Background: Landscape features (LF—i.e., the natural and semi-natural areas in agricul- tural landscapes) positively contribute to soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and storage among farmlands. LF-related SOC partitioning still needs context-specific investigation to properly address climate change mitigation goals. Not many studies address LF phytocoenoses traits relation with SOC partitioning. Our study investigates SOC partitioning (total organic carbon [TOC]; labile dissolved organic carbon [DOC]; stable recalcitrant organic carbon [ROC]) between arable fields (AGR) and semi-natural/natural components (NAT: herbaceous field margins, young/mature hedgerows, young/mature woods) in a temperate alluvial pedoclimatic context (Po Plain, North- western Italy). Methods: We compared topsoil SOC and its fractions (0–20 cm depth) between: AGR- NAT sites; hedgerows (HED)-AGR sites; and different ecological quality degrees (phytocoenoses were classified by Biological Territorial Capacity [BTC] values and Index of Vegetation Naturalness categories [IVN]--). Results: Our results confirmed a significantly different SOC partitioning behav- iour between AGR and NAT sites (NAT: +79% TOC; +409% ROC); AGR sites were negatively corre- lated with ROC. TOC was a robust ROC predictor. HED had significantly higher TOC (+71%) and ROC (+395%) compared to arable fields, with the highest values in mature hedgerows. DOC showed contrasted behaviours. A linear regression model on BTC and IVN (predictors) and TOC and ROC showed significant positive relationships, especially for ROC. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the LF role in long-term SOC storage among farmlands, which should be coupled with AGR man- agement (with prevalent short-term SOC fractions). LF ecological quality was a determining factor in total and long-term SOC. Proper LF management is pivotal to aligning climate change mitigation goals with other ecological benefits.
The Contribution of the Management of Landscape Features to Soil Organic Carbon Turnover among Farmlands / G. Chiaffarelli, F. Tambone, I. Vagge. - 8:3(2024 Aug 30), pp. 95.1-95.25. [10.3390/soilsystems8030095]
The Contribution of the Management of Landscape Features to Soil Organic Carbon Turnover among Farmlands
G. Chiaffarelli
Primo
;F. TamboneSecondo
;I. VaggeUltimo
2024
Abstract
Background: Landscape features (LF—i.e., the natural and semi-natural areas in agricul- tural landscapes) positively contribute to soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and storage among farmlands. LF-related SOC partitioning still needs context-specific investigation to properly address climate change mitigation goals. Not many studies address LF phytocoenoses traits relation with SOC partitioning. Our study investigates SOC partitioning (total organic carbon [TOC]; labile dissolved organic carbon [DOC]; stable recalcitrant organic carbon [ROC]) between arable fields (AGR) and semi-natural/natural components (NAT: herbaceous field margins, young/mature hedgerows, young/mature woods) in a temperate alluvial pedoclimatic context (Po Plain, North- western Italy). Methods: We compared topsoil SOC and its fractions (0–20 cm depth) between: AGR- NAT sites; hedgerows (HED)-AGR sites; and different ecological quality degrees (phytocoenoses were classified by Biological Territorial Capacity [BTC] values and Index of Vegetation Naturalness categories [IVN]--). Results: Our results confirmed a significantly different SOC partitioning behav- iour between AGR and NAT sites (NAT: +79% TOC; +409% ROC); AGR sites were negatively corre- lated with ROC. TOC was a robust ROC predictor. HED had significantly higher TOC (+71%) and ROC (+395%) compared to arable fields, with the highest values in mature hedgerows. DOC showed contrasted behaviours. A linear regression model on BTC and IVN (predictors) and TOC and ROC showed significant positive relationships, especially for ROC. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the LF role in long-term SOC storage among farmlands, which should be coupled with AGR man- agement (with prevalent short-term SOC fractions). LF ecological quality was a determining factor in total and long-term SOC. Proper LF management is pivotal to aligning climate change mitigation goals with other ecological benefits.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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