Carbon Dynamics under Long-Term Conservation and Disk Tillage Management in a Norfolk Loamy Sand

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 453 - 456
• Main Authors: Novak, J.M, Bauer, P.J, Hunt, P.G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison Soil Science Society 01.03.2007; Soil Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon; carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; carbon sequestration; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; conservation tillage; Crop rotation; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; discing; Equilibrium; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas emissions; General agronomy. Plant production; greenhouse gases; loam soils; long term experiments; Organic carbon; Organic matter; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Sand; sandy soils; Soil erosion, conservation, land management and development; soil organic carbon; Soil science; Soil tillage; soil-atmosphere interactions; Soils; Tillage; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; South Carolina; United States; North America; America; British Isles, England, Norfolk; Cultural practice; Organic carbon; Soil tillage; Long term test; Cultivated soil; Long term; Carbon sequestration; Soil management; Soil conservation; Carbon cycle; Biogeochemistry; Agronomy; Conservation tillage; Soil science; Ultisols; Loamy sand soil; Disking
• ISSN: 0361-5995; 1435-0661
• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2005.0284N

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is an important process to mitigate CO2 emissions. Our objectives were to determine the rates of C sequestration and to determine if the SOC pool was at or approaching equilibrium in plots under long-term (24-yr) conservation (CT) and disk tillage (DT) management. The plots were Norfolk loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Kandiudult) and were under a row crop rotation. All plots received annual subsoiling, while only plots under DT were surface disked. Soil cores were collected to 90 cm deep. After 24 yr, the only significant increase in SOC occurred in CT plots at a 0- to 5-cm depth. The SOC pool in plots under DT was at a near-steady state, while the SOC pool under CT was not at equilibrium. This supports the conclusion that CT is an effective countermeasure to offset atmospheric CO2 emissions.