Disentangling the effects of conservation agriculture practices on the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon. Evidence of poor carbon sequestration in North- Eastern Italy

Piccoli, Ilaria; Chiarini, Francesca; Carletti, Paolo; Furlan, Lorenzo; Lazzaro, Barbara; Nardi, Serenella; Berti, Antonio; Sartori, Luigi; Dalconi, Maria Chiara; Morari, Francesco

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2016.05.035

Cited by 70 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Furthermore, in agreement with several individual studies (Bogužas, Kairyt≐, & Jodaugien≐, ; Gerard & Hay, ), we found a significant negative relationship between ploughing depth and earthworm abundance. Interestingly, our meta‐analyses also confirmed that the shallower the soil inversion is, the greater the chance that the resilient populations would recover and build larger numbers under RT (Gerard & Hay, ), also possibly helped by less alterations in water stable aggregates (Bogužas et al., ) and OM distribution along the soil profile (Briones & Bol, ; Piccoli et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Overall, the amount of carbon present in the soil might not be a good sole predictor of tillage impacts on soil invertebrate communities because other factors such as rainfall patterns and previous land‐use history could be masking the overall effects (Guo & Gifford, ). For example, some studies have observed that soil carbon content in the top soil tends to increase in the more conservative agricultural operations because of a greater accumulation of crop residues on the surface and the absence of a disturbed soil profile compared to the ploughed soils (Kibet, Blanco‐Canqui, & Jasa, ; Piccoli et al., ). However, these effects seem to be climate‐dependent, with a maximum in soil C occurring after a wet preceding year and minimum after a dry preceding year (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, when the soil is turned over, earthworms are injured and killed directly, they become exposed to harsh environmental conditions and predators and, in the case of anecic worms (vertical burrowers), their biogenic structures (pores and tunnels) are destroyed and their food sources buried. These actions also bring other undesirable side effects such as depletion of soil organic matter (OM) (Lal, ), the deepening of the soil organic layer (Briones & Bol, ; Piccoli et al., ), plough‐pan formation and soil compaction, as well as soil erosion, especially when extreme events (heavy rain, drought and strong winds) hit the bare exposed soil (El Titi, ; Vršič, ). In addition, the number (secondary tillage/surface tillage after mouldboard tillage) and frequency of the tillage operations (per annum or per seasons) are also known to influence earthworm populations (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conventional tillage decreases the abundance and biomass of earthworms and alters their community structure in a global meta‐analysis

Briones

Schmidt

2017

Global Change Biology

265

166

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Article (refereed) -postprintBriones, María Jesús I.; Schmidt, Olaf. 2017. Conventional tillage decreases the abundance and biomass of earthworms and alters their community structure in a global meta-analysis. Global Change Biology, 23 (10). 4396-4419. 10.1111/gcb.13744 Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. Accepted ArticleThis article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Accepted ArticleThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. AbstractThe adoption of less intensive soil cultivation practices is expected to increase earthworm populations and their contributions to ecosystem functioning. However, conflicting results have been reported on the effects of tillage intensity on earthworm populations, attributed in narrative reviews to site-dependent differences in soil properties, climatic conditions, and agronomic operations (e.g., fertilization, residue management and chemical crop protection).We present a quantitative review based on a global meta-analysis, using paired observations from 215 studies performed over 65 years across 40 countries on five continents, to elucidate this long-standing unresolved issue. Results showed that disturbing the soil less (e.g., no-tillage and Conservation Agriculture) significantly increased earthworm abundance (mean increase of 137% and 127%, respectively) and biomass (196% and 101%, respectively) compared to when the soil is inverted by conventional ploughing. Earthworm population responses were more pronounced when the soil had been under reduced tillage for a long time (>10 years), in warm temperate zones with fine-textured soils, and in soils with higher clay contents (>35%) and low pH (<5.5). Furthermore, retaining organic harvest residues amplified this positive response to reduced tillage, whereas the use of the herbicide glyphosate did not significantly affect earthworm population responses to reduced tillage.Additional meta-analyses confirmed that epigeic and, more importantly, the bigger-sized anecic earthworms, were the most sensitive ecological groups to conventional tillage. In particular, the deep burrower Lumbricus terrestris exhibited the strongest positive response to reduced tillage, increasing in abundance by 124% more than the overall mean of all 13 species analysed individually. The restoration of these two important ecological groups of earthworms and their burrowing, feeding and casting activities under various forms of reduced tillage will ensure the provision of ecosystem functions such as soil structure maintenance and nutrient cycling by "nature's plough". Accepted ArticleThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Co...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conventional tillage decreases the abundance and biomass of earthworms and alters their community structure in a global meta‐analysis

Briones

Schmidt

2017

Global Change Biology

265

166

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“…Maintenance of crop residues on the soil surface (non-tillage) and root C input can promote SOC accumulation in the 0-30 cm of the soil profile. Thus, C content and quality in the top layers model the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon depending on the local soil conditions [30]. Perennial cultivation practices also contribute to carbon fixation and soil organic matter content (higher soil C sequestration), being part of the strategy for reducing terrestrial greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.…”

Section: The Plant-soil Mycobiomementioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Eco-Efficient Agriculture: The Plant-Soil Mycobiome

et al. 2017

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Abstract:In order to achieve a desirable ecological and sustainable agriculture a thorough understanding of the plant-soil mycobiome is imperative. Commercial industrial agriculture alters greenhouse gas emissions, promotes loss of plant and soil biodiversity, increases pollution by raising atmospheric CO 2 , and releases pesticides, thus affecting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Diversified farming systems, including perennial cultivated pastures, are among worldwide strategies that aim to reduce terrestrial greenhouse gas emissions and deal with threats to global sustainability. Additionally, stimulation of soil microbes and appropriate soil management can influence soil interactions as well as the rates of organic matter decomposition and the release of gases. Agricultural soil microbial communities play a central role in ecosystem processes and are affected by biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, and exposure to pesticides, the extent to which is yet to be fully elucidated. Intercropping different plant species is beneficial, as this can increase carbon fixation by plants, transferring carbon to the soil, especially via mycorrhizas, thus modifying interplant interactions. This review focuses on agro-ecosystems, showing the latest advances in the plant-soil interface (the mycobiome) for an eco-efficient agricultural production.

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“…Usually, at deeper layers there are no significant differences between conventional tillage and other sustainable soil management practices (Piccoli et al, 2016;Powlson et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundcover influence on physical and chemical soil properties, runoff and nutrient loss and grape yield and quality in semiarid Mediterranean vineyards

Díaz¹

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Disentangling the effects of conservation agriculture practices on the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon. Evidence of poor carbon sequestration in North- Eastern Italy

Cited by 70 publications

References 49 publications

Conventional tillage decreases the abundance and biomass of earthworms and alters their community structure in a global meta‐analysis

Conventional tillage decreases the abundance and biomass of earthworms and alters their community structure in a global meta‐analysis

Advances in Eco-Efficient Agriculture: The Plant-Soil Mycobiome

Groundcover influence on physical and chemical soil properties, runoff and nutrient loss and grape yield and quality in semiarid Mediterranean vineyards

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