荒漠-绿洲土壤微生物群落组成与其活性对比

结合野外观测与实验室研究方法,对比研究了准葛尔盆地南缘盐生荒漠与绿洲农田土壤微生物活性与其群落组成的变化特征,并分析了土壤温度与湿度对荒漠-绿洲土壤微生物活性的影响。结果表明:荒漠开垦为绿洲后,土壤细菌明显增加,真菌无明显变化,放线菌显著减少。细菌在绿洲农田土壤矿化作用中占主导,真菌则在荒漠中占优势,绿洲农田土壤微生物活性(包括真菌与细菌活性)明显高于荒漠。温度对荒漠-绿洲土壤微生物活性的影响只在一定土壤湿度范围内作用显著,绿洲农田受其影响较大;荒漠有机质含量明显高于绿洲农田,但水分与盐分因素抑制了微生物对其的分解和矿化。不同土地利用方式导致了荒漠绿洲间土壤湿度及盐份的较大差异,加之与土壤温度极显著的交互作用,使得开垦后土壤有机碳的易得性增强,微生物群落结构发生显著改变,进而有机碳的矿化速率加快,土壤碳库随之消减。     

耕作对干旱区表层土壤无机碳的影响

为阐明干旱区耕作对0~50 cm表层土壤无机碳的影响,以新疆三工河流域不同开垦年限(未开垦荒地、5年、20年、50年和100年)土地为研究对象,对比分析了0~20和20~50 cm土层土壤无机碳在不同生长季和耕作年限下的聚积与分布特征。结果表明:生长季节内,不同耕作年限土壤无机碳含量具有相似的规律,趋于先增加后减小,6月值最大;各土层内,老绿洲原生荒地的土壤无机碳含量聚积加强,而灌溉土地则减少,同时,新绿洲原生荒地和灌溉土地土壤无机碳聚积作用趋势相反,即表层0~20 cm原生荒地土壤无机碳聚积,下层20~50 cm减少,而灌溉土地则表层减少、下层聚积;开垦5年后,土壤p H值显著降低(P0.05);随着开垦年限的增加,土壤无机碳含量和储量均先增加后减少,开垦20年土壤无机碳含量最高,是开垦100年的1.8倍,并且其储量达66.80 kg·m~(-2)。总体来看,耕作20年后,表层0~50 cm土层土壤无机碳含量和储量均开始减少。     

利用CENTURY模型研究东北黑土有机碳的动态变化Ⅰ．自然状态下土壤有机碳的积累

应用CENTURY模型,对自然状态下的黑土有机碳库进行了模拟．结果表明,在自然状态下,黑土有机碳库经历了一个由快到慢的增长过程,经过长时间积累,趋向于稳定状态．0～20cm表层土壤有机碳总量最后稳定在7914．72～11672．78g·m^-2．黑土有机碳从北向南总的趋势是逐渐降低．达到稳定状态时,活性土壤有机碳库、慢分解土壤有机碳库和惰性土壤有机碳库分别占土壤全碳的3．36％～4．62％、50．54％～55．47％和36．47％～41．95％,可见慢分解和惰性组分库的增长对土壤有机碳库的积累起到了重要作用．模型模拟结果与已发表的实测结果比较接近,可以为进一步研究开垦后黑土有机碳变化提供依据．     

准噶尔盆地南缘荒漠区土壤碳分布及其稳定同位素变化

以亚洲中部干旱区准噶尔盆地南缘荒漠区为研究区,根据荒漠距离绿洲的距离,分别在荒漠边缘、中部和腹地设置3条样带,并采集2 m深的土壤剖面样品,研究土壤有机碳(SOC)、无机碳(SIC)含量及其稳定碳同位素的分布,探讨土壤碳变化与距绿洲距离的关系.结果表明: SOC含量随剖面土层深度增加而减少.受距绿洲距离的影响,SOC含量表现为荒漠边缘>荒漠中部>荒漠腹地.荒漠边缘SOC的δ¹³C值范围为-21.92‰～-17.41‰,且随深度增加而递减;荒漠中部和荒漠腹地的δ¹³C值范围为-25.20‰～-19.30‰,且随深度增加先增后减,由此推断准噶尔盆地南缘荒漠中部和腹地地表植被以C3植物为主,而绿洲边缘经历了从C3植物为主到C4植物为主的演替过程.荒漠边缘SIC平均含量为38.98 g·kg^-1,是荒漠腹地的6.01倍,表明0～2 m深度内大量SIC在荒漠边缘呈聚集趋势.SIC的δ¹³C值随深度增加先减后增,底层富集,主要受原生碳酸盐含量和剖面土壤CO₂的影响.     

