The collection of soil cores and dating via 137C analysis can be used examine soil carbon accumulation/accretion over time. A recent research paper suggests reliable 137C profiles are increasingly difficult to obtain, due to deterioration of 137C peaks, 137C migration in situ and plant assimilation. My question is whether 137C analysis is still considered a valid and widely used approach, particularly in wetland environments.
Well,
Most soil in wet land related to age occurs within the application of 13C and 14C Isotopes.You can match the results obtained from cesium with what you get from the carbon isotope results.
Regards
Dear Kurt, I guess you refer to Drexler et al. 2018 (Article The approaching obsolescence of 137Cs dating of wetland soil...
). They also recommended to measure in addition for instance 210Pb (e.g. MacKenzie et al. 2016;Article Sedimentation and belowground carbon accumulation rates in m...
), which has been used to date sedimentation and carbon burial rates. Thus in combination with total carbon and stable isotope (d13C) measurements 2010Pb dating supports delivery of reliable results. As mentioned by Bayan Hussein changing from C3 to C4 plants and vice versa allows also to study soil carbon turnover.Best regards
Nils
Thank you Bayan and Nils for your insight as well as the citation! Extremely helpful!
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