Hierarchical Bayesian models for soil CO2 flux using soil texture: a case study in central Hokkaido,Japan

Hierarchical Bayesian (HB) methods are useful tools for modeling multifaceted, nonlinear phenomena such as those encountered in ecology, and have been increasingly applied in environmental sciences, e.g., to estimate soil gas flux from different soil textures or sites. We have developed a model of soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux based on soil temperature (T, 5 cm depth) and water-filled pore space (WFPS, 5 cm depth) using HB theory. The HB model was calibrated using a dataset of CO₂ flux measured from bare soils belonging to four texture classes in 14 upland field sites in a watershed in central Hokkaido, Japan, in the nonsnow-cover season from 2003 to 2011. The numerical software HYDRUS-1D was used to simulate daily WFPS, and the estimated values were significantly correlated with the measured WFPS (R² = 0.68, P < 0.001). Compared to a nonhierarchical Bayesian model (Bayesian pooled model), the CO₂ predictions with the HB model more accurately represented texture-specific observations. The simulation–observation fit of the CO₂ flux model was R² = 0.64 (P < 0.001). More than 90% of the observed daily data were within the 95% confidence interval. The HB model exhibited high uncertainty for high CO₂ flux values. The HB model calibration revealed differing sensitivity of CO₂ flux to T and WFPS in different soil texture classes. CO₂ flux increased with an increase in T, and it increased to a lesser degree with a finer texture, possibly because the clay and silt facilitated soil aggregation, thus reducing temperature fluctuations. WFPS values between 0.48 and 0.64 resulted in optimal conditions for CO₂ flux. The minimum WFPS value increased with an increase in clay content (P < 0.05). Although only a small number of soil types were studied in only one season in this study, the HB model may provide a method for predicting how the effects of soil temperature and moisture on CO₂ flux change with texture, and soil texture could be regarded as an upscaling factor in future research on regional extrapolation.     

Changes in soil carbon stock under the wheat-based cropping systems at Vojvodina province of Serbia

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in relation to the carbon (C) input from nine wheat-based cropping systems and untilled grass. The SOC pool ranged from 32.1 to 49.4 Mg ha^?1 at 0–20 cm and from 94 to 171 Mg ha^?1 at 0–100 cm for the arable soil, while in untilled grassland, it was higher (54 and 185 Mg C ha^?1, respectively). SOC stock was observed to be lower at the unfertilized 2-year rotation and higher at the 4-year rotation with manure and mineral fertilization. The study showed a winter wheat yield decrease of 176.8 kg ha^?1 for a 1- Mg ha^?1 SOC stock change in the 0–20-cm soil depth. The estimated C input for SOC stock maintenance was from 266 to 340 g C m^?2 year^?1 for winter wheat and rotations, respectively. Additional C input did not increase the SOC pool, suggesting that arable plots had a limited ability to increase SOC. These results provide guidance for the selection of management practices to improve C sequestration.     

Carbon budget and seasonal carbon dioxide emission from a central Ohio Luvisol as influenced by wheat residue amendment

Enhancement of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks through mulching has been proposed, and although this practice can alter several soil properties, its impact on the temporal variability of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission from soils has not been widely investigated. To that end, we monitored CO₂ fluxes from a central Ohio Luvisol (fine, mixed, mesic Aeric Ochraqualf) amended with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw applied at rates of 0 (M0), 8 (M8) and 16 (M16) Mg dry matter ha⁻¹ per year and supplemented with fertilizer (244 kg N ha⁻¹ per year) or without. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The intensity of CO₂ emission was higher in the late winter (mean: 2.79 g CO₂-C m⁻² per day) and summer seasons (2.45 g CO₂-C m⁻² per day) and lowest in the autumn (1.34 g CO₂-C m⁻² per day). While no significant effect of N fertilization on CO₂ emission was detected, soil mulching had a significant effect on the seasonal variation of CO₂ fluxes. The percentage of annual CO₂ emitted during the winter and spring was similar across treatments (17–22%); however, 43% of the annual CO₂ loss in the M0 plots occurred during the summer as opposed to 26% in the mulch treatments. A close relationship (F=0.47X+4.45, R²=0.97, P<0.001) was found between annual CO₂ flux (F, Mg CO₂-C ha⁻¹) and residue-C input (X, Mg C ha⁻¹). Litter and undecomposed residue amounted to 0.32 and 0.67 Mg C ha⁻¹ per year in the M8 and M16 plots, respectively. After 4 years of straw application, SOC stocks (0–10 cm) were 19.6, 25.6 and 26.5 Mg C ha⁻¹ in the M0, M8 and M16 treatments, respectively. The results show that soil mulching has beneficial effect on SOC sequestration and strongly influence the temporal pattern of CO₂ emission from soils.     

Effect of long-term cropping systems on soil organic carbon pools and soil quality in western plain of hot arid India

Maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) in arid ecosystem is important for soil productivity and restoration of deserted sandy soil in western plain of India. There is a need to understand how the cropping systems changes may alter SOC pools including total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic C (POC), water soluble carbon (WSC), very labile C (VLC), labile C (LC), less labile C (LLC) and non-labile C (NLC) in arid climate. We selected seven major agricultural systems for this study viz., barren, fallow, barley–fallow, mustard–moth bean, chickpea–groundnut, wheat–green gram and wheat–pearl millet. Result revealed that conversion of sandy barren lands to agricultural systems significantly increased available nutrients and SOC pools. Among all studied cropping systems, the highest values of TOC (6.12 g kg^?1), POC (1.53 g kg^?1) and WSC (0.19 g kg^?1) were maintained in pearl millet–wheat system, while the lowest values of carbon pools observed in fallow and barren land. Strong relationships (P < 0.05) were exhibited between VLC and LC with available nutrients. The highest carbon management index (299) indicates that wheat–pearl millet system has greater soil quality for enhancing crop productivity, nutrient availability and carbon sequestration of arid soil.     

黄土高原旱地不同种植模式土壤碳特征评价

增强农田土壤碳固持能力、增加碳贮量是减少温室效应气体排放,提高土壤生产力的重要措施。利用黄土高原23 a的定位试验,分层采集休闲、苜蓿连作、玉米连作、小麦连作、豌豆-小麦-小麦-糜子（豆禾）及玉米-小麦-小麦-糜子（禾谷）轮作条件下0～40 cm土层的土样,研究了作物种类和种植模式对土壤不同形态碳的影响。结果表明：与休闲相比,不同作物长期连作或轮作显著提高0～40 cm土层各种形态碳的质量分数,总碳提高35%～74%,有机碳提高47%～139%,无机碳提高20%～26%,轻质有机碳提高的幅度最大,是休闲的     

Linkage of N2O emissions to the abundance of soil ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers in purple soil under long-term fertilization

Abstract

Microbial nitrification and denitrification are responsible for the majority of soil nitrous (N₂O) emissions. In this study, N₂O emissions were measured and the abundance of ammonium oxidizers and denitrifiers were quantified in purple soil in a long-term fertilization experiment to explore their relationships. The average N₂O fluxes and abundance of the amoAgene in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria during the observed dry season were highest when treated with mixed nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer (NPK) and a single N treatment (N) using NH₄HCO₃as the sole N source; lower values were obtained using organic manure with pig slurry and added NPK at a ratio of 40%:60% (OMNPK),organic manure with pig slurry (OM) and returning crop straw residue plus synthetic NH₄HCO₃fertilizer at a ratio of 15%:85% (SRNPK). The lowest N₂O fluxes were observed in the treatment that used crop straw residue(SR) and in the control with no fertilizer (CK). Soil NH₄⁺provides the substrate for nitrification generating N₂O as a byproduct. The N₂O flux was significantly correlated with the abundance of the amoA gene in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (r = 0.984, p < 0.001), which was the main driver of nitrification. During the wet season, soil nitrate (NO₃^?) and soil organic matter (SOC) were found positively correlated with N₂O emissions (r = 0.774, p = 0.041 and r = 0.827, p = 0.015, respectively). The nirS gene showed a similar trend with N₂O fluxes. These results show the relationship between the abundance of soil microbes and N₂O emissions and suggest that N₂O emissions during the dry season were due to nitrification, whereas in wet season, denitrification might dominate N₂O emission.     

