Summary
This laboratory study demonstrates that lignin-derived carbon accumulates disproportionately in mineral-associated soil organic matter relative to bulk litter-derived carbon, with 12.2% of added lignin carbon versus 6.4% of total litter carbon accruing in clay-sized fractions. Extended anaerobic conditions increase the association of lignin-derived carbon with iron mineral phases, suggesting that redox-sensitive biogeochemical interactions, beyond microbial residue incorporation alone, drive the selective stabilisation of lignin compounds in mineral-bound soil organic pools.
UK applicability
The mechanistic findings on lignin–mineral interactions are relevant to understanding soil organic matter persistence across temperate climates including the United Kingdom, potentially informing management practices aimed at enhancing soil carbon retention. However, direct field applicability requires validation under UK soil and climatic conditions.
Key measures
Percentage of lignin-derived carbon and litter carbon in clay-sized (<2 μm) MAOM; association of lignin-derived carbon with iron under anaerobic pretreatment; nanoscale spatial distribution via NanoSIMS
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the proportional enrichment of lignin-derived carbon versus bulk litter carbon in clay-sized mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), and examined how anaerobic conditions and iron associations influence this partitioning. Measurements utilised isotopic tracing, chemical extractions, and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry.
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