Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils
<i>Caragana korshinskii</i>, a key species in China’s Grain for Green Project on the Loess Plateau, is effective in enhancing soil C sequestration. However, whether its contribution to SOC (soil organic carbon) stability persists over multi-decadal restoration chronosequences remains unc...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Zhijing Xue Shuangying Wang Anqi Wang Shengwei Huang Tingting Qu Qin Chen Xiaoyun Li Rui Wang Zhengyao Liu Zhibao Dong |
| author_facet | Zhijing Xue Shuangying Wang Anqi Wang Shengwei Huang Tingting Qu Qin Chen Xiaoyun Li Rui Wang Zhengyao Liu Zhibao Dong |
| author_sort | Zhijing Xue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Caragana korshinskii</i>, a key species in China’s Grain for Green Project on the Loess Plateau, is effective in enhancing soil C sequestration. However, whether its contribution to SOC (soil organic carbon) stability persists over multi-decadal restoration chronosequences remains unclear. Using the time–space substitution method, we investigated the SOC fractions (POC, particulate organic C, and MAOC, mineral-associated organic C) dynamics across soil depths (0–10, 10–30, and 30–60 cm) in a 40-year chronosequence of <i>C. korshinskii</i> restoration, which is located in a comprehensive managed watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that the <i>C. korshinskii</i> restoration chronosequence improved soil C sequestration at different scales compared to abandoned sites. In the middle phase (10–30 years), the concentration of SOC peaked at 35.88 g/kg, exceeding natural grassland (32.33 g/kg). Above- and belowground biomass accumulation drove SOC enhancement. POC as transient C inputs, and MAOC through mineral interactions, reach a peak at 7.98 g/kg which shows the greatest increase (276.81%). In the subsequent phase (after 30 years), MAOC dominated SOC stabilization, yet SOC fractions declined overall. MAOC contribution to SOC stability plateaued at 20–30%, constrained by soil desiccation from prolonged root water uptake. <i>C. korshinskii</i> provides the optimal SOC benefits within 10–30 years of restoration, highlighting a trade-off between vegetation-driven C inputs and hydrological limits in arid ecosystems. Beyond 30 years, <i>C. korshinskii</i>’s high water demand reduced SOC sequestration efficiency, risking the reversal of carbon gains despite initial MAOC advantages. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-a30fee0dcfaa4085a528de40e1c0683d2025-08-20T03:26:10ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-05-0116666210.3390/atmos16060662Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess SoilsZhijing Xue0Shuangying Wang1Anqi Wang2Shengwei Huang3Tingting Qu4Qin Chen5Xiaoyun Li6Rui Wang7Zhengyao Liu8Zhibao Dong9School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaNorthwest Land and Resources Research Center, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaShaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi’an 710004, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China<i>Caragana korshinskii</i>, a key species in China’s Grain for Green Project on the Loess Plateau, is effective in enhancing soil C sequestration. However, whether its contribution to SOC (soil organic carbon) stability persists over multi-decadal restoration chronosequences remains unclear. Using the time–space substitution method, we investigated the SOC fractions (POC, particulate organic C, and MAOC, mineral-associated organic C) dynamics across soil depths (0–10, 10–30, and 30–60 cm) in a 40-year chronosequence of <i>C. korshinskii</i> restoration, which is located in a comprehensive managed watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that the <i>C. korshinskii</i> restoration chronosequence improved soil C sequestration at different scales compared to abandoned sites. In the middle phase (10–30 years), the concentration of SOC peaked at 35.88 g/kg, exceeding natural grassland (32.33 g/kg). Above- and belowground biomass accumulation drove SOC enhancement. POC as transient C inputs, and MAOC through mineral interactions, reach a peak at 7.98 g/kg which shows the greatest increase (276.81%). In the subsequent phase (after 30 years), MAOC dominated SOC stabilization, yet SOC fractions declined overall. MAOC contribution to SOC stability plateaued at 20–30%, constrained by soil desiccation from prolonged root water uptake. <i>C. korshinskii</i> provides the optimal SOC benefits within 10–30 years of restoration, highlighting a trade-off between vegetation-driven C inputs and hydrological limits in arid ecosystems. Beyond 30 years, <i>C. korshinskii</i>’s high water demand reduced SOC sequestration efficiency, risking the reversal of carbon gains despite initial MAOC advantages.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/6/662<i>C. korshinskii</i>long-term restoration chronosequenceSOC fractionparticulate organic C (POC)mineral-associated organic C (MAOC)SOC sequestration |
| spellingShingle | Zhijing Xue Shuangying Wang Anqi Wang Shengwei Huang Tingting Qu Qin Chen Xiaoyun Li Rui Wang Zhengyao Liu Zhibao Dong Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils Atmosphere <i>C. korshinskii</i> long-term restoration chronosequence SOC fraction particulate organic C (POC) mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) SOC sequestration |
| title | Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils |
| title_full | Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils |
| title_short | Long-Term <i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Restoration Enhances SOC Stability but Reduces Sequestration Efficiency over 40 Years in Degraded Loess Soils |
| title_sort | long term i caragana korshinskii i restoration enhances soc stability but reduces sequestration efficiency over 40 years in degraded loess soils |
| topic | <i>C. korshinskii</i> long-term restoration chronosequence SOC fraction particulate organic C (POC) mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) SOC sequestration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/6/662 |
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