Recalcitrance of lichen and moss litters increases soil carbon storage on permafrost
- Author:
- Fujii K. & Hayakawa C.
- Year:
- 2022
- Journal:
- Plant and Soil
- Pages:
- 472: 595–608
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05273-5
Aims Climate warming is predicted to increase permafrost
degradation and soil carbon (C) loss, while
changes in microrelief and vegetation cover can also
influence soil C storage at local scale. Black spruce
forests develop lichen/moss-covered organic mounds
on permafrost. Recalcitrance of lichen and moss litters,
as well as cold climate, is hypothesized to
increase C storage in hummocky soils.
Methods We compared the decomposition rates of
lichen and moss litters, spruce root litter, and cellulose
at hummocky clayey soils, non-hummocky
clayey soils, and non-hummocky sandy soils in northwest
Canadian subarctic.
Results Lichen/moss-covered hummocky clayey
soils displayed greater C stocks than non-hummocky
clayey and sandy soils. Lichen and moss litters
decomposed more slowly than did spruce root litter and cellulose. Recalcitrant litter inputs of lichen and
moss contributed to greater C stocks of hummocky
clayey soils, compared to non-hummocky clayey and
sandy soils. Lower temperature dependency of lichen
and moss litter decomposition, compared to vascular
plant litter, suggests stronger resistance of lichen and
moss litters to decomposition.
Conclusion Permafrost degradation by climate
warming would reduce hummocky microrelief covered
by lichen and moss, major contributors to soil C,
and decrease the high potential for C storage of black
spruce forests on permafrost.
Keywords: Active layer · Decomposition · Gelisol ·
Hummocky soil · Soil organic matter.
- Id:
- 34292
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Saturday, 09 April 2022 17:34