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Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
Published on: June 4, 2021
Important role of Fe oxides in global soil carbon stabilization and stocks
Nan Jia1,2,3,4, Lei Li5,6,7,8, Hui Guo9
1Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
Abstract:
Iron (Fe) oxides can interact with soil organic carbon (SOC) to form Fe-bound organic carbon (OC-Fe), which strongly promotes SOC protection, mitigating global climate change. However, the global patterns and factors controlling OC-Fe are unclear. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 3,395 globally distributed soil profiles to reveal the role of Fe-Al oxides in global soil carbon stabilization and stocks. The global OC-Fe stock in topsoil is 233 PgC, accounting for 33 ± 15% of the total SOC stock. A substantial OC-Fe deficit (difference between OC-Fe and OC-Femax) was observed at the equator and at mid-latitudes. Our findings suggest that mineral factors should be incorporated into soil carbon models to improve model predictions. Although there are uncertainties in current OC-Fe extraction method, the global distribution of OC-Fe and OC-Femax constitutes a vital resource for future research targeting carbon cycling issues and offers innovative strategies for global soil carbon sequestration initiatives.
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