滇南喀斯特断陷盆地土地利用方式对土壤有机碳及其活性组分的影响

土地利用方式是影响土壤有机碳库的重要因素,为探究喀斯特断陷盆地土壤有机碳库对土地利用方式及环境因素的响应,以滇南喀斯特地区5种典型土地利用方式(耕地、草地、灌丛、人工林、天然林)为研究对象,分析不同土地利用方式土壤有机碳(SOC)及活性有机碳(LOC)组分,即可溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化性有机碳(EOC)及微生物量碳(MBC)的含量、储量及分配比例在土壤垂直剖面(0-60 cm)的变化特征。结果表明：5种土地利用方式的SOC含量随土层深度的增加逐渐降低,其储量依次为灌丛(191.77 t/hm²)、草地(166.86 t/hm²)、耕地(142.47 t/hm²)、人工林(134.31 t/hm²)和天然林(102.62 t/hm²);EOC和MBC的平均含量及储量均以草地及灌丛最高、人工林及天然林次之,二者在土壤垂直剖面上与SOC含量的变化特征一致,但EOC和MBC含量在土层间的下降幅度大于SOC;土地利用方式和土层深度对DOC无显著影响(P>0.05);活性有机碳的分配比例受土地利用方式及土层深度的显著影响(P<0.01),其中人工林的EOC/SOC和MBC/SOC显著低于草地、灌丛及天然林。通径分析指出SOC和EOC主要受C/P比、全磷、砂粒和交换性钙的影响,砂粒和C/P比是影响MBC的主要因子。研究阐明在喀斯特断陷盆地地区EOC和MBC对土地利用方式的响应比SOC更敏感。另外,今后在土壤碳库的研究中应更多关注土壤磷和物理结构对其的影响。     

中国东部森林土壤有机碳组分的纬度格局及其影响因子

土壤有机碳是森林碳库的重要组成部分,其活性有机碳组分不仅是土壤碳周转过程的重要环节,还是气候变化最敏感的指标。以中国东部南北森林样带(NSTEC,North-South Transect of Eastern China)为对象,选择了9个典型森林生态系统(尖峰岭、鼎湖山、九连山、神农架、太岳山、东灵山、长白山、凉水和呼中),涵盖了我国热带森林、亚热带森林和温带森林的主要类型,测定其0—10 cm土壤有机碳(SOC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)、微生物碳(MBC)和可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量,结合气候、土壤质地、土壤微生物和植被生物量等因素,探讨了森林土壤有机碳组分的纬度格局及其主要影响因素。实验结果表明:SOC、EOC、MBC和DOC含量分别为23.12—77.00 g/kg、4.62—17.24 g/kg、41.92—329.39 mg/kg和212.63—453.43 mg/kg。SOC、EOC和MBC随纬度增加呈指数增长(P0.05),而DOC则随纬度增加呈指数降低(P0.05)。在不同气候带上,SOC和EOC含量表现为热带森林亚热带森林温带森林(P0.05),DOC含量表现为热带森林亚热带森林温带森林(P0.001)。气候、植被生物量、土壤质地和土壤微生物可解释土壤有机碳组分纬度格局的大部分空间变异(SOC 74%;EOC 65%;MBC 51%和DOC 76%)。其中,气候是土壤有机碳组分呈现纬度格局的主要影响因素,土壤质地是SOC和EOC的次要影响因素,而土壤微生物和植被生物量是MBC和DOC的次要影响因素。     

