Stability and biodegradability of organic matter from Arctic soils of Western Siberia: insights from 13C-NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis

• Published in: Solid earth (Göttingen) Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 153 - 165
• Main Authors: Ejarque, E, Abakumov, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gottingen Copernicus GmbH 01-01-2016; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Acidic soils; Aliphatic compounds; Ambient temperature; Analytical methods; Arctic zone; Aromaticity; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Carbon; Carbon 13; Carbon content; Chemical composition; Climate; Climate change; Climate effects; Composition; Decomposition; Earth science; Empirical analysis; Functional groups; Global warming; Homogeneity; Humic acids; Humification; Low level; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Mineralization; Molecular weight; NMR; NMR spectroscopy; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organic matter; Organic soils; Permafrost; Quality; Sensitivity; Soil; Soil analysis; Soil depth; Soil organic matter; Soil stability; Soils; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Vegetation; Yamal; Arctic region; Siberia; Russia
• ISSN: 1869-9510; 1869-9529
• DOI: 10.5194/se-7-153-2016

Arctic soils contain large amounts of organic matter which, globally, exceed the amount of carbon stored in vegetation biomass and in the atmosphere. Recent studies emphasise the potential sensitivity for this soil organic matter (SOM) to be mineralised when faced with increasing ambient temperatures. In order to better refine the predictions about the response of SOM to climate warming, there is a need to increase the spatial coverage of empirical data on SOM quantity and quality in the Arctic area. This study provides, for the first time, a characterisation of SOM from the Gydan Peninsula in the Yamal Region, Western Siberia, Russia. On the one hand, soil humic acids and their humification state were characterised by measuring the elemental composition and diversity of functional groups using solid-state 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Also, the total mineralisable carbon was measured. Our results indicate that there is a predominance of aliphatic carbon structures, with a minimal variation of their functional-group composition both regionally and within soil depth. This vertical homogeneity and low level of aromaticity reflects the accumulation in soil of lowly decomposed organic matter due to cold temperatures. Mineralisation rates were found to be independent of SOM quality, and to be mainly explained solely by the total carbon content. Overall, our results provide further evidence on the sensitivity that the soils of Western Siberia may have to increasing ambient temperatures and highlight the important role that this region can play in the global carbon balance under the effects of climate warming.