Long-Term Grassland Intensification Impacts on Particle-Size Soil Carbon Fractions: Evidence from Carbon-13 Abundance

• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2014.11.0445
• Publication Date: 2015-06-05T17:14:47Z
• Authors: Julius B. Adewopo; Maria L. Silveira; Sutie Xu; Stefan Gerber; Lynn E. Sollenberger; Tim Martin
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; 15. Life on land

Proper management of grassland ecosystems for improved productivity can enhance their potential to sequester atmospheric CO₂ in the soil. However, the direction and extent of soil C changes in response to improved grassland management or land-use conversion varies depending on the ecoregion or management practice. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the long-term (>20-yr) impact of grassland management intensification on soil C fractions after conversion of native rangelands to silvopasture and sown pasture ecosystems; and (ii) determine the contribution of sown grass species to soil C sequestration in both the labile and more stable soil C fractions. Experimental sites consisted of a gradient of management intensities ranging from native rangeland (lowest), to silvopasture (intermediate), to sown pasture (highest). After 22 yr following land-use conversion from native rangeland to silvopasture or sown pasture, total soil C stocks (0–30-cm depth) were greater under silvopasture (69.2 Mg C ha⁻¹) and sown pasture (62.0 Mg C ha⁻¹) than native rangeland (40.9 Mg ha⁻¹). Conversion to sown pasture increased particulate organic C concentration (10.6 g C kg⁻¹) compared with native rangeland (6.3 g C kg⁻¹), while silvopasture increased the mineral-associated C fraction (5.7 vs. 10 g C kg⁻¹ for native rangeland and silvopasture, respectively). Isotopic analysis indicated that the C₄ grass component contributed significantly to soil C accumulation within these ecosystems. Data also showed that grassland management intensification has the potential to promote soil C sequestration, and the use of strategic management practices such as integration of trees can improve soil C stability under similar subtropical conditions.