Soil Processes and the Carbon Cycle

624 Pages·1998·43.818 MB·\624

by  Rattan Lal (Editor), John M. Kimble (Editor), Ronald F. Follett (Editor), B.A. Stewart (Editor)

SOIL PROCESSES
ANDTHE
CARBON CYCLE
■ dit&d by^
« J o h in l\/l. K i m b l e
uj^ \ Taylor &. Francis
Taylor & Francis Group
Boca Raton London New York Singapore
A CRC title, part of the Taylor & Francis imprint, a member of the
Taylor & Francis Group, the academic division of T&F Informa pic.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Soil processes and the carbon cycle / edited by R. Lai... [et al.]
p. cm.
Papers from a symposium entitled, “Carbon Sequestration in Soils”
held at Ohio State University, July 1996.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8493-7441-3 (alk. paper)
1. Soils- -Carbon content- -Congresses. 2. Carbon sequestration-
-Congresses. 3. Carbon cycle (Biogeochemistry)- -Congresses.
I. Lai, R. n. Series: Advances in soil science (Boca Raton, Ha.)
S592.6.C35S65 1997
631.4'17—dc21 97-29442
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is
quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts
have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume
responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use.
Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval
system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
All rights reserved. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the personal or internal
use of specific clients, may be granted by CRC Press LLC, provided that $.50 per page photocopied is paid
directly to Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 USA. The fee code for
users of the Transactional Reporting Service is ISBN 0-8493-7441-3/00/$0.00+$.50. The fee is subject to
change without notice. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate
system of payment has been arranged.
The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating
new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such
copying.
Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Horida 33431.
Ikademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used
only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe.
Visit the CRC Press Web site at www.crcpress.com
© 1998 by CRC Press LLC
No claim to original U.S. Government works
International Standard Book Number 0-8493-7441-3
Library of Congress Card Number 97-29442
6 7 8 9 0
PREFACE
The pedosphere is the interface between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere; it
plays a major role in the overall global carbon cycle, and in the production of food and fiber around
the world. Because of human manipulation of the pedosphere, its interaction with the other spheres,
and the attendant impacts on ecosystem productivity and environment quality, a symposium entitled,
"Carbon Sequestration in Soils” was held at The Ohio State University in July 1996. This volume and
two others contain the papers covering the information presented at the symposium.
These volumes are the state-of-the-art compendium on this topical issue of global significance.
They point out "Knowledge Gaps” and researchable issues related to "Soils and the Carbon Cycle”,
pedospheric processes and their interactions with other natural spheres, and relevant strategic and
policy considerations. Information concerning soil organic carbon pool in different ecosystems, the
impact of land use and management on this pool, relationships of soil organic matter to soil structure,
soil quality, and to mechanisms governing carbon sequestration in soil, and other themes are presented
in a comprehensive manner with the objectives of identifying and developing policy and management
options. However, the information presented also points out that much more knowledge is needed to
improve our future understanding of these fundamental processes that govern the dynamics of soil
organic carbon and their accompanying effects on the entire fabric of life on earth. Papers dealing
with the global C cycle and pools in different ecoregions are compiled in the first volume, those
dealing with C sequestration in soil in relation to management and land use in the second volume, and
those dealing with site-specific issues in the third volume. The editorial committee has provided
introductory and concluding chapters to highlight the issues and summarize the salient features. A
total of 34 chapters are included in volume 1,41 in volume 2, and 18 in volume 3.
The organization of the symposium and publication of these volumes were made possible by
cooperation and funding of the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Agricultural
Research Service, the Forest Service, Soil Science Society of America, and The Ohio State University.
The editors thank all authors for their outstanding efforts to document and present their information
on the current understanding of soil processes and the carbon cycle in a timely fashion. Their efforts
have contributed to enhancing the overall understanding of pedospheric processes and how to better
use soils as a sink for carbon while also managing soils to minimize pedosphere contributions of
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. These efforts have advanced the
frontiers of soil science and improved the understanding of the pedosphere into the broader scientific
arena of linking soils to the global carbon cycle, soil productivity, and environment quality.
