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Crop traits drive soil carbon sequestration under organic farming

García-Palacios, Pablo ; Gattinger, Andreas ; Bracht-Jørgensen, Helene LU ; Brussaard, Lijbert ; Carvalho, Filipe ; Castro, Helena ; Clément, Jean Christophe ; De Deyn, Gerlinde ; D'Hertefeldt, Tina LU and Foulquier, Arnaud , et al. (2018) In Journal of Applied Ecology 55(5). p.2496-2505
Abstract

Organic farming (OF) enhances top soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in croplands compared with conventional farming (CF), which can contribute to sequester C. As farming system differences in the amount of C inputs to soil (e.g. fertilization and crop residues) are not enough to explain such increase, shifts in crop residue traits important for soil C losses such as litter decomposition may also play a role. To assess whether crop residue (leaf and root) traits determined SOC sequestration responses to OF, we coupled a global meta-analysis with field measurements across a European-wide network of sites. In the meta-analysis, we related crop species averages of leaf N, leaf-dry matter content, fine-root C and N, with SOC stocks and... (More)

Organic farming (OF) enhances top soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in croplands compared with conventional farming (CF), which can contribute to sequester C. As farming system differences in the amount of C inputs to soil (e.g. fertilization and crop residues) are not enough to explain such increase, shifts in crop residue traits important for soil C losses such as litter decomposition may also play a role. To assess whether crop residue (leaf and root) traits determined SOC sequestration responses to OF, we coupled a global meta-analysis with field measurements across a European-wide network of sites. In the meta-analysis, we related crop species averages of leaf N, leaf-dry matter content, fine-root C and N, with SOC stocks and sequestration responses in OF vs. CF. Across six European sites, we measured the management-induced changes in SOC stocks and leaf litter traits after long-term ecological intensive (e.g. OF) vs. CF comparisons. Our global meta-analysis showed that the positive OF-effects on soil respiration, SOC stocks, and SOC sequestration rates were significant even in organic farms with low manure application rates. Although fertilization intensity was the main driver of OF-effects on SOC, leaf and root N concentrations also played a significant role. Across the six European sites, changes towards higher leaf litter N in CF also promoted lower SOC stocks. Our results highlight that crop species displaying traits indicative of resource-acquisitive strategies (e.g. high leaf and root N) increase the difference in SOC between OF and CF. Indeed, changes towards higher crop residue decomposability was related with decreased SOC stocks under CF across European sites. Synthesis and applications. Our study emphasizes that, with management, changes in crop residue traits contribute to the positive effects of organic farming (OF) on soil carbon sequestration. These results provide a clear message to land managers: the choice of crop species, and more importantly their functional traits (e.g. leave and root nitrogen), should be considered in addition to management practices and climate, when evaluating the potential of OF for climate change mitigation.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
climate change mitigation, crop residue, ecological intensification, leaf nitrogen, meta-analysis, organic farming, resource economics traits, soil carbon stocks
in
Journal of Applied Ecology
volume
55
issue
5
pages
2496 - 2505
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85046746585
ISSN
0021-8901
DOI
10.1111/1365-2664.13113
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3875065d-1b0c-4ec5-99ce-98047493f1fe
date added to LUP
2018-11-15 08:08:18
date last changed
2022-08-17 22:02:24
@article{3875065d-1b0c-4ec5-99ce-98047493f1fe,
  abstract     = {{<p>Organic farming (OF) enhances top soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in croplands compared with conventional farming (CF), which can contribute to sequester C. As farming system differences in the amount of C inputs to soil (e.g. fertilization and crop residues) are not enough to explain such increase, shifts in crop residue traits important for soil C losses such as litter decomposition may also play a role. To assess whether crop residue (leaf and root) traits determined SOC sequestration responses to OF, we coupled a global meta-analysis with field measurements across a European-wide network of sites. In the meta-analysis, we related crop species averages of leaf N, leaf-dry matter content, fine-root C and N, with SOC stocks and sequestration responses in OF vs. CF. Across six European sites, we measured the management-induced changes in SOC stocks and leaf litter traits after long-term ecological intensive (e.g. OF) vs. CF comparisons. Our global meta-analysis showed that the positive OF-effects on soil respiration, SOC stocks, and SOC sequestration rates were significant even in organic farms with low manure application rates. Although fertilization intensity was the main driver of OF-effects on SOC, leaf and root N concentrations also played a significant role. Across the six European sites, changes towards higher leaf litter N in CF also promoted lower SOC stocks. Our results highlight that crop species displaying traits indicative of resource-acquisitive strategies (e.g. high leaf and root N) increase the difference in SOC between OF and CF. Indeed, changes towards higher crop residue decomposability was related with decreased SOC stocks under CF across European sites. Synthesis and applications. Our study emphasizes that, with management, changes in crop residue traits contribute to the positive effects of organic farming (OF) on soil carbon sequestration. These results provide a clear message to land managers: the choice of crop species, and more importantly their functional traits (e.g. leave and root nitrogen), should be considered in addition to management practices and climate, when evaluating the potential of OF for climate change mitigation.</p>}},
  author       = {{García-Palacios, Pablo and Gattinger, Andreas and Bracht-Jørgensen, Helene and Brussaard, Lijbert and Carvalho, Filipe and Castro, Helena and Clément, Jean Christophe and De Deyn, Gerlinde and D'Hertefeldt, Tina and Foulquier, Arnaud and Hedlund, Katarina and Lavorel, Sandra and Legay, Nicolas and Lori, Martina and Mäder, Paul and Martínez-García, Laura B. and Martins da Silva, Pedro and Muller, Adrian and Nascimento, Eduardo and Reis, Filipa and Symanczik, Sarah and Paulo Sousa, José and Milla, Rubén}},
  issn         = {{0021-8901}},
  keywords     = {{climate change mitigation; crop residue; ecological intensification; leaf nitrogen; meta-analysis; organic farming; resource economics traits; soil carbon stocks}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{2496--2505}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Applied Ecology}},
  title        = {{Crop traits drive soil carbon sequestration under organic farming}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13113}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/1365-2664.13113}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}