Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 117386 |
| Journal | GEODERMA |
| Volume | 459 |
| Early online date | 13 Jun 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2025 |
Abstract
source of atmospheric CO2 in agroecosystems. Complete depletion of soil inorganic carbon (SIC), i.e. carbonates,
intensifies the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) to an extent not yet experimentally demonstrated. Six
fertilization management practices including application of urea, urea +superphosphate +potassium chloride,
ammonium phosphate, ammonium phosphate +potassium chloride, chicken manure along a control i.e. no
fertilization were used to quantify the effects of N fertilization on soil acidification and the percentage of SIC-
originated CO2 in total soil CO2 emissions. Gas samples were collected during a 56-day incubation experiment
to determine total emitted CO2 and its δ13C value. The presence of SIC, kept the total CO2 emissions after
inorganic fertilization at levels comparable to unfertilized soil and a balanced fertilization reduced SIC-originated
CO2 emissions (≈15 % after NPK vs. 35 % with N applications) due to better nutrient use efficiency and
comparatively less proton generation after nitrification. When inorganic N fertilization led to complete SIC
depletion after shifting in soil pH from circumneutral (pH =7.4) to slightly-moderately acidic pH (pH =6.5 to
about 5.8) ranges, a sudden increase in total CO2 emissions indicated the loss of the protective effects of SIC, and
the extreme decomposition of the indigenous SOC. Complete depletion of SIC activates a negative feedback loop:
the more fertilizer is added for more crop production, the more SOC, and soil productivity will be lost. We
conclude that balanced fertilization and the use of organic fertilizers not only ensure sustainable productivity,
but also significantly reduce CO2 emissions from agroecosystems by preventing SIC depletion.
Keywords
- Carbon cycle, Carbon sequestration, Global warming, Plant nutrition, Soil organic matter stability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: GEODERMA, Vol. 459, 117386, 07.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Balanced fertilization management to protect soil inorganic carbon stocks and reduce soil CO2 emissions
AU - Abdollahpour, Mostafa
AU - Fan, Lichao
AU - Shao, Guodong
AU - Tao, Jingjing
AU - Guggenberger, Georg
AU - Zamanian, Kazem
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025/7
Y1 - 2025/7
N2 - Decalcification, especially due to acidity induced by nitrogen (N) fertilization, generates an often-underestimatedsource of atmospheric CO2 in agroecosystems. Complete depletion of soil inorganic carbon (SIC), i.e. carbonates,intensifies the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) to an extent not yet experimentally demonstrated. Sixfertilization management practices including application of urea, urea +superphosphate +potassium chloride,ammonium phosphate, ammonium phosphate +potassium chloride, chicken manure along a control i.e. nofertilization were used to quantify the effects of N fertilization on soil acidification and the percentage of SIC-originated CO2 in total soil CO2 emissions. Gas samples were collected during a 56-day incubation experimentto determine total emitted CO2 and its δ13C value. The presence of SIC, kept the total CO2 emissions afterinorganic fertilization at levels comparable to unfertilized soil and a balanced fertilization reduced SIC-originatedCO2 emissions (≈15 % after NPK vs. 35 % with N applications) due to better nutrient use efficiency andcomparatively less proton generation after nitrification. When inorganic N fertilization led to complete SICdepletion after shifting in soil pH from circumneutral (pH =7.4) to slightly-moderately acidic pH (pH =6.5 toabout 5.8) ranges, a sudden increase in total CO2 emissions indicated the loss of the protective effects of SIC, andthe extreme decomposition of the indigenous SOC. Complete depletion of SIC activates a negative feedback loop:the more fertilizer is added for more crop production, the more SOC, and soil productivity will be lost. Weconclude that balanced fertilization and the use of organic fertilizers not only ensure sustainable productivity,but also significantly reduce CO2 emissions from agroecosystems by preventing SIC depletion.
AB - Decalcification, especially due to acidity induced by nitrogen (N) fertilization, generates an often-underestimatedsource of atmospheric CO2 in agroecosystems. Complete depletion of soil inorganic carbon (SIC), i.e. carbonates,intensifies the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) to an extent not yet experimentally demonstrated. Sixfertilization management practices including application of urea, urea +superphosphate +potassium chloride,ammonium phosphate, ammonium phosphate +potassium chloride, chicken manure along a control i.e. nofertilization were used to quantify the effects of N fertilization on soil acidification and the percentage of SIC-originated CO2 in total soil CO2 emissions. Gas samples were collected during a 56-day incubation experimentto determine total emitted CO2 and its δ13C value. The presence of SIC, kept the total CO2 emissions afterinorganic fertilization at levels comparable to unfertilized soil and a balanced fertilization reduced SIC-originatedCO2 emissions (≈15 % after NPK vs. 35 % with N applications) due to better nutrient use efficiency andcomparatively less proton generation after nitrification. When inorganic N fertilization led to complete SICdepletion after shifting in soil pH from circumneutral (pH =7.4) to slightly-moderately acidic pH (pH =6.5 toabout 5.8) ranges, a sudden increase in total CO2 emissions indicated the loss of the protective effects of SIC, andthe extreme decomposition of the indigenous SOC. Complete depletion of SIC activates a negative feedback loop:the more fertilizer is added for more crop production, the more SOC, and soil productivity will be lost. Weconclude that balanced fertilization and the use of organic fertilizers not only ensure sustainable productivity,but also significantly reduce CO2 emissions from agroecosystems by preventing SIC depletion.
KW - Carbon cycle
KW - Carbon sequestration
KW - Global warming
KW - Plant nutrition
KW - Soil organic matter stability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105007796624&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117386
DO - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117386
M3 - Article
VL - 459
JO - GEODERMA
JF - GEODERMA
SN - 0016-7061
M1 - 117386
ER -