Land use change and soil nutrient transformations in the Los Haitises region of the Dominican Republic

We characterized soil cation, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformations within a variety of land use types in the karst region of the northeastern Dominican Republic. We examined a range of soil pools and fluxes during the wet and dry seasons in undisturbed forest, regenerating forest and active agricultural sites within and directly adjacent to Los Haitises National Park. Soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM), soil cations, leaf litter C and pH were significantly greater in regenerating forest sites than agricultural sites, while bulk density was greater in active agricultural sites. Potential denitrification, microbial biomass C and N, and microbial respiration g⁻¹ dry soil were significantly greater in the regenerating forest sites than in the active agricultural sites. However, net mineralization, net nitrification, microbial biomass C, and microbial respiration were all significantly greater in the agricultural sites on g⁻¹ SOM basis. These results suggest that land use is indirectly affecting microbial activity and C storage through its effect on SOM quality and quantity. While agriculture can significantly decrease soil fertility, it appears that the trend can begin to rapidly reverse with the abandonment of agriculture and the subsequent regeneration of forest. The regenerating forest soils were taken out of agricultural use only 5-7 years before our study and already have soil properties and processes similar to an undisturbed old forest site. Compared to undisturbed mogote forest sites, regenerating sites had smaller amounts of SOM and microbial biomass N, as well as lower rates of microbial respiration, mineralization and nitrification g⁻¹ SOM. Initial recovery of soil pools and processes appeared to be rapid, but additional research must be done to address the long-term rate of recovery in these forest stands.     

Effect of soil pH on the chemical composition of organic matter in physically separated soil fractions in two broadleaf woodland sites at Rothamsted,UK

Although acid soils are common in forest ecosystems, and there is documented evidence of pH influencing transformations of organic matter in soil, there are surprisingly few studies on the influence of soil pH on the chemical structure of physically fractionated soil organic matter (SOM). The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of pH on the chemical and physical processes involved in SOM stabilization. Forest soils of different pH (4.4 and 7.8) sampled from two long‐term experiments at Rothamsted Research (UK) were physically fractionated. The free light fraction (FLF), the intra‐aggregate light fraction and the fine silt and clay (S + C, <25 µm) were characterized using elemental, isotopic (δ¹³C), thermogravimetric, differential thermal, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and high‐resolution magic angle spinning ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The quantitative distribution of carbon (C) between SOM fractions differed between the two soils. Carbon contents in the light fractions from the acid soil were significantly greater than in those of the alkaline soil. In contrast, in S + C fractions, C content was greater in the alkaline soil. FLF from the acid soil was characterized by a greater C:N ratio, smaller δ¹³C and greater content of thermo‐labile compounds compared with FLF from the alkaline soil. In contrast, there was only a weak effect of soil pH on the chemical composition of the organic matter in S + C fractions. Irrespective of soil pH, these latter fractions contained mainly aliphatic compounds such as carbohydrates, carboxylic acid, amide and peptide derivates. This suggested that physical mechanisms, involving the interactions between SOM and mineral surfaces, are of greater importance than the presence of chemically recalcitrant species in protecting SOM associated with the finest soil fractions.     

Assessing management impacts on soil organic matter quality in subtropical Australian forests using physical and chemical fractionation as well as C NMR spectroscopy

Successful soil organic matter (SOM) quality assessment is needed to improve our ability to manage forest soils sustainably. Our objective was to use a multivariate data set to determine whether the land use conversion from native forest (NF) to hoop pine plantation and the following rotation and site preparation practices had altered SOM quality at three adjacent sites of NF, first (1R) and second rotation (2R, including tree planting row (2R-T) and windrow of harvest residues (2R-W)) of hoop pine plantations in southeast Queensland, Australia. Cross-polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS ¹³C NMR) spectroscopy and sequential hot water and acid hydrolysis were conducted on SOM fractions separated by wet-sieving and density fractionation procedures to characterize SOM quantitative and qualitative relevant parameters, including carbon (C) functional groups, C and nitrogen (N) contents, C/N ratios, and C and N recalcitrant indices. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of these multivariate parameters together indicated a complicated interaction between physical protection and biochemical recalcitrance, making the land use and management induced changes of SOM quality more complex. Knowledge of PCA based on the refined set of 41 SOM quantitative and qualitative parameters identified that principal component 1 (PC1), which explained 55.7% of the total variance, was most responsible for the management induced changes in soil processes. This was reflected by the dynamics of SOM regarding the aspects of total stock, soil basal and substrate induced respirations, gross and net N mineralization and nitrification, and microbial biomass, microbial diversity of C utilization patterns. Further, the macroaggregates (F_{250-2000 μm}) and the C/N ratio of acid extracts of SOM physical fractions, which represented the most informative and unique variables loading on PC1, might be the most promising physical and chemical measures for SOM quality assessment of land use and management impacts in subtropical Australian forests.     

鼎湖山土壤有机质深度分布的剖面演化机制

根据鼎湖山森林植被带(SL)、灌丛—草甸过渡带土壤剖面(GC)有机质含量,有机质Δ14C、δ13C值,土壤粘粒含量及孢粉分析结果,研究华南亚热带山地土壤有机质深度分布特征的成因机制。结果表明土壤有机质的深度分布特征与土壤剖面的发育过程密切相关,随深度增大,有机质的来源数量不断减少,而成土时间增加,分解作用导致的有机质含量降低幅度增大,有机质含量不断减少。土壤有机质14C表观年龄随深度增加,土壤有机质δ13C值与有机质含量的深度变化具有明显对应关系,这些都是土壤剖面发育过程中有机质不同更新周期组分呈规律性分解的结果。粘粒的深度分布反映土壤剖面淋滤淀积的特点,表明土壤剖面经受了长期成土风化。土壤剖面的上述特征均为剖面发育过程中不断沉积、不断成土的结果,表明土壤剖面成土演化对于有机质深度分布具有显著制约。     

Long-Term Evaluation of Acidic Atmospheric Deposition on Soils and Soil Solution Chemistry in the Daniel Boone National Forest,USA

Combustion of fossil fuels has contributed to many environmental problems including acid deposition. The Clean Air Act (CAA) was created to reduce ecological problems by cutting emissions of sulfur and nitrogen. Reduced emissions and rainfall concentrations of acidic ions have been observed since the enactment of the CAA, but soils continue to receive some acid inputs. Many soils sensitive to acid deposition are found to have low pH, a loss of base cations, and a shift in the mineral phase controlling the activity of Al³⁺ and/or SO₄ ^2?. If inputs continue, soil may be depleted of base cations and saturated with Al and could cause low forest productivity. Soil samples and soil solutions from pan lysimeters were taken on ridge-tops in the Daniel Boone National Forest to evaluate potential impacts of acid deposition recently and in the future. Sample results were compared to historical data from identical locations. Physicochemical characteristics of the soils revealed that sites were very low in base saturation and pH and high in exchangeable acidity, illustrating change since previously sampled. Soil solution data indicated that sites periodically received high acid inputs leading to saturation of Al in soils and the formation of Al-hydroxy-sulfate minerals. Given these conditions, long-term changes in soil chemistry from acid deposition are acknowledged.     

