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Modelling the dynamics of organic carbon in fertilization and tillage experiments in the North China Plain using the Rothamsted Carbon Model—initialization and calculation of C inputs

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An Erratum to this article was published on 16 March 2012

Abstract

Modelling of the carbon dynamics in arable soils is complex and the accuracy of the predictions is unknown before the model is applied to each specific site. Objectives were (i) to test the accuracy of predictions of the carbon dynamics using the Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) Model in a field trial in Quzhou, North China Plain, using different methods for initialization and estimation of carbon input into the soil and (ii) to test the applicability of the RothC model for plots with either conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) systems. A field trial was conducted with applications of differing amounts of N (0, 112 or 187 kg N ha−1 year−1), P (0, 75 or 150 kg P2O5 ha−1 year−1) and wheat straw (0, 2.25 or 4.5 t DM ha−1 year−1) in differing combinations with either CT or NT for 18 years. CT and NT affected stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) similarly. Carbon inputs from crops were either estimated from published regression functions that relate C inputs to crop yield including rhizodeposition (models 1 and 2) or published root:aboveground biomass ratios (model 3). Model 1, which was not calibrated to the site conditions, was successful in predicting the carbon dynamics in seven out of nine treatments (model efficiencies EF ranged from 0.28 to 0.87), whereas for two treatments, EF (−0.35 and−2.3) indicated an unsuccessful prediction. The prediction of the C dynamics in NT experiments using model 1 was generally successful, but this may have been due to the fact that NT did not have a specific effect on SOC stocks for this trial. Model 2, which was the same as model 1 except for an optimization of the stock of inert organic matter using one treatment, predicted SOC stocks in the remaining eight treatments overall better than model 1. Model 3 was less successful than models 1 and 2 in all treatments (−19 ≤ EF ≤ 0.56). The results indicate that the RothC model may successfully predict C dynamics—for the site studied even without prior calibration as in model 1—, but care should be taken in choosing an appropriate approach for estimating C inputs into the soil.

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Acknowledgements

This cooperation was initiated by an excursion funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Research Training Group 1397). K. Hu received grants from the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (2007AA10Z217). Two anonymous referees have provided valuable comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Kassel University, Nordbahnhofstr. 1a, 37213, Witzenhausen, Germany

    Bernard Ludwig

  2. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People’s Republic of China

    Kelin Hu, Lingan Niu & Xuejun Liu

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  1. Bernard Ludwig
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  2. Kelin Hu
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  3. Lingan Niu
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  4. Xuejun Liu
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Correspondence to Bernard Ludwig.

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Responsible Editor: Ingrid Koegel-Knabner.

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1189-4

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Ludwig, B., Hu, K., Niu, L. et al. Modelling the dynamics of organic carbon in fertilization and tillage experiments in the North China Plain using the Rothamsted Carbon Model—initialization and calculation of C inputs. Plant Soil 332, 193–206 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0285-6

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