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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Peter Manning, Dr Roger Smith
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Soil carbon (C) storage is a key ecosystem service. Soil C stocks play a vital role in soil fertility and climate regulation, but the factors that control these stocks at regional and national scales are unknown, particularly when their composition and stability are considered. As a result, their mapping relies on either unreliable proxy measures or laborious direct measurements. Using data from an extensive national survey of English grasslands, we show that surface soil (0-7cm) C stocks in size fractions of varying stability can be predicted at both regional and national scales from plant traits and simple measures of soil and climatic conditions. Soil C stocks in the largest pool, of intermediate particle size (50-250m), were best explained by mean annual temperature (MAT), soil pH and soil moisture content. The second largest C pool, highly stable physically and biochemically protected particles (045-50m), was explained by soil pH and the community abundance-weighted mean (CWM) leaf nitrogen (N) content, with the highest soil C stocks under N-rich vegetation. The C stock in the small active fraction (250-4000m) was explained by a wide range of variables: MAT, mean annual precipitation, mean growing season length, soil pH and CWM specific leaf area; stocks were higher under vegetation with thick and/or dense leaves. Testing the models describing these fractions against data from an independent English region indicated moderately strong correlation between predicted and actual values and no systematic bias, with the exception of the active fraction, for which predictions were inaccurate.Synthesis and applications. Validation indicates that readily available climate, soils and plant survey data can be effective in making local- to landscape-scale (1-100000km(2)) soil C stock predictions. Such predictions are a crucial component of effective management strategies to protect C stocks and enhance soil C sequestration.Validation indicates that readily available climate, soils and plant survey data can be effective in making local- to landscape-scale (1-100000km(2)) soil C stock predictions. Such predictions are a crucial component of effective management strategies to protect C stocks and enhance soil C sequestration.
Author(s): Manning P, de Vries FT, Tallowin JRB, Smith R, Mortimer SR, Pilgrim ES, Harrison KA, Wright DG, Quirk H, Benson J, Shipley B, Cornelissen JHC, Kattge J, Bonisch G, Wirth C, Bardgett RD
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Applied Ecology
Year: 2015
Volume: 52
Issue: 5
Pages: 1188-1196
Print publication date: 01/10/2015
Online publication date: 03/07/2015
Acceptance date: 12/06/2015
ISSN (print): 0021-8901
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2664
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12478
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12478
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