苏北沿海土地利用变化对土壤易氧化碳含量的影响

土壤易氧化碳(readily oxidizable carbon, ROC)作为指示土壤有机碳(SOC)早期变化的敏感指标,对研究人类干扰及全球变化背景下的土壤有机碳库稳定性及其动态具有重要的指示意义.为深入了解土地利用变化对土壤易氧化碳含量的影响,本文对苏北沿海地区草地、农田、杨-农复合经营及杨树纯林4种不同土地利用方式的土壤ROC含量及其相关因子进行了测定.结果表明： 苏北沿海地区不同土地利用类型的ROC含量表现为草地＜农田＜杨-农复合系统＜杨树林,不同土地利用方式间ROC含量在0~10 cm土层差异最为显著;ROC及ROC/SOC随着土层深度的增加而递减,且不同土层之间差异显著;4种土地利用方式ROC的季节变化趋势一致,其值均为夏季最大,冬季次之,春季最小;ROC与土壤pH值、土壤容重呈极显著负相关,与SOC、土壤水溶性有机碳(WSOC)、全N、土壤C/N、Mg呈显著或极显著正相关,而与土壤湿度、全P的相关性不显著.土地利用方式的变化显著影响了土壤易氧化碳的空间分布特征,土壤容重、pH值、全N和SOC是ROC在不同土地利用方式间产生差异的主要-原因.     

宁南山区不同恢复年限柠条林土壤养分及有机碳组分变化特征

植被恢复能有效改善土壤质量,促进土壤有机碳(SOC)的固存。本研究以宁南山区0～100 cm土层不同恢复年限(16、28、38年)柠条林为研究对象,以农田和天然草地作为对照,分析了土壤养分及有机碳组分沿剖面分布特征及其对恢复年限的响应。结果表明：1)SOC、土壤全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、颗粒态有机碳(POC)和矿物结合态有机碳(MAOC)含量以及颗粒态有机碳占总有机碳的比例(POC/SOC)均随土层深度增加而降低,而矿物结合态有机碳占总有机碳的比例(MAOC/SOC)呈相反趋势;2)随着柠条恢复年限的增加,SOC、TN、TP、C∶P、N∶P、POC和MAOC含量逐渐降低,C∶N无显著变化,POC/SOC先增后减,MAOC/SOC先减后增;3)在3种土地类型中,POC、MAOC与SOC之间均呈极显著正线性相关关系,且SOC的增加主要依赖于MAOC的增加。天然草地和柠条林地土壤SOC、TN、TP、POC和MAOC含量均显著高于农田。综上,柠条林地土壤养分及POC、MAOC含量随着恢复年限增加逐渐降低;与农田相比,天然草地和柠条林地维持和提高土壤养分及碳储存的能力较高。     

小陇山不同林龄锐齿栎林土壤有机碳和全氮积累特征

以甘肃小陇山林区3个林龄阶段(中龄林、近熟林和成熟林)的锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata)天然次生林为对象,研究了土壤中有机碳和全氮的垂直分布及其积累特征。结果表明:林地土壤有机碳和全氮含量在各龄级土壤剖面中的垂直变化规律一致,表层土壤中含量最高,随着土层深度逐渐降低。1 m土层范围有机碳和全氮密度随着林龄的增加而增加,中龄林、近熟林和成熟林的碳密度分别为122.92、242.21t/hm~2和280.53 t/hm~2,龄组之间差异显著(P0.05);3个林龄阶段的土壤全氮密度分别为10.37、18.94t/hm~2和24.76 t/hm~2,差异显著(P0.05)。有机碳和全氮密度在0—20 cm土层中占有很高比重,达37%—56%。土壤有机碳与全氮含量呈极显著的线性正相关(P0.0001)。土壤有机碳和全氮积累速率随林龄阶段存在差异,在生长旺盛期(中龄林-近熟林)的土壤有机碳(10.84 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))和全氮(0.78 t hm~(-)2a~(-1))的积累速率要大于成熟期(近熟林-成熟林)的土壤有机碳(1.92 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))和全氮(0.29 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))积累速率。     

科尔沁沙地不同土地利用类型土壤化学计量特征

土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量是衡量土壤质量及生态系统元素限制的重要指标,探讨土地利用和土层深度对土壤化学计量特征的影响有利于揭示科尔沁沙地土壤元素循环规律。本研究以科尔沁沙地5种土地利用类型(灌溉农田、旱作农田、沙质草地、固定沙丘、流动沙丘)土壤为对象,分析不同土地利用类型和不同土层土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)含量及其化学计量特征。结果表明: 1)科尔沁沙地0～10 cm SOC(3.23 g·kg^-1)、TN(0.37 g·kg^-1)、TP(0.15 g·kg^-1)含量及化学计量比(C:N、C:P、N:P分别为9.07、25.56、2.97)远低于中国陆地土壤。2)土地利用变化显著改变了SOC、TN、TP含量及其化学计量特征,0～100 cm SOC、TN、TP含量均表现为灌溉农田>沙质草地>旱作农田>固定沙丘>流动沙丘;沙质草地、灌溉农田、旱作农田C:N显著高于固定沙丘和流动沙丘,沙质草地、固定沙丘、灌溉农田、旱作农田C:P显著高于流动沙丘,5种土地利用类型N:P无显著差异。3)随土层深度增加,沙质草地、固定沙丘、灌溉农田、旱作农田SOC和TN含量显著降低,流动沙丘SOC、TN含量和C:P在各土层间无显著差异;总体上,各土地利用类型TP含量和C:N受土层影响较小;沙质草地、固定沙丘、灌溉农田、旱作农田C:P和沙质草地N:P随土层深度增加而降低。4)SOC、TN、TP、C:N与中砂粒、细砂粒、土壤容重呈显著负相关,与黏粉粒和极细砂粒呈显著正相关。沙漠化导致科尔沁沙地SOC和养分流失,加剧土壤N缺乏,水肥投入有助于耕地维持相对较高的土壤养分水平。     

川西卧龙岷江冷杉林土壤有机碳组分与氮素关系随海拔梯度的变化特征

土壤碳氮沿海拔梯度变化及其耦合关系是山地生态系统碳氮循环研究的重要内容。为分析不同土层土壤有机碳,土壤全氮及有机碳活性组分在海拔梯度上的分布规律及相互之间的耦合关系,选取亚高山物种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)原始林为研究对象,以卧龙邓生野牛沟岷江冷杉原始林2920—3700 m的样地调查数据为基础,分析不同土层土壤碳氮及活性组分沿海拔的变化规律,总结土壤有机碳稳定性沿海拔主要规律,从土壤有机碳活性组分和碳氮关系的角度揭示其对土壤有机碳沿海拔变化的影响。结果表明:1)腐殖质层土壤有机碳(SOC)随海拔升高逐渐增加,与温度显著负相关,轻组有机碳(LFOC)及颗粒态有机碳(POC)随海拔上升均表现先增加后降低的趋势,土壤全氮(TN)随海拔变化不显著,但林线处LOFC、POC和TN均显著增加;0—10 cm土壤有机碳及全氮则表现为双峰特征,峰值分别在3089 m和3260 m处,与年均温度无显著关系。2)LFOC及POC在腐殖质层和0—10 cm土层中所占比例较大,是表征土壤有机碳含量沿海拔变化规律的主要活性组分,腐殖质层LFOC/SOC和POC/SOC随海拔上升逐渐增高,0—10 cm层则逐渐降低,暗示腐殖质层有机碳稳定性沿海拔逐渐降低,0—10 cm有机碳稳定性逐渐升高。3)SOC与TN显著正相关,SOC是影响TN的主要因子,但腐殖质层TN与有机碳活性组分无显著相关关系。4)土壤C/N和微生物量C/N在3177 m大于25:1,是引起土壤有机碳含量显著降低的主要因素。     

施氮磷肥对杉木人工林土壤活性有机碳的影响

为确定施氮、磷肥对中亚热带人工林土壤不同活性组分有机碳的影响,本研究在5年生杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林中设置氮、磷施肥试验,包括对照(CK)、施氮肥(200 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、施磷肥(50 kg P·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、施氮磷肥(200 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)+50kg P·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)) 4个处理。连续施肥5年后,采取(0~10 cm)表层土壤,测定了活性有机碳不同组分的变化。结果表明:施肥对土壤有机碳(SOC)影响不显著,施氮肥和氮磷配施使土壤微生物量碳(MBC)分别降低34.6%和45.8%,施氮肥降低了常温浸提水溶性有机碳(WSOC)含量,且施氮磷肥对WSOC有交互作用,施氮磷肥使热水浸提有机碳(HWC)含量显著提高了31.5%,施肥对易氧化有机碳(LOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、热水浸提碳水化合物(HWc C)的影响不显著;在施肥处理下,MBC/SOC对单施磷肥和氮肥不敏感,氮磷配施使MBC/SOC下降了48.4%,与CK相比,施氮磷肥对POC/SOC没有影响,但与氮肥处理相比,施氮磷肥使POC/SOC显著增加了24.3%;经相关性分析,HWC与硝态氮、有效磷呈显著或极显著正相关。     

