Soil carbon dynamics and residue stabilization in a Costa Rican and southern Canadian alley cropping system

Oelbermann, Maren; Voroney, R. P.; Thevathasan, Naresh V.; Gordon, Andrew; Kass, Donald; Schlönvoigt, Andrea

doi:10.1007/s10457-005-5963-7

Cited by 102 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…On the plot scale, measured organic carbon inputs to the soil were increased by 40 % (+1.1 t C ha −1 yr −1 ) down to 2 m of depth in the 18-year-old agroforestry plot compared to the control plot, resulting in increased SOC stocks of 3.3 t C ha −1 . Increased OC inputs in agroforestry systems have been shown in other studies, but they were only quantified in the first 20 cm of soil (Oelbermann et al, 2006;Peichl et al, 2006). This study is therefore the first to also quantify deep OC inputs to soil.…”

Section: Oc Inputs Drive Soc Storage In Agroforestry Systemsmentioning

confidence: 60%

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Agroforestry is an increasingly popular farming system enabling agricultural diversification and providing several ecosystem services. In agroforestry systems, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are generally increased, but it is difficult to disentangle the different factors responsible for this storage. Organic carbon (OC) inputs to the soil may be larger, but SOC decomposition rates may be modified owing to microclimate, physical protection, or priming effect from roots, especially at depth. We used an 18-year-old silvoarable system associating hybrid walnut trees (Juglans regia × nigra) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) and an adjacent agricultural control plot to quantify all OC inputs to the soil -leaf litter, tree fine root senescence, crop residues, and tree row herbaceous vegetation -and measured SOC stocks down to 2 m of depth at varying distances from the trees. We then proposed a model that simulates SOC dynamics in agroforestry accounting for both the whole soil profile and the lateral spatial heterogeneity. The model was calibrated to the control plot only.Measured OC inputs to soil were increased by about 40 % (+ 1.11 t C ha −1 yr −1 ) down to 2 m of depth in the agroforestry plot compared to the control, resulting in an additional SOC stock of 6.3 t C ha −1 down to 1 m of depth. However, most of the SOC storage occurred in the first 30 cm of soil and in the tree rows. The model was strongly validated, properly describing the measured SOC stocks and distribution with depth in agroforestry tree rows and alleys. It showed that the increased inputs of fresh biomass to soil explained the observed additional SOC storage in the agroforestry plot. Moreover, only a priming effect variant of the model was able to capture the depth distribution of SOC stocks, suggesting the priming effect as a possible mechanism driving deep SOC dynamics. This result questions the potential of soils to store large amounts of carbon, especially at depth. Deep-rooted trees modify OC inputs to soil, a process that deserves further study given its potential effects on SOC dynamics.

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Section: Oc Inputs Drive Soc Storage In Agroforestry Systemsmentioning

confidence: 60%

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

et al. 2018

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“…To date, little has been published on below-ground carbon dynamics in agroforestry systems (Bailey et al, 2009;Hergoualc'h et al, 2008;Oelbermann et al, 2006), and as far as we are aware, no soil CO 2 efflux measurements have been carried out in tropical agroforestry systems in relation to drought stress.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal effects of drought on soil CO<sub>2</sub> efflux in a cacao agroforestry system in Sulawesi, Indonesia

et al. 2010

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Abstract. Climate change induced droughts pose a serious threat to ecosystems across the tropics and sub-tropics, particularly to those areas not adapted to natural dry periods. In order to study the vulnerability of cacao (Theobroma cacao) -Gliricidia sepium agroforestry plantations to droughts a large scale throughfall displacement roof was built in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. In this 19-month experiment, we compared soil surface CO 2 efflux (soil respiration) from three roof plots with three adjacent control plots. Soil respiration rates peaked at intermediate soil moisture conditions and decreased under increasingly dry conditions (drought induced), or increasingly wet conditions (as evidenced in control plots). The roof plots exhibited a slight decrease in soil respiration compared to the control plots (average 13% decrease). The strength of the drought effect was spatially variable -while some measurement chamber sites reacted strongly (responsive) to the decrease in soil water content (up to R 2 = 0.70) (n = 11), others did not react at all (non-responsive) (n = 7). A significant correlation was measured between responsive soil respiration chamber sites and sap flux density ratios of cacao (R = 0.61) and Gliricidia (R = 0.65). Leaf litter CO 2 respiration decreased as conditions became drier. The litter layer contributed approximately 3-4% of the total CO 2 efflux during dry periods and up to 40% during wet periods. Within days of roof opening soil CO 2 efflux rose to control plot levels. Thereafter, CO 2Correspondence to: O. van Straaten (ostraat@gwdg.de) efflux remained comparable between roof and control plots. The cumulative effect on soil CO 2 emissions over the duration of the experiment was not significantly different: the control plots respired 11.1±0.5 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 , while roof plots respired 10.5±0.5 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 . The relatively mild decrease measured in soil CO 2 efflux indicates that this agroforestry ecosystem is capable of mitigating droughts with only minor stress symptoms.

