Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR09092
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(1)

Soil carbon stocks under different pastures and pasture management in the higher rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia

K. Y. Chan A B D , A. Oates A , G. D. Li A , M. K. Conyers A , R. J. Prangnell A , G. Poile A , D. L. Liu A and I. M. Barchia C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A E.H. Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, PMB, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

B Industry & Investment NSW, Locked Bag 4, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia.

C Industry & Investment NSW, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, PMB 8, Menangle, NSW 2570, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: yin.chan@industry.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 48(1) 7-15 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR09092
Submitted: 14 May 2009  Accepted: 31 August 2009   Published: 26 February 2010

Abstract

In Australia, pastures form the basis of the extensive livestock industries and are important components of crop rotation systems. Despite recent interest in the soil carbon sequestration value of pastures in the mitigation of climate change, little information is available on the soil carbon sequestration potential of pastures in New South Wales farming systems. To quantify the soil carbon stocks under different pastures and a range of pasture management practices, a field survey of soil carbon stocks was undertaken in 2007 in central and southern NSW as well as north-eastern Victoria, using a paired-site approach. Five comparisons were included: native v. introduced perennial, perennial v. annual, continuous v. rotational grazing, pasture cropping v. control, and improved v. unimproved pastures.

Results indicated a wide range of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks over 0–0.30 m (22.4–66.3 t C/ha), with little difference when calculated based on either constant soil depth or constant soil mass. Significantly higher SOC stocks were found only as a result of pasture improvement using P application compared with unimproved pastures. In this case, rates of sequestration were estimated to range between 0.26 and 0.72 t C/ha.year, with a mean rate of 0.41 t C/ha.year. Lack of significant differences in SOC stocks for the other pastures and pasture management practice comparisons could be due to inherent problems associated with the paired-site survey approach, i.e. large variability, difficulties in obtaining accurate site history, and the occasional absence of a valid control as well as the likely lower rates of SOC sequestration for these other comparisons. There is a need for scientific long-term trials to quantify the SOC sequestration potential of these other pastures and pasture management practices.

Additional keywords: pasture improvement, soil carbon sink, grazing management, long term trials, carbon trading.


Acknowledgements

This project was financially supported by Climate Action Grants, NSW Government. We are indebted to all the participating farm owners and managers for their co-operation and interest on this investigation. We thank Dr Brian Cullis for his critical reviews, which have improved the statistical aspect of this paper.


References


Cambardella CA, Elliott ET (1992) Particulate soil organic matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Science Society of America Journal 56, 777–783. open url image1

Carter MR, Angers DA, Gregorich EG, Bolinder MA (2003) Characterising organic matter retention for surface soils in eastern Canada using density and particle size fractions. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 83, 11–23.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Chan KY (2008) Potential role of tillage to increase soil carbon sequestration. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences and Natural Resources 3, No. 013.

Chan KY, Heenan DP, Oates A (2002) Soil carbon fractions and relationships to soil quality under different tillage and stubble management. Soil & Tillage Research 63, 133–139.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cocks PS (2001) Ecology of herbaceous perennial legumes: a review of characteristics that may provide management options for the control of salinity and waterlogging in dryland cropping systems. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research [Review] 52, 137–151.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Conant RT, Paustian K (2002) Potential soil carbon sequestration in overgrazed grassland ecosystems. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 16, 1143–1151.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Conant RT, Paustian K, Elliott ET (2001) Grassland management and conversion into grassland: effects on soil carbon. Ecological Applications 11, 343–355.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Curll M (1977) Superphosphate on perennial pastures. I. Effects of a pasture response on sheep production. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 28, 991–1005.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dear BS, Moore GA, Hughes SJ (2003) Adaptation and potential contribution of temperate perennial legumes to the southern Australian wheatbelt: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 1–18.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ellert BH, Bettany JR (1995) Calculation of organic matter and nutrients stored in soils under contrasting management regimes. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 75, 529–538.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Follett RF , Kimble JM , Lal R (1998) The potential of US grazing lands to sequester soil carbon. In ‘The potential of US grazing lands to sequester carbon and mitigate the greenhouse effect’. (Eds RF Follett, JM Kimble, R Lal) pp. 401–430. (Ann Arbor Press: Chelsea, MI)

