Abstract
Black (pyrogenic) carbon (BC) has its origin in incomplete combustion of organic matter. It is considered to be a stable fraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) accounting for a great proportion of SOC in many soils. The aim of this article is to verify the reliability of the three most widely applied methods to determine BC in soils: the benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) method, the UV/NMR method and the 13CNMR method. All these methods strongly overestimate BC in soil and dissolved BC in waters. The main reason for the overestimation can be attributed to the fact that these three methods measure the polycyclic aromatic carbon (PAC) present in BC. However, PAC structures are also a component of humic substances so that a part of humic C is measured as BC. It can be concluded that the importance of BC in soil and waters is strongly overestimated and should be critically reevaluated.
Highlights
Today there is no consensus within the scientific community about the chemical forms of stable soil organic carbon (SOC) and about the mechanisms of preservation, reactions, and degradation of SOC, partly due to the complexity of forms and reactions in soil including chemical, biochemical, and biological reactions and partly due to the different points of view under which soil organic matter (SOM) is considered, e.g., soil fertility, or soil as a C sink or source
The effect of soil organic matter (SOM) on soil fertility strongly depends on the chemical forms of soil organic carbon [1]
Two developments in SOM research within the last three decades can be observed: an increasing focus on the biology of soil organic matter transformations, and the introduction of fire-affected carbon (BC) as an assumed main component of stable soil organic matter. Both drifts are accompanied by a reduced interest in soil humic substances chemistry and biochemistry or even by an attitude to ignore soil humic substances [2]
Summary
Today there is no consensus within the scientific community about the chemical forms of stable soil organic carbon (SOC) and about the mechanisms of preservation, reactions, and degradation of SOC, partly due to the complexity of forms and reactions in soil including chemical, biochemical, and biological reactions and partly due to the different points of view under which soil organic matter (SOM) is considered, e.g., soil fertility, or soil as a C sink or source.High concentrations of SOC may be a main origin of soil fertility. The effect of soil organic matter (SOM) on soil fertility strongly depends on the chemical forms of soil organic carbon [1]. Two developments in SOM research within the last three decades can be observed: an increasing focus on the biology of soil organic matter transformations, and the introduction of fire-affected (pyrogenic or black) carbon (BC) as an assumed main component of stable soil organic matter. Both drifts are accompanied by a reduced interest in soil humic substances chemistry and biochemistry or even by an attitude to ignore soil humic substances [2]
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