The long-term effect of biochar on composition of soil organic matter 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Pärnpuu ◽  
Karin Kauer ◽  
Henn Raave
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nmr Spectroscopy ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Native Soil ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity ◽  
Som Decomposition

<p>Biochar has been described as relatively stable form of C with long mean residence time due to its predominantly aromatic structure. Addition of biochar can sequester C in the soil, albeit the effect of biochar on native soil organic C decomposition, whether it stimulates or reduces the decomposition of native soil organic matter, requires further understanding. The aim of this research was to study the long-term impact of biochar (BC) on the composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in Fragi-Stagnic Albeluvisol. The work was compiled on the basis of field experiment, set up on a production field in 2011. The experiment was drawn up of two treatments and four replicates, where on half of the replicates slow-pyrolysis hardwood BC (51.8% C, 0.43% N) produced at 500-600 °C was applied 50 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup>. The soil samples were collected from 0-10 cm soil layer in autumn 2020. The air-dried samples were sieved through a 2-mm sieve and divided into two fractions: the particulate organic matter (POM) fraction (soil particles larger than 0.063 mm) and the mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) (<0.063 mm) by density fractionation method. The soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (Ntot) concentrations of bulk soil and fractions were measured. The chemical composition of SOM was studied using <sup>13</sup>C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Bulk soil samples and fractions were pretreated with 10% HF solution before NMR spectroscopy analysis. Two indices were calculated: the ratio of alkyl C/O-alkyl C, which describes the degree of SOM decomposition and soil hydrophobicity (HI): (aromatic-C+alkyl-C)/O/N-Alkyl-C.</p><p>The addition of BC to the soil increased the SOC concentration but did not influence the Ntot concentration and the soil C/N ratio increased from 11.6 to 16.7. The distribution of POM and MAOM was not affected by the BC and POM proportion accounted for an average of 57–58%. The SOC concentrations of POM and MAOM fractions were higher in the BC variant. The BC increased the proportion of aromatic-C in the SOM, as the proportion of aromatic-C in initial BC was high (almost 92%). Initially the BC is inherently highly hydrophobic and increased the HI of bulk soil, POM, and MAOM fractions. The HI increased in line: MAOM<bulk<POM (1.51<1.67<1.97). An increase in HI inhibits the decomposition of SOM and it was also confirmed by a decreased ratio of alkyl-C/O-alkyl-C after the BC addition. The decomposition degree was lowest in POM fraction where SOC concentration was more than doubled due to BC. The suppressed decomposition was caused by the limitation of soil Ntot concentration and increased C/N ratio.</p><p>In conclusion, the effect of BC on the composition of SOM was still evident after 10 years of increasing SOC concentration and soil hydrophobicity and decreasing SOM decomposition degree promoting C sequestration to the soil.</p><p>This work was supported by the Estonian Research Council grant PSG147.</p>

Impact of long-term cultivation on the status of organic matter and cadmium in soil

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. E. McArthur ◽  
P M Huang ◽  
L M Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Total Soil ◽  
Total Organic C ◽  
Soil Cd ◽  
Cultivated Soils

Research has suggested a link between the bioavailability of soil Cd and total soil organic matter. However, some research suggested a negative relationship between total soil organic matter and bioavailable soil Cd while other research suggested a positive relationship. This study investigated the relationship between soil Cd and both the quantity and quality of soil organic matter as influenced by long-term cultivation. Two Orthic Chernozemic surface soil samples, one from a virgin prairie and the other from an adjacent cultivated prairie, were collected from each of 12 different sites throughout southern Saskatchewan, Canada. The samples were analyzed for total organic C, total Cd, Cd availability index (CAI), and pH. The nature of the soil organic matter was investigated with 13C Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (13C CPMAS NMR). The total soil Cd, CAI, and total soil organic C of the cultivated soils were significantly lower than those of the virgin soils whereas the opposite trend was observed for the soil pH and the aromaticity of the organic C. The reduced CAI in the cultivated soils was related to the increase in both the soil pH and the aromaticity of the organic C. No relationship was found between the CAI and the soil organic C content, but a significant positive correlation was found between total organic C and total Cd in both the virgin and the cultivated soils. As well, a significant positive correlation was found between the fraction of total Cd removed from the soil after long-term cultivation and the corresponding fraction of organic C removed. Key words: Long-term cultivation, soil organic matter, 13C CPMAS NMR, cadmium

Soil organic matter in rainfed cropping systems of the Australian cereal belt

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
K. Y. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Eastern Australia

The Australian cereal belt stretches as an arc from north-eastern Australia to south-western Australia (24˚S–40˚S and 125˚E–147˚E), with mean annual temperatures from 14˚C (temperate) to 26˚C (subtropical), and with annual rainfall ranging from 250 mm to 1500 mm. The predominant soil types of the cereal belt include Chromosols, Kandosols, Sodosols, and Vertosols, with significant areas of Ferrosols, Kurosols, Podosols, and Dermosols, covering approximately 20 Mha of arable cropping and 21 Mha of ley pastures. Cultivation and cropping has led to a substantial loss of soil organic matter (SOM) from the Australian cereal belt; the long-term SOM loss often exceeds 60% from the top 0–0.1 m depth after 50 years of cereal cropping. Loss of labile components of SOM such as sand-size or particulate SOM, microbial biomass, and mineralisable nitrogen has been even higher, thus resulting in greater loss in soil productivity than that assessed from the loss of total SOM alone. Since SOM is heterogeneous in nature, the significance and functions of its various components are ambiguous. It is essential that the relationship between levels of total SOM or its identif iable components and the most affected soil properties be established and then quantif ied before the concentrations or amounts of SOM and/or its components can be used as a performance indicator. There is also a need for experimentally verifiable soil organic C pools in modelling the dynamics and management of SOM. Furthermore, the interaction of environmental pollutants added to soil, soil microbial biodiversity, and SOM is poorly understood and therefore requires further study. Biophysically appropriate and cost-effective management practices for cereal cropping lands are required for restoring and maintaining organic matter for sustainable agriculture and restoration of degraded lands. The additional benefit of SOM restoration will be an increase in the long-term greenhouse C sink, which has the potentialto reduce greenhouse emissions by about 50 Mt CO2 equivalents/year over a 20-year period, although current improved agricultural practices can only sequester an estimated 23% of the potential soil C sink.

scholarly journals Colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers – a comparison of model formulations

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wutzler ◽  
M. Reichstein
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Fresh Organic Matter ◽  
Decomposition Models ◽  
Decomposer Community ◽  
Som Decomposition

Abstract. Decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is limited by both the available substrate and the active decomposer community. The understanding of this colimitation strongly affects the understanding of feedbacks of soil carbon to global warming and its consequences. This study compares different formulations of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. We compiled formulations from literature into groups according to the representation of decomposer biomass on the SOM decomposition rate a) non-explicit (substrate only), b) linear, and c) non-linear. By varying the SOM decomposition equation in a basic simplified decomposition model, we analyzed the following questions. Is the priming effect represented? Under which conditions is SOM accumulation limited? And, how does steady state SOM stocks scale with amount of fresh organic matter (FOM) litter inputs? While formulations (a) did not represent the priming effect, with formulations (b) steady state SOM stocks were independent of amount of litter input. Further, with several formulations (c) there was an offset of SOM that was not decomposed when no fresh OM was supplied. The finding that a part of the SOM is not decomposed on exhaust of FOM supply supports the hypothesis of carbon stabilization in deep soil by the absence of energy-rich fresh organic matter. Different representations of colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers in SOM decomposition models resulted in qualitatively different long-term behaviour. A collaborative effort by modellers and experimentalists is required to identify appropriate and inappropriate formulations.

scholarly journals Key predictors of soil organic matter vulnerability to mineralization differ with depth at a continental scale

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler L. Weiglein ◽  
Brian D. Strahm ◽  
Maggie M. Bowman ◽  
Adrian C. Gallo ◽  
Jeff A. Hatten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Climate Feedbacks ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Boruta Algorithm ◽  
Som Decomposition

AbstractSoil organic matter (SOM) is the largest terrestrial pool of organic carbon, and potential carbon-climate feedbacks involving SOM decomposition could exacerbate anthropogenic climate change. However, our understanding of the controls on SOM mineralization is still incomplete, and as such, our ability to predict carbon-climate feedbacks is limited. To improve our understanding of controls on SOM decomposition, A and upper B horizon soil samples from 26 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) sites spanning the conterminous U.S. were incubated for 52 weeks under conditions representing site-specific mean summer temperature and sample-specific field capacity (−33 kPa) water potential. Cumulative carbon dioxide respired was periodically measured and normalized by soil organic C content to calculate cumulative specific respiration (CSR), a metric of SOM vulnerability to mineralization. The Boruta algorithm, a feature selection algorithm, was used to select important predictors of CSR from 159 variables. A diverse suite of predictors was selected (12 for A horizons, 7 for B horizons) with predictors falling into three categories corresponding to SOM chemistry, reactive Fe and Al phases, and site moisture availability. The relationship between SOM chemistry predictors and CSR was complex, while sites that had greater concentrations of reactive Fe and Al phases or were wetter had lower CSR. Only three predictors were selected for both horizon types, suggesting dominant controls on SOM decomposition differ by horizon. Our findings contribute to the emerging consensus that a broad array of controls regulates SOM decomposition at large scales and highlight the need to consider changing controls with depth.

scholarly journals Thermal stability of soil organic matter responds to long-term fertilization practices

