Land use affects soil organic carbon of paddy soils: empirical evidence from 6280 years BP to present

Purpose

Submerged rice cultivation has been practiced in China for 7000 years. Empirical evidence on changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) contents in paddy soils over this historical time period is scarce. Therefore, a field study was conducted to investigate the effect of submerged rice cultivation on the accumulation and preservation of SOC in paddies.

Materials and methods

Two buried ancient paddy profiles (6280 years BP, named P-01 and P-03) in the Yangtze Delta of eastern China were excavated to illustrate the development of SOC contents in soils during the evolution of paddies under anthropogenic land use and environmental changes from the prehistoric period to the present time. Trends in SOC concentrations, total nitrogen concentrations, and stable carbon isotope ratio were identified for different points in time.

Results and discussion

Accumulation of organic carbon was found in the paddy soil layers of P-01 at 100–174 cm depth. This site was taken under submerged rice cultivation in about 6280 years BP. The average SOC concentration in the prehistoric paddy topsoil in 100–130 cm depth was 1.27 %, which is seven times higher than that in the adjacent uncultivated land at 103–130 cm depth of P-03. This implies that the paddy soil has experienced substantial CO₂ sequestration under submerged management during that time. By about 3320 years BP, organic carbon contents were halved, potentially due to marine inundation by sea level rise. Up to the year 2003, the SOC contents in all horizons in the present time paddy soil have increased, especially in the surface layer, indicative of continuous rice cultivation. However, due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, the cultivation of paddies in eastern China has gradually been discontinued leading to the loss of SOC stocks of approximately 10 % in a 6-year interval (from 2003 to 2009). A significant relationship between SOC and rice phytolith contents was found in the paddy soil horizons of P-01 (r?=?0.71, p?<?0.01) and P-03 (r?=?0.72, p?<?0.01), suggesting that phytolith-occluded organic carbon could be used as a biomarker to ascertain the development of SOC in the evolution of rice paddies over the past 6000 years.

Conclusions

Submerged rice cultivation led to a noticeable accumulation of SOC in paddies. Phytolith-occluded organic carbon could be used as a biomarker to monitor changes of OC contents in paddy soils.

     

Input and migration of dissolved organic carbon in soils of forest ecosystems in the subzone of deciduous–coniferous forests

The results of four-year monitoring of natural waters in forest ecosystems of the Zvenigorod Biological Station (Moscow State University, Moscow oblast) show regular changes in the concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) within the atmospheric precipitation–throughfall–soil waters system. Precipitation passing through the tree canopy is enriched with DOC (2–3 and 9–24 mg/L). The average carbon concentration in soil waters reaches 100–110 mg/L in complex spruce and pine–spruce forests and does not exceed 40–60 mg/L in spruce–birch forests.     

Variations in the soil microbial community composition of a tropical montane forest ecosystem: Does tree species matter?

We investigated tree species effects on the soil microbial community in the tropical montane forest on Mt. Kinabalu, in Malaysian Borneo. We investigated microbial composition (lipid profile) and soil physicochemical parameters (pH, moisture, total C, N and phenolics concentration) in top 5-cm soils underneath two conifers (Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Dacrydium gracilis) and three broad-leaves (Lithocarpus clementianus, Palaquium rioence and Tristaniopsis clementis). We found that the primary difference in microbial composition was between conifer versus broad-leaves. The abundance of specific microbial biomarker lipids correlated with soil pH, total C and N. We conclude that tree species have significant impacts on the soil microbial community through their effects on soil pH, total C and N.     

Is the long-term application of sewage sludge turning soil into a sink for organic pollutants?: evidence from field studies in the Czech Republic

Purpose

Long-term microscale field experiments established at four sites in the Czech Republic (since 1996) were used for an assessment of the severity of the wide-scale contamination of treated soils by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) as a result of the long-term regular pollutant load via sewage sludge and farmyard manure applications and for an estimation of the potential environmental risk caused by long-term pollutant inputs to agricultural soils.

Material and methods

The experimental plots were treated as follows: (i) NPK mineral fertilization (NPK); (ii) sewage sludge (SS1); (iii) sewage sludge applied at three times the rate compared to SS1 (SS2); (iv) farmyard manure (FYM); and (v) untreated control. Except for antibiotics, which showed results for all analyses below the detection limit, all groups of the analyzed compounds showed measurable contents in the treated soils.

