Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis
Perennial crops have been proposed as a solution to couple the production of sustainable biomass for multiple uses with several environmental benefits such as soil C storage. Concerns exist that the C sequestered in soil could be lost in a few years after the perennial crops are reverted to arable l...
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| Materyal Türü: | Makale |
| Dil: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Seri Bilgileri: | Agronomy |
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| Online Erişim: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/2/232 |
| _version_ | 1827657926344441856 |
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| author | Enrico Martani Andrea Ferrarini Stefano Amaducci |
| author_facet | Enrico Martani Andrea Ferrarini Stefano Amaducci |
| author_sort | Enrico Martani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Perennial crops have been proposed as a solution to couple the production of sustainable biomass for multiple uses with several environmental benefits such as soil C storage. Concerns exist that the C sequestered in soil could be lost in a few years after the perennial crops are reverted to arable land. In this study, the current knowledge on the effects of perennial crop reversion on soil C and N was summarized by performing a meta-analysis. One year after the reversion a significant increase of soil C and N stocks (+15% and +12% respectively) were found in the 0–30 cm layer, while in the time interval between the second to fifth year after the reversion, there were no significant increases or decreases of soil C and N. The incorporation of the belowground biomass (BGB) into the soil at reversion plays a key role in the fate of soil C and N stocks after the reversion. In fact, when reverting a multiannual biomass crop there are significant losses of soil C and N. In contrast, when reverting a perennial biomass crop (PBCs) such as rhizomatous herbaceous or SRC woody crops there are no losses of soil C and N. The BGB of perennial grass is mainly composed of root systems and not of a huge amount of belowground organs as in the case of PBCs. The shredding of the BGB and its transformation as particulate organic matter (POM) represent the major pulse C input at the reversion that can undergo further stabilization into a mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) fraction. Introducing PBCs into crop rotation resulted in an effective carbon farming solution with a potential positive legacy for food crops in terms of achievement of both climate and soil fertility goals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:52:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db891c1a534f4af687d60d21cbbf29f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:52:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-db891c1a534f4af687d60d21cbbf29f32023-11-23T18:18:20ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-01-0112223210.3390/agronomy12020232Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-AnalysisEnrico Martani0Andrea Ferrarini1Stefano Amaducci2Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalyDepartment of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalyDepartment of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalyPerennial crops have been proposed as a solution to couple the production of sustainable biomass for multiple uses with several environmental benefits such as soil C storage. Concerns exist that the C sequestered in soil could be lost in a few years after the perennial crops are reverted to arable land. In this study, the current knowledge on the effects of perennial crop reversion on soil C and N was summarized by performing a meta-analysis. One year after the reversion a significant increase of soil C and N stocks (+15% and +12% respectively) were found in the 0–30 cm layer, while in the time interval between the second to fifth year after the reversion, there were no significant increases or decreases of soil C and N. The incorporation of the belowground biomass (BGB) into the soil at reversion plays a key role in the fate of soil C and N stocks after the reversion. In fact, when reverting a multiannual biomass crop there are significant losses of soil C and N. In contrast, when reverting a perennial biomass crop (PBCs) such as rhizomatous herbaceous or SRC woody crops there are no losses of soil C and N. The BGB of perennial grass is mainly composed of root systems and not of a huge amount of belowground organs as in the case of PBCs. The shredding of the BGB and its transformation as particulate organic matter (POM) represent the major pulse C input at the reversion that can undergo further stabilization into a mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) fraction. Introducing PBCs into crop rotation resulted in an effective carbon farming solution with a potential positive legacy for food crops in terms of achievement of both climate and soil fertility goals.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/2/232perennial biomass cropsperennial cropsplant reversionwillowpoplarmiscanthus |
| spellingShingle | Enrico Martani Andrea Ferrarini Stefano Amaducci Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis Agronomy perennial biomass crops perennial crops plant reversion willow poplar miscanthus |
| title | Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | reversion of perennial biomass crops to conserve c and n a meta analysis |
| topic | perennial biomass crops perennial crops plant reversion willow poplar miscanthus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/2/232 |
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