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Leifeld ◽  
U. Franko ◽  
E. Schulz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Fertilization Experiment ◽  
Thermal Stability Of ◽  
Dsc Thermograms ◽  
Properties Of Soil

Abstract. We used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to infer thermal properties of soil organic matter (SOM) in the static fertilization experiment in Bad Lauchstädt, Germany, which has been established in 1902. Four treatments (null N, change from null to manuring in 1978 NM, change from manuring to null in 1978 MN, and permanent manure and mineral fertilization since 1902 M) were sampled in 2004. Soil organic carbon contents were highest for M (2.4%), lowest for N (1.7%), and similar for MN and NM (2.2%). DSC thermograms were characterized by three peaks at around 354, 430, and 520°C, which were assigned to as thermally labile and stable SOM and combustion residues from lignite, respectively. DSC peak temperatures were relatively constant among treatments, but peak heights normalized to the organic C content of the soil were significantly different for labile and stable SOM. Labile C was higher for M>MN=NM=N, and stable C decreased in the order N=NM>MN=M, showing that agricultural depletion of SOM increases the share of thermally stable C. Lignite-derived C was not affected by management, suggesting a homogeneous deposition across treatments.

scholarly journals Thermal stability responses of soil organic matter to long-term fertilization practices

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Leifeld ◽  
U. Franko ◽  
E. Schulz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Fertilization Experiment ◽  
Labile C ◽  
Dsc Thermograms ◽  
Properties Of Soil

Abstract. We used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to infer thermal properties of soil organic matter (SOM) in the static fertilization experiment in Bad Lauchstädt, Germany, which has been established in 1902. Four treatments (null N, change from null to manuring in 1978 NM, change from manuring to null in 1978 MN, and permanent manure and mineral fertilization since 1902 M) were sampled in 2004. Soil organic carbon contents were highest for M (2.4%), lowest for N (1.7%), and similar for MN and NM (2.2%). Three heat flow peaks at around 354°C, 430°C, and 520°C, which were assigned to as thermally labile and stable SOM and combustion residues from lignite, respectively, characterized DSC thermograms. DSC peak temperatures were relatively constant among treatments, but peak heights normalized to the organic C content of the soil were significantly different for labile and stable SOM. Labile C was higher for M>MN=NM=N, and stable C decreased in the order N=NM>MN=M, showing that agricultural depletion of SOM increases the share of thermally stable C. Lignite-derived C was not affected by management, suggesting a homogeneous deposition across treatments.

Simulation of soil organic carbon and nitrogen changes in cereal and pasture systems of southern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 481 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Carter ◽  
WJ Parton ◽  
IC Rowland ◽  
JE Schultz ◽  
GR Steed
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C

Maintenance and improvement of soil organic matter levels is an important concern in dryland farming systems of temperate regions. The Century soil organic matter model was used to simulate changes in soil organic C and total N under long-term wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pasture rotations at five sites in southern Australia. Average declines in soil organic C and total N of 14 and 10%, respectively, in continuous and wheat-fallow systems over a 10 to 20 year period were closely simulated by the model at each site. Additions of N fertilizer (80 kg N ha-1), which prevented soil organic matter decline in continuous wheat systems, was also well represented by the model. Trends in soil organic matter under long-term legume pasture were not adequately simulated by the model, probably due to the 'annual' nature of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.) in dry seasons and subsequent changes in the ratio of live to dead plant biomass and shoot to root ratios. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of adequate total plant C production to prevent a decline in soil organic C.

scholarly journals Variation of soil organic matter depends on light-fraction organic matter under long-term monocropping of different crops  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Futao Zhang ◽  
Yunfa Qiao ◽  
Xiaozeng Han ◽  
Bin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Light Fraction ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Density Fractions ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Light Fraction Organic Matter ◽  
The Difference

Cultivating crops influences soil organic matter (SOM), but the effect of different crops remains unclear, particularly under long-term monocropping. The objective of this study was to identify how different crops influence the content and chemical structures of SOM under long-term monocropping. Here, soils were sampled (0–20 cm) under 27-year soybean and maize monocropping and separated into different physical fractions. The content and chemical structures of SOM in all fractions were determined. SOM contents were higher under soybean than maize in bulk soil and macroaggregates and their light-fractions instead of microaggregates and silt and clay. The difference in SOM chemical structure was observed in aggregates and density fractions rather than bulk soils and supported by the result of principal component analysis. The proportion of O-alkyl C in macro- and microaggregates and all free light fractions and that of aromatic C in mineral-associated fractions were higher, while that of carbonyl C was lower under maize than soybean. These results demonstrated that different crops monocropping influences the content and chemical structures of SOM, and the variations were mainly in the light-fraction SOM and highlight a higher sensitivity of physical fractions than bulk soil to different crops.  

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