An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments

Daniel Liptzin; Charlotte E. Norris; Shannon B. Cappellazzi; G. Mac Bean; Michael Cope; Kelsey L.H. Greub; Elizabeth L. Rieke; Paul W. Tracy; Ezra Aberle; Amanda Ashworth; Oscar Bañuelos Tavarez; Andy I. Bary; R. L. Baumhardt; Alberto Borbón Gracia; Daniel C. Brainard; Jameson R. Brennan; Dolores Briones Reyes; Darren Bruhjell; Cameron N. Carlyle; James J.W. Crawford; Cody F. Creech; Steve W. Culman; Bill Deen; Curtis J. Dell; Justin D. Derner; Thomas F. Ducey; Sjoerd W. Duiker; Miles F. Dyck; Benjamin H. Ellert; Martin H. Entz; Avelino Espinosa Solorio; Steven J. Fonte; Simon Fonteyne; Ann Marie Fortuna; Jamie L. Foster; Lisa M. Fultz; Audrey V. Gamble; Charles M. Geddes; Deirdre Griffin-LaHue; John H. Grove; Stephen K. Hamilton; Xiying Hao; Zachary D. Hayden; Nora Honsdorf; Julie A. Howe; James A. Ippolito; Gregg A. Johnson; Mark A. Kautz; Newell R. Kitchen; Sandeep Kumar; Kirsten S.M. Kurtz; Francis J. Larney; Katie L. Lewis; Matt Liebman; Antonio Lopez Ramirez; Stephen Machado; Bijesh Maharjan; Miguel Angel Martinez Gamiño; William E. May; Mitchel P. McClaran; Marshall D. McDaniel; Neville Millar; Jeffrey P. Mitchell; Amber D. Moore; Philip A. Moore; Manuel Mora Gutiérrez; Kelly A. Nelson; Emmanuel C. Omondi; Shannon L. Osborne; Leodegario Osorio Alcalá; Philip Owens; Eugenia M. Pena-Yewtukhiw; Hanna J. Poffenbarger; Brenda Ponce Lira; Jennifer R. Reeve; Timothy M. Reinbott; Mark S. Reiter; Edwin L. Ritchey; Kraig L. Roozeboom; Yichao Rui; Amir Sadeghpour; Upendra M. Sainju; Gregg R. Sanford; William F. Schillinger; Robert R. Schindelbeck; Meagan E. Schipanski; Alan J. Schlegel; Kate M. Scow; Lucretia A. Sherrod; Amy L. Shober; Sudeep S. Sidhu; Ernesto Solís Moya; Mervin St Luce; Jeffrey S. Strock; Andrew E. Suyker; Virginia R. Sykes; Haiying Tao; Alberto Trujillo Campos; Laura L. Van Eerd; Harold van Es; Nele Verhulst; Tony J. Vyn; Yutao Wang; Dexter B. Watts; David L. Wright; Tiequan Zhang; Cristine L.S. Morgan; C. Wayne Honeycutt

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708

An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments

Daniel Liptzin, Charlotte E. Norris, Shannon B. Cappellazzi, G. Mac Bean, Michael Cope, Kelsey L.H. Greub, Elizabeth L. Rieke, Paul W. Tracy, Ezra Aberle, Amanda Ashworth, Oscar Bañuelos Tavarez, Andy I. Bary, R. L. Baumhardt, Alberto Borbón Gracia, Daniel C. Brainard, Jameson R. Brennan, Dolores Briones Reyes, Darren Bruhjell, Cameron N. Carlyle, James J.W. CrawfordCody F. Creech, Steve W. Culman, Bill Deen, Curtis J. Dell, Justin D. Derner, Thomas F. Ducey, Sjoerd W. Duiker, Miles F. Dyck, Benjamin H. Ellert, Martin H. Entz, Avelino Espinosa Solorio, Steven J. Fonte, Simon Fonteyne, Ann Marie Fortuna, Jamie L. Foster, Lisa M. Fultz, Audrey V. Gamble, Charles M. Geddes, Deirdre Griffin-LaHue, John H. Grove, Stephen K. Hamilton, Xiying Hao, Zachary D. Hayden, Nora Honsdorf, Julie A. Howe, James A. Ippolito, Gregg A. Johnson, Mark A. Kautz, Newell R. Kitchen, Sandeep Kumar, Kirsten S.M. Kurtz, Francis J. Larney, Katie L. Lewis, Matt Liebman, Antonio Lopez Ramirez, Stephen Machado, Bijesh Maharjan, Miguel Angel Martinez Gamiño, William E. May, Mitchel P. McClaran, Marshall D. McDaniel, Neville Millar, Jeffrey P. Mitchell, Amber D. Moore, Philip A. Moore, Manuel Mora Gutiérrez, Kelly A. Nelson, Emmanuel C. Omondi, Shannon L. Osborne, Leodegario Osorio Alcalá, Philip Owens, Eugenia M. Pena-Yewtukhiw, Hanna J. Poffenbarger, Brenda Ponce Lira, Jennifer R. Reeve, Timothy M. Reinbott, Mark S. Reiter, Edwin L. Ritchey, Kraig L. Roozeboom, Yichao Rui, Amir Sadeghpour, Upendra M. Sainju, Gregg R. Sanford, William F. Schillinger, Robert R. Schindelbeck, Meagan E. Schipanski, Alan J. Schlegel, Kate M. Scow, Lucretia A. Sherrod, Amy L. Shober, Sudeep S. Sidhu, Ernesto Solís Moya, Mervin St Luce, Jeffrey S. Strock, Andrew E. Suyker, Virginia R. Sykes, Haiying Tao, Alberto Trujillo Campos, Laura L. Van Eerd, Harold van Es, Nele Verhulst, Tony J. Vyn, Yutao Wang, Dexter B. Watts, David L. Wright, Tiequan Zhang, Cristine L.S. Morgan, C. Wayne Honeycutt

Plant and Soil Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is closely tied to soil health. However, additional biological indicators may also provide insight about C dynamics and microbial activity. We used SOC and the other C indicators (potential C mineralization, permanganate oxidizable C, water extractable organic C, and β-glucosidase enzyme activity) from the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements to examine the continental-scale drivers of these indicators, the relationships among indicators, and the effects of soil health practices on indicator values. All indicators had greater values at cooler temperatures, and most were greater with increased precipitation and clay content. The indicators were strongly correlated with each other at the site-level, with the strongest relationship between SOC and permanganate oxidizable C. The indicator values responded positively to decreased tillage, inclusion of cover crops, application of organic nutrients, and retention of crop residue, but not the number of harvested crops in a rotation. The effect of decreased tillage on the C indicators was generally greater at sites with higher precipitation. The magnitude and direction of the response to soil health practices was consistent across indicators within a site but measuring at least two indicators would provide additional confidence of the effects of management, especially for tillage. All C indicators responded to management, an essential criterion for evaluating soil health. Balancing the cost, sensitivity, interpretability, and availability at commercial labs, a 24-hr potential C mineralization assay could deliver the most benefit to measure in conjunction with SOC.

Original language	English
Article number	108708
Journal	Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Volume	172
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708
State	Published - Sep 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors

Funding

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (grant ID 523926), General Mills, and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.Names of laboratories and equipment were given to provide specific information and do not constitute endorsement by the authors. The NAPESHM project is part of a broader effort titled, “Assessing and Expanding Soil Health for Production, Economic, and Environmental Benefits”. The project is funded by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (grant ID 523926), General Mills, and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The content of this publication is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. The authors acknowledge the following individuals and groups for their contribution to the long-term research sites: Robert Dungan, Joshua Heitman, April Leytem, Mark Liebig, Deanna Osmond, Michael Thompson, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro NC (Melissa Bell, Nancy Creamer, Alan Franzluebbers, Tomas Moreno, Paul Mueller, Chris Reberg-Horton), and C.S. Tan, T.W. Welacky, D. Lawrence, M.R. Reeb, M. Soultani, and K. Rinas from Harrow Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (grant ID 523926 ), General Mills , and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation .

Funders	Funder number
Harrow Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research	ID 523926
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Keywords

Potential carbon mineralization
Soil health indicators
Soil management
Soil organic carbon
Tillage

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Microbiology
Soil Science

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10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708

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Liptzin, D., Norris, C. E., Cappellazzi, S. B., Bean, G. M., Cope, M., Greub, K. L. H., Rieke, E. L., Tracy, P. W., Aberle, E., Ashworth, A., Bañuelos Tavarez, O., Bary, A. I., Baumhardt, R. L., Borbón Gracia, A., Brainard, D. C., Brennan, J. R., Briones Reyes, D., Bruhjell, D., Carlyle, C. N., ... Honeycutt, C. W. (2022). An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 172, Article 108708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708

@article{2046438feb104302bccdb1142d66d0de,

title = "An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments",

abstract = "Soil organic carbon (SOC) is closely tied to soil health. However, additional biological indicators may also provide insight about C dynamics and microbial activity. We used SOC and the other C indicators (potential C mineralization, permanganate oxidizable C, water extractable organic C, and β-glucosidase enzyme activity) from the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements to examine the continental-scale drivers of these indicators, the relationships among indicators, and the effects of soil health practices on indicator values. All indicators had greater values at cooler temperatures, and most were greater with increased precipitation and clay content. The indicators were strongly correlated with each other at the site-level, with the strongest relationship between SOC and permanganate oxidizable C. The indicator values responded positively to decreased tillage, inclusion of cover crops, application of organic nutrients, and retention of crop residue, but not the number of harvested crops in a rotation. The effect of decreased tillage on the C indicators was generally greater at sites with higher precipitation. The magnitude and direction of the response to soil health practices was consistent across indicators within a site but measuring at least two indicators would provide additional confidence of the effects of management, especially for tillage. All C indicators responded to management, an essential criterion for evaluating soil health. Balancing the cost, sensitivity, interpretability, and availability at commercial labs, a 24-hr potential C mineralization assay could deliver the most benefit to measure in conjunction with SOC.",

keywords = "Potential carbon mineralization, Soil health indicators, Soil management, Soil organic carbon, Tillage",

author = "Daniel Liptzin and Norris, {Charlotte E.} and Cappellazzi, {Shannon B.} and Bean, {G. Mac} and Michael Cope and Greub, {Kelsey L.H.} and Rieke, {Elizabeth L.} and Tracy, {Paul W.} and Ezra Aberle and Amanda Ashworth and {Ba{\~n}uelos Tavarez}, Oscar and Bary, {Andy I.} and Baumhardt, {R. L.} and {Borb{\'o}n Gracia}, Alberto and Brainard, {Daniel C.} and Brennan, {Jameson R.} and {Briones Reyes}, Dolores and Darren Bruhjell and Carlyle, {Cameron N.} and Crawford, {James J.W.} and Creech, {Cody F.} and Culman, {Steve W.} and Bill Deen and Dell, {Curtis J.} and Derner, {Justin D.} and Ducey, {Thomas F.} and Duiker, {Sjoerd W.} and Dyck, {Miles F.} and Ellert, {Benjamin H.} and Entz, {Martin H.} and {Espinosa Solorio}, Avelino and Fonte, {Steven J.} and Simon Fonteyne and Fortuna, {Ann Marie} and Foster, {Jamie L.} and Fultz, {Lisa M.} and Gamble, {Audrey V.} and Geddes, {Charles M.} and Deirdre Griffin-LaHue and Grove, {John H.} and Hamilton, {Stephen K.} and Xiying Hao and Hayden, {Zachary D.} and Nora Honsdorf and Howe, {Julie A.} and Ippolito, {James A.} and Johnson, {Gregg A.} and Kautz, {Mark A.} and Kitchen, {Newell R.} and Sandeep Kumar and Kurtz, {Kirsten S.M.} and Larney, {Francis J.} and Lewis, {Katie L.} and Matt Liebman and {Lopez Ramirez}, Antonio and Stephen Machado and Bijesh Maharjan and {Martinez Gami{\~n}o}, {Miguel Angel} and May, {William E.} and McClaran, {Mitchel P.} and McDaniel, {Marshall D.} and Neville Millar and Mitchell, {Jeffrey P.} and Moore, {Amber D.} and Moore, {Philip A.} and {Mora Guti{\'e}rrez}, Manuel and Nelson, {Kelly A.} and Omondi, {Emmanuel C.} and Osborne, {Shannon L.} and {Osorio Alcal{\'a}}, Leodegario and Philip Owens and Pena-Yewtukhiw, {Eugenia M.} and Poffenbarger, {Hanna J.} and {Ponce Lira}, Brenda and Reeve, {Jennifer R.} and Reinbott, {Timothy M.} and Reiter, {Mark S.} and Ritchey, {Edwin L.} and Roozeboom, {Kraig L.} and Yichao Rui and Amir Sadeghpour and Sainju, {Upendra M.} and Sanford, {Gregg R.} and Schillinger, {William F.} and Schindelbeck, {Robert R.} and Schipanski, {Meagan E.} and Schlegel, {Alan J.} and Scow, {Kate M.} and Sherrod, {Lucretia A.} and Shober, {Amy L.} and Sidhu, {Sudeep S.} and {Sol{\'i}s Moya}, Ernesto and {St Luce}, Mervin and Strock, {Jeffrey S.} and Suyker, {Andrew E.} and Sykes, {Virginia R.} and Haiying Tao and {Trujillo Campos}, Alberto and {Van Eerd}, {Laura L.} and {van Es}, Harold and Nele Verhulst and Vyn, {Tony J.} and Yutao Wang and Watts, {Dexter B.} and Wright, {David L.} and Tiequan Zhang and Morgan, {Cristine L.S.} and Honeycutt, {C. Wayne}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

year = "2022",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708",

language = "English",

volume = "172",

}

Liptzin, D, Norris, CE, Cappellazzi, SB, Bean, GM, Cope, M, Greub, KLH, Rieke, EL, Tracy, PW, Aberle, E, Ashworth, A, Bañuelos Tavarez, O, Bary, AI, Baumhardt, RL, Borbón Gracia, A, Brainard, DC, Brennan, JR, Briones Reyes, D, Bruhjell, D, Carlyle, CN, Crawford, JJW, Creech, CF, Culman, SW, Deen, B, Dell, CJ, Derner, JD, Ducey, TF, Duiker, SW, Dyck, MF, Ellert, BH, Entz, MH, Espinosa Solorio, A, Fonte, SJ, Fonteyne, S, Fortuna, AM, Foster, JL, Fultz, LM, Gamble, AV, Geddes, CM, Griffin-LaHue, D, Grove, JH, Hamilton, SK, Hao, X, Hayden, ZD, Honsdorf, N, Howe, JA, Ippolito, JA, Johnson, GA, Kautz, MA, Kitchen, NR, Kumar, S, Kurtz, KSM, Larney, FJ, Lewis, KL, Liebman, M, Lopez Ramirez, A, Machado, S, Maharjan, B, Martinez Gamiño, MA, May, WE, McClaran, MP, McDaniel, MD, Millar, N, Mitchell, JP, Moore, AD, Moore, PA, Mora Gutiérrez, M, Nelson, KA, Omondi, EC, Osborne, SL, Osorio Alcalá, L, Owens, P, Pena-Yewtukhiw, EM, Poffenbarger, HJ, Ponce Lira, B, Reeve, JR, Reinbott, TM, Reiter, MS, Ritchey, EL, Roozeboom, KL, Rui, Y, Sadeghpour, A, Sainju, UM, Sanford, GR, Schillinger, WF, Schindelbeck, RR, Schipanski, ME, Schlegel, AJ, Scow, KM, Sherrod, LA, Shober, AL, Sidhu, SS, Solís Moya, E, St Luce, M, Strock, JS, Suyker, AE, Sykes, VR, Tao, H, Trujillo Campos, A, Van Eerd, LL, van Es, H, Verhulst, N, Vyn, TJ, Wang, Y, Watts, DB, Wright, DL, Zhang, T, Morgan, CLS & Honeycutt, CW 2022, 'An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments', Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 172, 108708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708

