Effects of aboveground and belowground litter inputs on the balance of soil new and old organic carbon under the typical forests in subtropical region.

Abstract

Litter is one of the most important factors controlling the accumulation, stabilization, and turnover of soil organic carbon (SOC) in forests. There is a knowledge gap of the impacts of aboveground and belowground litter inputs on the balance of new and old SOC under different forests in subtropical region. We examined the effects of aboveground and belowground litter inputs on SOC turnover using isotopic tracing technique, based on a 3-year C3 plants/C4 soil replacement experiment in natural forest (NF), Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) plantation (PM) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation (CL). Our results showed that forest types, litter treatments, and sampling time significantly affected SOC contents, δ13C, new and old SOC contents. Moreover, there were significant interactions between forest types and litter treatments. Litter input increased SOC content and net SOC increment, with higher sensitivity of NF than CL. Litter inputs decreased soil δ13C, with lower values in NF and PM compared to CL. For PM, the new SOC content in belowground litter treatment was significantly higher than that in aboveground litter treatment. The contents of old SOC were lower in belowground litter treatment than aboveground litter treatment in the NF and CL. Above- and below-ground biomass were positively correlated with SOC content and net increment. Belowground litter biomass were positively correlated with soil C/N ratio and new SOC content. Our results implied that belowground litter input had stronger effects on SOC turnover compared to aboveground litter input, with the effects varying among different forests. Our results provided new information on SOC accumulation and on sustainable management of the typical forests in subtropical region.