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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3343
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3343
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
27 Nov 2024
| 27 Nov 2024
Status: this preprint is open for discussion.
Calcium is associated with specific soil organic carbon decomposition products
Abstract. Calcium (Ca) may contribute to the preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in more ecosystems than previously thought. Here we provide evidence that Ca is co-located with SOC compounds that are enriched in aromatic and phenolic groups, across different acidic soil-types and locations with different ecosystem properties. In turn, this co-localised fraction of Ca-SOC is removed through cation-exchange, and the association is then only re-established during decomposition in the presence of Ca (Ca addition incubation). Thereby highlighting a causative link between decomposition and the co-location of Ca with a characteristic fraction of SOC. Incorporating this mechanism into conceptual and numerical models can improve our understanding, predictions, and management of carbon dynamics in natural and managed soils, and account for their response to Ca-rich amendments.
How to cite. Rowley, M. C., Pena, J., Marcus, M. A., Porras, R., Pegoraro, E., Zosso, C., Ofiti, N. O. E., Wiesenberg, G. L. B., Schmidt, M. W. I., Torn, M. S., and Nico, P. S.: Calcium is associated with specific soil organic carbon decomposition products, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3343, 2024.
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Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, USA
Jasquelin Pena
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, USA
Matthew A. Marcus
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Rachel Porras
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Elaine Pegoraro
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Cyrill Zosso
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Climate and Agriculture, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
Nicholas O. E. Ofiti
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Guido L. B. Wiesenberg
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Michael W. I. Schmidt
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Margaret S. Torn
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Peter S. Nico
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Short summary
This study shows calcium helps to preserve soil organic carbon in acidic soils, challenging previous beliefs that their interactions were largely limited to alkaline soils. Using spectromicroscopy, we found calcium is co-located with aromatic and phenolic-rich carbon and that this association was disrupted when the calcium was removed, and only reformed during decomposition with added calcium. This suggests that calcium amendments could enhance soil organic carbon stability.
This study shows calcium helps to preserve soil organic carbon in acidic soils, challenging...