黄土丘陵区三种典型退耕还林地土壤固碳效应差异

探讨了黄土丘陵区退耕种植10—40a的柠条、沙棘及刺槐林地土壤总有机碳库及其活性组分密度随退耕时间、土层分布及相对比例的变化差异。结果表明:100 cm深土壤碳库在退耕10a时仅柠条林地碳库未比坡耕地显著增加,但退耕20—40a3种林地比退耕10a时都已有显著增加,且增幅均为刺槐>沙棘>柠条,其中总有机碳的最大增幅分别达到90.92、27.87、14.89Mg/hm2,活性有机碳的分别达到30.28、10.51、9.67 Mg/hm2。各还林地碳库增加在退耕10a时主要来自0—40 cm浅层土,而40—100 cm深层土碳库到退耕20a起才开始显著增加。对比退耕10a时,到退耕40a时柠条、沙棘及刺槐林地0—20 cm表层土分别平均累积了35.4%、27.9%、27.1%的总有机碳,20.2%、45.1%、23.1%的活性有机碳,而20—100 cm各土层间对碳库累积比例大小变化无一致规律,平均每20 cm厚土层累积了17.4%的总有机碳和17.6%活性有机碳。并且相比坡耕地,各林地均使100 cm深土壤活性有机碳占总有机碳的比例提高,改良了碳库质量。综上分析,长期退耕下3种林地固碳效应有明显差异,以刺槐林地碳累积效应较强。     

开垦对绿洲农田碳氮累积及其与作物产量关系的影响

以新疆策勒绿洲近百年来不同开垦年限农田为研究对象,采用空间序列换算时间序列的方法,研究绿洲农田开垦过程中土壤有机碳和全氮密度、碳氮比(C/N)及速效氮含量的垂直变化特征,并探讨了农田土壤碳氮变化与作物产量的关系。结果表明:荒漠土壤开垦后,显著增加了表层土壤(0-20 cm)有机碳和全氮密度,随开垦年限延长对深层土壤(40-200 cm)有机碳密度也有一定的影响,如在开垦30 a左右时下降了36.4%,但在100 a左右时则增加了52.0%。耕层土壤C/N随开垦年限延长而明显增加,深层土壤除100 a农田外其它均有不同程度下降;不同土层C/N与速效氮含量呈负相关关系,仅在开垦初期(0-10 a)达到显著水平。不同年限农田的玉米产量存在显著差异,且和有机碳及全氮密度(0-200 cm)均呈显著正相关;棉花除100和10 a农田产量差异较小外,在其它农田间均达显著水平,但和有机碳及全氮密度无明显相关性。由此可见,在现有投入条件下,提高土壤碳氮累积量对增加玉米产量仍有十分重要作用,但对棉花产量的影响不明显。     

六盘山林区几种土地利用方式下土壤活性有机碳的比较

 应用KMnO4氧化法测定分析了六盘山林区天然次生林（杂灌林、山杨（Populus davidanda）和辽东栎（Querces liaotungensis）林）、农田、草地和人工林（13、18和25年华北落叶松（Larix principis-rupprechtii））土壤活性有机碳含量及分配比例的差异。结果表明：农田和草地土壤活性有机碳含量比天然次生林分别低60%和36%,差异主要在0～70 cm土层;人工林比农田和草地分别高129%和29%,差异主要在0～50 cm土层。农田和草地土壤活性有机碳分配比例比天然次生林分别低11%和4%以上, 差异主要在0～20 cm与70～110 cm土层;人工林比农田和草地分别高13.3%和5.3%,差异主要在0～110 cm土层。土壤活性有机碳含量和分配比例随土层加深而递减,其中天然次生林和人工林土壤活性有机碳含量随土层加深而递减的幅度比农田和草地中大,农田土壤活性有机碳分配比例随土层加深而递减幅度较大。不同土地利用方式间土壤活性有机碳含量的差异比活性有机碳分配比例的差异大,土壤活性有机碳含量随土层加深而递减的幅度比分配比例随土层加深而递减的幅度大。这可能由土壤有机碳的输入、稳定性、质量和根系分布等差异所致。结果说明土壤活性有机碳含量和分配比例随天然次生林变成农田或草地而降低,随农田或草地中造林而增加,且土壤活性有机碳含量的变化幅度比分配比例大。另外,土壤活性有机碳含量和分配比例在土壤剖面的分布也随土地利用变化而改变,其中活性有机碳含量的变化幅度比分配比例大。     

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。     

Effect of land use conversion on soil organic carbon sequestration in the loess hilly area, loess plateau of China

Changes in land use may alter land cover, which results in carbon stock changes in biomass as well as in the soil. In China’s loess plateau, vegetation restoration has been conducted since 1950s to control soil erosion and improve the ecosystem, with significant investment of money and manpower. Despite these efforts, soil erosion has still been severe. To reduce soil erosion and improve land quality, China initiated another state-funded project, Grain-for-Green, in 1999 in the loess plateau. However, it is not clear how effective this newly initiated project will be. In this study, we evaluated the effect of land-use conversion on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the potential effect of the current project on SOC sequestration in the Anjiapo catchment area of the loess hilly area of the loess plateau in China. This evaluation is based on SOC measurements in cropland versus in other converted land use types. We found that SOC sequestration mainly occurred in the surface soil after land use conversion took place. Land use conversion from cropland to shrubland or wild grassland (i.e. undisturbed land) was better for SOC sequestration than tree plantation in the semi-arid loess hilly area. By using the land use change in the study area as a scenario, the potential contribution of land use change on SOC sequestration due to the Grain-for-Green project was estimated. It was found that this project in the loess plateau of China would be helpful for SOC sequestration if successfully implemented.     

Changes in organic carbon distribution with depth in agricultural soils in northern Belgium, 1960–2006

In most studies concerning the carbon (C) exchange between soil and atmosphere only the topsoil (0–0.3 m) is taken into account. However, it has been shown that important amounts of stable soil organic carbon (SOC) are also stored at greater depth. Here, we developed a quantitative model to estimate the evolution of the distribution of SOC with depth between 1960 (database 'Aardewerk') and 2006 in northern Belgium. This temporal analysis was conducted under different land use, texture and drainage conditions. The results indicate that intensified land management practices seriously affect the SOC status of the soil. The increase in plough depth and a change in crop rotation result in a significant decrease of C near the surface for dry silt loam cropland soils, (i.e. 1.02 ± 0.23 kg C m⁻² in the top 0.3 m between 1960 and 2006). In wet to extremely wet grasslands, topsoil SOC decreased significantly, indicating a negative influence of intensive soil drainage on SOC stock. This resulted in a decline of SOC between 1960 and 2006 in the top 1 m, ranging from 3.99 ± 2.57 kg C m⁻² in extremely wet silt loam soils to 2.04 ± 2.08 kg C m⁻² in wet sandy soils. A slight increase of SOC stock is observed under dry to moderately wet grasslands at greater depths corresponding to increased livestock densities in the region. The increase of SOC in the top 1 m under grassland ranges from 0.65 ± 1.39 kg C m⁻² in well drained silt loam soils to 2.59 ± 6.49 kg C m⁻² in moderately drained silt loam soils over entire period.     

1981-2019年华北平原农田土壤有机碳储量的时空变化及影响机制

农业土壤具有可观的固碳及减碳潜力,有助于减缓人类温室气体排放导致的气候变化。为了更好地了解华北平原土壤有机碳储量动态及其驱动因子,结合荟萃分析、随机森林机器学习模型和卫星遥感数据,研究了1981-2019年间中国华北平原农田土壤有机碳储量的时空变化及其驱动因子。结果表明,1981-2019年间华北平原0-20 cm农田土壤有机碳储量约为（523.10±79.36） Tg C （（14.56±1.66） Mg C/hm²）,并以5.94 Tg C/a （0.12 Mg C hm^-2 a^-1）的年固持速率稳步增长,占比约为中国农田每年新增土壤有机碳的23.3%。其中,常规农田管理措施,包括无机肥施用、有机肥施用和秸秆还田,对土壤有机碳增长的贡献平均为25.1%,即1.49 Tg C/a （0.03 Mg C hm^-2 a^-1）。相比对照组,氮磷钾无机肥施用可提高22.7%-26.0%的土壤有机碳固定速率,有机肥可提高48.3%,秸秆还田可提高23.4%。同时,上述常规农田管理措施对土壤有机碳的积累作用受到土壤本身理化性质的调控,在温度和降水较高的气候条件下更显著。值得注意的是,无论是无机肥施用、有机肥施用还是秸秆还田,当投入量超过农作物和土壤微生物对碳和养分的需求时,土壤有机碳累积速率会显著下降。这也导致2000年后土壤有机碳固持速率明显减缓,由9.4 Tg C/a下降为3.5 Tg C/a。总的来说,过去几十年农田管理措施的改进显著提高了华北平原农田土壤有机碳的增加速率,而未来华北平原农田系统固碳潜力仍然可观,但亟待明确在保证粮食产量的同时不同气候和土壤环境条件下最佳固碳所需的化肥、有机肥和秸秆投入量。     

