Summary
This on-farm study evaluated soil organic carbon accrual pathways across 21 conservation and conventional farming systems on various soil types, using structural equation modelling to identify dominant mechanisms. Conservation farming systems demonstrated 22% higher extractable organic carbon, 29% greater microbial biomass carbon, and 11% increased necromass carbon compared to conventional systems, with microbial-mediated turnover and direct sorption identified as the most important pathways. Crop rotation diversity and reduced tillage intensity emerged as the primary management factors driving enhanced carbon storage in conservation systems.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK farming policy and practice, particularly given policy emphasis on sustainable intensification and soil health under the Environmental Land Management schemes. The study's identification of crop rotation diversity and reduced tillage as key drivers aligns with UK agroecological guidance, though soil type variability across UK regions suggests implementation may require site-specific optimisation.
Key measures
Extractable organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, necromass carbon stocks, microbial-mediated SOC turnover, carbon-liberating enzyme activity, crop rotation diversity, tillage intensity
Outcomes reported
The study measured changes in soil organic carbon formation pathways (physico-chemical and microbial) and compared extractable organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and necromass carbon stocks across conservation farming, conventional farming, and permanently vegetated reference soils. Conservation farming systems showed substantially higher carbon stocks and altered microbial-mediated turnover dynamics compared to conventional systems.
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