Fire is an important ecological feature across temperate forests, yet characteristics of the coast redwood fire regime remain uncertain due to generally few fire histories. This study examines legacies of fire in redwood forests in northern California through radiocarbon dating and quantification of soil macro-charcoal, soil carbon and pyrogenic carbon in old growth redwood stands. We sampled soils in the Headwaters Forest Reserve, a protected fragment of old growth redwood in Humboldt County, California. Radiocarbon dates from macro-charcoal indicate fire events occurring a maximum of 6,840 calibrated years BP, predating existing records. Composite 14C dates show increased fire activity within the last 1,000 years in synchrony with existing dendrochronological records. Soil C averaged 928 g/m2, of which a high proportion was pyrogenic C (15-30%). Information from this multi-proxy reconstruction clarifies our understanding of the nature of coast redwood fires, contributing to ongoing discussions of coast redwood fire management.

The contribution of energy from biomass sources is projected to increase in Britain to assist in meeting renewable energy targets and reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. With increasing concerns over the sustainability of food crop-based biofuels, purpose-grown lignocellulosic biomass crops such as Miscanthus and short rotation coppice (SRC) willow have been promoted as more sustainable feedstocks for the production of heat and electricity as well as for the future production of liquid biofuels. With the introduction of the Energy Crops Scheme, land-use change (LUC) for lignocellulosic biomass crop production has become increasingly common in Britain in recent decades. However, there is limited understanding of the impact this has on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and limited predictability concerning the overall trajectory, magnitude and rate of SOC changes under a range of different conditions. Using a chronosequence of 93 biomass crop plantations in England and Wales, mainly of 1 to 14 years age, empirical models were developed to determine the short term trajectory of SOC stocks following LUC from arable and grassland to SRC willow and Miscanthus production. SOC stocks were calculated for each site using a fixed sampling depth of 30 cm and estimated changes were inferred by comparing with typical pre-change SOC stocks. These results indicate that only LUC from arable crops to SRC willow demonstrated an overall increase in SOC stocks, by an estimated 15.3 ± 2.2 t C ha-1 (± 95% confidence intervals) after 14 years and 68.8 ± 49.4 t C ha-1 after 22 years. LUC from arable crops to Miscanthus and from both arable crops and grassland to SRC willow and Miscanthus demonstrated no overall net effect on SOC stocks. Soil texture and climate data were measured for each site and multivariable models were created to assess the influence of different environmental conditions on SOC trajectory. In most cases the addition of these explanatory variables improved the model fit, and the models provide some preliminary estimates of more region-specific changes in SOC following LUC. Since LUC to biomass crops often causes a loss of SOC, at least in the short term, the potential for pyrogenic carbon (PyC) to ameliorate this effect was investigated. Studies indicate that PyC can interact with and stabilise native SOC, a process termed negative priming, although the potential for PyC to reduce LUC-induced losses of SOC by negative priming has not yet been assessed. Although negative priming has been observed in many studies, most of these are long term incubation experiments which do not account for the impact of environmental weathering of PyC on interactions with native SOC. Here the aim was to assess the impact of environmentally weathered PyC on native SOC mineralisation at different points in LUC from arable crops to SRC willow. Soil was sampled to a 5 cm depth from multiple recently established SRC willow plantations approximately 2 years after amendment with PyC. Cumulative CO2 flux was measured weekly from incubated soil and soil-surface CO2 flux was also measured in the field. The results demonstrate a PyC-induced increase in CO2 flux for the surface 5 cm of soil. However, no net effect on soil-surface CO2 flux was observed in the field. Although the mechanisms for these contrasting effects remain unclear, they do not suggest that PyC can reduce LUC-induced SOC losses through negative priming.

Nos últimos anos o interesse pelo estudo da Terra Preta de Índio (TPI) tem aumentado em razão das suas características únicas em relação aos solos normalmente encontrados na região, como sua maior fertilidade natural. Diversos estudos relatam que a presença do chamado carbono pirogênico na composição das TPIs é a responsável por esta superioridade, entretanto ainda não se sabe se este afeta as propriedades físicas dos solos de TPI. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo comparar o comportamento de propriedades físico-hídricas de solos antrópicos (Terra Preta de Índio) com um solo adjacente por meio da determinação de suas propriedades físicas, e verificar a distribuição do carbono pirogênico entre os diferentes compartimentos da matéria orgânica em solos de TPI e adjacentes. Para este estudo foram coletadas amostras indeformadas em anéis volumétricos e blocos em uma área de TPI e adjacente. As áreas estão localizadas na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará. As propriedades físicas analisadas foram textura, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, curva de retenção da água no solo, condutividade hidráulica saturada, permeabilidade do solo ao ar e estabilidade de agregados. Para verificar o comportamento da matéria orgânica foi realizado o fracionamento físico, onde foram analisados a distribuição do carbono total e pirogênico nas diferentes frações da matéria orgânica. Verificou-se diferença nas duas áreas quanto às propriedades físicas porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, condutividade hidráulica do solo (Ksat), permeabilidade do solo ao ar (Ka), e retenção de água no solo, entretanto não foi possível verificar diferenças na estabilidade de agregados entre as duas áreas. A distribuição da matéria orgânica nas diferentes frações do solo foi distinta nas duas áreas, onde verificou-se que na área de TPI o C no solo foi predominante na fração macroagregados, enquanto que na área adjacente o carbono se localizou em maior quantidade na fração microagregados. Os valores de carbono pirogênico foram maiores na área de TPI do que na área adjacente, demostrando que a matéria orgânica das TPIs apresenta uma composição diferenciada, modificando o comportamento das propriedades físicas dos solos. / In recent years the interest in the study of Terra Preta de Indio or Amazonian Dark Earths (TPI) has increased, especially because of its unique characteristics when related to typical soils of the region, as its higher natural fertility. Several studies have reported that the presence of so-called pyrogenic carbon in its composition is responsible for this superiority, however it is not known if it affects the physical properties of TPI soils. This research aims to compare the behavior of physical and hydraulic properties of anthropic soils (Terra Preta de Indio) to an adjacent soil by determining its physical properties, and evaluating the distribution of the pyrogenic carbon between the different compartments of organic matter for both soils. For this study, undisturbed soil samples were collected in volumetric cylinders and blocks from a TPI and adjacent area. The areas are located in Caxiuanã National Forest, state of Pará, Brazil. The analyzed physical properties were texture, porosity, macro and microporosity, soil water retention curve, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil permeability to air and aggregate stability. A physical fractionation was performed to verify the behavior of organic matter, which analyzed the distribution of the total and pyrogenic carbon in the different fractions of organic matter. There were difference in the two areas regarding the physical properties as total porosity, macro and microporosity, soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), air permeability to soil (Ka), and soil water retention, however it was not possible to see differences in stability aggregates between the two areas. The distribution of organic matter in different soil fractions was different in the two areas, where it was found that in the TPI area, soil carbon was prevalent in the macroaggregates fraction, while the adjacent area had larger amounts in the microaggregates fraction. The values for pyrogenic carbon were higher in the TPI area, showing that the organic matter of TPIs has a different composition which modifies the behavior of physical properties in the soil.

