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We compiled information from different sources in order to establish a comprehensive map of the stock of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the upper 30 cm under different forms of land use for Austria. The information serves as a baseline for the evaluation of the potential of climate-change mitigation measures. SOC sequestration plays an important role in the discussion of terrestrial carbon (C) sinks and the size of the SOC pool is one of several quality measures for crop production and the national and regional food security. The baseline serves also for the evaluation of the effectiveness of adaptive land management in order to cope with climate change. Austrian croplands, grasslands, forests, and settlements contain 300 Mt SOC. Peatlands have the highest SOC density (220 t C/ha), yet cover only about 2% of the country. Forest soils store 106 t C/ha and comprise the largest pool due to the coverage of more than 4 Mha (48% of the country). Intensively and extensively managed grasslands cover 0.8 Mha (10%) and contain between 91 and 113 t C/ha, and cropland on 1.28 Mha (15%) hold on average 62 t C/ha. Due to the geographic heterogeneity of Austria with respect to climatic conditions, geology and soils, and topography the regional differences in SOC stocks are large. Measures to increase the SOC stock in cropland have been applied for 25 years within agri-environmental and climate-smart strategies. An increase of the total SOC pool is expected due to the afforestation and reforestation of marginal agricultural land and to a smaller extent due to the restoration of peatlands. A decline of the SOC stock is a consequence of land development for settlements and infrastructure.

This study investigated the long-term effects of different composts (urban organic waste compost (OWC), green waste compost (GWC), cattle manure compost (MC) and sewage sludge compost (SSC)) compared to mineral fertilisation on a loamy silt Cambisol, after a 7-year start-up period. The compost application rate was 175 kg N ha−1, with 80 kg mineral N ha−1 and without. Soil characteristics (soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and soil pH), nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K)) and crop yields were investigated between 1998 and 2012. SOC concentrations were increased by compost applications, being highest in the SSC treatments, as for soil pH. N contents were significantly higher with compost amendments compared to mineral fertilisation. The highest calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL)-extractable P concentrations were measured in the SSC treatments, and the highest CAL-extractable K concentrations in the MC treatments. Yields after compost amendment for winter ba...

Spatial planning decisions are frequently driven by short term economic interests influencing zoning regulations which determine subsequent spatial developments in the future. Not only does this frequently place constraints on prospective space for planning measures; it also leads to progressive soil loss. In order to integrate soil-related issues in decision-making processes, a broad range of specific soil services should be considered. Thus, approaches have been developed to convert available soil data to decision-relevant soil information. Soil function evaluation is used as a tool for differentiating soils due to their role in a functional context. This paper outlines development and concepts of this approach on the basis of available soil data records in Germany and Austria. It also demonstrates how an adapted hemeroby ranking can be integrated into soil evaluation. Furthermore, we present some evaluation examples from Austria, showing evaluation results and how to communicate them for better integration into spatial planning decisions. In general, this soil evaluation approach provides evidence that the results are suitable to be introduced into spatial planning procedures, which is crucial for sustainable land use in the future.

Wheat is a crop of global importance that supplies carbohydrates to more than half of the worlds’ population. We examined whether climate change-induced rainfall patterns, which are expected to produce less frequent but heavier rain events, will alter the productivity of wheat and agroecosystem functioning on three different soil types. Therefore, in a full-factorial experiment, Triticum aestivum L. was cultivated in 3-m2 lysimeter plots, each of which contained one of the following soil types: sandy calcaric phaeozem, gleyic phaeozem and calcic chernozem. Predicted rainfall patterns based on the calculations of a regionalised climate change model were compared with the current long-term rainfall patterns, and each treatment combination was replicated three times. Future rainfall patterns significantly reduced wheat yield, leaf area index, and plant height at the earlier growth stages; it equally decreased the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation of roots and increased the stable carbon isotope signature (δ13C) of wheat leaves. Sandy soils with inherently lower mineralization potential negatively affected wheat growth, harvest index, and yield but stimulated early season root production. The interaction between rainfall and soil type was significant for the harvest index and early wheat development. Our results suggest that changes in rainfall intensity and frequency can significantly affect the functioning of wheat agroecosystems. Wheat production under future rainfall conditions will likely become more challenging as further concurrent climate change factors become prevalent.

Long-term soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient dynamics following different crop residue management were studied in two field experiments in Austria: in Marchfeld since 1982 and in Alpenvorland since 1986. The turnover of SOM was modeled with the CCB (CANDY carbon balance) model. SOM parameters such as soil organic carbon (SOC), active C (KMnO 4 ), total nitrogen (N t ), and the N-mineralization potential increased significantly following crop residue incorporation. C/N ratios, however, did not differ significantly. Plant-available potassium (K) increased by 40% (Alpenvorland) and 50% (Marchfeld), magnesium (Mg) only in Marchfeld (+ 9.7%), and no effect was evident for phosphorus at either site. Our results showed a strong agreement between measured and simulated SOC values. SOC can be maintained in the long term with the incorporation of crop residues, but it will decrease with annual removal.

[Departement_IRSTEA]Territoires [TR1_IRSTEA]DTAM [Axe_IRSTEA]DTAM2-ACPUB; International audience; This paper analyses soils-related policies in Europe and in selected member states and regions. Our approach breaks down policy packages at European, national and regional levels into strategic objectives, operational objectives, policy measures and expected impacts, and assesses the relationships between these elements and soil stakes. Four major policy packages, both at EU and national level (CAP-I, RDP, Environment, national initiatives) were analysed. A numerical scale was developed to quantify the level of “embeddedness” of soil stakes in these policy packages. We found that countries better embed soil stakes into their policies when they also put more efforts on environmental innovation. In turn, countries with a high embeddedness level, with high trust in European institutions and that make more efforts towards renewable energy, tend to propose a wider variety of management practices to farmers for dealing with soil stakes.