Results and discussion

Among the POPs, the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected at two locations at levels exceeding the Czech preventive values for their contents in agricultural soils (7.5 μg/kg for dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane family, 20 μg/kg for hexachlorbenzene, and 10 μg/kg for α-hexachlorocyclohexane), regardless of the treatment. Similarly, elevated contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were occasionally observed without any substantial relationship to the fertilizer application scenario. Thus, these contaminants are connected with atmospheric deposition in the given areas (PAHs) and their long-term stability (OCPs) even several decades after their ban; the role of the fertilizer composition was negligible.

Conclusions

The levels of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances, brominated flame retardants, and synthetic musk compounds tended to increase in the sewage sludge–treated plots, indicating that sewage sludge can contribute to the abundance of these compounds in soil, although the contaminant levels determined do not represent a direct environmental risk. The levels of these contaminants in sewage sludge and sludge-treated soils should be regularly monitored in further research.

     

Dynamics of soil properties and organic carbon pool in topsoil of zokor-made mounds at an alpine site of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The population of burrowing plateau zokors (Myospalax baileyi) was markedly increased in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of zokor foraging and mound-making disturbance on topsoil properties and organic C pools at an alpine site of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected from mounds with different ages (3 months and 3, 6, and 15 years) and from undisturbed grassland. Above- and below-ground plant biomasses were depleted by zokors in newly created mounds (3 months). Plant cover and root biomass gradually recovered thereafter, but were still lower in the 15-year-old mounds than in the undisturbed soils. Organic C contents of coarse (>2 mm), soil (<2 mm), particulate (2–0.05 mm) fractions, and microbial biomass, organic C mineralization, β-glucosidase activity, urease activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, acid phosphatase activity, and soil aggregation were significantly lower in the 3, 6, and 15-year-old mound soils than in the undisturbed soils or newly created mound soils. Fifteen years after mound creation, the soil had only 12% of root biomass, 35% of coarse organic C, 83% of particulate organic C, 58% of microbial biomass C, 57% of 30-day respired C, and 45% of water-stable aggregate mean weight diameter, compared to values of the undisturbed soils. Our results suggested that foraging and mound-making by zokors have negative impacts on properties and organic matter content of the topsoil.     

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

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

Predator–prey interaction in soil food web: functional response, size-dependent foraging efficiency, and the influence of soil texture

In a series of laboratory experiments, we presented carnivorous Macrobiotus richtersi (Tardigrada, Macrobiotidae) with nematode prey to assess their importance as predator. We investigated consumption rate for (a) different prey densities (10–400 prey individuals), (b) different prey biomasses (22–80 ng), (c) different prey species (Pelodera teres, Rhabditidae, versus Acrobeloides nanus, Cephalobidae) and (d) different environments (2-D agar surface versus 3-D sand fractions of three different textures). M. richtersi consumed up to 4.6 g nematode prey in 4 h, that is, 43% of the tardigrades body mass. Predation rate was positively correlated with prey density. The optimal prey in the present investigation was the biggest prey because it yielded the highest biomass uptake per time. In addition, the size of M. richtersi played an important role in consumption rate. Bacterivorous nematodes reacted differently to attack. Even in a water film on stiff agar where nematode agility was limited, a vigorous undulation reaction of P. teres led to a measurable reduction in consumption rate. A. nanus, in contrast, showed little response to attack. Microcosm experiments with sands of different particle size demonstrated that M. richtersi is able to chase and consume small bacterivorous nematodes in a 3-D soil matrix. However, consumption rate in sand microcosms was significantly reduced compared with pure agar. The sand matrix improved nematode agility and possibly provided small pores as refuge for the nematodes. The lowest consumption rate was observed in fine sand. Effects of predatory tardigrades on nematode numbers in the field are discussed.     

Effects of conservation tillage drills on soil quality indicators in a wheat–oilseed rape rotation: organic carbon,earthworms and water-stable aggregates

The effects of five conservation tillage drills with crop residue levels covering between 17% and 79% of the soil, and tillage depths ranging from 25 to 200 mm, were examined over 3 years. The tillage systems ranged from a relatively disruptive Farm System to a Low Disruption system, with three intermediate treatments labelled Sumo DTS, Claydon and Mzuri. The study involved field sites on a clay or clay loam soil, where winter wheat and oilseed rape were grown in rotation. In the clay field, the Mzuri and Low Disruption treatments, which produced the highest residue coverage, showed the greatest increase in surface total soil organic carbon (1.1 and 0.48 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively) between years 1 and 3. The least disruptive tillage system also resulted in the highest density of earthworms (181–228 m⁻²), and the most disruptive system produced the lowest densities (75–98 m⁻²). In the third year, the least disruptive system also showed a higher proportion of water-stable aggregates (29.8%) than the other treatments (22.7%–25.3%). Linear regressions showed positive relationships of both soil organic carbon and earthworm density with surface residue cover, and of the proportion of water-stable aggregates with soil organic carbon.     

Effects of afforestation with four unmixed plant species on the soil–water interactions in a semiarid Mediterranean region (Sicily, Italy)

Purpose

An assessment of the effect of plant cover on the properties of four afforested soils in central Sicily was performed with the aim of discriminating among them after 60?years of afforestation.

Materials and methods

Chemical and biochemical soil analyses were coupled to fast field cycling (FFC) NMR relaxation investigations in order to monitor surface interactions of water in water-saturated soils.

Results and discussion

The traditional soil analyses revealed that the most stable soil properties such as soil texture and pH are not affected by 60?years of afforestation. Soils developed under eucalyptus trees showed larger amounts of hydrophilic organic matter as compared to the soils under pines and cypresses. FFC-NMR relaxometry data revealed that water, partitioned in clay-, loam-, and sand-type pores, showed longitudinal relaxation time values affected by the interactions with the soluble carbon content.

Conclusions

The results of the present study evidenced the potential of FFC-NMR relaxometry in differentiating the effect of diverse plant cover on chemical and hydrological properties of soils developed on the same parent material. In fact, in contrast with the traditional physicochemical and biochemical soil characterizations, which were unable to reveal differences among soils afforested with different plant species, FFC-NMR was capable of monitoring differences in water dynamics as affected by the presence of the most soluble soil organic material.     

Use of pyrolysis/GC–MS combined with thermal analysis to monitor C and N changes in soil organic matter from a Mediterranean fire affected forest

In Mediterranean ecosystems, forest fires are a common phenomenon. They involve the transformation of vegetation and litter, leaving charred residues and so influencing the carbon cycle by changing (a) the amounts of soil organic matter and (b) the proportions within it of pools with differing stability. In addition to affecting C cycles, fires also affect the amounts of N within soil organic matter, and its availability.     

Nitrogen pools and turnover in arable soils under different durations of organic farming: II: Source‐and‐sink function of the soil microbial biomass or competition with growing plants?

The following parameters were measured on seven field plots at 3 sites which had been under organic farming for different periods of time: mineral nitrogen (N _min) contents, in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N _net), soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), and nitrogen (N _mic) contents, and extractable organic N contents. The measurements were conducted every three weeks from spring 1995/1996 to autumn 1997. The objective was to test whether, under organic farming: 1) temporal fluctuations of N_mic contents over the course of the year are indicative for a source‐and‐sink function for plant‐available N of the soil microbial biomass, and 2) temporal variations in N_mic content can be related with in situ N_net or plant N uptake. N_min contents gradually increased after ploughing in autumn until late winter. During intensive plant growth in spring, values rapidly declined. In situ N_net fluctuated only moderately and reached high values during intensive plant growth (May—July) as well as after soil cultivation in autumn. The C_mic and N_mic contents generally were low in winter, increased in spring and reached maxima in late spring or summer. In spring, the increase in C_mic contents preceded the increase in N_mic contents, resulting in elevated C_mic:N_mic ratios until shooting of winter wheat. This corresponds to an uptake of available soil nitrogen by the plants at the expense of soil micro‐organisms. The subsequent increase in N_mic contents, coinciding with high plant N uptake rates, indicates an enhanced, plant‐induced N mobilization at that time. Possible mobilization mechanisms are discussed. Soil microbial biomass exerted a source‐and‐sink function for extractable organic N on some of the field plots. Estimates of in situ N_net measurements were neither correlated significantly with soil microbial biomass N, N_mic flux, N_mic turnover, nor with plant N uptake. Lower N_mic turnover rates on 41 years versus 3 years organically managed fields indicate a stabilizing effect of organic farming on soil microflora.     

Comparison of New Ultrasonic Digestion Approaches for Plant Matrices in the Analysis of Trace Metals by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy Analysis: Contrast with USEPA Method 3050B

An ultrasonic method using two approaches, A and B, along with a reference Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 3050B [i.e., a mixture of 30 mL of nitric acid–hydrochloric acid–hydrogen peroxide–water (HNO₃-HCl-H₂O₂-H₂O)] were contrasted for leaching of a plant matrix. The trace metals were arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead, selenium, and zinc (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) and quantified by ICP-OES followed by an investigation into residue formation and the impact of digestion time. Approach B was the most accurate and precise with percent recoveries ranging between 99 and 120%, whereas ultrasonic approach A and the USEPA method 3050B gave similar results with poor accuracies and precisions. In the optimization of the digestion time using approach B, the total metal recovery was fairly the same over a period of 120 min except for Cr and Cu, which showed slight variations.     

Indian land use in the Raposa–Serra do Sol Reserve,Roraima, Amazonia,Brazil: Physical and chemical attributes of a soil catena developed from mafic rocks under shifting cultivation

Native Indians (Macuxi, Ingarikó and Uapishana) in the Raposa–Serra do Sol Indian Reserve have been cultivating forest soils since the early XIX century, especially those derived from dolerite sills, scattered within the quartzitic dominated landscape. Representative soils developed from mafic rocks under Indian shifting cultivation in northeastern Roraima, were submitted to physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses to characterize their pedogenetic characteristics and infer on their status under native Indian shifting cultivation. The soil profiles were classified as: Orthic Ebanic Chernosol (USDA Mollisol), vertic Orthic Ebanic Chernosol (USDA Mollisol), Eutrophic Haplic Cambisol (USDA mollic Inceptisol) and Eutrophic Red Nitosol (USDA Red Alfisol), which occupy, respectively, lower slopes and less dissected terrains (Mollisols) and steeper slopes (Alfisols). The first two are eutrophic, and not typical of the Amazon region. Their mineralogies range from kaolinite/goethite rich upland, deeply weathered Nitosol, to 2:1 clay rich downslope Chernosols. The latter has primary minerals in the silt fraction and high CEC resulting in high fertility. The Nitosols reveal a process of severe topsoil loss, due to widespread sheet erosion from deforestation and shifting cultivation. Chemical analyses showed varied soil fertility, ranging from high levels in the Chernosols to a low level in the non-cultivated Nitosol. Phosphorus levels are limited in all soils, despite the high fertility. The Chernosols located in lowland, flat areas close to the valley floor are more suitable environments for the slash-and-burn native farming system. In the Chernosols and Cambisols, the clay activity below the value limit for this class indicates a current natural process of increasing leaching. The more weathered and eroded Nitosol showed low Fe-oxalate and Si-oxalate levels. Micronutrients such as total zinc and copper, decreased with depth and weathering. The Nitosols showed the highest phosphate adsorption levels (1.574 mg g^− 1 of soil) which can be attributed to its clayey texture. Chernosols showed overall lower P adsorption values, increasing with depth. All soils under native Indian cultivation display signs of physical and chemical degradation due to shortened fallow under intense land use pressure in the Raposa–Serra do Sol Reserve.     

Reduction of nitrogen losses in agriculture by fertilizer additives: Appeal for more detailed scientific work—Comments on Guo et al. “Efficacy of four nitrification inhibitors for the mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions under different soil temperature and moisture,” Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science (2022), 185(1), 60–68

In Guo et al. (2022), the difference between pure nitrification inhibitors (NI), fertilizers treated with NI, and formulations containing NI was insufficiently considered. Presented results are misleading and inappropriate to evaluate the efficiency of an NI application by pure NI as well as NI-treated products such as ENTEC^® 26 and PIADIN^®, in particular with respect to practical field conditions.