Afforestation effects on SOC in former cropland: oak and spruce chronosequences resampled after 13 years

Chronosequences are commonly used to assess soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration after land‐use change, but SOC dynamics predicted by this space‐for‐time substitution approach have rarely been validated by resampling. We conducted a combined chronosequence/resampling study in a former cropland area (Vestskoven) afforested with oak (Quercus robur) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) over the past 40 years. The aims of this study were (i) to compare present and previous chronosequence trends in forest floor and top mineral soil (0–25 cm) C stocks; (ii) to compare chronosequence estimates with current rates of C stock change based on resampling at the stand level; (iii) to estimate SOC changes in the subsoil (25–50 cm); and (iv) to assess the influence of two tree species on SOC dynamics. The two chronosequence trajectories for forest floor C stocks revealed consistently higher rates of C sequestration in spruce than oak. The chronosequence trajectory was validated by resampling and current rates of forest floor C sequestration decreased with stand age. Chronosequence trends in topsoil SOC in 2011 did not differ significantly from those reported in 1998, however, there was a shift from a negative rate (1998: ?0.3 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1) to no change in 2011. In contrast SOC stocks in the subsoil increased with stand age, however, not significantly (P = 0.1), suggesting different C dynamics in and below the former plough layer. Current rates of C change estimated by repeated sampling decreased with stand age in forest floors but increased in the topsoil. The contrasting temporal change in forest floor and mineral soil C sequestration rates indicate a shift in C source‐sink strength after approximately 40 years. We conclude that afforestation of former cropland within the temperate region may induce soil C loss during the first decades followed by a recovery phase of yet unknown duration.     

Causes of variation in mineral soil C content and turnover in differently managed beech dominated forests

Background and aims

Forest soils are important carbon stores and considered as net CO₂ sinks over decadal to centennial time scales. Intensive forest management is thought to reduce the carbon sequestration potential of forest soils. Here we study the effects of decades of forest management (as unmanaged forest, forest under selection cutting, forest under age class management) on the turnover of mineral associated soil organic matter (MOM) in German beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) dominated forests.

Methods

Radiocarbon contents were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in 79 Ah horizon MOM fractions of Cambisols (n?=?13), Luvisols (n?=?51) and Stagnosols (n?=?15). Mean residence times (MRTs) for soil organic carbon (SOC) were estimated with a 2-pool model using the litter input derived from a forest inventory.

Results

MOM fractions from Ah horizons contained 64?±?8.8 % of the bulk SOC. The radiocarbon content of MOM fractions in Ah horizons, expressed as Δ¹⁴C, ranged between ?2.8?‰ and 114?‰ for the three soil groups. Almost all samples contained a detectable proportion of ‘bomb’ carbon fixed from the atmosphere since 1963. Under the assumption that depending on the soil texture between 19 % and 24 % of the SOC from the labile pool is transferred to the stable SOC pool, the corresponding MRTs ranged between 72 and 723 years, with a median of 164 years.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the MOM fraction of Ah horizons from beech forests contained a high proportion of young carbon, but we did not find a significant decadal effect of forest management on the radiocarbon signature and related turnover times. Instead, both variables were controlled by clay contents and associated SOC concentrations (p?<?0.01). This underlines the importance of pedogenic properties for SOC turnover in the MOM fraction.     

Carbon accrual rates,vegetation and nutrient dynamics in a regularly burned coppice woodland in Germany

Historically, large areas of forest in Europe were managed as coppice woodland to produce wood‐based fuel for the smelting industry. We hypothesized that this practice produced a legacy effect on current forest ecosystem properties. Specifically, we hypothesized that the historical form of coppicing may have produced a legacy of elevated stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), nutrients and black carbon (BC) in soil as fire was routinely used in coppiced woodland to clear land. We further hypothesized that these changes in soil properties would result in increased biodiversity. To test these hypotheses, we sampled the surface soil (0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm) from a chronosequence of forest sites found in the Siegerland (Germany) that had been coppiced and burned 1, 2, 3.5, 6, 8, 11 and 17 years before present. Mature beech and spruce forests (i.e., >60 years) were also sampled as reference sites: to provide a hint of what might occur in the absence of human intervention. We measured stocks of SOC, BC, NO₃‐N, P, K, Mg, as well as cation exchange and water‐holding capacity, and we mapped plant composition to calculate species richness and evenness. The results showed that coppicing in combination with burning soil and litter improved soil nutrient availability, enhanced biodiversity and increased SOC stocks. The SOC stocks and biodiversity were increased by a factor of three relative to those in the mature beech and spruce forests. This study shows that traditional coppicing practice may facilitate net C accrual rates of 20 t ha^?1 yr^?1 and maintain high biodiversity, indicating that aspects of traditional practice could be applied in current forest management to foster biodiversity and to mitigate climate change.     

