Deep soil organic matter—a key but poorly understood component of terrestrial C cycle

2010 ◽  
Vol 338 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 143-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Rumpel ◽  
Ingrid Kögel-Knabner
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
C Cycle

Post-thinning soil organic matter evolution and soil CO2 effluxes in temperate radiata pine plantations: impacts of moderate thinning regimes on the forest C cycle

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 1953-1964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Fernandez ◽  
Juan Gabriel Álvarez-González ◽  
Beatríz Carrasco ◽  
Ana Daría Ruíz-González ◽  
Ana Cabaneiro
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Radiata Pine ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Storage ◽  
C Cycle ◽  
C And N

Forest ecosystems can act as C sinks, thus absorbing a high percentage of atmospheric CO2. Appropriate silvicultural regimes can therefore be applied as useful tools in climate change mitigation strategies. The present study analyzed the temporal changes in the effects of thinning on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and on soil CO2 emissions in radiata pine ( Pinus radiata D. Don) forests. Soil C effluxes were monitored over a period of 2 years in thinned and unthinned plots. In addition, soil samples from the plots were analyzed by solid-state 13C-NMR to determine the post-thinning SOM composition and fresh soil samples were incubated under laboratory conditions to determine their biodegradability. The results indicate that the potential soil C mineralization largely depends on the proportion of alkyl-C and N-alkyl-C functional groups in the SOM and on the microbial accessibility of the recalcitrant organic pool. Soil CO2 effluxes varied widely between seasons and increased exponentially with soil heating. Thinning led to decreased soil respiration and attenuation of the seasonal fluctuations. These effects were observed for up to 20 months after thinning, although they disappeared thereafter. Thus, moderate thinning caused enduring changes to the SOM composition and appeared to have temporary effects on the C storage capacity of forest soils, which is a critical aspect under the current climatic change scenario.

scholarly journals Modeling the effects of litter stoichiometry and soil mineral N availability on soil organic matter formation using CENTURY-CUE (v1.0)

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 4779-4796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haicheng Zhang ◽  
Daniel S. Goll ◽  
Stefano Manzoni ◽  
Philippe Ciais ◽  
Bertrand Guenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Microbial Decomposition ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Cycle

Abstract. Microbial decomposition of plant litter is a crucial process for the land carbon (C) cycle, as it directly controls the partitioning of litter C between CO2 released to the atmosphere versus the formation of new soil organic matter (SOM). Land surface models used to study the C cycle rarely considered flexibility in the decomposer C use efficiency (CUEd) defined by the fraction of decomposed litter C that is retained as SOM (as opposed to be respired). In this study, we adapted a conceptual formulation of CUEd based on assumption that litter decomposers optimally adjust their CUEd as a function of litter substrate C to nitrogen (N) stoichiometry to maximize their growth rates. This formulation was incorporated into the widely used CENTURY soil biogeochemical model and evaluated based on data from laboratory litter incubation experiments. Results indicated that the CENTURY model with new CUEd formulation was able to reproduce differences in respiration rate of litter with contrasting C : N ratios and under different levels of mineral N availability, whereas the default model with fixed CUEd could not. Using the model with flexible CUEd, we also illustrated that litter quality affected the long-term SOM formation. Litter with a small C : N ratio tended to form a larger SOM pool than litter with larger C : N ratios, as it could be more efficiently incorporated into SOM by microorganisms. This study provided a simple but effective formulation to quantify the effect of varying litter quality (N content) on SOM formation across temporal scales. Optimality theory appears to be suitable to predict complex processes of litter decomposition into soil C and to quantify how plant residues and manure can be harnessed to improve soil C sequestration for climate mitigation.

scholarly journals The influence of C<sub>3</sub> and C<sub>4</sub> vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics in contrasting semi-natural tropical ecosystems

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 5041-5059 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Saiz ◽  
M. Bird ◽  
C. Wurster ◽  
C. A. Quesada ◽  
P. Ascough ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Carbon Isotopic Composition ◽  
Precipitation Gradient ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Tropical Ecosystems ◽  
Carbon Isotopic

Abstract. Variations in the carbon isotopic composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in bulk and fractionated samples were used to assess the influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on SOM dynamics in semi-natural tropical ecosystems sampled along a precipitation gradient in West Africa. Differential patterns in SOM dynamics in C3/C4 mixed ecosystems occurred at various spatial scales. Relative changes in C / N ratios between two contrasting SOM fractions were used to evaluate potential site-scale differences in SOM dynamics between C3- and C4-dominated locations. These differences were strongly controlled by soil texture across the precipitation gradient, with a function driven by bulk δ13C and sand content explaining 0.63 of the observed variability. The variation of δ13C with soil depth indicated a greater accumulation of C3-derived carbon with increasing precipitation, with this trend also being strongly dependant on soil characteristics. The influence of vegetation thickening on SOM dynamics was also assessed in two adjacent, but structurally contrasting, transitional ecosystems occurring on comparable soils to minimise the confounding effects posed by climatic and edaphic factors. Radiocarbon analyses of sand-size aggregates yielded relatively short mean residence times (τ) even in deep soil layers, while the most stable SOM fraction associated with silt and clay exhibited shorter τ in the savanna woodland than in the neighbouring forest stand. These results, together with the vertical variation observed in δ13C values, strongly suggest that both ecosystems are undergoing a rapid transition towards denser closed canopy formations. However, vegetation thickening varied in intensity at each site and exerted contrasting effects on SOM dynamics. This study shows that the interdependence between biotic and abiotic factors ultimately determine whether SOM dynamics of C3- and C4-derived vegetation are at variance in ecosystems where both vegetation types coexist. The results highlight the far-reaching implications that vegetation thickening may have for the stability of deep SOM.

