The speed of soil carbon throughput in an upland grassland is increased by liming.
In situ (13)C pulse labelling was used to measure the temporal and spatial carbon flow through an upland grassland. The label was delivered as (13)C-CO(2) to vegetation in three replicate plots in each of two treatments: control and lime addition. Harvests occurred over a two month period and samples were taken along transects away from the label delivery area. The (13)C concentration of shoot, root, bulk soil, and soil-respired CO(2) was measured. There was no difference in the biomass and (13)C concentration of shoot and root material for the control and lime treatments meaning that the amount of (13)C-CO(2) assimilated by the vegetation and translocated below ground was the same in both treatments. The (13)C concentration of the bulk soil was lower in the lime treatment than in the control and, conversely, the (13)C concentration of the soil-respired CO(2) was higher in the lime. Unlike the difference in bulk soil (13)C concentration between treatments, the difference in the (13)C concentration of the soil-respired CO(2) was obvious only at the delivery site and primarily within 1 d after labelling. An observed increase in the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in the lime treatment was a possible cause for this faster carbon throughput. The potential key role of mycorrhizas in the soil carbon cycle is discussed. The importance of a better understanding of soil processes, especially biological ones, in relation to the global carbon cycle and environmental change is highlighted.
Staddon
Philip L
PL
Department of Biology, University of York, PO Box 373, York YO10 5YW, UK. philip.louis.staddon@risoe.dk
Ostle
Nick
N
Dawson
Lorna A
LA
Fitter
Alastair H
AH
D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D018533:Biomass; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*
D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D010087:Oxides; D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon; C016538:lime