Key Physical Factors Affecting Spatial-temporal Variation of Labile Organic Carbon Fractions by Biochar Driven in Mollisols Region of Northeast China

Biochar is widely used to improve soil physical properties and carbon sequestration. However, few studies focuse on the impact of maize stalk biochar on labile organic carbon(LOC) pool and the relationship between physical properties and LOC fractions. A field positioning experiment was performed in Mollisols region of Northeast China to evaluate the influence of maize stalk biochar on the spatial distribution and temporal changes of physical properties and LOC fractions. Maize stalk biochar treatments included C1(1.5 kg·hm^(-2)), C2(3 kg·hm^(-2)), C3(15 kg·hm^(-2)), C4(30 kg·hm^(-2)), and CK(0). The results showed that maize stalk biochar increased soil water contents(SWC) and soil porosity(SP), but reduced bulk density(BD). Maize stalk biochar reduced dissolved organic carbon(DOC) contents in the 0-20 cm soil layer, ranging from 0.25 g·kg^(-1) to 0.31 g·kg^(-1) in harvest period, while increased in the 20-40 cm soil layer. In addition, the application of biochar had a significant impact on the spatial distribution and temporal change of SWC, BD, SP, DOC, hot-water extractable carbon(HWC), acid hydrolyzed organic carbon(AHC Ⅰ, Ⅱ), and readily oxidized organic carbon(ROC). High amounts of maize stalk biochar up-regulated the contents of soil organic carbon SOC, HWC, AHC Ⅰ, AHC Ⅱ, and ROC. In addition, SWC and SP were the key physical factors to affect LOC fractions. In conclusions, maize stalk biochar could improve physical properties, and then influence LOC fractions, and maize stalk biochar could be used as an organic amendment for restoring degraded soils governed by their rates of addition.

Corn straw return can increase labile soil organic carbon fractions and improve water-stable aggregates in Haplic Cambisol

Corn straw return to the field is a vital agronomic practice for increasing soil organic carbon(SOC)and its labile fractions,as well as soil aggregates and organic carbon(OC)associated with water-stable aggregates(WSA).Moreover,the labile SOC fractions play an important role in OC turnover and sequestration.The aims of this study were to determine how different corn straw returning modes affect the contents of labile SOC fractions and OC associated with WSA.Corn straw was returned in the following depths:(1)on undisturbed soil surface(NTS),(2)in the 0–10 cm soil depth(MTS),(3)in the 0–20 cm soil depth(CTS),and(4)no corn straw applied(CK).After five years(2014–2018),soil was sampled in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths to measure the water-extractable organic C(WEOC),permanganate oxidizable C(KMnO4-C),light fraction organic C(LFOC),and WSA fractions.The results showed that compared with CK,corn straw amended soils(NTS,MTS and CTS)increased SOC content by 11.55%–16.58%,WEOC by 41.38%–51.42%,KMnO4-C and LFOC by 29.84%–34.09%and 56.68%–65.36%in the 0–40 cm soil depth.The LFOC and KMnO4-C were proved to be the most sensitive fractions to different corn straw returning modes.Compared with CK,soils amended with corn straw increased mean weight diameter by 24.24%–40.48%in the 0–20 cm soil depth.The NTS and MTS preserved more than 60.00%of OC in macro-aggregates compared with CK.No significant difference was found in corn yield across all corn straw returning modes throughout the study period,indicating that adoption of NTS and MTS would increase SOC content and improve soil structure,and would not decline crop production.

Effects of long-term fertilization on oxidizable organic carbon fractions on the Loess Plateau,China

The effects of long-term fertilization on pools of soil organic carbon （SOC） have been well studied, but limited information is available on the oxidizable organic carbon （OOC） fractions, especially for the Loess Plateau in China. We evaluated the effects of a 15-year fertilization on the OOC fractions （F1, F2, F3 and F4） in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers in flat farmland under nine treatments （N （nitrogen, urea）, P （phosphorus, monocalcium phosphate）, M （organic fertilizer, composted sheep manure）, N＋P （NP）, M＋N （MN）, M＋P （MP）, M＋N＋P （MNP）, CK （control, no fertilizer） and bare land （BL, no crops or fertilizer））. SOC content increased more markedly in the treatment containing manure than in those with inorganic fertilizers alone. F1, F2, F4 and F3 accounted for 47%, 27%, 18% and 8% of total organic carbon, respectively. F1 was a more sensitive index than the other C fractions in the sensitivity index （SI） analysis. F1 and F2 were highly correlated with total nitrogen （TN） and available nitrogen （AN）, F3 was negatively correlated with pH and F4 was correlated with TN. A cluster analysis showed that the treatments containing manure formed one group, and the other treatments formed another group, which indicated the different effects of fertilization on soil properties. Long-term fertilization with inorganic fertilizer increased the F4 fraction while manure fertilizer not only increased labile fractions （F1） in a short time, but also increased passive fraction （F4） over a longer term. The mixed fertilizer mainly affected F3 fraction. The study demonstrated that manure fertilizer was recommended to use in the farmland on the Loess Plateau for the long-term sustainability of agriculture.

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.

Effects of Caragana microphylla plantations on organic carbon sequestration in total and labile soil organic carbon fractions in the Horqin Sandy Land, northern China

Afforestation is conducive to soil carbon（C） sequestration in semi-arid regions. However, little is known about the effects of afforestation on sequestrations of total and labile soil organic carbon（SOC） fractions in semi-arid sandy lands. In the present study, we examined the effects of Caragana microphylla Lam. plantations with different ages（12-and 25-year-old） on sequestrations of total SOC as well as labile SOC fractions such as light fraction organic carbon（LFOC） and microbial biomass carbon（MBC）. The analyzed samples were taken from soil depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm under two shrub-related scenarios： under shrubs and between shrubs with moving sand dunes as control sites in the Horqin Sandy Land of northern China. The results showed that the concentrations and storages of total SOC at soil depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm were higher in 12-and 25-year-old C. microphylla plantations than in moving sand dunes（i.e., control sites）, with the highest value observed under shrubs in 25-year-old C. microphylla plantations. Furthermore, the concentrations and storages of LFOC and MBC showed similar patterns with those of total SOC at the same soil depth. The 12-year-old C. microphylla plantations had higher percentages of LFOC concentration to SOC concentration and MBC concentration to SOC concentration than the 25-year-old C. microphylla plantations and moving sand dunes at both soil depths. A significant positive correlation existed among SOC, LFOC, and MBC, implying that restoring the total and labile SOC fractions is possible by afforestation with C. microphylla shrubs in the Horqin Sandy Land. At soil depth of 0–15 cm, the accumulation rate of total SOC under shrubs was higher in young C. microphylla plantations（18.53 g C/（m^2·a）; 0–12 years） than in old C. microphylla plantations（16.24 g C/（m^2·a）; 12–25 years）, and the accumulation rates of LFOC and MBC under shrubs and between shrubs were also higher in young C. microphylla plantations than in old C. microphylla plantations. It can be concluded that the establishment of C. microphylla in the Horqin Sandy Land may be a good mitigation strategy for SOC sequestration in the surface soils.

Can soil organic carbon sequestration and the carbon management index be improved by changing the film mulching methods in the semiarid region?

Plastic film mulching has been widely used to increase maize yield in the semiarid area of China.However, whether long-term plastic film mulching is conducive to agricultural sustainability in this region remains controversial.A field experiment was initiated in 2013 with five different film mulching methods:(i) control method, flat planting without mulching (CK),(ii) flat planting with half film mulching (P),(iii) film mulching on ridges and planting in narrow furrows(S),(iv) full film mulching on double ridges (D), and (v) film mulching on ridges and planting in wide furrows (R).The effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) content, storage, and fractions, and on the carbon management index (CMI)were evaluated after nine consecutive years of plastic film mulching.The results showed that long-term plastic film mulching generally maintained the initial SOC level.Compared with no mulching, plastic film mulching increased the average crop yield, biomass yield, and root biomass by 48.38, 35.06, and 37.32%, respectively, which led to the improvement of SOC sequestration.Specifically, plastic film mulching significantly improved CMI, and increased the SOC content by 13.59%, SOC storage by 7.47%and easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) by 13.78%on average,but it reduced the other labile fractions.SOC sequestration and CMI were improved by refining the plastic film mulching methods.The S treatment had the best effect among the four mulching methods, so it can be used as a reasonable film mulching method for sustainable agricultural development in the semiarid area.

Fertilization and Soil Ploughing Practices under Changing Physical Environment Lead to Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics under Conservation Agriculture in Rice-Wheat Cropping System: A Scoping Review

Ploughing and fertilization practices in rice-wheat system have deteriorated the soil carbon (C) pools. Conservation agriculture (CA) based management approaches have proven to enhance C sequestration and reverse the loss of soil-organic-carbon (SOC), which further enhances soil fertility. Different fractions of SOC pools react to the alterations in management practices and indicate changes in SOC dynamics as compared to total C in the soil. Higher SOC levels in soil have been observed in case of reduced/no-till (NT) practices than conventional tillage (CT). However, between CT and zero tillage/NT, total SOC stocks diminished with an increase in soil depth, which demonstrated that the benefits of SOC are more pronounced in the topsoil under NT. Soil aggregation provides physical protection to C associated with different-sized particles, thus, the improvement in soil aggregation through CA is an effective way to mitigate soil C loss. Along with less soil disturbance, residual management, suitable crop rotation, rational application of manures and fertilizers, and integrated nutrient management have been found to be effective in not only improving soil C stock but also enhancing the soil health and productivity. Thus, CA can be considered as a potential method in the build-up of SOC of soil in rice-wheat system.

Subsoil tillage enhances wheat productivity,soil organic carbon and available nutrient status in dryland fields

Tillage practices during the fallow period benefit water storage and yield in dryland wheat crops.However,there is currently no clarity on the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),and available nutrients to tillage practices within the growing season.This study evaluated the effects of three tillage practices(NT,no tillage;SS,subsoil tillage;DT,deep tillage)over five years on soil physicochemical properties.Soil samples at harvest stage from the fifth year were analyzed to determine the soil aggregate and aggregate-associated C and N fractions.The results indicated that SS and DT improved grain yield,straw biomass and straw carbon return of wheat compared with NT.In contrast to DT and NT,SS favored SOC and TN concentrations and stocks by increasing the soil organic carbon sequestration rate(SOCSR)and soil nitrogen sequestration rate(TNSR)in the 0-40 cm layer.Higher SOC levels under SS and NT were associated with greater aggregate-associated C fractions,while TN was positively associated with soluble organic nitrogen(SON).Compared with DT,the NT and SS treatments improved soil available nutrients in the 0-20 cm layer.These findings suggest that SS is an excellent practice for increasing soil carbon,nitrogen and nutrient availability in dryland wheat fields in North China.

Distribution of organic carbon fractions in soil aggregates in Chinese fir plantations with different stand ages

Background:Revealing the variations in soil aggregate-related organic carbon(OC)and labile organic carbon(LOC)fractions in a chronosequence of Chinese fir plantations plays an important role in better understanding the impact of soil carbon sink or source on the Chinese fir plantation ecosystem.In this study,soil samples in a depth of 0–20 cm were collected from Chinese fir plantations at different stand ages(0,9,17,and 26 years old)in Guangxi,China.With the optimal moisture sieving method adopted,the soil aggregates of 4 different sizes were obtained,including>2-mm,2–1-mm,1–0.25-mm,and<0.25-mm aggregates.Soil OC and LOC fractions were measured in the aggregates of different sizes.The LOC fractions included readily oxidizable carbon(ROC),particulate organic carbon(POC),microbial biomass carbon(MBC),water-soluble organic carbon(WOC),and mineralized organic carbon(MOC).Results:Soil aggregate stability,as indicated by the mean weight diameter(MWD),was the highest in the 17-yearold Chinese fir plantations and was significantly positively related(p<0.05)to the concentrations of OC and LOC fractions(except for the ROC and MOC),with the POC in particular.As for all stand ages of Chinese fir plantations,the concentrations of soil OC and LOC fractions were significantly increased as the aggregate size decreased.Consequently,there were more OC and LOC fractions distributed in the<0.25-mm aggregates.During the stand development,the concentrations of soil OC and LOC fractions first increased and then decreased,with the highest levels detected in the 17-year-old Chinese fir plantations,indicating that the 17-year-old Chinese fir plantations were conducive to the accumulation of soil OC and LOC fractions.Conclusion:After 17 years of planting,promoted soil carbon(especially for the POC)accumulation contributes significantly to enhancing soil aggregate stability for the Chinese fir plantations in Guangxi,China.

