Spatial structures of soil organic carbon in tropical forests—A case study of Southeastern Tanzania

Southeastern Tanzania serves as a typical example of soil degradation and soil organic carbon (SOC) losses on the African continent. Although sequestration of SOC through aforestation or reforestation proved favorable, these measures are restricted by the ability to produce rapid, cost-effective and precise sampling schemes. The aim of this study is to contribute to a better knowledge of the spatial distribution of soil C in tropical natural and plantation forest. This paper presents sampling strategies for estimating mean SOC values as well as for SOC mapping, based on different methods for SOC determination and on different precision levels. To do so we conducted a carbon variability study in five common forest types of Southeastern Tanzania (coastal dry forest, Miombo woodland, teak plantation, pine plantation and cashew plantation) using conventional statistical methods, as well as geostatistics. In the 5 forest types of this study, SOC stocks in the upper 5 cm ranges between 5 (in the cashew plantation) and 13 (in the coastal forest) t ha^− 1. The optimal sampling distance for measuring mean SOC stocks varies between 36 m (in the patchy miombo woodland) and 422 m (in the homogenized cashew plantation). Sample sizes fluctuate between 6 and 72 (1 t ha^− 1 precision) for respectively cashew plantation and coastal forest. A rectangular grid with a sample interval of 25 m can be used for SOC mapping with a point kriging estimation error of 3.0 t ha^− 1 in the coastal forest, 2.6 t ha^− 1 in miombo woodland, 2.2 t ha^− 1 in the teak plantation and 1.1 t ha^− 1 in the cashew plantation. Since the pine plantation has no spatial structure; samples can be arranged randomly and its best soil map has an average C content attributed over the whole field. Refining the sampling strategy with a new spatial variability study in other forest types can be based on a regular grid with sampling distances of half the range identified in this study. This paper proves that the optimal sampling scheme varies strongly as a result of the different spatial behavior of SOC in forests and depends on the required precision and research question. Only when the right strategy is followed, high standards of precision can be met without economic loss or risk of statistical misinterpretation.     

Long-term soil organic carbon dynamics in a subhumid tropical climate: C data in mixed C3/C4 cropping and modeling with ROTHC

Scanty information on long-term soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics hampers validation of SOC models in the tropics. We observed SOC content changes in a 16-year continuously cropped agroforestry experiment in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. SOC levels declined in all treatments. The decline was most pronounced in the no-tree control treatments with continuous maize and cowpea cropping, where SOC levels dropped from the initial 15.4 to 7.3-8.0 Mg C ha⁻¹ in the 0-12 cm topsoil in 16 years. In the two continuously cropped alley cropping (AC) systems, one with Leucaena leucocephala and one with Senna siamea trees, SOC levels dropped to 10.7-13.2 Mg C ha⁻¹. Compared to the no-tree control treatments, an annual application of an additional 8.5 Mg ha⁻¹ (dry matter) of plant residues, mainly tree prunings, led to an extra 3.5 Mg C ha⁻¹ (∼0.2% C) in the 0-12 cm top soil after 11 years, and 4.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ after 16 years. The addition of NPK fertilizer had little effect on the quantities of above-ground plant residues returned to the soil, and there was no evidence that the fertilizer affected the rate of SOC decomposition. The fact that both C₃ and C₄ plants returned organic matter to the soil in all cropping systems, but in contrasting proportions, led to clear contrasts in the ¹³C abundance in the SOC. This ¹³C information, together with the measured SOC contents, was used to test the ROTHC model. Decomposition was very fast, illustrated by the fact that we had to double all decomposition rate constants in the model in order to simulate the measured contrasts in SOC contents and δ¹³C between the AC treatments and the no-tree controls. We hypothesized (1) that the pruning materials from the legume trees and/or the extra rhizodeposition from the tree roots in the AC treatments accelerated the decomposition of the SOC present at the start of the experiment (true C-priming), and/or (2) that the physical protection of microbial biomass and metabolites by the clay fraction on this site, having a sandy top soil in which clay minerals are mainly of the 1:1 type, is lower than assumed by the model.     

