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Carbon Fluxes in Plant‐Soil Systems at Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Levels
Author(s) -
van Veen J. A.,
Liljeroth E.,
Lekkerkerk L. J. A.,
van de Geijn S. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.2307/1941810
Subject(s) - soil carbon , carbon fibers , environmental science , ecosystem , atmosphere (unit) , carbon cycle , terrestrial ecosystem , carbon respiration , environmental chemistry , atmospheric carbon cycle , total organic carbon , soil organic matter , agronomy , soil science , ecology , carbon dioxide , carbon sequestration , soil water , chemistry , biology , negative carbon dioxide emission , materials science , physics , composite number , composite material , thermodynamics
The flow of carbon from photosynthesizing tissues of higher plants, through the roots and into the soil is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems. An increased level of CO 2 in the atmosphere will likely result in an increased input of organic carbon into the soil due to the expected increase in primary production. Whether this will lead to accumulation of greater amounts of organic carbon in soil depends on the flow of carbon through the plant into the soil and its subsequent transformation in the soil by microorganisms. In this paper the major controls of carbon translocation via roots into the soil as well as the subsequent microbial turnover of root—derived carbon are reviewed. We discuss possible consequences of an increased CO 2 level in the atmosphere on these processes.