Soil Carbon Storage and Vertical Distribution Characteristics of Different Stand Types in Maoershan Nature Reserve

Objective  The aim was to reveal the difference of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, its vertical distribution characteristics and proportion rule of three different stand types in Maoershan Nature Reserve, in order to provide scientific theoretical basis for the development of forest carbon (C) sink in this area.

Methods  Soil bulk density, SOC content, organic C density and organic C storage were measured and calculated by field investigation combined with laboratory analysis in three typical stands of natural secondary forest, bamboo plantation and Chinese fir plantation in Maoershan. The difference of SOC storage in different stands and its vertical distribution and proportion were analyzed according to the result data of each stand.

Results  The SOC content, organic C density and organic C storage of different stand types were as follows: natural secondary forest > bamboo plantation > Chinese fir plantation. There were significant differences in SOC content, organic C density and storage in different soil layers, and the organic C content decreased with the deepening of soil layers. The soil total organic carbon (TOC) storage was the highest (332.99 t hm ⁻²) in Prunus sylvata stand, and the lowest (225.27 t hm ⁻²) in Chinese fir stand. The proportion of organic C storage gradually decreases with the deepening of the soil layer, and the deeper the soil layer, the smaller the proportion.

Conclusion  The SOC and C storage of natural secondary forest of Cyclobalsam sylvatica were higher than that of bamboo plantation and Chinese fir plantation, and had better C storage accumulation and fixation effect.