Articles | Volume 18, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1511-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1511-2021
Research article
 | 
03 Mar 2021
Research article |  | 03 Mar 2021

Rapid soil organic carbon decomposition in river systems: effects of the aquatic microbial community and hydrodynamical disturbance

Man Zhao, Liesbet Jacobs, Steven Bouillon, and Gerard Govers

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Cited articles

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Short summary
We investigate the relative importance of two individual factors (hydrodynamical disturbance and aquatic microbial community) that possibly control SOC decomposition rates in river systems. We found aquatic microbial organisms led to rapid SOC decomposition, while effect of mechanical disturbance is relative minor. We propose a simple conceptual model: hydrodynamic disturbance is only important when soil aggregates are strong enough to withstand the disruptive forces imposed by water immersions.
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