The solid product of pyrolysis, called \"biochar\" (BC) in the context of improving soil properties as part of agronomic or environmental management, also got into focus as a climate mitigation strategy. The researcher investigated the effects of BC on soil attributes, nitrogen (N) use and GHG emissions. In Chapter 1 the origin of BC was commented. In Chapter 2, BC from sugarcane straw was characterized, and its priming on native SC was evaluated with the treatments: (T1) Soil; (T2) BC; (T3) Soil + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T4) Soil + BC 20 Mg ha-1; and (T5) Soil + BC 50 Mg ha-1. In Chapter 3, it was evaluated the combination of BC, filter cake (F) and vinasse (V), in relation to soil attributes and carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The treatments were: (T1) Soil + FC + V; (T2) Soil + FC + V + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Soil + FC + V + BC 20 Mg ha-1; and (T4) Soil + FC + V + BC 50 Mg ha-1. In Chapter 4, the nitrogen (N) use efficiency was investigated in a pot trial under wheat using NH4[15N]O3 and rates of BC, with the treatments: (T1) Soil, with N, no BC; (T2) Soil, with N, BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Soil, with N, BC 20 Mg ha-1; and (T4) Soil, with N, BC 50 Mg ha-1. BC had C and N contents higher compared to the feedstock. Total K, Mg and P also increased. The lowest CO2 fluxes were for BC, and CO2 from soil and soil + BC did not differ. The highest CO2 - C4 was in the first day, and there were no differences in the CO2 - C3. The BC presents characteristics to improve soil attributes. BC stability is an opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions. In Chapter 3, soil pH, P and base contents increased and Al3+ decreased with BC to sandy soil. Impacts of BC on the CEC were higher in sandy soil. Mineral N decreased with BC. Cumulative CO2 in T1 were higher in sandy and clayey soils than the control. T2 and T3 in sandy soil increased CO2 emissions, but T4 did not differ from T1. BC reduced N2O emissions from sandy and clayey soils relative to T1. BC with FC and V affected pH, CEC, P and base contents. However, those effects were higher in sandy soil. The BC supressed N2O from V and FC. In Chapter 4, BC decreased N2O from N fertilization compared to only N fertilizer. T4 had higher tillering and grain yield. Also, T2 to T4 had higher 100-grain weight and shoot. T3 and T4 had the highest N in grains. The application of BC to soil improves N availability and use efficiency, enhances grain yields and reduces N2O from N fertilization. This study opened encouraging perspectives to the evaluation of sugarcane straw BC to improve soil quality and mitigate GHG emissions. / O produto sólido da pirólise, denominado \"biochar\" (BC) no contexto da melhoria nos atributos do solo como parte do manejo agrícola e ambiental, também tem se destacado na mitigação das mudanças climáticas. O pesquisador investigou os efeitos do BC nos atributos do solo, uso do nitrogênio (N) e emissões de GEE. No Cap. 1 comentou-se a origem do BC. No Cap. 2, caracterizou-se o BC de palha de cana-de-açúcar e avaliou-se o potencial de decomposição do C do solo, com os tratamentos: (T1) Solo; (T2) BC; (T3) Solo + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T4) Solo + BC 20 Mg ha-1 (T4); e (T5) Solo + BC 50 Mg ha-1. No Cap. 3, avaliou-se a combinação BC, torta de filtro (TF) e vinhaça (V) em atributos do solo e fluxos de dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano (CH4) e óxido nitroso (N2O) nos tratamentos: (T1) Solo + TF + V; (T2) Solo + TF + V + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Solo + TF + V + BC 20 Mg ha-1; e (T4) Solo + TF + V + BC 50 Mg ha-1. No Cap. 4 investigou-se a eficiência de uso do N num experimento em vasos com trigo usando NH4 [15N]O3 e doses de BC, com os tratamentos: (T1) Solo, com N, sem BC; (T2) Solo, com N, BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Solo, com N, BC 20 Mg ha-1; e (T4) Solo, com N, BC 50 Mg ha-1. Os teores de C e N do BC foram maiores comparado à biomassa. K, Mg e P totais também aumentaram. Os menores fluxos de CO2 foram do BC. O CO2 do solo e solo + BC não diferiram. Observou-se maior CO2 - C4 no primeiro dia de incubação, porém sem diferenças no CO2 - C3. O BC apresenta características para melhorar atributos do solo e reduzir as emissões de CO2. No Cap. 3, pH, P e bases aumentaram e o Al3+ diminuíu com o BC. Os impactos do BC na CTC foram maiores em solo arenoso. O N mineral diminuíu com o BC. O CO2 acumulado no T1 foi maior nos solos arenoso e argiloso comparado ao controle. O T2 e T3 aumentaram o CO2 acumulado do arenoso relativo ao T1, enquanto T4 e T1 não diferiram. O BC reduziu as emissões de N2O pelos solos arenoso e argiloso comparado ao T1. O BC combinado à TF e V afetaram pH, CTC, P e bases do solo arenoso. O BC suprimiu o N2O de solos com V e TF. No Cap. 4, o BC diminuíu as emissões de N2O comparado ao fertilizante N apenas. T4 teve rendimento de grãos superior ao T1. T2 a T4 apresentaram maior peso de 100 grãos e biomassa aérea. T3 e T4 tiveram maior N em grãos. O BC melhora o uso do N, a produção de grãos e reduz o N2O de fertilizante N, abrindo perspectivas para a avaliação do BC de palha de cana-de-açúcar na melhoria da qualidade do solo e mitigar das emissões de GEE.

Nos últimos anos o interesse pelo estudo da Terra Preta de Índio (TPI) tem aumentado em razão das suas características únicas em relação aos solos normalmente encontrados na região, como sua maior fertilidade natural. Diversos estudos relatam que a presença do chamado carbono pirogênico na composição das TPIs é a responsável por esta superioridade, entretanto ainda não se sabe se este afeta as propriedades físicas dos solos de TPI. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo comparar o comportamento de propriedades físico-hídricas de solos antrópicos (Terra Preta de Índio) com um solo adjacente por meio da determinação de suas propriedades físicas, e verificar a distribuição do carbono pirogênico entre os diferentes compartimentos da matéria orgânica em solos de TPI e adjacentes. Para este estudo foram coletadas amostras indeformadas em anéis volumétricos e blocos em uma área de TPI e adjacente. As áreas estão localizadas na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará. As propriedades físicas analisadas foram textura, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, curva de retenção da água no solo, condutividade hidráulica saturada, permeabilidade do solo ao ar e estabilidade de agregados. Para verificar o comportamento da matéria orgânica foi realizado o fracionamento físico, onde foram analisados a distribuição do carbono total e pirogênico nas diferentes frações da matéria orgânica. Verificou-se diferença nas duas áreas quanto às propriedades físicas porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, condutividade hidráulica do solo (Ksat), permeabilidade do solo ao ar (Ka), e retenção de água no solo, entretanto não foi possível verificar diferenças na estabilidade de agregados entre as duas áreas. A distribuição da matéria orgânica nas diferentes frações do solo foi distinta nas duas áreas, onde verificou-se que na área de TPI o C no solo foi predominante na fração macroagregados, enquanto que na área adjacente o carbono se localizou em maior quantidade na fração microagregados. Os valores de carbono pirogênico foram maiores na área de TPI do que na área adjacente, demostrando que a matéria orgânica das TPIs apresenta uma composição diferenciada, modificando o comportamento das propriedades físicas dos solos. / In recent years the interest in the study of Terra Preta de Indio or Amazonian Dark Earths (TPI) has increased, especially because of its unique characteristics when related to typical soils of the region, as its higher natural fertility. Several studies have reported that the presence of so-called pyrogenic carbon in its composition is responsible for this superiority, however it is not known if it affects the physical properties of TPI soils. This research aims to compare the behavior of physical and hydraulic properties of anthropic soils (Terra Preta de Indio) to an adjacent soil by determining its physical properties, and evaluating the distribution of the pyrogenic carbon between the different compartments of organic matter for both soils. For this study, undisturbed soil samples were collected in volumetric cylinders and blocks from a TPI and adjacent area. The areas are located in Caxiuanã National Forest, state of Pará, Brazil. The analyzed physical properties were texture, porosity, macro and microporosity, soil water retention curve, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil permeability to air and aggregate stability. A physical fractionation was performed to verify the behavior of organic matter, which analyzed the distribution of the total and pyrogenic carbon in the different fractions of organic matter. There were difference in the two areas regarding the physical properties as total porosity, macro and microporosity, soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), air permeability to soil (Ka), and soil water retention, however it was not possible to see differences in stability aggregates between the two areas. The distribution of organic matter in different soil fractions was different in the two areas, where it was found that in the TPI area, soil carbon was prevalent in the macroaggregates fraction, while the adjacent area had larger amounts in the microaggregates fraction. The values for pyrogenic carbon were higher in the TPI area, showing that the organic matter of TPIs has a different composition which modifies the behavior of physical properties in the soil.

