Lignin biochemistry and soil N determine crop residue decomposition and soil priming

• DOI: 10.1007/s10533-015-0101-8
• Publication Date: 2015-04-23T09:53:28Z
• Authors: Catherine E. Stewart; Pratibha Moturi; Ronald F. Follett; Ardell D. Halvorson
• Keywords: Crop Residue; Residue (chemistry); Soil carbon; Soil respiration

Residue lignin content and biochemistry are important properties influencing residue decomposition dynamics native soil C loss through priming. The relative contribution of high residues to organic matter (SOM) may be less than previously believed, more sensitive N status, increased temperature. We examined the role biochemistry, temperature, on five crop varying in composition (corn, sorghum, soybean, sunflower wheat). used natural abundance δ13CO2 quantify priming from a cropped wheat-fallow or corn-millet-wheat at 20 30 °C laboratory incubation. High decomposed completely low residues, supporting new model SOM formation suggesting have lower efficiency for stabilizing due inefficient microbial processing. However, with respiration had greater (soil priming). SG was positively related respired H-lignin all soils temperatures, resulting no net chemistry effect combined total respired. Effects were most apparent treatments contents indicating limitation. Measuring both considering status is accurately assess effects carbon.