Abstract
Forests can affect soil organic carbon (SOC) quality and distribution through forest types and traits. However, much less is known about the influence of urban forests on SOC, especially in the effects of different forest types, such as coniferous and broadleaved forests. Our objectives were to assess the effects of urban forest types on the variability of SOC content (SOC concentration (SOCC) and SOC density (SOCD)) and determine the key forest traits influencing SOC. Data from 168 urban forest plots of coniferous or broadleaved forests located in the Beijing urban area were used to predict the effects of forest types and traits on SOC in three different soil layers, 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm. The analysis of variance and multiple comparisons were used to test the differences in SOC between forest types or layers. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to explain the influence of forest traits on SOC and select the significant predictors. Our results showed that in urban forests, the SOCC and SOCD values of the coniferous forest group were both significantly higher than those of the broadleaved group. The SOCC of the surface soil was significantly higher than those of the following two deep layers. In PLSR models, 42.07% of the SOCC variance and 35.83% of the SOCD variance were explained by forest traits. Diameter at breast height was selected as the best predictor variable by comparing variable importance in projection (VIP) scores in the models. The results suggest that forest types and traits could be used as an optional approach to assess the organic carbon stock in urban forest soils. This study found substantial effects of urban forest types and traits on soil organic carbon sequestration, which provides important data support for urban forest planning and management.
Highlights
Urban green spaces, including urban forests, play a pivotal role as substitutes for the lost natural environment in the city’s original location [1]
The results showed that these three forest traits had no statistically significant relationships with SOC concentration (SOCC) and SOCD in urban forests
These results showed that forest traits positively affected SOCC and SOCD in urban forests
Summary
Urban green spaces, including urban forests, play a pivotal role as substitutes for the lost natural environment in the city’s original location [1]. Urban forests provide a large number of ecosystem services [2], such as enhancing amenity values [3], maintaining biodiversity [4], and increasing carbon sequestration [5]. The increase and decrease of soil organic carbon (SOC) may affect climate change greatly [6,7]. Studies of forest groups and species characteristics affecting soil fertility parameters have been widely carried out in the non-urban environment [10], but less so in an urban context [11]. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between urban forest and SOC is key to maintain and enhance the quality of urban ecosystem services
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