三江平原不同湿地类型土壤活性有机碳组分及含量差异

土壤活性有机碳对土壤干扰的反应较快,是土壤有机碳早期变化的敏感性指标。近50年来,三江平原湿地土壤有机碳库受农事活动影响较大。为了探讨不同湿地类型土壤活性有机碳主要组分土壤可溶性有机碳(Dissolved organic carbon,DOC)、微生物量碳(Microbial biomass carbon,MBC)和易氧化有机碳(Easily oxidized organic carbon,EOC)的分布差异及主要影响因子,选择了三江平原洪河自然保护区4种典型的湿地类型(小叶章+沼柳湿地、小叶章湿地、毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地)为研究对象。分析了不同湿地类型土壤可溶性有机碳,微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳在0—30 cm土层内的分布特征和分配比例及其与有机碳、土壤养分和酶活性指标(蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和过氧化氢酶)之间的相关关系。结果表明:(1)4种湿地类型土壤DOC、MBC和EOC含量均随土层深度的增加而减少。不同湿地类型之间土壤活性有机碳含量在0—30 cm土层内存在显著性差异(P0.05),相对于长期淹水的毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地而言,未淹水的小叶章+沼柳湿地和小叶章湿地具有较高的DOC,MBC和EOC含量。(2)土壤DOC、MBC和EOC占有机碳比例分别为0.27%—0.63%,1.27%—5.94%和19.63%—41.25%。土壤DOC所占比例呈先增后减的变化趋势,最大的比例均出现在10—20 cm。MBC所占比例在土壤剖面上则未表现出一致的变化规律,而EOC所占比例则随土层深度的增加而逐渐减少。(3)土壤DOC占SOC比例以小叶章湿地最高,MBC和EOC占SOC的比例则以小叶章+沼柳湿地最高。而长期淹水的毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地则具有更低的DOC,MBC和EOC比例。(4)综合分析表明,4种湿地类型土壤DOC,MBC和EOC两两之间存在极显著相关性关系,它们除了与碳氮比相关性不显著外,与土壤有机碳,全氮,全磷养分和酶活性指标间相关性均达到极显著水平,尤其是与有机碳和全氮的相关性系数更高,此外DOC与纤维素酶,MBC与过氧化氢酶相关性更大。由此可见,土壤碳氮磷养分和酶活性是影响土壤活性有机碳组分分布的重要因素。     

Soil carbon changes in cultivated and excavated land converted to grasses in east-central Saskatchewan

The conversion of annually cultivated or disturbed marginal land to forage grasses has the potential to accrete soil organic carbon (SOC) in the surface 0–15 cm depth. Soil organic carbon mass (Mg ha^–1) was measured in ten side-by-side cultivated versus forage grass seed-down restoration treatments on catenae at various sites in east-central Saskatchewan, Canada. Treatments were imposed for time periods ranging from five to twelve years. It was found that SOC mass was usually significantly higher in the grassland restorations versus the paired cultivated equivalents. Estimated SOC gain rates (0–15 cm) from grass seed-down in the region was estimated to be 0.6 to 0.8 Mg C ha^–1 yr^–1. Light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), the labile component of SOC, was more variable in the comparisons than SOC. Measured ¹³C natural abundance values in selected equivalent comparisons revealed a possible contribution from seeded warm season C₄ grasses and soil carbonate ¹³C to the C pools in upslope positions of the landscape. Overall, grassland restoration in this region appears to result in increased carbon storage in the surface soil.     

衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳库的影响

为了解植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳库的影响,采用空间代替时间序列方法,对衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳含量和分布进行研究。结果表明,土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)、水溶性有机碳(DOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)和易氧化碳(ROC)含量均以乔灌阶段最高(P0.05),随土层加深显著减小(P0.05)。随恢复进程,MBC/SOC、DOC/SOC和ROC/SOC显著增加(P0.05);0~20 cm土层,LFOC/SOC随恢复显著增加(P0.05),而20~40 cm土层,LFOC/SOC的差异不明显(P0.05)。随土层加深,LFOC/SOC显著减小(P0.05),DOC/SOC、MBC/SOC和ROC/SOC逐渐增加(P0.05)。SOC、MBC、DOC、LFOC和ROC间存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01)。各类活性有机碳库与土壤含水量(SWC)、全氮(TN)、碱解氮(AN)和速效磷(AP)呈显著或极显著正相关关系(P0.05或P0.01),与土壤容重(BD)呈极显著负相关关系。因此,植被恢复在一定程度上可提高衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地土壤活性有机碳的形成和积累,增加土壤碳储量。     

Effects of Conservation Tillage on Topsoil Microbial Metabolic Characteristics and Organic Carbon within Aggregates under a Rice (Oryza sativa L.) –Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cropping System in Central China

