New review paper on isotopic C signatures of soil carbon profiles

The ẟ¹³C signatures of soil organic carbon are powerful indicators and tracers of C fluxes through soils and of transformation processes within soils. Depth gradients of ẟ¹³C can be considered as their archive. However, many different drivers and processes impact ẟ¹³C signatures of soil C simultaneously, thus hampering their interpretation. In this new review paper, we summarize the current knowledge about drivers, processes and C sources determining the δ¹³C signatures of organic matter along soil profiles. External drivers, such as climatic and atmospheric changes, affect the ẟ¹³C signature of C inputs, and have stronger and increasing influence on ẟ¹³C gradients in soil profiles compared to soil internal processes.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06328-5