短期免耕对黑土有机碳、全氮和速效养分的影响

对中层黑土上连续监测了6年的玉米免耕和秋翻两种耕作处理下的耕层土壤有机碳、全氮和速效氮、磷、钾进行了分析。结果表明:耕作处理对土壤养分的影响主要表现在不同的土壤深度上,免耕造成了土壤有机碳和全氮的分层化,即表层0~5 cm有机碳和全氮含量明显高于亚表层,而秋翻土壤有机碳和全氮分布则比较均匀。免耕处理的速效养分均表现为表层与亚表层存在明显差异。免耕处理下有机碳、全氮和速效氮、磷、钾在土壤表层发生明显富集。     

樟子松林下土壤有机碳和全氮储量研究

本文通过调查分析我国最重要樟子松原产地—红花尔基的樟子松林下土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)及其机械组成，发现樟子松林下的土壤有机C和N含量与其机械组成呈显著相关，与粉粒含量相关系数高达0．7028和0．7209，与土壤容重呈现负相关，相关系数达0．5760和0．5937。樟子松林土壤平均C、N密度分别为19．5kg／m^2和1．8kg／m^2，比同地区的桦木林和农田土壤低。同时也发现，樟子松林土壤C、N含量与地形有关，一般阳坡高于阴坡，下坡高于上坡；天然樟子松林的土壤C、N密度随年龄先出现增长，到25年时达到最高值，30年以后有下降趋势，这与土壤质地的变化密切相关。在该地区，不同植物群落类型的土壤C、N含量的差异也主要受土壤质地变化的影响。     

耕作方式及秸秆还田对华北平原土壤全氮及其组分的影响

为明确耕作方式对农田土壤全氮及其组分的影响,该文于中国农业大学吴桥实验站展开研究。田间试验布置于2008年,设置翻耕秸秆不还田(PT),翻耕秸秆还田(PTS),免耕秸秆还田(NTS)和旋耕秸秆还田(RTS)4个处理。于2015年冬小麦收获后取样,测定分析了土壤全氮、颗粒氮、矿物结合态氮含量以及土壤全氮储量。研究结果表明,0~5和5~10 cm土层的土壤全氮含量NTS和RTS显著高于PTS,但10~20和20~30 cm土层显著降低(P0.05)。0~50 cm土层的土壤全氮储量秸秆还田各处理间差异不显著,但NTS和PTS较PT分别提高了7.78%和11.09%(P0.05)。在土壤全氮及其组分中,土壤颗粒氮对耕作方式表现出最高的敏感性。0~5 cm土层的土壤颗粒氮含量及其在土壤全氮中的占比NTS和RTS均高于PTS,但在20~30 cm土层均低于PTS(P0.05)。与PT相比,PTS仅提高了0~20 cm土层的土壤全氮和颗粒氮含量,而土壤矿物结合态氮含量没有显著差异,NTS和RTS则同步提高了0~10 cm土层的土壤全氮、颗粒氮及矿物结合态氮含量(P0.05)。综上所述,免耕和旋耕提高了土壤全氮及其组分在表层土壤中的分布,翻耕则在较深土层更具优势,但翻耕阻碍了耕层土壤矿物结合态氮的积累,增加了氮素损失风险。     

