Tracing the sources and spatial distribution of organic carbon in subsoils using a multi-biomarker approach
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Tracing the sources and spatial distribution of organic carbon in subsoils using a multi-biomarker approach. / Angst, Gerrit; John, Stephan; Mueller, Carsten W.; Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid; Rethemeyer, Janet.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, 29478, 2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Tracing the sources and spatial distribution of organic carbon in subsoils using a multi-biomarker approach
AU - Angst, Gerrit
AU - John, Stephan
AU - Mueller, Carsten W.
AU - Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid
AU - Rethemeyer, Janet
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Soil organic carbon (SOC) from aboveground and belowground sources has rarely been differentiated although it may drive SOC turnover and stabilization due to a presumed differing source dependent degradability. It is thus crucial to better identify the location of SOC from different sources for the parameterization of SOC models, especially in the less investigated subsoils. The aim of this study was to spatially assess contributions of organic carbon from aboveground and belowground parts of beech trees to subsoil organic carbon in a Dystric Cambisol. Different sources of SOC were distinguished by solvent-extractable and hydrolysable lipid biomarkers aided by 14 C analyses of soil compartments <63 μm. We found no effect of the distance to the trees on the investigated parameters. Instead, a vertical zonation of the subsoil was detected. A high contribution of fresh leaf- and root-derived organic carbon to the upper subsoil (leaf- and root-affected zone) indicate that supposedly fast-cycling, leaf-derived SOC may still be of considerable importance below the A-horizon. In the deeper subsoil (root-affected zone), roots were an important source of fresh SOC. Simultaneously, strongly increasing apparent 14 C ages (3860 yrs BP) indicate considerable contribution of SOC that may be inherited from the Pleistocene parent material.
AB - Soil organic carbon (SOC) from aboveground and belowground sources has rarely been differentiated although it may drive SOC turnover and stabilization due to a presumed differing source dependent degradability. It is thus crucial to better identify the location of SOC from different sources for the parameterization of SOC models, especially in the less investigated subsoils. The aim of this study was to spatially assess contributions of organic carbon from aboveground and belowground parts of beech trees to subsoil organic carbon in a Dystric Cambisol. Different sources of SOC were distinguished by solvent-extractable and hydrolysable lipid biomarkers aided by 14 C analyses of soil compartments <63 μm. We found no effect of the distance to the trees on the investigated parameters. Instead, a vertical zonation of the subsoil was detected. A high contribution of fresh leaf- and root-derived organic carbon to the upper subsoil (leaf- and root-affected zone) indicate that supposedly fast-cycling, leaf-derived SOC may still be of considerable importance below the A-horizon. In the deeper subsoil (root-affected zone), roots were an important source of fresh SOC. Simultaneously, strongly increasing apparent 14 C ages (3860 yrs BP) indicate considerable contribution of SOC that may be inherited from the Pleistocene parent material.
U2 - 10.1038/srep29478
DO - 10.1038/srep29478
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84978100684
VL - 6
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
M1 - 29478
ER -
ID: 239160888