Summary
This study identifies mineral availability, particularly short-range-ordered (SRO) mineral phases, as a critical regulator of soil carbon stabilisation. Through long-term field experiments and controlled laboratory studies, the authors demonstrate that organic amendments and living roots increase mineral availability and promote SRO phase formation, with citric acid from root exudates playing a key mechanistic role. The findings suggest that soil management practices enhancing mineral availability could establish positive feedback loops for improved carbon storage.
UK applicability
The mechanisms identified—root exudates promoting mineral transformations and carbon binding—are likely relevant to UK soil conditions, though the field experiments were conducted in China. UK soil management practices that increase organic matter inputs and promote root activity may benefit from these insights, though site-specific validation would be needed given differences in soil parent material and climate.
Key measures
Mineral availability and SRO phase abundance in three long-term field experiments (23, 154, and 170 years); changes in mineral availability and SRO formation in microcosm studies with and without roots; effects of citric acid on mineral transformation and carbon retention using isotopic labelling
Outcomes reported
The study measured changes in mineral availability and short-range-ordered (SRO) mineral phases in response to organic amendments and root presence, and quantified the relationship between these mineral changes and soil carbon (C) retention. The research demonstrated that citric acid from root exudates promotes SRO mineral formation, which acts as a nucleation site for carbon binding.
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