Microbial and mineral interactions decouple litter quality from soil organic matter formation

Dafydd M. O. Elias, Kelly E. Mason, Tim Goodall, Ashley Taylor, Pengzhi Zhao, Alba Otero-Fariña, Hongmei Chen, Caroline L. Peacock, Nicholas J. Ostle, Robert Griffiths, Pippa J. Chapman, Joseph Holden, Steve Banwart, Niall P. McNamara and Jeanette Whitaker ()
Additional contact information
Dafydd M. O. Elias: Library Avenue
Kelly E. Mason: Library Avenue
Tim Goodall: Benson Lane
Ashley Taylor: Library Avenue
Pengzhi Zhao: Library Avenue
Alba Otero-Fariña: University of Leeds
Hongmei Chen: Lancaster University, Library Ave
Caroline L. Peacock: University of Leeds
Nicholas J. Ostle: Lancaster University, Library Ave
Robert Griffiths: Bangor University
Pippa J. Chapman: University of Leeds
Joseph Holden: University of Leeds
Steve Banwart: University of Leeds
Niall P. McNamara: Library Avenue
Jeanette Whitaker: Library Avenue

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Current understanding of soil carbon dynamics suggests that plant litter quality and soil mineralogy control the formation of mineral-associated soil organic carbon (SOC). Due to more efficient microbial anabolism, high-quality litter may produce more microbial residues for stabilisation on mineral surfaces. To test these fundamental concepts, we manipulate soil mineralogy using pristine minerals, characterise microbial communities and use stable isotopes to measure decomposition of low- and high-quality litter and mineral stabilisation of litter-C. We find that high-quality litter leads to less (not more) efficient formation of mineral-associated SOC due to soil microbial community shifts which lower carbon use efficiency. Low-quality litter enhances loss of pre-existing SOC resulting in no effect of litter quality on total mineral-associated SOC. However, mineral-associated SOC formation is primarily controlled by soil mineralogy. These findings refute the hypothesis that high-quality plant litters form mineral-associated SOC most efficiently and advance our understanding of how mineralogy and litter-microbial interactions regulate SOC formation.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54446-0

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