Theory 105/Soil Science
Respiration Is a Carbon Ratio
The claim
Soil respiration is set by the ratio of labile to recalcitrant carbon rather than by total carbon.
01The mechanism
Microbes respire accessible carbon first; total stock includes fractions that turnover over centuries and contribute little to flux.
02Predictions
- P1Respiration should track the ratio.
- P2Total carbon should mispredict.
03Refutation
Respiration tracking total carbon would remove the fraction term.