Arid lands comprise vast regions of terrestrial land, highlighting the importance of understanding their role in the global carbon cycle. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Prosopis velutina (mesquite), Larrea tridentata (creosote) and a combination of Bouteloua barbata, Bouteloua aristidoides, Aristida adscensionis, and some Cynodon dactylon (mixed grass) vegetation types on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and quality in an arid, hyperthermic ecosystem of southern Arizona. This was accomplished by quantifying vegetation type control over: (i) local scale SOC stocks; (ii) soil aggregate stability; (iii) SOC turnover and microbial community composition; (iv) the distribution of SOC in physically defined fractions; and (v) the thermal nature and composition of SOC. The results from this study demonstrated significant variation in SOC dynamics and quality between vegetation with potential feedbacks to SOC sequestration of atmospheric CO₂.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/193315 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | White II, David Allen |
| Contributors | Rasmussen, Craig, Rasmussen, Craig, Chorover, Jon, Walworth, James |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Thesis |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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