A comparison of soil organic carbon stock in ancient and modern land use systems in Denmark

During the South Scandinavian Early Bronze Age about 3300 years ago, thousands of burial mounds were constructed of sods from fallow ground used for grazing in Denmark and northern Germany. In some of these mounds a wet, anaerobic core developed, preventing the decomposition of organic matter. A comparison of the organic matter content in these mound cores and the plough layer in modern farmland offers an opportunity to compare the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in ancient and modern land use systems and to evaluate the long-term trends in carbon (C) sequestration in relation to modern farmland with varying inputs of manure and inorganic fertilizers. In the present paper we compare SOC stocks based on integrated horizon-specific densities and SOC contents in three 3300-year-old buried farmland soils, representing the land use system at that time, with results from soil surveys representing modern land use systems with low and high inputs of manure. Results show that, within the upper 0.28 m, which is the average depth of present day plough layers in Denmark, soils receiving manure from intensive pig or cattle production hold c . 60% more SOC than the ancient soils from the South Scandinavian Bronze Age. In contrast, modern arable soils mainly receiving limited inputs of manure hold a SOC stock similar to that of the ancient soils.     

Assessment of land quality and soil fertility for planning farming systems and agrotechnologies

Soil quality is considered to be the key element in the system of the agroecological assessment of lands. Soil quality is characterized by a combination of conditions ensuring sustainable crop yields and determining the ecological functions and stability of agrolandscapes. Soil conditions, i.e., the character of soilscapes and the soil quality, are integrated with all the other agroecological conditions in the system of land assessment. The soil quality reflects the integral effect of soil properties on the yield and quality of particular crops under certain climatic and landscape conditions and the level of agriculture; the ecological functions of soils are also taken into account. The productive capacity of agricultural land is the integral criterion of land quality; it is characterized by the yield of crops of particular quality at the given levels of agriculture intensity, energy inputs, and economic efficiency.     

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.     

科学耕作与留茬改良小麦-玉米两熟农田土壤物理性状及增产效果

为了探讨不同覆盖耕作方式对农田土壤物理性状及作物产量的影响,该试验研究了免耕、常规2种耕作方式和4种留茬高度的玉米秸秆还田处理,对麦-玉两熟农田土壤含水率、容重、孔隙度以及作物产量的影响。结果表明:在0～40cm土层内,秸秆还田的集雨和保水效果显著,免耕留茬0.5m还田处理的含水率比免耕无覆盖处理增加了15.95%。秸秆还田量对0～40cm内土壤贮水量的影响不同。耕作措施显著影响了土壤容重,小麦播种前常规留茬1m还田、常规全量还田处理容重低至1.0g/cm3左右。秸秆还田能增加土壤总孔隙度、降低毛管与非毛管孔隙度的比值。单一免耕处理降低了作物产量,而免耕覆盖能增产,其留茬1m还田处理比无还田处理增产22.44%,比常规留茬0.5m还田处理高3.64%。因此,免耕留茬1m还田处理在改善农田土壤物理性状和增加作物产量方面显著,该研究可为农田管理过程中耕作措施和秸秆还田量的选择提供参考依据。     

Landscape-scale soil quality change under different farming systems of a tropical farm in Hainan, China

Abstract. The impact of different tropical farming systems on soil quality was examined using a systematic sampling strategy. Total organic C, pH, extractable P, exchangeable K, bulk density, water stable aggregates, microbial biomass C, cation exchange capacity, soil depth, and clay content were determined. An assessment framework, including a minimum data set, linear scoring functions and weighted additive indices, was used to evaluate the soil quality of a tropical farm growing various crops in Hainan, China. Soil quality was evaluated according to four functions: water availability, nutrient availability, rooting suitability, and erosion resistance. Our results showed that soils were intrinsically lacking in nutrients and vulnerable to degradation, and that these problems were exacerbated by inappropriate management. There was strong evidence that long-term rubber farming caused soil acidification, soil compaction, and depletion of organic matter and nutrients. By contrast, conservation practices in coffee plantations protected or improved organic matter concentration and soil structure, resulting in higher soil quality indices.     

