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AMS 14C Measurements of Fractionated Soil Organic Matter: An Approach to Deciphering the Soil Carbon Cycle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

S E Trumbore
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University and Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964
J S Vogel
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University and Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964
J R Southon
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University and Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964
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Abstract

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14C measurements are reported for fractionated soil organic matter from a genetic soil sequence which was sampled several times during the period of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. Fractionation of the soils by density followed by acid hydrolysis was successful in separating the organic matter into components with mean residence times for carbon ranging from 5 to 20 years (low density fraction) to several thousand years (residue after acid hydrolysis). Comparison of the infiltration of bomb 14C into the vertical soil profile with the distribution of 137Cs, gives clues as to the mechanism (most probably dissolved transport) for importing carbon into deeper soil layers.

Type
II. Carbon Cycle in the Environment
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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