Moisture response functions for soil microbial carbon (C) mineralization remain a critical uncertainty for predicting ecosystem-climate feedbacks. Theory and models posit that C mineralization declines under elevated moisture and associated anaerobic conditions, leading to soil C accumulation. Yet, iron (Fe) reduction potentially releases protected C, providing an under-appreciated mechanism for C destabilization under elevated moisture. Here we incubate Mollisols from ecosystems under C3/C4 plant rotations at moisture levels at and above field capacity over 5 months. Increased moisture and anaerobiosis initially suppress soil C mineralization, consistent with theory. However, after 25 days, elevated moisture stimulates cumulative gaseous C-loss as CO2 and CH4 to >150% of the control.
Original Source [2]
Technology Partners: MimirTech
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/elevated-moisture-stimulates-carbon-loss-mineral-soils-releasing-protected-organic
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-01998-z
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/wenjuan-huang
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/steven-j-hall
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/nature-communications
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/soil-capability
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/biomass
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wetlands
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/research
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ecosystems
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/rainfall-pattern
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/agriculture
[13] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/rice
[14] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/micro-organisms