保护性耕作对麦-豆轮作土壤有机碳全氮及微生物量碳氮的影响

通过设置在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇的保护性耕作措施长期定位试验,共设4个处理（T：传统耕作;NT：免耕无覆盖;TS：传统耕作＋秸秆还田;NTS：免耕＋秸秆覆盖）,采用春小麦豌豆双序列轮作（即小麦→豌豆→小麦和豌豆→小麦→豌豆,本文中所指春小麦地、豌豆地分别指2008年种植春小麦、豌豆的轮作次序）,于2008年3月中旬对春小麦、豌豆双序列轮作下的土壤有机碳、全氮、土壤微生物量碳及土壤微生物量氮含量进行了采样测定。结果表明,经过7a的轮作后,两种轮作次序下,0-30cm土层中土壤有机碳、全氮、土壤微生物量碳、土壤微生物量氮含量均有在免耕＋秸秆覆盖、传统耕作＋秸秆还田处理较免耕不覆盖、传统耕作处理高的趋势,且其含量均随着土壤深度的增加而降低。其中,土壤微生物量碳含量在两种轮作次序下的排序均为：免耕＋秸秆覆盖（NTS）〉传统耕作＋秸秆还田（TS）〉免耕不覆盖（NT）〉传统耕作（T）;而土壤微生物量氮含量在春小麦地和豌豆地的排序则分别表现为：免耕＋秸秆覆盖（NTS）〉传统耕作＋秸秆还田（TS）〉传统耕作（T）〉免耕不覆盖（NT）和免耕＋秸秆覆盖（NTS）〉传统耕作＋秸秆还田（TS）〉免耕不覆盖（NT）〉传统耕作（T）。同时,微生物量碳、微生物量氮与有机碳和全氮均呈显著正相关,说明提高土壤有机质、全氮含量的保护性耕作模式有利于土壤微生物量碳与氮的积累。     

武夷山不同海拔典型森林土壤有机碳和全氮储量分布特征

为探究武夷山森林土壤碳氮储量的分布特征,以武夷山国家公园不同海拔高度(600,1 000,1 400 m)的典型森林土壤为研究对象,研究土壤有机碳和全氮含量及储量随海拔高度的变化规律,分析了影响土壤有机碳和全氮储量变化的因子。结果表明:随着海拔的升高,土壤有机碳和全氮的含量在0—5 cm土层和5—10 cm土层变化规律不同,5—10 cm土层的土壤碳氮含量随海拔变化趋势更为明显,而0—5 cm土层的土壤碳氮含量表现为1 000 m海拔较高; 海拔1 000 m的土壤C/N明显高于海拔1 400 m和600 m; 在土壤有机碳和全氮储量方面,1 400 m明显高于1 000 m和600 m,且高海拔区域土壤碳氮储量的变化幅度显著大于低海拔区域,两土层间差异不显著; 相关分析和RDA分析表明细根C/N和土壤温度是影响土壤有机碳和全氮储量的主导因子。综上所述,土壤有机碳和全氮的分布随海拔升高并非线性增长,受到气候、植被特征及土壤状况的综合影响,高海拔地区土壤碳氮储量对气候变化的响应更为敏感。     

水稻秸秆还田年限对稻麦轮作田土壤碳氮固存的影响

为明确连续秸秆还田对农田土壤碳氮固存的影响,该文于扬州大学试验场展开研究。田间试验布置于2010年,设置秸秆不还田(NR),秸秆还田1a(SR1),秸秆还田2a(SR2),秸秆还田3a(SR3),秸秆还田4a(SR4),秸秆还田5a(SR5),秸秆还田6a(SR6),秸秆还田7a(SR7),秸秆还田8a(SR8)9个处理。于2018年小麦收获后取样,测定分析了土壤容重、有机碳和全氮含量,计算碳氮比、层化率、土壤有机碳和全氮储量(等质量法)。结果表明,随着秸秆还田年限的增加,各土层有机碳和全氮含量逐渐提高,但增幅逐渐减小。0～5 cm土层土壤碳氮比在短期内(≤3 a)随着秸秆还田年限增加而显著提高,但是对其他土层和年限的无显著影响。随着秸秆还田年限增加,表层0～5 cm与其他层次有机碳和碳氮比层化率先增长后下降,全氮层化率则先下降后上升。秸秆还田处理0～20 cm土壤有机碳和全氮储量分别较NR提高6.23%～27.85%和6.04%～25.66%,各土层碳氮储量均随着秸秆还田年限的增加而提高,但是当还田年限6a其增幅明显降低。综上所述,秸秆还田具有良好的碳氮固存效应,但是当秸秆还田年限6a,土壤碳氮固存量的增幅明显降低,可适当减少还田量。     

不同气候和施肥条件下保护性耕作对农田土壤碳氮储量的影响

【目的】 土壤有机碳氮是影响土壤肥力与作物产量的重要物质,而耕作是影响土壤碳氮储量的重要因素。通过分析不同耕作措施对我国东北、华北地区农田土壤碳氮储量的影响,为优化农田耕作管理、实现固碳减排、保护土壤提供科学依据。 【方法】 基于山西寿阳 (SSY)、山西临汾 (SLF)、河北廊坊 (HLF) 和吉林公主岭 (GZL) 四个长期定位试验,选择传统耕作 (CT)、免耕 (NTN) 和浅旋耕 (NTD) 三个耕作处理,分析了0—80 cm土壤剖面有机碳、氮的储量分布。 【结果】 1) 与传统耕作相比,浅旋耕显著降低褐土 (寿阳) 容重,免耕增加黑土 (公主岭) 容重,保护性耕作对沙性土 (临汾) 和潮土 (廊坊) 的影响很小。2) 耕作影响0—60 cm土壤有机碳储量。与传统耕作处理相比,黑土 (公主岭) 采用免耕和浅旋耕可显著提高0—60 cm土壤中的有机碳含量;免耕可提高褐土 (寿阳)0—50 cm的有机碳含量;沙性土 (临汾)、潮土 (廊坊) 免耕由于表层秸秆覆盖可提高0—15 cm土壤有机碳含量,但降低15—50 cm层土壤碳储量;潮土 (廊坊)15—60 cm土层,浅旋耕可增加土壤有机碳储量,而免耕则相反。3) 免耕处理的潮土 (廊坊) 土壤氮储量比传统耕作高出260 kg/hm2,差异不显著;黑土 (公主岭) 免耕和浅旋耕土壤氮储量则分别高出112 kg/hm2和207 kg/hm2,差异显著,保护性耕作降低临汾和寿阳1 m深土壤的氮储量。4) 保护性耕作加剧了0—20 cm沙性土和潮土壤氮储量的分层,对黑土 (公主岭) 和褐土 (寿阳) 土壤碳储量的层间分布影响很小。 【结论】 耕作影响0—60 cm土壤有机碳储量,免耕可以增加褐土的碳储量和潮土的氮储量,免耕和浅旋耕配合秸秆覆盖可显著增加黑土的碳、氮储量。因此,免耕适用于褐土和潮土,免耕和浅旋耕适用于黑土,沙性土采用保护性耕作的效果不显著。      

有机培肥与耕作方式对稻麦轮作土壤团聚体和有机碳组分的影响

为了明确不同外源有机物和耕作方式对土壤地力培育的影响,以水稻-小麦轮作系统为对象,通过2个年度(2016—2018年)大田试验研究了外源有机物(秸秆和有机肥)和耕作方式及其交互作用[稻麦秸秆还田配合旋耕(SR),稻麦秸秆还田配合翻耕(SP),秸秆不还田、增施有机肥配合旋耕(MR),秸秆不还田、增施有机肥配合翻耕(MP),秸秆不还田、不施用有机肥、旋耕深度15 cm(CKR)]对土壤团聚体和有机碳组成的短期影响。结果表明:SR处理能够降低水稻季土壤容重并增加总孔隙度。相比CKR,小麦季SR处理显著增加0.05mm水稳性团聚体含量,增加量为7.2%。此外,外源有机物和耕作对土壤有机碳活性组分具有显著影响。其中,易氧化有机碳(EOC)主要受耕作与有机物交互作用影响,酸水解有机碳(LPIc和LPII_c)主要受耕作措施的影响, SR处理的土壤EOC和LPI_c含量比CKR提高0.3～2.6 g·kg~(-1)。颗粒有机碳(POC)主要受外源有机物的影响,并且秸秆还田处理POC平均含量高于增施有机肥处理,增加量为0.75g·kg~(-1)。短期内,外源有机物和耕作及其交互作用对稳定性有机碳(黑碳和矿物结合态有机碳)的影响较小。综上,秸秆还田配合旋耕有助于提高土壤水稳性团聚体和活性有机碳的含量(EOC、LPI_c和POC)。     

甘肃白龙江流域土壤有机碳与全氮储量的空间格局特征

土壤有机碳与全氮储量的空间格局特征不仅可为土壤质量管理提供科学依据,也可为流域生态系统管理及人类活动管控提供参考。基于GIS软件平台,统计分析了甘肃白龙江流域土壤有机碳与全氮储量及碳氮比的空间格局特征,并探讨了海拔、坡度、坡向和植被覆被类型对土壤有机碳、全氮储量空间分布的影响。结果表明:甘肃白龙江流域平均土壤有机碳、全氮储量分别约为87.94×10~3 kg hm~(-2)和7.02×10~3 kg hm~(-2),两者在空间上均呈现西北向东南逐级递减的态势;流域土壤有机碳储量随海拔和坡度的增加呈先增后减的变化趋势,其高值区主要分布在2053~3779 m和20°~35°区段;土壤全氮储量随海拔上升而增加,随坡度增加呈先减再增后减的趋势,其高值区主要分布在20°~35°区段;坡向对流域土壤有机碳、全氮储量空间分布的影响相对较小;常绿针叶林、常绿阔叶林和落叶针叶林是流域土壤有机碳、全氮储量的高值区,低值区集中在耕地。     

常规与有机农田土壤团聚体组成及碳氮储量研究

长期施用化肥或连作农田管理模式导致土壤质量退化及碳氮损失加剧。以常规农作大豆和转换后的有机农作大豆田土壤为研究对象,利用土壤物理分组技术,分析了土壤团聚体组成及碳氮储量变化。结果表明,常规农作大豆田转换为有机农作大豆田后,<0.053mm粉粒加黏粒比重显著降低,0.053~0.25mm较小团聚体显著增加,土壤稳定性增大,土壤及团聚体中有机碳和全氮含量都显著增加。有机农作大豆田土壤包被于较小的大团聚体(0.25~2mm)中的<0.053mm细颗粒有机质百分比显著降低,0.053~2mm粗颗粒有机质显著增加。有机农作大豆田土壤及团聚体中碳氮储量都显著高于常规农作大豆田,土壤碳汇和氮汇效应增大。有机农作大豆田土壤稳定性增加,团聚体中碳氮含量显著增加,土壤碳汇效应增强,有机农作方式可能比常规农作方式更有利于土壤碳氮资源持续利用。     

Tillage effect on organic carbon in a purple paddy soil

The distribution and storage of soil organic carbon （SOC） based on a long-term experiment with various tillage systems were studied in a paddy soil derived from purple soil in Chongqing, China. Organic carbon storage in the 0-20 and 0-40 cm soil layers under different tillage systems were in an order： ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation （RT-rr） 〉 conventional tillage with rice only （CT-r） 〉 ridge tillage with rice only （RT-r） 〉 conventional tillage with rice-rape rotation （CT-rr）. The RT-rr system had significantly higher levels of soil organic carbon in the 0-40 cm topsoil, while the proportion of the total remaining organic carbon in the total soil organic carbon in the 0-10 cm layer was greatest in the RT-rr system. This was the reason why the RT-rr system enhanced soil organic carbon storage. These showed that tillage system type was crucial for carbon storage. Carbon levels in soil humus and crop-yield results showed that the RT-rr system enhanced soil fertility and crop productivity. Adoption of this tillage system would be beneficial both for environmental protection and economic development.     

黑碳添加对土壤有机碳矿化的影响

通过室内培养试验,向土壤中分别添加不同温度制备的黑碳,热解温度分别为350℃(T350)、600℃(T600)和850℃(T850),研究了黑碳添加对土壤有机碳矿化的影响。结果表明,不同温度条件制备的黑碳在15℃和25℃培养条件下,土壤CO2释放速率总的趋势是前期分解速率快,后期缓慢。在整个培养过程中(112天),随着培养时间的延长,土壤CO2释放速率下降趋势逐渐降低,CO2释放速率相对值的大小随着培养温度的的升高而增大。在不同温度培养条件下,添加黑碳后土壤CO2-C累计量均是T350>T600>T850,T350土壤CO2-C累计量最高分别为415.26 mg/kg和733.82 mg/kg。添加不同黑碳后,土壤有机碳矿化增加率存在极显著差异(p<0.01),表明不同温度制备的黑碳对土壤有机碳矿化的影响显著。     

Long-term effects of agronomic practices on the soil organic carbon sequestration in Chernozem

The study was based on data from selected long-term field trials established at the Experimental Fields of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad (Serbia). The effect of tillage systems on SOC concentration and SOC stock was most pronounced at 0–10 cm depth. In a 0–40 cm soil layer, in a 7-year period, no-till (NT) sequestrated 863 kg SOC ha^?1 yr^?1 more compared to moldboard plow tillage (PT), while the effects of disc tillage (DT) and chisel tillage (CT) were not significantly different. Unfertilized three-crop rotation (CSW) compared to two-crop rotation (CW) enhanced SOC storage in a 0–30 cm soil layer by 151 kg C ha^?1 yr^?1 in a 56-year period. Within fertilized treatments, SOC concentration was highest under continuous corn (CC). Mineral fertilization (F) non-significantly increased the SOC stock compared to no fertilization in corn monoculture in a 32-year period. The incorporation of mineral fertilizers and harvest residues (F + HR) and mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure (F + FYM) sequestered 195 and 435 kg C ha^?1 yr^?1 more than the unfertilized plot, respectively, in a 0–30 cm soil layer, in a 35-year period. Irrigation did not significantly affect SOC sequestration.     

Biochar application to soil for climate change mitigation by soil organic carbon sequestration

Pyrogenic carbon (C) is produced by incomplete combustion of fuels including organic matter (OM). Certain ranges in the combustion continuum are termed ‘black carbon' (BC). Because of its assumed persistence, surface soils in large parts of the world contain BC with up to 80% of surface soil organic C (SOC) stocks and up to 32% of subsoil SOC in agricultural soils consisting of BC. High SOC stocks and high levels of soil fertility in some ancient soils containing charcoal (e.g., terra preta de Índio) have recently been used as strategies for soil applications of biochar, an engineered BC material similar to charcoal but with the purposeful use as a soil conditioner (1) to mitigate increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) by SOC sequestration and (2) to enhance soil fertility. However, effects of biochar on soils and crop productivity cannot be generalized as they are biochar‐, plant‐ and site‐specific. For example, the largest potential increases in crop yields were reported in areas with highly weathered soils, such as those characterizing much of the humid tropics. Soils of high inherent fertility, characterizing much of the world's important agricultural areas, appear to be less likely to benefit from biochar. It has been hypothesized that both liming and aggregating/moistening effects of biochar improved crop productivity. Meta‐analyses of biochar effects on SOC sequestration have not yet been reported. To effectively mitigate climate change by SOC sequestration, a net removal of C and storage in soil relative to atmospheric CO₂ must occur and persist for several hundred years to a few millennia. At deeper soil depths, SOC is characterized by long turnover times, enhanced stabilization, and less vulnerability to loss by decomposition and erosion. In fact, some studies have reported preferential long‐term accumulation of BC at deeper depths. Thus, it is hypothesized that surface applied biochar‐C (1) must be translocated to subsoil layers and (2) result in deepening of SOC distribution for a notable contribution to climate change mitigation. Detailed studies are needed to understand how surface‐applied biochar can move to deeper soil depths, and how its application affects organic C input to deeper soil depths. Based on this knowledge, biochar systems for climate change mitigation through SOC sequestration can be designed. It is critically important to identify mechanisms underlying the sometimes observed negative effects of biochar application on biomass, yield and SOC as biochar may persist in soils for long periods of time as well as the impacts on downstream environments and the net climate impact when biochar particles become airborne.     

Changes in soil organic carbon fractions and bacterial community composition under different tillage and organic fertiliser application in a maize−wheat rotation system

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of different tillage and organic fertiliser regimes on soil carbon fractions and bacterial community composition within a maize–wheat cropping system. We conducted a six-year experiment on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. Six treatments were established: deep tillage (DT), shallow tillage (ST), no-tillage (NT), deep tillage with organic fertiliser (DTF), shallow tillage with organic fertiliser (STF), and no-tillage with organic fertiliser (NTF). Results indicated that during the winter wheat growing season, the highest contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and easily-oxidised organic carbon (EOC) were in the STF treatment. During the summer maizegrowing season, the DTF treatment had the highest SOC and EOC contents. Compared with the other treatments, the NTF treatment had higher Chao1 and Shannon indices for bacteria; however, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria is highest in all treatments. A redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that bacterial community composition was correlated with variation of the SOC, DOC, EOC, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Our results showed that combining the two components of the SOC fractions and bacterial community composition, STF practice in a maize–wheat rotation was a sustainable approach to optimising soil structure and improving soil quality.     

稻田绿肥轮作提高土壤养分增加有机碳库

综合评价中国南方不同稻田绿肥轮作模式,筛选与优化绿色高效的稻田多熟种植系统,有利于南方双季稻区农业可持续发展。通过田间试验,研究不同绿肥轮作模式(A冬闲-稻-稻→冬闲-稻-稻(对照)、B紫云英-稻-稻→油菜/花生-稻、C油菜/花生-稻→马铃薯/玉米+大豆-稻、D马铃薯/玉米+大豆-稻→蔬菜/花生+玉米-稻、E蔬菜/花生+玉米-稻→紫云英-稻-稻)对土壤养分中pH值、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾及总有机碳库、活性有机碳、碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明:绿肥轮作各处理的土壤有机质、碱解氮和速效钾均显著高于对照处理(P0.05),增加幅度分别为8.73%~15.59%、11.79%~19.64%和5.80%~37.19%。绿肥轮作处理B、C的总有机碳质量分数与对照相比有显著(P0.05)增加,分别增加了15.59%、11.19%。与对照相比,绿肥轮作B、C、D、E均可以显著(P0.05)提升土壤活性有机碳质量分数,提高幅度分别为29.03%、19.96%、16.67%和21.75%。与冬闲对照处理相比,绿肥轮作系统中处理B的土壤碳库指数显著(P0.05)增加了15.70%。相比冬闲对照处理,绿肥轮作处理B、C、D、E的土壤碳库管理指数分别显著(P0.05)增加了32.07、21.32、17.91和23.74,其中紫云英-稻-稻→油菜/花生-稻种植模式达到最大。土壤有机质与全氮、有效磷、总有机碳、活性有机碳、碳库管理指数存在极显著(P0.01)的相关性,土壤全氮、碱解氮、有效磷均与碳库管理指数存在显著的相关性(P0.05)。此外,总有机碳与活性有机碳和碳库管理指数存在极显著的相关性(P0.01)。可见在当地土壤肥力条件下,绿肥轮作尤其是紫云英-稻-稻-油菜/花生-稻能提高土壤有机碳质量分数和土壤碳库管理指数,有利于改善土壤质量,提高土壤肥力,为建立农田可持续的土壤管理和土地利用提供科学依据和参考价值。     

Green manure rotation and application increase rice yield and soil carbon in the Yangtze River valley of China

The addition of organic matter via green manure rotation with rice is considered a smart agricultural practice to maintain soil productivity and support environmental sustainability. However, few studies have quantitatively assessed the impact of green manure rotation and application on the interactions between agronomic management practice, soil fertility, and crop production. In this study, 800 pairs of data from 108 studies conducted in the agricultural region of the Yangtze River, China were...     

长期施肥下黑土活性有机质和碳库管理指数研究

基于东北黑土长期定位试验,研究不同施肥措施对黑土活性有机质及其碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明:在不同施肥措施的影响下土壤有机质得到了不同程度的提高。撂荒处理(CK0)土壤有机质较初始值提高了35.62%;单施化肥处理有机质提高最小,为10%~15%;其次为秸秆还田处理提高了20%;有机肥和化肥配施处理土壤有机质提高效果最显著,为66.38%~92.13%。黑土活性有机质分布规律为高活性有机质、中活性有机质、低活性有机质分别占有机质含量的3.80%~10.28%、1.59%~12.32%、8.71%~27.45%。以撂荒处理为参考土壤,有机肥和化肥配施处理高活性有机质、中活性有机质碳库管理指数高于参考土壤;氮磷钾肥配施处理(NPK)高活性有机质及其高活性有机质碳库管理指数与参考土壤较为接近;单施氮肥处理(N)、施用氮肥和磷肥处理(NP)、施用氮肥和钾肥处理(NK)、施用磷肥和钾肥处理(PK)高活性有机质、中活性有机质及总活性有机质碳库管理指数均低于参考土壤。采用有机肥无机肥配施对提高黑土活性有机质含量,提高土壤碳库管理指数具有比较好的效果。     

