In-season temporal variability of soil carbon and nitrogen pools after half a century of a tillage and crop rotation gradient

Summary

This long-term field study examines how tillage intensity and crop rotation diversity, maintained over roughly half a century, influence the temporal dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen pools within a single growing season. By capturing in-season variability rather than relying solely on single time-point measurements, the study highlights that snapshot sampling may inadequately characterise soil health indicators. The findings are likely to inform best-practice guidance on sampling protocols and underscore the importance of reduced tillage and diversified rotations for sustaining soil C and N pools.

UK applicability

Although conducted in the United States, the underlying principles regarding tillage reduction and crop rotation diversity are broadly applicable to UK arable systems, particularly in the context of Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes that incentivise soil health management. UK practitioners and researchers should note, however, that specific soil types, climate, and cropping systems may alter the magnitude and timing of in-season C and N dynamics.

Key measures

Soil organic carbon fractions (e.g. particulate organic carbon, mineralisable carbon); soil nitrogen pools (e.g. potentially mineralisable nitrogen, inorganic N); in-season sampling time points; tillage treatment effects; crop rotation effects

Outcomes reported

The study measured how soil carbon and nitrogen pools vary temporally within a growing season across a gradient of tillage intensities and crop rotation complexities, following approximately 50 years of contrasting management. It likely reported on labile and stable C and N fractions at multiple in-season sampling points.

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