Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-523-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-523-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Short communication
| 
14 Jul 2025
Short communication |
| 14 Jul 2025
| 14 Jul 2025
Measurement of greenhouse gas fluxes in agricultural soils with a flexible, open-design automated system
Samuel Franco-Luesma
Soil and Water Department, Experimental Station of Aula Dei, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
María Alonso-Ayuso
Soil and Water Department, Experimental Station of Aula Dei, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
Agricultural Technological Institute of Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
Benjamin Wolf
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Borja Latorre
Soil and Water Department, Experimental Station of Aula Dei, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Soil and Water Department, Experimental Station of Aula Dei, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
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Fawad Khan, Samuel Franco Luesma, Frederik Hartmann, Michael Dannenmann, Rainer Gasche, Clemens Scheer, Andreas Gattinger, Wiebke Niether, Elizabeth Gachibu Wangari, Ricky Mwangada Mwanake, Ralf Kiese, and Benjamin Wolf
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-292, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-292, 2025
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Crop rotations with legumes and use of organic and mineral fertilizers show potential to reduce agricultural N losses. This study examined N losses, including direct N2 flux, on two adjacent sites with different management history: organic farming (OF) with legume cultivation and integrated farming (IF) using synthetic and organic N inputs. IF increased soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, 15N recovery and showed a balanced N budget, i.e., more efficient N cycling compared to OF.
Roxanne Daelman, Marijn Bauters, Matti Barthel, Emmanuel Bulonza, Lodewijk Lefevre, José Mbifo, Johan Six, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Benjamin Wolf, Ralf Kiese, and Pascal Boeckx
Biogeosciences, 22, 1529–1542, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1529-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1529-2025, 2025
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The increase in atmospheric concentrations of several greenhouse gases (GHGs) since 1750 is attributed to human activity. However, natural ecosystems, such as tropical forests, also contribute to GHG budgets. The Congo Basin hosts the second largest tropical forest and is understudied. In this study, measurements of soil GHG exchange were carried out during 16 months in a tropical forest in the Congo Basin. Overall, the soil acted as a major source of CO2 and N2O and a minor sink of CH4.
Fawad Khan, Samuel Franco Luesma, Frederik Hartmann, Michael Dannenmann, Rainer Gasche, Clemens Scheer, Andreas Gattinger, Wiebke Niether, Elizabeth Gachibu Wangari, Ricky Mwangada Mwanake, Ralf Kiese, and Benjamin Wolf
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-292, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-292, 2025
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Crop rotations with legumes and use of organic and mineral fertilizers show potential to reduce agricultural N losses. This study examined N losses, including direct N2 flux, on two adjacent sites with different management history: organic farming (OF) with legume cultivation and integrated farming (IF) using synthetic and organic N inputs. IF increased soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, 15N recovery and showed a balanced N budget, i.e., more efficient N cycling compared to OF.
Laurent Lassabatere, Pierre-Emmanuel Peyneau, Deniz Yilmaz, Joseph Pollacco, Jesús Fernández-Gálvez, Borja Latorre, David Moret-Fernández, Simone Di Prima, Mehdi Rahmati, Ryan D. Stewart, Majdi Abou Najm, Claude Hammecker, and Rafael Angulo-Jaramillo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 895–915, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-895-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-895-2023, 2023
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Sorptivity is one of the most important parameters for quantifying water infiltration into soils. In this study, we propose a mixed formulation that avoids numerical issues and allows for the computation of sorptivity for all types of models chosen for describing the soil hydraulic functions and all initial and final conditions. We show the benefits of using the mixed formulation with regard to modeling water infiltration into soils.
Laurent Lassabatere, Pierre-Emmanuel Peyneau, Deniz Yilmaz, Joseph Pollacco, Jesús Fernández-Gálvez, Borja Latorre, David Moret-Fernández, Simone Di Prima, Mehdi Rahmati, Ryan D. Stewart, Majdi Abou Najm, Claude Hammecker, and Rafael Angulo-Jaramillo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5083–5104, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5083-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5083-2021, 2021
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Soil sorptivity is a crucial parameter for the modeling of water infiltration into soils. The standard equation used to compute sorptivity from the soil water retention curve, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and initial and final water contents may lead to erroneous estimates due to its complexity. This study proposes a new straightforward scaling procedure for estimations of sorptivity for four famous and commonly used hydraulic models.
Lutz Merbold, Charlotte Decock, Werner Eugster, Kathrin Fuchs, Benjamin Wolf, Nina Buchmann, and Lukas Hörtnagl
Biogeosciences, 18, 1481–1498, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1481-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1481-2021, 2021
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Our study investigated the exchange of the three major greenhouse gases (GHGs) over a temperate grassland prior to and after restoration through tillage in central Switzerland. Our results show that irregular management events, such as tillage, have considerable effects on GHG emissions in the year of tillage while leading to enhanced carbon uptake and similar nitrogen losses via nitrous oxide in the years following tillage to those observed prior to tillage.
Asma Jebari, Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes, Guillermo Pardo, María Almagro, and Agustin del Prado
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-76, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-76, 2020
Manuscript not accepted for further review
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In order to ensure climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration by temperate grasslands, we suggested modifications to soil organic carbon model to be more adapted to grassland-based livestock systems under humid temperate conditions. The modifications do not impair the performance of the model under temperate conditions and so represent a broadening in its capability. It could be a useful tool for policy makers to develop effective strategies to reduce climate change effect.
Stephen J. Harris, Jesper Liisberg, Longlong Xia, Jing Wei, Kerstin Zeyer, Longfei Yu, Matti Barthel, Benjamin Wolf, Bryce F. J. Kelly, Dioni I. Cendón, Thomas Blunier, Johan Six, and Joachim Mohn
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 2797–2831, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2797-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2797-2020, 2020
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The latest commercial laser spectrometers have the potential to revolutionize N2O isotope analysis. However, to do so, they must be able to produce trustworthy data. Here, we test the performance of widely used laser spectrometers for ambient air applications and identify instrument-specific dependencies on gas matrix and trace gas concentrations. We then provide a calibration workflow to facilitate the operation of these instruments in order to generate reproducible and accurate data.
Martin Kunz, Jost V. Lavric, Rainer Gasche, Christoph Gerbig, Richard H. Grant, Frank-Thomas Koch, Marcus Schumacher, Benjamin Wolf, and Matthias Zeeman
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 1671–1692, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1671-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1671-2020, 2020
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The nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) budget method enables the quantification of gas fluxes between ecosystems and the atmosphere under nocturnal stable stratification, a condition under which standard approaches struggle. However, up to now the application of the NBL method has been limited by difficulties in obtaining the required measurements. We show how an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) equipped with a carbon dioxide analyser can make this method more accessible.
Miquel Tomas-Burguera, Sergio M. Vicente-Serrano, Santiago Beguería, Fergus Reig, and Borja Latorre
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 1917–1930, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1917-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1917-2019, 2019
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A database of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was obtained and made publicly available for Spain covering the 1961–2014 period at a spatial resolution of 1.1 km. Previous to ETo calculation, data of required climate variables were interpolated and validated, and the uncertainty was estimated. Obtained ETo values can be used to calculate irrigation requirements, improve drought studies (our main motivation) and study the impact of climate change, as a positive trend was detected.
Erkan Ibraim, Benjamin Wolf, Eliza Harris, Rainer Gasche, Jing Wei, Longfei Yu, Ralf Kiese, Sarah Eggleston, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Matthias Zeeman, Béla Tuzson, Lukas Emmenegger, Johan Six, Stephan Henne, and Joachim Mohn
Biogeosciences, 16, 3247–3266, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3247-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3247-2019, 2019
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Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas and the major stratospheric ozone-depleting substance; therefore, mitigation of anthropogenic N2O emissions is needed. To trace N2O-emitting source processes, in this study, we observed N2O isotopocules above an intensively managed grassland research site with a recently developed laser spectroscopy method. Our results indicate that the domain of denitrification or nitrifier denitrification was the major N2O source.
Marta Angulo-Martínez, Santiago Beguería, Borja Latorre, and María Fernández-Raga
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2811–2837, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2811-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2811-2018, 2018
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Two optical disdrometers, OTT Parsivel2 disdrometer and Thies Clima laser precipitation monitor (LPM), are compared. Analysis of 2 years of one-minute replicated data showed significant differences. Thies LPM recorded a larger number of particles than Parsivel2 and a higher proportion of small particles, resulting in higher rain rates and amounts and differences in radar reflectivity and kinetic energy. Possible causes for these differences, and their practical consequences, are discussed.
Caroline Brosy, Karina Krampf, Matthias Zeeman, Benjamin Wolf, Wolfgang Junkermann, Klaus Schäfer, Stefan Emeis, and Harald Kunstmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 2773–2784, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2773-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2773-2017, 2017
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Vertical and horizontal sounding of the planetary boundary layer can be complemented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Utilizing a multicopter-type UAV spatial sampling of air and simultaneously sensing of meteorological variables is possible for the study of surface exchange processes. During stable atmospheric conditions, vertical methane gradients of about 300 ppb were found. This approach extended the vertical profile height of existing tower-based infrastructure by a factor of five.
B. Wolf, L. Merbold, C. Decock, B. Tuzson, E. Harris, J. Six, L. Emmenegger, and J. Mohn
Biogeosciences, 12, 2517–2531, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2517-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2517-2015, 2015
G. J. Luo, R. Kiese, B. Wolf, and K. Butterbach-Bahl
Biogeosciences, 10, 3205–3219, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3205-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3205-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Soils and global change
Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials
Missing the input: the underrepresentation of plant physiology in global soil carbon research
Large errors in soil carbon measurements attributed to inconsistent sample processing
Research at the interface between Indigenous knowledge and soil science; weaving knowledges to understand horticultural land use in Aotearoa New Zealand
Soil is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
Impact of crop type on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a rewetted cultivated peatland
Thermodynamic and hydrological drivers of the soil and bedrock thermal regimes in central Spain
The effect of different biopreparations on soil physical properties and CO2 emissions when growing winter wheat and oilseed rape
Earthworm-invaded boreal forest soils harbour distinct microbial communities
Back to the future? Conservative grassland management can preserve soil health in the changing landscapes of Uruguay
Effects of a warmer climate and forest composition on soil carbon cycling, soil organic matter stability and stocks in a humid boreal region
Effects of mild alternate wetting and drying irrigation and rice straw application on N2O emissions in rice cultivation
Whole-soil warming decreases abundance and modifies the community structure of microorganisms in the subsoil but not in surface soil
Short- and long-term temperature responses of soil denitrifier net N2O efflux rates, inter-profile N2O dynamics, and microbial genetic potentials
Acute glyphosate exposure does not condition the response of microbial communities to a dry–rewetting disturbance in a soil with a long history of glyphosate-based herbicides
Depletion of soil carbon and aggregation after strong warming of a subarctic Andosol under forest and grassland cover
Effect of deforestation and subsequent land use management on soil carbon stocks in the South American Chaco
The effects of worms, clay and biochar on CO2 emissions during production and soil application of co-composts
Climate and soil factors influencing seedling recruitment of plant species used for dryland restoration
A call for international soil experiment networks for studying, predicting, and managing global change impacts
Global distribution of soil organic carbon – Part 2: Certainty of changes related to land use and climate
The economics of soil C sequestration and agricultural emissions abatement
Victoria Nasser, René Dechow, Mirjam Helfrich, Ana Meijide, Pauline Sophie Rummel, Heinz-Josef Koch, Reiner Ruser, Lisa Essich, and Klaus Dittert
SOIL, 11, 489–506, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-489-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-489-2025, 2025
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This study evaluated the impact of contrasting cover crops on topsoil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N2O emissions, and carbon (C) sequestration. Non-legume cover crops reduced SMN levels, showed potential for mitigating indirect N2O emissions, and increased C sequestration but did not reduce cumulative N2O emissions compared to fallow. The results highlight the need for tailored cover crop strategies to balance SMN capture, N2O emissions, and C sequestration effectively.
Sajjad Raza, Hannah V. Cooper, Nicholas T. Girkin, Matthew S. Kent, Malcolm J. Bennett, Sacha J. Mooney, and Tino Colombi
SOIL, 11, 363–369, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-363-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-363-2025, 2025
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Plant physiology has been addressed by less than 10 % of peer-reviewed soil organic carbon research published in the last century. Thus, our understanding of soil carbon dynamics is overwhelmingly built on research that neglects the fundamental processes underlying organic carbon inputs. Active engagement of plant scientists in soil carbon research is imperative for shedding light on this blind spot and developing holistic policies that support soil carbon sequestration.
Rebecca J. Even, Megan B. Machmuller, Jocelyn M. Lavallee, Tamara J. Zelikova, and M. Francesca Cotrufo
SOIL, 11, 17–34, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-17-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-17-2025, 2025
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We conducted a service soil laboratory comparison study and tested the individual effect of common sieving, grinding, drying, and quantification methods on total, inorganic, and organic soil carbon (C) measurements. We found that inter-lab variability is large and each soil processing step impacts C measurement accuracy and/or precision. Standardizing soil processing methods is needed to ensure C measurements are accurate and precise, especially for C credit allocation and model calibration.
Julie Gillespie, Matiu Payne, Dione Payne, Sarah Edwards, Dyanna Jolly, Carol Smith, and Jo-Anne Cavanagh
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3546, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3546, 2024
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Addressing soil health and food security challenges requires weaving different ways of knowing. This paper presents a case study from New Zealand, showing how combining soil science with mātauraka Māori (Māori knowledge) helps reveal past food growing practices, guiding efforts to restore traditional horticulture and enhance Māori soil health. This study also offers a practical example of integrating knowledge systems to tackle complex environmental issues in real-world contexts.
Peter M. Kopittke, Ram C. Dalal, Brigid A. McKenna, Pete Smith, Peng Wang, Zhe Weng, Frederik J. T. van der Bom, and Neal W. Menzies
SOIL, 10, 873–885, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-873-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-873-2024, 2024
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Soil produces 98.8 % of the calories consumed by humans, but the contribution that the anthropogenic use of soil makes to global warming is not clear. We show that soil has contributed 15 % of the total global warming caused by well-mixed greenhouse gases. Thus, our finding that soil is a substantial contributor to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions represents a "wicked problem" – how do we continue to increase food production from soil whilst also decreasing emissions?
Kristiina Lång, Henri Honkanen, Jaakko Heikkinen, Sanna Saarnio, Tuula Larmola, and Hanna Kekkonen
SOIL, 10, 827–841, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-827-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-827-2024, 2024
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We studied greenhouse (GHG) gas fluxes at an agricultural peat soil site with willow, forage and set-aside. The mean annual water table rose from 80 to 30 cm in 2019–2022. Raising the water table slowed down annual CO2 emissions. CH4 fluxes changed from uptake to emissions, and nitrous oxide emissions decreased towards the end of the experiment. The total greenhouse gas balance was relatively high, highlighting the challenge in mitigating emissions from cultivated peatlands.
Félix García-Pereira, Jesús Fidel González-Rouco, Thomas Schmid, Camilo Melo-Aguilar, Cristina Vegas-Cañas, Norman Julius Steinert, Pedro José Roldán-Gómez, Francisco José Cuesta-Valero, Almudena García-García, Hugo Beltrami, and Philipp de Vrese
SOIL, 10, 1–21, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-1-2024, 2024
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This work addresses air–ground temperature coupling and propagation into the subsurface in a mountainous area in central Spain using surface and subsurface data from six meteorological stations. Heat transfer of temperature changes at the ground surface occurs mainly by conduction controlled by thermal diffusivity of the subsurface, which varies with depth and time. A new methodology shows that near-surface diffusivity and soil moisture content changes with time are closely related.
