Work

Silage maize grown in a four-crop rotation: Similar soil C4-stocks despite large fertilizer-induced differences in harvest yields

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Belowground crop residues are one primary source of C input in agricultural soils. Using changes in the natural abundance of 13 C, we quantified SOC derived from harvest residues of silage maize grown in a four-course crop rotation with different mineral fertilizer levels (UNF, ½, 1, and 1½NPK). After a period of two decades with five maize crops, maize-derived C accounted for 1 % (0.36 Mg C ha −1 ) of the total SOC stock in the 0–20 cm soil layer, irrespective of differences in aboveground harvest yields. This questions yield-dependent allometric functions for silage maize used in models simulating C turnover in agricultural soils.

Source: Geoderma

DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117387

Authors: Azhar Zhartybayeva, Bent T. Christensen, Jørgen Eriksen, Johannes L. Jensen

Institution: Aarhus University

Language: English

Topic: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,320