Distributions of carbon in calcareous soils under different land uses in western Iran

Concentrations of Natural stable and unstable carbon in ecosystems have been used extensively to help to understand a wide range of soil processes and functions. This study was conducted to explore the effects of land use changes on different carbon fractions (F₁, F₂, F₃ and F₄), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total organic carbon (TOC) associated with soils in calcareous soils of western Iran. Four popular land uses in the selected site including natural forest, range land, dryland farming and irrigated farming systems were employed as the basis of soil sampling. The results showed a strong relationship between land use conversion and SOC stocks changes. The greatest mean values for carbon content and the least mean values of CaCO₃ in bulk topsoil (0–15 cm) in the forest land were observed. Dryland farming had the least both active and passive pools of C in comparison with the other land uses. The positive and significant correlations was observed between SOC, Total C and POXC contents and different C fractions. Taking C and POXC pools into account, a more definitive picture of the soil C is obtained than when only total C is measured. The influence of land use changes on overall soil carbon stocks could be helpful for making management decision for farmers and policy makers in the future, for enhancing the potential of C sequestration in western Iran.     

From forest to cropland and pasture systems: a critical review of soil organic carbon stocks changes in Amazonia

The impact of deforestation on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is important in the context of climate change and agricultural soil use. Trends of SOC stock changes after agroecosystem establishment vary according to the spatial scale considered, and factors explaining these trends may differ sometimes according to meta‐analyses. We have reviewed the knowledge about changes in SOC stocks in Amazonia after the establishment of pasture or cropland, sought relationships between observed changes and soil, climatic variables and management practices, and synthesized the δ¹³C measured in pastures. Our dataset consisted of 21 studies mostly synchronic, across 52 sites (Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Suriname), totalling 70 forest–agroecosystem comparisons. We found that pastures (n = 52, mean age = 17.6 years) had slightly higher SOC stocks than forest (+6.8 ± 3.1 %), whereas croplands (n = 18, mean age = 8.7 years) had lower SOC stocks than forest (?8.5 ± 2.9 %). Annual precipitation and SOC stocks under forest had no effect on the SOC changes in the agroecosystems. For croplands, we found a lower SOC loss than other meta‐analyses, but the short time period after deforestation here could have reduced this loss. There was no clear effect of tillage on the SOC response. Management of pastures, whether they were degraded/nominal/improved, had no significant effect on SOC response. δ¹³C measurements on 16 pasture chronosequences showed that decay of forest‐derived SOC was variable, whereas pasture‐derived SOC was less so and was characterized by an accumulation plateau of 20 Mg SOC ha^?1 after 20 years. The large uncertainties in SOC response observed could be derived from the chronosequence approach, sensitive to natural soil variability and to human management practices. This study emphasizes the need for diachronic and long‐term studies, associated with better knowledge of agroecosystem management.     

桂北不同林龄桉树人工林土壤碳库管理指数和碳组分的变化特征

采用时空互代法,以广西北部低山丘陵地区不同林龄(1、2、3、4、5和8 a)桉树人工林为研究对象,探讨林龄对桉树人工林地土壤碳库管理指数的影响及其规律。结果表明:(1)随着林龄的增加,土壤有机碳总体表现为增加的趋势,1～8 a桉树土壤有机碳范围在5.79～15.57 g· kg^-1之间,随着土层的加深而降低; 0～40 cm土层土壤有机碳平均含量表现为8 a>5 a>3 a>4 a>2 a>1 a。(2)土壤非活性有机碳、碳储量随林龄和土层的变化规律与土壤有机碳基本一致。土壤活性有机碳含量大小依次表现为8 a>5 a>4 a>3 a>2 a>1 a,占土壤有机碳的比例随林龄变化无明显规律,8 a和其他林龄间均具有显著差异。(3)碳库管理指数随林龄增加整体呈上升趋势,8 a桉树人工林土壤碳组分含量及碳库管理指数均高于10 a对照马尾松林。碳库管理指数与土壤有机碳、非活性有机碳、活性有机碳、碳储量、碳库活度、全氮、容重呈极显著或显著的相关性,不同林龄和土层间碳库管理指数有差异性。适当延长桉树人工林的轮伐周期,减少人为对林地凋落物和林下植被的干扰,将有利于提高土壤的有机碳含量,进而改善土壤质量。     

