Carbon fraction concentrations in a haplic Luvisol as affected by tillage

Abstract

Changes of soil organic matter (SOM) parameters were investigated in a haplic Luvisol with medium-heavy texture. Soil samples were taken from several layers at minimum (MT) and conventional (CT) tillage plots of a field experiment in Sitzenhof (Germany). All cultural practices except for tillage (crop rotation, fertilizing, protection measures, etc.) were identical over the whole time of the experiment. The concentrations of oxidizable carbon Cox and its constituents (humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), and hot-water soluble carbon) are comparable in layers 15-20 cm in both variants. In 0-15 cm and 30-55 cm layers, these concentrations were higher in the MT variant. A similar trend was observed in the colour quotient values of humic substances Q4/6, which indicates increasing condensation of humus substances (HS) at deeper layers in both variants, and it is also confirmed by a humic to fulvic acids ratio HA:FA. Concentrations of SOM fractions were higher (except 15-20 cm layers) in the MT than CT treatment throughout the profile, especially below the 30 cm depth. The SOM did not accumulate markedly in the surface layer of long-term MT treatment.

Keywords

• carbon fractionation
• profile distribution
• minimum tillage