Effects of afforestation on soil carbon and its fractions:a case study from the Loess Plateau,China

Afforestation has been implemented to reduce soil erosion and improve the environment of the Loess Plateau,China.Although it increased soil organic carbon（SOC）,the stability of the increase is unknown.Additionally,the variations of soil inorganic carbon（SIC） following afforestation needs to be reconfirmed.After planting Robinia pseudoacacia,Pinus tabuliformis,and Hippophae rhamnoides on bare land on the Loess Plateau,total soil carbon（TSC） was measured and its two components,SIC and SOC,as well as the light and heavy fractions within SOC under bare lands and woodlands at the soil surface（0–20 cm）.The results show that TSC on bare land was 24.5 Mg ha^（-1） and significantly increased to 51.6 Mg ha^（-1） for R.pseudoacacia,47.0 Mg ha^（-1） for P.tabuliformis and 39.9 Mg ha^（-1） for H.rhamnoides.The accumulated total soil carbon under R.pseudoacacia,P.tabuliformis,and H.rhamnoides,the heavy fraction（HFSOC） accounted for 65.2,31.7 and 76.2%,respectively; the light fraction（LF-SOC） accounted for 18.0,52.0 and 4.0%,respectively; SIC occupied 15.6,15.3 and 19.7%,respectively.The accumulation rates of TSC under R.pseudoacacia,P.tabuliformis,and H.rhamnoides reached159.5,112.4 and 102.5 g m^（-2） a^（-1）,respectively.The results demonstrate that afforestation on bare land has high potential for soil carbon accumulation on the Loess Plateau.Among the newly sequestrated total soil carbon,the heavy fraction（HF-SOC） with a slow turnover rate accounted for a considerably high percentage,suggesting that significant sequestrated carbon can be stored in soils following afforestation.Furthermore,afforestation induces SIC sequestration.Although its contribution to TSC accumulation was less than SOC,overlooking it may substantially underestimate the capacity of carbon sequestration after afforestation on the Loess Plateau.

Reclamation during oasification is conducive to the accumulation of the soil organic carbon pool in arid land

Soil organic carbon(SOC)and its stable isotope composition reflect key information about the carbon cycle in ecosystems.Studies of carbon fractions in oasis continuous cotton-cropped fields can elucidate the SOC stability mechanism under the action of the human-land relationship during the oasification of arid land,which is critical for understanding the carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems in arid lands under global climate change.In this study,we investigated the Alar Reclamation Area on the northern edge of the Tarim Basin,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China,in 2020.In original desert and oasis farmlands with different reclamation years,including 6,10,18,and 30 a,and different soil depths(0-20,20-40,40-60 cm),we analyzed the variations in SOC,very liable carbon(C_(VL)),liable carbon(C_(L)),less liable carbon(C_(LL)),and non-liable carbon(C_(NL))using the method of spatial series.The differences in the stable carbon isotope ratio(δ^(13)C)and beta(β)values reflecting the organic carbon decomposition rate were also determined during oasification.Through redundancy analysis,we derived and discussed the relationships among SOC,carbon fractions,δ^(13)C,and other soil physicochemical properties,such as the soil water content(SWC),bulk density(BD),pH,total salt(TS),total nitrogen(TN),available phosphorus(AP),and available potassium(AK).The results showed that there were significant differences in SOC and carbon fractions of oasis farmlands with different reclamation years,and the highest SOC was observed at the oasis farmland with 30-a reclamation year.C_(VL),C_(L),C_(LL),and C_(NL) showed significant changes among oasis farmlands with different reclamation years,and C_(VL) had the largest variation range(0.40-4.92 g/kg)and accounted for the largest proportion in the organic carbon pool.The proportion of C_(NL) in the organic carbon pool of the topsoil(0-20 cm)gradually increased.δ^(13)C varied from-25.61‰to-22.58‰,with the topsoil showing the most positive value at the oasis farmland with 10-a reclamation year;while theβvalue was the lowest at the oasis farmland with 6-a reclamation year and then increased significantly.Based on the redundancy analysis results,the soil physicochemical properties,such as TN,AP,AK,and pH,were significantly correlated with C_(L),and TN and AP were positively correlated with C_(VL).However,δ^(13)C was not significantly influenced by soil physicochemical properties.Our analysis advances the understanding of SOC dynamics during oasification,revealing the risk of soil carbon loss and its contribution to terrestrial carbon accumulation in arid lands,which could be useful for the sustainable development of regional carbon resources and ecological protection in arid ecosystem.

Conventional tillage improves the storage of soil organic carbon in heavy fractions in the Loess Plateau, China

Soil labile organic carbon （C） plays an important role in improving soil quality. The relatively stable fractions of soil organic C （SOC） represent the bulk of SOC, and are also the primary determinant of the long-term C balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Different land use types can influence the distribution patterns of different SOC fractions. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study, different fractions of SOC were determined in two land use types： a grazed grassland （established on previously cultivated cropland 25 years ago, GG） and a long-term cultivated millet cropland （MC）. The results showed that C concentration and C storage of light fractions （LF） and heavy fractions （HF） presented different patterns along the soil profiles in the two sites. More plant residues in GG resulted in 91.9% higher LF storage at the 0-10 cm soil depth, further contributed to 21.9% higher SOC storage at this soil depth; SOC storage at 20-60 cm soil depth in MC was 98.8% higher than that in GG, which could be mainly attributed to the HF storage 104.5% higher than in GG. This might be caused by the long-term application of organic manure, as well as the protection from plough pan and silt- and clay-sized particles. The study indicated that different soil management practices in this region can greatly influence the variations of different SOC fractions, while the conventional tillage can greatly improve the storage of SOC by in- creasing heavy fractions.

Inclusion of peanut in wheat–maize rotation increases wheat yield and net return and improves soil organic carbon pool by optimizing bacterial community

Improving soil quality while achieving higher productivity is the major challenge in the agricultural industry. Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)–maize(Zea mays L.)(W–M) rotation is the dominant planting pattern in the Huang-HuaiHai Plain and is important for food security in China. However, the soil quality is deteriorating due to the W–M rotation’s long-term, intensive, and continuous cultivation. Introducing legumes into the W–M rotation system may be an effective way to improve soil quality. In this study, we aimed to verify this hypothesis by exploring efficient planting systems(wheat–peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)(W–P) rotation and wheat rotated with maize and peanut intercropping(W–M/P)) to achieve higher agricultural production in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Using traditional W–M rotation as the control, we evaluated crop productivity, net returns, soil microorganisms(SMs), and soil organic carbon(SOC) fractions for three consecutive years. The results indicated that wheat yields were significantly increased under W–P and W–M/P(382.5–579.0 and 179.8–513.1 kg ha-1, respectively) compared with W–M. W–P and W–M/P provided significantly higher net returns(58.2 and 70.4%, respectively) than W–M. W–M/P and W–M retained the SOC stock more efficiently than W–P, increasing by 25.46–31.03 and 14.47–27.64%, respectively, in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Compared with W–M, W–M/P improved labile carbon fractions;the sensitivity index of potentially mineralizable carbon, microbial biomass carbon(MBC), and dissolved organic carbon was 31.5, 96.5–157.2, and 17.8% in 20–40, 10–40, and 10–20 cm soil layers, respectively. The bacterial community composition and bacteria function were altered as per the soil depth and planting pattern. W–M/P and W–M exhibited similar bacterial community composition and function in 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers. Compared with W–P, a higher abundance of functional genes, namely, contains mobile elements and stress-tolerant, and a lower abundance of genes, namely,potentially pathogenic, were observed in the 10–20 cm soil layer of W–M and the 0–20 cm soil layer of W–M/P. SOC and MBC were the main factors affecting soil bacterial communities, positively correlated with Sphingomonadales and Gemmatimonadales and negatively correlated with Blastocatellales. Organic input was the main factor affecting SOC and SMs, which exhibited feedback effects on crop productivity. In summary, W–M/P improved productivity, net returns, and SOC pool compared with traditional W–M rotation systems, and it is recommended that plant–soil–microbial interactions be considered while designing high-yield cropping systems.