乌兰布和沙漠东北部不同耕作年限农田土壤有机碳密度及其影响因素

明确干旱区农田开垦过程中土壤有机碳变化及其影响因素对评估其固存特征具有重要意义。本研究以乌兰布和沙漠东北部不同开垦年限(2～5、12～15、25～30、40～50年)农田为对象,以未开垦的自然土壤为对照,采用空间代替时间的研究方法,探究农田开垦过程中0～2 m土层内土壤有机碳密度变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明: 随开垦年限的增加,浅层(0～0.4 m)土壤有机碳密度呈持续增加趋势,但农田土壤有机碳密度均处于较低水平(0.990～1.983 kg·m^-2)。深层(1.2～2 m)土壤有机碳密度在开垦年限较长(25～30和40～50年)的农田中有所增加,而在开垦年限较短(2～5和12～15年)的农田中无增加趋势。未开垦土壤和各耕作年限农田深层土壤有机碳密度在0～2 m土层中占比较大(28.9%～38.6%)。不同耕作年限农田中土壤有机碳密度随土层深度的增加均呈先减小后增大的二次函数关系,且拟合度较高(R²为0.757～0.972)。土壤黏粒和粉粒含量是影响0～2 m土层有机碳密度的关键因素,且耕作年限对浅层(0～0.4 m)土壤有机碳的积累具有重要促进作用。     

荒漠-绿洲区不同土地利用类型土壤呼吸对温湿度的响应

明确荒漠-绿洲过渡区土壤呼吸及其温湿度敏感性特征,对了解干旱、半干旱地区土壤碳循环有重要意义。本研究采用LI-8100土壤呼吸观测系统对河西走廊典型荒漠-绿洲过渡区荒漠梭梭林地、绿洲农田、人工杨树林地3种不同土地利用类型的土壤呼吸进行1年的观测。结果表明,3种土地利用类型全年平均土壤呼吸为人工杨树林地(2.20μmol CO_2·m~(-2)·s~(-1))绿洲农田(1.61μmol CO_2·m~(-2)·s~(-1))荒漠梭梭林地(0.40μmol CO_2·m~(-2)·s~(-1)),造成不同土地利用类型土壤呼吸显著差异的原因主要与土壤有机碳含量有关。Lloyd-Taylor指数模型能够较好拟合土壤呼吸季节性变化与温度的关系。3种不同土地利用类型的土壤呼吸均在低温时(非生长季)较高温时(生长季)对温度变化更敏感。在全年尺度上,不同土地利用类型的土壤呼吸与土壤温度呈极显著正相关(P0.01);荒漠梭梭林地、绿洲农田的土壤呼吸与土壤水分呈极显著正相关(P0.01),人工杨树林地土壤水分低于6%时和高于6%时,土壤呼吸与土壤水分分别呈极显著正相关(P0.01)和显著负相关(P0.05)。本研究结果为干旱区绿洲化过程土壤碳循环的研究提供了基础数据。     

放牧干扰对岷江上游山地森林/干旱河谷交错带土壤活性有机碳的影响

研究放牧干扰对岷江上游山地森林-干旱河谷交错带人工刺槐林、人工杨柳林、锥花小檗灌丛和草地4种植被类型土壤有机碳含量和活性组分的影响.结果表明:各放牧强度下,0~10 cm土层土壤有机碳及其活性组分含量大于10~20 cm土层.随放牧强度的增加,人工刺槐林表层(0~10 cm)土壤总有机碳(TOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)和易氧化碳(LOC)含量呈逐渐降低趋势;人工杨柳林表层土壤LFOC含量呈降低趋势,POC含量呈升高趋势,TOC和LOC含量先降低再升高;锥花小檗灌丛土壤POC含量呈降低趋势,TOC、LFOC和LOC含量先降低再升高;草地土壤TOC和POC含量呈降低趋势,LFOC和LOC含量先降低再升高.4种植被类型土壤LOC、LFOC和POC含量随放牧强度增加而下降的幅度是TOC含量的1.1~8.9倍.土壤TOC含量与LOC、LFOC和POC含量呈显著正相关,表明活性有机碳组分能够反映土壤总碳的变化情况.     

