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Rice residue including root and straw are unique carbon (C) source in paddy soils. However, the potential changes in quantity and chemical composition of rice residue under co-elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and air temperature (Tair) and the legacy effect of the changed chemical composition on residue decomposition have not been investigated. This study was conducted to investigate biomass, chemical composition, and decomposability of rice root and straw produced under elevated [CO2] and Tair. Root and straw biomass increased by elevated [CO2] and elevated Tair, respectively, and the greatest biomass was achieved under co-elevated [CO2]-Tair for both root and straw. The concentration of lignin (recalcitrant) decreased while that of nonstructural carbohydrates (less recalcitrant) increased by co-elevated [CO2]-Tair. The ratio of lignin-to-nitrogen (lignin/N) decreased by co-elevated [CO2]-Tair compared to ambient [CO2]-Tair due to increased N and decreased lignin concentrations. Decomposability of root (lignin/N, 36.4) produced under co-elevated [CO2]-Tair was greater than that under ambient co-elevated [CO2]-Tair (lignin/N, 53.7); however, there was no difference in decomposability for straw, which had relatively narrow range of lignin/N (27.3–36.5) regardless of [CO2]-Tair conditions. The results of this study provide a novel insight into the changes in quantity and quality of rice residue under elevated [CO2]-Tair that are necessary to predict changes in paddy soil C sequestration under global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though construction of vegetated ridge (VR) and placement of sandbag (SB) across the slope of upland fields are believed to be effective in reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss, relevant data are lacking to confirm such expectations. In this study, the effects of VR and SB on loss of soils, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) (CNP) were investigated through both artificial (in dry season) and natural (in rainy season) runoff experiments on upland fields cultivated with maize (Zea mays L. var. ceratina). Contrary to expectations, both VR and SB were not effective in reducing the loss of soils and CNP. For VR, accelerated convergent flow caused by ridge failure, which occurred when part of the ridges collapsed because the amount of water collected in the furrows exceeded the water storage capacity of the ridges, led to excessive loss of soils and CNP. For SB, the loss of soils and CNP could be ascribed to the malfunction of SB; i.e., soil and CNP were lost by seepage through the gaps between SBs and between SB and soil surface. Maize growth and yield were not affected by VR and SB, coinciding with the lack of beneficial effects of VR and SB on soil and nutrient loss. As VR and SB are easy to be implemented and cost-effective, however, further study is necessary to correct the flaws of VR and SB found in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of secondary salt-affected soils developed from improper irrigation and drainage management and their effects on rice growth and yield are well documented. However, relevant information on coastal reclaimed tideland (RTL) soils, which are classified as primary salt-affected soils developed through salt-accumulated sediments is lacking. In this paper, we reviewed the physical and chemical properties of RTL soils in comparison with non-RTL soils and analyzed the relationship between rice production and soil salinity in RTL to suggest agricultural management practices for sustainable rice production and soil carbon sequestration in RTL. Similar to the secondary salt-affected soils, RTL soils were characterized by high alkalinity, salinity, and sodicity, and rice yield was negatively correlated with salinity. However, it was also found that lower fertility (e.g., organic matter and phosphorus) of RTL soils than non-RTL soils might also hamper rice growth and thus carbon input via plant residues in RTL soils. Correlation between years after reclamation and soil properties of RTL showed that cultivation of rice with annual fertilization and organic matter inputs increased soil fertility but salinity and sodicity did not show a significant tendency of change, suggesting that natural desalinization in RTL soils is hard to be achieved with conventional rice cultivation. Therefore, it is suggested that fertilization management as well as salinity management via drainage, gypsum application, tillage, and proper irrigation may be necessary to improve rice production and carbon sequestration in RTL soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) may change litter chemistry which affects litter decomposability. This study investigated respiration and microbial biomass of soils amended with litter of Pinus densiflora (a coniferous species; pine) and Quercus variabilis (a deciduous species; oak) that were grown under different atmospheric [CO2] and thus had different chemistry. Elevated [CO2] increased lignin/N through increased lignin concentration and decreased N concentration. The CO2 emission from the soils amended with litter produced under the same [CO2] regime was greater for oak than pine litter, confirming that broadleaf litter with lower lignin decomposes faster than needle leaf litter. Within each species, however, soils amended with high lignin/N litter grown under elevated [CO2] emitted more CO2 than those with low lignin/N litter grown under ambient [CO2]. Such contrasting effects of lignin/N on inter- and intra-species variations in litter decomposition should be ascribed to the effects of other litter chemistry variables including nonstructural carbohydrate, calcium and manganese as well as inhibitory effect of N on lignin decomposition. The microbial biomass was also higher in the soils amended with high lignin/N litter than those with low lignin/N litter probably due to low substrate use efficiency of lignin by microbes. Our study suggests that elevated [CO2] increases lignin/N for both species, but increased lignin/N does not always reduce soil respiration and microbial biomass. Further study investigating a variety of tree species is required for more comprehensive understanding of inter- and intra-species variations of litter decomposition under elevated [CO2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential impacts of climate change on grain sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) productivity were investigated using the CERES-sorghum model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer v4.5. The model was first calibrated for a sorghum cultivar grown in a free air CO2 enrichment experiment at the University of Arizona, Maricopa, Arizona, USA in 1998. The model was then validated with an independent dataset collected in 1999. The simulated grain yield, growth, and soil water of sorghum for the both years were in statistical agreement with the corresponding measurements, respectively. Neither simulated nor measured yields responded to elevated CO2, but both were sensitive to water supply. The validated model was then applied to simulate possible effects of climate change on sorghum grain yield and water use efficiency in western North America for the years 2080-2100. The projected CO2 fertilizer effect on grain yield was dominated by the adverse effect of projected temperature increases. Therefore, temperature appears to be a dominant driver of the global climate change influencing future sorghum productivity. These results suggest that an increase in water demand for sorghum production should be anticipated in a future high-CO2 world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]