Changes in soil carbon sequestration and soil respiration following afforestation on paddy fields in north subtropical China

Abstract

AimsAlthough many studies have reported net gains of soil organic carbon (SOC) after afforestation on croplands, this is uncertain for Chinese paddy rice croplands. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of afforestation of paddy rice croplands on SOC sequestration and soil respiration (Rs). Such knowledge would improve our understanding of the effectiveness of various land use options on greenhouse gas mitigation in China.MethodsThe investigation was conducted on the Chongming Island, north subtropical China. Field sites were reclaimed from coastal salt marshes in the 1960s, and soils were homogeneous with simple land use histories. SOC stocks and Rs levels were monitored over one year in a paddy rice cropland, an evergreen and a deciduous broad-leaved plantation established on previous paddy fields and a reference fallow land site never cultivated. Laboratory incubation of soil under fast-changing temperatures was used to compare the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SOC decomposition across land uses.Important FindingsAfter 15-20 years of afforestation on paddy fields, SOC concentration only slightly increased at the depth of 0-5cm but decreased in deeper layers, which resulted in a net loss of SOC stock in the top 40cm. Seasonal increase of SOC was observed during the rice-growing period in croplands but not in afforested soils, suggesting a stronger SOC sequestration by paddy rice cropping. However, SOC sequestered under cropping was more labile, as indicated by its higher contents of dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass. Also, paddy soils had higher annual Rs than afforested soils; Rs abruptly increased after paddy fields were drained and plowed and remained distinctively high throughout the dry farming period. Laboratory incubation revealed that paddy soils had a much higher Q10 of SOC decomposition than afforested soils. Given that temperature was the primary controller of R s in this region, it was concluded that despite the stronger SOC sequestration by paddy rice cropping, its SOC was less stable than in afforested systems and might be more easily released into the atmosphere under global warming. © 2012 © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Botanical Society of China. All rights reserved.