米亚罗林区土地利用变化对土壤有机碳和微生物量碳的影响

为了解土地利用变化对土壤有机碳和微生物量碳的影响,分析了川西米亚罗林区原始冷杉林、20世纪60年代云杉人工林、20世纪80年代云杉人工林和农地的土壤有机碳和微生物量碳状况.结果表明,土地利用变化明显地影响了土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量.土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量原始林最高,其次为60年代人工林和80年代人工林,农地最低.农地土壤有机碳含量分别比原始林、60年代人工林和80年代人工林低83%、53%和52%,微生物量碳含量分别低23%、25%和21%.土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量均随土壤深度的增加而降低,并且两者在不同土地利用类型的变化趋势基本一致.相关分析表明,土壤有机碳和土壤微生物量碳与全氮、水解氮、速效磷呈极显著相关(P＜0.01),说明土壤微生物量碳可作为衡量土壤有机碳变化的敏感指标,而土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量可作为衡量土壤肥力和土壤质量变化的重要指标.     

Forest-to-pasture conversion influences on soil organic carbon dynamics in a tropical deciduous forest

On a global basis, nearly 42% of tropical land area is classified as tropical deciduous forest (TDF) (Murphy and Lugo 1986). Currently, this ecosystem has very high deforestation rates; and its conversion to cattle pasture may result in losses of soil organic matter, decreases in soil fertility, and increases in CO₂ flux to the atmosphere. The soil organic matter turnover rate in a TDF after pasture conversion was estimated in Mexico by determining natural abundances of¹³C. Changes in these values would be induced by vegetation changes from the C₃ (forest) to the C₄ (pasture) photosynthetic pathway. The rate of loss of remnant forest-soil organic matter (fSOM) was 2.9 t ha^–1 year^–1 in 7-year-old pasture and decreased to 0.66 t ha^–1 year^–1 by year 11. For up to 3 years, net fSOM level increased in pastures; this increment can be attributed to decomposition of remnant forest roots. The sand-associated SOM fraction was the most and the silt-associated fraction the least depleted. TDF conversion to pasture results in extremely high rates of loss of remnant fSOM that are higher than any reported for any tropical forest.     

全球森林土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷化学计量的季节动态

土壤微生物生物量在森林生态系统中充当具有生物活性的养分积累和储存库。土壤微生物转化有机质为植物提供可利用养分, 与植物的相互作用维系着陆地生态系统的生态功能。同时, 土壤微生物也与植物争夺营养元素, 在季节交替过程和植物的生长周期中呈现出复杂的互利-竞争关系。综合全球数据对温带、亚热带和热带森林土壤微生物生物量碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量比值的季节动态进行分析, 发现温带和亚热带森林的土壤微生物生物量C、N、P含量均呈现夏季低、冬季高的格局。热带森林四季的土壤微生物生物量C、N、P含量都低于温带和亚热带森林, 且热带森林土壤微生物生物量C含量、N含量在秋季相对最低, 土壤微生物生物量P含量四季都相对恒定。温带森林的土壤微生物生物量C:N在春季显著高于其他两个森林类型; 热带森林的土壤微生物生物量C:N在秋季显著高于其他2个森林类型。温带森林土壤微生物生物量N:P和C:P在四季都保持相对恒定, 而热带森林土壤微生物生物量N:P和C:P在夏季高于其他3个季节。阔叶树的土壤微生物生物量C含量、N含量、N:P、C:P在四季都显著高于针叶树; 而针叶树的土壤微生物生物量P含量在四季都显著高于阔叶树。在春季和冬季时, 土壤微生物生物量C:N在阔叶树和针叶树之间都没有显著差异; 但是在夏季和秋季, 针叶树的土壤微生物生物量C:N显著高于阔叶树。对于土壤微生物生物量的变化来说, 森林类型是主要的显著影响因子, 季节不是显著影响因子, 暗示土壤微生物生物量的季节波动是随着植物其内在固有的周期变化而变化。植物和土壤微生物密切作用表现出来的对养分的不同步吸收是保留养分和维持生态功能的一种权衡机制。     

Loss of aboveground forest biomass and landscape biomass variability in Missouri,US

