Abstract. Plant processes regulating the quantity and quality of soil organic carbon inputs such as photosynthesis, above- and belowground plant growth, and root exudation are integral to our understanding of soil carbon dynamics. However, based on a bibliometric analysis including almost 50 000 scientific papers, we found that plant physiology has been severely underrepresented in global soil organic carbon research. Less than 10 % of peer-reviewed soil organic carbon research published in the last century addressed plant physiological processes relevant to soil carbon inputs. Similarly, plant physiology was overlooked by the overwhelming majority (>90 %) of peer-reviewed literature investigating linkages between soil organic carbon, climate change, and land use and management. These findings highlight that our understanding of soil carbon dynamics and hence the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems is largely built on research that neglects the fundamental processes underlying organic carbon inputs. We advocate that the active engagement of plant scientists in soil carbon research is imperative to shed light on this blind spot. Long-term interdisciplinary research will be essential to develop a comprehensive perspective on soil carbon dynamics and to inform effective policies that support soil carbon sequestration.

中文翻译：

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缺少输入：植物生理学在全球土壤碳研究中代表性不足


摘要。调节土壤有机碳输入数量和质量的植物过程，如光合作用、地上和地下植物生长以及根系分泌，是我们理解土壤碳动力学不可或缺的一部分。然而，根据包括近 50 000 篇科学论文的文献计量分析，我们发现植物生理学在全球土壤有机碳研究中代表性严重不足。在上个世纪发表的同行评审土壤有机碳研究中，只有不到 10% 涉及与土壤碳输入相关的植物生理过程。同样，绝大多数 （>90 %） 调查土壤有机碳、气候变化和土地利用和管理之间联系的同行评审文献都忽视了植物生理学。这些发现强调，我们对土壤碳动态的理解以及陆地生态系统的碳封存潜力在很大程度上是建立在忽视有机碳输入基本过程的研究之上的。我们主张植物科学家积极参与土壤碳研究对于揭示这一盲点至关重要。长期的跨学科研究对于形成对土壤碳动态的全面认识以及为支持土壤碳封存的有效政策提供信息至关重要。