Transformation and Sequestration of Total Organic Carbon in Black Soil under Different Fertilization Regimes with Straw Carbon Inputs

Jiuming Zhang, Jiahui Yuan, Yingxue Zhu, Enjun Kuang, Jiaye Han, Yanxiang Shi, Fengqin Chi, Dan Wei () and Jie Liu ()
Additional contact information
Jiuming Zhang: Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Jiahui Yuan: Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Yingxue Zhu: Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Enjun Kuang: Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Jiaye Han: College of Resources and Environmental Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Yanxiang Shi: College of Resources and Environmental Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Fengqin Chi: Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
Dan Wei: Institute of Plant Nutrition and Resource, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science, Beijing 100097, China
Jie Liu: Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: In the context of the carbon peak and carbon-neutral era, it is crucial to effectively utilize maize straw as a resource for achieving carbon (C) sequestration and emission reduction in rural agriculture. Maize straw carbon undergoes two processes after being added to the soil: mineralization (decomposition) and humification (synthesis) by soil animals and microorganisms. These processes contribute to the reintegration of carbon into the agroecosystem’s carbon cycle. However, understanding of the transformation and stabilization of straw carbon, as well as the differences in C fixation capacity in soils with various fertilization treatments in black soils, remains limited. This study aims to quantify the relationship between straw carbon input and organic carbon sequestration in various fertilization treatments of black soil. Based on a long-term positional fertilization trial (45 years) in black soil, 13 C-labeled maize straw (1.5 g in 120 g of dry soil) was applied and combined with an in situ incubation method using carborundum tubes. Throughout the 360-day trial, we observed the influence of fertilization on soil total organic C levels, organic carbon δ 13 C values, maize straw addition rate, and straw C fixation capacity. The decomposition of straw was most prominent during the initial 60 days of the incubation period, followed by a gradual decrease in the rate of decomposition. Compared with day 0, the SOC δ 13 C value and straw C residue rate were highest in the no-fertilization treatment (CK) after 360 days of incubation. The amount of organic carbon transformed and fixed in the soil was significantly higher in the organic fertilizer treatment (M) compared to other treatments, highlighting the stronger decomposition, transformation, and carbon fixation capacity of straw carbon in the M treatment. Moreover, the highest carbon storage of 43.23 Mg·ha −1 was observed in the M fertilization treatment after 360 days, which was significantly different from other treatments ( p < 0.05). The study demonstrates that soil with low fertility exhibits increased sequestration potential for straw carbon. Additionally, organic fertilizer input would increase soil organic carbon storage and facilitate straw carbon conversion.

Keywords: black soil; long-term fertilization; straw returning; SOC; carbon storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/6/887/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/6/887/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:6:p:887-:d:1408486

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().