Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil

Black carbon (BC) is a quantitatively important C pool in the global C cycle due to its relative recalcitrance compared with other C pools. However, mechanisms of BC oxidation and accompanying molecular changes are largely unknown. In this study, the long-term dynamics in quality and quantity of BC...

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Main Authors: Nguyen, B.T., Lehmann, Johannes, Kinyangi, James, Smernik, R., Riha, S.J., Engelhard, M.H.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2173
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author Nguyen, B.T.
Lehmann, Johannes
Kinyangi, James
Smernik, R.
Riha, S.J.
Engelhard, M.H.
author_browse Engelhard, M.H.
Kinyangi, James
Lehmann, Johannes
Nguyen, B.T.
Riha, S.J.
Smernik, R.
author_facet Nguyen, B.T.
Lehmann, Johannes
Kinyangi, James
Smernik, R.
Riha, S.J.
Engelhard, M.H.
author_sort Nguyen, B.T.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Black carbon (BC) is a quantitatively important C pool in the global C cycle due to its relative recalcitrance compared with other C pools. However, mechanisms of BC oxidation and accompanying molecular changes are largely unknown. In this study, the long-term dynamics in quality and quantity of BC were investigated in cultivated soil using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. BC particles and changes in BC stocks were obtained from soil collected in fields that were cleared from forest by fire at 8 different times in the past (2, 3, 5, 20, 30, 50, 80 and 100 years before sampling) in western Kenya. BC contents rapidly decreased from 12.7 to 3.8 mg C g−1 soil during the first 30 years following deposition, after which they slowly decreased to a steady state at 3.5 mg C g−1 soil. BC-derived C losses from the top 0.1 m over 100 years were estimated at 6,000 kg C ha−1. The initial rapid changes in BC stocks resulted in a mean residence time of only around 8.3 years, which was likely a function of both decomposition as well as transport processes. The molecular properties of BC changed more rapidly on surfaces than in the interior of BC particles and more rapidly during the first 30 years than during the following 70 years. The Oc/C ratios (Oc is O bound to C) and carbonyl groups (C=O) increased over the first 10 and 30 years by 133 and 192%, respectively, indicating oxidation was an important process controlling BC quality. Al, Si, polysaccharides, and to a lesser extent Fe were found on BC particle surfaces within the first few years after BC deposition to soil. The protection by physical and chemical stabilization was apparently sufficient to not only minimize decomposition below detection between 30 and 100 years after deposition, but also physical export by erosion and vertical transport below 0.1 m.
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spelling CGSpace21732023-12-08T19:36:04Z Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil Nguyen, B.T. Lehmann, Johannes Kinyangi, James Smernik, R. Riha, S.J. Engelhard, M.H. soil carbon Black carbon (BC) is a quantitatively important C pool in the global C cycle due to its relative recalcitrance compared with other C pools. However, mechanisms of BC oxidation and accompanying molecular changes are largely unknown. In this study, the long-term dynamics in quality and quantity of BC were investigated in cultivated soil using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. BC particles and changes in BC stocks were obtained from soil collected in fields that were cleared from forest by fire at 8 different times in the past (2, 3, 5, 20, 30, 50, 80 and 100 years before sampling) in western Kenya. BC contents rapidly decreased from 12.7 to 3.8 mg C g−1 soil during the first 30 years following deposition, after which they slowly decreased to a steady state at 3.5 mg C g−1 soil. BC-derived C losses from the top 0.1 m over 100 years were estimated at 6,000 kg C ha−1. The initial rapid changes in BC stocks resulted in a mean residence time of only around 8.3 years, which was likely a function of both decomposition as well as transport processes. The molecular properties of BC changed more rapidly on surfaces than in the interior of BC particles and more rapidly during the first 30 years than during the following 70 years. The Oc/C ratios (Oc is O bound to C) and carbonyl groups (C=O) increased over the first 10 and 30 years by 133 and 192%, respectively, indicating oxidation was an important process controlling BC quality. Al, Si, polysaccharides, and to a lesser extent Fe were found on BC particle surfaces within the first few years after BC deposition to soil. The protection by physical and chemical stabilization was apparently sufficient to not only minimize decomposition below detection between 30 and 100 years after deposition, but also physical export by erosion and vertical transport below 0.1 m. 2008-07 2010-08-05T06:58:48Z 2010-08-05T06:58:48Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2173 en Limited Access Springer Nguyen, B.T.; Lehmann, J.; Kinyangi, J.; Smernik, R.; Riha, S.J.; Engelhard, M.H. 2008. Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil. Biogeochemistry 89(3):295-308.
spellingShingle soil
carbon
Nguyen, B.T.
Lehmann, Johannes
Kinyangi, James
Smernik, R.
Riha, S.J.
Engelhard, M.H.
Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
title Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
title_full Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
title_fullStr Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
title_full_unstemmed Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
title_short Long-term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
title_sort long term black carbon dynamics in cultivated soil
topic soil
carbon
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2173
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AT kinyangijames longtermblackcarbondynamicsincultivatedsoil
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AT rihasj longtermblackcarbondynamicsincultivatedsoil
AT engelhardmh longtermblackcarbondynamicsincultivatedsoil