Effects of Temporal Variation in Long-term Cultivation on Organic Carbon Sequestration in Calcareous Soils: Nile Delta, Egypt

Faculty Agriculture Year: 2020
Type of Publication: ZU Hosted Pages:
Authors:
Journal: Sustainability MDPI, Basel, Switzerland Volume:
Keywords : Effects , Temporal Variation , Long-term Cultivation , Organic    
Abstract:
Soil carbon sequestration is a riskier long-term strategy for climate mitigation than direct emissions reduction, but it plays a main role in closing carbon emission gaps. Effects of long-term cultivation on soil carbon sequestration were studied at the western edge of the Nile Delta near Alexandria, Egypt. Seven agricultural fields of different ages (0–50 years in use) were selected and compared with the surrounding desert (virgin soil) and desert shrub-land. Samples were taken at three horizons, 0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm, and tested for differences in physical and chemical properties. The results of long-term cultivation reveal that the European Commission (EC) value was 11.77 dS/m in virgin soil, while the EC values decreased to 5.82, 4.23, 3.74, 2.40, and 2.26 dS/m after 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 years of cultivation, respectively. The calcareous rock fraction smaller than 50 μm in size revealed another phenomenon, where active calcium carbonate content increased with cultivation practices from 1.15% (virgin soil) to 5.42%, 6.47%, 8.38%, and 10.13% after 5, 10, 20, and 30 years of cultivation, respectively, while shrub-land also showed a low amount of active CaCO3 with 1.38%. In fifty years of cultivation, soil bulk density decreased significantly from 1.67 to 1.11 g/cm3, and it decreased to 1.65, 1.44, 1.40, and 1.25 g/cm3 after 5, 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. These results reveal that the increase in soil carbon stock in the upper 90 cm amounted to 41.02 tons C/ha after five years of cultivation, compared to virgin soil with 13.47 tons C/ha. Soil carbon levels increased steeply during the five years of cultivation, with an average rate of 8.20 tons C/ha per year in the upper 90 cm. After the first five years of cultivation, the carbon sequestration rate slowed, reaching 4.68, 3.77, 2.58, and 1.93 tons C/ha per year after 10, 20, 30, and 50 years, respectively, resulting in sequestration-potential values of 46.78, 75.63, 77.43, and 96.45 tons C/ha. These results indicate that potential soil carbon sequestration resembles a logarithmic curve until the equilibrium state between carbon application and decomposition by microorganisms is reached.
   
     
 
       

Author Related Publications

  • Mohammed Saied Dosoki Abohashim, "Agro-Environmental Sustainability in MENA Region", Springer, 2021 More
  • Mohammed Saied Dosoki Abohashim, "Mitigating Environmental Stresses for Agricultural Sustainability in Egypt", Springer, 2021 More
  • Mohammed Saied Dosoki Abohashim, "Agriculture Productivity in Tunisia Under Stressed Environment", Springer, 2021 More
  • Mohammed Saied Dosoki Abohashim, "Introduction to “Agriculture Productivity in Tunisia Under Stressed Environment”", Springer, Cham, 2021 More
  • Mohammed Saied Dosoki Abohashim, "Heat Stress Tolerance, Challenges and Solutions", Springer, 2021 More

Department Related Publications

  • Mohammed Mahmoud Nabil, "ОСОБЕННОСТИ ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ АЛЛЮВИАЛЬНЫХ ПОЧВ ВОСТОЧНОЙ ЧАСТИ ДЕЛЬТЫ НИЛА ПРИ АНТРОПОГЕННЫХ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯХ", Российского университета дружбы народов, 2013 More
  • Mohammed Mahmoud Nabil, "Quantitative Assessment of Desertification in Bahariya Oasis Environment, Western Desert, Egypt.", .Zagazig uni, 2018 More
  • Mohammed Mahmoud Nabil, "Effect of Mineral Fertilizers and Biofertilization on some Soil Properties and Faba Bean Productivity under Saline Soil Conditions.", Mansoura University, 2019 More
  • Mohammed Mahmoud Nabil, "Estimation of surface runoff using NRCS curve number in some areas in northwest coast, Egypt.", E3S Web of Conferences,, 2020 More
  • Mohammed Mahmoud Nabil, "Soil Water Erosion Vulnerability and Suitability under Different Irrigation Systems Using Parametric Approach and GIS, Ismailia, Egypt.", Sustainability ., 2021 More
Tweet