scholarly journals Colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers – a comparison of model formulations

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wutzler ◽  
M. Reichstein
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Fresh Organic Matter ◽  
Decomposition Models ◽  
Decomposer Community ◽  
Som Decomposition

Abstract. Decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is limited by both the available substrate and the active decomposer community. The understanding of this colimitation strongly affects the understanding of feedbacks of soil carbon to global warming and its consequences. This study compares different formulations of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. We compiled formulations from literature into groups according to the representation of decomposer biomass on the SOM decomposition rate a) non-explicit (substrate only), b) linear, and c) non-linear. By varying the SOM decomposition equation in a basic simplified decomposition model, we analyzed the following questions. Is the priming effect represented? Under which conditions is SOM accumulation limited? And, how does steady state SOM stocks scale with amount of fresh organic matter (FOM) litter inputs? While formulations (a) did not represent the priming effect, with formulations (b) steady state SOM stocks were independent of amount of litter input. Further, with several formulations (c) there was an offset of SOM that was not decomposed when no fresh OM was supplied. The finding that a part of the SOM is not decomposed on exhaust of FOM supply supports the hypothesis of carbon stabilization in deep soil by the absence of energy-rich fresh organic matter. Different representations of colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers in SOM decomposition models resulted in qualitatively different long-term behaviour. A collaborative effort by modellers and experimentalists is required to identify appropriate and inappropriate formulations.

scholarly journals Soil Restoration Practices Effects on Priming Effect Intensity and Carbon Fluxes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdourhimou Amadou Issoufou ◽  
Bachirou Hamadou Younoussa ◽  
Sabiou Mahamane ◽  
Idrissa Soumana ◽  
Garba Maman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Carbon Fluxes ◽  
Soil Restoration ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Priming Effects ◽  
C Cycle ◽  
Restoration Practices

Abstract BackgroundThe decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is one of the most important processes influencing the global carbon (C) cycle, the physico-chemical characteristics of soils, the mineralization of nutrients for plant growth and soil food webs. Yet, priming effects are considered to be large enough to influence ecosystem carbon fluxes. Here we have tested the effects of soil restoration practices on priming effect and carbon fluxes.ResultOur results suggest that indirect effects are such as altered stabilization of older C associated with the increased inputs of fresh plant inputs (‘priming’) add uncertainty to the prediction of future soil C responses. Far ahead restoration influence the amount and composition of the decomposer organisms, including soil fauna, as well as the soil microbial community, by inducing up to more CO2 emission with fresh millet straw addition in fresh state than pre-decomposed one. Restoration had a very strong impact (increase by 22.7%) on basal soil organic matter mineralization but not on priming effect. The PE of non-restored site was lower than that of restored site by 14.9–22.7%; the lowest mineralization per unit carbon was recorded in the non-restored. Through the “4 per 1000” initiative, it has been very recently demonstrated that priming effect could have a noticeable impact on soil carbon sequestration. ConclusionWe have shown in our study that the degraded soil played a dominant positive role in the soil organic carbon mineralization. Our results provide solid evidence that SOC content plays a critical role in regulating apparent priming effects, with important implications for the improvement of C cycling models under global change scenarios.

scholarly journals Colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers – a comparison of model formulations

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wutzler ◽  
M. Reichstein
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Fresh Organic Matter ◽  
Decomposition Models ◽  
Decomposer Community ◽  
Som Decomposition

Abstract. Decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is limited by both the available substrate and the active decomposer community. The understanding of this colimitation strongly affects the understanding of feedbacks of soil carbon to global warming and its consequences. This study compares different formulations of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. We compiled formulations from literature into groups according to the representation of decomposer biomass on the SOM decomposition rate a) non-explicit (substrate only), b) linear, and c) non-linear. By varying the SOM decomposition equation in a basic simplified decomposition model, we analyzed the following questions. Is the priming effect represented? Under which conditions is SOM accumulation limited? And, how does steady state SOM stocks scale with amount of fresh organic matter (FOM) litter inputs? While formulations (a) did not represent the priming effect, with formulations (b) steady state SOM stocks were independent of amount of litter input. Further, with several formulations (c) there was an offset of SOM that was not decomposed when no fresh OM was supplied. The finding that a part of the SOM is not decomposed on exhaust of FOM supply supports the hypothesis of carbon stabilization in deep soil by the absence of energy-rich fresh organic matter. Different representations of colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers in SOM decomposition models resulted in qualitatively different long-term behaviour. A collaborative effort by modellers and experimentalists is required to identify formulations that are more or less suitable to represent the most important drivers of long term carbon storage.

scholarly journals Peat decomposability in managed organic soils in relation to land-use, organic matter composition and temperature

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric Bader ◽  
Moritz Müller ◽  
Rainer Schulin ◽  
Jens Leifeld
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Organic Matter Composition ◽  
Rapid Decomposition ◽  
C Cycle

Abstract. Organic soils comprise a large yet fragile carbon (C) store in the global C cycle. Drainage, necessary for agriculture and forestry, triggers rapid decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), typically increasing in the order forest 

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