TY - JOUR

T1 - An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments

AU - Liptzin, Daniel

AU - Norris, Charlotte E.

AU - Cappellazzi, Shannon B.

AU - Bean, G. Mac

AU - Cope, Michael

AU - Greub, Kelsey L.H.

AU - Rieke, Elizabeth L.

AU - Tracy, Paul W.

AU - Aberle, Ezra

AU - Ashworth, Amanda

AU - Bañuelos Tavarez, Oscar

AU - Bary, Andy I.

AU - Baumhardt, R. L.

AU - Borbón Gracia, Alberto

AU - Brainard, Daniel C.

AU - Brennan, Jameson R.

AU - Briones Reyes, Dolores

AU - Bruhjell, Darren

AU - Carlyle, Cameron N.

AU - Crawford, James J.W.

AU - Creech, Cody F.

AU - Culman, Steve W.

AU - Deen, Bill

AU - Dell, Curtis J.

AU - Derner, Justin D.

AU - Ducey, Thomas F.

AU - Duiker, Sjoerd W.

AU - Dyck, Miles F.

AU - Ellert, Benjamin H.

AU - Entz, Martin H.

AU - Espinosa Solorio, Avelino

AU - Fonte, Steven J.

AU - Fonteyne, Simon

AU - Fortuna, Ann Marie

AU - Foster, Jamie L.

AU - Fultz, Lisa M.

AU - Gamble, Audrey V.

AU - Geddes, Charles M.

AU - Griffin-LaHue, Deirdre

AU - Grove, John H.

AU - Hamilton, Stephen K.

AU - Hao, Xiying

AU - Hayden, Zachary D.

AU - Honsdorf, Nora

AU - Howe, Julie A.

AU - Ippolito, James A.

AU - Johnson, Gregg A.

AU - Kautz, Mark A.

AU - Kitchen, Newell R.

AU - Kumar, Sandeep

AU - Kurtz, Kirsten S.M.

AU - Larney, Francis J.

AU - Lewis, Katie L.

AU - Liebman, Matt

AU - Lopez Ramirez, Antonio

AU - Machado, Stephen

AU - Maharjan, Bijesh

AU - Martinez Gamiño, Miguel Angel

AU - May, William E.

AU - McClaran, Mitchel P.

AU - McDaniel, Marshall D.

AU - Millar, Neville

AU - Mitchell, Jeffrey P.

AU - Moore, Amber D.

AU - Moore, Philip A.

AU - Mora Gutiérrez, Manuel

AU - Nelson, Kelly A.

AU - Omondi, Emmanuel C.

AU - Osborne, Shannon L.

AU - Osorio Alcalá, Leodegario

AU - Owens, Philip

AU - Pena-Yewtukhiw, Eugenia M.

AU - Poffenbarger, Hanna J.

AU - Ponce Lira, Brenda

AU - Reeve, Jennifer R.

AU - Reinbott, Timothy M.

AU - Reiter, Mark S.

AU - Ritchey, Edwin L.

AU - Roozeboom, Kraig L.

AU - Rui, Yichao

AU - Sadeghpour, Amir

AU - Sainju, Upendra M.

AU - Sanford, Gregg R.

AU - Schillinger, William F.

AU - Schindelbeck, Robert R.

AU - Schipanski, Meagan E.

AU - Schlegel, Alan J.

AU - Scow, Kate M.

AU - Sherrod, Lucretia A.

AU - Shober, Amy L.

AU - Sidhu, Sudeep S.

AU - Solís Moya, Ernesto

AU - St Luce, Mervin

AU - Strock, Jeffrey S.

AU - Suyker, Andrew E.

AU - Sykes, Virginia R.

AU - Tao, Haiying

AU - Trujillo Campos, Alberto

AU - Van Eerd, Laura L.

AU - van Es, Harold

AU - Verhulst, Nele

AU - Vyn, Tony J.

AU - Wang, Yutao

AU - Watts, Dexter B.

AU - Wright, David L.

AU - Zhang, Tiequan

AU - Morgan, Cristine L.S.

AU - Honeycutt, C. Wayne

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - Soil organic carbon (SOC) is closely tied to soil health. However, additional biological indicators may also provide insight about C dynamics and microbial activity. We used SOC and the other C indicators (potential C mineralization, permanganate oxidizable C, water extractable organic C, and β-glucosidase enzyme activity) from the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements to examine the continental-scale drivers of these indicators, the relationships among indicators, and the effects of soil health practices on indicator values. All indicators had greater values at cooler temperatures, and most were greater with increased precipitation and clay content. The indicators were strongly correlated with each other at the site-level, with the strongest relationship between SOC and permanganate oxidizable C. The indicator values responded positively to decreased tillage, inclusion of cover crops, application of organic nutrients, and retention of crop residue, but not the number of harvested crops in a rotation. The effect of decreased tillage on the C indicators was generally greater at sites with higher precipitation. The magnitude and direction of the response to soil health practices was consistent across indicators within a site but measuring at least two indicators would provide additional confidence of the effects of management, especially for tillage. All C indicators responded to management, an essential criterion for evaluating soil health. Balancing the cost, sensitivity, interpretability, and availability at commercial labs, a 24-hr potential C mineralization assay could deliver the most benefit to measure in conjunction with SOC.

AB - Soil organic carbon (SOC) is closely tied to soil health. However, additional biological indicators may also provide insight about C dynamics and microbial activity. We used SOC and the other C indicators (potential C mineralization, permanganate oxidizable C, water extractable organic C, and β-glucosidase enzyme activity) from the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements to examine the continental-scale drivers of these indicators, the relationships among indicators, and the effects of soil health practices on indicator values. All indicators had greater values at cooler temperatures, and most were greater with increased precipitation and clay content. The indicators were strongly correlated with each other at the site-level, with the strongest relationship between SOC and permanganate oxidizable C. The indicator values responded positively to decreased tillage, inclusion of cover crops, application of organic nutrients, and retention of crop residue, but not the number of harvested crops in a rotation. The effect of decreased tillage on the C indicators was generally greater at sites with higher precipitation. The magnitude and direction of the response to soil health practices was consistent across indicators within a site but measuring at least two indicators would provide additional confidence of the effects of management, especially for tillage. All C indicators responded to management, an essential criterion for evaluating soil health. Balancing the cost, sensitivity, interpretability, and availability at commercial labs, a 24-hr potential C mineralization assay could deliver the most benefit to measure in conjunction with SOC.

KW - Potential carbon mineralization

KW - Soil health indicators

KW - Soil management

KW - Soil organic carbon

KW - Tillage

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132748056&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85132748056&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708

DO - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85132748056

SN - 0038-0717

VL - 172

JO - Soil Biology and Biochemistry

JF - Soil Biology and Biochemistry

M1 - 108708

ER -

An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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