松嫩平原玉米带土壤碳氮储量的空间特征

利用第二次全国和县级土壤普查的382个典型土壤剖面资料和1∶50万数字化土壤图建立土壤剖面空间数据库,利用土壤类型法估算松嫩平原玉米带土壤碳、氮储量,分析土壤有机碳、氮密度的空间分布特征,探讨土壤有机碳、氮密度与土壤类型和土地利用类型之间的关系.结果表明:松嫩平原玉米带土壤有机碳、氮储量分别为(163.12±26.48)Tg和(9.53±1.75)Tg,土壤碳、氮储量主要集中在草甸土、黑钙土和黑土等土类中.土壤有机碳、氮密度分别为5.51～25.25和0.37～0.80kg·m-2,土壤C/N值大致在7.90～12.67.土壤有机碳、氮密度的空间分布均表现为东部和北部高、西部低.在不同土地利用类型中,旱田土壤的有机碳密度最高,为(19.07±2.44)kg·m-2;林地土壤的氮密度最高,为(0.82±0.25)kg·m-2;水田土壤的碳、氮密度均较低.     

1940—2002年长江中下游平原乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤氮磷储量的变化

过去60a间,长江中下游平原乡村景观区域中土地利用覆被类型,特别是耕地类型发生了显著地转变,并对其土壤全氮和全磷产生了明显地影响。通过选取区域代表性样方、研究耕地类型的小尺度转化、土壤取样和收集1965年前土壤全氮、全磷历史数据,采用尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,评价了1940-2002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤全氮、全磷储量的变化。结果表明:近60a来,在86×103km2的区域中有47%的面积发生了变化,其中33%的面积是耕地类型转化。耕地面积减少18.6%(-16.0×103km2),其中稻田面积减少21.5%(-18.5×103km2),种植木本作物的旱地面积减少1.7%(-1.5×103km2);而种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地的面积分别增加了3.5%(3.0×103km2)和2.0%(1.7×103km2)。尽管稻田面积大幅减少,但其仍是区域中面积最大的土地利用覆被类型。1940-2002年,有98%的可能性区域耕地0-30cm土壤全氮储量净减少,而其0-30cm土壤全磷储量则无明显变化。区域耕地土壤全氮储量明显减少(-7.2Tg N),主要受稻田土壤全氮储量显著减少(-8.0Tg N)的影响,而稻田面积大幅减少是导致稻田土壤全氮储量减少的主要原因。与此同时,种植木本作物的旱地的土壤全氮储量减少了0.7Tg N;而种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地分别增加1.3和0.7Tg N。区域耕地土壤全磷储量变化不明显,主要受稻田土壤全磷储量无明显变化的影响。尽管稻田面积大幅减少,但由于稻田土壤全磷密度增加了29%(其净增加的可能性为76%);加之稻田土壤全磷密度变异较大,所以稻田土壤全磷储量并没有明显减少,其净减少的可能性仅为64%。与此同时,有75%的可能性种植木本作物的旱地的土壤全磷储量净减少,但仅减少了0.3Tg P;而种植木本作物的水浇地和种植1年生作物的水浇地土壤全磷都有少量增加,分别为0.7和0.4Tg P。通过选取区域代表性样方、研究耕地类型的小尺度转化、土壤取样和收集土壤历史数据、结合尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,能够揭示1940-2002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤全氮和全磷储量的变化。     

南方丘陵区土壤氮素尺度效应的影响因素

利用GPS、GIS和随机过程抽样技术,研究了江西省兴国县潋水河流域土壤氮素在小、中和大3种研究尺度下的分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明,土壤全氮和有效氮尺度效应明显,均值随研究尺度的扩大而增加。其中,土壤全氮平均含量分别是0.60gkg-1、0.73gkg-1和0.83gkg-1,有效氮含量为64.8mgkg-1、66.3mgkg-1和80.2mgkg-1。成土母质、土壤类型、土地利用和土壤侵蚀状况是影响氮素尺度效应的重要因素。3种尺度下母质与土壤氮素含量关系复杂,但均以花岗岩坡残积物发育土壤最低。在不同尺度下,水稻土全氮和有效氮均显著或极显著高于红壤,但大尺度下的石灰岩土与前二种土壤差异均不显著。在小尺度和中尺度下水田全氮显著或极显著高于旱地和林地,在大尺度下它显著高于旱地而与林地差异不显著;水田有效氮显著或极显著高于林地,但与旱地除小尺度下差异达显著水平外,中、大尺度下差异不显著。土壤侵蚀状况对土壤全氮和有效氮含量的影响与尺度大小有关,且随尺度增加差异显著性逐渐增强。     

