Research advance in the effects of litter input on forest soil organic carbon transformation and stability

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2024 Sep 18;35(9):2352-2361. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202409.033.

Abstract

The turnover and stabilization of soil organic carbon are tightly associated with the properties of litter input. Due to the complexity of litter decomposition and the high heterogeneity of forest soils, there are considerable uncertainties about how soil minerals, microorganisms, and environmental factors jointly regulate the transformation and stability of litter-derived soil organic carbon. Here, we present an overview of the "microbial efficiency-matrix stabilization" framework centered on microbial metabolism and organic carbon transformation, as well as the new "microbial carbon pump" and "mineral carbon pump" theories in forest soil organic carbon transformation and stabilization. We specifically highlighted a differential mechanism of "organo-organic interfaces" from the "organo-mineral interfaces" in the effects on soil organic carbon accumulation. We further expounded the transformation processes and stability of soil organic carbon based on the "carbon material cycling" and "energy fluxes", aiming to provide theoretical support for the research on carbon sequestration in forest soils.

土壤有机碳的周转和稳定过程与凋落物输入的性质密切相关。由于凋落物分解的复杂性以及森林土壤的高度异质性,土壤矿物、微生物以及环境因子如何协同调控凋落物输入对土壤有机碳的转化和稳定,还存在较大不确定性。本文综述了以微生物代谢和有机碳转化为核心的“微生物效率-基质调控概念框架”以及最新提出的“微生物碳泵”和“矿物碳泵”理论在森林土壤有机碳转化和稳定中的研究进展,强调了区别于土壤“有机-无机交互”作用的“有机-有机交互”作用在土壤有机碳累积过程中的作用机制,并阐述了如何基于“物质循环”和“能量流动”探索土壤有机碳的转化和稳定过程,以期为森林土壤生态系统固碳研究提供理论支撑。.

Keywords: microbe derived carbon; mineral carbon pump; litter derived carbon; litter quality; litter quantity; microbial carbon pump; root carbon; soil carbon fractions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Cycle
  • Carbon Sequestration
  • Carbon* / analysis
  • Carbon* / chemistry
  • Ecosystem
  • Forests*
  • Organic Chemicals* / analysis
  • Organic Chemicals* / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Soil Microbiology*
  • Soil* / chemistry
  • Trees / growth & development
  • Trees / metabolism

Substances

  • Carbon
  • Soil
  • Organic Chemicals