Carbon sequestration potential of soils in southeast Germany derived from stable soil organic carbon saturation

Sequestration of atmospheric carbon (C) in soils through improved management of forest and agricultural land is considered to have high potential for global CO₂ mitigation. However, the potential of soils to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) in a stable form, which is limited by the stabilization of SOC against microbial mineralization, is largely unknown. In this study, we estimated the C sequestration potential of soils in southeast Germany by calculating the potential SOC saturation of silt and clay particles according to Hassink [Plant and Soil 191 (1997) 77] on the basis of 516 soil profiles. The determination of the current SOC content of silt and clay fractions for major soil units and land uses allowed an estimation of the C saturation deficit corresponding to the long‐term C sequestration potential. The results showed that cropland soils have a low level of C saturation of around 50% and could store considerable amounts of additional SOC. A relatively high C sequestration potential was also determined for grassland soils. In contrast, forest soils had a low C sequestration potential as they were almost C saturated. A high proportion of sites with a high degree of apparent oversaturation revealed that in acidic, coarse‐textured soils the relation to silt and clay is not suitable to estimate the stable C saturation. A strong correlation of the C saturation deficit with temperature and precipitation allowed a spatial estimation of the C sequestration potential for Bavaria. In total, about 395 Mt CO₂‐equivalents could theoretically be stored in A horizons of cultivated soils – four times the annual emission of greenhouse gases in Bavaria. Although achieving the entire estimated C storage capacity is unrealistic, improved management of cultivated land could contribute significantly to CO₂ mitigation. Moreover, increasing SOC stocks have additional benefits with respect to enhanced soil fertility and agricultural productivity.     

不同土地利用方式对潮棕壤有机碳含量的影响

对潮棕壤不同土地利用方式下0~100 cm土体中土壤有机碳含量的剖面分布、有机碳储量及C/N进行了研究.结果表明:不同土地利用方式下土壤有机碳含量的剖面分布差异明显,林地、割草地、荒地及裸地各土层有机碳含量高于农田生态系统;不同土地利用方式下的土壤有机碳与全氮呈极显著的正相关;土壤C/N随剖面土层深度的增加呈下降趋势,林地土壤的C/N相对较高,割草地、荒地和裸地次之,农田生态系统的土壤C/N较低.在0~100cm深度土壤,荒地每年截获的土壤有机碳分别比农田不施肥、农田循环猪圈肥处理、农田化肥NPK处理、农田化肥NPK 循环猪圈肥处理高4.52、4.25、4.46和3.58 t.hm-2.说明荒地在增加土壤有机碳储量方面有很大潜力.     

毛乌素沙地沙漠化逆转过程土壤颗粒固碳效应

为揭示毛乌素沙地沙漠化逆转过程中土壤颗粒的固碳效应,选择陕北榆林治沙区从流沙地、半固定沙地到林龄为20～55年生的灌木和20～50年生的乔木固沙林地,采用物理分组法分析了土壤砂粒、粉粒、黏粒结合碳的演变特征和累积速率.结果表明: 对比流沙地,土壤总有机碳及各颗粒碳含量在两种固沙林地均呈显著增加趋势,并以表层0～5 cm土壤碳含量增幅最高.从流沙地到55年生灌木和50年生乔木固沙林地,0～5 cm土层砂粒碳密度增速均为0.05 Mg·hm^-2·a^-1,粉粒碳密度增速分别为0.05和0.08 Mg·hm^-2·a^-1,而黏粒碳密度增速分别为0.02和0.03 Mg·hm^-2·a^-1.0～20 cm土层,两种林地各颗粒碳密度增速平均为0～5 cm土层的2.1倍.按此增速到50～55年生的固沙林地时,两种林地0～20 cm土层的砂粒碳、粉粒碳和黏粒碳密度分别比流沙地平均提高6.7、18.1、4.4倍,并且颗粒碳对总有机碳的累积贡献率平均为粉粒碳(39.7%)≈砂粒碳(34.6%)>黏粒碳(25.6%).综上,毛乌素沙地沙漠化逆转过程土壤颗粒均表现出显著的固碳效应,且以砂粒和粉粒为主要固碳组分.     