Changes in soil organic carbon,nitrogen, pH and bulk density with the development of larch (Larix gmelinii) plantations in China

Under the government of China's environmental program known as Returning Farmland To Forests (RFTF), about 28 million hectares of farmland have been converted to tree plantation. This has led to a large accumulation of biomass carbon, but less is known about underground carbon‐related processes. One permanent plot (25 years of observation) and four chronosequence plot series comprising 159 plots of larch (Larix gmelinii) plantations in northeastern China were studied. Both methods found significant soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation (96.4 g C m^?2 yr^?1) and bulk density decrease (5.7 mg cm^?3 yr^?1) in the surface soil layer (0–20 cm), but no consistent changes in deeper layers, indicating that larch planting under the RFTF program can increase SOC storage and improve the physical properties of surface soil. Nitrogen depletion (4.1–4.3 g m^?2 yr^?1), soil acidification (0.007–0.022 pH units yr^?1) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio increase (0.16–0.46 per year) were observed in lessive soil, whereas no significant changes were found in typical dark‐brown forest soil. This SOC accumulation rate (96.4 g m^?2 yr^?1) can take 39% of the total carbon sink capacity [net ecosystem exchange (NEE)] of larch forests in this region and the total soil carbon sequestration could be 87 Tg carbon within 20 years of plantation by approximating all larch plantations in northeastern China (4.5 Mha), showing the importance of soil carbon accumulation in the ecosystem carbon balance. By comparison with the rates of these processes in agricultural use, the RFTF program of reversing land use for agriculture will rehabilitate SOC, soil fertility and bulk density slowly (< 69% of the depletion rate in agricultural use), so that a much longer duration is needed to rehabilitate the underground function of soil via the RFTF program. Global forest plantations on abandoned farmland or function to protecting farmland are of steady growth and our findings may be important for understanding their underground carbon processes.     

Black carbon accrual during 2000 years of paddy‐rice and non‐paddy cropping in the Yangtze River Delta,China

Rice straw burning has accompanied paddy management for millennia, introducing black carbon (BC) into soil as the residue of incomplete combustion. This study examined the contribution of BC to soil organic matter and the rate at which it accumulates in paddy soils as a result of prolonged paddy management. Soil depth profiles were sampled along a chronosequence of 0–2000 years of rice–wheat rotation systems and adjacent non‐paddy systems (50–700 years) in the Bay of Hangzhou (Zhejiang province, China). The soil BC content and its degree of condensation were assessed using benzene‐polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs) as geochemical markers. The results showed that despite regular long term BC input, BC only contributed 7–11% of total soil organic carbon (SOC) in the topsoil horizons. Nevertheless, along with SOC, paddy soils accumulated BC with increasing duration of management until 297 years to reach a steady‐state of 13 t BC ha^?1. This was 1.8 times more than in non‐paddy soils. The fate of BC in paddy soils (0–1 m) could be modeled revealing an average annual input of 44 kg ha^?1 yr^?1, and a mean residence time of 303 years. The subsoils contributed at least 50% to overall BC stocks, which likely derived from periods prior to land embankment and episodic burial of ancient topsoil, as also indicated by BPCA pattern changes. We conclude that there is a significant but limited accumulation of C in charred forms upon prolonged paddy management. The final contribution of BC to total SOC in paddy soils was similar to that in other aerobic ecosystems of the world.     