Thanks are also due to the staff of CRC for their timely efforts in publishing this information on
time to make it available to the overall scientific community. The field tour was successfully
organized by Dr. Ed Redmond and scientists from the NRCS office in Ohio. In addition, valuable
contributions were made by numerous colleagues, graduate students, university staff, and staff of the
Fawcette Center. We especially thank Ms. Lynn Everett for her efforts in organizing the conference
and for handling the flow of chapters to and from the authors throughout the review process. Her
tireless efforts, good humor, and good nature are greatly appreciated. We also offer special thanks to
Ms. Brenda Swank for her help in preparing this material and for her assistance in all aspects of the
symposium. Mrs. Maria Lemon of the "Editors” helped in editing several chapters. The efforts of
many others were also very important in getting this relevant and important scientific information out
in a timely manner. Financial support received from NRCS, ARS, FS, SSSA, The Ohio State
University, and others is gratefully acknowledged.
The Editorial Committee
Volumes 1 and 2

About the Editors:
Dr. R. Lai is a Professor of Soil Science in the School of Natural Resources at The Ohio State
University. Prior to joining Ohio State in 1987, he served as a soil scientist for 18 years at The
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. Prof Lai is a fellow of the Soil
Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, The Third World Academy of Sciences,
American Association for Advancement of Sciences, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
He is recipient of the International Soil Science Award, the Soil Science Applied Research Award of
the Soil Science Society of America, and the International Agronomy Award of the American Society
of Agronomy. He is past President of the World Association of the Soil and Water Conservation and
the International Soil Tillage Research Organization.
Dr. John Kimble is a Research Soil Scientist at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
National Soil Survey Laboratory in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dr. Kimble manages the Global Change
project of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and has worked more than 15 years with the
US Agency for International Development projects dealing with soils-related problems in more than
40 developing countries. He is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science
Society of America, the International Soil Science Society, and the International Humic Substances
Society.
Dr. R.F. Follett is Supervisory Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Soil Plant Nutrient Research Unit, Fort
Collins, CO. He previously served 10 years as a National Program Leader with ARS headquarters in
Beltsville, MD. Dr. Follett is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of
Agronomy, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. He was twice awarded the USDA
Distinguished Service Award (USDA’s highest award). Dr. Follett organized and wrote the ARS
Strategic Plans for both "Ground-Water Quality Protection-Biogeochemical Dynamics." Dr. Follett
has been a lead editor for several books and a guest editor for the Journal of Cantaminant Hydrology.
His scientific publications include topics about nutrient management for forage production, soil-N and
-C cycling, ground-water quality protection, global climate change, agroecosystems, soil and crop
management systems, soil erosion and crop productivity, plant mineral nutrition, animal nutrition,
irrigation, and drainage.
Dr. B.A. Stewart is a Distinguished Professor of Soil Science, and Director of the Dryland Agriculture
Institute at West Texas A&M University. Prior to joining West Texas A&M University in 1993, he
was Director of the USDA Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, Texas. Dr.
Stewart is past president of the Soil Science Society of America, and was a member of the 1990-93
Committee on Long Range Soil and Water Policy, National Research Council, National Academy of
Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Soil
and Water Conservation Society, a recipient of the USDA Superior Service Award, and a recipient
of the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Contributors
E. Amezquita, Centro Intemacional de Agricultura Tropical, Tropical Lowlands Program, Apartado
Aereo 6713, Cali, Colombia.
D. A Angers, Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2560 Hochelaga Blvd., Ste. Foy,
Quebec GIV 2J3, Canada.
M.A. Arshad, Northern Alberta Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge,
Alberta, TOH OCO, Canada.
KM. Bajracharya, The Ohio State University, School of Natural Resources, 2021 Coffey Road,
Columbus, OH, 43210, U.S.A.
J.A. Baldock, CSIRO Division of Soils, Glen Osmond, S.A. 5064, Australia.
T.O. Barnwell, USEPA, Environmental Research Laboratory, Athens, GA 30613, U.S.A.
J.G. Bockheim, University of Wisconsin, Department of Soil Science, 1525 Observatory Drive,
Madison, WI 53706-1299, U.S.A.
C.A. Cambardella, USDA-ARS, National Soil Tilth Laboratory, 2150 Pammel Dr., Ames, LA
50011-0001, U.S.A.
