Schematic representation of the effect of water erosion and deposition on soil OC stabilization and loss processes (IMAGE)

European Geosciences Union

Schematic representation of the effect of water erosion and deposition on soil OC stabilization and loss processes

Caption

Transport in runoff: detachment and transport can shift OC from a protected state in aggregates to an available state where it mineralizes more rapidly. Burial: the deposition of eroded OC moves OC into a low-mineralization context and can also enhance protection via aggregation. Subsoil mixing: at sites of erosion new OC formation from new vegetation inputs into exposed subsoil by erosion may replace some of the eroded. OC. Net primary production (NPP) feedback: erosion and deposition may affect the nutrient and soil depth status (and hence soil fertility) as well as the environmental factors that control OC input versus output.

Credit

Van Oost, K. and Six, J.: Reconciling the paradox of soil organic carbon erosion by water, Biogeosciences, 20, 635–646, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-635-2023, 2023.

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