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Microscale carbon distribution around pores and particulate organic matter varies with soil moisture regime

Author

Listed:
  • Steffen Schlüter

    (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research UFZ)

  • Frederic Leuther

    (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research UFZ)

  • Lukas Albrecht

    (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research UFZ)

  • Carmen Hoeschen

    (Chair of Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, TU Munich)

  • Rüdiger Kilian

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Ronny Surey

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Robert Mikutta

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Klaus Kaiser

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Carsten W. Mueller

    (Chair of Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, TU Munich
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Hans-Jörg Vogel

    (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research UFZ
    Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

Abstract

Soil carbon sequestration arises from the interplay of carbon input and stabilization, which vary in space and time. Assessing the resulting microscale carbon distribution in an intact pore space, however, has so far eluded methodological accessibility. Here, we explore the role of soil moisture regimes in shaping microscale carbon gradients by a novel mapping protocol for particulate organic matter and carbon in the soil matrix based on a combination of Osmium staining, X-ray computed tomography, and machine learning. With three different soil types we show that the moisture regime governs C losses from particulate organic matter and the microscale carbon redistribution and stabilization patterns in the soil matrix. Carbon depletion around pores (aperture > 10 µm) occurs in a much larger soil volume (19–74%) than carbon enrichment around particulate organic matter (1%). Thus, interacting microscale processes shaped by the moisture regime are a decisive factor for overall soil carbon persistence.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Schlüter & Frederic Leuther & Lukas Albrecht & Carmen Hoeschen & Rüdiger Kilian & Ronny Surey & Robert Mikutta & Klaus Kaiser & Carsten W. Mueller & Hans-Jörg Vogel, 2022. "Microscale carbon distribution around pores and particulate organic matter varies with soil moisture regime," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29605-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29605-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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