Estimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslands

Paterson, Kirsty C.; Cloy, Joanna M.; Rees, Robert M.; Baggs, Elizabeth M.; Martineau, Hugh; Fornara, Dario; Macdonald, Andrew J.; Buckingham, Sarah

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-605-2021

Articles | Volume 18, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-605-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-605-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 18, issue 2

Research article

|

27 Jan 2021

Research article |

| 27 Jan 2021

Estimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslands

Kirsty C. Paterson, Joanna M. Cloy, Robert M. Rees, Elizabeth M. Baggs, Hugh Martineau, Dario Fornara, Andrew J. Macdonald, and Sarah Buckingham

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Final revised paper (published on 27 Jan 2021)
Preprint (discussion started on 12 Aug 2020)

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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- Supplement

RC1: 'reviewer comment', Emanuele Lugato, 01 Sep 2020
- AC1: 'Response to Reviewer 1', Kirsty Paterson, 14 Oct 2020
RC2: '#2 reviewer comment', Steffen A. Schweizer, 16 Sep 2020
- AC2: 'Response to Reviewer 2', Kirsty Paterson, 14 Oct 2020

Peer-review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision

ED: Reconsider after major revisions (15 Oct 2020) by Sara Vicca

AR by Kirsty Paterson on behalf of the Authors (21 Oct 2020) Author's response Manuscript

ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (21 Oct 2020) by Sara Vicca

RR by Emanuele Lugato (04 Nov 2020)

RR by Steffen A. Schweizer (04 Nov 2020)

Suggestions for revision or reasons for rejection

The authors have improved many aspects of the manuscript, providing further details and strengthening the structure and conclusions on this compelling topic. I have some further comments, which I offer as suggestions, towards a foreseeable acceptance of this work for publication.

It would be nice to see a stronger case made for the quantile and boundary line expression based on its much higher empirical estimates of a maximum fine fraction OC. If only the higher data points are used, in what property do they differ from the lower data points? Is there a correlation of the soil properties with the differences from the maximum fine fraction OC? As the authors emphasize the regression method has “repercussions for decisions made regarding land management”. If only the higher data points are considered, how can this be translated into practice? Why should the maximum fine fraction OC be ranked even higher considering that its variability also increases? Can you identify specific soil types or properties that can help to adapt and improve local decisions on land management?

Given the high variability of the maximum fine fraction OC found in larger datasets and how it responds to a multitude of soil properties and management factors, the applicability of a linear regression estimate may be debated but still provide a valid approach depending on the individual research questions. From my perspective, the authors should reword the statements in l. 66 and 231 towards more specific and constructive details when referring to previous studies that used the Hassink linear regression equation. Can you quantify the mentioned over or underestimation as well as the variability of the data in the 90th percentile?

Overall, nice work.

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ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (04 Nov 2020) by Sara Vicca

AR by Kirsty Paterson on behalf of the Authors (23 Nov 2020) Author's response Manuscript

ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (24 Nov 2020) by Sara Vicca

AR by Kirsty Paterson on behalf of the Authors (01 Dec 2020) Author's response Manuscript

Short summary

Soil organic carbon sequestration across agroecosystems worldwide can contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change by reducing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The maximum carbon sequestration potential is frequently estimated using the linear regression equation developed by Hassink (1997). This work examines the suitability of this equation for use in grasslands across the United Kingdom. The results highlight the need to ensure the fit of equations to the soils being studied.