The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Martin Wiesmeier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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carbon storage capacity of semi arid Grassland Soils and sequestration potentials in northern china
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 2015Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Sam Munro, Frauke Barthold, Markus Steffens, Peter Schad, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Organic carbon (OC) sequestration in degraded semi-arid environments by improved soil management is assumed to contribute substantially to climate change mitigation. However, information about the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in steppe Soils and their current saturation status remains unknown. In this study, we estimated the OC storage capacity of semi-arid Grassland Soils on the basis of remote, natural steppe fragments in northern China. Based on the maximum OC saturation of silt and clay particles <20 μm, OC sequestration potentials of degraded steppe Soils (grazing land, arable land, eroded areas) were estimated. The analysis of natural Grassland Soils revealed a strong linear regression between the proportion of the fine fraction and its OC content, confirming the importance of silt and clay particles for OC stabilization in steppe Soils. This relationship was similar to derived regressions in temperate and tropical Soils but on a lower level, probably due to a lower C input and different clay mineralogy. In relation to the estimated OC storage capacity, degraded steppe Soils showed a high OC saturation of 78–85% despite massive SOC losses due to unsustainable land use. As a result, the potential of degraded Grassland Soils to sequester additional OC was generally low. This can be related to a relatively high contribution of labile SOC, which is preferentially lost in the course of soil degradation. Moreover, wind erosion leads to substantial loss of silt and clay particles and consequently results in a direct loss of the ability to stabilize additional OC. Our findings indicate that the SOC loss in semi-arid environments induced by intensive land use is largely irreversible. Observed SOC increases after improved land management mainly result in an accumulation of labile SOC prone to land use/climate changes and therefore cannot be regarded as contribution to long-term OC sequestration.
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Amount, distribution and driving factors of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in cropland and Grassland Soils of southeast Germany (Bavaria)
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2013Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Frauke Barthold, Rico Hübner, Peter Spörlein, Uwe Geuß, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Ingrid Kögel-knabnerAbstract:Abstract Agricultural Soils have a high potential for sequestration of atmospheric carbon due to their volume and several promising management options. However, there is a remarkable lack of information about the status quo of organic carbon in agricultural Soils. In this study a comprehensive data set of 384 cropland Soils and 333 Grassland Soils within the state of Bavaria in southeast Germany was analyzed in order to provide representative information on total amount, regional distribution and driving parameters of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) in agricultural Soils of central Europe. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored higher amounts of SOC (11.8 kg m −2 ) and N (0.92 kg m −2 ) than cropland Soils (9.0 and 0.66 kg m −2 , respectively) due to moisture-induced accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) in B horizons. Surprisingly, no distinct differences were found for the A horizons since tillage led to a relocation of SOM with depth in cropland Soils. Statistical analyses of driving factors for SOM storage revealed soil moisture, represented by the topographic wetness index (TWI), as the most important parameter for both cropland and Grassland Soils. Climate effects (mean annual temperature and precipitation) were of minor importance in agricultural Soils because management options counteracted them to a certain extent, particularly in cropland Soils. The distribution of SOC and N stocks within Bavaria based on agricultural regions confirmed the importance of soil moisture since the highest cropland SOC and N stocks were found for tertiary hills and loess regions, which exhibited large areas with potentially high soil moisture content in extant floodplains. Grassland Soils showed the highest accumulation of SOC and N in the Alps and Pre-Alps as a result of low temperatures, high amounts of precipitation and high soil moisture content in areas of glacial denudation. Soil class was identified as a further driving parameter for SOC and N storage in cropland Soils. In total, cropland and Grassland Soils in Bavaria store 242 and 134 Mt SOC as well as 19 and 12 Mt N down to a soil depth of 1 m or the parent material, respectively.