Land use effects on carbon quality and soil biological properties in Eutric Cambisol

Abstract

The choice of prospective type of farming requires knowledge about the specific relationships that exist between farm management practices and base environmental conditions. Nowadays the protection of soil organic carbon is one of the main tasks, because organic carbon in addition to soil fertility can act in elimination of soil contamination and carbon sequestration. Field experiments were focused on the effect of intensive farming without organic inputs versus grassland on organic carbon content. Organic carbon content (C_ox) and humic substance fractions (C-humic acids and fulvic acid fractions), hot water extractable carbon and selected microbial characteristics in Eutric Cambisol were monitored during the period 1999–2010. A priming effect of soil cultivation was detected immediately after tillage. Arable soil with ‘intensive’ crop sequences (exclusively cash crops, cereals, oil plants) and with an optimal level of chemical inputs (mineral fertilizers, pesticides), but without organic farmyard manure had lower content of all carbon forms compared with grassland. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (TGA) were applied to characterize humic acid (HA) structure and stability. More carbon, less oxygen and more aromatic compounds were detected in grassland HA. Slight differences were found in HA thermo-oxidative stability and degradability, which was probably caused by changes in elemental composition and structure. Even the land use had no significant effect on basic microbiological characteristics (basal respiration, microbial biomass and qCO₂); the physiology of the microbial community of grassland was altered by a higher ability to utilize L- and D-glutamic acid. The L/D ratio of glutamic acid mineralization indicated no occurrence of stress in soil for both types of farming. It has been demonstrated that although losses of carbon as a result of land-use conversions are generally more rapid, gains of carbon in grassland followed by changes in management practices can also occur.     

水生植物堆肥替代部分氮肥提高水稻产量与稻田土壤肥力

为评价太湖流域水生植物堆肥对水稻产量及稻田土壤肥力效应,在太湖流域典型稻田连续进行4a的田间定位试验,比较在等氮条件下不同比例的水生植物有机堆肥替代处理(有机氮替代率分别为0、20％、40％、60％、80％和100％)引起的水稻籽粒产量、产量构成因子、氮磷钾吸收量以及土壤碳氮含量和pH值变化.结果表明:与单施尿素相比,水生植物有机堆肥与尿素配施利于水稻产量的提高,并随着有机肥替代率增加,水稻产量呈先增后降;当有机肥替代率达40％和60％时产量最高.单施有机肥和单施尿素处理水稻籽粒产量相当.单施有机肥显著降低了有效穗数,有机肥和尿素配合施用则可减轻甚至消除这一效应;有机肥替代率在40％和60％时,有效穗数、穗粒数和结实率均较高.随着有机肥施用量增加,水稻秸秆氮浓度降低,籽粒氮浓度无影响;水稻磷浓度和吸收量均无显著差异;有机肥与尿素配施均显著提高了秸秆钾吸收量,有机肥替代率在80％时可显著提高籽粒钾吸收量.表层土壤全氮和有机碳含量及土壤pH值均与有机肥替代率呈显著正相关关系.有机肥-尿素配施处理下土壤全氮和有机碳均较4a前显著提高.有机肥替代率为80％和100％,土壤pH值较试验前土壤分别显著升高.由此可见,水生植物有机肥与尿素配施可以提高太湖稻作区水稻产量,增加土壤有机质含量和减缓土壤酸化程度,可作为太湖稻作区一项环保型施肥技术.     

