Article
Agronomy
Wei Hou, Yi Xu, Shuai Xue, Jie Li, Yang Yang, Zili Yi, Tongcheng Fu
Summary: Understanding the impact of cultivating perennial energy crops (PECs) on soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for carbon neutrality and bioeconomy development. This study found that PEC cultivation, particularly with Saccharum arundinaceum (SA) and Miscanthus (MS), significantly increased SOC stock and improved soil properties. The positive factors promoting SOC sequestration were soil pH and bacterial function, while the negative factors were bacterial and fungal communities.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samuel Eze, Matthew Magilton, Daniel Magnone, Sandra Varga, Iain Gould, Theresa G. Mercer, Matthew R. Goddard
Summary: The restoration of degraded lands and minimizing land degradation are important tasks in global environmental land management schemes. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil productivity and influences soil ecosystem services. Detecting changes in SOC stock within a short timeframe presents a challenge for land managers. This study aimed to identify early indicators of changes in SOC stock and their drivers by synthesizing global data on the impacts of land use change on SOC fractions and soil structural properties. The conversion of arable lands to forests and grasslands resulted in a significant increase in SOC fractions and soil structural stability. The study also found that certain SOC fractions, particularly particulate organic C and organic carbon stored in small macroaggregates, were strongly correlated with total SOC and can serve as suitable indicators of short-term changes in SOC stock. Further field studies are needed to validate the findings of this study and assess the applicability of SOC metrics under different land use change scenarios.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tongxin He, Jianfei Sun, Baoqing Hu, Tongbin Zhu, Wei Zhang
Summary: This study selected different land-use types in karst areas and analyzed the relative contributions of leaf and fine root inputs and fine root protection to soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration. The results showed that fine root protection was the dominant process for soil carbon and nitrogen changes, and active nitrogen input can increase soil nitrogen sequestration.
Review
Environmental Studies
Hao Yu, Wei Song
Summary: Land use change is the primary driver of changes in terrestrial carbon stocks, with soil being the largest carbon reservoir in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the impact of land use change on soil carbon sequestration is crucial for addressing global warming and food security. This research provides insights for land managers and policymakers to develop effective strategies for soil carbon sequestration management.
Article
Plant Sciences
Achalu Chimdi, Emiru Gurmessa
Summary: This study aimed to determine the current state of soil characteristics and the sequestration potential of organic carbon and equivalent CO2 in the Gurra watershed. Random sampling techniques were used to collect soil samples from different land uses, and conventional protocols were followed to test the soil physicochemical parameters. Forest and cultivated land had clay loam texture, with forestland having a higher pH than grazing land. The highest soil organic carbon storage potential was found in forestland, highlighting the importance of forest in mitigating climate change and improving land fertility and productivity.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rudong Zhao, Mei He, Pengyun Yue, Lin Huang, Feng Liu
Summary: The impact of microbial stoichiometry and microenvironment on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was not pronounced, while SOC stock size varied with soil depth and tree species, especially the latter, but its stability tended to be steady at all depths with differences among tree species.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Md Nurul Amin, Lisa Lobry de Bruyn, Andrew Lawson, Brian Wilson, Md Sarwar Hossain
Summary: This study investigated soil carbon management practices in two farming cohorts, with low and moderate soil fertility, in a rotational grazing regime in Australia. Farmers in both cohorts were determined to continue their grazing regime due to multifaceted benefits and whole-farm sustainability. The focus was on agri-environmental benefits of soil carbon management practices rather than solely increasing soil carbon. Farmers in low-fertility farms also emphasized mental health and landscape esthetics as outcomes of soil carbon management.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Mohammad Ghorbani, Elnaz Amirahmadi, Petr Konvalina, Jan Moudry, Marek Kopecky, Trong Nghia Hoang
