Opening the Black Box: Compound-Specific Radiocarbon Analysis to Determine the Drivers of Soil Carbon Persistence

Executive Summary

We will separate soil organic carbons into distinct compound classes, measure their radiocarbon content, and determine their differential persistence in soil to probe the interaction between plant carbon inputs, microbial processing, and mineral stabilization. This research will provide knowledge necessary to advance development of negative carbon emission technologies such as sequestration.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Finstad, Kari F., Erin Nuccio, Katherine Grant, Taylor Broek, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, and Karis McFarlane. "What are Soil Microbes Eating? Novel Methods for Determining the Age of Microbially Utilized Soil Carbon." Poster presentation. 24th Radiocarbon International Conference. Zurich, Switzerland. Sept. 11-16, 2022.

Grant, Katherine E., Marisa Respash, Kari Finstad, Taylor Broek, and Karis McFarlane. "Divergence of Compound Class Persistence in a California Grassland Soil." Poster presentation. 24th Radiocarbon International Conference, Zurich, Switzerland. Sept. 11-16, 2022.

McFarlane, Karis J., Stefania Mambelli, Rachel Porras, Daniel Wiedemeier, Michael Schmidt, Todd Dawson, and Margaret Torn. "Old-Growth Forest and Adjacent Prairie Show Contrasting Soil Carbon Properties Not Linked to Aboveground Litter Input and Chemistry." Poster presentation. 24th Radiocarbon International Conference, Zurich, Switzerland. September 11-16, 2022.