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Exchange of volatile organic compounds between the atmosphere and the soil

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Abstract

Background

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a crucial role in understanding soil ecology and the atmospheric environment. However, the biochemical cycles of VOCs in soil systems and their relationship to atmospheric VOC exchange remain unclear. The soil system serves as a primary site for the generation, emission, and uptake of VOCs, yet these processes lack sufficient understanding.

Scope

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the exchange of VOCs between the soil and the atmosphere. We explore the mechanisms governing the generation, emission, and uptake of VOCs in soils, quantitatively summarizing available data on emission and uptake. Additionally, we highlight common and specific VOCs emitted by various soil sources (litter, roots, bare soil, and soil microbes) and examine their interactions.

Conclusions

The composition and emission rates of VOCs display significant variability across different soils, attributed in part to variations in the contributions of different VOC sources within the soils. Litter and roots predominantly release terpenes, benzenoids, and alcohols, while bare soil and microbes emit higher proportions of alkanes, esters, and alcohols. Despite often being overlooked, soils serve as essential sinks for VOCs, and global environmental changes may reshape patterns of soil VOC sources and sinks.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the Catalan government grant SGR221-1333, the TED2021-132627B-I00 grant funded by the Spanish MCIN, AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR, and the Fundación Ramón Areces project CIVP20A6621. Kaijun Yang is grateful for the financial support from the China Scholarship Council (201806910060). The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CSIC, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, E08193, Spain

    Kaijun Yang, Joan Llusià, Catherine Preece & Josep Peñuelas

  2. CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08193, Spain

    Kaijun Yang, Joan Llusià, Catherine Preece & Josep Peñuelas

  3. Sustainability in Biosystems Programme, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain

    Catherine Preece

  4. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, China

    Yu Tan

  5. Guangxi Guilin Urban Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Guilin, 541006, China

    Yu Tan

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Yang, K., Llusià, J., Preece, C. et al. Exchange of volatile organic compounds between the atmosphere and the soil. Plant Soil (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06524-x

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