Tracking Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Under Organic Management: A Temporal Perspective

Daniel Bragg (), Joan Romanyà, José M. Blanco-Moreno and Francesc Xavier Sans
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Daniel Bragg: Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Joan Romanyà: Department of Biology, Health and Environment, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
José M. Blanco-Moreno: Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Francesc Xavier Sans: Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Understanding the long-term impact of agricultural practices on soil parameters is essential for improving soil quality and sustainability. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and total Nitrogen (N) are key indicators due to their influence on crop productivity, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity. This study assesses the effects of tillage intensity (inversion vs. non-inversion) and organic amendments (manure vs. no manure) on SOC and total N dynamics in Mediterranean rain-fed arable systems. Data were collected over a ten-year field trial (2011–2020) in Catalonia, under cereal–legume rotation and organic management, focusing on two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). Fertilization was the main driver of SOC and N changes. Non-inversion tillage promoted topsoil accumulation and microbial colonization, especially during the first period (2011–2015). The combination of manure and reduced tillage led to faster and greater SOC increases. Moreover, initial SOC levels were negatively related to SOC changes in the topsoil. These results revealed the combination of manure and non-inversion tillage as the more suitable management practice to preserve soil quality in organic arable rain-fed systems, emphasizing the importance of understanding the impact of agricultural management in the long-term under Mediterranean conditions.

Keywords: carbon; nitrogen; microbial biomass; tillage; fertilization; organic farming (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: 2025
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