Land use capability classification adaptation in low and intermediate technology farming systems: A soil erosion indicator

Land classification assists in identifying optimal crop selection for a given field, and land use capability gives an indication of potential agronomic productivity. However, these approaches are most germane to farming systems managed with high technology. This study sought to adapt land use capability to farming systems managed with low and intermediate levels of technology. Assessment of the classification criteria was conducted using erosion data as a primary indicator. The adapted (and currently in effect) criteria were compared in three regions in Minas Gerais, Brazil, each one representing one of the management levels. Erosion often results from inappropriate practices in land use or management. Therefore, maps of adequacy of land use and management were used to measure how well each one corresponded to the erosion map. The adapted criteria changed the spatial distribution of the classes of land use capability in different ways. Correspondence between the land use/management map and the erosion map increased from 71% to 88.5% when the criteria adapted to an intermediate level of management were used. It also increased from 62.9% to 66.7% when the criteria adapted to a low level of management were considered, better reflecting current erosion. Therefore, adopting adapted classification criteria is recommended for planning land use in locations where farming systems with low and intermediate levels of management are common, requiring re‐adaptation and reassessment depending on socio‐environmental factors.     

Accumulation of Miscanthus‐derived carbon in soils in relation to soil depth and duration of land use under commercial farming conditions

Bioenergy is becoming an important option in Global Change mitigation policy world‐wide. In agriculture, cultivation of energy crops for biodiesel, biogas, or bioethanol production received considerable attention in the past decades. Beyond this, the cultivation of Miscanthus, used as solid fuel for combustion, may lead to an increase in soil organic matter content compared to other agricultural land use, since C‐sequestration potential in soils of Miscanthus crops is high due to, e.g., high amounts of harvest residues. This may indirectly contribute to a reduction of atmospheric CO₂ concentration. The objective of the present work was to investigate the development of soil organic carbon and Miscanthus‐derived C contents, as well as to estimate carbon stocks in soils cultivated with Miscanthus using ¹³C‐natural‐abundance technique. The investigations were carried out in relation to soil depth up to 150 cm in a sequence of 2, 5, and 16 y of cultivation relative to a reference soil cultivated with cereals. Amounts of total organic C (TOC) and Miscanthus‐derived C (Miscanthus‐C) increased with increasing duration of cultivation. For example, TOC increased from 12.8 to 21.3 g C kg^–1 after 16 y of cultivation at the depth of 0–15 cm, whereby the portion of Miscanthus‐C reached 5.8 g C kg^–1. Also within deeper soil layers down to 60 cm depth a significant enhancement of Miscanthus‐C was detectable even though TOC contents were not significantly enhanced. At soil depth below 60 cm, no significant differences between treatments were found for Miscanthus‐C. Within 16 y of continuous commercial farming, Miscanthus stands accumulated a total of 17.7 Mg C ha^–1 derived from Miscanthus residues (C4‐C), which is equivalent to 1.1 Mg C4‐C ha^–1 y^–1. The annual surplus might function as CO₂ credit within a greenhouse‐gas balance. Moreover, the beneficial properties of Miscanthus cultivation combined with a low requirement on fertilization may justify the status of Miscanthus as a sustainable low‐input bioenergy crop.     

Effects of compost,biochar and manure on carbon mineralization of biogas residues applied to soil

Biogas residues contain microbial biomass, which contributes to the formation of soil organic matter. Whether the potential of biogas residues to increase soil organic matter can be enhanced by co‐application with compost, biochar or manure is unknown, however. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of co‐amendment on the mineralization of biogas residues, carbon dioxide emissions and the carbon flow within the microbial food web. We determined the fate of ¹³C‐labelled microbial biomass present in biogas residues applied together with compost, biochar and manure to soil, by analysing CO₂ and biomarker phospholipid fatty acids. Although the rate of mineralization constant of the slowly degrading carbon pool was not affected by co‐amendments, co‐amendment with manure resulted in a larger rate of mineralization constant of the readily degrading carbon pool of biogas residues. The incorporation of carbon was mainly to Gram‐negative biomass and was the smallest with manure co‐amendment, which indicated differences in bioavailability of the carbon source.     

