Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-689
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-689
01 Sep 2022
 | 01 Sep 2022

Large, old pools of carbon and microbial communities are present deep in soils under a temperate planted forest

Alexa Byers, Loretta Garrett, Charlotte Armstrong, Fiona Dean, and Steve Wakelin

Abstract. Forest soils are fundamental in regulating the global carbon (C) cycle; their capacity to accumulate large stores of C means they are vital in mitigating the effects of climate change. Understanding the processes that regulate forest soil organic C (SOC) dynamics and stabilisation is important to maximise the capacity and longevity of C sequestration. Compared to surface soil layers, little is known about the SOC dynamics in subsoil layers, sensu those below 30 cm depth. This knowledge gap creates large uncertainties when estimating the global distribution and vulnerability of SOC reserves to climate change. This study aimed to dive deep into the subsoils of Puruki Experimental Forest (New Zealand) and characterise the incremental changes in SOC dynamics and the soil microbiome down to 1 metre soil depth. ITS and 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR were used to measure changes in soil microbial diversity, composition, and abundance. Stable (δ13C) and radioactive (14C) C analyses were performed to assess depth-driven changes in SOC stability and age. We conservatively estimate more than 35 % of total C stocks are present in subsoil layers below 30 cm. Although C age steadily increased with depth, reaching a mean radiocarbon age of 1571 yBP (years before present) in the deepest soil layers, the stability of SOC varied between different subsoil depth increments. Declines in soil carbon were associated with lower microbial diversity, abundance, and significant shifts in community membership. These research findings highlight the importance of quantifying subsoil C stocks for accurate systems-level global and local C budgets and modeling. Furthermore, performing a broad range of analytical measures (i.e. 13C & 14C natural abundance, and microbiome analysis) is vital to assess the vulnerability of subsoil C to climate change.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

12 Jan 2023
Soil depth as a driver of microbial and carbon dynamics in a planted forest (Pinus radiata) pumice soil
Alexa K. Byers, Loretta G. Garrett, Charlotte Armstrong, Fiona Dean, and Steve A. Wakelin
SOIL, 9, 55–70, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-55-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-55-2023, 2023
Short summary

Alexa Byers et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-689', Anonymous Referee #1, 17 Oct 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alexa Byers, 30 Oct 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-689', Qiufang Zhang, 23 Oct 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alexa Byers, 30 Oct 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-689', Anonymous Referee #1, 17 Oct 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alexa Byers, 30 Oct 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-689', Qiufang Zhang, 23 Oct 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alexa Byers, 30 Oct 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Revision (08 Nov 2022) by Ashish Malik
AR by Alexa Byers on behalf of the Authors (12 Nov 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (21 Nov 2022) by Ashish Malik
AR by Alexa Byers on behalf of the Authors (23 Nov 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (05 Dec 2022) by Ashish Malik
ED: Publish as is (08 Dec 2022) by Jeanette Whitaker (Executive editor)
AR by Alexa Byers on behalf of the Authors (09 Dec 2022)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

12 Jan 2023
Soil depth as a driver of microbial and carbon dynamics in a planted forest (Pinus radiata) pumice soil
Alexa K. Byers, Loretta G. Garrett, Charlotte Armstrong, Fiona Dean, and Steve A. Wakelin
SOIL, 9, 55–70, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-55-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-55-2023, 2023
Short summary

Alexa Byers et al.

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Although forest soils store large amounts of carbon (C), research has remained largely focused on C storage in topsoil layers. We investigated changes in forest soil C storage and microbial ecology to 1 m depth. Although absolute soil C content, microbial diversity & microbial biomass with declined sharply with depth, 35 % of total soil C was cumulatively stored in subsoil layers. Findings highlights the importance of including subsoils when calculating the C storage capacity of forest systems.