Effect of Land Use on Organic Carbon Storage Potential of Soils with Contrasting Native Organic Matter Content

Sabina Yeasmin,Sirinapa Chungopast,Md Harun Or Rashid,Md Ashik Molla,A K M Mominul Islam,Md Parvez Anwar,Eshara Jahan

doi:10.1155/2020/8042961

Sabina Yeasmin, Sirinapa Chungopast + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8042961

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the impact of land use on organic carbon (OC) pools of soils with contrasting native organic matter (OM) content. Surface (0–15 cm) soils of four land uses (cropland, orchard, grassland, and fallow) were collected from four agroecological zones (AEZs) of Bangladesh with different OM content (AEZ-7: very low, −3: low, −9: medium, and −5: high). Bulk soils were physically fractionated into particulate and mineral associated OM (POM and MOM: >53 and <53 µm, respectively). Both bulk and fractionated soils were analyzed for OC and nitrogen (N). Among the land uses, undisturbed soils (grassland and fallow land) had significantly higher total OC (0.44–1.79%) than disturbed soils (orchard and cropland) (0.39–1.67%) in all AEZs. The distribution of OC and N in POM and MOM fractions was significantly different among land uses and also varied with native OM content. In all AEZs, cropland soils showed the lowest POM-C content (0.40–1.41%), whereas the orchard soils showed the highest values (0.71–1.91%). The MOM-C was highest (0.81–1.91%) in fallow land and lowest (0.53–1.51%) in orchard, and cropland had a moderate amount (0.70–1.61%). In croplands, distribution of a considerable amount of OC in the MOM pool was noticeable. These findings reveal that total OC in soils can be decreased with cultivation but does not inevitably indicate the loss of OC storage in the stable pool. Carbon storage potential of soils with both high- and low-native OM contents can be increased via proper land use and managements.

Highlights

Soil carbon (C) sequestration, i.e., the process of capturing and storing of atmospheric CO2 in soil for a long term [1] is one of the potential options for slowing the rise of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere
Soil samples were collected from farmers field in agroecological zones (AEZ)–7, 3 (Tista Meander floodplain), 9 (Old Brahmaputra floodplain), and 5 to represent soils with very low (3.5%) organic matter (OM) content [25]
Four land use types, i.e., cropland, orchard, grass land, and fallow were nominated, and for each land use, 12 sites were selected per AEZ. us, 48 sites (12 per land use × 4 land uses) per AEZ, i.e., total 192 sites for four AEZs were selected which were similar in climatic condition, topography, and soil type (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Soil carbon (C) sequestration, i.e., the process of capturing and storing of atmospheric CO2 in soil for a long term [1] is one of the potential options for slowing the rise of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Soil is the largest reservoir of C, storing approximately 53% of the terrestrial C [2]. Land use and vegetation type vastly influence soil disturbance and C dynamics. Land use and management that exerts the least soil disturbance contributes to increase soil. Land use change from native ecosystem (grassland/forest) to cultivated ecosystem causes loss of soil C up to 50% [6,7,8,9]. Cultivated systems may reduce C contents due to reduced yearly C input and increased mineralization due to surface disturbance [10]. Soils could vary in mineral composition, microbial population, native organic matter (OM) content, etc. Native soil OM content is an important factor for soil OC accumulation

Objectives

Methods

Results