Investigating microbial metabolic characteristics and soil organic carbon (SOC) within aggregates and their relationships under conservation tillage may be useful in revealing the mechanism of SOC sequestration in conservation tillage systems. However, limited studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between SOC and microbial metabolic characteristics within aggregate fractions under conservation tillage. We hypothesized that close relationships can exist between SOC and microbial metabolic characteristics within aggregates under conservation tillage. In this study, a field experiment was conducted from June 2011 to June 2013 following a split-plot design of a randomized complete block with tillage practices [conventional intensive tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT)] as main plots and straw returning methods [preceding crop residue returning (S, 2100−2500 kg C ha⁻¹) and removal (NS, 0 kg C ha^-1)] as subplots with three replications. The objective of this study was to reveal the effects of tillage practices and residue-returning methods on topsoil microbial metabolic characteristics and organic carbon (SOC) fractions within aggregates and their relationships under a rice–wheat cropping system in central China. Microbial metabolic characteristics investigated using the Biolog system was examined within two aggregate fractions (>0.25 and <0.25 mm). NT treatments significantly increased SOC concentration of bulk soil, >0.25 aggregate, and <0.25 mm aggregate in the 0−5 cm soil layer by 5.8%, 6.8% and 7.9% relative to CT treatments, respectively. S treatments had higher SOC concentration of bulk soil (12.9%), >0.25 mm aggregate (11.3%), and <0.25 mm aggregate (14.1%) than NS treatments. Compared with CT treatments, NT treatments increased MBC by 11.2%, 11.5%, and 20%, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration by 15.5%, 29.5%, and 14.1% of bulk soil, >0.25 mm aggregate, and <0.25 mm aggregate in the 0−5 cm soil layer, respectively. Compared with NS treatments, S treatments significantly increased MBC by 29.8%, 30.2%, and 24.1%, and DOC concentration by 23.2%, 25.0%, and 37.5% of bulk soil, >0.25 mm aggregate, and <0.25 mm aggregate in the 0−5 cm soil layer, respectively. Conservation tillage (NT and S) increased microbial metabolic activities and Shannon index in >0.25 and <0.25 mm aggregates in the 0−5 cm soil layer. Redundancy analysis showed that the SOC and its fractions (DOC and MBC) were closely correlated with microbial metabolic activities. Structural equation modelling showed that the increase in microbial metabolic activities directly improved SOC by promoting DOC in >0.25 mm aggregate in the upper (0−5 cm) soil layer under conservation tillage systems, as well as directly and indirectly by promoting DOC and MBC in <0.25 mm aggregate. Our results suggested that conservation tillage increased SOC in aggregates in the topsoil by improving microbial metabolic activities.     

Soil carbon stocks and fluxes in a warm-temperate oak chronosequence in China

Soil respiration (R_S) and soil carbon stocks, as well as stand properties were investigated in a warm-temperate oak chronosequence in order to understand the age effect on soil CO₂ efflux. The chronosequence consisted of three 40-year-old, 48-year-old, 80-year-old, and 143-year-old oak stands, respectively. R_S measurements were conducted using a Li-8100 soil CO₂ flux system from October 2008 to October 2009. Temporal variations of R_S of all the four forests largely depended on soil temperature of 5 cm depth (T₅) (R²?=?0.738?C0.825). The mean R_S for 40-year-old, 48-year-old, 80-year-old, and 143-year-old forests were 2.37, 2.59, 2.99, and 3.32 ??mol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1 respectively. Both top soil organic carbon (SOC) and light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) stocks were significantly correlated to R_S variation, while only significant different LFOC among stands was found. This indicated that cumulated labile organic carbon was a better indicator on R_S variation, which was further illustrated by a better relationship between R ₁₀ and LFOC than that of R₁₀ and SOC. We found that the variation of mean R_S among stands was well correlated with basal area (BA). Marginal correlation between R_S and fine root biomass (FR) demonstrated the relationship between R_S and belowground metabolism. We also found total porosity (TP) negatively influenced the mean R_S and this negative effect may mainly be attributed to the capillary porosity (CP). Forest growth and yield could be contributed to R_S variation among stands. Forest succession also changed soil labile carbon stock and soil physical properties that influenced the CO₂ efflux.     

