Conservation tillage for 17 years alters the molecular composition of organic matter in soil profile

Gao，Qiqi1,2; Ma，Lixiao2; Fang，Yunying3; Zhang，Aiping2; Li，Guichun2; Wang，Junjian4; Wu，Di1; Wu，Wenliang1; Du，Zhangliu1

2021-03-25

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143116

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT   影响因子和分区

0048-9697

1879-1026

Conservation tillage is considered as a potential measure to mitigate climate change by sequestering soil organic matter (SOM), however its stabilization mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we revealed the molecular composition of SOM in soil profile (similar to 50 cm depth) from a 17-yr tillage experiment in North China. The soils were collected from 0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-50 cm layers under conventional tillage (CT), and conservation tillage such as rotary tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT). The sequential solvent extraction and CuO oxidation methods were used to quantify free lipids and lignin-derived phenols. The results showed that NT (cf. CT) increased labile compounds (i.e., carbohydrates) and plant-derived SOM (i.e., long-chain (>= C-20) aliphatic lipids and steroids) in the 0-10 and 30-50 cm layers. The RT (cf. CT) increased the total free lipids by 72-133% in the sublayers (>10 cm). The RT (cf. CT and NT) resulted in higher preservation of plant-derived (>= C-20 aliphatic lipids and steroids) and microbial-derived compounds (= 10 cm). Conservation tillage suppressed lignin degradation, as reflected by 32-137% higher total lignin-derived phenols under RT and NT than CT in the 0-10 and 30-50 cm layers. The NMR revealed higher aliphatic to aromatic C ratio under NT and RT in the whole soil profile, suggesting more aliphatic lipids accumulated. Conservation tillage increased SOC stocks by 10-14% in 0-10 cm layer but not in deeper profiles. These results suggest that conservation tillage have increased plant-derived lipids and lignin accumulation. Our study highlights that conservation tillage (particularly the RT) after 17 years alters SOM molecular compositions and degradation processes in the soil profile. These findings have implications for improving our understanding of C stabilization mechanisms in agroecosystems. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Conservation tillage No-tillage Biomarkers Lipids Lignin Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

Natural Science Foundation of China[41671305]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Environmental Sciences

WOS:000607910300046

ELSEVIER

20204609488328

Stabilization ; Nuclear magnetic resonance ; Lipids ; Phenols ; Biogeochemistry ; Soils ; Solvent extraction ; Climate change ; Copper oxides ; Tillage ; Soil conservation

Atmospheric Properties:443.1 ; Geochemistry:481.2 ; Soils and Soil Mechanics:483.1 ; Biochemistry:801.2 ; Chemical Operations:802.3 ; Organic Compounds:804.1 ; Inorganic Compounds:804.2 ; Cellulose, Lignin and Derivatives:811.3 ; Agricultural Methods:821.3

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.College of Resources and Environmental Sciences,China Agricultural University,Beijing,100193,China
2.Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Beijing,100081,China
3.NSW Department of Primary Industries,Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute,Menangle,2568,Australia
4.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control,School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Gao，Qiqi,Ma，Lixiao,Fang，Yunying,et al. Conservation tillage for 17 years alters the molecular composition of organic matter in soil profile[J]. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,2021,762.

Gao，Qiqi.,Ma，Lixiao.,Fang，Yunying.,Zhang，Aiping.,Li，Guichun.,...&Du，Zhangliu.(2021).Conservation tillage for 17 years alters the molecular composition of organic matter in soil profile.SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,762.

Gao，Qiqi,et al."Conservation tillage for 17 years alters the molecular composition of organic matter in soil profile".SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 762(2021).