Soil organic carbon stocks in saline and sodic landscapes

• DOI: 10.1071/sr07160
• Publication Date: 2008-06-23T04:00:48Z
• Authors: Vanessa N. L. Wong; Brian W. Murphy; Terry B. Koen; Richard S. B. Greene; Ram C. Dalal
• Keywords: Soil carbon

Increasing salinity (high levels of water-soluble salts) and sodicity exchangeable sodium) are serious land degradation issues worldwide. In Australia, affect a large proportion the landscape often coincide with agricultural land. Despite areal extent salt-affected soils, both worldwide in few data exist on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks these areas. For this study, level SOC was determined scalded (bare areas without vegetation), scalded-eroded, vegetated, revegetated (i.e. sown pasture) profiles from 2 sites Southern Tablelands region New South Wales, Australia. concentration significantly higher that were vegetated native pasture (1.96–2.71% 0–0.05 m layer) or (2.35% layer), lower those (1.52% scalded-eroded (0.16–0.30% layer). These reflected throughout soils. The to 0.30 also much soils have been affected by sodicity. had 35.2–53.5 t/ha, while 42.1 t/ha. This compares 19.8 t/ha 7.7–11.4 m. presence vegetation ameliorates several properties results differences other between at surface depth.