长期不同施肥下我国4种典型土壤活性有机碳及碳库管理指数的变化特征

研究长期不同施肥处理对3种旱作土壤(黑土、潮土和红壤)及1种水田土壤(水稻土)活性有机碳含量(LOC)及碳库管理指数(CMI)的影响,为优化施肥管理措施提供科学依据。结果表明:水田土壤总有机碳含量(TOC)和LOC含量高于旱作土壤。单施化肥(NPK),旱作3种土壤TOC、LOC较不施肥对照(CK)显著增加,而水田较CK无显著差异。化肥配施秸秆处理(NPKS),旱作和水田土壤TOC、LOC、活性有机碳占总有机碳的比例(LOC/TOC)及CMI均显著增加,潮土TOC和LOC含量增加最多,增加比例分别为37.6%和66.9%。化肥配施有机肥处理(NPKM),旱作和水田土壤的TOC、LOC、LOC/TOC及CMI均显著增加,其中黑土增加比例最大,分别为90.3%、140.9%、5.1%及277%。旱作和水田土壤的活性有机碳及碳库管理指数均对施肥响应敏感,具有相对一致的响应特征,即长期有机无机肥配施能显著提高土壤活性有机碳含量及碳库管理指数,且效果优于化肥配施秸秆和单施化肥处理。     

黄淮海平原集约种植条件下土壤有机质动态模拟

A modified CQESTR model, a simple yet useful model frequently used for estimating carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, was developed and applied to evaluate the effects of intensive cropping on soil organic matter （SOM） dynamics and mineralization as well as to estimate carbon dioxide emission from agricultural soils at seven sites on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. The model was modified using site-specific parameters from short- and mid-term buried organic material experiments at four stages of biomass decomposition. The predicted SOM results were validated using independent data from seven long-term （10- to 20-year） soil fertility experiments in this region. Regression analysis on 1 151 pairs of predicted and measured SOM data had an r2 of 0.91 （P≤0.01）. Therefore, the modified model was able to predict the mineralization of crop residues, organic amendments, and native SOM. Linear regression also showed that SOM mineralization rate （MR） in the plow layer increased by 0.22% when annual crop yield increased by 1 t ha^-1 （P ≤ 0.01）, suggesting an improvement in SOM quality. Apparently, not only did the annual soil respiration efftux merely reflect the intensity of soil organism and plant metabolism, but also the SOM MR in the plow layer. These results suggested that the modified model was simple yet valuable in predicting SOM trends at a single agricultural field and could be a powerful tool for estimating C-storage potential and reconstructing C storage on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China.     

基于DNDC模型模拟江汉平原稻田不同种植模式条件下温室气体排放

稻田被认为是温室气体CH_4和N_2O的主要排放源之一。湖北省江汉平原地区水稻常年种植面积约8×105 hm2,占湖北省水稻种植面积的40%左右。研究江汉平原地区稻田温室气体排放特征,对于评估区域稻田温室气体排放以及稻田温室气体减排具有重要意义。目前,DNDC模型已被广泛应用于模拟和估算田间尺度的温室气体排放,DNDC模型与地理信息系统(Arc GIS)结合,可进行区域尺度的温室气体排放模拟与估算。本研究以湖北省典型稻作区江汉平原为研究区域,运用DNDC模型模拟和估算江汉平原稻田区域尺度的温室气体排放。设置大田定点观测试验,监测中稻-小麦(RW)、中稻-油菜(RR)、中稻-冬闲(RF)3种种植模式下稻田温室气体CH_4和N_2O的周年排放特征。通过田间观测值与DNDC模拟值的比较进行模型验证,并利用获取DNDC模型所需的气象、土壤、作物及田间管理等区域数据,模拟江汉平原稻田不同种植模式下温室气体CH_4和N_2O的排放量。田间试验表明,江汉平原稻田RW、RR和RF模型的CH_4排放通量为-2.80~39.78 mg·m-2·h-1、-1.74~42.51 mg·m-2·h-1和-1.57~55.64 mg·m-2·h-1,N_2O周年排放通量范围分别为0~1.90 mg·m-2·h-1、0~1.76mg·m-2·h-1和0~1.49 mg·m-2·h-1;CH_4排放量RW和RR模式显著高于RF模式,N_2O排放量为RF显著低于RW和RR模式。模型验证结果表明,不同种植模式温室气体排放实测值与模拟值比较的决定系数(R2)为0.85~0.98,相对误差绝对值(RAE)为8.29%~16.42%。根据DNDC模型模拟和估算的结果,江汉平原区域稻田CH_4周年的排放量为0.292 9 Tg C,N_2O周年的排放量为0.009 2 Tg N,不同种植模式稻田CH_4排放量表现为RWRRRF,N_2O排放量表现为RWRFRR,增温潜势(GWP)表现为RWRRRF。不同地区稻田CH_4排放量表现为监利县荆门市公安县天门市仙桃市洪湖市松滋市汉川市潜江市石首市荆州市江陵县赤壁市嘉鱼县,N_2O排放量表现为监利县荆门市公安县洪湖市仙桃市天门市汉川市潜江市松滋市荆州市江陵县赤壁市石首市嘉鱼县。本研究结果表明DNDC模型能较好地应用于模拟江汉平原稻田温室气体排放,RR和RF模式相比RW模式可有效减少温室气体CH_4和N_2O的排放。     

有机物料还田对华北小麦玉米两熟农田土壤有机碳及其组分的影响

中国农业废弃物种类多、数量大、利用率低、污染重。将有机物料还田,是实现废弃物资源化利用的重要途径。该研究以循环农业理念为指导,选择代表农田内循环的秸秆以及代表农沼循环、农牧循环、农菌循环、农工循环的废弃物沼渣、猪粪、菌渣和酒渣为试验材料,开展了等碳量还田定位试验,分析各有机物料还田后对土壤有机碳及其组分的影响。结果表明:1)连续施用有机物料提高了土壤总有机碳(TOC)、易氧化有机碳(LOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)和可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量。随着有机物料还田年限的增加,土壤TOC、LOC和MBC含量均不同程度地增加,年平均增幅分别为:15.57%~22.82%、20.00%~38.31%和16.30%~50.56%。还田5年后各有机物料处理土壤TOC、LOC、MBC和DOC含量平均分别是无机肥处理的1.24~1.62、2.07~3.19、1.20~2.06和1.05~3.36倍。2)不同有机物料中均利于土壤TOC含量的提高,秸秆提升效果相对最差,沼渣、菌渣、猪粪、酒渣和秸秆还田处理的0~20cm土壤TOC含量平均增长速率分别为:22.82%、21.88%、16.42%、16.13%和15.57%。     

不同轮作制度下土壤中不稳定有机碳组分的变化

Taking Kenli County in the Yellow River Delta, China, as the study area and using digital satellite remote sensing techniques, cultivated land use changes and their corresponding driving forces were explored in this study. An interactive interpretation and a manual modification procedure were carried out to acquire cultivated land information. An overlay method based on classification results and a visual change detection method which was supported by land use maps were employed to detect the cultivated land changes. Based on the changes that were revealed and a spatial analysis between cultivated land use and related natural and socio-economic factors, the driving forces for cultivated land use changes in the study area were determined. The results showed a decrease in cultivated land in Kenli County of 5321.8 ha from 1987 to 1998, i.e., an average annual decrement of 483.8 ha, which occurred mainly in the central paddy field region and the northeast dry land region. Adverse human activities, soil salinization and water deficiencies were the driving forces that caused these cultivated land use changes.     

Carbon potentials of different biochars derived from municipal solid waste in a saline soil

There are numerous studies conducted on biochar for its carbon (C) sequestration potential;however,there are limited studies available on the behavior of salt-affected soils related to biochar application.Therefore,more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which biochar affects saline soil properties.In this study,biochars were produced from solid waste at pyrolysis temperatures of 300,500,and 700?C (BC300,BC500,and BC700,respectively)and applied to a saline soil to evaluate their impacts on soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux,C sequestration,and soil quality.A soil incubation experiment lasting for 107 d was conducted.The results showed that soil CO₂ efflux rate,cumulative CO₂ emission,active organic C (AOC),and organic matter (OM)significantly increased with BC300 application to a greater extent than those with BC500 and BC700 as compared to those in the no-biochar control (CK).However,soil C non-lability did not significantly increase in the treatments with biochars,except BC700,as compared to that in CK.Besides improving the soil quality by increasing the soil AOC and OM,BC300 showed positive impacts in terms of increasing CO₂ emission from the saline soil,while BC500 and BC700 showed greater potentials of sequestering C in the saline soil by increasing the soil non-labile C fraction.The recalcitrance index (R50) values of BC500 and BC700 were>0.8,indicating their high stability in the saline soil.It could be concluded that biochars pyrolyzed at high temperatures (?500?C)could be suitable in terms of C sequestration,while biochars pyrolyzed at low temperatures (?300?C) could be suitable for improving saline soil quality.     

