Increased nitrogen availability alters soil carbon quality by regulating microbial r‐K growth strategy, metabolic efficiency, and biomass in degraded temperate grasslands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjing Zeng ◽  
Zhaodi Wang ◽  
Xinyue Chen ◽  
Xiaodong Yao ◽  
Wei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
Temperate Grasslands ◽  
Carbon Quality

Herbage biomass and its relationship to soil carbon under long-term grazing in northern temperate grasslands

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 905-916
Author(s):  
E.W. Bork ◽  
M.P. Lyseng ◽  
D.B. Hewins ◽  
C.N. Carlyle ◽  
S.X. Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Temperate Grasslands ◽  
Soil C

While northern temperate grasslands are important for supporting beef production, it remains unclear how grassland above- and belowground biomass responds to long-term cattle grazing. Here, we use a comprehensive dataset from 73 grasslands distributed across a broad agro-climatic gradient to quantify grassland shoot, litter, and shallow (top 30 cm) root biomass in areas with and without grazing. Additionally, we relate biomass to soil carbon (C) concentrations. Forb biomass was greater (p < 0.05) in grazed areas, particularly those receiving more rainfall. In contrast, grass and total aboveground herbage biomass did not differ with grazing (total: 2320 kg ha−1 for grazed vs. 2210 kg ha−1 for non-grazed; p > 0.05). Forb crude protein concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in grazed communities compared with those that were non-grazed. Grasslands subjected to grazing had 56% less litter mass. Root biomass down to 30 cm remained similar between areas with (9090 kg ha−1) and without (7130 kg ha−1) grazing (p > 0.05). Surface mineral soil C concentrations were positively related to peak grassland biomass, particularly total (above + belowground) biomass, and with increasing forb biomass in grazed areas. Finally, total aboveground shoot biomass and soil C concentrations in the top 15 cm of soil were both positively related to the proportion of introduced plant diversity in grazed and non-grazed grasslands. Overall, cattle grazing at moderate stocking rates had minimal impact on peak grassland biomass, including above- and belowground, and a positive contribution exists from introduced plant species to maintaining herbage productivity and soil C.

Soil carbon increases with long‐term cattle stocking in northern temperate grasslands

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward W. Bork ◽  
Lisa L. Raatz ◽  
Cameron N. Carlyle ◽  
Daniel B. Hewins ◽  
Karen A. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Temperate Grasslands

Soil Carbon Stocks and Soil Carbon Quality in the Upland Portion of a Boreal Landscape, James Bay, Quebec

Ecosystems ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Paré ◽  
Jessica L. Banville ◽  
Michelle Garneau ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
James Bay ◽  
Carbon Quality ◽  
Soil Carbon Stocks ◽  
Boreal Landscape

Flower Power: flower-strips host bees & sequester carbon in soils

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Vetter ◽  
Hermann Jungkunst ◽  
Klaus Schützenmeister ◽  
Constanze Buhk
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Paired Comparison ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Soil Carbon Stocks ◽  
Important Trait ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrients

&lt;p&gt;Flower-strips are increasingly recognized as mandatory elements in agricultural landscapes for pollinators to survive. In this study, we raised the hypothesis that flower-strip traits additionally affect biogeochemical cycling towards climate change mitigation. Therefore, we investigated soil carbon and nutrients stocks in paired comparison to adjacent land use and looked at water retention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Two study farms of 50 ha in southern Germany were sampled once in spring, summer and autumn. The examined flower-strips of both farms were sown in 2011 and are in use since then. Pairwise sampling reduces the influence of the expected high variation in soil parameters. For each pair we sampled 3 depths: topsoil (0-5 cm), plow horizon (20-25 cm) and subsoil (30-35 cm). Different parameters of soil carbon, nitrogen, nutrients and water will be presented with a focus on clay bonded carbon.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Preliminary results indicate that flower-strips significantly increased nitrogen availability, soil carbon stocks and accordingly showed a trend to improve the water storage capacity in the plow horizon. We did not observe a statistically significant effect on nutrient availability.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Provided that these results will be confirmed, flower-strips traits could go beyond the important trait of giving pollinators a home in vast agricultural landscapes. By slightly increasing the amount of flower-strips in these landscapes, a significant increase in carbon sequestration and water retention will be achievable adding to the 4 per mille goal of the UN.&lt;/p&gt;

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