Developing realistic soil carbon (C) sequestration strategies for China's sustainable agriculture relies on accurate estimates of the amount, retention and turnover rates of C stored in paddy soils. Available C est...Developing realistic soil carbon (C) sequestration strategies for China's sustainable agriculture relies on accurate estimates of the amount, retention and turnover rates of C stored in paddy soils. Available C estimates to date are predominantly for the tilled and flood-irrigated surface topsoil (ca. 30 cm). Such estimates cannot be used to extrapolate to soil depths of 100 cm since soil organic carbon (SOC) generally shows a sharp decrease with depth. In this research, composite soil samples were collected at several depths to 100 cm from three representative paddy soils in the Taihu Lake region, China. Soil organic carbon distribution in the profiles and in aggregate-size fractions was determined. Results showed that while SOC decreased exponentially with depth to 100 cm, a substantial proportion of the total SOC (30%-40%) is stored below the 30 cm depth. In the carbon-enriched paddy topsoils, SOC was found to accumulate preferentially in the 2-0.25 and 0.25-0.02 mm aggregate size fractions. δ^13C analysis of the coarse micro-aggregate fraction showed that the high degree of C stratification in the paddy topsoil was in agreement with the occurrence of lighter δ^1313C in the upper 30 cm depth. These results suggest that SOC stratification within profiles varies with different pedogenetical types of paddy soils with regards to clay and iron oxyhydrates distributions. Sand-sized fractions of aggregates in paddy soil systems may play a very important role in carbon sequestration and turnover, dissimilar to other studied agricultural systems.展开更多
Soil carbon stocks and sequestration have been given a lot of attention recently in the study of terrestrial ecosystems and global climate change.This review focuses on the progress made on the estimation of the soil ...Soil carbon stocks and sequestration have been given a lot of attention recently in the study of terrestrial ecosystems and global climate change.This review focuses on the progress made on the estimation of the soil carbon stocks of China,and the characterization of carbon dynamics of croplands with regard to climate change,and addresses issues on the mineralization of soil organic carbon in relation to greenhouse gas emissions.By integrating existing research data,China's total soil organic carbon(SOC) stock is estimated to be 90 Pg and its inorganic carbon(SIC) stock as 60 Pg,with SOC sequestration rates in the range of 20-25 Tg/a for the last two decades.An estimation of the biophysical potential of SOC sequestration has been generally agreed as being 2 Pg over the long term,of which only 1/3 could be attainable using contemporary agricultural technologies in all of China's croplands.Thus,it is critical to enhance SOC sequestration and mitigate climate change to improve agricultural and land use management in China.There have been many instances where SOC accumulation may not induce an increased amount of decomposition under a warming scenario but instead favor improved cropland productivity and ecosystem functioning.Furthermore,unchanged or even decreased net global warming potential(GWP) from croplands with enhanced SOC has been reported by a number of case studies using life cycle analysis.Future studies on soil carbon stocks and the sequestration potential of China are expected to focus on:(1) Carbon stocks and the sequestration capacity of the earths' surface systems at scales ranging from the plot to the watershed and(2) multiple interface processes and the synergies between carbon sequestration and ecosystem productivity and ecosystem functioning at scales from the molecular level to agro-ecosystems.Soil carbon science in China faces new challenges and opportunities to undertake integrated research applicable to many areas.展开更多
Topsoil soil organic carbon(SOC) data were collected from long-term Chinese agro-ecosystem experiments presented in 76 reports with measurements over 1977 and 2006.The data set comprised 481 observations(135 rice padd...Topsoil soil organic carbon(SOC) data were collected from long-term Chinese agro-ecosystem experiments presented in 76 reports with measurements over 1977 and 2006.The data set comprised 481 observations(135 rice paddies and 346 dry croplands) of SOC under different fertilization schemes at 70 experimental sites(28 rice paddies and 42 dry croplands).The data set covered 16 dominant soil types found in croplands across 23 provinces of China's Mainland.The fertilization schemes were grouped into six categories:N(inorganic nitrogen fertilizer only),NP(compound inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers),NPK(compound inorganic nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers),O(organic fertilizers only),OF(combined inorganic/organic fertilization) and Others(other unbalanced fertilizations such as P only,K only,P plus K and N plus K).Relative change in SOC content was analyzed,and rice paddies and dry croplands soils were compared.There was an overall temporal increase in topsoil SOC content,and relative annual change(RAC,g kg-1 yr-1) ranged -0.14-0.60(0.13 on average) for dry cropland soils and -0.12-0.70(0.19 on average) for rice paddies.SOC content increase was higher in rice paddies than in dry croplands.SOC increased across experimental sites,but was higher under organic fertilization and combined organic/inorganic fertilizations than chemical fertilizations.SOC increase was higher under balanced chemical fertilizations with compound N,P and K fertilizers than unbalanced fertilizations such as N only,N plus P,and N plus K.The effects of specific rational fertilizations on SOC increase persisted for 15 years in dry croplands and 20 years in rice paddies,although RAC values decreased generally as the experiment duration increased.Therefore,the extension of rational fertilization in China's croplands may offer a technical option to enhance C sequestration potential and to sustain long-term crop productivity.展开更多
Utilization of biochar at high application rates can increase soil C and crop yields, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and reduce nutrient run-off from soils. However, the high application rate of 10 t ha-1may not re...Utilization of biochar at high application rates can increase soil C and crop yields, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and reduce nutrient run-off from soils. However, the high application rate of 10 t ha-1may not return a profit to the farmer due to the high cost of biochar. In this study biochar was modified through pre-treating the biomass and post-treating with phosphoric acid, minerals and different chemical fertilisers to study the effects of two new enhanced biochar fertilisers on the yield and quality of green pepper in a field experiment with 5 fertilisation treatments and 3 replications. The two new biochar fertilisers significantly(P < 0.05) increased the yield of green pepper(11.33–11.47 t ha-1), compared with the conventional chemical fertiliser(9.72 t ha-1). The biochar fertiliser treatments improved the vitamin C content of green pepper from 236.99 to 278.28 mg kg-1, and also significantly(P < 0.05) reduced the nitrate content from 132.32 to 101.92 mg kg-1, compared with chemical fertiliser. This study indicated that, compared to the use of conventional chemical fertiliser, all of the biochar fertiliser treatments could significantly improve the yield and quality of green pepper.展开更多
Addition of biochar produced through thermal decomposition of biomass has been seen as a strategy to improve soils and to sequester carbon(C), but wide scale implementation of the technology requires to devise innovat...Addition of biochar produced through thermal decomposition of biomass has been seen as a strategy to improve soils and to sequester carbon(C), but wide scale implementation of the technology requires to devise innovative profitable solutions. To develop biochar utilisation with an integrated system approach, an innovative program was implemented in 2012 on a 53-ha farm in Western Australia to determine the costs and benefits of integrating biochar with animal husbandry and improvement of pastures. Biochar was mixed with molasses and fed directly to cows. The dung-biochar mixture was incorporated into the soil profile by dung beetles.We studied the changes in soil properties over 3 years. Biochar extracted from fresh dung and from the soil to a depth of 40 cm was characterised. A preliminary financial analysis of the costs and benefits of this integrated approach was also undertaken. The preliminary investigation results suggested that this strategy was effective in improving soil properties and increasing returns to the farmer. It was also concluded that the biochar adsorbed nutrients from the cow's gut and from the dung. Dung beetles could transport this nutrient-rich biochar into the soil profile. There was little evidence that the recalcitrant component of the biochar was reduced through reactions inside the gut or on/in the soil. Further research is required to quantify the long-term impact of integrating biochar and dung beetles into the rearing of cows.展开更多
Temperate forest surface soils at the varying distances from main trunks (e.g., Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica) were used to study the effects of acetylene (C2H2) at low concentrations on nitrification, minera...Temperate forest surface soils at the varying distances from main trunks (e.g., Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica) were used to study the effects of acetylene (C2H2) at low concentrations on nitrification, mineralization and microbial biomass N concentrations of the soils, and to assess the contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soils. The use of acetylene at partial pressures within a range from 10 to 100 Pa C2H2 in headspace gas gave a significant decrease in N2O emission at soil moisture of c. 45% water-filled porosity space, and the decrease was almost the same in each soil after exposure of C2H2 at low concentrations. Heterotrophic nitrification could account for 21%―48% of total N2O emission from each soil; the contribution would increase with increasing distances from the Pinus koraiensis trunks rather than from the Quercus mongolica trunks. Under the experimental conditions, the use of C2H2 at low concentrations showed no significant influ- ence on soil microbial biomass N, net N mineralization and microbial respiration. However, 100 Pa C2H2 in headspace gas could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from soils. According to the rapid consumption of 10 Pa C2H2 by forest soils and convenience for laboratory incubations, 50 Pa C2H2 in headspace gas can be used to study the origin of N2O emissions from forest soils under aerobic con- ditions and the key associated driving mechanisms. The N2O and CO2 emissions from the soils at the same distances from the Quercus mongolica trunks were larger than those from the Pinus koraiensis trunks, and both emissions decreased as the distances from trunks increased. The stepwise regression analysis showed that 95% of the variability in soil CO2 emissions could be accounted for by the concentrations of soil total C and water soluble organic C and soil pH, and that 72% of the variability in soil N2O emissions could be accounted for by the concentrations of soil total N, exchangeable NH+4-N and microbial biomass N and 25% of the variability in heterotrophic nitrification by the soil microbial biomass N concentration. The emissions of N2O and CO2 from forest soils after exposure of C2H2 at low concentrations were positively related to the net nitrification of the soils.展开更多
文摘Developing realistic soil carbon (C) sequestration strategies for China's sustainable agriculture relies on accurate estimates of the amount, retention and turnover rates of C stored in paddy soils. Available C estimates to date are predominantly for the tilled and flood-irrigated surface topsoil (ca. 30 cm). Such estimates cannot be used to extrapolate to soil depths of 100 cm since soil organic carbon (SOC) generally shows a sharp decrease with depth. In this research, composite soil samples were collected at several depths to 100 cm from three representative paddy soils in the Taihu Lake region, China. Soil organic carbon distribution in the profiles and in aggregate-size fractions was determined. Results showed that while SOC decreased exponentially with depth to 100 cm, a substantial proportion of the total SOC (30%-40%) is stored below the 30 cm depth. In the carbon-enriched paddy topsoils, SOC was found to accumulate preferentially in the 2-0.25 and 0.25-0.02 mm aggregate size fractions. δ^13C analysis of the coarse micro-aggregate fraction showed that the high degree of C stratification in the paddy topsoil was in agreement with the occurrence of lighter δ^1313C in the upper 30 cm depth. These results suggest that SOC stratification within profiles varies with different pedogenetical types of paddy soils with regards to clay and iron oxyhydrates distributions. Sand-sized fractions of aggregates in paddy soil systems may play a very important role in carbon sequestration and turnover, dissimilar to other studied agricultural systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40830528 and 40270010092)supported by travel funds from a UK BBSRC China Partnership Award. PS is a Royal Society-Wolfson Research Merit Award holder
文摘Soil carbon stocks and sequestration have been given a lot of attention recently in the study of terrestrial ecosystems and global climate change.This review focuses on the progress made on the estimation of the soil carbon stocks of China,and the characterization of carbon dynamics of croplands with regard to climate change,and addresses issues on the mineralization of soil organic carbon in relation to greenhouse gas emissions.By integrating existing research data,China's total soil organic carbon(SOC) stock is estimated to be 90 Pg and its inorganic carbon(SIC) stock as 60 Pg,with SOC sequestration rates in the range of 20-25 Tg/a for the last two decades.An estimation of the biophysical potential of SOC sequestration has been generally agreed as being 2 Pg over the long term,of which only 1/3 could be attainable using contemporary agricultural technologies in all of China's croplands.Thus,it