Abstract. The establishment of grasslands on abandoned cropland has been proposed as an effective method to mitigate climate change. In this study, five cultivated grasslands (three leguminous species and two gramineous species), one abandoned cropland, and one natural grassland were studied to examine how soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rate and sequestration efficiency change in a semi-arid area in China. Our results showed that leguminous grasslands had greater total biomass (above-and belowground biomass), SOC storage, SOC sequestration rate, and efficiency than gramineous grasslands, abandoned cropland, and natural grassland during the experimental period. The largest soil carbon (C) accumulation in leguminous grassland was mainly attributed to the capacity to incorporate C and the higher biomass production. Leguminous grasslands accumulated more SOC than gramineous grasslands by 0.64 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 . The average SOC sequestration efficiency in leguminous grassland (1.00) was about 2 times greater than gramineous grassland (0.34). The results indicate that cultivated leguminous grassland sequestered more SOC with higher SOC sequestration efficiency than cultivated gramineous grassland in arid and semi-arid areas. Our results provide a reference for ecological management in arid and semi-arid areas.
Abstract. The establishment of grassland on abandoned cropland has been proposed as an effective method of mitigating climate change by increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. In this study, five cultivated grasslands were established (three leguminous species – Coronilla varia, Onobrychis viciaefolia, Medicago sativa, and two gramineous species – Poa annua, Agropyron cristatum), one uncultivated, one natural grassland to examine how the SOC storage, sequestration rate and sequestration efficiency to change for 5 years restoration in semi-arid area. Our results showed that the cultivated leguminous grasslands had greater total biomass, SOC storage, SOC sequestration rate and efficiency than gramineous grasslands. The greater soil carbon (C) accumulation in leguminous grassland was mainly attributed to higher biomass production. Leguminous grasslands accumulated more SOC than gramineous grasslands by 0.64 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. The average SOC sequestration efficiency in leguminous grassland (1.00) was about 2 times greater than gramineous grassland (0.34). The results indicate that cultivated leguminous grasslands sequestered more SOC with higher SOC sequestration efficiency than cultivated gramineous grasslands in arid and semi-arid areas.
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