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Modeling Soil Carbon Spatial Variation: Case Study In The Palouse Region
1A. R. Kemanian, 2D. R. Huggins, 2D. P. Uberuaga
1. The Pennsylvania State University
2. USDA-ARS

Soil organic carbon (Cs) levels in the soil profile reflect the transient state or equilibrium conditions determined by organic carbon inputs and outputs. In areas with strong topography, erosion, transport and deposition control de soil carbon balance and determine strong within-field differences in soil carbon. Carbon gains or losses are therefore difficult to predict for the average field. Total Cs ranged from 54 to 272 Mg C ha-1, with 42% (range 25 to 78%) of Cs in the top 0.3-m of the soil profile. Globally, the Cs in the topsoil (0.3-m) and subsoil (0.3 – 1.5-m) at the CAF shows overall an expected pattern of soil erosion of convex and upland landscape locations, and accumulation of Cs in concave and lowland locations. Locally, however, describing a point as upland or lowland landscape position provides limited information to predict total Cs or its distribution with depth. The topsoil Cs content is coupled with the local aboveground productivity, indicating that carbon inputs play a role at maintaining the current Cs across the landscape. No such relationship was found for subsoil Cs. Based on simulations of soil carbon accretion and cycling, much of the topsoil Cs can be at equilibrium with inputs, but the subsoil could be losing carbon at a slow but steady rate for much of the farm.

Keyword: soil organic carbon, erosion, modeling spatial variation