Role of soil organic matter in stabilization of water-stable aggregates in Soils under different types of land use

Abstract

Three Andosols (used as grassland, upland field, and paddy field) and two Gray Lowland soils (used as upland field and paddy field) were examined to study the role of organic matter in the stabilization of soil aggregates. It was found that prolonged use of Andosols as grassland or as upland field enabled to maintain a higher level of soil organic carbon than use as paddy field. However, paddy soil exhibited a greater aggregate stability (determined by wet-sieving procedure) than soil under upland field or grassland management. Comparison between two Gray Lowland soils also showed that aggregates in the paddy soil were more stable than in the upland field soil. Among organic constituents examined (such as sodium pyrophosphate (SPP)-extractable organic matter and carbohydrates), only the contents of hot water (HW)-extractable carbohydrates of the soils were significantly correlated with aggregate stability. Paddy soils which showed a greater aggregate stability contained a larger amount of HW -extractable carbohydrates in the soils, and a larger amount of HW -extractable carbohydrates regardless of the size of their aggregates compared with other soils. These findings suggest that HW -extractable carbohydrates which represents easily decomposable organic materials may be of special importance for the stabilization of aggregates in the soils.