Changes in mineral soil organic carbon stocks in the croplands of European Russia and the Ukraine, 1990–2070; comparison of three models and implications for climate mitigation

Three soil carbon models (RothC, CANDY and the Model of Humus Balance) were used to estimate the impacts of climate change on agricultural mineral soil carbon stocks in European Russia and the Ukraine using detailed spatial data on land-use, future land-use, cropping patterns, agricultural management, climate and soil type. Scenarios of climate were derived from the Hadley Centre climate Version 3 (HadCM3) model; future yields were determined using the Soil–Climate–Yield model, and land use was determined from regional agricultural and economic data and a model of agricultural economics. The models suggest that optimal management, which entails the replacement of row crops with other crops, and the use of extra years of grass in the rotation could reduce Soil organic carbon (SOC) loss in the croplands of European Russia and the Ukraine by 30–44% compared to the business-as-usual management. The environmentally sustainable management scenario (SUS), though applied for a limited area within the total region, suggests that much of this optimisation could be realised without damaging profitability for farmers.     

Constructing a spatially-resolved database for modelling soil organic carbon stocks of croplands in European Russia

This paper describes the conception and construction of a geographic information system (GIS) for use in modelling changes in soil organic carbon stocks in European Russia. A GIS of croplands for European Russia was constructed to allow the RothC and CANDY models, and a statistical model of humus balance, to estimate how soil carbon stocks change in time. The soil map of Russia, the database of soil properties, the map of administrative division, the land use map, the climatic grid, the map of natural and agricultural zoning and an economic database serve as a basis for this system. A map and database of homogeneous units, for maximum accuracy and minimum uncertainty, was created. Homogeneous characteristics are the parameters required for modelling. In the course of this work, the sources of errors in the database and the possible ways of improving calculation accuracy were determined and are described. The methods used and decisions taken in constructing this database are applicable to other studies in which GIS databases need to be constructing from disparate sources.     

长江三角洲水田保护性耕作制度的碳收集效应估算

耕作制度对农田土壤有机碳的稳定和积累作用显著,探讨耕作制度演变下农田土壤碳库动态,将有助于农田土壤碳收集的技术选择及政策制定。利用已发表的田间定位试验数据,构建不同耕作制度下长江三角洲水田耕层土壤有机碳密度的估算模型。依据该区近20多年来耕作制度演变动态,对保护性耕作制度的土壤碳收集效应进行了初步估算。结果表明,油菜面积的扩大、小麦的少免耕和作物秸秆的还田分别约增加土壤耕层有机碳0.94 Tg、2.76 Tg和3.95 Tg,其中以麦稻复种转向油稻复种的单位面积碳收集效应为最高。最后,就碳收集效应估算的方法进行了相关讨论,并就土壤碳收集研究和如何提高土壤碳收集潜力提出了一些建议。     

Dynamics of carbon balance components in fallow arable lands on the Valdai Upland

The dynamics of carbon pools in the live phytomass, necromass, and soil reservoirs have been analyzed in fallow arable lands of Novgorod oblast. The results show that the amounts of above- and belowground necromass increase with the age of fallows, while the dynamics of live phytomass have no distinct trend. Comparisons with archival data show that the stocks of soil organic carbon in the studied ecosystems have decreased by 1.39 t C/ha since 1983, which is equivalent to an annual loss of 0.03 t C/ha. The main factors accounting for changes in the carbon stocks of fallow soils are the initial organic carbon contents in topsoil, the intensity of agromeliorative measures taken during the period of agricultural land use, and carbon contents in soils of meadow communities typical for a given region (zone).     

长江中游稻田土壤有机碳计算机模拟

分别用作者建立的土壤有机碳计算机模拟模型 (简称SCNC模型 )和英国洛桑模型 (ROTHC 2 6 .3)对长江中游 (湖南桃江和南县 )稻田土壤有机碳变化进行了模拟比较研究。结果表明 ,用SCNC模型模拟平衡时土壤有机碳含量与实际监测值较接近 ,相差分别为 0 .1和 0 .4 5t/hm2 ,误差分别为 0 .2 4 %和 0 .98% ;对稻田土壤有机碳变化的模拟 ,SCNC模型的拟合结果较好 ,利用相对标准误差法计算的误差为 4 .84 %～ 11.0 9% ,其中 6个处理有 5个处理的误差小于 10 %。对模拟结果进行误差概率统计 ,<± 5的占 5 2 .8% ,<± 10的占 81.9%。而洛桑模型不适合长江中游稻田土壤有机碳的模拟 ,按实际投入有机碳模拟平衡时土壤有机碳含量与实际监测值相比 ,分别低 11.4 1和13.32t/hm2 ,误差分别为 2 7.12 %和 2 9.0 1%。同时 ,对模型模拟结果的评价方法也进行了比较研究     

