Development of unique soil organic carbon stability index under influence of integrated nutrient management in four major soil orders of India.

Stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) is pre-requisite for stabilization of C leading to long-term C sequestration. However, development of a comprehensive metric of SOC stability is a major challenge. The objectives for the study were to develop novel SOC stability indices by encompassing physical, chemical, and biochemical SOC stability parameters and identifying the most important indicators from a Mollisol, an Inceptisol, a Vertisol, and an Alfisol under long-term manuring and fertilization.

Imprint of clay mineralogy, sesquioxides, and crop residue addition for evaluation of soil organic carbon stability and associated microbial activity in dominant soil orders of Indian subcontinent.

The full behaviour of natural clay minerals in soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization in the presence of oxides and external C inputs is yet unknown. Thus, an incubation experiment was conducted in a sand-clay mixture with different soil clay fractions (SCFs) obtained from Alfisol, Inceptisol, Mollisol, and Vertisol in the presence of wheat residues to compare their C stabilization capacity. The C mineralization rates were higher in 1:1 type dominated SCFs (Alfisol and Inceptisol) compared to 2:1 interstratified mineral dominated SCFs (Vertisol).

Soil quality assessment of lowland rice soil of eastern India: Implications of rice husk biochar application.

The role of biochar in improving the soil properties of problem soils is well known, but its long term impact on lowland rice soil is not well recognized. The soil quality indicators of biochar applied lowland rice soil are not widely reported. We developed soil quality index (SQI) of a biochar applied lowland rice soil based on 17 soil properties (indicators).