Soils are central regulators of the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles, yet the mechanisms that influence the role of soil organic matter in soil functioning and its vulnerability to human interventions are still not sufficiently understood. In my research, I have explored the processes leading to organic matter stabilization at contrasting scales in temperate and tropical ecosystems. In this lecture, I will present my vision of how these scales need to be integrated in an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how contrasting pedoclimatic conditions, management practices, and climate change influence biogeochemical cycling. I will also present my research on the development of innovative soil amendments and sustainable management strategies to enhance fertility and increase soil carbon sequestration with the aim to strengthen resilience to global change.

I will highlight the benefits of international collaboration across continents in bringing together different viewpoints, enriching the research environment, and contributing to development. At the same time, the changing conditions we encounter when engaging with scientific knowledge, coupled with widespread misinformation, make it increasingly important to uphold scientific integrity. To nurture curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists to seek truth with rigor and dedication, we should not entirely abandon the “old-fashioned” way of doing research. In this lecture, I will share my perspective on how soil scientists can continue to generate reliable knowledge, inform responsible management, and contribute to a sustainable future.

How to cite: Rumpel, C.: Soil organic matter research in a changing world, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6371, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6371, 2026.

EGU26-6371

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Soil organic matter (SOM) is a cornerstone of ecosystem stability, yet its response to anthropogenic pressure is governed by molecular-scale processes that bulk analyses often fail to capture. This award lecture will illustrate how the application of stable isotopes at the compound-specific level provides a high-resolution lens to elucidate SOM complexity and dynamics across diverse environmental frontiers. By transitioning from established carbon-cycle isotope research to the pioneering frontier of organic phosphorus (OP) research, this work explores the molecular "fingerprints" of SOM dynamics.

In this award lecture, I will summarize my research on the molecular mechanisms of SOM transformation and the development of isotopic tools to decipher the turnover and fate of organic pools under varying environmental factors. First, I will provide an overview of how compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) revelas molecular shifts that precede detectable losses in diverse soil organic carbon forms, providing a diagnostic for soil vulnerability under diverse land uses and climate factors. This will comprise both a conventional biomarker extraction approach and a novel direct pyrolysis analytic technique.

Next, I will demonstrate how these isotopic approaches can be applied to disturbance ecology, specifically focusing on the resilience and transformation of organic matter in fire-affected soils. Finally, I will review the transition to the OP cycle, presenting innovative methodologies implemented to advance our understanding of C and P biogeochemical cycles, and providing unprecedented insights into the biogeochemical persistence of this major OP pool.

I will conclude by discussing how these molecular insights are vital for developing site-specific management strategies and interdisciplinary models that account for the simultaneous impacts of global change on multiple soil functions.

How to cite: San-Emeterio, L. M.: From carbon to phosphorus: Advancing compound-specific stable isotope analysis to decode soil organic matter dynamics across diverse environmental contexts, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20649, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20649, 2026.

EGU26-20649

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