Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116464
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Structure turnover times of grassland soils under different moisture regimes
Author Leuther, F.; Mikutta, R.; Wolff, M.; Kaiser, K.; Schlüter, S.
Source Titel Geoderma
Year 2023
Department BOSYS
Volume 433
Page From art. 116464
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0016706123001416-mmc1.docx
Keywords Soil structure; Bioturbation; Carbon turnover; Physical protection; Soil moisture
Abstract Soil structure is a dynamic property of soils, which refers to temporal changes in the spatial arrangement of pores, organic matter, and minerals. Its turnover, i.e. the irreversible redistribution of soil constituents, determines essential soil functions including carbon storage. Structure turnover times and its response to biotic versus abiotic drivers have never been quantified directly under natural conditions. We used a novel combination of structure labelling with inert garnet particles and X-ray Computed Tomography to determine structure turnover times of two grassland topsoils with either access or exclusion of roots and fauna > 30 µm. Both, abiotic and biotic factors developed soil structure at a site-specific rate towards a dynamic equilibrium, at which bulk properties remain constant because creation and destruction of structural properties are in balance. Its turnover, however, was mainly determined by macrofaunal activity which varied with environmental conditions. Under dry conditions less favorable for bioturbation, the extrapolated structure turnover time was 33 ± 3 years, while being 16 ± 1 years under moist conditions. Previous studies on organic matter turnover determined in the vicinity of the experimental site showed similar turnover times for particulate organic matter. The similar turnover times suggest that the accessibility of particulate organic matter to decomposers is closely linked to structure turnover, thus highlighting the intimate nexus between structure evolution and carbon persistence in soil.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=23826
Leuther, F., Mikutta, R., Wolff, M., Kaiser, K., Schlüter, S. (2023):
Structure turnover times of grassland soils under different moisture regimes
Geoderma 433 , art. 116464 10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116464