Microbial and abiotic controls on mineral-associated organic matter in soil profiles along an ecosystem gradient.

ABSTRACT: Formation of mineral-organic associations is a key process in the global carbon cycle. Recent concepts propose litter quality-controlled microbial assimilation and direct sorption processes as main factors in transferring carbon from plant litter into mineral-organic associations. We explored the pathways of the formation of mineral-associated organic matter (MOM) in soil profiles along a 120-ky ecosystem gradient that developed under humid climate from the retreating Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. We determined the stocks of particulate and mineral-associated carbon, the isotope signature and microbial decomposability of organic matter, and plant and microbial biomarkers (lignin phenols, amino sugars and acids) in MOM. Results revealed that litter quality had little effect on the acc

SUBMITTER: Mikutta R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6635608 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature