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- Title
Carbon sequestration in soil in a semi-natural Miscanthus sinensis grassland and Cryptomeria japonica forest plantation in Aso, Kumamoto, Japan.
- Authors
Toma, Yo; Armstrong, Kevin; Ryan Stewart, J.; Yamada, Toshihiko; Nishiwaki, Aya; Fernández, Fabián G.
- Abstract
Although Miscanthus sinensis grasslands (Misc- GL) and Cryptomeria japonica forest plantations (Cryp- FP) are proposed bioenergy feedstock systems, their relative capacity to sequester C may be an important factor in determining their potential for sustainable bioenergy production. Therefore, our objective was to quantify changes in soil C sequestration 47 years after a Misc- GL was converted to a Cryp- FP. The study was conducted on adjacent Misc- GL and Cryp- FP located on Mt. Aso, Kumamoto, Japan. After Cryp- FP establishment, only the Misc- GL continued to be managed by annual burning every March. Mass C and N, δ13C, and δ15N at 0-30 cm depth were measured in 5 cm increments. Carbon and N concentrations, C:N ratio, δ13C, and δ15N were measured in litter and/or ash, and rhizomes or roots. Although C input in Misc- GL by M. sinensis was approximately 36% of that in Cryp- FP by C. japonica, mean annual soil C sequestration in Misc- GL (503 kg C ha−1 yr−1) was higher than that in Cryp- FP (284 kg C ha−1 yr−1). This was likely the result of larger C input from aboveground litter to soil, C-quality (C:N ratio and lignin concentration in aboveground litter) and possibly more recalcitrant C (charcoal) inputs by annual burning. The difference in soil δ15N between sites indicated that organic C with N had greater cycling between heterotrophic microbes and soil and produces more recalcitrant humus in Misc- GL than in Cryp- FP. Our data indicate that in terms of soil C sequestration, maintenance of Misc- GL may be more advantageous than conversion to Cryp- FP in Aso, Japan.
- Subjects
KUMAMOTO-ken (Japan); JAPAN; CARBON sequestration; CARBON in soils; MISCANTHUS; CRYPTOMERIA japonica; TREE farms
- Publication
GCB Bioenergy, 2012, Vol 4, Issue 5, p566
- ISSN
1757-1693
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1757-1707.2012.01160.x