Sidona Buragienė, Egidijus Šarauskis, Aida Adamavičienė, Kęstutis Romaneckas, Kristina Lekavičienė, Daiva Rimkuvienė, and Vilma Naujokienė
SOIL, 9, 593–608, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-593-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-593-2023, 2023
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different biopreparations on soil porosity, temperature, and CO2 emission from the soil in northeast Europe (Lithuania) when growing food-type crops. The application of the biopreparations showed a cumulative effect on the soil properties. In the third year of the study, the total porosity of the soil was higher in all scenarios compared to the control, ranging between 51% and 74%.
Justine Lejoly, Sylvie Quideau, Jérôme Laganière, Justine Karst, Christine Martineau, Mathew Swallow, Charlotte Norris, and Abdul Samad
SOIL, 9, 461–478, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-461-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-461-2023, 2023
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Earthworm invasion in North American forests can alter soil functioning. We investigated how the presence of invasive earthworms affected microbial communities, key drivers of soil biogeochemistry, across the major soil types of the Canadian boreal forest, which is a region largely understudied. Although total microbial biomass did not change, community composition shifted in earthworm-invaded mineral soils, where we also found higher fungal biomass and greater microbial species diversity.
Ina Säumel, Leonardo R. Ramírez, Sarah Tietjen, Marcos Barra, and Erick Zagal
SOIL, 9, 425–442, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-425-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-425-2023, 2023
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We analyzed intensification of Uruguayan grasslands in a country-wide survey on fertility proxies, pH and trace metals in topsoils. We observed a loss of nutrients, trace metals and organic matter in grasslands, croplands and timber plantations and accumulation in riverine forests. This raises questions about the carrying capacity of Uruguayan soils with regard to currently implemented intensification strategies and supports more conservative forms of extensive grassland management.
David Paré, Jérôme Laganière, Guy R. Larocque, and Robert Boutin
SOIL, 8, 673–686, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-673-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-673-2022, 2022
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Major soil carbon pools and fluxes were assessed along a climatic gradient expanding 4 °C in mean annual temperature for two important boreal conifer forest stand types. Species and a warmer climate affected soil organic matter (SOM) cycling but not stocks. Contrarily to common hypotheses, SOM lability was not reduced by warmer climatic conditions and perhaps increased. Results apply to cold and wet conditions and a stable vegetation composition along the climate gradient.
Kaikuo Wu, Wentao Li, Zhanbo Wei, Zhi Dong, Yue Meng, Na Lv, and Lili Zhang
SOIL, 8, 645–654, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-645-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-645-2022, 2022
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We explored the effects of mild alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation combined with rice straw return on N2O emissions and rice yield through rice pot experiments. Mild AWD irrigation significantly increased both N2O and yield-scaled N2O emissions. The addition of rice straw under mild AWD irrigation could promote N2O emissions. Mild AWD irrigation could reduce soil-nitrogen uptake by rice when urea was applied. Mild AWD irrigation reduced rice aboveground biomass but not rice yield.
Cyrill U. Zosso, Nicholas O. E. Ofiti, Jennifer L. Soong, Emily F. Solly, Margaret S. Torn, Arnaud Huguet, Guido L. B. Wiesenberg, and Michael W. I. Schmidt
SOIL, 7, 477–494, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-477-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-477-2021, 2021
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How subsoil microorganisms respond to warming is largely unknown, despite their crucial role in the soil organic carbon cycle. We observed that the subsoil microbial community composition was more responsive to warming compared to the topsoil community composition. Decreased microbial abundance in subsoils, as observed in this study, might reduce the magnitude of the respiration response over time, and a shift in the microbial community will likely affect the cycling of soil organic carbon.
Kate M. Buckeridge, Kate A. Edwards, Kyungjin Min, Susan E. Ziegler, and Sharon A. Billings
SOIL, 6, 399–412, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-399-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-399-2020, 2020
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We do not understand the short- and long-term temperature response of soil denitrifiers, which produce and consume N2O. Boreal forest soils from a long-term climate gradient were incubated in short-term warming experiments. We found stronger N2O consumption at depth, inconsistent microbial gene abundance and function, and consistent higher N2O emissions from warmer-climate soils at warmer temperatures. Consideration of our results in models will contribute to improved climate projections.
