Soil carbon sequestration and density distribution in a Vertosol under different farming practices
W. J. Wang A B , R. C. Dalal A and P. W. Moody AA CRC for Greenhouse Accounting and NR&M, 80 Meiers Rd., Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Qld 4068, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: weijin.wang@greenhouse.crc.org.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 42(8) 875-882 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04023
Submitted: 16 February 2004 Accepted: 25 August 2004 Published: 14 December 2004
Abstract
Agricultural soils play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycling and can act as a significant C sink if managed properly. The long-term (33 years) effects of no till (NT) v. conventional till (CT), stubble retention (SR) v. stubble burning (SB), and N fertiliser application (NF) v. nil N fertilisation (N0) on soil organic C sequestration, and their seasonal variations during the fallow period, were studied in a winter cereal–summer fallow cropping system under semi-arid subtropical climate in Queensland, Australia. The function of different density fractions of soil organic C in determining total organic C (TOC) dynamics and sequestration was investigated. Significant effect of NT, SR, or NF on soil organic C level was observed only in the top 10 cm soil and when they were practiced together, with the TOC contents being 1.1 to 3.4 t/ha higher under NT + NF + SR than under other treatments. There were significant seasonal fluctuations in TOC contents at different stages of the fallow period, and the lowest levels of TOC and treatment effects were observed in the late fallow period. Density fractionation of soil organic C showed that light fraction C (<1.6 g/cm3) declined rapidly during the fallow period and did not accumulate substantially in soil. TOC dynamics, either as a consequence of seasonal variations or as a long-term response to different farming practices, were predominantly controlled by the changes in the heavy fraction C (>1.6 g/cm3).
Additional keywords: tillage, stubble retention, nitrogen, light fraction, global change.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting. The authors are grateful to Mr R. N. Amos and Dr G. A. Thomas for the use of the long-term trial at the Hermitage Research Station. The technical assistance of Mr R. E. Whitehead is greatly appreciated.
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