Carbon dynamics and sequestration in an irrigated Vertisol in Central Mexico

Conservation tillage could enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, but is rarely used in cropping systems in Mexico, especially under irrigation. A study was conducted on a clayey, smectitic, isothermic Udic Pellustert to evaluate the use of traditional-deep and no-tillage systems on SOC dynamics for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cropping systems. Experimental design was a randomized block of five tillage/crop-rotation (two crops per year) systems with four replications: (WC-CTb) wheat-corn, burning the residues of both crops, plowing and disking twice (WC-CT) wheat-corn under conventional tillage (plowing and disking twice to incorporate crop residues following the harvest of each crop), (WC-NT) wheat-corn under no-till, (WB-CT) wheat-bean under conventional tillage, and (WB-NT) wheat-bean under no-till. Each crop in the sequence received one of three fertilizer-N rates broadcast as urea: (a) 0, 150, and 300 kg N ha−1 for corn; (b) 0, 40, and 80 kg N ha−1 for bean; and (c) 0, 125, and 250 kg N ha−1 for wheat. The baseline year was 1994, and relative changes were measured from 1994 to 1999 for grain yield and residue production, crop residue C and δ13C, SOC, soil C/N ratio, and change in soil δ13C. Interaction of cropping system × fertilizer-N rate was highly important to grain yield and crop residue production and amount of crop-residue C produced. High N rates increased SOC sequestration and decreased soil C/N ratios. In WC systems, more negative δ13C was associated with higher N rates, indicating increased contribution of wheat (a C3 plant) residue C relative to corn (a C4 plant). In WB, N-rate and tillage had no effect on SOC sequestration. Highest rate of SOC sequestration was under WC-NT and when increases in SOC from 1994 to 1999 were annualized was 1.0 and 1.9 Mg SOC yr−1 in the 0-15- and 15-30-cm depths, respectively. Corresponding SOC in 0-15- and 15-30-cm depths in the WC-CT treatment was 0.2 and 0.6 Mg yr−1 and amounts in all other treatments were equal or lower than those observed for WC-CT. There was a significant correlation between aboveground crop-residue C produced and amount of SOC sequestered. Results from this study indicate no-till on N-fertilized WC systems can potentially increase SOC sequestration on large areas of irrigated Vertisols in Central Mexico while maintaining high crop yields.