Mineral-associated Organic Matter Research Articles

Stable isotopes reveal that fungal residues contribute more to mineral-associated organic matter pools than plant residues

We still lack crucial knowledge about the contribution of plant vs. microbial residues to specific SOM pools, particularly the relative contribution of arbuscular (AM), ectomycorrhizal (ECM), and saprotrophic (SAP) fungi.We investigated sources of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter (POM and MAOM) around trees with distinct mycorrhizal types, Liriodendron tulipifera (AM-association) and Quercus alba (ECM-association), in a temperate deciduous forest in Indiana, USA. Combining 13C and 15N natural abundance analyses with measurements of microbial residues using amino sugars, the isotope signatures of large, medium and small-sized POM and MAOM fractions were compared with those of leaves, roots and biomass of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi. A Bayesian inference isotope mixing model calculated sources of C and N to SOM fractions.While the isotope composition of POM resembled that of plants, MAOM was close to fungal values. This was confirmed by mixing model calculations and microbial residue analysis, which additionally and independent from tree partner suggested saprobic fungi contributing with 4–53% to POM and 23–42% to MAOM, as opposed to ECM contributions.Our results suggest fungal, not plant residues, as the source of the most putatively stable OM pool; thus, altering fungal communities may enhance efforts to increase long-term soil C storage.

The role of plant input physical-chemical properties, and microbial and soil chemical diversity on the formation of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a fundamental resource to humanity for the many ecosystem services it provides. Increasing its stocks can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and the sustainability of agricultural production. Elucidating the mechanisms and drivers of the formation of the main components of SOM, particulate (POM) and mineral associated (MAOM) organic matter, from the decomposition of plant inputs is therefore critical to inform management and policy designed to promote SOM regeneration. We designed a two-tiered laboratory incubation experiment using 13C and 15N labeled plant material to investigate the effects of the physical nature (i.e., structural versus soluble) of plant inputs as well as their chemical composition on (1) the pathways of SOM formation, (2) the soil microbial community and chemical diversity, and (3) their interaction on the stabilization efficiency of litter-derived C in POM and MAOM, in a topsoil and a subsoil. We found that: i) the physical nature of the plant input (structural vs soluble) drove both the pathways and efficiencies of SOM formation; ii) POM formation from the decomposition of structural residues increased in efficiency the more decomposed were the residues, and linearly with soil microbial and chemical diversity, the latter only for subsoil; ii) more input-derived C and N were retained in subsoil because of both higher stabilization in MAOM and POM, and slower residue decay. Our results also confirm the importance of direct sorption of soluble inputs to silt- and clay-sized minerals for the formation of MAOM in bulk soils. Taken together these finding suggest that the highest potential for SOM accrual is in subsoils characterized by higher C saturation deficit, from the separate addition of decomposed residues and soluble plant inputs.

Global distribution, formation and fate of mineral‐associated soil organic matter under a changing climate: A trait‐based perspective

Abstract Soil organic matter (SOM) is the largest actively cycling reservoir of terrestrial carbon (C), and the majority of SOM in Earth's mineral soils (~65%) is mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM). Thus, the formation and fate of MAOM can exert substantial influence on the global C cycle. To predict future changes to Earth's climate, it is critical to mechanistically understand the processes by which MAOM is formed and decomposed, and to accurately represent this process‐based understanding in biogeochemical and Earth system models. In this review, we use a trait‐based framework to synthesize the interacting roles of plants, soil micro‐organisms, and the mineral matrix in regulating MAOM formation and decomposition. Our proposed framework differentiates between plant and microbial traits that influence total OM inputs to the soil (‘feedstock traits’) versus traits that influence the proportion of OM inputs that are ultimately incorporated into MAOM (‘MAOM formation traits’). We discuss how these feedstock and MAOM formation traits may be altered by warming, altered precipitation and elevated carbon dioxide. At a planetary scale, these feedstock and MAOM formation traits help shape the distribution of MAOM across Earth's biomes, and modulate biome‐specific responses of MAOM to climate change. We leverage a global synthesis of MAOM measurements to provide estimates of the total amount of MAOM‐C globally (~840–1540 Pg C; 34%–51% of total terrestrial organic C), and its distribution across Earth's biomes. We show that MAOM‐C concentration is highest in temperate forests and grasslands, and lowest in shrublands and savannas. Grasslands and croplands have the highest proportion of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the MAOM fraction (i.e. the MAOM‐C:SOC ratio), while boreal forests and tundra have the lowest MAOM‐C:SOC ratio. Drawing on our trait framework, we then review experimental data and posit the effects of climate change on MAOM pools in different biomes. We conclude by discussing how MAOM is integrated into soil C models, and how feedstock and MAOM formation traits may be included in these models. We also summarize the projected fate of MAOM under climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5) and discuss key model uncertainties. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Soil organic matter pools response to perennial grain cropping and nitrogen fertilizer

