Quantifying temporal changes in C storage is challenging due to the large quantity of C present in topsoils relative to the amount of plant C inputs and CO2 outputs. Traditional methods for quantifying soil C changes are limited due to: (1) their inability to detect small changes in C stocks given their insensitivity; and (2) the inherent spatial variability associated with soils. Alternative methods are required to quantify soil C changes in soil-plant systems. The 13C natural abundance method is based on the premise that during CO2 fixation, plants discriminate between C isotopes (13C and 12C), and thus contain a smaller proportion of 13C (?13C -26‰) compared to atmospheric CO2 (?13C -7‰). Furthermore, different plant species (C3 and C4) discriminate between C isotopes differently, which is reflected in the isotopic composition of SOM. This provides an ‘in-situ’ method by which to calculate the relative contribution of new C in soil-plant systems where the 13C signal of the C input is different to the native SOM. We used this method to quantify differences in below-ground C inputs in four different land use types: forest, grassland, apple orchard, and vineyard. The fraction of new C (fnew) inputs following one year of incubation of a C4 soil were calculated for both surface (0-15cm) and deeper (15-30cm) soil layers. Changes in ?13C in soil and roots, root biomass, %C, %N, were also analyzed. Results, presented in this paper, indicate differences within and between sites. The value of this relatively new method is discussed

Rodeghiero, M.; Martinez, C.; Camin, F.; Cotrufo, F.; Zanotelli, D.; Gianelle, D. (2012). Measuring plant below-ground carbon imputs using 13C natural abundance method : comparison between different use land types. In: 4th International congress Eurosoil 2012: soil science for the benefit of mankind and environment, Bari, 2-6 luglio 2012: 1729 (S07.05-P -11). url: http://www.scienzadelsuolo.org/_docs/Atti_Eurosoil_2012.pdf handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/22469

Measuring plant below-ground carbon imputs using 13C natural abundance method : comparison between different use land types

Rodeghiero, Mirco;Martinez, Cristina;Camin, Federica;Gianelle, Damiano
2012-01-01

Abstract

Quantifying temporal changes in C storage is challenging due to the large quantity of C present in topsoils relative to the amount of plant C inputs and CO2 outputs. Traditional methods for quantifying soil C changes are limited due to: (1) their inability to detect small changes in C stocks given their insensitivity; and (2) the inherent spatial variability associated with soils. Alternative methods are required to quantify soil C changes in soil-plant systems. The 13C natural abundance method is based on the premise that during CO2 fixation, plants discriminate between C isotopes (13C and 12C), and thus contain a smaller proportion of 13C (?13C -26‰) compared to atmospheric CO2 (?13C -7‰). Furthermore, different plant species (C3 and C4) discriminate between C isotopes differently, which is reflected in the isotopic composition of SOM. This provides an ‘in-situ’ method by which to calculate the relative contribution of new C in soil-plant systems where the 13C signal of the C input is different to the native SOM. We used this method to quantify differences in below-ground C inputs in four different land use types: forest, grassland, apple orchard, and vineyard. The fraction of new C (fnew) inputs following one year of incubation of a C4 soil were calculated for both surface (0-15cm) and deeper (15-30cm) soil layers. Changes in ?13C in soil and roots, root biomass, %C, %N, were also analyzed. Results, presented in this paper, indicate differences within and between sites. The value of this relatively new method is discussed
2012
Rodeghiero, M.; Martinez, C.; Camin, F.; Cotrufo, F.; Zanotelli, D.; Gianelle, D. (2012). Measuring plant below-ground carbon imputs using 13C natural abundance method : comparison between different use land types. In: 4th International congress Eurosoil 2012: soil science for the benefit of mankind and environment, Bari, 2-6 luglio 2012: 1729 (S07.05-P -11). url: http://www.scienzadelsuolo.org/_docs/Atti_Eurosoil_2012.pdf handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/22469
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2012 Eurosoil Martinez et al.pdf

accesso aperto

Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 136.97 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
136.97 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10449/22469
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact