What does this research mean for the field?

Soil organic carbon variability in Southern African agroecosystems is primarily driven by edaphic properties, such as mineral reactivity and exchange capacity, rather than climatic gradients or management practices. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Quantify the relative importance of climatic, edaphic, and management controls on soil organic carbon variation in Southern African agroecosystems.

August 27, 2026Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil ScienceOpen Access

Edaphic Controls Override Climatic and Management Effects on Soil Organic Carbon in Southern African Agroecosystems

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Authors

SMSamuel Ayodele MeseleInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture ABAbosede B. BabatundeInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture ARAndrei RozanovStellenbosch University

Discussion

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Implication

Cross-sectional analysis reveals edaphic properties govern soil organic carbon in Southern African agroecosystems, highlighting the need to prioritize mineral reactivity in carbon management.

Key Points

Quantify the relative importance of climatic, edaphic, and management controls on soil organic carbon variation in Southern African agroecosystems.
Analyzed 655 observations comprising climatic variables, soil physicochemical properties, and management indicators.
Evaluated driver attribution using linear regression, hierarchical modeling, response-scale comparison, variance partitioning, and generalized additive models.
The edaphic-only model explained 33.2% of soil organic carbon variation, closely matching the full model containing climate, edaphic, and management variables (R² = 0.349; adjusted R² = 0.338).
Variance partitioning showed edaphic properties uniquely contributed 29.9% of variance, compared to 1.0% for climate and 0% independent contribution from management.
Aluminum oxides, clay content, cation exchange capacity, and pH were the strongest predictors, with generalized additive models explaining 38.6% of deviance without altering edaphic dominance.

Cite This Study

Mesele et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe9da10c91c1e92621e2c https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.70106

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August 27, 2026Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil ScienceOpen Access

Edaphic Controls Override Climatic and Management Effects on Soil Organic Carbon in Southern African Agroecosystems

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SMSamuel Ayodele MeseleInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture ABAbosede B. BabatundeInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture ARAndrei RozanovStellenbosch University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Cross-sectional analysis reveals edaphic properties govern soil organic carbon in Southern African agroecosystems, highlighting the need to prioritize mineral reactivity in carbon management.

Key Points

Quantify the relative importance of climatic, edaphic, and management controls on soil organic carbon variation in Southern African agroecosystems.
Analyzed 655 observations comprising climatic variables, soil physicochemical properties, and management indicators.
Evaluated driver attribution using linear regression, hierarchical modeling, response-scale comparison, variance partitioning, and generalized additive models.
The edaphic-only model explained 33.2% of soil organic carbon variation, closely matching the full model containing climate, edaphic, and management variables (R² = 0.349; adjusted R² = 0.338).
Variance partitioning showed edaphic properties uniquely contributed 29.9% of variance, compared to 1.0% for climate and 0% independent contribution from management.
Aluminum oxides, clay content, cation exchange capacity, and pH were the strongest predictors, with generalized additive models explaining 38.6% of deviance without altering edaphic dominance.

Cite This Study

Mesele et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe9da10c91c1e92621e2c https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.70106

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