δ13C values of CO2 from soil respiration on sites with crops of C3 and C4 type of photosynthesis.

Based on the differential discrimination between 13CO2 and 12CO2 during photosynthetic CO2 fixation by C3 and C4 plants, the relative contribution of organic soil material of varying age can be checked by measuring the δ13C value of CO2 evolved during soil respiration.The CO2 from a soil cropped only with C3 plants for at least 7 years showed a δ13C value very close to that of C3 plant tissue. Correspondingly, a soil bearing the C4 plant maize for at least 6 years had a δ13C value for the respiratory CO2 quite near to that of a typical C4 plant. A soil cropped with maize in the year of study only showed intermediate δ13C values, with a tendency towards C4. With soil standardised for cultivation and cropping, a quantification of the part that fresh organic matter and especially the last year plant residues play in soil respiration, can be achieved.