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soil organic carbon stocks in southeast germany bavaria as affected by land use soil type and sampling depth
Global Change Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Peter Spörlein, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Uwe Geus, Stephan Haug, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Precise estimations of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are of decided importance for the detection of C sequestration or emission potential induced by land use changes. For Germany, a comprehensive, land use–specific SOC data set has not yet been compiled. We evaluated a unique data set of 1460 soil profiles in southeast Germany in order to calculate representative SOC stocks to a depth of 1 m for the main land use types. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored the highest amount of SOC, with a median value of 11.8 kg m−2, whereas considerably lower stocks of 9.8 and 9.0 kg m−2 were found for forest and cropland Soils, respectively. However, the differences between extensively used land (Grassland, forest) and cropland were much lower compared with results from other studies in central European countries. The depth distribution of SOC showed that despite low SOC concentrations in A horizons of cropland Soils, their stocks were not considerably lower compared with other land uses. This was due to a deepening of the topsoil compared with Grassland Soils. Higher Grassland SOC stocks were caused by an accumulation of SOC in the B horizon which was attributable to a high proportion of C-rich Gleysols within Grassland Soils. This demonstrates the relevance of pedogenetic SOC inventories instead of solely land use–based approaches. Our study indicated that cultivation-induced SOC depletion was probably often overestimated since most studies use fixed depth increments. Moreover, the application of modelled parameters in SOC inventories is questioned because a calculation of SOC stocks using different pedotransfer functions revealed considerably biased results. We recommend SOC stocks be determined by horizon for the entire soil profile in order to estimate the impact of land use changes precisely and to evaluate C sequestration potentials more accurately.
Ingrid Kogelknabner - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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carbon storage capacity of semi arid Grassland Soils and sequestration potentials in northern china
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 2015Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Sam Munro, Frauke Barthold, Markus Steffens, Peter Schad, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Organic carbon (OC) sequestration in degraded semi-arid environments by improved soil management is assumed to contribute substantially to climate change mitigation. However, information about the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in steppe Soils and their current saturation status remains unknown. In this study, we estimated the OC storage capacity of semi-arid Grassland Soils on the basis of remote, natural steppe fragments in northern China. Based on the maximum OC saturation of silt and clay particles <20 μm, OC sequestration potentials of degraded steppe Soils (grazing land, arable land, eroded areas) were estimated. The analysis of natural Grassland Soils revealed a strong linear regression between the proportion of the fine fraction and its OC content, confirming the importance of silt and clay particles for OC stabilization in steppe Soils. This relationship was similar to derived regressions in temperate and tropical Soils but on a lower level, probably due to a lower C input and different clay mineralogy. In relation to the estimated OC storage capacity, degraded steppe Soils showed a high OC saturation of 78–85% despite massive SOC losses due to unsustainable land use. As a result, the potential of degraded Grassland Soils to sequester additional OC was generally low. This can be related to a relatively high contribution of labile SOC, which is preferentially lost in the course of soil degradation. Moreover, wind erosion leads to substantial loss of silt and clay particles and consequently results in a direct loss of the ability to stabilize additional OC. Our findings indicate that the SOC loss in semi-arid environments induced by intensive land use is largely irreversible. Observed SOC increases after improved land management mainly result in an accumulation of labile SOC prone to land use/climate changes and therefore cannot be regarded as contribution to long-term OC sequestration.
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soil organic carbon stocks in southeast germany bavaria as affected by land use soil type and sampling depth
Global Change Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Peter Spörlein, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Uwe Geus, Stephan Haug, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Precise estimations of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are of decided importance for the detection of C sequestration or emission potential induced by land use changes. For Germany, a comprehensive, land use–specific SOC data set has not yet been compiled. We evaluated a unique data set of 1460 soil profiles in southeast Germany in order to calculate representative SOC stocks to a depth of 1 m for the main land use types. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored the highest amount of SOC, with a median value of 11.8 kg m−2, whereas considerably lower stocks of 9.8 and 9.0 kg m−2 were found for forest and cropland Soils, respectively. However, the differences between extensively used land (Grassland, forest) and cropland were much lower compared with results from other studies in central European countries. The depth distribution of SOC showed that despite low SOC concentrations in A horizons of cropland Soils, their stocks were not considerably lower compared with other land uses. This was due to a deepening of the topsoil compared with Grassland Soils. Higher Grassland SOC stocks were caused by an accumulation of SOC in the B horizon which was attributable to a high proportion of C-rich Gleysols within Grassland Soils. This demonstrates the relevance of pedogenetic SOC inventories instead of solely land use–based approaches. Our study indicated that cultivation-induced SOC depletion was probably often overestimated since most studies use fixed depth increments. Moreover, the application of modelled parameters in SOC inventories is questioned because a calculation of SOC stocks using different pedotransfer functions revealed considerably biased results. We recommend SOC stocks be determined by horizon for the entire soil profile in order to estimate the impact of land use changes precisely and to evaluate C sequestration potentials more accurately.