鄱阳湖生态区长期施肥对稻田土壤碳汇效应与固碳潜力的影响

在施肥条件下确定平衡状态时,土壤有机碳含量水平对于正确评价土壤的固碳潜力和制定合理的有机物质分配措施具有重要意义。分析了前人研究的江西省有机碳储量数据并采用Jenny模型对长期不同施肥下有机碳动态数据进行模拟。结果表明,鄱阳湖生态区有机碳储量占全省的46%,以鹰潭地区最高,九江地区最低。施肥明显增强了土壤的碳汇作用,单施有机肥或有机无机肥配施（70F+30M、50F+50M、30F+70M、NPKM、NPK+S、NPK+P和NPK+C）处理的土壤有机碳含量明显高于施化肥处理,以南昌县的30F+70M、进贤县的NPKM和余江县的NPK+P处理最高,其平衡时有机碳含量和固碳潜力分别较施化肥处理提高了3061%和6115%、3017%和5496%、3826%和7479%。因此,提高鄱阳湖生态区农田有机碳密度和固碳潜力最有效方法是有机无机肥配施,其配施方式以猪粪配施化肥相对最好,配施比例以70%有机肥配施30%化肥为宜     

The Effect of Soil Cultivation on the Humus State of Gray Forest Soil in the Middle Urals

The results of studies on the humus state of soils in agrosystems of the Middle Urals (1984–1997) are described. It is shown that the change of agricultural technologies (crop rotation, doses of organic fertilizers, etc.) transforms environmental conditions and the direction of humus formation processes. Parameters such as the concentrations of humus and water-soluble carbon and soil potential for humus accumulation reliably characterize the humus state of arable soil and allow the mobility and migration rate of humic substances to be monitored.     

Aggregated Estimation of Basic Parameters of Biological Production and the Carbon Budget of Russian Terrestrial Ecosystems: 2. Net Primary Production

The estimated net primary production (NPP) of Russian terrestrial ecosystems (annual average over the period from 1988 to 1992) is 9544 Tg of dry matter, or 4353 Tg of carbon. Of the total amount, forests account for approximately 39.2% (here and below, comparisons are made with respect to carbon content); natural grasslands and brushwoods, for 27.6%; farmlands (arable land and cultivated pastures), for 22.0%; and wetlands, for 11.2%. The average NPP density on lands covered with vegetation (1629.8 million hectares in Russia) is 267 g C/m²per year. The highest value (498 g C/m²per year) is characteristic of arable lands. Other land-use/land-cover (LULC) classes have the following NPP densities (in areas covered with vegetation): grasslands and brushwoods, 278 g C/m²; forests, 224 g C/m²; and wetlands, 219 g C/m²per year. In general, Russian terrestrial ecosystems accumulate 59.7% of the total NPP in the aboveground phytomass (47.8% in green parts and 11.9% in wood) and 40.3% in the underground phytomass. The latter parameter differs significantly in different LULC classes and bioclimatic zones. According to calculations, the uncertainty in estimating the total NPP is 11% (a priori confidential probability 0.9).     

Carbon accumulation in lowland bog soils of fallow lands in Murmansk oblast

The dynamics of organic carbon accumulation in lowland bog soils of Murmansk oblast were assessed by analyzing soil samples from fields formerly sown with perennial grasses but withdrawn from agricultural use three, six, and eight years ago. Within three years, the organic carbon content in the topsoil (0–20 cm) increased by 0.07%, compared to that in cultivated soil. In six-and eight-year-old fallows, the increase in the soil carbon content averaged 0.2 and 0.46%, respectively. Experimental data were used for verifying calculations of carbon turnover in lowland bog soils of fallows in Murmansk oblast by the RothC model.     

Atmospheric transport patterns and possible consequences for the European North after a nuclear accident

The main purpose of this study is to examine possible impacts and consequences of a hypothetical accident at the Kola nuclear plant in north-west Russia on different geographical regions: Scandinavia, central Europe, European FSU and Taymyr. The period studied is 1991-1996. An isentropic trajectory model has been used to calculate forward trajectories that originated over the nuclear accident region. Atmospheric transport patterns were identified using the isentropic trajectories and a cluster analysis technique. From the trajectory model results, a number of cases were chosen for examination in detail using more complete transport models. For this purpose, the models MATHEW/ADPIC, DERMA and a newly developed FOA Random Displacement Model have been used to simulate the radionuclide transport and contamination in the case of a nuclear accident and their results have been compared with those of the trajectory modelling. Estimation of the long-term consequences for populations after an accident has been performed for several specific dates by empirical models and correlation between fallout and doses to humans on the basis of the Chernobyl accident exposures in Scandinavia.     

Soil organic carbon dynamics of croplands in European Russia: estimates from the “model of humus balance”

The Model of Humus Balance was used to estimate the influence of climate effects and changing agricultural practices on carbon (C) levels in soddy–podzolic soils in the Russian Federation for the years 2000–2050. The model was linked with a spatial database containing soil, climate and farming management layers for identification of spatial change of C sequestration potential. Analysis of relationships between C, soil texture and climate indicated that compared with a business-as-usual scenario, adaptation measures could increase the number of polygons storing soil organic carbon (SOC) by 2010–2020. The rate of possible C loss is sensitive to the different climate scenarios, with a maximum potential for SOC accumulation expected in 2030–2040, thereafter decreasing to 2050. The effect is most pronounced for the arid part of the study area under the emission scenario with the highest rate of increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration, supporting findings from the dynamic SOC model, RothC. C sequestration during the study period was permanent for clay and clay loam soils with a C content of more than 2%, suggesting that C sequestration should be focused on highly fertile, fine-textured soils. We also show that spatial heterogeneity of soil texture can be a source of uncertainty for estimates of SOC dynamics at the regional scale. Figures in color are available at     

川中丘陵紫色土区农田土壤有机碳储量及空间分布特征

土壤有机碳在陆地生态系统碳循环中起着举足轻重的作用。针对农田区域内典型县域尺度有机碳储量及其空间格局特征的研究,可以为区域农田土壤固碳提供参考,为研究我国土壤有机碳储量提供基础数据支持。基于2012年农田土壤有机碳分析调查数据,结合GIS和GPS技术对川中丘陵区盐亭县土壤有机碳密度和储量及空间格局进行了估算和分析。结果表明:其主要土壤类型的0~20 cm耕层土壤有机碳密度为111~426 kg/m2,平均值为266 kg/m2,水田和旱地耕层土壤有机碳密度分别为345和234 kg/m2,均低于全国平均值;全县20 cm深度土壤有机碳总储量250×109 kg C,紫色土类土壤有机碳储量最大,为153×109kg C,水稻土次之,有机碳储量0.93×109kg C,两者占据了农田土壤有机碳储量约98%,冲积土和黄壤土类由于面积小,有机碳储量也最低。各土壤类型有机碳储量丰度指数(RI)值都较低,碳存储能力处于中下水平。在县域农田尺度,有机碳空间格局与气候差异、植被类型关系不大,土壤类型空间差异和地形差异是有机碳空间格局形成的主要原因。     

Soil-to-plant halogens transfer studies 1. Root uptake of radioiodine by plants

Long-term controlled experiments under natural conditions in the field have been carried out in the Chernobyl Exclusion zone in order to determine the parameters governing radioiodine transfer to plants from four types of soils (podzoluvisol, greyzem and typical and meadow chernozem) homogeneously contaminated in the 20-cm upper layer with an addition of (125)I. An absence of (125)I depletion in arable soil layers due to volatilization was noted up to one year after contamination. During one year, depletion due to the vertical migration of radioiodine from the arable layer of each of the soils did not exceed 4% of the total (125)I content. Radioiodine concentration ratios (CR) were obtained in radish roots, lettuce leaves, bean pods, and wheat grain and straw. The highest CR values were observed in podzoluvisol: 0.01-0.03 for radish roots and lettuce leaves, 0.003-0.004 for bean pods and 0.001 for wheat grains. In the other three soils, these values were one order of magnitude lower. The parameters relating to changes in radioiodine bioavailability were determined, based on the contamination dynamics of plants in field conditions.     

Radiocarbon and stable carbon isotope compositions of chemically fractionated soil organic matter in a temperate-zone forest

To better understand the role of soil organic matter in terrestrial carbon cycle, carbon isotope compositions in soil samples from a temperate-zone forest were measured for bulk, acid-insoluble and base-insoluble organic matter fractions separated by a chemical fractionation method. The measurements also made it possible to estimate indirectly radiocarbon ((14)C) abundances of acid- and base-soluble organic matter fractions, through a mass balance of carbon among the fractions. The depth profiles of (14)C abundances showed that (1) bomb-derived (14)C has penetrated the first 16cm mineral soil at least; (2) Delta(14)C values of acid-soluble organic matter fraction are considerably higher than those of other fractions; and (3) a significant amount of the bomb-derived (14)C has been preserved as the base-soluble organic matter around litter-mineral soil boundary. In contrast, no or little bomb-derived (14)C was observed for the base-insoluble fraction in all sampling depths, indicating that this recalcitrant fraction, accounting for approximately 15% of total carbon in this temperate-zone forest soil, plays a role as a long-term sink in the carbon cycle. These results suggest that bulk soil organic matter cannot provide a representative indicator as a source or a sink of carbon in soil, particularly on annual to decadal timescales.     

长江三角洲地区土壤有机碳库研究

土壤碳库变化对于全球温室效应、全球碳循环有重大的影响。基于新近完成的1：250 000多目标地球化学调查及相关研究成果,运用地理信息系统软件ARCGIS 9.2、统计软件SPSS13.0,对长江三角洲地区0~20、0~100、0~180 cm深度土壤有机碳密度及储量作出实测统计。结果表明:长江三角洲地区0~20 cm土壤有机碳库储量为238.65 Tg,有机碳密度为3.28±0.92 kg/m2,各类型土壤有机碳密度均值介于2.63~3.57 kg/m2;0~100 cm土壤有机碳库储量为822.76 Tg,有机碳密度为11.30±3.48 kg/m2,各类型土壤有机碳密度均值介于9.35~11.94 kg/m2;0~180 cm土壤有机碳库储量为1 245.72 Tg,有机碳密度为17.11±7.04 kg/m2,各类型土壤有机碳密度均值介于14.27~18.00 kg/m2。与第二次土壤普查比较,全区0~20、0~100cm土壤有机碳密度均值都表现为上升趋势,有机碳库储量增加,土壤表现为碳汇功能。提供了新的土壤碳库实测统计信息,为研究中国区域土壤碳固定潜力、深入全面理解区域碳循环提供基准数据。     

宝天曼自然保护区土壤有机碳异质性及其影响因素

自然界中,土壤碳库对于维持生态系统碳平衡起决定性作用,而土壤有机碳又是碳库中不可或缺的一员,研究土壤有机碳对于全球生态系统碳平衡具有十分重大的意义。因此,基于宝天曼土壤有机碳实测数据并运用半方差函数、克里格插值分析山地土壤有机碳垂直性特征及空间分异程度,利用地理探测器对影响土壤有机碳分布的环境因子进行相关分析,结果表明:(1)宝天曼土壤有机碳介于0.31～7.7 g/kg,属于较低水平,最高值(7.70 g/kg)出现在北坡987 m处;(2)不同土层深度的半方差函数模型不同,0～20和40～60 cm对高斯模型拟合效果更明显、20～40 cm对球状模型拟合效果较好,而线性模型对于60～80和80～100 cm土层深度拟合效果较佳,克里格插值表明0～20和20～40 cm空间分异特征相似,呈西南向东北增加的趋势,而40～60 cm土壤有机碳空间分异呈现东北高、西南低;(3)宝天曼不同土层深度受单个环境因子影响程度不同,解释力介于0.127～0.407,其中NDVI对0～20 cm土壤有机碳解释力最显著(0.407)、高程对40～60 cm土壤有机碳解释力最高(0.373),交互探测结果表明NDVI与坡度解释力最高、高程与其他因子交互探测后解释力显著增大,表明宝天曼土壤有机碳受多种环境因子共同影响,而非单一因素起决定性作用。     

Evolution of Sr distribution coefficient as a function of time, incubation conditions and measurement technique

A thorough understanding of the dynamics of radiostrontium in soil is required to allow accurate long-term predictions of its mobility. We have followed the soil solution distribution of 85Sr as a function of time under controlled conditions over 4 months and studied the effect of soil moisture content and organic matter amendments. Data have been compared to redox conditions and soil pH. To fuel the ongoing debate on the validity of distribution coefficient (K(d)) values measured in dilute suspension, we have compared values obtained from the activity concentration in soil solution obtained by centrifugation to data obtained in suspension with or without air-drying of the soil samples after incubation. The 85Sr adsorption properties of soil, incubated without prior contamination were also measured. There is some time-dependent adsorption of Sr. This is partly due to changing soil composition due to the decomposition of added organic matter and anaerobic conditions induced by flooding. There is also a kinetic effect, but adsorption remains largely reversible. Most of the observed effects are lost when soil is suspended in electrolyte solution.     

Aggregated Estimation of Basic Parameters of Biological Production and Carbon Budget of Russian Terrestrial Ecosystems: 3. Biogeochemical Carbon Fluxes

The biogeochemical cycle of organic carbon in Russian terrestrial ecosystems in 1990 is considered. Its components have been estimated as follows: net primary production, 4354 million metric tons of carbon (Mt C); annual amount of plant detritus, 3223 Mt C; heterotrophic soil respiration, 3214 Mt C; biomass utilization, 680 Mt C; damage to vegetation caused by fire and pests, 140 Mt C; and removal by surface and ground waters, 79 Mt C. Anthropogenically regulated fluxes of organic carbon (820 Mt C) are comparable to its amount involved in the natural cycle.     

Modelling the long-term dynamics of radiocaesium in closed lakes

During the years after the Chernobyl accident the radioceasium activity concentration in most contaminated aquatic ecosystems decreased markedly. Lakes with no permanent inflows and outflows (closed lakes), however, still present a radioecological problem which is expected to continue for some time. In this paper, a mechanistic model for the long-term prediction of radiocaesium behaviour in closed lakes is developed. The model of Prokhorov (Radiokhimiya (Radiochemistry) 11 (1969) 317) was modified to describe the effects of bottom sediment bioturbation, surface runoff from the catchment and suspended solids formation and sedimentation. The model input parameters are the effective diffusion coefficient in bottom sediments, depth of the completely mixed layer, the distribution coefficient in the sediment-water system, the runoff coefficient, sedimentation rate, and deposition density. Values of all these parameters can be independently estimated or measured in a short-term experiment. Given negligible runoff and sedimentation, the dynamics of radiocaesium in lake water is described by a simple equation with only one unknown parameter. This allows us to make long-term predictions on the basis of a series of measurements carried out during the relatively short period. The model was tested against 137Cs activity concentrations measured between 1993 and 1999 in Svyatoe lake in the Bryansk region of Russia. Calculated and measured activity concentrations are in good agreement.     

Global estimates of soil carbon sequestration via livestock waste: a STELLA simulation

It has become increasingly well documented that human activities are enhancing the greenhouse effect and altering the global climate. Identifying strategies to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions on the national level are therefore critical. Fossil fuel combustion is primarily responsible for the perturbation of the global carbon cycle, although the influence of humans extends far beyond the combustion of fossil fuels. Changes in land use arising from human activities contribute substantially to atmospheric carbon dioxide; however, land use changes can act as a carbon dioxide sink as well. A soil carbon model was built using STELLA to explore how soil organic carbon sequestration (SOC) varies over a range of values for key parameters and to estimate the amount of global soil carbon sequestration from livestock waste. To obtain soil carbon sequestration estimates, model simulations occurred for 11 different livestock types and with data for eight regions around the world. The model predicted that between 1980 and 1995, United States soils were responsible for the sequestration of 444–602 Tg C from livestock waste. Model simulations further predicted that during the same period, global soil carbon sequestration from livestock waste was 2,810–4,218 Tg C. Our estimates for global SOC sequestration are modest in proportion to other terrestrial carbon sinks (i.e. forest regrowth); however, livestock waste does represent a potential for long-term soil carbon gain. SOC generated from livestock waste is another example of how human activities and land use changes are altering soil processes around the world. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.