Long-term impact of grazing and tillage on soil quality in the semi-arid Chaco (Argentina)

Deforestation of Chacoan native forests and reorientation of land use are transforming the region into agricultural use. The main purpose of this work was to evaluate the impact of different land uses on soil quality in the semi-arid Chaco (Argentina). We assessed the behaviour of soil parameters over four years of experimental conditions: 1) Exclosure pasture (EP) used as reference level, 2) Grazed pasture (GP), 3) Grazed pasture transformed to agriculture with Zero tillage (ZT) and 4) Grazed pasture transformed to agriculture under Conventional tillage (CT). Soil organic carbon, particulate and heavy organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), C:N ratio, pH, electric conductivity and soil respiration were measured. Soil samples were taken yearly at 0-5, 5-20 and 20-40 cm of soil depth. Differences among treatments across time were assessed by Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with time (years) as covariate factor, treatments as group factor and individual scores from Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as responses. Correlated changes in the soil characteristics were detected, especially at the top soil layer. Both carbon and nitrogen contents increased in both GP and ZT systems. An opposite trend was found for CT, which also had a negative impact on salinity. Both land use change and management practices in the Chaco region represent the main human activities that modify the landscape; thus, they should be analysed by recognizing heterogeneity on farming practices and identifying their impacts on a specific site. The results of this work reinforce the utility of soil organic carbon as a single parameter for monitoring land management systems, especially for monitoring large region like Chaco that are subject to continuous transformation processes.

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Dynamics of soil organic carbon in the steppes of Russia and Kazakhstan under past and future climate and land use

Regional Environmental Change ◽

10.1007/s10113-021-01799-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Susanne Rolinski ◽

Alexander V. Prishchepov ◽

Georg Guggenberger ◽

Norbert Bischoff ◽

Irina Kurganova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Arable Land ◽

Future Climate ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Climate Scenarios ◽

The Impact

AbstractChanges in land use and climate are the main drivers of change in soil organic matter contents. We investigated the impact of the largest policy-induced land conversion to arable land, the Virgin Lands Campaign (VLC), from 1954 to 1963, of the massive cropland abandonment after 1990 and of climate change on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in steppes of Russia and Kazakhstan. We simulated carbon budgets from the pre-VLC period (1900) until 2100 using a dynamic vegetation model to assess the impacts of observed land-use change as well as future climate and land-use change scenarios. The simulations suggest for the entire VLC region (266 million hectares) that the historic cropland expansion resulted in emissions of 1.6⋅ 1015 g (= 1.6 Pg) carbon between 1950 and 1965 compared to 0.6 Pg in a scenario without the expansion. From 1990 to 2100, climate change alone is projected to cause emissions of about 1.8 (± 1.1) Pg carbon. Hypothetical recultivation of the cropland that has been abandoned after the fall of the Soviet Union until 2050 may cause emissions of 3.5 (± 0.9) Pg carbon until 2100, whereas the abandonment of all cropland until 2050 would lead to sequestration of 1.8 (± 1.2) Pg carbon. For the climate scenarios based on SRES (Special Report on Emission Scenarios) emission pathways, SOC declined only moderately for constant land use but substantially with further cropland expansion. The variation of SOC in response to the climate scenarios was smaller than that in response to the land-use scenarios. This suggests that the effects of land-use change on SOC dynamics may become as relevant as those of future climate change in the Eurasian steppes.

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Soil organic carbon temperature sensitivity of different soil types and land use systems in the Brazilian semi‐arid region

Soil Use and Management ◽

10.1111/sum.12508 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 433-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia ◽

Giordano Bruno Medeiros Gonzaga ◽

Leilane Kristine dos Santos Silva ◽

Guilherme Bastos Lyra ◽

Tâmara Cláudia de Araújo Gomes

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Temperature Sensitivity ◽

Arid Region ◽

Soil Types ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) Changes and its impact on Soil Organic Carbon Stock in Killiar River Basin, Kerala, India: A Geospatial Approach

Current World Environment ◽

10.12944/cwe.16.3.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 662-664

Author(s):

Sabu Joseph ◽

Rahul R ◽

Sukanya S

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Land Cover ◽

River Basin ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Landsat 8 ◽

Soil Organic Carbon Stock ◽

The Impact ◽

Organic Carbon Stock

The changes in the pattern of land use and land cover (LU/LC) have remarkable consequences on ecosystem functioning and natural resources dynamics. The present study analyzes the spatial pattern of LU/LC change detection along the Killiar River Basin (KRB), a major tributary of Karamana river in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala (India), over a period of 64 years (1957-2021) through Remote Sensing and GIS approach. The rationale of the study is to identify and classify LU/LC changes in KRB using the Survey of India (SOI) toposheet (1:50,000) of 1957, LISS-III imagery of 2005, Landsat 8 OLI & TIRS imagery of 2021 and further to scrutinize the impact of LU/LC conversion on Soil Organic Carbon stock in the study area. Five major LU/LC classes, viz., agriculture land, built-up, forest, wasteland and water bodies were characterized from available data. Within the study period, built-up area and wastelands showed a substantial increase of 51.51% and 15.67% respectively. Thus, the general trend followed is the increase in built-up and wastelands area which results in the decrease of all other LU/LC classes. Based on IPCC guidelines, total soil organic carbon (SOC) stock of different land-use types was estimated and was 1292.72 Mt C in 1957, 562.65 Mt C in 2005 and it reduced to 152.86 Mt C in 2021. This decrease is mainly due to various anthropogenic activities, mainly built-up activities. This conversion for built-up is at par with the rising population, and over-exploitation of natural and agricultural resources is increasing every year.

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Physical Soil Quality of Semi - Arid Savanna as Influenced by Acacia senegalensis in Desert Research Experimental Plot Yobe State University Damaturu, Northern Nigeria

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2021/v33i530432 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 7-17

Author(s):

Hamza Haruna ◽

Galal H.G. Hussein ◽

Mohammed B

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Minimum Data Set ◽

Organic Carbon Content ◽

Data Set ◽

Minimum Data ◽

Lower Bulk Density ◽

Semi Arid

Soil is a living and dynamic natural reservoir and source of plant nutrients that play numerous key roles in terrestrial ecosystems. This study investigated the impact of three adjacent land use systems (Acacia senegalensis plantation (ACP), pilostigma raticulatum plantation (PRP) and Ground nut field (GNF) on selected soil physical quality indicators in a Northern Nigeria semi- arid Savanna. Minimum data set for assessing soil quality (Prime quality agricultural land) in this study include bulk density, organic carbon content, total nitrogen, carbon stock, available phosphorus and pH values obtained from DRMCC research field. Mean values of the data set were arranged and scored to obtain totals among the minimum data set (MDS). Soil quality is considered a key element for evaluating the sustainability of land management practices. Data generated were analyzed using ANOVA and significant means were determined using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). ACP had significantly higher organic carbon content (9.37 gkg-1) and lower bulk density (2.16 gkg-1) than pilostigma and GNF respectively. The lower bulk density (ρb) and high organic carbon in ACP might be due to high leaf shading by acacia while the lower bulk density in ground nut field aided by trampling induced compaction resulted in its high relative field capacity (RFC), permanent wilting point (PWP) and micro-p ore spaces (PMIC) tillage in ground nut field created loose soil in the plough layer (<20 cm) which turn out to its low bulk density (ρb). Acacia plantation contained highest total nitrogen value (1.23 gkg-1); perhaps resulting Acacia leaf litter is known to have a high decomposition rate. Pilostigma plantation contained (1.22 gkg-1) nitrogen, while the least nitrogen content was obtained under ground nut field. On scoring the land use types and depth against the minimum data set, the least total was that under acacia plantation, followed by pilostigma plantation then ground nut field. Therefore, soils under acacia plantation were ranked best quality (SQ1) for cultivation purposes at 0-10 cm, followed by pilostigma land use type that were ranked SQ2. Ground nut field soils were ranked least (SQ6) in quality for use in crop production at depth of 10-20 cm.

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Land use and climate change impacts on soil organic carbon stocks in semi-arid Spain

Journal of Soils and Sediments ◽

10.1007/s11368-012-0617-7 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 265-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

Juan Albaladejo ◽

Roque Ortiz ◽

Noelia Garcia-Franco ◽

Antonio Ruiz Navarro ◽

Maria Almagro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Soil Organic Carbon Stocks ◽

Semi Arid

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The Impact of Anthropogenic Land-Use Change on Soil Organic Carbon, Oporae Valley, Lake Tutira, New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.16959481 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Roderick Charles James Boys

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Sedimentation Rate ◽

Large Scale ◽

Slope Angle ◽

Carbon Accounting ◽

Native Forest ◽

The Impact

During the anthropocene land use change has exacerbated erosion of the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) rich topsoil in the Oporae Valley. As well as reducing the SOC content of the contemporary topsoil, the large scale redistribution of sediment has created a quantifiable long-term SOC sink in paleosols. Using contemporary native forest soils as a proxy, pasture covered topsoils contain ~40% less SOC (a loss of 5,338 T/[square kilometer] SOC). The pre-human paleosol at ~200 cm, an average 32 cm thickness, contains 9180 T/[square kilometer]. Significantly more SOC buried at depth than what currently exists in the contemporary topsoil indicates the relative importance of paleosols as C stores and the role of land use change on SOC. The preservation characteristics of a paleosol in the Oporae Valley are determined by slope angle and the relative position they hold in relation to the inter-fingering of the alluvial toeslope with the colluvial footslope. Groupings of [radioisotope carbon-14] ages in and above the pre-human paleosol allow for calculation of terrestrial sedimentation rates. At ~0.9 mm yr^-1 the terrestrial pre-human sedimentation rate averaged over the valley floor is approximately half (0.53) of the corresponding pre-human lake rate of ~1.7 mm yr^-1. As a proportion of the lake's anthropogenic sedimentation rate at ~4.8 mm yr^-1, the terrestrial anthropogenic sedimentation rate has slightly increased to ~2.8 mm yr^-1 (0.58 of the lake sedimentation rate). These initial findings demonstrate the potential for further research in this area, so that ongoing land-use change can be accurately incorporated into terrestrial carbon accounting.

