Increased microbial activity under elevated [CO2] does not enhance residue decomposition in a semi-arid cropping system in Australia

SK Lam; R Norton; R Armstrong; D Chen

Journal article

Increased microbial activity under elevated [CO2] does not enhance residue decomposition in a semi-arid cropping system in Australia

SK Lam, R Norton, R Armstrong, D Chen

Soil Biology and Biochemistry | Published : 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.01.028

Abstract

The association between the responses of microbial activity and residue decomposition to elevated atmospheric [CO2] under field conditions in Australian cropping systems is unknown. We measured soil CO2 emission and decomposition of wheat and field pea residues in a wheat cropping system in the field using the Australian Grains Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (AGFACE) facility in Horsham, Victoria. Elevated [CO2] (550μmolmol-1) increased soil CO2 emission by 41%, but did not affect the percentage of the original mass or C remaining for either type of residue throughout the experimental period. Our findings suggest that the rates of residue decomposition and residue C mineralization in this semi-arid..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Shu Kee Lam Author

Roger Armstrong Author

Deli Chen Author

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, the University of Melbourne, and the Australian Research Council. The authors wish to thank Mr. Peter Howie, Mr. Russel Argall and Mr. Barry Bellman for field assistance, Dr. Helen Suter for assistance with gas analysis, and Mr. Ron Teo for chemical analysis.