荒漠草原典型植物群落土壤活性有机碳组分特征及其与酶活性的关系

以宁夏荒漠草原典型植物柠条(Caragana korshinskii)、沙蒿(Artemisia ordosica)、短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)和蒙古冰草(Agropyron mongolicum)群落为研究对象,分析不同植物群落不同土层深度(0~5、5~10和10~15cm)土壤活性有机碳组分土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和易氧化有机碳(EOC)特征及其与土壤酶(蔗糖酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶)活性之间的关系。结果表明:(1)4种典型植物群落土壤SOC、MBC、EOC含量均随土层深度的增加而减少,且表层(0~5cm)土壤显著高于亚表层(5~10cm)和深层(10~15cm)土壤(P0.05),而土壤DOC含量随土层深度的增加呈先增加后减少的趋势。在同一土层深度,灌木(柠条和沙蒿)群落土壤活性有机碳组分含量高于禾本科植物(短花针茅和蒙古冰草)。(2)4种典型植物群落土壤酶(蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶)活性整体上随土层深度的增加而降低,局部土层深度表现出波动性;同一土层不同植被群落土壤酶活性未表现出一定的变化规律。(3)4种典型群落土壤活性有机碳各组分除DOC外,其余均与SOC呈显著正相关关系,与土壤酶活性、微生物量熵以及有机碳活度具有一定的相关关系,表明土壤活性有机碳不仅依赖于总有机碳,也与土壤酶活性密切相关。     

Differential Responses of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions and Carbon Turnover Related Enzyme Activities to Wheat Straw Incorporation in Subtropical China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and C turnover related enzyme activities are essential for nutrient cycling. This is because they are regarded as important indicators of soil fertility and quality. We measured the effects of wheat straw incorporation on SOC fractions and C turnover related enzyme activities in a paddy field in subtropical China. Soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths after rice harvesting. The total SOC concentrations were higher in the high rate of wheat straw incorporation treatment (NPKS2) than in the not fertilized control (CK) (P < 0.05). The concentrations of labile C fractions [i.e., water soluble organic C (WSOC), hot-water soluble organic C (HWSOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and easily oxidizable C (EOC)], were higher in the moderate NPKS1 and NPKS2 treatments than in CK and the fertilized treatment without straw (NPK) (P < 0.05). The geometric means of labile C (GMC) and C pool management index (CPMI) values were highest in NPKS2 (P < 0.05). The SOC concentrations correlated positively with the labile C fractions (P < 0.05). Soil cellulase activity and the geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) were higher in NPKS2 than in CK in all soil layers (P < 0.05), and the invertase activity was higher in NPKS2 than in CK in the 0–10 cm layer (P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple linear regression indicated that the formation of the SOC, WSOC, HWSOC, MBC, and EOC was mostly enhanced by the cellulase and invertase activities (P < 0.05). Therefore, the high rate of wheat straw incorporation may be recommended to increase soil C pool levels and soil fertility in subtropical paddy soils.     

子午岭林区生态系统转换对土壤有机碳特征的影响

生态系统转换影响土壤有机碳的动态、循环及环境质量.本研究分析了子午岭林区农田、草地、灌丛和森林不同生态系统土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳和稳定性有机碳含量.结果显示:各生态系统中,表层(0~10 cm)土壤总有机碳含量显著高于深层土壤(40~70 cm).与农田生态系统表层土壤相比,草地、灌丛、森林生态系统土壤总有机碳含量分别增加82.07%、121.67%和183.16%,深层土壤有机碳含量也有类似的趋势;从增加的绝对值来看,表层土壤活性有机碳含量分别增加2.24、4.13和5.43 g/kg,土壤稳定性有机碳含量分别增加4.76、6.23和10.18g/kg.表明农田生态系统转换为林、草生态系统,有利于土壤有机碳的积累.而且,土壤作为碳“汇”的功能增强,更有利于CO2固定和生态环境改善.     

