Summary & Purpose

Dryland ecosystems are experiencing more variability and extremes in rainfall and disproportionate shifts in plant community composition, both likely to alter soil carbon (C) cycling and storage. Although most studies focus on changes in soil organic C (SOC) pools, inorganic C (SIC) pools in drylands are susceptible to disturbances and may represent an important sink. We report changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC) isotopic values in the top 1 m of soil profiles following ~20 years of experimental manipulation of water availability and vegetation within a cold-desert ecosystem. The changes in C isotopic values correspond to reported changes in SOC and SIC pools relative to ambient controls. We used a split plot design (n = 3) contrasting vegetation types (split plot), either native Artemisia tridentata spp. tridentata (big sagebrush) communities or monocultures of Agropyron cristatum (crested wheatgrass), a non-native bunchgrass, in manipulations of spring/fall (DORM) or summer (GROW) water availability (whole-plot) all stratified by under-plant vs. inter-plant patch microsite. Despite increases in pedogenic SIC pools in inter-plant patches, under crested wheatgrass in DORM treatments, and under sagebrush in GROW treatments, we detected little corresponding change in SIC-δ13C or δ18O values. Average SIC-δ13C or δ18O values were -4.12 and -13.10‰, respectively, and suggest a mixture of atmospheric and respired carbon dioxide (CO2) sources and groundwater HCO3-. Both SIC and SOC-δ13C values were more depleted in GROW treatments (∆13C = -0.10 and -0.5‰ respectively), while SIC-δ18O values were more enriched (∆18O = 0.02‰). SIC-δ13C profiles became more enriched in surface horizons and deleted at depth relative to ambient. SIC- δ18O values were enriched in surface horizons under crested wheatgrass but not sagebrush. We conclude that both change in the timing and availability of water, and vegetation can change SIC storage and potentially the relative mixture of C sources. However, suitable methods for assessing SIC-C sources with changing storage in native soils are lacking and limit our understanding of SIC in the changing global C budget. Further methodological development is required along with long-term experimental manipulations geared for testing the role of SIC in C sequestration on human timescales.

Date of Publication or Submission

9-25-2018

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/reynoldscreek/13/boisestate

Funding Citation

This study was conducted in collaboration and cooperation with the US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, Idaho, the US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Watershed Research Center, Boise, Idaho, and Stoller Newport News Nuclear, Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA with permission from the Idaho National Laboratory. Support for this research was provided in part by a grant from the Idaho State University College of Science & Engineering, a Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grant (#9961-12), Idaho EPSCoR RII via NSF EPS-0814387, and Reynolds Creek CZO Cooperative agreement NSF EAR-1331872 (Kathleen Lohse, Principal Investigator; Nancy Glenn, Co-Principal Investigator; Alejandro Flores, Co-Principal Investigator; Shawn Benner, Co-Principal Investigator; Mark Seyfried, Co-Principal Investigator). Data are available at the criticalzone.org data portal. Every sample associate with the Idaho National Laboratory Ecohydrological Experiment is registered with an International Geo Sample Number through System for Earth Sample Registration (SESAR).

Single Dataset or Series?

Single Dataset

Data Format

.xlsx, .cvs, .txt

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Comments

This research was performed in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, Idaho, the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Watershed Research Center, Boise, Idaho, and the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory. Our appreciation goes out to Roger Blew with Stoller Newport News Nuclear Inc. and the Idaho National Laboratory for access and cooperation. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. USDA is an equal-opportunity provider and employer.

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