The occurrence of short chain n-alkanes with an even over odd predominance in 
higher plants and soils

Kuhn, T. K.; Krull, E. S.; Bowater, A.; Grice, K.; Gleixner, G.

doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2009.08.003

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The occurrence of short chain n-alkanes with an even over odd predominance in higher plants and soils

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Gleixner, G.
Molecular Biogeochemistry Group, Dr. G. Gleixner, Department Biogeochemical Processes, Prof. E.-D. Schulze, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Kuhn, T. K., Krull, E. S., Bowater, A., Grice, K., & Gleixner, G. (2010). The occurrence of short chain n-alkanes with an even over odd predominance in higher plants and soils. Organic Geochemistry, 41(2), 88-95. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2009.08.003.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-000E-DA04-6

Abstract

In this study we provide data which support the interpretation that tissues of higher plants can constitute a significant source of the short chain n-alkanes with an even/odd predominance (EOP) found in soil organic matter. Gas chromatographic analyses of vegetation (C-3 trees, C-4 grasses) and associated soil samples (woodland and grassland) from a study site in central Queensland, Australia, revealed that (1) woody vegetation (leaves) and grasses (leaves, roots) contain short chain n-alkanes (C-14-C-20) with pronounced EOP and (2) such homologues dominate the n-alkane assemblages in its woodland and grassland soils. The presence of short chain n-alkanes with an EOP in some of the vegetation suggests that these may represent a significant source of such alkanes in the woodland and grassland soils. Previous studies have shown that combustion induced thermal breakdown of long chain n-alkanes may produce short chain homologues with an EOP. A history of repeated bushfires at the study site may have contributed to the presence of these n-alkanes in its soils. The co-occurrence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons derived from fire (e.g. retene) indicates that heat related generation of short chain n-alkames indeed may have played an additional part in the formation of the observed soil n-alkane patterns. These two potential origins were further investigated by compound specific carbon and hydrogen isotope analyses of the plant and soil n-alkane assemblages. These data show that the delta C-13 and delta D signatures of the short chain n-alkanes in the soil resemble those of the plants. Our study therefore provides strong evidence that EOP among short chain n-alkanes can represent a primary (i.e. non-diagenetic) signature, which originates directly from biological sources. in the case of this Queensland soil, the leaves and roots of higher plants are likely to be the principal sources, together with a smaller secondary contribution from the combustion of associated long chain n-alkanes during bushfires. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.