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Stable and Mobile (Water-Extractable) Forms of Organic Matter in High-Latitude Volcanic Soils Under Various Land Use Scenarios in Southeastern Iceland

Author

Listed:
  • Aleksandra Kot

    (Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Urszula Norton

    (Plant Sciences Department, University of Wyoming, Department 3354, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
    Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA)

  • Grzegorz Kulczycki

    (Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Jón Guðmundsson

    (Faculty of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Árleyni 22, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek

    (Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Chloe M. Mattilio

    (Plant Sciences Department, University of Wyoming, Department 3354, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA)

  • Szymon Jędrzejewski

    (Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Jarosław Waroszewski

    (Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

High-latitude regions store substantial amounts of soil organic matter (SOM). Icelandic volcanic soils have exceptional capabilities for SOM accumulation, but recent changes in land use can significantly impact it. Water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) represents a labile SOM pool and serves as a reliable index of SOM dynamics. We assessed the stable carbon (C), stable nitrogen (N), and WEOC (water-extractable organic carbon), as well as WETN (water-extractable total nitrogen), concentrations in soils under different land uses—semi-natural habitats (tundra and wetland) and human-managed areas (intensively and extensively grazed pasturelands and formerly and presently fertilized meadows)—in southeastern Iceland. The results suggest that human-managed sites contain more total C and N but less WEOM per unit of total C or N than semi-natural habitats, except for wetlands. Wetlands exhibited the highest WEOM content. Extensive pasturelands and fertilized meadows are becoming more common in local ecosystems, highlighting the direction of changes in Icelandic grasslands management.

Suggested Citation

  • Aleksandra Kot & Urszula Norton & Grzegorz Kulczycki & Jón Guðmundsson & Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek & Chloe M. Mattilio & Szymon Jędrzejewski & Jarosław Waroszewski, 2025. "Stable and Mobile (Water-Extractable) Forms of Organic Matter in High-Latitude Volcanic Soils Under Various Land Use Scenarios in Southeastern Iceland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:12:p:1255-:d:1675727
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