Topographic controls on black carbon accumulation in Alaskan black spruce forest soils: implications for organic matter dynamics

There is still much uncertainty as to how wildfire affects the accumulation of burn residues (such as black carbon (BC)) in the soil, and the corresponding changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) composition in boreal forests. We investigated SOC and BC composition in black spruce forests on different landscape positions in Alaska, USA. Mean BC stocks in surface mineral soils (0.34 ± 0.09 kg C m^?2) were higher than in organic soils (0.17 ± 0.07 kg C m^?2), as determined at four sites by three different ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy-based techniques. Aromatic carbon, protein, BC, and the alkyl:O-alkyl carbon ratio were higher in mineral soil than in organic soil horizons. There was no trend between mineral soil BC stocks and fire frequencies estimated from lake sediment records at four sites, and soil BC was relatively modern (<54–400 years, based on mean Δ¹⁴C ranging from 95.1 to ?54.7‰). A more extensive analysis (90 soil profiles) of mineral soil BC revealed that interactions among landscape position, organic layer depth, and bulk density explained most of the variance in soil BC across sites, with less soil BC occurring in relatively cold forests with deeper organic layers. We suggest that shallower organic layer depths and higher bulk densities found in warmer boreal forests are more favorable for BC production in wildfire, and more BC is integrated with mineral soil than organic horizons. Soil BC content likely reflected more recent burning conditions influenced by topography, and implications of this for SOC composition (e.g., aromaticity and protein content) are discussed.     

滇南喀斯特断陷盆地土地利用方式对土壤有机碳及其活性组分的影响

土地利用方式是影响土壤有机碳库的重要因素,为探究喀斯特断陷盆地土壤有机碳库对土地利用方式及环境因素的响应,以滇南喀斯特地区5种典型土地利用方式(耕地、草地、灌丛、人工林、天然林)为研究对象,分析不同土地利用方式土壤有机碳(SOC)及活性有机碳(LOC)组分,即可溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化性有机碳(EOC)及微生物量碳(MBC)的含量、储量及分配比例在土壤垂直剖面(0-60 cm)的变化特征。结果表明：5种土地利用方式的SOC含量随土层深度的增加逐渐降低,其储量依次为灌丛(191.77 t/hm²)、草地(166.86 t/hm²)、耕地(142.47 t/hm²)、人工林(134.31 t/hm²)和天然林(102.62 t/hm²);EOC和MBC的平均含量及储量均以草地及灌丛最高、人工林及天然林次之,二者在土壤垂直剖面上与SOC含量的变化特征一致,但EOC和MBC含量在土层间的下降幅度大于SOC;土地利用方式和土层深度对DOC无显著影响(P>0.05);活性有机碳的分配比例受土地利用方式及土层深度的显著影响(P<0.01),其中人工林的EOC/SOC和MBC/SOC显著低于草地、灌丛及天然林。通径分析指出SOC和EOC主要受C/P比、全磷、砂粒和交换性钙的影响,砂粒和C/P比是影响MBC的主要因子。研究阐明在喀斯特断陷盆地地区EOC和MBC对土地利用方式的响应比SOC更敏感。另外,今后在土壤碳库的研究中应更多关注土壤磷和物理结构对其的影响。     

不同生态恢复模式对黄土残塬沟壑区深层土壤有机碳的影响

黄土高原退耕还林近20年来,大量生态恢复工程的实施,势必对土壤碳库产生影响。为评估生态恢复的土壤碳汇效益,本研究以黄土残塬沟壑区天然次生林、人工生态林和人工经济林等3种生态恢复模式为对象,研究其4 m土壤有机碳(SOC)储量。结果表明:(1)三种生态恢复模式具有明显的碳汇效益。天然次生林4 m SOC储量为(166.40±42.90) t/hm~2比坡中农地((58.73±4.73) t/hm~2显著增加了183.33%;人工生态林和人工经济林分别为(111.32±13.30) t/hm~2、(104.60±7.10) t/hm~2比坡中农地高89.54%、78.11%;(2)0—60 cm SOC含量随深度的增加显著降低(P0.05),由表层的(11.03±7.51) g/kg减少到(2.40±0.93) g/kg,降幅达78.22%,表现出明显的表聚性;60—400 cm SOC含量变化较为稳定,含量较低为(1.81±0.88) g/kg;(3)三种恢复模式深层(1—4 m)SOC储量与坡中农地相比分别提高109.43%、76.43%、65.06%;深层SOC储量天然次生林((77.81±8.40) t/hm~2)、人工生态林((65.55±7.71) t/hm~2)、人工经济林((61.32±3.16) t/hm~2)分别占4 m剖面有机碳储量的46.76%、58.89%、58.62%。结果表明天然次生林和人工混交林是黄土高原残塬沟壑区良好的生态恢复模式,且深层SOC在土壤碳库中不可忽视。     

Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya,India

The present study was undertaken in seven major forest types of temperate zone (1500 m a.s.l. to 3100 m a.s.l.) of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effect of slope aspects on carbon (C) density and make recommendations for forest management based on priorities for C conservation/sequestration. We assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) density, tree density, biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) on four aspects, viz. north-east (NE), north-west (NW), south-east (SE) and south-west (SW), in forest stands dominated by Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, Pinus roxburghii, Cupressus torulosa, Quercus floribunda, Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus leucotrichophora. TCD ranged between 77.3 CMg ha⁻¹ on SE aspect (Quercus leucotrichophora forest) and 291.6 CMg ha⁻¹ on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). SOC varied between 40.3 CMg ha⁻¹ on SW aspect (Himalayan Pinus roxburghii forest) and 177.5 CMg ha⁻¹ on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). Total C density (SOC + TCD) ranged between 118.1 CMg ha⁻¹ on SW aspect (Himalayan Pinus roxburghii forest) and 469.1 CMg ha⁻¹ on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). SOC and TCD were significantly higher on northern aspects as compared with southern aspects. It is recommended that for C sequestration, the plantation silviculture be exercised on northern aspects, and for C conservation purposes, mature forest stands growing on northern aspects be given priority.     

Fermentation performance of Candida guilliermondii for xylitol production on single and mixed substrate media

Semidefined media fermentation simulating the sugar composition of hemicellulosic hydrolysates (around 85 g l^-1 xylose, 17 g l^-1 glucose, and 9 g l^-1 arabinose) was investigated to evaluate the glucose and arabinose influence on xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii. The results revealed that glucose reduced the xylose consumption rate by 30%. Arabinose did not affect the xylose consumption but its utilization by the yeast was fully repressed by both glucose and xylose sugars. Arabinose was only consumed when it was used as a single carbon source. Xylitol production was best when glucose was not present in the fermentation medium. On the other hand, the arabinose favored the xylitol yield (which attained 0.74 g g^-1 xylose consumed) and it did not interfere with xylitol volumetric productivity (Q _P=0.85 g g^-1), the value of which was similar to that obtained with xylose alone.     

Land use change from C3 grassland to C4 Miscanthus: effects on soil carbon content and estimated mitigation benefit after six years

To date, most Miscanthus trials and commercial fields have been planted on arable land. Energy crops will need to be grown more on lower grade lands unsuitable for arable crops. Grasslands represent a major land resource for energy crops. In grasslands, where soil organic carbon (SOC) levels can be high, there have been concerns that the carbon mitigation benefits of bioenergy from Miscanthus could be offset by losses in SOC associated with land use change. At a site in Wales (UK), we quantified the relatively short‐term impacts (6 years) of four novel Miscanthus hybrids and Miscanthus × giganteus on SOC in improved grassland. After 6 years, using stable carbon isotope ratios (¹³C/¹²C), the amount of Miscanthus derived C (C4) in total SOC was considerable (ca. 12%) and positively correlated to belowground biomass of different hybrids. Nevertheless, significant changes in SOC stocks (0–30 cm) were not detected as C4 Miscanthus carbon replaced the initial C3 grassland carbon; however, initial SOC decreased more in the presence of higher belowground biomass. We ascribed this apparently contradictory result to the rhizosphere priming effect triggered by easily available C sources. Observed changes in SOC partitioning were modelled using the RothC soil carbon turnover model and projected for 20 years showing that there is no significant change in SOC throughout the anticipated life of a Miscanthus crop. We interpret our observations to mean that the new labile C from Miscanthus has replaced the labile C from the grassland and, therefore, planting Miscanthus causes an insignificant change in soil organic carbon. The overall C mitigation benefit is therefore not decreased by depletion of soil C and is due to substitution of fossil fuel by the aboveground biomass, in this instance 73–108 Mg C ha^?1 for the lowest and highest yielding hybrids, respectively, after 6 years.     

Determinants of soil organic carbon sequestration and its contribution to ecosystem carbon sinks of planted forests

The area of forest established through afforestation/reforestation has been increasing on a global scale, which is particularly important as these planted forests attenuate climate change by sequestering carbon. However, the determinants of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and their contribution to the ecosystem carbon sink of planted forests remain uncertain. By using globally distributed data extracted from 154 peer‐reviewed publications and a total of 355 sampling points, we investigated above‐ground biomass carbon (ABC) sequestration and SOC sequestration across three different climatic zones (tropical, warm temperate, and cold temperate) through correlation analysis, regression models, and structural equation modeling (SEM). We found that the proportion of SOC sequestration in the ecosystem C sequestration averaged 14.1% globally, being the highest (27.0%) in the warm temperate and the lowest (10.7%) in the tropical climatic zones. The proportion was mainly affected by latitude. The sink rate of ABC (R_ABC) in tropical climates (2.48 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1) and the sink rate of SOC (R_SOC) in warm temperate climates (0.96 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1) were higher than other climatic zones. The main determinants of R_SOC were the number of frost‐free days, latitude, mean annual precipitation (MAP), and SOC density (SOCD) at the initial observation; however, these variables depended on the climatic zone. According to the SEM, frost‐free period, mean annual temperature (MAT) and MAP are the dominant driving factors affecting R_SOC in Chinese plantations. MAT has a positive effect on R_SOC, and global warming may increase R_SOC of temperate plantations in China. Our findings highlight the determinants of SOC sequestration and quantitatively reveal the substantial global contribution of SOC sequestration to ecosystem carbon sink provided by planted forests. Our results help managers identify and control key factors to increase carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems.     

Contemporary carbon stocks of mineral forest soils in the Swiss Alps

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has been identified as the main globalterrestrial carbon reservoir, but considerable uncertainty remains as toregional SOC variability and the distribution of C between vegetationand soil. We used gridded forest soil data (8–km × 8–km)representative of Swiss forests in terms of climate and forest typedistribution to analyse spatial patterns of mineral SOC stocks alonggradients in the European Alps for the year 1993. At stand level, meanSOC stocks of 98 t C ha^–1 (N = 168,coefficient of variation: 70%) were obtained for the entiremineral soil profile, 76 t C ha^–1 (N =137, CV: 50%) in 0–30 cm topsoil, and 62 t Cha^–1 (N = 156, CV: 46%) in0–20 cm topsoil. Extrapolating to national scale, we calculatedcontemporary SOC stocks of 110 Tg C (entire mineral soil, standarderror: 6 Tg C), 87 Tg C (0–30 cm topsoil, standarderror: 3.5 Tg C) and 70 Tg C (0–20 cm topsoil, standarderror: 2.5 Tg C) for mineral soils of accessible Swiss forests(1.1399 Mha). According to our estimate, the 0–20 cm layers ofmineral forest soils in Switzerland store about half of the Csequestered by forest trees (136 Tg C) and more than five times morethan organic horizons (13.2 Tg C).At stand level, regression analyses on the entire data set yielded nostrong climatic or topographic signature for forest SOC stocks in top(0–20 cm) and entire mineral soils across the Alps, despite thewide range of values of site parameters. Similarly, geostatisticalanalyses revealed no clear spatial trends for SOC in Switzerland at thescale of sampling. Using subsets, biotic, abiotic controls andcategorial variables (forest type, region) explained nearly 60%of the SOC variability in topsoil mineral layers (0–20 cm) forbroadleaf stands (N = 56), but only little of thevariability in needleleaf stands (N = 91,R ² = 0.23 for topsoil layers).Considerable uncertainties remain in assessments of SOC stocks, due tounquantified errors in soil density and rock fraction, lack of data onwithin-site SOC variability and missing or poorly quantifiedenvironmental control parameters. Considering further spatial SOCvariability, replicate pointwise soil sampling at 8–km × 8–kmresolution without organic horizons will thus hardly allow to detectchanges in SOC stocks in strongly heterogeneous mountain landscapes.     