松嫩平原玉米带农田土壤氮密度时空格局

基于1980年吉林省第二次全国土壤普查剖面资料和2003—2006年的实测数据,估算了松嫩平原玉米带不同土壤类型农田表层(0—20 cm)土壤氮密度和储量,分析了该地区土壤氮密度的25a时空变化特征及其原因。结果表明,两个时期松嫩平原玉米带农田土壤氮密度的空间分布格局基本一致,中部高、边缘低,平均土壤氮密度变化不大,均为0.31 kg/m2,但25 a间不同土壤类型和土地利用方式的土壤氮密度变化趋势存在差异,暗棕壤、水稻土和沼泽土的氮密度上升,其它类型土壤的氮密度不变或下降,旱田的氮密度不变,水田的氮密度明显下降,25 a间研究区内的农田土壤总氮储量每年减少7.6×105kg。25 a间土壤氮密度的变化与1980年的初始值负相关,土壤氮密度的新稳定状态值为0.32 kg/m2。如保持1980年的土地利用方式和栽培耕作措施不变,该地区农田土壤总固氮潜力为5.18×106kg/a。但实际上,与固氮潜力相比,2005年该区农田土壤总氮储量偏低了1.20×108kg。因此,今后该区应多注重肥料的合理施用,加强农田管理,尤其是旱田改水田的管理。     

中耕地类型及其土壤氮磷储量的变化

过去60a间,长江中下游平原乡村景观区域中土地利用覆被类型,特别是耕地类型发生了显著地转变,并对其土壤全氮和全磷产生了明显地影响。通过选取区域代表性样方、研究耕地类型的小尺度转化、土壤取样和收集1965年前土壤全氮、全磷历史数据,采用尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,评价了1940—2002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤全氮、全磷储量的变化。结果表明: 近60a来,在86×103 km2的区域中有47%的面积发生了变化,其中33%的面积是耕地类型转化。耕地面积减少18.6%（-16.0×103 km2）,其中稻田面积减少21.5%（-18.5×103 km2）,种植木本作物的旱地面积减少1.7%（-1.5×103 km2）;而种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地的面积分别增加了3.5%（3.0×103 km2）和2.0%（1.7×103 km2）。尽管稻田面积大幅减少,但其仍是区域中面积最大的土地利用覆被类型。 1940—2002年,有98%的可能性区域耕地0—30 cm土壤全氮储量净减少,而其0—30 cm土壤全磷储量则无明显变化。区域耕地土壤全氮储量明显减少（-7.2 Tg N）,主要受稻田土壤全氮储量显著减少（-8.0 Tg N）的影响,而稻田面积大幅减少是导致稻田土壤全氮储量减少的主要原因。与此同时,种植木本作物的旱地的土壤全氮储量减少了0.7 Tg N;而种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地分别增加1.3和0.7 Tg N。区域耕地土壤全磷储量变化不明显,主要受稻田土壤全磷储量无明显变化的影响。尽管稻田面积大幅减少,但由于稻田土壤全磷密度增加了29%（其净增加的可能性为76%）;加之稻田土壤全磷密度变异较大,所以稻田土壤全磷储量并没有明显减少,其净减少的可能性仅为64%。与此同时,有75%的可能性种植木本作物的旱地的土壤全磷储量净减少,但仅减少了0.3 Tg P;而种植木本作物的水浇地和种植1年生作物的水浇地土壤全磷都有少量增加,分别为0.7 和0.4 Tg P。 通过选取区域代表性样方、研究耕地类型的小尺度转化、土壤取样和收集土壤历史数据、结合尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,能够揭示1940—2002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤全氮和全磷储量的变化。     

