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Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil

Hammes, K; Torn, M S; Lapenas, A G; Schmidt, M W I (2008). Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil. Biogeosciences, 5(5):1339 -1350.

Abstract

Black carbon (BC), from incomplete combustion
of fuels and biomass, has been considered highly recalcitrant and a substantial sink for carbon dioxide. Recent studies have shown that BC can be degraded in soils. We use two soils with very low spatial variability sampled 100 years apart in a Russian steppe preserve to generate the first wholeprofile estimate of BC stocks and turnover in the field. Quantities of fire residues in soil changed significantly over a century.
Black carbon stock was 2.5 kgm−2, or about 7–10%
of total organic C in 1900. With cessation of biomass burning, BC stocks decreased 25% over a century, which translates into a centennial soil BC turnover (293 years best estimate; range 182–541 years), much faster than so-called inert or passive carbon in ecosystem models. The turnover time presented here is for loss by all processes, namely decomposition, leaching, and erosion, although the latter two were probably insignificant in this case. Notably, at both time points, the peak BC stock was below 30 cm, a depth interval, which is not typically accounted for. Also, the quality of the fire residues changed with time, as indicated by the use benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA) as molecular markers.
The proportions of less-condensed (and thus more easily
degradable) BC structures decreased, whereas the highly
condensed (and more recalcitrant) BC structures survived unchanged over the 100-year period. Our results show that BC
cannot be assumed chemically recalcitrant in all soils, and
other explanations for very old soil carbon are needed.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:07 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography
Dewey Decimal Classification:910 Geography & travel
Scopus Subject Areas:Life Sciences > Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Physical Sciences > Earth-Surface Processes
Language:English
Date:2008
Deposited On:21 Jan 2009 10:02
Last Modified:03 Oct 2024 03:34
Publisher:Copernicus Publications
ISSN:1726-4170
OA Status:Gold
Free access at:Publisher DOI. An embargo period may apply.
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-5-1339-2008
Official URL:http://www.biogeosciences.net/5/1339/2008/bg-5-1339-2008.html
Related URLs:http://www.biogeosciences.net/

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