Pyrogenic organic matter and litter decomposition using isotope tracing-data

Abstract

The use of dual 13C- and 15N-labeled leaf litter and pyrogenic organic matter in decomposition studies is a powerful method for identifying the amount, location, and transformation of organic matter inputs to the soil. The data reported here derive from the experiment described in Soong et al. 2015 and Soong et al. 2016. The experiment was designed: 1) to trace the fate of C and N from dual labeled decomposing Andropogon gerardii leaf litter and pyrogenic organic matter into the soil and roots; 2) to identify the microbial and nematode community composition and utilization of the isotopically labeled substrates over the course of 11 months.