Incorporation of Petroleum Carbon Into Soil Organic Matter During Biodegradation

A procedure, based on measurement of the stable carbon isotope ¹³C, has been developed for determining the extent to which petroleum carbon is incorporated into soil organic matter (SOM) by humification of biomass produced during biodegradation of the petroleum in soil. We have shown that a crude oil having a δ¹³C of-27.4%, when biodegraded in a soil containing SOM with a δ¹³C of-15.7%, resulted in a change of the δ¹³C of the bound SOM reflecting that of petroleum carbon. Comparison of five soil biodegradation tests using different amounts and types of fertilizer to stimulate biodegradation of the oil in this soil showed that the extent of the δ¹³C change in the bound SOM varied with the extent of oil biodegradation observed. To obtain ¹³C data on the SOM, the residual petroleum was first removed by rigorous extraction with dichloromethane using a Soxhlet apparatus. The extracted soil was then combusted to release bound carbon as CO₂, which was analyzed for ¹³C. Where the SOM has a δ¹³C similar to that of petroleum, ¹⁴C measurements of SOM would give similar results. This type of data, referred to as the petroleum “footprint” in the SOM, could be useful in identifying or confirming intrinsic biodegradation of petroleum in contaminated soil.     

土壤活性有机碳的表征及其生态效应

土壤活性有机碳指在一定的时空条件下,受植物、微生物影响强烈、具有一定溶解性、在土壤中移动比较快、不稳定、易氧化、分解、易矿化,其形态,空间位置对植物、微生物来说活性比较高的那一部分土壤碳素。国外描述这一部分碳素的术语为有效碳、水溶性碳、易氧化碳、可矿...     

不同密度巨桉人工林土壤有机碳及微生物量碳氮特征

通过原位试验,对华西雨屏区不同密度[833株·hm-2(A1)、1 333株·hm-2(A2)、2 222株·hm-2(A3)]巨桉(Eucalyptus grandis)人工林土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳氮动态特征进行了研究。结果显示:(1)各密度巨桉林分土壤有机碳含量在夏季和秋季较高,春季和冬季较低,但季节变化相对平稳,而它们土壤有机碳含量年平均值分别为22.54g·kg-1(A1)、19.76g·kg-1(A2)、16.84g·kg-1(A3),且密度间差异达到显著水平。(2)各密度林分土壤微生物生物量碳氮呈现出与土壤有机碳相似的规律性季节变化,随着林分密度增加,林下土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量减小。(3)土壤微生物熵一年内的波动较小,分别处于2.30%~2.44%(A1)、2.14%~2.39%(A2)、2.47%~2.69%(A3)之间。(4)各密度林分土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量与其立地土壤有机碳、水解氮、有效磷、速效钾均存在显著相关关系。研究表明,华西雨屏区不同密度巨桉人工林土壤有机碳含量、微生物生物量碳氮含量、微生物熵季节变化相对平稳,但受到人工林密度的显著影响,并随巨桉密度增加土壤有机碳含量、微生物生物量碳氮含量有降低的趋势。     

模拟氮沉降对典型阔叶红松林土壤有机碳和养分的影响简

为探讨氮沉降对典型阔叶红松（Pinus koraiensis）林的影响,从2008年6月~2010年8月进行了人工模拟氮沉降实验,实验分为对照、低N、中N、高N4个处理,每个处理3个重复。所施氮肥为CO(NH₂)₂,以溶液的形式喷施,4个处理浓度分别为0、30、60、120 kg·hm^-2·a^-1。在氮沉降进行1年后,采集各处理0～20、20～40和40～60 cm的土壤样品,测定其土壤有机C、全N、碱解N和速效P、速效K。结果表明：相同处理下,有机C和全N含量随土层的加深均逐渐减少。总体上低、中N处理显著增加了土壤有机C、碱解N和速效K含量,中、高N处理显著降低了土壤速效P含量（P<0.05）,而对全N含量影响不显著（P>0.05）。土壤有机C与土壤全N、碱解N、速效P、速效K之间存在极显著正相关关系（P<0.001）。有机C和土壤养分对氮沉降的响应说明氮沉降在短期内可能影响阔叶红松林土壤碳库积累和土壤肥力水平。     

Interactions between Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization and Soil Organic Matter Chemistry in Arctic Tundra Soils

We used long-term laboratory incubations and chemical fractionation to characterize the mineralization dynamics of organic soils from tussock, shrub, and wet meadow tundra communities, to determine the relationship between soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and chemistry, and to quantify the relative proportions of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in tundra SOM that are biologically available for decomposition. In all soils but shrub, we found little decline in respiration rates over 1 year, although soils respired approximately a tenth to a third of total soil C. The lack of decline in respiration rates despite large C losses indicates that the quantity of organic matter available was not controlling respiration and thus suggests that something else was limiting microbial activity. To determine the nature of the respired C, we analyzed soil chemistry before and after the incubation using a peat fractionation scheme. Despite the large losses of soil C, SOM chemistry was relatively unchanged after the incubation. The decomposition dynamics we observed suggest that tundra SOM, which is largely plant detritus, fits within existing concepts of the litter decay continuum. The lack of changes in organic matter chemistry indicates that this material had already decomposed to the point where the breakdown of labile constituents was tied to lignin decomposition. N mineralization was correlated with C mineralization in our study, but shrub soil mineralized more and tussock soil less N than would have been predicted by this correlation. Our results suggest that a large proportion of tundra SOM is potentially mineralizable, despite the fact that decomposition was dependent on lignin breakdown, and that the historical accumulation of organic matter in tundra soils is the result of field conditions unfavorable to decomposition and not the result of fundamental chemical limitations to decomposition. Our study also suggests that the anticipated increases in shrub dominance may substantially alter the dynamics of SOM decomposition in the tundra. Received 31 January 2002; accepted 16 July 2002.     

不同类型森林石灰土的团聚体组成及其有机碳分布特征

选取中国西南喀斯特石灰土人工林、次生林、原生林3个主要森林类型的6个代表性群落,建立18个20m×20m的样方,按梅花型5点法采集各样方的原状土壤,基于团聚体的干湿筛2种分组方法,研究不同类型森林石灰土机械性、水稳性团聚体组成及全土、各粒级团聚体的有机碳分布特征。结果显示:(1)3类森林石灰土干湿筛团聚体均以>2mm粒径为主,分别为67.93%～81.24%和30.49%～76.81%,1～10mm粒径的干湿筛优势团聚体分别高达78.18%～88.67%和43.41%～84.00%。(2)团聚体的整体稳定性很好,干湿筛平均重量直径(MWD)为4.82～5.77和0.75～2.13,平均几何直径(GMD)为2.87～4.17和1.45～2.85;>0.25mm和>2mm粒径的团聚体破坏率(PAD)分别仅为6.15～20.91和2.04～52.79。(3)石灰土的有机碳含量很高,全土和干、湿筛团聚体的有机碳含量分别为17.28～58.85、19.12～91.47、17.16～78.86g/kg,其中干筛以<2mm粒径团聚体的有机碳含量较高,湿筛反之,但干湿筛均以>2mm粒径团聚体的有机碳贮量最高。研究表明,中国西南喀斯特石灰土林区土壤沿人工林、次生林、原生林土壤扰动递减梯度,石灰土的团聚化作用越来越强,稳定性越来越好,有机碳含量也越来越丰富。     

Remediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Soil Using Alkaline Extractable Organic Carbon Solution Prepared from Wine-Processing Waste Sludge

Past studies have shown that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) washing can effectively remove heavy metals from contaminated soil. In this study, we used alkaline DOC solutions for remediation of arsenic (As)-contaminated soil (with an initial As concentration in the topsoil of 390 mg kg^?1). The removal of As and the change in soil nutrients during DOC washing were studied for 60 min at pH 10 with a 60:1 liquid/soil ratio (v/m). Approximately 88% of As was removed by washing the soil twice using a 3000 mg L^?1 DOC solution at 25°C. Following this treatment, the pH of the soil had increased from 5.6 to 9.2; organic carbon content had increased from 3.5% to 4.1%; cation exchange capacity, ammonium-N, and available phosphorus had increased to 2.3, 1.4, and 6.6 times their original levels, respectively; and exchangeable K, Na, Ca, and Mg had increased to 91, 6.1, 4.2, and 2.2 times their original levels, respectively. A sequential extraction investigation revealed that residual As and easily exchangeable As in the fraction were initially 10.2% and 9.2%, respectively, but that the former became the maximum remainder (64%) after the ultimate DOC washing.     

