A survey of total and dissolved organic carbon in alkaline soils of southern Australia
G. K. McDonald A F , E. Tavakkoli A B , D. Cozzolino C , K. Banas D , M. Derrien E and P. Rengasamy A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Campus, The University of Adelaide PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
B New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
C School of Medical and Applied Sciences, CQIRP (Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct), Central Queensland University (CQU) Australia, Bruce Highway, North Rockhampton, Qld 4701, Australia.
D Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS), 5 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117603, Singapore.
E Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 143-747, South Korea.
F Corresponding author. Email: glenn.mcdonald@adelaide.edu.au
Soil Research 55(7) 617-629 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR16237
Submitted: 7 September 2016 Accepted: 29 December 2016 Published: 9 February 2017
Abstract
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is important to microbial activity and nutrient cycling, and its concentration is sensitive to pH. Despite the importance of alkaline soils to agricultural production in southern Australia, few studies have documented the concentrations of soil organic carbon (C) and DOC or described the effects of soil properties and management practices on DOC in these soils. A survey of 33 paddocks from the Eyre Peninsula and mid-North regions of South Australia and north-western Victoria demonstrated significant variation in pH, soil organic C and DOC. Carbon stocks in the surface 30 cm were 40–55 t C/ha and were lowest in paddocks from Victoria. Soils from South Australia had higher DOC concentrations in the top 20 cm than soils from Victoria. Principal component analysis suggested variation in DOC was increased by high pH, electric conductivity and the concentration of exchangeable Na, and was reduced by the concentration of exchangeable Ca and clay content. Mid-infrared Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy identified regional differences in the composition of soil organic C, with high amounts of charcoal in Eyre Peninsula soils. Farm management practices had little effect on soil organic C but influenced DOC. Grain yield and DOC concentration were inversely related across and within regions which appeared to be related to the intensity of cropping having opposite influences on yield and DOC. Compared with international data, DOC concentrations were high relative to the amount of soil organic C and, in contrast to many previous studies, DOC in all regions increased with depth.
Additional keywords: C : N ratio, carbon sequestration, farming system, sodic soil.
References
Adcock D, McNeill AM, McDonald GK, Armstrong RD (2007) Subsoil constraints to crop production on neutral and alkaline soils in south-eastern Australia: a review of current knowledge and management strategies. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 1245–1261.| Subsoil constraints to crop production on neutral and alkaline soils in south-eastern Australia: a review of current knowledge and management strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXht1eqsb%2FO&md5=716c5b57863d4c1f083017be94b9c45cCAS |
Bolan NS, Adriano DC, Kunhikrishnan A, James T, McDowell R, Senesi N (2011) Dissolved organic matter: biogeochemistry, dynamics, and environmental significance in soils. Advances in Agronomy 110, 1–75.
| Dissolved organic matter: biogeochemistry, dynamics, and environmental significance in soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXktlyksLs%3D&md5=f9c4d6a6e01ebd181cab2ddd8a4255c3CAS |
Bureau of Meteorology (2015) Recent rainfall, drought and southern Australia’s long term rainfall decline. Commonwealth of Australia, Bureau of Meteorology, Canberra ACT. Available at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/updates/articles/a010-southern-rainfall-decline.shtml [Verified 17 January 2017]
Chantigny MH (2003) Dissolved and water-extractable organic matter in soils: a review on the influence of land use and management practices. Geoderma 113, 357–380.
| Dissolved and water-extractable organic matter in soils: a review on the influence of land use and management practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsF2nsbw%3D&md5=564ff062aeb30be3d88fc4c960dc1574CAS |
de Caritat F, Cooper M, Wilford J (2011) The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey. Soil Research 49, 173–182.
