Land‐use effects on the distribution of soil organic carbon within particle‐size fractions of volcanic soils in the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (Mexico)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of land‐use and forest cover depletion on the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) within particle‐size fractions in a volcanic soil. Emphasis was given to the thermal properties of soils. Six representative sites in Mexico were selected in an area dominated by Andosols: a grassland site, four forested sites with different levels of degradation and an agricultural site. Soils were fractionated using ultrasonic energy until complete dispersion was achieved. The particle‐size fractions were coarse sand, fine sand, silt, clay and particulate organic matter from the coarse sand sized fraction (POM‐CS) and fine sand (POM‐FS). Soil organic carbon decreased by 70% after forest conversion to cropland and long‐term cultivation; forest cover loss resulted in a decrease in SOC of up to 60%. The grassland soil contained 45% more SOC than the cropland one. Soil organic carbon was mainly associated with the silt‐size fraction; the most sensitive fractions to land‐use change and forest cover depletion were POM followed by SOC associated with the silt and clay‐sized fractions. Particulate organic matter can be used as an early indicator of SOC loss. The C lost from the clay and silt‐sized fractions was thermally labile; therefore, the SOC stored in the more degraded forest soils was more recalcitrant (thermally resistant). Only the transformation of forest to agricultural land produced a similar loss of thermally stable C associated with the silt‐sized fraction.     

不同土地利用方式对岷江流域土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳的影响

采用湿筛法测量了岷江流域不同土地利用方式下不同土层（0—10,10—20,20—30 cm）土壤大团聚体（> 2 mm）、中间团聚体（0.25~2 mm）、微团聚体（53 μm~0.25 mm）以及粉+黏团聚体（<53 μm）的质量分数及各粒径团聚体中的有机碳含量,并探讨了各粒径土壤团聚体的有机碳储量。结果表明,土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性及其有机碳具有重要影响;土壤养分均呈现出一致性规律,大致表现为撂荒地 > 次生林 > 人工林 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,土壤全磷差异并不显著（p>0.05）;林地的开垦行为会导致大团聚体的破碎化,灌草丛及坡耕地>0.25 mm的大团聚体含量较林地低,土壤结构趋于恶化;而坡耕地闲置为撂荒地后,则会促使粉+黏团聚体向粒径大的微团聚体及中间团聚体转化,使土壤结构趋于改善,在0—30 cm土层内,灌草丛及坡耕地土壤颗粒的MWD（平均质量直径）和GMD（几何平均直径）值均显著低于林地和撂荒地（p<0.05）,坡耕地撂荒后,MWD和GMD值均显著升高（p<0.05）,表明林地开垦为坡耕地导致土壤团聚体的稳定性降低,而坡耕地弃耕撂荒会增强团聚体的稳定性,提高土壤抵抗外力破坏的能力。不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳含量均随土层深度的增加而降低。在0—30 cm土层深度内,不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳储量表现为:大团聚体有机碳储量为林地 > 撂荒地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,中间团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,微团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地;粉+黏团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地。各粒径土壤团聚体内有机碳储量均为林地和撂荒地高于果园和坡耕地,表明将林地开垦为坡耕地后,将导致各团聚体组分内有机碳的损失,而坡耕地撂荒则有助于土壤有机碳的恢复和截存;林地和撂荒地土壤有机碳主要蓄积在中间团聚体内,而坡耕地则主要蓄积在粉+黏团聚体内,表明在土地利用变化过程中,粒径较大的团聚体有机碳不稳定,更容易发生变化。     

Increased Carbon Stabilization in Australian Ferrosol with High Carbon Saturation Deficit

The concept of carbon (C) saturation implies that soils have a finite capacity to store C in a stable form, depending on their silt + clay content. We hypothesized that the stabilization of added organic C would be low in C saturated soil. We tested experimentally the influence of C saturation deficit on stabilization of added grass residue. We incubated 12 highly weathered, oxic soil samples collected from three contrasting land uses (i.e. cropping, improved pasture, and forest) with grass residue for 8 months. Carbon saturation deficit of the forest soils was lower than pasture and cropping soils. After incubation, we found increases in silt + clay associated C in grass residue treatment positively correlated with C saturation deficit of soils. Our results suggest that stabilization of added C was high in soil with low C saturation level and hence higher C saturation deficit.     