is critical to enhance SOC sequestration and mitigate climate change to improve agricultural and land use management in China.There have been many instances where SOC accumulation may not induce an increased amount of decomposition under a warming scenario but instead favor improved cropland productivity and ecosystem functioning.Furthermore,unchanged or even decreased net global warming potential(GWP) from croplands with enhanced SOC has been reported by a number of case studies using life cycle analysis.Future studies on soil carbon stocks and the sequestration potential of China are expected to focus on:(1) Carbon stocks and the sequestration capacity of the earths' surface systems at scales ranging from the plot to the watershed and(2) multiple interface processes and the synergies between carbon sequestration and ecosystem productivity and ecosystem functioning at scales from the molecular level to agro-ecosystems.Soil carbon science in China faces new challenges and opportunities to undertake integrated research applicable to many areas.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40710019002)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2008BAD95B13-1)the Ministry of Education of China for key basic research projects
文摘Topsoil soil organic carbon(SOC) data were collected from long-term Chinese agro-ecosystem experiments presented in 76 reports with measurements over 1977 and 2006.The data set comprised 481 observations(135 rice paddies and 346 dry croplands) of SOC under different fertilization schemes at 70 experimental sites(28 rice paddies and 42 dry croplands).The data set covered 16 dominant soil types found in croplands across 23 provinces of China's Mainland.The fertilization schemes were grouped into six categories:N(inorganic nitrogen fertilizer only),NP(compound inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers),NPK(compound inorganic nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers),O(organic fertilizers only),OF(combined inorganic/organic fertilization) and Others(other unbalanced fertilizations such as P only,K only,P plus K and N plus K).Relative change in SOC content was analyzed,and rice paddies and dry croplands soils were compared.There was an overall temporal increase in topsoil SOC content,and relative annual change(RAC,g kg-1 yr-1) ranged -0.14-0.60(0.13 on average) for dry cropland soils and -0.12-0.70(0.19 on average) for rice paddies.SOC content increase was higher in rice paddies than in dry croplands.SOC increased across experimental sites,but was higher under organic fertilization and combined organic/inorganic fertilizations than chemical fertilizations.SOC increase was higher under balanced chemical fertilizations with compound N,P and K fertilizers than unbalanced fertilizations such as N only,N plus P,and N plus K.The effects of specific rational fertilizations on SOC increase persisted for 15 years in dry croplands and 20 years in rice paddies,although RAC values decreased generally as the experiment duration increased.Therefore,the extension of rational fertilization in China's croplands may offer a technical option to enhance C sequestration potential and to sustain long-term crop productivity.
基金financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Nos.2013GB23600666 and 2013BAD11B00)funded by the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization,China+1 种基金supported by the grant of the Australian Research Council (No.LP120200418)Renewed Carbon Pty Ltd.,Australia and the project of DAFF Carbon Farming Futures-Filling the Research Gap,Australia (No.RG134978)
文摘Utilization of biochar at high application rates can increase soil C and crop yields, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and reduce nutrient run-off from soils. However, the high application rate of 10 t ha-1may not return a profit to the farmer due to the high cost of biochar. In this study biochar was modified through pre-treating the biomass and post-treating with phosphoric acid, minerals and different chemical fertilisers to study the effects of two new enhanced biochar fertilisers on the yield and quality of green pepper in a field experiment with 5 fertilisation treatments and 3 replications. The two new biochar fertilisers significantly(P < 0.05) increased the yield of green pepper(11.33–11.47 t ha-1), compared with the conventional chemical fertiliser(9.72 t ha-1). The biochar fertiliser treatments improved the vitamin C content of green pepper from 236.99 to 278.28 mg kg-1, and also significantly(P < 0.05) reduced the nitrate content from 132.32 to 101.92 mg kg-1, compared with chemical fertiliser. This study indicated that, compared to the use of conventional chemical fertiliser, all of the biochar fertiliser treatments could significantly improve the yield and quality of green pepper.
