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Iron-mediated organic matter decomposition in humid soils can counteract protection

Author

Listed:
  • Chunmei Chen

    (Tianjin University)

  • Steven J. Hall

    (Iowa State University)

  • Elizabeth Coward

    (University of Delaware)

  • Aaron Thompson

    (University of Georgia)

Abstract

Soil organic matter (SOM) is correlated with reactive iron (Fe) in humid soils, but Fe also promotes SOM decomposition when oxygen (O2) becomes limited. Here we quantify Fe-mediated OM protection vs. decomposition by adding 13C dissolved organic matter (DOM) and 57FeII to soil slurries incubated under static or fluctuating O2. We find Fe uniformly protects OM only under static oxic conditions, and only when Fe and DOM are added together: de novo reactive FeIII phases suppress DOM and SOM mineralization by 35 and 47%, respectively. Conversely, adding 57FeII alone increases SOM mineralization by 8% following oxidation to 57FeIII. Under O2 limitation, de novo reactive 57FeIII phases are preferentially reduced, increasing anaerobic mineralization of DOM and SOM by 74% and 32‒41%, respectively. Periodic O2 limitation is common in humid soils, so Fe does not intrinsically protect OM; rather reactive Fe phases require their own physiochemical protection to contribute to OM persistence.

Suggested Citation

  • Chunmei Chen & Steven J. Hall & Elizabeth Coward & Aaron Thompson, 2020. "Iron-mediated organic matter decomposition in humid soils can counteract protection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16071-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16071-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Wenjuan Huang & Wenjuan Yu & Bo Yi & Erik Raman & Jihoon Yang & Kenneth E. Hammel & Vitaliy I. Timokhin & Chaoqun Lu & Adina Howe & Samantha R. Weintraub-Leff & Steven J. Hall, 2023. "Contrasting geochemical and fungal controls on decomposition of lignin and soil carbon at continental scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Jannik Martens & Carsten W. Mueller & Prachi Joshi & Christoph Rosinger & Markus Maisch & Andreas Kappler & Michael Bonkowski & Georg Schwamborn & Lutz Schirrmeister & Janet Rethemeyer, 2023. "Stabilization of mineral-associated organic carbon in Pleistocene permafrost," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Guopeng Liang & John Stark & Bonnie Grace Waring, 2023. "Mineral reactivity determines root effects on soil organic carbon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Jared L. Wilmoth, 2021. "Redox Heterogeneity Entangles Soil and Climate Interactions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Futing Liu & Shuqi Qin & Kai Fang & Leiyi Chen & Yunfeng Peng & Pete Smith & Yuanhe Yang, 2022. "Divergent changes in particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon upon permafrost thaw," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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