Abstract
AbstractAssociation of organic carbon (C) with iron (Fe) minerals is one important mechanism for long‐term terrestrial C storage. Yet, specific edaphic variables that directly contribute to Fe‐associated C across diverse soil types are still unclear. Through analyzing soils from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and other published data, here we show that soil pH primarily controls Fe‐associated C across the globe. Fe‐associated C in most soils ranged from 0 to 20 g kg−1 soil, with a strong increase from pH 4.2 to 3.5, but a small change in soils with pH > 4.2. A microcosm experiment further showed that raising soil pH by liming reduced the formation of Fe‐associated C in an acidic Oxisol. Together, these findings demonstrate the dominant role of soil pH in controlling the abundance of Fe‐associated C.
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