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Assessment of Soil Quality under Different Agricultural Land Use Systems: A Case Study of the Ibadan Farm Settlement

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2020/v32i430275 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 89-104

Author(s):

B. O. Adebo ◽

A. O. Aweto ◽

K. Ogedengbe

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Management Practices ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Agricultural Land Use ◽

Land Uses ◽

Native Land ◽

Land Use Systems

Soil quality in an agroecosytem is considerably influenced by land use and management practices. Twenty two potential soil quality indicators were used to assess the effects of five different land use types (arable land, plantation, agroforestry, marginal land and native forest) on soil quality in Akufo and Atan farm settlements in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. A total of sixty-two fields were selected from which soil samples were taken at a depth of 0-15 cm and subjected to laboratory analysis. Majority of the evaluated physicochemical properties varied significantly among the land uses and whereas native land performed relatively better for most of the observed attributes, arable and marginal lands performed worse. Due to the moderate to strong significant correlation among the potential indicators, they were subjected to principal component analysis and only seven indicators were selected to compute the soil quality index (SQI). In both Akufo and Atan, native land had the highest SQI (0.8250 and 0.860 respectively) which was significantly different (P = .05) from all the agricultural land uses, except plantation (0.739 and 0.750 respectively). Whereas marginal field in Atan was most degraded (SQI = 0.455), it was closely followed by arable fields in both locations. This study indicates that the current agricultural land use and soil management practices in Akufo and Atan farm settlements have negatively impacted soil quality; however, the degree of degradation was strongly influenced by the concentration of soil organic carbon in the understudied land use systems. It also emphasizes the need to promote the use of sustainable management practices among agricultural land users, so as to increase soil organic carbon stock, and improve soil quality and land productivity.

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Deriving regional pedotransfer functions to estimate soil bulk density in Austria

Die Bodenkultur: Journal of Land Management, Food and Environment ◽

10.2478/boku-2020-0020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 241-252

Author(s):

Cecilie Foldal ◽

Robert Jandl ◽

Andreas Bohner ◽

Ambros Berger

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Linear Models ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Pedotransfer Functions ◽

Undisturbed Soil ◽

The Impact

Summary Soil bulk density is a required variable for quantifying stocks of elements in soils and is therefore instrumental for the evaluation of land-use related climate change mitigation measures. Our motivation was to derive a set of pedotransfer functions for soil bulk densities usable to accommodate different levels of data availabilities. We derived sets of linear equations for bulk density that are appropriate for different forms of land-use. After introducing uncertainty factors for measured parameters, we ran the linear models repeatedly in a Monte Carlo simulation in order to test the impact of inaccuracy. The reliability of the models was evaluated by a cross-validation. The single best predictor of soil bulk density is the content of soil organic carbon, yielding estimates with an adjusted R2 of approximately 0.5. A slight improvement of the estimate is possible when additionally, soil texture and soil depth are known. Residual analysis advocated the derivation of land-use specific models. Using transformed variables and assessing land-use specific pedotransfer functions, the determination coefficient (adjusted R2) of the multiple linear models ranged from 0.43 in cropland up to 0.65 for grassland soils. Compared to pedotransfer function, from the literature, the performance of the linear modes were similar but more accurate. Taking into account the likely inaccuracies when measuring soil organic carbon, the soil bulk density can be estimated with an accuracy of +/− 9 to 25% depending on land-use. We recommend measuring soil bulk density by standardized sampling of undisturbed soil cores, followed by post-processing of the samples in the lab by internationally harmonized protocols. Our pedotransfer functions are accurately and transparently presented, and derived from well-documented and high-quality soil data sets. We therefore consider them particularly useful in Austria, where the measured values for soil bulk densities are not available.

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Distribution of soil organic carbon impacted by land-use change and check dam on the Loess Plateau of China

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2066 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Peng Shi ◽

Yan Zhang ◽

Kexin Lu ◽

Zhaohong Feng ◽

Yang Yu

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Dam Construction ◽

Check Dam ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

The Impact

Vegetation restoration, terrace and check dam construction are the major measures for soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau. These effective measures of stabilizing soils have significant impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution.&#160;To understand the impact of land-use changes combined with check dam construction on SOC distribution, 1060 soil samples were collected across a watershed on the Loess Plateau. Forestland, shrubland and terrace had significant higher SOC concentrations in the 0-20 cm soil layer than that of sloping cropland. &#160;&#160;&#160;Land use change affects the process of runoff and sediment transportation, which has an impact on the migration and transformation of soil carbon. The soil erosion of sloping farmland is the most serious, and the maximum annual erosion rate is as high as 10853.56 t&#183;km-2. Carbon sedimented in the dam land was mainly from sloping cropland, and this source percentage was 65%. The application of hydrological controls to hillslopes and along river&#160;channels should be considered when assessing carbon sequestration within the soil erosion subsystem.&#160;

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