Rice root-derived carbon input and its effect on decomposition of old soil carbon pool under elevated CO2

Rice (Oryza sativa) was grown in sunlit, semi-closed growth chambers (4×3×2 m, L×W×H) at 650 μl l⁻¹ CO₂ (elevated CO₂) to determine: (1) rice root-derived carbon (C) input into the soil under elevated CO₂ in one growing season, and (2) the effect of the newly input C on decomposition of the more recalcitrant native soil organic C. The initial δ¹³C value of the experimental soil was −25.8‰, which was 6‰ less depleted in ¹³C than the plants grown under elevated CO₂. Significant changes in δ¹³C of the soil organic C were detected after one growing season. The amount of new soil C input was estimated to be 0.9 t ha⁻¹ (or 2.1%) at 30 kg N ha⁻¹ and 1.8 t ha⁻¹ (4.1%) at 90 kg N ha⁻¹. Changes in soil δ¹³C suggested that the surface 5 cm of soil received more C input from plants than soils below. Laboratory incubation (25 °C) of soils from different horizons indicated that increased availability of the labile plant-derived C in the soil reduced decomposition of the native soil organic C. Provided the retardant effect of the new C on old soil organic C holds in the field in the longer-term, paddy soils will likely sequester more C from the atmosphere if more plant C enters the soil under elevated atmospheric CO₂.     

Dynamics of labile and recalcitrant soil carbon pools in a sorghum free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) agroecosystem

Experimentation with dynamics of soil carbon pools as affected by elevated CO₂ can better define the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to sequester global carbon. In the present study, 6 N HCl hydrolysis and stable-carbon isotopic analysis (δ¹³C) were used to investigate labile and recalcitrant soil carbon pools and the translocation among these pools of sorghum residues isotopically labeled in the 1998-1999 Arizona Maricopa free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment, in which elevated CO₂ (FACE: 560 μmol mol⁻¹) and ambient CO₂ (Control: 360 μmol mol⁻¹) interact with water-adequate (wet) and water-deficient (dry) treatments. We found that on average 53% of the final soil organic carbon (SOC) in the FACE plot was in the recalcitrant carbon pool and 47% in the labile pool, whereas in the Control plot 46% and 54% of carbon were in recalcitrant and labile pools, respectively, indicating that elevated CO₂ transferred more SOC into the slow-decay carbon pool. Also, isotopic mixing models revealed that increased new sorghum residue input to the recalcitrant pool mainly accounts for this change, especially for the upper soil horizon (0-30 cm) where new carbon in recalcitrant soil pools of FACE wet and dry treatments was 1.7 and 2.8 times as large as that in respective Control recalcitrant pools. Similarly, old C in the recalcitrant pool under elevated CO₂ was higher than that under ambient CO₂, indicating that elevated CO₂ reduces the decay of the old C in recalcitrant pool. Mean residence time (MRT) of bulk soil carbon at the depth of 0-30 cm was significantly longer in FACE plot than Control plot by the averages of 12 and 13 yr under the dry and wet conditions, respectively. The MRT was positively correlated to the ratio of carbon content in the recalcitrant pool to total SOC and negatively correlated to the ratio of carbon content in the labile pool to total SOC. Influence of water alone on the bulk SOC or the labile and recalcitrant pools was not significant. However, water stress interacting with CO₂ enhanced the shift of the carbon from labile pool to recalcitrant pool. Our results imply that terrestrial agroecosystems may play a critical role in sequestrating atmospheric CO₂ and mitigating harmful CO₂ under future atmospheric conditions.     

Simulation of soil organic carbon dynamics under different pasture managements using the RothC carbon model

Recently, soil carbon sequestration in agro-ecosystems has been attracting significant interest as soil organic carbon (SOC) can potentially offset some atmospheric carbon dioxide. The objectives of this study were to use the RothC model to simulate soil carbon sequestration and determine the proportion of pasture production as carbon input for SOC sequestration under different pasture types and pasture management in a long term experiment established in 1992. There were two types of pastures, annual and perennial pastures, with or without application of limestone. Simulation results showed that with an initial setting for the stubble retention factor of 0.65 and root/shoot ratio of 0.5 for annual pasture and 1.0 for perennial pasture, RothC can adequately simulate SOC for both pasture types, especially annual pasture. Using an inverse modelling technique, the root/shoot ratio was determined as 0.49 and 0.57 for annual pasture and 0.72 and 0.76 for perennial pasture with and without limestone application, respectively. There was a large improvement in model performance for perennial pasture with and without limestone application. The root mean squared errors (RMSE) reduced from 3.19 and 2.99 t C ha⁻¹ in the initial settings to 2.09 and 2.10 t C ha⁻¹, while performance efficiency (PE) increased from 0.89 and 0.91 to the same value of 0.95 when the root/shoot ratio of 0.72 and 0.76 were used for limed and unlimed perennial pastures. However, there was little improvement for annual pasture as RMSE had little change and PE was the same. As the stubble retention factor and root/shoot ratio can be combined into one factor that measures an equivalent amount of total above-ground pasture production allocated for soil carbon input, the modelled results can be summarised as 1.2 times and 1.4 times the above-ground dry matter for annual and for perennial pasture, respectively, regardless of liming. Our results provide useful information for simulation of soil carbon sequestration under continuous pasture systems.     

Impacts of nitrogen fertilization on biomass production of switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) and changes in soil organic carbon in Ohio

Growing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, L.), a promising bioenergy crop, needs finely-tuned nitrogen (N) fertilization to improve biomass yields depending on soil types and site characteristics. N fertilization can also affect the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of N fertilization on switchgrass biomass production and the SOC stock in Ohio. Switchgrass was established at three research stations (Northwest, Jackson, and Western sites) of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in spring 2004. N fertilizer was applied at four different rates (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) in 2008 and 2009. Aboveground and root biomass and the carbon (C) and N concentrations in plant tissues, SOC concentrations up to 30 cm depth were measured at the end of the growing season in 2009. Aboveground biomass at the Western site was the highest as 26 Mg ha⁻¹ with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ application, but there were no significant effects of N fertilization on aboveground biomass at two other sites and on root biomass across all sites. The amount of N export due to harvesting aboveground biomass increased with increase in N rates but did not vary among sites. With increasing N rates, the SOC stock linearly increased from 102 to 123 and from 55 to 70 Mg C ha⁻¹ at the Northwest and the Jackson sites, respectively. However, this positive correlation was not observed for the Western site (a range of 59 to 67 Mg C ha⁻¹). This study showed a potential of growing switchgrass as a bioenergy crop in Ohio and positive responses of the SOC stock to N fertilization.     

Soil carbon and nutrient pools, microbial properties and gross nitrogen transformations in adjacent natural forest and hoop pine plantations of subtropical Australia