The solid product of pyrolysis, called \"biochar\" (BC) in the context of improving soil properties as part of agronomic or environmental management, also got into focus as a climate mitigation strategy. The researcher investigated the effects of BC on soil attributes, nitrogen (N) use and GHG emissions. In Chapter 1 the origin of BC was commented. In Chapter 2, BC from sugarcane straw was characterized, and its priming on native SC was evaluated with the treatments: (T1) Soil; (T2) BC; (T3) Soil + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T4) Soil + BC 20 Mg ha-1; and (T5) Soil + BC 50 Mg ha-1. In Chapter 3, it was evaluated the combination of BC, filter cake (F) and vinasse (V), in relation to soil attributes and carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The treatments were: (T1) Soil + FC + V; (T2) Soil + FC + V + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Soil + FC + V + BC 20 Mg ha-1; and (T4) Soil + FC + V + BC 50 Mg ha-1. In Chapter 4, the nitrogen (N) use efficiency was investigated in a pot trial under wheat using NH4[15N]O3 and rates of BC, with the treatments: (T1) Soil, with N, no BC; (T2) Soil, with N, BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Soil, with N, BC 20 Mg ha-1; and (T4) Soil, with N, BC 50 Mg ha-1. BC had C and N contents higher compared to the feedstock. Total K, Mg and P also increased. The lowest CO2 fluxes were for BC, and CO2 from soil and soil + BC did not differ. The highest CO2 - C4 was in the first day, and there were no differences in the CO2 - C3. The BC presents characteristics to improve soil attributes. BC stability is an opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions. In Chapter 3, soil pH, P and base contents increased and Al3+ decreased with BC to sandy soil. Impacts of BC on the CEC were higher in sandy soil. Mineral N decreased with BC. Cumulative CO2 in T1 were higher in sandy and clayey soils than the control. T2 and T3 in sandy soil increased CO2 emissions, but T4 did not differ from T1. BC reduced N2O emissions from sandy and clayey soils relative to T1. BC with FC and V affected pH, CEC, P and base contents. However, those effects were higher in sandy soil. The BC supressed N2O from V and FC. In Chapter 4, BC decreased N2O from N fertilization compared to only N fertilizer. T4 had higher tillering and grain yield. Also, T2 to T4 had higher 100-grain weight and shoot. T3 and T4 had the highest N in grains. The application of BC to soil improves N availability and use efficiency, enhances grain yields and reduces N2O from N fertilization. This study opened encouraging perspectives to the evaluation of sugarcane straw BC to improve soil quality and mitigate GHG emissions. / O produto sólido da pirólise, denominado \"biochar\" (BC) no contexto da melhoria nos atributos do solo como parte do manejo agrícola e ambiental, também tem se destacado na mitigação das mudanças climáticas. O pesquisador investigou os efeitos do BC nos atributos do solo, uso do nitrogênio (N) e emissões de GEE. No Cap. 1 comentou-se a origem do BC. No Cap. 2, caracterizou-se o BC de palha de cana-de-açúcar e avaliou-se o potencial de decomposição do C do solo, com os tratamentos: (T1) Solo; (T2) BC; (T3) Solo + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T4) Solo + BC 20 Mg ha-1 (T4); e (T5) Solo + BC 50 Mg ha-1. No Cap. 3, avaliou-se a combinação BC, torta de filtro (TF) e vinhaça (V) em atributos do solo e fluxos de dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano (CH4) e óxido nitroso (N2O) nos tratamentos: (T1) Solo + TF + V; (T2) Solo + TF + V + BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Solo + TF + V + BC 20 Mg ha-1; e (T4) Solo + TF + V + BC 50 Mg ha-1. No Cap. 4 investigou-se a eficiência de uso do N num experimento em vasos com trigo usando NH4 [15N]O3 e doses de BC, com os tratamentos: (T1) Solo, com N, sem BC; (T2) Solo, com N, BC 10 Mg ha-1; (T3) Solo, com N, BC 20 Mg ha-1; e (T4) Solo, com N, BC 50 Mg ha-1. Os teores de C e N do BC foram maiores comparado à biomassa. K, Mg e P totais também aumentaram. Os menores fluxos de CO2 foram do BC. O CO2 do solo e solo + BC não diferiram. Observou-se maior CO2 - C4 no primeiro dia de incubação, porém sem diferenças no CO2 - C3. O BC apresenta características para melhorar atributos do solo e reduzir as emissões de CO2. No Cap. 3, pH, P e bases aumentaram e o Al3+ diminuíu com o BC. Os impactos do BC na CTC foram maiores em solo arenoso. O N mineral diminuíu com o BC. O CO2 acumulado no T1 foi maior nos solos arenoso e argiloso comparado ao controle. O T2 e T3 aumentaram o CO2 acumulado do arenoso relativo ao T1, enquanto T4 e T1 não diferiram. O BC reduziu as emissões de N2O pelos solos arenoso e argiloso comparado ao T1. O BC combinado à TF e V afetaram pH, CTC, P e bases do solo arenoso. O BC suprimiu o N2O de solos com V e TF. No Cap. 4, o BC diminuíu as emissões de N2O comparado ao fertilizante N apenas. T4 teve rendimento de grãos superior ao T1. T2 a T4 apresentaram maior peso de 100 grãos e biomassa aérea. T3 e T4 tiveram maior N em grãos. O BC melhora o uso do N, a produção de grãos e reduz o N2O de fertilizante N, abrindo perspectivas para a avaliação do BC de palha de cana-de-açúcar na melhoria da qualidade do solo e mitigar das emissões de GEE.

