How does edaphic context affect soil organic matter persistence?

<p>European and Flemish climate-change policies aim to enhance carbon (C) storage in soils of conservation areas, including <span lang="EN-US">natural areas such as forests, grasslands and wetlands</span>. Soil <span lang="EN-US">capability and condition </span>however may impact C persistence and material cycles in soils, and therefore the sustainability of this policy effort, by making soil C stocks more vulnerable to climatic anomalies, shocks and disturbances. <span lang="EN-US">Edaphic limitations in terms of nutrients, acidity, temperature or moisture availability have </span>been shown to affect soil C persistence, but processes behind this effect remain elusive and poorly quantified.</p> <p>In this contribution, we <span lang="EN-US">therefore present several case studies in western European forests and wetlands, where we assess how </span>the molecular composition of several soil organic matter fractions <span lang="EN-US">varies </span>along gradient<span lang="EN-US">s</span> of <span lang="EN-US">soil cover, edaphic conditions and </span>perturbation intensity<span lang="EN-US">. Furthermore, by comparing different fractions and markers, we evaluate the suitability of different methods to evaluate changes in soil carbon dynamics, as a tool to predict the potential </span>impact of <span lang="EN-US">anthropogenic stresses and </span>management interventions<span lang="EN-US"> on soil carbon persistence</span>.</p>