Acclimation of CH_(4)emissions from paddy soil to atmospheric CO_(2)enrichment in a growth chamber experiment

Elevated levels of atmospheric CO_(2)(eCO_(2))promote rice growth and increase methane(CH_(4))emissions from rice paddies,because increased input of plant photosynthate to soil stimulates methanogenic archae.However,temporal trends in the effects of eCO_(2)on rice growth and CH_(4)emissions are still unclear.To investigate changes in the effects of eCO_(2)over time,we conducted a two-season pot experiment in a walk-in growth chamber.Positive effects of eCO_(2)on rice leaf photosynthetic rate,biomass,and grain yield were similar between growing seasons.However,the effects of eCO_(2)on CH_(4) emissions decreased over time.Elevated CO_(2)increased CH_(4)emissions by 48%-101%in the first growing season,but only by 28%-30%in the second growing season.We also identified the microbial process underlying the acclimation of CH4 emissions to atmospheric CO_(2)enrichment:eCO_(2)stimulated the abundance of methanotrophs more strongly in soils that had been previously exposed to eCO_(2)than in soils that had not been.These results emphasize the need for long-term eCO_(2)experiments for accurate predictions of terrestrial feedbacks.

Perspectives on studies on soil carbon stocks and the carbon sequestration potential of China

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.