Organic carbon and associated soil properties of a red earth after 10 years of rotation under different stubble and tillage practices

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
KY Chan ◽  
WP Roberts ◽  
DP Heenan

Differences in soil organic carbon level as a result of different tillage and stubble management practices under continuous cropping were studied in a 10 years old wheat/lupin rotation experiment on a red earth at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Stubble burning and tillage had a similar impact in reducing the total amounts of organic carbon in the top 0-2 m of soil. There was no significant difference between the conventional cultivation (3 cultivations) and reduced cultivation (1 cultivation) systems. A 31% difference in organic carbon in the top 0.1 m (2.42% v. 1.68%) was found between the extreme management practices, i.e. direct drill /stubble retained treatment and the conventional/stubble burnt treatment. These results highlight the important effect of management practice on soil organic carbon level under continuous cropping. Tillage had the additional effect of changing the distribution of organic carbon resulting in higher level in the 0.10-0.15 m layer. The reduction in organic carbon was accompanied by significant losses in total nitrogen, exchangeable calcium and magnesim, as well as reduction in biological activity and aggregate stability. Loss of 1% organic carbon resulted in a loss of 2-97 cmole(+) kg soil-1 of negative charge. However, C/N ratio remained constant at 12-1 under different tillage and stubble treatments. Finally, while stubble burning resulted in pH increase, tillage led to a significant reduction in soil pH (5.38 to 4.98) in the 0 - 0.05 m layer due to increased exchangeable A1 brought to the soil surface as a result of an inversion action.

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2016
Author(s):  
Alexandra Crème ◽  
Cornelia Rumpel ◽  
Sparkle L. Malone ◽  
Nicolas P. A. Saby ◽  
Emmanuelle Vaudour ◽  
...  

Introduction of temporary grasslands into cropping cycles could be a sustainable management practice leading to increased soil organic carbon (SOC) to contribute to climate change adaption and mitigation. To investigate the impact of temporary grassland management practices on SOC storage of croplands, we used a spatially resolved sampling approach combined with geostatistical analyses across an agricultural experiment. The experiment included blocks (0.4- to 3-ha blocks) of continuous grassland, continuous cropping and temporary grasslands with different durations and N-fertilizations on a 23-ha site in western France. We measured changes in SOC storage over this 9-year experiment on loamy soil and investigated physicochemical soil parameters. In the soil profiles (0–90 cm), SOC stocks ranged from 82.7 to 98.5 t ha−1 in 2005 and from 81.3 to 103.9 t ha−1 in 2014. On 0.4-ha blocks, the continuous grassland increased SOC in the soil profile with highest gains in the first 30 cm, while losses were recorded under continuous cropping. Where temporary grasslands were introduced into cropping cycles, SOC stocks were maintained. These observations were only partly confirmed when changing the scale of observation to 3-ha blocks. At the 3-ha scale, most grassland treatments exhibited both gains and losses of SOC, which could be partly related to soil physicochemical properties. Overall, our data suggest that both management practices and soil characteristics determine if carbon will accumulate in SOC pools. For detailed understanding of SOC changes, a combination of measurements at different scales is necessary.


Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Robertson ◽  
Doug Crawford ◽  
Debra Partington ◽  
Ivanah Oliver ◽  
David Rees ◽  
...  

Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in agricultural soils through changes to management may help to mitigate rising greenhouse gas emissions and sustain agricultural productivity and environmental conditions. However, in order to improve assessment of the potential for increasing SOC storage in the agricultural lands of Victoria, Australia, further information is required on current SOC levels and how they are related to environmental conditions, soil properties and agricultural management. Therefore, we measured stocks of SOC at 615 sites in pasture and cropping systems in Victoria, encompassing eight regions, five soil orders and four management classes (continuous cropping, crop–pasture rotation, sheep or beef pasture, and dairy pasture), and explored relationships between the C stocks and environment, soil and management. The results showed an extremely wide range in SOC, from 2 to 239 t C/ha (0–30 cm). Most of this variation was attributable to climate; almost 80% of the variation in SOC stock was related to annual rainfall or vapour pressure deficit (i.e. humidity). Texture-related soil properties accounted for a small, additional amount of variation in SOC. After accounting for climate, differences in SOC between management classes were small and often not significant. Management practices such as stubble retention, minimum cultivation, perennial pasture species, rotational grazing and fertiliser inputs were not significantly related to SOC stock. The relationships between SOC and environment, soil and management were scale-dependent. Within individual regions, the apparent influence of climate and soil properties on SOC stock varied, and in some regions, much of the variation in SOC stock remained unexplained. The results suggest that, across Victoria, there is a general hierarchy of influence on SOC stock: climate > soil properties > management class > management practices.


Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
KY Chan ◽  
DP Heenan

Differences in surface soil hydraulic properties after 10 years of different tillage (direct drilled (DD) versus conventional tillage (CT)) and stubble management practices (stubble retained (SR) versus stubble burnt (SB)) were measured in a lupin/wheat rotation on a red earth at Wagga Wagga, NSW. Sorptivity and hydraulic conductivity measurements using a disk permeameter under negative matric potential (-40 mrn) was complicated by water repellence found under SR as compared to SB treatments. Using water, K-40 of SR/DD was only 40% of SB/CT. However, using a wetting agent instead of water increased K-40 of SR/DD by >400% but did not significantly change that of SB/CT such that K-40 was similar for the two treatments. Despite similar bulk density, hydraulic conductivity under ponded infiltration of SR/DD was 4.1 times that of SB/CT. Differences in hydraulic conductivity between -40 mm and under ponded conditions suggest the presence of significantly more transmitting macropores >1.5 mm in diameter under direct drilling. Dye infiltration results indicated that tillage significantly reduced the number of transmitting macropores (>1 mm) even though the total number of macropores remained similar amongst the different treatments. 65% of the macropores were transmitting under SR/DD compared to 1% under SB/CT. A significant correlation (r2=0.82**) was found between transmitting pores (>1.0 mm) and the earthworm population. Tillage but not stubble burning significantly reduced earthworm population.


Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 615 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Cotching ◽  
G. Oliver ◽  
M. Downie ◽  
R. Corkrey ◽  
R. B. Doyle

The effects of environmental parameters, land-use history, and management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations, nitrogen, and bulk density were determined in agricultural soils of four soil types in Tasmania. The sites sampled were Dermosols, Vertosols, Ferrosols, and a group of texture-contrast soils (Chromosol and Sodosol) each with a 10-year management history ranging from permanent perennial pasture to continuous cropping. Rainfall, Soil Order, and land use were all strong explanatory variables for differences in SOC, soil carbon stock, total nitrogen, and bulk density. Cropping sites had 29–35% less SOC in surface soils (0–0.1 m) than pasture sites as well as greater bulk densities. Clay-rich soils contained the greatest carbon stocks to 0.3 m depth under pasture, with Ferrosols containing a mean of 158 Mg C ha–1, Vertosols 112 Mg C ha–1, and Dermosols 107 Mg C ha–1. Texture-contrast soils with sandier textured topsoils under pasture had a mean of 69 Mg C ha–1. The range of values in soil carbon stocks indicates considerable uncertainty in baseline values for use in soil carbon accounting. Farmers can influence SOC more by their choice of land use than their day-to-day soil management. Although the influence of management is not as great as other inherent site variables, farmers can still select practices for their ability to retain more SOC.