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils can play a pivotal role in the mitigation of accelerating climate change. Our research evaluated a continuum of agricultural cropping systems, including innovative perennial grain cropping, to assess which systems promote increases in and stabilization of soil organic matter (SOM). In comparison with conventional annual cropping systems, perennial grain cropping may be conducive to increased C accrual resulting from no-tillage management, longer growing seasons, and extensive root growth associated with these novel systems. Furthermore, the effects of N fertilizer addition on SOM dynamics under contrasting cropping systems were examined. We conducted physical SOM fractionation into particulate (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) in samples taken over two years from two experimental sites in Central Alberta, Canada. Five contrasting cropping systems (perennial-forage, perennial-grain, fall-grain, spring-grain and fallow) both with and without N fertilizer were tested. Our findings demonstrate that perennial-grain cropping was consistently superior in sequestering SOM-C compared to annual-grain crops at the surface soil layer (0–15 cm depth, Ps< 0.05). Over the duration of this experiment, perennial-grain cropping considerably boosted C accumulation in the recalcitrant SOM pools as represented by increasing MAOM, particularly at the Edmonton site, which is characterized by a clay-rich, Black Chernozemic soil (MAOM: 41.5 and 45.3 g C kg−1 in annual and perennial crops, respectively, P < 0.05). However, recurrent N fertilizer additions diminished C sequestration by perennial-grain cropping in both POM and MAOM fractions (Ps< 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that accrual and allocation of C within the soil profile was more closely related to aboveground crop biomass productivity as opposed to root growth, particularly for generating more intermediate-labile POM. Our results shed light on how to achieve greater soil C sequestration as a function of cropping system options, N fertilizer addition and underlying soil texture.

Addressing the soil carbon dilemma: Legumes in intensified rotations regenerate soil carbon while maintaining yields in semi-arid dryland wheat farms

Semi-arid regions support the majority of global wheat production, but they are threatened by continued soil erosion and increased risk of drought and extreme temperatures from climate change. Enhancing soil organic matter (SOM) is a key adaptation strategy for sustaining agriculture in these regions because it can improve water retention and nutrient cycling. When seeking to increase SOM, growers face a dilemma, known as the ‘soil carbon (C) dilemma’ (Janzen, 2006): How can SOM be increased, while also increasing the release of nutrients that accompanies decomposition? Our observational study examined whether growers could address this dilemma through intensification with diverse grain crops. We specifically tested whether incorporating legumes into a continuous rotation influences the form and amount of SOM as well as productivity in farms of the central Great Plains region of the U.S. by contrasting three, no-till rotation systems: 1) conventional wheat-fallow; 2) continuous grain-only rotations, and 3) continuous grain rotations that incorporate a legume crop. We sampled on-farm fields and experimental agricultural research station plots that had received one of these rotations for at least eight years. We compared yield, soil organic C (SOC), and nitrogen (N) stocks in bulk soil to 1 m, as well as SOC and N in particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) in surface soils (0–10 cm) among the different rotations. We also estimated the long-term effects of the rotations on SOC fractions through a simulation of each rotation with the MEMS 1.0 model, verified with measured data.We found that intensifying the rotation with continuous grains led to 1.5-fold increase in aggregate size but did not change SOC stocks. Incorporating a legume to the continuous grain rotation resulted in 1 Mg C ha-1 more SOC on average in surface soil compared to wheat-fallow rotations. No significant soil changes among rotations were observed at depth. Longer-term simulations of these cropping systems suggest that including legumes could allow for 10% greater SOC gains over time compared to wheat-fallow. Since legume incorporation also increased crop yields across the full rotation cycle, our results support our hypothesis that growers can solve the ‘soil C dilemma’ by simultaneously increasing the quantity and N-content of soil input through continuous cropping with both grains and legumes.

Lithologic control of microbial-derived carbon in forest soils

Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is an important contributor to soil organic carbon. The influence of lithology on MNC remains unclear. MNC is often regarded as a stable, uniform entity, but little consideration has been given to its unprotected and protected fractions. We measured MNC contents in particulate organic matter, which represents the unprotected fraction, and in mineral-associated organic matter, which represents the protected fraction, in forest soils over limestone and clastic rock across a climatic gradient in southwest China. Additionally, nearby croplands with long-term soil tillage were selected for comparison. On average, the contents of protected and unprotected MNC were 52–56% greater in forest soils over limestone compared to clastic rock. Both MNC fractions over clastic rock decreased with increasing the mean annual temperature (MAT), whereas only the unprotected fraction decreased with increasing the MAT over limestone. MNC was regulated by iron oxides and microbial biomass in clastic rock and by exchangeable calcium, iron oxides, and microbial biomass in limestone. However, long-term soil tillage minimized the influences of lithology on MNC. By extrapolating the data to the three provinces of southwest China based on the land-use conversion scenario, we estimated that the existing forestation (recovery and afforestation) has the potential to increase microbial-derived carbon by 17 Tg in topsoil (0–15 cm) over limestone and 11 Tg over clastic rock. The lithology-dependent drivers of microbial-derived carbon accumulation and stability should be considered to predict soil carbon dynamics and minimize carbon emissions under changing environments.

Persistent soil carbon enhanced in Mollisols by well-managed grasslands but not annual grain or dairy forage cropping systems

Intensive crop production on grassland-derived Mollisols has liberated massive amounts of carbon (C) to the atmosphere. Whether minimizing soil disturbance, diversifying crop rotations, or re-establishing perennial grasslands and integrating livestock can slow or reverse this trend remains highly uncertain. We investigated how these management practices affected soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual and distribution between particulate (POM) and mineral-associated (MAOM) organic matter in a 29-y-old field experiment in the North Central United States and assessed how soil microbial traits were related to these changes. Compared to conventional continuous maize monocropping with annual tillage, systems with reduced tillage, diversified crop rotations with cover crops and legumes, or manure addition did not increase total SOC storage or MAOM-C, whereas perennial pastures managed with rotational grazing accumulated more SOC and MAOM-C (18 to 29% higher) than all annual cropping systems after 29 y of management. These results align with a meta-analysis of data from published studies comparing the efficacy of soil health management practices in annual cropping systems on Mollisols worldwide. Incorporating legumes and manure into annual cropping systems enhanced POM-C, microbial biomass, and microbial C-use efficiency but did not significantly increase microbial necromass accumulation, MAOM-C, or total SOC storage. Diverse, rotationally grazed pasture management has the potential to increase persistent soil C on Mollisols, highlighting the key role of well-managed grasslands in climate-smart agriculture.

Global patterns in mycorrhizal mediation of soil carbon storage, stability, and nitrogen demand: A meta-analysis

Understanding what controls the soil organic matter (SOM) storage and its stability is important to predict how SOM will respond to environmental changes. The role of mycorrhizal fungi in mediating soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling is increasingly recognized. However, how mycorrhizal fungi could affect C distribution and N demand of different soil fractions is largely unknown. Here, we compiled a global dataset of C and N concentrations in different SOM fractions from arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) dominated ecosystems, covering major biomes, including tropical forest, temperate forest, boreal forest, and grassland. Based on this dataset, we evaluated the effect of mycorrhiza symbiosis on C storage and C: N stoichiometry of SOM fractions with different stability. We found that for both topsoil and subsoil, bulk soil C storage and C: N ratio in EcM ecosystems were higher than those in AM ecosystems, and a similar pattern was also observed in the particulate organic matter fraction (POM). However, the C storage in the mineral-associated organic matter fraction (MAOM) was not different between AM and EcM ecosystems. Moreover, with the increase in bulk soil C concentration, the C storage in topsoil MAOM reached a stable level in EcM ecosystems but continued to increase in AM ecosystems. With the increase in soil N concentration, bulk soil C storage of EcM ecosystems increased more rapidly than that of AM ecosystems, which was mainly driven by the increase in POM C storage. Our study highlights that soil C storage and relative stability are different between AM and EcM ecosystems. Although EcM ecosystems have a higher soil C storage and lower N demand per unit soil C, most C is distributed in relative labile POM. Therefore, SOM in EcM ecosystems could be more susceptible to disturbances caused by land use and climate changes.

Ecosystem services-based soil quality index tailored to the metropolitan environment for soil assessment and management

The soils in urban greenery provide essential ecosystem services. However, only a few studies have assessed urban soil quality based on a comprehensive view of ecosystem services and soil multi-functionality. In this study, we suggest an urban soil quality index (uSQI) to evaluate soil status in various spatial types of urban greenery. Our objectives are 1) to develop an uSQI incorporating a range of urban soil ecosystem services in metropolitan environments and 2) to test the efficacy of the developed uSQI by applying it to nine different sites. To fully consider ecosystem services provided by the urban soil, a DPSC (drivers and pressures, state, and changes) framework was constructed. Drivers and pressures are influencing factors that continuously alter the state of the urban greenery, eventually leading to changes in ecosystem services and soil functions. The six soil functions considered were physical stability and support, water storage and infiltration, habitat provision, organic matter stabilization, nutrient supply and retention, and pollutant immobilization and decomposition. These functions were measured using ten soil indicators which can be quantified: bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, litter-layer depth, mineral-associated organic matter, clay+silt content, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity, cation exchange capacity, inorganic nitrogen concentration, pH, and concentrations of potentially toxic elements. The uSQI was calculated as the arithmetic mean of the scores of the six soil functions, obtained through the fuzzy logic functions. The uSQI successfully identified the low soil quality sites among nine urban greeneries with different spatial types (point, line, and polygon). In addition, we could examine the degraded soil function of each site and suggest a management guideline using our uSQI. Our novel index can help urban stakeholders evaluate and monitor the soil quality of urban greenery.

Reversion of Perennial Biomass Crops to Conserve C and N: A Meta-Analysis

Perennial crops have been proposed as a solution to couple the production of sustainable biomass for multiple uses with several environmental benefits such as soil C storage. Concerns exist that the C sequestered in soil could be lost in a few years after the perennial crops are reverted to arable land. In this study, the current knowledge on the effects of perennial crop reversion on soil C and N was summarized by performing a meta-analysis. One year after the reversion a significant increase of soil C and N stocks (+15% and +12% respectively) were found in the 0–30 cm layer, while in the time interval between the second to fifth year after the reversion, there were no significant increases or decreases of soil C and N. The incorporation of the belowground biomass (BGB) into the soil at reversion plays a key role in the fate of soil C and N stocks after the reversion. In fact, when reverting a multiannual biomass crop there are significant losses of soil C and N. In contrast, when reverting a perennial biomass crop (PBCs) such as rhizomatous herbaceous or SRC woody crops there are no losses of soil C and N. The BGB of perennial grass is mainly composed of root systems and not of a huge amount of belowground organs as in the case of PBCs. The shredding of the BGB and its transformation as particulate organic matter (POM) represent the major pulse C input at the reversion that can undergo further stabilization into a mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) fraction. Introducing PBCs into crop rotation resulted in an effective carbon farming solution with a potential positive legacy for food crops in terms of achievement of both climate and soil fertility goals.

Hyphae move matter and microbes to mineral microsites: Integrating the hyphosphere into conceptual models of soil organic matter stabilization

