Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:04:58.621Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improvement of soil aggregate-associated carbon sequestration capacity after 14 years of conservation tillage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2022

Siyu Chen Open the ORCID record for Siyu Chen [Opens in a new window] ,
Yaqian Cao ,
Tingting Zhang ,
Jichao Cui ,
Liangliang Guo ,
Ying Shen ,
Pengchong Zhou ,
Huifang Han Open the ORCID record for Huifang Han [Opens in a new window]  and
Tangyuan Ning
Siyu Chen
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Yaqian Cao
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Tingting Zhang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Jichao Cui
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Liangliang Guo
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Ying Shen
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Pengchong Zhou
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Huifang Han*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
Tangyuan Ning
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Key Laboratory of Crop Water Physiology and Drought Tolerance Germplasm Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, P.R. China
*
*Corresponding author. Email: hfhan75@163.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The North China Plain is an important summer maize/winter wheat rotation area. However, over the years, continued intensive tillage has destroyed the soil aggregate accelerating the mineralization and decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC), which plays an important role in soil quality, as increased organic carbon storage improves soil fertility and crop yields. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the comprehensive impact of tillage methods on soil aggregates, aggregate-associated SOC, and carbon sequestration capacity under a regime of straw return. In 2002, we started a 14-year long-term tillage experiment; then in 2016–2017, we tested the following tillage methods, zero tillage (ZT), rotary tillage (RT), subsoiling (SS), and conventional tillage (CT). The results showed that in the 0–10 cm soil layer, tillage methods significantly reduced the proportion of aggregates in the order of 2–0.25 > 5–2 > 0.25–0.053 mm. Additionally, conservation tillage (i.e., SS and ZT) significantly increased the percentage of macroaggregates (0–40 cm) and their SOC content, compared to CT. Additionally, the contribution rate of macroaggregates to SOC was 17.2% and 30.6% higher under SS and ZT than under CT, respectively. Conservation tillage methods improved the carbon sequestration capacity of soil aggregates. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the development of more suitable tillage methods. Furthermore, long-term conservation tillage seemingly protected large aggregates and, SOC, whereby carbon sequestration was enhanced and soil carbon emissions were effectively reduced.

Keywords

TillageConservationZero tillageAggregateSoil carbon capacity
Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 58 , 2022 , e55
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aguilera, E., Lassaletta, L., Gattinger, A. and Gimeno, B.S. (2013). Managing soil carbon for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Mediterranean cropping systems: A meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 168, 25–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2013.02.003 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Kaisi, M.M., Douelle, A. and Kwaw-Mensah, D. (2014). Soil microaggregate and macroaggregate decay over time and soil carbon change as influenced by different tillage systems. Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 69, 574–580. [Online] Available from: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.69.6.574 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Kaisi, M.M. and Kwaw-Mensah, D. (2020). Quantifying soil carbon change in a long-term tillage and crop rotation study across Iowa landscapes. Soil Science Society of America Journal 84, 182–202. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20003 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Kaisi, M.M. and Yin, X. (2005). Tillage and crop residue effects on soil carbon and carbon dioxide emission in maize–soybean rotations. Journal of Environmental Quality 34. [Online] Available from: https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2005.0437 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alvarez, C.R. and Alvarez, R. (2000). Short-term effects of tillage systems on active soil microbial biomass. Biology and Fertility of Soils 31, 157–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050639 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andruschkewitsch, R., Koch, H.-J. and Ludwig, B. (2014). Effect of long-term tillage treatments on the temporal dynamics of water-stable aggregates and on macro-aggregate turnover at three German sites. Geoderma 217–218, 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.10.022 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ankrom, Z.J. (2009). Tillage impacts upon soil organic carbon levels in northern Illinois. Dissertations & Theses - Gradworks. [Online] Available from: https://www.pqdtcn.com/thesisDetails/5D594F99FCA599CFAD27E2FD9E458F6F Google Scholar