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araucaria forest expansion on Grassland in the southern brazilian highlands as revealed by 14c and δ13c studies
Geoderma, 2008Co-Authors: Alexander Dumig, Peter Schad, Cornelia Rumpel, Mariefrance Dignac, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Abstract The vegetation of the southern Brazilian highlands in Rio Grande do Sul State is a mosaic of Grassland (C 4 ) and deciduous forests (C 3 ) with the conifer Araucaria angustifolia . It was uncertain, whether the Grasslands represent relics of drier periods in the Holocene or if they are the result of deforestation in recent times. We analyzed plant tissues from gramineous and woody species, organic surface layers, as well as soil organic matter of 13 Andosols and Umbrisols in Grassland, shrubland, pine plantations and Araucaria forest for stable carbon isotope ratios ( δ 13 C) and 14 C activity. The soil organic matter was separated into a free particulate organic matter (fPOM) and a heavy, organo-mineral fraction by density fractionation. All Grassland Soils have consistently δ 13 C values of − 18.7 to − 14.3‰ typical for C 4 grasses. In Araucaria forests and forest patches within Grassland the δ 13 C values of both, the fPOM throughout the soil and the organic surface layers, are characteristic for the present below- and above-ground input from C 3 trees. The C 3 - and C 4 -derived SOC stocks reflect expansion of Araucaria forest on Grassland, which started after 1300 yr BP. The youngest forests are found at the forest border and in forest patches. Grassland Soils lose their typically black colour from the top downwards after shrub encroachment or establishment of forest as indicated by increasing melanic indexes which are closely related to the δ 13 C values. The natural 13 C depletion with depth in Grassland Soils counteracts the enrichment of 13 C in the subSoils of present Araucaria forest. The results clearly indicate that current Grasslands represent relics at least from the early and mid Holocene period (6000–8000 yr BP) and are not the result of recent deforestation.
Scott X Chang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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pine sawdust biochar reduces ghg emission by decreasing microbial and enzyme activities in forest and Grassland Soils in a laboratory experiment
Science of The Total Environment, 2018Co-Authors: Prem Pokharel, Jin Hyeob Kwak, Scott X ChangAbstract:Abstract This study investigated the effects of biochar soil amendment on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Soils. Pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.) sawdust biochar was produced at 300 and 550 °C with and without steam activation (coded as BC300-S, BC550-S, BC300 and BC550, respectively). They were applied to forest and Grassland Soils at 1.5% (w/w) rate in a 100-day laboratory incubation experiment. Application of BC550 significantly reduced cumulative CO2 emission from the forest soil by 16.4% relative to the control (without biochar application), but not from the Grassland soil. Biochar application did not have significant effects on CH4 uptake from either soil. Application of BC550 and BC550-S reduced the cumulative N2O emission by 27.5 and 31.5%, respectively, in the forest soil and 14.8 and 11.7%, respectively, in the Grassland soil, as compared to the control. The effects of BC300 and BC300-S on cumulative CO2 and N2O emission was not significant in both Soils, except for the significant reduction in cumulative N2O emission from the forest soil by BC300-S. The effect of BC550 and BC550-S on N2O emission persisted until the end of the 100-day incubation indicating possible long-term effects of these biochars. We conclude that BC550 and BC550-S had the highest potential to reduce CO2 and N2O emission in the 100-day laboratory incubation experiment. These biochars should be tested in long-term field trials to confirm their potential for mitigating CO2 and N2O fluxes in real ecosystems with a relevant time frame.
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effects of soil ph and salt on n 2 o production in adjacent forest and Grassland Soils in central alberta canada
Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2013Co-Authors: Yi Cheng, Scott X Chang, Jing Wang, Zucong Cai, Jinbo ZhangAbstract:Purpose The effects of soil pH manipulation and KCl addition on N2O production in adjacent forest and Grassland Soils in central Alberta were studied in a 16-day laboratory incubation experiment.
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soil ph has contrasting effects on gross and net nitrogen mineralizations in adjacent forest and Grassland Soils in central alberta canada
Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: Bruno Mary, Jinbo Zhang, Yi Cheng, Jing Wang, Scott X ChangAbstract:Abstract Soil pH can be affected by land use change and acid deposition and is one of the primary regulators of nutrient cycling in the soil. In this study, two Soils from adjacent forest and Grassland sites in central Alberta were subjected to different pH treatments to evaluate the short-term effects of pH on soil gross N transformations using the 15 N tracing technique and calculated by the numerical model FLUAZ. For the forest soil, gross N H 4 + immobilization increased faster than gross N mineralization rates with increasing soil pH, leading to a declining pattern in net N mineralization rates; however, none of those rates changed with pH in the Grassland soil. In contrast, the increase in pH significantly stimulated gross and net nitrification rates while soil acidification decreased gross and net nitrification rates for both the forest and Grassland Soils. The ratio of gross nitrification to gross N H 4 + immobilization rates (N/IA) was significantly increased by KOH addition but declined to nearly zero by HCl addition for each soil. The low and high KCl addition treatments partially or completely inhibited gross nitrification rates, respectively, but gross mineralization was less sensitive to salt additions than the nitrification process. We conclude that based on the short-term laboratory incubation experiments both pH and salt (osmotic effect) affected gross N transformations and pH had contrasting effects on gross and net nitrogen mineralization but not on nitrification in the adjacent forest and Grassland Soils.
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effects of land use type and incubation temperature on greenhouse gas emissions from chinese and canadian Soils
Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2011Co-Authors: Man Lang, Zucong Cai, Scott X ChangAbstract:Land use type is an important factor influencing greenhouse gas emissions from Soils, but the mechanisms involved in affecting potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in different land use systems are poorly understood. Since the northern regions of Canada and China are characterized by cool growing seasons, GHG emissions under low temperatures are important for our understanding of how soil temperature affects soil C and N turnover processes and associated greenhouse gas emissions in cool temperate regions. Therefore, we investigated the effects of temperature on the emission of N2O, CO2, and CH4 from typical forest and Grassland Soils from China and Canada. The Soils were incubated in the laboratory at 10°C and 15°C under aerobic conditions for 15 days. The results showed that land use type had a large impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The N2O emissions were significantly higher in Grassland than in forest Soils, while CO2 emissions were higher in forest than in Grassland Soils. Grassland Soils were weak sources of CH4 emission, while forest Soils were weak sinks of atmospheric CH4. The global warming potential of forest Soils was significantly greater than that of Grassland Soils. Soil pH, C/N ratio, and soluble organic carbon concentrations and clay content were dominant factors influencing the emissions of N2O and CO2, respectively. Increasing temperature from 10°C to 15°C had no effects on CH4 flux, but significantly increased N2O emissions for all studied Soils. The same pronounced effect was also found for CO2 emission from forest Soils. Indications from this study are that the effects of land use type on the source–sink relationship and rates of GHG emissions should be taken into consideration when planning management strategies for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the studied region, and temperature changes must be taken into account when scaling up point- or plot-based N2O and CO2 flux data to the landscape level due to large spatial and temporal variations of temperature that exist in the field. The reader is cautioned about the limitation with incubation studies on a limited number of samples/locations, and care need to be exercised to extrapolate the result to field conditions.
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land use type and temperature affect gross nitrogen transformation rates in chinese and canadian Soils
Plant and Soil, 2010Co-Authors: Bruno Mary, Zucong Cai, Man Lang, Xiying Hao, Scott X ChangAbstract:Land-use type affects gross nitrogen transformation and this information is particularly lacking under varied low temperature conditions. In this study, the effects of land-use type (forest vs. Grassland) and temperature (10 vs. 15°C) on gross N transformation rates under aerobic conditions were investigated using the 15N isotope pool dilution technique in the laboratory. Soils were collected from forest and Grassland sites in China and Canada. The results showed that gross N mineralization and immobilization rates were significantly higher in forest Soils than in Grassland Soils, while the reverse was true for gross nitrification rates. The higher TC and lower SOCw concentrations in the Chinese Soils relative to the Canadian Soils were related to the greater gross N mineralization rates and lower gross N immobilization rates in Chinese Soils. The greater gross N mineralization rates and lower gross N immobilization rates resulted in much higher inorganic N accumulation and that may increase the risk of NO3− leaching in the Chinese Soils. Increasing temperature significantly increased gross nitrification rates in Grassland Soils and gross N immobilization rates in forest Soils, suggesting that Grassland Soils maybe more vulnerable to N loss through NO3− leaching or denitrification (when conditions for denitrification exist) and that conversion of Grassland to forest Soils may exert less negative effects on the environment by promoting the retention of N and decreasing the production of NO3− and subsequently the risk of NO3− leaching under increasing temperature by global warming.
Edzard Hangen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Amount, distribution and driving factors of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in cropland and Grassland Soils of southeast Germany (Bavaria)
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2013Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Frauke Barthold, Rico Hübner, Peter Spörlein, Uwe Geuß, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Ingrid Kögel-knabnerAbstract:Abstract Agricultural Soils have a high potential for sequestration of atmospheric carbon due to their volume and several promising management options. However, there is a remarkable lack of information about the status quo of organic carbon in agricultural Soils. In this study a comprehensive data set of 384 cropland Soils and 333 Grassland Soils within the state of Bavaria in southeast Germany was analyzed in order to provide representative information on total amount, regional distribution and driving parameters of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) in agricultural Soils of central Europe. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored higher amounts of SOC (11.8 kg m −2 ) and N (0.92 kg m −2 ) than cropland Soils (9.0 and 0.66 kg m −2 , respectively) due to moisture-induced accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) in B horizons. Surprisingly, no distinct differences were found for the A horizons since tillage led to a relocation of SOM with depth in cropland Soils. Statistical analyses of driving factors for SOM storage revealed soil moisture, represented by the topographic wetness index (TWI), as the most important parameter for both cropland and Grassland Soils. Climate effects (mean annual temperature and precipitation) were of minor importance in agricultural Soils because management options counteracted them to a certain extent, particularly in cropland Soils. The distribution of SOC and N stocks within Bavaria based on agricultural regions confirmed the importance of soil moisture since the highest cropland SOC and N stocks were found for tertiary hills and loess regions, which exhibited large areas with potentially high soil moisture content in extant floodplains. Grassland Soils showed the highest accumulation of SOC and N in the Alps and Pre-Alps as a result of low temperatures, high amounts of precipitation and high soil moisture content in areas of glacial denudation. Soil class was identified as a further driving parameter for SOC and N storage in cropland Soils. In total, cropland and Grassland Soils in Bavaria store 242 and 134 Mt SOC as well as 19 and 12 Mt N down to a soil depth of 1 m or the parent material, respectively.
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soil organic carbon stocks in southeast germany bavaria as affected by land use soil type and sampling depth
Global Change Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Peter Spörlein, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Uwe Geus, Stephan Haug, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Precise estimations of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are of decided importance for the detection of C sequestration or emission potential induced by land use changes. For Germany, a comprehensive, land use–specific SOC data set has not yet been compiled. We evaluated a unique data set of 1460 soil profiles in southeast Germany in order to calculate representative SOC stocks to a depth of 1 m for the main land use types. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored the highest amount of SOC, with a median value of 11.8 kg m−2, whereas considerably lower stocks of 9.8 and 9.0 kg m−2 were found for forest and cropland Soils, respectively. However, the differences between extensively used land (Grassland, forest) and cropland were much lower compared with results from other studies in central European countries. The depth distribution of SOC showed that despite low SOC concentrations in A horizons of cropland Soils, their stocks were not considerably lower compared with other land uses. This was due to a deepening of the topsoil compared with Grassland Soils. Higher Grassland SOC stocks were caused by an accumulation of SOC in the B horizon which was attributable to a high proportion of C-rich Gleysols within Grassland Soils. This demonstrates the relevance of pedogenetic SOC inventories instead of solely land use–based approaches. Our study indicated that cultivation-induced SOC depletion was probably often overestimated since most studies use fixed depth increments. Moreover, the application of modelled parameters in SOC inventories is questioned because a calculation of SOC stocks using different pedotransfer functions revealed considerably biased results. We recommend SOC stocks be determined by horizon for the entire soil profile in order to estimate the impact of land use changes precisely and to evaluate C sequestration potentials more accurately.
