scholarly journals Biochar Effects on Carbon Stocks in the Coffee Agroforestry Systems of the Himalayas

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngamindra Dahal ◽  
Roshan Man Bajracharya ◽  
Lal Mani Wagle
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Coffee Agroforestry ◽  
Incremental Change ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Soc Stocks

Coffee agroforestry is an emerging agricultural practice in the mid hills of Nepal. Smallholder farmers of low-income strata have progressively adopted coffee as a perennial crop over seasonal crops. A multi-year study was conducted to test effects of locally produced biochar derived from coffee wastes, e.g., pulp and husks, on carbon stocks of: i) coffee trees, and, ii) soil organic carbon (SOC) in selected coffee growing pockets. We conducted on-farm experimental trials in three different physiographical locations of the Nepal mid-hills, namely, Chandanpur (Site I at 1475masl), Panchkhal (Site II at 1075masl), and Talamarang (Site III at 821masl) where smallholders grow coffee together with other cereal crops and vegetables. We applied biochar to the soil at a rate of 5 Mgha-1, then, monitored the SOC and biomass growth of the coffee trees in the three treatment plots at sites I, II and III over two years beginning in 2013. The average stocks of aboveground carbon in coffee trees increased from 6.2±4.3 Mgha-1 to 9.1±5.2 Mgha-1 over the trial period of two years in biochar treated plots. The same in control plots increased from 5.6±2.8 Mgha-1 to 6.7±4.7 Mgha-1. In the biochar plots, the average increments of ABG carbon was 0.73 Mgh-1 while in the control it was 0.29 Mgh-1. Analysis of soil organic carbon of the plots indicated overall incremental change in carbon stocks in the coffee farms. During the base year, the average SOC stocks in the top 0-15cm layer of the soil at sites I, II, and III were estimated 74.88 ± 15.93; 63.96 ±16.71 and 33.05 ±4.42 Mgha-1 respectively. Although both the biochar treated and control plot registered incremental change in SOC stocks, the volumes were remarkably higher in the former than the latter. Compared to the baseline data, the changes in SOC stocks in the three biochar treated plots were 19.8, 49.8 and 45.3 Mgha-1, respectively, whereas in the control plots these were 8.3, 29.3 and 11.3 Mgha-1, respectively. The higher incremental rates of C-stocks in all the biochar treated plots in comparison to the corresponding control plots of the coffee agroforestry implies that application of biochar can enhance accumulation of carbon in the form of aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon.

scholarly journals On the rebound: soil organic carbon stocks can bounce back to near forest levels when agroforests replace agriculture in southern India

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 871-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Hombegowda ◽  
O. van Straaten ◽  
M. Köhler ◽  
D. Hölscher
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Reference Plot ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Soc Stocks

Abstract. Tropical agroforestry has an enormous potential to sequester carbon while simultaneously producing agricultural yields and tree products. The amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestered is however influenced by the type of the agroforestry system established, the soil and climatic conditions and management. In this regional scale study, we utilized a chronosequence approach to investigate how SOC stocks changed when the original forests are converted to agriculture, and then subsequently to four different agroforestry systems (AFSs): homegarden, coffee, coconut and mango. In total we established 224 plots in 56 plot clusters across four climate zones in southern India. Each plot cluster consisted of four plots: a natural forest reference plot, an agriculture reference and two of the same AFS types of two ages (30–60 years and > 60 years). The conversion of forest to agriculture resulted in a large loss the original SOC stock (50–61 %) in the top meter of soil depending on the climate zone. The establishment of homegarden and coffee AFSs on agriculture land caused SOC stocks to rebound to near forest levels, while in mango and coconut AFSs the SOC stock increased only slightly above the agriculture stock. The most important variable regulating SOC stocks and its changes was tree basal area, possibly indicative of organic matter inputs. Furthermore, climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation, and soil variables such as clay fraction and soil pH were likewise all important regulators of SOC and SOC stock changes. Lastly, we found a strong correlation between tree species diversity in homegarden and coffee AFSs and SOC stocks, highlighting possibilities to increase carbon stocks by proper tree species assemblies.

scholarly journals Surface-Applied Biosolids Enhance Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks but Have Contrasting Effects on Soil Physical Quality

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia L. Jin ◽  
Kenneth N. Potter ◽  
Mari-Vaughn V. Johnson ◽  
R. Daren Harmel ◽  
Jeffrey G. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Soc Stocks

Mid- to long-term impacts of land applying biosolids will depend on application rate, duration, and method; biosolids composition; and site-specific characteristics (e.g., climate, soils). This study evaluates the effects of surface-broadcast biosolids application rate and duration on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, soil aggregate stability, and selected soil hydraulic properties in a municipally operated, no-till forage production system. Total SOC stocks (0–45 cm soil) increased nonlinearly with application rate in perennial grass fields treated for 8 years with 0, 20, 40, or 60 Mg of Class B biosolids (DM) ha−1 yr−1(midterm treatments). Soil organic C stocks in long-term treatment fields receiving 20 years of 20 Mg ha−1 yr−1were 36% higher than those in midterm fields treated at the same rate. Surface-applying biosolids had contrasting effects on soil physical properties. Soil bulk density was little affected by biosolids applications, but applications were associated with decreased water-stable soil aggregates, increased soil water retention, and increased available water-holding capacity. This study contrasts the potential for C storage in soils treated with surface-applied biosolids with application effects on soil physical properties, underscoring the importance of site-specific management decisions for the beneficial reuse of biosolids in agricultural settings.

scholarly journals Soil Organic Carbon Depletion from Forests to Grasslands Conversion in Mexico: A Review

Agriculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deb Aryal ◽  
Danilo Morales Ruiz ◽  
César Tondopó Marroquín ◽  
René Pinto Ruiz ◽  
Francisco Guevara Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Soil Horizon ◽  
Native Forests ◽  
Soc Stocks

Land use change from forests to grazing lands is one of the important sources of greenhouse gas emissions in many parts of the tropics. The objective of this study was to analyze the extent of soil organic carbon (SOC) loss from the conversion of native forests to pasturelands in Mexico. We analyzed 66 sets of published research data with simultaneous measurements of soil organic carbon stocks between native forests and pasturelands in Mexico. We used a generalized linear mixed effect model to evaluate the effect of land use change (forest versus pasture), soil depth, and original native forest types. The model showed that there was a significant reduction in SOC stocks due to the conversion of native forests to pasturelands. The median loss of SOC ranged from 31.6% to 52.0% depending upon the soil depth. The highest loss was observed in tropical mangrove forests followed by highland tropical forests and humid tropical forests. Higher loss was detected in upper soil horizon (0–30 cm) compared to deeper horizons. The emissions of CO2 from SOC loss ranged from 46.7 to 165.5 Mg CO2 eq. ha−1 depending upon the type of original native forests. In this paper, we also discuss the effect that agroforestry practices such as silvopastoral arrangements and other management practices like rotational grazing, soil erosion control, and soil nutrient management can have in enhancing SOC stocks in tropical grasslands. The results on the degree of carbon loss can have strong implications in adopting appropriate management decisions that recover or retain carbon stocks in biomass and soils of tropical livestock production systems.

scholarly journals Forest conversion to poplar plantation in a Lombardy floodplain (Italy): effects on soil organic carbon stock

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6483-6493 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ferré ◽  
R. Comolli ◽  
A. Leip ◽  
G. Seufert
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Poplar Plantation ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Soc Stocks

Abstract. Effects of forest conversion to poplar plantation on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks were investigated by sampling paired plots in an alluvial area of the Ticino River in Northern Italy. According to land registers and historical aerial photographs, the two sites were part of a larger area of a 200 yr old natural forest that was partly converted to poplar plantation in 1973. The soil sampling of three layers down to a depth of 100 cm was performed at 90 and 70 points in the natural forest (NF) and in the nearby poplar plantation (PP) respectively. The substitution of the natural forest with the poplar plantation strongly modified soil C stock down to a depth of 55 cm, although the management practices at PP were not intensive. After calculation of equivalent soil masses and of SOC stocks in individual texture classes, the comparison of C stocks showed an overall decrease in SOC of 5.7 kg m−2 or 40% in consequence of 37 years of poplar cultivation. Our case study provides further evidence that (i) spatial heterogeneity of SOC is an important feature in paired plot studies requiring a careful sampling strategy and high enough number of samples; (ii) land use changes through tillage are creating a more homogeneous spatial structure of soil properties and may require the application of dedicated spatial statistics to tackle eventual problems of pseudo-replicates and auto-correlation; (iii) short rotation forests are not properly represented in current reporting schemes for changes of SOC after land use change and may better be considered as cropland.

Impacts of fire on soil organic carbon stocks in a grazed semi-arid tropical Australian savanna: accounting for landscape variability

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Allen ◽  
P. M. Bloesch ◽  
R. A. Cowley ◽  
T. G. Orton ◽  
J. E. Payne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Stocks ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Soc Stocks

Fire and grazing are commonplace in Australian tropical savannas and the effects of these management practices on soil organic carbon stocks (SOC) is not well understood. A long-term (20 years) experiment studying the effects of fire on a grazed semi-arid tropical savanna was used to increase this understanding. Treatments, including frequency of fire (every 2, 4 and 6 years), season of fire [early (June) vs late (October) dry season] and unburnt control plots, were imposed on Vertosol grassland and Calcarosol woodland sites, which were grazed. Additionally long-term enclosures [unburnt (except the Calcarosol in 2001) and ungrazed since 1973] on each soil type adjacent to each site were sampled, although not included in statistical analyses. SOC stocks were measured to a soil depth of 0.3 m using a wet oxidation method (to avoid interference by carbonates) and compared on an equivalent soil mass basis. Significant treatment differences in SOC stocks were tested for, while accounting for spatial background variation within each site. SOC stocks (0–0.3 m soil depth) ranged between 10.1 and 28.9 t ha–1 (Vertosol site) and 20.7 and 54.9 t ha–1 (Calcarosol site). There were no consistent effects of frequency or season of fire on SOC stocks, possibly reflecting the limited statistical power of the study and inherent spatial variability observed. Differences in the response to frequency and season of fire observed between these soils may have been due to differences in clay type, plant species composition and/or preferential grazing activity associated with fire management. There may also have been differences in C input between treatments and sites due to differences in the herbage mass and post-fire grazing activity on both sites and changed pasture composition, higher herbage fuel load, and a reduction in woody cover on the Vertosol site. This study demonstrated the importance of accounting for background spatial variability and treatment replication (in the absence of baseline values) when assessing SOC stocks in relation to management practices. Given the absence of baseline SOC values and the potentially long period required to obtain changes in SOC in rangelands, modelling of turnover of SOC in relation to background spatial variability would enable management scenarios to be considered in relation to landscape variation that may be unrelated to management. These considerations are important for reducing uncertainty in C-flux accounting and to provide accurate and cost-effective methods for land managers considering participation in the C economy.

scholarly journals Forest Soil Organic Carbon Stocks of Tessala Mount in North-West Algeria-Preliminary Estimates

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Djemel Merabtene ◽  
Fatiha Faraoun ◽  
Rawan Mlih ◽  
Riad Djellouli ◽  
Ali Latreche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Stocks ◽  
Organic Carbon Stock ◽  
Geographical Characteristics ◽  
Soc Stocks

Mountainous forests in Algeria are severely affected by climate change. The degradation is exacerbated by overgrazing, deforestation, and poor land management linked to the harsh topographical conditions of the mountain agrosystem. These conditions have influenced the turnover of the soil organic matter and thus the SOC stocks storage. This study aims to investigate the average of organic carbon stored in forest soils of Tessala Mount in Algeria and to examine the influence of different plant formations alongside with geographical characteristics and soil physicochemical properties on the amount of carbon stored in the soil. We estimated the critical threshold, the saturation point, and the organic carbon deficit of soils. The correlation between geographical characteristics and soil physicochemical properties and soil organic carbon stocks was determined using principal component analysis and other statistical tools. The results of the study show that the organic carbon stock in soils of Tessala Mount area has an average value of 77.4 t ha−1. The maximum average of SOC stocks (121 t ha−1) of 0–30 cm depth was noted under dense matorral of green and kermes oak followed by sparse garrigue with a value of 112 t ha−1. The soil organic carbon stock in Tessala region was positively correlated with coarse silt, elevation, and northern exposure, but negatively with calcium carbonates contents. The current carbon contents of Tessala topsoil are 22 g C kg−1 which is very low and closer to the critical threshold (11 g C kg−1) whose estimate was based on their clay and silt content. The estimated maximum storage capacity is 160 g C kg−1. The preliminary estimate of the forest soils organic carbon stock of Tessala Mount under current natural conditions indicates an alarming situation with a low rate close to the critical threshold, thus exposing this area to further and stronger degradation.

scholarly journals Short-range-order minerals as powerful factors explaining deep soil organic carbon stock distribution: the case of a coffee agroforestry plantation on Andosols in Costa Rica

SOIL ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiphaine Chevallier ◽  
Kenji Fujisaki ◽  
Olivier Roupsard ◽  
Florian Guidat ◽  
Rintaro Kinoshita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Short Range ◽  
Short Range Order ◽  
Ammonium Oxalate ◽  
Range Order ◽  
Soil Material ◽  
Coffee Agroforestry ◽  
Soc Stocks ◽  
Allophanic Soil

Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) constitutes the largest terrestrial C stock, particularly in the Andosols of volcanic areas. Quantitative information on distribution of SOC stocks is needed to construct a baseline for studying temporal changes in SOC. The spatial variation of soil short-range-order minerals such as allophane usually explains the variability of topsoil SOC contents, but SOC data for deeper soil layers are needed. We found that within a 1 km2 Costa Rican basin covered by coffee agroforestry, SOC stocks in the upper 200 cm of soil were highly variable (24 to 72 kg C m−2). Topsoil SOC stocks were not correlated with SOC stocks present in deeper layers. Diffuse-reflectance mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy made possible the analysis of a large number of samples (69 soil profiles, i.e. 598 soil samples) for ammonium-oxalate and sodium-pyrophosphate-extractable forms of Al, Fe, and Si, as well as SOC content and bulk density. Using the MIR spectra, we identified two different soil materials, which were identified as allophanic and halloysitic soil material. Allophanic soil occurred on top of the halloysitic soil. The thickness of the allophanic soil material, rich in SRO minerals and related to a young andic A horizon, explained the variability of SOC. This study illustrates that knowledge of topography and pedogenesis is needed to understand and extrapolate the distribution of SOC stocks at landscape scales.

scholarly journals On the rebound: soil organic carbon stocks can bounce back to near forest levels when agroforests replace agriculture in southern India

SOIL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Hombegowda ◽  
O. van Straaten ◽  
M. Köhler ◽  
D. Hölscher
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Home Garden ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Soc Stocks

Abstract. Tropical agroforestry has an enormous potential to sequester carbon while simultaneously producing agricultural yields and tree products. The amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestered is influenced by the type of the agroforestry system established, the soil and climatic conditions, and management. In this regional-scale study, we utilized a chronosequence approach to investigate how SOC stocks changed when the original forests are converted to agriculture, and then subsequently to four different agroforestry systems (AFSs): home garden, coffee, coconut and mango. In total we established 224 plots in 56 plot clusters across 4 climate zones in southern India. Each plot cluster consisted of four plots: a natural forest reference, an agriculture reference and two of the same AFS types of two ages (30–60 years and > 60 years). The conversion of forest to agriculture resulted in a large loss the original SOC stock (50–61 %) in the top meter of soil depending on the climate zone. The establishment of home garden and coffee AFSs on agriculture land caused SOC stocks to rebound to near forest levels, while in mango and coconut AFSs the SOC stock increased only slightly above the agriculture SOC stock. The most important variable regulating SOC stocks and its changes was tree basal area, possibly indicative of organic matter inputs. Furthermore, climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation, and soil variables such as clay fraction and soil pH were likewise all important regulators of SOC and SOC stock changes. Lastly, we found a strong correlation between tree species diversity in home garden and coffee AFSs and SOC stocks, highlighting possibilities to increase carbon stocks by proper tree species assemblies.

scholarly journals Carbon Stocks in Miombo Woodlands: Evidence from over 50 Years

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 862
Author(s):  
Medha Bulusu ◽  
Christopher Martius ◽  
Jessica Clendenning
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Miombo Woodlands ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Aboveground Carbon ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soc Stocks

Miombo woodlands are extensive dry forest ecosystems in central and southern Africa covering ≈2.7 million km2. Despite their vast expanse and global importance for carbon storage, the long-term carbon stocks and dynamics have been poorly researched. The objective of this paper was to present and summarize the evidence gathered on aboveground carbon (AGC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of miombo woodlands from the 1960s to mid-2018 through a literature review. We reviewed the data to find out to what extent aboveground carbon and soil organic carbon stocks are found in miombo woodlands and further investigated if are there differences in carbon stocks based on woodland categories (old-growth, disturbed and re-growth). A review protocol was used to identify 56 publications from which quantitative data on AGC and SOC stocks were extracted. We found that the mean AGC in old-growth miombo (45.8 ± 17.8 Mg C ha−1), disturbed miombo (26.7 ± 15 Mg C ha−1), and regrowth miombo (18.8 ± 16.8 Mg C ha−1) differed significantly. Data on rainfall, stand age, and land-use suggested that the variability in aboveground carbon is site-specific, relating to climatic and geographic conditions as well as land-use history. SOC stocks in both old-growth and re-growth miombo were found to vary widely. It must be noted these soil data are provided only for information; they inconsistently refer to varying soil depths and are thus difficult to interpret. The wide range reported suggests a need for further studies which are much more systematic in method and reporting. Other limitations of the dataset include the lack of systematic sampling and lack of data in some countries, viz. Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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