Increasing soil organic carbon with nutrient application: exploring the concept in the laboratory

2016

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Jason Condon (Charles Sturt University)
Mark Conyers (NSW DPI)
Richard Greene (Australian National University)
Clive Kirkby (CSIRO)
Brian Murphy (NSW Office of Environment)
Beverley Orchard (CSIRO)
Susan Orgill (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Monaro, NSW
Further information View external link
Increasing soil organic carbon with nutrient application: exploring the concept in the laboratory locations
Aims

The purpose of this laboratory-based incubation experiment was to determine if an upper limit to Organic Carbon accumulation in soil was approached with increasing C input in basalt- and granite-derived soils.

Key messages

• Organic carbon accumulation in soil did not approach an upper limit.
• Increases in organic carbon accumulation were due to accumulated microbial detritus (i.e. dead microorganisms and microbial products).
• Soil with the lowest organic carbon concentration at the start of the experiment accumulated the greatest mass of stable organic carbon.
• Nutrients applied based on humus nutrient ratios promoted organic carbon stabilisation in soil.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source DPI NSW
Trial funding source Australian Government
Related program National Soil Carbon Program
Acknowledgments

This research was supported by joint investment by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (National Soil Carbon Program) and NSW Department of Primary Industries. Claudia Keitel and Janani Vimalathithen (University of Sydney) are acknowledged for the stable isotope analysis and Albert Oates (NSW DPI) for the particle size analysis. The cooperation of the land holders in the Monaro regions whose properties were sampled is also acknowledged. This paper was part of a PhD thesis through Charles Sturt University and is published in the journal: Geoderma 285:151–163.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other: Not specified
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Properties: Type
  • Soil Improvement
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Unknown

Monaro 2016

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2017, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Monaro, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Monaro, NSW Tenosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Monaro NSW
2016 204.4mm
2015 203.4mm
2014 190.9mm
2013 179.3mm
2012 243.6mm
2011 210.7mm
2010 225.8mm
2009 133.8mm
2008 173.0mm
2007 196.4mm
2006 123.8mm
2005 200.2mm
2004 154.8mm
2003 157.0mm
2002 149.1mm
2001 191.1mm
2000 130.2mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Monaro NSW

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2016 trial report



Trial last modified: 07-06-2023 15:41pm AEST