Margit Von Lützow - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Amount, distribution and driving factors of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in cropland and Grassland Soils of southeast Germany (Bavaria)
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2013Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Frauke Barthold, Rico Hübner, Peter Spörlein, Uwe Geuß, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Ingrid Kögel-knabnerAbstract:Abstract Agricultural Soils have a high potential for sequestration of atmospheric carbon due to their volume and several promising management options. However, there is a remarkable lack of information about the status quo of organic carbon in agricultural Soils. In this study a comprehensive data set of 384 cropland Soils and 333 Grassland Soils within the state of Bavaria in southeast Germany was analyzed in order to provide representative information on total amount, regional distribution and driving parameters of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) in agricultural Soils of central Europe. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored higher amounts of SOC (11.8 kg m −2 ) and N (0.92 kg m −2 ) than cropland Soils (9.0 and 0.66 kg m −2 , respectively) due to moisture-induced accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) in B horizons. Surprisingly, no distinct differences were found for the A horizons since tillage led to a relocation of SOM with depth in cropland Soils. Statistical analyses of driving factors for SOM storage revealed soil moisture, represented by the topographic wetness index (TWI), as the most important parameter for both cropland and Grassland Soils. Climate effects (mean annual temperature and precipitation) were of minor importance in agricultural Soils because management options counteracted them to a certain extent, particularly in cropland Soils. The distribution of SOC and N stocks within Bavaria based on agricultural regions confirmed the importance of soil moisture since the highest cropland SOC and N stocks were found for tertiary hills and loess regions, which exhibited large areas with potentially high soil moisture content in extant floodplains. Grassland Soils showed the highest accumulation of SOC and N in the Alps and Pre-Alps as a result of low temperatures, high amounts of precipitation and high soil moisture content in areas of glacial denudation. Soil class was identified as a further driving parameter for SOC and N storage in cropland Soils. In total, cropland and Grassland Soils in Bavaria store 242 and 134 Mt SOC as well as 19 and 12 Mt N down to a soil depth of 1 m or the parent material, respectively.
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soil organic carbon stocks in southeast germany bavaria as affected by land use soil type and sampling depth
Global Change Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Martin Wiesmeier, Peter Spörlein, Edzard Hangen, Arthur Reischl, Bernd Schilling, Margit Von Lützow, Uwe Geus, Stephan Haug, Ingrid KogelknabnerAbstract:Precise estimations of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are of decided importance for the detection of C sequestration or emission potential induced by land use changes. For Germany, a comprehensive, land use–specific SOC data set has not yet been compiled. We evaluated a unique data set of 1460 soil profiles in southeast Germany in order to calculate representative SOC stocks to a depth of 1 m for the main land use types. The results showed that Grassland Soils stored the highest amount of SOC, with a median value of 11.8 kg m−2, whereas considerably lower stocks of 9.8 and 9.0 kg m−2 were found for forest and cropland Soils, respectively. However, the differences between extensively used land (Grassland, forest) and cropland were much lower compared with results from other studies in central European countries. The depth distribution of SOC showed that despite low SOC concentrations in A horizons of cropland Soils, their stocks were not considerably lower compared with other land uses. This was due to a deepening of the topsoil compared with Grassland Soils. Higher Grassland SOC stocks were caused by an accumulation of SOC in the B horizon which was attributable to a high proportion of C-rich Gleysols within Grassland Soils. This demonstrates the relevance of pedogenetic SOC inventories instead of solely land use–based approaches. Our study indicated that cultivation-induced SOC depletion was probably often overestimated since most studies use fixed depth increments. Moreover, the application of modelled parameters in SOC inventories is questioned because a calculation of SOC stocks using different pedotransfer functions revealed considerably biased results. We recommend SOC stocks be determined by horizon for the entire soil profile in order to estimate the impact of land use changes precisely and to evaluate C sequestration potentials more accurately.
