Priming effects decrease with the quantity of cover crop residues – Potential implications for soil carbon sequestration

Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 184, P. 109110 - 109110

Published: June 22, 2023

Meta-analyses suggest a global potential of cover crops to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, yet with large variation across studies, which underlines the need understand effect on (C) sequestration under specific and climate conditions. We studied C from crops, based Danish long-term field experiment (LTE) initiated in 1997, where SOC fractions particulate matter (POM) mineral associated (MAOM) was measured 1-m depth. Next, we performed mesocosm study fate 14C-labeled crop residues (fodder radish, Raphanus sativus L.) priming were traced two texturally similar soils LTE different concentrations (2.0 vs. 2.6% SOC). The results showed that cropping for up decades had negligible POM MAOM fractions. Yet, considerable overall increases (20–25% added C) when input exceeded rates 0.2–0.3 mg g−1 soils. This due combination new formation effects shifting positive negative. correspond an aboveground yield approximately 0.7–1.1 Mg dry ha−1, is level not always achieved at site. combined observations buildup constrained by saturation, but rather low productivity and/or effects. Therefore, agricultural management practices (e.g., species choice sowing time) should be adopted achieve sufficient secure exceeding rate formation.

Language: Английский

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A simple soil organic carbon level metric beyond the organic carbon‐to‐clay ratio

Soil Use and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(3), P. 1057 - 1067

Published: May 26, 2023

Abstract Soil is a precious and non‐renewable resource that under increasing pressure the development of indicators to monitor its state pivotal. organic carbon (SOC) important for key physical, chemical biological soil properties thus central indicator quality health. The content SOC driven by many abiotic factors, such as texture climate, therefore strongly site‐specific, which complicates, example, search appropriate threshold values differentiate healthy from less soils. SOC:clay ratio has been introduced normalized level metric indicate soils' structural condition, with classes ranging degraded (<1:13) very good (>1:8). This study applied 2958 topsoils (0–30 cm) in German Agricultural Inventory showed it not suitable since biased, misleading partly insensitive changes. proportion soils levels classified increased exponentially clay content, indicating indicator's overly strong dependence. Thus, 94% all Chernozems, are known have elevated contents favourable structure, were found either (61%) or moderate (33%) levels. between actual expected (SOC:SOC exp ) proposed an easy‐to‐use alternative where derived regression content. allows simple but unbiased estimate clay‐normalized level. quartiles this used derive divide dataset into , . These clearly linked bulk volume (inverse density) parameter, was case based on ratio. Therefore, SOC:SOC temporal dynamic limited areas regions, states pedoclimatic zones, health monitoring context; further testing is, however, recommended.

Language: Английский

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How the EU Soil Observatory is providing solid science for healthy soils

European Journal of Soil Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 75(3)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract Healthy soils are essential for sustainable food production, achieving climate neutrality and halting the loss of biodiversity. The European Commission turned spotlights on these vital aspects with launch EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) in 2021 to support Green Deal. Also, Strategy 2030 proposed Monitoring Law marked a major milestone soil protection. This article provides an overview functioning EUSO within this policy context. Through its activities, supports EU‐wide monitoring system wide range areas. Moreover, monitors state health through Health Dashboard. comprehensive easy understandable tool shows, first time, where current scientific evidence converges indicate areas likely be affected by degradation. Furthermore, research innovation, enhances capacity functionality Data Centre citizen engagements regarding matters. Overall, since 2021, has successfully taken up role principal knowledge hub information data underpin development implementation. Also next years, will continue provide monitor, safeguard restore EU.

Language: Английский

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Is the organic carbon-to-clay ratio a reliable indicator of soil health?

Geoderma, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 444, P. 116862 - 116862

Published: March 27, 2024

Climate action plans under the Paris Agreement and other national commitments aimed at improving soil-based ecosystem services require operational monitoring of soil carbon (C). The European Union is aiming to enhance health, as part proposed Soil Monitoring Law, Commission recommends C loss indicator among health indicators. In this study, we evaluate feasibility by assessing its performance using EU-wide 2009 LUCAS survey data. organic (SOC) clay ratio, with a threshold value 1:13. results are also compared stock changes reported countries climate convention (UNFCCC). Our reveal that variation in SOC content scale exceeds data used develop indicator. We found was influenced not only but land-use reflecting input levels. Therefore, defined inadequate for detecting degraded soils if beyond conditions establish criteria. Furthermore, major discrepancies were observed between greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories proportions identified conclude employing single such SOC:Clay ratio one all across various land covers, management practices, climatic conditions, inappropriate loss.

