What determines soil organic carbon stocks in the grazing lands of north-eastern Australia?
D. E. Allen A F , M. J. Pringle A , S. Bray B , T. J. Hall C , P. O. O’Reagain D , D. Phelps E , D. H. Cobon C , P. M. Bloesch A and R. C. Dalal A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Landscape Sciences (ESP), Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, GPO Box 5078, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
B Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, PO Box 6014, Rockhampton, Qld 4701, Australia.
C Science Engagement, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, PO Box 102, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
D Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, PO Box 976, Charters Towers, Qld 4820, Australia.
E Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, PO Box 519, Longreach, Qld 4730, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: Diane.Allen@science.dsitia.qld.gov.au
Soil Research 51(8) 695-706 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR13041
Submitted: 31 January 2013 Accepted: 9 May 2013 Published: 20 December 2013
Abstract
This study aimed to unravel the effects of climate, topography, soil, and grazing management on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the grazing lands of north-eastern Australia. We sampled for SOC stocks at 98 sites from 18 grazing properties across Queensland, Australia. These samples covered four nominal grazing management classes (Continuous, Rotational, Cell, and Exclosure), eight broad soil types, and a strong tropical to subtropical climatic gradient. Temperature and vapour-pressure deficit explained >80% of the variability of SOC stocks at cumulative equivalent mineral masses nominally representing 0–0.1 and 0–0.3 m depths. Once detrended of climatic effects, SOC stocks were strongly influenced by total standing dry matter, soil type, and the dominant grass species. At 0–0.3 m depth only, there was a weak negative association between stocking rate and climate-detrended SOC stocks, and Cell grazing was associated with smaller SOC stocks than Continuous grazing and Exclosure. In future, collection of quantitative information on stocking intensity, frequency, and duration may help to improve understanding of the effect of grazing management on SOC stocks. Further exploration of the links between grazing management and above- and below-ground biomass, perhaps inferred through remote sensing and/or simulation modelling, may assist large-area mapping of SOC stocks in northern Australia.
Additional keywords:
References
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