Arai, M., Tayasu, I., Komatsuzaki, M., Uchida, M., Shibata, Y. and Kaneko, N. (2013). Changes in soil aggregate carbon dynamics under no-tillage with respect to earthworm biomass revealed by radiocarbon analysis. Soil and Tillage Research 126, 42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2012.07.003 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bao, SD. (2000). Soil agrochemical analysis (Third Edition). Beijing: China Agriculture Press.Google Scholar
Barto, E.K., Alt, F., Oelmann, Y., Wilcke, W. and Rillig, M.C. (2010). Contributions of biotic and abiotic factors to soil aggregation across a land use gradient. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42, 2316–2324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.09.008 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bessam, F. and Mrabet, R. (2003). Long-term changes in soil organic matter under conventional tillage and no-tillage systems in semiarid Morocco. Soil Use and Management 19, 139–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2003.tb00294.x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Black, AL and Tanaka, DL. (1997). A conservation tillage-cropping study in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. In Paul, EA, Paustian, K, Elliot, ET and Cole, CV (eds), Soil organic matter in temperate agroecosystems long-term experiments in North America. New York: CRC. pp. 335–342 Google Scholar
Blanco-Canqui, H. and Lal, R. (2008). No-tillage and soil-profile carbon sequestration: an on-farm assessment. Soil Science Society of America Journal 72, 693–701. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2007.0233 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolinder, M.A., Janzen, H.H., Gregorich, E.G., Angers, D.A. and VandenBygaart, A.J. (2007). An approach for estimating net primary productivity and annual carbon inputs to soil for common agricultural crops in Canada. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 118, 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2006.05.013 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brahim, N., Ibrahim, H. and Hatira, A. (2014). Tunisian soil organic carbon stock – spatial and vertical variation. Procedia Engineering 69, 1549–1555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.03.154 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Briar, S.S., Fonte, S.J., Park, I., Six, J., Scow, K. and Ferris, H. (2011). The distribution of nematodes and soil microbial communities across soil aggregate fractions and farm management systems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43, 905–914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.12.017 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, S. and Lugo, A.E. (1982). The storage and production of organic matter in tropical forests and their role in the global carbon cycle. Biotropica 14, 161–187. https://doi.org/10.2307/2388024 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cai, H., Ma, W., Zhang, X., Ping, J., Yan, X., Liu, J., Yuan, J., Wang, L. and Ren, J. (2014). Effect of subsoil tillage depth on nutrient accumulation, root distribution, and grain yield in spring maize. The Crop Journal 2, 297–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2014.04.006 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, M.R. (1992). Influence of reduced tillage systems on organic matter, microbial biomass, macro-aggregate distribution and structural stability of the surface soil in a humid climate. Soil and Tillage Research 23, 361–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-1987(92)90081-L CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castro Filho, C., Lourenço, AdeF., Guimarães, M. and Fonseca, I.C.B. (2002). Aggregate stability under different soil management systems in a red latosol in the state of Parana, Brazil. Soil and Tillage Research 65, 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(01)00275-6 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, A., Lal, R., Patel, D.P., Idapuganti, R.G., Layek, J., Ngachan, S.V., Ghosh, P.K., Bordoloi, J. and Kumar, M. (2014). Effects of tillage and biomass on soil quality and productivity of lowland rice cultivation by small scale farmers in North Eastern India. Soil and Tillage Research 143, 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2014.05.012 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO I. (2015). Status of the world’s soil resources (SWSR)-main report. Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations and intergovernmental technical panel on soils. Rome. Italy. 650.Google Scholar
