Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere
Abstract The majority of soil carbon (C) is stored in organic matter associated with reactive minerals. These mineral-organic associations (MOAs) inhibit microbial and enzymatic access to organic matter, suggesting that organic C within MOAs is resistant to decomposition. However, plant roots and rh...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61273-4 |
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| author | Tobias Bölscher Zoe G. Cardon Mariela Garcia Arredondo Stéphanie Grand Gabriella Griffen Rachel Hestrin Josephine Imboden Floriane Jamoteau Emily M. Lacroix Sherlynette Pérez Castro Per Persson William J. Riley Marco Keiluweit |
| author_facet | Tobias Bölscher Zoe G. Cardon Mariela Garcia Arredondo Stéphanie Grand Gabriella Griffen Rachel Hestrin Josephine Imboden Floriane Jamoteau Emily M. Lacroix Sherlynette Pérez Castro Per Persson William J. Riley Marco Keiluweit |
| author_sort | Tobias Bölscher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The majority of soil carbon (C) is stored in organic matter associated with reactive minerals. These mineral-organic associations (MOAs) inhibit microbial and enzymatic access to organic matter, suggesting that organic C within MOAs is resistant to decomposition. However, plant roots and rhizosphere microbes are known to transform minerals through dissolution and exchange reactions, implying that MOAs in the rhizosphere can be dynamic. Here we identify key drivers, mechanisms, and controls of MOA disruption in the rhizosphere and present a new conceptual framework for the vulnerability of soil C within MOAs. We introduce a vulnerability spectrum that highlights how MOAs characteristic of certain ecosystems are particularly susceptible to specific root-driven disruption mechanisms. This vulnerability spectrum provides a framework for critically assessing the importance of MOA disruption mechanisms at the ecosystem scale. Comprehensive representation of not only root-driven MOA formation, but also disruption, will improve model projections of soil C-climate feedbacks and guide the development of more effective soil C management strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-28866ca22ca24ba092db8d9cb38b6452 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-28866ca22ca24ba092db8d9cb38b64522025-08-20T03:46:23ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-61273-4Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphereTobias Bölscher0Zoe G. Cardon1Mariela Garcia Arredondo2Stéphanie Grand3Gabriella Griffen4Rachel Hestrin5Josephine Imboden6Floriane Jamoteau7Emily M. Lacroix8Sherlynette Pérez Castro9Per Persson10William J. Riley11Marco Keiluweit12Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR EcoSysThe Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological LaboratoryYale Center for Natural Carbon CaptureInstitute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of LausanneStockbridge School of Agriculture, University of MassachusettsStockbridge School of Agriculture, University of MassachusettsInstitute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of LausanneInstitute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of LausanneInstitute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of LausanneThe Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological LaboratoryCentre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund UniversityClimate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryInstitute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of LausanneAbstract The majority of soil carbon (C) is stored in organic matter associated with reactive minerals. These mineral-organic associations (MOAs) inhibit microbial and enzymatic access to organic matter, suggesting that organic C within MOAs is resistant to decomposition. However, plant roots and rhizosphere microbes are known to transform minerals through dissolution and exchange reactions, implying that MOAs in the rhizosphere can be dynamic. Here we identify key drivers, mechanisms, and controls of MOA disruption in the rhizosphere and present a new conceptual framework for the vulnerability of soil C within MOAs. We introduce a vulnerability spectrum that highlights how MOAs characteristic of certain ecosystems are particularly susceptible to specific root-driven disruption mechanisms. This vulnerability spectrum provides a framework for critically assessing the importance of MOA disruption mechanisms at the ecosystem scale. Comprehensive representation of not only root-driven MOA formation, but also disruption, will improve model projections of soil C-climate feedbacks and guide the development of more effective soil C management strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61273-4 |
| spellingShingle | Tobias Bölscher Zoe G. Cardon Mariela Garcia Arredondo Stéphanie Grand Gabriella Griffen Rachel Hestrin Josephine Imboden Floriane Jamoteau Emily M. Lacroix Sherlynette Pérez Castro Per Persson William J. Riley Marco Keiluweit Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere Nature Communications |
| title | Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere |
| title_full | Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere |
| title_fullStr | Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere |
| title_short | Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere |
| title_sort | vulnerability of mineral organic associations in the rhizosphere |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61273-4 |
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