Abstract
The objective of the study was to assess the SOC stabilization by quantifying organic carbon concentration (g C 100 g soil−1) and stock (Mg C ha−1) in the light fraction (OCLF) and in the heavy fraction (OCHF) among different riparian buffer systems (RBSs) with respect to vegetation type (deciduous and coniferous) and age [8 years (young) vs. 60 years (mature)] and in adjacent agricultural fields (AAGs). No significant differences were observed in OC concentration and stock in both LF and HF among four buffers [mature deciduous clay (MDC), mature coniferous clay (MCC), young deciduous clay (YDC) and young coniferous clay (YCC)] studied. However, all buffers had higher quantity of OCHF than OCLF (concentration and stock). More than 66% of SOC was associated with OCHF in most of the buffers, and the percentage of C secured in HF increased with buffer age. Further, in relation to land-use, both OCHF and OCLF stocks were higher in RBS than AAGs. OCLF stock was significantly higher in the MDC (P = 0.0090) and MCC (P = 0.0228) buffer systems (119.0 ± 9.94 and 40.71 ± 10.08 Mg C ha−1, respectively) than their respective AAG fields (26.0 ± 3.34 and 4.5 ± 0.18 Mg C ha−1), at 0–30 cm soil depth. The study suggests that SOC stabilization in RBSs is influenced by the presence of perennial trees, which is absent in the AAGs.
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Acknowledgements
This work was funded by Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), under the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program Two (AGGP-2). The authors are also thankful to the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) personnel, especially to Ms. Anne Loeffler and Ms. Louise Heyming.
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Vijayakumar, S., Bazrgar, A.B., Gordon, A. et al. Soil organic carbon stabilization based on physical fractionation method in tree based riparian and adjacent agricultural systems in southern Ontario, Canada. Agroforest Syst 98, 353–367 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-023-00913-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-023-00913-4