Reading tea leaves worldwide: Decoupled drivers of initial litter decomposition mass-loss rate and stabilization

The breakdown of plant material fuels soil functioning and biodiversity. Currently, process understanding of global decomposition patterns and the drivers of such patterns are hampered by the lack of coherent large-scale datasets. We buried 36,000 individual litterbags (tea bags) worldwide and found an overall negative correlation between initial mass-loss rates and stabilization factors of plant-derived carbon, using the Tea Bag Index (TBI). The stabilization factor quantifies the degree to which easy-to-degrade components accumulate during early-stage decomposition (e.g. by environmental limitations). However, agriculture and an interaction between moisture and temperature led to a decoupling between initial mass-loss rates and stabilization, notably in colder locations. Using TBI improved mass-loss estimates of natural litter compared to models that ignored stabilization. Ignoring the transformation of dead plant material to more recalcitrant substances during early-stage decomposition, and the environmental control of this transformation, could overestimate carbon losses during early decomposition in carbon cycle models

Reading tea leaves worldwide: decoupled drivers of initial litter decomposition mass‐loss rate and stabilization

The breakdown of plant material fuels soil functioning and biodiversity. Currently, process understanding of global decomposition patterns and the drivers of such patterns are hampered by the lack of coherent large‐scale datasets. We buried 36,000 individual litterbags (tea bags) worldwide and found an overall negative correlation between initial mass‐loss rates and stabilization factors of plant‐derived carbon, using the Tea Bag Index (TBI). The stabilization factor quantifies the degree to which easy‐to‐degrade components accumulate during early‐stage decomposition (e.g. by environmental limitations). However, agriculture and an interaction between moisture and temperature led to a decoupling between initial mass‐loss rates and stabilization, notably in colder locations. Using TBI improved mass‐loss estimates of natural litter compared to models that ignored stabilization. Ignoring the transformation of dead plant material to more recalcitrant substances during early‐stage decomposition, and the environmental control of this transformation, could overestimate carbon losses during early decomposition in carbon cycle models

Certezza del diritto e ordinamento canonico. Percorsi di ricerca nel centenario del Codice piobenedettino in memoria di Maria Vismara Missiroli

Il volume raccoglie i saggi scaturiti da un Convegno di studi su "certezza del diritto e codificazione canonica", promosso a Brescia per ricordare il trentesimo anniversario del Codex Iuris Canonici vigente. la decisione di aprire uno spazio di riflessione interdisciplinare i tema muoveva allora dalla consapevolezza che le istanze di rinnovamento dominanti gli snodi della legislazione canonica novecentesca toccassero in misura non irrilevante uno dei nervi scoperti della cultura giuridica contemporanea, quello appunto della certezza del diritto. Una consapevolezza che si è rinnovata nella ricorrenza dell'anno centenario della codificazione piobenedettina e che attribuisce valore confermativo al filo dei tanti pensieri condivisi in quel dialogo cui fu presente anche la collega e amica Maria Vismara Missiroli. A lei, che addentrandosi per prima nello studio delle carte inedite del Codex Iuris Canonici promulgato nel 1917, divenne presto interlocutrice privilegiata nell'itinerario scientifico e via via compagna nella quotidiana avventura del vivere, gli autori tutti dedicano i percorsi di ricerca qui pubblicati

THE POTENTIAL OF γ-RAY SPECTROSCOPY FOR SOIL PROXIMAL SURVEY IN CLAYEY SOILS

Gamma-ray spectroscopy surveys the intensity and distribution of γ-rays emitted from radionuclides of soils and bedrocks. The most important radionuclides of soils and rocks are: 40K, 232Th, 238U and 137Cs, the latter due to Chernobyl burst or radioactive pollution. Distribution and quantity of these radionuclides into the soil is strictly linked to parent material mineralogy and soil cation exchange capacity. The aim of this work is to show the makings of γ-ray spectroscopy proximal survey within experimental fields with clayey soils in western Sicily.The γ-ray spectrometer used for the fieldwork was “The Mole”, made by “The Soil Company”, “Medusa system” and the University of Groningen, from The Netherlands. During the survey of eight experimental fields, 55 soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of particle size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results of the work showed the statistical correlations between soil features and γ-ray data.

Design of a high-resolution and dynamic soil organic carbon monitoring system for agricultural land

International audienc

Preliminary outcomes of EJP SOIL WP6

International audienc

Design of a high-resolution and dynamic soil organic carbon monitoring system for agricultural land

International audienc