Soil Carbon Stocks under Amazonian Forest:Distribution in the Soil Fractions and Vulnerability to Emission

Transformations of natural ecosystems in tropical regions, which are usually covered by high-biomass forests, contribute to increased atmospheric CO2. Much of the carbon in forest ecosystems is stored in the soil. This study estimates soil carbon stock in a dense forest in central Amazonia from sets of soil samples collected in three topographic positions (plateau, slope and valley bottom). Soil organic matter (SOM) was fractionated by density and particle size, thus obtaining the free light fraction (FLF), intra-aggregated light fraction (IALF), sand fraction (F-sand), clay fraction (F-clay) and silt fraction (F-silt). Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks on the plateaus (Oxisol), slopes (Ultisol) and valley bottoms (Spodosol) were 98.4 ± 7.8 Mg·ha-1, 72.6 ± 5.4 Mg·ha-1 and 81.4 ± 8.9 Mg·ha-1, respectively. Distribution of carbon in soil fractions was: 112.6 ± 15 Mg·ha-1 (FLF), 2.5 ± 0 Mg·ha-1 (ILAF), 40.5 ± 1.5 Mg·ha-1 (F-silt), 68.5 ± 4.2 Mg·ha-1 (F-clay) and 28.3 ± 1.4 Mg·ha-1 (F-sand), totaling 252.4 ± 22.1 Mg·ha-1 of carbon. Carbon is largely in labile form and near the soil surface, making it liable to release from deforestation or from climate change. Spodosols are more susceptible to soil carbon losses, demonstrating the need to preserve forested areas close to Amazonian rivers and streams.

The Effects of Three Mineral Nitrogen Sources and Zinc on Maize and Wheat Straw Decomposition and Soil Organic Carbon

The incorporation of straw in cultivated ifelds can potentially improve soil quality and crop yield. However, the presence of recalcitrant carbon compounds in straw slow its decomposition rate. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different nitrogen sources, with and without the application of zinc, on straw decomposition and soil quality. Soils were treated with three different nitrogen sources, with and without zinc： urea （CO（NH2）2）, ammonium sulfate （（NH4）2SO4）, and ammonium chloride （NH4Cl）. The combined treatments were as follows：maize （M） and wheat （W） straw incorporated into urea-, ammonium sulfate-, or ammonium chloride-treated soil （U, S, and C, respectively） with and without zinc （Z） （MU, MUZ, WU, WUZ;MS, MSZ, WS, WSZ;MC, MCZ, WC, WCZ, respectively）;straw with zinc only （MZ, WZ）;straw with untreated soil （MS, WS）;and soil-only or control conditions （NT）. The experiment consisted of 17 treatments with four replications. Each pot contained 150 g soil and 1.125 g straw, had a moisture content of 80%of the ifeld capacity, and was incubated for 53 days at 25°C. The rates of CO2-C emission, cumulative CO2-C evolution, total CO2 production in the soils of different treatments were measured to infer decomposition rates. The total organic carbon （TOC）, labile organic carbon （LOC）, and soil microbial biomass in the soils of different treatments were measured to infer soil quality. All results were signiifcantly different （P〈0.05） with the exception of the labile organic carbon （LOC）. The maize and wheat straw showed different patterns in CO2 evolution rates. For both straw types, Zn had a synergic effect with U, but an antagonistic effect with the other N sources as determined by the total CO2 produced. The MUZ treatment showed the highest decomposition rate and cumulative CO2 concentration （1 120.29 mg/pot）, whereas the WACZ treatment had the lowest cumulative CO2 concentration （1 040.57 mg/pot）. The addition of NH4Cl resulted in the highest total organic carbon （TOC） concentration （11.59 mg kg-1）. The incorporation of wheat straw resulted in higher microbial biomass accumulation in soils relative to that of the maize straw application. The results demonstrate that mineral N sources can affect the ability of microorganisms to decompose straw, as well as the soil carbon concentrations.

Organic mulching promotes soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest

Background:Soil organic carbon(SOC)is important for soil quality and fertility in forest ecosystems.Labile SOC fractions are sensitive to environmental changes,which reflect the impact of short-term internal and external management measures on the soil carbon pool.Organic mulching(OM)alters the soil environment and promotes plant growth.However,little is known about the responses of SOC fractions in rhizosphere or bulk soil to OM in urban forests and its correlation with carbon composition in plants.Methods:A one-year field experiment with four treatments(OM at 0,5,10,and 20 cm thicknesses)was conducted in a 15-year-old Ligustrum lucidum plantation.Changes in the SOC fractions in the rhizosphere and bulk soil;the carbon content in the plant fine roots,leaves,and organic mulch;and several soil physicochemical properties were measured.The relationships between SOC fractions and the measured variables were analysed.Results:The OM treatments had no significant effect on the SOC fractions,except for the dissolved organic carbon(DOC).OM promoted the movement of SOC to deeper soil because of the increased carbon content in fine roots of subsoil.There were significant correlations between DOC and microbial biomass carbon and SOC and easily oxidised organic carbon.The OM had a greater effect on organic carbon fractions in the bulk soil than in the rhizosphere.The thinnest(5 cm)mulching layers showed the most rapid carbon decomposition over time.The time after OM had the greatest effect on the SOC fractions,followed by soil layer.Conclusions:The frequent addition of small amounts of organic mulch increased SOC accumulation in the present study.OM is a potential management model to enhance soil organic matter storage for maintaining urban forest productivity.

A Study of the Migration and Accumulation Efficiency and the Genesis of Hydrocarbon Natural Gas in the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression

In order to investigate the migration and accumulation efficiency of hydrocarbon natural gas in the Xujiaweizi fault depression, and to provide new evidence for the classification of its genesis, a source rock pyrolysis experiment in a closed system was designed and carried out. Based on this, kinetic models for describing gas generation from organic matter and carbon isotope fractionation during this process were established, calibrated and then extrapolated to geologic conditions by combining the thermal history data of the Xushen-1 Well. The results indicate that the coal measures in the Xujiaweizi fault depression are typical ＂high-efficiency gas sources＂, the natural gas generated from them has a high migration and accumulation efficiency, and consequently a large-scale natural gas accumulation occurred in the area. The highly/over matured coal measures in the Xujiaweizi fault depression generate coaliferous gas with a high δ^13C1 value （〉 -20‰） at the late stage, making the carbon isotope composition of organic alkane gases abnormally heavy. In addition, the mixing and dissipation through the caprock of natural gas can result in the negative carbon isotope sequence （δ^13C1 〉δ^13C2 〉δ^13C3 〉δ^13C4） of organic alkane gases, and the dissipation can also lead to the abnormally heavy carbon isotope composition of organic alkane gases. As for the discovery of inorganic nonhydrocarbon gas reservoirs, it can only serve as an accessorial evidence rather than a direct evidence that the hydrocarbon gas is inorganic. As a result, it needs stronger evidence to classify the hydrocarbon natural gas in the Xujiaweizi fault depression as inorganic gas.

Long-term effects of gravel―sand mulch on soil organic carbon and nitrogen in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China

