Transfer of litter-derived N to soil mineral-organic associations: Evidence from decadal 15N tracer experiments

We present a conceptual model of OM and N flow through soil mineral-organic associations, which accounts for changes in density, dynamics and chemistry of the isolated structures. It suggests that microbial reworking of OM entrapped within aggregates (1.65-2.4 g/cm3) causes the gradient of aggregate packing and, further on, controls the flow of litter-derived N through aggregates. For associations with denser material (>2.4 g/cm3), mineralogy determines the density of the association, the type of patchy OM attached to mineral surfaces and controls the extent of litter-derived N incorporation.