Pore shape and organic compounds drive major changes in the hydrological characteristics of agricultural soils

A small increase in soil organic matter (SOM) content can change soil hydrological properties from a completely wettable to a partially water‐repellent state. Although considerable research describes hydrophobic compounds as a primary driver of this shift, the influence of pore shape has only been considered in a few studies and none of these has emphasized the role of different carbon compounds. Using a capillary bundle model of non‐cylindrical (wavy) capillaries, we described measured hydrological properties of five agricultural soils that have a small degree of water repellency and textures ranging from coarse sand to heavy clay. To isolate the influence of SOM, it was removed by combustion to provide an SOM‐free treatment. Water and methanol sorptivities quantified infiltration rates and soil‐water wetting angles in packed soil cores. Different cores were sectioned to measure wetting profiles and calculate diffusivity. The results from natural soils were supplemented by measurements carried out on model ‘soils’ consisting of quartz particles (50–200 µm) with four different hydrophobic states. Soil organic matter removal increased water sorptivity from about 60% for a coarse sandy soil (Haplic Arenosol) to about 290% for a heavy clay soil (Haplic Leptosol), corresponding to a decreased apparent wetting angle of 20–30°. Application of the wavy pore model suggests that the apparent wetting angle resulting from SOM removal can be several times smaller than its Young value. Generally, SOM removal increased water diffusivity values by one to two orders of magnitudes. The SOM components having the greatest impact on contact angle were hexanedioic acid and heneicosanoic acid (both hydrophilic) and docosane (hydrophobic).     

Soil organic matter distribution and microaggregate characteristics as affected by agricultural management and earthworm activity

Stable microaggregates can physically protect occluded soil organic matter (SOM) against decomposition. We studied the effects of agricultural management on the amount and characteristics of microaggregates and on SOM distribution in a marine loam soil in the Netherlands. Three long‐term farming systems were compared: a permanent pasture, a conventional‐arable system and an organic‐arable system. Whole soil samples were separated into microaggregates (53–250 µm), 20–53 µm and < 20 µm organo‐mineral fractions, sand and particulate organic matter, after complete disruption of macroaggregates. Equal amounts of microaggregates were isolated, irrespective of management. However, microaggregates from the pasture contained a larger fraction of total soil organic C and were more stable than microaggregates from the two arable fields, suggesting greater SOM stabilization in microaggregates under pasture. Moreover, differences in the relative contribution of coarse silt (> 20 µm) versus fine mineral particles in the microaggregates of the different management systems demonstrate that different types of microaggregates were isolated. These results, in combination with micromorphological study of thin sections, indicate that the great earthworm activity under permanent pasture is an important factor explaining the presence of very stable microaggregates that are relatively enriched in organic C and fine mineral particles. Despite a distinctly greater total SOM content and earthworm activity in the organic‐ versus the conventional‐arable system, differences in microaggregate characteristics between both arable systems were small. The formation of stable and strongly organic C‐enriched microaggregates seems much less effective under arable conditions than under pasture. This might be related to differences in earthworm species' composition, SOM characteristics and/or mechanical disturbance between pasture and arable land.     

An improved method for measurement of soil aggregate stability using laser granulometry applied at regional scale

Laboratory‐based aggregate stability (AS) tests should be applied to material wetted to a moisture content comparable with that of a field soil. We have improved our original laser granulometer (LG)‐based AS test published in this journal by including a pre‐wetting stage. Our method estimates disaggregation reduction (DR; µm) for a soil sample (1–2‐mm diameter aggregates). Soils with more stable aggregates have larger DR values. We apply the new technique to soils from 60 cultivated sites across eastern England, with ten samples from each of six different parent material (PM) types encompassing a wide range of soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations (1.2–7.0%). There are large differences between the median DR values (rescaled to < 500 µm) for soils over the PM types, which when used as a predictor (in combination with SOC concentration) accounted for 53% of the variation in DR. There was no evidence for including an interaction term between PM class and SOC concentration for the prediction of DR. After applying the aggregate stability tests with the 60 regional soil samples, they were stored for 9 months and the tests were repeated, resulting in a small but statistically significant increase in DR for samples from some, but not all, PM types. We show how a palaeosol excavated from a site in southern England can be used as an aggregate reference material (RM) to monitor the reproducibility of our technique. It has been suggested that soil quality, measured by critical soil physical properties, may decline if the organic carbon concentration is less than a critical threshold. Our results show that, for aggregate stability, any such thresholds are specific to the PM.     

Aggregation and organic matter in subarctic Andosols under different grassland management

Quantity and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) affect physical, chemical, and biological soil properties, and are pivotal to productive and healthy grasslands. Thus, we analyzed the distribution of soil aggregates and assessed quality, quantity, and distribution of SOM in two unimproved and improved (two organic and two conventional) grasslands in subarctic Iceland, in Haplic and Histic Andosols. We also evaluated principal physicochemical and biological soil properties, which influence soil aggregation and SOM dynamics. Macroaggregates (>250 µm) in topsoils were most prominent in unimproved (62–77%) and organically (58–69%) managed sites, whereas 20–250 µm aggregates were the most prominent in conventionally managed sites (51–53%). Macroaggregate stability in topsoils, measured as mean weight diameter, was approximately twice as high in organically managed (12–20 mm) compared with the conventionally managed (5–8 mm) sites, possibly due to higher organic inputs (e.g., manure, compost, and cattle urine). In unimproved grasslands and one organic site, macroaggregates contributed between 40% and 70% of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen to bulk soil, whereas in high SOM concentration sites free particulate organic matter contributed up to 70% of the SOC and nitrogen to bulk soil. Aggregate hierarchy in Haplic Andosols was confirmed by different stabilizing mechanisms of micro- and macroaggregates, however, somewhat diminished by oxides (pyrophosphate-, oxalate-, and dithionite-extractable Fe, Al, and Mn) acting as binding agents for macroaggregates. In Histic Andosols, no aggregate hierarchy was observed. The higher macroaggregate stability in organic farming practice compared with conventional farming is of interest due to the importance of macroaggregates in protecting SOM and soils from erosion, which is a prerequisite for soil functions in grasslands that are envisaged for food production in the future.     

Spatial location of carbon decomposition in the soil pore system

We sought to examine the distribution of carbon (C) decomposition within the framework of the soil pore system. Soils were sampled from a transect having a natural gradient in pore‐size distribution. After the addition of labelled wheat straw (¹³C) the repacked soil columns were incubated (25°C) at soil water matric potentials of either ?75 kPa or ?5 kPa and for either 4 or 90 days. Pore‐size distribution was determined for each soil column after incubation and soils were then analysed for soluble C, label‐derived residual C, label‐derived and native biomass C, nematode abundance, and ergosterol concentration as an indicator of fungal biomass. Overall, the data suggested that pore‐size distribution and its interaction with soil water give rise to a highly stratified biogeography of organisms through the pore system. This results in different rates of decomposition in pores of different size. Added plant material seemed to decompose most rapidly in soils with a relatively large volume of pores with neck diameters c. 15–60 µm and most slowly in soils with large volumes of pores with neck diameters < 4 µm. Regression analysis suggested that at matric potentials of both ?75 kPa and ?5 kPa the fastest decomposition of organic substrate occurred close to the gas–water interface. This analysis also implied that slower rates of decomposition occur in the pore class 60–300 µm. Correlations between the mass of soil biota and the pore volume of each pore class point to the importance of fungi and possibly nematodes in the rapid decomposition of C in the pores c. 15–60 µm during the early stages of decomposition.     

Application of a novel method for soil aggregate stability measurement by laser granulometry with sonication

