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

Karis McFarlane | 21-ERD-021

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.