scholarly journals Heterogeneity of soil carbon pools and fluxes in a channelized and a restored floodplain section (Thur River, Switzerland)

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1757-1769 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Samaritani ◽  
J. Shrestha ◽  
B. Fournier ◽  
E. Frossard ◽  
F. Gillet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Flood Disturbance ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Pools ◽  
C Dynamics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Gravel Bars

Abstract. Due to their spatial complexity and dynamic nature, floodplains provide a wide range of ecosystem functions. However, because of flow regulation, many riverine floodplains have lost their characteristic heterogeneity. Restoration of floodplain habitats and the rehabilitation of key ecosystem functions, many of them linked to organic carbon (C) dynamics in riparian soils, has therefore become a major goal of environmental policy. The fundamental understanding of the factors that drive the processes involved in C cycling in heterogeneous and dynamic systems such as floodplains is however only fragmentary. We quantified soil organic C pools (microbial C and water extractable organic C) and fluxes (soil respiration and net methane production) in functional process zones of adjacent channelized and widened sections of the Thur River, NE Switzerland, on a seasonal basis. The objective was to assess how spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of these pools and fluxes relate to physicochemical soil properties on one hand, and to soil environmental conditions and flood disturbance on the other hand. Overall, factors related to seasonality and flooding (temperature, water content, organic matter input) affected soil C dynamics more than soil properties did. Coarse-textured soils on gravel bars in the restored section were characterized by low base-levels of organic C pools due to low TOC contents. However, frequent disturbance by flood pulses led to high heterogeneity with temporarily and locally increased C pools and soil respiration. By contrast, in stable riparian forests, the finer texture of the soils and corresponding higher TOC contents and water retention capacity led to high base-levels of C pools. Spatial heterogeneity was low, but major floods and seasonal differences in temperature had additional impacts on both pools and fluxes. Soil properties and base levels of C pools in the dam foreland of the channelized section were similar to the gravel bars of the restored section. By contrast, spatial heterogeneity, seasonal effects and flood disturbance were similar to the forests, except for indications of high CH4 production that are explained by long travel times of infiltrating water favoring reducing conditions. Overall, the restored section exhibited both a larger range and a higher heterogeneity of organic C pools and fluxes as well as a higher plant biodiversity than the channelized section. This suggests that restoration has indeed led to an increase in functional diversity.

scholarly journals Heterogeneity of soil carbon pools and fluxes in a channelized and a restored floodplain section (Thur River, Switzerland)

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1059-1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Samaritani ◽  
J. Shrestha ◽  
B. Fournier ◽  
E. Frossard ◽  
F. Gillet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Flood Disturbance ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Pools ◽  
C Dynamics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Gravel Bars

Abstract. Due to their spatial complexity and dynamic nature, floodplains provide a wide range of ecosystem functions. However, because of flow regulation, many riverine floodplains have lost their characteristic heterogeneity. Restoration of floodplain habitats and the rehabilitation of key ecosystem functions has therefore become a major goal of environmental policy. Many important ecosystem functions are linked to organic carbon (C) dynamics in riparian soils. The fundamental understanding of the factors that drive the processes involved in C cycling in heterogeneous and dynamic systems such as floodplains is however only fragmentary. We quantified soil organic C pools (microbial C and water extractable organic C) and fluxes (soil respiration and net methane production) in functional process zones of adjacent channelized and widened sections of the Thur River, NE Switzerland, on a seasonal basis. The objective was to assess how spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of these pools and fluxes relate to physicochemical soil properties on one hand, and to soil environmental conditions and flood disturbance on the other hand. Overall, factors related to seasonality and flooding (temperature, water content, organic matter input) affected soil C dynamics more than soil properties did. Coarse-textured soils on gravel bars in the restored section were characterized by low base-levels of organic C pools due to low TOC contents. However, frequent disturbance by flood pulses led to high heterogeneity with temporarily and locally increased pools and soil respiration. By contrast, in stable riparian forests, the finer texture of the soils and corresponding higher TOC contents and water retention capacity led to high base-levels of C pools. Spatial heterogeneity was low, but major floods and seasonal differences in temperature had additional impacts on both pools and fluxes. Soil properties and base levels of C pools in the dam foreland of the channelized section were similar to the gravel bars of the restored section. By contrast, spatial heterogeneity, seasonal effects and flood disturbance were similar to the forests, except for indications of high CH4 production that are explained by long travel times of infiltrating water favouring reducing conditions. Overall, the restored section exhibited both a larger range and a higher heterogeneity of organic C pools and fluxes as well as a higher plant biodiversity than the channelized section. This suggests that restoration has indeed led to an increase in functional diversity.

