The Response of Retisol’s Carbon Storage Potential to Various Organic Matter Inputs

Abstract

Organic carbon sequestration and its quality in soil is a crucial aspect in maintaining the productivity of the soil and the whole ecosystem. The study examined the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), its sequestration potential, and the mean effect size under various long-term organic matter inputs in acid soil (Dystric Retisol). Cattle manure (CM 60 t ha−1) and various plant residues were used for the fertilization of acid and limed soil. The following treatments were included in the experimental design: (1) natural Retisol; (2) natural Retisol + CM; (3) natural Retisol + various plant residues; (4) calcium carbonate (CaCO3) at a 1.0 rate every five years); (5) CaCO3 + CM; (6) CaCO3 + various plant residues. The data demonstrated that the treatments including the use of organic material (CM and various plant residues) showed a greater SOC content accumulation with a storage of up to 0.2–0.6% more carbon in the topsoil. Alternative organic fertilizers had a detrimental impact when applied to unlimed soil, with a loss of 0.59 g kg−1 C per year. All the fertilization treatments significantly increased the SOC level with the mean effect size of 0.02–0.28, and the increase varied from 1.89% to 32.89%. This result suggested that liming, together with organic fertilizers, proved to be a relatively efficient approach to improving the soil’s health and quality.