ORGANIC CARBON STOCKS IN A SILTY TEXTURED SOIL FOLLOWING REINTEGRATION OF A 20 YEARS OLD MISCANTHUS × GIGANTEUS SITE INTO A CROP ROTATION
Lisa ESSICH1(), Reiner RUSER1, Jens HARTUNG2, Anne HANEMANN1, Meike GASSNER1, Liam OBERDORFER1, Jörn BREUER3, Jürgen RECKNAGEL3, Helmut NUßBAUMER3, Torsten MÜLLER1
1. Institute of Crop Science, Department Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany 2. Institute of Crop Science, Biostatistics Unit, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany 3. Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
● 0.98 Mg·ha−1·yr−1 Corg accumulation under miscanthus over 26 years.
● Corg accumulation under miscanthus continued even up to 26 years.
● Reintegration of a miscanthus site into a crop rotation induced decreasing C stocks at first after 6 years.
Miscanthus × giganteus may play an important role in replacing fossil energy resources by bio-based alternatives. One further advantage of miscanthus production is the generally high soil organic carbon (Corg) enrichment in soils. Due to declining yields, miscanthus stocks are commonly reintegrated into crop rotation after approximately 20 years. Currently there is only few information, whether these high amounts of Corg can be conserved while intensifying soil tillage and crop management after reintegration. Therefore, we monitored Corg stocks in a control with more than 20 years of continuous miscanthus and in a treatment with reintegration of a 20-years old miscanthus stock into an organic crop rotation. Based on δ13C soil values, we calculated an annual Corg enrichment of 0.98 Mg·ha−1·yr−1 C under miscanthus. More than 95% of the miscanthus-C was determined in the upper 0.25 m of soil. Continuing miscanthus cultivation did not affect yields during the first five extension years and Corg stocks increased further. Following reintegration, Corg stocks remained constant during five years, which was mainly attributed to the humification and/or stabilization of high amounts of destroyed roots and rhizomes. A significant decrease in Corg (−5.7 Mg·ha−1 C) compared to the continuing miscanthus cultivation was at first measured six years after reintegration into crop rotation, underlining the need of long-term investigations. Our data also show, that miscanthus production cycles can be extended in our region, and that sowing of the alfalfa grass mixture after rhizome/root destruction was efficient in preserving Corg stocks for at least first five years after reintegration.
. [J]. Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 10.15302/J-FASE-2023485.
Lisa ESSICH, Reiner RUSER, Jens HARTUNG, Anne HANEMANN, Meike GASSNER, Liam OBERDORFER, Jörn BREUER, Jürgen RECKNAGEL, Helmut NUßBAUMER, Torsten MÜLLER. ORGANIC CARBON STOCKS IN A SILTY TEXTURED SOIL FOLLOWING REINTEGRATION OF A 20 YEARS OLD MISCANTHUS × GIGANTEUS SITE INTO A CROP ROTATION. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , , (): 0.
J, Greef M, Deuter C, Jung J Schondelmaier . Genetic diversity of European Miscanthus species revealed by AFLP fingerprinting. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 1997, 44(2): 185–195 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008693214629
2
S Beuch . Influence of Cultivation and Biomass Structure of Miscanthus × giganteus (Greef et Deu) on Nutrient Balance and Soil Organic Matter. Aachen, Germany: Shaker, 1998, 1998 (in German)
3
P, Schweiger K Stolzenburg . Cultivation of Miscanthus for Material and Energy Recovery: 32 Tables. Forchheim: State Institute for Crop Production, 1994 (in German)
4
L, Wang A, Czedik-Eysenberg R A, Mertz Y, Si T, Tohge A, Nunes-Nesi S, Arrivault L K, Dedow D W, Bryant W, Zhou J, Xu S, Weissmann A, Studer P, Li C, Zhang T, LaRue Y, Shao Z, Ding Q, Sun R V, Patel R, Turgeon X, Zhu N J, Provart T C, Mockler A R, Fernie M, Stitt P, Liu T P Brutnell . Comparative analyses of C4 and C3 photosynthesis in developing leaves of maize and rice. Nature Biotechnology, 2014, 32(11): 1158–1165 https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3019
pmid: 25306245
5
N A, Campell J B Reece . Biology. 6th ed. Heidelberg-Berlin: Spektrum Academic Press, 2003 (in German)
6
M M Bender . Variations in the 13C/12C ratios of plants in relation to the pathway of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation. Phytochemistry, 1971, 10(6): 1239–1244 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)84324-1
7
J, Balesdent A, Mariotti B Guillet . Natural 13C abundance as a tracer for studies of soil organic matter dynamics. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 1987, 19(1): 25–30 https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(87)90120-9
8
A, Mangold I, Lewandowski A Kiesel . How can miscanthus fields be reintegrated into a crop rotation. Global Change Biology-Bioenergy, 2019, 11(11): 1348–1360 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12636
9
I, Lewandowski J C, Clifton-Brown J M O, Scurlock W Huisman . Miscanthus: European experience with a novel energy crop. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2000, 19(4): 209–227 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(00)00032-5
M, Himken J, Lammel D, Neukirchen U, Czypionka-Krause H W Olfs . Cultivation of Miscanthus under West European conditions: seasonal changes in dry matter production, nutrient uptake and remobilization. Plant and Soil, 1997, 189(1): 117–126 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004244614537
12
F, Behrendt T, Belusa M, Schäfer J, Wellmann G Drenkelfort . Biomass potential and technology charaterization of conversion processes. Berlin: University of Berlin, 2008 (in German)
13
I Jacks-Sterrenberg . Studies on the yield physiology of Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. with a view to its use as an energy crop. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Gießen: Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, 1995 (in German)
14
I, Lewandowski A Kicherer . Combustion quality of biomass: practical relevance and experiments to modify the biomass quality of Miscanthus × giganteus. European Journal of Agronomy, 1997, 6(3−4): 163−177
15
M, Crippa D, Guizzardi E, Solazzo M, Muntean E, Schaaf F, Monforti-Ferrario M, Banja J G J, Olivier G, Grassi S, Rossi E Vignati . GHG Emissions of All World Countries—2021 Report; Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021
16
B, Söderström K, Hedlund L E, Jackson T, Kätterer E, Lugato I K, Thomsen Jørgensen H Bracht . What are the effects of agricultural management on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Environmental Evidence, 2014, 3(1): 2 https://doi.org/10.1186/2047-2382-3-2
17
M, Willms J, Hufnagel F, Reinicke B V, Wagner C Buttlar . Energy Crop Cultivation—Effects on Humus Balance and Nitrogen Budget. In: Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the German Soil Science Society. Bonn, 2009 (in German)
18
F, Agostini A S, Gregory G M Richter . Carbon sequestration by perennial energy crops: is the jury still out?. BioEnergy Research, 2015, 8(3): 1057–1080 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9571-0
pmid: 26855689
19
N, Amougou I, Bertrand J M, Machet S Recous . Quality and decomposition in soil of rhizome, root and senescent leaf from Miscanthus × giganteus, as affected by harvest date and N fertilization. Plant and Soil, 2011, 338(1−2): 83−97
20
R, Becker A, Dietzsch K Jäkel . Miscanthus—Cultivation on Agricultural Land. Dresden: Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, 2014 (in German)
K, Dufossé J, Drewer B, Gabrielle J L Drouet . Effects of a 20-year old Miscanthus × giganteus stand and its removal on soil characteristics and greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2014, 69: 198–210 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.07.003
23
J, Drewer K, Dufossé U M, Skiba B Gabrielle . Changes in isotopic signatures of soil carbon and CO2 respiration immediately and one year after Miscanthus removal. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, 2016, 8(1): 59–65 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12230
24
R, Bassler L, Schmitt O Siegel . Method Book/Association of German Agricultural Research and Testing Institutes. The analysis of our soils. VDLUFA-Verlag, 2004 (in German)
25
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Food . World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, Update 2015. International Soil Classification System for Naming Soils and Creating Legends for Soil Maps. Rome: FAO, 2015
26
G Hoffmann . VDLUFA Method Book Volume I, the Analysis of Our Soils, 4th ed. VDLUFA-Verlag, 1991 (in German)
27
B H, Ellert J R Bettany . Calculation of organic matter and nutrients stored in soils under contrasting management regimes. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 1995, 75(4): 529–538 https://doi.org/10.4141/cjss95-075
28
M, Körschens E, Schulz R Behm . Hot-water soluble C and N in soil as a criterion for N resupply capacity. Central Journal of Microbiology, 1990, 145: 305−311 (in German)
29
E M, Hansen B T, Christensen L S, Jensen K Kristensen . Carbon sequestration in soil beneath long-term Miscanthus plantations as determined by 13C abundance. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2004, 26(2): 97–105 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(03)00102-8
30
P, Kahle S, Beuch B, Boelcke P, Leinweber H R Schulten . Cropping of Miscanthus in Central Europe: biomass production and influence on nutrients and soil organic matter. European Journal of Agronomy, 2001, 15(3): 171–184 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(01)00102-2
31
R Wolfinger . Covariance structure selection in general mixed models. Communications in Statistics-Simulation and Computation, 1993, 22(4): 1079–1106 https://doi.org/10.1080/03610919308813143
32
H P Piepho . An algorithm for a letter-based representation of all-pairwise comparisons. Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, 2004, 13(2): 456–466 https://doi.org/10.1198/1061860043515
33
M, Gauder S, Graeff-Hönninger I, Lewandowski W Claupein . Long-term yield and performance of 15 different Miscanthus genotypes in southwest Germany. Annals of Applied Biology, 2012, 160(2): 126–136 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.2011.00526.x
34
C, Lesur M H, Jeuffroy D, Makowski A B, Riche I, Shield N, Yates M, Fritz B, Formowitz M, Grunert U, Jorgensen P E, Laerke C Loyce . Modeling long-term yield trends of Miscanthus × giganteus using experimental data from across Europe. Field Crops Research, 2013, 149: 252–260 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.05.004
35
D, Neukirchen M, Himken J, Lammel U, Czypionka-Krause H W Olfs . Spatial and temporal distribution of the root system and root nutrient content of an established Miscanthus crop. European Journal of Agronomy, 1999, 11(3−4): 301−309
36
H P, Blume G W, Brümmer R, Horn E, Kandeler I, Kögel-Knabner R, Kretzschmar K, Stahr B M Wilke . Scheffer/Schachtschabel: Textbook of Soil Science. 17th ed. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, 2010 (in German)
37
S, Beuch B, Boelcke L Belau . Effect of the organic residues of Miscanthus × giganteus on the soil organic matter level of arable soils. Journal Agronomy & Crop Science, 2000, 184(2): 111–120 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-037x.2000.00367.x
38
D, Felten C Emmerling . Accumulation of Miscanthus-derived carbon in soils in relation to soil depth and duration of land use under commercial farming conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 2012, 175(5): 661–670 https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201100250
39
C, Poeplau A Don . Soil carbon changes under Miscanthus driven by C4 accumulation and C3 decompostion—toward a default sequestration function. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, 2014, 6(4): 327–338 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12043
40
M V, Lützow I, Kögel-Knabner K, Ekschmitt E, Matzner G, Guggenberger B, Marschner H Flessa . Stabilization of organic matter in temperate soils: mechanisms and their relevance under different soil conditions—a review. European Journal of Soil Science, 2006, 57(4): 426–445 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2006.00809.x
41
K, Schneckenberger Y Kuzyakov . Carbon sequestration under Miscanthus in sandy and loamy soils estimated by natural 13C abundance. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 2007, 170(4): 538–542 https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200625111
42
S, Beuch L, Belau B Boelcke . Model studies on the mineralization of biomass of Miscanthus × giganteus (Mineralisierung von Miscanthusbiomasse). Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 1998, 42(5): 347−357 (in German)
43
K, Lorenz R Lal . The depth distribution of soil organic carbon in relation to land use and management and the potential of carbon sequestration in subsoil horizons. Advances in Agronomy, 2005, 88: 35–66 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(05)88002-2
44
H, Zang E, Blagodatskaya Y, Wen X, Xu J, Dyckmans Y Kuzyakov . Carbon sequestration and turnover in soil under the energy crop Miscanthus: repeated 13C natural abundance approach and literature synthesis. Global Change Biology-Bioenergy, 2018, 10(4): 262–271 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12485
45
U Franko . Modeling the turnover of soil organic matter. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 1997, 41(6): 527−547 (in German)
46
Q, Li D, Zhou M, Denton S Cong . Alfalfa monocultures promote soil organic carbon accumulation to a greater extent than perennial grass monocultures or grass-Alfalfa mixtures. Ecological Engineering, 2019, 131: 53–62 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.03.002
47
E, Sadatshojaei D A, Wood M R Rahimpour . Potential and challenges of carbon sequestration in soils. In: Inamuddin, Ahamed M I, Boddula R, Altalhi T, eds. Applied Soil Chemistry. Scrivener Publishing LLC, 2021, 1–21
48
A, Don T, Scholten E D Schulze . Conversion of cropland into grassland: implications for soil organic-carbon stocks in two soils with different texture. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 2009, 172(1): 53–62 https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200700158