Disturbance regimes and forests have changed over time in the eastern United States. We examined effects of historical disturbance (circa 1813 to 1850) compared to current disturbance (circa 2004 to 2008) on aboveground, live tree biomass (for trees with diameters ≥13 cm) and landscape variation of biomass in forests of the Ozarks and Plains landscapes in Missouri, USA. We simulated 10,000 one-hectare plots using random diameters generated from parameters of diameter distributions limited to diameters ≥13 cm and random densities generated from density estimates. Area-weighted mean biomass density (Mg/ha) for historical forests averaged 116 Mg/ha, ranging from 54 Mg/ha to 357 Mg/ha by small scale ecological subsections within Missouri landscapes. Area-weighted mean biomass density for current forests averaged 82 Mg/ha, ranging from 66 Mg/ha to 144 Mg/ha by ecological subsection for currently forested land. Biomass density of current forest was greater than historical biomass density for only 2 of 23 ecological subsections. Current carbon sequestration of 292 TgC on 7 million ha of forested land is less than half of the estimated historical total carbon sequestration of 693 TgC on 12 million ha. Cumulative tree cutting disturbances over time have produced forests that have less aboveground tree biomass and are uniform in biomass compared to estimates of historical biomass, which varied across Missouri landscapes. With continued relatively low rates of forest disturbance, current biomass per ha will likely increase to historical levels as the most competitive trees become larger in size and mean number of trees per ha decreases due to competition and self-thinning. Restoration of large diameter structure and forested extent of upland woodlands and floodplain forests could fulfill multiple conservation objectives, including carbon sequestration.     

Forest biomass,productivity and carbon cycling along a rainfall gradient in West Africa

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is one of the most important parameters in describing the functioning of any ecosystem and yet it arguably remains a poorly quantified and understood component of carbon cycling in tropical forests, especially outside of the Americas. We provide the first comprehensive analysis of NPP and its carbon allocation to woody, canopy and root growth components at contrasting lowland West African forests spanning a rainfall gradient. Using a standardized methodology to study evergreen (EF), semi‐deciduous (SDF), dry forests (DF) and woody savanna (WS), we find that (i) climate is more closely related with above and belowground C stocks than with NPP (ii) total NPP is highest in the SDF site, then the EF followed by the DF and WS and that (iii) different forest types have distinct carbon allocation patterns whereby SDF allocate in excess of 50% to canopy production and the DF and WS sites allocate 40%–50% to woody production. Furthermore, we find that (iv) compared with canopy and root growth rates the woody growth rate of these forests is a poor proxy for their overall productivity and that (v) residence time is the primary driver in the productivity‐allocation‐turnover chain for the observed spatial differences in woody, leaf and root biomass across the rainfall gradient. Through a systematic assessment of forest productivity we demonstrate the importance of directly measuring the main components of above and belowground NPP and encourage the establishment of more permanent carbon intensive monitoring plots across the tropics.     

Tree diversity,composition, forest structure and aboveground biomass dynamics after single and repeated fire in a Bornean rain forest

Forest fires remain a devastating phenomenon in the tropics that not only affect forest structure and biodiversity, but also contribute significantly to atmospheric CO2. Fire used to be extremely rare in tropical forests, leaving ample time for forests to regenerate to pre-fire conditions. In recent decades, however, tropical forest fires occur more frequently and at larger spatial scales than they used to. We studied forest structure, tree species diversity, tree species composition, and aboveground biomass during the first 7 years since fire in unburned, once burned and twice burned forest of eastern Borneo to determine the rate of recovery of these forests. We paid special attention to changes in the tree species composition during burned forest regeneration because we expect the long-term recovery of aboveground biomass and ecosystem functions in burned forests to largely depend on the successful regeneration of the pre-fire, heavy-wood, species composition. We found that forest structure (canopy openness, leaf area index, herb cover, and stem density) is strongly affected by fire but shows quick recovery. However, species composition shows no or limited recovery and aboveground biomass, which is greatly reduced by fire, continues to be low or decline up to 7 years after fire. Consequently, large amounts of the C released to the atmosphere by fire will not be recaptured by the burned forest ecosystem in the near future. We also observed that repeated fire, with an inter-fire interval of 15 years, does not necessarily lead to a huge deterioration in the regeneration potential of tropical forest. We conclude that burned forests are valuable and should be conserved and that long-term monitoring programs in secondary forests are necessary to determine their recovery rates, especially in relation to aboveground biomass accumulation.     

喀斯特森林自然恢复中土壤微生物生物量碳与水溶性有机碳特征

2011年9月,采用空间代替时间方法,研究了贵州茂兰国家级自然保护区退化喀斯特森林自然恢复中土壤微生物生物量碳和水溶性有机碳特征.结果表明:研究期间,土壤微生物生物量碳含量、基础呼吸随土壤深度增加而减少,随自然恢复的进程而增加;微生物熵随土壤深度增加和恢复的进程增加;水溶性有机碳含量随土壤深度增加而减少,随自然恢复的进程表层土增加,下层先增加后减少;水溶性有机碳与有机碳的比值随土壤深度增加而增加,随自然恢复的进程而减少;土壤质量、有机碳的质与量随自然恢复的进程而提高,其中微生物量碳变化最大,而水溶性有机碳变化不显著.     

Quantifying variation in forest disturbance,and its effects on aboveground biomass dynamics,across the eastern United States

The role of tree mortality in the global carbon balance is complicated by strong spatial and temporal heterogeneity that arises from the stochastic nature of carbon loss through disturbance. Characterizing spatio‐temporal variation in mortality (including disturbance) and its effects on forest and carbon dynamics is thus essential to understanding the current global forest carbon sink, and to predicting how it will change in future. We analyzed forest inventory data from the eastern United States to estimate plot‐level variation in mortality (relative to a long‐term background rate for individual trees) for nine distinct forest regions. Disturbances that produced at least a fourfold increase in tree mortality over an approximately 5 year interval were observed in 1–5% of plots in each forest region. The frequency of disturbance was lowest in the northeast, and increased southwards along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts as fire and hurricane disturbances became progressively more common. Across the central and northern parts of the region, natural disturbances appeared to reflect a diffuse combination of wind, insects, disease, and ice storms. By linking estimated covariation in tree growth and mortality over time with a data‐constrained forest dynamics model, we simulated the implications of stochastic variation in mortality for long‐term aboveground biomass changes across the eastern United States. A geographic gradient in disturbance frequency induced notable differences in biomass dynamics between the least‐ and most‐disturbed regions, with variation in mortality causing the latter to undergo considerably stronger fluctuations in aboveground stand biomass over time. Moreover, regional simulations showed that a given long‐term increase in mean mortality rates would support greater aboveground biomass when expressed through disturbance effects compared with background mortality, particularly for early‐successional species. The effects of increased tree mortality on carbon stocks and forest composition may thus depend partly on whether future mortality increases are chronic or episodic in nature.     

Estimation of soil organic carbon in the forest catchment of two hydroelectric reservoirs in Uttarakhand,India

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest active terrestrial carbon reservoir, which behaves both as a sink and source for atmospheric carbon. The same is maximum in the forest soil of Abies pindrow (128 t ha^?1) and minimum in Pinus roxburghii (69 t ha^?1). The mitigation potential is also found to be maximum in Alpine forest soil (i.e., 1.84) in Abies pindrow and minimum in the chir (i.e., 1.00) in P. Roxburghii. This indicates that alpine forest soil can hold nearly two times more SOC than chir and hence it behaves as a CO₂ sink. The overall average content of SOC and carbon dioxide equivalent under all land use was estimated at 91.29 t ha^?1 and 334.11 t ha^?1, respectively. The objective of this study is to estimate the spatial variability of SOC stocks in the catchment of both the Tehri and Koteshwar hydroelectric reservoir using field investigations, laboratory measurements, and geostatistical methods. The study provides an estimation for the amount of carbon reaching to the reservoir through various sources, where it undergoes aerobic and anaerobic degradation, thereby releasing green house gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. The information provided in this article will be useful for policy-makers and environmentalists for undertaking appropriate conservation plans to mitigate GHGs.     

Dynamic responses of aboveground biomass and soil organic matter content to grassland restoration

基于1983年开始的改良恢复长期观测试验, 研究了在排除干扰的围封保护下, 不同恢复改良措施对内蒙古退化羊草(Leymus chinensis)草原群落地上生物量和土壤有机质含量动态变化过程的影响, 改良恢复措施包括浅耕翻、耙地和自然恢复。结果表明: (1)地上生物量在前期(1983-1991年)的动态变化特征为自然恢复处理显著低于浅耕翻处理, 耙地处理与其余两个处理没有显著差异。中期(1992-2006年)各处理之间无显著差异; 后期(2007-2014年)为自然恢复>耙地>浅耕翻, 且自然恢复与浅耕翻处理之间有显著差异。(2) 0-10 cm土壤有机质含量在前期的动态变化特征为浅耕翻>耙地>自然恢复, 且处理之间有显著差异, 自然恢复、浅耕翻、耙地处理相对1983年土壤有机质分别增加了21%、45%、37%; 中期和后期自然恢复处理显著大于浅耕翻处理, 耙地处理介于两个处理之间且与二者没有显著差异。中期自然恢复、浅耕翻、耙地处理有机质含量相对1983年分别增加了61%、46%、57%, 后期分别增加了67%、51%、62%。(3) 10-30 cm土壤有机质在前期浅耕翻>自然恢复>耙地, 且各处理之间有显著差异; 中期和后期各处理之间无显著差异。总之, 应依据恢复目标的不同, 选择不同的改良措施。在短时间尺度上, 浅耕翻有利于退化羊草草原生产力和土壤有机碳的快速恢复, 而长时间尺度上自然恢复和耙地的效益更明显。     

草原群落生物量和土壤有机质含量对改良措施的动态响应

基于1983年开始的改良恢复长期观测试验, 研究了在排除干扰的围封保护下, 不同恢复改良措施对内蒙古退化羊草(Leymus chinensis)草原群落地上生物量和土壤有机质含量动态变化过程的影响, 改良恢复措施包括浅耕翻、耙地和自然恢复。结果表明: (1)地上生物量在前期(1983-1991年)的动态变化特征为自然恢复处理显著低于浅耕翻处理, 耙地处理与其余两个处理没有显著差异。中期(1992-2006年)各处理之间无显著差异; 后期(2007-2014年)为自然恢复>耙地>浅耕翻, 且自然恢复与浅耕翻处理之间有显著差异。(2) 0-10 cm土壤有机质含量在前期的动态变化特征为浅耕翻>耙地>自然恢复, 且处理之间有显著差异, 自然恢复、浅耕翻、耙地处理相对1983年土壤有机质分别增加了21%、45%、37%; 中期和后期自然恢复处理显著大于浅耕翻处理, 耙地处理介于两个处理之间且与二者没有显著差异。中期自然恢复、浅耕翻、耙地处理有机质含量相对1983年分别增加了61%、46%、57%, 后期分别增加了67%、51%、62%。(3) 10-30 cm土壤有机质在前期浅耕翻>自然恢复>耙地, 且各处理之间有显著差异; 中期和后期各处理之间无显著差异。总之, 应依据恢复目标的不同, 选择不同的改良措施。在短时间尺度上, 浅耕翻有利于退化羊草草原生产力和土壤有机碳的快速恢复, 而长时间尺度上自然恢复和耙地的效益更明显。     

红壤丘陵景观单元土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量特征

为了探讨我国亚热带红壤丘陵区不同利用方式下土壤有机碳(SOC)和土壤微生物生物量碳(SMB-C)含量的特征,在湖南省桃源县选取典型样区,通过密集取样,分析了红壤丘陵景观单元内水田、旱地、林地、果园4种典型利用方式下表层土壤(0～20 cm)SOC和SMB-C含量.结果表明,典型红壤丘陵景观单元中SOC含量高低的顺序为水田(16.0 g·kg^-1)＞旱地(11.2 g·kg^-1) ＞果园(9.5 g·kg^-1)＞林地(8.4 g·kg^-1),SMB-C含量则为水田(830 mg·kg^-1)＞旱地(361 mg·kg^-1)＞林地(200 mg·kg^-1)＞果园(186 mg·kg^-1),且在不同利用方式下SOC与SMB-C均呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01),说明本研究区内各土地利用类型的土壤SMB-C含量变化可以敏感地指示SOC的动态.研究结果还表明,将我国亚热带红壤丘陵林地开垦为果园或耕地后,表层土壤 SOC含量不可能降低.     

森林类型对土壤有机质、微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

以澳大利亚南昆士兰州典型森林类型——湿地松、南洋杉和贝壳杉林为对象,开展土壤可溶性有机碳和氮(SOC和SON)、微生物生物量碳和氮(MBC和MBN),以及土壤酶活性的研究,剖析森林类型对土壤质量的影响.结果表明:不同林型土壤SOC、SON含量分别在552 ～1154 mg·kg-1和20.11～57.32mg·kg-1;MBC、MBN分别在42～149 mg·kg-1和7～35 mg·kg-1.MBC、MBN之间呈显著相关.土壤几丁质酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性分别为2.96 ～7.63、16.5 ～29.6、0.79 ～ 3.42和3.71 ～9.93 μg ·g-1·h-1,亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为0.18～0.46 μg·g-1·d-1.不同林型土壤SOC含量,以及土壤几丁质酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为湿地松林、南洋杉林、贝壳杉林依次降低;而SON含量为南洋杉林＞贝壳杉林＞湿地松林,且南洋杉林的SON含量显著(P＜0.05)高于湿地松林;MBC和MBN以及碱性磷酸酶活性为贝壳杉林＞湿地松林＞南洋杉林;酸性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性为湿地松林＞贝壳杉林＞南洋杉林.在土壤生物代谢因子中,MBC、MBN、SON和亮氨酸氨肽酶对不同森林类型土壤影响较大.     

耕作方式对紫色水稻土有机碳和微生物生物量碳的影响

以位于西南大学的农业部紫色土生态环境重点野外科学观测试验站始于1990年的长期定位试验田为对象,研究了冬水田平作(DP)、水旱轮作(SH)、垄作免耕(LM)及垄作翻耕(LF)等4种耕作方式对紫色水稻土有机碳(SOC)和微生物生物量碳(SMBC)的影响。结果表明,4种耕作方式下SOC和SMBC均呈现出在土壤剖面垂直递减趋势,翻耕栽培下其降低较均匀,而免耕栽培下其富集在表层土壤中。同一土层不同耕作方式间SOC和SMBC的差异在表层最大,随着土壤深度的增加,各处理之间的差异逐渐减小。在0—60 cm剖面中,SOC含量依次为:LM(17.6 g/kg)>DP(13.9 g/kg)>LF(12.5 g/kg)>SH(11.3 g/kg),SOC储量也依次为:LM(158.52 Mg C/hm2)>DP(106.74 Mg C/hm2)>LF(93.11 Mg C/hm2)>SH(88.59 Mg C/hm2),而SMBC含量则依次为:LM(259 mg/kg)>SH(213 mg/kg)>LF(160 mg/kg)>DP(144 mg/kg)。与其它3种耕作方式比较,LM处理显著提高SOC含量和储量以及SMBC含量。对土壤微生物商(SMBC/SOC)进行分析发现,耕作方式对SOC和SMBC的影响程度并不一致。SMBC与SOC、全氮、全磷、全硫、碱解氮、有效磷均呈现极显著正相关(P<0.01),与有效硫呈显著正相关(P<0.05);表明SMBC可以作为表征紫色水稻土土壤肥力的敏感因子。     

遥感在森林地上生物量估算中的应用

生物量是地表C循环研究的重要组成部分,生物量研究有助于深入认识区域乃至全球的C平衡。森林作为地球最重要的陆地生态系统,区域乃至全球尺度的森林地上生物量估算一直是生态学研究的难点之一。在大的空间尺度上,遥感技术是估算森林地上生物量的有效手段。TM、AVHRR、SAR等数据以及多源数据的融合在森林生物量估算方面广泛应用,并取得了显著效果。运用遥感技术进行森林生物量估算时,所采用的数据源不同,分析方法也不相同,主要分析方法有:相关分析、多元回归分析、神经网络和数学模型模拟等。随着测定不同空间、时间和波谱分辨率的各种传感器的广泛使用,以及生物量遥感估算模型的进一步发展和完善,大尺度森林生物量的遥感估算研究必将向前迈进一大步。     

Effects of topographic factors and aboveground vegetation carbon stocks on soil organic carbon in Moso bamboo forests

Plant and Soil - Carpobrotus edulis invades coastal areas throughout the world, decreasing plant diversity and hampering restoration efforts by changing soil properties. Some of its effects on...     

Comparing soil organic carbon dynamics in plantation and secondary forest in wet tropics in Puerto Rico

We compared the soil carbon dynamics between a pine plantation and a secondary forest, both of which originated from the same farmland abandoned in 1976 with the same cropping history and soil conditions, in the wet tropics in Puerto Rico from July 1996 to June 1997. We found that the secondary forest accumulated the heavy‐fraction organic carbon (HF‐OC) measured by the density fractionation technique, more efficiently than the tree plantation did. Although there was no significant difference in total soil organic carbon (SOC) between the plantation (5.59±0.09 kg m^?2) and the secondary forest (5.68±0.16 kg m^?2), the proportion of HF‐OC carbon to the total SOC was significantly higher in the secondary forest (61%) than in the plantation (45%) (P<0.05). Forest floor mass and aboveground litterfall in the plantation were 168% and 22.8% greater than those in the secondary forest, respectively, while the decomposition rate of leaf litter in the plantation was 23.3% lower than that in the secondary forest. The annual mean soil respirations in the plantation and the secondary forest were 2.32±0.15 and 2.65±0.18 g C m^?2 day^?1, respectively, with a consistently higher rate in the secondary forest than in the plantation throughout the year. Microbial biomass measured by fumigation–incubation method demonstrated a strong seasonal variation in the secondary forest with 804 mg kg^?1 in the wet season and 460 mg kg^?1 in the dry season. However, the seasonal change of microbial biomass in the plantation was less significant. Our results suggested that secondary forests could stock more long‐term SOC than the plantations in the wet tropics because the naturally generated secondary forest accumulated more HF‐OC than the managed plantation.     

Beef cattle pasture to wetland reconversion: Impact on soil organic carbon and phosphorus dynamics

There is a major need to understand the historical condition and chemical/biological functions of the ecosystems following a conversion of wetlands to agricultural functions. To better understand the dynamics of soil total organic carbon (TOC) and phosphorus (P) during beef cattle pastures to wetland reconversion, soil core samples were collected from the beef cattle pasture and from the natural wetland at Plant City, FL, during five summer seasons (2002–2007). The levels of TOC and soil P were significantly affected by changing land use and hydrology. Draining natural wetlands to grazed pastures resulted in very pronounced reduction of TOC from 180.1 to 5.4 g g^?1. Cumulative concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) in soils (1134 mg kg^?1) under drained condition are two to three times lower than those in soils (2752 mg kg^?1) under flooded condition over the periods of land use reconversion. There was a declining trend (r = 0.82**; p ≤ 0.01) in total soil P from natural wetland (763 mg kg^?1) to altered pastures (340 mg kg^?1), largely as organic-bound P (natural wetland, 48%; grazed pastures, 44%; altered pastures, 29%). These results are important in establishing baseline information on soil properties in pasture and wetland prior to restoring and reconverting pasture back to wetland conditions. The results further suggest that changes in soil properties due to changing land use and hydrologic conditions (drying and re-wetting) could be long lasting.     

Soil organic carbon dynamics jointly controlled by climate,carbon inputs,soil properties and soil carbon fractions

Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics are regulated by the complex interplay of climatic, edaphic and biotic conditions. However, the interrelation of SOC and these drivers and their potential connection networks are rarely assessed quantitatively. Using observations of SOC dynamics with detailed soil properties from 90 field trials at 28 sites under different agroecosystems across the Australian cropping regions, we investigated the direct and indirect effects of climate, soil properties, carbon (C) inputs and soil C pools (a total of 17 variables) on SOC change rate (r_C, Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1). Among these variables, we found that the most influential variables on r_C were the average C input amount and annual precipitation, and the total SOC stock at the beginning of the trials. Overall, C inputs (including C input amount and pasture frequency in the crop rotation system) accounted for 27% of the relative influence on r_C, followed by climate 25% (including precipitation and temperature), soil C pools 24% (including pool size and composition) and soil properties (such as cation exchange capacity, clay content, bulk density) 24%. Path analysis identified a network of intercorrelations of climate, soil properties, C inputs and soil C pools in determining r_C. The direct correlation of r_C with climate was significantly weakened if removing the effects of soil properties and C pools, and vice versa. These results reveal the relative importance of climate, soil properties, C inputs and C pools and their complex interconnections in regulating SOC dynamics. Ignorance of the impact of changes in soil properties, C pool composition and C input (quantity and quality) on SOC dynamics is likely one of the main sources of uncertainty in SOC predictions from the process‐based SOC models.