基金funded by the Linkage,Infrastructure,Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grant from the Australian Research Council (ARC) (No.LE120100104)supported by the ARC (No.LP120200418),Renewed Carbon Pty Ltd.of Australiathe Department of Agriculture,Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Futures Filling the Research Gap (No.RG134978)
文摘Addition of biochar produced through thermal decomposition of biomass has been seen as a strategy to improve soils and to sequester carbon(C), but wide scale implementation of the technology requires to devise innovative profitable solutions. To develop biochar utilisation with an integrated system approach, an innovative program was implemented in 2012 on a 53-ha farm in Western Australia to determine the costs and benefits of integrating biochar with animal husbandry and improvement of pastures. Biochar was mixed with molasses and fed directly to cows. The dung-biochar mixture was incorporated into the soil profile by dung beetles.We studied the changes in soil properties over 3 years. Biochar extracted from fresh dung and from the soil to a depth of 40 cm was characterised. A preliminary financial analysis of the costs and benefits of this integrated approach was also undertaken. The preliminary investigation results suggested that this strategy was effective in improving soil properties and increasing returns to the farmer. It was also concluded that the biochar adsorbed nutrients from the cow's gut and from the dung. Dung beetles could transport this nutrient-rich biochar into the soil profile. There was little evidence that the recalcitrant component of the biochar was reduced through reactions inside the gut or on/in the soil. Further research is required to quantify the long-term impact of integrating biochar and dung beetles into the rearing of cows.
基金Supported jointly by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20777071 and 20477044)Hundred Talents Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Temperate forest surface soils at the varying distances from main trunks (e.g., Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica) were used to study the effects of acetylene (C2H2) at low concentrations on nitrification, mineralization and microbial biomass N concentrations of the soils, and to assess the contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soils. The use of acetylene at partial pressures within a range from 10 to 100 Pa C2H2 in headspace gas gave a significant decrease in N2O emission at soil moisture of c. 45% water-filled porosity space, and the decrease was almost the same in each soil after exposure of C2H2 at low concentrations. Heterotrophic nitrification could account for 21%―48% of total N2O emission from each soil; the contribution would increase with increasing distances from the Pinus koraiensis trunks rather than from the Quercus mongolica trunks. Under the experimental conditions, the use of C2H2 at low concentrations showed no significant influ- ence on soil microbial biomass N, net N mineralization and microbial respiration. However, 100 Pa C2H2 in headspace gas could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from soils. According to the rapid consumption of 10 Pa C2H2 by forest soils and convenience for laboratory incubations, 50 Pa C2H2 in headspace gas can be used to study the origin of N2O emissions from forest soils under aerobic con- ditions and the key associated driving mechanisms. The N2O and CO2 emissions from the soils at the same distances from the Quercus mongolica trunks were larger than those from the Pinus koraiensis trunks, and both emissions decreased as the distances from trunks increased. The stepwise regression analysis showed that 95% of the variability in soil CO2 emissions could be accounted for by the concentrations of soil total C and water soluble organic C and soil pH, and that 72% of the variability in soil N2O emissions could be accounted for by the concentrations of soil total N, exchangeable NH+4-N and microbial biomass N and 25% of the variability in heterotrophic nitrification by the soil microbial biomass N concentration. The emissions of N2O and CO2 from forest soils after exposure of C2H2 at low concentrations were positively related to the net nitrification of the soils.