Accumulation of Organic Matter in a Chronosequence of Soils Developed on Wind‐blown Sand in New Zealand

Summary A study was made of the amounts and distribution of C, N, S, and organic P accumulated over a period of 10 000 years of soil development on wind‐blown sand. After initial rapid rates of accumulation of C, N, and organic P during the first 1000 years, subsequent rates of gain were slower, but steady states for C, N, and S had still not been reached after 10 000 years. Sulphur declined during the first 50 years of soil development but then increased in a parallel fashion to organic C. During 10 000 years, gains of organic C, total N, total S, and organic P were 204 000, 9800, 1180, and 1170 kg/ha m profile, respectively. Gains in total N and S in the older soils are readily accounted for by returns in precipitation. Pronounced changes in soil organic matter composition during 10 000 years are reflected in the widening of the C/N ratio (8 to 20) and the C/organic P ratio (39 to 159).