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Comment on "Fire-Derived Charcoal Causes Loss of Forest Humus"

Submitted by Erin Rasmussen on April 22, 2009 - 12:20pm
Last updated April 22, 2009

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Johannes Lehmann; Sohi, Saran

Source:

Science, Volume 321, Number 5894, p.1295c- (2008)

URL:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5894/1295c

Abstract:

Wardle et al. (Brevia, 2 May 2008, p. 629) reported that fire-derived charcoal can promote loss of forest humus and belowground carbon (C). However, C loss from charcoal-humus mixtures can be explained not only by accelerated loss of humus but also by loss of charcoal. It is also unclear whether such loss is related to mineralization to carbon dioxide or to physical export.