Carbon sequestration in a Brown Chernozem as affected by tillage and rotation

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
F. B. Dyck ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C And N

Soil organic matter is important because it influences the productivity and physical well-being of soils. Recently, increased attention has focussed on soil organic matter as a possible sink for C02-C. Despite this interest, there is a lack of data for quantifying the effect of tillage on soil organic matter. Between 1981 and 1994, two tillage experiments were conducted at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, on Swinton loam, an Orthic Brown Chernozemic soil. Organic C and N were monitored periodically to quantify the effects of crop rotation [continuous spring wheat (Cont W) (Triticum aestivum L.) vs. fallow–wheat (F-W)] and tillage management [no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional tillage (CT) involving primarily use of a cultivator and rodweeder]. The effect of snow management on soil organic matter was also evaluated in one experiment, but this factor was not significant. Organic matter changes were mainly observed in the 0- to 7.5-cm soil depth. Carbon and N were greater in both concentrations and amounts in Cont W than in F–W; the latter cropping system was employed on this land during the previous 70–80 yr. In the 0- to 7.5-cm depth, the amount of organic matter was only moderately greater in NT than CT in the Cont W systems while in the F-W systems tillage was not significant (P > 0.10). During the 12-yr period, Cont W (average of NT and CT) gained about 2 t ha−1 more C in the top 15 cm of soil than F-W (average of NT and CT), with most of the increase occurring in the first 5 yr. Further, Cont W (NT) gained about 1.5 t ha−1 more C than Cont W (CT), and F-W (NT) gained about 0.5 t ha−1 more than F-W (CT). When a system that was maintained as Cont W (NT) for 9 yr was changed to Cont W (CT) for 3 yr and then summerfallowed (CT) for 1 yr, soil organic matter declined (P < 0.05). Our observations, supported by calculations based on crop residue production, indicated that an increase in organic C, averaging about 0.4–0.5 t ha−1 yr−1, has occurred in the top 15 cm of soil in Cont W (NT) between 1982 and 1993. However, because of uncertainty in our estimated C levels at the start of the experiment, the nature of the rate of C increase (linear or curvilinear) is not known. Key words: Organic C, organic N, no-till, summerfallow

Free light fraction carbon and nitrogen, a physically uncomplexed soil organic matter distribution within subtropical grass and leucaena–grass pastures

Soil Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Conrad ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
D. E. Allen ◽  
R. Fujinuma ◽  
Neal W. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Light Fraction ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Total N ◽  
Δ13c And Δ15n ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C And N

Quantifying the size and turnover of physically uncomplexed soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for the understanding of nutrient cycling and storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the C and nitrogen (N) dynamics of SOM fractions in leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala)–grass pastures remains unclear. We assessed the potential of leucaena to sequester labile, free light fraction (fLF) C and N in soil by estimating the origin, quantity and vertical distribution of physically unprotected SOM. The soil from a chronosequence of seasonally grazed leucaena stands (0–40 years) was sampled to a depth of 0.2m and soil and fLF were analysed for organic C, N and δ13C and δ15N. On average, the fLF formed 20% of SOC and 14% of total N stocks in the upper 0.1m of soil from leucaena rows and showed a peak of fLF-C and fLF-N stocks in the 22-year-stand. The fLF δ13C and fLF δ15N values indicated that leucaena produced 37% of fLF-C and 28% of fLF-N in the upper 0.1m of soil from leucaena rows. Irrespective of pasture type or soil depth, the majority of fLF-C originated from the accompanying C4 pasture-grass species. This study suggests that fLF-C and fLF-N, the labile SOM, can form a significant portion of total SOM, especially in leucaena–grass pastures.

Influence of tillage and cropping system on soil organic matter, structure and infiltration in a rolling landscape

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Elliott ◽  
A. A. Efetha
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Infiltration Rates

The influence of tillage and cropping system on soil organic matter, structure and infiltration was studied in a rolling, glaciolacustrine landscape in Saskatchewan with slopes ranging from 6 to 30%. A field that had been continuously cropped using zero tillage (ZTCC) for 11 yr was compared with conventional tillage in a crop–summerfallow rotation (CTCF) on an adjacent field. Soils in each field were sampled according to their position in the landscape. Soil organic C, aggregrate size and aggregate stability were significantly greater on the ZTCC plot than the CTCF. Infiltration rates averaged 74 and 52 mm h−1 on the ZTCC and CTCF plots, respectively. Differences between treatments were most pronounced at the shoulder positions. Increased soil strength was measured on the CTCF plot at depths corresponding to the action of tillage implements (0.05 m and 0.15 m). On the CTCF plot, infiltration rates correlated with initial moisture, aggregate stability and bulk density but on the ZTCC plot consistent correlations were only found between infiltration and bulk density. When measured infiltration rates were compared with expected storm intensities, the differences in infiltration rates between treatments and their distribution in the landscape resulted in substantially more runoff from the CTCF plot than the ZTCC. Key words: Zero tillage, cropping frequency, infiltration rate, aggregation, organic carbon, landscape

