Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture Soil for Climate Change, Food Security, and Ecosystem Services of Agronomy

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 13264

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Division of Crop Management Systems, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507/73, Ruzyně, 161 06 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: agroecosystems; mineral and organic fertilization; soil; soil organic matter; humic substances; biogeochemistry; nutrient availability; near-infrared spectroscopy; sustainability; climate change
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Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition Management, Division of Crop Management Systems, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507/73, Ruzyně, 161 06 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: agroecosystems; plant nutrition; soil; soil chemical properties; crop quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition Management, Division of Crop Management Systems, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507/73, Ruzyně, 161 06 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: agroecosystems; plant nutrition; soil; soil chemical properties; crop quality; weather–crop relationship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today's agriculture and agricultural production for human and livestock nutrition are strongly influenced by a wide range of variables, such as tillage practices, the application of manure and mineral fertilizers, and climate change. All these variables significantly affect soil and soil organic matter (SOM), which plays one of the most important roles in terrestrial and especially agroecosystems. SOM is indispensable in maintaining and improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and in retaining carbon (sequestration), a process that contributes to climate change mitigation. SOM also plays an important role in preventing soil erosion and degradation. Maintaining and increasing the SOM content of agricultural soils is and will be particularly important for maintaining productive agroecosystems and for maintaining food security (stabilizing yields while reducing the negative environmental impacts of agriculture and maintaining soil quality and health) under changing climatic conditions. I would like to focus this Special Issue on SOM. Contributions should focus on the latest findings from comprehensive research on climate change, carbon sequestration in agricultural soils (biochemistry of SOM, humic substances, humic acids, etc., physic-chemical properties of soils, cycling of substances and nutrients concerning carbon sequestration, monitoring and modeling of changes in soil carbon content and stocks, etc.) and the impact of different soil management practices. The results of long-term experiments will be particularly welcome. Papers should evaluate management measures on agricultural soils in the light of current changes and encourage and lead to sustainable and rational land use in the future (sustainable intensification).

Dr. Ladislav Menšík
Dr. Eva Kunzová
Dr. Lukáš Hlisnikovský
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • soil
  • soil quality
  • soil organic matter
  • humus substances
  • carbon sequestration
  • modeling soil carbon
  • long-term field experiment
  • agronomy
  • agriculture
  • food security
  • climate change

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1666 KiB  
Article
Preferential Erosion of Soil Organic Carbon and Fine-Grained Soil Particles—An Analysis of 82 Rainfall Simulations
by Michael Hofbauer, David Kincl, Jan Vopravil, David Kabelka and Petr Vráblík
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010217 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1917
Abstract
Soil erosion by water causes the loss of soil mineral particles and soil organic carbon (SOC). For determining the effectiveness of soil conservation measures on arable land, rainfall simulations are regularly carried out in field trials in the Czech Republic. The objective of [...] Read more.
Soil erosion by water causes the loss of soil mineral particles and soil organic carbon (SOC). For determining the effectiveness of soil conservation measures on arable land, rainfall simulations are regularly carried out in field trials in the Czech Republic. The objective of this study was to analyse a dataset from 82 rainfall simulations on bare fallow soils, containing information on slope inclination, soil texture, soil bulk density, SOC, and soil loss with respect to the preferential erosion of fine-grained soil particles and the enrichment of SOC in the eroded soil. Each rainfall simulation comprised a first rainfall period of 30 min and a second one of 15 min in duration. The rainfall intensity was 1 mm min−1 and the kinetic energy of the raindrops accounted for 8.78 J m−2 mm−1. Runoff samples were taken to determine the soil loss and SOC enrichment in the eroded material. Regression analyses revealed that on sites with <14% slope inclination, SOC mitigated soil loss in the first rainfall period. On sites with >14% slope inclination, soil loss was driven by preferential erosion of fine-grained particles in the first rainfall period. Low soil loss was generally coupled with high SOC enrichment and vice versa, indicating that preferential erosion of SOC occurred mainly in soils with low erosion susceptibility. In order to prevent erosion of SOC and maintain soil quality, soil conservation measures are important in all soil types. Full article
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20 pages, 3097 KiB  
Article
Study of the Interaction of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Available Nutrients, and Clay Content Driving Soil Carbon Storage in the Rice Rotation Cropping System in Northern Thailand
by Suphathida Aumtong, Chakrit Chotamonsak and Tantai Glomchinda
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010142 - 01 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
The appropriate management of crop residues in a rice rotation cropping system (RRCS) can promote carbon storage and contribute to soil health. The objective of this study was to determine and analyze the amount of organic carbon in the soil, the amount of [...] Read more.
