Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2047
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2047
01 Aug 2024
 | 01 Aug 2024

Terracing Increases Organic Carbon Content in the Loess Plateau

Qinqin Wang, Yuanxiao Xu, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Longhu Chen, Gaojia Meng, Rui Li, Xiaoyu Qi, Wenmin Li, Ling Zhao, Yuhao Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li

Abstract. Aim: Terracing is widely distributed in mountainous and hilly areas around the world and can be effective in inhibiting soil erosion, increasing soil moisture, improving soil quality and potentially having a positive impact on soil carbon pools.

Methods: To understand the impact of agricultural activities and ecological restoration measures on changes in soil carbon pools in terraced areas, we set up an observation system in typical terraces on the Loess Plateau and soil samples were gathered from 0–100 cm depth in terraces (containing different crops and different ecological restoration vegetation) and slopes.

Results: The results show that terracing can effectively increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content (7.7 g∙kg−1 in terraced cropland > 4.9 g∙kg−1 in sloping cropland). Changes in the organic carbon content of the terracing is mainly due to improvements in soil and water conservation capacity and agricultural activities, loss of soil organic carbon due to short-term abandonment and an increase in soil organic carbon due to replanting of fruit trees and crops. The choice of tree species in afforestation policies has also led to differences in soil organic carbon. Pinus tabuliformis Carr. has the highest SOC content (9.8 g∙kg−1).

Conclusions: The SOC content in 0–100 cm of terraced fields planted with wheat was 1.5 times higher than that of sloping fields planted with wheat. Compared with sloping land, terrace construction significantly increased the SOC content of cultivated land, especially in the top soil layer (0–30 cm), and converting some sloping land into terraces would enhance the carbon sequestration capacity. This study has significant implications for agricultural management and ecological restoration in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau and contributes to the development of rational policies for carbon sequestration on arable land in terraced areas.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Qinqin Wang, Yuanxiao Xu, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Longhu Chen, Gaojia Meng, Rui Li, Xiaoyu Qi, Wenmin Li, Ling Zhao, Yuhao Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2047', Anonymous Referee #1, 30 Aug 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Guofeng Zhu, 15 Nov 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2047', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Oct 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Guofeng Zhu, 15 Nov 2024

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2047', Anonymous Referee #1, 30 Aug 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Guofeng Zhu, 15 Nov 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2047', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Oct 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Guofeng Zhu, 15 Nov 2024
Qinqin Wang, Yuanxiao Xu, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Longhu Chen, Gaojia Meng, Rui Li, Xiaoyu Qi, Wenmin Li, Ling Zhao, Yuhao Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li
Qinqin Wang, Yuanxiao Xu, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Longhu Chen, Gaojia Meng, Rui Li, Xiaoyu Qi, Wenmin Li, Ling Zhao, Yuhao Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li

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Short summary
We studied the impact of agricultural activities and ecological restoration on soil organic carbon in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau. This research is of significance for agricultural management and ecological restoration in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau, and contributes to the formulation of rational policies for carbon sequestration in terraced farmland.