This title appears in the Scientific Report :
2016
Historical charcoal additions potentially improve stability of soil organic carbon due to altered particulate carbon fractions
Historical charcoal additions potentially improve stability of soil organic carbon due to altered particulate carbon fractions
Rationale and objectivesImproving the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil’s capacity to store SOC are promising ways to mitigate climate change. Recently, several studies showed that additions of charred biomass (e.g. charcoal) elevated SOC stocks and stabilized natural organic matter; h...
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Personal Name(s): | Hofmann, Diana (Corresponding author) |
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Steffen, Bernhard / Abdelrahman, Hamada / Disko, Ulrich / Berns, Anne E. / Meyer, Nele / Borchard, Nils | |
Contributing Institute: |
Agrosphäre; IBG-3 |
Imprint: |
2016
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Conference: | SOMic – Microbial Contribution and Impact on Soil Organic Matter, Structure and Genesis, Leipzig (Germany), 2016-11-09 - 2016-11-11 |
Document Type: |
Poster |
Research Program: |
Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
Rationale and objectivesImproving the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil’s capacity to store SOC are promising ways to mitigate climate change. Recently, several studies showed that additions of charred biomass (e.g. charcoal) elevated SOC stocks and stabilized natural organic matter; however, the mechanisms for C stabilization are hardly known. Methodology approachThe SOC, dissolved organic matter (DOM) and particulate organic matter (POM) from two different soils and their counterparts with former inputs of charcoal (kiln soil) were analysed by means of elemental analysis. Hot water extracts (HWE) of soils and applied charcoal were investigated by the ESI-FTICR-MS for molecular level details of thousands of inherent organic compounds, solid state NMR is made for soils and charcoal, respectively.Results and conclusionsCharcoal additions increased substantially concentrations of black C, total C and total N in bulk soil, however, concentration of water extractable SOC and N remained unchanged. Pattern of the POM size fractions changed with a relative increase in the free POM fraction and a decrease in the occluded POM fraction and soil particles <20 µm. However, all POM fractions in charcoal enriched soils were augmented with C and N.Organic compounds found in HWEs of soils and charcoal contained a broad range of molecules, which highly varied in their polarity and aromaticity. Highly condensed hydrocarbons were found however exclusive in charcoal HWEs. This is in contrast to molecular composition measured of Cambisols and Luvisols, which were generally less aromatic (lignin range only). Surprisingly, differences between molecular composition of soil and their charcoal enriched forms were negligible – in contrast to solid state NMR investigations. This study confirmed previous findings that charcoal additions increase SOC long-lastingly. Further, an assumed abrasion resistance of charcoal particles may explain elevated free POM fractions, which thereby may act as sorbent of soil organic matter. This in turn will potentially stabilize soil organic carbon and increase the soil’s carbon saturation capacity. A comparison to wildfire influenced soil samples complete the investigations. |