Implications for Soil Properties of Removing Cereal Straw: Results from Long‐Term Studies1
Abstract
Bioenergy developments could lead to large‐scale removal of cereal straw from fields, with consequences for soil organic carbon (SOC) and related properties. In 25 experiments of 6 to 56 yr duration there was a trend for SOC and total soil N content to increase where straw was incorporated annually. However the increases were only significant in six experiments and were <10% in the majority of cases. Increases in microbial biomass C or N were always proportionately greater than for SOC or N. In simulations of annual straw incorporation using the RothC model, 90% of the microbial biomass C increase in 100 yr was reached within 20 yr as biomass C moves toward a new equilibrium value more rapidly than total SOC. Simulations also showed that if straw was removed in 50% of years, SOC and biomass C increases were about 50% of those with annual straw incorporation. There is considerable evidence that small changes in total SOC have disproportionately large impacts on soil physical properties such as aggregate stability, water infiltration rate, and plow draft and that microbial activity is crucial in the formation of stable aggregates. We conclude that, although changes in SOC resulting from addition or removal of straw are small, it would be unwise to remove straw every year as this is likely to lead to deterioration in soil physical properties. Local assessments are required to determine the frequency of straw removal that is acceptable for soil functioning; this will influence the capacity of bioenergy installations.
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Authors have modified and coupled RothC by adding and calibrating new specific soil and residue C pools, accounting for tree and crop residues.
“Authors have modified and coupled RothC by adding and calibrating new specific soil and residue C pools, accounting for tree [164] and crop [165] residues.”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [165]
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Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out?
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- Authors
- Powlson, D. S., Glendining, M. J., Coleman, K., & Whitmore, A. P.
- Affiliations
- Rothamsted Research (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Powlson, David S.
- Venue
- Agronomy Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 279-287
- ISSN
- 0002-1962 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-0645
- OpenAlex
- W1999499080
- Cited by
- 206
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 22.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Agronomy Journal (publishedVersion)
- Rothamsted Repository (Rothamsted Repository) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Keywords
- straw incorporation, soil organic carbon, soil nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, RothC model, soil aggregate stability, water infiltration, energy crops, long-term field experiment, soil physical properties
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