14C characteristics of dissolved lignin along a forest soil profile

Jia, J., Feng, X., Graf Pannatier, E., Wacker, L., McIntyre, C. , van der Voort, T., Montlucon, D. and Eglinton, T. (2019) 14C characteristics of dissolved lignin along a forest soil profile. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 135, pp. 407-410. (doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.06.005)

Abstract

Lignin is a key component of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and is recently suggested to track 14C-young DOC components. However, direct evidence is still lacking to prove this hypothesis in the soil. Here, utilizing molecular radiocarbon dating, we present the first 14C dataset on dissolved lignin through a Podzol soil profile. Dissolved lignin and hydroxy phenols had similar 14C content as soil organic carbon (SOC) and DOC in the surface organic layer. However, in contrast to SOC, both DOC and dissolved lignin phenols exhibited consistent and higher Δ14C values in the mineral soils. Coupled with lignin phenol concentration data, our results suggest that dissolved lignin comprises a key DOC component throughout this Podzol profile and is mainly supplied by surface leachates with young 14C ages.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mcintyre, Dr Cameron
• Authors: Jia, J., Feng, X., Graf Pannatier, E., Wacker, L., McIntyre, C., van der Voort, T., Montlucon, D., and Eglinton, T.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0038-0717
• ISSN (Online): 1879-3428
• Published Online: 05 June 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Soil Biology and Biochemistry 135:407-410
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher