Background: Soil organic carbon(SOC) is a large reservoir of terrestrial carbon(C); it consists of different fractions of varying complexity and stability. Partitioning SOC into different pools of decomposability help better predict the trend of changes in SOC dynamics under climate change. Information on how physical fractions and chemical structures of SOC are related to climate and vegetation types is essential for spatial model ing of SOC processes and responses to global change factors.Method: Soil samples were col ected from multiple representative forest sites of three contrasting climatic zones(i.e. cool temperate, warm temperate, and subtropical) in eastern China. Measurements were made on SOC contents and physical fractions of the 0–20 cm soil layer, and the chemical composition of SOC of the 0–5 cm soil layer, along with measurements and compilation of the basic site and forest stand variables. The long-term effects of temperature, litter inputs, soil characteristics and vegetation type on the SOC contents and factions were examined by means of "space for time substitution" approach and statistical analysis.Result: Mean annual temperature(MAT) varied from 2.1 °C at the cool temperate sites to 20.8 °C at the subtropical sites. Total SOC of the 0–20 cm soil layer decreased with increasing MAT, ranging from 89.2 g·kg^(-1) in cool temperate forests to 57.7 g·kg^(-1) in subtropical forests, at an average rate of 1.87% reduction in SOC with a 1 °C increase in MAT.With increasing MAT, the proportions of aromatic C and phenolic C displayed a tendency of decreases, whereas the proportion of alkyl C and A/O-A value(the ratio of alkyl C to the sum of O-alkyl C and acetal C) displayed a tendency of increases. Overall, there were no significant changes with MAT and forest type in either the physical fractions or the chemical composition. Based on the relationship between the SOC content and MAT, we estimate that SOC in the top 20 soil layer of forests potentially contribute 6.58–26.3 Pg C globally to t
Xiaolu SunZuoxin TangMichael G.RyanYeming YouOsbert Jianxin Sun
Decomposition dynamics were compared among green tree leaves,partially decomposed tree leaf litter(i.e.,decayed tree leaf litter on forest floor) and a mixture of the two in a warm temperate forest ecosystem in central China to test the influence of litter chemical quality on the degree of decomposition.The study was conducted in situ at two contrasting forest sites,an oak forest dominated by Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata Maxim.,and a mixed pine and oak forest dominated by Pinus armandii Franch.and Q.aliena var.acuteserrata.We found marked differences in the rate of decomposition among litter types at both forest sites;the litter decomposition constant,k,was about 39 % greater at the oak forest site and more than 70 % greater at the pine-oak forest site,for green leaves than for partially decomposed leaf litter.The decomposition dynamics and temporal changes in litter chemistry of the three litter types also greatly differed between the two forest sites.At both forest sites,the higher rate of decomposition for the green leaves was associated with a higher nitrogen(N) content and lower carbon to N ratio(C/N) and acid-unhydrolyzable residue to N ratio(AUR/N).We did not find any nonadditive effects when mixing green leaves and partially decomposed leaf litter.Our findings support the contention that litter chemical quality is one of the most important determinants of litter decomposition in forest ecosystems at the local or regional scale,but the effect of litter chemical quality on decomposition differs between the contrasting forest types and may vary with the stage of decomposition.
Juan WangYeming YouZuoxin TangXiaolu SunOsbert Jianxin Sun
