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| Titel |
Distribution and Fate of Organic Carbon Deposited in the Floodplain of the Danube National Park |
| VerfasserIn |
M. Graf, T. Schiller, G. Oberheidt, F. Lang |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250028703
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Mineral soils of riverine floodplain systems are characterized by high contents of organic
carbon (OC) in both top and sub soils. Two different mechanisms of OC enrichment are
important in these soils: the sedimentation of allochthonous OC rich material during flood
events and the enrichment of autochthonous derived biomass in soils. The accumulation of
allochthonous OC eroded along the river catchment reveals that floodplain soils act as a sink
for organic carbon.
We have investigated the spatial distribution of organic carbon in floodplain soils
among different vegetation units at 70 sampling plots of the Danube National Park
near Vienna (Austria). Furthermore, a density fractionation of the organic matter is
being carried out with some of the soil samples to gain information on relevant
processes of C storage. We will separate free particulate organic matter (fPOM),
intra-aggregate particulate organic matter (iPOM) and mineral-associated organic matter
(mOM).
Our first results indicate a huge C sequestration potential of the floodplain soils. Stocks of
organic C were up to 20 kg/m2 (0 - 1 m soil depth). No correlations were found between
recent biomass production and the C contents of the soils, proving the high relevance of
erosion and sedimentation for carbon dynamics at our study sites. Results of the C
fractionation, will give insight into the fate of allochthonous organic matter after
sedimentation in the floodplain. |
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