The Vertical Differences in the Change Rates and Controlling Factors of Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen along Vegetation Restoration in a Subtropical Area of China

Zhiwei Cao, Xi Fang, Wenhua Xiang, Pifeng Lei and Changhui Peng
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Zhiwei Cao: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Xi Fang: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Wenhua Xiang: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Pifeng Lei: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Changhui Peng: Huitong National Field Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystem in Hunan Province, Huitong 438107, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: The study was to investigate the change patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and soil C/N (C/N) in each soil sublayer along vegetation restoration in subtropical China. We collected soil samples in four typical plant communities along a restoration chronosequence. The soil physicochemical properties, fine root, and litter biomass were measured. Our results showed the proportion of SOC stocks (Cs) and TN stocks (Ns) in 20–30 and 30–40 cm soil layers increased, whereas that in 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil layers decreased. Different but well-constrained C/N was found among four restoration stages in each soil sublayer. The effect of soil factors was greater on the deep soil than the surface soil, while the effect of vegetation factors was just the opposite. Our study indicated that vegetation restoration promoted the uniform distribution of SOC and TN on the soil profile. The C/N was relatively stable along vegetation restoration in each soil layer. The accumulation of SOC and TN in the surface soil layer was controlled more by vegetation factors, while that in the lower layer was controlled by both vegetation factors and soil factors.

Keywords: content and stock; increase rates; C/N; fine root biomass; vegetation-soil interaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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