Fate and Transport of High Explosives in a Sandy Soil: Adsorption and Desorption

Several areas of the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) have soils with significant levels of high explosives (HE) contamination because of a long history of training and range activities (such as open burning, open detonation, disposal, and artillery and mortar firing). Site-specific transport and attenuation mechanisms were assessed in sandy soils for three contaminants of concern: the nitramine hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and the nitroaromatics 2,4-dinitrotolune (2,4-DNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). For all three contaminants, linear distribution coefficients (K_d) were dependent on the fraction of organic carbon in soil. The nitroaromatics sorbed much more strongly than RDX in both soils. Over 120 hours, the desorption rate of RDX from field contaminated surface soil was much slower than its sorption rate, with the desorption K_d (1.5 L/kg) much higher than K_d for sorption (0.37 L/kg). Desorption of 2,4-DNT was negligible over 120 hours. Thus, applying sorption-derived K_d values for transport modeling may significantly overestimate the flux of explosives from MMR soils. Based on multiple component column transport tests, RDX will be the most mobile of these contaminants in MMR soils. In saturated columns packed with uncontaminated soil, RDX broke through rapidly, whereas the nitroaromatics were significantly attenuated by irreversible sorption or abiotic transformations.     

Effect of Vegetation Rehabilitation on Soil Carbon and Its Fractions in Mu Us Desert,Northwest China

Although vegetation rehabilitation on semi-arid and arid regions may enhance soil carbon sequestration, its effects on soil carbon fractions remain uncertain. We carried out a study after planting Artemisia ordosica (AO, 17 years), Astragalus mongolicum (AM, 5 years), and Salix psammophila (SP, 16 years) on shifting sand land (SL) in the Mu Us Desert, northwest China. We measured total soil carbon (TSC) and its components, soil inorganic carbon (SIC) and soil organic carbon (SOC), as well as the light and heavy fractions within soil organic carbon (LF-SOC and HF-SOC), under the SL and shrublands at depths of 100 cm. TSC stock under SL was 27.6 Mg ha^?1, and vegetation rehabilitation remarkably elevated it by 40.6 Mgha^?1, 4.5 Mgha^?1, and 14.1 Mgha^?1 under AO, AM and SP land, respectively. Among the newly formed TSC under the three shrublands, SIC, LF-SOC and HF-SOC accounted for 75.0%, 10.7% and 13.1% for AO, respectively; they made up 37.0%, 50.7% and 10.6% for AM, respectively; they occupied 68.6%, 18.8% and 10.0% for SP, respectively. The accumulation rates of TSC within 0–100 cm reached 238.6 g m^?2y^?1, 89.9 g m^?2y^?1 and 87.9 g m^?2y^?1 under AO, AM and SP land, respectively. The present study proved that the accumulation of SIC considerably contributed to soil carbon sequestration, and vegetation rehabilitation on shifting sand land has a great potential for soil carbon sequestration.     

The Fate of Organic Sources of Carbon in Moss‐rich Tundra Soil Microbial Communities: A Laboratory Experimental Study

Effects of glucose‐carbon supplementation on soil respiration and bacterial and protist biomass were investigated in laboratory studies of three soil samples from Alaskan tundra: spring tussock sample 1 (thin surface moss), spring tussock sample 2 (thick surface moss), and a summer tundra open field sample. Addition of 1% (w/v) glucose solution produced an immediate, pronounced two to three fold increase in respiration above basal rate, which declined over 4 h to baseline levels. Less than 1% (w/w) of glucose‐C supplement was respired during the respiratory spike, relative to the 89 μg/g added. A more substantial amount of the glucose‐C became incorporated in microbial biomass. The total difference in microbial carbon (μg/g) between the experimental treatments and controls without glucose after 1 wk was as follows: spring sample 1 (8), spring sample 2 (31), and summer sample (70). The percent (w/w) of glucose‐C incorporated was: spring sample 1 (5%), spring sample 2 (17%), and summer sample (39%), most attributed to biomass of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Although respiratory response to pulsed glucose‐C was minimal, the overall mean basal rate after 1 wk ranged between 4 and 6 nmol/min/g soil, indicating a significant assimilation and respiration of constituent soil organic carbon.     

Soil Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics as Affected by Solarization Alone or Combined with Organic Amendment

Soil solarization, alone or combined with organic amendment, is an increasingly attractive approach for managing soil-borne plant pathogens in agricultural soils. Even though it consists in a relatively mild heating treatment, the increased soil temperature may strongly affect soil microbial processes and nutrients dynamics. This study aimed to investigate the impact of solarization, either with or without addition of farmyard manure, in soil dynamics of various C, N and P pools. Changes in total C, N and P contents and in some functionally-related labile pools (soil microbial biomass C and N, K₂SO₄-extractable C and N, basal respiration, KCl-exchangeable ammonium and nitrate, and water-soluble P) were followed across a 72-day field soil solarization experiment carried out during a summer period on a clay loam soil in Southern Italy. Soil physico-chemical properties (temperature, moisture content and pH) were also monitored. The average soil temperature at 8-cm depth in solarized soils approached 55 °C as compared to 35 °C found in nonsolarized soil. Two-way ANOVA (solarization×organic amendment) showed that both factors significantly affected most of the above variables, being the highest influence exerted by the organic amendment. With no manure addition, solarization did not significantly affect soil total C, N and P pools. Whereas soil pH, microbial biomass and, at a greater extent, K₂SO₄-extractable N and KCl-exchangeable ammonium were greatly affected. An increased release of water-soluble P was also found in solarized soils. Yet, solarization altered the quality of soluble organic residues released in soil as it lowered the C-to-N ratio of both soil microbial biomass and K₂SO₄-extractable organic substrates. Additionally, in solarized soils the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) significantly increased while the microbial biomass C-to-total organic C ratio (microbial quotient) decreased over the whole time course. We argued that soil solarization promoted the mineralization of readily decomposable pools of the native soil organic matter (e.g. the microbial biomass) thus rendering larger, at least over a short-term, the available fraction of some soil mineral nutrients, namely N and P forms. However, over a longer prospective solarization may lead to an over-exploitation of labile organic resources in agricultural soils. Manure addition greatly increased the levels of both total and labile C, N and P pools. Thus, addition of organic amendments could represent an important strategy to protect agricultural lands from excessive soil resources exploitation and to maintain soil fertility while enhancing pest control.     

秦岭北坡几种人工林根系及土壤有机碳剖面分布特征的研究

对秦岭北坡浅山区刺槐、油松、侧柏人工林根系生物量、土壤有机碳含量以及土壤氮素进行了测定分析.结果表明,3种人工林之间的根系生物量存在差异,变异系数达到27.75%;土壤有机碳含量差异不明显,变异系数只有3.36%;在土壤剖面上,3种人工林根系生物量的垂直分布有明显差异,但土壤有机碳含量的层次变化基本一致,土壤有机碳主要集中在0~10 cm土层中,其含量超过0~60 cm土层总量的40%;3种人工林土壤全氮与土壤有机碳含量之间都呈显著的线性正相关.     

小兴安岭原始阔叶红松林和枫桦次生林土壤有机碳库比较研究

土壤有机碳含量是全球生态系统碳储量变化的重要指标之一,本研究以空间替代时间序列的方法,分别选取了小兴安岭地区原始阔叶红松林和枫桦次生林并测定土壤有机碳库、土壤全氮含量、土壤微生物量碳及土壤相关理化性质,结果表明,土壤有机碳含量(SOC)、土壤全氮含量(TN)、土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、土壤含水率等指标随着土壤层的深度增加而逐渐减少最后趋于稳定,而土壤容重随着土壤层的加深而增大。在原始林中0~10和10~20cm层的SOC、TN含量差异不显著,而次生林则差异显著。原始阔叶红松林和枫桦次生林的土壤有机碳密度(SOCD)分别为21.46和21.3 kg·m^-2,差异不显著。原始林和次生林的平均有机碳含量分别为35.79,28.6 g·kg^-1,土壤全氮含量分别为2.86,1.83 g·kg^-1,枫桦次生林MBC与SOC的线性相关性高于原始林。结果表明原始林土壤肥力高于次生林,在今后次生林的管理中应适当混栽针叶树种,原始林中应适当间伐使地下碳储量增加。     

Ecosystem and Seasonal Control of Stream Dissolved Organic Carbon Along a Gradient of Land Use

We examined the influence of watershed land use and morphology on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in 32 south-central Ontario streams having varying agricultural land-use intensities in their catchments. For streams in this region, both univariate and multivariate regression models identify the proportion of the watershed with poorly drained soils (r ² up to 0.67) as a better predictor of stream DOC concentrations than any other landscape characteristic, including the proportion of the watershed as wetland. Agricultural land use did not strongly influence DOC concentrations in our study area; however, we do show that land-use changes could significantly alter the delivery of DOC to streams in the region. We also identify how landscape–DOC relationships change over a 2-year time period, as related to season, regional climatic conditions, soil moisture, and hydrology. Our results indicate that the relationships between landscape predictors and stream DOC concentrations are temporally dynamic. Strong temporal trends are shown seasonally and in association with climate, through its control of modelled soil moisture conditions. During periods of positive and negative deviation from normal soil moisture conditions, the relationships of DOC concentrations with landscape characteristics become less predictable. We show that these dominant patterns are likely a function of varying flow paths and that anthropogenic changes that affect soil moisture conditions or flow path will in turn strongly influence DOC dynamics. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳库的影响

为了解植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳库的影响,采用空间代替时间序列方法,对衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳含量和分布进行研究。结果表明,土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)、水溶性有机碳(DOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)和易氧化碳(ROC)含量均以乔灌阶段最高(P0.05),随土层加深显著减小(P0.05)。随恢复进程,MBC/SOC、DOC/SOC和ROC/SOC显著增加(P0.05);0~20 cm土层,LFOC/SOC随恢复显著增加(P0.05),而20~40 cm土层,LFOC/SOC的差异不明显(P0.05)。随土层加深,LFOC/SOC显著减小(P0.05),DOC/SOC、MBC/SOC和ROC/SOC逐渐增加(P0.05)。SOC、MBC、DOC、LFOC和ROC间存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01)。各类活性有机碳库与土壤含水量(SWC)、全氮(TN)、碱解氮(AN)和速效磷(AP)呈显著或极显著正相关关系(P0.05或P0.01),与土壤容重(BD)呈极显著负相关关系。因此,植被恢复在一定程度上可提高衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地土壤活性有机碳的形成和积累,增加土壤碳储量。     

Soil Organic Carbon and Water Retention after Conversion of Grasslands to Pine Plantations in the Ecuadorian Andes

Tree plantations in the high elevations of the tropics constitute a growing land use, but their effect on ecosystem processes and services is not well known. We examined changes in soil organic carbon (C) and water retention in a chronosequence of Pinus radiata stands planted in páramo grasslands in Cotopaxi province, Ecuador. Water retention at 10, 33, and 1,500 kPa declined with stand age, with soils in the oldest pine stands retaining 39%, 55%, and 63% less water than grassland soils at the three pressures tested. Soil organic C in the 0–10-cm depth also declined with stand age, from 5.0 kg m^–2 in grasslands to 3.5 kg m^–2 in 20–25-year-old pine stands (P < 0.001); at greater depth in the A horizon, C contents decreased from 2.8 to 1.2 kg m^–2 (P = 0.047). There were no significant differences among age classes in the AC and C horizons (P = 0.15 and P = 0.34, respectively), where little or no weathering of the primary material has occurred. Inputs of C may be affected by the significantly higher carbon–nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the litter under older pine stands (P = 0.005), whereas outputs are influenced by substrate quality as well as soil environmental factors. Soil ratios at the 0–10 cm depth were significantly higher in grasslands and young pine stands (P < 0.001), whereas carbon–phosphorous (C:P) ratios at 0–10-cm depth followed a similar but not significant trend. However, there was no significant difference in short-term decomposition rates (P = 0.60) when the soils were incubated under uniform temperature and moisture conditions. In páramo ecosystems, where high soil moisture plays an important role in retarding decomposition and driving high C storage, the loss of water retention after afforestation may be the dominant factor in C loss. These results suggest that soil C buildup and water retention respond rapidly to changes in biota and need to be assessed with regard to implications for C sequestration and watershed management.