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JXB Advance Access published online on March 31, 2003
Journal of Experimental Botany, doi:10.1093/jxb/erg153
© 2003 by Oxford University Press
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Received December 12, 2002; accepted February 17, 2003
© 2003 Society for Experimental Biology

RESEARCH PAPER

The speed of soil carbon throughput in an upland grassland is increased by liming

Philip L. Staddon 1*, Nick Ostle 2, Lorna A. Dawson 3, Alastair H. Fitter 1

1 Department of Biology, University of York, PO Box 373, York YO10 5YW, UK
2 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Merlewood Research Station, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6JU, UK
3 Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: philip.louis.staddon{at}risoe.dk.


  Abstract

In situ 13C pulse labelling was used to measure the temporal and spatial carbon flow through an upland grassland. The label was delivered as 13C-CO2 to vegetation in three replicate plots in each of two treatments: control and lime addition. Harvests occurred over a two month period and samples were taken along transects away from the label delivery area. The 13C concentration of shoot, root, bulk soil, and soil-respired CO2 was measured. There was no difference in the biomass and 13C concentration of shoot and root material for the control and lime treatments meaning that the amount of 13C-CO2 assimilated by the vegetation and translocated below ground was the same in both treatments. The 13C concentration of the bulk soil was lower in the lime treatment than in the control and, conversely, the 13C concentration of the soil-respired CO2 was higher in the lime. Unlike the difference in bulk soil 13C concentration between treatments, the difference in the 13C concentration of the soil-respired CO2 was obvious only at the delivery site and primarily within 1 d after labelling. An observed increase in the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in the lime treatment was a possible cause for this faster carbon throughput. The potential key role of mycorrhizas in the soil carbon cycle is discussed. The importance of a better understanding of soil processes, especially biological ones, in relation to the global carbon cycle and environmental change is highlighted.

Key words: 13C-CO2, extraradical mycorrhizal hyphae, pulse labelling, root length colonized, soil carbon storage.


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