Long-term Fertilization Enhances Soil Carbon Stability by Increase the Ratio of Passive Carbon: Evidence From Four Typical Croplands

Abstract

Aims Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an important role in improving soil quality, however how long-term fertilization influences SOC and contrasting active carbon (AC) and passive C (PC) pools at large scale remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of long-term fertilization on SOC, including AC and PC, across four typical croplands in China and to explore the potential relationships and mechanism. Methods We assessed the effect of different fertilization (standard and 1.5 × standard of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) with or without manure (M), with a control for comparison) at soil depths (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm) on SOC, AC and PC. Results We found that SOC, AC and PC increased in the order Control < NPK < NPKM < 1.5NPKM. 1.5NPKM resulted in a significant increase in SOC, AC and PC, of 76.3%, 53.0% and 108.5% respectively across the soil profile (0-60 cm) compared with Control. The response ratio of PC to long-term fertilization was 2.1 times greater than that of AC across four sites on average. In addition, Clay was identified as the most important factor in explaining the response of AC and PC to different fertilization application, respectively. Conclusions Long-term fertilization enhanced both AC and PC, but the greater response of PC suggests that fertilization application could enhance the stability of carbon and thus the potential of cropland for soil carbon accumulation.