Physical and chemical stabilization of soil organic matter in cropland ecosystems under rice–wheat, maize–wheat and cotton–wheat cropping systems in northwestern India

This article examines the impact of rice–wheat, maize–wheat and cotton–wheat cropping systems on total (TOC), labile stable organic carbon (C) pools, aggregate stability distribution C in different size aggregates mineral fraction (silt + clay) soil. The rice–wheat soils had significantly (p < .05) lower TOC concentration (4.46 ± 0.15 g kg−1) compared with other two systems. Similarly, water-extractable (WEOC, ∼0.48% TOC), hot-water-soluble (HWC, ∼5.5% TOC) microbial biomass (MBC, ∼4.2% were under to formation water-stable (WSA) was related silt clay (<0.053 mm) soils. As increased, proportion macro-aggregates (>0.25 increased a concomitant decrease micro-aggregates (<0.25 mm). preservation capacity (CPC) (CPCMacA), (CPCMicA) (CPCWSA) CPCMacA, clay)-associated (MinAC) sodium hypochlorite oxidizable (NaOCl-C) an increase A linear pool ((silt clay)-C NaOCl-C) soils’ content implies that fine principal mechanism textural control soil matter (SOM) stabilization.