Estimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslands

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dc.contributor.authorPaterson, Kirsty C.
dc.contributor.authorCloy, Joanna M.
dc.contributor.authorRees, Robert M.
dc.contributor.authorBaggs, Elizabeth M.
dc.contributor.authorMartineau, Hugh
dc.contributor.authorFornara, Dario
dc.contributor.authorMacdonald, Andrew J.
dc.contributor.authorBuckingham, Sarah
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-10T17:16:38Z
dc.date.available2021-02-10T17:16:38Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-27
dc.descriptionPublication history: Accepted - 24 November 2021; Published - 27 January 2021.en_US
dc.description.abstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration across agroecosystems worldwide can contribute to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing levels of atmospheric CO2. Stabilisation of organic carbon (OC) in the fine soil fraction (<20 μm) is considered an important long-term store of SOC, and the saturation deficit (difference between measured OC and estimated maximum OC in the fine fraction) is frequently used to assess SOC sequestration potential following the linear regression equation developed by Hassink (1997). However, this approach is often taken without any assessment of the fit of the equation to the soils being studied. The statistical limitations of linear regression have previously been noted, giving rise to the proposed use of boundary line (BL) analysis and quantile regression (QR) to provide more robust estimates of maximum SOC stabilisation. The objectives of this work were to assess the suitability of the Hassink (1997) equation to estimate maximum fine-fraction OC in UK grassland soils of varying sward ages and to evaluate the linear regression, boundary line and quantile regression methods to estimate maximum fine-fraction OC. A chronosequence of 10 grasslands was sampled, in order to assess the relationship between sward age (time since the last reseeding event) and the measured and predicted maximum fine-fraction OC. Significantly different regression equations show that the Hassink (1997) equation does not accurately reflect maximum fine-fraction OC in UK grasslands when determined using the proportion of the fine soil fraction (<20 μm, %) and measured finefraction OC (g C per kg soil). The QR estimate of maximum SOC stabilisation was almost double that of the linear regression and BL analysis (0.89 0.074, 0.43 0.017 and 0.57 0.052 gC per kg soil, respectively). Sward age had an inconsistent effect on the measured variables and potential maximum fine-fraction OC. Fine-fraction OC across the grasslands made up 4.5% to 55.9% of total SOC, implying that there may be either high potential for additional C sequestration in the fine fraction of these soils or that protection in aggregates is predominant in these grassland soils. This work highlights the need to ensure that methods used to predict maximum fine-fraction OC reflect the soil in situ, resulting in more accurate assessments of carbon sequestration potential.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research has been supported by SRUC’s postgraduate studentship programme and the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, University of Edinburgh. Funding has also been provided by Business Environment, Industry and Strategy (grant no. TRN1133); Ricardo-AEA; and the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish government.en_US
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12518/211
dc.identifier.citationPaterson, K.C., Cloy, J.M., Rees, R.M., Baggs, E.M., Martineau, H., Fornara, D., Macdonald, A.J. and Buckingham, S. (2021) ‘Estimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslands’, Biogeosciences. Copernicus GmbH. doi:10.5194/bg-18-605-2021en_US
dc.identifier.issn1726-4170
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-605-2021
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherCopernicus Publications for European Geosciences Unionen_US
dc.rights© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.en_US
dc.titleEstimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslandsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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