Les sols stockent trois fois plus de carbone que l'atmosphère sous la forme d'un mélange de molécules, la matière organique des sols (MOS). Certaines de ces molécules sont présentes dans le sol depuis des centaines voire des milliers d'années. Trois mécanismes de protection sont utilisés pour expliquer cette persistance à long terme des matières organiques dans les sols : (i) la récalcitrance chimique, (ii) la protection physique dans les agrégats et (iii) la protection physicochimique par adsorption sur les surfaces minérales. Le but de ce projet de thèse est d’améliorer la compréhension de ces processus de protection et de leur importance relative. Mon projet de thèse utilise des échantillons permettant l'accès au carbone persistant : les jachères nues de longue durée (5 sites en Europe). Il s'agit de parcelles maintenues vierges de toute végétation dans lesquelles, au fur et à mesure de la biodégradation, la quantité totale de carbone diminue, entraînant un enrichissement relatif en carbone persistant. La première étude expérimentale de ce travail de thèse vise à tester l'efficacité des méthodes d'oxydation chimique. Les deux réactifs les plus couramment utilisés -l'hypochlorite de sodium NaOCl et le peroxyde d'hydrogène H2O2- ont été testés sur des échantillons de la plus longue jachère nue (Versailles). Il est conclu que les méthodes d'oxydation chimique n'arrivent pas à isoler efficacement un réservoir de carbone persistant à l'échelle du siècle.En termes de mécanismes de persistance, les résultats obtenus montrent que la récalcitrance chimique n'est pas le principal mécanisme de protection. En effet, sur la durée de la jachère nue, la composition chimique de la MOS, caractérisée par spectroscopie NEXAFS, ne présente que peu de changements. Un enrichissement en composés présentant des groupements acides carboxyliques est détecté pour tous les sites testés. Une étude poussée de la persistance spécifique du carbone pyrogénique des sols a aussi été réalisée, ces composés sont actuellement considérés cinq fois plus persistants que le carbone total. Les résultats montrent que le carbone pyrogénique est moins persistant que prévu. En effet, le temps de résidence moyen du carbone pyrogénique obtenu par la méthode BPCA (116 ans) est seulement 1,6 fois supérieur à celui de la MOS (73 ans). L'étude du contrôle minéralogique de la persistance des MOS montre que les argiles contenant du potassium (illite) protègent moins de carbone que les argiles smectitiques. Le rapport C/N décroit avec le temps dans toutes les fractions argiles, ce qui prouve que les composés riches en azote sont préférentiellement préservés. Enfin, la présence de microagrégats dans la fraction grossière des argiles implique la coexistence de deux mécanismes de protection : la protection physique et la protection par adsorption sur les minéraux. / Soils store three times more carbon than the atmosphere, under the form of a complex mixture of molecules called soil organic matter (SOM). Some of these molecules have been standing in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years. Three main mechanisms are invoked to explain this long term carbon persistence in soils, (i) chemical recalcitrance, (ii) physical protection in aggregates and (iii) protection by adsorption on mineral surfaces. One of the major challenges in SOM science is to better understand the relative importance of each mechanism, that is the aim of this PhD project. Here, we use samples from by long term bare fallows (5 sites across Europe). These experimental plots have been kept free of vegetation by manual or chemical weeding for several decades and have been regularly sampled and stored. As the duration of the bare fallow increases, biodegradation occurs and samples get enriched in persistent carbon.First experiments consisted in testing the efficiency of chemical oxidations (two reagent were tested, sodium hypochlorite –NaOCl- and hydrogen peroxide –H2O2) on the longest bare fallow. We concluded that oxidation methods were not able to efficiently isolate a pool of persistent carbon at the centennial timescale. In terms of mechanisms of persistence, the obtained results show that chemical recalcitrance does not seem to be the major mechanism. Indeed, over the duration of the bare fallow, the chemical composition of SOM, as seen by synchrotron based NEXAFS spectroscopy, shows little changes. There is a consistent increase in carboxylics for all sites (12% increase on average) though it is significant for 2 out of the 4 selected sites. We also studied the particular persistence of soil pyrogenic carbon, which is thought to be at least five times more persistent than bulk SOM. Results show that pyrogenic carbon lacks long term persistence. Indeed the BPCA-estimated mean residence time of pyrogenic carbon (116 years) is on average 1.6 times longer than MRT for bulk SOM (73 years). Finally, the study of mineralogical control of the persistence of SOC showed that clay minerals containing potassium (illite) seemed to protect less carbon. As seen by NEXAFS-STXM, more mineral surfaces with very little SOM appear with the duration of bare fallow. C:N ratio decreased in all clay fractions, suggesting a preferential persistence of N-rich compounds. Presence of microaggregates in the coarser clay fraction led to the coexistence of two protection mechanisms: adsorption and physical protection.