Aggregate stability is an important physical indicator of soil quality, and so methods are required to measure it rapidly and cost‐effectively so that sufficient data can be collected to detect change with adequate statistical power. The standard methods to measure water‐stable aggregates (WSA) in soil involve sieving, but these have limitations that could be overcome if the aggregates were measured with a laser granulometer (LG) instrument. We present a novel method in which a LG is used to make two measurements of the continuous size distribution (<2000 µm) of a sample of aggregates. The first measurement is made on the WSA after these have been added to circulating water (initial air‐dried aggregate size range 1000–2000 µm). The second measurement is made on the disaggregated material (DM) after the circulating aggregates have been disrupted with ultrasound (sonication). We then compute the difference between the mean weight diameters (MWD) of these two size distributions; we refer to this value as the disaggregation reduction (DR; µm). Soils with more stable aggregates, which are resistant to both slaking and mechanical breakdown by the hydrodynamic forces during circulation, have larger values of DR. We applied this method to six and ten sub‐samples, respectively, of soil aggregates (each ca. 0.3 g) from bulk soil material from two contrasting soil types from England, both under conventional tillage (CT). The mean DR values were, respectively, 178 and 30 µm, with coefficients of variation of 12.1 and 19% suggesting the DR value is reproducible for the small mass of soil used. We attribute the larger DR values to the greater abundance of micaceous clay minerals in one of the soils. The DR values computed for each Blackwater Drain (BD) sample after removal of organic matter (with hydrogen peroxide) were comparable to those subject to sonication suggesting that most of the aggregate structure is removed by sonication. We used aggregates (1000–2000 µm) from soil samples collected at 30 locations under CT (median soil organic carbon (SOC) = 1.4%) across two types of parent material in the Blackwater drain sub‐catchments of the Wensum catchment (Norfolk, UK). These soils had no coarse WSA, so we rescaled the size distributions to estimate DR for particle diameters <500 µm. Dithionite‐extractable iron concentration, plus a minor contribution from parent material class, accounted for 64% of the variation in rescaled DR highlighting the importance of crystalline iron oxyhydroxides for aggregate stability in this region where long‐term arable production has reduced top‐soil SOC concentrations. We discuss how this technique could be developed to monitor aggregate stability as a soil physical indicator.     

Organic Carbon Dynamics along a Toposequence in a Peri‐urban Site

Abstract

The pattern of carbon (C) storage in soils has implications for agriculture and the environment. Dynamics of organic C, in the 0‐ to 20‐cm soil depth along a toposequence in a peri urban site in Sierra Leone, West Africa, were studied. Organic C was determined by the dry‐combustion method on the following aggregate size fractions: whole soil (<2000 µm), 250–2000 µm, 53–250 µm, and <53 µm.

Mean organic C content of whole soil ranged from 4.8% on the backslope to 9.3% on the toeslope. Organic C content of aggregate size fractions increased with decreasing aggregate size. The amount of soil and organic C present in aggregate size fractions, at all positions on the toposequence, decreased with decreasing aggregate size. In general, convex upper slopes had lower contents and amounts of organic C compared to lower concave areas. This study provided benchmark levels and patterns against which changes resulting from imminent urbanization can be measured.     

The turnover of carbohydrate carbon in a cultivated soil estimated by 13C natural abundances

Understanding the chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) requires the determination of the dynamics of each class of compounds. We measured the dynamics of carbon in neutral carbohydrates by use of natural ¹³C labelling in an experimental wheat and maize sequence extending over 23 years. The isotopic composition of individual neutral monosaccharides was determined in hydrolysed particle‐size fractions by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. The sensitivity in terms of ¹³C/¹²C ratios ranged between 1 and 2‰ depending on the monosaccharide. The age distribution of neutral sugar carbon was very similar to that of total soil carbon. Particulate organic matter (POM) was characterized by the predominance of glucose and xylose of vegetal origin. In POM > 200 µm, the mean age of sugar‐C (5 years) was slightly less than that of total carbon (7 years). Xylose was younger than glucose. The fine fraction 0–50 µm contained mainly glucose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, fucose and mannose, which had predominantly microbial origins. The mean age of carbohydrate carbon in the fraction 0–50 µm was between 60 and 100 years and was similar to that of total organic carbon (OC). No difference in the age of carbon between the individual monosaccharides was found. The POM fraction 50–200 µm had an intermediate signature and turnover. Considering the typical lability of carbohydrates, the relatively great age of carbohydrate carbon may be explained by physical or chemical protection from degradation, as well as by recycling of soil organic matter carbon by soil microbes.     

