Analysis of changes in organic carbon in mineral soils across England and Wales using a simple single-pool model

We use a simple single-pool model of soil carbon turnover to evaluate possible explanations for the widespread changes in the organic carbon contents of mineral soils across England and Wales, measured in the National Soil Inventory between 1978 and 2003. We provide a means of quantifying the change...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of soil science 2010-06, Vol.61 (3), p.406-411
Main Authors: Kirk, G.J.D, Bellamy, P.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Organic matter
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
Soil science
Soils
Surficial geology
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Summary:We use a simple single-pool model of soil carbon turnover to evaluate possible explanations for the widespread changes in the organic carbon contents of mineral soils across England and Wales, measured in the National Soil Inventory between 1978 and 2003. We provide a means of quantifying the changes in rates of soil organic carbon decomposition in relation to inputs from vegetation required to explain the results. We find that neither changes in decomposition resulting from the effects of climate change on soil temperature and moisture, nor changes in input, could by themselves account for the overall trends. Past changes in land use and management were more likely explanations. Any climate-change signal is masked by these other changes.
ISSN:1351-0754
1365-2389
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2389.2010.01242.x