Franzluebbers AJ, Stuedemann JA, Schomberg HH, Wilkinson SR (2000) Soil organic C and N pools under long-term pasture management in the Southern Piedmont USA. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32, 469–478.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Garden DL, Ellis NJS, Rab MA, Langford CM, Johnston WH, Shields C, Murphy T, Holmberg M, Dassanayake KB, Harden S (2003) Fertiliser and grazing effects on production and botanical composition of native grasslands in south-east Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 843–859.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Gillman GP, Sumpter EA (1986) Modification to the compulsive exchange method for measuring exchange characteristics of soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 24, 61–66.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Gilmour AR , Cullis BR , Harding DA , Thompson R (2006) ‘ASReml Update. What’s new in Release 2.00.’ (VSN International Ltd: Hemel Hempstead, UK)

Greenland DJ (1971) Changes in the nitrogen status and physical conditions of soils under pastures, with special reference to the maintenance of the fertility of Australian soils used for growing wheat. Soils and Fertilizers 34, 237–251. open url image1

Hassink J (1997) The capacity of soils to preserve C and N by their association with clay and silt particles. Plant and Soil 91, 77–97.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Howden SM , Dies C , Bruce SE , Gaydon D (2005) Can pasture cropping help the management of climate risks? In ‘Proceedings of the Fourth National Native Grasses Conference’. Burra, South Australia.

Kemp DR, Michalk DL, Virgona JM (2000) Towards more sustainable pastures: lessons learnt. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 343–356.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Kucharik CJ, Roth JA, Nabielski RT (2003) Statistical assessment of a paired site approach for verification of carbon and nitrogen sequestration on Wisconsin Conservation Reserve Program land. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 58, 58–67. open url image1

Li GD, Helyar KR, Welham SJ, Conyers MK, Castleman LJC, Fisher RP, Evans CM, Cullis BR, Cregan PD (2006) Pasture and sheep responses to lime application in a grazing experiment in a high-rainfall area, south-eastern Australia. I. Pasture production. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 1045–1055.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lloyd Davies H, McFarlane JD, de Oliveira OLP, King GW, James JW (1998) A long-term study of superphosphate and stocking rate on sheep production and plant and soil characteristics in central west New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 38, 433–439.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lynch DH, Cohen RDH, Fredeen A, Patterson G, Martin RC (2005) Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 85, 183–192.
|  CAS |
open url image1

McIntyre DS , Loveday J (1974) Particle size analyses. In ‘Methods for analysis of irrigated soils’. (Ed. J Loveday) pp. 88–99. (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux: Farnham Royal, UK)

McKenzie N , Ryan P , Fogarty P , Wood J (2000) Sampling, measurement and analytical protocols for carbon estimation in soil, litter and coarse woody debris. National Carbon Accounting System, Technical Report No. 14, Australian Greenhouse Office, Canberra, ACT.

Rayment GE , Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbooks Series Vol. 3. pp. 17–23. (Inkata Press: Melbourne)

Russell JS (1960) Soil fertility changes in the long term experimental plots at Kybybolite, South Australia. 1. Changes in pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon and bulk density. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 11, 902–926.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Russell JS , Williams CH (1982) Biochemical interactions of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus in Australian agroecosystems. In ‘The cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems’. (Eds IE Galbally, JR Freney) (Australian Academy of Science: Canberra, ACT)

Sanjari G, Ghadire H, Ciesiolka CAA, Yu B (2008) Comparing the effects of continuous and time-controlled grazing systems on soil characteristics in Southeast Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 348–358.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Six J, Conant RT, Paul EA, Paustian K (2002) Stabilisation mechanisms of soil organic matter: implication for C-saturation of soils. Plant and Soil 241, 155–176.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Skjemstad J , Spouncer L (2003) Integrated soils modeling for the national carbon accounting system. Technical Report No. 36, Australian Greenhouse Office, Commonwealth of Australia.

Smetham ML (1990) Pasture management. In ‘Pastures, their ecology and management’. (Ed. RHM Langer) (Oxford University Press: Auckland, NZ)

Williams CH, Donald CM (1957) Changes in organic matter and pH in a podzolic soil as influenced by subterranean clover and superphosphate. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 8, 179–189.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1