Characteristics of Soil Aggregates and Its Organic Carbon in Daxing'anling Forest Region
Abstract The distribution and spatial variability of soil aggregates and their organic carbon and their responses to environmental factors in Daxing'anling forest region were studied by field investigation and laboratory analysis. In Daxing'anling forest region, 75 sampling points were set up based on kilometer grid, and the sample circle with radius of 17.85m was set at each sampling point. In each circle, three samples of 0-20 cm topsoil were taken to determine soil chemical indexes, soil aggregates and their organic carbon content. The results showed that: (1) the soil aggregate content followed the order as (0.25~2 mm aggregate) > (<0.053 mm aggregate) > (0.053~0.25 mm aggregate). The spatial autocorrelation of each fraction of aggregate were moderate, and they were affected by the structural factors such as climate, vegetation, soil and random factors such as human activities. The content of 0.25~2 mm and <0.053 mm aggregates decreased gradually from north to south, while the content of 0.053~0.25 mm aggregates was opposite to them. (2) The organic carbon content of soil aggregates was mainly concentrated in the 0.25~2 mm large aggregates (19.84 g/kg) with the contribution rate 50.39%; the organic carbon contents of each fraction of aggregate showed high spatial autocorrelation which was mainly affected by structural factors; the spatial difference of soil aggregate content in each particle size was not significant, and the distribution was patchy. There was no significant spatial difference in the organic carbon contents of soil aggregate in different fractions with patch distribution characteristics. (3) Temperature had no significant effect on the formation and stability of soil aggregates, and precipitation is beneficial to the formation of micro-aggregates <0.053 mm; soil organic carbon was conducive to the cementation of small-sized aggregates into large aggregates, which had a positive effect on the stability of soil aggregates. There was a significant positive correlation between SOC and organic carbon of soil aggregates in different fractions, and the correlation degree was gradually weakened with the decrease of particle size; the contents of soil nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients could promote the organic carbon accumulation in soil aggregates. The results can provide the basis for the soil rational use and the carbon fixation capacity improvement of forest in Daxing'anling forest region.
