Abstract
Rock fragments are widely distributed in soils. The material cycling and the physico-chemical processes of soil ecosystems are both inevitably spatially affected by rock fragments. However, the effect of rock fragments on the spatial distribution characteristics of soil carbon and nitrogen is still not well studied and understood. We carried out a study on the effect of rock fragments on the spatial distribution of soil carbon and nitrogen by mass sampling at the interfaces of rock fragments in a boreal forest watershed ecosystem of northest China. We found that the carbon and nitrogen content of rock fragments interface soil (SRIS) was significantly lower than that of general soil (GS). The content of total soil carbon (TC) and total soil nitrogen (TN) in 0–20 cm SRIS accounted for 73 % and 43 % of those in the GS, respectively. The content of TN in 20–40 cm SRIS was about 43 % of that in the GS. The results of Random Forest Model and Pearson correlation analysis (P < 0.01) indicated that the soil water content (SWC) and soil machinery composition (SMC) contributed most to the variabilities of soil carbon and nitrogen. We also found significant differences in SMC between GS and SRIS. Such evidences suggested that the presence of rock fragments was expected to promote the loss of soil carbon and nitrogen,and consequently influence soil carbon and nitrogen distribution nearby them. Our findings help improve the understanding of the impact of rock fragments on soil carbon and nitrogen distribution and provide new insights into the participation of rock fragments in the material-energy cycle of ecosystems.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.