title: Assessment of Labile Organic Carbon in Soil Using Sequential Fumigation Incubation Procedures.
abstract: Management practices and environmental changes can alter soil nutrient and carbon cycling. Soil labile organic carbon, a readily decomposable C pool, is highly sensitive to disturbance. It is also the primary substrate for soil microorganisms, which is fundamental to nutrient cycling. Due to these attributes, labile organic carbon (LOC) has been identified as an indicator parameter for soil health. Quantifying the turnover rate of LOC also aids in understanding changes in soil nutrient cycling processes. A sequential fumigation incubation method has been developed to estimate soil LOC and potential C turnover rate. The method requires fumigating soil samples and quantifying CO2-C respired during a 10 day incubation period over a series of fumigation-incubation cycles. Labile organic C and potential C turnover rate are then extrapolated from accumulated CO2 with a negative exponential model. Procedures for conducting this method are described.
authors.affiliation: Hill Farm Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; MBlazier@agcenter.lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blazier
authors.affiliation: School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Arkansas at Monticello.
authors.forename: Hal O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Liechty
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005651:Fumigation; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon