TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil carbon sequestration with continuous no-till management of grain cropping systems in the Virginia coastal plain
AU - Spargo, John T.
AU - Alley, Marcus M.
AU - Follett, Ronald F.
AU - Wallace, James V.
N1 - Funding Information:
Our appreciation is extended to all of the producer cooperators for giving us access to farm fields to collect soil samples and providing us with management history. Without their help, this work would not have been possible. The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions. Financial support for this research was provided by the USDA-NRCS through a Conservation Innovation Grant, the Virginia Agricultural Council, and Phillip Morris USA.
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - Carbon sequestration in agroecosystems represents a significant opportunity to offset a portion of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Climatic conditions in the Virginia coastal plain and modern production practices make it possible for high annual photosynthetic CO2 fixation. There is potential to sequester a substantial amount of C, and concomitantly improve soil quality, with the elimination of tillage for crop production in this region. The objectives of our research were to: (1) measure C sequestration rate with continuous no-till management of grain cropping systems of the Virginia middle coastal plain; (2) determine the influence of biosolids application history on C content and its interaction with tillage management; and (3) evaluate the impact of continuous no-till C stratification as an indicator of soil quality. Samples were collected from 63 sites in production fields using a rotation of corn (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)/soybean double-crop (Glysine max L.) across three soil series [Bojac (coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults), Altavista (fine-loamy, mixed semiactive, thermic Aquic Hapludults), and Kempsville (fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludults)] with a history of continuous no-till management ranging from 0 to 14 years. Thirty-two of the sites had a history of biosolids application. Five soil cores were collected at each site from 0-2.5, 2.5-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm and analyzed for bulk density and soil C. Bulk density in the 0-2.5 cm layer decreased and C stratification ratio (0-2.5 cm:7.5-15 cm) increased with increasing duration of continuous no-till due to the accumulation of organic matter at the soil surface. A history of biosolids application resulted in an increase of 4.19 ± 1.93 Mg C ha-1 (0-15 cm). Continuous no-till resulted in the sequestration of 0.308 ± 0.280 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 (0-15 cm). Our results provide quantitative validation of the C sequestration rate and improved soil quality with continuous no-till management in the region using on-farm observations.
AB - Carbon sequestration in agroecosystems represents a significant opportunity to offset a portion of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Climatic conditions in the Virginia coastal plain and modern production practices make it possible for high annual photosynthetic CO2 fixation. There is potential to sequester a substantial amount of C, and concomitantly improve soil quality, with the elimination of tillage for crop production in this region. The objectives of our research were to: (1) measure C sequestration rate with continuous no-till management of grain cropping systems of the Virginia middle coastal plain; (2) determine the influence of biosolids application history on C content and its interaction with tillage management; and (3) evaluate the impact of continuous no-till C stratification as an indicator of soil quality. Samples were collected from 63 sites in production fields using a rotation of corn (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)/soybean double-crop (Glysine max L.) across three soil series [Bojac (coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults), Altavista (fine-loamy, mixed semiactive, thermic Aquic Hapludults), and Kempsville (fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludults)] with a history of continuous no-till management ranging from 0 to 14 years. Thirty-two of the sites had a history of biosolids application. Five soil cores were collected at each site from 0-2.5, 2.5-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm and analyzed for bulk density and soil C. Bulk density in the 0-2.5 cm layer decreased and C stratification ratio (0-2.5 cm:7.5-15 cm) increased with increasing duration of continuous no-till due to the accumulation of organic matter at the soil surface. A history of biosolids application resulted in an increase of 4.19 ± 1.93 Mg C ha-1 (0-15 cm). Continuous no-till resulted in the sequestration of 0.308 ± 0.280 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 (0-15 cm). Our results provide quantitative validation of the C sequestration rate and improved soil quality with continuous no-till management in the region using on-farm observations.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.still.2008.05.010
DO - 10.1016/j.still.2008.05.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:49849105383
SN - 0167-1987
VL - 100
SP - 133
EP - 140
JO - Soil and Tillage Research
JF - Soil and Tillage Research
IS - 1-2
ER -