Rotation and tillage effects on soil organic carbon sequestration in a typic Hapludalf in Southern Ontario

Increased use of conservation tillage is being considered as a way to sequester atmospheric C in the soil. However, little information exists on the effect of rotation and its interaction with tillage on soil organic carbon (SOC). A research trial with combinations of rotations and tillage treatments was sampled 20 years after its establishment to assess the effects on SOC sequestration in a typic Hapludalf in southern Ontario, Canada. The cropping treatments included continuous corn (zea mays L.), six rotations comprised of 2 years of corn following 2 years of another crop or crop sequence, and continuous alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Each rotation was split into either fall moldboard plow (MP) or fall chisel plow (CP) treatments. Continuous alfalfa was plowed and replanted every 4 years. Soil samples were taken incrementally to a depth of 40 cm and SOC and bulk density determined. The average SOC concentration (0–40 cm) was greatest in continuous alfalfa (18.0 g C kg⁻¹). The treatments of soybean (Glycine max L.Merr.)+winterwheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley+barley (Trifolium pratense L.) (interseeded with red clover) followed by 2 years of corn had higher SOC concentrations (17.2–17.3 g C kg⁻¹) than continuous corn and the treatments of 2 years of corn following 2 years of alfalfa or soybean (16.4–16.5 g C kg⁻¹). The rotation of 2 years of barley followed by 2 years of corn had the lowest SOC concentrations (15.2 g C kg⁻¹). On an equivalent mass basis, the rotations of soybean+winterwheat or barley+barley (underseeded with red clover) followed by 2 years of corn, had 2–9 Mg ha⁻¹ more C than the other corn-based rotations. Including red clover in the winter wheat seemed to accelerate the rate of C mineralization compared to winter wheat without red clover; whereas interseeding red clover with barley increased SOC contents compared to excluding red clover in the barley rotation. More SOC was found in the top 10 cm and less in the 10–20 cm depth of the CP than in the MP soils. However, the CP did not increase the SOC content (0–20 cm) above that of MP indicating that this form of reduced tillage did not increase C sequestration in any of the rotations on this soil.     

Tillage effects on soil aggregation and soil organic carbon profile distribution under Mediterranean semi‐arid conditions

In rainfed semi‐arid agroecosystems, soil organic carbon (SOC) may increase with the adoption of alternative tillage systems (e.g. no‐tillage, NT). This study evaluated the effect of two tillage systems (conventional tillage, CT vs. NT) on total SOC content, SOC concentration, water stable aggregate‐size distribution and aggregate carbon concentration from 0 to 40 cm soil depth. Three tillage experiments were chosen, all located in northeast Spain and using contrasting tillage types but with different lengths of time since their establishment (20, 17, and 1‐yr). In the two fields with mouldboard ploughing as CT, NT sequestered more SOC in the 0–5 cm layer compared with CT. However, despite there being no significant differences, SOC tended to accumulate under CT compared with NT in the 20–30 and 30–40 cm depths in the AG‐17 field with 25–50% higher SOC content in CT compared with NT. Greater amounts of large and small macroaggregates under NT compared with CT were measured at 0–5 cm depth in AG‐17 and at 5–10 cm in both AG‐1 and AG‐17. Differences in macroaggregate C concentration between tillage treatments were only found in the AG‐17 field at the soil surface with 19.5 and 11.6 g C/kg macroaggregates in NT and CT, respectively. After 17 yr of experiment, CT with mouldboard ploughing resulted in a greater total SOC concentration and macroaggregate C concentration below 20 cm depth, but similar macroaggregate content compared with NT. This study emphasizes the need for adopting whole‐soil profile approaches when studying the suitability of NT versus CT for SOC sequestration and CO₂ offsetting.