Separating cellular metabolism from exoenzyme activity in soil organic matter decomposition

Soil organic matter (SOM) decomposes both inside and outside of cells. Cellular metabolism and extracellular depolymerization normally operate simultaneously in soil but are difficult to separate in practice. To learn more about the extracellular component of SOM decomposition, we sterilized a semiarid annual grassland soil to inhibit cellular metabolism, and then assayed cell viability, exoenzyme activities, and pathways of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission. Chloroform (CHCl₃) fumigation was intended to disrupt cellular activities while leaving biochemical processes intact. Gamma (γ) irradiation and autoclaving were intended to disrupt both cellular and extracellular biochemical processes while leaving abiotic processes intact. We measured the potential activities of eight enzymes (six hydrolytic, two oxidative) and CO₂ emission induced by seven substrates (glucose, three amino acids, three tricarboxylic acid [TCA] cycle intermediates). We found that all three sterilization techniques clearly disrupted cellular metabolism. Chloroform and irradiation decreased cultivable cell counts by 2–3 orders of magnitude, inhibited CO₂ emission pathways associated with glucose and amino acids, and decreased the hydrolytic activities of α-glucosidase and xylosidase by 72–82%. The other hydrolytic enzymes (β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, NAGase, phosphatase) were less sensitive to both CHCl₃ and irradiation. All hydrolytic activities that we assayed were inhibited by autoclaving, indicating that biochemical reactions and other extracellular processes drive hydrolytic SOM decomposition. Oxidative activities, on the other hand, did not stop after autoclaving or even combusting at 500 °C. This supports other studies which have found that mineral catalysts partly drive oxidative SOM decomposition. Unexpectedly, CO₂ emission from TCA intermediates decreased by only 26–47% after sterilization suggesting that the required dehydrogenase enzymes for decarboxylation are still active when cells are dead but relatively intact. Because CHCl₃ had slightly smaller effects on exoenzyme activities compared to irradiation, and because it may be continuously applied, limiting the potential for recolonization and regrowth (unlike irradiation), we suggest it is an adequate and more accessible method for separating the activity of exoenzymes from cellular metabolism under realistic soil conditions.     

Soil organic carbon stocks,distribution, and composition affected by historic land use changes on adjacent sites

Historic alterations in land use from forest to grassland and cropland to forest were used to determine impacts on carbon (C) stocks and distribution and soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics on adjacent Cambisols in Eastern Germany. We investigated a continuous Norway spruce forest (F-F), a former cropland afforested in 1930 (C-F), and a grassland deforested in 1953 (F-G). For C and N stocks, we sampled the A and B horizons of nine soil pits per site. Additionally, we separated SOM fractions of A and B horizons by physical means from one central soil pit per pedon. To unravel differences of SOM composition, we analyzed SOM fractions by ¹³C-CPMAS NMR spectroscopy and radiocarbon analysis. For the mineral soils, differences in total C stocks between the sites were low (F-F = 8.3 kg m⁻²; C-F = 7.3 kg m⁻²; F-G = 8.2 kg m⁻²). Larger total C stocks (+25%) were found under continuous forest compared with grassland, due to the C stored within the organic horizons. Due to a faster turnover, the contents of free particulate organic matter (POM) were lower under grassland. High alkyl C/O/N-alkyl C ratios of free POM fractions indicated higher decomposition stages under forest (1.16) in relation to former cropland (0.48) and grassland (0.33). Historic management, such as burning of tree residues, was still identifiable in the subsoils by the composition and ¹⁴C activity of occluded POM fractions. The high potential of longer lasting C sequestration within fractions of slower turnover was indicated by the larger amounts of claybound C per square meter found under continuous forest in contrast to grassland.     

Spectroscopy-Based Soil Organic Matter Estimation in Brown Forest Soil Areas of the Shandong Peninsula, China

