Missing the input: the underrepresentation of plant physiology in global soil carbon research

Abstract

Plant processes regulating the quantity and quality of soil organic carbon inputs such as photosynthesis, above- and below-ground plant growth, and root exudation are integral to our understanding of soil carbon dynamics. However, based on a bibliometric analysis including more than 55 000 scientific papers, we found that plant physiology has been severely underrepresented in global soil organic carbon research. Less than 10 % of peer-reviewed soil organic carbon research published in the last century addressed plant physiological processes relevant to soil carbon inputs. Similarly, plant physiology was overlooked by the overwhelming majority (>90 %) of the peer-reviewed literature investigating linkages between soil organic carbon, climate change, and land use and land management. These findings show that our understanding of both soil carbon dynamics and the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems is largely built on research that neglects the fundamental processes underlying organic carbon inputs. We maintain that the active engagement of plant scientists in soil carbon research is imperative for shedding light on this blind spot. Long-term interdisciplinary research will be essential for developing a comprehensive perspective of soil carbon dynamics and informing and designing effective policies that support soil carbon sequestration.