Articles | Volume 12, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-855-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-855-2026
Original research article
 | 
11 Sep 2026
Original research article |  | 11 Sep 2026

Differences in organic carbon fractions and stability explain limited accumulation in loam and sandy loam under greenhouse conditions

Boyuan Tan, Lu Yang, Xun Xiao, Chunji Li, Jing Tan, Ning An, Lingxuan Meng, Yanli Yi, Fengkui Qian, Na Li, Xue Liu, Song Li, and Wei Han

Cited articles

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Angst, G., Mueller, K. E., Castellano, M. J., Vogel, C., Wiesmeier, M., and Mueller, C. W.: Unlocking complex soil systems as carbon sinks: multi-pool management as the key, Nat. Commun., 14, 2967, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38700-5, 2023. 
Beillouin, D., Corbeels, M., Demenois, J., Berre, D., Boyer, A., Fallot, A., Feder, F., and Cardinael, R.: A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene, Nat. Commun., 14, 3700, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39338-z, 2023. 
Christy, I., Moore, A., Myrold, D., and Kleber, M.: A mechanistic inquiry into the applicability of permanganate oxidizable carbon as a soil health indicator, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 87, 1083–1095, https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20569, 2023. 
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Short summary
In greenhouses, long-term manure application does not always lead to lasting soil carbon. We found that loam and sandy loam store carbon in very different ways. Loam continuously converts particulate carbon into stable forms, while sandy loam relies on short-lived, easily lost carbon. These results indicate that long-term carbon storage depends on soil composition and mineral properties, providing guidance for smarter manure use in sustainable farming.
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