Soil organic matter (SOM) is important for plant growth and production. Conventional analyses of SOM are expensive and time consuming. Hyperspectral remote sensing is an alternative approach for SOM estimation. In this study, the diffuse reflectance spectra of soil samples from Qixia City, the Shandong Peninsula, China, were measured with an ASD FieldSpec 3 portable object spectrometer (Analytical Spectral Devices Inc., Boulder, USA). Raw spectral reflectance data were transformed using four methods:nine points weighted moving average (NWMA), NWMA with first derivative (NWMA + FD), NWMA with standard normal variate (NWMA + SNV), and NWMA with min-max standardization (NWMA + MS). These data were analyzed and correlated with SOM content. The evaluation model was established using support vector machine regression (SVM) with sensitive wavelengths. The results showed that NWMA + FD was the best of the four pretreatment methods. The sensitive wavelengths based on NWMA + FD were 917, 991, 1 007, 1 996, and 2 267 nm. The SVM model established with the above-mentioned five sensitive wavelengths was significant (R²=0.875, root mean square error (RMSE)=0.107 g kg^-1 for calibration set; R²=0.853, RMSE=0.097 g kg^-1 for validation set). The results indicate that hyperspectral remote sensing can quickly and accurately predict SOM content in the brown forest soil areas of the Shandong Peninsula. This is a novel approach for rapid monitoring and accurate diagnosis of brown forest soil nutrients.     

森林生态系统中土壤有机质组分的固态13C核磁共振波谱表征

Forest management practices such as prescribed burning and thinning in forest ecosystems may alter the properties of soil organic matter (SOM).In this study,surface soils from field plots in the Bankhead National Forest,Alabama,USA,were used to investigate possible SOM transformations induced by thinning and burning.Elemental analysis and solid-state 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CPMAS NMR) spectroscopy were used to characterize SOM fractions in whole soils,humic substances,and density fractions.Our data revealed that the changes in SOM fractions due to the repeated burning carried out in the forest ecosystem studied were involved mainly with alkyl C,O-alkyl C,and carbohydrate functional groups,implying that most prominent reactions that occurred involved dehydrogenation,de-oxygenation,and decarboxylation.In addition,burning and thinning might have also affected the distribution and composition of free and occluded particulate SOM fractions.The limited structural changes in SOM fractions suggested that low-intensity prescribed fire in the forest ecosystem studied will not create major structural changes in SOM fractions.     

Organic acid induced release of nutrients from metal-stabilized soil organic matter – The unbutton model

Processes of soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization and the reverse, destabilization of SOM resulting in subsequent release and mobilization of nutrients from SOM, remain largely unresolved. The perception of SOM as supramolecular aggregates built of low molecular mass biomolecules is currently emerging. Polyvalent metal cations contribute to SOM tertiary structure by bridging functional groups of such molecules (Simpson et al., 2002). The strong bond to metals protects high quality organic material from being immediately accessed and decomposed. Here we propose a three-step process by which low molecular mass organic acids (LMMOAs) and hydrolytic enzymes act in series to destabilize SOM supramolecules to release organic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) for local hyphal and root uptake. Complexation of the stabilizing metals by fungal-released LMMOA gives fungal-root consortia direct access to organic substrates of good quality. Because of their small sizes and carboxyl group configuration, citric and oxalic acids are the most effective LMMOAs forming stable complexes with the main SOM bridging metals Ca and Al in SOM. Citrate, forming particularly strong complexes with the trivalent cations Al and Fe, is dominant in soil solutions of low-productive highly acidic boreal forest soils where mycorrhizal associations with roots are formed predominantly by fungi with hydrophobic hyphal surfaces. In these systems mycelia participate in the formation of N-containing SOM with a significant contribution from strong Al bridges. In less acidic soils of temperate forests, including calcareous influenced soils, SOM is stabilized predominantly by Ca bridges. In such systems mycorrhizal fungi with more hydrophilic surfaces dominate, and oxalic acid, forming strong bidentate complexes with Ca, is the most common LMMOA exuded. A plant-fungus driven biotic mechanism at the supramolecular aggregate level (10³–10⁵ Da) resolves micro-spatial priming of SOM, where the destabilization step is prerequisite for subsequent release of nutrients.     

Pathways of litter C by formation of aggregates and SOM density fractions: Implications from 13C natural abundance

Aggregate formation is a key process of soil development, which promotes carbon (C) stabilization by hindering decomposition of particulate organic matter (POM) and its interactions with mineral particles. C stabilization processes lead to ¹³C fractionation and consequently to various δ¹³C values of soil organic matter (SOM) fractions. Differences in δ¹³C within the aggregates and fractions may have two reasons: 1) preferential stabilization of organic compounds with light or heavy δ¹³C and/or 2) stabilization of organic materials after passing one or more microbial utilization cycles, leading to heavier δ¹³C in remaining C. We hypothesized that: 1) ¹³C enrichment between the SOM fractions corresponds to successive steps of SOM formation; 2) ¹³C fractionation (but not the δ¹³C signature) depends mainly on the transformation steps and not on the C precursors. Consequently, minimal differences between Δ¹³C of SOM fractions between various ecosystems correspond to maximal probability of the SOM formation pathways.We tested these hypotheses on three soils formed from cover loam during 45 years of growth of coniferous or deciduous forests or arable crops. Organic C pools in large macroaggregates, small macroaggregates, and microaggregates were fractionated sequentially for four density fractions to obtain free POM with ρ < 1.6 g cm⁻³, occluded POM with two densities (ρ < 1.6 and 1.6–2.0 g cm⁻³), and mineral fraction (ρ > 2.0 g cm⁻³).The density fractions were ¹³C enriched in the order: free POM < light occluded POM < heavy occluded POM < mineral fraction. This, as well as their C/N ratios confirmed that free POM was close to initial plant material, whereas the mineral fraction was the most microbially processed. To evaluate the successive steps of SOM formation, the Δ¹³C values between δ¹³C of SOM fractions and δ¹³C of bulk SOM were calculated. The Δ¹³C indicated that, parallel with biochemical transformations, the physical disintegration strongly contributed to the formation of free and occluded light POM. In contrast, biochemical transformations were more important than physical disintegration for formation of heavy occluded POM from light occluded POM. This was confirmed by review of 70 Δ¹³C values from other studies analyzed Δ¹³C depending on the density of SOM fractions. Accordingly, the successive steps of SOM formation were: fLF_<1.6 = oLF_<1.6 → oDF_1.6–2.0 = MF_>2.0. The obtained steps of C stabilization were independent on the initial precursors (litter of coniferous forest, deciduous forest or grasses).To test the second hypothesis, we proposed an extended scheme of C flows between the 3 aggregate size classes and 4 SOM fractions. Δ¹³C enrichment of the SOM fractions showed that the main direction of C flows within the aggregates and SOM fractions was from the macroaggregate-free POM to the mineral microaggregate fraction. This confirmed the earlier concept of SOM turnover in aggregates, but for the first time quantified the C flows within the aggregates and SOM density fractions based on δ¹³C values. So, the new ¹³C natural abundance approach is suitable for analysis of C pathways by SOM formation under steady state without ¹³C or ¹⁴C labeling.     

Calibration model of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen concentrations in soils using ultraviolet absorbance and soil organic matter

There is a need for a rapid, simple and reliable method of determining soil microbial biomass (SMB) for all soils because traditional methods are laborious. Earlier studies have reported that SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations in grassland and arable soils can be estimated by measurement of UV absorbance in soil extracts. However, these previous studies focused on soils with small soil organic matter (SOM) contents, and there was no consideration of SOM content as a covariate to improve the estimation. In this study, using tropical and temperate forest soils with a wide range of total C (5–204 mg C g^?1 soil) and N (1–12 mg N g^?1 soil) contents and pH values (4.1–5.9), it was found that increase in UV absorbance of soil extracts at 280 nm (UV₂₈₀) after fumigation could account for 92–96% of the variance in estimates of the SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations measured by chloroform fumigation and extraction (P < 0.001). The data were combined with those of earlier workers to calibrate UV‐based regression models for all the soils, by taking into account their varying SOM content. The validation analysis of the calibration models indicated that the SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations in the 0–5 cm forest soils simulated by using the increase in UV₂₈₀ and SOM could account for 86–93% of the variance in concentrations determined by chloroform fumigation and extraction (P < 0.001). The slope values of linear regression equations between measured and simulated values were 0.94 ± 0.03 and 0.94 ± 0.04, respectively, for the SMB‐C and ‐N. However, simulation using the regression equations obtained by using only the data for forest profile soils gave less good agreement with measured values. Hence, the calibration models obtained by using the increase in UV₂₈₀ and SOM can give a rapid, simple and reliable method of determining SMB for all soils.     

中国三种典型土壤结皮的发育过程与机理

To compare the development of physical crusts in three typical cultivated soils of China, a black soil (Luvic Phaeozem), a loess soil (Haplic Luvisol), and a purple soil (Calcaric Regosol) were packed in splash plates with covered and uncovered treatments, and exposed to simulated rainfall. Meshes covered above the surfaces of half of soil samples to simulate the effects of crop residue on crusting. The results indicated a progressive breakdown of aggregates on the soil surface as rainfall continued. The bulk density and shear strength on the surface of the three soil types increased logarithmically as rainfall duration increased. During the first 30 min of simulated rainfall, the purple soil developed a 7--8 mm thick crust and the loess soil developed a 3--4 mm thick crust. The black soil developed a distinguishable, but still unstable, crust after 80 min of simulated rainfall. Soil organic matter (SOM) content, the mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates, and soil clay content were negatively correlated with the rate of crust formation, whereas the percentage of aggregate dispersion (PAD), the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and the silt and sand contents were positively correlated with crusting. Mechanical breakdown caused by raindrop impact was the primary mechanism of crust formation in the black soil with more stable aggregates (MWD 25.0 mm, PAD 3.1%) and higher SOM content (42.6 g kg^-1). Slaking and mechanical eluviation were the primary mechanisms of crust formation in the purple soil with low clay content (103 g kg^-1), cation exchange capacity (CEC, 228 mmol kg^-1), ESP (0.60%), and SOM (17.2 g kg^-1). Mechanical breakdown and slaking were the most important in the loess soil with low CEC (80.6 mmol kg^-1), ESP (1.29%), SOM (9.82 g kg^-1), and high PAD (71.7%) and MWD (4.6 mm). Simulated residue cover reduced crust formation in black and loess soils, but increased crust formation in purple soil.     

Aluminum complexation suppresses citrate uptake by acid forest soil microorganisms

Organo-mineral interactions have been hypothesized to play a major role in biogeochemical cycling and pedogenesis in some forest soils. These processes are likely to be controlled to some extent by their persistence in soil, however, the factors regulating their bioavailability remain poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the microbial utilization of ¹⁴C-labeled citrate in glass bead filled bioreactors containing a biofilm developed from an inoculum from an acid forest soil. The removal of Al-citrate in the bioreactors was negligible compared to the rate of citrate removal in the absence of Al. There was no evidence that in the short-term the microbial community adapted to increase the utilization of Al-citrate. In bioreactors filled with a Picea abies forest soil (Haplic Arenosol) the rates of citrate utilization were always slightly higher than that of Al-citrate. We conclude that complexation of citrate by metals such as Al may have a significant effect on their role in soil biogeochemical cycles.     

Post-harvest residue management effects on recalcitrant carbon pools and plant biomarkers within the soil heavy fraction in Pinus radiata plantations

Forest soils contain about 30% of terrestrial carbon (C) and so knowledge of the influence of forest management on stability of soil C pools is important for understanding the global C cycle. Here we present the changes of soil C pools in the 0-5 cm layer in two second-rotation Pinus radiata (D.Don) plantations which were subjected to three contrasting harvest residue management treatments in New Zealand. These treatments included whole-tree harvest plus forest floor removal (defined as forest floor removal hereafter), whole-tree, and stem-only harvest. Soil samples were collected 5, 10 and 15 years after tree planting at Kinleith Forest (on sandy loam soils) and 4, 12 and 20 years after tree planting at Woodhill Forest (on sandy soils). These soils were then physically divided into light (labile) and heavy (stable) pools based on density fractionation (1.70 g cm⁻³). At Woodhill, soil C mass in the heavy fraction was significantly greater in the whole-tree and stem-only harvest plots than the forest floor removal plots in all sampling years. At Kinleith, the soil C mass in the heavy fraction was also greater in the stem-only harvest plots than the forest floor removal plots at year 15. The larger stable soil C pools with increased residue return was supported by analyses of the chemical composition and plant biomarkers in the soil organic matter (SOM) heavy fractions using NMR and GC/MS. At Woodhill, alkyl C, cutin-, suberin- and lignin-derived C contents in the SOM heavy fraction were significantly greater in the whole-tree and stem-only harvest plots than in the forest floor removal plots in all sampling years. At Kinleith, alkyl C (year 15), cutin-derived C (year 5 and 15) and lignin-derived C (Year 5 and 10) contents in the SOM heavy fraction were significantly greater in stem-only harvest plots than in plots where the forest floor was removed. The analyses of plant C biomarkers and soil δ¹³C in the light and heavy fractions of SOM indicate that the increased stable soil C in the heavy fraction with increased residue return might be derived from a greater input of recalcitrant C in the residue substrate.     

Differential response of mineral-associated organic matter in tropical soils formed in volcanic ashes and marine Tertiary sediment to treatment with HCl,NaOCl, and Na4P2O7

Quantitative knowledge of the amount and stability of soil organic matter (SOM) is necessary to understand and predict the role of soils in the global carbon cycle. At present little is known about the influence of soil type on the storage and stability of SOM, especially in the tropics. We compared the amount of mineral-associated SOM resistant to different chemical treatments in soils of different parent material and mineralogical composition (volcanic ashes – dominated by short-range-order aluminosilicates and marine Tertiary sediments – dominated by smectite) in the humid tropics of Northwest Ecuador. Using ¹³C isotope analyses we traced the origin of soil organic carbon (SOC) in mineral-associated soil fractions resistant to treatment with HCl, NaOCl, and Na₄P₂O₇ under pasture (C₄) and secondary forest (C₃). Prior to chemical treatments, particulate organic matter was removed by density fractionation (cut-off: 1.6 g cm^?3). Our results show that: (1) independent of soil mineralogical composition, about 45% of mineral-associated SOC was resistant to acid hydrolysis, suggesting a comparable SOM composition for the investigated soils; (2) oxidation by NaOCl isolated a SOM fraction with enhanced stability of mineral-bound SOM in soils developed from volcanic ashes; while Na₄P₂O₇ extracted more SOC, indicating the importance of Al-humus complexes in these soils; and (3) recently incorporated SOM was not stabilized after land use change in soils developed from volcanic ashes but was partly stabilized in soils rich in smectites. Together these results show that the employed methods were not able to isolate a SOM fraction which is protected against microbial decay under field conditions and that the outcome of these methods is sensitive to soil type which makes interpretation challenging and generalisations to other soils types or climates impossible.     

Factors affecting the molecular structure and mean residence time of occluded organics in a lithosequence of soils under ponderosa pine

Occluded, or intra-aggregate, soil organic matter (SOM) comprises a significant portion of the total C pool in forest soils and often has very long mean residence times (MRTs). However, occluded C characteristics vary widely among soils and the genesis and composition of the occluded organic matter pool are not well understood. This work sought to define the major controls on the composition and MRT of occluded SOM in western U.S. conifer forest soils with specific focus on the influence of soil mineral assemblage and aggregate stability. We sampled soils from a lithosequence of four parent materials (rhyolite, granite, basalt, and dolostone) under Pinus ponderosa. Three pedons were excavated to the depth of refusal at each site and sampled by genetic horizon. After density separation at 1.8 g cm⁻³ into free/light, occluded and mineral fractions, the chemical nature and mean residence time of organics in each fraction were compared. SOM chemistry was explored through the use of stable isotope analyses, ¹³C NMR, and pyrolysis GC/MS. Soil charcoal content estimates were based on ¹³C NMR analyses. Estimates of SOM MRT were based on steady-state modeling of SOM radiocarbon abundance measurements. Across all soils, the occluded fraction was 0.5–5 times enriched in charcoal in comparison to the bulk soil and had a substantially longer MRT than either the mineral fraction or the free/light fraction. These results suggest that charcoal from periodic burning is the primary source of occluded organics in these soils, and that the structural properties of charcoal promote its aggregation and long-term preservation. Surprisingly, aggregate stability, as measured through ultrasonic dispersion, was not correlated with occluded SOM abundance or MRT, perhaps raising questions of how well laboratory measurements of aggregate stability capture the dynamics of aggregate turnover under field conditions. Examination of the molecular characteristics of the occluded fraction was more conclusive. Occluded fraction composition did not change substantially with soil mineral assemblage, but was increasingly enriched in charcoal with depth relative to bulk SOM. Enrichment levels of ¹³C and ¹⁵N suggested a similar degree of microbial processing for the free/light and occluded fractions, and molecular structure of occluded and free/light fractions were also similar aside from charcoal enrichment in the occluded fraction. Results highlight the importance of both fire and aggregate formation to the long-term preservation of organics in western U.S. conifer forests which experience periodic burning, and suggest that the composition of occluded SOM in these soils is dependent on fire and the selective occlusion of charcoal.     

Soil penetrating quality in cultivated and forested coastal plain sands of Southern Nigeria

Conversion of natural forest to intensive cultivation makes to soil susceptible to flooding, declining fertility and loss of organic matter (OM) and reduced water movement into and within the soil. We studied infiltration rates and related soil penetrating indicators of forested and cultivated soils in humid tropical coastal plain sands in Southern Nigeria. Results showed that mean-weight diameter (MWD) and water stability of aggregates were higher in forested than cultivated soils. Stable aggregates > 1.00 mm were 16.5% and 31.1% respectively, for cultivated and forested soils at 0–15 cm depth, indicating formation of more macro-aggregates in forested soil. Soil disturbance through cultivation decreased hydraulic conductivity and increased bulk density of the soil. Infiltration rate attained after 2 hours was higher in forested soil. Temporary infiltration rate of 178 mm hr^?1 at initial time in cultivated soil was followed by very low infiltration rate of 7 mm hr^?1 after 2 hours. Soil organic matter (SOM), saturated hydraulic conductivity, MWD and total sand correlated positively with infiltration rates are r = 0.76, 0.61, 0.57 and 0.51 respectively. Changes in these parameters are dependent on surface soil disturbance by cultivation. Cultivation of forest decreased infiltration rates and water transmission properties of the soil.     

Vertic processes and specificity of organic matter properties and distribution in Vertisols

Soil organic matter (SOM) was studied in relation to vertic processes (i.e., shrinking/swelling, cracking, vertical turbation, lateral shearing, gilgai formation) in Vertisols and vertic soils of the North Caucasus in Russia, and Texas and Louisiana in the USA. Their impact on SOM properties and distribution was analyzed according to various levels of soil organization, such as soil cover, profile, horizon, and aggregate structure using chemical methods, micromorphology, isotopic analyses, and physical fractionation. The greatest variations both in the distribution and properties of SOM were found in mature Vertisols at the level of soil cover including Ctot, organic carbon stocks, stable carbon isotopic composition, and SOM ¹⁴C-age, chemical composition. The distribution of SOM at the profile and horizon levels was related to the functioning of Vertisols during wet-dry cycles. The isotopic and chemical study of densi-granulometric fractions at the aggregate level reflected the minor role of vertic processes.