Gravel-sand mulch has been used for centuries to conserve water in the Loess Plateau of north- western China. In this study, we assessed the influence of long-term （1996-2012） gravel-sand mulching of cultiv- ated soils on total organic carbon （TOC）, light fraction organic carbon （LFOC）, microbial biomass carbon （MBC）, total organic nitrogen （TON）, particulate organic carbon （POC）, mineral-associated organic carbon （MOC）, perma- nganate-oxidizable carbon （KMnO4-C）, and non-KMnO4-C at 0-60 cm depths. Mulching durations were 7, 11 and 16 years, with a non-mulched control. Compared to the control, there was no significant and consistently positive effect of the mulch on TOC, POC, MOC, KMnO4-C and non-KMnO4-C before 11 years of mulching, and these organic C fractions generally decreased significantly by 16 years. LFOC, TON and MBC to at a 0-20 cm depth in- creased with increasing mulching duration until 11 years, and then these fractions decreased significantly between 11 and 16 years, reaching values comparable to or lower than those in the control. KMnO4-C was most strongly correlated with the labile soil C fractions. Our findings suggest that although gravel-sand mulch may conserve soil moisture, it may also lead to long-term decreases in labile soil organic C fractions and total organic N in the study area. The addition of manure or composted manure would be a good choice to reverse the soil deterioration that occurs after 11 years by increasing the inputs of organic matter.

Dynamics of organic carbon and nitrogen in deep soil profile and crop yields under long-term fertilization in wheat-maize cropping system

Soil organic carbon(SOC)and nitrogen(N)are two of the most important indicators for agricultural productivity.The primary objective of this study was to investigate the changes in SOC and N in the deep soil profile(up to 100 cm)and their relationships with crop productivity under the influence of long-term(since 1990)fertilization in the wheat-maize cropping system.Treatments included CK(control),NP(inorganic N and phosphorus(P)fertilizers),NPK(inorganic N,P and potassium fertilizers),NPKM(NPK plus manure),and M(manure).Crop yield and the properties of topsoil were measured yearly from 2001 to 2009.C and N contents were measured at five different depths in 2001 and 2009.The results showed that wheat and maize yields decreased between 2001 and 2009 under the inorganic fertilizer(NP and NPK)treatments.The average yield between 2001 and 2009 under the NP,NPK,NPKM,and M treatments(compared with the CK treatment)increased by 38,115,383,and 381%,respectively,for wheat and 348,891,2738,and 1845%,respectively,for maize.Different long-term fertilization treatments significantly changed coarse free particulate(cf POC),fine free particulate(ff POC),intramicroaggregate particulate(i POC),and mineral-associated(m SOC)organic carbon fractions.In the experimental years of 2001 and 2009,soil fractions occurred in the following order for all treatments:m SOC>cf POC>i POC>ff POC.All fractions were higher under the manure application treatments than under the inorganic fertilization treatments.Compared to the inorganic fertilization treatments,manure input enhanced the stocks of SOC and total N in the surface layer(0–20 cm)but decreased SOC and N in the deep soil layer(80–100 cm).This reveals the efficiency of manure in increasing yield productivity and decreasing risk of vertical loss of nutrients,especially N,compared to inorganic fertilization treatments.The findings provide opportunities for understanding deep soil C and N dynamics,which could help mitigate climate change impact on agricultural production and maintain soil health.

Effect of fire intensity on active organic and total soil carbon in a Larix gmelinii forest in the Daxing'anling Mountains,Northeastern China

Studying contents and seasonal dynamics of active organic carbon in the soil is an important method for revealing the turnover and regulation mechanism of soil carbon pool. Through 3 years of field sampling and lab analysis, we studied the seasonal variations, content differences, and interrelationships of total organic carbon （TOC）, light fraction organic carbon （LFOC）, and particulate organic carbon （POC） of the soil in the forest areas burned with different fire intensities in the Daxing＇anling Mountains. The mean TOC content in the low-intensity burned area was greater than that in the unburned area, moderate-intensity, and high-intensity burned areas in June and November （P 〈 0.05）. LFOC and POC in the low-intensity burned area were greater than that in either moderate-intensity or high-intensity burned areas, with significant differences in LFOC in September and November （P 〈 0.05）. A significant difference in LFOC between the unburned and burned areas was only found in July （P 〈 0.05）. However, the differences in POC between the unburned and burned areas were not significant in all the whole seasons （P 〉 0.05）. Soil LFOC and POC varied significantly with the seasons （P 〈 0.05） in the Daxing＇anling Mountains. Significant linear relationships were observed between soil TOC, LFOC, and POC, which were positively correlated with soil nitrogen and negatively correlated with soil temperature in the Daxing＇anling Mountains.