不同蔬菜种植方式对土壤固碳速率的影响

近年来蔬菜地面积快速增加已成为我国农田土壤碳库变化的重要驱动因素,研究蔬菜种植方式对农田土壤固碳影响,对于揭示我国农田土壤碳库变化具有重要意义。通过实地调查与采样分析,研究了山东省苍山县3种蔬菜种植方式(大田种植、季节性大棚和长年性大棚种植)对农田土壤固碳速率影响及其随种植时间的变化规律。结果表明,3种种植方式下蔬菜地土壤有机碳含量均随种植时间的增加而增加;长年性大棚、季节性大棚和大田种植方式下0—100 cm土层土壤平均固碳速率分别达到1.44、2.73、1.60 Mg.hm-2.a-1;表层土壤(0—20 cm)平均固碳速率依次为0.64 Mg.hm-2.a-1、0.36 Mg.hm-2.a-1、0.20Mg.hm-2.a-1,3种蔬菜种植方式的土壤固碳速率存在显著差异。同样为蔬菜地,选择合理种植方式是提高农田土壤固碳速率的重要途径。     

Soil carbon sequestration due to post‐Soviet cropland abandonment: estimates from a large‐scale soil organic carbon field inventory

The break‐up of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered cropland abandonment on a continental scale, which in turn led to carbon accumulation on abandoned land across Eurasia. Previous studies have estimated carbon accumulation rates across Russia based on large‐scale modelling. Studies that assess carbon sequestration on abandoned land based on robust field sampling are rare. We investigated soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks using a randomized sampling design along a climatic gradient from forest steppe to Sub‐Taiga in Western Siberia (Tyumen Province). In total, SOC contents were sampled on 470 plots across different soil and land‐use types. The effect of land use on changes in SOC stock was evaluated, and carbon sequestration rates were calculated for different age stages of abandoned cropland. While land‐use type had an effect on carbon accumulation in the topsoil (0–5 cm), no independent land‐use effects were found for deeper SOC stocks. Topsoil carbon stocks of grasslands and forests were significantly higher than those of soils managed for crops and under abandoned cropland. SOC increased significantly with time since abandonment. The average carbon sequestration rate for soils of abandoned cropland was 0.66 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 (1–20 years old, 0–5 cm soil depth), which is at the lower end of published estimates for Russia and Siberia. There was a tendency towards SOC saturation on abandoned land as sequestration rates were much higher for recently abandoned (1–10 years old, 1.04 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1) compared to earlier abandoned crop fields (11–20 years old, 0.26 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1). Our study confirms the global significance of abandoned cropland in Russia for carbon sequestration. Our findings also suggest that robust regional surveys based on a large number of samples advance model‐based continent‐wide SOC prediction.     

Soil carbon sequestration and land use change associated with biofuel production: empirical evidence

Soil organic carbon (SOC) change can be a major impact of land use change (LUC) associated with biofuel feedstock production. By collecting and analyzing data from worldwide field observations of major LUCs from cropland, grassland, and forest to lands producing biofuel crops (i.e. corn, switchgrass, Miscanthus, poplar, and willow), we were able to estimate SOC response ratios and sequestration rates and evaluate the effects of soil depth and time scale on SOC change. Both the amount and rate of SOC change were highly dependent on the specific land transition. Irrespective of soil depth or time horizon, cropland conversions resulted in an overall SOC gain of 6–14% relative to initial SOC level, while conversion from grassland or forest to corn (without residue removal) or poplar caused significant carbon loss (9–35%). No significant SOC changes were observed in land converted from grasslands or forests to switchgrass, Miscanthus, or willow. The SOC response ratios were similar in both 0–30 and 0–100 cm soil depths in most cases, suggesting SOC changes in deep soil and that use of top soil only for SOC accounting in biofuel life cycle analysis (LCA) might underestimate total SOC changes. Soil carbon sequestration rates varied greatly among studies and land transition types. Generally, the rates of SOC change tended to be the greatest during the 10 years following land conversion and had declined to approach 0 within about 20 years for most LUCs. Observed trends in SOC change were generally consistent with previous reports. Soil depth and duration of study significantly influence SOC change rates and so should be considered in carbon emission accounting in biofuel LCA. High uncertainty remains for many perennial systems and forest transitions, additional field trials, and modeling efforts are needed to draw conclusions about the site‐ and system‐specific rates and direction of change.