Carbon sequestration in a Brown Chernozem as affected by tillage and rotation

Abstract

Organic C and N were monitored periodically to quantify the effects of crop rotation [continuous spring wheat (Cont W) (Triticum aestivum L.) vs. fallow-wheat (F-W)] and tillage management [no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional tillage (CT) involving primarily use of a cultivator and rodweeder]. Indicates that an increase in organic C, averaging about 0.4-0.5 t ha-1 yr-1, has occurred in the top 15 cm of soil in Cont W (NT) between 1982 and 1993. However, because of uncertainty in estimated C levels at the start of the experiment, the nature of the rate of C increase (linear or curvilinear) is not known. -from Authors