Spatial Distribution of Soil Inorganic Carbon in Urbanized Territories

Abstract

Soil carbon stock changes induced by land-use change play an essential role in the global greenhouse effect and carbon circulation. This paper studies the spatial characteristics of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) distribution in urbanized territories of main cities in Jiangsu Province, China, based on the data of regional geochemical survey. Urbanization process in study area has been quickened greatly since the 1980s. The SIC density in urban area is 0.64±0.70 kg m-2, which mean density is 1.33 times of that in suburban and 1.52 times of that in countryside, and SIC distribution in urbanized area shows accumulation and obvious spatial variability. By comparison of SIC distribution in the central urban area, urbanized area during 1980-2000, 2000-2005 and suburban, the SIC obviously accumulates in central urban area, furthermore, the SIC density increases with urban land use duration extending and urban ecosystem evolving. This paper provides the characteristics of SIC distribution and evolution during the course of urbanization, which may be useful for assessing the impact of land-use and urban development on SIC pools in urban ecosystem.