Effects of Wheat Straw Incorporation on the Availability of Soil Nutrients and Enzyme Activities in Semiarid Areas

Soil infertility is the main barrier to dryland agricultural production in China. To provide a basis for the establishment of a soil amelioration technical system for rainfed fields in the semiarid area of northwest China, we conducted a four—year (2007–2011) field experiment to determine the effects of wheat straw incorporation on the arid soil nutrient levels of cropland cultivated with winter wheat after different straw incorporation levels. Three wheat straw incorporation levels were tested (H: 9000 kg hm^-2, M: 6000 kg hm^-2, and L: 3000 kg hm^-2) and no straw incorporation was used as the control (CK). The levels of soil nutrients, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil labile organic carbon (LOC), and enzyme activities were analyzed each year after the wheat harvest. After straw incorporation for four years, the results showed that variable straw amounts had different effects on the soil fertility indices, where treatment H had the greatest effect. Compared with CK, the average soil available N, available P, available K, SOC, and LOC levels were higher in the 0–40 cm soil layers after straw incorporation treatments, i.e., 9.1–30.5%, 9.8–69.5%, 10.3–27.3%, 0.7–23.4%, and 44.4–49.4% higher, respectively. On average, the urease, phosphatase, and invertase levels in the 0–40 cm soil layers were 24.4–31.3%, 9.9–36.4%, and 42.9–65.3% higher, respectively. Higher yields coupled with higher nutrient contents were achieved with H, M and L compared with CK, where these treatments increased the crop yields by 26.75%, 21.51%, and 7.15%, respectively.     

Managing Semi-Arid Rangelands for Carbon Storage: Grazing and Woody Encroachment Effects on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen

High grazing intensity and wide-spread woody encroachment may strongly alter soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. However, the direction and quantity of these changes have rarely been quantified in East African savanna ecosystem. As shifts in soil C and N pools might further potentially influence climate change mitigation, we quantified and compared soil organic carbon (SOC) and total soil nitrogen (TSN) content in enclosures and communal grazing lands across varying woody cover i.e. woody encroachment levels. Estimated mean SOC and TSN stocks at 0–40 cm depth varied across grazing regimes and among woody encroachment levels. The open grazing land at the heavily encroached site on sandy loam soil contained the least SOC (30 ± 2.1 Mg ha^-1) and TSN (5 ± 0.57 Mg ha^-1) while the enclosure at the least encroached site on sandy clay soil had the greatest mean SOC (81.0 ± 10.6 Mg ha^-1) and TSN (9.2 ± 1.48 Mg ha^-1). Soil OC and TSN did not differ with grazing exclusion at heavily encroached sites, but were twice as high inside enclosure compared to open grazing soils at low encroached sites. Mean SOC and TSN in soils of 0–20 cm depth were up to 120% higher than that of the 21–40 cm soil layer. Soil OC was positively related to TSN, cation exchange capacity (CEC), but negatively related to sand content. Our results show that soil OC and TSN stocks are affected by grazing, but the magnitude is largely influenced by woody encroachment and soil texture. We suggest that improving the herbaceous layer cover through a reduction in grazing and woody encroachment restriction are the key strategies for reducing SOC and TSN losses and, hence, for climate change mitigation in semi-arid rangelands.     

Effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition on soil organic carbon fractions in a subtropical forest

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated CO₂ concentration and nitrogen addition on soil organic carbon fractions in subtropical forests where the ambient N deposition was high.

Methods

Seedlings of typical subtropical forest ecosystems were transplanted in ten open-top chambers and grown under CO₂ and nitrogen treatments. The treatments included: 1) elevated CO₂ (700?μmol?mol^-1); 2) N addition of 100?kg NH₄NO₃ ha^-1?yr^-1; 3) combined elevated CO₂ and N addition; and 4) control. We measured soil total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC).

Results

Results showed that elevated CO₂ alone did not significantly affect soil TOC, POC and ROC after 4?years of treatment, but increased soil MBC and soil respiration compared to the control. N addition alone had no significant effect neither on soil TOC, POC and ROC, but decreased MBC and soil respiration over time. However, the elevated CO₂ and N addition together significantly increased soil POC and ROC, and had no significant effect on soil MBC.

Conclusions

This study indicated that even in N-rich subtropical forest ecosystems, inputs of N are still needed in order to sustain soil C accumulation under elevated CO₂.     

A Global Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Management Practices on Net Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensity from Cropland Soils

Little is known about management practices that can simultaneously improve soil and environmental quality and sustain crop yields. The effects of novel and traditional management practices that included a combination of tillage, crop rotation, and N fertilization on soil C and N, global warming potential (GWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), and malt barley (Hordeum vulgarie L.) yield and quality were examined under non-irrigated and irrigated cropping systems from 2008 to 2011 in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, USA. In loamy soil under non-irrigated condition in eastern Montana, novel and traditional management practices were no-till malt barley-pea (Pisum sativum L.) with 80 kg N ha^-1 and conventional till malt barley-fallow with 80 kg N ha^-1, respectively. In sandy loam soil under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in western North Dakota, novel and traditional management practices included no-till malt barley-pea with 67 (non-irrigated) to 134 kg N ha^-1 (irrigated) and conventional till malt barley with 67 (non-irrigated) to 134 kg N ha^-1 (irrigated), respectively. Compared with the traditional management practice, soil organic C (SOC) and total N (STN) at 0–120 cm were 5% greater with the novel management practice under non-irrigated condition in eastern Montana and under irrigated condition in western North Dakota, but were not different under non-irrigated condition in western North Dakota. In both places under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, total applied N rate, residual soil NO₃-N content at 0–120 cm, global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were 15 to 70% lower with the novel than the traditional management practice. Malt barley yield and quality were not different between the two practices in both places. Novel management practices, such as no-till malt barley-pea with reduced N rate_, can simultaneously enhance soil and environmental quality, reduce N input, and sustain crop yield compared with traditional practices in the northern Great Plains, USA.     

Differential Effects of Conservational Management on SOC Accumulation in the Grasslands of China

Conservational management practices in grasslands have been considered one of the efficient options to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. However, the SOC changes after the conservational management practices vary significantly under different grassland vegetation types and the environmental conditions. At present, it is not clear how the SOC accumulation changes along the soil profile if conservational management practice was adopted. In this study, we collected 663 paired observational data of SOC changes with and without conservational management practices in grasslands of China from 176 published literatures that has both the surface (0‒20 cm) and subsurface (to 40 cm depth) SOC measurements. The differences of SOC density (SOCD) between pre‒management and post‒management in the vertical soil layers were analyzed in order to establish a quantitative relationship of the SOC changes between the subsurface and the surface. The results revealed that in all grasslands, conservational management practices benefits the SOC accumulation by enhancing 0.43‒1.14 Mg C ha^–1 yr^–1. But the SOC increment weakened downwards along the soil profile. While the surface SOC was enhanced by 17% after conservational management, the subsurface SOC was enhanced by only 7%. The SOC accumulation was closely correlated with restoration duration, pre-management SOCD and the environmental factors and differed greatly among different grasslands and the practices adopted. The alpine and mountain grassland showed a higher annual SOC increment than the temperate grassland with the annual rate of 1.62 and 0.72 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1, respectively. The SOC increment caused by the artificial plantation and the grazing exclusion conservational management was more than 2-fold that of the cropland abandonment and the extensive utilization. With the quantitative relationship of the SOC changes between soil layers, we provide a methodological option to estimate SOC changes to layers deeper than the recommendation of IPCC when only the surface layer SOC increment is available.     

