Summary
This seven-year field experiment (2013–2019) in Illinois demonstrates that single applications of highly stabilised organic amendments (lagoon-aged biosolids or vegetative compost at 165 Mg ha⁻¹) can rapidly elevate soil organic matter in degraded Alfisol to levels typical of productive Mollisol, whilst reducing fertiliser requirements and increasing corn yield by 7–20%. The intervention shifted soil microbial communities towards more efficient carbon utilisation, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 20%, and modelling suggests long-term carbon sequestration of 10.6–13.9 Mg C ha⁻¹ over 50 years—a meaningful contribution to climate mitigation in cereal production.
Regional applicability
This study was conducted in the United States Midwest (Illinois) under conditions not directly comparable to United Kingdom climate or soil types. However, the principle of using highly stabilised organic amendments to rebuild depleted soil organic matter is relevant to UK arable systems, particularly on lower-quality soils; transferability would depend on UK-specific trials, given differences in climate, soil parent material, and amendment availability.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon (%) at 0–15 cm depth; corn grain yield (% change relative to control); microbial metabolic quotient for CO₂; annual CO₂ emissions from crop residues; 50-year projected soil carbon sequestration (Mg C ha⁻¹); fertiliser application rates (N, P, K; kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹)
Outcomes reported
The study measured changes in soil organic carbon, corn grain yield, microbial metabolic activity, CO₂ emissions, and projected long-term soil carbon sequestration following single applications of highly stabilised organic amendments (biosolids and compost) compared to chemical fertiliser control.
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