Litter quality effects on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in temperate alley cropping systems

Microcosm and litterbag experiments were conducted to determine the effects of litter quality, soil properties and microclimate differences on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization in alley cropping systems. Bulk soils were collected from 0 to 20 cm depth at three sites: a 21-year old pecan (Carya illinoinensis)/bluegrass (Poa trivialis) intercrop (Pecan site) in north-central Missouri, a 12-year old silver maple (Acer saccharinum)/soybean (Glycine max)–maize (Zea mays) rotation (Maple site) in northeastern Missouri and a restored prairie site (MDC site) in southwestern Missouri. Seven tree and crop litters with varying composition were collected, including pecan, silver maple, chestnut and walnut leaf litter (tree litter) and maize, soybean and bluegrass residues (crop litter). Aerobic microcosm incubations were maintained at 25 °C and a soil water potential of −47 kPa. Unamended MDC soil mineralized 24 and 18% more CO₂ than the Pecan and Maple soils, respectively. Soil amended with crop litter mineralized on average 32% more CO₂ than when amended with tree litter. Net N mineralization from soybean litter was 40 mg kg⁻¹, while all other litter immobilized N for various durations. A double pool and a single pool model best described C and N mineralization from amended soils, respectively. Cumulative CO₂ mineralized, labile C fraction (C₁) and potentially mineralizable C (C₀) were correlated to litter total N and lignin contents and to (lignin + polyphenol):N ratio. In the field, bluegrass litter decomposed and released N twice as fast as pecan leaf litter. Soybean, maize and silver maple litter released 84, 75 and 63% of initial N, respectively, 308 days after field placement, while no differences in mass loss was observed among the three litter materials. At the Maple site, mass and N remaining, 308 days after field placement was lower at the middle of the alley, corresponding to higher soil temperature and water content. No differences in mass loss and N release patterns were observed at the Pecan site. Microclimate and litter quality effects can lead to differences in nutrient availability in alley cropping systems.     

Invertebrates increase the sensitivity of non-labile soil carbon to climate change

The fate of global soil carbon stores in response to predicted climate change is a ‘hotly’ debated topic. Considerable uncertainties remain as to the temperature sensitivity of non-labile soil organic matter (SOM) to decomposition. Currently, models assume that organic matter decomposition is solely controlled by the interaction between climatic conditions and soil mineral characteristics. Consequently, little attention has been paid to adaptive responses of soil decomposer organisms to climate change and their impacts on the turnover of long-standing terrestrial carbon reservoirs. Using a radiocarbon approach we found that warming increased soil invertebrate populations (Enchytraeid worms) leading to a greater turnover of older soil carbon pools. The implication of this finding is that until soil physiology and biology are meaningfully represented in ecosystem carbon models, predictions will underestimate soil carbon turnover.     

Short-term effect of cultivation and crop rotation systems on soil quality indicators in a coastal newly reclaimed farming area

Purpose

Soil quality (SQ), a measure of the sustainability of land use and soil management practices, can be assessed by indicators including soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Our primary objectives were to investigate the influence of consecutive cultivation and different crop rotation systems on individual SQ indicators and to examine the impact of rotation systems on SQ using soil quality index (SQI) model.

Materials and methods

A site-specific selection of 17 potential SQ indicators representing soil chemical and physical attributes (0–10 cm) and groundwater features on 60 sampling locations and 10 representative soil profiles was chosen in a typical coastal newly reclaimed farmland of north Jiangsu Province, China. Using ANOVA analysis, the crop rotation effect was analyzed by comparing SQ indicators between rice/rape rotation soil and cotton/barley rotation soil. An overall SQI was calculated to examine whether plant biomass indices exactly responded to the SQI value.

