Evaluation of dissolved organic carbon as a soil quality indicator in national monitoring schemes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Monitoring the properties of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil water is frequently used to evaluate changes in soil quality and to explain shifts in freshwater ecosystem functioning.

Methods

Using >700 individual soils (0-15 cm) collected from a 209,331 km(2) area we evaluated the relationship between soil classification (7 major soil types) or vegetation cover (8 dominant classes, e.g. cropland, grassland, forest) and the absorbance properties (254 and 400 nm), DOC quantity and quality (SUVA, total soluble phenolics) of soil water.

Results

Overall, a good correlation (r(2)= 0.58) was apparent between soil water absorbance and DOC concentration across the diverse range of soil types tested. In contrast, both DOC and the absorbance properties of soil wa

SUBMITTER: Jones DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3954595 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature