Role of Environment Variables in Spatial Distribution of Soil C, N, P Ecological Stoichiometry in the Typical Black Soil Region of Northeast China

Qianqian Chen, Zhou Shi, Songchao Chen, Yuxuan Gou and Zhiqing Zhuo
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Qianqian Chen: Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhou Shi: Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Songchao Chen: ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou 311200, China
Yuxuan Gou: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhiqing Zhuo: Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: The effects of environmental factors on topsoil nutrient distribution have been extensively discussed, but it remains unclear how they affect spatial characteristics of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry at different depths. We collected 184 soil samples in the typical black soil region of northeast China. Ordinary kriging was performed to describe the spatial distribution of soil C, N, and P eco-stoichiometry. Redundancy analysis was used to explore relationships between C:N:P ratios and physicochemical characteristics. The soil classification was studied by hierarchical cluster analysis. The mean C, N, and P contents ranged from 15.67 to 20.08 g·kg −1 , 1.15 to 1.51 g·kg −1 , and 0.80 to 0.90 g·kg −1 within measured depths. C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometry increased from southwest to northeast, and the Songhua River was identified as an important transition zone. At 0–20 cm, soil water content explained most of the C, N, and P content levels and ratios in cluster 1, while latitude had the highest explanatory ability in cluster 2. For 20–40 cm, soil bulk density was the main influencing factor in both clusters. Our findings contribute to an improved knowledge of the balance and ecological interactions of C, N, and P in northeast China for its sustainability.

Keywords: soil stoichiometry; Mollisols; black soil region; hierarchical cluster analysis; spatial variation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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