Differential Responses of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions and Carbon Turnover Related Enzyme Activities to Wheat Straw Incorporation in Subtropical China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and C turnover related enzyme activities are essential for nutrient cycling. This is because they are regarded as important indicators of soil fertility and quality. We measured the effects of wheat straw incorporation on SOC fractions and C turnover related enzyme activities in a paddy field in subtropical China. Soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths after rice harvesting. The total SOC concentrations were higher in the high rate of wheat straw incorporation treatment (NPKS2) than in the not fertilized control (CK) (P < 0.05). The concentrations of labile C fractions [i.e., water soluble organic C (WSOC), hot-water soluble organic C (HWSOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and easily oxidizable C (EOC)], were higher in the moderate NPKS1 and NPKS2 treatments than in CK and the fertilized treatment without straw (NPK) (P < 0.05). The geometric means of labile C (GMC) and C pool management index (CPMI) values were highest in NPKS2 (P < 0.05). The SOC concentrations correlated positively with the labile C fractions (P < 0.05). Soil cellulase activity and the geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) were higher in NPKS2 than in CK in all soil layers (P < 0.05), and the invertase activity was higher in NPKS2 than in CK in the 0–10 cm layer (P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple linear regression indicated that the formation of the SOC, WSOC, HWSOC, MBC, and EOC was mostly enhanced by the cellulase and invertase activities (P < 0.05). Therefore, the high rate of wheat straw incorporation may be recommended to increase soil C pool levels and soil fertility in subtropical paddy soils.     

Dynamics and Sources of Soil Organic C Following Afforestation of Croplands with Poplar in a Semi-Arid Region in Northeast China

Afforestation of former croplands has been proposed as a promising way to mitigate rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration in view of the commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. Central to this C sequestration is the dynamics of soil organic C (SOC) storage and stability with the development of afforested plantations. Our previous study showed that SOC storage was not changed after afforestation except for the 0–10 cm layer in a semi-arid region of Keerqin Sandy Lands, northeast China. In this study, soil organic C was further separated into light and heavy fractions using the density fractionation method, and their organic C concentration and ¹³C signature were analyzed to investigate the turnover of old vs. new SOC in the afforested soils. Surface layer (0–10 cm) soil samples were collected from 14 paired plots of poplar (Populus × xiaozhuanica W. Y. Hsu & Liang) plantations with different stand basal areas (the sum of the cross-sectional area of all live trees in a stand), ranging from 0.2 to 32.6 m² ha⁻¹, and reference maize (Zea mays L.) croplands at the same sites as our previous study. Soil Δ_C stocks (Δ_C refers to the difference in SOC content between a poplar plantation and the paired cropland) in bulk soil and light fraction were positively correlated with stand basal area (R ² = 0.48, p<0.01 and R ² = 0.40, p = 0.02, respectively), but not for the heavy fraction. SOC_crop (SOC derived from crops) contents in the light and heavy fractions in poplar plantations were significantly lower as compared with SOC contents in croplands, but tree-derived C in bulk soil, light and heavy fraction pools increased gradually with increasing stand basal area after afforestation. Our study indicated that cropland afforestation could sequester new C derived from trees into surface mineral soil, but did not enhance the stability of SOC due to a fast turnover of SOC in this semi-arid region.     

Seasonal Patterns of Soil Respiration and Related Soil Biochemical Properties under Nitrogen Addition in Winter Wheat Field

Understanding the changes of soil respiration under increasing N fertilizer in cropland ecosystems is crucial to accurately predicting global warming. This study explored seasonal variations of soil respiration and its controlling biochemical properties under a gradient of Nitrogen addition during two consecutive winter wheat growing seasons (2013–2015). N was applied at four different levels: 0, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 (denoted as N0, N12, N18 and N24, respectively). Soil respiration exhibited significant seasonal variation and was significantly affected by soil temperature with Q₁₀ ranging from 2.04 to 2.46 and from 1.49 to 1.53 during 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 winter wheat growing season, respectively. Soil moisture had no significant effect on soil respiration during 2013–2014 winter wheat growing season but showed a significant and negative correlation with soil respiration during 2014–2015 winter wheat growing season. Soil respiration under N24 treatment was significantly higher than N0 treatment. Averaged over the two growing seasons, N12, N18 and N24 significantly increased soil respiration by 13.4, 16.4 and 25.4% compared with N0, respectively. N addition also significantly increased easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EEG), soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, ammonium N and nitrate N contents. In addition, soil respiration was significantly and positively correlated with β-glucosidase activity, EEG, SOC, total N, ammonium N and nitrate N contents. The results indicated that high N fertilization improved soil chemical properties, but significantly increased soil respiration.     

