Deep-rooted perennial crops differ in capacity to stabilize C inputs in deep soil layers
2022 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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Deep-rooted perennial crops differ in capacity to stabilize C inputs in deep soil layers
Peixoto, L.; Olesen, J. E.; Elsgaard, L.; Enggrob, K. L.; Banfield, C. C.; Dippold, M. A. & Nicolaisen, M. H. et al. (2022)
Scientific Reports, 12(1) art. 5952. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09737-1
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Details
- Authors
- Peixoto, Leanne; Olesen, Jørgen E.; Elsgaard, Lars; Enggrob, Kirsten Lønne; Banfield, Callum C.; Dippold, Michaela A.; Nicolaisen, Mette Haubjerg; Bak, Frederik; Zang, Huadong; Dresbøll, Dorte Bodin; Rasmussen, Jim
- Abstract
- Abstract Comprehensive climate change mitigation necessitates soil carbon (C) storage in cultivated terrestrial ecosystems. Deep-rooted perennial crops may help to turn agricultural soils into efficient C sinks, especially in deeper soil layers. Here, we compared C allocation and potential stabilization to 150 cm depth from two functionally distinct deep-rooted perennials, i.e., lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) and intermediate wheatgrass (kernza; Thinopyrum intermedium ), representing legume and non-legume crops, respectively. Belowground C input and stabilization was decoupled from nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate in kernza (100 and 200 kg mineral N ha −1 ), with no direct link between increasing mineral N fertilization, rhizodeposited C, and microbial C stabilization. Further, both crops displayed a high ability to bring C to deeper soil layers and remarkably, the N 2 -fixing lucerne showed greater potential to induce microbial C stabilization than the non-legume kernza. Lucerne stimulated greater microbial biomass and abundance of N cycling genes in rhizosphere soil, likely linked to greater amino acid rhizodeposition, hence underlining the importance of coupled C and N for microbial C stabilization efficiency. Inclusion of legumes in perennial cropping systems is not only key for improved productivity at low fertilizer N inputs, but also appears critical for enhancing soil C stabilization, in particular in N limited deep subsoils.
Abstract Comprehensive climate change mitigation necessitates soil carbon (C) storage in cultivated terrestrial ecosystems. Deep-rooted perennial crops may help to turn agricultural soils into efficient C sinks, especially in deeper soil layers. Here, we compared C allocation and potential stabilization to 150 cm depth from two functionally distinct deep-rooted perennials, i.e., lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) and intermediate wheatgrass (kernza; Thinopyrum intermedium ), representing legume and non-legume crops, respectively. Belowground C input and stabilization was decoupled from nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate in kernza (100 and 200 kg mineral N ha −1 ), with no direct link between increasing mineral N fertilization, rhizodeposited C, and microbial C stabilization. Further, both crops displayed a high ability to bring C to deeper soil layers and remarkably, the N 2 -fixing lucerne showed greater potential to induce microbial C stabilization than the non-legume kernza. Lucerne stimulated greater microbial biomass and abundance of N cycling genes in rhizosphere soil, likely linked to greater amino acid rhizodeposition, hence underlining the importance of coupled C and N for microbial C stabilization efficiency. Inclusion of legumes in perennial cropping systems is not only key for improved productivity at low fertilizer N inputs, but also appears critical for enhancing soil C stabilization, in particular in N limited deep subsoils. - Issue Date
- 2022
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- eISSN
- 2045-2322
- Language
- English
- Sponsor
- Villum Fonden