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“…Further, large variability may exist among management practices and sampling methodologies. For example, trees in alley cropping systems may be pruned but the fate of this biomass, which could be left in the system or removed, is likely important to the overall carbon balance (Oelbermann et al 2006, Wotherspoon et al 2014. In order to fully understand the potential benefits of agroforestry to C storage in biomass, a complete accounting of inputs and outputs of biomass is required.…”

Section: Carbon Stored In Vegetation In Agroforestry Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While these systems are not unique to specific regions in Canada, they may be more widespread in some areas than others, depending on edaphic conditions, climate, and history. Across the Canadian prairies, common agroforestry systems include shelterbelts, hedgerows, and silvopasture Turnock, 1999, Kort et al 2014), while alley cropping is common in Eastern Canada (Thevathasan and Gordon 1997, Oelbermann et al 2004, Oelbermann et al 2006, Thevathasan et al 2012.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential of agroforestry to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases in Canada: Insight from pairwise comparisons with traditional agriculture, data gaps and future research

Baah-Acheamfour

Chang

Bork

et al. 2017

The Forestry Chronicle

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Canadian agriculture is a source of greenhouse gases (GHG) and agroforestry has the potential to sequester carbon (C), and mitigate agricultural GHG emissions. Agroforestry systems are common features in Canada's agricultural landscape; however, there are limited empirical data to support implementation of agroforestry practices for GHG mitigation. This shortfall of data may be a contributing factor to the lack of policy that supports the use of agroforestry for GHG mitigation in the Canadian agricultural landscape. We reviewed published studies that compared C stocks in vegetation and soils, and/or GHG emissions in agroforestry systems to traditional agriculture across Canada, with the aims of assessing the benefit of adopting agroforestry for GHG reduction. We then identified data gaps and obstacles that could direct future research. We found that most studies reported increases in vegetation and soil organic C storage in areas with woody species compared to herbaceous crops. Agroforestry systems also reduced the emission of CH 4 and N 2 O, and increased CO 2 respiration from soil, but few studies have examined these gases. The small set of studies we reviewed demonstrated the potential of agroforestry to store terrestrial C and mitigate GHG emissions. However, additional research is required to verify this pattern across geographic regions, determine the regional potential for development of agroforestry systems, and assess the potential atmospheric GHG reduction at regional and national scales.Keywords: carbon flux, methane, mitigation, nitrous oxide, soil carbon RÉSUMÉ L'agriculture canadienne est une source de gaz à effet de serre (GES) et l'agroforesterie pourrait bien contribuer à piéger le carbone (C) et ainsi atténuer les émissions de GES d' origine agricole. L'agroforesterie fait partie intégrante du paysage agricole canadien; on trouve cependant peu de données empiriques permettant d'appuyer l'utilisation de pratiques agroforestières comme moyen d'atténuer les GES. Ce manque de données pourrait expliquer la rareté des politiques encourageant la pratique de l'agroforesterie comme moyen pour atténuer les GES sur la scène agricole canadienne. Nous avons analysé la documentation existante qui compare les stocks de carbone dans la végétation et les sols ou les émissions de GES dans les systèmes agroforestiers à ceux de l'agriculture traditionnelle au Canada en vue d' évaluer les avantages de l'agroforesterie comme moyen de réduire les GES. Nous avons ensuite déterminé les données qui manquent ainsi les autres obstacles qui pourraient faire l' objet de recherches dans l'avenir. Nous avons constaté que la plupart des études consultées rapportent un niveau plus élevé de carbone organique stocké dans la végétation et le sol sur les étendues boisées que sur celles couvertes d'herbacé. L'agroforesterie réduit aussi les émissions de CH 4 et de N 2 O et augmente le CO 2 venant de la respiration du sol même si peu d' études se sont penchées sur ces gaz. Le corpus limité d' études que nous avons consultées ...

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Soil carbon dynamics and residue stabilization in a Costa Rican and southern Canadian alley cropping system

Cited by 102 publications

References 24 publications

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

Spatial and temporal effects of drought on soil CO<sub>2</sub> efflux in a cacao agroforestry system in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The potential of agroforestry to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases in Canada: Insight from pairwise comparisons with traditional agriculture, data gaps and future research

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Soil carbon dynamics and residue stabilization in a Costa Rican and southern Canadian alley cropping system

Cited by 102 publications

References 24 publications

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

Spatial and temporal effects of drought on soil CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; efflux in a cacao agroforestry system in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The potential of agroforestry to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases in Canada: Insight from pairwise comparisons with traditional agriculture, data gaps and future research

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Spatial and temporal effects of drought on soil CO<sub>2</sub> efflux in a cacao agroforestry system in Sulawesi, Indonesia