艾比湖湿地土壤有机碳及储量空间分布特征

土壤碳储量的研究是全球碳循环研究的热点,土壤碳库的变化对全球气候变暖、维护生态平衡都有着重要的意义。新疆的艾比湖湿地是干旱区典型的盐湖湿地,为探明该湿地有机碳特性及储量,选择艾比湖湿地1m深度的土壤作为研究对象,测试有机碳含量后,对艾比湖湿地土壤有机碳特性进行分析并分层定量测算有机碳储量,结果显示:(1)艾比湖湿地土壤有机碳整体偏低,随土层加深,含量依次递减的规律比较显著。湿地7种不同植被覆盖类型的土壤有机碳含量垂直空间变异性差异明显,其中荒漠河岸林、盐化草甸、小乔木荒漠大多属于强变异,而其它植被覆盖的土壤类型多属于中等变异。(2)艾比湖湿地7种不同植被类型土壤有机碳含量在相同土层的分布特征为:有机碳集中分布在浅表层(0—20 cm),从40 cm以下变幅缓慢,分布较为均匀。不同植被类型土壤有机碳在不同土层的分配比例差异比较明显,但表层(0—20 cm)大多占到30%以上。(3)艾比湖湿地土壤有机碳储量排序依次为小乔木荒漠盐化草甸干涸湖底灌木荒漠盐生灌丛荒漠河岸林寒湿性针叶林。湿地有机碳蓄积总量为7086862.83 kgC。上述研究结果可为新疆干旱区湿地生态系统恢复、保护与科学管理提供科技支撑。     

荒漠绿洲农田垦殖过程中耕层土壤碳储量演变特征

以河西走廊中段临泽荒漠绿洲区为研究对象,通过实地调查结合遥感影像辨析确定农田的开垦年限,对比不同开垦背景的农田耕层(0～20 cm)土壤有机碳储量(SOCD)的变化特征,研究荒漠绿洲农田垦殖过程中SOCD的演变趋势.结果表明: 研究区农田耕层SOCD在2.41～32.97 t·hm^-2范围变动,平均值为17.22 t·hm^-2;盐碱地、戈壁和沙地背景农田SOCD平均值分别为19.36、16.10、15.93 t·hm^-2.随着开垦年限的增加,农田耕层SOCD呈增加趋势,但沙地和戈壁背景农田开垦20年后增加趋势放缓,盐碱地背景的农田在25年后才表现出放缓趋势;沙地、戈壁和盐碱地背景农田土壤有机碳(SOC)的固存速率分别为0.424、0.485、0.811 t·hm^-2·a^-1.SOCD与全氮、全磷、碱解氮、速效磷含量呈显著正相关,而与速效钾、pH相关性不显著.综上所述,荒漠绿洲盐碱地背景农田SOC的固存速率显著高于戈壁、沙地背景农田,但开垦30年后不同背景农田SOCD仍处于较低水平,需要针对不同开垦背景对绿洲农田进行管理以提高荒漠绿洲土地利用效率和生产力.     

垦殖对新疆绿洲农田土壤有机碳组分及团聚体稳定性的影响

土壤有机碳是土壤质量变化的重要指标,土壤活性有机碳组分在土壤质量变化方面发挥重要作用。采用有机碳分组技术,研究了干旱荒漠区自然土壤开垦对绿洲农田土壤有机碳活性组分及团聚体稳定性的影响。结果表明:低有机碳含量的自然土壤垦殖后,有利于干旱荒漠区绿洲棉田土壤有机碳的积累,且垦殖(0-5a)增加显著,年均增加在0.65gkg-1以上,上升幅度为76%-286%,5a后维持在相对平衡的水平;土壤活性有机碳、轻组有机碳在垦殖0-5a显著增加,平均增加72%和99%,5a后下降;颗粒有机碳则表现出垦殖0-10a明显增加,增加在275%以上,10a后下降;土壤水稳性团聚体含量随垦殖年限的延长显著增加,0-20a内较自然土壤提高了75%。垦殖可能是干旱区绿洲农田潜在碳汇的重要影响因素;但随垦殖年限延长,土壤有机碳活性组分下降,土壤质量又存在一定的退化风险。     

Effect of Land Use History and Pattern on Soil Carbon Storage in Arid Region of Central Asia