Associations between soil minerals and microbially derived organic matter (often referred to as mineral-associated organic matter or MAOM) form a large pool of slowly cycling carbon (C). The rhizosphere, soil immediately adjacent to roots, is thought to control the spatial extent of MAOM formation because it is the dominant entry point of new C inputs to soil. However, emphasis on the rhizosphere implicitly assumes that microbial redistribution of C into bulk (non-rhizosphere) soils is minimal. We question this assumption, arguing that because of extensive fungal exploration and rapid hyphal turnover, fungal redistribution of soil C from the rhizosphere to bulk soil minerals is common, and encourages MAOM formation. First, we summarize published estimates of fungal hyphal length density and turnover rates and demonstrate that fungal C inputs are high throughout the rhizosphere-bulk soil continuum. Second, because colonization of hyphal surfaces is a common dispersal mechanism for soil bacteria, we argue that hyphal exploration allows for the non-random colonization of mineral surfaces by hyphae-associated taxa. Third, these bacterial communities and their fungal hosts determine the chemical form of organic matter deposited on colonized mineral surfaces. Collectively, our analysis demonstrates that omission of the hyphosphere from conceptual models of soil C flow overlooks key mechanisms for MAOM formation in bulk soils. Moving forward, there is a clear need for spatially explicit, quantitative research characterizing the environmental drivers of hyphal exploration and hyphosphere community composition across systems, as these are important controls over the rate and organic chemistry of C deposited on minerals.

Legacy Effects of Sorption Determine the Formation Efficiency of Mineral-Associated Soil Organic Matter.

Sorption of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is one major pathway in the formation of mineral-associated organic matter (MOM), but there is little information on how previous sorption events feedback to later ones by leaving their imprint on mineral surfaces and solutions ("legacy effect"). In order to conceptualize the role of legacy effects in MOM formation, we conducted sequential sorption experiments with kaolinite and gibbsite as minerals and DOM derived from forest floor materials. The MOM formation efficiency leveled off upon repeated addition of identical DOM solutions to minerals due to the retention of highly sorptive organic molecules (primarily aromatic, nitrogen-poor, hydrogen-poor, and oxygen-rich molecules), which decreased the sorption site availability and simultaneously modified the mineral surface charge. Organic-organic interactions as postulated in multilayer models played a negligible role in MOM formation. Continued exchange between DOM and MOM molecules upon repeated sorption altered the DOM composition but not the MOM formation efficiencies. Sorption-induced depletion of high-affinity compounds from solutions further decreased the MOM formation efficiencies to pristine minerals. Overall, the interplay between the differential sorptivities of DOM components and the mineral surface chemistry explains the legacy effects that contribute to the regulation of fluxes and the distribution of organic matter in the soil.

Pool complexity and molecular diversity shaped topsoil organic matter accumulation following decadal forest restoration in a karst terrain

Fast accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) following forest restoration shifted from cropland has been widely reported, but how the pools and molecular composition change across soil aggregate fractions remains unclear. In this study, undisturbed topsoil (0–10 cm) samples were collected across a decadal chronosequence of forest stands (RL10, RL20 and RL40) restored for 10, 20 and 40 years following maize cropland (CL) abandonment in a karst terrain of Guizhou, Southwest China. SOM changes were explored using the size and density fractionation of water-stable aggregates, 13C isotopic signalling and biomarker analyses as well as 13C solid-state NMR assays. Compared to that of CL, SOM content was increased by 24%, 79% and 181%, mass proportion of macroaggregates increased by 136%, 179% and 250%, and particulate organic matter (POM) increased by 13%, 108% and 382%, respectively at RL10, RL20 and RL40. With biomarker analyses, the relative abundances of plant-derived organics (lignin, cutin, suberin, wax and phytosterols), mostly protected in aggregates, increased, while those of microbe-derived OC, predominantly mineral bound, decreased in response to prolonged forest restoration. Calculated as per the Shannon diversity index (H’), changes in SOM pool complexity and molecular diversity were parallel to the SOM accumulation trend. The pool size ratio of POM to MAOM (mineral-associated organic matter) and the molecular abundance ratio of PL (plant-derived lipids) to ML (microbe-derived lipids) appeared to be indicative of SOM accumulation following forest restoration. With prolonged forest restoration, the topsoil OM shifted from microbial MAOM dominance to plant-derived POM dominance. Furthermore, the great topsoil OM enhancement in restored forest stands was shaped by pool complexity and molecular diversity changes with the complex interactions among plant-microbial-mineral assemblages in the karst topsoil. Both the pool complexity and molecular diversity of SOM should be considered in addressing carbon sequestration with forest restoration concerning the functioning of soil ecosystems and services under global change pressures.

Crop rotational complexity affects plant-soil nitrogen cycling during water deficit

One of the biggest environmental challenges facing agriculture is how to both supply and retain nitrogen (N), especially as precipitation becomes more variable with climate change. We used a greenhouse experiment to assess how contrasting histories of crop rotational complexity affect plant-soil-microbe interactions that govern N processes, including during water stress. With higher levels of carbon and N cycling hydrolytic enzymes, higher mineral-associated organic matter N concentrations, and an altered microbial community, soils from the most complex rotation enabled 80% more corn N uptake under two moisture regimes, compared to soil from monoculture corn. Higher levels of plant N likely drove the changes in corn leaf gas exchange, particularly increasing intrinsic water use efficiency by 9% in the most complex rotation. The water deficit increased the standing pool of nitrate 44-fold in soils with a history of complex crop rotations, compared to an 11-fold increase in soils from the corn monoculture. The implications of this difference must be considered in a whole cropping systems and field context. Cycling of 15N-labeled fresh clover residue into soil N pools did not depend on the water regime or rotation history, with 2-fold higher recovery in the mineral vs. particulate organic N pool. In contrast, the water deficit reduced recovery of clover 15N in corn shoots by 37%, showing greater impacts of water deficit on plant N uptake compared to organic N cycling in soil. This study provides direct experimental evidence that long-term crop rotational complexity influences microbial N cycling and availability with feedbacks to plant physiology. Collectively, these results could help explain general observations of higher yields in more complex crop rotations, including specifically during dry conditions.

Soil organic matter fractions in an Oxisol under tillage systems and winter cover crops for 26 years in the Brazilian subtropics

The improvement of carbon (C) accumulation in soils has been one of the main purposes of the conservation systems in agricultural production. This study aimed to assess the long-term effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) combined with winter cover crops, black oat and oilseed radish, and fallow on C accumulation and stabilization in a very clayey Oxisol in Southern Brazil. Soil samples were collected in the 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers of a 26-year-old experiment. Distribution of size-class aggregates, C stock in aggregates, total C stock, and C stocks in the physical fractions, free particulate organic matter (free-POM), occluded particulate organic matter (occluded-POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (min-OM) were assessed. NT had a higher percentage of macroaggregates and C stock in this size-class, and also higher C stock in bulk soil, free-POM and occluded-POM fractions than CT in 0-0.05 m (Tukey’s test p < 0.05), due to higher input of biomass and minimum soil mobilization in NT. Oat and radish had higher C stock in macroaggregates than fallow in 0.05-0.10 m (Tukey’s test p < 0.05). Radish had the highest C stock in the free-POM (0-0.05 m). Fallow decreased the stabilization of macroaggregates and C accumulation in free-POM, due to the lower C input from aboveground biomass over the years. In conclusion, NT after 26 years improved C accumulation and stabilization, mainly in the superficial layer and in POM fractions, and winter cover crops favored the formation and stability of macroaggregates.

Mineral-associated soil organic matter: characteristics and behavior under diagenesis

The main part of soil organic matter (OM) is mineral-associated: 88 ± 11% of С and even more – 93 ± 9% of N. The aims of the given study were: 1 – to demonstrate experimentally the adsorption selectivity of organic compounds towards minerals with different physico-chemical properties (palygorskite vs montmorillonite); 2 – to characterize mineral-associated OM of buried Late Holocene palaeosols and estimate its diagenetic transformations; 3 – to investigate the OM of humin from modern soils of different genesis and Pleistocene and Holocene palaeosols and estimate its diagenetic transformations. The basic soil properties were determined using standard methods. Clay fractions (&lt;2 um) – natural organo-mineral complexes (OMC) were obtained by sedimentation, their mineralogy was studied by XRD. The elemental composition of OM was studied with CNS-analyzer. The structural characteristics of organic matter were determined with the solid-state 13C-NMR-spectroscopy and FTIR-spectroscopy, isotopic composition of C and N – by mass-spectrometry. The obtained results show that the characteristics of mineral-associated OM depends on the properties of mineral “filter” as well as the fate of OM under diagenesis: how long, in what quantity and quality it will persist. It was shown that palygorskite adsorbed predominantly O-alkyls, which are chemically strongly bound. As a result, the age of fulvic type humus in palygoskite palaeosols can reach 300 My. From other side humus of smectitic paleosols of the same age is present by deeply transformed aromatic structures (“coal”). Mineral-associated OM of buried under kurgans Holocene palaeosols contains more alkyls and carboxylic groups, is less aromatic in a comparison with OM of the respective soils. The specific feature of mineral-associated OM is its enrichment in N-compounds. The later are present by both vegetal and microbial compounds, and demonstrate the large affinity towards the mineral surfaces. The formation of chemical bounds between them provides the persistence of OM in OMC. E.g. H2O2 treatment results in preferential destruction of C-rich compounds and oxidized OM demonstrates larger C/N values. Mineral-associated OM of buried Holocene soils keeps the decreased values of C/N (7–14 vs 14–21 for OM of whole soils). Additionally they are characterized by heavier isotopic composition of δ15N in a comparison with the respective soils (5–11‰ vs 6–9‰). It could be explained either by the accumulation of microbial N, or increasing of the humification degree – the loss of aliphatic C and increasing of aromaticity. Humin is the considerable part of soil humus. Experimentally shown that OM of humins both of soils and OMC is enriched in O-alkyls and C of acetal groups. OM of humins are not homogeneous, and consists from at least two groups: mineral-associated OM and partly mineralized plant fragments. As a consequence, the content of humin in OMC is smaller in a comparison with respective soils. It is concluded that mineral-associated OM and humin as well as soil humus represent dynamic soil systems.

Changes in soil organic matter fractions induced by cropland and pasture expansion in Brazil's new agricultural frontier

Recently, the so-called Matopiba region (northeastern Brazil) has experienced an accelerated agricultural expansion, with large areas of native vegetation (NV: Cerrado biome) converted to extensive pasture (PA) and cropland under no-tillage (CL). However, because soils from this region contain a large amount of sand (> 60%) and a high susceptibility to erosion, concerns have been raised about the impacts of land-use change (LUC) on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics. Therefore, we assessed the magnitude that agricultural expansion affects SOM fractions in the most common LUC scenarios observed in the Matopiba region. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 1-m in three adjacent sites (i.e., NV, PA, and CL) located in a representative agricultural area of the region. Soil organic matter was physically fractioned into particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM); and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were determined in SOM fractions, in addition to in bulk soil samples. Additionally, the C management index (CMI) was used as a proxy to infer soil health changes. The conversion from NV to PA decreased C (by ~28 Mg ha−1 at 0–100 cm) and N (by ~0.5 Mg ha−1 at 0–50 cm) stocks at an annual loss rate of ~1.3 and 0.02 Mg ha−1, respectively. Carbon loss occurred in both POM and MAOM fractions, which were lower in ~36% and 34%, respectively, compared with NV (0–100 cm). This C depletion resulted in the smallest CMI value (75%) in the 0–30 cm soil layer in PA. The conversion from NV to CL had no effect on total C and N stocks (0–100 cm), but impacted C dynamics in SOM fractions. A lower value was observed for MAOM-C (~22%) in the 30–70 cm layer compared to NV, but the C accrual in the POM fraction (~24%) in the uppermost soil layers (0–30 cm) offset MAOM-C loss. This increase in the POM stocks enhanced the CMI, which was 37% higher than NV for the 0–30 cm layer. Our results revealed that PA expansion in the Matopiba region, besides declining C and N levels, reduced soil health as indicated by the low CMI values. On the other hand, land conversion from NV to CL did not impact C and N stocks and increased CMI. However, we advocated that agriculture expansion over NV areas is not a sensible option to promote the region's sustainable development. It should be prioritized on degraded PA areas and be based on best management practices as a strategy to recarbonize PA soils and restore soil health. This is paramount to mitigate climate change and increase sustainable food production in the Matopiba region over time.

Association of fresh low-molecular-weight organic compounds with clay-sized mineral fraction in soils of different organic carbon loading

Although the association of minerals and organic matter (OM) in soil plays an important role in the sequestration of C, the factors driving the initial formation of mineral-associated OM (MAOM), and thus the retention of new C input in soils are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated how the soil C loading and the differences in the N content of low-molecular-weight organic compound (LMWOC) input foster the rapid C retention in the soil's fine mineral fractions (clay and fine silt-sized fraction). Two topsoils (0–10 cm) with different C loading due to different long-term management (direct seeding vs. bare fallow) derived from an agricultural research trial were used for the short-term incubation experiment. In a 24-hour incubation experiment, we used two labeled substrates (without N, glucose, > 99% 13C and with N, amino acid mixture, > 98% 13C, > 98% 15N) to investigate how the different N content delivered by the LMWOC input determine the fate of newly formed OM in the MAOM pool. Our results show that the soil with low C loading and thus a low C saturation level retained more freshly added LMWOC in the fine MAOM pool compared to the high C-loading soil, demonstrating that the soil C loading is a major factor controlling the retention of freshly added OM at the early stage of MAOM formation. The LMW OM containing N significantly enhanced the recovery of freshly added LMWOC in the low C-loading soil but not in the high C-loading soil. This points to the great importance of the N availability for the retention of freshly added OM in soils. Our study showed that the level of the native OM content affects the fast retention of freshly added OM in the clay-sized fraction to a greater extent than the N availability of the OM substrate.

Long-term effects of tillage and nitrogen fertilization on soil C and N fractions in a corn–soybean rotation

Tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilization can influence soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics, but their interactive effects remain contradictory. A long-term (25 yr) corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) rotation was used to investigate the effect of tillage [moldboard plow (MP) and no-till (NT)] and N rates (0, 80, and 160 kg N·ha−1) on soil organic carbon (SOC), total N (STN), respiration, and SOM fractions [particulate organic matter (POMC, POMN), mineral-associated organic matter (MAOMC, MAOMN), and microbial biomass (MBC, MBN)]. Results indicate that NT had 27% higher SOC and 24% higher STN than MP in the 0–20 cm depth. Furthermore, SOC and STN stocks (0–20 cm) were 22% and 20% higher, respectively, under NT than MP. There was significant stratification under NT, with a rather uniform distribution under MP. The SOM fractions and soil respiration were 28%–275% and 20%–83% higher at the 0–5 and 5–10 cm depths, respectively, under NT than MP. Interestingly, N fertilizer rate or its interaction with tillage had no impact, except for respiration (tillage × N rate and N rate × depth). Hence, while N addition was required for adequate grain production and increased cumulative plant C and N inputs, our findings indicate that the vertical distribution of SOC, STN, and SOM fractions was affected by tillage, thereby influencing resource accessibility and subsequent dynamics of SOM fractions. Taken together, our results support the adoption of NT and judicious use of N fertilizers for enhancing topsoil SOM storage and fertility under humid temperate conditions.

Soil carbon stocks in temperate grasslands differ strongly across sites but are insensitive to decade-long fertilization.

Enhancing soil carbon (C) storage has the potential to offset human-caused increases in atmospheric CO2 . Rising CO2 has occurred concurrently with increasing supply rates of biologically limiting nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). However, it is unclear how increased supplies of N and P will alter soil C sequestration, particularly in grasslands, which make up nearly a third of non-agricultural land worldwide. Here, we leverage a globally distributed nutrient addition experiment (the Nutrient Network) to examine how a decade of N and P fertilization (alone and in combination) influenced soil C and N stocks at nine grassland sites spanning the continental United States. We measured changes in bulk soil C and N stocks and in three soil C fractions (light and heavy particulate organic matter, and mineral-associated organic matter fractions). Nutrient amendment had variable effects on soil C and N pools that ranged from strongly positive to strongly negative, while soil C and N pool sizes varied by more than an order of magnitude across sites. Piecewise SEM clarified that small increases in plant C inputs with fertilization did not translate to greater soil C storage. Nevertheless, peak season aboveground plant biomass (but not root biomass or production) was strongly positively related to soil C storage at seven of the nine sites, and across all nine sites, soil C covaried with moisture index and soil mineralogy, regardless of fertilization. Overall, we show that site factors such as moisture index, plant productivity, soil texture, and mineralogy were key predictors of cross-site soil C, while nutrient amendment had weaker and site-specific effects on C sequestration. This suggests that prioritizing the protection of highly productive temperate grasslands is critical for reducing future greenhouse gas losses arising from land use change.