Lignin decomposition is sustained under fluctuating redox conditions in humid tropical forest soils

Hall, Steven J.; Silver, Whendee L.; Timokhin, Vitaliy I.; Hammel, Kenneth E.

doi:10.1111/gcb.12908

Title: Lignin decomposition is sustained under fluctuating redox conditions in humid tropical forest soils

Journal Article · Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Global Change Biology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12908· OSTI ID:1400691

Hall, Steven J. ^[1]; Silver, Whendee L. ^[1]; Timokhin, Vitaliy I. ^[2]; Hammel, Kenneth E. ^[3]

Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
Department of Biochemistry Wisconsin Energy Institute University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 USA
US Forest Products Laboratory Madison WI 53726 USA, Department of Bacteriology University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 USA

Abstract Lignin mineralization represents a critical flux in the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle, yet little is known about mechanisms and environmental factors controlling lignin breakdown in mineral soils. Hypoxia is thought to suppress lignin decomposition, yet potential effects of oxygen (O ₂ ) variability in surface soils have not been explored. Here, we tested the impact of redox fluctuations on lignin breakdown in humid tropical forest soils during ten‐week laboratory incubations. We used synthetic lignins labeled with ¹³ C in either of two positions (aromatic methoxyl or propyl side chain C _β ) to provide highly sensitive and specific measures of lignin mineralization seldom employed in soils. Four‐day redox fluctuations increased the percent contribution of methoxyl C to soil respiration relative to static aerobic conditions, and cumulative methoxyl‐C mineralization was statistically equivalent under static aerobic and fluctuating redox conditions despite lower soil respiration in the latter treatment. Contributions of the less labile lignin C _β to soil respiration were equivalent in the static aerobic and fluctuating redox treatments during periods of O ₂ exposure, and tended to decline during periods of O ₂ limitation, resulting in lower cumulative C _β mineralization in the fluctuating treatment relative to the static aerobic treatment. However, cumulative mineralization of both the C _β ‐ and methoxyl‐labeled lignins nearly doubled in the fluctuating treatment relative to the static aerobic treatment when total lignin mineralization was normalized to total O ₂ exposure. Oxygen fluctuations are thought to be suboptimal for canonical lignin‐degrading microorganisms. However, O ₂ fluctuations drove substantial Fe reduction and oxidation, and reactive oxygen species generated during abiotic Fe oxidation might explain the elevated contribution of lignin to C mineralization. Iron redox cycling provides a potential mechanism for lignin depletion in soil organic matter. Couplings between soil moisture, redox fluctuations, and lignin breakdown provide a potential link between climate variability and the biochemical composition of soil organic matter.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1400691

Journal Information:: Global Change Biology, Journal Name: Global Change Biology Vol. 21 Journal Issue: 7; ISSN 1354-1013

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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Cited by: 52 works

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