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The effect of crop residues, cover crops, manures and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic carbon changes in agroecosystems: a synthesis of reviews

Author

Listed:
  • Martin A. Bolinder

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU))

  • Felicity Crotty

    (Royal Agricultural University)

  • Annemie Elsen

    (Bodemkundige Dienst vanBelgië (BDB))

  • Magdalena Frac

    (Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Tamás Kismányoky

    (University of Pannonia)

  • Jerzy Lipiec

    (Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Mia Tits

    (Bodemkundige Dienst vanBelgië (BDB))

  • Zoltán Tóth

    (University of Pannonia)

  • Thomas Kätterer

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU))

Abstract

International initiatives are emphasizing the capture of atmospheric CO2 in soil organic C (SOC) to reduce the climatic footprint from agroecosystems. One approach to quantify the contribution of management practices towards that goal is through analysis of long-term experiments (LTEs). Our objectives were to analyze knowledge gained in literature reviews on SOC changes in LTEs, to evaluate the results regarding interactions with pedo-climatological factors, and to discuss disparities among reviews in data selection criteria. We summarized mean response ratios (RRs) and stock change rate (SCR) effect size indices from twenty reviews using paired comparisons (N). The highest RRs were found with manure applications (30%, N = 418), followed by aboveground crop residue retention and the use of cover crops (9–10%, N = 995 and 129), while the effect of nitrogen fertilization was lowest (6%, N = 846). SCR for nitrogen fertilization exceeded that for aboveground crop residue retention (233 versus 117 kg C ha−1 year−1, N = 183 and 279) and was highest for manure applications and cover crops (409 and 331 kg C ha−1 year−1, N = 217 and 176). When data allows, we recommend calculating both RR and SCR because it improves the interpretation. Our synthesis shows that results are not always consistent among reviews and that interaction with texture and climate remain inconclusive. Selection criteria for study durations are highly variable, resulting in irregular conclusions for the effect of time on changes in SOC. We also discuss the relationships of SOC changes with yield and cropping systems, as well as conceptual problems when scaling-up results obtained from field studies to regional levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin A. Bolinder & Felicity Crotty & Annemie Elsen & Magdalena Frac & Tamás Kismányoky & Jerzy Lipiec & Mia Tits & Zoltán Tóth & Thomas Kätterer, 2020. "The effect of crop residues, cover crops, manures and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic carbon changes in agroecosystems: a synthesis of reviews," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 929-952, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:25:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1007_s11027-020-09916-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-020-09916-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henryson, Kajsa & Sundberg, Cecilia & Kätterer, Thomas & Hansson, Per-Anders, 2018. "Accounting for long-term soil fertility effects when assessing the climate impact of crop cultivation," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 185-192.
    2. Fei Lu, 2015. "How can straw incorporation management impact on soil carbon storage? A meta-analysis," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 20(8), pages 1545-1568, December.
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    2. Barrios Latorre, Sergio Alejandro & Aronsson, Helena & Björnsson, Lovisa & Viketoft, Maria & Prade, Thomas, 2024. "Exploring the benefits of intermediate crops: Is it possible to offset soil organic carbon losses caused by crop residue removal?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    3. Taghikhah, Firouzeh & Borevitz, Justin & Costanza, Robert & Voinov, Alexey, 2022. "DAESim: A dynamic agro-ecosystem simulation model for natural capital assessment," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 468(C).
    4. Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal & Vivek Sharma & Arvind Kumar Shukla & Rajeev Kumar Gupta & Vibha Verma & Manmeet Kaur & Sanjib Kumar Behera & Prabhjot Singh, 2023. "Residual Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Wheat under a Basmati Rice–Wheat Cropping System in North-Western India," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Damien Beillouin & Marc Corbeels & Julien Demenois & David Berre & Annie Boyer & Abigail Fallot & Frédéric Feder & Rémi Cardinael, 2023. "A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Jerzy Lipiec & Bogusław Usowicz, 2021. "Quantifying Cereal Productivity on Sandy Soil in Response to Some Soil-Improving Cropping Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Gábor Csitári & Zoltán Tóth & Mónika Kökény, 2021. "Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Aggregate Stability and Microbial Biomass in a Long-Term Fertilization Experiment (IOSDV)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-14, August.
    8. George Bilas & Nikolaos Karapetsas & Anne Gobin & Konstantinos Mesdanitis & Gergely Toth & Tamás Hermann & Yaosheng Wang & Liangguo Luo & Thomas M. Koutsos & Dimitrios Moshou & Thomas K. Alexandridis, 2022. "Land Suitability Analysis as a Tool for Evaluating Soil-Improving Cropping Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Jantiene E. M. Baartman & Joao Pedro Nunes & Hedwig van Delden & Roel Vanhout & Luuk Fleskens, 2022. "The Effects of Soil Improving Cropping Systems (SICS) on Soil Erosion and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks across Europe: A Simulation Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-28, June.
    10. Julia B. Block & Daniel Hermann & Oliver Mußhoff, 2024. "Agricultural soils in climate change mitigation: comparing action-based and results-based programmes for carbon sequestration," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(8), pages 1-21, August.
    11. Amit P. Timilsina & Garrett Steinbeck & Ajay Shah & Sami Khanal, 2024. "Assessing the Multifaceted Tradeoffs of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Ecosystem Services in the Midwest U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.

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