Weathering controls on mechanisms of carbon storage in grassland soils Page: 2 of 30
This article is part of the collection entitled: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Abstract
On a sequence of soils developed under similar vegetation, temperature and
precipitation conditions, but with variations in mineralogical properties, we use organic
carbon and 14C inventories to examine mineral protection of soil organic carbon. In these
soils, 14C data indicates that the creation of slow-cycling carbon can be modeled as
occurring through reaction of organic ligands with Al3 and Fe3+ cations in the upper
horizons, followed by sorption to amorphous inorganic Al compounds at depth. Only one
of these processes, the chelation of Al3 and Fe3+ by organic ligands, is linked to large
carbon stocks. Organic ligands stabilized by this process traverse the soil column as
dissolved organic carbon (both from surface horizons and root exudates). At our moist
grassland site, this chelation and transport process is very strongly correlated with the
storage and long-term stabilization of soil organic carbon.
Our 14C results show that the mechanisms of organic carbon transport and storage
at this site follow a classic model previously believed to only be significant in a single
soil order (Spodosols), and closely related to the presence of forests. The presence of this
process in the grassland Alfisol, Inceptisol, and Mollisol soils of this chronosequence
suggests that this process is a more significant control on organic carbon storage than
previously thought.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This article can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Article.
Masiello, C. A.; Chadwick, O. A.; Southon, J.; Torn, M. S. & Harden, J. W. Weathering controls on mechanisms of carbon storage in grassland soils, article, September 1, 2004; Berkeley, California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc780503/m1/2/?rotate=90: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.