Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen

Grazing modifies the structure and function of ecosystems, affecting soil organic carbon [SOC] storage. Although grazing effects on some ecosystem attributes have been thoroughly reviewed, current literature on grazing effects on SOC needs to be synthesized. Our objective was to synthesize the effects of grazing on SOC stocks in grasslands, establishing the major mechanistic pathways involved. Additionally, and because of its importance for carbon [C] biogeochemistry, we discuss the controls of soil organic nitrogen [N] stocks. We reviewed articles analyzing grazing effects on soil organic matter [SOM] stocks by comparing grazed vs. ungrazed sites, including 67 paired comparisons. SOC increased, decreased, or remained unchanged under contrasting grazing conditions across temperature and precipitation gradients, which suggests that grazing influences the factors that control SOC accumulation in a complex way. However, our review also revealed some general patterns such as 1] root contents [a primary control of SOC formation] were higher in grazed than in their ungrazed counterparts at the driest and wettest sites, but were lower at sites with intermediate precipitation [,400 mm to 850 mm]; 2] SOM C:N ratios frequently increased under grazing conditions, which suggests potential N limitations for SOM formation under grazing; and 3] bulk density either increased or did not change in grazed sites. Nearly all sites located in the intermediate precipitation range showed decreases or no changes in SOC. We grouped previously proposed mechanisms of grazing control over SOC into three major pathways that can operate simultaneously: 1] changes in net primary production [NPP pathway], 2] changes in nitrogen stocks [nitrogen pathway], and 3] changes in organic matter decomposition [decomposition pathway]. The relative importance of the three pathways may generate variable responses of SOC to grazing. Our conceptual model suggests that rangeland productivity and soil carbon sequestration can be simultaneously increased by management practices aimed at increasing N retention at the landscape level.

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Main Authors: Piñeiro, Gervasio, Paruelo, José María, Oesterheld, Martín, Jobbágy, Esteban Guillermo
Format: Texto biblioteca
Language:eng
Subjects:BELOWGROUND PRODUCTION, C: N, HERBIVORES, NITROGEN, REATIVE NITROGEN, ROOTS, SOIL ORGANIC CARBON,
Online Access:http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=47408
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id KOHA-OAI-AGRO:47408
record_format koha
institution UBA FA
collection Koha
country Argentina
countrycode AR
component Bibliográfico
access En linea
En linea
databasecode cat-ceiba
tag biblioteca
region America del Sur
libraryname Biblioteca Central FAUBA
language eng
topic BELOWGROUND PRODUCTION
C: N
HERBIVORES
NITROGEN
REATIVE NITROGEN
ROOTS
SOIL ORGANIC CARBON
BELOWGROUND PRODUCTION
C: N
HERBIVORES
NITROGEN
REATIVE NITROGEN
ROOTS
SOIL ORGANIC CARBON
spellingShingle BELOWGROUND PRODUCTION
C: N
HERBIVORES
NITROGEN
REATIVE NITROGEN
ROOTS
SOIL ORGANIC CARBON
BELOWGROUND PRODUCTION
C: N
HERBIVORES
NITROGEN
REATIVE NITROGEN
ROOTS
SOIL ORGANIC CARBON
Piñeiro, Gervasio
Paruelo, José María
Oesterheld, Martín
Jobbágy, Esteban Guillermo
Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
description Grazing modifies the structure and function of ecosystems, affecting soil organic carbon [SOC] storage. Although grazing effects on some ecosystem attributes have been thoroughly reviewed, current literature on grazing effects on SOC needs to be synthesized. Our objective was to synthesize the effects of grazing on SOC stocks in grasslands, establishing the major mechanistic pathways involved. Additionally, and because of its importance for carbon [C] biogeochemistry, we discuss the controls of soil organic nitrogen [N] stocks. We reviewed articles analyzing grazing effects on soil organic matter [SOM] stocks by comparing grazed vs. ungrazed sites, including 67 paired comparisons. SOC increased, decreased, or remained unchanged under contrasting grazing conditions across temperature and precipitation gradients, which suggests that grazing influences the factors that control SOC accumulation in a complex way. However, our review also revealed some general patterns such as 1] root contents [a primary control of SOC formation] were higher in grazed than in their ungrazed counterparts at the driest and wettest sites, but were lower at sites with intermediate precipitation [,400 mm to 850 mm]; 2] SOM C:N ratios frequently increased under grazing conditions, which suggests potential N limitations for SOM formation under grazing; and 3] bulk density either increased or did not change in grazed sites. Nearly all sites located in the intermediate precipitation range showed decreases or no changes in SOC. We grouped previously proposed mechanisms of grazing control over SOC into three major pathways that can operate simultaneously: 1] changes in net primary production [NPP pathway], 2] changes in nitrogen stocks [nitrogen pathway], and 3] changes in organic matter decomposition [decomposition pathway]. The relative importance of the three pathways may generate variable responses of SOC to grazing. Our conceptual model suggests that rangeland productivity and soil carbon sequestration can be simultaneously increased by management practices aimed at increasing N retention at the landscape level.
format Texto
topic_facet BELOWGROUND PRODUCTION
C: N
HERBIVORES
NITROGEN
REATIVE NITROGEN
ROOTS
SOIL ORGANIC CARBON
author Piñeiro, Gervasio
Paruelo, José María
Oesterheld, Martín
Jobbágy, Esteban Guillermo
author_facet Piñeiro, Gervasio
Paruelo, José María
Oesterheld, Martín
Jobbágy, Esteban Guillermo
author_sort Piñeiro, Gervasio
title Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
title_short Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
title_full Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
title_fullStr Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
title_full_unstemmed Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
title_sort pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen
url http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=47408
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AT paruelojosemaria pathwaysofgrazingeffectsonsoilorganiccarbonandnitrogen
AT oesterheldmartin pathwaysofgrazingeffectsonsoilorganiccarbonandnitrogen
AT jobbagyestebanguillermo pathwaysofgrazingeffectsonsoilorganiccarbonandnitrogen
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spelling KOHA-OAI-AGRO:474082023-08-11T14:41:18Zhttp://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=47408AAGPathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogenPiñeiro, GervasioParuelo, José MaríaOesterheld, MartínJobbágy, Esteban Guillermotextengapplication/pdfGrazing modifies the structure and function of ecosystems, affecting soil organic carbon [SOC] storage. Although grazing effects on some ecosystem attributes have been thoroughly reviewed, current literature on grazing effects on SOC needs to be synthesized. Our objective was to synthesize the effects of grazing on SOC stocks in grasslands, establishing the major mechanistic pathways involved. Additionally, and because of its importance for carbon [C] biogeochemistry, we discuss the controls of soil organic nitrogen [N] stocks. We reviewed articles analyzing grazing effects on soil organic matter [SOM] stocks by comparing grazed vs. ungrazed sites, including 67 paired comparisons. SOC increased, decreased, or remained unchanged under contrasting grazing conditions across temperature and precipitation gradients, which suggests that grazing influences the factors that control SOC accumulation in a complex way. However, our review also revealed some general patterns such as 1] root contents [a primary control of SOC formation] were higher in grazed than in their ungrazed counterparts at the driest and wettest sites, but were lower at sites with intermediate precipitation [,400 mm to 850 mm]; 2] SOM C:N ratios frequently increased under grazing conditions, which suggests potential N limitations for SOM formation under grazing; and 3] bulk density either increased or did not change in grazed sites. Nearly all sites located in the intermediate precipitation range showed decreases or no changes in SOC. We grouped previously proposed mechanisms of grazing control over SOC into three major pathways that can operate simultaneously: 1] changes in net primary production [NPP pathway], 2] changes in nitrogen stocks [nitrogen pathway], and 3] changes in organic matter decomposition [decomposition pathway]. The relative importance of the three pathways may generate variable responses of SOC to grazing. Our conceptual model suggests that rangeland productivity and soil carbon sequestration can be simultaneously increased by management practices aimed at increasing N retention at the landscape level.Grazing modifies the structure and function of ecosystems, affecting soil organic carbon [SOC] storage. Although grazing effects on some ecosystem attributes have been thoroughly reviewed, current literature on grazing effects on SOC needs to be synthesized. Our objective was to synthesize the effects of grazing on SOC stocks in grasslands, establishing the major mechanistic pathways involved. Additionally, and because of its importance for carbon [C] biogeochemistry, we discuss the controls of soil organic nitrogen [N] stocks. We reviewed articles analyzing grazing effects on soil organic matter [SOM] stocks by comparing grazed vs. ungrazed sites, including 67 paired comparisons. SOC increased, decreased, or remained unchanged under contrasting grazing conditions across temperature and precipitation gradients, which suggests that grazing influences the factors that control SOC accumulation in a complex way. However, our review also revealed some general patterns such as 1] root contents [a primary control of SOC formation] were higher in grazed than in their ungrazed counterparts at the driest and wettest sites, but were lower at sites with intermediate precipitation [,400 mm to 850 mm]; 2] SOM C:N ratios frequently increased under grazing conditions, which suggests potential N limitations for SOM formation under grazing; and 3] bulk density either increased or did not change in grazed sites. Nearly all sites located in the intermediate precipitation range showed decreases or no changes in SOC. We grouped previously proposed mechanisms of grazing control over SOC into three major pathways that can operate simultaneously: 1] changes in net primary production [NPP pathway], 2] changes in nitrogen stocks [nitrogen pathway], and 3] changes in organic matter decomposition [decomposition pathway]. The relative importance of the three pathways may generate variable responses of SOC to grazing. Our conceptual model suggests that rangeland productivity and soil carbon sequestration can be simultaneously increased by management practices aimed at increasing N retention at the landscape level.BELOWGROUND PRODUCTIONC: NHERBIVORESNITROGENREATIVE NITROGENROOTSSOIL ORGANIC CARBONRangeland Ecology and Management