Changes in Biomass Carbon and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks following the Conversion from a Secondary Coniferous Forest to a Pine Plantation

The objectives of this study were to estimate changes of tree carbon (C) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock following a conversion in land use, an issue that has been only insufficiently addressed. For this study, we examined a chronosequence of 2 to 54-year-old Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis plantations that replaced the original secondary coniferous forest (SCF) in Southwest China due to clearing. C stocks considered here consisted of tree, understory, litter, and SOC (0–1 m). The results showed that tree C stocks ranged from 0.02±0.001 Mg C ha^-1 to 141.43±5.29 Mg C ha^-1, and increased gradually with the stand age. Accumulation of tree C stocks occurred in 20 years after reforestaion and C stock level recoverd to SCF. The maximum of understory C stock was found in a 5-year-old stand (6.74±0.7 Mg C ha^-1) with 5.8 times that of SCF, thereafter, understory C stock decreased with the growth of plantation. Litter C stock had no difference excluding effects of prescribed burning. Tree C stock exhibited a significant decline in the 2, 5-year-old stand following the conversion to plantation, but later, increased until a steady state-level in the 20, 26-year-old stand. The SOC stocks ranged from 81.08±10.13 Mg C ha^-1 to 160.38±17.96 Mg C ha^-1. Reforestation significantly decreased SOC stocks of plantation in the 2-year-old stand which lost 42.29 Mg C ha^-1 in the 1 m soil depth compared with SCF by reason of soil disturbance from sites preparation, but then subsequently recovered to SCF level. SOC stocks of SCF had no significant difference with other plantation. The surface profile (0–0.1 m) contained s higher SOC stocks than deeper soil depth. C stock associated with tree biomass represented a higher proportion than SOC stocks as stand development proceeded.     

Impact of rainfall gradient on aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon dynamics of forest covers in Gujarat,India

Alterations in precipitation are affecting forest ecosystems’ soil carbon cycling. To understand how shifts in rainfall may alter these carbon pools, above-ground biomass (AGB), soil organic carbon (SOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) of tropical forest covers were measured across a rainfall gradient (543–1590 mm) in Gujarat (India), a state falling under semi arid to tropical dry–wet conditions. Species diversity, tree density and soil texture were also measured. Field visits and data collection were carried out for 2 years (2009–2011) in 95 plots of 250 × 250 m in the forest covers across four distinct rainfall zones (RFZs). Data analysis showed that differences seen in the values of the measured parameters across the RFZs are statistically significant (P < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and tree density, species diversity, AGB, SOC, and MBC. Across the RFZs, AGB ranged between 0.09 and 168.28 Mg ha^?1; SOC values (up to 25 cm soil depth) varied between 2.94 and 147.84 Mg ha^?1. Soil texture and MBC showed a significant impact on the dynamics of SOC in all the RFZs. MBC is more influenced by SOC rather than AGB. Both vegetation type and MAP have an important role in the regulation of SOC in tropical soils. Together, these results reveal complex carbon cycle responses are likely to occur in tropical soils under altered rainfall regimes.     

Impact of long-term additions of chemical fertilizers and farm yard manure on carbon and nitrogen sequestration under rice-cowpea cropping system in semi-arid tropics

