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Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Interactions and Biosphere-Atmosphere Exchange of Nitrous Oxide and Methane

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Recarbonization of the Biosphere

Abstract

Carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems and here specifically in soils is currently discussed as a potential strategy to contribute to reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. However, increases in soil C stocks may also have adverse effects on the exchange of greenhouse gases (GHGs) between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. In view of the unprecedented perturbation of the global nitrogen (N) cycle, increases in soil C stocks and the ongoing saturation of terrestrial ecosystems with reactive forms of N (Nr) may result in a stimulation of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. These largely unexplored ecosystem C-N interactions and their importance for biosphere-atmosphere GHG exchange need to better understood to finally assess the climate benefits of C sequestration in soils.

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Abbreviations

NH3 :

ammonia

NH +4 :

ammonium

C:

Carbon

CO2 :

carbon dioxide

N2 :

dinitrogen

GHGs:

greenhouse gases

CH4 :

methane

NO −3 :

nitrate

NO:

nitric oxide

N:

nitrogen

N2O:

nitrous oxide

Nr:

reactive forms of N

SOC:

soil organic carbon pools

SOM:

soil organic matter

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Acknowledgments

We thank the German Science Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) for generously funding the work of Michael Dannenmann through contract number DA 1217/2-1. This work is a contribution to the EU funded integrated project NitroEurope.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    Klaus Butterbach-Bahl

  2. Institute of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 53/54, 79110, Freiburg, Germany

    Michael Dannenmann

Authors
  1. Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
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  2. Michael Dannenmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Klaus Butterbach-Bahl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. OARDC, Carbon Management &, Ohio State University, Coffey Road 2021, Columbus, 43210, Ohio, USA

    Rattan Lal

  2. , Global Contract for Sustainability, IASS Inst. for Adv. Sust. Studies, Berliner Str. 130, Potsdam, 14467, Brandenburg, Germany

    Klaus Lorenz

  3. , Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany

    Reinhard F. Hüttl

  4. , Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg 309G, Potsdam, 14473, Brandenburg, Germany

    Bernd Uwe Schneider

  5. Walter-Flex-Str. 3, Bonn, 53113, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Joachim von Braun

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Butterbach-Bahl, K., Dannenmann, M. (2012). Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Interactions and Biosphere-Atmosphere Exchange of Nitrous Oxide and Methane. In: Lal, R., Lorenz, K., Hüttl, R., Schneider, B., von Braun, J. (eds) Recarbonization of the Biosphere. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4159-1_19

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