Effect of topsoil dilution on stabilization of plant derived carbon (dataset)

Tillage erosion, i.e. the incorporation of subsoil into topsoil, often occurs in hilly croplands but up to now effect of tillage erosion on the fate of plant material remains poorly understood. We conducted an incubation experiment comparing topsoil, diluted topsoil and subsoil from an erosion effected field site in Germany. 14CO2 respiration was traced over a period of 33 days after addition of 14C labelled plant residues and 14C incorporation into several C fractions was studied. Topsoil and diluted topsoil showed increased C turnover compared to subsoil. The addition of plant residues induced increased decomposition of native soil organic matter, resulting in a priming effect of similar magnitudes in all treatments. In terms of carbon fractionation, topsoil dilution primarily affected the POM and MAOM fractions, with a decline in the order of topsoil diluted subsoil. Plant derived C was preferentially stabilized in the MAOM fraction, especially in subsoils, indicating potential for C stabilization in these soils. Overall, we observed small effects of topsoil dilution on soil C storage. Further studies are needed to test the effectiveness of topsoil dilution for long-term C sequestration and to understand how the mineral composition of subsoils influences C storage after dilution.

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Dataset version 1.0