Author(s):  
Sumit Mukati ◽  
Y. M. Kool ◽  
Deepak Thakur ◽  
Deepak Singune

Present field experiment was conducted at farmer’s field in Ringondiya village, Madhya Pradesh during rabi season 2018-19 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on performance of chickpea, basic soil properties and nutrient availability. The performance of chickpea (cv. JG-322) was evaluated under seven treatments viz., T1-Control, T2-100% N:P:K (20:50:20), T3-50% N:P:K + FYM @5 t ha-1, T4-50% N:P:K + vermicomposting @2 t ha-1, T5-50% N:P:K + PSB @4 kg ha-1, T6-50% N:P:K + FYM @5 t ha-1 + PSB @4 kg ha-1 and T7-50% N:P:K + vermicomposting @2 t ha-1 +PSB @4 kg ha-1 replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of chickpea were determined at harvest. Similarly, the soil pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon and soil available nutrients (N, P and K) were also determined in post harvest soil samples. The results revealed that the integrated nutrient management practice significantly improved the performance of chickpea. The soil organic carbon and available nutrients were also found increased under INM practices.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noppol Arunrat ◽  
Nathsuda Pumijumnong ◽  
Sukanya Sereenonchai ◽  
Uthai Chareonwong

Understanding the effect of the environment, crop types, and land management practices on the organic carbon sequestration of top soil is crucial for adopting management strategies in highland agricultural areas. The objectives of this study are: (1) to estimate top soil organic carbon density (SOCD) of different crop types and (2) to analyze the factors controlling top SOCD in highland agricultural areas. The top soil layers from 0 to 30 cm depths were collected from the Mae Chaem basin, Northern Thailand. The results showed that the highest top SOCD was found soil used for growing upland rice, which contained an average of 58.71 Mg C ha−1. A significant difference between the top SOCD was detected between areas where minimum tillage and conventional tillage of various crops, with average of values 59.17 and 41.33 Mg C ha−1, respectively, for areas growing strawberries; 61.14 and 37.58 Mg C ha−1, respectively, for cabbage, and 71.15 and 39.55 Mg C ha−1, respectively, for maize. At higher elevation, the top SOCD was high, which may be due to high clay content and low temperature. Increased use of chemical fertilizers lead to increases in top SOCD, resulting in increased crop yields. Elevation, bulk density, N and K2O fertilizers were the main factors controlling the top SOCD at all sites.


Soil Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Robertson ◽  
Roger Armstrong ◽  
Debra Partington ◽  
Roger Perris ◽  
Ivanah Oliver ◽  
...  

Despite considerable research, predicting how soil organic carbon (SOC) in grain production systems will respond to conservation management practices, such as reduced tillage, residue retention and alternative rotations, remains difficult because of the slowness of change and apparent site specificity of the effects. We compared SOC stocks (equivalent soil mass to ~0–0.3 m depth) under various tillage, residue management and rotation treatments in three long-term (12-, 28- and 94-year-old) field experiments in two contrasting environments (Mallee and Wimmera regions). Our hypotheses were that SOC stocks are increased by: (1) minimum tillage rather than traditional tillage; (2) continuous cropping, rather than crop–fallow rotations; and (3) phases of crop or pasture legumes in rotations, relative to continuous cropping with cereals. We found that zero tillage and stubble retention increased SOC in some circumstances (by up to 1.5 Mg C ha–1, or 8%) but not in others. Inclusion of bare fallow in rotations reduced SOC (by 1.4–2.4 Mg C ha–1, or 8–12%) compared with continuous cropping. Including a pulse crop (field pea, where the grain was harvested) in rotations also increased SOC in some instances (by ~6–8 Mg C ha–1, or 29–35%) but not in others. Similarly, leguminous pasture (medic or lucerne) phases in rotations either increased SOC (by 3.5 Mg C ha–1, or 21%) or had no significant effect compared with continuous wheat. Inclusion of a vetch green manure or unfertilised oat pasture in the rotation did not significantly increase SOC compared with continuous wheat. The responses in SOC to these management treatments were likely to be due, in part, to differences in nitrogen and water availability (and their effects on carbon inputs and decomposition) and, in part, to other, unidentified, interactions. We conclude that the management practices examined in the present study may not reliably increase SOC on their own, but that significant increases in SOC are possible under some circumstances through the long-term use of multiple practices, such as stubble retention + zero tillage + legume N input + elimination of fallow. The circumstances under which increases in SOC can be achieved require further investigation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-274
Author(s):  
Agegnehu Shibabaw ◽  
Melkamu Alemeyehu

Soil organic carbon is the most important attribute and chosen as the most important indicator of soil and environment quality and agricultural sustainability. Maintaining of soil carbon stocks and other nutrient proved as the most important challenge of arable lands. It depends on soil type, surrounding climate and long term land use. Studies of various research reports indicates that agricultural management practice; crop rotation, residue management, reduced tillage, green manuring and organic matter amendment has identified for its contribution to the improvement of soil organic matter stocks and some other nutrients.Implementing of reduced or no tillage operation has underlined in increasing organic carbon stock of the soil through delaying of organic matter decomposition and N mineralization.Long term adoption of legume based crop rotation notably increases soil organic carbon and N contents, helped with natural gift of atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Organic sources of fertilizer are reservoirs of plant nutrients and organic carbon, and hence amendment with adequate and quality manure ultimately enhances the soil nutrients and SOC stocks of the soil. In general, soil and crop management practices allow the soil to sequester more atmospheric carbon in to the soil.The circumstances ultimately contribute to agricultural sustainability, environmental and soil quality and mitigation of climate change at large. 


Soil Research ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Y. Chan ◽  
D. P. Heenan

Changes in soil structural stability as a result of lime application (1·5 t/ha) were monitored over 3 years in a red earth with contrasting initial pH, organic carbon, and structural stability conditions at Wagga Wagga, NSW. The lime was applied to the surface of the direct drilled-soil without any incorporation, but in the case of the cultivated soils, the lime was incorporated into the top 10 cm by scarifying. After liming, an initial temporary reduction in macroaggregate (>2 µm) stability was detected in the immediate surface (0-2·5 cm) of the direct-drilled soil where the highest increases in pH, losses in soil organic carbon, and increases in microbial biomass were also observed. The decrease in structural stability was attributed to lime-induced increases in biological decomposition and the resulting soil organic carbon losses. Subsequent samplings did not detect any difference in either macro- or micro- (<50 µm) aggregate stability of this soil as a result of lime treatment. In contrast, for the 2 cultivated soils which had lower initial structural stability and organic carbon levels, a decline in stability was not observed. Instead, significant increases in macroaggregate and microaggregate stability were detected 1·5 years after lime application. By the end of 3 years, macroaggregate stability of the limed cultivated soils approached that of the direct-drilled soil. The improvement in structural stability extended to 7·5 cm depth 3 years after lime application. Wet-sieving experiments using prolonged periods of shaking indicated enhanced stability of the water-stable aggregates of the limed cultivated soils but not the direct-drilled soils.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Jesús Aguilera-Huertas ◽  
Beatriz Lozano-García ◽  
Manuel González-Rosado ◽  
Luis Parras-Alcántara

The short- and medium—long-term effects of management and hillside position on soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were studied in a centenary Mediterranean rainfed olive grove. One way to measure these changes is to analyze the soil quality, as it assesses soil degradation degree and attempts to identify management practices for sustainable soil use. In this context, the SOC stratification index (SR-COS) is one of the best indicators of soil quality to assess the degradation degree from SOC content without analyzing other soil properties. The SR-SOC was calculated in soil profiles (horizon-by-horizon) to identify the best soil management practices for sustainable use. The following time periods and soil management combinations were tested: (i) in the medium‒long-term (17 years) from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT), (ii) in the short-term (2 years) from CT to no-tillage with cover crops (NT-CC), and (iii) the effect in the short-term (from CT to NT-CC) of different topographic positions along a hillside. The results indicate that the SR-SOC increased with depth for all management practices. The SR-SOC ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in CT0, from 1.48 to 3.01 in CT1, from 1.15 to 2.48 in CT2, from 1.22 to 2.39 in NT-CC and from 0.98 to 4.16 in NT; therefore, the soil quality from the SR-SOC index was not directly linked to the increase or loss of SOC along the soil profile. This demonstrates the time-variability of SR-SOC and that NT improves soil quality in the long-term.


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