scholarly journals Molecular evidence for pervasive riverine export of soil organic matter from the Central Himalaya

Author(s):  
Lena Märki ◽  
Maarten Lupker ◽  
Ananta Gajurel ◽  
Hannah Gies ◽  
Negar Haghipour ◽  
...  

<p>Soil erosion in high mountain ranges plays an important role in redistributing soil organic carbon across landscapes and may influence the global climate on different timescales [1, 2]. Here, we investigate the dynamics of soil organic matter export in the steep mountain belt of the Himalaya by tracing the provenance of soil-derived lipids in riverine sediments from nested catchments with areas ranging from 370 to 57700 km<sup>2</sup>.</p><p>Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) are a suite of lipids that occur ubiquitously in soils [3, 4]. Their isomer distribution depends on environmental parameters such as the mean annual temperature of the local environment [3]. In this study, we explore the use of brGDGT distributions as a proxy for the altitudinal provenance of soil organic matter in riverine sediments of the Central Himalaya of Nepal. BrGDGT distributions in soils collected along an altitudinal profile, spanning elevations from 200 to 4450 m asl, yield a robust calibration of soil signatures as a function of elevation. This calibration is then used to trace the provenance of soil organic matter exported from their catchments and entrained in suspended sediments of rivers draining the Central Himalaya.</p><p>We show that brGDGT compositions of fluvial sediments accurately reflect the mean elevation of the soil-cover in their respective watersheds. The type of land-cover does not seem to have a significant influence on the export of organic matter at a catchment scale. We, therefore, conclude that soil organic matter mobilization in the Himalaya occurs pervasively, and is currently insensitive to anthropogenic perturbations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] Stockmann et al., 2013 – Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 164</p><p>[2] France-Lanord & Derry, 1997 – Nature, 390</p><p>[3] Weijers et al., 2007 – Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 71</p><p>[4] Schouten et al., 2013 – Organic Geochemistry, 54</p>

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 3161-3192 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Sierra ◽  
M. Müller ◽  
S. E. Trumbore

Abstract. Radiocarbon is an important tracer of the global carbon cycle that helps to understand carbon dynamics in soils. It is useful to estimate rates of organic matter cycling as well as the mean residence or transit time of carbon in soils. We included a set of functions to model the fate of radiocarbon in soil organic matter within the SoilR package for the R environment for computing. Here we present the main system equations and functions to calculate the transfer and release of radiocarbon from different soil organic matter pools. Similarly, we present functions to calculate the mean transit time for different pools and the entire soil system. This new version of SoilR also includes a group of datasets describing the amount of radiocarbon in the atmosphere over time, data necessary to estimate the incorporation of radiocarbon in soils. Also, we present examples on how to obtain parameters of pool-based models from radiocarbon data using inverse parameter estimation. This implementation is general enough so it can also be used to trace the incorporation of radiocarbon in other natural systems that can be represented as linear dynamical systems.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. González-Pérez ◽  
Gael Bárcenas.Moreno ◽  
Nicasio T Jiménez-Morillo ◽  
María Colchero-Asensio ◽  
Layla M. San Emeterio ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Soil reaction, analytical pyrolysis, soil respiration, carbon stabilization</p><p>During the last decade, soil organic matter dynamics and its determining factors have received increased attention, mainly due to the evident implication of these parameters in climate change understanding, predictions and possible management. High-mountain soil could be considered as hotspot of climate change dynamic since its high carbon accumulation and low organic matter degradation rates could be seriously altered by slight changes in temperature and rainfall regimes associated to climate change effects. In the particular case of Sierra Nevada National Park, this threat could be even stronger due to its Southern character, although its elevated biodiversity could shed some light on how could we predict and manage climate change in the future.</p><p>In this study, a quantitative and qualitative organic matter characterization was performed and soil microbial activity measured to evaluate the implication of pH and vegetation in soil organic matter dynamics.</p><p>The sampling areas were selected according to vegetation and soil pH; with distinct soil pH (area A with pH<7 and area B with pH>7) and vegetation (high-mountain shrubs and pine reforested area). Soil samples were collected under the influence of several plant species representatives of each vegetation series. Six samples were finally obtained (five replicates each); three were collected in area A under<em> Juniperus communis</em> ssp. Nana (ENE), <em>Genista versicolor</em> (PIO) and <em>Pinus sylvestris</em> (PSI) and other three were collected in area B under<em> Juniperus Sabina</em> (SAB), <em>Astragalus nevadensis</em> (AST) and <em>Pinus sylvestris</em> (PCA).</p><p>Qualitative and quantitative analyses of soil organic matter were made to establish a possible relationship with microbial activity estimated by respiration rate (alkali trap) and fungi-to-bacteria ratio using a plate count method. Soil easily oxidizable organic carbon content was determined by the Walkley-Black method (SOC %) and organic matter amount was estimated by weight loss on ignition (LOI %). Analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) was used to analyse in detail the soil organic carbon composition.</p><p>Our results showed that the microbial and therefore the dynamics of organic matter is influenced by both, soil pH and soil of organic matter. So that the pH in acidic media prevail as a determining factor of microbial growth over soil organic matter composition conditioned by vegetation.</p><p><strong>Acknowledgement</strong>: Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades (MICIU) for INTERCARBON project (CGL2016-78937-R). N.T. Jiménez-Morillo and L. San Emeterio also thanks MICIU for funding FPI research grants (BES-2013-062573 and Ref. BES-2017-07968). Mrs Desiré Monis is acknowledged for technical assistance.</p><p> </p>


Author(s):  
Vítězslav Vlček ◽  
Radomíra Střálková ◽  
Jitka Podešvová ◽  
Eduard Pokorný

The paper evaluates seven years (1993–1999) of Soil organic matter supply monitoring in multifactor field trials conducted by the Agricultural Research Institute in Kroměříž, Czech Republic, (mean annual temperature 8.9 °C, total annual precipitation 599 mm, medium Luvi-Haplic Chernozem). The studied plots were a part of nine-crop rotation: alfalfa the 1st and 2nd year, winter wheat, spring barley, sugar beet, spring barley, winter wheat, silage maize and spring barley. The Soil organic matter supply was measured on four plots: winter wheat after spring barley (var. 1), winter wheat after alfalfa (var. 2), spring barley after winter wheat (var. 3) and spring barley after sugar beet (var. 4). Soil samples were taken from April to July (14–day period) from topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–60 cm). The content of Soil organic matter was determined by wet oxidation. Using bulk density, the C content (%) was converted to C supply (t. ha−1). Average yield (t. ha−1) reached 6.54 t/ha (var. 1), 7.47 t/ha (var. 2), 6.52 t/ha (var. 3) and 7.20 t/ha (var. 4). Evaluation of the results was carried out by the analysis of variance and time changes by the second-degree regression analysis. Results demonstrated that Soil organic matter supplies were significantly changed in topsoil. The highest supplies were found in barley after sugar beet (118 t. ha−1), the lowest ones in wheat after alfalfa (111 t. ha−1). As for the cereal species generally, it was documented that in topsoils under barley the supplies were higher than under winter wheat. In subsoil, there were significant differences between wheat after alfalfa (111 t. ha−1) and barley after wheat (104 t. ha−1). As for a difference in the Soil organic matter supply in subsoil according to the cereal species the situation was contrary than in topsoil. Higher supplies were under wheat. Generally (topsoil and subsoil), the highest supply of Soil organic matter was in barley after sugar beet (224 t. ha−1) and similarly in wheat after alfalfa (222 t. ha−1). The smallest supply was in the variant of wheat after barley (217 t. ha−1). In topsoil, the average supply of humus was 114 t. ha−1 and that in subsoil was 107 t. ha−1 the difference being statistically significant.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2553
Author(s):  
Magdalena Banach-Szott ◽  
Andrzej Dziamski ◽  
Maciej Markiewicz

The still-advancing soil degradation and the related losses of soil organic carbon stocks due to the limited inflow of organic residues in agro-ecosystems encourage more and more soil protection. Establishing meadow ecosystems is one of the key methods of agricultural land use preventing losses of organic carbon in soils. Based on the research on the properties of humic acids, it is possible to determine the advancement of the processes of transformation and decomposition of soil organic matter. The obtained results may allow for the development of a soil protection strategy and more effective sequestration of organic carbon. Therefore, the aim of the research was to determine the properties of humic acids defining the quality of organic matter of meadow soils irrigated for 150 years with the slope-and-flooding system. The research was performed based on the soils (Albic Brunic Arenosol) sampled from Europe’s unique complex of permanent irrigated grasslands (the same irrigation management for 150 years), applying the slope-and-flooding system: the Czerskie Meadows. The soil samples were assayed for the content of total organic carbon (TOC) and the particle size distribution. HAs were extracted with the Schnitzer method and analysed for the elemental composition, spectrometric parameters in the UV-VIS (ultraviolet-visible) range, hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties and the infrared spectra. The research results showed that the HAs properties depend on the depth and the distance from the irrigation ditch. The HAs of soils sampled from the depth of 0–10 cm were identified with a lower “degree of maturity” as compared with the HAs of soils sampled from the depth of 20–30 cm, reflected by the values of atomic ratios (H/C, O/C, O/H), absorbance coefficients, and the FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) spectra. The mean values of the H/C ratio in the HAs molecules of soils sampled from the depth of 20–30 cm were lower by 8.2% than those from the depth of 0–10 cm. The mean values of the absorbance coefficient A4/6 in the HAs molecules of soils sampled from the depth of 20–30 cm were lower by 9.6% than in the HAs molecules of soils sampled from the depth of 0–10 cm. The HAs molecules of the soils sampled 25 m from the irrigation ditch were identified with a higher degree of humification, as compared with the HAs of the soils sampled 5 m from the irrigation ditch. The results identified that humic acids produced in the many-year irrigated sandy soils were identified with a high degree of humification, which proves the relative stability of the soil’s organic matter. It confirms the importance of meadow soils for the carbon sequestration process. It should also be emphasized that the research area is interesting, although hardly described in terms of organic matter properties. Further and more detailed applicable research is planned, e.g., monitoring of total organic carbon content and comparing the properties of irrigated and non-irrigated meadow soils. Continuity of research is necessary to assess the direction of the soil organic matter transformation in such a unique ecosystem. The obtained results may allow for the development of, inter alia, models of agricultural practices that increase carbon sequestration in soils. In the long term, this will allow for greater environmental benefits and, thus, also increased financial benefits.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Göl Ceyhun

The objectives of this study were to determine the amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) stored within surface soils of high mountain forests and how the SOM amounts are affected by aridity and altitude in semi-arid regions of Central Anatolia. Various climate and altitude conditions of Central Anatolia were included in this study, and SOM amounts were found to be higher in the surface soils of northern Anatolia forests. Our results showed that altitude, climatic factors, and tree species were the most important factors affecting the amount of SOM and other soil properties. SOM, pH, bulk density and available water content differed significantly depending on the altitude and climatic factors in the study areas. As the altitude increased in semi-arid regions, the aridity decreased and the amount of SOM increased.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. van der Voort ◽  
F. Hagedorn ◽  
C. McIntyre ◽  
C. Zell ◽  
L. Walthert ◽  
...  

Abstract. Soil organic matter (SOM) forms the largest terrestrial pool of carbon outside of sedimentary rocks. Radiocarbon is a powerful tool for assessing soil organic matter dynamics. However, due to the nature of the measurement, extensive 14C studies of soils systems remain relatively rare. In particular, information on the extent of spatial and temporal variability in 14C contents of soils is limited, yet this information is crucial for establishing the range of baseline properties and for detecting potential modifications to the SOM pool. This study describes a comprehensive approach to explore heterogeneity in bulk SOM 14C in Swiss forest soils that encompass diverse landscapes and climates. We examine spatial variability in soil organic carbon (SOC) 14C, SOC content and C:N ratios over both regional climatic and geologic gradients, on the watershed- and plot-scale and within soil profiles. Results reveal (1) a relatively uniform radiocarbon signal across climatic and geologic gradients in Swiss forest topsoils (0-5 cm, Δ14C=159±36.4, n=12 sites), (2) similar radiocarbon trends with soil depth despite dissimilar environmental conditions, and (3) micro-topography dependent, plot-scale variability that is similar in magnitude to regional-scale variability (e.g., Gleysol, 0-5 cm, Δ14C 126±35.2, n=8 adjacent plots of 10x10m). Statistical analyses have additionally shown that Δ14C signature in the topsoil is not significantly correlated to climatic parameters (precipitation, elevation, primary production) except mean annual temperature at 0-5 cm. These observations have important consequences for SOM carbon stability modelling assumptions, as well as for the understanding of controls on past and current soil carbon dynamics.


1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. A. MARTEL ◽  
P. LASALLE

Radiocarbon dating was used to determine the mean residence time of the organic matter from a Gleysolic Ap horizon of eastern Canada. The total soil organic matter and the fulvic acids dated modern, the humic acids as 1,220 ± 150 yr B.P. and the humin as 180 ± 100 yr B.P. Acid hydrolysis of the total soil organic matter yielded a soluble fraction dating modern and an unhydrolyzed material dating 1,530 ± 110 yr B.P. Acid hydrolysis of this topsoil appears practical to separate the soil organic matter into two fractions of different stability. Fractionation into fulvic, humic acids and humin may help to give information on the dynamics of the soil organic matter by separating the soil into at least three fractions of varying stability.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1919-1931 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Sierra ◽  
M. Müller ◽  
S. E. Trumbore

Abstract. Radiocarbon is an important tracer of the global carbon cycle that helps to understand carbon dynamics in soils. It is useful to estimate rates of organic matter cycling as well as the mean residence or transit time of carbon in soils. We included a set of functions to model the fate of radiocarbon in soil organic matter within the SoilR package for the R environment for computing. Here we present the main system equations and functions to calculate the transfer and release of radiocarbon from different soil organic matter pools. Similarly, we present functions to calculate the mean transit time for different pools and the entire soil system. This new version of SoilR also includes a group of data sets describing the amount of radiocarbon in the atmosphere over time, data necessary to estimate the incorporation of radiocarbon in soils. Also, we present examples on how to obtain parameters of pool-based models from radiocarbon data using inverse parameter estimation. This implementation is general enough so it can also be used to trace the incorporation of radiocarbon in other natural systems that can be represented as linear dynamical systems.


2005 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Giraudi

AbstractThe major climatic variations that have affected the summit slopes of the higher Apennine massifs in the last 6000 yr are shown in alternating layers of organic matter-rich soils and alluvial, glacial and periglacial sediments. The burial of the soils, triggered by environmental–climatic variations, took place in several phases. For the last 3000 yr chronological correlations can be drawn between phases of glacial advance, scree and alluvial sedimentation and development of periglacial features. During some periods, the slopes were covered by vegetation up to 2700 m and beyond, while in other phases the same slopes were subject to glacial advances and periglacial processes, and alluvial sediments were deposited on the high plateaus. Around 5740–5590, 1560–1370 and 1300–970 cal yr B.P., organic matter-rich soils formed on slopes currently subject to periglacial and glacial processes; the mean annual temperature must therefore have been higher than at present. Furthermore, on the basis of the variations in the elevation of the lower limit reached by gelifraction, it can be concluded that the oscillations in the minimum winter temperatures could have ranged between 3.0°C lower (ca. 790–150 cal yr B.P.) and 1.2°C higher (ca. 5740–5590 cal yr B.P.) than present minimum winter temperatures. During the last 3000 yr the cold phases recorded by the Calderone Glacier advance in the Apennines essentially match basically the phases of glacial advance in the Alps.


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