| The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fischer RA, Byerlee D, Eadmeades G (2014) Resource use efficiency, sustainability and environment. In ‘Crop yields and global food security: will yield increase continue to feed the world?’ pp. 435–492. ACIAR Monograph No. 158. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra)
Fluid Fertilisers (2015) Managing alkaline toxicity. In ‘Fluid fertiliser: a South Australian manual’. (ARRIS Pty Ltd: Glen Osmond, SA). Available at http://www.fluidfertilisers.com.au/index.php?id=21 [Verified 17 January 2017]
Haynes RJ (2000) Labile organic matter as an indicator of organic matter quality in arable and pastoral soils in New Zealand. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32, 211–219.
| Labile organic matter as an indicator of organic matter quality in arable and pastoral soils in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXhsVyhsro%3D&md5=00babc2c8fb02b9a0513a8c53b0a1077CAS |
Haynes RJ (2005) Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: an overview. Advances in Agronomy 85, 221–268.
| Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: an overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXksFKqt7g%3D&md5=fc493d7586941e726dd7a04c893562bdCAS |
Hoyle FC, D’Antuono M, Overheu T, Murphy DV (2013) Capacity for increasing soil organic carbon stocks in dryland agricultural systems. Soil Research 51, 657–667.
| Capacity for increasing soil organic carbon stocks in dryland agricultural systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhvF2ktbbJ&md5=91ef86ec452269fda26497eebc604cd3CAS |
International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) (2014) Nutrient performance indicators: the importance of farm scale assessments lined to soil fertility, productivity, environmental impact and the adoption of grower best practice. IPNI Reference14061. IPNI, Peachtree Corner, GA. Available at http://www.ipni.net/publication/ireview-en.nsf/0/99B9481CD89B96F585257D95005CE788/$FILE/IssueReview-EN-14061.pdf [Verified 17 January 2017]
Iqbal J, Hu R, Feng M, Lin S, Malghani S, Ali IM (2010) Microbial biomass, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen strongly affect soil respiration in different land uses: a case study at Three Gorges Reservoir Area, South China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 137, 294–307.
| Microbial biomass, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen strongly affect soil respiration in different land uses: a case study at Three Gorges Reservoir Area, South China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXltFOms7c%3D&md5=12e318454c1f9e260cba98c70bd233e0CAS |
Jinbo Z, Changchun S , Wenyang Y (2006) Land use effects on the distribution of labile organic carbon fractions through soil profiles. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70, 660–667.
| Land use effects on the distribution of labile organic carbon fractions through soil profiles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kaiser M, Ellerbrock RH, Gerke HH (2007) Long-term effects of crop rotation and fertilization on soil organic matter composition. European Journal of Soil Science 58, 1460–1470.
| Long-term effects of crop rotation and fertilization on soil organic matter composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitVWrsw%3D%3D&md5=d3ab56a570d65de595415a4b1c9d452eCAS |
Lam SK, Chen DL, Mosier AR, Roush R (2013) The potential for carbon sequestration in Australian agricultural soils is technically and economically limited. Scientific Reports 3, 2179.
| The potential for carbon sequestration in Australian agricultural soils is technically and economically limited.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liddicoat C, Maschmedt D, Clifford D, Searle R, Herrmann T, Macdonald LM, Baldock J (2015) Predictive mapping of soil organic carbon stocks in South Australia’s agricultural zone. Soil Research 53, 956–973.
Ma G, Rengasamy P, Rathjen AJ (2003) Phytotoxicity of aluminium to wheat plants in high pH solutions. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 497–501.
| Phytotoxicity of aluminium to wheat plants in high pH solutions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXlslOnsbc%3D&md5=a7a74ced3bb8fb23cacfaeebf872da8eCAS |
Mavi MS, Marschner P, Chittleborough DJ, Cox JW, Sanderman J (2012a) Salinity and sodicity affect soil respiration and dissolved organic matter dynamics differentially in soils varying in texture. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 45, 8–13.
| Salinity and sodicity affect soil respiration and dissolved organic matter dynamics differentially in soils varying in texture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhs1CrtLnJ&md5=b305203840fcf11e6bcc2e4f1e2e22d4CAS |
Mavi MS, Sanderman J, Chittleborough DJ, Cox JW, Marschner P (2012b) Sorption of dissolved organic matter in salt-affected soils: effect of salinity, sodicity and texture. The Science of the Total Environment 435–436, 337–344.
| Sorption of dissolved organic matter in salt-affected soils: effect of salinity, sodicity and texture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McDonald GK, Taylor JD, Verbyla A, Kuchel H (2012) Assessing the importance of subsoil constraints to yield of wheat and its implications for yield improvement. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 1043–1065.
| Assessing the importance of subsoil constraints to yield of wheat and its implications for yield improvement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McDowell R (2003) Dissolved organic matter in soils—future directions and unanswered questions. Geoderma 113, 179–186.
| Dissolved organic matter in soils—future directions and unanswered questions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsF2nsLw%3D&md5=0d5c0019f77ea31c1550fa4d58b49833CAS |
Monjardino M, McBeath T, Ouzman J, Llewellyn R, Jones B (2015) Farmer risk-aversion limits closure of yield and profit gaps: a study of nitrogen management in the southern Australian wheatbelt. Agricultural Systems 137, 108–118.
| Farmer risk-aversion limits closure of yield and profit gaps: a study of nitrogen management in the southern Australian wheatbelt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muneer M, Oades JM (1989) The role of Ca–organic interactions in soil aggregate stability. III. Mechanisms and models. Australian Journal of Soil Research 27, 411–423.
| The role of Ca–organic interactions in soil aggregate stability. III. Mechanisms and models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXlslaqtbc%3D&md5=f632cac1ea6fce2276980e14ad3a0c58CAS |
Nuttall JG, Armstrong RD, Connor DJ, Matassa VJ (2003) Interrelationships between edaphic factors potentially limiting cereal growth on alkaline soils in north-western Victoria. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 277–292.
| Interrelationships between edaphic factors potentially limiting cereal growth on alkaline soils in north-western Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXktFKisrk%3D&md5=35b3960e3e55facacadfbef64b46f4cfCAS |
Oades M (1988) The retention of organic matter in soils. Biogeochemistry 5, 35–70.
| The retention of organic matter in soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXitVeksb0%3D&md5=546c04581af1501be404e4c38aea677cCAS |
Peltre C, Bruun S, Du C, Thomsen IK, Jensen LS (2014) Assessing soil constituents and labile soil organic carbon by mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 77, 41–50.
| Assessing soil constituents and labile soil organic carbon by mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXht12ntL%2FF&md5=42b93895f02966d12f89cdf2260fa36eCAS |
Porcal P, Koprivnjak J-F, Molot LA, Dillon PJ (2009) Humic substances—part 7: the biogeochemistry of dissolved organic carbon and its interactions with climate change. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International 16, 714–726.
| Humic substances—part 7: the biogeochemistry of dissolved organic carbon and its interactions with climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtV2nsbfE&md5=dd61a85d5068d7b8ce5aa6de343bb5abCAS |
R Development Core Team (2012) A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
Rayment GE, Lyons D (2011) ‘Soil chemical methods – Australasia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Australia)
Robertson F, Armstrong R, Partington D, Perris R, Oliver I, Aumann C, Crawford D, Rees D (2015) Effect of cropping practices on soil organic carbon: evidence from long-term field experiments in Victoria, Australia. Soil Research 53, 636–646.
| Effect of cropping practices on soil organic carbon: evidence from long-term field experiments in Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhsFart7fO&md5=960a905be3dceee6280abe023b956a1eCAS |
Sadras V, Roget D, O’Leary G (2002) On-farm assessment of environmental and management constraints to wheat yield and efficiency in the use of rainfall in the Mallee. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 587–598.
| On-farm assessment of environmental and management constraints to wheat yield and efficiency in the use of rainfall in the Mallee.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanderman J, Baldock J, Amundson R (2008) Dissolved organic carbon chemistry and dynamics in contrasting forest and grassland soils. Biogeochemistry 89, 181–198.
| Dissolved organic carbon chemistry and dynamics in contrasting forest and grassland soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXovF2nsLg%3D&md5=3e8190ddab8c6c0174a8496dfe65a3cdCAS |
Sanderman J, Baldock J, Hawke B, Macdonald L, Massis-Puccini A, Szarvas S (2011) ‘National soil carbon research program: field and laboratory methodologies.’ (CSIRO Land and Water: Adelaide, Australia)
Setia R, Rengasamy P, Marschner P (2013) Effect of exchangeable cation concentration on sorption and desorption of dissolved organic carbon in saline soils. The Science of the Total Environment 465, 226–232.
| Effect of exchangeable cation concentration on sorption and desorption of dissolved organic carbon in saline soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhs1Oqs7g%3D&md5=85f8b01f70136a0ba0f32e4a2623ab06CAS |
Spain AV, Isbell RF, Probert ME (1983) Soil organic matter. In ‘Soils: an Australian viewpoint’. pp. 551–563. (CSIRO, Academic Press: Melbourne, Australia)
Stockmann U, Adams MA, Crawford JW, Field DJ, Henakaarchchi N, Jenkins M, Minasnya B, McBratneya AB, de Remy de Courcelles V, Singha K, Wheeler I, Abbott L, Angers DA, Baldock J, Birde M, Brookes PC, Chenug C, Jastrowh JD, Lal R, Lehmann J, O’Donnell AG, Parton WJ, Whitehead D, Zimmermann M (2013) The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 164, 80–99.
| The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXnvFGltQ%3D%3D&md5=38d5a8535a48a2d76063fafcceb20b3cCAS |
Sun S, Liu J, Li Y, Jiang P, Chang S (2013) Similar quality and quantity of dissolved organic carbon under different landuse systems in two Canadian and Chinese soils. Journal of Soils and Sediments 13, 34–42.
Tavakkoli E, Donner E, Juhasz A, Naidu R, Lombi E (2013) A radio-isotopic dilution technique for functional characterisation of the associations between inorganic contaminants and water-dispersible naturally occurring soil colloids. Environmental Chemistry 10, 341–348.
| A radio-isotopic dilution technique for functional characterisation of the associations between inorganic contaminants and water-dispersible naturally occurring soil colloids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhtlakt7vJ&md5=48240b60b5b13766ba221e2c8ab3ba39CAS |
Tavakkoli E, Rengasamy P, Smith E, McDonald GK (2015) The effect of cation–anion interactions on soil pH and solubility of organic carbon. European Journal of Soil Science 66, 1054–1062.
| The effect of cation–anion interactions on soil pH and solubility of organic carbon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhvVSlsbnK&md5=b4a65e8ae977a6bf0a3dbc88bb8eddafCAS |
Tian J, Fan M, Guo J, Marschner P, Li X, Kuzyakov Y (2012) Effect of landuse intensity on dissolved organic C properties and microbial community structure. European Journal of Soil Biology 52, 67–72.
Toosi E, Castellano SJ, Singer JW, Mitchell DC (2012) Differences in soluble organic matter after 23 years of contrasting soil management. Soil Science Society of America Journal 76, 628–637.
| Differences in soluble organic matter after 23 years of contrasting soil management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XktFOhtr8%3D&md5=a9ba482065515de82ffa021d03456334CAS |
Viscarra Rossel RA, Webster R, Bui E, Baldock JA (2014) Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change. Global Change Biology 20, 2953–2970.
| Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilhelm N, Holloway RE (1998) Persistence of sulphonyl urea herbicides on alkaline soil. In ‘9th Australian Agronomy Conference’, 20–23 July, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW. (Eds DL Michalk, JE Pratley) pp. 605–606. (Australian Society of Agronomy: Parkville, Australia)
Zsolnay A (2003) Dissolved organic matter: artefacts, definitions, and functions. Geoderma 113, 187–209.
| Dissolved organic matter: artefacts, definitions, and functions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsF2nsL0%3D&md5=0e3840deffe290cd9cf69819fcbd32e1CAS |
