Biome-scale characterisation and differentiation of semi-arid and arid zone soil organic matter compositions using pyrolysis–GC/MS analysis

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a major pool within the global carbon cycle and understanding its composition (and compositional variability) is critical for predicting its response to future climatic change. Arid and semi-arid regions are typified by relatively low soil organic matter concentrations, but their vast area means that they still represent an important component of the global soil carbon pool. Recent studies have demonstrated the...