Function of Wildfire-Deposited Pyrogenic Carbon in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Pingree, Melissa R. A.; DeLuca, Thomas H.

doi:10.3389/fenvs.2017.00053

Cited by 41 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Biomass burning transfers carbon from fast-cycling (atmospherebiosphere) pools to more slowly cycling soil and sedimentary reservoirs 5 , creating a long-term carbon sink 6,7 . Due to its aromatic structure, a substantial fraction of BC decomposes slowly 8,9 , and can persist in soils for hundreds to thousands of years 5,10 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Global-scale evidence for the refractory nature of riverine black carbon

et al. 2018

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Wildfires and incomplete combustion of fossil fuel produce large amounts of black carbon. Black carbon production and transport are essential components of the carbon cycle. Constraining estimates of black carbon exported from land to ocean is critical, given ongoing changes in land use and climate, which affect fire occurrence and black carbon dynamics. Here, we present an inventory of the concentration and radiocarbon content (Δ 14C) of particulate black carbon for 18 rivers around the globe. We find that particulate black carbon accounts for about 15.8 ± 0.9% of river particulate organic carbon, and that fluxes of particulate black carbon co-vary with river-suspended sediment, indicating that particulate black carbon export is primarily controlled by erosion. River particulate black carbon is not exclusively from modern sources but is also aged in intermediate terrestrial carbon pools in several high-latitude rivers, with ages of up to 17,000 14C years. The flux-weighted 14C average age of particulate black carbon exported to oceans is 3,700 ± 400 14C years. We estimate that the annual global flux of particulate black carbon to the ocean is 0.017 to 0.037 Pg, accounting for 4 to 32% of the annually produced black carbon. When buried in marine sediments, particulate black carbon is sequestered to form a long-term sink for CO2.

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confidence: 99%

Global-scale evidence for the refractory nature of riverine black carbon

et al. 2018

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“…However, although the present study reports findings for blanket bog peatlands, the general link between fire impacting C storage via peat properties and pyrogenic C (i.e., charcoal) is of general concern; nearly all biomes burn naturally over longer time scales (in the order of several decades to a few centuries as shown for boreal forests by Kelly et al., and also summarised for peatlands by Leifeld et al., ) and many areas under agricultural cultivation are burnt intentionally. However, the functional role of charcoal is still little understood (Pingree & DeLuca, ) and SOC models do not include the here observed burning impacts on soil properties (i.e., bulk density), C compounds (i.e., charcoal) and thus long‐term C storage. Moreover, our findings highlight that these changes have potentially important implications on C cycling via eco‐hydrological feedbacks, for example on water‐holding capacity due to changes in BD, but also via soil biota, potentially affecting microbial communities and decomposer activity (Lehmann et al., ) due to so far unknown interactions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peatland carbon stocks and burn history: Blanket bog peat core evidence highlights charcoal impacts on peat physical properties and long‐term carbon storage

Heinemeyer

Asena

Burns

et al. 2018

Geography and Environment

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Peatlands are globally important carbon stores, yet both natural and human impacts can influence peatland carbon accumulation. While changes in climate can alter peatland water tables leading to changes in peat decomposition, managed burning of vegetation has also been claimed to reduce peat accumulation. Particularly in the UK, blanket bog peatlands are rotationally burned to encourage heather re‐growth on grouse shooting estates. However, the evidence of burning impacts on peat carbon stocks is very limited and contradictory. We assessed peat carbon accumulation over the last few hundred years in peat cores from three UK blanket bog sites under rotational grouse moor burn management. High resolution (0.5 cm) peat core analysis included dating based on spheroidal carbonaceous particles, determining fire frequency based on macro‐charcoal counts and assessing peat properties such as carbon content and bulk density. All sites showed considerable net carbon accumulation during active grouse moor management periods. Averaged over the three sites, burns were more frequent, and carbon accumulation rates were also higher, over the period since 1950 than in the period 1700–1950. Carbon accumulation rates during the periods 1950–2015 and 1700–1850 were greater on the most frequently burnt site, which was linked to bulk density and carbon accumulation rates showing a positive relationship with charcoal abundance. Charcoal input from burning was identified as a potentially crucial component in explaining reported differences in burning impacts on peat carbon accumulation, as assessed by carbon fluxes or stocks. Both direct and indirect charcoal impacts on decomposition processes are discussed to be important factors, namely charcoal production converting otherwise decomposable carbon into an inert carbon pool, increasing peat bulk density, altering peat moisture and possibly negative impacts on soil microbial activity. This study highlights the value of peat core records in understanding management impacts on peat accumulation and carbon storage in peatlands.

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“…This could occur during ground or smoldering fires which take place below the surface of soils that have woody plant roots and high organic matter in the surface layer. The high sorption capacity of charcoal has been acknowledged in studies by Araya et al [51], Wang et al [124], Zhelezova et al [125], and Pingree and DeLuca [126]. Inyang et al [127], for example, reported Pb, Ni, Cd and Cr absorption capacities by biochar to be 2.4-147, 19.2-33.4, 0.3-39.1, and 3.0-123 mg/g, respectively, highlighting the contribution of this material to soil sorption when present.…”

Section: Fire-induced Changes In Soil Organic Matter Content and The mentioning

confidence: 92%

Fire-Induced Changes in Soil and Implications on Soil Sorption Capacity and Remediation Methods

Ngole‐Jeme

2019

Applied Sciences

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Vegetation changes caused by fire events are visible instantly but changes in soils are less apparent, and could be short-term, long-term or permanent in nature. Research has shown that soils undergo changes in their mineralogical, geochemical, physico-chemical and biological properties after a fire event that may vary depending on the intensity and duration of the fire, and the properties of the soil. Some of these properties make significant contributions towards soil’s ability to sorb contaminants. Changes in these properties could affect soil sorption complex and the effectiveness of remediation methods used to clean these soils when contaminated. This review synthesizes available information on fire-induced changes in soil properties affecting soil sorption and the factors which dictate these changes. The implications of changes in these properties on the soil’s natural attenuation capacity and choice of remediation method to clean up fire-affected contaminated soils are also discussed.

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Function of Wildfire-Deposited Pyrogenic Carbon in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Cited by 41 publications

References 84 publications

Global-scale evidence for the refractory nature of riverine black carbon

Global-scale evidence for the refractory nature of riverine black carbon

Peatland carbon stocks and burn history: Blanket bog peat core evidence highlights charcoal impacts on peat physical properties and long‐term carbon storage

Fire-Induced Changes in Soil and Implications on Soil Sorption Capacity and Remediation Methods

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