Language: Английский

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Benchmarking soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration provides more robust soil health assessment than the SOC/clay ratio at European scale

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 951, P. 175642 - 175642

Published: Aug. 18, 2024

Language: Английский

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Soil Organic Carbon Assessment for Carbon Farming: A Review

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(5), P. 567 - 567

Published: March 6, 2025

This review is motivated by the urgent need to improve soil organic carbon (SOC) assessment methods, which are vital for enhancing health, addressing climate change, and promoting farming. By employing a structured approach that involves systematic literature search, data extraction, analysis, 86 relevant studies were identified. These evaluated address following specific research questions: (a) What state-of-the-art approaches in sampling, modeling, acquisition? (b) key challenges, open issues, potential advancements, future directions needed enhance effectiveness of farming practices? The findings indicate while traditional SOC techniques remain foundational, there significant shift towards incorporating model-based machine learning models, proximal spectroscopy, remote sensing technologies. emerging primarily serve as complementary laboratory analyses, overall accuracy reliability assessments. Despite these challenges such spatial temporal variability, high financial costs, limitations measurement continue hinder progress. also highlights necessity scalable, cost-effective, precise tools, alongside supportive policies incentives encourage farmer adoption. Finally, development “System-of-Systems” integrates sensing, modeling offers promising pathway balancing cost accuracy, ultimately supporting practices.

Language: Английский

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Development of soil health benchmarks for managed and semi-natural landscapes

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 886, P. 163973 - 163973

Published: May 8, 2023

Efforts to improve soil health require that target values of key properties are established. No agreed targets exist but providing population data as benchmarks is a useful step standardise comparison between landscapes. We exploited nationally representative topsoil (0-15 cm) measurements derive for managed and semi-natural environments across Great Britain. In total, 4587 organic matter (SOM), 3860 pH, 2908 bulk density (BD), 465 earthworm abundance (EA) datapoints were used. As sensitive site-specific characteristics, stratified by habitat, type, mean annual precipitation, with defined the middle 80 % in each distribution - yielding 135 benchmarks. BD pH decreased land management intensity (agriculture > grasslands woodlands heathlands wetlands), vice versa SOM EA. Normalising benchmark ranges medians revealed indicator widths increased order: < EA, while width decreasing intensity. Arable horticulture improved grassland exhibited narrow SOM, BD, yet widest EA benchmark, suggesting additional drivers impact patterns. Upland wetlands had benchmarks, important when determining carbon stocks. East Anglia currently possesses largest proportions atypical soils, including below typical (19.2 %), above (17.4 %) (39.1 smallest (2.4 (5.8 (2.3 %). This found even after use, type rainfall have been considered, underscoring how urgently should be addressed here. Our benchmarking framework allows landowners compare where their measured indicators fall within expected applicable other biomes, national multinational contexts.

Language: Английский

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Empirical approach for developing production environment soil health benchmarks

Geoderma Regional, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 34, P. e00672 - e00672

Published: June 16, 2023

Defining quantitative soil health benchmarks can support efforts to improve quality and meet broader ecosystem services goals, while simultaneously helping field-level benchmarking of on farms. However, metrics in agricultural systems require edaphic context, notably climate, texture classification, as well cropping system information for optimal interpretation. Soil samples (n = 1328) from New York State (USA) with Land Resource Regions (LRR), texture, were analyzed eight physical biological indicators (i.e., organic matter, permanganate-oxidizable carbon, respiration, protein, available water capacity, wet aggregate stability 0 15 cm depth, penetration resistance 15–45 cm), which population distribution functions determined. Production environment (PESH) derived potential management goals four groups six by proposing the 75th 90th percentile each factorial class. Finer-textured (sand content <50%) soils Pasture Mixed Vegetable generally had highest values benchmarks, followed Dairy Crop Orchard systems, then Annual Grain, lastly Processing systems. matter PESH silt loam soils, defined percentile, ranged 4.2% (Annual Grain Vegetable) 5.9% (Pasture). Long Island (LRR-S) that were, average, 0.7% numerically lower than rest (LRRs-L&R). This implies regional within a state or region may be warranted if context is considerably different.

Language: Английский

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Effect of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivation on soil organic carbon stocks in Germany

Soil Use and Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 41(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Sugar beet is generally seen as detrimental to soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks for multiple reasons although actual data verifying this claim are scarce. In study, two approaches were combined examine the effect of sugar on SOC from field in Germany. First, German Agricultural Soil Inventory used compare sites with similar without cultivation. Second, a long‐term crop rotation trial Central Germany was evaluated differences among rotations and beet. Further, input into residues compared wheat reference. nationwide dataset, lower (−4.6%) found those without. However, re‐sampling 10 years later showed no (further) loss. trial, negative impact cultivation found. From both databases, (2 2.7 Mg ha −1 year , respectively) much than (3.6 5.8 because evident amount belowground residues. may be counteracted by growing cover crops before beet, done studied. We conclude that might have had past, yet does not necessarily continue present fields, possibly current steady state. When crops, at all. any case, general loss cannot assumed.

Language: Английский

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Supporting the spatial allocation of management practices to improve ecosystem services – An opportunity map approach for agricultural landscapes

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 172, P. 113212 - 113212

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

Language: Английский

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