Naslov
Environmental Role of Soil Carbon under Mediterranean and Continental Climate Conditions

Autori
Mesić, Milan

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, prošireni sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
18th Hellenic Forestry Congress & International Workshop, Edessa, Greece, 8 - 11 2017 / - , 2017, 179-180

ISBN
978-960-89478-7-0

Skup
18th Hellenic Forestry Congress & International Workshop, Edessa, Greece, 8 - 11 2017

Mjesto i datum
Édessa, Grčka, 08.11.2017

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Podatak o recenziji nije dostupan

Ključne riječi
Soil organic carbon, Continental Climate, Mediterranean Climate

Sažetak
Total carbon (C) in soils is the sum of both organic and inorganic carbon. Organic carbon is present in the soil organic matter (SOM) fraction, whereas inorganic carbon is largely found in carbonate minerals. In agro ecosystem there are numerous factors that affect the balance between gains and losses of SOM. The content of soil organic carbon (SOC) is a universal soil quality indicator with significant influence on soil properties. Different soil forming factors that influence soil development under Continental and Mediterranean climate are closely connected with temperature and precipitation regime. Because of complex influence of SOC on chemical, physical and biological soil properties it is important to predict the trends of possible SOC level changes under actual scenarios for Climate change. Agricultural land use very often influence reduction of SOC levels in comparison with soils under forest vegetation. Interesting comparison between same soil type under agricultural use and forests for Croatian conditions is given by Martinovic (2000). In Croatian parts of Pannonian plain in surface soil horizons of Luvisols under agricultural use, decrease of SOC is near to 58%, in Stagnosols around 51%, and in Eutric Cambisols near 60 %, compared with SOC content in same soil type under forests. In addition to that, for soils with predominant influence of Mediterranean climate SOM content in Red Mediterranean Soils (Terra rossa) used for annual crops decreased in average 32%, and under vineyards in average 37%, both compared with SOC content in forest soils of same type. Mihalic (1973) locates the beginnings of agriculture on Croatian territory to the Mediterranean part of the country during the Roman Empire from where it was spread to the continental part of the country. At some Croatian islands there are agricultural fields cultivated longer than 2500 years. Beside orchards, vineyards and vegetables, crop sequence on arable fields was old Mediterranean two field crop rotation – fallow land and wheat or barley. Later agriculture was spread to the continental parts where agricultural land was either developed from grasslands of forests, after clear cutting. Crop rotation was intensified after discovery of America when new crops were introduced. If we analyze the history of agriculture, changes in SOC content under forests and under agricultural usage can be more easily understood. According to Meersmans J. et al. (2009), intensified land management practices seriously affect the SOC status of the soil. The increase in plough depth and a change in crop rotation result in a significant decrease of C near the surface for dry silt loam cropland soils. According to Álvaro-Fuentes, J. et al. (2011) there is little information about soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and changes in Mediterranean areas at a regional scale. Rodeghiero et al. (2011) stated that most of the natural or semi- natural environments in Mediterranean areas are coincident with areas of low to medium SOC content, while some cultivated areas are almost identically traced to extensions of low or very low SOC content. Soil structure, nutrient availability, water holding capacity and microbiological activity are the most important factors of soil fertility that are closely related with SOC content of soil. Compared to the Continental Climate conditions, SOC content of soils under Mediterranean Climate is even more important, because of much longer dry and warm period over summertime, more shallow soils, and longer period of cultivation. Management of agricultural fields, grasslands, meadows, orchards and forests has a significant influence on soil carbon content. Depletion of SOC is not an option for sustainable land use neither under Continental, neither under Mediterranean climate conditions. Therefore, it is very important to protect soils and to apply sustainable land management in terms of tillage, fertilization and crop rotation.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Poljoprivreda (agronomija)

POVEZANOST RADA