Selective organic carbon losses from soils by sheet erosion and main controls

Muller-Nedebock, D and Chivenge, P and Chaplot, V (2016) Selective organic carbon losses from soils by sheet erosion and main controls. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41 (10). pp. 1399-1408. ISSN 01979337

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Abstract

Although the impact of sheet erosion on the selective transportation of mineral soil particles has been widely investigated, little is yet known about the specific mechanisms of organic carbon (OC) erosion, which constitutes an important link in the global carbon cycle. The present study was conducted to quantify the impact of sheet erosion on OC losses from soils. Erosion plots with the lengths of 1- and 5-m were installed at different topographic positions along a hillslope in a mountainous South African region. A total of 32 rainfall events from a three years period (November 2010 up to February 2013), were studied and evaluated for runoff (R), particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POCL and DOCL). In comparison to the 0–0·05 m bulk soil, the sediments from the 1-m plots were enriched in OC by a factor 2·6 and those from the 5-m long plots by a factor of 2·2, respectively. These findings suggest a preferential erosion of OC. In addition, total organic carbon losses (TOCL) were incurred mainly in particulate form (~94%) and the increase in TOCL from 14·09 ± 0·68 g C m−1 yr−1 on 1-m plots to 50·03 ± 2·89 g C m−1 yr−1 on 5-m plots illustrated an increase in sheet erosion efficiency with increasing slope length. Both TOCL and sediment enrichment in OC correspondingly increased with a decrease in soil basal grass cover. The characteristics of rainstorms had no significant impact on the selectivity of OC erosion. The results accrued in this study investigating the links between sheet erosion and OC losses, are expected to be of future value in the generation of carbon specific erosion models, which can further help to inform and improve climate change mitigation measures.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : East & Southern Africa
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Land degradation; Climate; Carbon cycle; Grassland; Africa
Subjects:	Others > Soil Fertility Others > Soil Others > Soil Science
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	15 Dec 2016 08:34
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2016 08:34
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/9816
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.3916
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Google Scholar

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