Aluminous clay and pedogenic Fe oxides modulate aggregation and related carbon contents in soils of the humid tropics

Abstract

Abstract. Aggregation affects a wide range of physical and biogeochemical soil properties with positive feedbacks on soil carbon storage. For weathered tropical soils, aluminous clays (kaolinite and gibbsite) and pedogenic Fe (oxyhydr)oxides (goethite and hematite; termed Fe oxides) have been suggested as important building units for aggregates. However, as both secondary aluminosilicates and Fe oxides are part of the clay-sized fraction it is hard to separate, how certain mineral phases modulate aggregation, and what consequences this has for organic carbon (OC) persistence after land-use change. We selected topsoils with unique mineralogical compositions in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania under forest and cropland. Soils are varying in contents of aluminous clay and Fe oxides. Across the mineralogical combinations, we determined the aggregate size distribution, aggregate stability, OC contents of aggregate size fractions as well as changes in aggregation and OC contents under forest and cropland land use. We found the soil aggregation patterns (high level of macroaggregation and aggregate stability) more similar than different among mineralogical combinations. Yet, an aluminous clay content > 250 g kg−1 in combination with pedogenic Fe contents 4 mm. In contrast, a pedogenic Fe content > 60 g kg−1 in combination with aluminous clay content of