Soil Carbon Dynamics across a Windthrow Disturbance Sequence in Southeast Alaska
Kramer MG, Sollins P, Sletten RS. 2004. Soil Carbon Dynamics across a Windthrow Disturbance Sequence in Southeast Alaska. Ecology. 85(8):2230-2244
Few studies have examined the influence of natural disturbances, such as windthrow, on soil organic matter formation, stabilization, and loss in soils. In shallow ( 1.65 g/cm^3) C pools decreased from 25 Mg/ha in the least disturbed watershed to 3 Mg/ ha in the most disturbed watershed; whereas light-fraction C pools were similar (4-6 Mg/ ha) across all watersheds. Soil C stocks decreased from 216 Mg/ha in the least disturbed watershed to 157 Mg/ha in the most disturbed watersheds. Evidence was found that mobile organic carbon transported in soil water accumulated in mineral horizons principally through sorption to mineral particles. Strong association with mineral particles was greater in the thicker, presumably older, illuvial horizons. We found light amorphous material in some of these thicker illuvial horizons, suggesting that mobile organic carbon may have been immobilized through flocculation of metal-bearing organic acids. Watersheds that experienced more intense soil mixing from windthrow had lower levels of strongly humified soil organic matter, and more in a partially decomposed particulate form.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Kramer, Marc; Sollins, Phillip; Sletten, Ronald
- Units
- GLBA , KLGO , SEAN , SITK
- Keywords
- C-13 solid-state NMR, humification, illuviation, lateral flow, mineral soil carbon, natural isotope abundance, podzolization, soil mixing, soil organic matter, Soils, temperate rain forest, tree uprooting, windthrow disturbance