Distribution and amount of soil organic C in long-term management systems in Texas

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution is altered by residue management practices, but the effect on total C mass is not well understood, especially in warm regions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of residue management practices on SOC distribution and amount across an 1100 km transect (northwest to southeast) of Texas. Long-term (>10 years) continuous cropping rotation and residue management plots located near Bushland, Temple, and Corpus Christi, Texas, were sampled incrementally with depth for SOC distribution and mass. The mass of SOC varied among locations depending on management, and climatic conditions. No-tillage management resulted in increased SOC concentration and mass in the surface 0.07 m in comparison to more intensive tillage management (e.g., sweep, chisel plow, moldboard plow). Fertilization had little effect on C sequestration at any site. Carbon sequestration decreased as mean annual temperature increased. Carbon may be sequestered in soil under Texas climatic conditions, but the amounts may be quite small.