The influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics in contrasting semi-natural tropical ecosystems

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dc.contributor.authorSaiz, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBird, MIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWurster, CMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorQuesada, CAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAscough, PLen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDomingues, Ten_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchrodt, Fen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchwarz, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorFeldpausch, TRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorVeenendaal, Een_AU
dc.contributor.authorDjabeletey, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJacobsen, GEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHien, Fen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCompaore, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDiallo, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorLloyd, Jen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2015-09-09T22:46:49Zen_AU
dc.date.available2015-09-09T22:46:49Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-08-26en_AU
dc.date.statistics2015-09-08en_AU
dc.description.abstractVariations in the carbon isotopic composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in bulk and fractionated samples were used to assess the influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on SOM dynamics in semi-natural tropical ecosystems sampled along a precipitation gradient in West Africa. Differential patterns in SOM dynamics in C3/C4 mixed ecosystems occurred at various spatial scales. Relative changes in C=N ratios between two contrasting SOM fractions were used to evaluate potential site-scale differences in SOM dynamics between C3- and C4-dominated locations. These differences were strongly controlled by soil texture across the precipitation gradient, with a function driven by bulk 13C and sand content explaining 0.63 of the observed variability. The variation of 13C with soil depth indicated a greater accumulation of C3-derived carbon with increasing precipitation, with this trend also being strongly dependant on soil characteristics. The influence of vegetation thickening on SOM dynamics was also assessed in two adjacent, but structurally contrasting, transitional ecosystems occurring on comparable soils to minimise the confounding effects posed by climatic and edaphic factors. Radiocarbon analyses of sand-size aggregates yielded relatively short mean residence times ( ) even in deep soil layers, while the most stable SOM fraction associated with silt and clay exhibited shorter in the savanna woodland than in the neighbouring forest stand. These results, together with the vertical variation observed in 13C values, strongly suggest that both ecosystems are undergoing a rapid transition towards denser closed canopy formations.However, vegetation thickening varied in intensity at each site and exerted contrasting effects on SOM dynamics. Thisstudy shows that the interdependence between biotic and abiotic factors ultimately determine whether SOM dynamics of C3- and C4-derived vegetation are at variance in ecosystems where both vegetation types coexist. The results highlight the far-reaching implications that vegetation thickening may have for the stability of deep SOM. © 2015, Copernicus Publications.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationSaiz, G., Bird, M., Wurster, C., Quesada, C., Ascough, P., Domingues, T., Schrodt, F., Schwarz, M., Feldpausch, T. R., Veenendaal, E., Djabeletey, G., Jacobsen, G., Hien, F., Compaore, H. Diallo, A., & Lloyd, J. (2015). The influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics in contrasting semi-natural tropical ecosystems. Biogeosciences 12, 5041-5059. doi:10.5194/bg-12-5041-2015en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc6042en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1726-4170en_AU
dc.identifier.issue16en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleBiogeosciencesen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination5041-5059en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5041-2015en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/6190en_AU
dc.identifier.volume12en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherEuropean Geosciences Unionen_AU
dc.subjectOrganic matteren_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectPrecipitationen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon cycleen_AU
dc.subjectBiochemistryen_AU
dc.subjectClimatic changeen_AU
dc.titleThe influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics in contrasting semi-natural tropical ecosystemsen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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