生物炭及秸秆对水稻土各密度组分有机碳及微生物的影响

生物炭被认为是土壤碳封存的有效手段,但是关于生物炭对土壤不同密度组分有机碳影响的研究报道很少。以南方稻麦轮作区水稻土为研究对象,通过田间小区试验研究了不施有机物(CK)、玉米秸秆还田(CS)、施用300℃热解生物炭(300BC)、施用400℃热解生物炭(400BC)和施用500℃热解生物炭(500BC)处理对土壤轻重组分质量比例,土壤轻重组分有机碳和土壤微生物的影响。结果表明:1)施用生物炭显著提高了土壤轻组的质量比例和土壤轻组有机碳含量,轻组有机碳含量为500BC400BC300BCCSCK,对重组有机碳影响不显著,但重组有机碳在土壤中占重要比例;2)施加生物炭后土壤微生物量相比对照也有提高,但是与施加秸秆处理相比,微生物量提高幅度较小。研究表明,生物炭能提高土壤有机碳含量,尤其提高了土壤轻组有机碳的累积,但由于生物炭特殊的芳烃结构,其轻组组分化学性质稳定,这与传统的土壤有机碳轻组理论不同。与秸秆处理相比,生物炭处理具有较低的土壤微生物量与微生物商,有利于土壤碳的固定。     

耕作方式对紫色水稻土有机碳和微生物生物量碳的影响

以位于西南大学的农业部紫色土生态环境重点野外科学观测试验站始于1990年的长期定位试验田为对象,研究了冬水田平作(DP)、水旱轮作(SH)、垄作免耕(LM)及垄作翻耕(LF)等4种耕作方式对紫色水稻土有机碳(SOC)和微生物生物量碳(SMBC)的影响。结果表明,4种耕作方式下SOC和SMBC均呈现出在土壤剖面垂直递减趋势,翻耕栽培下其降低较均匀,而免耕栽培下其富集在表层土壤中。同一土层不同耕作方式间SOC和SMBC的差异在表层最大,随着土壤深度的增加,各处理之间的差异逐渐减小。在0—60 cm剖面中,SOC含量依次为:LM(17.6 g/kg)>DP(13.9 g/kg)>LF(12.5 g/kg)>SH(11.3 g/kg),SOC储量也依次为:LM(158.52 Mg C/hm2)>DP(106.74 Mg C/hm2)>LF(93.11 Mg C/hm2)>SH(88.59 Mg C/hm2),而SMBC含量则依次为:LM(259 mg/kg)>SH(213 mg/kg)>LF(160 mg/kg)>DP(144 mg/kg)。与其它3种耕作方式比较,LM处理显著提高SOC含量和储量以及SMBC含量。对土壤微生物商(SMBC/SOC)进行分析发现,耕作方式对SOC和SMBC的影响程度并不一致。SMBC与SOC、全氮、全磷、全硫、碱解氮、有效磷均呈现极显著正相关(P<0.01),与有效硫呈显著正相关(P<0.05);表明SMBC可以作为表征紫色水稻土土壤肥力的敏感因子。     

Effects of biochar application on soil greenhouse gas fluxes: a meta‐analysis

Biochar application to soils may increase carbon (C) sequestration due to the inputs of recalcitrant organic C. However, the effects of biochar application on the soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes appear variable among many case studies; therefore, the efficacy of biochar as a carbon sequestration agent for climate change mitigation remains uncertain. We performed a meta‐analysis of 91 published papers with 552 paired comparisons to obtain a central tendency of three main GHG fluxes (i.e., CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) in response to biochar application. Our results showed that biochar application significantly increased soil CO₂ fluxes by 22.14%, but decreased N₂O fluxes by 30.92% and did not affect CH₄ fluxes. As a consequence, biochar application may significantly contribute to an increased global warming potential (GWP) of total soil GHG fluxes due to the large stimulation of CO₂ fluxes. However, soil CO₂ fluxes were suppressed when biochar was added to fertilized soils, indicating that biochar application is unlikely to stimulate CO₂ fluxes in the agriculture sector, in which N fertilizer inputs are common. Responses of soil GHG fluxes mainly varied with biochar feedstock source and soil texture and the pyrolysis temperature of biochar. Soil and biochar pH, biochar applied rate, and latitude also influence soil GHG fluxes, but to a more limited extent. Our findings provide a scientific basis for developing more rational strategies toward widespread adoption of biochar as a soil amendment for climate change mitigation.     

内蒙古退化荒漠草原土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量的季节变化

为探明荒漠草原土壤有机碳（SOC）和微生物生物量碳（MBC）含量特征,分别在内蒙古达茂旗、四子王旗和苏尼特右旗设置样地,依次代表轻度、中度和重度退化草地,分析了不同样地表层土壤(0～20 cm)SOC和MBC含量变化及季节动态.结果表明：退化草地SOC和MBC含量均随草地退化程度增加而减小;除2006年夏季外,轻度、中度退化荒漠草地的土壤可培养微生物总数都高于重度退化荒漠草地;MBC含量和土壤可培养微生物总数均在夏秋季较高,春冬季较低.相关分析结果显示,SOC含量与MBC含量之间呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,说明两者均可作为评价荒漠草原草地退化的敏感指标.     

生物炭及炭基硝酸铵对土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性的影响

以小麦-玉米轮作交替种植下的田间试验为平台,探讨施用生物炭及3种炭基硝酸铵氮肥对土壤主要化学肥力因子、土壤微生物量碳、氮和酶活性的影响。田间试验共设6个处理,依次为:对照(施磷、钾肥,CK);生物炭(BC);硝酸铵氮肥(AN);掺混型生物炭基氮肥(CH);固-液吸附型生物炭基氮肥(XF);化学反应型生物炭基氮肥(FY)。结果表明,生物炭及3种生物炭基氮肥均显著提高土壤有机碳含量,并有效降低了有效磷和速效钾的含量。与CK处理相比较,CH、BC处理的土壤微生物量碳含量分别增加了22.10%、17.45%,而AN、XF、FY 3个处理则分别减少了9.09%、10.86%、1.46%;不同施肥处理土壤微生物量氮较CK均有增加,且BC、XF处理差异达显著水平,BC处理的增幅最大,达66.53%,XF处理的增幅次之,达到了62.78%,AN处理的增幅最小,为24.86%。与CK处理比较而言,FY、XF、CH均增加土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性,且增加效应均依次减弱,FY、XF处理均增加碱性磷酸酶活性,而CH处理降低了碱性磷酸酶活性。FY、XF、CH较CK处理均可显著增加小麦产量,增产率分别为36.61%、22.58%、20.72%,且增产效果依次减弱。     

Animal manure application and soil organic carbon stocks: a meta‐analysis

The impact of animal manure application on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes is of interest for both agronomic and environmental purposes. There is a specific need to quantify SOC change for use in national greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories. We quantified the response of SOC stocks to manure application from a large worldwide pool of individual studies and determined the impact of explanatory factors such as climate, soil properties, land use and manure characteristics. Our study is based on a meta‐analysis of 42 research articles totaling 49 sites and 130 observations in the world. A dominant effect of cumulative manure‐C input on SOC response was observed as this factor explained at least 53% of the variability in SOC stock differences compared to mineral fertilized or unfertilized reference treatments. However, the effects of other determining factors were not evident from our data set. From the linear regression relating cumulative C inputs and SOC stock difference, a global manure‐C retention coefficient of 12% ± 4 (95% Confidence Interval, CI) could be estimated for an average study duration of 18 years. Following an approach comparable to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we estimated a relative SOC change factor of 1.26 ± 0.14 (95% CI) which was also related to cumulative manure‐C input. Our results offer some scope for the refinement of manure retention coefficients used in crop management guidelines and for the improvement of SOC change factors for national GHG inventories by taking into account manure‐C input. Finally, this study emphasizes the need to further document the long‐term impact of manure characteristics such as animal species, especially pig and poultry, and manure management systems, in particular liquid vs. solid storage.     

Responses of soil carbon sequestration to climate‐smart agriculture practices: A meta‐analysis

Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) management practices (e.g., conservation tillage, cover crops, and biochar applications) have been widely adopted to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity. However, current measurements regarding the influences of CSA management practices on SOC sequestration diverge widely, making it difficult to derive conclusions about individual and combined CSA management effects and bringing large uncertainties in quantifying the potential of the agricultural sector to mitigate climate change. We conducted a meta‐analysis of 3,049 paired measurements from 417 peer‐reviewed articles to examine the effects of three common CSA management practices on SOC sequestration as well as the environmental controlling factors. We found that, on average, biochar applications represented the most effective approach for increasing SOC content (39%), followed by cover crops (6%) and conservation tillage (5%). Further analysis suggested that the effects of CSA management practices were more pronounced in areas with relatively warmer climates or lower nitrogen fertilizer inputs. Our meta‐analysis demonstrated that, through adopting CSA practices, cropland could be an improved carbon sink. We also highlight the importance of considering local environmental factors (e.g., climate and soil conditions and their combination with other management practices) in identifying appropriate CSA practices for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity.     

冬季作物对稻田土壤微生物量碳、氮和微生物熵的短期影响

研究不同的冬季作物马铃薯、黑麦草、紫云英、油菜在"冬季作物-双季稻"轮作种植制度下短期内对稻田土壤微生物碳、氮和微生物熵的影响,在湖南省土壤肥料研究所的实验网室内设置了小区试验.试验结果表明:几种冬季作物均提高了稻田土壤微生物碳、氮含量,黑麦草明显提高了土壤微生物量碳和微生物熵,紫云英明显提高了土壤微生物量氮.冬季作物对土壤微生物量碳和土壤微生物量氮的季节性影响变化趋势基本一致,紫云英、马铃薯处理的土壤微生物量C、N含量均在水稻生育期间8月中旬达到最大值.     

生物炭添加对土壤呼吸和有机碳含量的影响

以菜地和果园土壤为研究对象,通过室内培养实验,向土壤中分别添加不同材料制备的生物炭(马尼拉草、阔叶和竹叶),热解温度为350℃,研究不同材料制备生物炭添加对土壤呼吸和有机碳含量的影响.结果表明：不同生物炭施入土壤后,土壤 CO 2释放速率总的趋势是前期分解速率快,后期缓慢.在整个培养过程中(28 d),随着培养时间的延长,土壤 CO 2释放速率下降趋势逐渐降低.在不同土壤培养条件下,均是添加阔叶生物炭后土壤 CO 2-C 累计释放增多,果园和菜地土壤 CO 2-C 累计分别达到482．57和424．72 mg·kg-1.添加不同的生物炭均能提高土壤有机碳含量,但只有添加阔叶生物炭之后,差异才会达到显著(P ＜0．05).研究结果为正确利用生物炭和评价其在土壤碳库作用提供科学依据.     

淹水培养条件下土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氦的动态

以洞庭湖区2个典型水稻土（红黄泥和紫潮泥）为对象,研究了25℃、淹水培养条件下稻草-硫铵配施和单施硫铵处理土壤微生物生物量碳、氮（SMBC、SMBN）和可溶性有机碳、氦（SDOC、SDON）的动态变化．结果表明,SMBC、SMBN和SDOC、SDON在培养前期达到峰值,之后降低,并趋于稳定．添加底物后,2种土壤不同处理土壤微生物生物量碳与有机碳（SMBC／TC）和土壤微生物生物量氮与全氮（SMBN／TN）的平均值都在2％-3％之间变化;可溶性碳与全碳（SDOC／TC）的平均值为1％左右,可溶性氮与全氮（SDON／TN）平均值为5％-6％．2种土壤中SMBC峰值单施硫铵处理最大,但与稻草-硫铵配施处理差异均不显著;SMBN、SDOC和SDON峰值稻草-硫铵配施最大．稻草．硫铵配施与单施硫铵处理中,低肥力红黄泥的SMBN、SDOC和SDON峰值差异显著;而高肥力紫潮泥SMBN和SDOC峰值差异不显著．前7d,SMBC／SMBN〈10;14d后,同一时刻单施硫铵处理SMBC／SMBN〉稻草．硫铵配施．不同处理的SDOC!SDON3d时最大．28d时最小．     

杉木凋落物对土壤有机碳分解及微生物生物量碳的影响

利用¹³C稳定同位素示踪技术,研究了杉木凋落物对杉木人工林表层(0～5 cm)和深层(40～45 cm)土壤有机碳分解、微生物生物量碳和可溶性碳动态的影响.结果表明: 杉木人工林中深层土壤有机碳分解速率显著低于表层土壤,但其激发效应却显著高于表层土壤.杉木凋落物添加使土壤总微生物生物量碳和源于原有土壤的微生物生物量碳均显著增加,但对土壤可溶性碳没有显著影响.深层土壤被翻到林地表层,可能加速杉木人工林土壤中碳的损失.     

黄土高原不同土壤微生物量碳、氮与氮素矿化势的差异

以采自于黄土高原差异较大的25个农田石灰性耕层土壤为供试土样,对黄土高原主要类型土壤中微生物量碳(Bc)、微生物量氮(BN)和氮素矿化势(NO)的差异性进行了比较研究.结果表明,Bc、BN和NO在不同类型土壤间存在显著差异,由关中平原至陕北风沙区,BC、Bn和NO总体呈现下降趋势,其中以土垫旱耕人为土最高,简育干润均腐土最低,黄土正常新成土和干润砂质新成土居中:土垫旱耕人为土、简育干润均腐土、黄土正常新成土和干润砂质新成土等各土类平均BC分别为305.2μg·g-1,108.4μg·g-1,161.7μg·g-1和125.4μg·g-1,BN分别为43.8μg·g-1,20.3μg·g-1,26.0μg·g-1和30.6μg·g-1,NO分别为223μ·g-1,75μg·g-1,163μg·g-1和193μg·g-1.土壤氮素矿化速率(k)则以简育干润均腐土最大,干润砂质新成土最低,土垫旱耕人为土和黄土正常新成土居中:土垫旱耕人为土、简育干润均腐土、黄土正常新成土和干润砂质新成土的k分别为0.039w-1,0.044w-1,0.031w-1和0.019w-1.不同类型土壤BC、BN与NO的差异,主要与土壤形成过程、输入土壤的植物同化产物和土壤有机质的差异等有关,从较大尺度进一步证明了在黄土高原,土壤有机质是影响BC、BN的主要因子.研究结果对分析黄土高原土壤生产力形成过程具有一定参考价值.     

26年长期施肥对土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤呼吸的影响

研究长期小麦连作施肥条件下土壤微生物量碳、氮,土壤呼吸的变化及其与土壤养分的相关性。以陕西长武长期定位试验为平台,应用氯仿熏蒸-K2SO4提取法、碱液吸收法和化学分析法分析了长达26a不同施肥处理农田土壤微生物量碳、微生物量氮和土壤呼吸之间的差异及其调控土壤肥力的作用。长期施肥及种植作物,均能提高土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,尤其是施用有机肥,土壤微生物量碳、氮含量高于单施无机肥的处理,土壤呼吸量也提高15.91%—75.73%,而施用无机肥对于土壤呼吸无促进作用。土壤微生物生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸与土壤有机质、全氮呈极显著相关。长期有机无机肥配施可以提高土壤微生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸,氮磷肥与厩肥配施对提高土壤肥力效果最好。微生物量碳氮及土壤呼吸可以反映土壤质量的变化,作为评价土壤肥力的生物学指标。     

环丙沙星对土壤微生物量碳和土壤微生物 群落碳代谢多样性的影响

采用氯仿熏蒸浸提法和Biolog法,分析环丙沙星作用下的土壤微生物量碳和微生物群落碳代谢多样性,以揭示环丙沙星在环境中残留对土壤微生物学性状的影响.结果表明,环丙沙星(wCIP≥0.1 μg/g)对土壤微生物量碳含量影响显著(P＜0.05),土壤中环丙沙星浓度愈高,微生物量碳含量愈低,100μg/g的环丙沙星处理使土壤微生物量碳含量下降58.69％.环丙沙星对土壤微生物群落碳代谢功能影响显著,环丙沙星降低了土壤微生物对碳水化合物、羧酸、氨基酸、聚合物、酚类和胺类的碳源利用率;环丙沙星(wCIP≥0.1 μg/g)显著影响了土壤微生物群落碳源代谢强度和代谢多样性,但不同浓度的环丙沙星对土壤微生物群落碳代谢功能的影响不同,0.1、1、10 μg/g的环丙沙星处理对土壤微生物群落碳代谢功能的影响主要表现在处理前期(用药第7天、21天),这种影响在处理后期(用药第35天)表现不明显,100μg/g的环丙沙星在用药的前期和后期均显著影响土壤微生物群落碳代谢功能,土壤中环丙沙星积累到该浓度可能对土壤微生物群落碳代谢功能产生难以逆转的长期影响.     