Patterns of Organic Matter Accumulation in Soils of the Semiarid Argentinian Pampas

A-horizons of 48 Haplic Phaeozems and Kastanozems in plain sites of the Semiarid Argentinian Pampas under three contrasting management systems (virgin bushland, permanent pasture and continuous agriculture) were studied. Morphological characteristics, organic carbon and total nitrogen levels and E4:E6 ratios were determined on the assumption that both quantity and quality of organic matter should be related to soil texture of parent materials in this region since other soil forming factors are uniform. The more intensive land use produced an averaged decrease of 7 cm in A-horizon thickness and degradation of soil structure, but little changes in color and properties of boundaries to AC horizons. In virgin soils organic carbon and nitrogen contents correlate with silt + clay fractions (r = 0,92 and 0,99, respectively), while E4:E6-ratios are related to clay contents (r = ?0.69*) confirming the strong influence of soil texture. Agricultural-management and pasture use of soils lead to dispersion of these correlations probably because of differential influence of varying intensities of land use within each management system. Soils under continuous agriculture show lower organic carbon contents than virgin soils only at clay + silt > 40%. Eragrostis curvula-pastures seems to be more effective in restoring organic matter and nitrogen levels in sandy but not in loamy soils with respect to virgin soils. This may be due to a better efficiency of E. curvula-roots in coarse than in fine textured soils to produce humificable residues than the autochthonous grass species.     

流动沙丘造林对土壤物理组分有机碳分配的影响

(1)根据中国知网(CNKI)的《中国学术期刊影响因子年报(自然科学与工程技术.2010版)计量指标统计表》,《水土保持通报》综合统计源统计的总被引频次为3 446次(2009年版中为1 358次);复合影响因子为0.955;期刊综合影响因子为0.568(2008年为0.493),在所统计     

Organic carbon in the silt + clay fraction of Tasmanian soils

Organic carbon (C) was measured in the silt + clay fraction of 78 soils from agricultural areas in Tasmania, and the relationship between C in the silt + clay fraction and the percentage by weight of particles in this fraction was compared with similar data for soils from other regions and climates. Most of the cropping soils from Tasmania followed a previously published linear relationship, which is considered an indication of the capacity of soils to store C. The soils which fell the greatest distance below this relationship were sandy soils, consistent with previous evidence that these soils in Tasmania have been degraded. Soils which showed a major positive departure from the relationship were clay loams with >60% silt + clay. Most were also pasture soils. Tasmania's cool‐temperate climate would promote plant growth and C inputs and slow C breakdown, while the high clay content would help protect C. The results for the clay loam soils are consistent with earlier observations that these soils are generally in good health.     

Characterization of Degraded Soils in the Humid Ethiopian Highlands

Hardpan is a major cause of land degradation that affects agricultural productivity in developing countries. However, relatively, little is known about the interaction of land degradation and hardpans. The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate soil degradation and the formation of hardpans in crop/livestock‐mixed rainfed agriculture systems and to assess how changes in soil properties are related to the conversion of land from forest to agriculture. Two watersheds (Anjeni and Debre Mewi) were selected in the humid Ethiopian highlands. For both watersheds, 0–45 cm soil penetration resistance (SPR, n  = 180) and soil physical properties (particle size, soil organic matter, pH, base ions, cation exchange capacity, silica content, bulk density and moisture content) were determined at 15 cm depth increments for three land uses: cultivated, pasture and forest. SPR of agricultural fields was significantly greater than that of forest lands. Dense layers with a critical SPR threshold of ≥2000 kPa were observed in the cultivated and pasture lands starting at a depth of 15–30 cm but did not occur in the undisturbed forest land. Compared with the original forest soils, agricultural fields were lower in organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable base cations; more acidic; had a higher bulk density and more fine particles (clay and silt); and contained less soluble silica. Overall, our findings suggest that soil physical and chemical properties in agricultural lands are deteriorated, causing disintegration of soil aggregates, resulting in greater sediment concentration in infiltration water that clogged up macro‐pores, thereby disconnecting deep flow paths found in original forest soils. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organic carbon in soils of Germany: Status quo and the need for new data to evaluate potentials and trends of soil carbon sequestration

