Spatial Distribution of Surface Soil Organic Carbon Density and Related Factors along an Urbanization Gradient in Beijing

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2020.05.008

Abstract

Abstract:

Urban surface soil has a unique set of structures and processes that affect surface soil organic carbon density (SOC_density) and its spatial variations. Using Beijing as a case study, and assisted by field investigations and experiments, we analyzed the spatial distribution of SOC_density in different land use types and functional regions, and assessed associated factors such as urbanization level, the physiochemical properties of soil and plant configurations. The present study aims to provide useful information about the mechanisms driving soil organic carbon and climate change in developing and developed areas in urbanized regions like Beijing. Results indicate that P is the main factor positively influencing SOC_density in most regions. Because of the specific interference directly related to human beings in urban areas, with decreases in the urbanization level, more physiochemical factors of soil can influence SOC_density. SOC_density under grasses is not significantly different from that under other plant compositions. Urbanization processes decrease the heterogeneity of the spatial pattern of SOC_density in most land use types, but increased its contents when the area reached a developed level in Beijing. More factors related to human interference and spatial variation of surface soil carbon storage, especially under impervious land in urban areas, should be considered in future studies.

Key words: soil organic carbon density, urbanization, soil physiochemical properties, plant configuration

TIAN Yuhong, LIU Fenghua, WANG Tiantian. Spatial Distribution of Surface Soil Organic Carbon Density and Related Factors along an Urbanization Gradient in Beijing[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2020, 11(5): 508-515.

Figures/Tables 11

References 33

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Items		CFCA	UFEZ	UDNZ	ECA
Population (×10⁶)	1982	241.70	283.99	143.57	49.36
	1990	233.64	398.90	167.44	53.17
	2000	229.43	638.86	198.17	56.25
	2012	226.90	1012.72	362.40	70.82
Population density (person km^-2)	2012	24232.46	7742.29	1226.40	199.71
Total area (km²)		91.99	1275.61	6299.22	8743.73
GDP (×10⁸ Yuan)	2009	2791	5140	1590	478
GDP per capita (Yuan)	2009	27668	72205	5709	3653
Economy density (×10⁸Yuan km^-2)	2009	29.99	3.99	0.25	0.05
Industry structure (%)	Primary	0	0.10	5.76	9.21
Industry structure (%)	Second	7.95	26.55	52.36	44.91
	Third	92.05	73.36	41.88	45.89

Items		CFCA	UFEZ	UDNZ	ECA
Population (×10⁶)	1982	241.70	283.99	143.57	49.36
	1990	233.64	398.90	167.44	53.17
	2000	229.43	638.86	198.17	56.25
	2012	226.90	1012.72	362.40	70.82
Population density (person km^-2)	2012	24232.46	7742.29	1226.40	199.71
Total area (km²)		91.99	1275.61	6299.22	8743.73
GDP (×10⁸ Yuan)	2009	2791	5140	1590	478
GDP per capita (Yuan)	2009	27668	72205	5709	3653
Economy density (×10⁸Yuan km^-2)	2009	29.99	3.99	0.25	0.05
Industry structure (%)	Primary	0	0.10	5.76	9.21
Industry structure (%)	Second	7.95	26.55	52.36	44.91
	Third	92.05	73.36	41.88	45.89

Observation index	Abbreviation	Measurement method	References
Soil organic carbon	TOC	Walkley-Black method	Bremmer and Mulvaney, 1982
Total carbon	TC	Kjeldahl digestion method	Anderson and Ingram, 1993
pH	pH	pH meter method	Thomas, 1996
Total nitrogen	TN	Kjeldahl digestion method	Anderson and Ingram, 1993
Total phosphorus	P	Ammonium molybdate method	Li et al., 2015
Available potassium	K	NH₄OAc digestion	SCS-USDA, 1972
Content of gravel	Gravel	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of coarse sand	CS	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of fine sand	FS	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of silt	Silt	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of clay	Clay	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Water content		Oven drying method
Bulk density		Ring blade method

Observation index	Abbreviation	Measurement method	References
Soil organic carbon	TOC	Walkley-Black method	Bremmer and Mulvaney, 1982
Total carbon	TC	Kjeldahl digestion method	Anderson and Ingram, 1993
pH	pH	pH meter method	Thomas, 1996
Total nitrogen	TN	Kjeldahl digestion method	Anderson and Ingram, 1993
Total phosphorus	P	Ammonium molybdate method	Li et al., 2015
Available potassium	K	NH₄OAc digestion	SCS-USDA, 1972
Content of gravel	Gravel	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of coarse sand	CS	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of fine sand	FS	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of silt	Silt	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Content of clay	Clay	Pipette method	Baver et al., 1972
Water content		Oven drying method
Bulk density		Ring blade method

Functional region	TOC (g kg^-1)	SOC_density (kg m^-2)	Variation coefficient of SOC_density (%)
CFCA	5.74b	0.82b	68.11
UFEZ	1.87a	0.29a	93.64
UDNZ	7.01b	0.92b	35.11
ECA	5.33b	0.88b	69.29
Total	4.99	0.77	83.80