Background, Aims, and Scope  An improved understanding of important soil carbon (C) and nutrient pools as well as microbial activities in forest ecosystems is required for developing effective forest management regimes underpinning forest productivity and sustainability. Forest types and management practices can have significant impacts on soil C and nutrient pools as well as biological properties in forest ecosystems. Soil C and nutrient pools were assessed for adjacent natural forest (NF), first rotation (1R) (50-year-old), and second rotation (2R) (1-year-old) hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait. ex D. Don) plantations in southeast Queensland of subtropical Australia. Materials and Methods  Five transects spaced 3 m apart with 9 sampling points along each transect were selected (9.6 m × 12.0 m each site), with 45 soil cores (7.5 cm in diameter) collected and separated into 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths. These soils were analysed for total C, total nitrogen (N), C (δ¹³C) and N (δ¹⁵N) isotope composition. The 0–10 cm soils were analysed for pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, total P and total K, and assayed for microbial biomass C and N, respiration, metabolic quotient, potential mineralizable N (PMN), gross N mineralization (M) and immobilization (I). Results  Total C and N in 0–10 cm soils were higher under NF and 1R plantation than under 2R plantation, while they were highest in 10–20 cm soils under NF, followed by the 1R and then 2R plantation. δ¹³C was lower under NF than under the plantations, while δ¹⁵N was higher under NF than under the plantations. Total P was the highest under NF, followed by the 1R and then 2R plantation, while total K was higher under the 2R plantation. No significant differences were detected for pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, microbial C and N, respiration and metabolic quotient among the 3 sites. PMN and M were higher under NF, while I was the highest under the 2R plantation, followed by the NF and then 1R plantation. Discussion  Soil total C and N in 0–10 cm depth were significantly lower under 2R hoop pine plantation than those under NF and 1R hoop pine plantation. There were significant reductions in soil total C and N from NF to 1R and from 1R to 2R hoop pine plantations in 10–20 cm depth. This highlights potential N deficiency in the 2R hoop pine plantations, and application of N fertilizers may be required to improve the productivity of 2R hoop pine plantations. There were no significant differences in other soil chemical and physical properties in 0–10 cm depth among the 3 sites under NF, 1R and 2R hoop pine plantations, except for soil total P and K. Soil microbial biomass C, CO₂ respiration and metabolic quotient did not differ among the 3 sites assessed, perhaps mainly due to these biological variables being too sensitive to variations in soil chemical and physical properties and thereby being associated with a larger variability in the soil biological properties. However, soil potential mineralizable N, gross N mineralization and immobilization were rather sensitive to the conversion of NF to hoop pine plantation and forest management practices. Conclusions  Total C and N in the top 20 cm soil were highest under NF, followed by 1R and then 2R hoop pine plantations, indicating that N deficiency may become a growth-limiting factor in the 2R hoop pine plantations and subsequent rotations of hoop pine plantation. The sample size for soil δ¹³C seems to be much smaller than those for soil total C and N as well as δ¹⁵N. The significant reductions in soil total P from NF to 1R and then from 1R to 2R hoop pine plantations highlight that P deficiency might become another growth-limiting factor in the second and subsequent rotations of hoop pine plantations. Soil microbial properties may be associated with large spatial variations due to these biological properties being too sensitive to the variations in soil chemical and physical properties in these forest ecosystems. Recommendations and Perspectives  Soil potential mineralizable N, gross N mineralization and immobilization were useful indices of soil N availability in response to forest types and management practices. The sampling size for soil δ¹³C was much smaller than the other soil chemical and biological properties due to the different patterns of spatial variation in these soil properties.     

Impacts of 22-year organic and inorganic N managements on soil organic C fractions in a maize field,northeast China

Impacts of 22-year organic and inorganic N managements on total organic carbon (TOC), water-soluble organic C (WSOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), particulate organic C (POC) and KMnO₄ oxidized organic C (KMnO₄-C) concentrations, C management index (CMI), and C storage in surface soil (0–20 cm) were investigated in a maize (Zea may L.) field experiment, Northeast China. The treatments included, CK: unfertilized control, M: organic manure (135 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1), N: inorganic N fertilizer (135 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1) and MN: combination of organic manure (67.5 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1) and inorganic N fertilizer (67.5 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1). TOC concentration and C storage were significantly increased under the M and MN treatments, but not under the inorganic N treatment. The organic treatments of M and MN were more effective in increasing WSOC, MBC, POC and KMnO₄-C concentrations and CMI than the N treatment. The M treatment was most effective for sequestrating SOC (10.6 Mg ha^− 1) and showed similar increase in degree of grain yield to the N and MN treatments, therefore it could be the best option for improving soil productivity and C storage in the maize cropping system.     

Potential of mine land reclamation for soil organic carbon sequestration in Ohio

Soils are an effective sink for carbon storage and immobilization through biomass productivity and enhancement of soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. The SOC sink capacity depends on land use and management. Degraded lands lose large amounts of C through SOC decomposition, erosion, and leaching. Thus, restoration of disturbed and degraded mine lands can lead to increase in biomass productivity, improved soil quality and SOC enhancement and sequestration. Reclamation of mined lands is an aggrading process and offers significant potential to sequester C. A chronosequence study consisting of 0‐, 5‐, 10‐, 15‐, 20‐ and 25‐year‐old reclaimed mine soils in Ohio was initiated to assess the rate of C sequestration by pasture and forest establishment. Undisturbed pasture and forest were used as controls. The SOC pool of reclaimed pasture sites increased from 15·3 Mg ha⁻¹ to 44·4 Mg ha⁻¹ for 0–15 cm depth and from 10·8 Mg ha⁻¹ to 18·3 Mg ha⁻¹ for 15–30 cm depth over the period of 25 years. The SOC pool of reclaimed forest sites increased from 12·7 Mg ha⁻¹ to 45·3 Mg ha⁻¹ for 0–15 cm depth and from 9·1 Mg ha⁻¹ to 13·6 Mg ha⁻¹ for 15–30 cm depth over the same time period. The SOC pool of the pasture site stabilized earlier than that of the forest site which had not yet attained equilibrium. The SOC sequestered in 0–30 cm depth over 25 years was 36·7 Mg ha⁻¹ for pasture and 37·1 Mg ha⁻¹ for forest. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Atmospheric nitrate deposition and the microbial degradation of cellobiose and vanillin in a northern hardwood forest

