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Title: Influence of site and soil properties on the DRIFT spectra of northern cold-region soils

Author
item MATAMALA, ROSER - US Department Of Energy
item Calderon, Francisco
item JASTROW, JULIE - US Department Of Energy
item Fan, Zhaosheng
item HOFFMAN, SCOTT - US Department Of Energy
item MICHAELSON, GARY - University Of Alaska
item MISHRA, UMAKANT - US Department Of Energy
item PING, CHEIN-LU - University Of Alaska

Submitted to: Geoderma
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2017
Publication Date: 6/5/2017
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5685262
Citation: Matamala, R., Calderon, F.J., Jastrow, J., Fan, Z., Hoffman, S., Michaelson, G., Mishra, U., Ping, C. 2017. Influence of site and soil properties on the DRIFT spectra of northern cold-region soils. Geoderma. 305:80-91. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.05.014.

Interpretive Summary: Northern latitudes contain permafrost soils which can have large amounts of carbon that is preserved due to wet and cold conditions. However the potential thawing and decomposition of this large pool of carbon is unknown. Traditional methods of assessing soil carbon decomposition are laborious and take a long time to yield results. Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy is an economical and rapid laboratory analysis for soil carbon quality and quantity. In this study, we studied the possibility of using infrared spectra to determine carbon decomposition state in Arctic tundra soils.

Technical Abstract: We investigated the influence of site characteristics and soil properties on the chemical composition of organic matter in soils collected from a latitudinal transect across Alaska through analysis of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform mid infrared (MidIR) spectra of bulk soils. The study included 119 soil samples collected from 28 sites including boreal forest, tundra and grassland ecosystems. Organic, mineral, and cryoturbated soil horizons from a variety of depths and soil conditions were included in the study. We found that organic matter chemistry as well as site and soil properties exerted a strong influence on the MidIR spectra. The spectra were very sensitive to the decomposition state of soil organic matter (SOM) as shown by MidIR differences among different organic horizons (Oi, Oe and Oa). We found differences in peak intensity and area for several spectral bands when comparing Oi and Oa horizons. The Oi horizons had peaks at 3406, 2923-5, 2852-4, 1159-60 and 1052-60 cm-1 that were greater than Oa horizons, suggesting that Oi horizons contained greater abundance of labile residues and phenolic-OH compounds, aliphatic compounds (waxes, lipids and fats), and carbohydrates. In contrast, Oa horizons had a greater presence of amide groups (possibly from microbial cells), aromatics, C=C bonds, carboxylates and carboxylic acids. Another significant factor differentiating the horizons was the incorporation of clays and silicates into the decomposing organic matter of Oa. In addition, we found that MidIR spectra were related to many site/soil attributes including land cover type, parent material, and related factors, such as permafrost presence/absence, water permeability, soil depth, bulk density, cation exchange capacity, and pH. We identified specific bands that might be used in future studies to quickly estimate the total organic carbon (TOC), inorganic carbon, total nitrogen (TN), and C: N of organic and mineral soils from northern latitudes using MidIR analysis. Our results show that the information contained in MidIR spectra of bulk soil integrates SOM chemical composition with site environmental and soil conditions that influence SOM degradation state. The observed relationships also highlight the potential of linking information derived from MidIR to soil forming factors and SOM decomposition state.