Restoration of soil organic carbon (SOC) in arable lands represents potential sink for atmospheric CO₂. The strategies for restoration of SOC include the appropriate land use management, cropping sequence, fertilizer and organic manures application. To achieve this goal, the dynamics of SOC and nitrogen (N) in soils needs to be better understood for which the long-term experiments are an important tool. A study was thus conducted to determine SOC and nitrogen dynamics in a long-term experiment in relation to inorganic, integrated and organic fertilizer application in rice-cowpea system on a sandy loam soil (Typic Rhodualf). The fertilizer treatments during rice included (i) 100% N (@ 100 kg N ha^?1), (ii) 100% NP (100 kg N and 50 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1), (iii) 100% NPK (100 kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅ and 50 kg K₂O ha^?1) as inorganic fertilizers, (iv) 50% NPK + 50% farm yard manure (FYM) (@ 5 t ha^?1) and (v) FYM alone @ 10 t ha^?1 compared with (vi) control treatment i.e. without any fertilization. The N alone or N and P did not have any significant effect on soil carbon and nitrogen. The light fraction carbon was 53% higher in NPK + FYM plots and 56% higher in FYM plots than in control plots, in comparison to 30% increase with inorganic fertilizers alone. The microbial biomass carbon and water-soluble carbon were relatively higher both in FYM or NPK + FYM plots. The clay fraction had highest concentration of C and N followed by silt, fine sand and coarse sand fractions in both surface (0–15 cm) and subsurface soil layers (15–30 cm). The C:N ratio was lowest in the clay fraction and increased with increase in particle size. The C and N enrichment ratio was highest for the clay fraction followed by silt and both the sand fractions. Relative decrease in enrichment ratio of clay in treatments receiving NPK and or FYM indicates comparatively greater accumulation of C and N in soil fractions other than clay.     

A long‐term nitrogen fertilizer gradient has little effect on soil organic matter in a high‐intensity maize production system

Global maize production alters an enormous soil organic C (SOC) stock, ultimately affecting greenhouse gas concentrations and the capacity of agroecosystems to buffer climate variability. Inorganic N fertilizer is perhaps the most important factor affecting SOC within maize‐based systems due to its effects on crop residue production and SOC mineralization. Using a continuous maize cropping system with a 13 year N fertilizer gradient (0–269 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) that created a large range in crop residue inputs (3.60–9.94 Mg dry matter ha^?1 yr^?1), we provide the first agronomic assessment of long‐term N fertilizer effects on SOC with direct reference to N rates that are empirically determined to be insufficient, optimum, and excessive. Across the N fertilizer gradient, SOC in physico‐chemically protected pools was not affected by N fertilizer rate or residue inputs. However, unprotected particulate organic matter (POM) fractions increased with residue inputs. Although N fertilizer was negatively linearly correlated with POM C/N ratios, the slope of this relationship decreased from the least decomposed POM pools (coarse POM) to the most decomposed POM pools (fine intra‐aggregate POM). Moreover, C/N ratios of protected pools did not vary across N rates, suggesting little effect of N fertilizer on soil organic matter (SOM) after decomposition of POM. Comparing a N rate within 4% of agronomic optimum (208 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) and an excessive N rate (269 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1), there were no differences between SOC amount, SOM C/N ratios, or microbial biomass and composition. These data suggest that excessive N fertilizer had little effect on SOM and they complement agronomic assessments of environmental N losses, that demonstrate N₂O and NO₃ emissions exponentially increase when agronomic optimum N is surpassed.     

The Effect of N Fertilizer Placement on the Fate of Urea-15N and Yield of Winter Wheat in Southeast China

A field micro-plot experiment using nitrogen isotope (¹⁵N) labeling was conducted to determine the effects of placement methods (broadcast and band) and N rates (60, 150 and 240 kg ha^–1) on the fate of urea-¹⁵N in the wheat–soil system in Guangde County of Anhui Province, China. N fertilizer applied in bands increased grain yield by 15% compared with broadcast application. The N fertilizer application rate had a significant effect on grain yield, straw yield and aboveground biomass, as well as on N uptake and N concentration of wheat. The recovery of urea-¹⁵N was a little higher for broadcast (34.0–39.0%) than for band treatment (31.2–38.2%). Most of the soil residual N was retained in the 0–20 cm soil layer. At the N rates of 60 and 240 kg ha^–1, the residual ¹⁵N was higher for band (34.4 and 108.7 kg ha^–1, respectively) than for broadcast application (29.6 and 88.4 kg ha^–1, respectively). Compared with broadcast treatment, banded placement of N fertilizer decreased the N loss in the wheat–soil system. Band application one time is an alternative N management practice for winter wheat in this region.