放的影响尚不明确。总结了深耕条件下土壤二氧化碳(CO₂)、甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)排放规律的相关研究。深耕主要通过影响土壤物理性质(如容重、团聚体稳定性)进而影响其化学和生物学性质,从而导致温室气体排放通量发生变化。深耕可显著增加土壤CO₂的排放量。土壤团聚体稳定性和容重是影响CO₂排放的重要因子。旱地土壤是CH4的“汇”,水田是CH4的“源”。深耕可降低旱地土壤对CH4的吸收,增加水田土壤CH4的排放。土壤通气性能以及产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌的大小和活性是影响CH4排放的重要因素。深耕对N2O的影响主要与土壤通气性能有关,在通气性较好的土壤中,深耕可显著增加N2O的排放,但在通气性不良的土壤中则表现为降低趋势,土壤硝化和反硝化作用是影响N2O排放的重要过程。此外,土壤改良方式、水分管理、气候因素和其他土壤性质等可进一步对土壤温室气体的排放产生影响。从农业可持续发展和土壤绿色低碳修复的角度出发,采用深耕方法进行农业耕作和土壤修复对气候变化的潜在影响值得进一步审慎商榷。     

牛粪堆肥方式对温室气体和氨气排放的影响

为明确堆肥过程中温室气体和氨气排放规律以及产生的总温室效应,在云南省大理州开展堆肥试验,并以奶牛粪便为试验材料,研究了农民堆肥(FC)、覆盖堆肥(CC)、覆盖-翻堆堆肥(CTC)和覆盖通风-翻堆堆肥(CATC)4种堆肥方式对温室气体和氨气排放的影响。结果表明:覆盖通风-翻堆堆肥(CATC)可提高堆肥腐熟度,有效降低CH4和N_2O排放,但并没降低CO2和NH_3排放;与农民堆肥(FC)相比,覆盖堆肥(CC)的CH4排放量增加了48.7%,而N2_O和NH3排放量与农民堆肥(FC)基本一致;覆盖-翻堆堆肥(CTC)虽然提高了腐熟度,但CH_4、CO_2和NH_3排放量较大;堆肥结束时,4个处理的总温室效应分别为25.6、32.9、38.1及18.0 kg/t;温度与CH_4、CO_2、N_2O和NH_3排放速率均极显著相关,pH值显著影响N_2O和NH_3的排放。因此,覆盖通风-翻堆堆肥(CATC)不仅能够满足堆肥产品的腐熟度要求,而且能够减少总温室效应,再加上其操作简便,能够在生产中推广应用。     

Forest sector carbon offset projects: Near-term opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

The Framework Convention on Climate Change separately recognizes sources and sinks of greenhouse gases and provides incentives to establish C offset projects to help meet the goal of stabilizing emissions. Forest systems provide multiple opportunities to offset or stabilize greenhouse emissions through a reduction in deforestation (C sources), expansion of existing forests (CO₂ sinks) or production of biofuels (offset fossil fuel combustion). Attributes and dimensions of eight forest-sector C offset projects, established over the past three years, were examined. The projects, mostly established or sponsored by US or European electric utilities, propose to conserve/sequester over 30 × 10⁶ Mg C in forest systems at an initial cost of $1 to 30 Mg C. Given the relative novelty and complexity of forest sector C offset projects, a number of biogeochemical, institutional, socio-economic, monitoring, and regulatory issues merit analysis before the long-term potential and cost effectiveness of this greenhouse gas stabilization approach can be determined.     

In-field management of corn cob and residue mix: Effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions

In-field management practices of corn cob and residue mix (CRM) as a feedstock source for ethanol production can have potential effects on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of CRM piles, storage in-field, and subsequent removal on soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions. The study was conducted in 2010–2012 at the Iowa State University, Agronomy Research Farm located near Ames, Iowa (42.0°′N; 93.8°′W). The soil type at the site is Canisteo silty clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaquolls). The treatments for CRM consisted of control (no CRM applied and no residue removed after harvest), early spring complete removal (CR) of CRM after application of 7.5 cm depth of CRM in the fall, 2.5 cm, and 7.5 cm depth of CRM over two tillage systems of no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and three N rates (0, 180, and 270 kg N ha⁻¹) of 32% liquid UAN (NH₄NO₃) in a randomized complete block design with split–split arrangements. The findings of the study suggest that soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions were affected by tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates. Most N₂O and CO₂ emissions peaks occurred as soil moisture or temperature increased with increase precipitation or air temperature. However, soil CO₂ emissions were increased as the CRM amount increased. On the other hand, soil N₂O emissions increased with high level of CRM as N rate increased. Also, it was observed that NT with 7.5 cm CRM produced higher CO₂ emissions in drought condition as compared to CT. Additionally, no differences in N₂O emissions were observed due to tillage system. In general, dry soil conditions caused a reduction in both CO₂ and N₂O emissions across all tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates.     

Nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions from soil amended with biochar-manure mixtures

Integrating biochar into cattle diets has recently emerged as a potential management practice for improving on-farm productivity.Yet,information concerning the cycling of biochar-manure mixtures is scarce.A 70-d incubation experiment was conducted within two surface(0–15 cm)Mollisols with contrasting textures,i.e.,sandy clay loam(Raymond)and clayey(Lethbridge),to evaluate the effects of biochar(3 Mg ha^-1)on cumulative greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and related fertility attributes in the presence or absence of cattle manure(120 Mg ha^-1).Five treatments were included:i)non-amended soil(control,CK),ii)soil amended with pinewood biochar(B),iii)soil amended with beef cattle manure(M)(manure from cattle on a control diet),iv)soil amended with biochar-manure(BM)(manure from cattle on a control diet,with pinewood biochar added at 20 g kg^-1of diet dry matter),and v)soil amended with B and M at the aforementioned rates(B+M).A total of 40 soil columns were prepared and incubated at 21℃and 60%–80%water-holding capacity.On average,total CO₂fluxes increased by 2.2-and 3.8-fold under manure treatments(i.e.,M,BM,and B+M),within Raymond and Lethbridge soils,respectively,relative to CK and B.Similarly,total CH4 fluxes were the highest(P<0.05)in Raymond soil under B+M and BM relative to CK and B,and in Lethbridge soil under M and BM relative to CK and B.In Lethbridge soil,application of BM increased cumulative N₂O emissions by 1.8-fold relative to CK.After 70-d incubation,amendment with BM increased(P<0.05)PO_4-P and NO_3-N+NH_4-N availability in Raymond and Lethbridge soils compared with B.A similar pattern was observed for water-extractable organic carbon in both soils,with BM augmenting(P<0.05)the occurrence of labile carbon over CK and B.It can be concluded that biochar,manure,and/or biochar-manure have contrasting short-term effects on the biogeochemistry of Mollisols.At relatively low application rates,biochar does not necessarily counterbalance manure-derived inputs.Although BM did not mitigate the flux of GHGs over M,biochar-manure has the potential to recycle soil nutrients in semiarid drylands.     

温室气体减排的土地利用经济机制与政策

农业是温室气体的主要排放源.就碳减排途径来看,在元素循环过程中增加土壤碳汇则更具有可操作性.通过农地转化将不适于耕作的农地退耕还林还草、控制水土流失可以减少我国的土壤碳储量损失,并使植物碳储量也得到增加.成本-收益分析表明,排放政策应以不妨碍经济增长、不减少农户收入为前提.实证表明,构建具有我国特色的温室气体减排的土地利用经济机制,其前提就是保证农民收入的稳定增长,才会具有较好的可操作性.建立完善的补偿机制是温室气体减排长效机制的基本保障.农业温室气体减排必须建立激励型生态补偿机制,从根本上提高农户温室气体减排的积极性.文章最后提出了温室气体减排的土地利用经济机制的相关配套措施.     

有机物料还田对冬小麦农田土壤温室气体排放影响的研究

探讨有机物料还田对冬小麦田温室气体排放特性的影响,对提高经济效应和环境效应有积极意义。本研究应用静态箱-气相色谱法对秸秆还田（J）、秸秆还田+牛粪（JF）和秸秆还田+菌渣（JZ）3种有机物料还田下分别施氮肥243 kg （N）·hm^-2（减氮10%,N1）、216 kg （N）·hm^-2（减氮20%,N2）对冬小麦农田N₂O、CO₂和CH₄的排放通量进行监测,探讨了不同施肥措施对麦田温室气体累积排放量、增温潜势的影响。试验期间同步记录每项农事活动机械燃油量、施肥量和灌溉量,测定产量,地上部生物量,估算农田碳截留。结果表明,冬小麦农田土壤N₂O和CO₂是排放源,是CH₄的吸收汇,氮肥施入、灌溉以及强降水促进了土壤N₂O和CO₂的生成,却弱化了CH₄作为大气吸收汇的特征。牛粪+秸秆（JF）处理N₂O和CO₂排放总量最高,分别为3.5 kg （N₂O-N）·hm^-2和19 689.67 kg （CO₂-C）·hm^-2,但CH₄的吸收值最大,为5.33 kg （CH₄-C）·hm^-2,均显著高于菌渣+秸秆（JZ）和秸秆（J）处理（P<0.05）;各处理N₂O和CO₂的总量随施氮量的增加呈升高趋势,CH₄的总量随施氮量的增加而呈降低趋势。JFN2、JN2和JZN2处理农田综合增温潜势（GWP）均为负值,表明有机物料还田且减氮20%条件下农田生态系统为大气的碳汇,麦季净截留碳1 038~2 024 kg·hm^-2,其他处理GWP值均为正。JZN2处理小麦产量为8 061 kg·hm^-2,显著高于JFN2处理（P<0.05）。综上所述,JZN2处理不仅能够保证小麦产量,且对环境效应最有利,为本区域冬小麦较优的施肥管理模式。     

生物炭及生物硝化抑制剂添加对黄土区设施菜地土壤温室气体排放的影响

通过室内培养试验研究生物炭及生物硝化抑制剂添加对黄土区设施菜地土壤N2O和CO₂排放的影响,并与化学合成硝化抑制剂作对比。试验设置6个处理:不施肥(CK)、施氮(N)、施氮+生物炭(N+BC)、施