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Aims: Plant inputs are the primary organic carbon source that transforms into soil organic matter (SOM) through microbial processing. One prevailing view is that lignin plays a major role in the accumulation of SOM. This study investigated lignin decomposition using wood from different genotypes of Populus tremula as the model substrate. The genotypes naturally varied in lignin content and composition, resulting in high and low lignin substrates.

Methods: The wood was inoculated with fresh soil and decomposition was interpreted through mass loss and CO2 produced during a 12-month lab incubation. Detailed information on the decomposition patterns of lignin was obtained by Two-dimensional Nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) spectroscopy on four occasions during the incubations.

Results: The lignin content per se did not affect the overall decomposition and ~ 60% of the mass was lost in both substrates. In addition, no differences in oxidative enzyme activity could be observed, and the rate of lignin decomposition was similar to that of the carbohydrates. The 2D NMR analysis showed the oxidized syringyl present in the initial samples was the most resistant to degradation among lignin subunits as it followed the order p-hydroxybenzoates > syringyl > guaiacyl > oxidized syringyl. Furthermore, the degradability of β–O–4 linkages in the lignin varied depending on the subunit (syringyl or guaiacyl) it is attached to.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that lignin contains fractions that are easily degradable and can break down alongside carbohydrates. Thus, the initial differences in lignin content per se do not necessarily affect magnitude of SOM accumulation.