Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests

The stability and dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in forest soils are crucial for assessing and predicting the effectiveness of forest carbon sequestration. Various factors such as soil depth, nutrients availability, crustal elements, pH, and stand characteristics (tree type, tree age) i...

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Main Authors: Bing Wang, Shuai Hao, Qiuliang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-06-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23003849
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author Bing Wang
Shuai Hao
Qiuliang Zhang
author_facet Bing Wang
Shuai Hao
Qiuliang Zhang
author_sort Bing Wang
collection DOAJ
description The stability and dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in forest soils are crucial for assessing and predicting the effectiveness of forest carbon sequestration. Various factors such as soil depth, nutrients availability, crustal elements, pH, and stand characteristics (tree type, tree age) influence the stability of SOC pools. To better understand SOC stability of cold temperate forest soil, soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm depths in a Larix gmelinii forest. Then, the distribution characteristics of SOC pools under different protection mechanisms and their influencing factors were examined. Our results showed that the unprotected SOC pool was the highest, while the physical–chemical protected SOC pool was the lowest. Total organic carbon (TOC) had a linear positive relationship with unprotected and physical-protected SOC pools, and a logarithmic positive relationship with physical–chemical protected and chemical-protected SOC pools. Soil depth was the predominant factor affecting the SOC pools of each protection mechanism. The physical–chemical protected SOC pool significantly differed from forest types and forest ages, and the chemical-protected SOC pool was associated with the synergistic effects of forest age and type. Furthermore, soil moisture and acidity, and the crustal elements may play prominent role in the variation of SOC pools in the Larix gmelinii forests. Our findings suggested that the silt- and clay-associated SOC pools in the Larix gmelinii forest soils had approached or achieved saturation, while more organic C was fixed in the relatively active unprotected SOC pool. This unprotected pool was more sensitive to ecosystem change, indicating its importance in assessing forest carbon sequestration. Our study provided insights into the active and dynamic SOC pools in forest soils and their responses to different environmental factors. These findings can be utilized to accurately assess the carbon sink potential of cold temperate forest soils and inform the management of forest ecosystems.
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spelling doaj.art-0132931b1b674bce9b818245ea1d84dc2023-04-28T08:54:43ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-06-01150110242Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forestsBing Wang0Shuai Hao1Qiuliang Zhang2Forestry College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, China; Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station of Greater Khingan Mountains in Inner Mongolia, Genhe 022350, China; Corresponding author at: Forestry College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, China.Forestry College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, China; Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station of Greater Khingan Mountains in Inner Mongolia, Genhe 022350, ChinaForestry College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, China; Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station of Greater Khingan Mountains in Inner Mongolia, Genhe 022350, ChinaThe stability and dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in forest soils are crucial for assessing and predicting the effectiveness of forest carbon sequestration. Various factors such as soil depth, nutrients availability, crustal elements, pH, and stand characteristics (tree type, tree age) influence the stability of SOC pools. To better understand SOC stability of cold temperate forest soil, soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm depths in a Larix gmelinii forest. Then, the distribution characteristics of SOC pools under different protection mechanisms and their influencing factors were examined. Our results showed that the unprotected SOC pool was the highest, while the physical–chemical protected SOC pool was the lowest. Total organic carbon (TOC) had a linear positive relationship with unprotected and physical-protected SOC pools, and a logarithmic positive relationship with physical–chemical protected and chemical-protected SOC pools. Soil depth was the predominant factor affecting the SOC pools of each protection mechanism. The physical–chemical protected SOC pool significantly differed from forest types and forest ages, and the chemical-protected SOC pool was associated with the synergistic effects of forest age and type. Furthermore, soil moisture and acidity, and the crustal elements may play prominent role in the variation of SOC pools in the Larix gmelinii forests. Our findings suggested that the silt- and clay-associated SOC pools in the Larix gmelinii forest soils had approached or achieved saturation, while more organic C was fixed in the relatively active unprotected SOC pool. This unprotected pool was more sensitive to ecosystem change, indicating its importance in assessing forest carbon sequestration. Our study provided insights into the active and dynamic SOC pools in forest soils and their responses to different environmental factors. These findings can be utilized to accurately assess the carbon sink potential of cold temperate forest soils and inform the management of forest ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23003849Larix gmeliniiForest soilSoil organic carbon poolsProtection mechanismInfluence factor
spellingShingle Bing Wang
Shuai Hao
Qiuliang Zhang
Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests
Ecological Indicators
Larix gmelinii
Forest soil
Soil organic carbon pools
Protection mechanism
Influence factor
title Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests
title_full Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests
title_fullStr Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests
title_full_unstemmed Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests
title_short Protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the Larix gmelinii forests
title_sort protection mechanisms and influencing factors of soil organic carbon pools in the larix gmelinii forests
topic Larix gmelinii
Forest soil
Soil organic carbon pools
Protection mechanism
Influence factor
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23003849
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AT qiuliangzhang protectionmechanismsandinfluencingfactorsofsoilorganiccarbonpoolsinthelarixgmeliniiforests