Fixation of carbon dioxide by chemoautotrophic bacteria in grassland soil under dark conditions

Grassland is one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. However, while CO₂ fixation by phototrophic bacteria is relatively well studied, little is known about microbial CO₂ fixation without light by chemoautotrophic bacteria in grassland soils. Therefore, in this study, the isotope ¹⁴C-CO₂ was used to investigate the CO₂-fixing process in grassland soils. Soil samples were collected from both fenced and adjacent continuous grazing grassland sites in Inner Mongolia and then incubated for 120 days under dark conditions. Meanwhile, the cbbL genes (red- and green-like) were analyzed to isolate chemoautotrophic bacteria, which are responsible for CO₂ fixation. After incubation, ¹⁴C was fixed into soil organic carbon (¹⁴C-SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (¹⁴C-MBC) were found in both the fenced and grazing soils, and the fixation rate of ¹⁴C-SOC in the fenced soils (48.55‰) was significantly higher than in the grazing soils (22.11‰). The fixation rate of ¹⁴C-MBC in the fenced soils (14.05‰) was higher than in the grazing soils (7.08‰), but the difference was not significant. The red-like cbbL genes could be detected in all the soil samples, but the green-like cbbL genes could not be amplified. A greater number of identified operational taxonomic units were observed in the fenced soils compared with the grazing soils. The chemoautotrophic bacteria were mainly affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. However, Chloroflexi was detected in only the fenced soils. The results suggested that CO₂ fixation by chemoautotrophic bacteria might be significant in carbon cycling in grassland.     

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.     

Winter soil CO2 efflux and its contribution to annual soil respiration in different ecosystems of a forest-steppe ecotone, north China

Most soil respiration measurements are conducted during the growing season. In tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, cumulative winter soil CO₂ fluxes are reported to be a significant component of their annual carbon budgets. However, little information on winter soil CO₂ efflux is known from mid-latitude ecosystems. Therefore, comparing measurements of soil respiration taken annually versus during the growing season will improve the accuracy of ecosystem carbon budgets and the response of soil CO₂ efflux to climate changes. In this study we measured winter soil CO₂ efflux and its contribution to annual soil respiration for seven ecosystems (three forests: Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation, Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation and Betula platyphylla forest; two shrubs: Rosa bella and Malus baccata; and two meadow grasslands) in a forest-steppe ecotone, north China. Overall mean winter and growing season soil CO₂ effluxes were 0.15-0.26 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and 2.65-4.61 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively, with significant differences in the growing season among the different ecosystems. Annual Q₁₀ (increased soil respiration rate per 10 °C increase in temperature) was generally higher than the growing season Q₁₀. Soil water content accounted for 84% of the variations in growing season Q₁₀ and soil temperature range explained 88% of the variation in annual Q₁₀. Soil organic carbon density to 30 cm depth was a good surrogate for SR₁₀ (basal soil respiration at a reference temperature of 10 °C). Annual soil CO₂ efflux ranged from 394.76 g C m⁻² to 973.18 g C m⁻² using observed ecosystem-specific response equations between soil respiration and soil temperature. Estimates ranged from 424.90 g C m⁻² to 784.73 g C m⁻² by interpolating measured soil respiration between sampling dates for every day of the year and then computing the sum to obtain the annual value. The contributions of winter soil CO₂ efflux to annual soil respiration were 3.48-7.30% and 4.92-7.83% using interpolated and modeled methods, respectively. Our results indicate that in mid-latitude ecosystems, soil CO₂ efflux continues throughout the winter and winter soil respiration is an important component of annual CO₂ efflux.     

Impact of organic‐manure combinations on the productivity and soil quality in different cropping systems in central India

In a field experiment, the effect of combination of different organic manures on the productivity of crops and soil quality were evaluated in deep vertisols of central India. Combinations of cattle dung manure (CDM), poultry manure (PM), and vermicompost (VC) vis‐à‐vis mineral fertilizers were tested in four cropping systems involving soybean (Glycine max L.), durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), mustard (Brassica juncea L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk). The organic manures were applied based on the N‐equivalent basis and nutrient requirement of individual crop. The grain yields of durum wheat and isabgol were higher in the treatment that received a combination of CDM + VC + PM whereas in mustard, CDM + PM and in chickpea, CDM + VC recorded the higher yields. The yield levels in these organic‐manure combinations were similar to the yields obtained with mineral fertilizers. Among the cropping systems, soybean–durum wheat and among the nutrient sources, the combination of CDM + VC + PM recorded the highest total productivity. At the end of the 3‐year cropping cycle, application of organic manures improved the soil‐quality parameters viz., soil organic carbon (SOC), soil available nutrients (N, P, and K), soil enzymes (dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase), and microbial biomass C in the top 0–15 cm soil. Bulk density and mean weight diameter of the soil were not affected by the treatments. Among the cropping systems, soybean–durum wheat recorded the highest SOC and accumulated higher soil available N, P, and K. In conclusion, the study clearly demonstrated that the manures applied in different combinations improved the soil quality and produced the grain yields which are at par with mineral fertilizers.     

Gaseous carbon emission in relation to soil carbon fractions and microbial diversities as affected by organic amendments in tropical rice soil

The interactive effects of moisture and organic amendments (farmyard manure (FYM), crop residue (CR) and green manure (GM) (Sesbania aculeata) on gaseous carbon (C) emission, soil labile C fractions, enzymatic activities and microbial diversity in tropical, flooded rice soil were investigated. The amendments were applied on equal C basis in two moisture regimes, that is, aerobic and submergence conditions. The CO₂ production was significantly higher by 22% in aerobic than in submergence condition; on the contrary, the CH₄ production was 27% higher under submergence condition. The labile C fractions were significantly higher in GM by 26% under aerobic and 30% under submergence conditions, respectively, than control (without any kind of fertilizer or amendments). Eubacterial diversity identified by PCR-DGGE method (polymerase chain reaction coupled with denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis) was higher under GM followed by FYM, CR, and control and it is pronounced in submerged condition. GM favored the labile C accumulation and biological activities under both submergence and aerobic conditions, which makes it most active for soil–plant interactions compared to other organic amendments. Considering environmental sustainability, the use of GM is the better adoptable option, which could enhance labile C pools, microbial diversities in soil and keep soil biologically more active.     

Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes during the growing season from cultivated peat soils,peaty marl and gyttja clay under different cropping systems

Drainage of peatlands affects the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Organic soils used for agriculture contribute a large proportion of anthropogenic GHG emissions, and on-farm mitigation options are important. This field study investigated whether choice of a cropping system can be used to mitigate emissions of N₂O and influence CH₄ fluxes from cultivated organic and carbon-rich soils during the growing season. Ten different sites in southern Sweden representing peat soils, peaty marl and gyttja clay, with a range of different soil properties, were used for on-site measurements of N₂O and CH₄ fluxes. The fluxes during the growing season from soils under two different crops grown in the same field and same environmental conditions were monitored. Crop intensities varied from grasslands to intensive potato cultivation. The results showed no difference in median seasonal N₂O emissions between the two crops compared. Median seasonal emissions ranged from 0 to 919?µg?N₂O?m^?2?h^?1, with peaks on individual sampling occasions of up to 3317?µg?N₂O?m^?2?h^?1. Nitrous oxide emissions differed widely between sites, indicating that soil properties are a regulating factor. However, pH was the only soil factor that correlated with N₂O emissions (negative exponential correlation). The type of crop grown on the soil did not influence CH₄ fluxes. Median seasonal CH₄ flux from the different sites ranged from uptake of 36?µg CH₄?m^?2?h^?1 to release of 4.5?µg?CH₄?m^?2?h^?1. From our results, it was concluded that farmers cannot mitigate N₂O emissions during the growing season or influence CH₄ fluxes by changing the cropping system in the field.