The purpose of this study is to investigate variations in soil organic carbon (SOC) in arid areas due to differences in the cultivation history, land use, and soil salinization. The study area is the lower Sangong River basin on the piedmont of the northern TianShan mountains, which experiences heavy land-use activities. In 1982 and 2005,127(152) and 74 (161) samples in old (new) oasis were collected from each site at the surface soil (i.e., 0–20 cm). The data reveal that the mean value of the surface soil organic carbon content of the old oasis was higher than that of the new oasis by 4.01 g/kg in 1982 and 3.79 g/kg in 2005. Additionally, the soil organic carbon content decreased more rapidly in the newly reclaimed oasis than in the old oasis from 1982 to 2005. The spatial pattern of the SOC content was correlated with the exploitation time in the new oasis, the agricultural land use history, and the SOC content. The decreasing trend is clearer in the high SOC content area than in the low SOC content area. Farmland is the largest carbon pool in both the new and old oases. The carbon density of the old oasis was higher than that of the new oasis by 4.01 and 3.79 g/kg in 1982 and 2005 respectively. The loss of SOC in the agricultural watershed of the arid region in NW China is obvious. Improvements of land management practices, such as no tillage, straw returning to soil, and balanced fertilization techniques, should be adopted to increase the SOC content.     

河西走廊中段绿洲退化土地退耕种植苜蓿的固碳效应

土地利用变化和耕作管理是人类影响陆地生态系统碳过程一个重要方面.对河西走廊中段张掖绿洲退化土地退耕种植苜蓿5a后土壤性状的分析表明, 49个退耕苜蓿地土壤与相邻未退耕农田土壤配对样本的比较,退耕苜蓿地0～15cm土层土壤粒级组成和容重并未发生显著变化,但土壤pH平均提高了0.11个单位,电导率降低34.8%,土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(全N)含量较对照农田土壤平均提高18.5%和9.3%,活性有机碳(labile C)增加53.3%.SOC含量受海拔高度和土壤粒粉粒含量的影响,退耕后SOC和全N的增加幅度沙壤土高于粉壤土,而labile C的增加幅度沙壤土低于粉壤土.退耕苜蓿地0～15cm土层SOC和全N储量较农田土壤分别增加2.84Mg hm~(-2)和0.21Mg hm~(-2),土壤C、N的固存率平均为0.57Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)和0.04 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1),表明退化土地由1年生作物向多年生牧草的转变有显著的固碳效应和潜力.活性有机碳的变化较总有机碳的变化更为显著,表明活性有机碳对土地利用变化的响应更为敏感.     

宁夏东部荒漠草原灌丛引入过程中土壤有机碳变化及其空间格局预测

以宁夏荒漠草原封育草地、放牧地为对照,对不同年限(3、12、22年)和间距(2、8、40 m)柠条地开展灌丛引入对土壤有机碳(SOC)的影响研究,并模拟预测该地区人工灌丛引入过程中0～40 cm土层SOC空间特征及格局.结果表明: SOC含量随着柠条灌丛引入年限增加和间距的减小而呈增加趋势,各年限和间距柠条灌丛地SOC均值分别比放牧地高42.7%和32.8%,且均与封育草地无显著差异,但SOC的增加趋势在灌丛引入22年出现降低,降幅为27.0%.SOC空间异质性表明,研究区内人工灌丛引入后0～40 cm土层SOC含量为0.21～26.04 g·kg^-1,均值为3.75 g·kg^-1,变异系数为90.9%～114.7%;0～5、15～40 cm土层符合高斯模型,5～15 cm土层符合球状模型;0～5、5～15 cm土层变程均小于15～40 cm土层,三者分别为3.11、3.00和10.10 km.0～5、5～15 cm土层SOC的块金系数C₀/(C₀+C)为0.2%～16.3%,具有强烈的空间相关性;15～40 cm土层的块金系数为36.9%,为中等程度相关.人工灌丛引入过程中加速了退化荒漠草地0～40 cm土层SOC的累积与固定,同时加剧了土壤表层SOC空间异质性、破碎化,且与封育14年荒漠草地SOC含量无显著差异,其空间异质性、破碎化程度随土层深度增加均呈减弱趋势.     