Results and discussion

Results indicated that cultivation had significant effect on some soil profile characteristics, including SOM, SOCD, AP, CEC, AK, EC_e, and I _f. Crop rotation systems also had significant influence on some SQ indicators. Compared with cotton/barley rotation soil, rice/rape rotation soil was characterized by higher organic matter, undifferentiated nutrient storage and salinity/alkalinity, lower water accommodation and infiltration, and adverse groundwater conditions. Cotton/barley rotation had higher SQI values over rice/rape rotation (0.523 vs. 0.422). SQ indicators of SAR_e, EC_e, and WT_g contributed the most to the overall SQI value for each rotation system. Plant biomass indices significantly correlated with the SQI values for both rotation systems, suggesting that the SQI values essentially reflected the status of SQ.

Conclusions

Such results allowed us to conclude that cotton/barley rotation system contributed more to the improvement of SQ than rice/rape rotation system in coastal farming area. Also, we suggested SOCD, AK, ρ _b, WT_g, and EC_g as the minimum data set for SQ assessment, as they had potential in discriminating the effect of rotation systems on SQ between the rotation systems used here.     

Impact of perennial pasture and tillage systems on carbon input and soil quality indicators

Soil degradation associated with tillage is a major problem in Uruguayan agriculture. Either rotation of crops with pastures (ROT) or no-till (NT) cropping have been proposed as alternatives to minimize the impact of agriculture on soil quality. The combined impact on soil properties of ROT and NT has not been evaluated. In this study, we report results of the first 12 years of a long-term experiment established on a clay loam soil in western Uruguay. The objective was to determine the influence of conventional tillage (CT) and NT on systems under continuous cropping (CC, two crops per year) or ROT (3.5-year annual crops/2.5-year pastures). Soil samples taken at the beginning of the experiment in 1994 and in 2004 were analyzed for organic carbon (SOC), total organic carbon (TSOC) and total nitrogen content (STN), and for water-stable aggregation (WAS). Soil loss and erodibility indicators were studied using microrain simulator. With 12 years, the cumulative carbon (C) inputs of aboveground biomass were similar between tillage, but C input in CC was 50% higher than ROT. This difference was explained because 84% of the pastures dry matter was consumed by animals. Nevertheless we estimated a higher below ground biomass in ROT compared to CC systems (24.9 Mg ha⁻¹ vs. 10.9 Mg ha⁻¹). NT presented 7% higher SOC than CT (0–18 cm) with no differences between rotation systems. While all treatments declined in STN during 12 years, ROT had 11% and 58% higher STN and WAS than CC systems, with a large impact of the pasture under CT. Runoff and erosion were minimized under NT in both rotations systems. Thus, including pastures in the rotation, or switching from CT to NT improved soil quality properties. The expected benefit of combining NT and ROT will likely require more years for the cumulative effect to be detectable in both C input and soil properties.     

Bioassays and application of olive pomace compost on emmer: effects on yield and soil properties in organic farming

Abstract

Composting olive oil pomace could solve the problem of disposal, by recycling this organic waste for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, application of composted organic waste could be a way to sustain both soil fertility and production, especially in organic farming. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the phytotoxicity and the effects of application of olive pomace composts on emmer performance and soil properties. Two types of olive pomace composts, with a different initial C/N ratio, were stopped at the active phase and processed until maturation. The obtained four olive pomace composts were compared with a commercial fertilizer in a two-year field experiment. Before the field trial, a bioassay was performed to assess phytotoxicity both for the raw pomace and the not-stabilized composts. Growing and yielding data for emmer were determined during the two-year period and soil characteristics were measured at the start and at the end of the experiment.

The composts were not phytotoxic (germination index was higher than 90%) and their total organic carbon content was always higher than the minimum values established by the Italian fertilizers legislation. The emmer protein content was significantly higher in the matured compost treatment with low C/N, than in the other compost treatments. Its value was comparable with that of the commercial fertilizer, suggesting a good performance on crop yield quality. Although not significant, this compost showed an increase of 9.8% in grain yield compared with commercial fertilizer treatment. On the whole, it can be suggested that repeated compost application might preserve the soil organic carbon content and supply macronutrients to a crop.     

