Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 1451-1462.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.08.09

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characterization of soil carbon fractions in typical sand-fixing vegetation at the southern edge of the Tengger Desert

SHI Linqi1,2(), MA Quanlin1,2(), MA Rui1, DUAN Xiaofeng3, WEI Linyuan3   

  1. 1. Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
    2. Gansu Academy of Forestry, Lanzhou 730010, Gansu, China
    3. Gansu Desert Control Research Institute, Lanzhou 733099, Gansu, China
  • Received:2025-02-13 Revised:2025-05-16 Online:2025-08-15 Published:2025-11-24

Abstract:

Soil carbon fractions are key for maintaining ecosystem functions. To reveal the variation characteristics and influencing factors of soil carbon fractions in arid sandy ecosystems, this study examined natural (Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides, and Artemisia ordosica) and artificial (Corethrodendron scoparium) sand-fixing vegetations on the southern margin of the Tengger Desert, Northwest China. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the vertical distribution characteristics of soil inorganic carbon (SIC), soil organic carbon (SOC), labile organic carbon (LOC), slowly cycling organic carbon (SCOC), inert organic carbon (IOC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) across the 0-100 cm soil profile. Further, soil physicochemical properties were analyzed to identify key driving factors affecting soil carbon fractions. (1) All soil carbon fractions followed the content order: C. scoparium>K. ceratoides>Z. xanthoxylon>A. ordosica, with the overall abundance ranked as SIC>SOC>HFOC>IOC>SCOC>LOC>LFOC. (2) Carbon fractions exhibited significant vertical differentiation across vegetation types. SIC content increased with soil depth, whereas SOC and its fractions (except A. Ordosica) were epimerized. Moreover, in A. Ordosica, SOC and its fractions of peaked at the 20-40 cm soil layer. All soil carbon fractions showed highly significant positive correlations. (3) Soil pH and bulk density were negatively correlated with carbon fractions, whereas total nitrogen, total phosphorus, slow-release potassium, and available potassium were key factors influencing carbon fractions. In conclusion, soil carbon fractions in these arid sand-fixing vegetation predominantly comprised SIC (75.48%). Artificial C. scoparium vegetation exhibited higher overall soil carbon content than that of natural vegetation. By increasing stable carbon fractions (HFOC, IOC, and SCOC) and improving surface-layer carbon sequestration, artificial sand-fixing vegetation significantly improved the desert soil carbon pool stability and sequestration potential. These findings underscore the critical importance of strengthening surface soil conservation and establishing artificial sand-fixing forests for effective ecological restoration in desert regions.

Key words: soil organic carbon, soil inorganic carbon, organic carbon components, sand-fixing vegetation, arid desert region