Articles | Volume 12, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5041-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5041-2015
Research article
 | 
26 Aug 2015
Research article |  | 26 Aug 2015

The influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics in contrasting semi-natural tropical ecosystems

G. Saiz, M. Bird, C. Wurster, C. A. Quesada, P. Ascough, T. Domingues, F. Schrodt, M. Schwarz, T. R. Feldpausch, E. Veenendaal, G. Djagbletey, G. Jacobsen, F. Hien, H. Compaore, A. Diallo, and J. Lloyd

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Cited articles

Abbadie, L. and Bismarck Nacro, H.: Soil carbon and organic matter dynamics, in: Lamto, structure, functioning, and dynamics of a savanna ecosystem, edited by: Abbadie, L., Gignoux, J., Roux, X., and Lepage, M., Springer, New York, USA, 179, 201–214, 2006.
Abbadie, L., Gignoux, J., Roux, X., and Lepage, M.: Lamto: structure, functioning, and dynamics of a savanna ecosystem, Springer, New York, USA, 2006.
Aranibar, J. N., Otter, L., Macko, S. A., Feral, C. J., Epstein, H. E., Dowty, P. R., Eckardt, F., Shugart, H. H., and Swap, R. J.: Nitrogen cycling in the soil–plant system along a precipitation gradient in the Kalahari sands, Glob. Change Biol., 10, 359–373, 2004.
Archer, S., Boutton, T. W., and Hibbard, K. A.: Trees in Grasslands: Biogeochemical Consequences of Woody Plant Expansion, in: Global Biogeochemical Cycles in the Climate System, edited by: Schulze, E.-D., Heimann, M., Harrison, S., Holland, E., Lloyd, J., Prentice, I. C., and Schimel, D., 115–137, Academic Press, San Diego, 2001.
Archer, S., Boutton, T. W., and McMurtry, C.: Carbon and nitrogen accumulation in a savanna landscape: field and modeling perspectives, Global environmental change in the ocean and on land, Terrapub, Tokyo, 359–373, 2004.
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Short summary
We demonstrate and explain differential patterns in SOM dynamics in C3/C4 mixed ecosystems at various spatial scales across contrasting climate and soils. This study shows that the interdependence between biotic and abiotic factors ultimately determines whether SOM dynamics of C3- and C4-derived vegetation are at variance in ecosystems where both vegetation types coexist. The results also highlight the far-reaching implications that vegetation thickening may have for the stability of deep SOM.
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