Unravelling the effects of soil properties on water infiltration: segmented quantile regression on a large data set from arid south-west Africa

Soil Research ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 783 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Mills ◽  
M. V. Fey ◽  
A. Gröngröft ◽  
A. Petersen ◽  
T. V. Medinski
Keyword(s):  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Statistical Analyses ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Water Dispersible ◽  
Wide Range

Relationships were sought between infiltrability and the properties of hundreds of surface soils (pedoderms) sampled across Namibia and western South Africa. Infiltrability was determined using a laboratory method, calibrated against a rainfall simulator, which measures the passage of a suspension of soil in distilled water through a small column packed with the same soil. Other properties determined were EC, pH, water-soluble cations and anions, ammonium acetate-extractable cations, organic C, total N, a 7-fraction particle size distribution, water-dispersible silt and clay, and clay mineral composition. Our objective was to ascertain whether general principles pertaining to infiltrability can be deduced from an analysis of a wide diversity of soils. To achieve this we compared correlation analysis, generalised linear models (GLMs), and generalised additive models (GAMs) with a segmented quantile regression approach, in which parametric regression lines were fitted to the 0.9 and 0.1 quantile values of equal subpopulations based on the x variable. Quantile regression demarcated relational envelopes enclosing four-fifths of the data points. The envelopes revealed ranges for soil properties over which infiltrability is potentially maximal (spread over a wide range) or predictably minimal (confined to small values). The r2 value of the 0.9 quantile regression line was taken as an index of reliability in being able to predict limiting effects on infiltrability associated with a variety of soil properties. Prediction of infiltration was most certain from textural properties, especially the content of water-dispersible silt (r2 = 0.96, n = 581), water-dispersible clay (0.88, n = 581), very fine sand (0.86, n = 174), and medium sand (0.84, n = 174). Chemical properties such as EC, sodium status, organic C content, and clay mineralogy were less clearly related to infiltrability than was texture. The role of fine-particle dispersion in blocking pores was highlighted by the stronger prediction in all statistical analyses provided by the water-dispersible as opposed to total content of silt and clay. All the statistical analyses revealed a probable skeletal role of medium and fine sand fractions in shaping pores and a plasmic (mobile) role of finer fractions in blocking pores. A noteworthy discovery was an apparent switch in role from skeletal to plasmic at a particle diameter of about 0.1 mm (i.e. between fine and very fine sand).

scholarly journals Temperature increases soil respiration across ecosystem types and soil development, but soil properties determine the magnitude of this effect

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Dacal ◽  
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo ◽  
Jesús Barquero ◽  
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe ◽  
Antonio Gallardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Soil Development ◽  
Heterotrophic Respiration ◽  
Climate Feedback ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soil Heterotrophic Respiration ◽  
Positive Effect

AbstractSoil carbon losses to the atmosphere, via soil heterotrophic respiration, are expected to increase in response to global warming, resulting in a positive carbon-climate feedback. Despite the well-known suite of abiotic and biotic factors controlling soil respiration, much less is known about how the magnitude of soil respiration responses to temperature changes over soil development and across contrasting soil properties. Here, we investigated the role of soil development stage and soil properties in driving the responses of soil heterotrophic respiration to increasing temperatures. We incubated soils from eight chronosequences ranging in soil age from hundreds to million years, and encompassing a wide range of vegetation types, climatic conditions, and chronosequences origins, at three assay temperatures (5, 15 and 25°C). We found a consistent positive effect of assay temperature on soil respiration rates across the eight chronosequences evaluated. However, soil properties such as organic carbon concentration, texture, pH, phosphorus content, and microbial biomass determined the magnitude of temperature effects on soil respiration. Finally, we observed a positive effect of soil development stage on soil respiration that did not alter the magnitude of assay temperature effects. Our work reveals that key soil properties alter the magnitude of the positive effect of temperature on soil respiration found across ecosystem types and soil development stages. This information is essential to better understand the magnitude of the carbon-climate feedback, and thus to establish accurate greenhouse gas emission targets.

scholarly journals Carbon pool trends and dynamics within a subtropical peatland during long-term restoration

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Julian ◽  
Stefan Gerber ◽  
Alan L. Wright ◽  
Binhe Gu ◽  
Todd Z. Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Florida Everglades ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Pools ◽  
C Dynamics ◽  
Hydrologic Condition

AbstractBackgroundThe Florida Everglades has undergone significant ecological change spanning the continuum of disturbance to restoration. While the restoration effort is not complete and the ecosystem continues to experience short duration perturbations, a better understanding of long-term C dynamics of the Everglades is needed to facilitate new restoration efforts. This study evaluated temporal trends of different aquatic carbon (C) pools of the northern Everglades Protection Area over a 20-year period to gauge historic C cycling patterns. Dissolved inorganic C (DIC), dissolved organic C (DOC), particulate organic C (POC), and surface water carbon dioxide (pCO2(aq)) were investigated between May 1, 1994 and April 30, 2015.ResultsAnnual mean concentrations of DIC, DOC, POC, and pCO2(aq)significantly decreased through time or remained constant across the Water Conservation Areas (WCAs). Overall, the magnitude of the different C pools in the water column significantly differed between regions. Outgassing of CO2was dynamic across the Everglades ranging from 420 to 2001 kg CO2yr-1. Overall the historic trend in CO2flux from the marsh declined across our study area while pCO2(aq)largely remained somewhat constant with the exception of Water Conservation Area 2 which experienced significant declines in pCO2(aq). Particulate OC concentrations were consistent between WCAs, but a significantly decreasing trend in annual POC concentrations were observed.ConclusionsHydrologic condition and nutrient inputs significantly influenced the balance, speciation, and flux of C pools across WCAs suggesting a subsidy-stress response in C dynamics relative to landscape scale responses in nutrient availability. The interplay between nutrient inputs and hydrologic condition exert a driving force on the balance between DIC and DOC production via the metabolism of organic matter which forms the base of the aquatic foodweb. Along the restoration trajectory as water quality and hydrology continues to improve it is expected that C pools will respond accordingly.

Assessing a new soil carbon model to simulate the effect of temperature increase on the soil carbon cycle in three eastern Canadian forest types characterized by different climatic conditions

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 187-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy R. Larocque ◽  
Robert Boutin, David Paré ◽  
Gilles Robitaille ◽  
Valérie Lacerte
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Pools ◽  
C Cycle ◽  
Process Based Models

The predictive capacity of process-based models on the carbon (C) cycle in forest ecosystems is limited by the lack of knowledge on the processes involved. Thus, a better understanding of the C cycle may contribute to the development of process-based models that better represent the processes in C cycle models. A new soil C model was developed to predict the effect of an increase in the temperature regime on soil C dynamics and pools in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] and black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] forest types in Eastern Canada. Background information to calibrate the model originated from the experimental sites of the ECOLEAP project as well as from a companion study on laboratory soil incubation. Different types of litter were considered in the model: foliage, twigs, understory species, other fine detritus and fine roots. A cohort approach was used to model litter mineralization over time. The soil organic C in the organic (F and H) and mineral layers (0–20 cm) was partitioned into active, slow and passive pools and the rates of C transfer among the different pools and the amount of CO2 respired were modelled. For each forest type, there was a synchrony of response of the C pools to soil temperature variation. The results of the simulations indicated that steady state conditions were obtained under current temperature conditions. When mean annual soil temperatures were gradually increased, the litter and active and slow C pools decreased substantially, but the passive pools were minimally affected. The increase in soil respiration resulting from a gradual increase in temperature was not pronounced in comparison to changes in mineralization rates. An increase in litter production during the same period could contribute to reducing net C losses. Key words: Soil organic matter, litter, soil respiration, climate change

Assessment of the Role of Different Soil Properties on Crust Strength by Linear Regression Models

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
MINAKSHI SERAWAT ◽  
V K PHOGAT ◽  
ANIL Abdul KAPOOR ◽  
VIJAY KANT SINGH ◽  
ASHA SERAWAT
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Modulus Of Rupture ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dispersion Ratio ◽  
Crust Strength

Soil crust strength influences seedling emergence, penetration and morphology of plant roots, and, consequently, crop yields. A study was carried out to assess the role of different soil properties on crust strength atHisar, Haryana, India. The soil samples from 0-5 and 5-15 cm depths were collected from 21 locations from farmer’s fields, having a wide range of texture.Soil propertieswere evaluated in the laboratory and theirinfluence on the modulus of rupture (MOR), which is the measure of crust strength, was evaluated.The MOR of texturally different soils was significantly correlated with saturated hydraulic conductivity at both the depths. Dispersion ratio was found to decrease with an increase in fineness of the texture of soil and the lowest value was recorded in silty clay loam soil,which decreased with depth. The modulus of rupture was significantly negatively correlative with the dispersion ratio.There was no role of calcium carbonate in influencing the values of MOR of soils. Similarly,the influence of pH, EC and SAR of soil solution on MOR was non-significant.A perusal of thevalues of the correlations between MOR and different soil properties showed that the MOR of soils of Haryana are positively correlated with silt + clay (r = 0.805) followed by water-stable aggregates (r = 0.774), organic carbon (r = 0.738), silt (r = 0.711), mean weight diameter (r = 0.608) and clay (r = 0.593) while negatively correlated with dispersion ratio (r = - 0.872), sand (r = -0.801) and hydraulic conductivity (r = -0.752) of soils.

Corrigendum to: Conservation agriculture effects on soil properties and crop productivity in a semiarid region of India

Soil Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Somasundaram ◽  
M. Salikram ◽  
N. K. Sinha ◽  
M. Mohanty ◽  
R. S. Chaudhary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Residue Retention

Conservation agriculture (CA) including reduced or no-tillage and crop residue retention, is known to be a self–sustainable system as well as an alternative to residue burning. The present study evaluated the effect of reduced tillage coupled with residue retention under different cropping systems on soil properties and crop yields in a Vertisol of a semiarid region of central India. Two tillage systems – conventional tillage (CT) with residue removed, and reduced tillage (RT) with residue retained – and six major cropping systems of this region were examined after 3 years of experimentation. Results demonstrated that soil moisture content, mean weight diameter, percent water stable aggregates (>0.25mm) for the 0–15cm soil layer were significantly (Pmoderately labile>less labile. At the 0–15cm depth, the contributions of moderately labile, less labile and non-labile C fractions to total organic C were 39.3%, 10.3% and 50.4% respectively in RT and corresponding values for CT were 38.9%, 11.7% and 49.4%. Significant differences in different C fractions were observed between RT and CT. Soil microbial biomass C concentration was significantly higher in RT than CT at 0–15cm depth. The maize–chickpea cropping system had significantly (P–1 followed by soybean+pigeon pea (2:1) intercropping (3.50 t ha–1) and soybean–wheat cropping systems (2.97 t ha–1). Thus, CA practices could be sustainable management practices for improving soil health and crop yields of rainfed Vertisols in these semiarid regions.

scholarly journals Site‐specific nitrogen balances based on spatially variable soil and plant properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Mittermayer ◽  
August Gilg ◽  
Franz-Xaver Maidl ◽  
Ludwig Nätscher ◽  
Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Nitrate Losses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Combine Harvester ◽  
Digital Methods ◽  
Collection Methods

AbstractIn this study, site-specific N balances were calculated for a 13.1 ha heterogeneous field. Yields and N uptake as input data for N balances were determined with data from a combine harvester, reflectance measurements from satellites and tractor-mounted sensors. The correlations between the measured grain yields and yields determined by digital methods were moderate. The calculated values for the N surpluses had a wide range within the field. Nitrogen surpluses were calculated from − 76.4 to 91.3 kg ha−1, with a mean of 24.0 kg ha−1. The use of different data sources and data collection methods had an impact on the results of N balancing. The results show the need for further optimization and improvement in the accuracy of digital methods. The factors influencing N uptake and N surplus were determined by analysing soil properties of georeferenced soil samples. Soil properties showed considerable spatial variation within the field. Soil organic carbon correlated very strongly with total nitrogen content (r = 0.97), moderately with N uptake (sensor, r = 0.60) and negatively with N surplus (satellite, r = − 0.46; sensor, r = − 0.56; harvester, r = − 0.60). Nitrate content was analysed in soil cores (0 to 9 m) taken in different yield zones, and compared with the calculated N surplus; there was a strong correlation between the measured nitrate content and calculated N surplus (r = 0.82). Site-specific N balancing can contribute to a more precise identification of the risk of nitrate losses and the development of targeted nitrate reduction strategies.

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