2022
  • Non-ICIMOD publication
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The Soil Aggregates and Associated Organic Carbon across the Greater Khingan Mountains: Spatial Patterns and Impacting Factors

  • Wang B.
  • Gong Z.
  • Meng M.
  • Zhang Q.
  • Summary
(1) Background: The preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC) by soil aggregates (SA) is a key mechanism for the stability of the soil carbon (C) pool. (2) Methods: Soil samples were collected at a 0–20 cm depth from 75 sites across the forest regions of the Greater Khingan Mountains, China, and were fractionated as SA of 0.25–2 mm, 0.053–0.25 mm, and <0.053 mm by a wet-sieving method. The spatial patterns of SA and associated organic C (OC) were investigated, as well as their associations with environmental factors. (3) Results: The predominant SA was the SA fraction (SAF) of 0.25–2 mm. The spatial pattern of SA, with moderate spatial autocorrelation, was found to be associated with aggregate size. SOC was mainly accumulated in the 0.25–2 mm SAF, accounting for 50.39% of the total content of aggregate SOC; the total SOC content in all SAF showed strong spatial autocorrelations without significant differences. No significant correlations were found between temperature and SA variables. Precipitation presented significantly positive and negative correlations with the SAF of <0.053 mm and 0.053–0.25 mm, respectively. SOC was favorably associated with macroaggregate, geometric mean diameter (GMD), and mean weight diameter (MWD); however, the correlation between SOC and aggregate SOC lessened as particle size decreased. The aggregate SOC contents were significantly linked with NH4+-N, AK, and TP, while 0.25–2 mm SA content was negatively related with pH. (4) Conclusions: Precipitation was helpful for the development of clay aggregates (<0.053 mm), i.e., increasing rainfall-induced aggregate disruption. SOC encourages small SA cementing to large SA, which improves SA stability. OC associated with the SAF of 0.25–2 mm and 0.053–0.25 mm was positively correlated with soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, suggesting that the formation of aggregates was conducive to the preservation of soil nutrients. © 2022 by the authors.