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Concurrent increase in 15 N and radiocarbon age in soil density fractions
Author(s) -
Meyer Stefanie,
Leifeld Jens
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.201200638
Subject(s) - radiocarbon dating , environmental chemistry , chemistry , fraction (chemistry) , organic matter , bulk soil , soil organic matter , carbon fibers , soil water , soil science , environmental science , geology , paleontology , organic chemistry , materials science , composite number , composite material
Differences in the isotopic signature of organic matter between soil fractions are indicative of transformation and ageing processes. Here we show that with increasing microbial transformation measured by δ 15 N, there is a concomitant increase in carbon age as measured by 14 C. The age of the soil's heavy fraction further increases with microbial utilization, indicating that stabilized OM ages yet continues to be reused.