Fast-decaying plant litter enhances soil carbon in temperate forests but not through microbial physiological traits
Oak Ridge National Laboratory · Indiana University Bloomington · +6 more institutions
Abstract
Conceptual and empirical advances in soil biogeochemistry have challenged long-held assumptions about the role of soil micro-organisms in soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics; yet, rigorous tests of emerging concepts remain sparse. Recent hypotheses suggest that microbial necromass production links plant inputs to SOC accumulation, with high-quality (i.e., rapidly decomposing) plant litter promoting microbial carbon use efficiency, growth, and turnover leading to more mineral stabilization of necromass. We test this hypothesis experimentally and with observations across six eastern US forests, using stable isotopes to measure microbial traits and SOC dynamics. Here we show, in both studies, that microbial…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 35.92
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 88
Authors
8- MEMatthew E. CraigCorresponding
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Indiana University Bloomington
- KMKevin M. Geyer
University of New Hampshire, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Young Harris College
- KVKatilyn V. Beidler
Indiana University Bloomington
- EBEdward Brzostek
West Virginia University
- SDSerita D. Frey
University of New Hampshire, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Topics & keywords
- Soil carbon
- Abiotic component
- Environmental science
- Carbon cycle
- Biogeochemistry
- Litter
- Plant litter
- Soil organic matter
- Life in Land
Funding
- NSNational Science FoundationAwards: DEB-1701652, 1701652
- SISmithsonian Institution
- UDU.S. Department of EnergyAwards: DE-AC05-100800OR22725, DESC0016188, DE-AC05
- BBattelleAward: DE-AC05
- UUT-BattelleAward: DE-AC05-
- NNNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaAward: 31930070
- BABiological and Environmental ResearchAward: DESC0016188
- OROak Ridge National Laboratory