Abstract
An assessment of C and N balance in urban soil compared to the natural environment was carried out to evaluate the influence of biological processes along with human-induced forcing. Soil C and N stocks were quantified on the samples (n=18) collected at 5 - 10 cm depth from dominated green areas and arable lands in the city of Wroclaw (Poland) and the relatively natural grassland located ca. 36 km south-west. Higher soil carbon and nitrogen levels (C/N ratio = 11.8) and greater microbial biomass C and N values (MBC = 95.3, MBN = 14.4 mg N kg-1) were measured in natural grassland compared with the citywide lawn sites (C/N ratio = 15.17, MBC = 84.3 mg C kg-1, MBN = 11.9 mg N kg-1), respectively. In contrast to the natural areas, the higher C and N concentration was measured in urban grass dominated soils (C = 2.7 % and N = 0.18 % of dry mass), which can be explained mainly due to the high soil bulk density and water holding capacity (13.8 % clay content). The limited availability of soil C and N content was seen under the arable soil (C = 1.23 %, N = 0.13 %) than in the studied grasslands. In fact, the significantly increased C/N ratios in urban grasslands are largely associated with land conversion and demonstrate that urban soils have the potential to be an important reservoir of C.
Highlights
Soils, depending on their managed practices, play a significant role in the terrestrial carbon (C), nitrogen (N) cycle and amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced or consumed
The grassland is characterized by greater ecosystem productivity, more soil C content and microbial biomass C and N compared with the arable lands [6]
The highest values of sand content and low silt value were obtained in urban soils compared to the relatively natural grasslands system in the Sobótka region (Wroclaw suburb)
Summary
Soils, depending on their managed practices, play a significant role in the terrestrial carbon (C), nitrogen (N) cycle and amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced or consumed. Data on soil carbon based on soil biological and chemical variables are necessary to track the potential release of carbon and carbon sinks through differing soil-management performances. This is important in urban areas, where intensive anthropogenic production systems can result in a large release of carbon compared with the natural environment. While the sources of GHG emissions must be reduced, the potential of C sequestration of urban soils and biota should be increased through the implementation of the recommended management practices on cropland soils and the restoration of poor grassland soil and vegetation characteristics
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