Soil structure and carbon distribution in subsoil affected by vegetation restoration

F.Z. Zhao, X.H. Han, G.H. Yang, Y.Z. Feng and G.X. Ren
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F.Z. Zhao: Collegeof Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China
X.H. Han: Collegeof Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China
G.H. Yang: Collegeof Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China
Y.Z. Feng: Collegeof Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China
G.X. Ren: Collegeof Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China

Plant, Soil and Environment, 2014, vol. 60, issue 1, 21-26

Abstract: The depth of sampling is an important factor for evaluating soil stability. The objective of this study was to test soil aggregate particle-size fractions and soil organic carbon (SOC) in water-stable aggregate by vegetation restoration through 0-60 cm soil profile. We collected soil samples in 30 years old Robinia psendoacacia (Rr); Platycladus orientalis (Po); Pinus tabulaeformis (Pt); abandoned land (Ab), and slope cropland (Sc), which were separated into > 2, 2-1, 1-0.25, 0.25-0.053, and < 0.053 mm fractions. The > 0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WSA) and mean weight diameter (MWD) were calculated in 0-60 cm soil depth. Results showed that soil aggregate fractions (> 0.25 mm) of four vegetation types were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in 40-60 cm soil depth under Po, Pt, and Ab compared with Sc and the SOC distribution in macro-aggregates (> 0.25 mm) under Rr, Po, Pt, and Ab was higher more than 37.7, 92.4, 92.5, 79.1%, respectively in 40-60 cm compared with Sc additionally, > 0.25 mm WSA and MWD was significantly higher in Pt soil in 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm soil depth (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that soil stability was enhanced and SOC content was increased after converting slope cropland to forest, especially under Pt forest that greatly influenced the subsoil.

Keywords: grain to green program; soil depth; soil aggregate; soil organic carbon; Loess Plateau (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:60:y:2014:i:1:id:353-2013-pse

DOI: 10.17221/353/2013-PSE

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