Increased Retention of Litter-Derived Organic Carbon With Increasing Initial Carbon Content in Temperate Agricultural Soils.

ABSTRACT: Stabilized soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual plays a crucial role in long-term atmospheric CO₂ sequestration. The organic carbon in the fine silt and clay size fraction (OC_fine) is typically mineral-associated and thus relatively stable. However, the SOC saturation concept suggests that the OC_fine has limited capacity for additional carbon (C) storage, thereby constraining further C sequestration. Low-OC and fine-textured soils are thought to have greater potential to stabilize additional OC than High-OC and coarse-textured soils due to their higher available storage space. Here, we assessed soils' potential to stabilize additional OC using 21 temperate agricultural soils, varying in SOC (0.7%-10.2%), silt + clay content (32%-92%), and OC loading of fine fr

SUBMITTER: Begill N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12683473 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature