Temporal dynamics and vertical distribution of newly-derived carbon from a C3/C4 conversion in an Ultisol after 30-yr fertilization

S. Liu; Z. B. Zhang; D. M. Li; P. D. Hallett; G. L. Zhang; X. H. Peng

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.021

Temporal dynamics and vertical distribution of newly-derived carbon from a C₃/C₄ conversion in an Ultisol after 30-yr fertilization

S. Liu, Z. B. Zhang, D. M. Li, P. D. Hallett, G. L. Zhang, X. H. Peng^* (Corresponding Author)

^*Corresponding author for this work

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Long-term fertilization has a considerable effect on the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, quantifying the contribution of fertilization practices to SOC is still a challenge. In this study, we selected a 30-yr fertilization experiment planted with a shift from C₃ to C₄ crops. Our objectives were (i) to determine temporal dynamics of SOC and newly-derived C (f_new) with the cultivation time and their vertical distribution along with soil profile; (ii) to assess the effect of the fertilization on SOC and f_new. Three treatments were involved: no fertilization (Control), NPK application (NPK), and continuously planted with C₃ crops adjacent to the experiment as a reference (NAT). The SOC was physically separated into cPOM, fPOM, iPOM, s + c_m and s + c_f fractions, and their δ¹³C values were determined. Our results show the f_new in the bulk soil and C fractions presented an exponential increase over the cultivation time in the NPK treatment but this was only observed for the bulk soil and the s + c_f fraction in the Control treatment. The f_new had a priority to be stored within microaggregates, and then enriched in the silt and clay sized fraction over time. The SOC and f_new in the bulk soil and C fractions decreased with soil depth so that the difference between the Control and NPK treatments was observed only in the 0–20 cm depth. Our results demonstrate that the long-term fertilization increases the new C proportion in the bulk soil and C fractions but this contribution was limited to the plough layer.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1077-1085
Number of pages	9
Journal	Geoderma
Volume	337
Early online date	23 Nov 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.021
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2019

Bibliographical note

This work was granted by the China-UK jointed Red Soil Critical Zone project from National Natural Science Foundation of China, China (NSFC: 41571130053) and from Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC: Code: NE/N007611/1). XH Peng is grateful to the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars, China (41725004).

Keywords

C natural abundance
Long-term fertilization
Soil aggregation
Soil organic carbon fractions
SANDY LOAM
C-13 natural abundance
CHINA EVIDENCE
C-3-C-4 VEGETATION CHANGE
MATTER DYNAMICS
RED SOIL
LONG-TERM FERTILIZATION
DENSITY FRACTIONS
SOIL ORGANIC-CARBON
CROPPING SYSTEM
SIZE FRACTIONS

Access to Document

10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.021Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

@article{3c92a4ef4d694bcca284b537ca4d19d5,

title = "Temporal dynamics and vertical distribution of newly-derived carbon from a C3/C4 conversion in an Ultisol after 30-yr fertilization",

abstract = "Long-term fertilization has a considerable effect on the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, quantifying the contribution of fertilization practices to SOC is still a challenge. In this study, we selected a 30-yr fertilization experiment planted with a shift from C3 to C4 crops. Our objectives were (i) to determine temporal dynamics of SOC and newly-derived C (fnew) with the cultivation time and their vertical distribution along with soil profile; (ii) to assess the effect of the fertilization on SOC and fnew. Three treatments were involved: no fertilization (Control), NPK application (NPK), and continuously planted with C3 crops adjacent to the experiment as a reference (NAT). The SOC was physically separated into cPOM, fPOM, iPOM, s + c_m and s + c_f fractions, and their δ13C values were determined. Our results show the fnew in the bulk soil and C fractions presented an exponential increase over the cultivation time in the NPK treatment but this was only observed for the bulk soil and the s + c_f fraction in the Control treatment. The fnew had a priority to be stored within microaggregates, and then enriched in the silt and clay sized fraction over time. The SOC and fnew in the bulk soil and C fractions decreased with soil depth so that the difference between the Control and NPK treatments was observed only in the 0–20 cm depth. Our results demonstrate that the long-term fertilization increases the new C proportion in the bulk soil and C fractions but this contribution was limited to the plough layer.",

keywords = "C natural abundance, Long-term fertilization, Soil aggregation, Soil organic carbon fractions, SANDY LOAM, C-13 natural abundance, CHINA EVIDENCE, C-3-C-4 VEGETATION CHANGE, MATTER DYNAMICS, RED SOIL, LONG-TERM FERTILIZATION, DENSITY FRACTIONS, SOIL ORGANIC-CARBON, CROPPING SYSTEM, SIZE FRACTIONS",

author = "S. Liu and Zhang, {Z. B.} and Li, {D. M.} and Hallett, {P. D.} and Zhang, {G. L.} and Peng, {X. H.}",

note = "This work was granted by the China-UK jointed Red Soil Critical Zone project from National Natural Science Foundation of China, China (NSFC: 41571130053) and from Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC: Code: NE/N007611/1). XH Peng is grateful to the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars, China (41725004). ",

year = "2019",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.021",

language = "English",

volume = "337",

pages = "1077--1085",

journal = "Geoderma",

issn = "0016-7061",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Temporal dynamics and vertical distribution of newly-derived carbon from a C3/C4 conversion in an Ultisol after 30-yr fertilization

AU - Liu, S.

AU - Zhang, Z. B.

AU - Li, D. M.

AU - Hallett, P. D.

AU - Zhang, G. L.

AU - Peng, X. H.

N1 - This work was granted by the China-UK jointed Red Soil Critical Zone project from National Natural Science Foundation of China, China (NSFC: 41571130053) and from Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC: Code: NE/N007611/1). XH Peng is grateful to the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars, China (41725004).

PY - 2019/3/1

Y1 - 2019/3/1

N2 - Long-term fertilization has a considerable effect on the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, quantifying the contribution of fertilization practices to SOC is still a challenge. In this study, we selected a 30-yr fertilization experiment planted with a shift from C3 to C4 crops. Our objectives were (i) to determine temporal dynamics of SOC and newly-derived C (fnew) with the cultivation time and their vertical distribution along with soil profile; (ii) to assess the effect of the fertilization on SOC and fnew. Three treatments were involved: no fertilization (Control), NPK application (NPK), and continuously planted with C3 crops adjacent to the experiment as a reference (NAT). The SOC was physically separated into cPOM, fPOM, iPOM, s + c_m and s + c_f fractions, and their δ13C values were determined. Our results show the fnew in the bulk soil and C fractions presented an exponential increase over the cultivation time in the NPK treatment but this was only observed for the bulk soil and the s + c_f fraction in the Control treatment. The fnew had a priority to be stored within microaggregates, and then enriched in the silt and clay sized fraction over time. The SOC and fnew in the bulk soil and C fractions decreased with soil depth so that the difference between the Control and NPK treatments was observed only in the 0–20 cm depth. Our results demonstrate that the long-term fertilization increases the new C proportion in the bulk soil and C fractions but this contribution was limited to the plough layer.

AB - Long-term fertilization has a considerable effect on the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, quantifying the contribution of fertilization practices to SOC is still a challenge. In this study, we selected a 30-yr fertilization experiment planted with a shift from C3 to C4 crops. Our objectives were (i) to determine temporal dynamics of SOC and newly-derived C (fnew) with the cultivation time and their vertical distribution along with soil profile; (ii) to assess the effect of the fertilization on SOC and fnew. Three treatments were involved: no fertilization (Control), NPK application (NPK), and continuously planted with C3 crops adjacent to the experiment as a reference (NAT). The SOC was physically separated into cPOM, fPOM, iPOM, s + c_m and s + c_f fractions, and their δ13C values were determined. Our results show the fnew in the bulk soil and C fractions presented an exponential increase over the cultivation time in the NPK treatment but this was only observed for the bulk soil and the s + c_f fraction in the Control treatment. The fnew had a priority to be stored within microaggregates, and then enriched in the silt and clay sized fraction over time. The SOC and fnew in the bulk soil and C fractions decreased with soil depth so that the difference between the Control and NPK treatments was observed only in the 0–20 cm depth. Our results demonstrate that the long-term fertilization increases the new C proportion in the bulk soil and C fractions but this contribution was limited to the plough layer.

KW - C natural abundance

KW - Long-term fertilization

KW - Soil aggregation

KW - Soil organic carbon fractions

KW - SANDY LOAM

KW - C-13 natural abundance

KW - CHINA EVIDENCE

KW - C-3-C-4 VEGETATION CHANGE

KW - MATTER DYNAMICS

KW - RED SOIL

KW - LONG-TERM FERTILIZATION

KW - DENSITY FRACTIONS

KW - SOIL ORGANIC-CARBON

KW - CROPPING SYSTEM

KW - SIZE FRACTIONS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056778501&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.021

DO - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.021

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85056778501

SN - 0016-7061

VL - 337

SP - 1077

EP - 1085

JO - Geoderma

JF - Geoderma

ER -