Patterns of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in relation to soil movement under different land uses in mountain fields (South Central Pyrenees)

Soil erosion and the global carbon cycle

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
A set of cultivated and abandoned fields with different ages of land abandonment, slope gradients and lengths were selected in mountain farmland of the Central Spanish Pyrenees to conduct this study. In each of the fields, total soil depth sampling was done in different parts of the slope to assess the pattern distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON). Other general soil properties analysed : pH, EC, carbonate content, grain size distribution and additional information derived from fallout caesium 137 provided supplementary information for better understanding the patterns of soil and nutrient redistribution. Soil deposition at the bottom slope as indicated by the 137Cs residuals was paralleled with increases in SOC and SON contents. Under the land use practices in the studied fields the bottom slope positions accumulate soil particles and act as sinks of soil carbon and nitrogen in these mountain agricultural landscapes.


Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2012, vol. 94, p. 43-52, nombre de pages : 10, Références bibliographiques : 36 ref.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena