Variation of plant communities affect the aggregate protection of lignin in five successional stages of mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forests

Authors: FENG, YUE - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; HAN, SHIJIE - Henan University; CHEN, WEI - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; GU, YUE - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; Stewart, Catherine; ZHANG, JUNHUI - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; GENG, SHICONG - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; CHEN, ZHIJIE - Henan University; SETALA, HEIKKI - University Of Helsinki

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2019
Publication Date: 10/27/2019
Citation: Feng, Y., Han, S., Chen, W., Gu, Y., Stewart, C.E., Zhang, J., Geng, S., Chen, Z., Setala, H. 2019. Variation of plant communities affect the aggregate protection of lignin in five successional stages of mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forests. Soil Science Society of America Journal. https://doi.org//10.1002/saj2.20032.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20032

Interpretive Summary: We attempt to illustrate the effects of variation of plant communities on soil aggregation and lignin protection in long-term C sequestration using a space-for-time approach in sites of successional mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forests. Soils were sampled from a successional gradient of five forest sites from 19 to 239 years in the nature reserve of Changbai mountain (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Northeast China. Plant productivity, litter composition, microbial community and soil fertility changed the relative importance of soil carbon preservation mechanisms during succession from broadleaf to mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forests. The bulk soil in the 239-year stand exhibited the largest mineral-associated carbon and total lignin concentrations. Soil lignin chemistry changed across the gradient, indicating that plant community and their effects on soil aggregation and SOM chemical composition influences long-term carbon sequestration.

Technical Abstract: We attempt to illustrate the effects of variation of plant communities on soil aggregation and lignin protection in long-term C sequestration using a space-for-time approach in sites of successional mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forests. Soils were sampled from a successional gradient of five forest sites from 19 to 239 years in the nature reserve of Changbai mountain (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Northeast China. The aggregates were separated using the wet-sieving method. Total C, N and CuO-oxidized lignin phenols in those aggregates as well as silt and clay (SC) fractions were determined. We found soil carbon content shifted from large aggregates in the 19-year field, to smaller aggregates at the 122-year stand and then to a large proportion in SC fraction at the 239-year stand. The macroaggregates occupied nearly 95% proportion of bulk soil and occluded more than 75% SOC at 19-122 years stands. The bulk soil in the 239-year stand exhibited the most carbon and lignin concentrations, where SC fraction had 56.18% of total carbon. The aggregates exhibited lowest (Ad/Al)V and (Ad/Al)S values at the 122-year stand, and lowest S/V and C/V ratios at the 239-year stand. Plant productivity, litter composition, microbial community and soil fertility changed the relative importance of soil carbon preservation mechanisms during succession from broadleaf to mixed broadleaf-Korean pine forests. Long-term carbon sequestration in forest soil appears to be strongly influenced by plant community and their effects on soil aggregation and SOM chemical composition.