Tillage intensity affects total SOC stocks in boreo-temperate regions only in the topsoil—A systematic review using an ESM approach

Meurer, Katharina; Haddaway, Neal R.; Bolinder, Martin A.; Kätterer, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.12.015

Cited by 107 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Our analysis indicated that reporting SOC change based on ESM or fixed‐depth has a significant impact on the SOC change evaluation (Figure and Table ), which was consistent with previous meta‐analysis studies (Du et al, ; Meurer, Haddaway, Bolinder, & Kätterer, ). Historically, SOC stock was most commonly calculated to a fixed‐depth as the product of bulk density and SOC concentration and depth (Wendt & Hauser, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

A global meta‐analysis of soil organic carbon response to corn stover removal

et al. 2019

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Corn (Zea mays L.) stover is a global resource used for livestock, fuel, and bioenergy feedstock, but excessive stover removal can decrease soil organic C (SOC) stocks and deteriorate soil health. Many site‐specific stover removal experiments report accrual rates and SOC stock effects, but a quantitative, global synthesis is needed to provide a scientific base for long‐term energy policy decisions. We used 409 data points from 74 stover harvest experiments conducted around the world for a meta‐analysis and meta‐regression to quantify removal rate, tillage, soil texture, and soil sampling depth effects on SOC. Changes were quantified by: (a) comparing final SOC stock differences after at least 3 years with and without stover removal and (b) calculating SOC accrual rates for both treatments. Stover removal generally reduced final SOC stocks by 8% in the upper 0–15 or 0–30 cm, compared to stover retained, irrespective of soil properties and tillage practices. A more sensitive meta‐regression analysis showed that retention increased SOC stocks within the 30–150 cm depth by another 5%. Compared to baseline values, stover retention increased average SOC stocks temporally at a rate of 0.41 Mg C ha−1 year−1 (statistically significant at p < 0.01 when averaged across all soil layers). Although SOC sequestration rates were lower with stover removal, with moderate (<50%) removal they can be positive, thus emphasizing the importance of site‐specific management. Our results also showed that tillage effects on SOC stocks were inconsistent due to the high variability in practices used among the experimental sites. Finally, we conclude that research and technological efforts should continue to be given high priority because of the importance in providing science‐based policy recommendations for long‐term global carbon management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

A global meta‐analysis of soil organic carbon response to corn stover removal

et al. 2019

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“…www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ stratification with reduced tillage was found for SOC stocks until 50 cm soil depth 34 . Such an increased stratification within the soil profile when comparing conservation with conventional tillage has been widely described for SOC stocks 35,36 and nutrient stocks 37,38 . Luo, et al 35 explained this in terms of a lack of soil mixing that promotes Table 4.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced soil quality with reduced tillage and solid manures in organic farming – a synthesis of 15 years

Krauss

Berner

Perrochet

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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, frédéric perrochet, Robert frei, Urs niggli & paul Mäder Demands upon the sustainability of farming are increasing in step with climate change and diversity loss. Organic farming offers a viable approach. To further improve organic management, three strategies with potential to enhance soil quality are being tested in a long-term trial since 2002 on a clay loam in temperate Switzerland: reduced tillage vs. ploughing, solid vs. liquid manures and biodynamic preparations. A synthesis of 15 years reveals an increase in topsoil organic carbon (SOC, +25%), microbial biomass (+32%) and activity (+34%) and a shift in microbial communities with conversion from ploughing to reduced tillage. Soils under reduced tillage are more stratified in SOC and nutrients. Additional application of composted manure has increased SOC by 6% compared to pure slurry application, with little impact on soil microbes. Biodynamic preparations have had a minor impact on soil quality. Fertilisation and biodynamic preparations did not affect yields. Both higher and lower yields were harvested in the reduced tillage system in relation to ploughing. the main yield determinants were n supply and higher weed infestation under reduced tillage. continuously reduced tillage in organic farming has been proven to enhance soil quality at this site, while also presenting more challenges in management. Various global challenges are calling for change. Soil erosion and degradation, loss of biodiversity and pollution of adjacent natural systems all call current agricultural management practices into question. To meet sustainability requirements, there is a special need to develop, beyond individual innovations, alternative systems that consider the surrounding environment. Organic farming can serve as an alternative to conventional farming, as it has been shown to lower environmental impacts while being able to feed the world if consumption behaviour is adjusted 1. Organic farming is based on a low external input strategy with legumes, green manures, wide crop rotations and organic fertilisation. All of those approaches build and maintain soil quality 2. Biological mobilisation of soil nutrients for crop nutrition is more important in organic than conventional farming, meaning that soil quality needs to be maintained at a high level. Yet there are management practices and trends in organic farming that may jeopardise soil quality and hence require rethinking and improvement. Regarding primary tillage, mouldboard ploughing is common in organic farming in Europe, where it is an important tool for weed control and organic matter management 3. A bare soil surface is left after ploughing. This increases the risk of soil erosion and hence loss of fertile soil 4. Ploughing is assigned to "conventional tillage" (CT) in the context of the present study. As an alternative, conservation tillage systems have been developed globally for nearly a century 5. Conservation tillage includes "no-till" (NT) with direct drilling of seeds and various kinds of "reduced tillage" (R...

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“…The meta-analysis by Xu et al [59] found that corn stover removal reduced final SOC stocks by 8% in the upper 0-30 cm compared to the values when stover was retained. In land under forest, SOC accumulation in the soil profile was high due to consistent litter input without removal and little soil disturbance due to no soil tillage, which are characteristics of a natural ecosystem that differ from an agricultural system [60][61][62].…”

Section: Carbon Loss Due To Land Use Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Land–Use Changes Influencing C Sequestration and Quality in Topsoil and Subsoil

2019

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Soil capacity as a major carbon (C) sink is influenced by land use. Estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration have mostly focused on topsoils [0–30 cm official Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) soil depth]. We investigated SOC stocks and their quality as influenced by land-use changes. Soil samples were collected from five soil depths down to 100 cm of three adjacent fields each representing a different land use—forest, cassava, and rice paddy—in Northeast Thailand. Sequestration of SOC in topsoils under all land uses was higher, as indicated by SOC stocks (59.0–82.0 Mg ha−1) than subsoils (30–100 cm) (27.0–33.0 Mg ha−1). The soil profile (0–100 cm) of the forest had higher stocks of SOC and humic acid (115.0 and 6.8 Mg ha−1, respectively) than those of cultivated land uses [paddy (100.0 and 4.8 Mg ha−1, respectively) and cassava (87.0 and 2.3 Mg ha−1, respectively)], which accounted for an average 30% increase in SOC sequestration over those with only topsoil. Topsoils of the forest had higher humic acid content but narrower E4:E6 ratio [the ratio of absorbances at 465 nm (E4) and at 665 nm (E6)] of humic acids (2.8), indicating a higher degree of humification and stabilization than the cultivated soils (3.2–3.6). Subsoil C was higher quality, as indicated by the lower E4:E6 ratio of humic acids than topsoils in all land uses.

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Tillage intensity affects total SOC stocks in boreo-temperate regions only in the topsoil—A systematic review using an ESM approach

Cited by 107 publications

References 67 publications

A global meta‐analysis of soil organic carbon response to corn stover removal

A global meta‐analysis of soil organic carbon response to corn stover removal

Enhanced soil quality with reduced tillage and solid manures in organic farming – a synthesis of 15 years

Land–Use Changes Influencing C Sequestration and Quality in Topsoil and Subsoil

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