Summary: Alterations of soil characteristics accompanying different land uses have a significant impact on the overall ecosystem, particularly on soil carbon stores and atmospheric CO2 emissions. This study conducted in a subtropical region examined the effects of six contiguous land uses on CO2 emissions and analyzed soil microbial respiration, microbial metabolic quotient, soil organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon. Pasture and woodland displayed the highest soil microbial respiration, while tea land and uncultivated land showed increased microbial metabolic quotient. Pasture and forest areas had higher soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon compared to other land uses.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Daniela F. Cusack, Clare E. Kazanski, Alexandra Hedgpeth, Kenyon Chow, Amanda L. Cordeiro, Jason Karpman, Rebecca Ryals
Summary: The demand for beef globally is increasing rapidly, leading to concerns about its environmental impact, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies such as carbon sequestration and efficiency improvements have shown promise in reducing beef production emissions in certain regions, but achieving net-zero emissions on a global scale remains a challenge amidst growing demand.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Song, Chao Fang, Rattan Lal, Zi-Qiang Yuan, Wen-Bin Ke, Fu-Qiang Huang, Yong-Xian Wei, Feng-Min Li, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas
Summary: This study investigated the long-term effects of legume pasture species on aboveground biomass and soil properties under different topographies through a 16-year in situ experiment. The results indicated that alfalfa is recommended for northeast-facing landscapes, alfalfa and fallow are recommended for southeast-facing landscapes, and sweet clover is recommended for horizontal landscapes to improve soil nutrient concentrations. These findings are important for the conservation of ecosystems and sustainable land use.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Annalisa C. M. Mazzorato, Ellen H. Esch, Andrew S. MacDougall
Summary: The study found that the interaction of management legacy, soil texture, and nutrients plays a more important role in predicting SOC than short-term retirement. Maintaining SOC on cropland remains a management priority as cropland represents a significant proportion of total farm SOC. Remnant forests contain high levels of SOC and play an important role in maintaining SOC stocks in farm landscapes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
S. Pulley, H. Taylor, J. M. Prout, S. M. Haefele, A. L. Collins
Summary: Building up stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) can improve soil conditions and mitigate climate change. The ratio of SOC to clay provides a better indicator of soil condition and could serve as a benchmark for ecosystem service payments. The study found that all arable soils and most ley grassland soils in the North Devon UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve exceeded the desired SOC:clay ratio, indicating potential for building up SOC stocks. However, land use had a significant impact on SOC:clay ratios, with permanent pasture fields having the highest ratios. The study suggests that preserving existing SOC stocks would be a more suitable basis for ecosystem service payments in the region.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhengjun Yan, Jie Zhou, Lei Yang, Anna Gunina, Yadong Yang, Leanne Peixoto, Zhaohai Zeng, Huadong Zang, Yakov Kuzyakov
Summary: Understanding the sequestration of carbon and nitrogen in diversified cropping systems is crucial for soil health management. A field experiment comparing three cropping systems found that diversified systems increased soil aggregation and stability, leading to higher carbon and nitrogen stocks. Different fractionation methods were used to evaluate soil aggregates, and it was determined that a combination of dry and optimal-moisture sieving is the preferred method to assess aggregate stability.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoqian Niu, Chenggong Liu, Xiaoxu Jia, Juntao Zhu
Summary: The study revealed that soil organic carbon (SOC) content in the Guanzhong Plain decreased significantly with soil depth in the upper 100 cm layer, while it remained relatively low and stable in deeper soil layers. Unlike in the upper layers, SOC in deep soils was primarily influenced by soil properties. Changes in agricultural land use did not significantly impact SOC in both shallow and deep soils of the study area.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Shuai Wang, Xingyu Zhang, Kabindra Adhikari, Bol Roland, Qianlai Zhuang, Zicheng Wang, Di Shi, Xinxin Jin, Fengkui Qian
Summary: This study estimates soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks under future changing land use and climate conditions in Northeast China using a state-of-the-art digital soil mapping technique. The results show that SOC stocks under different scenarios vary over time, with the majority stored in farmlands and forests. The high-resolution estimated SOC maps provide a scientific basis for optimizing ecological management in Northeast China.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2023)