Uncertainties in estimates of soil carbon (C) stocks and sequestration result from major gaps in knowledge of C storage in soils, land‐use history, the variability of field measurements, and different analytical approaches applied. In addition, there is a lack of long‐term datasets from relevant land‐use systems. As in many European countries, a national database on soil organic carbon (SOC) including all relevant information for the determination of soil C stocks is likewise missing in Germany. In this paper, we summarize and evaluate the present state of knowledge on organic‐C contents/pools in soils of Germany and discuss the need for the acquisition and access to new data on soil organic carbon. Despite the number of agricultural sites under permanent soil monitoring, regional surveys on SOC, comprehensive ecosystem studies, and long‐term field experiments, there is a striking lack of data in Germany particularly with regard to agricultural soils. Apart from a missing standardization of methods and homogeneous baseline values, the implementation of a periodic, nation‐wide soil inventory on agricultural soils is required in order to simultaneously record information on land use, land‐use change, and agricultural practice. In contrast, the existing national inventory of forest soils provides information on C‐stock changes in forest soils, although there is some concern with regard to the representativeness of the sampling design to adequately address the problem of spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability. It is concluded that the lack of comprehensiveness, completeness, actuality, data harmonization, and standardized sampling procedures will further prevent the establishment of a SOC database in Germany with regard to the monitoring of trends in soil C pools and fluxes and the assessment of long‐term C‐sequestration potentials of soils under different land use. A future soil inventory should represent the heterogeneity of organic matter through functionally different SOC pools, topsoil characteristics as well as content, pool, and flux data for the deeper mineral‐soil compartments.     

Soil degradation by land use change in an agropastoral area in Sardinia (Italy)

In recent decades the clearing of Mediterranean maquis along with the creation of new pastures has been a major factor of land degradation in Sardinia (Italy). This was due to an inadequate implementation of agricultural policies. Consequently, tillage and water erosion intensified over a wide area. The present work assesses the impacts of land use change on soil properties in a representative area of central-eastern Sardinia. Paired forest and pasture sampling sites were selected in relation to present land use, land suitability, and land use history. Different soil properties were considered: physical (sand, silt, clay, soil thickness, bulk density, and penetration resistance), chemical (pH, OC, N, C/N, Ca, Mg, Na, K, CEC, and BS), biological (BQI), and micromorphological (microporosity and microstructure). The comparison of forest and pasture soils showed a significant soil loss (in terms of soil thickness, −22%), and a clear decrease in organic carbon storage (−64% on average). An increase in bulk density (+ 44%) and a change in microporosity and its vertical distribution were also observed, respectively by field measurements and micromorphological quantification on digital images.     

Hydromorphic and clay-related processes in soils from the Llanos de Moxos (northern Bolivia)

The Llanos de Moxos is one of the largest wetlands in the world (more than 100,000 km²) due to seasonal floods. The soil parent materials are fine Quaternary sediments brought by tributaries of the Amazon River. Forests cover some areas, although the dominant vegetation is a pastured savannah and backswamps. At present, the main land use is a very extensive rangeland, and slash and burn agriculture in minor areas.We have studied 15 profiles from several sample areas between Trinidad and San Ignacio. Field and laboratory studies have been carried out in order to elucidate the soil-forming processes taking place and to gain basic knowledge for a sustainable land management.Coarser soils are located near the present river system or in former riverbank areas, often under forest; textures here are loam or silty loam, silty clay loam being dominant. Finer soils may have up to 85% clay and are usually under savannah cover. Illite is the dominant clay mineral in all soils, followed by smectite and kaolinite; vermiculite is absent. Quartz is present in a very significant amount in the clay fraction of all studied soils. Goethite and lepidocrocite are present in all soils, lepidocrocite being a good indicator of poor drainage conditions.Soils are mainly acid, but there are soils with calcium carbonate accumulation in the subsoil, or even saline soils (salitrales). Soils are flooded for a significant period (3–6 months) and bypass flow is very active. Hydromorphic processes are always present and morphologies include hard and soft iron–manganese concretions with diffuse boundaries within peds, impregnative Fe coatings and Fe depletion hypocoatings along pore walls. The micromorphological study shows different degrees of hydromorphism, some of them associated to the present pore system and some with a palaeo character, often disturbed by active slickensides. Microsparite nodules are also present in some low-lying soils. The soils present several morphological features related to the mobility of the fine fraction that can be related to drainage conditions, as recent clay coatings, clay and silt infillings and coatings and clay-depleted hypocoatings. The most clayey soils show striated b-fabrics and frequent slickensides, and some others point to ferrolysis as iron-depleted hypocoatings and low crystallinity clay coatings along pores, although this is not supported by mineralogical data. A moderate cation supply probably prevents strong acidification.     