C.A. Campbell, Agriculture Canada Research Station, P.O. Box 1030, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 3X2, Canada.
C.C. Cerri, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Campus Luiz de
Queiroz, Avenida Centenario 303, Caixa Postal 96, Cep 13400-970, Piracicaba SP, Brazil.
KJ. Chandler, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Palmer Research Center, 533 E. Firewood Av.,
Palmer, AK 99645
Z. Qi Chen, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Earth Sciences Building,
Room 442, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada.
C. Chenu, INRA, Unite de Science du Sol, 78026 Versailles, France.
KV. Chinnaswamy, AQUA TERRA Consultants, 2672 Bayshore Parkway, Suite 1001, Mountain
View, CA 94043, U.S.A.
C.E. Clapp, University of Minnesota, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate; 1991 Upper Buford
Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, U.S.A.
J.F.L. de Moraes, Institute Agronomico de Campinas, Caixa Postal 28,13020-902, Campinas, SP,
Brazil.
H. Dinel, 960 Carling Avenue, K.W. Neatby Building, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa,
Ontario KIA 0C6, Canada.
KF. Dodson, Dynamac Corporation, USEPA National Healfti and Environmental Effects Laboratory,
Western Ecology Division, 200 SW 35th St, Corvallis, OR 97333.
A. S. Donigian, Jr., AQUA TERRA Consultants, 2672 Bayshore Parkway, Suite 1001, Mountain
View, CA 94043, U.S.A.
W. Eisner, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, 108 Scott Hall, 1090 Carmack
Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1002, U.S.A.
B. H. Ellert, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Box 3000, Lethbridge, Alberta TIJ 4B1, Canada.
E. T. Elliott, Colorado State University, Natural Resomce Ecology Laboratory, Office of Ecosystem
Research and Management, Fort Collins, CO 80523, U.S.A.
LK Everett, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, 108 Scott Hall, 1090 Carmack
Rd., Cohunbus, OH 43210-1002, U.S.A.
B.J. Feigl, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Avenida CentenOrio, 303, Caixa Postal 96, CEP
13416000, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
M.J. Fisher, Centro Intemacional de Agricultura Tropical, Tropical Lowlands Program, Apartado
Aereo 6713, Cali, Colombia.
KF. Foiled, USDA-ARS, Soil Plant Nutrient Research, P.O. Box E, Ft. Collins, CO 80522-0470,
U.S.A.
J.K Fortner, USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Bldg. Room 152,100 Centennial
Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
D.S. Gamble, 960 Carling Avenue, K.W. Neatby Building, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
Ottawa, Ontario KlA 06C, Canada.
A. Gemadiyev, Moscow State University, Department of Geography, Moscow 119899, Russia.
S.A. Glaum, USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Bldg. Room 152, 100 Centennial
Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
J. A. Golchin, The University of Adelaide, Department of Soil Science, Waite Agricultural Research
Institute, Glen Osmond, S.A. 5064, Australia.
KF. Grant, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3,
Canada.
D. J. Greenland, Low Wood, The Street South Stoke, Reading RG8 OJS, U.K.
E. G. Gregorich, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, K.W. Neatby Building, CEF, Ottawa, Ontario
KlA 0C5, Canada.
R. B. Grossman, USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Bldg. Room 152, 100
Centennial Mall N.,Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
D.H. //orffjs,USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Bldg. Room 152, 100 Centennial
Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
K. G. Harrison, Duke University Phytotron, Box 90340, Durham, NC 27708-0340, U.S.A.
S. L. Hartung, USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Bldg. Room 152, 100 Centennial
Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
J.E. Herrick, USDA-ARS Jornada Exp. Range, Box 30003, NMSU, Dept. 3JER, Las Cruces, NM
88003-0003, U.S.A.
Frank L. Himes, The Ohio State University, School of Natural Resources, 2021 Coffey Road,
Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A.
R.C. Izaurralde, University of Alberta, 442 Earth Sciences Building, Department of Renewable
Resources, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada.
D.C. Jans-Hammermeister, Agrium Biologicals, 402-15 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 2X8,
Canada.
H. Henry Janzen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Box 3000, Lethbridge, Alberta TIJ 4B1,
Canada.
