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Soil Organic Matter Decomposition and Turnover in a Tropical Ultisol: Evidence from δ13C, δ15N and Geochemistry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Evelyn S Krull ,
Erick A Bestland  and
Will P Gates
Evelyn S Krull
Affiliation:
CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia. Email: [email protected].
Erick A Bestland
Affiliation:
CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia. Email: [email protected].
Will P Gates
Affiliation:
CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

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Soil organic matter (SOM), leaf litter, and root material of an Ultisol from the tropical rainforest of Kakamega, Kenya, were analyzed for stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic values as well as total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in order to determine trends in SOM decomposition within a very well-developed soil under tropical conditions. In addition, we quantified mineralogy and chemistry of the inorganic soil fraction. Clay mineralogical variation with depth was small and the abundance of kaolin indicates intense weathering and pedoturbation under humid tropical conditions. The soil chemistry was dominated by silica, aluminium, and iron with calcium, potassium, and magnesium as minor constituents. The relative depletion of base cations compared with silica and aluminium is an indicator for intense weathering and leaching conditions over long periods of time. Depth profiles of δ13C and δ15N showed a distinct enrichment trend down profile with a large (average 13δC = 5.0 and average 15δN= 6.3) and abrupt offset within the uppermost 10–20 cm of the soil. Isotopic enrichment with depth is commonly observed in soil profiles and has been attributed to fractionation during decomposition. However, isotopic offsets within soil profiles that exceed 3 are usually interpreted as a recent change from C4 to C3 dominated vegetation. We argue that the observed isotopic depth profiles along with data from mineralogy and chemistry of the inorganic fraction from the Kakamega Forest soil are a result of intense weathering and high organic matter turnover rates under humid tropical conditions.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , 2002 , pp. 93 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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