The appropriate management of crop residues in a rice rotation cropping system (RRCS) can promote carbon storage and contribute to soil health. The objective of this study was to determine and analyze the amount of organic carbon in the soil, the amount of labile carbon in a dissolved state in the soil, and the physicochemical properties of the soil and their relationship with soil organic carbon dynamics under the RRCS in northern Thailand. The RRCS can be divided into the following four categories by pattern: (1) Rice_F (rice (Oryza sativa) followed by a fallow period); (2) Rice_S (rice followed by shallots (Allium cepa L.); (3) Rice_Mixed crop (rice followed by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), vegetables, or maize (Zea mays)); and (4) Rice_P (rice followed by potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)). These patterns can be classified according to the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the availability of nutrients from fertilization, and clay contents. In our study, the Rice-F and Rice-S patterns led to higher soil organic carbon (SOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the soil, but when the Rice-P pattern was followed, the soil had a lower clay content, lower available phosphorus (Avail P), the lowest DOC, and high contents of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+). This study also revealed that on the basis of relationships, clay content, Avail P, and DOC were the most important factors for the formation of SOC, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ were the subordinate factors for the decreased formation of SOC and carbon storage when the RRCS was followed. In addition, low SOC/clay when the Rice-P pattern was followed could reflect carbon saturation, while the percentages of DOC/SOC could indicate the decomposition and formation of SOC. Full article
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18 pages, 2143 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Effects of Organic Amendments on Carbon Stability in Clay–Organic Complex and Its Role in Soil Aggregation
by Dhiraj Kumar, Tapan Jyoti Purakayastha, Ruma Das, Rajendra Kumar Yadav, Yashvir Singh Shivay, Prakash Kumar Jha, Surendra Singh, Kumari Aditi and P. V. Vara Prasad
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010039 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2083
Abstract
Clay–organic complexes (COC) impart chemical and physical protection to soil carbon (C). In the present study, the aim was to assess the long-term effects of different organic amendments on C stability in COC, distribution of the aggregates, C concentration in the aggregates and [...] Read more.
Clay–organic complexes (COC) impart chemical and physical protection to soil carbon (C). In the present study, the aim was to assess the long-term effects of different organic amendments on C stability in COC, distribution of the aggregates, C concentration in the aggregates and labile organic C fractions in the inceptisols located at the research farm situated in the semi-arid sub-tropical climate of India. The results showed that the COC, the percentage of large macroaggregates (LMA) (>2 mm) and the C associated with the aggregates decreased through the soil depths, whereas the other size fractions of soil aggregates (<2 mm) showed an increasing trend. The COC was significantly higher (4.4 times) in soil treatments where farmyard manures (FYM), green manure (GM) and biofertilizers (BF) were applied together (FYM + GM + BF). The organic amendments increased the proportion of LMA over control (no application of organic amendments) to a magnitude of 83 to 101% and the C associated with LMA to a magnitude of 0.48 to 9.8% over control in surface soil. On average, the combined application of FYM, GM and BF exhibited higher C accumulation in almost all soil aggregate fractions, except microaggregates (mA), i.e., (0.25–0.053 mm) size fractions, where application of FYM alone recorded the highest value. Averaged over soil depths, the particulate organic C (POC), dissolved organic C (DOC) and potassium permanganate oxidizable C (POXC) were significantly higher under integrated organic treatments than individual amendments. The significantly higher correlation between COC and the percentage of LMA and aggregate-associated C implied their direct role in soil aggregate formation and their stability. The carbon stability, i.e., retention time of humus in soil, was significantly correlated with soil organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, potassium permanganate oxidizable C, C mineralization (Cmin), glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), macroaggregate (MA)-associated C and rice equivalent yield (REY). Overall, the data suggest that the combined application of FYM + GM + BF promotes soil quality under rice–wheat rotation in inceptisols in semi-arid sub-tropical India. Full article
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11 pages, 1253 KiB  
Article
Humic Substances as Indicator of Degradation Rate of Chernozems in South-Eastern Poland
by Michał Dudek, Beata Łabaz, Magdalena Bednik and Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek
Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030733 - 17 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
Unfavourable quantitative and qualitative changes of soil organic matter result from degradation processes, such as water erosion connected with intense arable land use. In order to take adequate preventive action, the proper indicators of soil quality or degradation are urgently needed. In particular, [...] Read more.
Unfavourable quantitative and qualitative changes of soil organic matter result from degradation processes, such as water erosion connected with intense arable land use. In order to take adequate preventive action, the proper indicators of soil quality or degradation are urgently needed. In particular, tests considering the soil organic matter quality seem to be beneficial for soil monitoring. In this paper, we performed organic matter fractionation using the Tyurin and IHSS procedures on eight profiles of chernozemic soils (non-degraded, eroded, forest and accumulative soils). The study conducted confirmed the applicability of using humic and fulvic fractions in order to determine the pedogenesis processes and degradation rates of chernozemic soils. For example, the HA/FA ratio was higher in non-eroded and accumulative soils, compared with eroded or forest profiles. These findings were supported by statistical discrimination performed on the mid-infrared spectra of humic acids extracted from the selected profiles. Groups of samples were divided into classes depending on land usage or degradation rate. Considering the results, fractions of humic substances can be recommended as useful tools for the assessment of soil transformation. Full article
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13 pages, 1193 KiB  
Article
Organic Matter in Riverbank Sediments and Fluvisols from the Flood Zones of Lower Vistula River
by Mirosław Kobierski and Magdalena Banach-Szott
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020536 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1926
Abstract
The research objective of this study was to determine whether and to what extent the form of use of Fluvisols (arable soil and grassland) of a Lower Vistula floodplain valley (Fordonska Valley, Poland) determined their relative organic matter properties, as compared with nearby [...] Read more.
The research objective of this study was to determine whether and to what extent the form of use of Fluvisols (arable soil and grassland) of a Lower Vistula floodplain valley (Fordonska Valley, Poland) determined their relative organic matter properties, as compared with nearby riverbank sediments. Riverbank sediments were sampled from a depth of 0–20 cm, and soil samples from 0 to30 cm, all in three replicates. Basic physico-chemical soil properties were determined: texture, pH, and the contents of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Humic acids (HAs) were extracted by the Schnitzer method and analysed to assess their spectrometric parameters in the UV–VIS range and hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Riverbank sediment samples contained significantly lower TOC and TN contents than Fluvisols, regardless of land-use type. The TOC, TN, DOC and DON contents and properties of humic acids in the Fluvisol surface layer depended on land-use type, because the arable soils had significantly lower TOC, TN, DOC and DON contents than the grasslands, despite having a similar grain size (texture). Based on the A2/4, A2/6, A4/6 ratios, it was found that HA molecules isolated from the humus horizon of arable soils had a higher degree of maturity than HAs isolated from grassland soil samples. The spectrometric properties of humic acids isolated from riverbank sediments showed a higher degree of maturity than those from Fluvisols. This research showed that the properties of humic acids in Fluvisols are determined by the quantity and quality of organic matter transported in suspended matter that accumulates annually in flood valleys during flood events. The current land-use type of Fluvisols significantly influenced the properties of organic matter, and thus of humic acids. Therefore, these properties can be used to evaluate the transformation of organic matter that occurs in Fluvisols depending on the type of use. Full article
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15 pages, 5181 KiB  
Article
No Tillage Increases SOM in Labile Fraction but Not Stable Fraction of Andosols from a Long-Term Experiment in Japan
by Jeannette Aduhene-Chinbuah, Soh Sugihara, Masakazu Komatsuzaki, Tomoyasu Nishizawa and Haruo Tanaka
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020479 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2603
Abstract
No tillage (NT) fosters carbon (C) sequestration, increases soil organic matter (SOM) stock, and improves soil health. However, its effect on SOM accumulation in Andosol, which has high OM stabilization characteristics due to its specific mineral properties, remains unclear. In this study, we [...] Read more.
No tillage (NT) fosters carbon (C) sequestration, increases soil organic matter (SOM) stock, and improves soil health. However, its effect on SOM accumulation in Andosol, which has high OM stabilization characteristics due to its specific mineral properties, remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of NT on SOM content and its distribution by the physical fractionation method and assessed the quality of accumulated SOM in each fraction. We collected soil samples at 0–2.5, 2.5–7.5, and 7.5–15 cm depths from NT and conventional tillage (CT) plots in a long-term (19 years) field experiment of Andosols in Ibaraki, Japan. The soil samples were separated into light fraction (LF), coarse-POM (cPOM: 0.25–2 mm), fine-POM (fPOM: 0.053–0.25 mm), and silt + clay (mOM: <0.053 mm). The C, nitrogen (N), and organic phosphorus (Po) contents of each fraction were analyzed. The C content of cPOM and fPOM in NT at 0–7.5 cm was higher than in CT, while there was no clear difference in the mOM fraction or deeper layer (7.5–15 cm). NT increased the C, N, and Po contents in the labile POM fractions at the surface layers but did not increase the stable fraction or change the quality. Full article
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