The effect of landslide on soil organic carbon stock and biochemical properties of soil

Purpose

The aim of the study was to present variability of content and quality of soil organic matter on the landslide surface. Attempts were made to demonstrate the progress of the process of soil cover restoration 7 years after the landslides and biochemical activity of soil associated with the restoration of soil cover.

Materials and methods

The landslide area was located in southern Poland, in the Sucha Forest District. The soil properties were studied on a regular grid of points, which covered the entire area of the landslide. In soil samples, particle size, soil aggregates content, pH, total carbon and nitrogen content, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and the activity of dehydrogenases were determined. Additionally, the fractions of soil organic matter were used in the study as an indicator of soil quality due to the many important interactions of these components in the soil system.

Results and discussion

This study identified the landslide area as characterised by a stronger diversification of physical, chemical, and biological properties. The upper part of the landslide (in the area referred to as the landslide niche) is strongly eroded and characterised by the least advanced soil cover recovery. Additionally, low soil organic matter content was observed in the upper part of the landslide, which restricted biological activity of the studied soils. Soil microbial biomass carbon increased with restoration of landslide soils.

Conclusions

The soil organic matter plays a key role for the initial stage of soil formation on a landslide. The amount of soil organic matter on the studied landslide had a positive effect on the microbial biomasses C and N, dehydrogenases activity. Estimating the soil organic matter fraction can be utilised as an indicator of changes in soil.

     

Reversing agriculture from intensive to sustainable improves soil quality in a semiarid South Italian soil

Intensive agriculture (IA) is widespread in South Italy, although it requires frequent tillage, large amounts of fertilizers and irrigation water. We have assessed the efficacy of reversing IA to sustainable agriculture (SA) in recovering quality of a typical South Italy soil (Lithic Haploxeralf). This reversion, lasting from 2000 to 2007, replaced 75% of nutrients formerly supplied inorganically by farmyard manuring and reduced the tillage frequency. Several chemical and biochemical properties, functionally related to C and N mineralisation–immobilisation processes and to P and S nutrient cycles, were monitored annually from 2005 to 2007 in the spring. Reversing IA to SA decreased soil bulk density, almost doubled the soil organic matter (SOM) as favoured the immobilisation of C and N, increased most soil microbial indicators but decreased contents of nitrate, mineral N and K₂SO₄-extractable C. The K₂SO₄-extractable C/K₂SO₄-extractable organic N ratio suggested that substrate quality rather than the mass of readily available C and N affected biomass and activity of soil microflora. Also, the largely higher 10-day-evolved CO₂–C-to-inorganic N ratio under SA than IA indicated that higher C mineralisation, associated with higher microbial biomass N immobilisation, occurred under SA than IA. Decreases in most soil enzyme activities under IA, compared to SA, were much higher than concomitant decreases in SOM content. Soil salinity and sodicity were always higher in IA than SA soil, although not critically high, likely due to the intensive inorganic fertilisation as irrigation waters were qualitatively and quantitatively the same between the two soils. Thus, we suggest that the cumulative small but long-term saline (osmotic) and sodic (dispersing) effects in IA soil decreased the microbial variables more than total organic C and increased soil bulk density.     

不同栽培方式对菜地土壤养分和生物学特性的影响

通过田间小区试验,以芹菜、西兰花、生菜和胡萝卜为供试作物,分析比较了有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培、特别栽培和常规栽培对土壤养分和生物学特性的影响.结果表明,有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培和特别栽培下土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量比常规栽培均不同程度地增加.有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培和特别栽培均显著提高了土壤微生物量碳含量,比常规栽培分别提高48.6％、42.9％和26.6％,并达到显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)差异.土壤过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性在有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培和特别栽培下比常规栽培显著提高17.4％ ～38.8％,且过氧化氢酶活性达到显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)差异.有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培下土壤转化酶活性比常规栽培有所提高,但是没有达到显著差异.不同栽培方式对土壤养分和生物学特性影响作用的大小为有机栽培＞安全环境质量栽培＞特别栽培＞常规栽培.