Will European soil‐monitoring networks be able to detect changes in topsoil organic carbon content?

Saby, Nicolas P.A.; Bellamy, P.; Morvan, Xavier; Arrouays, Dominique; Jones, Robert J. A.; Verheijen, Frank; Kibblewhite, Mark; Verdoodt, Ann; Üveges, Judit Berényi; Freudenschuß, Alexandra; Simota, C.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01658.x

Cited by 147 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Despite the uncertainties mentioned above, error estimates for annual NEE in this study are within the range of errors presented for annual NEE estimates derived from EC measurements (30 to 50 g C m −2 yr −1 ) (e.g., Baldocchi, 2003;Dobermann et al, 2006;Hollinger et al, 2005) and below the minimum detectable difference reported for most repeated soil inventories (e.g., Batjes and Van Wesemael, 2015;Knebl et al, 2015;Necpálová et al, 2014;Saby et al, 2008;Schrumpf et al, 2011;VandenBygaart, 2006).…”

Section: Accuracy and Precision Of Applied Methodssupporting

confidence: 71%

Detecting small-scale spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks: a comparison between automatic chamber-derived C budgets and repeated soil inventories

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Carbon (C) sequestration in soils plays a key role in the global C cycle. It is therefore crucial to adequately monitor dynamics in soil organic carbon ( SOC) stocks when aiming to reveal underlying processes and potential drivers. However, small-scale spatial (10-30 m) and temporal changes in SOC stocks, particularly pronounced in arable lands, are hard to assess. The main reasons for this are limitations of the well-established methods. On the one hand, repeated soil inventories, often used in long-term field trials, reveal spatial patterns and trends in SOC but require a longer observation period and a sufficient number of repetitions. On the other hand, eddy covariance measurements of C fluxes towards a complete C budget of the soil-plant-atmosphere system may help to obtain temporal SOC patterns but lack small-scale spatial resolution.To overcome these limitations, this study presents a reliable method to detect both short-term temporal dynamics as well as small-scale spatial differences of SOC using measurements of the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) as a proxy. To estimate the NECB, a combination of automatic chamber (AC) measurements of CO 2 exchange and empirically modeled aboveground biomass development (NPP shoot ) were used. To verify our method, results were compared with SOC observed by soil resampling.Soil resampling and AC measurements were performed from 2010 to 2014 at a colluvial depression located in the hummocky ground moraine landscape of northeastern Germany. The measurement site is characterized by a variable groundwater level (GWL) and pronounced small-scale spatial heterogeneity regarding SOC and nitrogen (Nt) stocks. Tendencies and magnitude of SOC values derived by AC measurements and repeated soil inventories corresponded well. The period of maximum plant growth was identified as being most important for the development of spatial differences in annual SOC. Hence, we were able to confirm that AC-based C budgets are able to reveal small-scale spatial differences and short-term temporal dynamics of SOC.

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Section: Accuracy and Precision Of Applied Methodssupporting

confidence: 71%

Detecting small-scale spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks: a comparison between automatic chamber-derived C budgets and repeated soil inventories

et al. 2017

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“…Recent research has shown that there is little change in soil carbon under permanent pasture (Hopkins et al, 2008), with the major changes being related to changes in land use (Smith, 2008). Soil monitoring networks exist across Europe, but they are unable to detect changes at a level of use to policy-makers (Saby et al, 2008). There is, therefore, considerable research activity in predicting changes in soil carbon in response to land-use change (e.g.…”

Section: Gill Smith and Wilkinsonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitigating climate change: the role of domestic livestock

Gill

Smith

Wilkinson

2010

Animal

246

180

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Livestock contribute directly (i.e. as methane and nitrous oxide (N 2 O)) to about 9% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and around 3% of UK emissions. If all parts of the livestock production lifecycle are included (fossil fuels used to produce mineral fertilizers used in feed production and N 2 O emissions from fertilizer use; methane release from the breakdown of fertilizers and from animal manure; land-use changes for feed production and for grazing; land degradation; fossil fuel use during feed and animal production; fossil fuel use in production and transport of processed and refrigerated animal products), livestock are estimated to account for 18% of global anthropogenic emissions, but less than 8% in the UK. In terms of GHG emissions per unit of livestock product, monogastric livestock are more efficient than ruminants; thus in the UK, while sheep and cattle accounted for 32% of meat production in 2006, they accounted for , 48% of GHG emissions associated with meat production. More efficient management of grazing lands and of manure can have a direct impact in decreasing emissions. Improving efficiency of livestock production through better breeding, health interventions or improving fertility can also decrease GHG emissions through decreasing the number of livestock required per unit product. Increasing the energy density of the diet has a dual effect, decreasing both direct emissions and the numbers of livestock per unit product, but, as the demands for food increase in response to increasing human population and a better diet in some developing countries, there is increasing competition for land for food v. energy-dense feed crops. Recalculating efficiencies of energy and protein production on the basis of human-edible food produced per unit of human-edible feed consumed gave higher efficiencies for ruminants than for monogastric animals. The policy community thus have difficult decisions to make in balancing the negative contribution of livestock to the environment against the positive benefit in terms of food security. The animal science community have a responsibility to provide an evidence base which is objective and holistic with respect to these two competing challenges.

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“…A major question, however, is whether SOC stock changes can be accurately quantified at regional to national scales to support effective policies (2). SOC inventory systems are being developed, but to date national-scale measurement-based inventories have not been able to clearly attribute changes in soil carbon stocks to specific land use and management and/or climate effects (3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural management explains historic changes in regional soil carbon stocks

Wesemael

Paustian

Meersmans

et al. 2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

161

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Agriculture is considered to be among the economic sectors having the greatest greenhouse gas mitigation potential, largely via soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, it remains a challenge to accurately quantify SOC stock changes at regional to national scales. SOC stock changes resulting from SOC inventory systems are only available for a few countries and the trends vary widely between studies. Process-based models can provide insight in the drivers of SOC changes, but accurate input data are currently not available at these spatial scales. Here we use measurements from a soil inventory dating from the 1960s and resampled in 2006 covering the major soil types and agricultural regions in Belgium together with region-specific land use and management data and a process-based model. The largest decreases in SOC stocks occurred in poorly drained grassland soils (clays and floodplain soils), consistent with drainage improvements since 1960. Large increases in SOC in well drained grassland soils appear to be a legacy effect of widespread conversion of cropland to grassland before 1960. SOC in cropland increased only in sandy lowland soils, driven by increasing manure additions. Modeled land use and management impacts accounted for more than 70% of the variation in observed SOC changes, and no bias could be demonstrated. There was no significant effect of climate trends since 1960 on observed SOC changes. SOC monitoring networks are being established in many countries. Our results demonstrate that detailed and long-term land management data are crucial to explain the observed SOC changes for such networks.regional inventories | soil organic carbon dynamics modeling | land use history

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Will European soil‐monitoring networks be able to detect changes in topsoil organic carbon content?

Abstract: Within the United Nations Framework

Cited by 147 publications

References 18 publications

Detecting small-scale spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks: a comparison between automatic chamber-derived C budgets and repeated soil inventories

Detecting small-scale spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks: a comparison between automatic chamber-derived C budgets and repeated soil inventories

Mitigating climate change: the role of domestic livestock

Agricultural management explains historic changes in regional soil carbon stocks

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