Plant carbon allocation drives turnover of old soil organic matter in permafrost tundra soils

Carbon cycle feedbacks from permafrost ecosystems are expected to accelerate global climate change. Shifts in vegetation productivity and composition in permafrost regions could influence soil organic carbon (SOC) turnover rates via rhizosphere (root zone) priming effects (RPEs), but these processes are not currently accounted for in model predictions. We use a radiocarbon (bomb‐¹⁴C) approach to test for RPEs in two Arctic tall shrubs, alder (Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC.) and birch (Betula glandulosa Michx.), and in ericaceous heath tundra vegetation. We compare surface CO₂ efflux rates and ¹⁴C content between intact vegetation and plots in which below‐ground allocation of recent photosynthate was prevented by trenching and removal of above‐ground biomass. We show, for the first time, that recent photosynthate drives mineralization of older (>50 years old) SOC under birch shrubs and ericaceous heath tundra. By contrast, we find no evidence of RPEs in soils under alder. This is the first direct evidence from permafrost systems that vegetation influences SOC turnover through below‐ground C allocation. The vulnerability of SOC to decomposition in permafrost systems may therefore be directly linked to vegetation change, such that expansion of birch shrubs across the Arctic could increase decomposition of older SOC. Our results suggest that carbon cycle models that do not include RPEs risk underestimating the carbon cycle feedbacks associated with changing conditions in tundra regions.     

森林土壤有机碳深度分布模型的构建与应用

了解森林土壤有机碳(SOC)的深度分布模式对正确估算森林碳储量,充分发挥森林碳汇功能,减缓全球气候变化有着重要意义。选取寒温带针叶林、温带落叶林、亚热带针阔混交林、热带常绿阔叶林等4类森林生物群系,建立SOC深度分布数据库,构建SOC质量密度的深度分布模型;使用Nash-Sutcliffe效率系数(E)、误差百分比(PE)、决定系数(R~2)等统计参量评定模型的模拟效果;利用构建的深度分布模型外推更深层SOC密度。研究结果表明:(1)本文所构建的森林SOC深度分布模型模拟值与观测值较为吻合,Nash-Sutcliffe效率E、误差百分比PE和决定系数R~2平均为0.74、6.95%、0.88(P0.05),模型模拟能力较高(E0.6),模拟误差值低于可接受的临界值(PE±15%),说明构建的模型可以对该地区森林SOC密度值进行估算;(2)寒温带针叶林0—20 cm层SOC质量密度较高,热带常绿阔叶林较低;20 cm以下则是寒温带针叶林较低,热带常绿阔叶林较高,热带常绿阔叶林具有更深层的SOC分布;用0—100 cm深度的SOC来表征区域SOC储量时结果偏低。若考虑0—200 cm深度,0—100 cm深度SOC值平均偏低约21.8%,在热带地区这种偏低趋势可能更加突出,误差可能更大。(3)模型对表层SOC密度有偏低预测趋势,对深层SOC密度预测值可能偏高;作为一个森林SOC深度分布模拟工具,模型可以在有限区域条件下估算不同深度SOC密度值。     

广西不同森林类型土壤有机碳的空间异质性

采用经典统计学和地统计学相结合的方法,研究广西10类主要森林类型不同土层(0~10、10~20、20~30、30~50、50~100 cm)土壤有机碳含量的空间异质性。结果表明:广西森林不同土层土壤有机碳平均含量变化为8.01~29.78 g·kg-1,变异系数在50.27%~74.89%之间;10~20 cm土层土壤有机碳的半变异函数符合球状模型,其余土层符合指数模型,且拟合效果均较好;各土层土壤有机碳半变异函数的块金效应为16.75%~49.33%,表现为强烈或中等强度的空间自相关性;Kriging插值结果显示,不同森林各土层土壤有机碳含量的分布具有一定相似的空间分布特征,总体表现为北高南低,最高和最低值分别出现在东北和东南;广西不同森林类型不同土壤深度土壤有机碳含量和变异系数不同,0~100 cm土壤有机碳平均含量的大小顺序为硬阔杉木石山林软阔竹林八角桉树油茶栎类松树,总体上土壤有机碳含量随土壤深度的增加而降低,变异系数则相反。广西森林土壤的空间异质性受结构性和人为因素的共同制约,其中结构性因素起主导作用。因此,加强自然林封育和人工林保育、优化调控桉树林和经济林种植规模是提高广西森林固碳潜力的重要措施。