Particulate organic matter as a functional soil component for persistent soil organic carbon

Soils, containing the largest terrestrial organic carbon pool, are regulated by the interplay of plant inputs, microbial activity, and soil matrix structure. This study uses isotopically labeled litter incubated in soils of differing textures to investigate the influence of soil structure on litter-derived organic matter. While microbial activity and fungal growth were higher in coarser soils, the occlusion of organic matter into aggregates and organo-mineral association formation occurred similarly across soil types, directly at plant-soil interfaces. This research elevates the role of particulate organic matter (plant litter) from a labile carbon source to a functional component directly influencing soil carbon persistence.

Kristina Witzgall, Alix Vidal, David I. Schubert, Carmen Höschen, Steffen A. Schweizer, Franz Buegger, Valérie Pouteau, Claire Chenu, Carsten W. Mueller