化肥配施不同剂量有机肥对黑土团聚体中有机碳与腐殖酸分布的影响

【目的】 团聚体的形成为土壤有机碳的稳定提供了重要的物理保护,施用有机肥影响着土壤团聚体的形成,量化有机肥施用剂量与团聚体有机碳稳定性之间的关系对于阐明农田土壤有机碳的固碳机制具有重要意义。 【方法】 以黑龙江省海伦市国家野外科学观测研究站为平台,选择连续10年进行化肥配施不同剂量有机肥处理[0、7.5、15、22.5 t/(hm2·a)]的黑土为研究对象,将团聚体分组与腐殖酸提取相结合,分析了不同粒径团聚体中有机碳和腐殖酸的含量与光学特性。 【结果】 1)与单施化肥相比,化肥配施有机肥增加了大团聚体( > 0.25 mm)的分配比例与团聚体的平均重量直径,二者均随着有机肥剂量的增加而逐渐升高,回归拟合分析表明,团聚体的平均重量直径与有机肥剂量之间呈现显著的正相关关系(P=0.03)。2) 2~0.25 mm团聚体是黑土有机碳的主要贮存场所,约占有机碳总量的64.8%~68.8%,大团聚体中有机碳的含量与储量均随着有机肥剂量的增加而逐渐升高, < 0.053 mm团聚体中有机碳含量与储量则维持在较稳定的水平。3)各粒级团聚体中腐殖酸碳含量以0.25~0.053 mm团聚体最高,各粒级团聚体中腐殖酸碳占有机碳百分比之间的差异不显著。化肥配施有机肥提高了各粒级团聚体中腐殖酸碳的含量,使团聚体对有机碳的固持能力增加,且各粒级团聚体中腐殖酸碳的含量随着有机肥剂量的增加逐渐升高。4)化肥配施有机肥增加了各粒级团聚体中腐殖酸的E4/E6比值,表明其分子结构简单化,且以 > 2 mm和0.25~0.053 mm团聚体中腐殖酸E4/E6比值的增加最显著。 【结论】 在黑土中,长期连续进行化肥配施有机肥,促进了团聚体的形成,改善了耕层土壤结构,增加了团聚体中有机碳的积累与固持能力,并使各粒级团聚体中腐殖酸的结构“年轻化”,这种促进作用在高剂量有机肥施用下更为显著。实际生产中,在短期内可通过适当提高有机肥的施用量以提高黑土肥力及其固碳能力。     

Nitrogen deposition impacts on the amount and stability of soil organic matter in an alpine meadow ecosystem depend on the form and rate of applied nitrogen

The effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems are controversial. Therefore, it is important to evaluate accurately the effects of applied N levels and forms on the amount and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, a multi‐form, small‐input N addition experiment was conducted at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station from 2007 to 2011. Three N fertilizers, NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and KNO₃, were applied at four rates: 0, 10, 20 and 40 kg N ha^?1 year^?1. One hundred and eight soil samples were collected at 10‐cm intervals to a depth of 30 cm in 2011. Contents and δ¹³C values of bulk SOC were measured, as well as three particle‐size fractions: macroparticulate organic C (MacroPOC, > 250 µm), microparticulate organic C (MicroPOC, 53–250 µm) and mineral‐associated organic C (MAOC, < 53 µm). The results show that 5 years of N addition changed SOC contents, δ¹³C values of the bulk soils and various particle‐size fractions in the surface 10‐cm layer, and that they were dependent on the amounts and forms of N application. Ammonium‐N addition had more significant effects on SOC content than nitrate‐N addition. For the entire soil profile, small additions of N increased SOC stock by 4.5% (0.43 kg C m^?2), while medium and large inputs of N decreased SOC stock by 5.4% (0.52 kg C m^?2) and 8.8% (0.85 kg C m^?2), respectively. The critical load of N deposition appears to be about 20 kg N ha^?1 year^?1. The newly formed C in the small‐input N treatment remained mostly in the > 250 µm soil MacroPOC, and the C lost in the medium or large N treatments was from the > 53 µm POC fraction. Five years of ammonium‐N addition increased significantly the surface soil POC:MAOC ratio and increased the instability of soil organic matter (SOM). These results suggest that exogenous N input within the critical load level will benefit C sequestration in the alpine meadow soils on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau over the short term.     

