Labile fractions of soil organic carbon in mollisols from different climatic regions

Abstract

Characterization of Labile Fractions of Soil Organic Carbon in Mollisols from different climatic regions. The research studied the potential mineralization and characterization of labile SOM of different types of Mollisols: Hapludolls, Argiudolls, Calciustolls, and Haplustolls. Labile C fractions distributed oppositely than total SOC and were the greatest in Calciustolls and the lowest in Hapludolls. The amount of soil microbial biomass C (MBC) was significantly higher in dry than in wet regions. The highest amount of light fraction C was in dry-thermic followed by dry-frigid, and the least amount was in wet regions. Dry regions were able to retain a higher level of labile C than the moist regions, due to a slower annual decomposition rate.