Variation in organic‐carbon concentration and bulk density in Flemish grassland soils

The different management regimes on grassland soils were examined to determine the possibilities for improved and/or changed land management of grasslands in Flanders (Belgium), with respect to article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol. Grassland soils were sampled for soil organic carbon (SOC) and for bulk density. For all grasslands under agricultural use, grazing and mowing + grazing led to higher SOC stocks compared with mowing, and grazing had higher SOC stocks compared with mowing + grazing. Overall, 15.1 ± 4.9 kg OC m^–2 for the clayey texture, 9.8 ± 3.0 kg OC m^–2 for the silty texture, and 11.8 ± 3.8 kg OC m^–2 for the sandy texture were found for grassland under agricultural use to a depth of 60 cm. For seminatural grasslands, different results were found. For both the clayey and silty texture, mowing and mowing + grazing led to higher SOC stocks compared with grazing. The clayey texture had a mean stock of 15.1 ± 6.6, the silty texture of 10.9 ± 3.0, and the sandy texture of 12.1 ± 3.9 kg OC m^–2 (0–60 cm). Lower bulk densities were found under grazed agricultural grassland compared with mown grassland but for seminatural grassland, no clear trends for the bulk density were found. The best management option for maintaining or enhancing SOC stocks in agricultural grassland soils may be permanent grazed grassland. For seminatural grassland, no clear conclusions could be made. The water status of the sampled mown fields was influencing the results for the clayey texture. Overall, the mean SOC stock was decreasing in the order clay > sand > silt. The higher mean SOC concentrations found for the sandy texture, compared to the finer silty texture, may be explained by the historical land use of these soils.     

Density separation of soil organic matter across three land uses in calcareous soils of Iran

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of physical and chemical fractionation in quantifying soil organic matter (SOM) in different stabilized fraction pools. Soil samples from three land use types in Lorestan province, Southwest Iran were examined to account for the amount of organic carbon and nitrogen in different SOM fractions. Size/density separation and chemical oxidation methods were applied to separate the SOM fractions including particulate organic matter (POM), Si + C (silt and clay), DOC (dissolved organic C), rSOM (oxidation-resistant organic carbon and nitrogen) and S + SA (sand and stable aggregates). The values obtained for TOC, TN, and HWC were highest in forest lands followed by the range and agricultural lands. Among the SOM fractions, S + SA showed the highest values (5.75, 5.77 and 20.6 g kg^?1 for agriculture, range and forest lands respectively) followed by POM, Si + C, rSOM, and DOC. The concentrations of C and N in the labile fractions obtained the higher values than in the stabilized fractions. Forest lands had the highest amounts of organic C and N among all fractions whereas agricultural lands showed highest values for inorganic C content of soils in different fractions.     

Morphological,chemical, and physical characteristics of shrink‐swell soils in a mediterranean semiarid region

Abstract

Heavy clay soils with swell‐shrink properties comprise most of the arable land in northern Jordan. These soils are classified as Vertisols. Vertisols occupy a large and important part of the agricultural land in Jordan where rainfed agriculture is practiced. Five sites were selected to represent Vertisols occurring in different precipitation zones. Soil characterization was carried out to provide useful information to understand the genesis and behavior of these soils. Vertisols in northern Jordan occur on flat to gently sloping plains. Clay, silt, and sand fractions were uniformly distributed indicating active pedoturbation. Clay content is moderate to high, and the higher the rainfall the higher the clay content. The high cation exchange capacity (CEC)/clay ratio suggest montmorillonitic and mixed mineralogy. Calcium (Ca) was the most dominant extractable cation followed by magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). The similar patterns of distribution for the electrical conductivity values and soluble cations throughout the studied soil sites indicate the low leaching rate, eluviation, and illuviation processes within these studied sites. All soils belong to the Haploxererts soil great group.     

Measured soil organic matter fractions can be related to pools in the RothC model

Understanding the response of soil organic carbon (SOC) to environmental and management factors is necessary for estimating the potential of soils to sequester atmospheric carbon. Changes over time in the amount and distribution of SOC fractions with different turnover rates can be estimated by means of soil SOC models such as RothC, which typically consider two to five SOC pools. Ideally, these pools should correspond to measurable SOC fractions. The aim of this study was to test the relationship between SOC pools used in RothC and fractions separated through a fractionation procedure. A total of 123 topsoil samples from agricultural sites (arable land, grassland and alpine pasture) across Switzerland were used. A combination of physical and chemical methods resulted in two sensitive (particulate organic matter and dissolved organic carbon), two slow (carbon associated to clay and silt or stabilized in aggregates) and one passive (oxidation-resistant carbon) SOM fractions. These fractions were compared with the estimated equilibrium model pools when the corresponding soils were modelled with RothC. Analysis revealed strong correlations between SOC in measured fractions and modelled pools. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients varied between 0.82 for decomposable plant materials (DPM), 0.76 for resistant plant materials (RPM), 0.99 for humified organic matter (HUM) and biomass (BIO), and 0.73 for inert organic matter (IOM). The results show that the proposed fractionation procedure can be used with minor adaptations to identify measurable SOC fractions, which can be used to initialize and evaluate RothC for a wide range of site conditions.     

黄土丘陵区不同退耕还林地土壤颗粒结合态碳库分异特征

为揭示黄土丘陵区不同退耕还林土壤有机碳库差异及变化机制,比较分析了15 a生刺槐、山杏、杨树、沙棘、柠条5种退耕还林地土壤砂粒(≥53~2000μm)、粉粒(≥2~53μm)、黏粒(2μm)结合碳的质量分数与分布变化状况。结果表明,与坡耕地比较,不同退耕林地从表层0~10cm到40~60 cm土层土壤总有机碳质量分数增加了1.0~1.9 g/kg,砂粒碳、粉粒碳、黏粒碳质量分数分别增加了0.5~0.1、1.0~0.6、0.4~0.3 g/kg。同时,各林地0~20 cm土层土壤总有机碳和粉粒碳密度差异为杨树=柠条沙棘山杏刺槐,两种碳库增幅分别为2.4~5.8和1.2~3.5 Mg/hm2;但不同林地该土层黏粒碳和砂粒碳基本无显著差异,平均增幅分别为0.7和0.9 Mg/hm2。土层深度为0~60 cm时,土壤总有机碳、粉粒碳、黏粒碳密度均表现为沙棘=杨树=柠条山杏=刺槐,3种碳库增幅分别7.1~12.1、3.8~6.8、1.8~3.2 Mg/hm2;该土层砂粒碳密度在不同林地间仍无显著差异,平均提高了1.5 Mg/hm2。不同林地土壤颗粒碳组分占全有机碳比例均以粉粒碳最高(56.8%)、黏粒碳次之(29.3%),砂粒碳最低(13.8%)。综上,不同退耕林地均以粉粒碳为土壤碳库变化和累积的主要形式,但以刺槐和山杏林提升退耕土壤总有机碳及颗粒碳组分库效应最明显,可作为该区域优选的退耕还林生态固碳技术。     

Soil organic carbon stock and fractional distribution across central-south China

The stock and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) are critical to soil functions and global carbon cycle, but little quantitative information is available on the precise location and chemical components of SOC for soils across a wide range of climatic gradients. Here, a broad range of zonal soils were collected in forest land at topsoil (0–15 cm) and subsoil (15–30 cm) from temperate to tropical climatic gradient in central to south China. The stock and stability of SOC were determined in terms of aggregate and humic fractionation. SOC in bulk soils with a less significant geographic variation was comparably higher at Haplic Luvisoils in temperate regions (3637.61 g m⁻²) and Rhodi-Humic Ferrosols in tropical regions (3446.12 g m⁻²) than in the other experimental soils, but a consistent decreasing trend was observed along the soil profiles with the SOC stock was 1.11–1.97 times higher in the topsoil than in the subsoils. In addition, insoluble humin residue (HMr) as the dominant components of SOC ranged from 643.95 to 2696.90 g m⁻² and decreased from temperate to tropical regions, which was consistent with the zonal variation of humic acids (HAs), but contrary to the zonal variation of fulvic acids (FAs) that fluctuated in a range of 39.67–389.55 g m⁻² across the experimental sites. According to the results of partial correlation analysis, the variation of FAs stock was significantly attributed to soil pH, bulk density, iron and aluminum oxides, clay, and clay mineral content (|r|>0.61, p < 0.05), while these soil physical properties showed a contradictory effects on HAs, iron-linked humin (HMi), clay-combined humin (HMc), and HMr. Moreover, the aggregate-associated carbon stock was mainly stored in macroaggregates (36.34–76.09%) for both SOC and its chemical components, especially in topsoils, and its zonal variation was associated with that of bulk soils. In general, the redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that mean annual precipitation (MAP) accounted for 81.8% and 13.8% of the variance in SOC chemical and physical fractionation, respectively, while the corresponding contribution of mean annual temperature (MAT) was 1.5% and 34.7%. With the increase of MAT and MAP, the chemical stability of SOC decreased in the molecular structure, and the physical protection of SOC by aggregate exhibited a unimodal trend. The obtained results would facilitate the development of regional soil carbon prediction and land management against global warming.     

渭北旱塬区不同坡向土地利用类型对土壤性质的影响

为了研究不同坡向土地利用类型对土壤性质的影响,以渭北旱塬区5种土地利用类型(不同坡向)为研究对象,系统分析该区不同坡向土地利用类型剖面土壤物理、化学和生物性质的差异。结果表明:(1)除土壤pH和土壤颗粒组成外,5种土地利用类型土壤含水量、总孔隙度、有机质、全氮、微生物量碳和氮含量总体随土层加深呈下降趋势,土壤容重则相反。(2)0-30cm土层,阳坡农用地土壤含水量、黏粒含量和pH最高,粉粒和全氮含量最低;人工草地砂粒和全氮含量最高,黏粒含量最低;人工林地土壤总孔隙度、土壤有机质、微生物量碳和氮含量最高,土壤含水量、土壤容重和pH最低;天然草地土壤容重和粉粒含量最高,总孔隙度和砂粒含量最低;退耕地有机质、微生物量碳和氮含量最低。阴坡农用地土壤含水量、粉粒含量和pH最高,黏粒和全氮含量最低;人工草地土壤容重、黏粒和微生物量氮含量最高,土壤总孔隙度、粉粒、砂粒和有机质含量最低;人工林地有机质含量和微生物量碳含量最高;天然草地土壤总孔隙度、砂粒和全氮含量最高,土壤容重和pH最低;退耕地土壤含水量、微生物量碳和氮含量最低。(3)5种土地利用类型中,土壤容重、细黏粒、粗黏粒、细粉粒、粗砂粒、土壤pH和有机质(退耕地除外)表现为阳坡阴坡,土壤含水量(退耕地和农用地除外)、总孔隙度、粗粉粒、细砂粒、土壤质地粗化度、全氮(人工草地除外)、土壤微生物量碳和氮含量则为阴坡阳坡。     

Assessing and mapping topsoil organic carbon stock at regional scale: A scorpan kriging approach conditional on soil map delineations and land use

In order to assess the potential of soils as C reservoir at regional scale, accurate estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) are required, and different approaches can be used. This study presents a method to assess and map topsoil organic carbon stock (Mg ha⁻¹) at regional scale for the whole Emilia Romagna plain in Northern Italy (about 12 000 km²). A Scorpan Kriging approach is proposed, which combines the trend component of soil properties as derived from the 1:50 000 soil map with geostatistical modeling of the stochastic, locally varying but spatially correlated component. The trend component is described in terms of varying local means, calculated taking into account soil type and dominant land use. The resulting values of SOC, sand, silt, and clay contents are retained for calculating topsoil SOC stocks, using a set of locally calibrated pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to estimate bulk density. The maps of each soil attribute are validated over a subset of 2000 independent and randomly selected observations. As compared to the standard approach based on the mean values for delineation, results show lower standard errors for all the variables used for SOC stock assessment, with a relative improvement (RI) ranging from 4 per cent for SOC per cent to 24 per cent for silt. The total C stock (0–30 cm) in the study area is assessed as 73·24 ± 6·67 M t, with an average stock of 62·30 ± 5·55 Mg ha⁻¹. The SOC stock estimates are used to infer possible SOC stock changes in terms of carbon sequestration potential and potential carbon loss (PCL). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of land use on soil organic carbon stocks in the humid tropics of NE Tanzania

The conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land use is considered as a major cause for a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, the extent and impact of different land uses on SOC stock development is highly uncertain, especially for tropical Africa due to a lack of reliable data. Interactions of SOC with the soil mineral phase can modify the susceptibility of SOC to become mineralized. Pedogenic Fe‐, Al‐oxides and clay potentially affect SOC stabilization in highly weathered soils typically found in the humid tropics. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of different land uses on SOC stock on such soils. For that purpose, 10 pedologically similar, deeply weathered acidic soils (Acrisols, Alisols) in the Eastern Usambara Mountains (Amani Nature Reserve, NE Tanzania) under contrasting land use were sampled to a depth of 100 cm. The calculated mean SOC stocks were 17.5 kg C m^?2, 16.8 kg C m^?2, 16.9 kg C m^?2, and 20.0 kg C m^?2 for the four forests, two tea plantations, three croplands, and one homegarden, respectively. A significant difference in mean SOC stock of 1.3 kg C m^?2 was detected between forest and cropland land use for the 0–10 cm depth increment. No further significant impacts of land use on SOC stocks were observed. All soils have a clearly clay‐dominated texture. They are characterized by high content of pedogenic oxides with 29 to 47 g kg^?1 measured for the topsoils and 36 to 65 g kg^?1 for the subsoils. No positive significant relationship was found between SOC and clay content. Statistically significant positive relationships existed between oxalate‐extractable Fe, Al, and SOC content for cropland soils only. Compared to data published in literature the SOC stocks determined in our study were generally high independent of the established land use. It appears that efficient SOC stabilization mechanisms are counteracting the higher disturbance regime under agricultural land use in these highly weathered tropical soils.     

Distribution of Forms of Copper and their Association with Soil Properties and Uptake in Major Soil Orders in Semi-arid Soils of Punjab,India

Profiles of semi-arid-zone soils in Punjab, northwestern India, were investigated for different forms of copper (Cu), including total Cu, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Cu, soil solution plus exchangeable Cu, Cu adsorbed onto inorganic sites, Cu bound by organic sites, and Cu adsorbed onto oxide surfaces. When all soils were considered, total Cu content ranged from 7 to 37 mg kg^?1, while DTPA-extractable and soil solution plus exchangeable Cu contents ranged from 0.30 to 3.26 mg kg^?1 and from 0.02 to 0.43 mg kg^?1, respectively. Copper adsorbed onto inorganic sites ranged from 0.62 to 2.6 mg kg^?1 and that onto oxide surfaces ranged from 2.0 to 13.2 mg kg^?1. The Cu bound by organic sites ranged from 1.2 to 12.2 mg kg^?1. The magnitudes of different forms of Cu in soils did not exhibit any consistent pattern of distribution. Organic matter and size fractions (clay and silt) had a strong influence on the distribution of different forms of Cu. The content of all forms of Cu was generally greater in the fine-textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than coarse-textured Entisols. Soil solution plus exchangeable Cu, Cu held onto organic sites, and and Cu adsorbed onto inorganic sites (crystalline) had significant positive correlations with organic carbon and silt contents.The DTPA Cu was positively correlated with organic carbon, silt, and clay contents. Total Cu content strongly correlated with silt and clay contents of soils. Among the forms, Cu held on the organic site, water soluble + exchangeable Cu, and Cu adsorbed onto oxide surface were positively correlated with DTPA-extractable Cu. The DTPA-extractable Cu and soil solution plus exchangeable Cu seems to be good indices of Cu availability in soils and can be used for correction of Cu deficiency in the soils of the region. The uptake of Cu was greater in fine-textured Inceptisols and Alfisols than coarse-textured Entisols. Among the different forms only DTPA-extractable Cu was positively correlated with total uptake of Cu.