Soil physical factors as limiting agents in natural soil organic matter decomposition

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To understand how the terrestrial-atmospheric carbon balance may shift in the face of climate change, it is critical to evaluate soil organic matter response to changes in the physical and biologic environment. Laboratory incubations are frequently used to quantify optimal organic matter decomposition in response to driving factors (typically temperature), but many other factors contribute to the real-world response to climate, vegetation and land use changes. Of particular importance are the limiting physical factors related to oxygen diffusion rates and soil moisture, which help to protect soil carbon from aerobic decomposition at high latitudes. Other limiting factors may include compaction, particle aggregation and leaching of labile carbon. Physically-based field approaches are sorely needed to help establish real-world (rather than theoretical) responses to climate change.