Fernández, R., Quiroga, A., Zorati, C. and Noellemeyer, E. (2010). Carbon contents and respiration rates of aggregate size fractions under no-till and conventional tillage. Soil and Tillage Research 109, 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2010.05.002 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Golchin, A., Oades, J., Skjemstad, J. and Clarke, P. (1994). Study of free and occluded particulate organic matter in soils by solid state 13C Cp/MAS NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Soil Research 32, 285–309. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9940285 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gupta Choudhury, S., Srivastava, S., Singh, R., Chaudhari, S.K., Sharma, D.K., Singh, S.K. and Sarkar, D. (2014). Tillage and residue management effects on soil aggregation, organic carbon dynamics and yield attribute in rice–wheat cropping system under reclaimed sodic soil. Soil and Tillage Research 136, 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2013.10.001 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
He, J., Shi, Y., Zhao, J. and Yu, Z. (2019). Strip rotary tillage with a two-year subsoiling interval enhances root growth and yield in wheat. Scientific Reports 9, 11678. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48159-4 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
He, X., Huang, Y., Zhang, Q., Ye, S. and Wang, S. (2021). Distribution of organic carbon fractions in soil aggregates in Chinese fir plantations with different stand ages. Ecological Processes 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-021-00321-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hernanz, J.L., López, R., Navarrete, L. and Sánchez-Girón, V. (2002). Long-term effects of tillage systems and rotations on soil structural stability and organic carbon stratification in semiarid central Spain. Soil and Tillage Research 66, 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(02)00021-1 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horikoshi, T., Nakajima, A. and Sakaguchi, T. (1981). Studies on the accumulation of heavy metal elements in biological systems. European Journal of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 12, 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01970040 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jastrow, J.D. (1996). Soil aggregate formation and the accrual of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28, 665–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(95)00159-X CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jat, H.S., Datta, A., Choudhary, M., Yadav, A.K., Choudhary, V., Sharma, P.C., Gathala, M.K., Jat, M.L. and McDonald, A. (2019). Effects of tillage, crop establishment and diversification on soil organic carbon, aggregation, aggregate associated carbon and productivity in cereal systems of semi-arid Northwest India. Soil and Tillage Research 190, 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.03.005 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jin, H., Hongwen, L., Xiaoyan, W., McHugh, A.D., Wenying, L., Huanwen, G. and Kuhn, N.J. (2007). The adoption of annual subsoiling as conservation tillage in dryland maize and wheat cultivation in northern China. Soil and Tillage Research 94, 493–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, X.G., Li, F.M., Rengel, Z., Bhupinderpal, S. and Wang, Z.F. (2006). Cultivation effects on temporal changes of organic carbon and aggregate stability in desert soils of Hexi Corridor region in China. Soil and Tillage Research 91, 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2005.10.004 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luo, Z., Wang, E. and Sun, O.J. (2010). Can no-tillage stimulate carbon sequestration in agricultural soils? A meta-analysis of paired experiments. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 139, 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.08.006 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Madari, B., Machado, P.L.O.A., Torres, E., de Andrade, A.S.G. and Valencia, L.I.O. (2005). No tillage and crop rotation effects on soil aggregation and organic carbon in a Rhodic Ferralsol from southern Brazil. Soil and Tillage Research 80, 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.03.006 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Modak, K., Biswas, D.R., Ghosh, A., Pramanik, P., Das, T.K., Das, S., Kumar, S., Krishnan, P. and Bhattacharyya, R. (2020). Zero tillage and residue retention impact on soil aggregation and carbon stabilization within aggregates in subtropical India. Soil and Tillage Research 202, 104649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104649 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nandan, R., Singh, V., Singh, S.S., Kumar, V., Hazra, K.K., Nath, C.P., Poonia, S., Malik, R.K., Bhattacharyya, R. and McDonald, A. (2019). Impact of conservation tillage in rice–based cropping systems on soil aggregation, carbon pools and nutrients. Geoderma 340, 104–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.01.001 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oberson, A and Joner, EJ. (2005). Microbial turnover of phosphorus in soil. In Turner B. L., Frossard E. and Baldwin D. S. (eds), Organic phosphorus in the environment. CABI Publishing. pp. 133–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, B.K., Vanlauwe, B., Ayuke, F., Gassner, A., Hoogmoed, M., Hurisso, T.T., Koala, S., Lelei, D., Ndabamenye, T., Six, J. and Pulleman, M.M. (2013). Medium-term impact of tillage and residue management on soil aggregate stability, soil carbon and crop productivity. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 164, 14–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.10.003 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Qian, J., Liu, J., Wang, P., Wang, C., Hu, J., Li, K., Lu, B., Tian, X. and Guan, W. (2018). Effects of riparian land use changes on soil aggregates and organic carbon. Ecological Engineering 112, 82–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.12.015 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, A.E. and Simpson, R.J. (2011). Soil microorganisms mediating phosphorus availability update on microbial phosphorus. Plant Physiology 156, 989–996. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.175448 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sarker, J.R., Singh, B.P., Cowie, A.L., Fang, Y., Collins, D., Dougherty, W.J. and Singh, B.K. (2018). Carbon and nutrient mineralisation dynamics in aggregate-size classes from different tillage systems after input of canola and wheat residues. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 116, 22–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.09.030 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schlesinger, W.H. and Andrews, J.A. (2000). Soil respiration and the global carbon cycle. Biogeochemistry 48, 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006247623877 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheehy, J., Regina, K., Alakukku, L. and Six, J. (2015). Impact of no-till and reduced tillage on aggregation and aggregate-associated carbon in Northern European agroecosystems. Soil and Tillage Research 150, 107–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.01.015 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, G., Williard, K.W.J. and Schoonover, J.E. (2018). Cover crops and tillage influence on nitrogen dynamics in plant-soil-water pools. Soil Science Society of America Journal 82, 1572–1582. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2018.03.0111 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, S., Nouri, A., Singh, S., Anapalli, S., Lee, J., Arelli, P. and Jagadamma, S. (2020). Soil organic carbon and aggregation in response to thirty-nine years of tillage management in the southeastern US. Soil and Tillage Research 197, 104523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.104523 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Six, J., Bossuyt, H., Degryze, S. and Denef, K. (2004). A history of research on the link between (micro)aggregates, soil biota, and soil organic matter dynamics. Soil and Tillage Research 79, 7–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.03.008 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Six, J., Elliott, E.T. and Paustian, K. (1999). Aggregate and soil organic matter dynamics under conventional and no-tillage systems. Soil Science Society of America Journal 63, 1350–1358. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1999.6351350x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Six, J., Elliott, E.T. and Paustian, K. (2000). Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 32, 2099–2103. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00179-6 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Six, J., Elliott, E.T., Paustian, K. and Doran, J.W. (1998). Aggregation and soil organic matter accumulation in cultivated and native grassland soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62, 1367–1377. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1998.03615995006200050032x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Somasundaram, J., Chaudhary, R.S., Awanish Kumar, D., Biswas, A.K., Sinha, N.K., Mohanty, M., Hati, K.M., Jha, P., Sankar, M., Patra, A.K., Dalal, R. and Chaudhari, S.K. (2018). Effect of contrasting tillage and cropping systems on soil aggregation, carbon pools and aggregate-associated carbon in rainfed Vertisols. European Journal of Soil Science 69, 879–891. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12692 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Song, K., Yang, J., Xue, Y., Lv, W., Zheng, X. and Pan, J. (2016). Influence of tillage practices and straw incorporation on soil aggregates, organic carbon, and crop yields in a rice-wheat rotation system. Scientific Reports 6, 36602. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep36602 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steward, P.R., Dougill, A.J., Thierfelder, C., Pittelkow, C.M., Stringer, L.C., Kudzala, M. and Shackelford, G.E. (2018). The adaptive capacity of maize-based conservation agriculture systems to climate stress in tropical and subtropical environments: A meta-regression of yields. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 251, 194–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.09.019 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tian, S., Wang, Y., Ning, T., Li, N., Zhao, H., Wang, B., Li, Z. and Chi, S. (2014). Continued no-till and subsoiling improved soil organic carbon and soil aggregation levels. Agronomy Journal 106, 212–218. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2013.0288 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, B., Gao, L., Yu, W., Wei, X., Li, J., Li, S., Song, X., Liang, G., Cai, D. and Wu, X. (2019a). Distribution of soil aggregates and organic carbon in deep soil under long-term conservation tillage with residual retention in dryland. Journal of Arid Land 11, 241–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-019-0094-6 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, H., Wang, S.L., Wang, R., Zhang, Y.H., Wang, X.L. and Li, J. (2019b). Direct and indirect linkages between soil aggregates and soil bacterial communities under tillage methods. Geoderma 354, 113879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.113879 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, J., Xue, Y., Pan, J.J., Zheng, X.Q., Qin, Q., Sun, L.J. and Song, K. (2018). Effects of tillage and straw incorporation on sequestration of organic carbon and crop yields. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 5, 121–127. [Online] Available from: http://stbcxb.alljournal.com.cn/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=20180520&flag=1 Google Scholar
Wang, J.Z., Wang, X.J., Xu, M.G., Feng, G., Zhang, W.J., Yang, X.Y. and Huang, S.M. (2015). Contributions of wheat and maize residues to soil organic carbon under long-term rotation in north China. Scientific Reports 5, 11409. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11409 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, S., Li, T., Zheng, Z. and Chen, H.Y.H. (2019c). Soil aggregate-associated bacterial metabolic activity and community structure in different aged tea plantations. Science of the Total Environment 654, 1023–1032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.032.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, X., Yu, D., Li, C., Pan, Y., Wang, X., Pan, J. and Shi, X. (2016). Characteristics of variations in the organic carbon fractions in paddy soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 80, 983–991. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2016.03.0063 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, J., Stephen, Y., Cai, L., Zhang, R., Qi, P., Luo, Z., Li, L., Xie, J. and Dong, B.O. (2019). Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China. Journal of Arid Land 11, 567–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-019-0065-y.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xu, G.X., Wang, Z.F., Gao, M., Tian, D., Huang, R., Liu, J. and Li, J.C. (2018). Effects of straw and biochar return in soil on soil aggregate and carbon sequestration. Huan jing ke xue 39, 355–362. [Online] Available from: https://www.hjkx.ac.cn/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=20180143&flag=1 Google ScholarPubMed
Xu, S.Q., Zhang, M.Y., Zhang, H.L., Chen, F., Yang, G.L. and Xiao, X.P. (2013). Soil organic carbon stocks as affected by tillage systems in a double-cropped rice field. Pedosphere 23, 696–704. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(13)60062-4 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xu, X., Shi, Z., Li, D., Rey, A., Ruan, H., Craine, J.M., Liang, J., Zhou, J. and Luo, Y. (2016). Soil properties control decomposition of soil organic carbon: results from data-assimilation analysis. Geoderma 262, 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.08.038 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yoder, R.E. (1936). A direct method of aggregate analysis of soils and a study of the physical nature of Erosion Losses1. Agronomy Journal 28, 337–351. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1936.00021962002800050001x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, J., Wei, Y., Liu, J., Yuan, J., Liang, Y., Ren, J. and Cai, H. (2019). Effects of maize straw and its biochar application on organic and humic carbon in water-stable aggregates of a Mollisol in Northeast China: A five-year field experiment. Soil and Tillage Research 190, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.02.014 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, W.J., Wang, X.J., Xu, M.G., Huang, S.M., Liu, H. and Peng, C. (2010). Soil organic carbon dynamics under long-term fertilizations in arable land of northern China. Biogeosciences 7, 409–425. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-409-2010 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zheng, J.Y., Wang, L., Zhao, J.S., Niu, Y.H., Xiao, H.B., Wang, Z., Yu, S.X., and Shi, Z.H. (2022). Forty-year-old orchards promote carbon storage by changing aggregate-associated enzyme activities and microbial communities. Catena 213, 106195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhou, H., Lü, Y., Yang, Z.C. and Li, B.G. (2007). Effects of conservation tillage on soil aggregates in Huabei Plain, China. Scientia Agricultura Sinica 40, 1973–1979. [Online] Available from: https://www.chinaagrisci.com/CN/Y2007/V40/I9/1973.Google Scholar