Tillage effects on the dynamics of total and corn-residue-derived soil organic matter in two southern Ontario soils

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Wanniarachchi ◽  
R. P. Voroney ◽  
T. J. Vyn ◽  
R. P. Beyaert ◽  
A. F. MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Loam Soil

Agricultural management practices affect the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) by influencing the amount of plant residues returned to the soil and rate of residue and SOM decomposition. Total organic C and δ13C of soil were measured in two field experiments involving corn cropping to determine the effect of tillage practices on SOM dynamics. Minimum tillage (MT) and no tillage (NT) had no significant impact on the soil C compared with conventional tillage (CT) in the 0- to 50-cm soil depth sampled at both sites. Continuous corn under MT and CT for 29 yr in a silt loam soil sequestered 61–65 g m−2 yr−1 of corn-derived C (C4-C), and it accounted for 25–26% of the total C in the 0- to 50-cm depth. In a sandy loam soil cropped to corn for 6 yr, SOM contained 10 and 8.4% C4-C under CT and NT, respectively. Reduced tillage practices altered the distribution of C4-C in soil, causing the surface (0–5 cm) soil of reduced tillage (MT and NT) plots to have higher amounts of C4-C compared to CT. Tillage practices did not affect the turnover of C3-C in soil. Key words: Soil organic matter, 13C natural abundance, tillage practices

scholarly journals Spatial variability of microbial biomass and organic matter labile pools in a haplic planosol soil

Bragantia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (suppl) ◽  
pp. 85-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Campana Loureiro ◽  
Helvécio De-Polli ◽  
Marcos Bacis Ceddia ◽  
Adriana Maria de Aquino
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Spatial Dependence ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
C And N

The objective of this work was to study the spatial variability of soil microbial biomass (SMB) and labile soil organic matter pools (labile SOM), under different management systems and plant cover. The experiment was conducted in a Haplic Planosol soil on an Integrated Agroecological Production System (SIPA), in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro. The evaluated management systems were: alley cropping, pasture, and bush garden, the late one was used as reference area. Three grids of regular spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 meters were used for sampling, consisting of 25 georeferenced points each, where soil samples were taken at 0-10 cm depth. The following labile constituents of soil organic matter were determined: free light fraction (FLF), water soluble C and N, C and N of SMB (SMB-C and SMB-N), and glomalin content. The textural fractions (sand, silt, and clay), pH in water, and chemical attributes (organic C, total N, Ca, Mg, Al, P, K, and CEC-cation exchange capacity) were also determined. The areas of alley cropping and pasture showed spatial dependence to the attributes of SOM. The occurrence of high spatial dependence for the attributes associated to microbial biomass in the alley cropping system (C, FLF, SMB-N and respiration), probably was due to external factors related to management, such as: intensive rotational cropping system, diversity of crops and different inputs of organic matter to soil such as pruning material and organic compost.

Simulation of soil organic carbon and nitrogen changes in cereal and pasture systems of southern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 481 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Carter ◽  
WJ Parton ◽  
IC Rowland ◽  
JE Schultz ◽  
GR Steed
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C

Maintenance and improvement of soil organic matter levels is an important concern in dryland farming systems of temperate regions. The Century soil organic matter model was used to simulate changes in soil organic C and total N under long-term wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pasture rotations at five sites in southern Australia. Average declines in soil organic C and total N of 14 and 10%, respectively, in continuous and wheat-fallow systems over a 10 to 20 year period were closely simulated by the model at each site. Additions of N fertilizer (80 kg N ha-1), which prevented soil organic matter decline in continuous wheat systems, was also well represented by the model. Trends in soil organic matter under long-term legume pasture were not adequately simulated by the model, probably due to the 'annual' nature of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.) in dry seasons and subsequent changes in the ratio of live to dead plant biomass and shoot to root ratios. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of adequate total plant C production to prevent a decline in soil organic C.

Effect of crop rotations and cultural practices on soil organic matter, microbial biomass and respiration in a thin Black Chernozem

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
V. O. Biederbeck ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
G. P. Lafond
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C And N

The effects of crop rotations and various cultural practices on soil organic matter quantity and quality in a Rego, Black Chernozem with a thin A horizon were determined in a long-term study at Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Variables examined included: fertilization, cropping frequency, green manuring, and inclusion of grass-legume hay crop in predominantly spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production systems. Generally, fertilizer increased soil organic C and microbial biomass in continuous wheat cropping but not in fallow-wheat or fallow-wheat-wheat rotations. Soil organic C, C mineralization (respiration) and microbial biomass C and N increased (especially in the 7.5- to 15-cm depth) with increasing frequency of cropping and with the inclusion of legumes as green manure or hay crop in the rotation. The influence of treatments on soil microbial biomass C (BC) was less pronounced than on microbial biomass N. Carbon mineralization was a good index for delineating treatment effects. Analysis of the microbial biomass C/N ratio indicated that the microbial suite may have been modified by the treatments that increased soil organic matter significantly. The treatments had no effect on specific respiratory activity (CO2-C/BC). However, it appeared that the microbial activity, in terms of respiration, was greater for systems with smaller microbial biomass. Changes in amount and quality of the soil organic matter were associated with estimated amount and C and N content of plant residues returned to the soil. Key words: Specific respiratory activity, crop residues, soil quality, crop rotations

Sensitivity of total, light fraction and mineralizable organic matter to management practices in a Lethbridge soil

1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bremer ◽  
H. H. Janzen ◽  
A. M. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Light Fraction ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Native Grass ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Total Light ◽  
Light Fraction Organic Matter

Crop management influences the quantity and quality of organic matter in agricultural soils. A crop rotation study established at Lethbridge, Alberta in 1951 was sampled in September 1992 to determine the effect of crop management on total, light fraction and mineralizable (10-wk) organic matter contents. Spring wheat was the dominant cropping system; treatments examined include fallow frequency, forage hay production in rotation, manure amendment, N fertilizer application, and native grass. The two latter treatments were introduced in 1985. Total and light fraction organic matter did not vary among phases of the rotation whereas mineralized C tended to be lowest during and shortly after a fallow phase. When averaged across rotation phases, total, light fraction, and mineralized organic matter were enhanced by reduced fallow frequency, manure additons, hay production and native grass. Highest concentrations of total and labile organic concentrations in the 0- to 7.5-cm soil depth were generally found in the continuously-cropped wheat and native grass treatments. Hay production significantly increased soil organic matter in the 15- to 30-cm soil depth. Nitrogen fertilization did not increase soil organic matter in this study, likely because of minimal yield response over the treatment period. Sensitivity of the various indicators to treatment [(highest–lowest)/lowest] was 0.2 for total, 2.5 for light fraction, and 1.5 for mineralized soil organic C. Light fraction organic matter was the most robust indicator of management-induced effects on soil organic matter. Key words: Labile organic matter, fallow frequency, forage hay production, manure, native grass

Long-term effects of tillage and crop rotations on soil organic C and total N in a clay soil in southwestern Saskatchewan

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
D. Curtin
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
N Content ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Cropping Frequency ◽  
C And N

Soil organic matter contributes to the productivity and physical well-being of soils. An 11-yr study was conducted on a clay soil in the Brown soil zone in southwestern Saskatchewan to determine the influence of tillage and cropping frequency on soil organic C and total N content. Carbon and N behaved in a similar manner. Cropping frequency did not affect soil organic C or total N content, but soil C and N were greater under no-tillage (NT) than under mechanically tilled continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Cont W) and fallow-wheat (F-W) rotations. Effects were apparent in the 0– to 7.5– and 7.5– to 15-cm depths. Over the 11-yr period, F-W (minimum tillage) gained no additional C; Cont W (conventional tillage) gained 2 t C ha−1, and both Cont W (NT) and F-W (NT) gained 5 t C ha−1. Changes in organic C and N were greatest in the final 4 yr of the experiment when crop residue production was greatest. Using data from two similar experiments conducted during the same period on soils differing in texture, we demonstrated that C gains were directly related to clay content of the soils. Thus, when attempting to estimate C storage in soils, we must consider both residue input and soil clay content. Key words: Organic C, total N, organic matter, soil texture, bulk density

Limited influence of tillage management on organic matter fractions in the surface layer of silt soils under cereal - root crop rotations

Soil Research ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Abdul Kader ◽  
Steven Sleutel ◽  
Karoline D'Haene ◽  
Stefaan De Neve
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Labile Organic Matter ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Root Crop ◽  
Physical Fractionation ◽  
Cereal Root

Reduced tillage (RT) management may increase surface soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N), particularly due to accumulation of labile organic matter (OM). We investigated the effect of RT compared with conventional tillage (CT) on the distribution of SOC and N over different soil fractions from 7 pairs of fields with cereal–root crop rotations, in the Belgian loess belt. Surface soil samples (0–100 mm) were physically fractionated according to a sequential sieving and density separation method into stable microaggregates, silt and clay, and free and occluded particulate OM fractions. RT management was previously found effective in increasing the organic C and organic N content of the surface soil (0–100 mm) at these 7 sites. Here, physical fractionation showed that the difference in amount of organic C and N in free particulate OM (fPOM), intra-microaggregate particulate OM (iPOM), and silt and clay associated OM between the RT and CT soils contributed 34, 29, and 37% of the increase in SOC and 35, 32, and 33% of the increase in N. The contribution of OC and N in iPOM and fPOM increased significantly on a relative basis under RT management. Only a modest increase in iPOM and slight enhancement of microaggregation was observed in RT compared with CT soils. We suggest that the repeated disturbance of soil by harvest of root crops and repeated use of cultivators and harrows may limit the accumulation of physically protected POM under RT management of these Western European cereal–root crop rotations. Instead, most of the accumulated OC and N in the surface horizons under RT management is present as free unprotected POM, which could be prone to rapid loss after (temporary) abandonment of RT management.

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