Article (Scientific journals)
Lignin signature as a function of land abandonment and erosion in dry luvisols of SE Spain
De Baets, S.; Van Oost, K.; Baumann, K. et al.
2012In Catena, 93, p. 78-86
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Keywords :
Land degradation; Mediterranean; Soil carbon stabilization; Soil organic carbon; Vegetation regeneration; Luvisol; Mediterranean environment; Spain
Abstract :
[en] This study addressed long-term land degradation and regeneration effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) composition. This was done in a context of secondary succession following land abandonment in the Mediterranean region of SE Spain. The effects of land use change and soil erosion on SOC composition were studied by using lignin as a biomarker. To get insight into the evolution of SOC composition along a land use and topographical gradient, differences in lignin contribution to SOC were determined at different soil depths (0-0.1. m, 0.1-0.2. m, 0.2-0.3. m). Three deposition locations, three positions on the hillslope and three zones on top of the hillslope (shoulder) were selected on croplands and fields that were abandoned since 10 and 50. years, respectively. Land use change was identified as a driver for the observed gradients in lignin, SOC and N in these semi-arid ecosystems. Abandoned sites were highest in soil lignin, which could be related to the higher lignin input. For deposition and shoulder positions lignin was less degraded at abandoned sites compared to cultivated sites. On croplands lignin was more degraded at hillslope locations compared to deposition zones. Observed differences in soil lignin quantity were highest for the topsoil (0-0.1. m). For deeper soil, differences are less pronounced. However, no differences were evident for lignin contribution to SOC (mg lignin phenols/g SOC). As modern soil erosion rates are very low in the study area, SOC composition on abandoned fields may be more influenced by present day vegetation and its degradation than by soil erosion. Surprisingly, lignin contribution to SOC was not favored by vegetation recovery either. The higher soil N contents for abandoned fields compared to croplands might explain why lignin is not preferentially preserved on recovered sites. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
De Baets, S.;  Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research (TECLIM), Université catholique de Louvain, Place Louis Pasteur 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Van Oost, K.;  Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research (TECLIM), Université catholique de Louvain, Place Louis Pasteur 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Baumann, K.;  UMR Bioemco (Biogeochimie et Ecologie des Milieux continentaux), INRA, CNRS, UPMC, Bldg Eger, F-78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
Meersmans, Jeroen ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Analyse des risques environnementaux
Vanacker, V.;  Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research (TECLIM), Université catholique de Louvain, Place Louis Pasteur 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Rumpel, C.;  UMR Bioemco (Biogeochimie et Ecologie des Milieux continentaux), INRA, CNRS, UPMC, Bldg Eger, F-78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
Language :
English
Title :
Lignin signature as a function of land abandonment and erosion in dry luvisols of SE Spain
Publication date :
2012
Journal title :
Catena
ISSN :
0341-8162
eISSN :
1872-6887
Publisher :
Elsevier, Netherlands
Volume :
93
Pages :
78-86
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
Université Catholique de Louvain\r\n\r\nFonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS, FNRS\r\n\r\nCollege of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, ESF: 2928
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