Human activity has increased the amount of N entering terrestrial ecosystems from atmospheric NO₃⁻ deposition. High levels of inorganic N are known to suppress the expression of phenol oxidase, an important lignin-degrading enzyme produced by white-rot fungi. We hypothesized that chronic NO₃⁻ additions would decrease the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting phenol oxidase and the depolymerization of lignocellulose. This would likely reduce the availability of C from lignocellulose for metabolism by the microbial community. We tested this hypothesis in a mature northern hardwood forest in northern Michigan, which has received experimental atmospheric N deposition (30 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) for nine years. In a laboratory study, we amended soils with ¹³C-labeled vanillin, a monophenolic product of lignin depolymerization, and ¹³C-labeled cellobiose, a disaccharide product of cellulose degradation. We then traced the flow of ¹³C through the microbial community and into soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial respiration. We simultaneously measured the activity of enzymes responsible for lignin (phenol oxidase and peroxidase) and cellobiose (β-glucosidase) degradation. Nitrogen deposition reduced phenol oxidase activity by 83% and peroxidase activity by 74% when compared to control soils. In addition, soil C increased by 76%, whereas microbial biomass decreased by 68% in NO₃⁻ amended soils. ¹³C cellobiose in bacterial or fungal PLFAs was unaffected by NO₃⁻ deposition; however, the incorporation of ¹³C vanillin in fungal PLFAs extracted from NO₃⁻ amended soil was 82% higher than in the control treatment. The recovery of ¹³C vanillin and ¹³C cellobiose in SOC, DOC, microbial biomass, and respiration was not different between control and NO₃⁻ amended treatments. Chronic NO₃⁻ deposition has stemmed the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting the activity of ligninolytic enzymes, but it increased the assimilation of vanillin into fungal PLFAs.     

Quantification and bioavailability of scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate in pasture soils

The recent identification of scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate in alkaline soil extracts by solution ³¹P NMR spectroscopy allowed us to investigate this compound in soils by re-analyzing spectra from two previously published studies. Concentrations of scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate in 29 temperate pasture soils from England and Wales ranged between 11 and 130 mg P kg⁻¹ soil and accounted for between 4 and 15% of the soil organic phosphorus. The ratio of scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate to myo-inositol hexakisphosphate ranged between 0.29 and 0.79. In a 10 month pot experiment with six grassland soils from New Zealand, growth of pine seedlings (Pinus radiata D. Don) decreased scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate concentrations by between 10 and 46%. Growth of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) decreased scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate in three low-nutrient soils by 5-21%, but increased it in three other soils by 11-16%. We conclude that scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate is an important component of soil organic phosphorus with potential ecological significance.     

Organic matter in density fractions of water-stable aggregates in silty soils: Effect of land use

The location of soil organic matter (SOM) within the soil matrix is considered a major factor determining its turnover, but quantitative information about the effects of land cover and land use on the distribution of SOM at the soil aggregate level is rare. We analyzed the effect of land cover/land use (spruce forest, grassland, wheat and maize) on the distribution of free particulate organic matter (POM) with a density <1.6 g cm⁻³ (free POM_<1.6), occluded particulate organic matter with densities <1.6 g cm⁻³ (occluded POM_<1.6) and 1.6-2.0 g cm⁻³ (occluded POM_1.6-2.0) and mineral-associated SOM (>2.0 g cm⁻³) in size classes of slaking-resistant aggregates (53-250, 250-1000, 1000-2000, >2000 μm) and in the sieve fraction <53 μm from silty soils by applying a combined aggregate size and density fractionation procedure. We also determined the turnover time of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions at the aggregate level in the soil of the maize site using the ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratio. SOM contents were higher in the grassland soil aggregates than in those of the arable soils mainly because of greater contents of mineral-associated SOM. The contribution of occluded POM to total SOC in the A horizon aggregates was greater in the spruce soil (23-44%) than in the grassland (11%) and arable soils (19%). The mass and carbon content of both the free and occluded POM fractions were greater in the forest soil than in the grassland and arable soils. In all soils, the C/N ratios of soil fractions within each aggregate size class decreased in the following order: free POM_<1.6>occluded POM_<1.6-2.0>mineral-associated SOM. The mean age of SOC associated with the <53 μm mineral fraction of water-stable aggregates in the Ap horizon of the maize site varied between 63 and 69 yr in aggregates >250 μm, 76 yr in the 53-250 μm aggregate class, and 102 yr in the sieve fraction <53 μm. The mean age of SOC in the occluded POM increased with decreasing aggregate size from 20 to 30 yr in aggregates >1000 μm to 66 yr in aggregates <53 μm. Free POM had the most rapid rates of C-turnover, with residence times ranging from 10 yr in the fraction >2000 μm to 42 yr in the fraction 53-250 μm. Results indicated that SOM in slaking-resistant aggregates was not a homogeneous pool, but consisted of size/density fractions exhibiting different composition and stability. The properties of these fractions were influenced by the aggregate size. Land cover/land use were important factors controlling the amount and composition of SOM fractions at the aggregate level.     

Increase in soil pH due to Ca-rich organic matter application causes suppression of the clubroot disease of crucifers

Clubroot disease of cruciferous plants caused by the soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae is difficult to control because the pathogen survives for a long time in soil as resting spores. Disease-suppressive and conducive soils were found during the long-term experiment on the impact of organic matter application to arable fields and have been studied to clarify the biotic and abiotic factors involved in the disease suppression. The fact that a large amount of organic matter, 400 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ farmyard manure (FYM) or 100 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ food factory sludge compost (FSC), had been incorporated for more than 15 yr in the suppressive soils and these soils showed higher pH and Ca concentration than the disease conducive soil led us to hypothesize that an increase in soil pH due to the long-term incorporation of Ca-rich organic matter might be the primary cause of the disease suppression. We have designed a highly reproducible bioassay system to examine this hypothesis. The suppressive and conducive soils were mixed with the resting spores of P. brassicae at a rate of 10⁶ spore g⁻¹ soil, and Brassica campestris was grown in a growth chamber for 8 d. The number of root hair infections was assessed on a microscope. It was found that the incorporation of FYM and FSC at 2.5% (w/w) to the conducive soil suppressed the infection and that the finer particles (?5 mm) of FSC inhibited the infection and increased soil pH more effectively. Neutralization of the conducive soil by Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃ and KOH suppressed the infection, but the effectiveness of KOH was less than those of Ca(OH)₂ and CaCO₃. Acidification of the suppressive soils by H₂SO₄, promoted the infection. The involvement of soil biota in the disease suppression was investigated using the sterilized (γ-ray irradiation) suppressive soils with respect to soil pH. The γ-ray irradiation promoted the infection at pH 5.5, but no infection was observed at pH 7.4 irrespective of the sterilization status. All these observations suggest that soil pH is a major factor in disease suppression by organic matter application and that Ca and soil biota play certain roles in the suppression under the influence of soil pH.     

Priming effect of biuret addition on native soil N mineralisation under laboratory conditions

This study was carried out to quantify the priming effect of biuret on native soil nitrogen (N) mineralisation during a 112-day incubation. Addition of biuret (100 mg ¹⁵N-labelled biuret kg⁻¹ soil) increased the turnover rate constant of soil organic matter and had a positive priming effect on native soil N mineralisation in two soils. The additional mineralisation was 0.65% of the total soil N (equivalent to 47.1 kg N ha⁻¹) in a sandy loam soil and 0.62% of the soil N (equivalent to 46.5 kg N ha⁻¹) in a silt loam soil.     

Carbon dynamics in a temperate grassland soil after 9 years exposure to elevated CO2 (Swiss FACE)

Elevated pCO₂ increases the net primary production, C/N ratio, and C input to the soil and hence provides opportunities to sequester CO₂-C in soils to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂. The Swiss 9 y grassland FACE (free air carbon-dioxide enrichment) experiment enabled us to explore the potential of elevated pCO₂ (60 Pa), plant species (Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L.) and nitrogen fertilization (140 and 540 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) on carbon sequestration and mineralization by a temperate grassland soil. Use of ¹³C in combination with respired CO₂ enabled the identification of the origins of active fractions of soil organic carbon. Elevated pCO₂ had no significant effect on total soil carbon, and total soil carbon was also independent of plant species and nitrogen fertilization. However, new (FACE-derived depleted ¹³C) input of carbon into the soil in the elevated pCO₂ treatments was dependent on nitrogen fertilization and plant species. New carbon input into the top 15 cm of soil from L. perennne high nitrogen (LPH), L. perenne low nitrogen (LPL) and T. repens low nitrogen (TRL) treatments during the 9 y elevated pCO₂ experiment was 9.3±2.0, 12.1±1.8 and 6.8±2.7 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. Fractions of FACE-derived carbon in less protected soil particles >53 μm in size were higher than in <53 μm particles. In addition, elevated pCO₂ increased CO₂ emission over the 118 d incubation by 55, 61 and 13% from undisturbed soil from LPH, LPL and TRL treatments, respectively; but only by 13, 36, and 18%, respectively, from disturbed soil (without roots). Higher input of new carbon led to increased decomposition of older soil organic matter (priming effect), which was driven by the quantity (mainly roots) of newly input carbon (L. perenne) as well as the quality of old soil carbon (e.g. higher recalcitrance in T. repens). Based on these results, the potential of well managed and established temperate grassland soils to sequester carbon under continued increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ appears to be rather limited.     

Long-term effects of metal-containing farmyard manure and sewage sludge on soil organic matter in a fluvisol

Our aim was to establish the long-term effects of repeated applications after 20 y of organic amendments (farmyard manure at 10 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, and urban sewage sludge at two different rates, 10 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ and 100 t ha⁻¹ every 2 y) on the quality of a sandy and poorly buffered soil (Fluvisol, pH 6). Chemical characteristics and biodegradability of the labile organic matter, which is mainly derived from microbial biomass and biodegradation products of organic residues, were chosen as indicators for soil quality. The organic C content had reached a maximal value (30.6 g C kg⁻¹ in the 100 t sludge-treated soil), i.e. about 2.5 times that in the control. Six years after the last application, the organic C content and the microbial biomass content remained higher in sludge-treated soils than in the control. In contrast, the proportion of labile organic matter was significantly lower in sludge-treated soils than in manure-treated and control soils. The labile organic matter of sludge extracts appeared less humified than that of manure-treated and control soils.     

Short-term C4 plant Spartina alterniflora invasions change the soil carbon in C3 plant-dominated tidal wetlands on a growing estuarine Island

Spartina alterniflora is an invasive C₄ perennial grass, native to North America, and has spread rapidly along the east coast of China since its introduction in 1979. Since its intentional introduction to the Jiuduansha Island in the Yangtze River estuary, Spartina alterniflora community has become one of the dominant vegetation types. We investigated the soil carbon in the Spartina alterniflora community and compared it with that of the native C₃Scirpus mariqueter community by measuring total soil carbon (TC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil nitrogen (TN), and the stable carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of various fractions. TC and SOC were significantly higher in Spartina alterniflora in the top 60 cm of soil. However, there was no significant difference in soil inorganic carbon (IC) between the two communities. Stable carbon isotopic analysis suggests that the fraction of SOC pool contributed by Spartina alterniflora varied from 0.90% to 10.64% at a soil depth of 0-100 cm with a greater percentage between 20 and 40 cm deep soils. The δ¹³C decreased with increasing soil depth in both communities, but the difference in δ¹³C among layers of the top 60 cm soil was significant (p<0.05), while that for the deeper soil layers (>60 cm) was not detected statistically. The changes in δ¹³C with depth appeared to be associated with the small contribution of residues from Spartina alterniflora at greater soil depth that was directly related to the vertical root distribution of the species.     

Thermal stability of soil organic matter pools and their δC values after C3-C4 vegetation change

Carbon isotopic composition of soils subjected to C₃-C₄ vegetation change is a suitable tool for the estimation of C turnover in soil organic matter (SOM) pools. We hypothesized that the biological availability of SOM pools is inversely proportional to their thermal stability. Soil samples from a field plot with 10.5 years of cultivation of the C₄ plant Miscanthus×gigantheus and from a reference plot under C₃ grassland vegetation were analysed by thermogravimetry coupled with differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). According to differential weight losses (dTG) and energy release or consumption (DSC), five SOM pools with increasing thermal stability were distinguished: (I) 20-190 °C, (II) 190-310 °C, (III) 310-390 °C, (IV) 390-480 °C, and (V) 480-1000 °C. Their δ¹³C values were analysed by EA-IRMS. The weight losses in pool I were connected with water evaporation, since no significant C losses were measured and δ¹³C values remained unchanged. The δ¹³C of pools II and III in soil samples under Miscanthus were closer to the δ¹³C of the Miscanthus plant tissues (−11.8‰) compared to the thermally stable SOM pool V (−19.5‰). The portion of the Miscanthus-derived C₄-C in total SOM in 0-5 cm reached 55.4% in the 10.5 years. The C₄-C contribution in pool II was 60% and decreased down to 6% in pool V. The mean residence times (MRT) of SOM pools II, III, and IV were similar (11.6, 12.2, and 15.4 years, respectively), while pool V had a MRT of 163 years. Therefore, we concluded that the biological availability of thermal labile SOM pools (<480 °C) was higher, than that of the thermal stable pool decomposed above 480 °C. However, the increase of SOM stability with rising temperature was not gradual. Therefore, the applicability of the TG-DSC for the separation of SOM pools with different biological availability is limited.     

Gross nitrogen transformations in adjacent native and plantation forests of subtropical Australia

The impact of land-use change on soil nitrogen (N) transformations was investigated in adjacent native forest (NF), 53 y-old first rotation (1R) and 5 y-old second rotation (2R) hoop pine (Araucaia cunninghamii) plantations. The ¹⁵N isotope dilution method was used to quantify gross rates of N transformations in aerobic and anaerobic laboratory incubations. Results showed that the land-use change had a significant impact on the soil N transformations. Gross ammonification rates in the aerobic incubation ranged between 0.62 and 1.78 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹, while gross nitrification rates ranged between 2.1 and 6.6 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹. Gross ammonification rates were significantly lower in the NF and the 1R soils than in the 2R soils, however gross nitrification rates were significantly higher in the NF soils than in the plantation soils. The greater rates of gross nitrification found in the NF soil compared to the plantation soils, were related to lower soil C:N ratios (i.e. more labile soil N under NF). Nitrification was found to be the dominant soil N transformation process in the contrasting forest ecosystems. This might be attributed to certain site conditions which may favour the nitrifying community, such as the dry climate and tree species. There was some evidence to suggest that heterotrophic nitrifiers may undertake a significant portion of nitrification.     

Is the soil microbial community related to the basal area of trees in a Scots pine stand?

The main energy sources of soil microorganisms are litter fall, root litter and exudation. The amount on these carbon inputs vary according to basal area of the forest stand. We hypothesized that soil microbes utilizing these soil carbon sources relate to the basal area of trees. We measured the amount of soil microbial biomass, soil respiration and microbial community structure as determined by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles in the humus layer (FH) of an even-aged stand of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with four different basal area levels ranging from 19.9 m² ha⁻¹ in the study plot Kasper 1 to 35.7 m² ha⁻¹ in Kasper 4. Increasing trend in basal respiration, total PLFAs and fungal-to-bacterial ratio was observed from Kasper 1 to Kasper 3 (basal area 29.2 m² ha⁻¹). The soil microbial community structure in Kasper 3 differed from that of the other study plots.