Dataset Information

Changes in soil organic carbon in croplands subjected to fertilizer management: a global meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Cropland soil organic carbon (SOC) is undergoing substantial alterations due to both environmental and anthropogenic changes. Although numerous case studies have been conducted, there remains a lack of quantification of the consequences of such environmental and anthropogenic changes on the SOC sequestration across global agricultural systems. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of SOC changes under different fertilizer managements, namely unbalanced application of chemical fertilizers (UCF), balanced application of chemical fertilizers (CF), chemical fertilizers with straw application (CFS), and chemical fertilizers with manure application (CFM). We show that topsoil organic carbon (C) increased by 0.9 (0.7-1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI))?g?kg(-1) (10.0%, relative change, hereafter the same), 1.7 (1.2-2.3)?g?kg(-1) (15.4%), 2.0 (1.9-2.2)?g?kg(-1) (19.5%) and 3.5 (3.2-3.8)?g?kg(-1) (36.2%) under UCF, CF, CFS and CFM, respectively. The C sequestration durations were estimated as 28-73 years under CFS and 26-117 years under CFM but with high variability across climatic regions. At least 2.0?Mg ha(-1) yr(-1) C input is needed to maintain the SOC in ~85% cases. We highlight a great C sequestration potential of applying CF, and adopting CFS and CFM is highly important for either improving or maintaining current SOC stocks across all agro-ecosystems.

SUBMITTER: Han P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4890177 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Changes in soil organic carbon in croplands subjected to fertilizer management: a global meta-analysis.

Han Pengfei P Zhang Wen W Wang Guocheng G Sun Wenjuan W Huang Yao Y

Scientific reports 20160602

Cropland soil organic carbon (SOC) is undergoing substantial alterations due to both environmental and anthropogenic changes. Although numerous case studies have been conducted, there remains a lack of quantification of the consequences of such environmental and anthropogenic changes on the SOC sequestration across global agricultural systems. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of SOC changes under different fertilizer managements, namely unbalanced application of chemical fertilizers (UC ...[more]

PMID: 27251021

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Project description:Manure application to agricultural soils is widely considered as a source of nutrients and a method of maintaining levels of soil organic carbon (SOC) to mitigate climate change. At present, it is still unclear which factors are responsible for the SOC stock dynamics. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between SOC stock changes and site characteristics, soil properties, experiment characteristics and manure characteristics. Overall, we included 101 studies with a total of 592 treatments. On average, the application of manure on agricultural soils increased SOC stocks by 35.4%, corresponding to 10.7 Mg ha-1. Manure applications in conventional tillage systems led to higher SOC stocks (+ 2.2 Mg ha-1) than applications under reduced tillage. Soil organic carbon increase upon manure application was higher in soils under non-tropical climate conditions (+ 2.7 Mg ha-1) compared to soils under sub-tropical climate. Larger SOC increases after manure application were achieved in intermediate and shallow topsoils (in 0-15 cm by 9.5 Mg ha-1 and in 16-20 cm by 13.6 Mg ha-1), but SOC stocks were also increased in deeper soils (> 20 cm 4.6 Mg ha-1), regardless of the tillage intensity. The highest relative SOC increase (+ 48%) was achieved if the initial SOC was below 1% but the absolute SOC increased with increasing initial SOC. Clay soils showed higher SOC increase rates compared to sandy soils (+ 3.1 Mg ha-1). Acidic soils showed comparable relative effects but a higher stock difference than neutral (+ 5.1 Mg ha-1) and alkaline soils (+ 5.1 Mg ha-1). The application of farmyard-, cattle- and pig manure showed the highest SOC increases (50%, 32% and 41%, respectively), while green manure and straw showed only minor effects. If manure applications were combined with additional mineral fertilizer, the SOC increases were higher (+ 1.7 Mg ha-1) compared to manure alone. Higher applied amounts generally led to higher SOC stocks. However the annually applied amount is only important under conventional tillage, non-tropical climate conditions, and pH-neutral as well as SOC-rich or SOC-depleted soils and if no additional mineral fertilization is applied. Further studies should focus on the SOC dynamics under tropical climate conditions and factors influencing a potential carbon saturation. In both cases, the number of data was too small. For this reason, additional field studies should be conducted primarily in the tropics. On the other hand, long-term field trials should be re-assessed or newly established to specifically investigate potential saturation effects and long-term (> 20 years) fertilizer effects and carbon sequestration.

Dataset Information

Changes in soil organic carbon in croplands subjected to fertilizer management: a global meta-analysis.

Publications

Changes in soil organic carbon in croplands subjected to fertilizer management: a global meta-analysis.

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