Dinner in the dark: Illuminating drivers of soil organic matter decomposition

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dinner in the dark: Illuminating drivers of soil organic matter decomposition

AU - van der Wal, Annemieke

AU - De Boer, Wietse

N1 - 6193, ME; Data archiving: no data (opinion)

PY - 2017/2

Y1 - 2017/2

N2 - Abstract Soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics plays a crucial role in soil ecosystem functioning and global warming. SOM is normally degraded slowly, but its decomposition rate can change substantially after addition of easily decomposable C sources. This process, known as “the priming effect”, has already been described in 1926 but is still poorly understood. Priming can be positive (extra decomposition of SOM) or negative (reduction of SOM decomposition), depending on the amount and physicochemical characteristics of added compounds, the composition of SOM and the metabolic abilities of responding microorganisms. We propose that the understanding of priming effects can be greatly advanced by investigating the level of convergence between the chemical characteristics of the added compound and SOM fractions, and the functional potential of microbial communities. This can be achieved by combining two different disciplines-microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. Such knowledge will deliver information under which conditions sequestration of soil carbon can be expected and provide possibilities to steer soil carbon dynamics in sustainable agricultural systems.

AB - Abstract Soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics plays a crucial role in soil ecosystem functioning and global warming. SOM is normally degraded slowly, but its decomposition rate can change substantially after addition of easily decomposable C sources. This process, known as “the priming effect”, has already been described in 1926 but is still poorly understood. Priming can be positive (extra decomposition of SOM) or negative (reduction of SOM decomposition), depending on the amount and physicochemical characteristics of added compounds, the composition of SOM and the metabolic abilities of responding microorganisms. We propose that the understanding of priming effects can be greatly advanced by investigating the level of convergence between the chemical characteristics of the added compound and SOM fractions, and the functional potential of microbial communities. This can be achieved by combining two different disciplines-microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. Such knowledge will deliver information under which conditions sequestration of soil carbon can be expected and provide possibilities to steer soil carbon dynamics in sustainable agricultural systems.

KW - Priming effects

KW - Functional potential of microbial communities

KW - Decomposition

KW - Physicochemical properties

KW - Soil organic matter

KW - Home-field advantage

KW - NIOO

U2 - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.11.006

DO - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.11.006

M3 - Article

SN - 0038-0717

VL - 105

SP - 45

EP - 48

JO - Soil Biology & Biochemistry

JF - Soil Biology & Biochemistry

ER -