Summary
This 35-year field study from the DOK long-term trial in Switzerland examined how contrasting fertilisation strategies affect the stability and turnover of mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) in a temperate soil. The findings indicate that whilst organic fertilisation maintains MAOM-C content and promotes more active carbon cycling (shorter mean residence times: 138–140 years), unfertilised and mineral-only systems showed longer residence times (195–238 years) but declining carbon content, suggesting that MAOM stability is dynamic rather than inert and depends on continuous organic inputs.
UK applicability
These findings are relevant to UK temperate farming systems, particularly in regions with comparable soil types (silt loams and clays). The results support UK policy promotion of organic inputs and mixed farming for soil carbon maintenance, though UK-specific trials may be needed to account for different climate, soil parent materials, and management practices.
Key measures
MAOM-C contents (<6.3 μm fraction); specific surface area (SSA) before and after organic matter removal; 14C activity; mean residence time (MRT) modelled accounting for bomb 14C and radioactive decay
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 over 35 years. It evaluated how organic and mineral fertilisation affect MAOM formation, stabilisation, and turnover rates in a temperate agricultural topsoil.
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