Relating microfeatures of soil organic matter to C stabilisation: optical microscopy,SEM-EDS,abiotic oxidation

We investigated the relationships between microscale distribution of soil organic matter (SOM) features and their stability by combining optical microscopy, SEM-EDS analysis and NaClO oxidation of soil thin sections on five soils from Harwood Forest in Northumberland (UK) differently affected by water stagnation. Plant organs at different stages of decomposition and amorphous organic matter were observed by optical microscopy in all samples. SOM microfeature distribution, size of SOM features and the relation with the C-to-N ratio suggested that amorphous features could be the end-products of organ transformation. SEM-EDS elemental analysis showed that amorphous material had higher Si/C, Al/C and Fe/C molar ratios than organs, clearly pointing to interactions with the soil inorganic phases, which contributed to SOM stabilisation. Soil porosity coupled with water stagnation seemed to affect the Fe–SOM interactions as a greater proportion of small water retention pores (10–50 μm) was associated with higher abundance of Fe-rich amorphous organic features. The higher chemical stability of amorphous features was confirmed by oxidation. After NaClO treatment, organs were almost totally removed, while amorphous organic material was less affected both morphologically and chemically. Our results demonstrate that in water-affected soils local environment defined by the pore system affects the distribution of SOM microfeatures and that the highest resistance to oxidation of the amorphous features is attributable to the formation of organic–inorganic associations. The proposed combined approach seems to be a promising mean to investigate SOM dynamics by relating features to stability.     

Biochars improve aggregate stability,water retention,and pore‐space properties of clayey soil

The influence of biochar amendments on the physical quality of a clayey soil (Vertisol) was evaluated by aggregate‐size distribution and stability, water retention, and pore‐space structure of biochar‐amended soils. Clayey soil was treated with three kinds of biochars (straw biochar, woodchips biochar, and wastewater‐sludge biochar) at the rate of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g biochar (kg soil)^–1 and incubated for 180 d in glasshouse. The application of straw biochar (SB) and wastewater‐sludge biochar (WSB) significantly enhanced the formation of 5–2 and 0.25–0.5 mm macroaggregates in the clayey soil relative to the control treatment, while the < 0.25‐cm microaggregate decreased with biochar additions. However, woodchips biochar (WCB) had no obvious effect on the formation of macroaggregate. The application of SB and WSB increased the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of clayey soil, implying that biochar increased the aggregate stability. They improved the aggregate stability through an enhanced resistance to slaking and increased interparticular cohesion. The SB‐amended soils exhibited significant increases in the available water contents of soils. The application of SB significantly increased pore volume in the macropore (> 75 μm) and mesopore (30–75 μm) ranges, which may be the result of the reorganization of pore‐size distribution and aggregation processes induced by the addition of biochar. Results indicated that biochar had the potential to improve the physical quality and pore‐space status of clayey soil. It is suggested that biochar may be considered as a soil amendment for improving poor physical characteristics of clayey soil.     

Disruption of soil aggregates by varied amounts of ultrasonic energy in fractionation of organic matter of a clay Latosol: carbon,nitrogen and δ13C distribution in particle‐size fractions

Ultrasonic energy has been widely used to disrupt soil aggregates before fractionating soil physically when studying soil organic matter (SOM). Nevertheless, there is no consensus about the optimum energy desirable to disrupt the soil. We therefore aimed (i) to quantify the effect of varied ultrasonic energies on the recovery of each particle‐size fraction and their C, N and δ¹³C distribution, and (ii) to determine an ideal energy to fractionate SOM of a specific soil. Our results show that the 2000–100 μm particle‐size fraction was composed mainly of unstable aggregates and the 100–2 μm fraction of stable aggregates. Energies of 260–275 J ml^?1 were sufficient to disrupt most of the unstable aggregates and leave stable aggregates. The use of this threshold energy combined with particle‐size fractionation was not satisfactory for all purposes, since litter‐like material and relatively recalcitrant organic carbon present in stable aggregates > 100 μm were recovered in the same pool. An ultrasonic energy of 825 J ml^?1 was not sufficient to stabilize the redistribution of soil mass and organic matter among particle‐size fractions, but at energies exceeding 260–275 J ml^?1 relatively stable aggregates would fall apart and cause a mixture of carbon with varied nature in the clay fraction.     

Composition and stability of soil aggregates in Fluvisols under forest,meadows, and 100 years of conventional tillage

Conversion of meadow and forest ecosystems to agricultural land generally leads to changes in soil structure. This comparative study presents the composition and stability of structural aggregates in humus horizons (0–30 cm) of noncarbonate silty‐clay Fluvisols in the Kolubara River Valley, W Serbia. Aggregates collected from under a native forest were compared to aggregates from meadows and arable fields which underwent crop rotation for > 100 y. The results show that size distribution and stability of structural aggregates in the humus horizons of arable soil are significantly impaired due to long‐term anthropogenization. In the humus horizons, the content of the agronomically most valuable aggregates (0.25–10 mm) decreased by a factor of ≈ 2, from 68%–74% to 37%–39%, while the percentage of cloddy aggregates (>10 mm) increased by a factor of ≈ 2, from 23%–31% to 48%–62%, compared to forest aggregates. The long‐term‐arable soil had significantly (p < 0.05) lower aggregate stability, determined by wet sieving, than meadow and forest soils. The lowest aggregate stability was found in aggregates > 3 mm. Their content is ≈ 2.5–3 times lower in arable soil (13%–16%) than in forest soil (32%–42%) at a depth of 0–20 cm. The largest mean weight diameters of dry aggregates (dMWD) with a range between 12.6 and 14.7 mm were found in arable soil, vs. 9.5–9.9 mm in meadow and 6.5–8.3 mm in forest. The arable soil had significantly lower mean weight diameters of wet‐stable aggregates (wMWD) and a lower structure coefficient (Ks) than forest and meadow soils. The dispersion ratio (DR) of arable soil was significantly higher than that of forest and meadow soils. Forest and meadow showed a significantly higher soil organic‐matter content (SOM) by 74% and 39%, respectively, compared with arable soil, while meadow uses decreased the SOM content by 57% compared with forest at a depth of 0–10 cm. In conclusion, the results showed that long‐term conventional tillage of soils from natural forest and meadow in the lowland ecosystems of W Serbia degraded soil aggregate–size distribution and stability and reduced SOM content, probably resulting in lower productivity and reduced crop yields.     

Conservation Agriculture Had a Poor Impact on the Soil Porosity of Veneto Low‐lying Plain Silty Soils after a 5‐year Transition Period

Conservation agriculture practices have been proposed as a set of techniques for improving soil structure properties and related ecosystem services. This study compared conservation agriculture (CA) practices (no‐tillage, cover crop and residue retention) and conventional intensive tillage system in order to evaluate their effects on total porosity, pore size distribution, pore architecture and morphology. The experiment was set up in 2010 on four farms of the low‐lying Veneto Region plain characterized by silty soils. Almost hundred soil samples were collected in 2015 at four depths down to 50‐cm layer and investigated for porosity from micrometre (0·0074 μm) to macrometre (2·5 mm) by coupling mercury intrusion porosimetry and X‐ray computed microtomography (μCT). Indices of soil morphology and architecture were derived by analysing 3D images and mercury intrusion porosimetry pore size curves. Results suggested that silty soils of Veneto plain are microstructured because much (82%) of the porosity ranged between 0·0074 and 30 μm. CA practices positively influenced the ultramicroporosity class (0·1–5 μm) (1·86E‐01 vs 1·67E‐01 μm³ μm⁻³) that is strictly linked to soil organic carbon stabilization while no effects were observed in X‐ray μCT porosity domain (> 26 μm). Silty soils of Veneto plain showed a slow reaction to CA because of the poor aggregate stability and low soil organic carbon. However, the positive response of the ultramicropore fraction indicates that a virtuous cycle was initiated between soil organic carbon and porosity, hopefully leading to well‐developed macropore systems and, in turn, enhanced soil functions and ecosystem services. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of irrigation and cultivation on the quality of desert soil in central Iran

Cultivation of irrigated desert soils in Central Iran is one way of utilizing under‐exploited land to produce more food. This study explores the value of soil quality indicators as measures when converting desert to croplands. Soil samples from unfarmed desert, wheat and alfalfa sites in the Abarkooh Plain (Central Iran) were taken from 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths. Soil quality indicators including organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbohydrate, particulate organic carbon (POC) in aggregate fractions, and aggregate water‐stability were determined. The desert soils contained organic carbon of 0·26–0·56 g kg⁻¹, total nitrogen of 0·05–0·08 g kg⁻¹ and carbohydrate of 0·03–0·11 g kg⁻¹ at 0–30 cm depth. Across this depth, the contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen and carbohydrate in wheat were about 3–7, 2–3 and 6–26‐times higher than those of desert soils, respectively. These values for alfalfa were 5–12, 3–4 and 7–35 times, respectively. The POC (near zero in desert soils) and generally other soil quality indicators showed greater improvement in alfalfa than in wheat fields. The results indicated a significant decrease in proportion of the fraction <0·05 mm in cultivated soils, whereas the proportion of the large aggregate size classes (2–4 and 1–2 mm) was increased by irrigation and cultivation. A significant improvement in aggregate water‐stability was observed in cultivated soils. At all depths, a large portion of the total soil organic carbon was stored in the fractions <0·05 mm for desert and macroaggregates (0·25–2 mm) for cultivated soils. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil porosity in physically separated fractions and its role in SOC protection

Purpose

Processes that lead to soil organic carbon (SOC) protection depend on both soil porosity and structure organization, as well as chemical and biological properties. In particular, the soil micro-nano porosity (<30 μm) regulates microorganism accessibility to the soil pore system and offers surfaces for organic carbon adsorption and intercalation into soil minerals. The aim of this work was to investigate how pore size distribution can selectively protect specific carbon pools in different aggregate size fractions, by considering the effects of long-term application of farmyard manure (FYM) and mineral (Min) fertilization.

Materials and methods

Macroaggregates (250–2000 μm), microaggregates (53–250 μm), and silt–clay (<53 μm) fractions of three different soils (clayey, peaty, and sandy) were separated by wet sieving technique and then subjected to chemical and physical analysis. Sample porosity and pore size distribution were analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), while SOC chemical structure was characterized by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C cross-polarization–magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP MAS ¹³C NMR)) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopies.

Results and discussion

Results showed that FYM increased organic (OC) and humic carbon (HC) content compared to the Min fertilization and unfertilized soils. However, it caused a gradual decrease in O,N-alkyl C, and alkyl C of humic C from macroaggregate to silt–clay fractions, suggesting an advanced state of humic component degradation as revealed by CP MAS ¹³C NMR, DRIFT analyses. MIP analysis showed a clear increase of micropores (5–30 μm) and cryptopores (0.0035–0.1 μm) from macroaggregate to silt–clay fractions, while minor differences were observed among the treatments. The application of principal component analysis to mineral soil fractions identified the formation of three main clusters, where (i) macroaggregates of clayey soil were mainly associated to cryptopores and OC and (ii) microaggregates and silt–clay fraction were mainly isolated by carbonyl C, ultramicropores, and total porosity. The third cluster was associated with medium and fine sand of the sand soil fraction as coupled with O,N-alkyl C, anomeric C, mesopores, and HC/OC ratio.

Conclusions

Overall, this study indicates that pore size distribution may be a valuable indicator of soil capacity to sequester carbon, due to its direct influence on SOC linkages with soil aggregates and the positive effects against SOC decomposition phenomena. In this context, micropore- to nanopore-dominated structures (e.g., clayey soil) were able to protect OC compounds by interacting with mineral surfaces and intercalation with phyllosilicates, while meso/macropore-dominated structures (i.e., sandy soil) exhibited their low ability to protect the organic components.

     

Distribution of charred plant fragments in particle size fractions of Japanese volcanic ash soils

Abstract

To gain a better understanding of the distribution of charred plant fragment C (CPFC) and its contribution to organic C (OC) in the particle size fractions of Japanese volcanic ash soils, each of four soil samples was divided into six particle size fractions, namely three sand-sized aggregate (20–53, 53–212 and 212–2,000 µm) fractions, one silt-sized aggregate (2–20 µm) fraction, and two clay-sized aggregate (< 0.2 and 0.2–2 µm) fractions. Furthermore, after HCl–HF treatment of these aggregate fractions, sub-fractions of less than specific gravity (s.g.) 1.6 g cm^?3 (< 1.6 fraction) were isolated using s.g. 1.6 g cm^?3 sodium polytungstate solution. Microscopic observation indicated that the charred plant fragments, which are black or blackish brown, were the main components in the < 1.6 fractions. Therefore, the OC in this fraction was designated as CPFC. In all the soils studied, the quantitative distribution of the CPFC of the silt-sized aggregate fractions to total CPFC of whole soils, ranging from 59 to 84%, was greatest among the aggregate fractions. The sum of the distribution (%) values of the CPFC in the three sand-sized aggregate fractions varied from 6.9 to 33%, while that in the two clay-sized aggregate fractions ranged from 1.1 to 9.4%. Similar to the CPFC, in all soils, the quantitative distribution of the OC in the aggregate fractions was greater in the silt-sized aggregate fractions (52–76%) than in the other aggregate fractions (0.1–20%). In all soils, the quantitative contribution of total CPFC to total OC of whole soils ranged from 10 to 28%. The CPFC/OC values in the aggregate fractions were 21% or more in 10 samples from a total of 24 fractions, with a maximum value of 34%. On the basis of the findings obtained in the present study, it is assumed that in Japanese volcanic ash soils the silt-sized fraction is an important reservoir of CPFC and OC, and CPFC merits attention as one of the constituents of OC in particle size fractions.     

Fate of airborne metal pollution in soils as related to agricultural management: 2. Assessing the role of biological activity in micro‐scale Zn and Pb distributions in A,B and C horizons

This work assesses relationships between characteristic aggregate microstructures related to biological activity in soils under different long‐term land use and the distribution and extractability of metal pollutants. We selected two neighbouring soils contaminated with comparable metal loads by past atmospheric deposition. Currently, these soils contain similar stocks, but different distributions of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) concentrations with depth. One century of continuous land use as permanent pasture (PP) and conventional arable (CA) land, has led to the development of two soils with different macro‐ and micro‐morphological characteristics. We studied distributions of organic matter, characteristic micro‐structures and earthworm‐worked soil by optical microscopy in thin sections from A, B and C horizons. Concentrations and amounts of total and EDTA‐extractable Zn and Pb were determined on bulk samples from soil horizons and on size‐fractions obtained by physical fractionation in water. Large amounts of Zn and Pb were found in 2–20‐µm fractions, ascribed to stable organo‐mineral micro‐aggregates influenced by root and microbial activity, present in both soils. Unimodal distribution patterns of Zn, Pb and organic C in size‐fractions were found in horizons of the CA soil. In contrast, bimodal patterns were observed in the PP soil, because large amounts of Zn and Pb were also demonstrated in stable larger micro‐aggregates (50–100‐µm fractions). Such differing distribution patterns characterized all those horizons markedly influenced by earthworm activity. Larger earthworm activity coincided with larger metal EDTA‐extractability, particularly of Pb. Hence, land use‐related biological activity leads to specific soil microstructures affecting metal distribution and extractability, both in surface and subsurface horizons.     

Mechanisms of aggregate stabilization in Ultisols from subtropical China

The quantification and interpretation of aggregate stability depend on internal soil properties and external factors such as measurement method and aggregate size. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the aggregate stability in Ultisols from subtropical China applying the Le Bisssonais Method; (ii) determine the effect of initial aggregate size on its stability, and (iii) interpret mechanisms of aggregate stabilization in the soils. Three aggregate-size ranges (5–3, 3–2 and 2–1 mm) were obtained by dry sieving. After the wetting treatments, the dominant fraction of fragments for each soil was 2–1 mm or 0.63–0.2 mm. The mechanisms of aggregate breakdown was in the order, slaking>mechanical breakdown>micro-cracking. They differed with soil type and composition. The normalized mean weight diameter (NMWD) of the aggregates after fast wetting and wet stirring were more correlated with soil properties, such as degree of micro-aggregation (DOA), cation exchange capacity (CEC), K₂O, Fe₂O₃ or Al₂O₃ rather than clay and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. The binding force by soil organic matter was smaller than the force caused by entrapped air or the force of combination of mechanical stress by stirring and differential swelling of minerals.The smaller the aggregate, the larger was the aggregate stability according to NMWD. The rankings of the soils differed with the soil aggregate sizes and the wetting treatments. Sandy loams from sandstone (Sc and Sw) were the weakest soils while the purple mudstone (Pp) was the strongest. All the cultivated soils decreased in aggregate stability compared with the comparable uncultivated soils or parent materials irrespective of the cultivation time and the changes in SOC content after cultivation.