Management affects on the formation pathways of stable soil organic matter via catch crops and liming
Abstract
Catch crops are one of the most important agro-environmental measures for soil protection. They have been shown to lead to a reduction in nitrate discharges into the groundwater as well as preventing soil losses through water erosion. In the future, the aspect of humus build-up in the context of climate change (CO2 storage in the soil) will become increasingly important for agro-environmental programs. Contrary to earlier assumptions, that catch crops make a small contribution to the build-up of humus, more recent studies show that the greening of arable land plays an essential role in the reproduction and increase in soil organic matter. This indicates that more in-depth studies of the effects of catch crops on humus dynamics are necessary. Especially studies on the mechanisms and most important stabilization paths of organic matter in the soil from plant inputs in the light of the new humus theory are crucial. As part of a three-year field trial, different varieties of catch crops are examined, each with and without lime fertilization. The aim is to quantify the influence of cover crop species and varieties on differences in the stable carbon pool sizes. This project emphasizes to investigate the specific importance of microbial vs. the direct sorption path on stable SOC as well as the influence of liming in connection with catch crops on the carbon pools.
catch crops soil organic matter Agriculture liming
Publikationen
Project staff
Katharina Keiblinger
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Katharina Keiblinger
katharina.keiblinger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91141
Project Leader
01.11.2020 - 31.10.2023
Gernot Bodner
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Gernot Bodner
gernot.bodner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-95115
Project Staff
01.11.2020 - 31.10.2023