Impacts of reduced tillage in woody crop systems on soil carbon sequestration in surface and subsurface soils under semiarid Mediterranean conditions
2025-04-08, 18:35–18:39, W - Invite

Reduced tillage is an effective measure to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) contents in agricultural soils. However, most of the studies in the literature refer to gains of SOC at the top surface layer. Ignoring the subsoil carbon dynamics in deeper layers of soil fails to recognize potential opportunities for soil C sequestration and may lead to false conclusions about the impact of management practices on C sequestration. The global objective was to evaluate total SOC (and different pools) under three different sustainable management practices (no tillage, reduced tillage and reduced tillage plus green manure) compared to the traditional management in a 0-60 cm soil profile and go deeper on how different OC pools contribute to total SOC storage in depth. To reach these objectives five soil profiles from two experimental farms with similar environmental characteristics were sampled at the intervals 0-15, 15-30, 30-50 and 50-60 cm depth. In addition, a reference profile at each site, in an undisturbed natural area next to the woody orchards were sampled. Per each interval within a profile, three disturbed and undisturbed samples were collected. Bulk density, total OC and different OC pools (particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral associated organic carbon (MAC), hot water extractable carbon (HWC), short mineralization carbon (SMC)) and texture were analyzed. Aboveground carbon inputs in each management were also considered. Preliminary results indicate, a different pattern in the SOC stock with depth depend on the management and experimental farm and an increase in SOC stock at all depths when reduce tillage plus green manure and no tillage are implemented respect to the traditional management. Moreover, higher increase in SOC stock under reduce tillage plus green manure compared to traditional tillage was observed when considering the 0-60 cm profile than when considering the first 30 cm of soil indicating the importance of studying the OC at deeper layers. The contribution of labile OC pools to total SOC decreased, in general and about 50% from the surface layer to the deepest one in cultivated soils (regardless, intensive or reduced tillage) and about 10-20% under undisturbed natural conditions. The labile OC pool more sensitive to changes in management was POC and HWOC depending on the experimental farm.

I graduated in Chemical Engineering at University of Murcia, and I did a Master in Advanced Techniques in Agricultural and Food Research and Development at Technical University of Cartagena. Now I’m a PhD student in soil science at the Soil and Water Conservation Research Group of CEBAS-CSIC with a deep interest in how we can increase long-term carbon sequestration in the soil using novel agricultural land management practices within the context of climate change just as improve its water resources and associated ecosystem services.