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The C:N:P:S stoichiometry of soil organic matter.

ABSTRACT: The formation and turnover of soil organic matter (SOM) includes the biogeochemical processing of the macronutrient elements nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S), which alters their stoichiometric relationships to carbon (C) and to each other. We sought patterns among soil organic C, N, P and S in data for c. 2000 globally distributed soil samples, covering all soil horizons. For non-peat soils, strong negative correlations (p < 0.001) were found between N:C, P:C and S:C ratios and % organic carbon (OC), showing that SOM of soils with low OC concentrations (high in mineral matter) is rich in N, P and S. The results can be described approximately with a simple mixing model in which nutrient-poor SOM (NPSOM) has N:C, P:C and S:C ratios of 0.039, 0.0011 and 0.0054, while nutrient-rich SOM (NRSOM) has corresponding ratios of 0.12, 0.016 and 0.016, so that P is especially enriched in NRSOM compared to NPSOM. The trends hold across a range of ecosystems, for topsoils, including O horizons, and subsoils, and across different soil classes. The major exception is that tropical soils tend to have low P:C ratios especially at low N:C. We suggest that NRSOM comprises compounds selected by their strong adsorption to mineral matter. The stoichiometric patterns established here offer a new quantitative framework for SOM classification and characterisation, and provide important constraints to dynamic soil and ecosystem models of carbon turnover and nutrient dynamics.

SUBMITTER: Tipping E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7175710 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The C:N:P:S stoichiometry of soil organic matter.

Tipping Edward E Somerville Cayman J CJ Luster Jörg J

Biogeochemistry 20160923 1

The formation and turnover of soil organic matter (SOM) includes the biogeochemical processing of the macronutrient elements nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S), which alters their stoichiometric relationships to carbon (C) and to each other. We sought patterns among soil organic C, N, P and S in data for c. 2000 globally distributed soil samples, covering all soil horizons. For non-peat soils, strong negative correlations (p < 0.001) were found between N:C, P:C and S:C ratios and % org ...[more]

PMID: 32355381

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Project description:Recent interest in improving soil health and agricultural sustainability recognizes the value of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and nutrient cycling. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the response of various SOC and nitrogen (N) components in semiarid cropping systems transitioning from limited-irrigation to dryland and a restored grassland in the Southern High Plains of USA. Cropping systems evaluated include dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)-fallow with conventional tillage (DLCTF) and no-tillage (DLNTF), limited-irrigation winter wheat-sorghum-fallow with no-tillage and cover cropping (LINTC) and no-tillage fallow (LINTF), and an undisturbed grassland (NG). Soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths and analyzed for SOC, total N, inorganic N, and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) contents. The CO2 and N2O release during a eight-weeks long laboratory incubation were also analyzed. Results show 14% and 13% reduction in SOC and total N from 0-30 cm depth with the transition from limited-irrigation to dryland cropping systems while 51% more SOC and 41% more total N with the transition to grassland. The SMBC was 42% less in dryland cropping systems and 100% more in NG than the limited-irrigation cropping systems. However, the grassland was N limited, with 93% less inorganic N in NG compared to only 11% less in dryland cropping systems than in limited-irrigation cropping systems. The microbial respiration measured as CO2-C was highest in NG, followed by limited-irrigation and dryland cropping systems. The N2O-N release showed the lowest rate of N loss from dryland cropping systems, followed by NG and limited-irrigation cropping systems. This study demonstrated loss of SOC and N in agroecosystems transitioned to dryland crop-fallow systems, with greater magnitude of change observed in the biologically active fraction of soil organic matter. Grassland restoration could be an important strategy to increase SOC and nutrients in hot, dry, semiarid agroecosystems transitioning to dryland.

Dataset Information

The C:N:P:S stoichiometry of soil organic matter.

Publications

The C:N:P:S stoichiometry of soil organic matter.

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