Soil Organic Carbon Stabilization: Influence of Tillage on Mineralogical and Chemical Parameters

Abstract

The interaction of organic carbon (OC) with clay minerals and amorphous iron and aluminum oxides, especially in the finest soil fractions (<20 μm), represents a good method for its stabilization, and different tillage practices can improve or reduce the persistence of OC in soils. This study investigates the effects of conventional (CT) and no (NT) tillage and soil depth (0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm) on the soil organic carbon (SOC) in four soil size fractions and its interactions with clay minerals and amorphous oxides. To identify the mineralogical composition of the four soil size fractions isolated from each soil, the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) technique was used with near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, while the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to determine the chemical composition of soil fractions. The higher OC content found in the finest soil fraction is related to its higher content of clay minerals and amorphous oxides. The SOC content is similar among CT and NT treatments as well as the mineralogical composition and the amount of amorphous oxides, suggesting that more than ten years of different tillage did not influence those parameters.

Combined Impact of No-Till and Cover Crops with or without Short-Term Water Stress as Revealed by Physicochemical and Microbiological Indicators

“…This, in turn, decreases the mean residence time of soil C by almost 50%, with detrimental effects on long-term C sequestration in agricultural soils. In contrast, NT + CC was shown to enhance soil fertility, stabilize soil structure, and increase soil C and N storage [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. However, NT sometimes lead only to a soil C redistribution rather than a net C storage increase [ 28 ].…”

Perspectives on Effective Long-Term Management of Carbon Stocks in Chernozem under Future Climate Conditions

“…The two climate change scenarios include the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) used in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 [26]. The first scenario describes moderate changes in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of climate mitigation (650 ppm CO 2 -eq at stabilization after 2100), while the second scenario assumes no effective climate mitigation with 1370 ppm CO 2 -eq by 2100 [12]. Climate data for the LTFE were calculated using the "Climate-Soil-Harvest" model based on regional data from the ensemble scenario from 31 global models in CMIP5 [27].…”

“…The removal of C from the atmosphere in managed terrestrial ecosystems-C sequestration and storage-has been the subject of numerous articles in recent years [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. As noted by Chenu et al [6], the term «sequestration», representing negative emission technology, denotes a relatively long duration period, at least 20 years based on the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).…”

Smallholder Farmers’ Practices and African Indigenous Vegetables Affect Soil Microbial Biodiversity and Enzyme Activities in Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya

“…Even in small amounts, improvements in farmers’ practices could improve the quality and quantity of yields obtained by smallholder farmers [ 25 ]. Tillage choice with integrated soil fertility management was found to be beneficial for soil arthropods diversity, infiltration rate, reduced surface run-off, and soil erosion mitigation [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. However, implementation of such practices is not always possible for the time being.…”