Julie D. Jastrow, DOE/Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439,
U.S.A.
N.G. Juma, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Room 442, Earth Sciences
Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada.
D.L. Karlen, USDA-ARS, National Soil Tilth Laboratory, 2150 Pammel Drive, Ame, lA 50011,
U.S.A.
B. D. Kay, University of Guelph, Department of Land Resomce Science, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1,
Canada.
J. S. Kern, Dynamac Corporation, USEPA National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory,
Western Ecology Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, U.S.A.
K. Killian, Colorado State University, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, B266, Ft. Collins, CO
80523, U.S.A.
J. Kimble, USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial
Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
D. S. Kimes, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 923 Biospheric Sciences Branch, Greenbelt,
MA 20771, U.S.A.
E. -M. Klimanek, Umweltforschimgszentrum Leipzig-Halle GmbH, Sektion Bodenforschung,
Hallesche Str. 44, D-06246 Bad Lauchstadt, Germany.
Dmitri Ye Konyushkov, V.V. Docuchaev Soils Institute, Apt. 79, 82Pyzheuskiiy Lane, Moscow
109017, Russia.
M Karschens, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Liepzig-Halle, Department of Soil Science,
Hallesche Strabe 44,06246 Bad Lauchstadt, Germany.
M.S. ^ic//a,USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Bldg., Room 152,100 Centennial
Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, U.S.A.
B. Lacelle, Agric. Canada Eastern Cereal & Oilseed Research Centre Branch, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, K.W. Neatby Bldg. C.E.F., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada.
R. Lai, The Ohio State University, School of Natural Resources, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH
43210, U.S.A.
E. Levine, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 923, Biospheric Sciences Branch, Greenbelt,
MD 20771, U.S.A.
D. K Linden, USDA-ARS, University of Minnesota, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, 1530
Cleveland Ave. N., 439 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108-1004, U.S.A.
E. Lioubimtseva, Faculte des Sciences Agronomiques, Department des Sciences du Milieu et
Amenagement du Territoire, Croix du Sud, 2 Bte 9, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
W.M. Loya, do C.L. Ping, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Palmer Research Center, 533 E. Firewood
Av., Palmer, AK 99645, U.S.A.
Ronald L. Malcolm, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
S. S. Malhi, Research Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 1240, Highway 6 South
Melfort, SK SOE lAO, Canada.
MJ. Mausbach, USDA-NRCS, 2150 Pammel Dr., Ames, lA 50011-0001, U.S.A.
W.B. McGill, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Edmonton, Alberta T6J
2M1, Canada.
B. F. McQuaid, USDA-NRCS, North Carolina State University, 1509 Varsity Dr., Raleigh, NC
27606-2083, U.S.A.
J.M. Melillo, The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543,
U.S.A.
S. Mercik, Warsaw Agricultural University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural
Chemistry, Warsaw, Poland.
G.J. Michaelson, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Palmer Research Center, 533 E. Fireweed Ave.,
Palmer, AK 99645, U.S.A.
RM. Miller, Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439,
U.S.A.
M. Molina-Ayala, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Edmonton, Alberta
T6J 2M1, Canada.
C. M Monreal, Agriculture Canada, K.W. Neatby Building, Room 3042,960 Carlig Avenue, Ottawa,
Ontario KIA 0C6, Canada.
Tim R Moore, McGill University, Department of Geography, 805 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal H3 A
2K6, Canada.
C. Neill, Marine Biological Laboratory, The Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A.
M. Nyborg, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Edmonton, Alberta T6J
2M1, Canada.
J. M. Oades, The University of Adelaide, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences,
Waite Campus, Private Bag No. 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
GailL. Olson, INEL, 215 N. Blvd., Box 16258, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2213, U.S.A.
A.S. Patwardhan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN
55155-4194, U.S. A.
K. Faustian, Colorado State University, Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Fort Collins, CO
80523-1499, U.S.A.
S. Pawluk, University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, Room 442, Earth Sciences
Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada.
E.M. Pfeiffer, University of Hamburg, Institute of Soil Science, Allendeplatz 2, 20146 Hamburg,
Germany.
Marisa C. Piccolo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Avenida Centenrio, 303 Caixa Postal
96, CEP 13416000, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.