Stabilization and destabilization of soil organic matter--a new focus

Phillip Sollins; Chris Swanston; Marc Kramer

doi:10.1007/s10533-007-9099-x

Stabilization and destabilization of soil organic matter--a new focus

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Phillip Sollins, Chris Swanston, Marc Kramer

Year:

2007

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-007-9099-x

Source:

Biogeochemistry. 85: 1-7.

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Abstract

Interest in soil organic matter (SOM) is ramping up as concern mounts about steadily increasing levels of atmospheric CO₂. There are two reasons for this. First, there is hope that improvements in crop, forest, and soil management may allow significant amounts of CO₂ to be removed from the atmosphere and sequestered in soil. Second is the possibility that increased soil respiration rates, associated with climate change, will unleash a positive feedback in which temperatures rise even faster than now expected. Other reasons have long existed for understanding SOM dynamics, such as SOM as the source of most of the nonfertilizer N needed for plant growth, but the specter of run-away climate change seems to have now overtaken these other justifications.

Citation

Sollins, Phillip; Swanston, Chris; Kramer, Marc. 2007. Stabilization and destabilization of soil organic matter--a new focus. Biogeochemistry. 85: 1-7.