Soil & Water Res., 2021, 16(4):228-236 | DOI: 10.17221/29/2021-SWR

Early changes in soil organic carbon following afforestation of former agricultural landOriginal Paper

Jan Vopravil1,2, Pavel Formánek*,1, Jaroslava Janků3, Ondřej Holubík1, Tomáš Khel1
1 Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Land Use and Improvement, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Afforestation of less productive, risky and degraded agricultural land is one of the methods which is recommended for practical agriculture to increase the carbon sequestration. In this study, we have attempted to determine the effect of afforestation of agricultural land (warm, mildly dry climatic region of the Czech Republic) on the soil organic carbon (Cox) concentrations in the mineral soil. Two soil types (Haplic Chernozem and Haplic Cambisol) were afforested. Both an indirect estimation (loss-on-ignition method) as well as chromsulfuric acid mixture oxidation were used to determine the organic carbon content in the soil samples and the methods were compared. In the case of the Haplic Chernozem, the Cox concentration at a depth of 0-10 cm after 1-3 years of afforestation with pedunculate oak or Scots pine significantly decreased (P < 0.01 and P < 0.004, respectively) with the stand age. Similar to the case of the Haplic Chernozem, the Cox concentration in the Haplic Cambisol also significantly decreased in the variants with Scots pine (P < 0.003) or a mixture of forest tree species (P < 0.006); no significant (P > 0.05) decrease was found in the case of a mixture of forest tree species on the Haplic Chernozem or with Douglas fir on the Haplic Cambisol. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) Cox concentrations were typically found in the case of 1-year-old stands compared to 2-year-old or 3-year-old stands. A higher Cox loss than the quantity of residues returned to the soils may be the reason the soil Cox concentration significantly (P < 0.00001 and P < 0.000001) decreased for the control agricultural plots (Haplic Chernozem and Haplic Cambisol). The carbon stock in the upper 10 cm of the 5-year-old stands was higher on the Haplic Chernozem and lower on the Haplic Cambisol compared to the control agricultural plots.

Keywords: alginite; forest tree species; loss-on-ignition method; wheat

Published: October 20, 2021  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Vopravil J, Formánek P, Janků J, Holubík O, Khel T. Early changes in soil organic carbon following afforestation of former agricultural land. Soil & Water Res. 2021;16(4):228-236. doi: 10.17221/29/2021-SWR.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Chan Y. (2008): Increasing soil organic carbon of agricultural land. Primefact, 735: 1-5.
    2. Chen Z., Yu G., Wang Q. (2020): Effects of climate and forest age on the ecosystem carbon exchange of afforestation. Journal of Forestry Research, 31: 365-374. Go to original source...
    3. Cukor J., Vacek Z., Linda R., Bílek L. (2017a): Carbon sequestration in soil following afforestation of former agricultural land in the Czech Republic. Central European Forestry Journal, 63: 97-104. Go to original source...
    4. Cukor J., Linhart L., Vacek Z., Baláš M., Linda R. (2017b): The effect of Alginite fertilization on selected tree species seedlings performance on afforested agricultural lands. Central European Forestry Journal, 63: 48-56. Go to original source...
    5. Dłuzewski P., Wiatrowska K., Kozłowski M. (2019): Seasonal changes in organic carbon content in post-arable forest soils. Soil Science Annual, 70: 3-12. Go to original source...
    6. Donkin M.J. (1991): Loss-on-ignition as an estimator of soil organic carbon in A-horizon forestry soils. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 22: 233-241. of alginite amendment on microbial activity and soil water content in forest soils. Biologia, 64: 585-588. Go to original source...
    7. Hamkalo Z., Bedernichek T. (2014): Total, cold and hot water extractable organic carbon in soil profile: impact of land-use change. Zemdirbyste, 101: 125-132. Go to original source...
    8. Holubík O., Podrázský V., Vopravil J., Khel T., Remeš J. (2014): Effect of agricultural lands afforestation and tree species composition on the soil reaction, total organic carbon and nitrogen content in the uppermost mineral soil profile. Soil and Water Research, 9: 192-200. Go to original source...
    9. Hoogsteen M.J.J., Lantinga E.A., Baakker E.J., Groot J.C.J., Tittonell P.A. (2015): Estimating soil organic carbon through loss on ignition: effects of ignition conditions and structural water loss. Euroasian Journal of Soil Science, 66: 320-328. Go to original source...
    10. Hoogsteen M.J.J., Lantinga E.A., Bakker E.J., Tittonell P.A. (2018): An evaluation of the loss-on-ignition method for determining the soil organic matter content of calcareous soils. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 49: 1541-1552. Go to original source...
    11. Hou G., Delang C.O., Lu X. (2020): Afforestation changes soil organic carbon stocks on sloping land: The role of previous land cover and tree species. Ecological Engineering, 152: 1-9. Go to original source...
    12. IUSS Working Group WRB (2015): World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, Update 2015. International Soil Classification System for Naming Soils and Creating Legends for Soil Maps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. Rome, FAO.
    13. Jensen J.L., Christensen B.T., Schjønning P., Watts W., Munkholm L.J. (2018): Converting loss-on-ignition to organic carbon content in arable topsoil: pitfalls and proposed procedure. European Journal of Soil Science, 69: 604-612. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. Konen M.E., Jacobs P.M., Burras C.L., Talaga B.J., Mason J.A. (2002): Equations for predicting soil organic carbon using loss-on-ignitionfor noth central U.S. soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 66: 1878-1881. Go to original source...
    15. Lamptey S., Li L., Xie J. (2018): Impact of nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration and net ecosystem production in maize. Plant, Soil and Environment, 64: 353-360. Go to original source...
    16. Lara-Gómez M.A., Navarro-Cerrillo R.M., Ceacero C.J., Riuz-Goméz F.J., Díaz-Hernández J.L., Rodriguez G.P. (2020): Use of aerial laser scanning to assess the effect on C sequestration of oak. (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota [Desf.]Samp-Q. suber L.): Afforestation on agricultural land. Geosciences, 10: 1-18. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. MZe (2013): Information on Forests and Forestry in the Czech Republic by 2012. Prague, The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
    18. MZe (2014): Information on Forests and Forestry in the Czech Republic by 2013. Prague, The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
    19. MZe (2015): Information on Forests and Forestry in the Czech Republic by 2014. Prague, The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
    20. MZe (2017): Information on Forests and Forestry in the Czech Republic by 2016. Prague, The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
    21. MZe (2018): Information on Forests and Forestry in the Czech Republic by 2017. Prague, The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
    22. Nikodemus O., Kaupe D., Kukuls I., Brumeli G., Kasparinskis R., Dauskane I., Treiman A. (2020): Effect of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups. Forest Ecosystems, 7: 1-10. Go to original source...
    23. Poleno Z., Vacek S., Podrázský V., Remeš J., Mikeska M., Kobliha J., Bílek L., Baláš M. (2011): Silviculture I. Ecological Principles of Silviculture. Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Lesnická práce. (in Czech)
    24. Prudnikova E.Y., Savin I.Y. (2015): Satellite assessment of dehumification of arable soils in Saratov area. Eurasian Soil Science, 48: 533-539. Go to original source...
    25. Ritter E. (2007): Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in volcanic soils following afforestation with native birch (Betula pubescens) and introduced larch (Larix sibirica) in Iceland. Plant and Soil, 295: 239-251. Go to original source...
    26. Rytter R.M., Rytter L. (2020): Carbon sequestration at land use conversion - Early changes in total carbon stocks for six tree species grown on former agricultural land. Forest Ecology and Management, 466: 1-11. Go to original source...
    27. Smith P. (2004): Carbon sequestration in croplands: the potential in Europe and the global context. European Journal of Agronomy, 20: 229-236. Go to original source...
    28. Soil Science Division Staff (2017): Soil survey manual. In: Ditzler C., Scheffe K., Monger H.C. (eds): USDA Handbook No. 18. Washington DC, Government Printing Office.
    29. Špulák O., Kacálek D. (2011): History of non-forest land afforestation in the Czech Republic. Zprávy lesnického výzkumu, 56: 49-57. (in Czech)
    30. Středa T., Vlček V., Rožnovský J. (2008): Carbon sequestration in the agroecosystem. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2: 167-174. (in Czech) Go to original source...
    31. Sun H., Nelson M., Chen F., Husch J. (2010): Soil mineral structural water loss during loss on ignition analyses. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 89: 603-610. Go to original source...
    32. Sutherland R.A. (1998): Loss-on-ignition estimates of organic matter and relationships to organic carbon in fluvial bed sediments. Hydrobiologia, 389: 153-167. Go to original source...
    33. Vesterdal L., Ritter E., Gundersen P. (2002): Changes in soil organic carbon following afforestation of former arable land. Forest Ecology and Management, 169: 137-147. Go to original source...
    34. Vopravil J., Podrázský V., Khel T., Holubík O., Vacek S. (2014): Effect of afforestation of agricultural soils and tree species composition on soil physical chracteristics changes. Ekológia Bratislava, 33: 67-80. Go to original source...
    35. Vopravil J., Podrázský V., Batysta M., Novák P., Havelková L., Hrabalíková M. (2015): Identification of agricultural soils suitable for afforestation in the Czech Republic using a soil database. Journal of Forest Science, 61: 141-147. Go to original source...
    36. Vopravil J., Podrázský V., Holubík O., Vacek S., Beitlerová H., Vacek Z. (2017): Principles of Establishment of Stands on Former Agricultural Land in the Framework of Plots Defined for Afforestation. Praha, VUMOP. (in Czech)
    37. Westman C.J., Hytönen J., Wall A. (2006): Loss-on-ignition in the determination of pools of organic carbon in soils of forests and afforested arable fields. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 37: 1059-1075. Go to original source...
    38. Williams D.R., Phalan B., Feniuk C., Green R.E., Balmford A. (2018): Carbon storage and land-use strategies in agricultural landscapes across three continents. Current Biology, 28: 2500-2505. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    39. Wright A.L., Wang Y., Reddy K.R. (2008): Loss-on-ignition method to assess soil organic carbon in calcareous Everglades wetlands. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 39: 3074-3083. Go to original source...
    40. Xu M., Gao D., Fu S., Lu X., Wu S., Han X., Yang G., Feng Y. (2020): Long-term effects of vegetation and soil on the microbial communities following afforestation of farmland with Robinia pseudoacacia plantations. Geoderma, 367: 1-11. Go to original source...
    41. Zhang Q., Jia X., Wei X., Shao M., Li T., Yu Q. (2020): Total soil organic carbon increases but becomes more labile after afforestation in China's Loess Plateau. Forest Ecology and Management, 461: 1-7. Go to original source...
    42. Zhi J., Jing C., Lin S., Zhang C., Liu Q., DeGloria S. D., Wu J. (2014): Estimating soil organic carbon stocks and spatial patterns with statistical and GIS-based methods. PLoS ONE, 9: 1-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content