Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Organic carbon and nitrogen accrual evidenced by the underpinning protection mechanisms in soil profile following contrasting 35-year fertilization regimes

Muhammad Abrar, Muhammad Ahmed Waqas, Khalid Mehmood, Ruqin Fan, Baoku Zhou, Xingzhu Ma, Sun Nan, Jianjun Du, Minggang Xu

Journal of Environmental Management · 2025

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Summary

This 35-year field study investigates how contrasting fertilization regimes influence the accumulation and protective mechanisms of organic carbon and nitrogen within soil profiles. The research suggests that fertilization management shapes not only the quantity of carbon and nitrogen accrued in soils but also their spatial distribution and biochemical protection status across depth, with implications for long-term soil health and carbon sequestration potential.

Regional applicability

Whilst conducted in China, the findings on fertilization effects on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics are transferable to temperate arable systems in the United Kingdom, particularly regarding long-term impacts of contrasting nutrient management strategies on soil profile development and organic matter persistence. UK arable farmers and soil scientists would benefit from understanding how such extended fertilization regimes influence subsurface carbon storage.

Key measures

Soil organic carbon concentration, total nitrogen, soil profile fractionation, carbon and nitrogen protection mechanisms across soil depth increments

Outcomes reported

The study examined accumulation and protection mechanisms of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil profiles following 35 years of contrasting fertilization practices. It assessed how different fertilization regimes influence soil carbon and nitrogen storage and their vertical distribution.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil carbon & organic matter
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
China
System type
Arable cereals
DOI
10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124482
Catalogue ID
SNmomgwsrq-0s9ovk

Topic tags

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