Testing a practical indicator for changing soil organic matter

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Sohi, S. P., Yates, H. C. and Gaunt, J. L. 2010. Testing a practical indicator for changing soil organic matter. Soil Use and Management. 26 (2), pp. 108-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2010.00261.x

AuthorsSohi, S. P., Yates, H. C. and Gaunt, J. L.
Abstract

Long-term changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) resulting from management change are documented for many experimental situations, and corresponding trends in the field have been observed by national survey. Since these changes are relevant to atmospheric carbon balance a practical measure to confirm the impact of recent management decisions at any location, without resorting to repeated sampling, is highly attractive but none has previously been tested. This study assessed intra-aggregate C to fulfil the role, based on a temporary deviation from its predictable contribution to total SOC under stable management. A total of 166 surface soil samples (0-15 cm) were analyzed for intra-aggregate C using an established physical fractionation protocol or compatible scaled-up procedure. Soils were arable (or ley-arable) managed by conventional or minimum-tillage, or permanent grassland, and assigned 'stable' or 'changing' status on the basis of a verbal account of management history. Log-normal populations of intra-aggregate C were compared for soils of stable and changing status using F-tests. Intra-aggregate C shows promise as an indicator of changing SOC in arable soils up to 30% clay content, particularly soils < 20% clay. A larger dataset is required to establish its utility in grassland soils. It is not certain that intra-aggregate C is capable of confirming direction of change or trajectory (endpoint), and functions to indicate change, rather than confirm stable status. Supplementary information on the history of soil use and management is therefore essential in the interpretation of such measurements.

KeywordsSoil Science
Year of Publication2010
JournalSoil Use and Management
Journal citation26 (2), pp. 108-117
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2010.00261.x
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderRothamsted Research
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Funder project or codeSEF
Soils within the catchment sensitive farming programme: a project to deliver improvements in soil organic matter management
Mechanistic descriptions for organic matter turnover in planted soils
To develop a robust indicator of soil organic matter status
Assessing soil based solutions to carbon management
Publisher's version
Copyright license
Publisher copyright
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online18 May 2010
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Jan 2010
PublisherWiley
British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)
Grant IDSP0310
SP8014
ISSN0266-0032

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/8q603/testing-a-practical-indicator-for-changing-soil-organic-matter

54 total views
27 total downloads
0 views this month
1 downloads this month
Download files as zip