川西亚高山森林土壤呼吸和微生物生物量碳氮对施氮的响应

随着全球大气氮沉降的明显增加,将有可能显著影响我国西部地区受氮限制的亚高山森林生态系统。土壤微生物是生态系统的重要组成部分,是土壤物质循环和能量流动的重要参与者。由于生态系统类型、土壤养分、氮沉降背景值等的差异,土壤呼吸和土壤生物量碳氮对施氮的响应存在许多不确定性。而施氮会不会促进亚高山森林生态系统中土壤呼吸和微生物对土壤碳氮的固定?基于此假设,选择了川西60年生的四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)亚高山针叶林为研究对象,通过4个水平的土壤施氮控制试验(CK:0 g m~(-2) a~(-1)、N1:2 g m~(-2)a~(-1)、N2:5 g m~(-2) a~(-1)、N3:10 g m~(-2)a~(-1)),监测了土壤呼吸及土壤微生物生物量碳氮在一个生长季的动态情况。结果表明:施氮对土壤呼吸各指标和土壤微生物碳氮都有极显著的影响,施氮能促进土壤全呼吸、自养呼吸、异养呼吸通量和土壤微生物生物量碳氮的增长,施氮使土壤呼吸通量提高了11%—15%,土壤微生物量碳提高了5%—9%,土壤微生物量氮提高了23%—34%。在中氮水平下(5 g m~(-2) a~(-1))对土壤呼吸的促进最显著。相关分析发现,土壤呼吸与微生物生物量碳氮和微生物代谢商极呈显著正相关,微生物量碳氮与土壤温度呈极显著的正相关,与土壤湿度呈极显著负相关。通过一般线性回归拟合土壤呼吸速率与土壤10 cm温湿度的关系,发现土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈极显著的正相关,与土壤湿度极显著负相关(P0.001),中氮水平下土壤温度敏感性系数Q_(10)值(7.10)明显高于对照(4.26)。     

红壤丘陵景观单元土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量特征

为了探讨我国亚热带红壤丘陵区不同利用方式下土壤有机碳(SOC)和土壤微生物生物量碳(SMB-C)含量的特征,在湖南省桃源县选取典型样区,通过密集取样,分析了红壤丘陵景观单元内水田、旱地、林地、果园4种典型利用方式下表层土壤(0～20 cm)SOC和SMB-C含量.结果表明,典型红壤丘陵景观单元中SOC含量高低的顺序为水田(16.0 g·kg^-1)＞旱地(11.2 g·kg^-1) ＞果园(9.5 g·kg^-1)＞林地(8.4 g·kg^-1),SMB-C含量则为水田(830 mg·kg^-1)＞旱地(361 mg·kg^-1)＞林地(200 mg·kg^-1)＞果园(186 mg·kg^-1),且在不同利用方式下SOC与SMB-C均呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01),说明本研究区内各土地利用类型的土壤SMB-C含量变化可以敏感地指示SOC的动态.研究结果还表明,将我国亚热带红壤丘陵林地开垦为果园或耕地后,表层土壤 SOC含量不可能降低.     

Effects of plant diversity on soil carbon in diverse ecosystems: a global meta‐analysis

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a valuable resource for mediating global climate change and securing food production. Despite an alarming rate of global plant diversity loss, uncertainties concerning the effects of plant diversity on SOC remain, because plant diversity not only stimulates litter inputs via increased productivity, thus enhancing SOC, but also stimulates microbial respiration, thus reducing SOC. By analysing 1001 paired observations of plant mixtures and corresponding monocultures from 121 publications, we show that both SOC content and stock are on average 5 and 8% higher in species mixtures than in monocultures. These positive mixture effects increase over time and are more pronounced in deeper soils. Microbial biomass carbon, an indicator of SOC release and formation, also increases, but the proportion of microbial biomass carbon in SOC is lower in mixtures. Moreover, these species‐mixture effects are consistent across forest, grassland, and cropland systems and are independent of background climates. Our results indicate that converting 50% of global forests from mixtures to monocultures would release an average of 2.70 Pg C from soil annually over a period of 20 years: about 30% of global annual fossil‐fuel emissions. Our study highlights the importance of plant diversity preservation for the maintenance of soil carbon sequestration in discussions of global climate change policy.     

米亚罗林区土地利用变化对土壤有机碳和微生物量碳的影响

为了解土地利用变化对土壤有机碳和微生物量碳的影响,分析了川西米亚罗林区原始冷杉林、20世纪60年代云杉人工林、20世纪80年代云杉人工林和农地的土壤有机碳和微生物量碳状况.结果表明,土地利用变化明显地影响了土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量.土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量原始林最高,其次为60年代人工林和80年代人工林,农地最低.农地土壤有机碳含量分别比原始林、60年代人工林和80年代人工林低83%、53%和52%,微生物量碳含量分别低23%、25%和21%.土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量均随土壤深度的增加而降低,并且两者在不同土地利用类型的变化趋势基本一致.相关分析表明,土壤有机碳和土壤微生物量碳与全氮、水解氮、速效磷呈极显著相关(P＜0.01),说明土壤微生物量碳可作为衡量土壤有机碳变化的敏感指标,而土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量可作为衡量土壤肥力和土壤质量变化的重要指标.     

Increased microbial growth,biomass, and turnover drive soil organic carbon accumulation at higher plant diversity

Species‐rich plant communities have been shown to be more productive and to exhibit increased long‐term soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. Soil microorganisms are central to the conversion of plant organic matter into SOC, yet the relationship between plant diversity, soil microbial growth, turnover as well as carbon use efficiency (CUE) and SOC accumulation is unknown. As heterotrophic soil microbes are primarily carbon limited, it is important to understand how they respond to increased plant‐derived carbon inputs at higher plant species richness (PSR). We used the long‐term grassland biodiversity experiment in Jena, Germany, to examine how microbial physiology responds to changes in plant diversity and how this affects SOC content. The Jena Experiment considers different numbers of species (1–60), functional groups (1–4) as well as functional identity (small herbs, tall herbs, grasses, and legumes). We found that PSR accelerated microbial growth and turnover and increased microbial biomass and necromass. PSR also accelerated microbial respiration, but this effect was less strong than for microbial growth. In contrast, PSR did not affect microbial CUE or biomass‐specific respiration. Structural equation models revealed that PSR had direct positive effects on root biomass, and thereby on microbial growth and microbial biomass carbon. Finally, PSR increased SOC content via its positive influence on microbial biomass carbon. We suggest that PSR favors faster rates of microbial growth and turnover, likely due to greater plant productivity, resulting in higher amounts of microbial biomass and necromass that translate into the observed increase in SOC. We thus identify the microbial mechanism linking species‐rich plant communities to a carbon cycle process of importance to Earth's climate system.     

Microbial dynamics and soil physicochemical properties explain large‐scale variations in soil organic carbon

First‐order organic matter decomposition models are used within most Earth System Models (ESMs) to project future global carbon cycling; these models have been criticized for not accurately representing mechanisms of soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization and SOC response to climate change. New soil biogeochemical models have been developed, but their evaluation is limited to observations from laboratory incubations or few field experiments. Given the global scope of ESMs, a comprehensive evaluation of such models is essential using in situ observations of a wide range of SOC stocks over large spatial scales before their introduction to ESMs. In this study, we collected a set of in situ observations of SOC, litterfall and soil properties from 206 sites covering different forest and soil types in Europe and China. These data were used to calibrate the model MIMICS (The MIcrobial‐MIneral Carbon Stabilization model), which we compared to the widely used first‐order model CENTURY. We show that, compared to CENTURY, MIMICS more accurately estimates forest SOC concentrations and the sensitivities of SOC to variation in soil temperature, clay content and litter input. The ratios of microbial biomass to total SOC predicted by MIMICS agree well with independent observations from globally distributed forest sites. By testing different hypotheses regarding (using alternative process representations) the physicochemical constraints on SOC deprotection and microbial turnover in MIMICS, the errors of simulated SOC concentrations across sites were further decreased. We show that MIMICS can resolve the dominant mechanisms of SOC decomposition and stabilization and that it can be a reliable tool for predictions of terrestrial SOC dynamics under future climate change. It also allows us to evaluate at large scale the rapidly evolving understanding of SOC formation and stabilization based on laboratory and limited filed observation.