土地利用变化对土壤有机碳贮量的影响

通过对比分析六盘山林区典型天然次生林(杂灌林、山杨和辽东栎林)与农田、草地及农田、草地与人工林(13、18和25年生华北落叶松)邻近样地土壤有机碳含量和密度及其在土壤剖面上分布的差异,研究了天然次生林变成农田或草地及农田或草地造林后对土壤有机碳贮量的影响,结果表明,土壤有机碳含量方面,农田和草地比天然次生林分别低54％和27％,差异主要在0～50cm土层;农田和草地比人工林分别低42％和26％,差异主要在0～40cm土层,土壤有机碳密度方面,农田和草地比天然次生林分别低35％和14％,差异主要在0～50cm土层;农田比人工林低23％,草地比人工林高4％,差异主要在0～30cm土层．天然次生林和人工林土壤有机碳含量和密度随土层加深而递减的幅度比农田或草地大．这些差异主要由土地利用变化引起的土壤有机碳输入与输出及根系分布的变化所致．结果说明六盘山林区天然次生林破坏变成草地或农田后土壤有机碳含量和密度(主要是0～50cm土层)将下降,而农田中造林后土壤有机碳含量和密度(主要是0～30cm土层)又将增加,草地上造林后土壤有机碳含量增加而密度变化不大。另外,土壤有机碳含量和密度在土壤剖面上的分布也将随土地利用变化而发生改变。     

Woodland restoration on agricultural land: long‐term impacts on soil quality

Woodland restoration is underway globally to counter the negative soil quality and ecological impacts of agricultural expansion and woodland fragmentation, and restore or enhance biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services. However, we lack information about the long‐term effects of woodland restoration on agricultural soils, particularly at temporal scales meaningful to woodland and soil development. This study utilized soil and earthworm sampling across a chronosequence of sites transitioning from “agricultural land” to “secondary woodland” (50–110 years) and “ancient woodland” (>400 years), with the goal of quantifying the effects of woodland restoration on agricultural land, on key soil quality parameters (soil bulk density, pH, carbon and nitrogen stocks, and earthworm abundance, biomass, species richness and diversity). Broad‐leaved woodland restoration led to significantly greater soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks compared to arable land, and young (50–60 years) secondary woodland increased earthworm species and functional diversity compared to both arable and pasture agricultural land. SOC stocks in secondary broad‐leaved woodlands (50–110 years) were comparable to those found in long‐term ancient woodlands (>400 years). Our findings show that broad‐leaved woodland restoration of agricultural land can lead to meaningful soil ecological improvement and gains in SOC within 50–110 years, and provide intel on how restoration activities may be best targeted to maximize soil quality and functions.     

Global Potential of Soil Carbon Sequestration to Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect

An increase in atmospheric concentration of CO₂ from 280?ppmv in 1750 to 367?ppmv in 1999 is attributed to emissions from fossil fuel combustion estimated at 270±30?Pg C and land use change at 136±55?Pg. Of the emissions from land use change, 78±12?Pg is estimated from depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. Most agricultural soils have lost 50 to 70% of their original SOC pool, and the depletion is exacerbated by further soil degradation and desertification. The restoration of degraded soils, conversion of agriculturally marginal lands to appropriate land use, and the adoption of recommended management practices on agricultural soils can reverse degradative trends and lead to SOC sequestration. Technological options for SOC sequestration on agricultural soils include adoption of conservation tillage, use of manures, and compost as per integrated nutrient management and precision farming strategies, conversion of monoculture to complex diverse cropping systems, meadow-based rotations and winter cover crops, and establishing perennial vegetation on contours and steep slopes. The global potential of SOC sequestration and restoration of degraded/desertified soils is estimated at 0.6 to 1.2?Pg C/y for about 50 years with a cumulative sink capacity of 30 to 60?Pg. The SOC sequestration is a costeffective strategy of mitigating the climate change during the first 2 to 3 decades of the 21^st century. While improving soil quality, biomass productivity and enhanced environment quality, the strategy of SOC sequestration also buys us time during which the non-carbon fuel alternatives can take effect.     

