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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 200-210.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00093

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Effects of litter removal on top soil carbon components in the sandy grassland

Wanhong Su1(), Jin Zhan2(), Ya Li2, Yongfu Ji2, Yulin Li3, Anqi Cong3, Wen Zhang2, Guiquan Fu2, Yuejun Wang4   

  1. 1.Jingtai Sand Control Experimental Station,Jingtai 730499,Gansu,China
    2.Gansu Minqin National Field Observation & Research Station on Ecosystem of Desert Grassland,Gansu Desert Control Research Institute,Lanzhou 730070,China
    3.Naiman Desertification Research Station,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,China
    4.Tamusu Work Station of Badain Jilin Nature Reserve,Alxa Right Banner 737300,Inner Mongolia,China
  • Received:2025-05-11 Revised:2025-07-08 Online:2025-07-20 Published:2025-08-18
  • Contact: Jin Zhan

Abstract:

Aboveground litter and underground roots serve as critical plant-derived inputs to the soil carbon pool. Investigating the effects of litter and root removal on surface soil carbon components in semi-arid sandy grasslands is essential for understanding soil carbon accumulation mechanisms in this ecosystem. This study utilized a long-term litter removal experiment (including control, aboveground litter removal, underground root removal, and combined removal treatments) established at the National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station in southwestern Horqin Sandy Land. We compared the impacts of aboveground litter and underground root removal on surface soil carbon components and analyzed the regulating factors of soil carbon pool activity. Key findings include: (1) Combined removal significantly increased soil bulk density (P<0.05) while reducing soil total carbon (by 23.78%) and labile organic carbon (by 23.49%,P<0.05). Compared to aboveground litter removal alone, combined removal induced significantly greater reductions in labile organic carbon (P<0.05); (2) Aboveground litter removal decreased microbial biomass carbon from 0.032 g·kg-1 to 0.016 g·kg-1P<0.05), representing a 50% reduction; (3) Underground root removal reduced soil carbon pool activity from 0.46 to 0.30 (P<0.05); (4) Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant associations between soil carbon components and soil bulk density, water content, electrical conductivity, and pH. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that soil properties and carbon components jointly explained 92% of the variation in carbon pool activity. Physicochemical parameters indirectly regulated activity through their mediation of carbon components. Specifically, soil bulk density regulated carbon pool activity by significantly and negatively affecting total carbon (λ=-0.64) and labile organic carbon (λ=-0.37). Electrical conductivity affected carbon pool activity by significantly and positively influencing labile organic carbon (λ=0.37). Soil pH regulated carbon pool activity by significantly and negatively affecting recalcitrant organic carbon (λ=-0.40).

Key words: soil carbon components, aboveground litter removal, underground root removal, sandy grassland

CLC Number: