Contributions of anoxic microsites to soil carbon protection across soil textures

Lacroix, Emily M.; Mendillo, Janica; Gomes, Anna; Dekas, Anne; Fendorf, Scott

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116050

Title: Contributions of anoxic microsites to soil carbon protection across soil textures

Journal Article · 18 July 2022 · Geoderma

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116050 · OSTI ID:2420542

^[1]; Mendillo, Janica ^[2];

^[2];

^[2]

Stanford Univ., CA (United States); OSTI
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Anoxic microsites, zones of oxygen depletion in otherwise oxic soils, may slow soil C turnover. However, the abundance of anoxic microsites and their contribution to soil C protection is yet undefined. In this study, we determine the contribution of anoxic microsites to soil C protection in soils of three distinct textures (clay loam, loam, sandy loam) across a range of soil moistures. We examined the influence of soil oxygen supply by increasing oxygen content in the incubation atmosphere (oxygen enrichment) and through disaggregation. We attributed increases in CO₂ efflux to the aeration of anoxic microsites. The contribution of anoxic microsites to soil C protection increased with decreasing clay content. Clay loam CO₂ efflux was relatively unaffected by aeration. Moderately moist, loam soils had CO₂ effluxes that did not increase with oxygen enrichment but increased by 375% upon disaggregation. Sandy loam soil CO₂ efflux increased by 50–75% with oxygen enrichment and 250% with disaggregation. Geochemical and microbial data reveal that anoxic microsite abundance also increased with decreasing clay content. The proportion of acid extractable Fe present as Fe(II) increased with decreasing clay content, and methanogens were more abundant in loam and sandy loam soils. Our results suggest that oxygen demand, rather than supply, can regulate anoxic microsite formation and that anoxic protection of soil C can be diminished through physical disruption of soil structure. Our findings further illustrate that anoxic microsites should be included in conceptual models of soil C protection to avoid soil C loss and improve predictions of soil C response to disturbance.

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Research Organization:: Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Earth & Environmental Systems Science (EESS)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0016544

OSTI ID:: 2420542

Journal Information:: Geoderma, Journal Name: Geoderma Journal Issue: C Vol. 425; ISSN 0016-7061

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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