Marco Allegrini, Elena Gomez, and María Celina Zabaloy
SOIL, 6, 291–297, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-291-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-291-2020, 2020
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Research was conducted to assess the response of microbial communities in a soil with a long history of glyphosate-based herbicides to a secondary imposed perturbation (dry–rewetting event). Both perturbations could increase their frequency under current agricultural practices and climate change. The results of this study demonstrate that acute exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide does not have a conditioning effect on the response of microbial communities to the dry–rewetting event.
Christopher Poeplau, Páll Sigurðsson, and Bjarni D. Sigurdsson
SOIL, 6, 115–129, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-115-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-115-2020, 2020
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Global warming leads to increased mineralisation of soil organic matter, inducing a positive climate–carbon cycle feedback loop. Loss of organic matter can be associated with loss of soil structure. Here we use a strong geothermal gradient to investigate soil warming effects on soil organic matter and structural parameters in subarctic forest and grassland soils. Strong depletion of organic matter caused a collapse of aggregates, highlighting the potential impact of warming on soil function.
Natalia Andrea Osinaga, Carina Rosa Álvarez, and Miguel Angel Taboada
SOIL, 4, 251–257, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-4-251-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-4-251-2018, 2018
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The sub-humid Argentine Chaco, originally covered by forest, has been subjected to clearing since the end of the 1970s and replacement of the forest by no-till farming. The organic carbon stock content up to 1 m depth varied as follows: forest > pasture > continuous cropping, with no impact of the number of years under cropping. The incorporation of pastures of warm-season grasses was able to mitigate the decrease of C stocks caused by cropping and so could be considered sustainable management.
Justine Barthod, Cornélia Rumpel, Remigio Paradelo, and Marie-France Dignac
SOIL, 2, 673–683, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-673-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-673-2016, 2016
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In this study we evaluated CO2 emissions during composting of green wastes with clay and/or biochar in the presence and absence of worms, as well as the effect of those amendments on carbon mineralization after application to soil. Our results indicated that the addition of clay or clay–biochar mixture reduced carbon mineralization during co-composting without worms by up to 44 %. In the presence of worms, CO2 emissions during composting increased for all treatments except for the low clay dose.
Miriam Muñoz-Rojas, Todd E. Erickson, Dylan C. Martini, Kingsley W. Dixon, and David J. Merritt
SOIL, 2, 287–298, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-287-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-287-2016, 2016
M. S. Torn, A. Chabbi, P. Crill, P. J. Hanson, I. A. Janssens, Y. Luo, C. H. Pries, C. Rumpel, M. W. I. Schmidt, J. Six, M. Schrumpf, and B. Zhu
SOIL, 1, 575–582, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-575-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-575-2015, 2015
M. Köchy, A. Don, M. K. van der Molen, and A. Freibauer
SOIL, 1, 367–380, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-367-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-367-2015, 2015
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Using ranges for variables in a model of organic C stocks of the top 1m of soil on a global 0.5° grid, we assessed the (un)certainty of changes in stocks over the next 75 years. Changes are more certain where land-use change strongly affects carbon inputs and where higher temperatures and adequate moisture favour decomposition, e.g. tropical mountain forests. Global stocks will increase by 1% with a certainty of 75% if inputs to the soil increase due to CO₂ fertilization of the vegetation.
P. Alexander, K. Paustian, P. Smith, and D. Moran
SOIL, 1, 331–339, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-331-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-331-2015, 2015
Cited articles
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Short summary
Agriculture may play a significant role in climate change mitigation. For this reason, it is necessary to have good estimations of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural activities. In this work, two different chamber systems to determine GHGs were compared. Our results highlighted that automated chamber systems, compared to manual chamber systems, are a powerful tool for quantifying GHG fluxes, allowing us to capture the large temporal variability that characterizes them.
Agriculture may play a significant role in climate change mitigation. For this reason, it is...