若尔盖高寒湿地土壤全氮空间分布特征

选取若尔盖高寒湿地(红原县和若尔盖县)作为研究区域,运用野外调查采样、室内分析与地理信息系统的空间分析方法,对土壤1 m深全氮的空间分布特征进行研究,以期为全球变化背景下高寒湿地氮循环研究提供支撑。结果表明,土壤全氮含量和密度具有垂直分异现象,呈现随土层深度的增加而降低的趋势,较高值出现在0~0.3 m土层,且显著高于0.3~1.0 m土层。水平分布上,土壤全氮密度具有较强的空间异质性。在0~1.0 m土层,研究区内土壤全氮总储量为62.6 Tg,平均全氮密度为3.8 kg·m-3。常年淹水湿地0~1.0 m土层土壤平均全氮密度为4.0 kg·m-3,全氮储量为29.2 Tg,约占研究区内土壤全氮总储量的46.7%。     

短期放牧干扰对黄土丘陵区生物结皮土壤氮素累积的影响

通过野外调查结合室内分析,研究了黄土丘陵区模拟放牧干扰半年和一年后生物结皮土壤全氮、速效氮和微生物生物量氮累积的变化,以期揭示生物结皮土壤氮素对干扰响应的敏感性.结果表明: 生物结皮土壤氮素对干扰响应敏感,短期干扰可导致土壤全氮、速效氮和微生物生物量氮含量降低.干扰半年后,生物结皮层全氮和速效氮含量较不干扰分别下降0.17～0.39 g·kg^-1、1.78～5.65 mg·kg^-1;干扰一年后,分别下降0.13～0.40 g·kg^-1、11.45～32.68mg·kg^-1,生物结皮层微生物生物量氮下降69.99～330.97 mg·kg^-1,0～2 cm土壤微生物生物量氮增加25.51～352.17 mg·kg^-1.干扰对生物结皮土壤氮素累积的影响与干扰强度有关,20%和30%干扰强度下生物结皮层氮素累积变化不显著,40%和50%干扰强度下生物结皮层氮素累积显著降低.短期干扰降低了生物结皮层氮素累积,但表层5 cm土壤氮素含量变化不显著.     

枣粮间作生态系统土壤氮空间分布特性

基于枣粮间作复合生态系统内部异质性,通过在不同位置采样测定,探讨了枣粮间作系统内土壤氮素空间分布特性.结果表明:(1)枣粮间作生态系统中,在小麦收获期和玉米收获期两个时期,土壤全氮和硝态氮含量均存在明显的垂直和水平两个方向空间变异性.而土壤铵态氮含量极低且没有明显的空间变异;(2)与全氮相比,枣粮间作系统中硝态氮空间变异性更强,且随着时间变化其空间分布特性有明显变化;(3)氮素施用量对土壤全氮和硝态氮空间变异有正向作用,而植株对氮的吸收利用可以降低土壤氮素分布空间差异程度.各因子对土壤全氮空间变异影响强弱顺序为氮吸收量＞氮素施用量＞土壤含水量;对土壤硝态氮空间变异影响强弱顺序为氮素施用量＞土壤全氮含量＞氮素吸收量＞土壤含水量.     

县域农田土壤氮素空间分布特征及其影响因素

采用地统计学与GIS相结合的方法,研究了四川省双流县土壤氮素空间分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明：土壤全氮和碱解氮含量具有中等空间相关性,其空间相关距离分别为15480 m和26980 m.土壤全氮含量高值区主要位于北边的九江、新兴两镇,低值区主要位于东南方向的合江、三星两镇;土壤碱解氮含量从北向南递减趋势比较明显.灰色冲积物上发育的土壤全氮和碱解氮含量均显著或极显著高于紫色岩风化物和老冲积物;水稻土全氮和碱解氮含量均极显著高于黄壤和紫色土;地形条件对土壤全氮和碱解氮含量的影响程度不同,但均以丘陵最低;不同土地利用方式下,水田全氮和碱解氮含量均显著或极显著高于旱地和果园;土壤氮素高值区施肥量明显高于低值区.     

福建省耕地土壤潜性酸动态变化及其驱动因素

土壤潜性酸是植物生长的潜在限制因子,是土壤酸性调控的重要依据.按比例抽取并测定福建省耕地表层土壤代表性样点的潜性酸量和pH值,拟合潜性酸(PA)与活性酸(pH)的最优关系模型,利用全省1982年36777个、2008年236445个和2016年21269个耕地表层土壤调查样点pH等属性数据,建立3期1∶5万耕地土壤潜性酸量数据库,借助GIS技术和灰色关联分析模型探讨福建省耕地土壤潜性酸动态变化规律及其驱动因素.结果表明: 1982—2016年,全省耕地土壤潜性酸量整体呈上升趋势,2008和2016年潜性酸量分别比1982年上升1.30和1.49 cmol·kg^-1,1982—2008年的潜性酸上升速率比2008—2016年高0.03 cmol·kg^-1·a^-1.1982—2016年,全省耕地土壤潜性酸变化量空间差异明显,龙岩市耕地土壤潜性酸变化量最大,比最小的三明市高4倍以上;不同利用类型耕地土壤潜性酸变化量大小依次为水田>水浇地>旱地;咸酸水稻土、潜育水稻土和淹育水稻土亚类的潜性酸变化量最大,是全省潜性酸变化量均值的1倍以上;赤红壤和盐渍水稻土亚类变化量最小,分别为全省均值的25.7%和28.4%.福建省耕地土壤潜性酸动态变化的主要驱动因素包括氮、磷肥施用量、阳离子交换量(CEC)、黏粒含量、pH和粉粒含量,灰色关联系数绝对值＞0.92.科学优化施肥结构、合理施用碱性调理剂改酸是减缓福建省耕地土壤潜性酸增加的重要途径.     

青海省森林土壤有机碳氮储量及其垂直分布特征

森林土壤在调节森林生态系统碳、氮循环和减缓全球气候变化中起着关键的作用。但是,由于林型、林龄以及环境因子(海拔)的差异,至今对于森林土壤碳、氮储量的估算依然存在极大的不确定性。因此,利用森林土壤实测数据估算了青海森林土壤有机碳、氮密度和碳、氮储量,分析了土壤有机碳、氮密度的垂直分布格局。结果表明:1)土壤有机碳密度随海拔的增加呈单峰曲线变化,在海拔3100—3400 m达到最大34.33 kg/m~2;氮密度随海拔的增加而增加,范围为1.39—2.93 kg/m~2。2)在0—30 cm土层,土壤有机碳、氮密度均随土层的增加而降低,范围分别为3.84—4.63 kg/m~2、0.22—0.27 kg/m~2。3)青海省森林土壤碳储量为1098.70 Tg,氮储量为61.78 Tg。4)海拔与氮含量和密度之间存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01,P0.01)。土层深度与有机碳含量存在极显著负相关关系(P0.01);与有机碳密度、氮密度存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01,P0.01)。说明海拔和土层是影响青海省森林土壤有机碳、氮分布的关键因子。     

Accumulation of nitrogen and microbial residues during 2000 years of rice paddy and non‐paddy soil development in the Yangtze River Delta,China

Lowland rice paddy soils may accumulate significant amounts of organic matter. Our aim was to investigate the role of prolonged paddy management on the nitrogen (N) status of the soils, and to elucidate the contribution of bacteria and fungi to long‐term N accumulation processes. For this purpose, we sampled a chronosequence of 0–2000 years of rice cropping with adjacent non‐paddy systems in the Bay of Hangzhou, China. The samples were analyzed for bulk density, total, mineral and microbial N (N_mic), and amino sugars as markers for microbial residues. The results showed that during the first 100 years of land embankment, both paddy and non‐paddy soils accumulated N at a rate of up to 61 and 77 kg ha^?1 per annum, reaching steady‐state conditions after 110–172 years, respectively. Final N stocks in paddy fields exceeded those of the non‐paddies by a factor of 1.3. The contribution of amino sugars to total N increased to a maximum of 34 g N kg^?1 N in both land‐use systems, highlighting a significant accumulation of N in microbial residues of the surface soils. Correspondingly, the ratio of N_mic to microbial residue‐N decreased to a constant value. In the paddy subsoils, we found that bacterial residues particularly contributed to the pool of microbial residue‐N. Nevertheless, the absolute contents of amino sugars in paddy subsoils decreased during the last 1700 years of the chronosequence. We conclude that under paddy cultivation, soil microorganisms may accumulate parts of this N in their residues despite low overall N availability. However, this N accumulation is limited to initial stages of paddy soil development and restricted to the surface horizons, thus challenging its sustainability with future land‐use changes.     

开垦对绿洲农田碳氮累积及其与作物产量关系的影响

以新疆策勒绿洲近百年来不同开垦年限农田为研究对象,采用空间序列换算时间序列的方法,研究绿洲农田开垦过程中土壤有机碳和全氮密度、碳氮比(C/N)及速效氮含量的垂直变化特征,并探讨了农田土壤碳氮变化与作物产量的关系。结果表明:荒漠土壤开垦后,显著增加了表层土壤(0-20 cm)有机碳和全氮密度,随开垦年限延长对深层土壤(40-200 cm)有机碳密度也有一定的影响,如在开垦30 a左右时下降了36.4%,但在100 a左右时则增加了52.0%。耕层土壤C/N随开垦年限延长而明显增加,深层土壤除100 a农田外其它均有不同程度下降;不同土层C/N与速效氮含量呈负相关关系,仅在开垦初期(0-10 a)达到显著水平。不同年限农田的玉米产量存在显著差异,且和有机碳及全氮密度(0-200 cm)均呈显著正相关;棉花除100和10 a农田产量差异较小外,在其它农田间均达显著水平,但和有机碳及全氮密度无明显相关性。由此可见,在现有投入条件下,提高土壤碳氮累积量对增加玉米产量仍有十分重要作用,但对棉花产量的影响不明显。     

Regional nitrogen budgets for China and its major watersheds

Since the Changjiang River, Huanghe River and Zhujiang River are the three major rivers in China that are flowing into the Pacific Ocean, this paper addresses nitrogen budgeting, source (input) and sink (output and storage), in these three river valleys, and the China watershed as well. In the China watershed, the anthropogenic reactive N has far exceeded the terrestrial bio-fixed N in nature, and human activities have significantly altered the N cycling in this region. In 1995, the total amount of anthropogenic reactive N in China reached 31.2 Tg with 22.2 Tg coming from synthetic fertilizers and 4.18 Tg from NO_x emission from fossil fuel combustion, and the input of recycling N amounted to 30.5 Tg, consisting mainly of human and animal excrement N, reflecting the intensity of the human activity. The sink of N includes N in the harvested crop, denitrification and storage in agricultural soils, transportation into waterbodies and volatilization of NH₃. N output and storage in soil reached up to 48–53 Tg. Of this amount, 14 Tg was in the harvested crops, 12 Tg stored in agricultural soils, 11 Tg transported into waterbodies, 5 – 10 Tg denitrified in the soils and a limited amount exported through food/feed.In this paper – besides the N budget in the China watershed – the N budgets and especially N transports into waterbodies in the Changjiang, Huanghe and Zhujiang river valleys are estimated.     

Storage and sequestration potential of topsoil organic carbon in China's paddy soils

Carbon (C) storage and sequestration in agricultural soils is considered to be an important issue in the study of terrestrial C cycling and global climatic change. The baseline C stock and the C sequestration potential are among the criteria for a region or a state to adopt strategies or policies in response to commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. Paddy soils represent a large portion of global cropland. However, little information on the potential of C sequestration and storage is available for such soils. In this paper, an estimation of the topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) pool and the sequestration potential of paddy soils in China was made by using the data from the 2nd State Soil Survey carried out during 1979–1982 and from the nationwide arable soil monitoring system established since then. Results showed that the SOC density ranged from 12 to 226 t C ha^?1 with an area‐weighted mean density of 44 t C ha^?1, which is comparable to that of the US grasslands and is higher than that of the cultivated dryland soils in China and the US. The estimated total topsoil SOC pool is 1.3 Pg, with 0.85 Pg from the upper plow layer and 0.45 Pg from the plowpan layer. This pool size is ～2% of China's total storage in the top 1 m of the soil profiles and ～4% of the total topsoil pool, while the area percentage of paddy soil is 3.4% of the total land. The C pool in paddy soils was found predominantly in southeast China geographically and in the subgroups of Fe‐accumulating and Fe‐leaching paddy soils pedogenetically. In comparison with dryland cultivation, irrigation‐based rice cultivation in China has induced significant enrichment of SOC storage (0.3 Pg) in paddy soils. The induced total C sequestration equals half of China's total annual CO₂ emission in the 1990s. Estimates using different SOC sequestration scenarios show that the paddy soils of China have an easily attainable SOC sequestration potential of 0.7 Pg under present conditions and may ultimately sequester 3.0 Pg. Soil monitoring data showed that the current C sequestration rate is 12 Tg yr^?1. The total C sequestration potential and the current sequestration rate of the paddy soils are over 30%, while the area of the paddy soils is 26% that of China's total croplands. Therefore, practicing sustainable agriculture is urgently needed for enhancing SOC storage to realize the ultimate SOC sequestration of rice‐based agriculture of China, as the current C sequestration rate is significantly lower than the potential rate.     

The nitrogen status of Austrian forest ecosystems as influenced by atmospheric deposition,biomass harvesting and lateral organomass exchange

Measurements of the deposition rates of atmospheric trace constituents to forest ecosystems in Austria have shown that the deposition of plant utilizable nitrogen compounds is in the range from 12 kg N to more than 30 kg N ha^-1 a^-1. Locally, even higher deposition rates are encountered as a consequence of point sources or special deposition mechanisms such as fog interception, hoar frost formation, and accumulation in snow drifts. In order to place these values into perspective, they are compared with the nitrogen demand of past and present forest land use and with natural processes of nitrogen depletion and accumulation in forest ecosystems. During wind erosion of forest litter, woody material with a wide C/N-ratio remains on the windward side of ridges, while nutrient-rich material with a narrow C/N-ratio is deposited on the leeward side. As a result, total nitrogen storage in the forest soil as well as overall C/N-ratios change dramatically along a transect over a ridge, thus indicating a strong influence of litter C/N ratio on nitrogen retention in the forest soil. A study of nitrogen stores in the soil of beech ecosystems of the same yield class in the Vienna Woods showed a significant correlation of total N-content with base saturation. These results suggest that nitrogen storage capacity of forest soils may be managed by liming and tree species selection. As knowledge is still meagre, a special study on factors which determine nitrogen storage in forest soils is proposed within the FERN-programme.     

Soil organic carbon stocks in China and changes from 1980s to 2000s

The estimation of the size and changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is of great importance for decision makers to adopt proper measures to protect soils and to develop strategies for mitigation of greenhouse gases. In this paper, soil data from the Second State Soil Survey of China (SSSSC) conducted in the early 1980s and data published in the last 5 years were used to estimate the size of SOC stocks over the whole profile and their changes in China in last 20 years. Soils were identified as paddy, upland, forest, grassland or waste‐land soils and an improved soil bulk density estimation method was used to estimate missing bulk density data. In the early 1980s, total SOC stocks were estimated at 89.61 Pg (1 Pg=10³ Tg=10¹⁵ g) in China's 870.94 Mha terrestrial areas covered by 2473 soil series. In the paddy, upland, forest and grassland soils the respective total SOC stocks were 2.91 Pg on 29.87 Mha, 10.07 Pg on 125.89 Mha, 34.23 Pg on 249.32 Mha and 37.71 Pg on 278.51 Mha, respectively. The SOC density of the surface layer ranged from 3.5 Mg ha⁻¹ in Gray Desery grassland soils to 252.6 Mg ha⁻¹ in Mountain Meadow forest soils. The average area‐weighted total SOC density in paddy soils (97.6 Mg ha⁻¹) was higher than that in upland soils (80 Mg ha⁻¹). Soils under forest (137.3 Mg ha⁻¹) had a similar average area‐weighted total SOC density as those under grassland (135.4 Mg ha⁻¹). The annual estimated SOC accumulation rates in farmland and forest soils in the last 20 years were 23.61 and 11.72 Tg, respectively, leading to increases of 0.472 and 0.234 Pg SOC in farmland and forest areas, respectively. In contrast, SOC under grassland declined by 3.56 Pg due to the grassland degradation over this period. The resulting estimated net SOC loss in China's soils over the last 20 years was 2.86 Pg. The documented SOC accumulation in farmland and forest soils could thus not compensate for the loss of SOC in grassland soils in the last 20 years. There were, however, large regional differences: Soils in China's South and Eastern parts acted mainly as C sinks, increasing their average topsoil SOC by 132 and 145 Tg, respectively. In contrast, in the Northwest, Northeast, Inner Mongolia and Tibet significant losses of 1.38, 0.21, 0.49 and 1.01 Pg of SOC, respectively, were estimated over the last 20 years. These results highlight the importance to take measures to protect grassland and to improve management practices to increase C sequestration in farmland and forest soils.