Carbon Sequestration in Reclaimed Minesoils

Minesoils are drastically influenced by anthropogenic activities. They are characterized by low soil organic matter (SOM) content, low fertility, and poor physicochemical and biological properties, limiting their quality, capability, and functions. Reclamation of these soils has potential for resequestering some of the C lost and mitigating CO₂ emissions. Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates in minesoils are high in the first 20 to 30 years after reclamation in the top 15 cm soil depth. In general, higher rates of SOC sequestration are observed for minesoils under pasture and grassland management than under forest land use. Observed rates of SOC sequestration are 0.3 to 1.85 Mg C ha^{? 1} yr^{? 1} for pastures and rangelands, and 0.2 to 1.64 Mg C ha^{? 1} yr^{? 1} for forest land use. Proper reclamation and postreclamation management may enhance SOC sequestration and add to the economic value of the mined sites. Management practices that may enhance SOC sequestration include increasing vegetative cover by deep-rooted perennial vegetation and afforestation, improving soil fertility, and alleviation of physical, chemical and biological limitations by fertilizers and soil amendments such as biosolids, manure, coal combustion by-products, and mulches. Soil and water conservation are important to SOC sequestration. The potential of SOC sequestration in minesoils of the US is estimated to be 1.28 Tg C yr^?1, compared to the emissions from coal combustion of 506 Tg C yr^{? 1}.     

黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳固存对退耕还林草的时空响应

研究了黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳固存对退耕还林草的时空响应特征,分析了退耕还林草对土壤有机碳的近期影响和长期效应。结果表明,1)从黄土丘陵区退耕还林草的土壤固碳效应整体而言,相对于坡耕地,退耕还林和退耕撂荒具有显著的土壤碳增汇效应,而退耕还草、退耕还果没有明显土壤碳增汇效应。以天然草地土壤有机碳密度为目标,撂荒地表层土壤有机碳增汇潜力可达8.3 t/hm2。2)以10a为界,退耕还林草的近期土壤碳增汇效应不明显,而10a后土壤碳增汇效应逐渐明显,退耕还林、还灌、撂荒和坡耕地的固碳效应差异显著。3)在评估黄土丘陵区退耕还林草的土壤固碳效应时应当注重长期固碳效应。4)退耕还林草的土壤固碳效应主要受还林草方式及年限的影响,二者分别可解释55.6%和24.1%的有机碳变异性;地形因子可解释8.5%的有机碳变异性。在评估该区退耕还林的土壤固碳效应时应当充分考虑退耕年限和地形因子的影响。5)人工刺槐林地、人工柠条林地以及撂荒地深层土壤(100—200 cm)有机碳密度占2 m土体有机碳密度的35%—40%,而且随着植被恢复深层土壤有机碳密度显著增加。6)在估算黄土丘陵区退耕还林土壤固碳效应时应该考虑深层碳累积。如果按1 m土层的土壤有机碳密度计算,会严重低估退耕还林草的土壤固碳量。     

Effect of conventional versus mechanized sugarcane cropping systems on soil organic carbon stocks and labile carbon pools in Mauritius as revealed by 13C natural abundance

Aims

Maintenance of adequate levels of soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for the biological, chemical and physical functioning of soils. This study was conducted (i) to determine the impact of long-term sugarcane monoculture on total SOC stocks and on its labile fractions and (ii) to quantify the loss of original SOC and the accretion of sugarcane-derived C following the adoption of new management practices namely de-rocking/land grading and mechanized harvesting.

Methods

Five study sites representing the five major soil groups under sugarcane in Mauritius were selected with a classical “paired-plot” design adopted. In this design, two sites with similar initial conditions were developed in different ways over time. One represents the reference soil (virgin land with predominantly C₃ type vegetation) and the other represents one of the following cropping treatments: (i) fields continuously cultivated with sugarcane for more than 25 or 50 years without de-rocking or land grading, (ii) fields under long-term sugarcane but having undergone de-rocking and land grading for mechanized harvesting in the last 3 years. Soil samples were taken to a depth of 50 cm and analysed for total organic C, labile C, ¹³C natural abundance, bulk density and stone content.

Results

Changes in SOC stock in the 0–50 cm profile following >50 years of cane cropping were not significant (P?>?0.05) compared to virgin land at any site. Soil δ¹³C values revealed that long-term sugarcane cultivation resulted in a depletion of original SOC by 34 to 70 %. However, this loss was fully compensated by C input from sugarcane residues at all sites studied resulting in no net change in SOC stock. Adoption of mechanized harvest did not have any detrimental effect on SOC stocks due to C inputs from crop residues. However, long-term sugarcane cultivation resulted in significant decline in a labile C (KMnO₄-oxidizable) fraction.

Conclusion

Despite the large losses of original C following conversion from forest to sugarcane, long-term sugarcane cultivation resulted in sequestration of sugarcane-derived C which adequately compensated these losses. Moreover, intensive de-rocking and land grading preceding mechanized harvesting did not have any detrimental effect on SOC stocks. However, the quality of sugarcane soils, as indicated by a decline in labile C, could be degraded.