Soil organic carbon fluxes and turnover rates estimated from radiocarbon enrichments

A simple method is described for analysing data on soil organic carbon and enriched super(14)C, to provide estimates of the carbon input rate, decomposition time and downward diffusivity in the soil column. Data on atmospheric super(14)C enrichment, needed for such calculations on soil cores sampled...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soil biology & biochemistry 1984, Vol.16 (2), p.115-120
Main Author: O'Brien, B.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Organic matter
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
soil biology
Soil science
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Summary:A simple method is described for analysing data on soil organic carbon and enriched super(14)C, to provide estimates of the carbon input rate, decomposition time and downward diffusivity in the soil column. Data on atmospheric super(14)C enrichment, needed for such calculations on soil cores sampled between 1960 and 1980, are provided. Five New Zealand pasture soils and a forest soil are analysed by this method. The results show the marked effect of earthworms on increasing the C input, reducing the decomposition time and increasing the downward diffusion rate of soil organic C. An undeveloped sandy soil had a small input rate and a rather low downward diffusion rate. The forest soil studied had an organic C input similar to that in good pasture soils but almost no downward diffusion, resulting in a very shallow layer of soil organic C.
ISSN:0038-0717
1879-3428
DOI:10.1016/0038-0717(84)90100-7