Summary
This long-term field study (1982–2017) demonstrates that mineral-associated organic matter is not a static carbon pool but undergoes dynamic turnover and stabilisation. Soils receiving organic fertilisation maintained constant MAOM-carbon contents with substantially higher turnover rates (MRT ~140 years) compared to unfertilised or mineral-only systems (MRT ~195–238 years), indicating more biologically active MAOM. The findings challenge the conventional view of MAOM as 'dead' carbon and suggest that continuous organic matter inputs are essential for maintaining both the quantity and functional stability of this soil carbon fraction.
UK applicability
The findings are applicable to UK temperate agricultural soils with similar soil types (Luvisol-equivalent); however, the study was conducted under Swiss growing conditions and specific farming practices. UK adoption would require validation across diverse soil types, climates, and management systems to confirm whether the observed effects on MAOM dynamics and MRT translate to comparable UK contexts.
Key measures
Specific surface area (SSA) of fractionated MAOM samples (<6.3 μm); 14C activity and radiocarbon dating; mean residence time (MRT) of carbon modelled from bomb 14C and radioactive decay; MAOM-C contents
Outcomes reported
The study measured mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) carbon content, specific surface area, radiocarbon activity, and mean residence time across four farming systems (unfertilised control, mineral-only, mineral + organic, and organic) over 35 years. It quantified carbon turnover rates and sorption mechanisms in MAOM under different fertilisation regimes.
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