Prospects and problems of using the methods of geochemistry of stable carbon isotopes in soil studies

Abstract

A review of world investigations into the geochemistry of stable isotopes—a new area for soil science—is presented. Studies of the behavior of stable isotopes in soils are being developed in two major directions: reconstruction of the environmental conditions and indication of the soil processes. Investigations into the reconstruction of the environmental conditions are based on the assumption that the isotopic composition of carbon in the soil humus is inherited from and reflects the isotopic composition of carbon in the corresponding vegetation (the source of soil humus). At the same time, studies into the indication of soil processes are based on the effects of fractionation of carbon isotopes in the course of transformation of carbon compounds. In this case, the isotopic composition of carbon in the soil humus should differ from that in the initial plant material. The analysis of available data suggests that the current state of research does not allow assessing the entire diversity of the effects of isotopic fractionation in soils. New data on the isotopic composition of carbon of soil organic matter and carbonates are being actively accumulated at present. However, it is obvious that the effect of isotopic fractionation should be taken into account in the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions.