Organic mulching promotes soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest

Xiaodan Sun; Gang Wang; Qingxu Ma; Jiahui Liao; Dong Wang; Qingwei Guan; Davey L. Jones

doi:10.1186/s40663-020-00278-5

Forest Ecosystems 2021, 8(1): 2 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00278-5

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Open Access | Issue | Published: 06 January 2021

Organic mulching promotes soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Xiaodan Sun^{¹^,²^,³}, Gang Wang^{¹^,²}, Qingxu Ma^³, Jiahui Liao^{¹^,²}, Dong Wang^⁴, Qingwei Guan^{¹^,²}

(

), Davey L. Jones^{³^,⁵}

College of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

Co-Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing, 210037, China

School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, China

UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

Keywords:

Soil organic carbon, Labile organic carbon fractions, Rhizosphere, Urban plantation forest, Organic mulching

Cite this article:

Sun X, Wang G, Ma Q, et al. Organic mulching promotes soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest. Forest Ecosystems, 2021, 8(1): 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00278-5

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Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Background

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for soil quality and fertility in forest ecosystems. Labile SOC fractions are sensitive to environmental changes, which reflect the impact of short-term internal and external management measures on the soil carbon pool. Organic mulching (OM) alters the soil environment and promotes plant growth. However, little is known about the responses of SOC fractions in rhizosphere or bulk soil to OM in urban forests and its correlation with carbon composition in plants.

Methods

A one-year field experiment with four treatments (OM at 0, 5, 10, and 20 cm thicknesses) was conducted in a 15-year-old Ligustrum lucidum plantation. Changes in the SOC fractions in the rhizosphere and bulk soil; the carbon content in the plant fine roots, leaves, and organic mulch; and several soil physicochemical properties were measured. The relationships between SOC fractions and the measured variables were analysed.

Results

The OM treatments had no significant effect on the SOC fractions, except for the dissolved organic carbon (DOC). OM promoted the movement of SOC to deeper soil because of the increased carbon content in fine roots of subsoil. There were significant correlations between DOC and microbial biomass carbon and SOC and easily oxidised organic carbon. The OM had a greater effect on organic carbon fractions in the bulk soil than in the rhizosphere. The thinnest (5 cm) mulching layers showed the most rapid carbon decomposition over time. The time after OM had the greatest effect on the SOC fractions, followed by soil layer.

Conclusions

The frequent addition of small amounts of organic mulch increased SOC accumulation in the present study. OM is a potential management model to enhance soil organic matter storage for maintaining urban forest productivity.

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Abstract

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About this article

Organic mulching promotes soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Xiaodan Sun^{¹^,²^,³}, Gang Wang^{¹^,²}, Qingxu Ma^³, Jiahui Liao^{¹^,²}, Dong Wang^⁴, Qingwei Guan^{¹^,²}

(

), Davey L. Jones^{³^,⁵}

College of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

Co-Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing, 210037, China

School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, China

UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keywords: Soil organic carbon, Labile organic carbon fractions, Rhizosphere, Urban plantation forest, Organic mulching

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Publication history

Received: 28 March 2020

Accepted: 15 November 2020

Published: 06 January 2021

Issue date: March 2021

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Administration of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum for providing the experimental area and the labor support at the site.

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